NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

So I had this earache, ya see? Pressure in my ear, hearing loss, face swollen on that side, ringing, numbness, yadda-yadda... Had it for a week and it wouldn't go away. Had something similar maybe 10 years ago, and I figured antibiotic, decongestant, maybe a shot of cortisone, which is what it took back then. So I took a night off from my job and made the first doctor's appointment I've had in about 10 years. Walked in, paid the fee, filled out alla the paperwork. The nurse took my blood pressure-- then stopped. Took it again. Changed to a different machine. Tried the other arm. Got the Doctor's Assistant. He tried both arms. Then they got the Doctor. She took it on both arms and then explained. It was 190 over something. 200 is when the little oil derrick on Popeye's head explodes in a gusher. Which, of course, blew her mind. " Can't treat your ear, anything I do might cause a stroke. We gotta get your BP under control before you leave the office today---" So she put me on one BP med--- she says it may take a combo of 3 or 4, but she wants to sneak up on 'em one at a time, to watch for side effects. Makes sense. Meanwhile, lifestyle changes- exercise, take pills, loose weight, change my diet, low sodium, low colesteral, reduce sugar and caffiene, lower stress, monitor my BP, buy a machine for that, Lots of Doctor office visits at $ 30 a pop. And a blood test... Now, I've got a phobia about folks with needles. Can't watch some of the scenes in FF and the BDM where they're sticking folks with 'em. That's the main reason why I haven't been to a doctor in years- never been in a medical situation yet where somebody wasn't trying to stab me with something sharp, usually in the ass, and hurt me, " for my own good." So we negociated that one, put it on hold for the time being. Anyway, she finally looked in my ear, and said, " Your problem is impacted wax- flush it with peroxide and water, it'll clear up. " Which I did, and it did. Meanwhile, I've started walking every day, eating better, eating smaller portions, eating fruit-- I ate the first banana I've had since High School. Had a burger over the weekend, but it was a single with no cheese, instead of a double cheeseburger. Ate a tuna sandwich on white for lunch the other day-- maybe not the first since high school, but the first in a long time. But I've lived on Pepsi-Cola and junk food for maybe 30 years. Eggs and sausage for breakfast. Drinking bottled *W*A*T*E*R* and fruit juice don't get it. Pasteurized OJ tastes like

ADAMSTEVENSON

well after the really bad day I had things have started to go better for me. I am going to speak with my video production crew tomorrow and we'll look over what we have. I have started my essay and have done about 1000 words which should be half the essay, its to be handed in on Friday so it looks like I'm on schedule and I have everything I'm going to need for my weeks break in Spain. Seems all I have to do is survive my drive lesson today finish and hand in my essay for Friday and have two goods shifts at work. One today and one on Saturday. How hard can that be?

JODYSERINITYFAN

:smile: hey firefly n serinity fans:smile:

ASIANSOLO

Well we contacted the insurance company and was told to wait for a call in order to see the damage to my wife's car. Yes, that storm hit hard around here, mostly the north side of town where my wife works.There is alot of damaged cars here. But outside of that nothing big is going on at work. The deers are fat and lazy, they walk around as if they own the base, well maybe they do. They are not afraid of us, many times I have to stop the brush truck (wildland fire fighting vehicle) and wait until the deers have finished crossing the road. Not at a run like most, but these deers stroll across the roadway like they have all day to cross.