A blog of few words....AKA random thoughts.

My back still hurts.

My team won (again!!!).

I'm officially on holidays now.

I'm content right now. Except for my back hurtin'.

Ali made a good dinner tonight. :)

More hunting is fast approaching.

Some fishing (fingers crossed) is fast approaching.

More blogging (fingers crossed) is fast approaching.

I'm excited for the crunching of leaves beneath my feet. I enjoy Fall weather.

I have the urge to go to a concert. Any concert will do right now.

I AM going to a concert, but sadly, it's not until December 22nd. Have you heard The Weakerthans?

I still want to be a drummer in a band. I guess I should start practicing....

When does 24 start again? (The best show ever).

That's all for now.

Is this 2005?

The reason I ask is, in 2005 I had this constant nagging pain in my left leg. It actually started in 2003, but I didn't have a chance to get it diagnosed until 2005. It turned out that I had spinal stenosis, where the space in your vertebrae slowly closes over time, eventually putting non-stop pressure on all of your nerves running down each leg. On top of that, I had 2 herniated discs.....

After months of waiting for MRI's and CT scans, I was booked for back surgery in March 2005.
Everything has been great ever since. No back pain, no leg pain, I regained the ability to walk long distances again, and eventually play baseball and run again.

About two weeks ago, this all changed. I don't remember hurting or twisting my back, the pain just suddenly re-appeared again, shooting down my left leg. I don't think I would hesitate to have surgery again, the only concern that I have is that the Surgeon who fixed my back the first time has since stopped doing back surgeries. I spoke with a doctor on my ward the other day, and he has booked me in for an MRI to see what's going on. In the meantime, I'll try physiotherapy and other topical pain relievers, hoping that my MRI gets done sooner than the last one, and that my back can (hopefully) get fixed once and for all.

I find it ironic that I work on an Orthopedics ward, dealing with back surgeries, knee surgeries, broken arms and legs, and every nurse I work with has back/leg problems of their own. Suddenly working in a clinic doesn't sound so bad.

On a lighter note, I have one last week of holidays approaching soon, and hope to do some more hunting and watch some football games. I might have a chance to head to Denver after all with my dad. If that's not sweet enough, it would be a Monday night game versus Tennessee. I can picture it now - me with no shirt on, painted head to toe in blue and orange paint (Denver's colours) with a sign reading "I came all the way from Winnipeg to be on Monday Night Football"
Beautiful, isn't it? Is it a coincidence that I share a birthday with John Madden?

Locked, and loaded!!!

This weekend marks the opening of Grouse hunting in Ontario. I love the fall weather, walking down a bush trail, smelling the smells of fall, and hanging out with my dad.
I have been hunting since I was 14 years old. I've never gotten into deer or moose hunting, mainly because of the costs. Bird hunting is relatively cheap, and shotgun shells are fairly inexpensive.

My uncle has asked if I'm interested in duck hunting this year. I think I will take him up on his offer. He has been an avid duck hunter for years, and after his heart attack (on Christmas) a few years ago, he has kind of slowed down in terms of hunting. Unfortunately, he still smokes like no tomorrow, but he has quit drinking, so I guess it's a start. It's funny how people suffer a life altering injury/illness, be it beating cancer, surviving a heart attack, etc., make lifestyle changes for a while, but then return to their old ways shortly after. I see this everyday at work. A good example is a diabetic patient getting educated on the importance of foot care, only to be admitted six months down the road, booked for a below the knee amputation, simply because their sandals have worn an ugly hole between their toes. Sometimes an amputation is necessary, but if the doctor told me I had a chance at saving my foot, I would go all out.

Sorry for that rant, back to hunting. Ducks have incredible eyesight, so you have to be extremely stealthy when you hunt them. There are all sorts of blind that are available to hid behind. My uncle used the kind of blind that you slip into, similar to a sleeping bag. A camouflaged screen covers your face, and when the ducks fly over, you open up, and fire away.
I've been so tired lately, I just hope I don't fall asleep while lying there. Imagine drifting off to sleep, listening to the grass in the fields blowing around, the cool fall air filling your lungs, then suddenly BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
I think I might poo the blind a little....

Wish me luck as I stalk the ever-so-dangerous Grouse and his trash talkin' buddies.

Is bowling a real sport?

We had our "official" baseball windup last night. The bar that sponsored us gave us 15% back of our total bill at the end of the year towards a party. I thought we did fine, ordering a steady flow of pitchers of beer, wings, and a few pizzas. When we got the bill, we still had a $75 credit attached to our tab.....and I thought we were hardcore.

After finishing up there, a group of us decided to go bowling. We insisted on 10 pin bowling, and overall we all had a lot of fun.
As Ali and I walked into the bowling alley, the Monday night league was just winding down. Men of all ages, ranging from 18-65 were there, some with matching shirts, all of them with a beer in their hand in between throwing their custom bowling balls down the lane.
I couldn't get over the beer guts that these men had. You think of every other sport, most athletes are in some kind of shape, even if they are a "weekend warrior", but these guys were all pretty, uh, doughy....

I think everyone had fun. After each strike or spare, we would run along, and high five everyone in our path. My friend Lindsay even patented his "cleaning up" move, where he would simulate sweeping up the lane. As usual, the beer was watered down, and I had this feeling that they were trying to rush us out. The lanes closed at 11 p.m. and we were still going strong as most of the staff left, the cleanup guy swept around us, and the lights were slowly shut down one by one.
I guess I would classify bowling not so much as sport, but more like a social gathering. That suits me just fine.

What's on my mind today...

This is a post about nothing....I'm back to work, the weather sucks, and I'm feeling kind of crappy lately.
Here's some randomness.

1. We'll probably start looking for a house again soon. I'm excited, but also a little nervous.

2. I'm still in the good books with my manager. She actually helped me with some "nursing" stuff today.

3. I want to teach somebody something. More specifically, I'd like to have a student again.

4. I'm currently on a body wash kick, and I have to say I might never go back to soap again.

5. Ali made really good pizza tonight.

6. I want to go on a vacation really bad right now. I'm thinking beach, and warm water.

7. People who talk on their cell phones while driving still make me want to snap.

8. I want to get another tattoo soon.

9. Ali has been cranky lately, but so have I.

10. I'm working all weekend, so I avoid painting the bedroom. (Yessss!)

11. I hate our current bank with a passion.

12. My legs are hurting after my run tonight.

13. I'm concerned about my sudden onset of back pain again. The same kind which required surgery a few years ago...

14. I'm tired, and am going to try to get Ali to bed early tonight as well.

15. Why am I numbering these?

16. I wonder what would happen if you sneezed with your eyes open?

17. I talked my friend Aaron into buying a "Neti" pot for his allergies. Thank you, Dr. Oz...
If it works, I might get one too.

Back in the good books?

After arriving back home in Winnipeg today, I received a message on my machine from my manager. She just wanted me to know that she has moved a few days of my work schedule around to allow me to go to the remaining football games. I gave her the Blue Bomber schedule earlier in the year, and she said she would try to switch those days around. It's amazing what working a few overtime shifts can get a guy hey?

My holidays are coming to an end. I went to visit my parents for a few days, got out fishing with a buddy, and ate some good food. This weekend is the annual "Banjo bowl" between the Bombers and our prairie rivals, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This is a good weekend of football, and now they have turned it into an entire weekend of festivities. There is a pancake breakfast on Friday, where you can schmooze with some Alumni. On Saturday, there is a fan appreciation day, with kids activities, games, and a concert at night. Sunday is the big game.

I still have one week of holidays left in October. My dad and I were tossing around the idea of heading to Denver to see our beloved Broncos play, but I don't know if our schedules will allow it.

Last, but not least, I'm home with Ali. I was gone only four days, but sleeping alone in a bed just seems to lose it's appeal after about an hour or so. I'm looking forward to curling up in our king-sized bed, talking and laughing in the dark, then having a good night's sleep next to my wife.

I'm glad to be back home, blogging again, watching football practice, and getting back into my normal routine. In a strange way, I'm even kind of looking forward to getting back to work on Monday.

L'il tidbits...

This week, I'm hoping to do a little golfing, some fishing, and some relaxing. The past few weeks have been pretty stressful at work (see previous post), so it will do me some good to get my mind off of work.

Summer looks like it's coming to an end here. The weather was nice today, but the leaves are slowly turning yellow, and fluttering down to the ground. I think fall is one of my favorite seasons. It symbolizes the football playoffs, good fishing, and walking on the crunchy leaves while bird hunting.

We will be resuming our hunt for a house soon. It was nice looking earlier in the year, but since then we've taken a few months off, and decided not to tease ourselves by looking and not being able to buy.

While I was watching the game with some new friends today, I was noticing every one's little nervous "tics". One guy would shake his head, as if he was saying "no", one guy would chew on the inside of his mouth, and another guy kept rubbing his eyes. This got me to thinking - what are some of my nervous habits?
I've recently stopped biting my nails, however I still cave and bite the thumb and pointer on each hand for some reason....
Also, when I get tired, I start to blink very hard. Ali usually noticed this, and scoots me away to bed. I think those two are my biggest nervous habits. What are yours?

Sometimes I hate my job...

First, let me explain. On Orthopedics, I usually see people pretty battered, but usually fixed up, and walking out the front door. The last few weeks, we have had numerous people admitted who come in with a fracture, and then receive the news that they found a "spot of interest" on the x-rays. Lately, this has been cancer.

An oncology nurse will be exposed to these people everyday, and therefore get a sense of "comfort" around cancer patients, meaning they will know what to say to them, and how to offer support. One of my patients received the devastating news yesterday, and today found out that it was inoperable.
She began the day with "I got some bad news yesterday." I knew what was coming, but didn't really figure it would work into my normal morning routine. As she told me the news, her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice began to tremble. I just held her hand, and told her that with today's technology anything was still possible. Now I know that we are professionals, but I am human first. As I was telling her this, my eyes filled with tears too. I'm sure everybody knows someone who has been hit by cancer. I told her that I would do everything possible to make her stay with us a comfortable as possible, and to ask any questions that she or her family had. Doctors are notorious for walking into a room, telling a patient some bad news, then excusing themselves as if nothing happened. We the nurses are left to do the damage control, and personally I wouldn't have it any other way. This is the hardest part of my job, but the most necessary as far as I'm concerned...

I consider myself lucky to be able to give this lady some hope and some laughter, even if it's for a short while. Sometimes I really hate my job, but sometimes I really love it too.

Baseball is fun....please tell that to the other teams.

I missed the first game last night, as I was at the Blue Bomber game.
We got beaten so badly, that they stopped the game after the fourth inning.

Skip ahead to today. I was able to play today. I was going to say I was able to help my team today, but we are really in over our heads in the division that they placed us in. We are ranked 16th of 16 teams in "C" division, and have been outscored a total of about 54-6 in three games.
It's too bad, because we're supposed to be playing for fun. I just wish the other teams got that same message.
It turns out Aaron (co-manager) was talking to the Commissioner of the league today, and he has the nerve to say "Oh yeah, I was looking at your stats. I think I should have put you in another division." You think?

Tonight we go to a house party, which is technically our "unofficial" windup party. At least I can drink away my sorrows. It will be short lived though, we still have two games to play tomorrow. Yay......

The big difference maker next year will be the matching T-shirts. That, and I'm buying cleats.
Wish us luck!!

Back, after a little break

I realize I've neglected my blog lately. As it turns out, I'm also a member of Facebook, which can be addictive at times....
I've just returned from Ontario, where Ali's family from down East was visiting. I tell you, there's something a little intimidating about having five teenagers surrounding you in a house. Non-stop eating, belching, farting, laughing, wrestling, complaining, being lazy, and eating again can be a lot to observe when you're not used to it.

I have my final baseball weekend coming up on Saturday, and I think we'll do alright. We have an "unofficial" windup party at a co-worker's house Saturday night, then the real deal the following week.
Before all of this though, my dad will venture into the big city for another night of football on Friday. They are honouring Milt Stegall pregame, so that will be exciting. It's a good thing we'll be there at 5:30 when the doors open.;)
When I was at my parent's house on the weekend, I couldn't help but notice all of the Blue Bombers merchandise that my dad and I have. My car has a few decals on it, as do my dad's Altima, Neon, and their new van. When I walked inside the house, I hung my Blue Bomber lanyard beside my dad's Bomber jacket and his Bomber pullover. At that time, I was wearing my new Bomber sweatshirt.....
If all that wasn't enough, I bought my dad a Bombers mouse, which I'll give him on Friday.

Sorry I've been neglecting you, my little blog. I promise to get back on board.

Idiosyncrasies of an Aries mind....

Title credit to my wife, Ali.
It was just, uh "suggested" to me that I write a blog. I've been in holiday mode for the last week, and truthfully, I don't think I'm out of it yet.
I worked 16 hours yesterday, because they were short staffed. Big surprise - short on a weekend. In the middle of Summer. It floors me that the powers that be aren't smart enough to see this trend happen every single year. They will be shocked when it happens at Christmas too. ;)
I say hire extra seasonal staff, just for these occasions. Department stores do this every year. Why? Because they know they're going to be busy. The last time I checked, Hospitals are open 24 hours a day, unlike a Target or the mall....

That's my soapbox for the day. I'm happy for Ali right now, because I know she's going to get to see the Bahama Mama this week. I haven't seen my best friend for a while, and wish we lived closer so we could hang out more. At least I have the option of jumping into my car and driving to see him, whereas Ali would have to book a flight. If I could just figure out a way to not work, or have to pay for airfare....

The NFL preseason is upon us, and my beloved Broncos play tonight. This is always a good indication of summer slowly coming to an end. I enjoy fall though, even that much more now, as my dad and I have starting bird hunting again. I love the smell of rotting leaves, and the many different colors we see as we walk down a quiet bush trail in pursuit of the dangerous Ruffed Grouse....

I'm still on board with the workout regime. I gotta say, it's kind of addicting. I'm sleeping better, having fewer leg cramps, and starting to feel better all around. Who knew exercise was good for you?
I'm a little embarrassed. I am constantly teaching healthy living to my patients, but never practiced what I preached until now. By the way, drink more water.

I'm off for a bike ride now. Gotta watch my girlie figure.

A quick pitstop...

Hey folks, I'm back in the big City for few nights. I have to maintain the control of my baseball team after all.
My cousins from Toronto are down in my area for the next few days, so I'm hoping to head out to their cabin and do some fishing. My other cousin is visiting from Alberta, so I'd really like to see her too. It looks like I'll be a road warrior for the next couple of days.

At the last Bomber game, the manager at the Bomber shop offered my dad and I some free Blue Bomber hard hats. I gladly accepted them, but thought afterwards that I will probably not wear it anytime soon. I do plan on taking it to practice one day, having a few guys sign it, and give it to a co-worker of mine who has a young son. I'm so nice. ;)
If it looks too good though, I might have to keep it for myself.
I still have a few days off from the hustle and bustle of the hospital, and I plan on spending it relaxing by the beach, working on my tan, fishing, swimming, tubing, and visiting.
See you next week.

Too humid to think

My holidays start this week, and I have no official plans. I've always been one to just pack up and do something, so I think I'll be fine this week. I want to do some fishing, golfing, and maybe some swimming at the local park.
Ali and I will have the weekend, then I'll be with my parents for the next week or so. Of course I have my baseball team to look after next week, and I'm actually surprised that we'll be able to field a team, with it being a long weekend and all....I guess they love beer as much as I do.

This current heat wave has me feeling very lazy. I don't want to leave the A/C, and my car doesn't have it, so driving really sucks. I'm very thankful that I have an indoor job now.

Aside from that, nothing else to report here. It's been a lazy day, and now I'll have a lazy night at work.
I actually cleaned up a little around the house, just to stay cool. I promise I'll do more on Thursday when I get up.

I like fire....

So Mr. Stegall got the record. 139 TD's and counting.

I was also thinking of how much I like sitting around a fire with people. There is something soothing about watching the fire. It could really put me to sleep. Thanks to our hosts, Zig and Alyssa. I wish I could have stayed all night. Unfortunately, I had to work today, so I ducked out early.
Sitting around with a group of people puts me at ease. I never feel shy, or reluctant to talk to anyone. I guess that's why Ali and I get along so well. We're both social butterflies.
It's usually a competition between Ali and I to see who can get the most laughs. We feed on each other's jokes and stories, and usually go off on our own little tangent, but I digress.
I really have the urge to go camping now. We had mentioned camping last night, but a few people sound a little to "high maintenance" to roll with us. We set up a tent, sleep on an air bed, and do all of the cooking over the campfire or our Coleman stove. That's camping. Not a huge 300' RV like some people I know. (Reggie). ;) By the way, does that thing have it's own satellite?
Maybe if I ever camped in an RV I'd change my mind, so I'll hold judgement for now....
We always have the invitation to go camping, we just have to actually pack up and go. Maybe next weekend? Nah, too hot.

Friday night lights

Tomorrow is Friday. Around here, this means a Blue Bomber game. My dad will be making the trip here from Ontario, and we'll head down to the stadium early.
I love game day. Seeing people walking around in their jerseys, waving flags, and honking at each other as they excitedly make their merry way down to the stadium just gets me so happy.
Enough of that, I know I've already told you before about the whole CFL experience....
I now have two Bombers flags which I fly proudly from my car. The one is quite large, and to be honest with you, it hurts my arms after holding it in the air for a while.

Tonight will consist of me cooking a BBQ chicken, watching another CFL game on T.V., drinking a Corona or two, driving Ali to her girl date, then relaxing for the night. I'm very much liking the idea of sleeping in tomorrow. I have been up at 5:40 a.m. the past few days, and gotta say, that's just a tad too early for me.

I just hope I forget it's game day tomorrow. Ah, who am I kidding, I'll probably sleep in my jersey tonight....

Go Blue!!