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  So apparently I almost died.... almost.    September 21, 2005    13:45:56  

On the evening of Tuesday, August 30, Stef took me to the emergency room. I had been having a constant, nagging headache for a week, and Tuesday it ramped into something terrible. It was the worst headache of my life, and every heartbeat caused me to wince in pain. I developed a fever, and by 8:00pm I was unable to sensibly answer questions Stef was asking me, which led her to drag me to the hospital. (Thanks to Kathy for watching the kids!)

We parked it in the emergency room from about 9 until about 3 in the morning, at which point they brought me in and starting giving me a more thorough exam than I had in triage. I didn't have a stiff neck when I came in, but did have one after sleeping in an emergency room chair for six hours. So, one LP (spinal tap), a bunch of blood tests and a CT scan later, it turned out that I had meningitis. I was relieved that I actually had something worth treating, and had feared that the doctor would tell me that I have the flu and that I should rest and drink plenty of fluids. Then they would write "BIG FAKER" on my chart and send me home. No, I was oddly gratified by the diagnosis... much like when you whomp your head on something you put your hand to the point of impact and check for blood.

Wednesday night was the worst of it, so I hear. I was pretty out of it, and I remember voices and actions, but I'm not sure I opened my eyes much. My fever neared 104 and nothing could bring it down. The nurses packed ice around my head and chest to cool me down, which felt better than it should have. The nausea that had start Tuesday night was still full force. I couldn't hardly move without heaving into the little basin that I kept at my side at all times.

Between the fever and the narcotic that I was getting through my IV (Deloded?) I was experiencing some freaky hallucinations. I would close my eyes and be in a different room entirely, then open them to look at the two doors in my room as a sort of touchstone. I remember very tangible objects almost within grasp, like a 3d movie. There was also a girl with short hair, sitting in a chair in the room leaning slightly forward and looking at me. When I'd open my eyes, girl and chair were gone. When I'd close them, they were back. The repeatability of it all was unsettling.

It was never determined whether I had bacterial or viral meningitis. I had all the symptoms of bacterial, but they couldn't get anything to culture from my spinal fluid. All the same, I had a bag of IV antibiotic every six hours for the entire seven days I was there. Ugh... that stuff permeates your entire body and you can taste it and smell it. Later in the week, when I had recovered quite a bit more, many of the nurses came and told Stef that they didn't think I was going to make it Wednesday night. I'm thankful they kept a professional attitude during the worst of it; I'm sure it helped Stef stay together. Granted I didn't feel bad enough to die or anything, but apparently I looked like I was on my death bed. Through it all, Stef was at my side. My mother couldn't stay away either, even when it was unknown if I was highly contagious. My dad wanted desperately to be there, but he himself was sick and didn't want to give me anything. He ended talking to me from the hospital hallway and sleeping off his sickness in the waiting room. I am humbled by everyone's sacrifice.

Okay, here's the miraculous part. After being bed ridden for seven solid days, I went home, took and day off, then went back to work. In contrast to that, my cousin's husband (himself a doctor, lending credence to the non-craziness or hypochondria of the account) was nearly bedridden for almost five weeks after a five day hospitalization for viral meningitis. I feel better now than before I got sick! Praise God for His healing! There were 7-9 churches all praying for me, and my recovery was an answer to those prayers.

Okay, that's about it. Bye!

    January 18, 2005    13:37:39  

I was trolling eBay this afternoon for cheap Warhammer stuff when I ran across a figure that caught my attention. The auction read "Warhammer OOP RARE Eternal Champion TANGLEBONES" . Tanglebones is a very minor character in a series of books written in the 70's that I enjoyed a great deal. Looking a bit deeper, I saw that the Citadel Miniature company had produced a line of figures based on these books in the mid-80's, and that some fellow was auctioning off his collection. Immediately I became quite interested, not so much for the usability of the figures as for the value of just possessing them. I was roundly disappointed that none of the figures was particularly striking, and none came close to the image of any character I had from reading the book. Even the main hero and villian characters were notably lackluster in lead miniature form. I've seen some rather striking miniatures made over the last 20 years, and these "Eternal Champion" figures were pretty much as plain as they get. I'm glad, actually. The value of just possessing those figures would be pretty close to zero. I have bought miniatures for the first time in 20 years recently, and my sole intent is to paint them and play Warhammer (in conjunction with the whole brushworkz.com). I do not want to become a collector, but for one small moment I considered purchasing these collectors' items. The fact that they stunk up the joint brought me to my senses in time.

    December 03, 2004    10:05:43  

This week I received "The Card." This is the college graduation card that my grandmother bought for me when I first entered college in September 1986, that she has been saving for the past 18 years, of which I am now in official possession. I have stated in the past that the crowning achievement of my collegiate career will be receiving that card, and now I have it. Granted, my last final isn't for another 13 days, and I don't actually walk commencement for another 17 days, but I won't let that tarnish the moment.

    December 03, 2004    10:01:09  

I have something unexpected to say: I don't like puppies.

Now I'm sure there's a collective gasp of shock right now as each of you pictures the cuddliest, wuddliest puppy you can imagine. How could I not like puppies?! Puppies are adorable little snuggly, playful baby dogs! Everyone loves baby animals! Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't.

Having puppies is like living is a biohazard mine field.
It's like owning a smoke alarm that goes off because it's lonely.
It's like having to keep a tupperware of something rancid in your refidgerator that you must take out and smell at least twice a day.
Puppies ensure that there will always be something that needs to be done, regardless of how recently you last did it.

Happiness is a warm puppy. Sure.