Face it, there has not been of the Flames that I could write about. Who wants to write about a team that is almost last in their division and conference? Well, something big happened today. Darryl Sutter was asked to step down by President and CEO Ken King. Replacing Sutter as GM will be Interim GM Jay Feaster.
Here is a great write up from hitthepost that sums up Sutter's reign in Calgary. Go here.
My favourite part is about letting Theoren Fleury play in the preseason. Perhaps Darryl can follow in Theo's footsteps and compete in next season's Battle of the Blades.
28 December 2010
24 December 2010
Hot Wheels Back to the Future Time Machine
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| Image stolen from the Hot Wheels Facebook page. |
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| Jacked these images from HotWheelsCollectors.com |
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23 December 2010
Titanium Plate
I snapped a photo of the X-ray when I went to the doctor yesterday.
Yeah, I know. Pretty cool, huh?
Doctor says things are healing fine. Bone mending is a little better than expected. Damaged nerves are healing as expected. The good news, my range of motion is way better than expected. Especially, considering the damage I initially did to the area. So good in fact, he said that there is no need to report to physical therapy anymore. I have to say that my therapist really helped the progression of my recovery.
Strength conditioning can be done at home.
After looking at the X-rays and seeing the range of motion I regained, he said I could pretty much do anything right now and the wrist should be fine. More strenuous activities, like pull-ups, should not be attempted for about a month.
I tired driving the other day. There was pain when making sudden moves or trying to pull into a parking spot. This is a strength issue that will improve with time. Damn it, this means I have to wait a while before I can drive the DeLorean, again. I plan on starting my strength training at the beginning of the year. Some bike riding, Insanity and P90-X should get me ready for a return to hockey in June. Heck, I may fit in a century ride, just for fun.
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| Mugshots of the titanium plate and screws |
Yeah, I know. Pretty cool, huh?
Doctor says things are healing fine. Bone mending is a little better than expected. Damaged nerves are healing as expected. The good news, my range of motion is way better than expected. Especially, considering the damage I initially did to the area. So good in fact, he said that there is no need to report to physical therapy anymore. I have to say that my therapist really helped the progression of my recovery.
Strength conditioning can be done at home.
After looking at the X-rays and seeing the range of motion I regained, he said I could pretty much do anything right now and the wrist should be fine. More strenuous activities, like pull-ups, should not be attempted for about a month.
I tired driving the other day. There was pain when making sudden moves or trying to pull into a parking spot. This is a strength issue that will improve with time. Damn it, this means I have to wait a while before I can drive the DeLorean, again. I plan on starting my strength training at the beginning of the year. Some bike riding, Insanity and P90-X should get me ready for a return to hockey in June. Heck, I may fit in a century ride, just for fun.
22 December 2010
DMC-California - 22 December 2009
A year ago today, I went to the DeLorean Motor Company in Garden Grove, California to see this:
These are photos that were used in the sales ad from delorean.com.
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04 December 2010
Spam In Other Places
Yeah, it is December...and there is holiday cheer. Well, let me bring you back down to earth. Like you, I get a lot of spam in my email, and like you I get a lot of calls from telemarketers. But there is spam in other places...see how I worked the title into the body of the post? Yeah, cleaver.
In the social network (another title) like Facebook, people have been changing their profile pictures to childhood cartoons...to stop child abuse. Imagine, you or your buddy Gilbert from college, can change your profile picture to any childhood cartoon, and child abuse stops. It just stops.
Uh, you do realize that this is a form of spam. Posting a picture or posting a message on your status does nothing but inform your network of friends that you are on a social network. Most of the time, no one really cares about your damn photo or status. This does nothing to stop child abuse or any good cause. Although, it may increase your penis size.
Hey, I love social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and the like. But seriously, unless you are someone like Tom Cruise (I love Tom Cruise), no one really cares.
By the way, while you were on your fancy computer looking for a cool picture of Turbo Teen to post...some kid, in a 'home' with no idea what the internet is, just got the shit beat out of him from his crackhead dad. I would argue that for every Google search result for cartoon pictures, somewhere (just in) the United States a child is being abused. Mission accomplished.
In the social network (another title) like Facebook, people have been changing their profile pictures to childhood cartoons...to stop child abuse. Imagine, you or your buddy Gilbert from college, can change your profile picture to any childhood cartoon, and child abuse stops. It just stops.
Uh, you do realize that this is a form of spam. Posting a picture or posting a message on your status does nothing but inform your network of friends that you are on a social network. Most of the time, no one really cares about your damn photo or status. This does nothing to stop child abuse or any good cause. Although, it may increase your penis size.
Hey, I love social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and the like. But seriously, unless you are someone like Tom Cruise (I love Tom Cruise), no one really cares.
By the way, while you were on your fancy computer looking for a cool picture of Turbo Teen to post...some kid, in a 'home' with no idea what the internet is, just got the shit beat out of him from his crackhead dad. I would argue that for every Google search result for cartoon pictures, somewhere (just in) the United States a child is being abused. Mission accomplished.
03 December 2010
FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - December 2010
So it begins, the December edition of this series. You people are fucking terrorists. I hope you fucking die a slow painful death. Actually, when you need help, I hope your phone does not work. In fact, you can only receive calls from telemarketers. That will be your last memory in life. FUCK YOU!
30 December 2010
612-615-5898 MN, USA (via text message. You guess it same fucking text as previous ones. Another 20 cents you fucknuggets owe me.)
23 December 2010
510-456-8581 CA, USA (via text message. Same message as yesterday...another 20 cents you owe me.)
22 December 2010
815-382-3294 IL, USA (via text message. You fuckers owe me 20 cents)
21 December 2010
914-339-5611 NY, USA
914-339-5611 NY, USA
973-805-1141 NJ, USA
914-339-5611 NY, USA (Yep, three times in one day, five times in two days)
20 December 2010
914-339-5611 NY, USA (Yeah, had my phone turned off for a while on vacation. But these fuckers are right back on it. Actually, I am pretty sure they tried to call while my phone was off. What a bunch of assholes.)
914-339-5611 NY, USA (Twice in one day)
9 December 2010
404-891-6682 GA, USA
8 December 2010
646-558-6569 NY, USA
561-379-8526 NY, USA (via text message)
5 December 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
516-453-6736 NY, USA
612-808-5589 MN, USA (Not a typo, called twice in one day...or eight times so far)
918 442 0768 OK, USA
4 December 2010
Blocked - What, too much of a pussy to show your real number?
3 December 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
786-358-6642 FL, USA
2 December 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
The only good thing about this is it pretty much ensures that I post at least once a month. But still, FUCK YOU!
30 December 2010
612-615-5898 MN, USA (via text message. You guess it same fucking text as previous ones. Another 20 cents you fucknuggets owe me.)
23 December 2010
510-456-8581 CA, USA (via text message. Same message as yesterday...another 20 cents you owe me.)
22 December 2010
815-382-3294 IL, USA (via text message. You fuckers owe me 20 cents)
21 December 2010
914-339-5611 NY, USA
914-339-5611 NY, USA
973-805-1141 NJ, USA
914-339-5611 NY, USA (Yep, three times in one day, five times in two days)
20 December 2010
914-339-5611 NY, USA (Yeah, had my phone turned off for a while on vacation. But these fuckers are right back on it. Actually, I am pretty sure they tried to call while my phone was off. What a bunch of assholes.)
914-339-5611 NY, USA (Twice in one day)
9 December 2010
404-891-6682 GA, USA
8 December 2010
646-558-6569 NY, USA
561-379-8526 NY, USA (via text message)
5 December 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
516-453-6736 NY, USA
612-808-5589 MN, USA (Not a typo, called twice in one day...or eight times so far)
918 442 0768 OK, USA
4 December 2010
Blocked - What, too much of a pussy to show your real number?
3 December 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
786-358-6642 FL, USA
2 December 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
The only good thing about this is it pretty much ensures that I post at least once a month. But still, FUCK YOU!
01 December 2010
Eight Weeks After Being A Righty
Well, it is been eight weeks since my awesome injury. Things are healing up, range of motion is getter better, nerves are slowly waking up. I have about four more sessions of physical therapy, then I am on my own. You can see pictures of my injury and healing process HERE.
Earlier today, I was thinking that since I was out during the medical procedures...I totally time traveled. It felt like I traveled through time...and space. Think about it. Okay, just humour me. There were gaps in time that I was unaware of, and I would reappear in another location. Events and things happened while I was gone. Sure, it was not a huge leap forward. But, if one of my surgeries took like a day, I would have "lost a day"...or traveled forward one day. Yeah, I totally time traveled. Pretty awesome.
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Oh, remember those shoes I wanted? Yeah, I gota pair two pairs of them. Did not get the cool box. The special gullwing box is a press kit and not available to the public. I learned that there were about 1500 pairs made 500 of those were either given to Nike people, DeLorean people, press, or just destroyed. One thousand pairs were available to the public on 26 November at various locations around the country. There were about 50-60 special gullwing boxes made.
When I get less lazy, I will do a photo shoot with the shoes and the car. And yes, I do plan on wearing them when I drive...because I am that much of a nerd.
Earlier today, I was thinking that since I was out during the medical procedures...I totally time traveled. It felt like I traveled through time...and space. Think about it. Okay, just humour me. There were gaps in time that I was unaware of, and I would reappear in another location. Events and things happened while I was gone. Sure, it was not a huge leap forward. But, if one of my surgeries took like a day, I would have "lost a day"...or traveled forward one day. Yeah, I totally time traveled. Pretty awesome.
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Oh, remember those shoes I wanted? Yeah, I got
When I get less lazy, I will do a photo shoot with the shoes and the car. And yes, I do plan on wearing them when I drive...because I am that much of a nerd.
27 November 2010
Happy 70th Birthday
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| Bruce Lee - born 27 November 1940 |
Today would have been Bruce Lee's 70th birthday.
22 November 2010
Nike 6.0 DeLorean Shoe
I want these.
Limited edition shoe to be released on 26 November. There will only be 1000 pairs available...which pretty much means I will not be getting a pair. Will retail for about $100...look for it on eBay for about $500. Meh, whatever. I think the shoe is good, but not great. The box, however, is a no-brainer.
The gullwing box is limited to about 100 of the 1000 already limited run of shoes. Well, this will not be the first time I spend $500 dollars on a pair of shoes on eBay, that I will never wear. Maybe I will get lucky and find a pair.
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| Limited to 1000 pairs. |
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| Gullwing box. Limited edition of limited editions. |
The gullwing box is limited to about 100 of the 1000 already limited run of shoes. Well, this will not be the first time I spend $500 dollars on a pair of shoes on eBay, that I will never wear. Maybe I will get lucky and find a pair.
17 November 2010
Theoren Fleury and I Are Best Friends
Well, at least on twitter...okay, not really. So what, he once totally ignored me when I was trying to get his autograph, he was in back of a moving car.
But today, today! This happened...no really, it did:
I know I am pretty awesome at Photoshop, but that is an actual screen shot of the "conversation" I had with Theoren Fleury. Yeah, I know it was only through twitter...baby steps. This was the first time I got a response from a celebrity. Unless you count Pat Steinberg, over a year ago. What? You know, Pat Steinberg from Fan 960.
But today, today! This happened...no really, it did:
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| Not too nerdy, is it? |
16 November 2010
FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - November 2010
I realize that because of all these fucking assholes out there, this needs to be a monthly series. Because of my situation, I get tired really fast. I have to take naps like a I am still in pre-school. So, getting calls in the middle of the day fucks up my nap time. Even if I did not have to take naps, it would interrupt my busy day at work. Heck, I get calls on the weekends, even Sundays. By the way, I did register for the "Do Not Call List" long ago...which I now see is a total fucking scam for these terrorists.
30 November 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
856-296-9638 NJ, USA
23 November 2010
602-396-4344 Phoenix, AZ
612-808-5589 MN, USA (if you Google this number, it leads you back here)
21 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
19 Nobember 2010
646-588-5627 NY, USA
18 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
612-808-5589 MN, USA
949-466-7139 Orange County, CA (via text yeah, they fucking text, now)
16 November 2010
404-891-6767 GA, USA
15 November 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
14 November 2010
30 November 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
856-296-9638 NJ, USA
23 November 2010
602-396-4344 Phoenix, AZ
612-808-5589 MN, USA (if you Google this number, it leads you back here)
21 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
19 Nobember 2010
646-588-5627 NY, USA
18 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
612-808-5589 MN, USA
949-466-7139 Orange County, CA (via text yeah, they fucking text, now)
16 November 2010
404-891-6767 GA, USA
15 November 2010
612-808-5589 MN, USA
14 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
10 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
9 November 2010
407-545-6413 FL, USA
314-627-6661 MO, USA
281-441-1952 Humble, TX
8 November 2010
469-201-7025 Dallas, TX
6 November 2010
928-268-3060 Flagstaff, AZ
4 November 2010
469-201-7025 Dallas, TX
469-201-7025 Dallas, TX
469-201-7025 Dallas, TX (yeah, THREE TIMES in ONE DAY)
314-627-6737 MO, USA
3 November 2010
646-558-6611 NY, USA
1 November 2010
917-297-5533 NY, USAReally? Flagstaff, Arizona...I would consider this stalking. I mean seriously, you are like a desperate thirteen year old girl. We are through, get over it. I never really liked you, I used you. There are plenty of other people registered on the do not call list waiting for you to harass them, call one of them.
12 November 2010
Random Thoughs III - And Update On Recovery
Went to the see Dr. Shin today, he said everything was fine. I had concerns because of pain in the palm of my hand...and not much pain in the wrist area, where all the action took place. Well, if the doctor says there is nothing to worry about, I am going with it. To quote a great movie, "you're the doc, Doc".
The best part is, he prescribed me more painkillers (morphine) and sleeping pills (ambien). Woo-hoo! And, I only need to go to physical therapy two times a week, instead of three...but for six more weeks. Even the physical therapist says my range of motion is coming back faster than expected. Oh, one of the exercises I do at home is stick handling with a ball. Never too early to start conditioning for the next season.
I am doing fine, and everything looks good. Feeling is slowly return back to my numby thumby and index finger. Tendons and nerves are healing and 'rebooting', that is sending signals as pain. So, the pain is a good thing, feeling pain is better than feeling nothing, as in damaged nerves. And, I am going to have a very cool scar.
Thanks to everyone for your well wishes.
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I have lost eleven pounds so far since my injury. Eleven pounds in five weeks, and I am not even trying. Find me a diet plan that can achieve that...and throw in a piece of titanium.
I am physically unable to grip anything with any real strength, so I am unable to drive. I could drive one handed, but who are we kidding here, ahem..Asian driver. This sucks, because the DeLorean is just sitting in the garage. Sometimes, I will just sit in it and listen to my Back to the Future soundtrack. I think I will start it up tomorrow, just to feel and hear the engine. Yeah, pretty sad.
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Okay, let us get one thing straight. Speaking of Back to the Future...okay, I promise this is the last Back to the Future post for a long while...26 October is NOT the anniversary of the release of the movie. People, this was a summer movie. Last time I checked, October is not a summer month. July is a summer month, the movie to be released on 3 July 1985.
So all you nerds out there thinking you were celebrating the 25th Anniversary last month, you were only celebrating the date when the Time Machine first traveled through time...in the movie. Oh, and it was the Blu-Ray release date. One more thing, notice what date and time I started this post...who is the nerd, now?
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One last thought. I thought about getting a tattoo on my wrist of the silhouette of the titanium plate. But, I am sort of a wuss. Besides, I think I have had enough pain in that area. And, it cost money. Yeah, I know what is another hundred or two compared to the thousands already spent on that area? Instead, I am going to somehow mark my hockey gloves of where my scars are. Like with stitches or just marker it. Maybe I should get a silhouette of the plate in vinyl and stick it on my car, like this Hot Wheels sticker I have on my door.
The best part is, he prescribed me more painkillers (morphine) and sleeping pills (ambien). Woo-hoo! And, I only need to go to physical therapy two times a week, instead of three...but for six more weeks. Even the physical therapist says my range of motion is coming back faster than expected. Oh, one of the exercises I do at home is stick handling with a ball. Never too early to start conditioning for the next season.
I am doing fine, and everything looks good. Feeling is slowly return back to my numby thumby and index finger. Tendons and nerves are healing and 'rebooting', that is sending signals as pain. So, the pain is a good thing, feeling pain is better than feeling nothing, as in damaged nerves. And, I am going to have a very cool scar.
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| Yes, I have a Tauntaun sleeping bag. |
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I have lost eleven pounds so far since my injury. Eleven pounds in five weeks, and I am not even trying. Find me a diet plan that can achieve that...and throw in a piece of titanium.
I am physically unable to grip anything with any real strength, so I am unable to drive. I could drive one handed, but who are we kidding here, ahem..Asian driver. This sucks, because the DeLorean is just sitting in the garage. Sometimes, I will just sit in it and listen to my Back to the Future soundtrack. I think I will start it up tomorrow, just to feel and hear the engine. Yeah, pretty sad.
---
Okay, let us get one thing straight. Speaking of Back to the Future...okay, I promise this is the last Back to the Future post for a long while...26 October is NOT the anniversary of the release of the movie. People, this was a summer movie. Last time I checked, October is not a summer month. July is a summer month, the movie to be released on 3 July 1985.
So all you nerds out there thinking you were celebrating the 25th Anniversary last month, you were only celebrating the date when the Time Machine first traveled through time...in the movie. Oh, and it was the Blu-Ray release date. One more thing, notice what date and time I started this post...who is the nerd, now?
---
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| X-ray of titanium plate and screws (also titanium) |
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| Hot Wheels decal on passenger door. Only seen when door is open. |
10 November 2010
FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - October 2010
I have been getting a lot of calls from telemarketers lately. Here is a list of numbers that I have received calls since mid October...because that is how far my records go:
Unfortunately, I will be adding to this list. I guess there are just that many assholes out there...and to all of you, FUCK YOU!
30 October 2010
630-869-6612 IL, USA
29 October 2010
786-358-6691 FL, USA
27 October 2010
701-264-5658 Dickson, ND
469-201-7025 Dallas, TX
25 October 2010
314-627-6754 MO, USA
22 October 2010
404-891-6662 GA, USA
21 October 2010
949-505-2662 Orange County Area
15 October 2010
302-394-6623 DE, USA
14 October 2010
404-891-6711 GA, USA
310-922-2569 Los Angeles Area
Unfortunately, I will be adding to this list. I guess there are just that many assholes out there...and to all of you, FUCK YOU!
08 November 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part VIII
I have not had a good night sleep since my injury. The pain from either swelling, numbness, pressure, healing...you name it, would wake me up. I was getting about one to two hours of sleep before I wake up. Walking around in the middle of the night helps the blood circulate. This walking and pacing usually lasted about an hour before the pain subsided and I was able to go back to sleep. On average, I would get about four hours sleep per night. Of course, I would try to make it up the sleep hours during the day...but again, I would only get about ninety minutes at a time.
A few days later, I had a check up with Dr. Shin. According to him, everything looked good. I got to finally see the x-rays that showed the titanium plated the the seven titanium screws that secured the plate to the bone. Awesome! He also prescribed me some sleeping pills and more painkillers. I need both to help me through the night. I still wake up a few times in the middle of the night,but usually fall back asleep in about ten minutes. On occasion, I need to walk off the pain. Yeah, it sucks...but that is the price one pays for titanium.
Dr. Shin also 'prescribed' me six weeks of physical therapy. When I started, I had limited movement in my wrist, and very little strength. I am about half way through the six weeks, and movement and flexibility is at about 85%. Strength? Well, we are still working on that. Doc says it will take time and I should have full movement and strength. I still have numbness in the pad of the thumb and index finger. They say that will take time, six months to a year, to see if it gets to 100%. It is already better than a few weeks ago. Yeah, six months...so when the playoffs start?
The road to recovery is long and slow...like a long and windy road, that leads to your door. Dork! I have been working half days, still pumping out product. Told you I am a fucking bad ass. I even went to the recent convention and participated in one of the events two days after the surgery. So, you are all caught up in the events that kept me from updating my blog...other than my usual laziness. Thanks for reading, and if you want to see some of the pictures of my injury, scar, incision, stitches, and progression, you can go here:
Warning: Some pictures may be disturbing to some...yet totally awesome to others. Click here.
I will be updating the photos every week to track the healing process. I only wish I had better 'before' pictures. So, am I going to play hockey when this is all healed? Hell yeah!
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII
A few days later, I had a check up with Dr. Shin. According to him, everything looked good. I got to finally see the x-rays that showed the titanium plated the the seven titanium screws that secured the plate to the bone. Awesome! He also prescribed me some sleeping pills and more painkillers. I need both to help me through the night. I still wake up a few times in the middle of the night,but usually fall back asleep in about ten minutes. On occasion, I need to walk off the pain. Yeah, it sucks...but that is the price one pays for titanium.
Dr. Shin also 'prescribed' me six weeks of physical therapy. When I started, I had limited movement in my wrist, and very little strength. I am about half way through the six weeks, and movement and flexibility is at about 85%. Strength? Well, we are still working on that. Doc says it will take time and I should have full movement and strength. I still have numbness in the pad of the thumb and index finger. They say that will take time, six months to a year, to see if it gets to 100%. It is already better than a few weeks ago. Yeah, six months...so when the playoffs start?
The road to recovery is long and slow...like a long and windy road, that leads to your door. Dork! I have been working half days, still pumping out product. Told you I am a fucking bad ass. I even went to the recent convention and participated in one of the events two days after the surgery. So, you are all caught up in the events that kept me from updating my blog...other than my usual laziness. Thanks for reading, and if you want to see some of the pictures of my injury, scar, incision, stitches, and progression, you can go here:
I will be updating the photos every week to track the healing process. I only wish I had better 'before' pictures. So, am I going to play hockey when this is all healed? Hell yeah!
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII
05 November 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part VII
Surgery was on Tuesday, 12 October. That night I had no sleep because the pain kept me up. Wednesday night was no different. Daytime was not that fun, either. Thursday morning, 14 October, at about 4AM, I woke up in indescribable pain. Different than the fire pain, but same level of pain. There was the pain of bones, muscle, and tendons...in addition to that, there was a swelling pain. No, not a swell pain...a swelling pain. I am talking over inflation of an inner tube, about to burst, kinda pain. You know those little wrinkles and creases on the back for your hand and fingers? Go ahead, take a look...yeah, those. Well, my hand was so swollen, that those creases and wrinkles were not there. That was the good part.
My fingers were going numb. It started the night before with my thumb and index finger going numb. I figured it was because of the surgery. Actually, there is a nerve that runs down the thumb and across where my break was. So, by that morning, the numbness had migrated to include my middle finger and starting to get to my ring finger. Yeah, not good.
Wife called the 24 hour hotline. The on-call doctor (Dr. Johnson, I think) suggested we unwrap and loosen the bandages. I only got to the first layer of wrap when I realized there was a semi-cast, to protect the incision area, preventing further removal of wrapping. We eventually got through to Dr.Shin and he suggested that we go in as soon as possible. I like that idea.
Went to the office...in Beverly Hills...Dr. Shin removed the rest of the bandages. Immediately, it felt a lot better. Okay, let me go off on a tangent here. That Beverly Hills office was awesome, it looked like a showroom. There was valet parking (free for patients), marble flooring, washroom was really nice. Heck, even the receptionist behind the counter had a Louis Vuitton purse. Other than the staff that was dressed in scrubs, it did not look like a doctor's office.
So, bandages were off. For the first time, I got to see where the incision was made. This was the plan; remove the bandages and see if swelling goes down and feeling comes back in to fingers, if not Dr. Shin and his crew are ready to perform a carpal tunnel release...in other words, surgery number two. I sat there in his office...well, more like captain's ready room...while he went on with his business. He had six surgeries that morning, and he would check on me before and after each one. Apparently carpal tunnel surgery is 'fast and easy, only 5-10 minutes'.
We waited a few hours to see if there was any improvement. Also, since I ate a little that morning, I had to wait for the food (four crackers and a cheese stick) to digest before the surgery. Apparently, one can vomit during an operation and the barf can come up, then down the wrong tube...like Jimi Hendricks. So, I had to wait anyways...and gave us a chance to observe any progress. Well, there was no progress. I was going for surgery number two. Keep in mind that I was in pain the whole time while waiting for my situation to improve.
Around 11:30, one of the nurses began to prep me for surgery. He saw that I was in pain and hooked me up with some painkillers. I had the usually tubes and wires hooked up to me...and I got heated blankets. Man, I love those heated blankets. Oh, since this was Beverly Hills, their hospital gowns were fancier than your typical gowns. Hair net and booties were the same. The painkillers relaxed me and I think I may have even dozed off for a few minutes.
Go time! They wheel me in to the operating room. Again, the room was very cold. My teeth were chattering, pretty sure my nipples were hard and/or my penis shrunk...but you did not need to know that. Too late, you already read it. Ha! The operating table was set up the same way, I would lay there with arms spread out. They took a little longer to hook me up to the sedation juice so I had a chance to see some of their preparation. I was given weird blanket. I can only describe it as a row of parallel tubes, but fabric. The tubes ran length wise, and was pumped with warm air. Yep, another heated blanket. These Beverly Hills guys spare no expenses. At around 12:30, I was out.
Dr. Shin later explained what he did in the second surgery. An incision was made at the base of my palm to do a carpal tunnel release. This releases the pressure that was causing the nerve to be pinched. He also had to re-open the first incision to clear out some blood clots, as the bone was bleeding. That bleeding along with the 'regular' swelling caused my hand to balloon and have unwanted pressure on the nerve. So, it was a good thing that we caught it early...and a good thing that he went in and 'cleaned up'.
I woke up in much the same way as the first surgery...meaning, I had to go pee really bad. For some reason, I did not get any snacks this time. Maybe because I was not scheduled to be there that day. I was hoping that since it was Beverly Hills, I would get champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Leaving the doctor's office and back home I go for some much needed rest.
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VIII
My fingers were going numb. It started the night before with my thumb and index finger going numb. I figured it was because of the surgery. Actually, there is a nerve that runs down the thumb and across where my break was. So, by that morning, the numbness had migrated to include my middle finger and starting to get to my ring finger. Yeah, not good.
Wife called the 24 hour hotline. The on-call doctor (Dr. Johnson, I think) suggested we unwrap and loosen the bandages. I only got to the first layer of wrap when I realized there was a semi-cast, to protect the incision area, preventing further removal of wrapping. We eventually got through to Dr.Shin and he suggested that we go in as soon as possible. I like that idea.
Went to the office...in Beverly Hills...Dr. Shin removed the rest of the bandages. Immediately, it felt a lot better. Okay, let me go off on a tangent here. That Beverly Hills office was awesome, it looked like a showroom. There was valet parking (free for patients), marble flooring, washroom was really nice. Heck, even the receptionist behind the counter had a Louis Vuitton purse. Other than the staff that was dressed in scrubs, it did not look like a doctor's office.
So, bandages were off. For the first time, I got to see where the incision was made. This was the plan; remove the bandages and see if swelling goes down and feeling comes back in to fingers, if not Dr. Shin and his crew are ready to perform a carpal tunnel release...in other words, surgery number two. I sat there in his office...well, more like captain's ready room...while he went on with his business. He had six surgeries that morning, and he would check on me before and after each one. Apparently carpal tunnel surgery is 'fast and easy, only 5-10 minutes'.
We waited a few hours to see if there was any improvement. Also, since I ate a little that morning, I had to wait for the food (four crackers and a cheese stick) to digest before the surgery. Apparently, one can vomit during an operation and the barf can come up, then down the wrong tube...like Jimi Hendricks. So, I had to wait anyways...and gave us a chance to observe any progress. Well, there was no progress. I was going for surgery number two. Keep in mind that I was in pain the whole time while waiting for my situation to improve.
Around 11:30, one of the nurses began to prep me for surgery. He saw that I was in pain and hooked me up with some painkillers. I had the usually tubes and wires hooked up to me...and I got heated blankets. Man, I love those heated blankets. Oh, since this was Beverly Hills, their hospital gowns were fancier than your typical gowns. Hair net and booties were the same. The painkillers relaxed me and I think I may have even dozed off for a few minutes.
Go time! They wheel me in to the operating room. Again, the room was very cold. My teeth were chattering, pretty sure my nipples were hard and/or my penis shrunk...but you did not need to know that. Too late, you already read it. Ha! The operating table was set up the same way, I would lay there with arms spread out. They took a little longer to hook me up to the sedation juice so I had a chance to see some of their preparation. I was given weird blanket. I can only describe it as a row of parallel tubes, but fabric. The tubes ran length wise, and was pumped with warm air. Yep, another heated blanket. These Beverly Hills guys spare no expenses. At around 12:30, I was out.
Dr. Shin later explained what he did in the second surgery. An incision was made at the base of my palm to do a carpal tunnel release. This releases the pressure that was causing the nerve to be pinched. He also had to re-open the first incision to clear out some blood clots, as the bone was bleeding. That bleeding along with the 'regular' swelling caused my hand to balloon and have unwanted pressure on the nerve. So, it was a good thing that we caught it early...and a good thing that he went in and 'cleaned up'.
I woke up in much the same way as the first surgery...meaning, I had to go pee really bad. For some reason, I did not get any snacks this time. Maybe because I was not scheduled to be there that day. I was hoping that since it was Beverly Hills, I would get champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Leaving the doctor's office and back home I go for some much needed rest.
-----
Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VIII
03 November 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part VI
So, they wheel me in to the operating room. I notice that they have my x-rays on the light box thingy on the wall. I guess they need some sort of map before they open me up. The room was really cold, good thing they have heated blankets.
They park me next to the operating table and have me slide over. First the nurse moves my left arm to the table extension. Good thing she was in charge of relocating my arm, as I could not move it. Actually, she had already moved it when they had me side over. I thought my arm was still on my chest, only to look over during my bed transfer to see that my arm was already on the table. Kinda freaky to have no control nor knowledge of one's appendage. They place my right arm, the one with all the tubes, on another table extension. I would lie there with my arms spread out...like I am flying.
The next thing I remember, I am waking up in the recovery room. No countdown or mindless chit chat, nothing. One minute, I am lying on the operating table, having my right arm placed on the table...the next minute, the doctor is showing me x-rays of the plate he just put in. I recall going through the motions of Siu Lim Tao, first form of Wing Chun, with my right hand...I was still woozy at the time. Dr. Shin asked me if I was meditating, and I remember saying, "no, Wing Chun"...or, it was all a dream. For the next half hour, I would come in and out of conciseness. Again, I did not notice the procedure was completed until I looked at my hand and was looking at a burrito. Arm was still blocked, no pain or the ability to move.
When I started to become more aware of my surroundings, one of the nurses gave me some crackers, cookies, and apple juice as a post operation treat. Not as good as a toy, but I have not eaten anything since midnight, about fourteen hours. Food and drink was a good idea. Coming out of sedation is kinda fun, like being legally high. I was kept in the recovery room for a while, I guess it takes about an hour for the sedation to wear off.
Once I was conscious enough to check out, the first thing I wanted/need to do was to pee. Remember the drip? I got to ride in a wheelchair for the first time. I guess that is hospital policy to escort a patient via wheelchair so they do not get injure during transport to car. Yeah, I was wheeled into the bathroom. Then, wheeled to the special elevator and to the car. Time to go home and rest.
Remember that block they put on my arm? It is suppose to last twelve to eighteen hours. For me, it lasted six. I took some painkillers as soon as I felt a little tingling. Did not do much...as the block wore off, the pain started coming, like a fucking runaway freight train. The nerves in along the incision woke up, as well as the 'feeling' in my bones. I tell you, it was a new kinda of pain.
Holy shit! My bones felt like a car rolled over me and all the weight was on my arm, a crushing feeling. The incision felt like it was on fucking fire. I mean it really felt like it was burning. Burning like the towers at the Saddledome after a power play goal by Mark Giordano. Fuck me, this lasted about two hours before the painkillers kicked in. Needless to say, I did not sleep well.
Note: I am writing this four weeks after the day since my injury. I have lost ten pounds in those four weeks due to loss of muscle mass. I went from working out seven days a week to nothing. But, at least I am losing weight, right?
-----
Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VII - Part VIII
They park me next to the operating table and have me slide over. First the nurse moves my left arm to the table extension. Good thing she was in charge of relocating my arm, as I could not move it. Actually, she had already moved it when they had me side over. I thought my arm was still on my chest, only to look over during my bed transfer to see that my arm was already on the table. Kinda freaky to have no control nor knowledge of one's appendage. They place my right arm, the one with all the tubes, on another table extension. I would lie there with my arms spread out...like I am flying.
The next thing I remember, I am waking up in the recovery room. No countdown or mindless chit chat, nothing. One minute, I am lying on the operating table, having my right arm placed on the table...the next minute, the doctor is showing me x-rays of the plate he just put in. I recall going through the motions of Siu Lim Tao, first form of Wing Chun, with my right hand...I was still woozy at the time. Dr. Shin asked me if I was meditating, and I remember saying, "no, Wing Chun"...or, it was all a dream. For the next half hour, I would come in and out of conciseness. Again, I did not notice the procedure was completed until I looked at my hand and was looking at a burrito. Arm was still blocked, no pain or the ability to move.
When I started to become more aware of my surroundings, one of the nurses gave me some crackers, cookies, and apple juice as a post operation treat. Not as good as a toy, but I have not eaten anything since midnight, about fourteen hours. Food and drink was a good idea. Coming out of sedation is kinda fun, like being legally high. I was kept in the recovery room for a while, I guess it takes about an hour for the sedation to wear off.
Once I was conscious enough to check out, the first thing I wanted/need to do was to pee. Remember the drip? I got to ride in a wheelchair for the first time. I guess that is hospital policy to escort a patient via wheelchair so they do not get injure during transport to car. Yeah, I was wheeled into the bathroom. Then, wheeled to the special elevator and to the car. Time to go home and rest.
Remember that block they put on my arm? It is suppose to last twelve to eighteen hours. For me, it lasted six. I took some painkillers as soon as I felt a little tingling. Did not do much...as the block wore off, the pain started coming, like a fucking runaway freight train. The nerves in along the incision woke up, as well as the 'feeling' in my bones. I tell you, it was a new kinda of pain.
Holy shit! My bones felt like a car rolled over me and all the weight was on my arm, a crushing feeling. The incision felt like it was on fucking fire. I mean it really felt like it was burning. Burning like the towers at the Saddledome after a power play goal by Mark Giordano. Fuck me, this lasted about two hours before the painkillers kicked in. Needless to say, I did not sleep well.
Note: I am writing this four weeks after the day since my injury. I have lost ten pounds in those four weeks due to loss of muscle mass. I went from working out seven days a week to nothing. But, at least I am losing weight, right?
-----
Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VII - Part VIII
29 October 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part V
12 October, day of the surgery. Not nervous at all. Actually, I am excited. Part of the prep work is to not eat after midnight the night before. Much like in the movie Gremlins, I might turn into some evil creature if I did. Anyway, this is my first 'official' surgery. Apparently, getting your wisdom teeth removed is not a 'surgery'.
First place you go is to the pre-op room. I got to wear one of those hospital gowns. Stripped all the way down to my underwear and put on the gown, hospital slippers, and hair net. It was quite fashionable. They give you a little bag for all your belongings; regular clothes and shoes. Then you just sit there and wait. I realize that there is a lot of waiting in the medical field...and a lot of forms to fill out.
They poked me with an intravenous needle and tube, and drip me with some sodium based liquid to hydrate me. This stuff works, because just before I go into surgery, I really had to go pee. Where was I? Oh, they also stick electro-pads to monitor my heart rate and a finger pinching thing to monitor my oxygen levels. They did not introduce any pain killer for me since they were going to do a nerve block. Here is the cool thing...well, actually warm thing. They have heated blankets! Basically, there is an oven where they keep blankets. I was cold, you know, I only had that sexy hospital gown on. A nurse asked if I was cold, obviously I was. Then she puts that heated blanket on me...and I tell you it was awesome.
Now, the prep. Not only will I be completely knocked out for the surgery, but they are going to block the nerves from my shoulder down. First, I had to mark my arm to confirm 'this is the arm to be operated on'. So, they made me write "YES" and draw an arrow towards the business end. The anesthesiologist comes in and begins to pre-op numbing of arm...they call it a block. Talk about low tech...well, kinda high tech at the same time. They connect the needle for the blockage to an electric current...and to mini ultrasound device.
The anesthesiologist pokes the needle near the top/middle of my trapezius muscle, about half way between my neck and shoulder. The ultrasound is used to monitor the nerve and the needle. So, he can see when and where the needle will touch the nerve. Oh yeah, I could see it too...that was actually kinda cool to see an ultrasound of my shoulder. Resolution was not that great, much like trying to watch scrambled porn, but I could see the needle and the nerve...at least that is what he said it was.
They used a current to test if it was the right nerve. He would touch my nerve with the needle and a nurse would pulse a current through said needle. If my arm would react like a dissected frog leg, they got the right nerve. Well, my arm popped up like a victim being defibrillated...yep, right nerve. The anesthesiologist would then squeeze the syringe and we could see the juice flow out the tip of the needle.
About five to ten minutes later, my arm was blocked. I would not say it was numb, since there was no tingling. No feeling at all. They removed my splint, it had been there for six days. Oh yeah, regardless of protocol of washing it before a surgery...it was fermenting in my sweaty hockey funk and the splint...with no shower and/or bath for six days. Anyway, the nurse cleaned it up. Keep in mind that I have a bone breakage...I did not feel a thing. I assure you she was not that gentle, plunge and scrub. Yep, the blockage worked. Oh, they also had to shave my arm. Uh, have you seen my arm? I have no hair..like none. The nurse could have just rubbed a vibrator across my arm and get the same effect, no hair. I have more hair on my upper lip than I do in both arms combined.
I laid there, enjoying my painkillers and blockage for about another five minutes or so. The nurses came by said it was go time. They unhooked me from the wall and hauled me into the operating room. Again, this was very exciting for me. Oh, like I mentioned before, that drip they had me on really kept me hydrated. I really had to go pee, but did not want to interrupt the 'flow of things'. They used the whole bag of that stuff, that liquid has to come out some time.
So, I am off to the operating room...I think this is a good place to stop for this post. On to part six of the series.
-----
Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
First place you go is to the pre-op room. I got to wear one of those hospital gowns. Stripped all the way down to my underwear and put on the gown, hospital slippers, and hair net. It was quite fashionable. They give you a little bag for all your belongings; regular clothes and shoes. Then you just sit there and wait. I realize that there is a lot of waiting in the medical field...and a lot of forms to fill out.
They poked me with an intravenous needle and tube, and drip me with some sodium based liquid to hydrate me. This stuff works, because just before I go into surgery, I really had to go pee. Where was I? Oh, they also stick electro-pads to monitor my heart rate and a finger pinching thing to monitor my oxygen levels. They did not introduce any pain killer for me since they were going to do a nerve block. Here is the cool thing...well, actually warm thing. They have heated blankets! Basically, there is an oven where they keep blankets. I was cold, you know, I only had that sexy hospital gown on. A nurse asked if I was cold, obviously I was. Then she puts that heated blanket on me...and I tell you it was awesome.
Now, the prep. Not only will I be completely knocked out for the surgery, but they are going to block the nerves from my shoulder down. First, I had to mark my arm to confirm 'this is the arm to be operated on'. So, they made me write "YES" and draw an arrow towards the business end. The anesthesiologist comes in and begins to pre-op numbing of arm...they call it a block. Talk about low tech...well, kinda high tech at the same time. They connect the needle for the blockage to an electric current...and to mini ultrasound device.
The anesthesiologist pokes the needle near the top/middle of my trapezius muscle, about half way between my neck and shoulder. The ultrasound is used to monitor the nerve and the needle. So, he can see when and where the needle will touch the nerve. Oh yeah, I could see it too...that was actually kinda cool to see an ultrasound of my shoulder. Resolution was not that great, much like trying to watch scrambled porn, but I could see the needle and the nerve...at least that is what he said it was.
They used a current to test if it was the right nerve. He would touch my nerve with the needle and a nurse would pulse a current through said needle. If my arm would react like a dissected frog leg, they got the right nerve. Well, my arm popped up like a victim being defibrillated...yep, right nerve. The anesthesiologist would then squeeze the syringe and we could see the juice flow out the tip of the needle.
About five to ten minutes later, my arm was blocked. I would not say it was numb, since there was no tingling. No feeling at all. They removed my splint, it had been there for six days. Oh yeah, regardless of protocol of washing it before a surgery...it was fermenting in my sweaty hockey funk and the splint...with no shower and/or bath for six days. Anyway, the nurse cleaned it up. Keep in mind that I have a bone breakage...I did not feel a thing. I assure you she was not that gentle, plunge and scrub. Yep, the blockage worked. Oh, they also had to shave my arm. Uh, have you seen my arm? I have no hair..like none. The nurse could have just rubbed a vibrator across my arm and get the same effect, no hair. I have more hair on my upper lip than I do in both arms combined.
I laid there, enjoying my painkillers and blockage for about another five minutes or so. The nurses came by said it was go time. They unhooked me from the wall and hauled me into the operating room. Again, this was very exciting for me. Oh, like I mentioned before, that drip they had me on really kept me hydrated. I really had to go pee, but did not want to interrupt the 'flow of things'. They used the whole bag of that stuff, that liquid has to come out some time.
So, I am off to the operating room...I think this is a good place to stop for this post. On to part six of the series.
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
26 October 2010
Back to the Future out on Blu-Ray
Oh, I went to the Saturday special screening of Back to the Future...it was fucking awesome!
Side note: I am working on a multi-part posting on why I have been absent the past month...it is not because I am lazy. So, check back in about a week for a detailed story. Thanks.
23 October 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part IV
With the dislocated wrist popped back in, the next step was to see a specialist. The breakage in the bone was not lining up easily. It could possibly slip or shift if not set right and may require surgery, that is where the specialist comes in. We got out of the ER around 7:30. Hey, just in time for work.
Needless to say, I went home to get some rest. An appointment was set up in the afternoon at Kerlan-Jobe, these guys are the shit when it comes to sports injuries. They work with all the major sports teams in the area. Heck, on their site, they list the Kings, Ducks, Dodgers, Angels, and Lakers as their clients. Uh, wait...what about the Clippers? Yeah, they do not get any love from these guys either.
So, another trip to the x-ray room. This is the fourth time I have had x-rays in the past 12 hours...I am pretty much considered radioactive by now. Dr. Steven Shin is my doctor, he is a hand and arm specialist. We take a look at the x-rays and for the first time I look at the damage I had done. Dr. Shin said I "did a number on this one", not only was it broken...I had multiple fractures. Hmm, did not know about the fractures. This is when I realized that I had an "injury hat trick". Broken, fractured, and dislocated. See, when you wait this long in life to break a bone, you gotta go all out.
I was informed that I would need surgery and that a plate would be put in to secure and brace the bone. I asked if said plate was going to be titanium. When Dr. Shin said yes, that actually got me excited. You know I love the titanium. The thought of having a piece of titanium fused to my bones is just awesome! Only thing that could have been better was adamantium...and maybe get some claws installed.
Surgery would have to wait a week. The swelling in my arm has to go down first. For those of you keeping track, this is still Wednesday, 6 October, about 3:00PM. I was prescribed some pain killers and given pre-operation instructions. Until the following Tuesday, 12 October, I am just sitting at home and checking email and posting random thoughts.
Oh, apparently when the people at work found out about me being sidelined for a while, there was mass hysteria as they tried to find people to cover for me. That kinda makes one feel a little better about one's job when they set up an 'emergency meeting' so deadlines can be met. Yep, that is job security. I should be safe for now...also helps when I am the only one in the company that does what I do...and I am fucking awesome!
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
Needless to say, I went home to get some rest. An appointment was set up in the afternoon at Kerlan-Jobe, these guys are the shit when it comes to sports injuries. They work with all the major sports teams in the area. Heck, on their site, they list the Kings, Ducks, Dodgers, Angels, and Lakers as their clients. Uh, wait...what about the Clippers? Yeah, they do not get any love from these guys either.
So, another trip to the x-ray room. This is the fourth time I have had x-rays in the past 12 hours...I am pretty much considered radioactive by now. Dr. Steven Shin is my doctor, he is a hand and arm specialist. We take a look at the x-rays and for the first time I look at the damage I had done. Dr. Shin said I "did a number on this one", not only was it broken...I had multiple fractures. Hmm, did not know about the fractures. This is when I realized that I had an "injury hat trick". Broken, fractured, and dislocated. See, when you wait this long in life to break a bone, you gotta go all out.
I was informed that I would need surgery and that a plate would be put in to secure and brace the bone. I asked if said plate was going to be titanium. When Dr. Shin said yes, that actually got me excited. You know I love the titanium. The thought of having a piece of titanium fused to my bones is just awesome! Only thing that could have been better was adamantium...and maybe get some claws installed.
Surgery would have to wait a week. The swelling in my arm has to go down first. For those of you keeping track, this is still Wednesday, 6 October, about 3:00PM. I was prescribed some pain killers and given pre-operation instructions. Until the following Tuesday, 12 October, I am just sitting at home and checking email and posting random thoughts.
Oh, apparently when the people at work found out about me being sidelined for a while, there was mass hysteria as they tried to find people to cover for me. That kinda makes one feel a little better about one's job when they set up an 'emergency meeting' so deadlines can be met. Yep, that is job security. I should be safe for now...also helps when I am the only one in the company that does what I do...and I am fucking awesome!
-----
Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
21 October 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part III
Every bump on the ride over was felt. My dangling hand is a pretty good vibration meter for the car. We arrive at the hospital and at the ER. Again, there was paper work to be filled out and again the receptionist questioned my injury. Well, if the dangling hand is not obvious enough, I have x-rays to prove it. So, there.
Luckily, my situation was severe enough to move to the head of the line. My name was called soon after sitting in the waiting room. As you know, that means nothing. I went to another room where a nurse looked at my x-rays and did some paper work. Then, moved to the actual emergency room. We are now at about 2:00AM, more than two hours after I kicked that net's ass.
Here is something I did not know. In the emergency room, there is only one doctor. One. One doctor, the rest are nurses and technicians. So needless to say, the wait was long as priority goes to those with more serious needs. Broken bone, severe...but not life threatening severe. Many times the nurses and technicians had me ready to go. But, the doctor kept on getting called to other patients. I tried to sleep, but the fear of dropping my arm kept me up. Funny, I just realized this, they should have given me some pillows to prop my arm up.
Finally, about 5:30AM, it was my turn. The crew had already plugged tubes and connected monitoring wires on me. I was going to be sedated for this one. Not like I want to be awake for this. There was quite a large crowd for this ordeal. There was two nurses monitoring vitals, one was in charge of pumping me with pain killers and anesthesia. There was also two technicians that monitored oxygen and some other thing. One nurse that was in charge of getting the fiberglass splint ready. Oh, then there was the doctor. Dr. Brian Cameron, great looking guy, could easily be a model for Guess or Armani. So, there were six people, all for me.
The time is 5:50AM, and the doctor gives the order to sedate me. Just before that, they had to cut my Nike Dri-Fit shirt. This is going to be awesome...not the shirt cutting, the sedating. He called my name, I responded. So, he asked for 3 more milligrams. Milligrams of what? Not sure, but the next thing I remember is a nurse calling my name and asking me a bunch of questions. I responded, not knowing that they popped my wrist back in to place. Let me tell you, coming out of sedation is kinda fun. I noticed the time was just after 6:00AM. I was only under for five to seven minutes.
So, what did they do? The nurse tells me that he pulled on my arm while the doctor pulled on my hand. The wrist just popped right in. I could imagine there was some unwanted movement due to having the radius broken, and I would be in a shit load of pain. My wife said she thought she heard me grunting during the procedure. Yeah, good thing I was not up for that.
By the way, there is video of me coming out of sedation. It is quite hilarious as I just kept on rambling as I tried to respond and answer everyone.
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
Luckily, my situation was severe enough to move to the head of the line. My name was called soon after sitting in the waiting room. As you know, that means nothing. I went to another room where a nurse looked at my x-rays and did some paper work. Then, moved to the actual emergency room. We are now at about 2:00AM, more than two hours after I kicked that net's ass.
Here is something I did not know. In the emergency room, there is only one doctor. One. One doctor, the rest are nurses and technicians. So needless to say, the wait was long as priority goes to those with more serious needs. Broken bone, severe...but not life threatening severe. Many times the nurses and technicians had me ready to go. But, the doctor kept on getting called to other patients. I tried to sleep, but the fear of dropping my arm kept me up. Funny, I just realized this, they should have given me some pillows to prop my arm up.
Finally, about 5:30AM, it was my turn. The crew had already plugged tubes and connected monitoring wires on me. I was going to be sedated for this one. Not like I want to be awake for this. There was quite a large crowd for this ordeal. There was two nurses monitoring vitals, one was in charge of pumping me with pain killers and anesthesia. There was also two technicians that monitored oxygen and some other thing. One nurse that was in charge of getting the fiberglass splint ready. Oh, then there was the doctor. Dr. Brian Cameron, great looking guy, could easily be a model for Guess or Armani. So, there were six people, all for me.
The time is 5:50AM, and the doctor gives the order to sedate me. Just before that, they had to cut my Nike Dri-Fit shirt. This is going to be awesome...not the shirt cutting, the sedating. He called my name, I responded. So, he asked for 3 more milligrams. Milligrams of what? Not sure, but the next thing I remember is a nurse calling my name and asking me a bunch of questions. I responded, not knowing that they popped my wrist back in to place. Let me tell you, coming out of sedation is kinda fun. I noticed the time was just after 6:00AM. I was only under for five to seven minutes.
So, what did they do? The nurse tells me that he pulled on my arm while the doctor pulled on my hand. The wrist just popped right in. I could imagine there was some unwanted movement due to having the radius broken, and I would be in a shit load of pain. My wife said she thought she heard me grunting during the procedure. Yeah, good thing I was not up for that.
By the way, there is video of me coming out of sedation. It is quite hilarious as I just kept on rambling as I tried to respond and answer everyone.
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Go to Part I - Part II - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
15 October 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated Part II
Our first stop was at urgent care. Yeah, I said first stop. This is located about four miles from the rink, just north of the airport. I have taken two classmates there while I was at Otis. They do good stitches there...but that is about it. The only thing they could do was take x-rays of my wrist.
I love how the receptionist questioned me on whether or not there was a break. Hello! Arm going this way, hand going that way...I think this is more than a little sprain, bitch. Ah, health care...gotta love it. We were told that they do not have the facility to do anything, and I would have to go toanother a real hospital for treatment. We should have left right then. But, they can do x-rays. Heck, we were there, it is almost 1AM, why the hell not. Take some x-rays for facebook.
Before they could snap the Superman photos, I had to remove my elbow pad, which was helping in keeping my arm up. The nurse also had to cut my slashguard, there goes ten bucks. Once the gear was removed, you could clearly see that there was a problem.
Taking the x-rays was a little uncomfortable painful. I had to hold my arm in various positions, and my hand was sorta flopping around. Hey, did you know that (at least for guys) they place a lead apron over your crotchial region. I think this is to prevent radioactive balls. I guess it would suck if I ended up having a glowing sack...but the potential of radioactive super powers is interesting.
After reviewing my x-rays, the doctor informed me that I had a break and a dislocation. At the time, I though it was just a break. I opted not to see my x-rays, he gave us a disc and referred us to another hospital. My adrenaline was beginning to wear off, so the nurse gave me a shot of pain killer...in the butt.
So, we are off to the ER...
-----
Go to Part I - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
I love how the receptionist questioned me on whether or not there was a break. Hello! Arm going this way, hand going that way...I think this is more than a little sprain, bitch. Ah, health care...gotta love it. We were told that they do not have the facility to do anything, and I would have to go to
Before they could snap the Superman photos, I had to remove my elbow pad, which was helping in keeping my arm up. The nurse also had to cut my slashguard, there goes ten bucks. Once the gear was removed, you could clearly see that there was a problem.
Taking the x-rays was a little
After reviewing my x-rays, the doctor informed me that I had a break and a dislocation. At the time, I though it was just a break. I opted not to see my x-rays, he gave us a disc and referred us to another hospital. My adrenaline was beginning to wear off, so the nurse gave me a shot of pain killer...in the butt.
So, we are off to the ER...
-----
Go to Part I - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
14 October 2010
Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated Part I
Finally, something to write about, besides Depeche Mode and Back to the Future. So, you all know that I not only watch hockey...I also play hockey. Not just on the PS3, real hockey, albeit inline hockey. Ice is expensive, still, hockey is hockey. This season, I decided to play on two teams. Double the hockey. Face it, I need the exercise.
Anyway, four games into the Tuesday night games, on 5 October, I did what the title says...to my wrist. Yep, I broke, shattered, and dislocated my wrist. Sort of an 'injury hat trick', if you will.
How it happened:
Late in the third period, I got the puck and raced down the right wing. A defenseman was on me, so I tried to cut around him and around the goalie. I was going pretty fast, I would say 25-30 mph. There was no much time and space to make my move. Not sure if I was pushed, or if I was leaning too hard on the defenseman, but I was heading too fast into the goalie. To avoid hitting the goalie, I kinda jumped towards my right and ran into the net. You could say I Hit the Post. They always say, "crash the net"...and that, I did.
My left hand was sandwiched between the post and my manly chest. They tell me that I knocked the net 10-15 feet out. Oh, I was wearing gloves and full gear, but my awesome speed and power was my downfall as it did major damage to my wrist. I knew right then, I was fucked. Funny, I did not hear the bone break or any crunching. I immediately skated off, did not bother to pick up my glove...but, I still had my stick in my hand.
Now, keep in mind that this game started at 11PM. The accident happened just around midnight. Anyway, when I got to the bench, I had a better look at the situation. Arm going one way, hand decided to make a left turn. It looked bad, the nice girls that were keeping score were totally grossed out by it. It looked like a Picaso drawing. Luckily, I had a lot of adrenaline still pumping and did not feel much pain...just the inability to move much.
Oh, we won the game. I did not participate in the end-of-game-handshake. I wonder if the guys on the other team though I was a dick, too cool to shake hands with the losing team. Meh, whatever. After the game, about five of my teammates helped me undress. I know that there are much better ways to word that last statement, but I like to piss off the homophobes. So yeah, five guys helped me undress...it was hot and we were all sweaty.
One of the guys offered to take me to the hospital. But I figured my wife should do it. You know, that "sickness and health" thing. See, I like to piss off feminists, too. I am an equal opportunity pisser offer. So, I called the wife, she freaked out, but eventually came to the rink and took me to the hospital. The guys help with my bag and sticks, and we were off.
-----
Go to Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
Anyway, four games into the Tuesday night games, on 5 October, I did what the title says...to my wrist. Yep, I broke, shattered, and dislocated my wrist. Sort of an 'injury hat trick', if you will.
How it happened:
Late in the third period, I got the puck and raced down the right wing. A defenseman was on me, so I tried to cut around him and around the goalie. I was going pretty fast, I would say 25-30 mph. There was no much time and space to make my move. Not sure if I was pushed, or if I was leaning too hard on the defenseman, but I was heading too fast into the goalie. To avoid hitting the goalie, I kinda jumped towards my right and ran into the net. You could say I Hit the Post. They always say, "crash the net"...and that, I did.
My left hand was sandwiched between the post and my manly chest. They tell me that I knocked the net 10-15 feet out. Oh, I was wearing gloves and full gear, but my awesome speed and power was my downfall as it did major damage to my wrist. I knew right then, I was fucked. Funny, I did not hear the bone break or any crunching. I immediately skated off, did not bother to pick up my glove...but, I still had my stick in my hand.
Now, keep in mind that this game started at 11PM. The accident happened just around midnight. Anyway, when I got to the bench, I had a better look at the situation. Arm going one way, hand decided to make a left turn. It looked bad, the nice girls that were keeping score were totally grossed out by it. It looked like a Picaso drawing. Luckily, I had a lot of adrenaline still pumping and did not feel much pain...just the inability to move much.
Oh, we won the game. I did not participate in the end-of-game-handshake. I wonder if the guys on the other team though I was a dick, too cool to shake hands with the losing team. Meh, whatever. After the game, about five of my teammates helped me undress. I know that there are much better ways to word that last statement, but I like to piss off the homophobes. So yeah, five guys helped me undress...it was hot and we were all sweaty.
One of the guys offered to take me to the hospital. But I figured my wife should do it. You know, that "sickness and health" thing. See, I like to piss off feminists, too. I am an equal opportunity pisser offer. So, I called the wife, she freaked out, but eventually came to the rink and took me to the hospital. The guys help with my bag and sticks, and we were off.
-----
Go to Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII
28 September 2010
Back to the Future - Re-release in Theaters
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary, Universal and AMC are re-releasing Back to the Future at a theater near you. Only two shows, Saturday, 23 October at 12:30PM and Monday, 25 October at 7PM.
More information can be found HERE. You can also check which local AMC Theater near you participating in this event, as well as order your tickets, HERE. Oh, and you get a free movie poster with ticket purchase, while supplies last. Yeah, I already got mine...and I plan on driving the DeLorean to the theater for this one.
 |
| This may or may not be the free poster they are giving out. |
23 September 2010
Depeche Mode - 'Tour of the Universe - Live in Barcelona' - on Blu-Ray
From depechemode.com:
Depeche Mode
'Tour of the Universe - Live In Barcelona'
DVD and Blu-ray released November 8th, 2010 (Europe), November 9th, 2010 (North America)
Playing 102 shows in 40 countries, Depeche Mode's acclaimed Tour Of The Universe saw Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andrew 'Fletch' Fletcher performing to over 2.7 million people.
Their epic trip across the globe was one of the most successful tours of recent history and saw them playing a host of stunning material spanning their impressive 30 year history.
'Tour Of The Universe - Live In Barcelona' contains 21 tracks recorded over two sold out nights at the Palau St Jordi in Barcelona on November 20th and 21st 2009, both shows being highlights of the celebrated tour.
Released on Mute, this spectacular DVD release comes with a host of bonus content including four bonus tracks recorded across the two nights, a tour documentary - Inside The Universe - two tracks filmed at tour rehearsals in New York and Anton Corbijn's specially created 'screen films' for seven tracks plus further bonus montages created from the on-stage screens.
In addition the four promotional videos from 2009's acclaimed 'Sounds Of The Universe' album including the Grammy nominated Wrong, directed by Patrick Daughters, are included.
'Tour of the Universe - Live In Barcelona' comes in three formats:
Super deluxe 4-disc version (2xDVD, 2xCD):
DVD1 (a 21 track live performance plus four alternate/bonus tracks)
DVD2 (extra bonus content including documentary and promo videos)
2 x CD (audio of the 21 tracks from DVD1)
Deluxe version (1 x DVD, 2 x CD):
Contains DVD1 and the two audio CDs
Blu-ray (2x Blu-ray discs)
Depeche Mode - Tour Of The Universe Barcelona 20/21:11:09
DVD1
1. In Chains
2. Wrong
3. Hole To Feed
4. Walking In My Shoes
5. It's No Good
6. A Question Of Time
7. Precious
8. Fly On The Windscreen
9. Jezebel
10. Home
11. Come Back
12. Policy Of Truth
13. In Your Room
14. I Feel You
15. Enjoy The Silence
16. Never Let Me Down Again
17. Dressed In Black
18. Stripped
19. Behind The Wheel
20. Personal Jesus
21. Waiting For The Night
-Bonus tracks
World In My Eyes (20th)
Sister Of Night (21st)
Miles Away / The Truth Is (20th)
One Caress (20th)
DVD2
-Inside The Universe
Tour documentary with subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Hungarian and Czech.
-Tour Of The Universe / Screens
In Chains
Walking In My Shoes
Precious
Come Back
Policy Of Truth
Enjoy The Silence
Personal Jesus
-Tour Of The Universe / Rehearsals
Wrong
Walking In My Shoes
-Bonus tracks
Insight
Hole To Feed
Behind The Wheel
Never Let Me Down Again
-Sounds Of The Universe - Videos
Wrong
Peace
Hole To Feed
Fragile Tension
Hey, You Can "Follow" Me
Perry Pie at Perry Pie's Nail Polish Adventures said:
So, I did. Now, all three of you can 'follow me'. You can also follow me on Twitter if you feel like stalking me...but the three of you already do. Besides, you are not missing much.
Look at me, I am blogging...this internet thing is way too high tech for me.
BTW, you should totally consider having the little google followers thing up on your blog. It increases the chance of someone repeat visiting if they're a follower.
So, I did. Now, all three of you can 'follow me'. You can also follow me on Twitter if you feel like stalking me...but the three of you already do. Besides, you are not missing much.
Look at me, I am blogging...this internet thing is way too high tech for me.
10 September 2010
Downtown Toronto
While in Toronto for my cousin's wedding, I got a little free time and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Engraving on the Stanley Cup from the Flames 1989 Championship
Hall of Famer, Lanny MacDonald. Notice Joey Mullen to the right.
After the Hall, we went to the Blue Jays game. They lost 4-10 to the Detroit Tigers. I just happen to spot Ace and got a picture with him, just before the seventh inning stretch.
After the game, we walked to Wayne Gretzky's. Located at 99 Blue Jays Way. It was sort of like a mini Hockey Hall of Fame.
Engraving on the Stanley Cup from the Flames 1989 Championship
Hall of Famer, Lanny MacDonald. Notice Joey Mullen to the right.
After the Hall, we went to the Blue Jays game. They lost 4-10 to the Detroit Tigers. I just happen to spot Ace and got a picture with him, just before the seventh inning stretch.
After the game, we walked to Wayne Gretzky's. Located at 99 Blue Jays Way. It was sort of like a mini Hockey Hall of Fame.
01 September 2010
Richard and Cheryl
Video of my cousin's wedding. The video crew did this on the same day. The day started around 9AM, and the video was shown to at the banquet at around 11PM. Yes, there are shots from the banquet in the video. Pretty damn awesome!
My other cousin (groom's brother) is in the lion head.
My other cousin (groom's brother) is in the lion head.
25 August 2010
Hot Wheels Article In Calgary Herald
Thanks to mikeH at Hit the Post for this link.
A little article on Hot Wheels in the Calgary Herald. It focuses mainly on the Colour Shifters line. Hot Wheels = flames...Calgary = Flames.
To answer mikeH, I worked on three of the Colour Shifters. I forgot their names, but it is the dinosaur, wasp, and dog. I just modeled them, they were designed by others. Also, I worked on about 75% of the 2010 Basic Car Line, including the one pictured in the article. There are two cars that I 'designed' (as well as modeled) in the 2010 line, the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 and, of course, the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.
A little article on Hot Wheels in the Calgary Herald. It focuses mainly on the Colour Shifters line. Hot Wheels = flames...Calgary = Flames.
To answer mikeH, I worked on three of the Colour Shifters. I forgot their names, but it is the dinosaur, wasp, and dog. I just modeled them, they were designed by others. Also, I worked on about 75% of the 2010 Basic Car Line, including the one pictured in the article. There are two cars that I 'designed' (as well as modeled) in the 2010 line, the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 and, of course, the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.
01 August 2010
30 July 2010
Recoil - Selected
I ordered this a few months ago, I guess in March. I received it about 2-3 weeks ago. Guess what, it is still in the box, in the shrink wrap. Good thing I found some pictures of it here. Otherwise, I may never know what it looks like. Packaging was designed by Un.titled.
“Un.titled were approached by Alan Wilder in the Spring of 2009, tasked with designing a record sleeve for his latest LP ‘Selected’ a 25 year retrospective of his Recoil project. The initial brief was to design artwork for a standard single CD jewelcase and special edition two CD set, incorporating elements from his existing artwork but giving the album an identity all of its own. A year on and we had not only designed two CD editions but two special edition boxsets, an iPhone App, European tour posters and photography of his live set in Berlin.
We always intended the project to have a raw, grimy edge offset with a clean typographic language. To achieve this we conducted a number of photographic experiments bringing together projected imagery, physical typography and found objects. The imagery represents each track featured on the album, with elements that would be identifiable to avid Recoil fans and abstract enough to ensure that Selected was an entirely new entity. The dark and textural imagery we created became the perfect accompaniment to the brooding, occasionally unsettling nature of his music.
“It was satisfying to find people who knew Recoil well and who were not only flexible and confident enough to incorporate the visual ideas from all the existing albums, but also skillful enough from that to create something new, fresh and recognisable at the same time. Not an easy brief. The designers at un.titled managed to do just that. Their team worked tirelessly and yet sympathetically until all parties were happy.” Alan Wilder – Recoil”
I also still have the Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe Box Set sealed. Actually, I have not even removed it from the shipping box...which is inside an unopened shipping bag. Yeah, I said bag.
Looks kinda the same, but from different designers. Maybe someday, I will open them.
25 July 2010
My "Highlight Reel" Goal - Part III
Well, not goal...but three goals and an assist. HAT TRICK and an assist! Yeah, four points...in a 6-4 loss. Girlvaughn told me I needed to score more goals.
The first of four points was an assist in the first period. I got a shot on goal, luckily someone got the rebound. That goalie was huge, hard to get around.
First goal was a semi-breakaway down the left wing, first period. Faked the forehand, went around the goalie and lifted the backhand just under the cross bar. Second goal was on the power play in the second period. I was dancing around the net, near the goal line Saw the puck drop in front of me and shot it backhand at the goal. The puck deflected of goaltender's arm and tricked in.
Between all this the other team scored a few goals. I had a couple of good shots...on the goaltender, one hit him in the face. I think I had two other breakaways. On one, I tried the Forsberg move, but lost the puck.
Third goal came in the third period. A goal a period, not bad. We were already down 6-3, with a few minutes left. I was standing in the slot, puck came to me and without looking, I took the shot. Saw the puck just make it under the goalie's arm. In the end, we lost the game.
There you go. Statistically (is that a word?), the best game I have played. Hat trick, baby! It is all down hill from here.
The first of four points was an assist in the first period. I got a shot on goal, luckily someone got the rebound. That goalie was huge, hard to get around.
First goal was a semi-breakaway down the left wing, first period. Faked the forehand, went around the goalie and lifted the backhand just under the cross bar. Second goal was on the power play in the second period. I was dancing around the net, near the goal line Saw the puck drop in front of me and shot it backhand at the goal. The puck deflected of goaltender's arm and tricked in.
Between all this the other team scored a few goals. I had a couple of good shots...on the goaltender, one hit him in the face. I think I had two other breakaways. On one, I tried the Forsberg move, but lost the puck.
Third goal came in the third period. A goal a period, not bad. We were already down 6-3, with a few minutes left. I was standing in the slot, puck came to me and without looking, I took the shot. Saw the puck just make it under the goalie's arm. In the end, we lost the game.
There you go. Statistically (is that a word?), the best game I have played. Hat trick, baby! It is all down hill from here.
22 June 2010
Theoren Fleury...The Play
Thanks to mikeH at hit the post for this info.
Apparently, there is a play in the works about the life of Theoren Fleury.
Alberta Theatre Projects is in the early stages of developing Don't Quit Before the Miracle.
The play was written by Kristie McLellan Day, who worked with Fleury on his autobiography Playing With Fire.
14 June 2010
Violator Tattoo
I was looking through my ThinkGeek catalog and I noticed this:
Oh, no. Not the tie. The tattoo. There are very few people that will overlook the tie, which is cool, and look right at the tattoo, which is way cooler.
Not only is it the image of Depeche Mode's Violator album cover, it is the ALBUM cover. I am talking about twelve inch vinyl, not the CD cover.
Here is the CD cover:
Image of vinyl cover:
Unfortunately, most people know the CD version as the 'official' cover. Few know that the original cover is the vinyl cover. Back in the day, it was also on the cassette tap cover as well as on the long box for the CD in its original release in 1990.
I almost want to purchase the tie, just because the hipster-emo boy is sporting said ink.
Oh, no. Not the tie. The tattoo. There are very few people that will overlook the tie, which is cool, and look right at the tattoo, which is way cooler.
Not only is it the image of Depeche Mode's Violator album cover, it is the ALBUM cover. I am talking about twelve inch vinyl, not the CD cover.
Here is the CD cover:
Image of vinyl cover:
Unfortunately, most people know the CD version as the 'official' cover. Few know that the original cover is the vinyl cover. Back in the day, it was also on the cassette tap cover as well as on the long box for the CD in its original release in 1990.
I almost want to purchase the tie, just because the hipster-emo boy is sporting said ink.
13 June 2010
I Killed A Bird
While riding this morning, I killed a bird. There was a group of us and we were just picking up speed, going down a hill. I noticed a bird, looked like a hawk, bombing down. It was coming in from my left. The bird looked like it would just land short of my line. But, it just kept gliding. Either the bird did not see that there was an obstruction or just could no change course, it just wanted to land right then and there.
For a second, I thought it would make it under my bike. That would have been one heck of a landing. I felt a bump. Not a 'hard bump', but a 'soft bump'. Unfortunately, I hit him with my back tire and I guess a bit with my left crank arm. In the picture above, you can see feathers on one of my spokes, on the crank arm, and a little on the chainstay.
The rider behind me saw my tire hit the bird and said that it was laid out. I did not get a chance to look back as I was going kinda fast and picking up speed. Poor bird, I think it committed suicide.
The rider behind me saw my tire hit the bird and said that it was laid out. I did not get a chance to look back as I was going kinda fast and picking up speed. Poor bird, I think it committed suicide.
12 June 2010
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanly Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games to win the Stanley Cup. Yeah, I called it. I kinda picked them to win (at least make the final) in the beginning of the season. Let it also be known that I picked Johnathan Toews in the Olympic and Stanley Cup Playoff pools this year. He won the Conn Smythe as MVP of the playoffs...and gold in Vancouver.
So, the Hossa Curse is lifted and the Touching-the-Conference-Trophy Curse is reinstated. Also the EA curse has been lifted as NHL10 cover boy/mouthpiece boy, Patrick Kane (I refuse to call him "Pat Kane" or "Patty Kane") scores the overtime winner in the least exciting Cup winning goal in Playoff history.
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks in ending their 49 year drought between Cups. Toronto now officially has the longest drought (since 1967).
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