Normal Oddity

Well, I haven't really updated this blog in a while. Becoming a parent can zap that thing known as free time. I will resolve to post a new blog at least once a week in the new year.

How is it equitable in this society that people I know have no trouble receiving government assistance, either honestly or through deceit, yet my wife and I are struggling with the specter of me losing my state-provided health insurance because we make too much money? Of course the state says our income is over the threshold for the Oregon Health Plan, but how do they expect us to exist in this society when my medicine costs upwards of $1500 for a month's supply, and our combined incomes are in the vicinity of $2000? I am doing all that I can to talk to my congressional representatives to pass Obama's health care reform.

Hello again everyone, or lack thereof. I am gathering all of my notes that I scribble down for more blog material.

In every description I have seen on the Internet about Crohn's mentions the fact that surgery can be expected. I have had two major surgeries, small bowel resections, and at least five minor surgeries, abdominal abscess removals via CT scan. Recovering from the small bowel resections takes about a month, as after both of mine, I developed scar tissue from the surgery, creating either a partial or full bowel obstruction. Since the surgeon just cut into you, they often treat the scar tissue with some heavy duty IV medicine. Recovering from an abscess removal depends on the size of the abscess. I have had a JP drain in anywhere from a few days to 6 weeks, for a particularly nasty abscess that was connected to a fistula.  That's about all I can think of to talk about the procedures I have had done thus far...

For those of you who don't know, Crohn's disease is an auto-immune disorder, where my immune system is attacking my digestive system... I have lived with Crohn's disease for over 6 years now. I was diagnosed in January 2003, but I had been feeling symptoms of the disease as early as September of the previous year. For the unknowing, the definitive way to diagnose Crohn's is through a small-bowel follow-through, followed by a colonoscopy. Living with the disease has actually turned into an educational opportunity. Since I have had four colonoscopies, I can educate others on what to expect. The best advice I can give someone who is about to have one done is to wear sweatpants, stock up on good quality toilet paper, and keep a book in the bathroom while doing the prep for the procedure. The sweatpants are a necessity, as you will not have enough time to unbutton your pants while you are cleaning out your system. The procedure itself is relatively painless, as you will be g

One of the jobs I have is working as a security officer at the Eugene Public Library, in Eugene, Oregon. Following is a collection of my thoughts about this job that came to me on Thursday, the 25th...  I have learned to never say that it is quiet around the library. As soon I utter that phrase, I will receive a call that trouble is afoot. For instance, on Sunday, it started out as a quiet afternoon shift. At about 2:00 PM, an episode of downtown, teenage drama decided to spill into the library. It ended with a young man being told by the police to go catch his bus, and my having to write a novel of an incident report.  It stinks being a contractor working for the city. In return for making sure the library is safe for patrons and staff, we get paid well below what an actual city employee would make for doing the same task. On the upside however, our jobs are not subject to the mood swings of the city's budget. Also, even though I work at the library, I am unable to check out any o

Something tells me that a runny nose is not a common side effect of the pain killer Percocet. And for me, Percocet is not a pain killer, it's more of a "forget you were in pain" medicine. Short posting I know, but so far, I don't think anyone reads this blog...

After watching the movie that the television series is based on, I am left wondering why they didn't include the lyrics from the song "Suicide Is Painless" on the television series. The only reason I can think of is that network executives saw the song as way too much of a downer, and only used the melody.

Welcome to my new blog. I hope to update this as often as possible, with my musings, random thoughts, pictures, and god knows what else.