*blink*

Has it really been almost two weeks since I last posted something?

Activity here at Rocket Jones will continue to be very light until further notice. Lots going on in real life.

I am *not* shutting this place down. In fact, I've got a redesign in mind, but it'll take a while to get to it.

When I first started this place - and then moved to Munuviana thanks to Pixy Misa - I had disposable time which has since evaporated. Liz was up and about, still working, and we had kids at home to help with the daily stuff. Since then, Liz's condition has deteriorated to where her mobility is severely restricted and all of the kids have flown the nest (which is a very good thing). So my daily to-do list has gotten much longer.

My health has been a distraction as well. There was the thyroid thing and this week I go in to have a skin cancer removed. I was really pissed off at the dermatologist, because I don't care how common or well-behaved it may be, you don't drop the "c" word on someone that casually. Having been outrageously healthy my entire life, this last year has messed with my mind some. I've always been the one supporting the person with a medical problem, and now the focus is on me and I'm not handling *that* nearly as well.

Other hobbies have shuffled in the priority stack, as they tend to do. I have a large backlog of movies to watch and review. My guitar has been calling out to me to be picked up much more often. My cooking and baking has gotten better and more ambitious. Next spring begins yet another relandscaping of the backyard, now that the front yard is complete. Rocket is rockets.

And, believe it or not, I'm excited about an upcoming video game release. We haven't owned a console since the original Nintendo (bought way late after the prices came down). The last games I spent any real time playing on the PC were Starcraft and Myst, which were both many, many years ago. I've recently discovered that Starcraft II is due out next year, and I can't wait! Ten years after the original and with a major updating in the technology behind the game, I'm replaying the original now to get back into what little groove I had going.

So that's what's been up. I'll still be around, and probably commenting more at your places. I'll still be posting the occasional recipe and movie reviews, and I still post reviews over at Wildside Cinema (their completely redesigned website will be opening on December 15th).

I'm not pining for the fjords, I'm much too busy for that.

Posted by: Ted at 09:00 AM | category: Seriously
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Friends and long-time visitors know that my wife has fibromyalgia. She can no longer drive or work, and outside of our home she must use a wheelchair. Now there's a new fibromyalgia website with lots of information about the disease. It's worth a read, because with 6 million Americans suffering from fibromyalgia, chances are you know someone who's dealing with it.

Posted by: Ted at 05:37 AM | category: Seriously
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That was a huge weight falling from our shoulders. Liz heard from the cardiologist yesterday, and everything is absolutely normal. Everybody had already expected that, but it's great to hear it from the specialist. She's also been cleared to start back on her regular meds, and she's doing fine with her convalescence.

Thanks again to everyone who's sent email, left comments, and thunked good thoughts or sent prayers our way.

Posted by: Ted at 06:13 AM | category: Seriously
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Rocket Jones has just undergone it's longest stretch of inactivity in its two year life. I've been... distracted... which is as good a word as any to describe my mind lately.

If you've been around for any length of time, you know that my wife has some rather severe medical problems (check the "seriously" and/or "boring stories" archives if you wanna know). While difficult, they're not life threatening, so we count our blessings and get on with life.

For the last couple of months, she's been seeing various specialists as they try to figure out the latest medical mystery. Each one has given us good news, in that a whole roster of very scary possibilities have been eliminated one by one. But each negative test result only ratcheted up the tension, because no one could point at something specific and say, "ah-Hah! Here's the problem!"

I've been a basket case, and I have the easy job, being the understanding and supportive husband. You can imagine the state of mind Liz has been living with.

On Tuesday I got a phone call from the Urgent Care clinic, letting me know that Liz was there with chest pains. By the time I'd gotten there, most of the lab work was complete and they knew for sure that it wasn't a heart attack. Diagnosis: stress and possible panic attack. No question as to what could be the underlying reason.

On Wednesday, we got the "ah-Hah!" moment we've been waiting for. It's not a brain tumor (thank God), but Liz will have to undergo some rather delicate surgery in the very near future. They'll be going up through the sinuses with their lasers and cameras, which is good because they won't have to drill holes in her skull. The bad part is that there is a remote possibility that she may lose her eyesight in the process. The surgery isn't all that uncommon, but there are definite risks because it's working near the finicky bits around the eyes.

Once it's done (and we're assuming it'll be successful), she'll have to stay on meds for the problem for life, and have annual checkups with the specialist.

We go on a long-overdue (and badly-needed) vacation week after next, and on the following Monday Liz goes in for her surgery.

Think good thoughts people, it couldn't hurt. Thanks.

Posted by: Ted at 05:39 PM | category: Seriously
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1 I've been wondering where you've been. You know you guys are always in my thoughts, and I'll send a little extra good ju-ju your way post-haste. Let me know if there is anything I can do -- I can be there as soon as I-95 traffic will allow!

Posted by: dawn at July 02, 2005 06:42 PM (Dh1V0)

2 Welcome back,Ted!Sorry to hear about Liz's misfortune.I hope it turns out alright.I know that this is easier said than done but don't worry about it.If there's nothing you can do right this second then it doesn't help anyways.That comes from a world of experience.I too had my head invaded with lasers and cameras about a year and a half ago.Mine was sinus surgery.I had never had that much problems with my sinuses until it reared it's ugly head suddenly one spring day.It started out with two bouts with dizziness a couple of weeks after I had the flu.Each time I almost passed out.After the first attack the dizziness went away for a while.After the second one it didn't.I still have problems with it to this day.However,it was the invesitgation into the dizziness that led to the discovery of the sinus problems.They just kept swelling until they finally closed themselves off completly.I couldn't breath well or even hardly swallow.If I had not had my surgery when I did the concensus is that I would have eventually choked to death in my sleep because I also have sleep apnea on top of it all.
Well anyhow I still have problems with dizziness.For some reason the humidity this summer has helped it.Don't ask me why because I have not a clue.Plus,I now take Flonase and Advair for sinuses and Asthma.Remember how jumpy I used to be at the launches?It was the meds.They're steroid based and they make you fidgety and nervous as hell.Not nearly as bad as their oral counterparts that they gave me at first though.Those things are a real rollercoaster ride.zooooom!!!! then screeeeeech!!! ooooowwww!!!
Anyhow y'all enjoy your 4th and don't worry too much.

Posted by: Russ at July 02, 2005 07:02 PM (ObxzR)

3 >>>>Good Thoughts>>>>

Best wishes to Liz for a safe procedure, and a full and speedy recovery.

Posted by: JohnL at July 02, 2005 07:51 PM (gplif)

4 It's good that they found out what it is, a little nerve wracking that she has do have surgery. All my best thoughts to you all there, have a good holiday and I hope everything goes without a hitch.

*ohmmm.. good thoughts.... ohmmm*

lol

Posted by: Oorgo at July 02, 2005 09:00 PM (4R+lz)

5 The good news, of course, is that they think they have isolated the problem, and there's a good chance they can beat it into submission with a procedure with which they have experience.

Look at it that way and it becomes less scary.

Posted by: CGHill at July 02, 2005 11:50 PM (AUDQP)

6 Well, life is nothing if not an adventure. The trick is learning how not to be surprised.

Will Liz be joining us on the 12th?!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at July 03, 2005 02:36 AM (1aD6w)

7 Thinking all the good thoughts I can come up with. Have a great holiday, and my very best wishes to Liz.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at July 03, 2005 02:45 AM (+S1Ft)

8 I admit I was getting a little worried too. All of our best wishes for Liz, and please call us if there's anything we can do.

Posted by: nic at July 03, 2005 06:53 AM (IBRcA)

9 All of you are in my thoughts. All of my best.

Posted by: Tink at July 03, 2005 08:16 AM (3yWKZ)

10 I hope everything goes as well as possible for you both.

Posted by: Maelstrom at July 03, 2005 09:33 AM (319UO)

11 I'd like to add my warmest wishes also...and second Nic's suggestion to call us if there's anything we can do to help.

Posted by: Victor at July 03, 2005 04:42 PM (IBRcA)

12 Thinking of you & Liz + the rest of the family...

Posted by: Cindy at July 03, 2005 08:49 PM (aTTRh)

13 First, since it's now the 4th, Happy 4th.
Second, I'd like to add my own wishes to the bunch. I hope everything goes smoothly and as planned.

Posted by: Paul at July 04, 2005 05:29 AM (TsODD)

14 Hey, happy 4th, hope things with the wife improve!

On an unrelated note, I blew some shit up in your memory last night ted. I guess none of my rockets were as carefully crafted as yours, but the went pretty high before blowing up!

Posted by: shank at July 04, 2005 02:51 PM (jfEhX)

15 Thanks everyone for the kind words and good thoughts.

Shank, if the rocket held together long enough to do the job *boom*, then it was perfectly built. Mine are designed to fly over and over without the boom - my all-time veteran is approaching 50 flights, but I know of a couple high power rockets with 70-some and over 100 flights each - so we tend to use better materials and stronger construction methods, not necessarily better craftsmanship.

Posted by: Ted at July 04, 2005 04:27 PM (+OVgL)

16 Good Thoughts being furiously thunked here in Australia.

I've had a few interesting health problems of my own recently, still not explained. Glad that they'v found out what the problem is with Liz, even more glad it's amenable to treatment.

Time for some more Good Thoughts again. Hope they help.

Posted by: Alan E Brain at July 06, 2005 12:29 AM (tAq8A)

17 I hope everything goes well. An aside related to heads, medicine, and your story above about joking around with daughters ... a couple of years ago, my daughter needed her head x-rayed. I asked the technician if she found evidence of a brain.

Posted by: wheels at July 07, 2005 12:43 AM (pSq2X)

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There's been quite a bit happening around the ol' household the last couple of weeks.

First up, my son is looking for his own place. He's been living at home for almost a year now after doing his hitch in the Navy, and I've decided that it's time for him to get out there and tackle the world on his own.

Yep, I threw him out.

He's looking at places to live nearer his work (he's got a pretty good job, but the commute from our house is a real bitch), and the plan is for him to be out by the end of the month. Call it tough love, but sometimes if you don't kick 'em out of the nest they never learn to fly.

Secondly, and even more exciting, is related to that odd little post about googling 36CC and 36HH. Our health insurance has approved a breast reduction for our oldest daughter, Robyn. She is, ah, over-endowed* shall we say, and has suffered from chronic back pain since the age of 14. Thanks to the foresight of our wonderful family doctor, it's been documented the entire time. Robyn is just shy of 21 years old now, and my health plan has agreed that physical therapy and other non-surgical methods have been ineffective, and that in the long run a reduction would be best for her health. I can blog this because she said it was ok, plus she's already called all her friends** and relatives to let them know. Yep, we're all excited and happy for her.

So my household shall soon be rid of three big boobs.

Oh look, I made a funny.

*At 36HH, she left Barbie in the dust long ago.

**So far my favorite reactions*** have come from some of her male friends, who suggest that she should wait awhile before going through with it, because "you might like them that big when you get older". That, my friends, is looking out for your fellow man.

***My second favorite reaction comes from some of her female friends, who freak out when they find out that dad is taking her to the hospital because mom can't get the day off of work.

Posted by: Ted at 12:08 PM | category: Seriously
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Sears is dead to me. After being bumped up the chain of command at least three times, the latest drone dealt with the pissed-off customer by sending a check. It wasn't for the full amount from our list of damages, but it was close.

It was a shut-them-the-hell-up check, because there was no phone call and no apology. I meant an apology for having to go through this mess in the first place. For all the people I wound up talking to about this situation, only two even bothered to say "I'm sorry", from the rest it was "prove that it's our fault". When I wasn't being patronized I was being treated like a liar and a thief.

Sears will be gone soon. Their corporate attitude has gone to hell and their customer service is a joke. You cannot stay in business with that mindset. I was a longtime customer, my workshop is full of Craftsman tools, my appliances were almost all purchased through Sears. If I needed paint, I'd wait for a sale at Sears.

Never again. Ever.

Posted by: Ted at 05:51 AM | category: Seriously
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Scary title, eh? I'm not personally thinking of committing suicide, but I have been thinking about what it is and what it means.

This line of thought was triggered (no pun intended) by someone I didn't even know, who recently took their own life for reasons unknown to me. That's most of the details I have, and I don't need to know more because it's none of my business, and I refuse to disrespect that individual simply to satisfy my morbid curiousity. They obviously had reasons of their own, but I'll never understand how someone can come up with that final equation.

If it's so bad that death seems like the only answer, then doesn't it make sense to believe that things can only get better?

Like probably everyone else, I've pondered suicide at one time or another. And like most people, it's been fleeting and never taken very seriously. More of a "what if?" kinda thought.

And I think that might be a key. I don't even pretend to know what's going through someone's head in that situation, but if you can think beyond the moment then you probably don't really want to do it. I've never been able to think of my own death as a final thing, there's always consequences and repurcussions to consider among those I'll leave behind. Dying is only final for the one who stops breathing. Everyone else still has to deal with it.

There's definitely an element of selfishness involved too. Simple rule: if you're gonna kill yourself, please be kind enough to leave something behind to explain why. It doesn't have to be a twenty page self-psychoanalysis, but that wouldn't be a bad thing. Don't leave friends and family staring at each other and asking "why?".

I think I'm a reasonable guy, and so there are many situations I can think of where suicide might be acceptable or even preferable. It doesn't even bother me to think that way, because not everyone thinks like me, or sees the world like I do. Still, I wish I could've been there to help in some way. Maybe just to listen or lend a shoulder to cry on. To try to point out some small sliver of silver lining they might not have thought of. To keep them from feeling so damned alone. To try to understand.

Posted by: Ted at 08:46 AM | category: Seriously
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1 I wonder why more people don't opt to do it in a less messy way. I always figured that if I was going to Do the Deed, I would arrange it so that I was on a tarp, had a sufficient backstop so that I didn't hit any innocent bystanders, etc.

Of course, that sort of thinking might be exactly why I'll never commit suicide.

Posted by: Phelps at November 11, 2004 10:48 AM (HlHi7)

2 Yeah, that is a scary title. And it wouldn't matter if a person left a 100-page, point-by-point list of reasons, the survivors (family & friends) will still be wondering why, and what-if.

"Still, I wish I could've been there to help in some way. Maybe just to listen or lend a shoulder to cry on. To try to point out some small sliver of silver lining they might not have thought of. To keep them from feeling so damned alone."

You probably do this every day. You probably hold a door open and say good morning to a coworker, you help a kid lauch a rocket, you take an interest in a sullen teen friend of your daughter. You never know which person out there is in desperate need of a kind gesture, and sometimes the smallest act from a stranger can have a big impact.

Posted by: nic at November 11, 2004 03:25 PM (JijW0)

3 I've also been thinking about why people kill themselves lately, as did Iris Chang, author of the Nanking Massacre. Regrettably, she did more than think about it. It is, probably all the time, a very selfish act.

Posted by: RP at November 12, 2004 07:54 AM (LlPKh)

4 To keep them from feeling so damned alone.

That's the msster's choice, in't it? To selflessly go where s/he wont go alone...?

I've come to believe that some people choose suicide (i.e.: die of lonliness) because they are tragically chronically lonesome. But also that they are distraught. Not just from lonliness, but from Life itself.

As hard as it is to try to put ourselves into the head of someone who actually goes and does it, it's even harder to understand what true lonliness even is.

Even when we're most alone we are never apart from our imagination. To feel so alone that he'd wanna just end it all probably means that he was in a state of mind that we will hopefully never completely understand.

I don't think of suicide as a selfish act but as an act of profound surrender. Selfish acts you do for your own best interests. Surrender you do for nothing.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at November 13, 2004 12:06 AM (7741C)

5 The thought crosses my mind all the time now. Mom's got a bit of a suicidal streak herself, and I've yelled at her for years about it, telling her that's just great, and gee thanks for not considering what that would do to me. But I've been so despondent lately that I've found myself realizing how very easy it would be to plow the car off a bridge or into a landfill somewhere. And I hate having those thoughts because I still have a lot of people I haven't sufficiently pissed off enough to say I led a fulfilling life. If I can't change the world, then damn it, I need to make certain people wish they were dead when they see me rise to be successful again!

Posted by: dawn at November 15, 2004 06:41 PM (Rgkju)

6 From someone that is completely and utterly despondent and suicidal....I actually believe that I would be doing those around me a favor (that they won't see) by killing myself. See, if I am not around to do damage to them because I am so angry, lonely, full of self hate and worthlessness then they will be better off. Until you have starved, you can not contemplate the feeling. Until you have been abused you can not contemplate the affect and the destruction. Until you have been abandoned, you can not know the lonliness...and I am not talking about some teenage love where I was left. I am talking about being abandoned as a child and some how being overlooked over and over and being abused over and over....knowing in one part of my brain that I am not worthless, but not being able to own it because the actions of others speak louder than words.....Don't tell me I am being selfish because I am the poison in the pond killing the fish.

Posted by: Cheese at January 25, 2005 10:38 AM (hua8b)

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For my friend and co-worker will be this afternoon. To be buried with full military honors (retired Air Force) at Quantico National Cemetary.

Posted by: Ted at 06:54 AM | category: Seriously
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I missed work Tuesday and Wednesday with a stomach bug, and when I got to the office this morning, an email was waiting, informing me that a close co-worker at my last project had passed away Saturday evening.

This friend was about my age, and found out about three months ago that he had an agressive form of cancer. The last time I talked to his wife, just before I started this new job (what, three weeks?), she said he was fighting hard and doing fine.

I've been distracted all day, and just got home a little while ago from the viewing. I'm not very good at dealing with these kinds of situations.

Posted by: Ted at 07:53 PM | category: Seriously
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Back. Tired. All good. Work tomorrow. Sleep...

Posted by: Ted at 10:07 PM | category: Seriously
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Life happens, be back in a day or two.

Posted by: Ted at 12:15 AM | category: Seriously
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1 Ted,
Hope everything works out for the best.

Posted by: chris at May 23, 2004 10:43 AM (zH1Gw)

2 Best hopes, ol' bean.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at May 23, 2004 07:16 PM (yoDB/)

3 I hope everything is ok. I will be thinking about you.

Posted by: Tink at May 23, 2004 08:23 PM (9NFDn)

4 I hope everything works out.

Posted by: Blogeline at May 24, 2004 08:10 AM (O27QY)

5 Eeek, that doesn't sound good. Hope everything works itself out.

Posted by: Dawn at May 24, 2004 12:35 PM (Ev/7m)

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Yesterday I was involved in a ‘situation’ in our neighborhood, and I’m not quite sure how to deal with it.

A little background to start (I don’t have all the details, but this is the gist of it): late one night a year or two ago, a dog was barking for an extended period of time. It turned out to be a pit bull owned by a neighbor’s boyfriend and it had “gotten loose” in the front yard. Apparently it went after a pizza-delivery guy, who then called the cops, and when the officer arrived, the dog went after the cop. Bang bang, dead dog.

Fast forward to last week. I get home from work and some bozo is walking the neighborhood with two pit bull pups running loose. They’re not far from full-grown. I called out to the guy and walked up to talk to him. Trying to get the point across about keeping the dogs leashed without being a prick about it, I told him about the cop shooting the loose dog. His response was “yeah, that was my dog.” So much for learning the lesson. Sheesh.

I did see him walking the dogs another day, and they were on leashes.

My front yard is enclosed by a picket fence, and I let my dogs out there to play. My dogs are territorial, and will sometimes bark at kids running by on the sidewalk or riding their bikes. Most of the neighborhood kids are used to it, and they get along fine.

Yesterday our dogs were out front and suddenly we heard a huge commotion going on. I ran upstairs to see what was going on, and those two pit bulls were running free again and were at the fence barking at my dogs, who were nose to nose with them yapping right back. Our younger dog came inside immediately when called, but Sam the old-timer held his ground.

I went out and picked him up, and suddenly I was face to face with one of the pit bulls trying to come over the fence at me. Not even thinking about it, I stood there and stared down the pup while holding my dog under one arm, away from the fence. The pup retreated and I took Sam inside.

In the meantime someone had run to get the owners girlfriend, who was trying to get the pups back to her yard. I was pretty pissed off, so I said something I figured would get her attention: “Next time, I’m calling the cops.” Her reply was something along the lines of “I didn’t let them out on purpose.” I absolutely believe her, but still, those dogs went after mine in their own yard, and one of them almost came over the fence at me. Couple that with boyfriend letting them run loose, and it’s two strikes. We have too many young kids in the neighborhood to risk strike three. I don’t blame the dogs, but the owner(s) haven’t shown me that they’re responsible enough to keep dogs with that kind of damage potential.

Later I realized just how close it had been. If that dog had really wanted to get me, that picket fence would have been no barrier at all.

I’m now keeping a bat near the door, and the wife and Mookie have been instructed in no uncertain terms that if they see those pups running free, they’re to call the cops, and to make sure they mention “pit bulls”.

What would you do? Am I overreacting?

Update: Upon further reflection, I've refined the "standing orders" for Liz and Mookie. If that situation happens again, they're to look out the window before opening the door. If our dogs are alone in our yard, they can open the door (with the stick ready) and call our dogs in. If things aren't too crazy, they can step out onto the front porch but have to hold the door open just in case. No way do they let that door close behind them because they have to have a way to retreat if needed. I made it clear that I'd rather lose our dogs than have the ladies hurt. Also, the stick is more for distraction than for clubbing. Give the dog something to go after and buy a few seconds while getting back inside.

We know we'll probably never need to do this, but just knowing ahead of time what to do makes it easier to deal with.

I also pointed out that this is another situation where having a pistol and knowing how to use it would be helpful.

Posted by: Ted at 02:16 PM | category: Seriously
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1 Absolutely not. I would have the cops over every time you saw one of them running loose. Even if the police visit doesn't end with a dog being shot - eventually (and from the sound of it it mike take five or six times) the owner might get the message.

I don't know what the law is in your area, but at a minimum the owner should be cited and fined. Better yet, the animal control department should take them away.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at April 19, 2004 03:02 PM (UquFN)

2 Depending on local law, the cops may or may not be able to do anything. Call animal control first. Depending on pet restraint laws (i.e., do you have leash laws), they may be able to take the dogs and charge a fine for the owner to get them back. This serves as a good warning. Also, many areas have a one strike law for dogs and this would be viewed as a strike.

This frustrates me to no end because I go out of my way and expend cash on fences and such to keep my dogs restrained, but someone will let theirs run up to my yard without a second thought.

Posted by: SayUncle at April 19, 2004 03:30 PM (SUkYl)

3 Youre not over-reacting. In California there's no one-bite rule. if those dogs bite anybody the owner is automatically liable the first time. They sound vicious and the owners need to assume responsibility. Its not an excuse that they didn't let them out on purpose and if they had bitten anyone, it wouldn't be a defense to a lawsuit.

Posted by: annika at April 19, 2004 05:03 PM (zAOEU)

4 Lots of areas here require *by law* that pit bulls be muzzled in public or if there is a risk of them getting loose. Unmuzzled pit bulls that have escaped get put down. We used to have a neighbour with a pit bull that used to tackle all the roos in the area. After taking down three or four he made the mistake of taking the whole group and the old man roo took him out.

Posted by: Ozguru at April 19, 2004 05:31 PM (AR90G)

5 I'm glad you are handy with a baseball bat. Anyone who would be so irresponsible with two animals like that has no right to own them. Pit bulls are bred for a certain attitude, just like border collies. Buying a border collie when you live in a 12th floor apartment is stupid. Having two pit bulls running loose is criminally stupid. Or should be. It's bad for the dogs and bad for the neighborhood. Your neighbor's testosterone OD has shriveled what little brain he started with.

Posted by: Doug Pratt at April 19, 2004 06:27 PM (Ee9SX)

6 You tried to be a friendly, helpful neighbor, but what's to stop the little runts from coming back and terrorizing your well-behaved four-pawed friends and the humans who love them? I'd call animal control to find out what your options are, then give them a friendly warning about two vicious little pit bulls and the equally frothing-at-the-mouth boyfriend. Maybe they'll shoot him instead of the dogs!

Posted by: Dawn at April 19, 2004 08:13 PM (Ev/7m)

7 SayUncle - we've got a leash law for dogs, there isn't one for cats (go figure). Good idea about calling animal control ahead of time, they do make an occasional appearance, but I've never seen them actually collect an animal.

And I know what you mean about fences and such. Several of us in the neighborhood have put up picket fences in the past few years for just this reason.

annika - I really don't know if they're vicious or not. They still act like pups, and I wasn't scared when it happened. It was after it was all over that I thought about what might have happened...

Oz - a pet roo, now that's a thought!

Posted by: Ted at April 19, 2004 08:46 PM (ZjSa7)

8 Hell NO you weren't overreacting.

We had the same situation in our neighborhood and all it took to become a non-issue was for that big ol' dog to jump his fence and start charging for my husband and me.

Funnily enough, he reacted the same way I imagine most would when confronted with a .45 pointed right at them: he yelped and ran back home.

Posted by: Emma at April 19, 2004 09:46 PM (kpNlZ)

9 You didn't overreact at all.

Kat at Mostly Fluff just posted about a 12-year-old boy in her neighborhood who was mauled by a pit bull.

Here's the link:
http://www.mostlyfluff.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_mostlyfluff_archive.html#108231461518481478

Posted by: Cindy at April 19, 2004 11:11 PM (qdUqR)

10 I think you did the right thing.
If there are rules or laws and somebody ignores them it is one thing to go over and talk to them, but when they keep on doing what they are not supposed to, you have to call the police or animal control.

Posted by: Blogeline at April 20, 2004 08:22 AM (O27QY)

11 Thanks Cindy for that link! What a frightening story.

Posted by: Ted at April 20, 2004 09:09 AM (blNMI)

12 If you're faced with one Pitt Bull in full feeding frenzy, grab its lower jaw with your left hand. the canine teeth will sink into the flesh, between the bones.
You can the put it in a choke hold (recommended, as otherwise it could "worry" your arm and cause severe wounds), poke its eyes out, or just cover its nostrils till it asphyxiates. If you weigh over 70 Kg, just fall on it and crush it.
Remember to *immediately* wash the wound well to remove saliva and seek medical attention before going into shock, or just gibbering in the corner.
Yes, I speak from personal experience. It worked for me, the dog survived and got muzzled thereafter, and no-one got seriously hurt.
It was a one-off, the dog owner was responsible, unlike your situation.
If faced by 2 pitt bulls - your baseball bat idea sounds good.
(Name witheld as I don't want to sound like some Macho idiot)

Posted by: Name Withheld By Request at April 20, 2004 09:11 AM (9BQ0J)

13 Chuck the baseball bat. That is a good way to get mauled or killed. Get a good form of defense. If it was good enough for the cop, it is good enough for you.

Posted by: Phelps at April 20, 2004 07:21 PM (HlHi7)

14 Name Withheld,
Why in the world would I stick my left hand into the demon's mouth when I could - when it leaps at me - grab it's throat with two hands and just hold him up and choke him 'til he passes out? Granted he's a muscular bastard, but if I lock my elbows, he ain't gettin' his canines anywhere near my flesh.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 20, 2004 08:48 PM (KR1AK)

15 In all the little scenarios running through my head, I keep coming back to a gun (best choice) or something in each hand. A small bat or club (I'm not talking about a full-size baseball bat) which is more for warding or giving an alternate target, and in the other hand something sturdy and pointed to stab with. Actually, I think a couple of umbrellas would work in a pinch, assuming you kept your wits and know from the start that the idea is that you're going to kill the dog. Eyes, behind the ribcage, right down the throat, whatever it takes.

Posted by: Ted at April 21, 2004 07:25 AM (blNMI)

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March 2004 will go down in the family history as one rotten month all around. Good riddance! Here's a partial rundown, because I need to vent a little, but I'm going to stay vague about some things.

1. Liz's trip to the emergency room when they discovered a mass in her head. She's fine, no problem, getting taken care of.

2. Two other family medical situations, both potentially severe in the long term. One was discovered very early and wil be taken care of in the immediate future, the other one is pretty much untreatable.

3. Me getting the flu or whatever the hell it was. It's been a long while since I've felt that lousy for that long a time. Getting better.

4. Still medical-related, a friend and co-worker was diagnosed with an agressive cancer. It started a month or two ago, and it doesn't look like he'll survive the year. He's right around my age.

5. We had a serious Mookie issue that I won't go into other than to say trust was betrayed. To her credit, she admitted it, feels terrible, and knows she screwed up (none of this "you don't understand, you're being unfair" nonsense). We're working through it together.

6. At work, I got notice that my position is being terminated. I work for a great company, and the day they called to tell me that, they pointed me at a possible new position, which I'll interview for in the next week or two. I expect I'll still have a job with my company, just in a different place. Because I didn't have enough stress going on in my life, fate added this little cherry on top.

So all in all, we're doing fine. There was nothing there that doesn't happen to many people every day, it just didn't have to happen all in one month, ya know? Thanks to my wife Liz, who helps me stay sane (and I, her), and Mookie (who's a good kid if a little odd sometimes), and the two who've already gone out into the big bad world, I know that there's more right with Ted's Universe than wrong.

Thanks also to my friends who let me vent (you know who you are), and those who sent emails and comments. You're appreciated and cherished.

I feel better now. It's a whole new month...

Posted by: Ted at 05:46 AM | category: Seriously
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1 Good luck with the position change. Hope you will still have time to keep up the blog - I certainly enjoy it.

Posted by: Ozguru at April 01, 2004 06:11 AM (pir/c)

2 Oogle. Yeah, sometimes you just need to put the old month behind you and set out into the new.

Best wishes and fingers crossed for all involved.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 01, 2004 06:42 AM (+S1Ft)

3 {Ted}

That's a hug--and I wish you a great April!

Posted by: Susie at April 01, 2004 09:10 AM (dD4I4)

4 It is really funny (not haha), how sometimes it seems it can't get any worse and then other times you feel like it's going too good and something bad is going to happen.
Good Luck!
You know that good times will come soon....

Posted by: Blogeline at April 01, 2004 02:02 PM (O27QY)

5 I too bid good riddance to March. (spit!)

Seriously, though, I hope things go much better for you in April. Good luck with the interview, etc.

Posted by: Jennifer at April 01, 2004 03:11 PM (DdBLw)

6 Hmmm, perhaps my share of crap tunneled through the Muniverse and straight to you... March was pretty uneventful for me -- no good or bad stuff, just blah. Sorry, 'bout that. I'll try to pick up the slack this month, ol' bean!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 01, 2004 09:51 PM (TNcjc)

7 2004 has so far Sucked. Just been told the 14-yr-old son of a good friend died in a climbing accident last week. I'm still helping another friend whose wife died on New Year's Eve.

I've been unemployed now for 3 months, but that's not big deal - we have our health.

Hope that Karmic balance is soon restored, with all your problems solved. Good Luck and Best Wishes.

Posted by: Alan E Brain at April 01, 2004 11:23 PM (ZtWwy)

8 Let's be right about it, no one really likes March. Even those with birthdays in March. So good riddance I say.

Posted by: Simon at April 02, 2004 05:31 AM (UKqGy)

9 Sending good thoughts your way. Your attitude seems like the type that you will soon be turning things around. Best wishes.

Posted by: John Lanius at April 02, 2004 10:12 PM (QpV7d)

10 March is absolutely the longest month of the year. Day-um. You've survived, and with a smile on your face, no less! I hope that you've gotten your ass kicked enough by fate in March to last the whole year through. *hugs*

Posted by: Dawn at April 07, 2004 01:57 PM (L6pam)

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We have two dogs, a two year old Toy Poodle named Trix and a ten year old Terrier named Sam. And although we've almost always had at least one dog (and had as many as three), because of being in the military, weÂ’ve never had a dog long enough to get old before*. WeÂ’re getting into new territory for us when it comes to Sam.

If human grandpa gets old and cranky, you deal with it. Same with an old dog, to a point, because even though heÂ’s part of the family, itÂ’s still a pet. I understand people who spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on vet bills for an elderly or sick pet, but I wouldnÂ’t do it myself. I think some people wait too long to put down a beloved pet, sometimes you just have to let go.

Sam is getting older. HeÂ’s still got a lot of play in him, and he gets around pretty good. HeÂ’s some years from the end, but heÂ’s at the age where IÂ’m beginning to think about it.

Lately, heÂ’s taken to peeing on the floor in the house. HeÂ’ll go into the pantry and lift his leg against the garbage can, or downstairs in my workshop or the basement. Like a cranky old man, he doesn't take correction well, and it's getting worse. Why is he doing this? It might be the cold weather bothering his old bones, I don't know. He still goes out (we've got a doggie door to the backyard) during the day, so I'd almost think it was lazyness. Stubborn? I'd believe that before lazy.

Have you ever gone through this with a pet? How did you handle it?

*Rather than put our dogs into quarantine for some months overseas, we'd find him or her a good home before we moved. Hard to do, but better. We got Sam after I got out, and he was a couple years old when we got him.

Posted by: Ted at 11:56 AM | category: Seriously
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Today is Liz's first day back at work after her long vacation. She didn't want to go. Ahhhh, normalcy prevails.

Posted by: Ted at 01:48 PM | category: Seriously
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1

Posted by: Pixy Misa at January 20, 2004 09:44 PM (kOqZ6)

2 yay!

Betcha she comes home wanting to never go back to work again

Posted by: Victor at January 21, 2004 12:18 PM (L3qPK)

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Work is going to be insanely busy for the next week or month or so.

Posted by: Ted at 06:20 AM | category: Seriously
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1 ..ha...I've got no work..la, la, la, la la! But then again, I get no money

Posted by: jim at January 12, 2004 04:21 PM (lN8eP)

2 Well, I am extremely busy too...Lori put me in charge of my own program. AHHHH!

Posted by: Robyn at January 12, 2004 07:12 PM (gWcjd)

3 I know how ya feel...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 12, 2004 11:44 PM (Mt4uz)

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Euphemistically, I'm big boned, hefty, cuddly, a teddy bear, healthy, a big guy, and circumferentially overachieving. I'm in shape, because round is a shape. I have the body of a god - Buddha. I'm currently on a diet. Actually, I'm on two diets, because one alone just wasn't giving me enough to eat. I'm well on my way to a career as a professional sumo wrestler. I'm thinking my sumo name would be Yomama - catchy, eh?

Realistically, I need to lose weight. I've needed to lose weight practically my entire life. Partly because I have the metabolism of a rock, and partly because I have a mostly desk-bound job and I love to eat. So it's not at all a mystery why I'm in the shape I'm in.

I'm not terribly unhealthy. My blood pressure is fine, so's my cholesterol. It doesn't kill me to climb a flight of stairs, and I don't think twice if I have to walk a mile or more to fetch a rocket.

Nobody knows more about diet and nutrition than a fat man in the military. You practically earn a degree on it as Uncle Sam counsels you and educates you. So I've seen a diet or two or twenty. Atkins is only the latest craze.

Low-fat. High-acid. Low-carb. Whatever. Here's my plan. It's called low-swallow. I'm going to quit eating so damn much. And I'm going to work up a sweat more often. Simple plan, now all I have to do is stick to it. And like anything else, now that I've announced it in my little corner of the universe, y'all can encourage me and make fun of me when I stumble. Go ahead, we're jolly you know.

Posted by: Ted at 09:27 AM | category: Seriously
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Last one of these for awhile, I promise.

Today Liz went to see her doctor. He removed her staples (14 of 'em, 11" incision), disconnected the plumbing, and - best of all - gave us the results of all the biopsies. Everything was benign. No cancer. Happy doesn't begin to describe me right now.

Posted by: Ted at 07:22 PM | category: Seriously
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1 This is wonderful news! I am so happy for your family!

Posted by: Tink at December 11, 2003 08:17 PM (Pp0b1)

2 Great news! But - ow - staples

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 11, 2003 10:10 PM (kOqZ6)

3 Excellent news! Please extend my get well wishes to Liz...I'm sure she still has some healing up to do! And bravo zulu to you, Ted. Your love for and commitment to your family comes through in every post.

Posted by: nic at December 11, 2003 11:15 PM (16A49)

4 Nic said it better than I could, Ted. I'm glad everything worked out about as well as it could. Please extend my (and the rats and guinea pigs) get-well wishes to Liz, also.

Posted by: Victor at December 12, 2003 09:17 AM (16A49)

5 *does a little happy dance*

Posted by: Dawn at December 13, 2003 09:18 PM (0zfIx)

6 Hallelujah! I'll keep praying for her rapid recovery! Best Holiday Wishes to you and all your family, too!

Nothing like getting a miracle for Christmas, eh? :-)

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at December 14, 2003 12:57 AM (TOPpF)

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Oldest daughter Robyn made it home for Christmas with no problems. She's working day #1 at her old job right now, making as much money as possible to pad her savings account before she heads back to school. She'll be working six days a week the entire time she's home, including (I think) both Christmas and New Years for holiday pay.

Liz came home from the hospital yesterday. Her doctor, her nurses, and Liz agreed that it would be a better thing than spending another day there. She'd gotten a new roomie, and from my observations, I think the lady was terminal. She was loud and (understandably) ornery, constantly demanding pain meds - which she got - and more often than not there was a nurse there to deal with her. Sometimes there were two or three. Lots of noisy machines were hooked up to her. She was being fed through an IV, but she bitched so much that they finally gave in and brought her a tray too. I overheard a doctor say basically that it didn't matter anyway.

I felt bad for her, but that's not a good environment for others to try to get well in, so they sent Liz home.

She's doing great. Slept soundly last night, and the dogs have gotten the idea that they are not allowed up in her lap. I'm at her beck and call, which would be funnier if I were a girl... 'beck and call girl'... shut up, I'm tired too, and I slept on the floor again. That's one of those character-building things my parents used to lie to me about.

Once again, thanks to all who sent well wishes and prayers. We appreciate them more than we can say. Now, I've got some half-completed interview questions to take care of.

Posted by: Ted at 12:48 PM | category: Seriously
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1 Woo hoo! Sounds like the skies are only gonna get sunnier from here!

Oh, and sleeping on the floor makes me have horrible nightmares. What's the trick? I'd hafta move a cot into the BR, or something.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at December 08, 2003 07:40 PM (sKUSu)

2 Good to hear that Liz is home and doing well.

Now I have to go and vote for you. Again

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 09, 2003 01:05 AM (LBXBY)

3 Darn, it won't let me

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 09, 2003 01:07 AM (LBXBY)

4 Bless you both...I'm glad Liz is okay.
(how're YOU doing?)

Posted by: Stevie at December 09, 2003 01:45 AM (5q9rA)

5 Glad to hear things are going well, and that the dogs are smart!

Posted by: Victor at December 09, 2003 08:22 AM (16A49)

6 Glad to hear Liz is home...hope all is well.

Posted by: Jennifer at December 09, 2003 10:23 AM (k+MKr)

7 Yay!

Posted by: LeeAnn at December 09, 2003 11:29 AM (HxCeX)

8 *shudder* Hospitals are only good for surgeries and meds. The supposed aftercare (and wretched roommates) are enough to drive you into a padded room. I'm glad Liz can come home to such an incredible nurse. Will you be in candy striper gear?

Posted by: Dawn at December 10, 2003 10:53 AM (L6pam)

9 Very glad to hear she's home and well.

Posted by: Simon at December 11, 2003 02:09 AM (GWTmv)

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Wow, I had no idea that Mookie got an email yesterday. For those who were wondering, mom and I discussed this with her a couple of weeks ago, and we had no problem with it. The only restrictions we put on it (besides the usual 'parent' ones), was that she had to arrange for her own rides back and forth because I would be busy, and that it depended on the weather.

With me spending all day at the hospital, there wasn't much difference between Mookie staying home or going to her friend's house. She doesn't like hospitals (who does?), and there just wasn't any point to her hanging around the house. I tried to get her to channel her anxiety into cleaning, but she wasn't fooled by that little ploy (and I noticed that she did do some yesterday before she left, probably a little stress-reduction on her part).

To whoever sent the email - or to those that thought the same thing - this wasn't a case of Mookie being selfish and unfeeling. I understand appearances, but this time you're wrong.

Posted by: Ted at 08:44 AM | category: Seriously
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