The ramblings of a madman

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con recap
Finally up and about at 7PM Sunday accurately describes how things went.

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Since I decided to not bother responding to my grammar school "reunion" Facebook invite I have gotten two Facebook wall comments and one Facebook chat asking if I was going and then expressing disappointment for me not being there.

As people have said, time makes most memories fade away and yes, it would probably be a good thing if I go.

However, since Windycon might be the last time with my friends in about 4 months, it is best for me to still be there.

huh?
A couple of days ago I posted http://madmanotl.livejournal.com/364007.html explaining why I won't miss a con party with my friends to see people I graduated from grammar school with 30 years ago.

As I stated in the post, I was initially involved with wanting to meet them. I know I posted messages on their Facebook pages and even called the local newspaper to see about placing an article and then my mom to get a list of the people in the class since no one had it and I know she saved the paper with the graduation picture on the front page. When I looked at a box of things from my mom's attic last summer, a lot of bad memories were rekindled and my desire to meet them was no longer there. However, I decided if someone else made arrangements, I would go if I could.

Once I found out they were meeting on a day and time I can't attend, I realized it was for the best. I determined that maybe someone there might want the items I initially tossed out in an attempt to put those miserable four years of my life in the past and since I know where the person who is organizing it works, considered going there to give it to him.

I just want to know what is so wrong with that?

Believe it or not I had forgotten much of those four years. I know that is very hard for people to believe that it could happen to me but that actually did. I know I am not the first person to have bad memories locked away in one's mind to only have someone present a key.

While writing this, I realized something: As I was told that at conventions, I get FOMS or fear of missing something and I also know that I get real irritated whenever excluded. I now know why.

Eventually those memories will again get locked away. I initially was helping until I realized I can't.

Current Mood: confused

Timing
A year ago in April was my high school 25th anniversary. Since it was the same weekend as Penguicon. The choice was obvious. Though it would have been nice to go, There was no doubt in my mind where I should be and I went to Michigan.

Thanks to Facebook and my sister, people from my grammar school class found me about 6 months ago. Someone got a bug up their ass since it is 30 years and have been trying to get everyone together and I was helping. However, in the summer as I was recovering from my surgery, my sister brought to me a couple of containers from my mom's attic and that changed my attitude.

Among the items was memorabilia from my grammar school class. As I was looking through it, I realized how much I hated all of them and how happy that I have not seen any of them in over 25 years except for the person who got into a car accident in front of my mother's house. I also remembered throwing that stuff away since I wanted to forget. Apparently my mother took it out of the garbage.

Today, I got a Facebook message that people from my class are meeting in the neighborhood by my school on November 14, Windycon Saturday, the day of the Dementia Radio party there and also the day I won't be working the charity event at my sister's kid's school.

As much as I want to make a bunch of people I hate confused, I won't reply or go. Since I know one of them works at a hot dog stand in Kenosha, Wisconsin, I might make a trip there with the crap my mom took out of the garbage and give it to him to show those assholes there.

Time to rock
With Kiki and Jered, we headed to my house this evening to jam on the plastic. My wife and daughter were playing the bass with Kiki singing, Jered on lead and me on drums. Led by Kiki's singing, we achieved a best local score for the game on the Mc Frontalot song from last year along with kicking ass on other songs.

Though it would have been nice to be at PAX or Dragon*con, it was enjoyable tonight.

Not so psychic
( knowledge_is_king )

Current Mood: sad

spoiled
Today I finally saw HP6 and though it was overall enjoyable, knowing what was going to happen made me feel like it was not the first time seeing it. There was no suspense or excitement that one gets when they don't know what is happening.

Thinking about it, this was not the first time I saw a movie where I knew what was going to happen. When it is based on historical facts or past sporting events and I know what happened in them, my enjoyment of the movie becomes based on the presentation.

Maybe if I would have thought of that before I watched the movie, it would have been more enjoyable.

Note: I am still not happy about how I found out about HP6.

catching up
Over the past month or so thanks to PBS and SyFy (and the DVR we now have for cable) I have been catching up on the Martha Jones and Donna Noble seasons of Dr Who. (Seasons 3 and 4 of the new series or 29 and 30 for those who count from 1963)

Since I did see the ending episodes from both seasons I was wondering how many more are there that I have not seen so I found the listing of all the episodes on Wikipedia. (3 for Jones, 6 for Noble to see)

Then for the hell of it knowing I was born on a Saturday, I looked back to see what was played on the day I was born. It was the first episode of the 12 episode story called "The Daleks' Master Plan".

It took place during William Hartnell's (the first doctor) third season. Back then each episode was 25 minutes long and for most the first three seasons each episode had an individual name.

The one that aired the day I was born is called "The Nightmare Begins"

Current Mood: amused

update
Gencon - Fun weekend. Actually did more than sit at the merch booths. After 10+ years of Scrabble and a couple of years recovering from the burnout, I am interested in games again. Luke and Tom Smith did awesome shows Saturday evening. Due to discomfort in my knee and stomach, I did not see much of the wenches show but did see two of them join Luke for the Dada Slide during his show.

There were games I was interested in getting but decided on one that I know my family would want to play. I explain that here: http://notnormalworld.blogspot.com/

Work was difficult all week. Both knees were giving me problems. I went to therapy three times. Today, I had ice on both knees when I was done. For the most part, my left (surgical) knee is better but the right one hurts. If my right knee is still hurting in a couple of weeks the way it is now, I will have to see the doctor again.

On Thursday I found out that Rifftrax was doing a live performance that I could see at a local theatre. I decided someone else could cast my show and went. I had never seen Plan 9 from Outer Space and it was as bad as advertised. They did an awesome job with the movie.

Before the movie, Carrie, Josh, Luke, Sara, Kiki, Matt and two of his friends ate at Sweet Tomatoes. It is a buffet without meat. As much salad, veggies, and bread one can eat for just over $10. After a large plate of salad and mixed veggies and awesome garlic bread, I was ready for either chicken, beef or ribs. No luck. When we left I was still hungry.

This weekend I will try to catch up on some housework including the weeds behind the house which are way overdue and cleaning the dryer vent since clothes don't dry like they should causing my wife to either run them through another hour or fold them still wet.

Fans of Rock Band and Jonathan Coulton, read this and vote! FYI: Still Alive and Skullcrusher Mountain are already available.

What Jonathan Coulton songs would you buy and play on Rock Band?

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meeting therapist
For the third time in less than four years I walked into the center for my first physical therapy appointment.

The surgery report was helpful and measurements were taken.

Left calf diameter - 1" smaller
Left knee diameter - 1" larger
left thigh diameter - 3/4" smaller
Left knee bending - 16 degrees less.

The knee readings are consistent with someone who had the procedure I did. However, the muscle sizes are not. A 1/2 inch difference is the most that is considered normal even with someone who was a kicker like me.

She also did not like was the pocket of fluid above the knee where the leg was torqued to perform the procedure and that the knee was warmer.

I was given three at home exercises to do and will see her again Thursday afternoon. There we will decide if I should take another couple of days off next week if not the whole week.

follow up visit
When I got to my doctor today, I was pleasantly surprised there was no co pay. He looked at my knee and saw it looked fine. He explained that there was damage in the back inside of the meniscus of my left knee and that he had to remove about 1/3 of it to alleviate the tear so it was definitely something that had to be done. The only thing the doctor was not happy with was that my range of motion has not returned as much as he hoped. Having the leg be basically dead for three days to the point where I had to either use my right leg to pick up my left or get my wife to lift it onto the couch or bed is what probably caused that.

I also got the therapy order and will make arrangements tomorrow. With the discomfort in my left leg, caused by surgery and the injury 15 years ago, both the knee and leg will be on the order. I go back in 4 weeks for a follow up.

reality check
Woke up this morning and found an 8 hour marathon of season 3 Dr Who on the SyFy channel. (last 8 episodes) Since I had only seen the last 2, it was interesting to follow the storyline catching all the subtle hints leading to the last two episodes. Yes, I avoided spoilers for the other six.

No, I am not and was never interested in streaming the new ones the day of or after they are broadcast in England. I will wait to see them on SyFy even though I know they have been edited for American commercial television. (and might have understood the Vote Saxon posters at Convergence 2007)

I needed to take care of a couple of details at work so I headed there with crutches even though I don't need them at home anymore. After a little while, my legs started to feel it. Eventually I got my daughter from the pool where one of the other kids asked me where I got my Marscon 2008 artist t shirt and headed home to watch the ones I recorded knowing I could not watch them eight hours straight.

Answered three phone calls including one about my disability and got confirmation for the checks which first mail next Tuesday. Had one from Summit I could not get to in time. Did not leave a message. Then my daughter tells me I got a cel phone call. It was from someone from the second shift at work asking me about something there. Apparently, neither he nor his boss knew I had my surgery last week.

recovery day 2
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Current Mood: optimistic

I'm in the wrong business
( baseball_rant )

Maybe it was the fact I smell a combination of iodine, sweat and cat piss from lying on the couch much of the last 24 hours and that I can't shower until tomorrow that made me so upset.

Current Mood: irritated

Woke up before 7 this morning. Can't sleep in no matter what anymore. Remembered to take no water, no food. Left the house shortly after 11.

When I got the the clinic at noon, they said the doctor was running late. Eventually it was time to get changed. After the nurse started my iv, she made an error causing my size 5X gown (from what I can tell there is nothing between large and 5X) to get wet forcing it to get changed.

About 130, just before my procedure was scheduled, my doctor showed up explaining his first one of the day took longer than anticipated pushing back his schedule. He marked my knee and went to take care of the man before me.

An hour later, he returned with his giant size syringe. Ronnie who was there had a great view of all the numbing fluid being put into my knee through a long thin needle and me suffering and sweating as it was going in. Then the knock out doctor (unable to even try to spell it) was telling me he will keep me awake unless it becomes an issue.

As I went in, it was weird since I had glasses and a mask on and a view of the monitor. Once they started, I was surprised by how much they were moving the leg. A couple of times it put me in a uncomfortable position and it was hurting my leg. I was also having problems relaxing my leg as this was being done. Where they had to do the work caused them to put my leg in the uncomfortable position that they did.

Soon they were done. The doctor increased the dose to relax me so they can get it done easier and I don't remember much else. Since the doctor had to ASAP take care of his next patient, I never got a chance to ask him what he saw. I know he took pics. When I see him in a week, I will find out more.

I was out of the building shortly before 5. Though I had a bag of crackers, I was starved and in spite of their instructions about what to eat ate fast food. I had no nausea so I figured I would be ok. I had crackers later in the evening.

As the evening wore on, the numbing medication started to wear off and the knee now really hurts. I am taking one pill to fight against infection, one for inflammation, and yes, one for the pain. The same type I took 10 years ago.

The previous two scopes, I was able to live with the pain. Not today.

After work Tuesday, I went to get groceries. Heading to the store exit, a toddler ran in front of me (from my three o'clock to nine o'clock), tripped over his own feet and fell face first into his brother's stroller. His mom turned her attention away from the bank teller she was with, looked at the kids face and when I saw no blood I walked away figuring the kid was ok as one teller was talking to her in Spanish.

Then I hear the woman screaming in Spanish frantically as I walk out of the store. I head home, unpack my groceries and as I was about to get my daughter from the park district, my doorbell rang. One policeman and his female partner wanted to know if I was at the store. I told them what I saw happen and what I did and why there was no way I would have been able to deliberately trip the kid with how sore both my knees were.

They took my statement and my cel phone number and said they would call if they had any more questions. I asked them to look at the video since the kid was at least a foot in front of me.

Maybe if the parent had more control over her kids, this would have not happened.

Current Mood: pissed off