April 28
From my brain
Contents |
2009
Me 09:46, 28 April 2009 (EDT)
Detox day I guess. I have but one Percocet left.
My neurologist (who wrote the script) is actually in the hospital as a patient, so he's not available. Also according to his nurse, "That's odd...he usually doesn't write out scripts for Percocet." Granted, he did that in order to get me "covered" until I get in to the pain specialist. And now, the pain specialist is booked solid...until June 6. There's just no way I can do that.
I'm going to do a couple things today. First, I'm gonna have Wifey get an appointment with my chiropractor. She's going for her visit today, and as my chiro is in the same practice, she's going to pass on the copies of "my folder" including the disk with my MRI on it. (They sent me a copy of it...it's so cool!) He can look that over and maybe see some place he can help / work. We'll see though.
I also tried to call another physician (just now) who's another pain specialist. It came recommended from another friend who'd helped her and her brother with back problems. Unfortunately, he "floats" around the area, and he's got a bit of a waiting list. Not as long as June, but still...they don't take "self-referrals". I'll have to call a doctor and get them to refer me. The problem: which one?
Yesterday was really rough on top of it. Three different conversations that were very difficult to make it through, and one more so than any of the others. A truly good friend of mine had to quit the game for family reasons. No one is sick...he's just been investing too much time in the game and it's taken him away from both work and family. So, he (and his son) have made the decision: no more WoW.
There was lots of misty eyes I bet among the 20-30 people that were online last night. I know I got the e-version of them at the very least, and he probably got just as many more. Losing him from the game hurts a lot, but as a dad...I can't count it against him in the least.
Mind you, when he told me earlier in the day, it sparked the conversation with me and Wifey: am I doing OK with WoW? Have I pushed it too far? Does it take too much precedence in our lives? The long and short of the question was, am I at the same level of any husband who's a huge sports fan? The guy who's all about sports so that he's watching basketball, baseball, and football throughout the year, and even playing golf on the occasional weekend.
She answered honestly, "Sometimes, but it's mostly balanced. The kids just know that sometimes you're not available...but sometimes that's OK I guess." Still not wholly sure about that last bit, but I kind of get the gist. You need to be there for your kids...but even a parent needs some "me time". /shrug
Me 12:33, 28 April 2009 (EDT)
At this point, I'm not sure what's "pain" and what's withdrawal symptoms from the narcotics. The mind does crazy things I know, so for all I know this pain isn't real normal pain it's my body asking for more fix.
Then again, I could just be hurting like hell and coming up with bullshit.
Me 17:00, 28 April 2009 (EDT)
Yeah...screw that noise...this is pain. It's coming and going like usual, but I've been sitting in this chair most of the afternoon letting my ass fall asleep. I was in the arm chair for awhile reading a book, and the position about killed me.
The neurologist's office is getting me some Hydrocodone (aka Lortab). Can't do Percocet as that takes a full-on doctor, but the RN is able to do that much at least. In the meantime...I just call and call and call the pain specialist's office to check on cancellations.
In other news: The house is still ours...and is actually being sold this time. Bank of America is not the same amount of asshattery that Countrywide was, so they're actually moving on the house sale.
I'll believe it when they say, "You're not responsible for any of this payment."
Me 22:56, 28 April 2009 (EDT)
Insomnia just sucks.
Wifey had a couple Tylenol3's laying around, so I took them. I also took the Trazodone so I could sleep. The problem, unless I am actually starting to sleep before they kick in...I'm wide awake after awhile. So, after contemplating the fact that I'm completely and totally cracking under the pressures of the pain, losing friends from the guild over and over and over, and the whole "unemployed" thing, I'm wide the hell awake.
Just sucks. Gonna go play WoW.
2008
Me 09:42, 28 April 2008 (EDT)
So, I know I'm a day late with this, but I figured since I did it for the other services last week, I should probably do it for the Big One.
- Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen. 2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.
As you enter the church, the lights are all dimmed. Basically it's just enough for you to not fall over each other in the dark stumbling into your pew. People greet each other very quietly, again, in quite reverence as you would at a funeral.
At this point, the Royal Doors are closed. When Liturgy normally starts, they're open, but tonight they're closed. As the Midnight office of Holy Saturday is read, we eventually reach a point where all the lights in the church are extinguished. All the overheads, all the candles are out. Not even anything for the readers.
The curtain behind the Royal Doors opens, and then the doors open. The priest stands there with a single (large) candle that's lit and sings a hymn of "Come Receive the Light" as he walks through the church up the middle aisle. Those closest light their candles and being to join in on the hymn. An acolyte carrying the cross go before, with the choir after as the priest continues through the church lighting candles. The procession heads out the door and around the outside of the church.
As we return to the front of the church, another hymn or two is sung, and a few readings are made as the priest incenses the little podium they've brought out. It's at this point the thresh hold of the evening is crossed and the priest begins to sing,
- Christ is risen from the dead,
- Trampling down death by death,
- And upon those in the tombs
- Bestowing life!
To which the rest of the congregation all sings back three times. The priest then turns back to the still darkened church for what I believe is probably the coolest part of the service. His cross in hand, the priest bangs on the doors of the church as if they were the gates to Hell.
He demands that the spirits of the righteous be set free. Inside, one of the members of the church (deacon, subdeacon, or just someone with a good strong voice) plays the part of the Devil and shouts back "Who demands such a thing?" (translation: "Who is it? Whatdya want???"). The priest phrases it a couple ways (three total times), and finalizes it with saying that the Lord of the Morning, Jesus Christ comes to set man free, and then opens the doors for us to enter. Inside, someone is also waiting to immediately flip on every light in the church.
This is the threshold of the night. Easter is officially here, and Christ is Risen. I capitalize that because it's sung at least a dozen times in the next half hour. A few more prayers, and then the [Paschal Homily] is read as a sort of you "You made it!!!" to all the followers.
...and now...a normal standard Divine Liturgy still kicks off. So there's still another hour and a half of services, with communion at it's end. Since noon we've fasted, and now is the time for the reward.
- As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honor of the Lord; in honor and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labor that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.
TheBoy somehow made it through all up to that point. He made it maybe fifteen minutes into the Liturgy, but once he was like, "Hey...I know this stuff. Nothin' new here," he passed out. Princess on the other hand showed everyone her pretty Easter dress (that she'd been trying to put on since 2pm and actually had on since 7pm) and promptly fell asleep before the lights went fully out.
After service, there's always a big feast with...meat. Wifey made her trademark kielbasa and sauerkraut, there was some really good beef stew, some really good kibbe, chicken, and a host of other foods. Stuffed. Myself. Silly.
Mind you the next morning. Payed. For it. Dearly. Forty solid days with no meat, a limited amount of dairy (and almost not dairy the previous week), and the human gastrointestinal track goes a little wonky on you. OK, it goes a lot wonky on you.
The children did well the next morning at least. I made it a big point on the way to church: "We are going to be up late tonight. Very, very late. Tomorrow morning...no one comes into my room unless I come into your room first. Play quietly in your room. Depending on who wakes up, don't wake the other one up. If they wake up, play together...quietly."
Princess woke up first and apparently wandered down stairs on her own and found her basket. She rattled the door a bit on her way back up as she ahem tried to get in the locked door. ;) Anyway, we all got dressed, went down stairs and did our Easter egg hunt. They had a good time, and liked what they got.
The rest of the day went well. My brother-in-law shocked us all with a quick visit as he was returning through Columbus while dropping my nephew at OU in Athens. He had dinner with us all and it was nice to see him.
This is the first holiday then in the apartment and it went well. We're still adjusting and still unpacking, but we're going to be OK.
Me 09:47, 28 April 2008 (EDT)
In other news...
- Your tax refund was direct deposited on April 25, 2008. If your refund is not credited to your account by April 30, 2008, check with your bank to find out if it has been received. Please wait until April 30, 2008 before you contact us again because we are unable to take any action until then.
Nothin the yet. Rent's due on Thursday. On one hand, while I found out they nabbed our State returns for "back property taxes", if the federal has been direct deposited, at least there's something there. I hope it's enough to cover rent at least.
2006
Me 14:18, 28, April 2006 (EDT)
Oh Lord...it's real.
Be careful the next time you fly. Make sure your airline has a policy against Snakes on a Plane.
