Orb Designs

  • Gladiators: second door, down the hall, third office, please.

    Yeah, apparently there’s going to be a game of feet-baal or something like that. The pregame show was on the tube when we awoke this morning apparently, and may have been on before we retired last night, for all I know.

    I’m all caught up on schoolwork for the moment. I have some reading to do for Geology, and an assignment and midterm for that class this week as well. My Principles of Software Engineering class starts tomorrow. I’ve done the first week’s reading for that, but there’s an assignment there, too. This new eight-week pressure cooker format is going to suck, I can just tell.

    Marcia is doing her home physical therapy right now, stuff with weights and rolled up towels and strips of fabric – all in the service of extended bending and stretching and such. She’s doing GREAT, frankly. Stairs and all! Marcia starts back to work tomorrow.

    *     *     *

    Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

    • Sgt. William C. Stacey, 23, of Redding, California, died Jan. 31 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus, 22, of Greenville, Mississippi, died Feb. 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province,
    • Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner, 49, of Fairfax, Virginia, died Feb. 3, in Kabul province, Afghanistan.

     

  • What Happened to January?

    Yeah, I know what happened. Surgery, school, work, life. Funny thing, that. I have lots of stuff I’d like to work on, and comment on, but I have no time, so I don’t, and I don’t. Marcia’s doing really well, though. Tonight is the last of the rat poison, and tomorrow is the last day for the by-now-truly-hated compression hose. I’m not personally a huge fan either, because I assist in the changing thereof, and wash each pair once a day, to keep them in rotation. But I’m still glad I haven’t had to wear them. Also, with the Coumadin out of the regimen, no more twice-a-week blood tests. So we’ve got that going for us…

    *     *     *

    Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

    • Cpl. Christopher G. Singer, 23, of Temecula, California, died Jan. 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Capt. Joshua C. Pairsh, 29, of Equality, Illinois, died Jan. 22 in the United States of a non-combat related illness.
    • 1st Lt. David A. Johnson, 24, of Horicon, Wisconsin, died Jan. 25, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol.

  • My Bad…

    Yeah, I know it’s Monday. The weekend got away from me, and evenings aren’t as free as they once were, or will be again. Marcia continues to make great strides (relatively speaking).

    *     *     *

    Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

    • Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Jan. 15 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained on Jan. 9 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire.
    • Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died Jan. 15 conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Lance Cpl. Kenneth E. Cochran, 20, of Wilder, Idaho, died Jan. 15 conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Spc. Keith D. Benson, 27, of Brockton, Massachusetts, died Jan. 18, in Paktika province, Afghanistan.
    • Cpl. Phillip D. McGeath, 25, Glendale, Arizona, died Jan. 18 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, Washington, died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Capt. Nathan R. McHone, 29, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • MSgt. Travis W. Riddick, 40, of Centerville, Iowa, died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, 23, of North Beach, Maryland, died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, New Jersey, died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
    • Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, Texas, died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

  • Catch-up Time…

    Weirdly, the other night (Wednesday?) both of the touch lamps we use as bedside light broke and would no longer light. The proximal event was a light-bulb blowout on Marcia’s side (one of three small bulbs). I’ve observed in the past that the touch lamp circuitry, while incredibly convenient, seems to be terribly fragile (at least in consumer-grade gear) to spikes and dips. So yesterday evening I trundled down to Lowes and picked up a couple of three-way manually switched lamps and a pair of three-way CFL bulbs. Bloody profit-taking on the LED “bulbs” keeps those prices too high.

    *     *     *

    In Marcia news, on Tuesday evening, she sprained a hamstring attachment point while straightening her leg to sit in the recliner. The surgeon’s office was called on Wednesday morning, and they waved her off of PT for the day, and saw her on suture removal day: Thursday, in the morning. 30 staples were removed, and two different PAs (Physician Assistant) evaluated her issues. With a modified PT order in hand, she went to PT on Thursday evening (where she ROCKED, and was graduated from walker to cane) and again on Friday morning, where she pushed really hard again. She’s making great progress, but pain is the price of progress. She doesn’t like that part so very much.

    On the extra-good news front, they’ve told her she can stop taking rat poison on the 30th, and terminate the wearing of the compression stockings then, too. The process around the blood thinner and the stockings is pretty intense, and consumes a not-inconsiderable portion of each day.

    *     *     *

    I’m finally getting caught up on the school work. The geology class is rolling, and has lots of reading and a fair amount of writing involved. I’ve finally done all of the work for week one, and forging ahead into week two’s work, since I want to be well ahead of the game before my Principles of Software Engineering course starts on 6 February.

  • Physical Therapy with a Chance of Walking

    Marcia continues to make stellar progress with her PT exercises – straight leg lifts that could not be done without an assist four days ago are now done on leg strength alone, and twice as high as before. Rockin’! She’s also doing 10-15 minute sessions of laps on the main floor of the house with her walker, and pain management is improving daily. Some neighbors dropped by today, with conversation, balloon, and chocolate to share with Marcia – she enjoyed the little bit of company, I think.

    MLK day tomorrow, then I’ll do some work in the ensuing four days, maybe even some AT the office. Maybe the work will amount to half- or three quarter-days, wrapped around blood tests, staples out, and physical therapy for Marcia.

    School “Spring” session starts for me on Tuesday, as well. Of course I’ve been pre-reading… The first class this session is also the last of my general education requirement courses, I’m taking Geology 100. I’m sure to learn a thing or two. The next class starts a couple of weeks down the road: Principles of Software Engineering. It’s an upper division elective class – all I have left are those.

    *     *     *

    Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

    • Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
    • Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Indiana, died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
    • Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, of Aurora, Illinois, died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
    • Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, Indiana, died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
    • Pfc. Dustin P. Napier, 20, of London, Kentucky, died Jan. 8 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire.
    • Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, 30, of Hopewell, Virginia, died Jan. 10 in Parwan province, Afghanistan.
    • Pfc. Neil I. Turner, 21, of Tacoma, Washington, died Jan. 11, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

  • JoCo Artificial Heart Package

    Among the contents therein is the signed CD, which I most incautiously tore whilst attempting a manual decoupling of the liner notes from the case. Sigh. So I used an obtrusive and intimately personal repair method: thin strips of electrical tape. They seem most appropriate, given the title and image of the album. The good news is that it also arrived in Vinyl!

    A nearly broken ArtHeart
    A nearly broken ArtHeart

  • Happy Dancing All Around…

    Okay, not Marcia – she’s not going to be dancing for a bit, but she’s got a whole new left knee joint now. Surgery was Monday at 0730 at AAMC, done by Dr. Louis Ruland. He’s a great orthopedist, and Marcia can probably say that with more assurance than I can. He kept her on her feet for nearly 10 years, and when the joint damage was too bad for any further repairs, he’s given her a whole new knee to work with.

    By Monday evening, they had her on her feet for a quick evaluation, believe it or not! The last three days have been full of walking about the floor, physical therapy sessions morning and evening, and naps and such. I was making two trips out there a day, to participate (coach) for the PT sessions, and deliver home roasted and brewed coffee. Tomorrow is the first outpatient PT session, at a place close by the house.

    Also twice a week, we have blood tests, because they’ve got her taking rat poison, errr, Warfarin(tm), errrr, Coumadin(tm) for the next four weeks. I presume that the compromised circulation from the knee surgery makes clot formation a lot more prevalent, and the thinner helps keep that in check. Anyway, the twice-a-week labs allow them to adjust her dosage and keep her in the right range.

    Late next week, the staples come out, and the work continues.

    Oh, yeah. Lexi was really, REALLY happy to see Marcia.

  • It’s A Dog’s Life, Part 42

    I wandered into the bedroom to see if the dog was ready for her last walk of the day …

    Lexi in repose
    Lexi in repose

    This was an unscripted pose, what amused me was that she didn’t bother moving while I strolled back to my office to grab the camera. Clearly the little dog does her best to own a California King.

     

     

  • The Bionic Woman

    Not the 70’s TV show starring Lindsay Wagner, but perhaps, one day, Marcia. She takes one step that direction this week, getting a knee replacement done. We’ve been doing a bit of prep for that, which has kept me pretty busy outside of work, so sorry. Not much else to report until I report how the surgery went, later this coming week.

    *     *     *

    Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

    Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, 24, of Cottonwood, Calif., died Jan. 2 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

    Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pennsylvania, died Jan. 5 in Shir Ghazay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

    Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Michigan, died Jan. 5 in Shir Ghazay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

    Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Maryland, died Jan. 5 in Shir Ghazay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

  • Welcome to 2012.

    Things that might happen this year:

    1. Universe wraps things up, according to an interpretation of the Mayan calendar.
    2. I finish my tertiary education, and get on with life.
    3. The Eurozone dissolves, most of Europe defaults on euro debt, global depression kickoff.
    4. Obama can’t fix the depression, and Ron Paul wins the Presidency.

    Two of those are, I think, likely. Observe that I make no REALLY absurd claims about food or exercise. That’d just be crazytalk.

    I do note that the loonier portions of Iraq are claiming a victory over the US because we finally withdrew the last of our combat troops from that cesspit of a made-up country. We had one primary goal – dispose of Saddam. Done. We had a secondary goal, which is to leave that country in a fairly stable sovereign condition. Silly secondary goal: expensive in blood and treasure, and pointless since their second favorite thing after killing Americans is killing and torturing each other. Dumbasses.

    *     *     *

    Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

    • Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Altmann, 27, of Marshfield, Wisconsin, died Dec. 25, in Kunar province Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
    • Sgt. Noah M. Korte, 29, of Lake Elsinore, California, died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
    • Spc. Kurt W. Kern, 24, of McAllen, Texas, died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
    • Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire, 20, of Easley, South Carolina, died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
    • Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson, 35, of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, died July 18, while supporting operations in Bahrain.
    •  Spc. Pernell J. Herrera, 33, of Espanola, New Mexico, died Dec. 31, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident.