<$BlogRSDURL$>

Saturday, January 31, 2004

1/31/2004
8:44 a.m.

What an interesting day yesterday. I had been complaining of some chest pain, and at the insistence of Geta and after talking to Ted I decided to call my Doctor. We spoke for a couple of minutes and he told me to go to the hospital immediately. He called ahead for me. He suspected I may have had a heart attack.

That was at 10:00 a.m. The hospital is only a few minutes away, and of course the waiting room was full, but I was taken almost immediately into the back. I was put on a EKG machine and given "baby tylenol." Baby tylenol is mega small doses, so they gave me 4 of those. I was then interviewed by the Doctor on duty, and he looked at my EKG and ordered me put into a room for observation. I was immediatly moved into a room, and hooked up to a heart monitor, and blood pressure monitor as well as a blood oxygen machine. An IV was started and blood was taken.

The nurse told me my heart rate was extremely high, 120-130 when <90 is normal. I was given medicine to slow down my heart. I was given nitro glycerin to stop the pain in my chest. That gave me a headache as they spray it under your tongue and it makes you really lightheaded almost immediately.

And then I was left alone.

Trapped.

Around 12:15, some e-ray guys came and took chest x-rays and he offered to turn on the TV for me. I was thankful except there was no remote, and being hooked up to the machine limited my movement. I had to watch Days of Our Lives and Passions. Around 2:30 a girl came around who told me she needed blood. I told her no, that some had already been taken and she informed me that the protocol the doctor had ordered required 3 sets of tests, 2 hours apart. Again, I was poked. I hate needles.

The doctor showed up around 3:00 again, and told me that I probably would have had a heart attack had I not come in. He believes stress to be the culprate. I was told to cut out caffiene. I was told not to drink the pot of coffee I normally drink on a daily basis. He told me all my other test came back as normal so I am thankful for that. He also told me that I would be put on a treadmill around 4:30 to look for abnormal heart beats.

Geta showed up a little past 3, and I was glad to have her there. She told me she had cried at work when I had told her I was going to the hospital, but I had told her not to worry.

4:30 came and went, and no treadmill. 5:30 came and went, and no treadmill. However I forgot to mention at around 4:15 they were back again to draw more blood! Finally around 6:10 a cardiologist named John came to get me, and wheel me to the treadmill. He was really nice and told me of a good place to get pizza. I was starving, hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning. Got to the treadmill, had parts of my chest shaved, and had a whole new set of probes hooked up to me.

I then had to lay down on the table to establish a "at rest" heart rate. The medicine to slow my heart was still in me, so I was actually normal. Then they put me on the treadmill. I went for over 10 minutes before they stopped it and said that my test all went well.

I was given a clean bill of health, told that my blood pressure was a little on the high side for the lower of the 2 numbers.

I was wheeled back to the ER, and waited to have the IV thing removed from my hand. I was given copies of all my test, and told to go to my regular doctor during the next week. I was told to cut out coffee, and exercise. Even if it was just walking, do something.

I was told to minimize the stress in my life. I told them that I had quit my job for that very reason.

I went home, ordered pizza, and relaxed, thankful to not only be alive but that something serious had been averted.

I don't like hospitals. But in this case, I guess it was OK.

Thursday, January 29, 2004

1/29/2004
5:15 p.m.

I could fill this page with mindless dribble day in and day out documenting the nonsense I put up with on a daily basis with my current employer but I think that would bore most of you. Because of this conclusion I have decided to share with you things that I like.

One thing I have discovered during the last few months is the relaxing effects jazz music has. As I write, and as such as inspiration for my writing I am currently listening to a Jazz CD that I had burned several months ago. Anybody who can't say they don't like the smooth sounds of people like Etta James, and her song "At Last" has got to be crazy.

Stevie Wonder has numerous songs that inspire me. One of my favorates right now is a song called, "As" and is off his CD "Songs in the key of Life." Geta hates this song, but I love it.

How about David Foster. He tends to use a lot of digital sounds but he creates great music with it. He is along the lines of Manheim Steamroller, but I think more hip. Manheim Steamroller lost its edge. It is too commercial now.

I like music that inspires you to turn up the volume and just listen. Listen to all the little nuances that make music, music. Go on iTunes and download a song called "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck. Nice, smooth, classic sounding music. Relaxing music. Music that helps one think rather than detract from the thought process.

Music so good you like having it on in the background as much as in the foreground.

I love music. I really do. I wish I could play on the piano half the stuff I hear being played. John Tesh has some incredible music out there and what talent. Download his version of "Piano in the Dark."

I notice that when I listen to jazz while driving, my MPG actually increases. I am not joking either on this point. I actually drive slower and more sedate while listening to jazz music.

It is a growing genre with more and more titles falling under the heading of jazz, or more specifically "smooth jazz." I don't care what they call it, I enjoy it.

Can you tell I had a really bad day at work? So bad I didn't want to bore any of you with it. The end is near, I know it is but it is getting harder each day to keep going in to the office.

I WISH MY HOUSE WOULD SELL!!!!!

Would answer a lot of questions for me.

That is all for now, Geta is pulling into the garage. Go find some of the music I shared with you. I don't care if you like it or not, just listen to it before you decide. To each his own, but for me right now I am enjoying this type of music.

Take care.

1/29/2004
6:03 a.m.

Today is our 25th month anniversary. I could humour myself and think that she is the luckiest person in the world, but we all know that is a lie. She perhaps is the most tolerant person in this world. I couldn't live with myself so how she does it I don't know.

Yesterday at work was by far one of the most stressful days yet. Now having given notice, I knew things would become tense but yesterday certainly takes the cake. I haven't been paid for last week yet, and covering payroll for this week is questionable as well so I suggested I get laid off because at least at that point I can collect unemployment. No money = No Jason. It has to be that way, I need the money as I have bills to pay. If I left today I would be owed in excess of 3k, and I cannot afford to let that number grow much bigger.

Why won't you buy my house? That is the question that is on my mind the most. If I could get my house in escrow, a lot of things would start happening fast and therefore I would not be so concerned with the money I am owed. Buy my house people. It is nice, it shows nice, and it is not that expensive in comparison to what is available in this area. Buy the stupid house.

Gotta run for now. Maybe more later.

Tuesday, January 27, 2004

1/27/2004
6:25 a.m.

Just got off the phone with a moving company Movex. They move you, but you load the truck. Penske wants $2500 to move us, but that means we have to drive a truck with a trailer (I don't want to put the mileage on the MINI as I hope to have it for my son one day to trash) and we would have to pay for gas as well as getting the Audi cross country as well.

Movex however quoted $3436 including moving the MINI in the trailer. Not bad, that would mean we could drive just the Audi and take our time across the country without the worries of bad weather (the Audi is all wheel drive and handles awesome in snow and ice) and get to see all the tourist stuff.

Such is life, I wake up early because my overactive mind is always thinking. The good thing about that is that come 9 -10 at night, I am dead tired and fall to sleep instantly.

This Saturday night I am hosting the first ever No Limit Texas Hold'em poker tournament at my house. It is funny, I have been playing poker for 2-3 years with the same people and everyone has talked about planning a tournament but nobody has actually done it except me. Maybe I really do have a gambling problem. I would wager money that I do!

That is all for now, breakfast is calling.

Monday, January 26, 2004

1/27/04
7:53 p.m.

Went to El Torito for dinner. Sat in the bar. The margaritas are $2.00 cheaper on Mondays, and as such consumed 2 of the 'Green Cadillac" margaritas. They are green because of the Midori that is added to it along with the Grand Marnier.

Very tasty to say the least.

Food wasn't that bad either.

Had fun, and Cornel (Geta's brother) is a hoot as always making me smile and laugh. And he seems to notice my quirks, which tonight was identified as turning my head to the right and taking a deep breath while accelerating in the car when I am driving. I let him drive home, and he mocked me the entire way.

That is all for now.

1/26/2004
4:15 p.m.

Well, we have all listened and read the ramblings of Rachel and my Dad, so it is without long waited anticipation that the smartest of all the children fathered by my Dad have his say.

With this in mind I would like to introduce you to disfunctionalfamily.com and the aforementioned blog, disfunctionalfamily.com/blog.html

Now, how I arrived at my URL name is an interesting story; which will be shared in the coming days. In addition to that little bit of dribble, I encourage you to check back to frequently as it is my goal to post at least once a day and keep a diary of sorts as to what is happening in my life.

That is all for now, expecting a realtor with potential customer for my house, so I need to get out of here.

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?