Cat in a Bar

There are many businesses that are home to resident cats. One particular bar in our neighborhood has a very well-groomed resident cat who is quite friendly. In fact, the owner has a rule that no customer may order a drink without having the kitty sit in his lap and groom herself for a while. He wants to be sure that all his customers can hold their licker.

Update

My over all health is improving after the surgery.  I seem to be healing up the way they expect. 

Physical therapy has gone well.  I expect that I will have one or two more visits with them next week.  Even though the arm is still sore, I have regained almost 100% of the range of motion that I should have.

The sutures came out on Friday and I convinced them to let me go back to work.  The doc only released me to "light duty" which is fine, at least I'm back to work.  Maybe in a couple of weeks when the pic line comes out, they'll give me a clean bill of health.

In the mean time I'm still taking pain meds.  Hopefully by the end of the week I'll start tapering off them again.  Hopefully I won't agitate the wound again.  I'm still dutifully mainlining antibiotics, which is a little weird but better than having something worse happen.

I'm not 100% yet but clearly I'm on the mend.

A special thanks to everyone, and I mean all of you who have called and emailed and left messages etc.  If means a great deal.  Mrs. Ipsa managed to get all of the early garden planting in on Saturday by herself, so no need for anyone to drop by and help out.  I do appreciate all the offers though.

Things are a little more strange than usual at work.  I'm still looking to leave, more now than ever.  By the grace of God, maybe that will happen this year.

BJW--Boomers

Hey Baby Boomers! Some of our old favorites have been re-released. The following songs are on a new album called "Baby Boomers Turn Gray: Re-heated Oldies."

Paul Simon--"Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver"

Carly Simon--"You're So Varicose Vein"

The Bee Gees--"How Can You Mend a Broken Hip"

Roberta Flack--"The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face"

Johnny Nash--"I Can't See Clearly Now"

The Temptations--"Papa Got a Kidney Stone"

Nancy Sinatra--"These Boots Are Made For Bunions"

ABBA--"Denture Queen"

Leo Sayer--"You Make Me Feel Like Napping"

Commodores--"Once, Twice, Three Times My Back's Out"

Procol Harem--"A Whiter Shade of Hair"

The Beatles--"I Get By with a Little Help From Depends"

Steely Dan--"Rikki Don't Lose That Clapper"

Herman's Hermits--"Mrs.  Brown You've Got a Lovely Walker"

Credence Clearwater Revival--"Bad Prune Rising"

Marvin Gaye--"I Heard It Through the Grape Nuts"

The Who--"Talkin' 'Bout My Medication"

The Troggs--"Bald Thing"

The Ilk

I first discovered Vox at WND. We didn't have a name but there was a group of "regulars".  It was kind of like an electronic coffee shop for people who didn't see the need to conform to the mainstream narrative.  By 06 I started "blogging" myself.  Along the way I've "met" dozens of "friends".  Some of my online friends have become real life friends as well. 

The Ilk became a respite from the world.  Back when I had a contract with a major SJW group of environmentalists, the Ilk kept me grounded in sanity.  We didn't call them SJW's back then, no one had come up with that terminology.  Vox's greatest achievement with his blog isn't his impact on whatever issue has his panties in a bunch at the moment.  His achievement has been providing a place for like minded people to share ideas and establish a vocabulary that describes the things that we observed but couldn't put a finger on it.  The Dread Ilk are Vox's legacy.

In my earlier post I mentioned that I can't share the details of what has happened to me online.  I still can't.  What I can and want to share is what has happened since.

Numerous Ilk have called or emailed to check in on me. 

I've been offered use of peoples homes, vacation properties, and other real-estate assets to move my family out of harms way.

Several people have shared information on new and better job possibilities.

I've been asked if I would want to join in on business opportunities and projects.

I've been offered legal help.

I've been offered security help.

Folks have been willing to loan me money.

Folks have been willing to give me money.

Folks have told me they'll take the time to physically come to my home to do whatever I need done.

Many have encouraged me by letting me know that they or their church group are praying for me.

All of them have done their personal best to cheer me up, and back me up.

God Bless The Dread Ilk.

If I've not seemed as on top of things, its because I'm still recovering from surgery and I still need the pain meds more than I'd like to admit.  I've only ever met a handful of the Ilk in person but I can tell you that all the ones I know are good, solid folks.

I'll say it again, "God Bless The Dread Ilk!".

Health Update

I came through the surgery fine.  I'm at home.  My wounds are healing nicely.  The wound it's self wasn't bad, it was the infection that caused the problem.  The physical therapist said I'm almost back to 100% functional range of motion but I still have a lot of pain and stiffness.  They took another blood sample today and I see the Infectious Disease specialist latter this week.  If everything goes ok they will take the sutures out latter in the week too.  Still no word on what the pathogen was that caused the problem.  In a way that may be a good thing, since it would mean that the first course of intensive I.V. antibiotics did the trick.

Right now I'm still off work medically.  No word on if I'll have a job after I get released to return to work.  I'm investing lots of time into finding other work, even if its stocking shelves at Wal Mart, considering the fact I can barely lift 8lbs with one hand, that might not be an option.

Other than that I don't have much I can share online.  I really do appreciate the calls and emails.  Ya'll have been great.  You may never know this until it happens to you, but kind words of encouragement and taking the time to write or call is one of the best forms of medicine there is.  My sincere prayer is that God will bless each and everyone of you 4 times over for the kindness you have shown and offered me.

BJW-Computers

Signs you aren't very competent with a computer:

- You've backed-up your desktop by pushing it against the wall.

- You've put foam around the computer to prevent it from crashing.

- The soles of your shoes are worn out from re-booting your computer.

- You try to clear the screen by shaking the monitor up and down.

- You're in charge of Hillary's secret email server.

Not Too Personal

Waterboy writes:

Not to get too personal, but I hope all is OK?

Long story short, my post of 4/5 is related to a much longer tale which unfortunately involves my employer.  My employer has strict social media policy about sharing information either formally or informally in a way that may disrupt their business interests.  So I'm not posting any identifying details here, or any place else.  If anyone wants to call me, that's another story.

I ended up in emergency surgery yesterday.  I am out of the hospital today and expected to be out of work at least through the end of the week.  I don't know how any of this is going to play out.  The police and the courts are involved and are providing a small degree of protection and support.

I'm very much between a rock and a hard place with the job situation.  My physical safety and that of my family is being threated.  The two people involved in this clearly have issues.  Unless I can get another job I'm stuck with the situation.  Prayers are appreciated.