Who Cares What Luke Scott Thinks About Obama, Maybe He Should Be Working On Hitting A Curve Ball Instead

I'm confused about something, actually many things, but for today this. Why would I give a hoot in hell what Luke Scott thinks about the president of the United State? Because he can hit a curve ball...wait, he can't hit a curve ball, OK, a fast ball, that makes him a political analyst? It's all over the news, local and national, Luke doesn't think Obama was born in the United States. Why would any credible journalist ask him that question, he knows about as much about that as he does about having a period! We took our eye off the ball, Luke regurgitated Ted Nugent and it's line one news. Hey, I've got an idea, have the guy doing the interview ask the sports guy if instead of hunting everyday, shouldn't Luke be working on hitting that curve?

What Does a Yellow Curb Mean?

Are yellow curbs universal? Does a yellow curb mean no parking in Abilene, or Spokane? It used to be mean that in MD, but they must have changed that to I'll only be a minute so I'm not parked? People are ignorant slobs, the only good people being the ones that read my blog! People of Baltimore, pay attention! Rules do apply to you, all of the time, even when you're in a a hurry! And you people that leave your car running with your kids in while you illegally park at an ATM are going to the 3rd level of hell!

Great Weather, MS and Leg Cramps, and is it Wheelchair Time?

What a day in Baltimore, we need hurricanes brushing the shore more often! The A/C is off, windows are open, and we are closing the pool on Monday, cooler weather is on the way. It has been hot as hell here this summer, my lawn proves that. Garden didn't produce so well either, not for want of hard work by the wife, she's incredible. Planting lettuce tomorrow after church, we enjoy that a lot, and it grows like mad here in our tubs.

Leg cramps, I thought I knew what discomfort was, but I was wrong. I have the real bad cramps for about 3 hours every night, just uncomfortable ones the rest of the day. I think the cramps are the reason why my legs are so weak, and why my knees hurt so bad. Can't figure out what to do about it, hoping the acupuncture helps, but we shall see. Pain medicine isn't the answer, it doesn't do much, and it doesn't last very long when it does. My insurance covers 12 puncture sessions in a calendar year, 1 down, 11 to go.

Going to have to check about adding a ramp to the outside of the house, need to bring the wheelchair in out of the shed. Starting to wonder when you know when enough is enough? I can still walk, but it hurts, and it hurts a lot. Then my legs are so tired I'm actually unsteady on my feet. When do you cry uncle and say screw it, I'm not walking anymore? I don't think that's the answer, but I'm scared it's getting closer.

Inexpensive Wheelchair Carrier, MS and Boredom, and Go O's

I was a little apprehensive about buying a carrier for my wheelchair, not that I didn't need one, but rather that I wouldn't be able to use it. We are new to this part of the MS game, so we still drive "regular" vehicles. We didn't want to rush into anything, like buying a new Hummer all tricked out with accessibility devices, so we opted for one that fit on the back of my truck. I am still able to load and unload it by myself, so it has more than paid for itself, $249.99, while we decide which direction to go. A lot cheaper than the Hummer!

I've been in I a pretty good rut these past, oh I'd say 5 years. I need to do something to spice things up a bit. My main problem is I'm bored past tears, I've exhausted the things, resources, ideas I can come up with. The computer has been wonderful, a life savor really, but I'm beginning to get bored with even that. I've been home now for going on 13 years, and I wonder what there is for me in the next 13? I'm pretty confident the physical health part will continue to decline, but what about the rest? I have to admit, I don't need shades to look into the future.

On a brighter note, How 'bout dem O's, Hon? I can't believe I just said that, I hate that, but they are kickin ass and takin names. Is it possible that a new manager could make that much of a difference? Nah. They are grown millionaires, it's ridiculous to think a new boss has motivated them win when the other 2 guys couldn't even get them to show up. Looks like only 1 thing could keep us out of the world serious, the fact they are in last place 150 games outta 1st!

Looking at Wheelchairs, Cooking Club, and Time to Open the Pool

Today is a big day, going down to look at a power wheelchair for the first time. I've been fighting to keep this time away, but common sense tells me to start looking into it. Things like the grocery store, or going to Lowes, has gotten very hard. Stores and the like have ones you can use, but there are times when having your own would be beneficial. The boy's graduation is approaching, that is a long walk, have to decide if I want to spend all my stamps just getting to my seat, or have some left to enjoy?

A group of people I went to school with, 4 or 5 couples, want to start a cooking club, nothing fancy, something to do. Ideas are flying, how should it be done, where, when? One idea was to have everyone bring the same course, say your favorite appetizer, or desert. Last night a friend said how much she would like to be a judge on iron chef, and bing, an idea! Why not have a "secret" ingredient and have everyone make anything containing that one thing. We shall see how it plays out, be nice to spend an evening with friends regardless.

This weekend is the unofficial time people here in Baltimore open their pools. Wondering if everyone, including us will do it that way this year? The weather has been horrible here, and by the looks, many other place as well. The wife is going to be in charge of it this year, very little help from me, if any. I worry it's too much for her, not that she can't do it, she can do anything, just that it may be too much in addition to everything she already does. Either way the pool will be open soon, wish us luck.

Multiple Sclerossis and Retirement, and Go Orioles

Today is day 4875 of my captivity. Seems hard to believe I retired that long ago. Actually I didn't retire for 3 months after 12/06/96, but that was the day I asked the question that made me retire. I was a deputy sheriff, asked my chief deputy, a dear friend, who was obligated to send me to the county doctor. The question was happened when I no longer felt I was able to retain my weapon, what happened? That was 9 am, I was cleaning my locker out by by noon! Seems like yesterday, but a life time away as well.

On a happier note, looks like the Orioles are going to suck again! OK, that's not happy, but I fear true. I want a team like the boy used to set up in the one video game, then ask me to play. He had every Cy Young pitcher, no batter with an average under 900! I want all this, but I want it with all young guys, not guys making more money than some countries have, don't want the best team money can buy. So, with that said, go O's!

Mama's Birthday, College Starts Tomrrow, and Diet Time is Upon Us

Today is the mother's 183rd birthday, or something like that, she was born in the 30's. Kills me I wasn't there to spend it with her, but I guess that's the way it goes. Turns out they are both sick, the parents, and they are keeping their great granddaughter while her mother was in the hospital. Everyone was throwing up, coughing, miserable as hell. Come to think of it, glad I just called this year. Happy birthday Mama!

The girl has her first day of classes tomorrow, at a new school, no biggie, she is almost 22. Yeah, right! You'd think she was getting on the little yellow bus tomorrow, actually she will getting on the light rail. For those of you not local, the light rail is Baltimore's version of a subway, we just didn't bury it. She will go from living on campus and walking to school, to living home, and taking the train to school, pretty cool.

OK, my weight, I need to do something about my weight! This is getting serious, even my fat shorts are straining at the seams. I need a diet, one that's easy to follow, tastes great, and is very little work. Starting tomorrow, no sweets, no chips, no snacking, no anything that's made me fat, and no exercise. This is going to be tough, the rest of my house mates eat nothing but steak and cake, and oh yeah, we have a bull roast next Saturday! Why is the world always against me?

Go Ravens, Puttin on the feed

Ravens game tomorrow, father in law, brother in law coming to watch. I'm making Limburger and rolled anchovies as one hors devours, open to other more bland dishes, like anyone would want that. We are finished with the Orioles, this by the way is the longest streak of the year they didn't lose a game!

I'm going to count how many dances, how many choreographed belly bumps they do before I switch to just hockey and curling. It will be good to see the whole town wearing their purple and black, dogs spray painted too. It should be a hoot, wish my parents lived here, but they abandoned me as a wee lad of 35, moving many hours away, so I will just hold pictures of the all day. Have a wonderful Sunday, regardless of your plans, or you company.

Direction Change on the Horizon

I'm debating about starting up the old bloggerooni, but changing the direction, and topic. I love things in Baltimore, and I love sports, maybe I will fix all that is ill with the sports scene in the Baltimore-Washington area? We shall see, for now I'm just resting. This was a picture from our 25th wedding party, we renewed our vows, very nice. Notice little Froggy lurking in the corner!

Multiple Sclerosis, Lawn Work, MS Walk, and Slight Personality Flaw

What a beautiful day here in Baltimore, I actually got some sun, or as I like to call it, free vitamin D. I went bright and early this morning to IKEA, 8:30 AM is early for me, got in line for an Earth Machine backyard composter. They had a great showing, must have been 300 people in line. It's good to see people are trying to do things like that.

I came home and got to work! I made 5 platforms for my idiot garden boxes, figured out how to make my trellis system too. I figured 8 feet high, and almost 3 feet wide should be good. I also plan on placing my boxes in a good order, one that doesn't have 2 boxes that vine next to each other. My brother is coming tomorrow to move a couple of bushes for me, I guess I have to be nice to him now?

I did a nice job not overdoing things today, kinda sorta? I had a plan, and I stuck to it, in a way? OK, it's hard, I start out with good intentions, but then I get caught up in the moment and forget to stop! It's not until I realize I'm taking more break time then work time, and I start trying to figure out how I'm going to get everything put away that I realize I've done it again.

After a long day like today, I get a little down, and a little moody. I think a lot of people attribute that to the MS, but I think I may just get moody and down, not to mention the potential to be a real pain in the ass!

Tomorrow is the MS walk in Towson, my plan is to go there and see the group of friends off in the morning. I may offer them a laurel, and hardy handshake to them as they head out? I appreciate it guys, thanks!

Jughead's Baltimore Gardening Club

I'm going to be starting Jughead's Baltimore Gardening Club. We are going to be a group that gets together to exchange ideas, fruits and vegetables, and recipes. How cool would it be to trade zucchini to make bread, with that guy that has the pickling cucumbers for those killer bread and butter pickles? Got a ton of cherry tomatoes, but looking for musk melons, then this is the place. The only thing I ask is that you grow your stuff organically, and for every trade you make, you donate a fruit or veggie to the needy. It's a small thing, but let's make it our thing!

Andy

Baltimore County Government, Rec and Parks Land Acquisition, and No Trespassing as a Marketing Strategy

Ya ever get a bee in your bonnet over something that normally you wouldn't notice? I am in the middle of that right now with this piece of property here in Perry Hall. When I first starting working for the Sheriff's Department in 1983, the Sheriff was ordered to take a piece of property for the common good so it could be made into a park. The part went someplace else, but 3 three houses still got torn down in about 84? I know the one house belonged to an elderly couple who got uprooted to someplace else. That's the easy part of the story for me, this is when it gets a little strange.

I'm waiting for the land records copy to get here to see if I can figure out why the County tax records show they bought the property in 1997? There is also a private company operating a nursery on the site right now. My councilman told me the County leased the property to them for $1135/acre for the entire year, that's $10,215 for the entire year. Google property in Perry Hall to see why that's an incredible deal! The nursery has no sign, the mailing address is a PO Box, and their water supply is a fire hydrant! Sweet deal if you can get it. Rec and Parks says it is advertises when the County has property to rent for farm use on the County website, and the Jeffersonian Newspaper. I couldn't find any record of the ad, and is a nursery considered a farm?

Like I said, I usually don't care about this sort of thing, but the answers I got were insulting. I asked if they thought it was odd that the only signs at the address were do not enter, and no trespassing? They asked me how I knew the nursery put those signs up? I told them I obviously didn't know who put them up, but I knew it wasn't me, and logic says the county didn't rent the land to them and then put up do not enter signs! I called them today to see if I could get in on this action, but they told me they haven't had any property up for lease for a couple of years. That's odd, the nursery was the only bid in February of this year?

Multiple Sclerosis, Exercising With the Stim, and Almost Garden Time

I went for a walk today, yes, I said a walk! Now it wasn't a 10k type walk, but it was a walk just the same. I went 5 whole houses down the block and back, the back was the real effort. My walking is a slow, steady pace, and I'm doing it without the cane. I got laughing thinking about my left leg being so weak, forgetting that it didn't get much more exercise than the right one, so it's bound to be weak too. My knees hurt, my hips hurt, and my feets hurt too, and it feels great! It's been a while since my legs felt as much as they feel right now, so it's all good, and it will continue to get better!

April 4th must be the magic garden date for Baltimore, that's when all the garden centers and plant stands open. That caught me off guard, I was planning on going to get some lettuce and Kale to plant in the idiot garden as an early crop, but nobody is open. I didn't start seeds, it got away from me and I realized I didn't have time, plus for the few plants I use, it wasn't really worth it to get all the supplies. OK, it was probably worth it, but since I didn't do it, it must have been a bad idea, works for me. I also need to learn about strawberries in strawberry pots. We had a salad the other day with strawberries and it was outta this world!

Multiple Sclerosis, Stim Starts Tomorrow, and Family, Good and Bad

Tomorrow is it! The brother is taking me to get the stimulator calibrated to my leg tomorrow, let the games begin! I need to ask a few things procedurally tomorrow, like who does maintenance, what I do if it malfunctions, do I get a loner, those type of things. Do I just turn it off when I drive, leave it on, or turn it up? I can't wait to find all these things out, plus about a bazillion other things! How long is a charge good for, how long does the battery last, and where do I get a new one? Just one more time to bed then boom, I'm a stim user baby!

We got some bad news last, the wife's uncle John passed away in New Hampshire. We are waiting to find out the particulars of the funeral arrangements, if any, to see if there is anything we are doing. It's about a 10hour drive from Baltimore, so I don't know that is an option, particularly for me. Flying is always possible, but I don't think the mother can anymore for health reasons, and I'm a scared to fly, and not sure if I can because of my issue with motion. I tend not to handle certain types of motion well, makes feel light headed and woozy, and did I mention I'm a scared? The train is the last option, the Acela runs from Washington to Boston nonstop, kinda. We shall see what happens.

The girl is heading down the grandparents house for the week, they should all have a good time with that. This will be her first long drive by herself, 3 hours, so I hope the weather cooperates. She has a good running car and a gps system, so she should be find. Without the gps I would be a little worried though, she can't find her ass in the dark with both hands! Her and my mother are kindred spirits, cut from the same mold. They will spend hours talking about everything the can think of, go book shopping, and visit with the rest of the Eastern shore crew. I'm glad she wanted to do this on her spring break from college, she is a good egg, even if she is a little cracked, just like her old man!

Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Milestone Birthday, and New CSA Farmer

I gathered the forms up today for the boy to get his learners permit. He needs to get clearance from our neuro, we go to the same one, so he can drive because of the epilepsy. We had forgotten about it, he has done so well the past few years really. Just another time that life rears it's head and reminds us it's in charge. I was hoping this would be easy, but I forgot about this part. Just another thing to ad to my list of things I wish I didn't have on my plate. He's really a neat kid, things just haven't been easy for him.

The girl turns 21 tomorrow, I can't believe it! Seems like yesterday we were laying on the bed wrestling, me counting her out while she laughed. I see old pictures and I realize how much she doesn't remember about me. She was 9 when I stopped working, so she doesn't remember me leaving the house everyday. She is wicked smart, but she doesn't remember me working sometimes 2 or 3 part time jobs so her mother didn't have to drop her off at daycare. She doesn't remember that I once could run, or cut the grass, or take care of the house by myself. She may not remember it, but like I said, she's wicked smart, she knows it.

Getting ready to participate in a new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) a couple of our friends are starting. The wife and I are excited about it, we have been wanting to give it a go for a couple of years now. It also has been keeping my mind active for a couple of days now, trying to figure out what I will grow there, and what I will have here. We are going to their house for dinner and details in a couple of weeks, then I will know if I'm going to have a plot, or if I will take a share in the entire effort. It's great, and I pick my first free range eggs from them on Saturday. All in all it should all be a hoot, and I very happy about it all!

Multiple Sclerosis, Occupational Therapy, and Being at the Mercy of the Man

Day 4, only minimal hot water. I have to go down periodically, lay on the floor and restart the HWH. It only stays lit, if it lights at all, for about 10 minutes. The boy has been showering at the sister-in-laws house, as has the wife. Haha, as has, that made me snicker! I however refuse to leave Castle Jug, and am determined to wait out BGE! Who is it exactly they think they are dealing with? I was debating if this may call for me to morph into my grandfather and cornsnarfle the first representative I could reach at BGE? Luckily I didn't make a fool of myself by ripping into some unsuspecting clerk, or Secretary with whom I have no dispute, because they called and explained the entire situation to me. The part for my HWH was shipped, overnight from China, to New Jersey!

I don't think I've ever even been to New Jersey, and I'm sure my HWH hasn't! Seems there was a mix up with the product registration, my heater says it belongs to a hair salon in Hoboken. That's OK, because they are a business my warranty has been voided anyway! WHAAAAA? It seems the recalled part the guy replaced on day 2 has been recalled. Not a problem, overnight me another and we will at least be in business tomorrow. Not so fast showerless boy, China doesn't ship on Thursdays,. What are they closed? If I knew it was going to go this long I would have sold the house! I am waiting for the installation supervisor to call me with the new schedule.

I have therapy at 3 today, I'm not sure I need it, I've been throwing stuff at the hot water heater all morning, so I'm pretty loose! I should go to therapy with the same clothes I had on the other day and see if anyone notices. The therapy has been exhausting on many levels. My hand is nothing more then a mallet when I finish, and the hand exercises take their toll emotionally. When I started my hope was to get a little more flexibility and strength in my right leg. I wasn't aware of how many things I couldn't do with my right hand anymore. I can't cross my fingers, or snap my fingers. I can't manipulate more then 1 thing in that hand at a time, and even that one is a struggle. Even with my fancy new pen, communicating in writing is a struggle. I just hope my hand is rested enough that I can communicate with it when the BGE guy finally gets here!

Well Done Steelers, We Need Some Real Heroes, and Micheal Phelps Endorses New Bong

It was a sports filled day today. A really good football game, proof that replay should go away, and that superstars don't get thrown out when they throw multiple punches at guys on the ground! What a drive to end the football game, well done with the pressure on. Did they not look at the pass that ended the game? They look at really stupid plays during the season, and they chose not to check that one out? I think it was a fumble, but how did they decide to not review it? The defensive player of the year should have been thrown out of the game for throwing multiple punches. They threw the flag, so they definitely saw it.

Poor Micheal Phelps. It's getting so a 23 year old hero can't suck on a bong anymore without people raising a stink. He said he was sorry, and he wants everyone to know he is only 23, therefore you have to allow him to make childish mistakes. NOT! I wonder if he will lose his endorsements this time? Can we sue him to see about getting the money back Baltimore County spent on the 2nd Micheal Phelps day, and the naming of his Street to Phelps Acres, or whatever they called it? Maybe we should give him another Phelps day to celebrate he wasn't photoged shooting up Heroin?

Are we in this much trouble that we can't find regular people to be role models, we have to pick these guys, and Hollywood types? What's it say about our society that we can't find regular people to look up to? My father did a lot for the young people in his work, but also with volunteering as a coach for both me and the brother. That's something to be looked up to. What has Phelps ever done for me? Where is his mother now? She was quick to be in the parade, man up and take some responsibility in this part. To all you poor slobs who go to work everyday, make enough money to get by, don't have any endorsements, and have never had a parade but somehow manage not to crank on your bong, I tip my hat to you! I can handle mistakes, but I dispise outright stupidity!

Multiple Sclerosis, Vitamin D, LDN, and Overtime Wars

Today was the second day of PT, still just evaluations, no therapy yet. I go tomorrow for the eval for the OT, so no therapy tomorrow. I sure hope I don't come away from therapy finding out I have MS, but not having any therapy! The therapy people are also going to do my new brace, so it's a one stop shop. They told me I had good muscle tone in my legs, considering I haven't gotten any real exercise in 5 or 6 years, that makes me hopeful I will see a benefit.

I also had a neurology appointment today, get it all done at once. Blood work is good, thyroid normal, except the vitamin D level has gone down while taking 50,000 i.u. a week? I am going to stay at that dose and see what happens in 3 weeks, if it doesn't change, or if it goes down, we adjust it as needed and go from there. The neuro also told me would negotiate me starting the LDN when the D level was where it should be, oh yeah, I did forget to tell him I was already taking it, didn't I? Good news is It has only been a few days, so no big deal to put it off for a bit more.

Another water main break, this time up the street, the old neighborhood is falling apart! There are 4 or 5 trucks there, that must be how the playbook works for these things. As I drove past I noticed all the trucks were running, the 2 compressors were running, the backhoe was running, but there were no workers, they were all in the trucks, I suppose formulating a plan. I didn't go up the end of the street today, so I don't know when the leak started, so I don't know how long they have on the scene, saving the day, and they are saving the day, I can't fix it. I am just getting curious what the budget is for water main breaks, and how much they spend on overtime? I'm starting a new nonprofit, the overtime ombudsman, Fixing the world one leak at a time!

Multiple Sclerosis, A New AFO Brace, and Gas Leak Fixed

It took me a couple of days to recover watching the city and county workers putting my money to good use. Just when you think it's safe to go back in the water, bang, BGE comes to fix a gas leak! I didn't know what to expect after the orgy of ineptitude I had witnessed earlier in the week, but I was ready for them. They rang the bell about 11 in the morning, a very polite young guy and his partner were here to fix the problem. Partner? How were they going to fix this massive gas leak with just 2 guys? I looked out as his partner took the shovel out of the back of the truck, I guess I didn't rate a backhoe twice in one week.

The guy assured me they would be quick, and they would make it look like they had never been here, right I thought. I closed the door and went into the kitchen, looked out the window and the guy was already up to his shoulders in the hole! I'm not kidding, and 5 city water workers were asleep in his truck! I'm telling you, BGE must be running that place like a business? I shook my head and went into the living room when the doorbell rang again? The BGE guy said they were finished and needed to come in and restart out appliances. I looked around him and the hole was gone, grass was growing, and they had planted flowers! BGE beat the water department hands down, but they were more fun to watch!

The LDN seems to be going OK, nothing major to say in either direction. Like I said, I start therapy Monday, so I'm hopeful that will show a benefit. I was going to hold off getting the new brace, you know me and positive thinking, but I think the old one is wearing out, and it is a little uncomfortable, so I need to go see about that regardless of any progress I was hoping for. I have to locate my prescription in my file cabinet full of prescriptions! It's ridiculous how many prescriptions I've had this year, Dr Weil would not approve. Once my body starts to heal itself, no more medicine for me, but until then, pass the LDN, vitamin D, Lisinopril....

Modern Medicine, The Latest Advances, and Overall Poor Care

Medicine sure has come a long way, and we are lucky to be living in the here and now, even compared with just 25 years ago. 25 years ago they put you in the hospital when you were sick, and the doctors came to you. Now, if you can get an appointment, you go to see the doctor, or an assistant, hoping it is the right specialty! The mother in law is having, what we hope, is a slight kidney problem. I will spare her the details, but she went to the ER in extreme pain. They put a catheter in and sent her home with instructions to go see a specialist! She has an appointment to see a neuphrologist on Thursday, she got lucky and there was a cancellation!

I think that's a sin! A 77 year old woman does not belong home, with a catheter, waiting for Thursday to come see if anything is wrong. Have hospital's become scheduling stations for the specialists? We all know that come Thursday they will send her for tests, probably the obligatory MRI, then send her home for another 3 to 5 working days before anyone is available to read the test results. Upon having the results analyzed, another office visit will need to be scheduled, you can't miss out on that co-pay!

You would think for the cost of health care, there would actually be some "CARE" in the overall process. These new office complexes, with their flat screen TV's, large waiting areas with plush seating, rented plants and artwork, and casts of thousands support staff are just fluff. I would love to go back to the days when you went to a doctor and he made you feel better. Did Dr. Miceli even have a waiting room, I can't remember? I do remember it wasn't a modern glass office building with an elevator! It was that little house down in Essex that you felt better when you left. In the mean time we wait for Thursday. I'm making chicken soup, maybe that will make it feel like it used to be while we bask in all this advanced medicine!