Fun With Toprol

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I hope that this drug, Toprol, is worth taking because its side effects have been something else. When I began taking it a few days ago, the doctor instructed me to take only a quarter of the tablet and to do so in the evening. An hour after taking my first dosage that night, I understood why he said this. It was like feeling a gentle fog roll in through my muscles and through my thoughts. Have you ever had dreams where it feels as though you're moving through molasses or, worse yet, you have a claustrophobic immobility? As this drug-induced fog became denser, I became a bit concerned those nightmarish dreams were going to take form in my waking hours. Fortunately it stopped and simply became a slightly euphoric but overwhelming tiredness. In addition to that, my dreams have been nothing short of bizarre when I release myself to the world of sleep.

I am supposed to increase the dosage to a half of a tablet in a few days. But in reading more about the drug on WebMD, I've discovered that I can't suddenly stop taking it. Yet, while that tired euphoria isn't all that bad, it doesn't appear that I will have to seek addiction treatment because of the medicine. So to make sure I can stop taking Toprol, I'm changing my diet and habits. Time will tell how well all of this will work out.

Virtual Pain

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More and more, virtual worlds like Second Life are mirroring the real world. For example, a Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducting a concert in the Second Life world. Tickets are on sale as you read this. Major car companies like Ford and Toyota have set up presence in these virtual worlds to sell virtual cars to virtual people. You can even buy real estate, which I think should be called fake estate or fantasy estate. But it is for sale when you transfer your real money into the virtual tender. There are even some greedy government officials (including those in the United States) who are considering taxing the transactions in these worlds with bills to be paid in real-world money ... naturally.

Where is this all going? I don't know. I guess I don't understand the idea of grinding away for 10 to 12 hours at my real-world job, only to come home and spend a couple more hours doing the same thing in a virtual world ... because it's fun? If I have my choice between this and a prickly heat rash, I am going to have to choose the latter, less painful option. But then, that's just me.

My Children Grew Up Too Quickly

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One day my children were just learning to walk. And then I blinked and found my two oldest children in their 20s and my youngest in high school. I still love them even though they are older but I miss those carefree days of when they were little. They had a way of brightening up whatever room they were in. And not only because they wouldn't turn off the lights. They were, and still are, a joy to be around.

I was reflecting on this as I went through boxes of books and toys that they had as young children. There were old Dr. Seuss books, their favorite stuffed animals, and a box with kids bedding and their sleeping bags of the Little Mermaid and of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While these sleeping bags have faded over time, my memories of my children camping out in them are vibrant in color and sound. It's as if everything happened yesterday. So it will be with a touch of deep sadness as I give some of their old childish possessions to Goodwill. But they've grown up now, which is a good thing. Who wants kids that have grown sideways? I have learned a lot of things from them -- like patience ... and that the thirstiest child is the one who just went to bed. I may be getting rid of a lot of unwanted toys, but I'll still have lots of fond memories of my children until the day I die.

CCA

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Have you ever wondered what happens to all those commercials that are on your TiVo, your replay TV, and your DVR? You know, those annoying wastes of valuable television viewing time; the ones that you zip through to get to the good stuff. Well, hold on tight to your remote because I think I have an idea who's time has come. How about a business that will pay you for all those commercials that you've collected on your recording devices? That's right, I'm talking about a commercial collection agency! After all, you are renting that equipment. And all those TV ads are taking up space on your equipment without paying you so much as a dime. It's time they paid their way instead of coming into your home and freeloading off your recording devices and your electricity. Would it be great if you could get rewarded because of a show's commercials? Of course, this may be difficult to do with QVC since it is ... commercial free? ...

A Wild And Crazy Bathroom

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I have a friend who is remodeling his bathroom. He could do it the easy way and just throw in some fixtures from the hardware store, slap a coat of paint on the walls and ceiling, and dangle a couple of frilly towels on the towel rack. But noooooooooooo! He wants to do it in a 70s theme.

Imagine this. Instead of normal bathroom lighting, he's installing a disco ball. Actually, this complements the slick tub that he's installing very well. When I say "slick", I'm not referring to something sophisticated. I'm talking about a tub that is so slippery, you look like you are doing Travolta's dance from "Saturday Night Fever" as you try not to slip and bust your butt. "Stayin' alive, stayin' alive, ah ah ah ow!"

For bathroom faucets, he is installing the Farrah Fawcett line of fixtures -- very blonde, very poofy, and a pearly white design around the opening. (It makes me wonder what my friend has tapped into.)

The toilet is done in shag carpeting. Not the seat cover -- the entire toilet!

His hand towels are a odd shade of peach. He said it was called "impeach peach", which would explain the inscription on the towels "I am not a crook". He said he wanted to make sure that his guests didn't get any ideas about his towels.

At this point, I'm rather worried about him. He still has several ideas about this renovation that scare me. But, if you are a brave soul, I'm sure he would have no problem showing them to you if you were to boogie on down for a visit. I'm also sure that you will find him to be one wild and crazy guy...

Go Ahead, Buy Me Stuff

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A few posts ago, I happened to mention that I don't usually wear a lot of bling. Just in case some of you are getting together to buy me lots of expensive jewelry, please don't let my previous post change your plans. I have no qualms about wearing shiny pieces of metal and glittery rocks. I bet I even look great wearing a large gold chain with large gold letters that spell out my name. (You never know when I might forget who I am and need a little reminder.) In fact, I don't mind wearing something around my neck that is worth more than my head. So if you're considering buying expensive trinkets to improve my looks or to distract from my hideous flaws, please do so as soon as possible. And thank you for your support!

Poker - Alexia Style

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I don't know what to make of my Alexia scores. I bet if I sat at all the poker tables in the world, I would do better than I am at this stupid popularity contest. A couple of months ago, my score was under 150,000. Today, I am up to over 206,000. This means that there are 206,000 sites with more alexia visitors than this blog. But so what? The Alexia group is a tiny fraction out of the millions of travelers on the Internet. Yet, one of the pay-you-for-blogging companies uses this flawed metric in divvying out their opportunities. Apparently, if the number of non-alexia visitors to your site continually increases, that is not important. But then, it's all a game, isn't it. In poker, you can increase your luck with a little skill. But this Alexia nonsense has as much skill as playing a roulette wheel. Perhaps it's time to fold ...

Fun Of The Inflatable Kind

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Have you ever had one of those guy friends that seem to do nothing but constantly brag about their bedroom conquests? (I'm sure that it's not always about the furniture. I want to believe that sometimes women are involved.) One such friend was about to celebrate his birthday a few months ago. And being the good friends that we are, we weren't about bring his birthday down with any sentimental gift. That's the kind of friends he has. But we couldn't go out and get him an inflatable woman. We had no doubt that he already had several to begin with. Then, one of us had the bright idea of going through an animal inflatable catalog. It was a brilliant idea! So for his birthday, he got his very own inflatable sheep. A few weeks later we asked him how he liked it. He sheepishly said that it wasn't too baa-aa-ad.

Trucker is a .... Lady?

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Well, I know this "woman" who believes that she is God's gift to mankind. With her new job as a trucker, she's started covering herself in makeup to accentuate her femininity. Femininity? The only decent rack that she has is on her truck! Have you ever heard the expression "putting lipstick on a pig?" She's not only using lipstick by the barrel full, but she's applying every pencil and powder that there is in existence. In a vain attempt to catch the eye of some unsuspecting soul, she has resorted to heavy usage of eye liner. She's even into heavy usage of truck bed liner to make sure that her intentions come across. I shudder to think what those intentions might be. If you see her ... Run! Hide! Rip your eyes out! You'll thank me later!

What Do I Wear?

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I have never been a guy that had to cover his body in bling. I felt that I wasn't coordinated enough to make the light dance off my jewelry and blind that pretty girl that I wanted to go and talk with. You know, the old come-out-of-the-sun- and-surprised-'em-before-they-had-a-chance-to-run maneuver. Nope, nothing shiny on this unassuming dude. The less attention that I draw to myself, the better. I have enough embarrassing moments as it is without attracting more onlookers.

Is There A Doctor In The House?

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The Internet is a great source of information, yet I'm having a difficult time using it to find a decent doctor. And, in keeping with my previous post, I do need to find a good physician. You know, someone who didn't cross their fingers when they took the Hippocratic's oath. A professional that doesn't keep you waiting hours after your scheduled appointment. An astute person that has competent diagnostic skills instead of someone that has instant assumptions based on the first couple of words out of your mouth. Someone who doesn't think that "virus" is Latin for "your guess is as good as mine." Does such a qualified physician exist?

With the thousands of doctors across the country, you'd think that there would be some form of consumer rating system. There are a few medical websites. But since they want you to buy a membership first, I have no idea if they offer the service that I'm looking for. I guess I'm going to have to use the tried and true method of opening the phone book, picking a doctor at random, and then calling him to ask, "Who do you see when you're sick?"

Remember This Charity Walk for Alzheimer's

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I was reading that three things happen to you as you age. First your memory starts to go. Next there is...um, well, I seem to forgotten the other two. Lately it seems that my memory isn't quite as reliable as it used to be. I don't know if it's just the stress of these past few years taking their toll. But at times it's been embarrassing, if not downright scary, when I find myself forgetting the name of someone I've known for several years. There may be a bright side if this trend continues. One year I may find that I can hide my Easter eggs and, a few moments later, have the thrill of trying to find them. I'm trying to laugh about these recent bouts of lapses in memory. Yet, in the back of my mind, there's a small fear that grows slightly with each incident of forgetfulness. That fear goes by the name of Alzheimer's.

It wasn't until 1901 when a German psychiatrist, Alois Alzheimer, documented the first case of this disease that now bears his name. In the hundred years that followed his initial case study, we have learned more about this debilitating disease. It is much more than just occasional forgetfulness. The onset of the disease also shows up as a difficulty in orienting yourself in space -- such as walking down the aisle in the grocery store. As Alzheimer's progresses, there is a marked deterioration in short-term memory. A person will also begin to become disoriented in areas they used to know so well. At this point, there can be noticeable changes in the behavior of the afflicted, such as violent outbursts or extreme passivity.

While the symptoms and the causes of Alzheimer's are better known today, there still isn't a cure. To help in the research, I want to direct your attention to a nationwide Fundraising event. Set for the Autumn of this year, this vital charity walk is in need of our support. Please go to this site and type in your zip code to find the nearest memory walk in your area. I encourage you to sign up as a team captain for this very important function while it is still early. It is quite possible that the memory you help to save may be your own.

Everything Will Be All Right

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This is the first weekend in a several that I spent by myself. Yesterday I was able to spend uninterrupted hours tending to troubling concerns that I've been putting off. I guess that's what led to disturbing dreams in the night. Yet, this morning as I sipped my coffee and looked out over the yard, I suddenly found myself having a distant memory from happy time in my childhood. Maybe it was the way the sunlight danced on the leaves of the trees. Maybe it was the way the cotton candy clouds drifted nonchalantly across Carolina blue skies. Whatever the reason, I was immediately overcome with a feeling that everything was going to be all right. It wasn't like the feeling of hope that I had when I got my divorce last year. It wasn't like the feeling of relief earlier this year when my congressman said that he would help me straight out a major mistake made by the IRS. In back of both of those feelings were nagging doubts that things could still turn out for the worse. (And unfortunately, time and events certainly haven't done anything to lessen those doubts.) So this morning's unexpected sense of well-being was very welcomed. For the moment, I'm content to let this warm calmness bathe a very tired psyche...

Garden Of My Life

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Lately, as I walk through my own particular garden of life, I seem to be stepping in a lot of manure. I say "manure" because of the positive connotations of the word. Even though I feel like I'm wading waste deep in the muck of past decisions, I'm hoping that happier times are being fertilized for future cultivation. Either that or I'm just a blooming idiot and am reaping what I unwittingly sowed. (Note to self: start using an industrial-strength pooper scooper more often.)

Beating The Cubicle Game

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A few years ago at work, I was being bounced from one cubicle to another. It is extremely difficult to develop test equipment and write code when you're having to set up and tear down your tools every few months. So when an office in a remote part of the plant became vacant, I quickly became a stealthy squatter. The office was ideal because it had whiteboards covering one of the long walls. And instead of one of those small office desks, the room held one of those large conference tables. I spent the next few months quietly moving my books, test equipment and computers into my soon-to-be new home. And, before anyone noticed, I had a new permanent base of operation. Since then, many of my colleagues have had to either move within the plant a few times or move outside the plant because they were laid off. But I'm still in my little hiding hole in the back of the plant. Maybe they forgot about me.

I'm Back From my Training

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Well, I just finished a week long training course for LabVIEW software at a community college on the coast of North Carolina. The classes were held in a air-conditioned trailer on the college campus. While I wasn't expecting the room to be filled with fancy office furniture, I was pleasantly surprised by the ergonomic table and chair arrangement for each student. I didn't notice this comfortable arrangement in classrooms that were inside the college building. So I am very appreciative of where I had to plant my body during this grueling course.

Banks at The Outer Banks

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I imagine that there are several financial institutions located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. So I was wondering if it matters which side of the Outer Banks these places are located. I mean, let's say that there is a "Bank of America" is on the Atlantic side. Would you refer to them as the Outer Outer Bank bank (probably located near Chitty Chitty Bang Bank)? If there is a RBC Centura on the North Carolina side, would you said that they are an Inner Outer bank? I'm tempted to call one of them to find out if they are indeed an Innie or an Outie. My luck, I will get an employee who won't appreciate my inquisitive nature. While they may have lint inside their establishment, I'm sure I will be curtly reminded that they are a bank and not a belly button.

Michael Jordan, Who?

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Is it my age or just a simply ignorance of youth these days? While I was in a store a few days ago, I overheard two children talking. One child ask, "Who is Michael Jordan?" The other answered by saying, "You know, the guy that does sneaker and underwear commercials."

Now I know that Air Jordan sneakers are the rage. Yet here is a man who once was known all over the world for his basketball greatness, his attempts to do the same with baseball, his NBA championship "three peat", a retirement "three peat" and a movie with Buggs Bunny. So how does his reputation become lost on today's youth? His accomplishments are as recent as 2003! Is fame that fleeting...?

Slow Wireless Router

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Are you using a wireless router in your home? Have you noticed times when your speed seems to drop to a snail's pace for no apparent reason? Well, here is something that you might want to check out. If you have a microwave oven in your home, how close is your wireless router to it? I've seen some spectrum analysis that shows how microwave ovens blast through the frequencies used by wireless routers. Since the 2.4 GHz band is unregulated, there is a myriad of devices using that frequency. So there is also a chance that your cordless phone and any other wireless devices (such as speakers and headsets) are interfering with your wireless router. Just thought I'd pass along to you...

Radar Detectors

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If the public radio airwaves are in fact public, then why is it that a few states have made owning radar detectors illegal? The only reason that I can imagine that would justify such un-American legislation is so that these governments can maximize their coffers. So what other options do we have?

Many years ago while in the Air Force, I worked on aircraft navigational systems which included various radar systems. I had the privilege of working with people much smarter than I am. One such gentlemen spent his spare time going beyond radar detection for cars to radar jamming devices. In one experiment, he borrowed a radar gun from his buddy who was in the military police. Unfortunately, my friend's jammer didn't jam his buddy's radar gun. Instead, my friend's device ended up frying the gun.

Anyway, I'm not saying that you have to resort tactics such as jamming. It's just too bad that we couldn't jam thievery posing as law.