lost In The Triangle

2007-01-30T06:23:00.001-04:00

16 second 767 short take off roll

One of the shortest takeoff rolls I have ever seen for a wide body, American Airlines 767 lifted off in a little over 16 seconds! Mind you the wind was blowing 30 knots right down the runway.

2007-01-30T06:23:00.000-04:00

St. Davids Lighthouse, Bermuda

Located on the eastern tip of the Bermuda islands, over looking runway 30. The Bermuda Stone lighthouse stands some 55 feet, or just over 200 feet above sea level. ... (more)

Sick 'n' tired of being sick 'n' tired!

2006-11-29T20:16:00.000-04:00

The title says it all. I have not had a good year health wise, oh at least I am alive, that in itself means a lot to me! But as December approaches and that means Christmas, I can only think about last year December and the first few months of this year. I was really sick. After weeks of going to the doctor I figured even he was thinking I was crazy. well I was not, and if it was not for the doctor I probably would not be here today.

Since then I have been plagued with many problems (some of which are probably self inflicted!) but when you wake up in the morning and put your feet on the ground, only to feel pain in your feet you know your day is going to be bad. Well it's been like that for a few months now.

Like my sister I have allowed myself to gain a lot of weight over the years. Being on antidepressants does not help. I have been off them since mid summer, the brain fog has lifted and I have dropped 2 pant sizes. If I keep up should be back to 38 waist by Christmas (just in time to gain it back from all the good food!)

Well I hope not, I have been on a "change of life diet" for the last 6 weeks or so. Biggest change is a 90% drop in sweet sugared drinks (only orange juice or apple juice a few times a week)other than that it is all water. Candy and my favorite junk food potato chips are only a few times a week as well. I also take my lunch to work, that alone saves a lot of money. Not really a diet, just trying to eat less packaged and prepared foods, and eat more fruit and vegies.

The only thing I wish I could do is walk or some other type of exercise. That brings me to the whole point of "I am Sick 'n' tired of being sick 'n' tired!"

I have pain everywhere, most of which is caused by Degenerative disc disease this affects the upper and lower parts of my spine. which in turn causes me all sorts of problems. So much so that even walking is quite painful. I think that loosing the weight will help though.

I was supposed to get a c5, c6, c7 fusion of the neck a few years ago. I did not as I am holding out for the "disc replacement alternative" this is in trials in the states but has been performed in Europe for a few years now. The surgeon says that these things come and go like waves. I have made it almost 2 years with my neck not bothering me to much. Then this summer the pain came back. Four months on most of the pain has gone though I still get some numbness in my fingers and arms from time to time.

This year saw my lower back also get inflamed, with similar problems that I had with my neck. Only this time of course the lower half of my body had numbness and pain.
That meant back into the dreaded MRI, and next week my all time favorite test, like something out of a Frankenstine movie. I get to pay to be electrocuted for the "ever popular and fun" Nerve Induction test (the doctor sticks needles in you to see how much nerve damage has occured)

Also had bouts of double vision (had those from time to time) and migranes (mainly the auras)My GP sent me to the eye doc, and he sent me to the ear doc!
Also pain in my fingers and toes. Just what the hell is going on?

Agian, I do not wish to feel like crap every day, I am tired of seeing doctors offices, and being poked and prodded. Hopefully my year of being Sick "n" Tired will end and then I can get on with being sick from a cold or something a little normal

Well I get to go to the dentist in a few weeks, maybe that will be a normal doctor visit. Oh hell it's a crown.

I think I must face up to the reality that next year I go 45, and I am just wondering, is this what folks older than me have gone or are going thru?

Even the doctor says I am not getting any younger!

2006-10-29T15:58:00.000-04:00

EWR - BDA

Return flight to Bermuda from Newark, Continental 737 800. Could not video landing because of turbulance due to winds gusting 35 - 40 knots.

2006-10-29T01:29:00.000-03:00

Bermuda - Miami

AA flight from bda to Mia. Aircraft was a 737-800 series. Great early morning flight with one of the best landings I have ever experienced!

2006-10-26T23:32:00.000-03:00

Last Flight from Bermuda

Another Air Canada pilot retires, his last flight to and from Bermuda celebrated with water sprayed from two Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicles

2006-10-26T22:41:00.000-03:00

Cha Cha Turtle

For my sister! She knows why!!!

2006-09-18T01:41:00.000-03:00

Boulder Run

"The Boulder Run" Another ship load of boulders from Canada, These boulders had to be offloaded from the boat, lifted into our trailers, and then driven out to the Airport dump for storage. They will then be used to form a seawall to help protect the airport from the storm surge associated with Hurricanes. During Fabian (3 years ago) the airport Departure and arrivals areas suffered a lot of damage mainly from flooding.

2006-09-12T22:36:00.000-03:00

hurricane florence (part2)

Electricity is back on! I took a quick drive round the town just after the stormed passed at it's closest approach. Not much damage just some power out. Trees down and crap tossed all over the place.

Two more storms out there at the moment, Gordon and depression 8 (soon to be a storm)

2006-09-10T19:23:00.000-03:00

Hurricane Florence (part1)

Some Hurricance Florence video that I shot around St. George's today. Mostly shows boarded up shops and some shots of a closed Bermuda International Airport. Waves breaking on the rocks and deserted beaches and streets. The calm before the storm you could say. As I am writing this it's getting dark and the wind and rain has picked up a little more.
I will try to shoot some more during and after but have no idea when I will post as the electricity will more than likely be off. :^(

2006-09-09T18:55:00.000-03:00

Bermuda Ducking Stool

Market night in St. George's also see a recreation of the "Ducking Stool" a 17 century form of punishment for nags and gossips. For the town drunk (A visitor that volutereed) the punishment was less severe. In this case, buying a round of drinks kept him out of the stocks!

2006-09-08T00:17:00.000-03:00

Bermuda Gombeys

The Warwick Gombey Troupe have been performing for locals and visitors for a decade. Gombeys (pronounced GOM-bays!) have been dancing around Bermuda for almost two centuries. A mix of West African, Caribbean and Native North American dances have combined to influence their rhythmic moves

2006-08-20T19:08:00.000-03:00

Daydream

Pacman, my daughters cat was rescued as a scrawny sick kitten a year and a half ago. He had major surgery and allmost had to be put down.
Now he is a "healthy" 23lbs!!! A little fat but he is a very big cat that dreams of going outdoors...............

Guess who????

2006-08-02T22:45:00.000-03:00

Was doing some searching on google and came across this speech, can anyone guess who spoke it and when? This is only a portion.

"We will reform Social Security and Medicare, sparing our children from struggles we have the power to prevent. And we will reduce taxes, to recover the momentum of our economy and reward the effort and enterprise of working Americans.
We will build our defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness invite challenge.
We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is spared new horrors.
The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake: America remains engaged in the world by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. We will defend our allies and our interests. We will show purpose without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with resolve and strength. And to all nations, we will speak for the values that gave our nation birth."

also

"Many in our country do not know the pain of poverty, but we can listen to those who do. And I can pledge our nation to a goal: When we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side."

2006-07-31T17:46:00.000-03:00

Bermuda Arrivals and Departures: Part II

With over 70% new video that I have shot in the last two months, I decided to put up a new arrivals and departures video. Shot at the Bermuda International Airport, I am still seeking the best angles and positions to video the aircraft

2006-07-09T09:29:00.000-03:00

Trucking in Bermuda Part III

A drive from the Docks, located in the centre of the island to the East End, Southside St. Davids. The Supermarket is located on the site of the old US NAS (Naval Air Station Bermuda) This base closed back in th mid 90's and is slowly being converted back to civilian use. Whites Supermarket is located in the old Commissary

Effexor withdrawels

2006-07-03T20:17:00.000-03:00

I hate this stuff, it work for my anxiety (panic) disorder buut the side effects are bad. I stopped cold turkey about 4 years ago, was off it for allmost a year but suffered every day. Thus I found myself back on the dreded effexor again

About a 2 years ago I decided I wanted off, so I took over a year to go to half a tablet, then 6 months to go to a quarter. I got so tired of the brain fogs, electric shocks, blurry vision, flu like symptoms and a rash of other side effects I stopped about 2 weeks ago. So far so good, I am having a lot of little problems but I am dealing with them. The worst problem is rage! As in bouts of, sometimes I feel like I want to f off everybody

The good part is I got my MOJO back.............................I think!

2006-06-14T19:30:00.000-03:00

Flatts Village Bermuda

Flatts Village, located about 10 minutes from Hamilton the capital of Bermuda. A popular place for tourist to visit as the Aquarium is located there. Flatts inlet, or outlet depending on the tides is a great place to see tidal fources inaction! You can see the water racing out of Harrington sound under the bridge. I love turtles and the Aquarium has a public display near the bus stop, the kids have fun watching them as they wait for the "pink n blue" bus

2006-06-07T22:30:00.000-03:00

Norwegian Crown Aground

The cruise ship Norwegian Crown ran aground this morning while negotiating the shipping channel into Hamilton Harbour. Reportedly none of the passengers or crew were injured. Passengers were transported to the city by tenders and life boats. She remained aground untill around 6:00 pm when she was pulled off during high tide. No damage reports as of yet, she will be inspected by divers.

2006-06-06T23:17:00.000-03:00

Bermuda - Boston - Bermuda

A quick trip to Boston and back to Bermuda.

Pacman: To sexy for his shirt!!!

2006-06-04T17:21:00.000-03:00

The Ducks!

2006-06-04T14:42:00.000-03:00

View from the Hospital visiting room 9th floor looking over the Charles River

Closeup of a duck!!! I really want do one of these tours

ducks

Miss my sister allready

2006-06-04T14:06:00.001-03:00

Flew up to Boston on Friday with my eldest daughter to see her friend who in in a Boston Hospital. He was in a bad motorbike accident about a month ago. He was air ambulanced up to the Lahey clinic, He was moved to a rehab hopital downtown last week. He broke his back in the wreck and is paralised from the waist down. 23 years old, damm!! HE has such a bright oulook on life though, it was my first time meeting him and his smile is so powerfull as well as his will. I see why my daughter likes him. When we arrived at the centre Friday night his dad was waiting out in the cold and rain for us. As soon as I saw him I realised it was someone I had known for a long time. Bermuda is verysmall indeed!. Even he had on a brave face, and great smile. After the hugs and a few tears we were up in his sons room.

Not a good time for visiting as he had just been placed back on the ventilator, the good news is that he is being weened off and hope fully by next week he will need it only for sleeping at night. The doctors are amazed at how fast he is progressing, though seeing him all hooked up was a shock to me and especially my daughter. Comunication with someone on a ventilator is hard and I became a quick lip reader. (can not talk while on the machine) WE let about 930pm for the drive to Lindas in Rhode Island.

Lotsa rain (again!) and I got pulled over by the police for speeding, well I was and I was lucky, got off with a warning. I had made the mistake of staying in the fast lane, and of course going to fast. My fault but it slowed me down for the rest of my trip! Arrived at Chattys after the obligitory stop at McDonalds (yuck) but I like it all the same. Do not have one here so............

Nice to see Linda after only a few weeks, use to be once a year but I have manged 3 times this year so far, hope to return soon.

Saturday morning spent shopping with my daughter for her new "bed in a bag" manged to do everything by lunch time and drove back to Boston to see her friend again. More rain..............

I managed to locate the hospital on my own, well my daughter did help a lot. Did I mention I got lost the night before. Well not really lost, you could see the hospital it's just that we were going aroun and aroun in circles trying to fin the road that lead to it. With all the digging still going on it's a wonder I found a parking lot.
Caught a taxi to the hospital so we could make it before visiting hours ended.

Spent the afternoon with them, he was in a motorised wheelchair, sitting up and off the ventilator. He was able to talk, and some more friends were over from Bermuda visiting. Manged to watch the ducks (boat/bus) tours from the 9th floor window. All day they went around and around. Fully loaded with tourists. Somebody is making a lot of money.

After some tearful moments when we had to say goodbye We where back on the way to Rhode Island.

And then back to Bermuda. That ment a drive back to Boston this morning, in the rain again!!! and then on to Bermuda. It is 77 here now and very humid, but at least the sun is out.

Thankyou for putting us up this weekend Linda, poor Christy got so upset at the airport (she could not have a ciggy) That and saying goodby to her friend in hospital.

Which brings me to the reason for this post, it was just supposed to be a small caption under the picture. Linda has taken up this habbit the last year or so of looking out the window as I back out with the car, I only started noticing it last year. I wonder just how long she has done this?

Again love you guys, see you all soon, give Max a big rasberry for me

Chris

A drive along South Shore

2006-05-30T22:18:00.000-03:00

The weather has been hot n humid. But the water looks so inviting!

Early AM cruise ship Departure

2006-05-24T12:21:00.000-03:00

Making the "squeeze" out of St. Georges Town Cut Channel, a cruise ship leaves for Hamilton Harbor.

Trucking in Bermuda part1

2006-05-23T23:01:00.000-03:00

The traffic in Bermuda is just like everwhere else, backed up and the people can't drive

Arrivals and departures runway 30

2006-05-21T23:07:00.000-03:00

Thought I would shoot some "outside" video. Shot this over a couple of hours yesterday morning, 20th May 2006. Bermuda used to see a lot of widebodies, but now most of our traffic is 737's and A320's. Jet Blue started flying here a couple of weeks ago. Hey Ian check out the CFR vehicles........

My first video edit!!!

2006-05-21T00:57:00.000-03:00

Thought I would try something new. I edited together my return flight vidio from Boston to Bermuda. Put some titles and wipes n fades in as well. THis had to be one of the most turbulent flights I have been on. It was so bad we had to divert down the coast to the Carolinas before tuning east to Bermuda.

Two days later we got a day of record rainfall!!!

WTC the movie

2006-05-19T06:13:00.000-03:00

Some theatres will begin aring a new trailer this weekend, A warning has been issued saying how intense it is........................WTC
Click above to go to the trailer of WTC, an Oliver Stone movie starring Nicolas Cage. Damm it will bring tears to your eyes, and that is just the trailer

Wet Arrival in Boston

2006-05-18T20:35:00.000-03:00

After the nice weather in Bermuda I felt I needed a little cool. Did I mention wet as well.................

Bermua departure Runway 12

2006-05-18T20:19:00.000-03:00

Why would I leave such nice Bermuda weather..........to go and see my sister chatty moon of course! Great day for flying, pity the weather in the North East was not as good.

Off to see Chattymoon...........Again

2006-05-13T11:28:00.000-03:00

Well I just got back from Linda's 3 weeks ago, figured why not go back and try to cheer her up a bit. Only for three days so a quick trip............... See you in a few hours!

Some Pictures from my walks this week

2006-05-13T09:22:00.000-03:00

Something about this picture is not quite right!

Mangroves growing out of a very old fuel tank

I like this bird in the mangroves

Small fishing boat Coot Pond

Entrance to Coot Pond, look at all the alge growing around the low tide mark! (Not good)

A lot of old tags on the wall, the big pitty is most of them have been eroded over the years

Poor light pole is being choked to death!

All in all I like these walks, and taking photographs. Will see about driving around to other parts of Bermuda to take more pics.

Another Bermuda Sunset

2006-05-10T21:07:00.000-03:00

Could not resist snapping this shot the other night...................

Pacman update

2006-05-07T21:46:00.000-03:00

Some times don't you wish you were a cat..............Damm Pacman you are one handsome cat!!!

A drive down Front Street.

2006-05-05T23:29:00.000-03:00

click to play

New fuel efficient lawn mower

2006-05-05T22:38:00.000-03:00

Just saw a demonstration of a new lawnmower, "Very fuel efficient !" the brochure states

YouTube test

2006-05-04T17:34:00.000-03:00

youtube.com

2006-05-02T21:49:00.000-03:00

I like this site, people post all kinds of vids, some good. Some not so good. Thought I would post a couple of vids that was shot with my new digital camera. They are not the greatest as the camera is designed to take still shots, but I am happy with the video as well.

Leaving Boston Logan

Arrival in Bermuda

Mamma's protecting arms, or wings

2006-04-28T17:35:00.000-03:00

Don't you wish you had your mamma (momma, mom, Mutter, madre, mamá, etc..) to keep you protected from all of lifes crap!

I took the picture this afternoon when I was leaving work. I especially like the little one pokeing his head out from her wing on the right.

Blue Bird of Hapiness

2006-04-27T05:32:00.000-03:00

Saw this blue bird in a tree while taking the fire pictures...........................Spring is here!

Godet & Young warehouse wrecked in $1m fire

2006-04-26T22:11:00.000-03:00

Godet & Young a well known East End Hardware store lost their warehouse to a early morning fire 2 days ago. The main store was open for business, as it was unaffected by the fire. But with all the backup stock and also storage space gone rebuilding the busness will be a challange.

My mother used to work for the store back in the 40's when it was located in St. Georges. It moved to it's present location about 2 decades ago. (Thats her in the picture in the old hardware store))

As my nephew Ian (Coldonion) pointed out, when we were in the St. George's Volunteer Fire Brigade we performed a pre plan for this building, I am very sorry to see this on my way back home from my trip to my sister, and Boston.

Back Home from Chattymoons

2006-04-25T14:42:00.000-03:00

Left Chattymoons, 0430 and she sure looked sad, I will leave her to fill in the details, but I have and she has a few pictures to post. Dispite everything that happened it was a good trip. Even the overnight sleep study at Mass General on Friday night was interesting. I love the subway in Boston and really enjoyed walking around the city on Saturday.

Will come back to fill in the details a little later, got to unpack all my crap now. For now here is a little tidbit, Linda, We flew over North Rock on the way in. What Luck!!!

Miss you all already, tell Gene not to overcook the burgers. Oh ya.........OH OHH!!!

Off to see Chattymoon

2006-04-19T08:40:00.000-03:00

I really need to pack, supposed to be at the airport in about 3 hours and I have just started to think about it. Damm where are the bags?
My main reason is to go to Mass General on Friday to the sleep clinic. Also bringing our mom up so she can see Max. Should be an interesting week

Kissing Severums

2006-04-18T23:48:00.000-03:00

Arrived home last night to find two of my Green Severums having a lip locking contest. This usually means a spawn is coming.

Okay, I guess they did "The Dirty" lottsa eggs on the rock. I hope they do not eat them.

Wheres the Beef!

2006-04-17T04:29:00.000-03:00

Well oil has topped $70.00 per barrel, guss the $100.00 per barrel will be right around the corner. I pay allmost $7.00 per gallon now so I can see myself putting $10.00 bucks a gallon into the tank this summer!!! Yet Exxon (A past employer of mine by the way) saw record profits of allmost 40 million last year, and now they see fit to offer retireing chairman Lee Raymond one of the most generous retirement packages in history, nearly $400 million, including pension, stock options and other perks, such as a $1 million consulting deal, two years of home security, personal security, a car and driver, and use of a corporate jet for professional purposes.

I AM SPEECHLESS over this. Totaly!!!

Old Quarters

2006-04-16T08:45:00.000-03:00

Linda, yes the quarters are still here. I can not remember which one for sure, but I think they staid in the 2nd one from the right. Or was it the left, oh well for everyone else, these houses were built back in the 1800's for the British military personel. Now used for government housing.

Coot Pond Walk Part 2

2006-04-13T23:23:00.000-03:00

Coot Pond Walk: Part 2

Coot Pond looking towards the setting sun

Easter Lilies are starting to bloom. Just in time!!!

This sign is meant for the visitors on motorcycles that are not use to our narrow drive on the left roads!!!

I always liked this old house, it is located next to Tobbaco Bay.

Tobbaco Bay, where are all the people? The water temperature is still in the low 60’s!!! and the first cruise ship of the season arrived this week. In a month or so the beaches will be rammed full with pale untanned visitors that will go home looking like lobsters….

Young boys playing cricket on the golf course

Abby, a friendly pony. I am giving her a good rub on her mane, maybe I should bring a apple next time

For Chattymoon, the new (OLD) East End Primary school.

I enjoyed this walk a lot, got to spend some quality time with the 11 year old.

Coot Pond walk: Part 1

2006-04-13T22:38:00.000-03:00

I look forward to my walks now, well more or less. I enjoyed my walk this evening a lot as my youngest daughter came with me, we had a lot of fun, and I think she enjoyed it as well.She was supposed to go to Karate but was cancelled because of the holiday tomorrow.

View of RAA Club (Royal Artillery) and the dairy farm.

A view looking down on the old road, about 30 years ago the road was
being eroded away, and a new road much higher up the hill was cut out.
You can still walk on some sections but a lot of the road has fallen into
The sea.

A view of Fort St. Catherine’s Beach and Fort. Also you can see a little of the Board Walk that Club Med built. The Pier has taken a lot of damage over the years and is almost unusable.

Fort St. Catherine

Another view of Fort St. Catherine Beach and the former Holiday Inn/Lowes Hotel/
Club Med. 1987’s hurricane Emily caused a lot of damage. Club Med re-opened for
A few months and closed in 1988. The hotel has been empty since.

Another beach, Achilles Bay is located just to the west of Fort St. Catherine’s

A view looking west along Coot Pond Road. Picture shows the former Glad Café

Lots of interesting things to look at in the window. The Glad Café has been closed of
Decades but I still remember walking home from the beach on a hot summer’s day and looking forward to getting my grape soda or snow cone. One of the bottles still has a foot long centipede in it, and yes they do get that big here!

Wild Bunnies

2006-04-12T17:15:00.000-03:00

As a follow up to the picture of the wild chickens, I found these rabbits along the side of the road.........what next?

Sunday walk: Part 2

2006-04-10T05:39:00.000-03:00

And on to the 2nd half of my walk. I decided that I should go to church. Well at least pop my head in. After all it was Palm Sunday.

St.Peters Church, located on York Street it is believed to be the oldest continually used Anglican church in the Western hemisphere. The original church was built from Bermuda cedar with a palmetto roof in 1612. Most of the present structure dates from 1713. The first Bermuda Parliament met here in 1620, making it the 3rd oldest parliament in the world.

Their are 2 grave sites around the Church, one of which was area set aside for Slaves and free blacks, which is located in a small walled in area to the west of the Church.

Headstone located in the "Slave Graves"

Located to the rear or north side of the church, the "ole tree" finaly came down. This tree or whats left of it was once a Bermuda cedar that had even held the church bell. It was over 500 years old.

Grave site off our former govenor Sir Richard Sharples and his ADC, Hugh Sayers. They were assassinated in March of 1973.

Got to love the plants all around and on this "pink" house

No shortage of abandoned burned out houses here!!!

And finally I am almost home, this is the next door neighours, He allways has a lot of flowers and other plants in the front and around the house.

Sunday walk: Part1

2006-04-09T21:54:00.000-03:00

I had to pick up my youngest daughter at Karate today at noon, seeing as the wife was at work with the car that ment a walk. Wow! I was actualy looking forward to it.

The unfinished Church on "Church Folly Lane" this was supposed to be a replacement for St. Peter's. Unfortunately when the higherups back in the 1800's decided to move the capital to Hamilton I guess they took the money with them, it was never finished.

Another view of the ruins........Did I mention it
was a beautiful day again.

The Ducking stool, we put the women who spred gossip in this, they get dunked a few times. That stops the gossip. A replica of the "Deliverance " can be seen in the background.

A closer view of the Deliverance

Statue of the Admiral of the fleet Sir George Somers. The Flag ship "Sea Venture" was wreaked of the East End in 1609. They where on their way to The colony Jamestown in Virginia. The previopus picture shows a replica of one of the ships that they made to continue their voyage to the "New World"

Dedication in 1984. Shit I think I was the photograher that day (Newspaper)

Charter fishing boat "Messaround" Only in Bermuda will you find pink boats and pink buses and pink houses!

The Towne Hall gets a new roof.

Our main street is called "York Street" this is a view looking east. Headind down the road you would end up were I took my pictures a few days ago, cut road and the forts. Also the East End beaches.

York Street looking west, this will take you to Hamilton the capital in the center of the island and then on to the end. 20 miles or so. Bermuda is small, but you know what they say about beauty and small things.

save your blog

2006-04-09T00:09:00.000-03:00

This should backup your web sites or blogs. I used it to back up my old blogster blog WebZIP 7.0 Offline Browser

Chattys old apt!!!

2006-04-08T15:48:00.000-03:00

Damm girl, you left the comment just as I was posting. Yup I took took a pic of your old apt when I was walking. It got trashed during hurricane Fabien. Would you believe people are living in this dump!

Cut Road Walking Pictures part 2

2006-04-08T15:16:00.000-03:00

Continuing on my walk around Cut Road

Another moongate, I like the way the setting sun reflected off of the weeds on the lawn.

Prickly pear cactus, these are located all over Bermuda. The small red fruit produced can be eaten, watch out for the sharp spines!

When the tide is low enough you can make out one of natures "bathtubs" This one is big enough to lay down in, though I would not do it. Might be something in there out to get me!

Goats on the dairy farm

Feral chickens "on de hill" What with bird flu and every one being scared, I think the chickens will be on the run soon.

All of Bermudas fresh milk is produceed locally from 3 or 4 local dairy farms. First it was one cow that took intrest in me then the part of the heard decided to run at me, good job for the electric fence!

Fort St. Catherine and St. Catherines beach. Reportedly where Admiral Somers and the survivors from the wreck off the Sea Venture first set foot on Bermuda's shores.

British Army Garrison Yellow Fever grave yard, located just off Grenadier Lane. One interesting grave is that of a surgeon. He served in the Crimean War at the battles of Balaclava and Sebastapol only to succumb to yellow fever in "beautiful" Bermuda! Many lives were lost to yellow fever that ravaged the British military in Bermuda during the mid-19th century.

And back to my starting point, outside the Dojo, I just love the cracks in the road. Looks like skin to me.

I enjoyed this walk, will probably do it a couple of times a week. No excuse really as I can do it during my daughters karate class.

Will find some new walking routes and perhaps take some more pictures.........

Cut Road Walking Pictures part 1

2006-04-08T00:19:00.000-03:00

Well I went for my walk Thursday night. Allmost 3 kilometers. Decided to take some pictures. Will go again Saturday I hope. The things you see when you are walking instead of driving is amazing......

Starting point for walk, this is a picture of one of the old British Military Barracks, built in the 1800's I think. My Daughters Dojo is located on the ground floor

Same buidings as above except they are being converted into a new seniors "rest" home.
It's last life was the St. George's Secondary School.

St. George's Harbour, I still think it is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. First cruise ships of the season due in soon.

Nobody home! This house is completly wreaked, and what a pity with a housing crisis on. But we have lots of homes here in Bermuda that look just like this one.....

Town Cut Channel St George's. Very Narrow for the big ships to navigate. Will try to get some pictures of the cruise ships this season.

Gates Fort, located next to the Town Cut, It was constructed between 1612 and 1615 and takes its name from Sir Thomas Gates, Governor elect of Jamestown, Virginia.

Alexandria Battery, located just around the courner from Gates Fort. Built near the turn of the 1900's this fort saw "action" in WWI and WWII.

Buildings Bay, gets its name from the building of the Deliverance and the Patience. These two boats were constucted after the shipwreak in 1609 of the Sea Venture. The flagship of Admiral Sir George Somers. Destined for the new colony Jamestown in Virginia the fact that the survivors built two smaller boats and made it to Virginia was no small feat.

Also lots of washed up glass, with the sharp edges worn away leads to it's nickname "Glass Beach"

Bermuda Moongate. Legend has it that people who walk through a Moongate, especially young lovers and honeymooners, are blessed with good luck. The original idea was copied from and brought to Bermuda back in the mid 1800's around 1861 or so.
Ours are constucted from Bermuda stone, and have a different shape from the Chinese.

Do it now! Do not think................JUST DO IT!

2006-04-05T06:00:00.000-03:00

Dropped of my youngest daughter last evening for Karate, and I had a strange thought. "Why not go for a walk"
Well it was a still a beautifull day that had not yet come to an end so after I dropped her off, I left the car and started to walk.
I went "Round de block" Linda will understand what I mean. If I can find the didgital camera I will try to take some pictures next time.
She has Karate 2 time a week, if I can squeeze another day in and increase the time alittle more that will be good.
As it was I walked, rather briskly I might add for a little over half an hour. I saw a lot of things that you do not see while driving (camera needed!) Got back to the car and 10 minutes later my daughter was back in the car.
Well done, can I keep it up? Well time will tell, but I will say this "my knees and legs are killing me this morning!

Pacman "Gets a bath"

2006-03-31T06:18:00.000-04:00

Poor Pacman, my daughter wants to start showing him in the cat shows. So he gets a bath once a month or so. Strange thing is he does not putup much of a fight and actually seems to like it. e is one BIG kitty now allmost 25lbs and that is mostly "good" weight. He is just a big cat with big claws and a BIG cat heart.

Why do people make life so damm hard?

2006-03-31T06:06:00.000-04:00

Was reading Bab's post about her on again off again friendship with "galaxy"
So being curious I spent 5 minutes of my precious time to have a read and see whats happening "up north!" I see galaxy is trying to increase blog traffic, and wonders why people leave no comments or worse, not even read the damm blog. Some people just do not get it. Oh and I tried to leave a comment but for some reason I have to leave my name and email address in the required fields! Sorry, I just do not know you well enough for that yet. And this request seems strange to me seeing as how in your profile you state "I’m a bit of a nut about privacy so I’m not big on revealing riviting personal details. That said, anyone who knows me could probably piece things together and arrive at a postive identification — for the rest of you, if you really want to get to know me, send me an email."
Well I just wanted to leave a damm comment, thats all............so I will leave my comment here.

Another Bermuda day is over

2006-03-27T20:21:00.000-04:00

Not the best sunset picture, but something made me stop the car and snap it anyway. Has been cold and windy this weekend, rainy too.

grey hair.............and hair cuts

2006-03-22T19:52:00.000-04:00

I had a hair cut this evening, if I do a drive by and see that "Malcoms" only has a few seats hot I will go in and sit and wait my turn. Young kid about 14 in the chair. Black hair no grey. I thought to my self lucky guy! Hell i started going grey about his age. Next one was a 34 year old, he had very little hair on his head allready (and I do not mean bald) just a very close haircut. I thought to my self "whats to cut off"

"Take it off with a straight razor Malcom, like yours!" He wanted a baldy like the barbers............

Then it's my turn, I watch and feal the greys falling down my head on on my shoulders. As they land on the floor the hairs stand out in a stark contrast to the dark browns and blacks allready on the floor. Wow! Am I grey or what. Still got most of it on top of my head though.

Then it's over, I get up pay Malcome $15 bucks plus $3 for a tip. And as I am leaving a young boy gets up on the wooden board that all barbers have for the little ones. He had just come from soccer practise and as I looked at his hair about to be neatly trimmed I saw a hint of grey, not one or two hairs but many. Way to many as he was only SIX years old. Dam and I thought I went grey early.

Hand is a lot better

2006-03-19T00:46:00.000-04:00

Well thanks to all the bloggers well wishes I am finally starting to feel better. The rash on my hand is gone, just a small painful lump now. I have about 75% movement back, though though pressing shift and 5 to get % makes it hurt a little.
Hopefully I can get through a few weeks without having something else break down.

Oh and Babs, Bermuda is telemarketer free. Or at least for a little while longer.

Internet problems, again

2006-03-17T05:52:00.000-04:00

Thought I had better make a quick post while my internet connection is working.
Sunday afternoon my connection draged down to below 56k dialup speeds then by the evening it was 10k.
I could not post or even get email. after 2 days of calling the isp and TELCO (BTC) i finally got some answers. Seems our end of the island (St. George's and St. Davids) had a ADSL roblem wereby lots of customers lost their connections. Seems like they got most of them up and running last night, but owing to a computer techies fault (MY OWN!!) I did not get on till tonight. The worst part of this whole ordeal is that the telephone company did not inform the public of their problems.
My hand is better but still a bit swollen, I finally went to the fracture clinic at the Hospital a few days ago and got a splint, seems like I still may have had a bout of shingles with a badly sprained or brusied wrist/thumb.
We have had a good day of weather here but the wet and windy is comeing back for the weekend. Seems like chattys posts and pics of Bermuda are keeping the winter gales around longer then useual.
Oh and a pod of humpback whales have been spotted on their annual migration, the Royal Gazette had a nice picture on the front page a few days ago. Damm things are big!

One thing after another

2006-03-11T09:35:00.000-04:00

Went to the doc again yesterday, told him I was in so much pain I would have cut my hand of if I had a sharp enough knife! He now thinks it might be Shingles!!! WTF

The hand still hurts WORSE and I can just about move it. I have some nice pain killers but they take an hour to kick in and last for about 2 hours after that. Hopefully will find out more on Monday.

What is shingles?

"Shingles is a localized infection due to the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It occurs only in people who have had chickenpox in the past and represents a reactivation of the dormant varicella virus. Why the virus reactivates in some individuals and not in others is unknown."

Why me? I have spent more time in the doctors office this last 3 months then the last 20 years..........

Triangle And Chatty at the Krankenhaus

2006-03-09T18:14:00.000-04:00

Well I have been back to work for a week. Latest blood cultures came in negative and echo results also look good. No fevers, so I guess I am good to go. Well I was untill I messed my wrist up yesterday. Somehow I managed to twist, strike or pull it in the wrong way. I remember the pain but do not remember doing it.

Felt okay afterwards, at least untill 0130 am when I woke up in pain, felt like I had a screwdriver being prodded around in it. I got up took some pain killers and surfed the net waiting for the pain to subside. Tried to start up a chat with Linda (Chattymoon) but she must have fallen asleep with the news. Eventually I wrapped an ACE bandage on it and grabbed a few ZZZZZSSSS

Got up at 0530 and decided to go to work, called the doc and saw him at 1130, he sent me for a xray at the hospital. By 2pm the end result was a very bad sprain or strain........no breaks.
Now I have it ACED up and it still hurts, I just hope I can get some sleep tonight.

Now I see Linda also had her day at the hospital.

More Cats

2006-03-07T18:38:00.000-04:00

Sorry but I could not resist this one!
My 11 year old daughter took some pictures of the cats the other night. Sasha and Princes ended up in a scrap over the heat from the cable box. They had allready chased Pacman off of it (Threes a crowd!)

Longtails and Springtime

2006-03-04T20:03:00.000-04:00

Every year, sometime between Late February and March the White Tailed Tropicbirds or Longtails return to grace our windswept island. They leave in October and return to court and breed. Marking the unofficial start of spring, it means warmer weather is on it's way.

Well the seagulls are still here, I guess owing to the winter gales that still are upon us, but they will soon be gone and then the longtails (human visitors) will be flying in to sample our pink sandy beaches, Dark and Stormy's and world class golf courses.

I took this picture about 20 years ago just when the longtails had started to return. He was a bit mad at me as I was venturing to close to a nest he must have picked out. (They nest in holes in the rockface along our shores) They pick this location as it is difficilt for preditors and photographers to get close!

I still await reports of the first sightings for the year.

Free at last

2006-03-01T21:53:00.000-04:00

Well the Hickman Catheter thats been a part of my body for the last 5 weeks is out. I saw the Doc this AM and he gave me an all clear, now I have to try to get myself back in shape. Seems like I have no valve or heart damage! A little bit of "vegitation" left on the Mitral valve, but that is normal. So far no fevers and I have been off the penicillin for a week now.

I even went to work this morning. This afternoon I went to the hospital to have the catheter pulled out, and that is just how it happened. He grabbed the line and pulled. HARD!!!! No pain and just a little blood on the gauze, in 5 minutes I was in recovery to have some more blood drawn for the last set of blood cultures. Hopefully negative results all around. I feel better but still weak.

My apologies for not making the rounds and comenting but I just have not been upto it over the last few weeks. I have looked at em from time to time though.

Also thanks to all of you for helping my sister (Chattymoon) through her trials and tribulations. I too wish I was closer. Actualy I probably am (700 or so miles) just that its all water between us. If all goes well I will see her next month when I go up to Mass General

I can hardly wait for a shower without tubes and wires..................

Early Spring Time for Chatty

2006-02-25T20:46:00.000-04:00

I see chatty is looking forward to spring, and sunshine. Tina went outside for me to take some pictures today Linda. Very windy here and the temperatures are in the low 50's at night. But spring is on its way! Some of the pics are from the next door neigbours, and some are from around our yard.

Just for Chatty Moon

2006-02-23T21:14:00.000-04:00

Hi Linda, I made some cornbread (johnny bread) in the old cast iron pan tonight, took up some to momma..................MMMMMMMM it's good. Anyway momma had a picture of Lady. She was so small and cute

Boring Winter Olympics

2006-02-23T08:11:00.000-04:00

Out of all the news stories I have read over the last 2 weeks the one that has most caught my eye is the non story of the Olympic. I thought I would have watched plenty of the action (seeing as I have not too much else going on) but they are just boring. No wonder NBC has lost a bundle on them.

BBC or Bermuda Brodcasting company (ZBM, ZFB) thought they would out do DeFontes Broadcasting (VSB) Now VSB is the NBC affiliate (the ones showing the Olympics) what does BBC (ABC,CBS Affiliate) do they buy the rights to show the olypics from NBC thus VSB has to show Old movies and reruns, and ZFB show the Olympics which no one watches............................

That means out of the three over the air TV stations, two of them have nothing to watch. Thank god for cable TV thats all I can say.

The ole' bag is finally gone

2006-02-22T20:49:00.000-04:00

Well it's gone, lost my blue bag and six foot of clear tubing this afternoon. The home nurse came and disconnected me from the pump and hopefully I will not have to get anymore IV penicillin for a long time. Heres hopeing no fevers over the next few days and a good report from the echogardiogram on monday.

problems?

2006-02-20T12:52:00.000-04:00

We all got our problems, including the latest powerball winner. Well maybe, anyway reading some of the blogs makes you think some times that one life is not all that bad. I know that but still it's my life and some times I get tired of feeling like I have been crapped on. I can not help anyone else, hell some times I feel like I can just about deal with my own shit.

Health wise I guess I am better but will not know for sure for a couple of weeks, but then its allways something else, not to worry lets get over this hump first. I think I am depressed about having to go back to work, (not that I do not want to go back) its just that physically I am so dam tired. And not from lack of sleep either. Going for little walks and even talking on the phone tires me out so damm much. I get out of breath fast and this is what bothers me.
The nurse and doctor says this is normal, but I wish I could feel normal.

Nurse just came to change my penicillin, last bag tommorow and which means Wednesday night I should be FREE. I will still have the Hicman in but it will be dangling, unhooked and free of the pump. Hopefully no fevers, and the echo goes good on Monday. Then if all clear I should be back to work on the 1st of March.

O ya thats why I am depressed................

Not off it yet, but less............

2006-02-16T10:07:00.000-04:00

Well pDoc was happy with my progress, told me to cut the little pink pill in 4 and take 1/4 once a day. I asked him how long and it was allmost up to me untill I said I feel rage and anger when I am off the stuff for 2 days. So then he said 4 - 6 months. Thats cool as I have been on this stuff for so long it will be better to stretch it out.

The home nurse and the doctor spoke on the phone yesterday when she came to fill up the penicillin. The script for the penicillin runs out next week on the 22nd. I was supposed to have the Hickman catheter out the next day. What they will do instead is leave it in over the weekend and see if the fevers come back. if so well...................I.........................I hope not

Stuff

2006-02-15T07:36:00.000-04:00

Well I am glad to be feeling better, but now comes the hard part. I need to start getting my strength back. I have been off work over a month now, I should be back the 1st of next month. So I started to go for walks a few days ago. Not far just down town and back. I had to go and make a deposit 2 days ago so I used that as an good reason to start walking.
Now I was not feeling well for most of December and the middle of January swa me in the hospital for a week. Now I am having the problem of my legs and muscles and joints are hurting me. Not from being ill but from exersice. They are not used to it and I am finding out that neither is the rest of me. I get bloody tired really fast. The doctor said this would happen so I no I have to be patient, but damm I hate feeling like this. Well I would rater feel like this than how I was before.
Hopefully in a week it will not be as bad.

I go and see the pDoc this Am, I want off the effexor! Do not know what he will do so ............

Chatty allready said a lot on our daddys passing 14 years ago, I can not add to much except I really miss the "ole man" maybe I will do something picture wise to post. I have been scanning a lot of the old albums and he seemed to stay behind the camera a lot but I will see what I can do.

It's my turn! or rather our turn..........

2006-02-11T19:22:00.000-04:00

" Sometime even the guys have got to give up their TV!"

Princess and Sasha hogging the TV all night, much to Pacmans disgust.

New TV for Pacman

2006-02-09T15:12:00.000-04:00

We needed a good reason to get a new TV and it was not the Super Bowl!

Pacman a year ago, was just a BIG little kitten
He and the other cats love the warmth from
the cable box. He had no problem getting his
butt on it.

Poor Pacman about six months ago, he was a lot
bigger and could no longer fit. At least he front
end is nice and toasty!

Okay, Houston we got a problem, Pacman is too
big for the cable box, allmost to big for the old
Sony Trinitron 25" TV. Something has got to
change, and soon

AH!!! Much better Nice big 36" TV, Got my cable box and
DSL/wireless box's to keep me nice and toasty. Although
if I keep growing I might have a problem soon, I see a
Bigscreen, HDTV in our future!

Low-Fat Diet problems as well!!!

2006-02-08T09:25:00.000-04:00

I copyied only the first part but................

From the New York Times

February 7, 2006
Study Finds Low-Fat Diet Won't Stop Cancer or Heart Disease
By GINA KOLATA

The largest study ever to ask whether a low-fat diet reduces the risk of getting cancer or heart disease has found that the diet has no effect.

The $415 million federal study involved nearly 49,000 women ages 50 to 79 who were followed for eight years. In the end, those assigned to a low-fat diet had the same rates of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart attacks and strokes as those who ate whatever they pleased, researchers are reporting today.

"These studies are revolutionary," said Dr. Jules Hirsch, physician in chief emeritus at Rockefeller University in New York City, who has spent a lifetime studying the effects of diets on weight and health. "They should put a stop to this era of thinking that we have all the information we need to change the whole national diet and make everybody healthy."

The study, published in today's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, was not just an ordinary study, said Dr. Michael Thun, who directs epidemiological research for the American Cancer Society. It was so large and so expensive, Dr. Thun said, that it was "the Rolls-Royce of studies." As such, he added, it is likely to be the final word.

"We usually have only one shot at a very large-scale trial on a particular issue," he said.

The results, the study investigators agreed, do not justify recommending low-fat diets to the public to reduce their heart disease and cancer risk. Given the lack of benefit found in the study, many medical researchers said that the best dietary advice, for now, was to follow federal guidelines for healthy eating, with less saturated and trans fats, more grains, and more fruits and vegetables.

Not everyone was convinced. Some, like Dr. Dean Ornish, a longtime promoter of low-fat diets and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, Calif., said that the women did not reduce their fat to low enough levels or eat enough fruits and vegetables, and that the study, even at eight years, did not give the diets enough time.

Others said that diet could still make a difference, at least with heart disease, if people were to eat the so-called Mediterranean diet, low in saturated fats like butter and high in oils like olive oil. The women in the study reduced all kinds of fat.

Enough already!!!

2006-02-08T08:51:00.000-04:00

Okay last post on my latest illness (for now)
Basically I am home now for at least the next 3 weeks. The home nurse comes and changes the little bag of penicillin everyday. Cleans and dresses the spot where the catheter goes in. At the end of the month I will get the catheter pulled out and have a follow-up echocardiogram to see if I have any permanent heart damage. Then I should be back to work beginning of March.
Sorry to be detailed about some of the procedures but hey that’s what happened. I still find it hard to believe that I was walking around sick like that for over a month, and feeling as crappy as I was. Thanks again for all your well wishes. It helped a lot.

Picture shows the "pump" or "my new mate" This thing goes everywhere with me. 24/7 I wake up in the morning all tangled up in the line that "feeds" me the antibiotics. That on top of the CPAP hose twisted around my neck some times makes my wife think I am into S&M!

Can hardly wait untill the 23rd when I will be FREE!!!

Going home - Finally

2006-02-07T08:39:00.000-04:00

Hickman was implanted on Saturday afternoon; the doc came by later to say I could go home the next day, if the pharmacy was open to dispense the medicine! So another day in the hospital.

They moved me to a semi-private room Sunday morning and the Doctor came by say everything was looking good. He signed me out for Monday and said just have to get the home nurse organized. I was starting to feel a lot better. Still tired but at least no more fevers.

I had the first decent nights sleep in over 3 weeks, so good I did not want to get out of bed until breakfast came. (yuck) Later that morning I called the home nurse and she said she would meet me at home by 6:00 pm. That done it was just a matter of “let me out of here!!!” The ward nurse said I would have to wait until my 2:00 pm dose of penicillin. Every four hours for the last 5 days and night I had to be hooked up to the intravenous drip. Usually they would set it to run for 1 to 2 hours. I think I got this last one in ½ an hour! Guess they wanted me out of here as well. (They needed the room and the bed)

That done I was changed and packed ready for the nurse to unplug me. Now here is a strange thing, I was asked if I needed a wheelchair to take me down to the car (wife had come to pick me up) Now that is normal practice to wheel one down to the car. Hell no I said I can walk!

I have to say something, I want to thank all the nurses, doctors, aids and rest of the staff at the KEMH, the building may be falling down around you but you all manage to work under very difficult and trying situations. Some of the patients needed a lot of EXTRA patience. Not a job I could do! The only thing I asked for daily was some butter to go with my meals.

Never say non dairy when checking in. It’s easier to not eat what’s on your plate then to try to get something that’s not on it. Even though the food was terrible I was grateful for it.

I was going home, and I felt much better. Thanks again to everyone.

Going home - soon but NOT YET!

2006-02-05T11:49:00.000-04:00

The screw up was the wrong catheter had been put in, this meant I would not be getting out on Friday……..or Saturday. To make this long story short I was starting to feel much better and they scheduled me to have the center line pulled on Saturday mourning with the new Hickman Line installed at the same time. As it would be a procedure done in the operating room I was told not to eat or drink after 8:00 pm Friday night. Expecting the procedure to be done by 11 am.

Saturday morning came and I could not even eat my one slice of whole wheat toast with marmalade and egg beaters. (YUCK) so by 11:00 I was a little hungry. Lunch came (literally) and went I still could not eat. I was now really hungry. Around 2:30 pm the anesthetist came and described the procedure for implanting the Hickman. I signed the papers (wishing I had a lawyer friend) and he said it would not take long to do. He omitted one tiny detail I had the displeasure of finding out on the O.R. table

They wheeled me down to the O.R. and prepped me for the procedure. Before I new it the center line was out, the only way I new this was I could feel something warm running down my neck (blood) I had not felt a thing. A little pressure and the bleeding stopped pretty quickly.

The anesthetist rubbed iodine wash all over my neck and chest then they put a sterile sheet over me with a part of it cut out in the neck and chest area. He gave me a couple of local injections to numb the area and said I would feel a little pressure. This is the detail that probably should have been explained a little better.

If anyone is interested in the procedure type in Hickman Catheter in Google and read away. I will tell you this much. This was the most uncomfortable procedure I have ever had done to me. Not quite painful as I had the local for pain. A lot of forceful pressure in the chest and neck area. Not something I would look forward to have done again

That experience over I was wheeled to recovery and after an hour or so with the machines that go PING! I was back on the ward with a tube coming out of my chest looking something like the Borg out of Star Trek.

The reason for the Hickman was that it can be in for a long time and I needed it if I wanted to go home. Now that it was in that should be soon!

Picture shows the catheter going in to the chest. It then goes under the skin up to the stiches you see by my neck. (that was the uncomfortable part!) it then goes down into the subclavian vein and then just inside the heart.

Happy Birthday!

2006-02-03T08:19:00.000-04:00

Well I made it to my 44th, normally I do not like parties but it seemed to me like I should have something. My wife’s granny had passed, I was getting over a serious illness and people were just too dammed depressed. I was talking to the wife’s uncle (grannies son) and found out his birthday was February 1st, mine was the 2nd. I put a loose plan together to have them over the house and maybe make some pizza (I make it from scratch and cook it on a pizza stone) His sister was in Bermuda for the funeral and I had not seen her since February last year.

They said they would bring a small cake and it looked like a plan. I called some people and friends and proceeded to do my thing. I use to be able to cook up to 10 pizzas for my "pizza parties" was not going to do that as I did not have the strength, but I got up yesterday morning posted on the bog, then I went out to the kitchen and started to cut up the veggies. I do not like a lot of moisture in the vegetables so I cut them early and try to dry the out as much as possible with paper towels. About lunch time I started to make my dough. Keep in mind I have not done this in over a year and a half and the recipe is in my head. I dump the ingredients in a big bowl and let memory take over.

Soon I have all the veggies cut and the dough kneaded and divided. I put the dough in sandwich bags then place in the fridge to slow it down a bit. I am ready. Except for the sauce. I use an Italian plain sauce as a base then I give it my own special treatment

By 5 pm thought no one was showing up. By 6 I thought I would not have enough pizza salad to go around. By the end of the night I had cooked 7 pizzas!!! (I managed to save 2 pieces for my lunch the next day) We had a goodtime; it was nice to have a lot of people and noise in the house. Granny Peggy loved my pizza and I am sorry I had not cooked her any in the last year and a half. So the birthday pizza party was for her as well.

Linda you missed some great pizza

Tossin the pie

A Vegitarian Pizza (Damm it tasted good)

Somebody Screwed up!

2006-02-03T08:08:00.000-04:00

The next morning the doc showed up started to tell me what bug I might have as the blood culture results where coming in.

Viridans group streptococci
• The viridans group of streptococci are a diverse group of organisms
• They are respiratory, gastrointestinal and oral cavity commensals
• Infection usually occurs in immunocompromised hosts
• Principal virulence trait is to adhere to cardiac valves and cause endocarditis
• Account for 30 - 40% of cases of endocarditis
• Most occur in patients with valvular heart disease
• Other risk factors include:
o Prosthetic heart valves
o Intravenous drug abuse
• Most are viridans streptococcal species are sensitive to penicillin

Sorry for the cut n paste but the description is accurate. The doctor got a phone call as he was talking to me and came back to me and said that I had strepaureus and penicillin will kill it okay. No need to have expensive drug therapy. Hell the 4 week supply of penicillin cost almost $1000.00 but because I got a generic version the insurance covered 100% of the cost.
Doc said 4 -6 weeks of antibiotic treatment and I should be okay. I had been on the penicillin for about 16 hours now (getting it every 4 hours) and I suddenly realized that I had not had a fever in the last 6 or 7 hours. Also I was starting to feel much better.
Okay back to the mistake. Someone made the great call and had put a center line in. (Picture in previous post) for me to go home and get out of this place I would need to have a Hickman catheter implanted. The center line was not acceptable to the home nurse who would come to the house everyday and change out the penicillin, clean and dress the wound and basically make sure I was okay.
This was Thursday morning, plan was to change the line and get me out Friday or Saturday. We all know how plans can get screwed up!

The Next Day

2006-02-02T08:23:00.000-04:00

Woke up Wednesday morning in a strange bed with strangers for my room mates. I was supposed to be in a semi-private room but as the Hospital is full I was in a public room. Hell at least I was not in the hallway. (Did not bother me that much anyway 2 beds vs. 4 beds)

Breakfast came and as was hungry I ate it. Can not remember what it was except it tasted like crap. Then it was more blood work in between my fevers. The doctor came in about 9:00 am and was talking about preliminary findings. They were waiting for the first set of blood cultures to come back. He told me I would get an echocardiogram latter that day, and then it was just wait and see.

Lunch came, then a few hours latter they stuck me in a wheelchair and I was taken down for the echo. That done I put some clothes on and went for a walk, as well as make some phone calls.

I was gone for about an hour and when I made my way back up to the ward a nurse said they were looking for me. Turns out the preliminary results had come thru. It was a bacterial infection of the heart. Endocarditic……………..

Won’t bore you with the details as Google will tell you all you need to know, but I will say this. Not a lot of people get this so I guess that makes me special. Now if I could only win the damm lottery!

They now new what I had but had to wait for the blood cultures to finish so they could find out what bacteria it was and then which antibiotic would kill it. That said they wheeled me down to the Operating Room, bed and all to put a “Center Line” in my neck. I was given a local and a mild sedative (UMMMMMM you just got to like those sedatives!) and they ran a line down into my heart. This way the medicine would go closer to the infection. That and the line could stay in for a couple of weeks as opposed to 3 or 4 days for a normal IV line in your arm.

The procedure was a little uncomfortable but it only took 10 minutes, then I was in recovery for about an hour and then it was back to the ward. Great! I had missed the yucky dinner. A little while later the doctor showed up, said that it was a strep infection, not quite sure which one yet and they would start the penicillin treatments………….for 4 to 8 weeks

Check In

2006-02-01T09:31:00.000-04:00

Getting the doctor to call you back can sometimes be considered a small miracle. Getting a call from the doctor at 9:00pm from his office in my book should and was considered panic attack material.

Monday I had been in to the lab for more blood tests, and I had not expected any results for at least another week. A chest x-ray had been scheduled for the following week. All the ongoing tests had not confirmed what was making me feel like crap so the thought of another week of this was not making me feel to happy.

So, Tuesday night at 9:00 the doctor called me to ask me to come in the next day for more tests. I told him about my temperatures (he had asked me to monitor the fever) and we talked for a few more minutes then he hung up. Two minutes later the Doctor called back to say he was concerned about my heart murmur and that I should probably go to the emergency room. “Tomorrow Mourning?” I asked. “Tonight! Now” he responded.

So an hour later I found myself in the emergency room, with the doctor there asking me more questions and giving me another going over. I could see that he had narrowed down what he thought I had and now it was just a matter of confirming it. A bunch of blood tests and the chest X-Ray where performed; now it is almost 1:00 in the morning. My wife was with me and she was very concerned. Her Step Granny was upstairs on a ward in a coma. She had had a massive stroke and brain bleed about a week before. I wondered how she was able to cope before with her sick now I was about to check in to the hospital.

The doctor came in and said they were waiting for a room on the ward then they would move me upstairs. I had been to the hospital a lot, as a visitor or out patient, but the last time I was “checked in” was when I was about 3 years old for removal of my tonsils.
All I could think about was “Yucky Hospital Food!!!” I was also informed I would be having an echocardiogram on my heart in the morning and some more blood tests. The tests where blood cultures and the results usually take 24 to 48 hours. They were looking for a bacterial infection.

I told my wife to go home because now it was just a matter of wait and see. She was really tired and I told her not to worry and I would see her in the morning. They moved me up to the ward about 3:00 in the morning and I got settled in to a restless sleep.

I latter found out that Granny “Peggy” had passed about the same time I was being wheeled into my ward. She was in the other ward, same floor right across from where I was.

Home!!!

2006-01-30T16:19:00.000-04:00

Finally arrived back home, vacations are great but spending them in the Hospital while feeling crapy is not my idea of the "perfect vacation"

Not feeling quite so crappy now and I would like to thank my sister Linda for relaying to everyone what was going on. I could read the comments but could not post and would like to thank you all for your kind words and prayers.

Just waiting for the home nurse to come so she can show me the portable machine that keeps me full of stinky penicillin. I will take stinky pee over messed up heart any day though.

Got a lot of things to do so I will try to do them in no particular order or speed. I will try to post soon with the gory medical details of what happened over the last week.

Thanks again everyone............Chris

Follow-up

2006-01-20T20:56:00.000-04:00

Well the blood test results came in, showed mostly normal except for two of thhe tests. Doc wants to rule in or out whatever he thinks is going on so I have to have another round of the vampires sucking out my lifeforce! Also I get to be bombarded by yet more radiation. He wants a chest x-ray.

I told him tonight that at least I am not depressed over all this and I still feel okay. Well my body does not feel okay but my mind does. Do not know how long I will feellike this before I start feeling both crapy in the body and mind.

Dawn; Hamilton Harbour

2006-01-19T19:39:00.000-04:00

Chemtrails?

2006-01-19T19:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the contrails seemed to hang around for a long time. They allmost looked like roads and checker boards in the sky.

Tagged Again

2006-01-17T23:11:00.000-04:00

I felt well enough for a couple of hours so I thought I would fill these out. Damm I “Hate” these things LOL

Four jobs you have had in your life:

1) Photographer for local newspaper
2) Drove a fuel truck for ESSO (EXXON) not the safest job (3000 gallons of high test on your ass)
3) Driving Tractor Trailer (narrow hilly twisting Bermuda roads)
4) I have a small computer repair business I operate out of the house (10 years)
Got to add this as well. I drove the Pink and Blue (government Bus) for five years and was even a tour guide for one season (got to drive 38 visitors with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a microphone)

Four Movies you could watch over and over:

1) 5th Element (Another actor I like Bruce Willis, checkout 12 monkees)
2) Kelly’s Heroes (Speaking of Clint Eastwood any of his movies as well)
3 All the James Bond movies
4) Back to the future Trilogy

Four places you've lived:

1) St. George's, Parish, Bermuda
2) Paget Parish, Bermuda
3) Warwick Parish, Bermuda
4) Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
All the moving around took place because I got married had kids needed more room and then I ended up where I started out from.... also I need to add this as well.

About 10 months after 911 my youngest daughter (7 years old) had to go for a two week drum course at the collective school of music in New York. I did not want to stay in a hotel so I rented an apartment on the Lower East Side. I think out of all my trips this was the only one I really felt like I was like everyone else. I consider myself to be lucky to have “lived” in New York City, even for only two Weeks

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1) Scifi Fridays Sci Fi channel (Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis and BattleStar Galactica)
2) Mythbusters
3) Any of the Korean Dramas on AZN ( American Asian Cable Channel) The one on at the moment is Secret or BIMIL in Korean
4) almost any thing on Discovery channel, National Geographic and Sci Fi

Four places you've been on holiday:

1) Orlando FL(lottsa times) All the tourist traps
2) San Diego and Los Angeles Again Disney Land and other tourist hit spots
3) Canada (Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal) Used to like Toronto but it is not as friendly a city anymore.
4) England and Europe (Switzerland, Italy)
And I gotta add Rhode Island as most of my “off Island Time” is spent with chattymoon!

Four Websites you visit daily:

1) http://lostinthetriangle.blogspot.com/ and all the links from within
2) http://www.coasttocoastam.com/ lots of good links from here
3) http://www.pprune.org/forums/ I am an aviation enthusist
4) any other site I find my self on as once I start surfing I never know where I will end up

Four of your favourite foods:

1) Butter Chicken (Indian cooked in a Tandoori Oven, red colour slightly sweet )
2) Almost any type of Curry (No creamy sauces as I can not handle dairy products that well. Coconut milk is fine though)
3) Pizza, Thin crust cooked in a wood fired brick oven (The oven has to be located in Northern Italy)
4) My homemade apple pie. (I fry the apples in a little butter then pour some Bacardi over them) All fresh and homemade except the Bacardi.

Four Places you'd rather be:

1) Any where but here!
2) Chattymoons
3) Swiss Alps
4)) Risa (Star Trek Vacation Pleasure Planet). Or the Holodeck then it’s a free for all (make sure its rated above R)

Four Albums you can't live without:

1) All Queen Albums
2) Bob Marley
3) ELO
4) Styx
Just so long as I have a “best of” I would be happy

Four Magazines you read:

1) Computer/Digital Photography
2) Flight/Aviation
3) Science/Space
4) Do not really buy to many magazine now as most of the good (FREE) stuff is on line anyway

Four cars you have owned:

1) Morris Mini (original) Checkerboard grill and all. My first Car
2) 1983 Daihatsu charade (coldonion called it on his old blog. The car had two port holes near the back and 3 cylinders) I swore I would never get another Daihatsu. Yet I brought a 88 charade in 95. The car never went in the shop and I did all the work on it myself got rid of it in 2005 because of rust
3) 1986 Suburu 4 wheel drive station wagon. (best car I ever had except for the rust problem that all 1970 to late 1980 Japanese Cars seem to have had
4) 1998 Nissan Wingroad Station Wagon Replace my Daihatsu Charade in February 2005. Another great car, the main problem is I have little experience with fuel injection systems. But I have started to tinker with it now!

I have had about 2 or 3 more cars as well but……….

Thanks again.

2006-01-17T21:08:00.000-04:00

Thanks every one for all your kind words, I felt a little better today but now I have caught a cold. This thing I am fighting is not the flu, Flu like symptoms but it is not the flu. Managing to go to work everyday but the only way I can make it thru the day is by keeping Mr. Tylenol in business!

Went back to the doctor a week ago and he ordered up a bunch of blood work. The last results should come in tommorow, so maybe he will have a better idea on what is going on with me. I hate feeling like this, slow and slugish, hot and cold, maybe it's the male version of the change of life!

Back on line

2006-01-14T21:16:00.000-04:00

Well after not having the internet working for the last day and a half, I get on line to see I have been TAGGED......................again!!!

will be back tommorow with a response.

Early Morning Picture Time

2006-01-09T17:39:00.000-04:00

Decided to take some pictures at work this Morning.
All I have to use is a old 3.1 megapixel kodak. But
it has a great feature, Time exposure. These are all
shot at between 1.5 and 2 seconds.

I like these two shots, I call em squiggs. Top one reminds
me of ice cream sundays

Top Loader and Reach Stacker loading "cans" 20 foot
Containers onto our trailers

One of our company trucks, how i got to shake in a V pattern
is beyound me but I like the effect!

2006-01-08T15:53:00.000-04:00

This is for Chatty and Sam

In Memoriam:Ramona Bell

2006-01-06T06:26:00.000-04:00

I am a big Coast to Coast AM fan, Art bell has hosted the most popular late night talk show for a long time. George Noorey had taken over the show with Art doing weekends. Recently Art has been doing just a couple of Sundays a month. His most recent show was his December 30th and December 31st prediction special, in which callers would make their predictions for the upcoming year. One caller made a prediction about Art and his family, at first to me it sounded very negative then he seemed to turn it around so it would be more upbeat...................

I turned the monitor on this morning, moved the mouse and woke up the computer, I went to see what was on http://www.coasttocoastam.com/ and was shocked to see this

In Memoriam:
Ramona Bell
Art Bell's beloved wife of fifteen years, Ramona, died unexpectedly last night after an asthma attack. At present, the exact cause of Mrs. Bell's death has not been determined. It apparently took place during her sleep.

Until her death, Art and Ramona Bell had not been apart a day since they were married. Mrs. Bell had suffered from asthma for years, and took her normal steps to control the attack, which occurred sometime last night in Laughlin, Nevada where the Bells were taking a brief vacation. Ramona Bell was 47 years old.

Our deepest condolences to Art and his family.

Damm!!!

Be carefull what you say......or type

2006-01-04T21:07:00.000-04:00

This just pissed me off. Linda and I were chatting and up comes this crap

"Linda is searching for:
eating keeps u awake?
MSN Search finds:
CBS News | The Buzz Behind Caffeine | Ap http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/21/
health/webmd/main689961.shtml
not-sleeping beauty http://whileimawake.blogspot.com/
Burning Bush http://burnbush.blogspot.com/
More Results ..."

Microcrap is now spying on our msn chats, maybe its time to change to yahoo or something else. I do not think its gonna make a difference as everone is spying on you. Say a few keywords and bam!!! they got you.

Seems to be the society we are living in. Also be carefull what you say on the cellphone, or any kind of phone for that matter.

Rememberif you do not want somebody knowing something, keep it off the web and keep it off the phones...............

This is starting to get on my nerves

2006-01-03T17:47:00.000-04:00

Well my on again off again flu is on again, Week on and week off since the end of November. I feel like total shite. (thanks Sam for the British tanslation of shit)
Why can I not shake this thing?
On another note (for chattymoon) Should be coming up to Mass General sometime in April for the sleep test. Trying to arrange it all now. Making out okay with the apap (cpap on auto) and untill yesterday was feeling better. (see above)
Bermuda has had some real nice weather for the last 2 or 3 days but we are supposed to get ................................................
Bermuda Public Forecast
Issued at 4:30 pm - Tuesday, 3rd January, 2006

Headline - Gales tonight
Tonight - Mostly cloudy with rain or showers, good chance of thunder... Winds strong southwesterly, increasing strong to gale force , gusts to storm force , veering westerly strong ... Low near 64°.

not near as bad as the rest of the worlds crazy weather.

Happy 2006

2006-01-01T16:34:00.000-04:00

May you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2006

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. That is the difference between dog and man."

Mark Twain

and another from Robert Collier

"If you see yourself as prosperous, you will be. If you see yourself as continually hard up, that is exactly what you will be."

Sleep apnea and junk food

2005-12-30T15:11:00.000-04:00

Well the first night with the cpap was terrible, I ripped it off a few times and gave up after a couple of hours. Damm thing gave me panic attacks. So bad I felt like I was in the MRI machine ( and I hate that damm thing)
Went on some sleep apnea forums and read some (a lot) of posts and found that a lot of people also suffer from the same thing (claustrophobia) so that made me feel a little better.
I washed out the mask in some warm soapy water and that got rid of most of the icky hospital smell. I then tried it again. I left it on all night and though I did wake up 4 or times I was told that I did not snore!!!! Thats one problem fixed. The mask needs to be adjusted a little better as that was rubbing under my nose a little. Other then that I did sleep with it for over 8 hours. I woke up without a head ache and did have a little more energy today. I still felt tired mid morning and had to have a pre lunch siesta though. Hopefully it should be better tonight.

While I was resting this morning I thought of when I was driving the public bus over 15 years ago. That is when my weight problems started. I put it down to sitting and driving but today I remembered something. I used to eat lots of candy, gum and any other type of munchies......................to stay awake. I never realised why I was so tired all the time. Even to this day whenever I am driving a big vehicle I want to eat junk food. When I am out of the truck and home or on vacation I find I do not eat as much.
Let Chattymoon pick the bones out of this one lol!

Got my CPAP

2005-12-28T18:34:00.000-04:00

Damm, if I let the cats see me in this thing I think I will scare them out of a few of their lives!
I was lucky to get it as the waiting list was long. I just decided to show up at the medical supplies shop today, and hand in my perscription. Surprise they had 4 machines left, and after I was shown how to care for and use the CPAP machine I was on my way.

Will use it on auto as I have not been to the sleep clinic yet .Thats about a 4 month wait and a trip off the island to get tested. Now I am only renting at first, thats almost $300 bucks a month. Luckily the insurance covers most of the money. To buy the thing is allmost $3000.00 The same unit over stateside is around $800.00 I will probably rent it for a few months, make the insurance company pay way too much because they like getting ripped off. (I tried to tell them but they seem to not care) then when I go up to Boston next year I will pick my new one up there.

Oh well lets see how I make out tonight, will let you know tommow.