tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50055102024-03-13T23:27:33.102-04:00WyldWoods' Public JournalSome of my thoughts. Some of the time.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-48187335280624921112011-03-14T03:46:00.000-04:002011-03-14T03:46:28.567-04:00Sick and on the CouchI hadn't realised it had been so long since I posted. I kept meaning to check in here and would even be planning what I was going to write, but I never actually typed it in and hit Post.<br />
<br />
So... Here, in a nut shell, are a few things from the last few months:<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
I did get in touch with some of the people I was talking about at the end of <a href="http://journal.wyldwoods.net/2010/12/i-miss-christmas.html">my last post</a>.<br />
<br />
I spoke to the mother of my god-daughter and found out how both of them are doing.<br />
<br />
I got to visit with one of my brothers and enjoyed the weekend I spent there.<br />
<br />
I went and played pool with one of my best friends, who also happens to be the first friend I made when I moved over 1000km away from home, to a new town in what was, for me, a foreign country. The move was for a job with a 6-12 month contract. That was over 15 years ago.<br />
<br />
I have talked to others as well but there are still more that I have not spoken to and am looking forward to the time that I can.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
I resolved to lose weight. I have a goal in mind, and as of a couple of weeks ago I was 40 pounds above that goal. That is a lot of weight, it doesn't look as much on a 6'5" frame but it is still noticeable and I want to be rid of it.<br />
<br />
In order to help me lose the weight I am getting out and walking. My normal walk, which I told myself I would do at least 3 times a week, is 2.2 miles according to my GPS tracker. More on this below.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
I was deathly ill over Christmas. For several days I could barely keep water down and survived on Pedialyte because it was the only thing that wouldn't overtax my system. Can I tell you that it quickly gets pretty disgusting when it is the only thing you are consuming for several days. It took weeks before I started to feel even mostly myself. Then I came down with a sinus infection which lingered for a while and kept me down longer.<br />
<br />
It was somewhere in there that I fell into a depression which I am still clawing my way out of.<br />
<br />
All of this means that I have not been myself and I have not gotten out to do my walking.<br />
<br />
So, I am still about 40 pounds from my goal weight and I have been only been doing my walk once, maybe twice, a week. There have been entire weekends where I didn't leave my apartment or only got out long enough to pick up some groceries. This is changing.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
There have been several nights that I ended up sleeping on my couch.<br />
<br />
I would go to bed but couldn't fall asleep. I would get up and do ... whatever trying to relax enough to fall asleep, but would find that I just couldn't get to sleep. At least not until I laid on the couch to read. Eventually, I got to the point where if I couldn't get to sleep I would just move out to the couch and sleep there.<br />
<br />
It mostly worked.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
So this is the first of my catch-up posts. It covers a lot of things but not even close to all of it.<br />
<br />
Like my walk tonight... But that is a story for another post.<br />
<br />
For now... Goodnight.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-82259205343385724812010-12-20T23:38:00.003-05:002010-12-21T10:56:47.550-05:00I Miss ChristmasI remember Christmases as a child. Even after I had figured out Santa's secret there was still a magic to it.<br /><br />After moving out on my own I still spent Christmas with my family, and that made it special.<br /><br />It has been a couple of years since I made home and I was planning on being up there sometime during these holidays but I have been unable to go. My work visa is under review for a renewal at the moment and if I went home I would be unable to come back.<br /><br />This has had me feeling depressed lately. But, as I realized this weekend, that is only part of it. Another piece fell into place over the last 24 hours.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Those of you who have known me for a while, even if it is only from reading this blog, will remember a few years ago there was a woman in my life that I referred to as TWIL, and she had a daughter I referred to as The Sprout.<br /><br />At the time TWIL and I had discussed it and we knew that we would one day be married, we just did not officially become engaged. You will also remember I took it pretty hard when the relationship ended.<br /><br />During the time we were together The Sprout was young, pre-teen, and spending Christmas with them was wonderful. I was able to help bring the magic to others and in the process rediscover it myself.<br /><br />What I didn't realize was how much I missed this when I lost it as well...<br /><br />I miss the magic, the wonder... I miss the Christmas that was.<br /><br />It has been building in the back of my mind for the last couple of years and has only now bubbled to the surface. I hope that the revelation helps me unload some of the baggage I have been packing.<br /><br />And I hope getting this out now helps me finally get to sleep tonight. <span style="font-style:italic;">{He writes at 2AM}</span><br /><br />...<br /><br />I need to call a couple of friends soon. Check in on how they are doing.<br /><br />And see how my god-daughter is doing.<br /><br />Maybe even get out to see some of them, at least the ones close enough to get to over a weekend trip.<br /><br />For now, I need to sleep. I have work to go to in the morning.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-12556595981677262282010-07-05T21:00:00.005-04:002010-07-20T00:10:15.245-04:00Return Trip<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OeoBJZA1Jtk/TEUbfkKg_HI/AAAAAAAAAHk/ntGeLaCVXsY/s1024/2010-07-05%2015.14.47.jpg"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OeoBJZA1Jtk/TEUbfkKg_HI/AAAAAAAAAHk/ntGeLaCVXsY/s480/2010-07-05%2015.14.47.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;"/></a><br />Well, thank you. I missed you.<br /><br />Actually, I missed my bed which happens to be in MA.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-5726383231454815832010-06-11T20:58:00.001-04:002010-06-11T20:58:57.118-04:00Where I Am Right Now<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OeoBJZA1Jtk/TBLbzoV9JsI/AAAAAAAAAGA/AONmEP26420/Where%20I%20Am%20Right%20Now_img_1.jpg"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OeoBJZA1Jtk/TBLbzoV9JsI/AAAAAAAAAGA/AONmEP26420/Where%20I%20Am%20Right%20Now_img_1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left cursor: pointer; width: 320px height: 240px; " height="240px" width="320px" /></a><br><br>Free tickets to a Red Sox game? Sure I'll take them.<br />WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-71190586146293038182010-03-29T23:50:00.004-04:002010-03-30T00:38:24.662-04:00The Sun Will Come Out One Of These Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OeoBJZA1Jtk/S7F_-T4EbDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/HjVtJbBeGR8/s1600/BraintreeT.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OeoBJZA1Jtk/S7F_-T4EbDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/HjVtJbBeGR8/s320/BraintreeT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454281332186442802" border="0" /></a><br />The weather is really starting to get to me. It feels like it has been raining for the past three weeks. We have had a few days without but they have all been during the week.<br /><br />This time we finally got a break and had sun on the weekend. <i>{OK, not really sun, but at least it was dry.}</i> And I got to get out and do something.<br /><br />OK, I didn't do much on Saturday, I really needed the down time to just veg and do a few things around the apartment.<br /><br />Sunday, I hopped on <a href="http://mbta.com/">the "T"</a>, Boston's subway and mass transit system, and headed in town to wander for a while. I spent some time wandering around Harvard Square and some other parts of Cambridge.<br /><br />The plus side is that I got to spend time outside in the fresh<span style="font-style: italic;">{ish}</span> air. I'm looking forward to things drying out some so I can spend some time in the woods on some hiking paths.<br /><br />The down side is that I am limping today after injuring my foot.<br /><br />The injury is such that I can barely put any weight onto the front of it, but I can still put weight on my heel. At least I can put enough pressure on the front so that I can still drive.<br /><br />Otherwise, I'd start to go stir-crazy. <i>{As opposed to my regular crazy.}</i>WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-80199613089261652802010-02-13T20:56:00.006-05:002010-02-14T01:04:39.985-05:00Contradictions GaloreI really don't want be here. Not that there is a problem with this specific location, I just don't want to be anywhere right now.<br /><br />I don't want to deal with people.<br /><br />I don't want to be alone.<br /><br />I don't want to sit at home.<br /><br />I don't want to go anywhere.<br /><br />I don't want to be touched.<br /><br />But I could use a hug.<br /><br />I am nothing but contradictions right now.<br /><br />This has me thinking of several of my friends, especially my Damsel in Shining Armour.<br /><br />I suppose I should explain who I am talking about since I haven't mentioned her here before.<br /><br />My Damsel (in Shining Armour) is a very good friend of mine who I've known for about 8 years now. She was 14 when I met her and her mother, who is also a good friend, and I have been watching her grow into an amazing woman. <span style="font-style: italic;">{Not in a creepy way. The perverts in my audience need to stop thinking that.}</span><br /><br />Something you need to know, if you don't already, is that I am a large man. I am 6'5", about 300 pounds, and apparently people can find me intimidating. She is maybe 5'1", almost painfully cute, and has the poise, grace, and appearance of a storybook princess. I am protective of all my friends but there is something about this girl that brings this out even more.<br /><br />There was a night last May when I was having another really bad night and happened to bump into My Damsel. In fact that encounter is the reason I will think of her as My Damsel in Shining Armour.<br /><br />As I said, I was having a really bad time, due to various interpersonal issues, when she came over. She asked me what was wrong and I told her that issues around a particular person were really getting to me. At this she just stopped, looked me in the eye, and with a fierceness and protectiveness I have rarely seen in anyone said "Who do I have to kill?"<br /><br />The princess was protecting the knight.<br /><br />...<br /><br />I wrote the above earlier tonight and saved it since I wasn't sure what was going to come next, and I really was thinking of going to see a movie and needed to check the listings.<br /><br />I did not make it to the movies, but I did visit Borders for a while.<br /><br />I feel a bit better than I did when I started this post, as well as a lot more tired.<br /><br />I'm off to bed and hope I feel even better tomorrow after a good night's sleep.<br /><br />G'Night all.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-62590094878741287432010-01-26T16:48:00.006-05:002010-01-26T17:00:54.133-05:00Maine can be fun in the winter?Well, I said in my last post that I was looking for things to do, and was taking suggestions from anyone who wanted to offer one. I am still taking suggestions.<br /><br />This past weekend I went to visit a friend of mine in Southern Maine. She lives a little more than a two hour drive away from me, so within the range I laid out for what I am currently comfortable doing, and had invited me to come up to visit. She also doesn't get many visitors, so it is usually just her and her two young <em>{single digit ages}</em> children.<br /><br />It was fun. We hung out, talked, watched a movie, etc. Her son wanted to learn how to play chess so we did that as well. He did quite well for someone who had just learned how to play, and who was still figuring out how some of the pieces move. <em>{Like how a pawn moves one space forward at a time but captures diagonally.}</em><br /><br />On Sunday we went sledding, the first time I have gone sledding in a loooooong. I had forgotten just how much fun it can be. I had also forgotten how much you can get bounced around. The muscles in my neck are still a little sore but it was well worth it. <em>{Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, and my phone was charging, so there are no pictures. I'll be better prepared next time.}</em><br /><br />This coming weekend I will be heading to a friend's house on Cape Cod for "Movie Night." It sounds like it will be a small one, only a half dozen or so people, but still looking forward to it.<br /><br />February is still open...WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-68163469219096002192010-01-21T21:34:00.003-05:002010-01-22T00:08:23.925-05:00Follow-up and Request for SuggestionsFollowing up on my last post:<br /><br />It's been a little over a week since the medication cut was made and the pain is pretty much gone. The aches are still there but no longer constant and continue to ease.<br /><br />Bloodsugar is still much higher than it should be, but it has not gone up since the drastic cut in the level of my meds.<br /><br />Sleep is still an issue. Well, not sleep so much as getting out of bed in the morning after I finally do get to sleep. <span style="font-style: italic;">{Usually around 2:00AM, later on the weekends.}</span><br /><br />...<br /><br />Now I just need to start doing things again. Of course being able to sleep so I can get up in the morning would help with that.<br /><br />I have plans for this weekend and we'll see how they go. Then I guess I need to figure out other things to do for the next few weeks, months, ...<br /><br />On that note:<br /><br />I'm near Boston, although probably closer to Providence RI than Boston, and am open to suggestions for seasonally appropriate things to do.<br /><br />In fact... let me codify that a bit.<br /><br />I was talking to a friend of mine last night and they were talking about taking a series of day trips just to get out and see/do things. I think this sounds like a really good, and fun, thing. We may do some together, but I'm sure there will be plenty of individual things as well.<br /><br />I'm not sure that I'm up for long drives again yet, but within a couple of hours of here is do-able.<br /><br />So what I am looking for, if anyone is interested, is suggestions for things to do, things to see, places to go, that are within a 2 hour drive of the Boston-Providence area. Day trips preferred.<br /><br />Any reasonable suggestions will be taken, and I will post at least one picture.<br /><br />Reasonable suggestions that are not seasonal/weather appropriate will be held until an appropriate time. Things further away will also wait until I am up to making those longer trips again.<br /><br />There are a couple of trips I'd like to take, to see people I haven't seen in too long, which are about 6 hours away, and at least one other that is more like 14 hours away. Those trips will have to wait a bit longer.<br /><br />So... Any suggestions?WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-35133885048811660322010-01-17T22:20:00.003-05:002010-01-17T23:54:21.124-05:00Becoming Myself<blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">"To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle."<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">George Orwell</div></blockquote>As has been mentioned on here in the past, I am a diabetic.<br /><br />A few months ago my medication was changed due to the old medication losing its effectiveness. This is known to happen in as few as 5-8 years for some people. I got just about 12 years. A pretty good run by all accounts.<br /><br />As with any new medication, you start with a lower dose and then adjust it upwards until you find the right level. We, me and my doctor, started adjusting the dose up, having to adjust it very slowly due to possible adverse effects if done too fast. <span style="font-style: italic;">{Think diabetic collapse, necessitating an ambulance ride if I could even make it to the phone.}</span><br /><br />To cut a long story short, the meds didn't work as expected.<br /><br />It was helping, and was improving things to a certain point, but after that point the improvement in bloodsugar stopped. So we kept increasing the dose since we were well below to allowed maximum, and did not see any further improvement.<br /><br />What I did see, but it took me a while to figure this out, was that it was causing other issues. Headaches, insomnia, nausea, lethargy, just to name a few. <span style="font-style: italic;"> {I have some insomnia to begin with, this took me from 6-7 hours a night down to 4-5.}</span> Generally speaking I became a rather large lump who was in constant discomfort, if not all out pain.<br /><br />I also wasn't always thinking straight. On the worst days it was all I could do to make it through work.<br /><br />So it took a while, but eventually I caught on to what was happening.<br /><br />So we cut the dosage back, to about a third of what it had reached, and my bloodsugar is still at the same high-ish level, but the aches and pains have eased and I am starting to get my energy back. The insomnia still sucks, but I have hopes for that as well.<br /><br />So my doctor is still looking for alternatives and I am trying to get back to feeling like myself. Which is happening. Slowly, but it is happening.<br /><br />Happy New Year.<br /><br /><strike>I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but it doesn't really matter. I have always felt that I was writing it for me, and not necessarily for anyone else.</strike> <span style="font-style: italic;">{Self-doubt still there but, like most everything else, improving.}</span>WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-30067854077069161982009-11-10T23:21:00.000-05:002009-11-19T11:59:50.288-05:00Table For One?Well, a few days ago I suddenly found myself single again.<br /><br />There's not much to say about it. Things had gotten tense when we both got sick at the same time <span style="font-style: italic;">{Actually, one injury and one new chronic condition}</span> and didn't really ease as things got better. I was trying to find the cause of the tension in order to figure out if there was anything to do, but I guess she wasn't.<br /><br />I don't begrudge her this. I know how much she had/has going on and how many issues there are with her, her job, and her family.<br /><br />Still...<br /><br />Even if I am not upset about what she did, I do have a problem with how she did it.<br /><br />If she had just said "I can't do this and we need to breakup" it would have been fine. But that is not what she did.<br /><br />I guess she felt that she needed to give an enumerated list of reasons, a couple of which seemed quite mean-spirited. And following it up by moving it into a rant, no... more of a discussion, of a latest issues and how bad that day had been, well, that was completely unnecessary.<br /><br />Oh, did I mention that it was over the phone?<br /><br />How about that she called me from her car?<br /><br />While she was driving on her way to meet some friends?<br /><br />So yes, I'm OK with the breakup, but not with the way it was handled.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-23543316726341279082009-10-04T17:22:00.001-04:002009-10-04T17:22:04.725-04:00Happy Freakin' Birthday!A couple of days ago was my birthday. OK, it was Thursday. I took a couple of days off work, after all who wants to work on their birthday. <p>Thursday was a day to sleep in, and caught up on some reading and movies, and generally just relax. At least that was the idea.<p>It mostly worked out that way with the exception that I couldn't relax the way I was hoping. I had to stay pretty close to home, specifically the smallest room in my home, most of the day. But that helped me get more reading done.<p>Friday was more of the same, although I was able to wander a little further afield.<p>Saturday was pouring rain which suited my mood. Dark, miserable, and keeping me from lighting a fire under myself to get me out and moving.<p>I did talk briefly to a couple of friends. I will be meeting one of the for a few games of pool this week, and will be meeting the other for dinner next week. Both of these I am looking forward to.<p>Today I didn't want to get out of bed, but I eventually did. Now I am sitting and typing this in Borders Books, trying to decide if I should buy a couple of magazines I was looking at.<p>I have just started taking pictures again. If any of them turn out I'll start posting them again.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-11701689132996578912009-09-09T14:30:00.002-04:002009-09-09T14:34:26.572-04:00I am coming back...I have been away from this blog for a while now, but I am going to return. Hopefully sometime soon.<br /><br />A couple of quick notes on what I have been doing since my last post:<br /><ul><li>I have been dating someone since the end of May / beginning of June.</li><li>My diabetes medications have been changed and we are still trying to find the right dose of the new meds.</li><li>I caught Bronchitis and had to go through two rounds of antibiotics before it cleared.</li><li>I was coughing so violently due to the bronchitis that I injured my back, and it has still not quite recovered.</li></ul><br />What have you been doing?<br /><br />Are you still there?<br /><br />Namaje.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-70626834774602105842009-04-12T22:13:00.004-04:002009-04-12T23:22:01.550-04:00I Still Miss You DadToday is a sad anniversary for me. My father died April 12, 1990. I was 21.<br /><br /><a href="http://journal.wyldwoods.net/2005/03/easter-thoughts-and-memories.php">I wrote about this before.</a> But I have more to say about it now.<br /><br />His name was Harland and he passed away peacefully in his sleep, but it was well too early. He was 55 when a brain aneurysm took him from us. We know it was peaceful because my mother was sleeping beside him and didn't know anything was wrong until the she was up, making breakfast, and couldn't wake him up.<br /><br />I was working a night shift at the time and had been gotten home and gone to bed as my mother was getting up. Just over an hour later my mother woke me up. She didn't want me to be woken up by my pager going off and calling me to an emergency at my own home.<br /><br />See, at the time I was a member of the local volunteer fire department, and being that it was a rural area the fire department were the first responders for all injuries and similar emergencies as well as fires.<br /><br />I remember that whole day quite vividly.<br /><br />I remember my mother telling me to go back to bed.<br />I remember thinking I would never sleep again.<br />I remember holding it together while my sisters fell apart.<br />I remember my mother breaking down in the hospital.<br />I remember calling one of my friends and her coming to support me.<br />I remember seeing my father in a hospital bed with a lot of tubes and no brain activity.<br />I remember them declaring my father dead and us having to discuss what to do next.<br /><br />I remember walking out to the hospital and going to pieces in Sandra's arms on a park bench because my legs wouldn't hold me anymore.<br /><br />I remember my friends keeping me company and making sure I was not alone for the next few days.<br /><br />However, much of the next few days is a blur, and I don't remember much of them.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Every year on this day I take some time by myself to remember and reflect.<br /><br />I still miss my dad but I am eternally grateful for the 21 years he was in my life, and the lessons he taught me. Especially the lessons I learned when he didn't realize he was teaching.<br /><br />I am the man I am today because of my father.<br /><br />Thank you Dad.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-79600740266536624982009-04-05T11:19:00.002-04:002009-04-05T20:04:11.379-04:00HibernationHow did it get to be April already? It seems like just last week it was New Year's. And I feel like I have been asleep for months.<p>I didn't feel like I was asleep at the time, at least not until the last couple of weeks, but now I certainly feel like I am waking up. And it has taken me those weeks to wake up. Or at least to get to the point I am at now.</p><p>I still don't feel fully awake, but I am starting to feel more fully myself. Spring must be just about here.</p><p>Some people seem to think it is here. As I sit here typing this I am looking at a mix of people, some wearing heavy jackets and hoodies, some not, and at least one wearing a golf shirt and shorts.</p><p>And me? I don't think Spring is quite here yet, but it won't be long now. This bear is finally starting to come out of hibernation.</p><p>I think I'm going to get out of my cave and into the woods to stretch my legs. I can't wait for things to be Green again.</p><p>Peace.</p><p><br /></p>WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-15479602832564706682008-12-22T23:21:00.006-05:002008-12-23T01:22:52.406-05:0099 Things meme<span style="font-style: italic;">{Nicked from <a href="http://www.moshblog.me.uk/2008/12/21/99-things/">Mosher</a>, but if he really misses it he can have it back.}</span><br /><br />I hope some of you will follow along. If you do, please link back to this post. OK, let me lay out how it works.<br /><br />Everyone uses the same list of 99 Things.<br />You will want to remove any brief comments I've added. <span style="font-style: italic;">{They will look like this.}</span><br />Feel free to add brief comments of your own.<br />Change the font of each item as follows:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things you’ve already done: bold</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Things you want to do: italicize</span><br />Things you haven’t done and don’t want to: leave in plain font<br /><br /><h3>99 Things<br /></h3><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">started your own blog</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{This one should be obvious}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">slept under the stars</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">played in a band</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{an elementary school band, but still...}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited Hawaii</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">watched a meteor shower</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">given more than you can afford to charity</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{It was not much at the time, but it still left me short on bus fare.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">been to Disneyland/world</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">climbed a mountain</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">held a praying mantis</span></li><br /><li>sang a solo <span style="font-style: italic;">{Trust me, no one wants this.}</span></li><br /><li>bungee jumped</li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited Paris</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">watched a lightning storm at sea</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">taught yourself an art from scratch</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{Balloon sculpture if you are curious.}</span></li><br /><li>adopted a child <span style="font-style: italic;">{Under the right circumstances this would change to a "want to"}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">had food poisoning</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">grown your own vegetables</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen the Mona Lisa in France</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">slept on an overnight train</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{And it wasn't in a sleeping car.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">had a pillow fight</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">hitch hiked</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">taken a sick day when you’re not ill</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">built a snow fort</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">held a lamb</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">gone skinny dipping</span></li><br /><li>run a marathon <span style="font-style: italic;">{Walk one maybe.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">ridden a gondola in Venice</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">seen a total eclipse</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{Solar and Lunar}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">watched a sunrise or sunset</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">hit a home run</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">been on a cruise</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">seen Niagara Falls in person</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{And want to again.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited the birthplace of your ancestors</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen an Amish community</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">taught yourself a new language</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{Only if you count computer languages.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">had enough money to be truly satisfied</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{Didn't want or need as much as a kid.}{Never as an adult.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">gone rock climbing</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen Michelangelo’s David in person</span></li><br /><li>sung karaoke</li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen Old Faithful geyser erupt in person</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{OK, it was coffee and a muffin in a diner.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited Africa</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">walked on a beach by moonlight</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">been transported in an ambulance</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{After the worst of my car accidents.}</span></li><br /><li>had your portrait painted</li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">gone deep sea fishing</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen the Sistine Chapel in person</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">gone scuba diving or snorkeling</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">kissed in the rain</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">played in the mud</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">gone to a drive-in theatre</span></li><br /><li>been in a movie <span style="font-style: italic;">{See <a href="http://journal.wyldwoods.net/2007/10/pink-socks-and-70s-movies.html">an earlier post</a>.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited the Great Wall of China</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">started a business</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{It didn't last.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">taken a martial arts class</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited Russia</span></li><br /><li>served at a soup kitchen</li><br /><li>sold girl scout cookies</li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">gone whale watching</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">gotten flowers for no reason</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">donated blood</span></li><br /><li>gone sky diving</li><br /><li>visited a Nazi concentration camp</li><br /><li>bounced a cheque</li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">flown in a helicopter</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">saved a favourite childhood toy</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited the Lincoln memorial</span></li><br /><li>eaten caviar</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">pieced a quilt</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{OK, an explanation here... My mother and Grandmother made a lot of quilts and occasionally would ask me to help them layout pieces, and always asked me to help them stretch them for the actual quilting.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">stood in Times Square</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">toured the Everglades</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">been fired from a job</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen the changing of the guard in London</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">broken a bone</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{It was even mine.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">been on a speeding motorcycle</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen the Grand Canyon in person</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">published a book</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited the Vatican</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">bought a brand new car</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">walked in Jerusalem</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">had your picture in the newspaper</span></li><br /><li>read the entire bible</li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">visited the White House</span></li><br /><li>killed and prepared an animal for eating</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">had chickenpox</span></li><br /><li>saved someone’s life <span style="font-style: italic;">{I hope I'm not in a situation where someone's life needs saving.}</span></li><br /><li>sat on a jury <span style="font-style: italic;">{Called several times, never picked.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">met someone famous</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{Bill Cosby, Lee Aaron, and Willie Nelson for a start.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">joined a book club</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">lost a loved one</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">had a baby</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">{As the father, not getting pregnant myself.}</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">seen the alamo in person</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-style: italic;">swum in the great salt lake</span></li><br /><li>been involved in a law suit</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">owned a cell phone</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">been stung by a bee</span></li></ol><br />So that gives us totals of:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">44 Things I have done.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">37 Things I would like to do.</span><br />18 Things I have not done and could do without.<br /><br />What have you got?WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-122705884050557642008-11-30T01:30:00.004-05:002008-11-30T02:07:04.926-05:004 HoursThat's how much sleep I managed to get last night, or should I say this morning. 4 Hours. And that started a LOT later than I had really wanted. Late enough that it might have been better to get none at all.<br /><br />It was just past 5AM when I published my last post and tried to get to sleep. It didn't work and I tried different things that I thought might help, none of them did.<br /><br />So around 7AM I gave up and got in the shower. That at least made me feel somewhat better and I started thinking about what I'd have for breakfast. Then I woke up about 4 hours later.<br /><br />As I check the clock now, it is 1:38AM and feel a lot more awake than I would like.<br /><br />Good thing I picked up some generic form of Tylenol PM. I'll be trying that out in a few minutes to see if it helps me get to sleep before 2AM tonight. Good thing I don't have to get up early tomorrow.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Oh, and as for the phone call(s) I was talking about last night...<br /><br />None got made today. In fact, I didn't talk to anyone I know today. I barely spoke to anyone at all.<br /><br />When I got out and around this afternoon I constantly found myself either in a lot of traffic or a crush of bodies. Neither of which I seemed to be equipped to deal with today. I was only able to keep a pleasant demeanour when I kept my mouth shut.<br /><br />When I went to say anything I found myself ready to tell people what I really thought about being knocked around by the crowds trying to beat each other to the best sales. However, if I kept my mouth shut I was able to smile and be pleasant. <span style="font-style: italic;">{OK, it might not have been much of a smile but it was more than anyone else seemed to be wearing.}</span><br /><br />And to quote Jimmy Stewart's character of Elwood P. Dowd in the movie "Harvey":<br /><blockquote>My mother used to say to me ... "In this world you need to be very, very smart, or very, very pleasant."<br /><br />I've been smart. I recommend pleasant.</blockquote>Not quite the same circumstances, but something to keep in mind. <span style="font-style: italic;">{And a movie well worth watching if you haven't already seen it.}</span><br /><br />I think I've begun to ramble. So I'm off to take the PM and head to bed.<br /><br />Wish me luck.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-52043595080921268172008-11-29T04:24:00.003-05:002008-11-29T05:08:17.461-05:00What Am I Doing?It's 4:00AM and I am sitting here at the computer when I should be sleeping. But I wasn't able to sleep earlier. I'll be trying again shortly, hopefully with better results.<br /><br />I've spent the last couple of hours trying to figure out if any one I know is located in a time zone that I could call without causing panic. No one expects anything but bad news when their phone rings after midnight.<br /><br />I really wanted to talk to someone. But I didn't NEED to talk to someone. If I had I know there are a couple of people who would have forgiven the late call.<br /><br />Well, I'll make a call or two over the weekend when I'm ready to talk.<br /><br />...<br /><br />I should mention here that I'm not looking for anyone to call me. In fact there is a good chance that my phone will be off this weekend if I'm not making calls myself.<br /><br />Unfortunately there are things about this that I can't write about here due to promises I made.<br /><br />Yes, this is some of the heavy stuff alluded to a couple of posts ago which has been on my mind.<br /><br />...<br /><br />And it is now past 5:00AM and I am going to go try to get a couple of hours sleep.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-46355030613406378712008-11-19T23:09:00.003-05:002008-11-20T00:12:08.699-05:00Seven Random ThingsI don't know if any of you noticed, but this site was down for a couple of days at the start of this week. I am using the Custom Domains feature of Blogger and made a few changes. Apparently a couple of those changes worked together to confuse the system and things stopped working.<br /><br />I got the issues straightened out and things seem to be working correctly again.<br /><br />...<br /><br />I was <a href="http://ricardipus.blogspot.com/2008/10/ive-been-tagged-by-debi-who-wants-me-to.html">tagged</a> by <a href="http://ricardipus.blogspot.com/">Ricardipus</a> and so it is time to give you:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Seven Random Things About WyldWoods</span><br /><ol><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">I was driving by the time I was 11 years old.</span> This was largely because I spent a lot of time in the country and working relatives farms when I was a kid and needed to take my turn driving the trucks and tractors while we were bailing hay, gathering the harvest, etc.</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have stuck my foot into both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.</span> I swam in the Atlantic a lot growing up in Nova Scotia but have never been west of Niagara Falls in my home country of Canada. I have however been on both coasts in the United States.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have been to more than one Tractor Pull as well as a Monster Truck show.</span> And I enjoyed all of them.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">I had to wear a back brace for almost two years.</span> For the second half of the 5th grade through to the first month or two of the 7th grade. Narrowly avoided back surgery.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have been hit by a car.</span> I was riding my bike when a car hit the front of the bike, completely mangling it and throwing me across the hood. The driver didn't stick around.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">My father died when I was 21.</span> I am now 40 and I still miss him.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">I worked at a mental hospital for 2 years.</span> From what I saw there I can say that some of the patients were more sane than a lot of the staff.<br /></li><br /></ol><br />So, that's seven and that's all I have for tonight. Mostly because it is almost midnight and I need to get some sleep.<br /><br />Peace.<br /><br />Oh, and I guess I'm supposed to tag others. Well, it's late and I can't think of anyone in particular, so I guess I'll say anyone who reads this who hasn't already done it. <span style="font-style: italic;">{If you link your post back to this one it will make it easier for me to find them.}</span>WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-16488986280555741982008-11-11T22:22:00.003-05:002008-11-11T23:57:01.985-05:00A Day of RemembranceToday is Remembrance Day. At least it is at home, and several other places I could name, but it isn't here. Here it is Veteran's Day. The big difference between the days being that around here nobody really seemed to notice, other than the school children who spent the day running around or playing video games.<br /><br />In the past I have posted <a href="http://journal.wyldwoods.net/2003/11/lest-we-forget.php">"In Flander's Fields"</a> and <a href="http://journal.wyldwoods.net/2003/11/in-remembrance.php">"The Fields of Flanders"</a> and I once posted some thoughts about <a href="http://journal.wyldwoods.net/2004/11/remembrance-day.php">people who serve</a>.<br /><br />Today I have been thinking about my family and friends who have served / are serving.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Lest We Forget...</span><br /><br />...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But what about those times we can't stop remembering?</span><br /><br />For a few weeks now I have not been able to get certain people out of my mind. Some are people who have passed out of my life for one reason or another, while a few of them have passed out of this world entirely.<br /><br />I think I miss the ones that are still here more. I know that I will not be able to talk to the others again while I am still here.<br /><br />There is more to say, but I can't say it yet. I'm just not ready.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Oh, and I know I've been <a href="http://ricardipus.blogspot.com/2008/10/ive-been-tagged-by-debi-who-wants-me-to.html">tagged</a> by <a href="http://ricardipus.blogspot.com/">Ricardipus</a> but it is getting late and I desperately need to get some sleep. I'll get it posted within the week.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-34810473838085238002008-08-17T01:49:00.006-04:002008-08-19T00:14:35.972-04:00Maurice Foxx ( 1948 - 2008 )<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wyldwoods/2770260754/"><img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2770260754_8fe73dd434_m.jpg" alt="Maurice © WyldWoods 2008" border="0" /></a>Maurice was a good man and a great friend. Who, over the years, told people that he didn't think there would be more than a handful of people at his funeral.<br /><br />Well, his funeral was held on Wednesday and there were more than a handful of people there. In fact there were hundreds and it was standing room only in the foyer once all the seats (and several spaces on the floor) were taken long before the receiving line was complete.<br /><br />Several people, both family and friends, spoke and by the end there was not a dry eye in the place. I know I was brought to tears several times during the service.<br /><br />And then in was over.<br /><br />And then we found out that his family and his tribe were leaving to spread his ashes and they had decided this ceremony would be open to his friends as well if they wished to attend. Which we very much did.<br /><br />So we all headed out to a relatively quiet section of beach where the tribe performed a cleansing ceremony {They smudged everyone} and prepared for the final part of the ceremony in which Maurice's daughters took his ashes, got in a canoe with two rowers, one of whom was also Maurice's son, and started rowing out into the ocean. However Maurice got the last laugh.<br /><br />The canoe was sitting very low in the water, much too low for the height of the waves, and as they rowed out the canoe kept taking on water as the waves broke over the gunnels.<br /><br />By the time the canoe was out almost out to where his ashes would be spread it was completely swamped. And then another wave hit and the canoe went over. The people who had been in the canoe were now hanging onto the canoe while one of Maurice's daughters shook the skin, which had been used to wrap the ashes, over head and let the wind spread the ashes behind them.<br /><br />Once everyone on the beach was sure that those in the water were safe there was much whooping. This was accompanied by a lot of cheering, laughter, and shouts of "Maurice never would have wanted to go in by himself."<br /><br />It certainly lightened the mood, and reminded everyone of the sense of humour Maurice had, and his good nature.<br /><br />He will be sorely missed.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-56407979746046223532008-08-12T14:15:00.001-04:002008-08-12T14:17:53.360-04:00Not The Fresh Start I Was Looking ForI know it has been six months since I last posted and a lot happened in those months. However, I am not going to get into all of it right now. I wanted a fresh start on this journal.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this fresh start is going to be a sad note as I will be going to Cape Cod for a funeral tomorrow.<br /><br />Thursday night a very good friend of mine passed away. About a week after surgery on his neck, while recovering at home, he died from complications from said surgery. The <a href="http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/NEWS/808120316/-1/rss01">Cape Cod Times</a> published an article about him.<br /><br />...<br /><br />That aside, I am back and I am posting.<br /><br />Hopefully with happier news from here on out.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-60662200770478078192008-02-04T16:17:00.000-05:002008-02-04T16:53:14.200-05:00Adding Injury To InsultMy weekend was uneventful. At first because of the pain, then because of the Vicoden.<br /><br />I had a tooth get very painful very fast requiring an emergency call to my dentist. Once I had described everything to him, he said it sounded like the tooth had developed an abscess and suggested a treatment of antibiotics for a day to make the it easier on everyone when he treated the abscess.<br /><br />He also said he would give me a painkiller to help get me through.<br /><br />So, I went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions and picked up a one week supply of Amoxicillin and a two day supply of Vicoden.<br /><br />The Vicoden wiped out the pain, but it pretty much wiped me out as well. The rest of the weekend was spent feeling half asleep.<br /><br />...<br /><br />It was drilled and drained this morning, but due to how inflamed the nerve was, it could not be completely numbed. In fact the dentist had to give me an extra injection directly into the pulp and nerve of the tooth after it had been drilled.<br /><br />Try to avoid this is you can. It is even more painful than it sounds.<br /><br />But the <a href="http://www.dentalfind.com/glossary/pulpectomy.html">Pulpectomy</a> was completed and once the rest of the infection is treated I get to go back to complete the root canal.<br /><br />Wheeeeee...WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-16829719694854591102008-01-30T23:47:00.000-05:002008-01-31T00:27:42.360-05:00Tell Me Something GoodI need to write something, but it's a document completely unconnected to this journal.<br /><br />I also need to write a long rant here but I can't yet. Things are still happening and I can't say anything until it all shakes out.<br /><br />Several days have been wrecked...<br /><br />The faith I had been rebuilding in humanity took a big blow...<br /><br />I was reminded of just how much crazy is out there and that you better be DAMN sure before you trust anyone.<br /><br />...<br /><br />I did get some of the rant out of my system talking to my brother. Enough that I think I'll be able to sleep tonight.<br /><br />My insomnia has been acting up lately, and with all the adrenalin that was flowing through my system I didn't think I'd be able to sleep before March.<br /><br />...<br /><br />I don't like writing posts that are quite this cryptic. I'll try to have some real information in my next post. Probably not about this, not that soon, but about something.<br /><br />In the meantime...<br /><br />Let me know there is still good out there somewhere. Leave a comment with something to make a person smile.<br /><br />I'll try to at least manage a smirk.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-57314983632075761432008-01-14T20:33:00.000-05:002008-01-14T21:21:40.946-05:00** Hack ** Wheeze ** Snort ** Gasp **I've been coughing and wheezing for several days now. I caught a nasty cold which has completely filled my sinuses as well as kept me coughing. There were even a couple of mornings I woke up to a tightness in my chest due to trouble breathing. I have been very careful to make sure I use 12-hour decongestant before bed. No more of this 4-hour <strike>sh*t</strike> stuff.<br /><br />Not being able to breathe properly, or at all at times, through my nose has done wonders for my throat. My voice has gotten raspy and threatened to leave.<br /><br />So, I took it easy this weekend. In fact I didn't even leave my apartment yesterday. Just rested, read, and watched some DVDs.<br /><br />And shivered.<br /><br />Not a lot, but some. And only partly because I was cold. <i>{Yes, I was cold. This will mean more to some of you.}</i><br /><br />I still needed to rest today, but I also had to work on a couple of projects with approaching deadlines. Splitting the difference, I worked from home.<br /><br />...<br /><br />On another note, 3 out of the last 8 nights I have woken up between 3 and 4AM after tossing and turning trying to get to sleep.<br /><br />I hate insomnia.<br /><br />And it's that much worse when you need rest to get over a sinus cold.WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005510.post-18113613389454979012008-01-14T20:31:00.001-05:002008-01-14T20:32:44.985-05:00What about Bill?<object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i1M-IafCor4&rel=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i1M-IafCor4&rel=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object>WyldWoods (WW.N)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06646451337260904926noreply@blogger.com0