WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND INCREASED MAINTENANCE COST RANT

I have sooo many notes and so little time.

Last October I turned 60 and all through my life the people around me have lamented that I don't look my age and they hope they look this good when they are my age. What a hell of an ego boost to have, but BE-FREAKIN-WARE!

Well as I said, I turned 60 last October, and apparently that is when my warranty expired. (thought this was going to be about a different subject, didn't ya? ;-) ) my back, which has been annoying me for years, (due to a very physical job, resulting in surgery in 1993) decided to step up it's game, making mobility increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, after losing my job of 20+ years, it made  passing physicals difficult, but it was after finding a job and tending to my own business, when the FURRY F@##^$ GREMLINS really started. Just like any well oiled machine, (stop snickering) I noticed little things. I had a finger that constantly locked, headaches that came out of nowhere. and all I wanted to do was sleep!

The clincher was when like a damn NUCLEAR EXPLOSION in my body, I came home not feeling well one night and that was all she wrote! I had extreme joint pain all over my body, and just like the suspension of a car collapsing, I went down. By the weekend I had many other symptoms develop, but the worse was abdominal pain that was excruciating. What the hell was going on!!! I'm a fairly healthy guy, I don't drink or smoke. (well not for many years anyway ;-) and I don't live a overall unhealthy lifestyle. WELL THESE FLEA INFESTED GREMLINS HAD DECIDED TO PARTY AND TO USE MY BODY AS AN AFTER HOURS CLUB. By Sunday my wife had left on a business trip, and I assured her I'd be fine. HOW FREAKING WRONG THAT STATEMENT WAS!!!. By Sunday afternoon I had developed some creepy purple rash,  reminiscent of a horror movie. I couldn't move or eat, and everything hurt, especially my abdomen. IT APPEARED MY UNWELCOME FURRY GUESTS HAD A HANGOVER! This was not going to be good!

After trying all day to convince myself that if just kept still I'd be fine, I finally gave up and asked my father in-law to take me to the hospital. Boy, was my wife unhappy and upset, ( I am gad she wasn't there to smack me) not to mention my son trying to figure out where I was. WOULD HE STARVE? I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE COULD FEED HIMSELF. After a few hours in the hospital it became obvious I was not going home. By the time they admitted me, they had given me four bags of fluid and some enormously effective pain medication. ( Hell, I didn't care if the GREMLINS partied for a week!) I was wary however when they couldn't tell me what was wrong.

To make a long story at least a little shorter (Don't you wish!) I spent 4 days in the hospital, was given 12 bags of fluid and more shots of the ENORMOUSLY EFFECTIVE pain medication than I can remember (I think they turned the GREMLINS in to druggies to keep them quiet :) and they only thing they could tell me was that I possibly had a blood infection. I also gave enough blood on a daily basis to stock DRACULA'S PANTRY. After leaving the hospital I spent the next 6 weeks(?) mostly in bed, and started to feel sorry for myself. The future to me didn't look good. The FURRY LITTLE BASTARDS were quieter, but they were winning. All this while we are racking up major maintenance costs. After all, the WARRANTY had expired.

Slowly over the next few months I began to improve, although I have liver damage. I had lost 30 pounds (Which improved my blood pressure) and the symptoms improved. We are however, struggling with the cause and with treatment. I finally decided enough was enough..TIME TO EVICT THE GREMLINS!

I must have seen 5 doctors in the last few months, and we are still discussing long term treatment that won't do further damage to my liver. I did start to work out and get physical therapy to restore my strength and improve my back. (Being sedentary just gave the GREMLINS a place to rest.) I also found a job that fits my ROCK STAR STATUS. (You know I'm kidding right? ) And I found out today that my finger locking up was due to tendon damage and will take about a 15 minute procedure to correct! (This has hurt and been a problem since January, but I'm a man and can take it. HOW STUPID! )

Overall this has been an enlightening experience, and also one that shows how much my family cares. But if I ever consider hunting again, it's going to be for F!@#$% GREMLINS!

Oh Yea, the next time you want to tell someone they look good for their age, CHECK THEIR DAMN X-RAYS FIRST!!!. I would also advise them to get an extended warranty.

                                                Whoops! Wrong Gremlin! I Mean The Car :)

 

I'M DONE, WELL NOT QUITE YET.

WHY I DON'T LEAN RIGHT RANT

Good Morning,
So let's see how much indignation I can stockpile with this "Rant". I actually had to calm myself for a couple of days before writing this, to avoid sputtering and being more incoherent as usual.

Some have asked why with my moderate views why I don't agree more with the right, surprisingly, I am sometimes closer than even I thought, but then....

One of the newest GOP darlings has already let his big mouth swallow his brain, which should be difficult for a "Neurosurgeon". Dr. Ben Carson has once again proven that you can be intelligent and brilliant in your field, but still be "SOCIALLY IGNORANT"  (Just as many before him) In the last two months this self righteous throwback has made comments trying to ridicule the president at a prayer breakfast, (Which I feel is an inappropriate venue) equating the gay life style to pedophilia and bestiality, (For which he has since apologized) and his most recent comment labeling all "WHITE LIBERAL MALES" as racists! Talk about profiling!

As a "WHITE LIBERAL MALE" I find these comments OFENSIVE, BIGOTED, and IGNORANT! Labeling "WHITE LIBERAL MALES" as racists are on par with labeling all SOUTHERN MALES as KU KLUX KLAN members, or all BLACK MALES as LAZY!! In all fairness he may have been talking about white males in the "LIBERAL MEDIA" but I don't believe you can separate one from the other. Views are views.

In my eyes these insane ramblings  have now put DR. CARSON in the same vein (arguably) as the lunatics like Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, Rand Paul, and who could not add Glen Beck (whose mental health has been questioned) and Rush Limbaugh.

I would love to know why the "EXTREME RIGHT" (note: extreme)continues to cultivate these Neanderthal views! I am tired of all the bashing and finger pointing. If you don't have  practical solutions that benefit the country as a whole...SHUT THE HELL UP! Apparently when you hit a certain level in life your "BRAIN CELLS GET SCRAMBLED" and you feel you matter more than the rest of us.

Here is a message for Dr. Crazy. I applaud and respect your talent and accomplishments in your field, but I mean no offense when I say if I need a doctor, please don't touch me. Not because your black, but because I am a "WHITE LIBERAL MALE" and with your views about my political leanings, I wouldn't want you to let the knife slip!

NOTE: There may be a positive here if it causes us to pause and examine and question our beliefs and views.

                                                      

                                                 
                                                                I'M DONE! (I hate this kind of Rant)

THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION RANT

This RANT actually hit me out of the blue last week when I was doing something very benign, getting rid of useless stuff. (My wife may disagree on the benign.)

As always I was trying to create space and get rid of things we no longer needed, and had the brainstorm to get rid of old medications. What a FREAKIN CHORE! I don't know how many of you have "DISPOSED" of old medications, but I am sure many of us should! IT WOULD OPEN YOUR EYES! While reducing your healthcare out of pocket expense.

Hell, what I thought was going to be a 10 min task took many hours of gathering, identifying, and then researching proper disposal methods. When all was said and done I had a FREEZER BAG FULL, of the oddest collection of  WHITE PILLS, TAN PILLS, PAIN PILLS, DOWNERS, ANTIBIOTICS and a lot of CRAP I didn't even recognize! Damn, if the police raided my house they would've thought I was a pusher! (Hhhmm,where are my sunglasses anyway?)

Now the interesting part. You would think, hey I'll just flush them down the toilet and be done. No Problem..WRONG! I started looking at this DRUG DEALERS DREAM of a FREEZER BAG, and started to feel guilty. What if 1,000,000. other people were doing the same thing, flushing drugs  in addition to the PUSHERS with the cops at the door, What affect would it have on our water supply???? Would we have fish with two heads?? How about gigantic turtles with teeth, or woodland creatures with 6 legs?? Would we get high or have a rush every time we drank tap water?? (Maybe not soo bad. Oopps, sorry, digressed to a younger age) The guilt was overwhelming!!! I had to do something to prevent this, but what?? I know I'll GOOGLE disposal methods. (What else would you do?)

While researching disposal methods I did find some interesting facts. You shouldn't FLUSH medications unless it specifically says so on the bottle. (Didn't know you were going to learn something did you?) When disposing of medication in the trash you should do as I did and put them in a large sealable bag so they don't leach out, and mix them with used coffee grounds, or egg shells to make them unappealing to animals or children. (I feel animals also applies to druggies going through your trash)

Well, after PREPARING the PACKAGE as directed I didn't feel quite so guilty of disposing of it, but I still felt guilty about all the wasted money that was spent on this POTPOURRI of medications. If I wasn't going to use the medication I shouldn't have filled the prescriptions. Hey, before you all start criticizing, I'll bet you all do the same thing, so just take a 2 year old pill and calm down:)


Are you sure you can't take a 2-5 year old medication? I just keep thinking about the money! Well maybe the fish too.

                                                I'M DONE (or going through withdrawl)

INTERPRETATION RANT

I normally don't respond to comments, but my political comments have gotten some responses that I find amusing and perplexing. I am going to share a "snippet" of a response from something I posted on another site, but first I need to clear up some things so the morons of the world don't keep telling me I am changing positions.

First of all, you non-comprehending jackasses, because I don't agree with your views, or you with mine doesn't mean we can't have a civil conversation. I am not trying to change your feeble mind. I am just stating how I feel. Maybe you think I am changing positions because I take a common sense (ok, maybe not always) approach to the issues I am passionate about. So let me try to penetrate the granite and shale casing you call a skull!

1. I AM AN INDEPENDENT: Yes I lean left, but I don't bend left and I definitely don't "bend over" left.
2. WELFARE: Should not be a "career choice", should not be given to illegals, drug addicts or people who are able to work.
3. TAXES: We should have a flat tax, across the board with no loopholes for anyone.
4. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: The operative word is illegal! Not a citizen, no benefits. I also believe that large corporations exploit this issue to keep wages down.
5. GUN CONTROL: I believe in the 2nd amendment, but believe responsible gun ownership, including background checks should be done. As a Viet-Nam Vet, and trained with assault rifles, they are designed to do one thing "KILL PEOPLE". They should be controlled. If you really believe the government is out to get you, then you have bigger issues. This should also be a state by state call, as the dynamics in the rural western states is different than in the urban areas. We also need stronger penalties for criminals, and better mental health evaluations.
6. SAME SEX MARRIAGE: Truthfully, I have too many issues in my own life to judge someone else. If you love someone and want to spend your life with them then the government should stay out of it. I don't care if you marry a toaster. (I would however recommend unplugging it before consummating)
7. VOTER RIGHTS: I don't have a problem with showing ID to vote, but I do have a problem with voter suppression. Some "right" controlled states are enacting "restrictive" laws, which I think are violations of civil rights.
8. SUPER PACS: Corporations are people? What a ludicrous concept! Then unions should be to. There should be a limit on the amount of donations. We spend billions of dollars on campaigns, then complain about the deficit.
9. SUBSIDIES-BAILOUTS: Simple, NONE

I know that some of these views will anger my "RIGHT friends, and some will anger my "LEFT" friends, but hopefully the operative word is "FRIENDS" and we can agree to disagree. I also know that there are many other issues that I could have mentioned, but I don't have all day to write something that will most likely be deleted by many.

I was going to include a "snippet" from another blog that I commented on, but like an "absent-minded knucklehead" I seem to have deleted it. Suffice it to say I made a comment about Arkansas recent passage of a voter's rights law in which I questioned some parts of. I also commented on the way the "flying monkey's of the extreme right" continue to want less government, but continues to shove their agenda and view of morality down our throats. In contrast and all fairness the "bloated walruses of the extreme left" seem to want to give away the farm. I AGREE WITH NEITHER! I also hope you noticed that I used the term "extreme". I have noticed, and met common sense thinkers on both the left and right who seem to want to do what's best for the country, and I applaud them, but I am off track. I won't try to repeat the comment that this "overall wearing woodchuck" responded to me with, but it appeared he didn't even properly read or try to understand what I was saying. His response was so off point that I thought I was being visited, by an alien child who had learned our language from the back of a cereal box. I responded (actually in a nice way, can you believe it :P) that I had not said what he was referring to and he should read my comments again. Naturally, I have yet to receive a response.

In conclusion, I must say I continue to make the same mistake over and over again like some INSANE, BABBLING, DROOLING, IDIOT, by getting into these conversations. I should know by experience...

YOU NEVER WIN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT POLITICS OR RELIGION. (So I guess I'll hide the guns and put the cross under my pillow)

 

 

I'M DONE!! (Aren't you glad)

FRUSTRATED RANT 3-21-13

 I am sorry, but this rant deals with recent events in Maryland Politics.

I hate politics, but for some reason I keep commenting like a moth to a flame AAAAHHH! Staying in MD, because the saga of "squeezing us dry" continues.

WOW! You can't make this stuff up! Now Annapolis is proposing that retailers charge .05 to consumers for every disposable bag! Talk about nickel and diming. How about the state legislators take a pay cut, and pay their own health care! Hey wait, I think I saw Michael Bush going through my truck astray for change!

Here is another one. The Baltimore planning commission wants to phase out a 3rd of the city's liquor stores! That is about a 100 stores that will just be put out of business. They think that will reduce crime. Want to reduce crime? Put the sleazy companies that you give tax subsidies to, instead of the ones that pay taxes! Idiots.

So now O' Moron wants to give "ILLEGALS" drivers licenses and is in the process of repealing the death penalty. I am sorry I also forgot the intent to raise the gas tax. Can anyone say "double dip?" What cuddly furry creatures he and his cronies are. At what point do these ridiculous resource sucking policies end?
Once again I say illegal is illegal, As far as the death penalty I am biased. (my sister was a victim) The argument. Has been made that the death penalty is not a deterrent, well maybe so, but I sleep better knowing they won't hurt someone else. Besides, aren't we trying to save money? I don't want to pay to house these societal cockroaches! Hey we could use the money saved for transportation! We could call it "The eradication fund"

 O'Moron and the rest of the flying monkey's from OZ continue their quest to smash our piggy banks. As I mentioned recently they are pushing to raise the gas tax to fund transportation projects! First I would like to know what projects? Their contin...uing roads to nowhere? Then I also have questions regarding other transportation funding options like the toll increases, where has that money gone? Wasn't the increased tax on cigarettes supposed to solve all of our ills? Hey remember the lotto that was also supposed to benefit seniors and other projects? He also wants a tax on internet sales. Isn't this why the constitution was written, to prevent unfair taxation? These flying monkey's have crossed the line!!!! THERE IS NO MONEY LEFT! WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TAX ON ANY ITEM THAT WE BUY! How can you say that $7.25 an hour is an acceptable minimum wage, when you continue to steal from us to fund your "double dipping" policies. I think it's time these one celled rock crawlers are voted out! THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND OR DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CONSTITUENTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS! 

 

Man am I  Frustrated and done!!!!