Diagnosis

So...... I mentioned back in July that I was seeing a Neurologist to try and clear up what had been feeling like, and what had already been diagnosed by other doctors as, Restless Leg Syndrome. This Neurologist had already decided I was too young for RLS, and promptly sent me for an EEG, where they tested my brain waves and put goop in my hair, an EMG where they tested how fast the nerves in my legs sent signals to my brain by using something similar to a taser on legs, and an MRI.

Well a normal 2 out of 3 ain't bad!

My EMG was the only one that came back with positive results. The verdict was neurophathy, which maybe isn't so 'positive'... The doc wasn't so decisive on the cause, but did mention that neuropathy is an early indicator of diabetes. You know, that disease that is completely preventable? And one that both of my grandparents suffered from?

Yeeeeah.

So this diagnosis, along with some other things, is what really pushed me to make some lifestyle changes/choices.

Never in my life did I picture myself sitting across from a doctor at the age of 25 discussing diabetes. Or weight. Or health in general. Talk about scare you straight.

Right now we're working to find something to calm the inflammation in my legs. And no, we haven't found it yet... And as you well know, I'm working to get back down to my fightin' weight.

There just seems to be a bunch of little glitches that have added up over the years... And it's either been because I've switched insurance so many times, or because the symptoms have come and gone, or because I've been just plain lazy, but it seems they're all catching up to me now. I'm hoping by taking care of some, that others might take care of themselves.

Wishful thinking? ...You don't say.

To one of the best...

HAPPY 20TH SEASON! ... MUCH LOVE!!

...keep 'em coming Groening... (:

"Turn Me On, Dead Man"

The following will tell the fascinating story of why Paul McCartney felt the need to let the world know that he was still alive and with us on the cover of Time Magazine in 1969, and why one dj's accidental report of a fatal car accident in England caused mass hysteria in Detroit, MI and beyond.

.....My first quarter of college, I took this PR class with this enormous, boisterous, collection of energy for a professor. He was extremely entertaining... We didn't know much about him other than he preferred to be in the audience, he wore a lot of black, and he worked as a preacher on the weekends.

Our grade basically depended on this big final project, where we had to take something... Literally anything... Analyze it, then break it down and present it to the class.

It didn't take me long to decide what my project would be based on, being the Beatles freak that I am/was. In fact, I had just come across this insane conspiracy theory about Paul's untimely death in 1966 and the remaining Beatles' (namely John's) attempt to cover it up. Starting with Sgt Pepper's, but culminating on Abbey Road... Both through their lyrics and album contents. The theory leans entirely on the the crux that instead of admitting to Paul dying in a car crash and possibly slowing down their success, the remaining three held a look-alike contest, and the winner, William Shears, was soon filling in for Paul everywhere... Press junkets, on covers, in photoshoots, etc. He was introduced in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band as "Billy Shears". There is said to be only one discernible difference between the two, and that is a scar that the 'real' Paul had right above the left side of his lip.

My project basically picked apart the clues that had been uncovered by fans obsessed by the theory. There are literally hundreds of lyrical, visual, play-it-backwards, add-it-up-type clues out there... Which I fully encourage you to explore, but for the sake of a focused post and one that won't take forever to write, I'll pick apart the Abbey Road cover... And perhaps explain a bit about why the lyrics scared people into believing our beloved Paul was a goner.

- Abbey Road, 1969 -

• To start, if you'll notice, some have taken the four to be resembling a funeral procession. John, being dressed in all white as the priest, Ringo in black as the undertaker, Paul is barefoot (as corpses are not traditionally buried in shoes), his eyes are closed and he is out of step with the other three, and George is dressed casually, suggesting he is the grave digger.
• Paul is also seen to be holding his cigarette (called "coffin nails" in England around this time) in his right hand, while widely known to be left handed, furthering speculation that an impostor was in his place.
• The white VW bug in the background's license plate reads "LMW 28IF"... Some have interpreted this to mean "Linda McCartney Weeps, 28 If"... Because on the release date of this album, Paul would have been '28 if' he had lived.
• Did you notice the hearse on the right?
  
• There are three men standing on the sidewalk to the left, all dressed in white. These men are said to represent the three remaining, living Beatles.

Lyrical Story Line... Many took "A Day in the Life" to explain the events that took place the morning Paul stormed off in the middle of a recording session for the Sgt. Pepper's album at 5am in 1966: He blew his mind out in a car/ He didn't notice that the lights had changed / A crowd of people stood and stared / They'd seen his face before / Nobody was really sure if he was from the house of Lords.

And perhaps the most spirited of the findings, was on the White Album (where else?). People claim if you listen to "Revolution 9", and the part where a deep voice repeats ...number 9... number 9... number 9... backwards, you can distinctly hear ...turn me on, dead man... turn me on, dead man... turn me on, dead man... Of course, you'll need vinyl to test the theory. And I'd gladly loan you mine, if I wasn't so anal about scratching it up. Let's just take the crazies' word for it, k?

......In the Life magazine interview reassuring fans that he was not dead, McCartney stated, "Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated," and paraphrasing Mark Twain, he continued, "However, if I was dead, I'm sure I'd be the last to know."

Girls Gone Wild

Last weekend, for Wynn's 1st, we decided to take the monsters down to American River and swim and hike and stuff. ...This was Wynn's first trip to the river, and while we were sad to see that some of our favorite trails were overgrown... (Well, more scratched up than sad, actually... after not believing they were overgrown and diving head first through bushes to try and find the non-existent path I was sure was there)... We made new trails and found new spots.

I love that our dogs love water. Nothing is more entertaining.

Copy cats.

Do you see that little nub? That's Thel's head.
I think she's finally realizing there's a world of swimming
beyond just having your feet touch the ground.

Splash loud and carry a big stick.

Husband with the munchkin.

Heirloom

While digging through my hope chest today, I came across these hand-stitched table linens. My father's mother passed when I was in 8th grade, and my aunt was nice enough to pass these on to me. I certainly didn't realize/appreciate the treasure I was inheriting then...

50 minutes later...

I think doctors have it in their heads that if they move you from the lobby to the exam room that maybe the wait will seem shorter. Or that maybe you won't realize how late they really are.

I can't stand unpunctual people. (This rule really mostly applies to professionals.) ...And you know, I'll give you a few courtesy f-ups, but if your tardiness is perpetual, I mean, that's just outright inconsiderate. There's only so many times I can be inundated by the same educational, pharmaceutically-sponsored posters on these walls. ...The tissue was sponsored. The Tissue.

That "M.D." at the end of your name does not give you a pass on everyday decency. So keep your damn appointment times.

WWYD

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?"

~ Robert Schuller

tisk tisk

Looks like somebody didn't do their homework...

...I'm just teasing. See my white flag? It's right here. What? You don't see it? That's odd.

UPDATE (9/25):

Way to rack 'em up, John..........thanks A.

Also, I'd like to state for the record - My beef really is with Palin, and less with John. I just find his tactics a little shifty here, and leave it to me to call him on it.

UPDATE (9/26):

I think Johnny came to his senses and decided this debate thing was too big to back out of... Debate's ON, bitches!

(photo courtesy of Reuters; article 1 cached for your pleasure, article 2 cached the same)