A good friend of mine is going through a tough time right now. I don't think he'd describe it that way. He'd just say, as he has to me before... "Well, you just do what you have to do".
I try to imagine myself in his shoes, and realize that I probably would have snapped a long time ago. But with each new challenge that he faces, he draws on a seemingly endless reserve of strength and courage.
I'm not going to detail everything he's going through. I don't think he'd like that. All I'm going to say is that the longer I know him, the more my admiration for him grows. And since I know he reads this when he can find the time, I'll just say this to him: "M", you know I think about you and send lots of positive thoughts your way. I am so very proud to call you my friend, and you have a friend in me. IABHFYB.
Jaydog
Monday, January 10, 2005
Sunday, January 09, 2005
The Voice of an Angel
Can't stop listening to this track by Kiri Te Kanawa on Rhapsody. She has the voice of an angel!
RHAPSODY Link
RHAPSODY Link
Fickle Fan
Okay, go ahead. Call me a fickle fan. With just two minutes left in the half, I've pulled the plug on watching the Broncos-Colts game today. Public humiliation of my home team in not my idea of entertainment. Score: Broncos - 3, Colts - 28. Not even the fact that my company sponsors the halftime show can make me continue. I have better uses for my time. I see a nap in my future.
Jaydog
Jaydog
Amy O.
Amy, being an animal while playing pool at the Paramount after the department holiday party. I think this was before I straddled the pool table with my pants undone.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Reflecting...
Today will be a day of reflection for me.
Fortunately, if this logic makes any sense, I am home today, still battling the sinus flare-up that seemed it would win. The odds are beginning to change in my favor. So I will have plenty of time for reflection, whether I want it or not.
One year ago today I lost one of my best friends. There was no warning....no chance to say goodbye. She was just gone. I plan to spend the day trying to reflect on the happy times we shared. There is no shortage of those memories. I'll visualize in my mind her beautiful smile. I'll hear her laughter. I still have the last message I received from her on my answering machine. Maybe I'll listen to that later. In the end, I'm sure I'll smile through the tears.
Speaking of friendship, another friend of mine and I launched a discussion on the subject last night. The conversation took a turn that even I couldn't have predicted. In the end, I may have lost a friend. TC, I'm sorry. Please forgive me.
The loss and hurt I've experience in the past few years has left me cynical and guarded when it comes to letting people get too close. I didn't want that to happen, but it has. I need to protect myself. And I can feel the wall coming back up. Maybe someone will come along to change my mind.
Maybe.
Enough. I will make it through the day. I will be fine. I'm convinced of it. And I think that the cabin fever that is beginning to set in will finally drive me out of the house tomorrow, and back into the land of the living.
One final thought....Susi, I miss you. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Thank you for your love and friendship. I'll never forget you.
Jaydog
Fortunately, if this logic makes any sense, I am home today, still battling the sinus flare-up that seemed it would win. The odds are beginning to change in my favor. So I will have plenty of time for reflection, whether I want it or not.
One year ago today I lost one of my best friends. There was no warning....no chance to say goodbye. She was just gone. I plan to spend the day trying to reflect on the happy times we shared. There is no shortage of those memories. I'll visualize in my mind her beautiful smile. I'll hear her laughter. I still have the last message I received from her on my answering machine. Maybe I'll listen to that later. In the end, I'm sure I'll smile through the tears.
Speaking of friendship, another friend of mine and I launched a discussion on the subject last night. The conversation took a turn that even I couldn't have predicted. In the end, I may have lost a friend. TC, I'm sorry. Please forgive me.
The loss and hurt I've experience in the past few years has left me cynical and guarded when it comes to letting people get too close. I didn't want that to happen, but it has. I need to protect myself. And I can feel the wall coming back up. Maybe someone will come along to change my mind.
Maybe.
Enough. I will make it through the day. I will be fine. I'm convinced of it. And I think that the cabin fever that is beginning to set in will finally drive me out of the house tomorrow, and back into the land of the living.
One final thought....Susi, I miss you. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Thank you for your love and friendship. I'll never forget you.
Jaydog
Sorry...just not in the mood
Just in case anyone DOES actually read this thing on a regular basis, I'm sorry to disappoint today. I'm physically exhausted and emotionally wrecked. Check back again later.
Jaydog
Jaydog
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Okay...a little sympathy, please...
I guess it IS time for my annual bout with a sinus infection. In past years the sinuses have always won. If you're a betting person, put everything on them to win this year, as well.
The battle began New Year's Eve, and derailed my party plans. Bad omen for the New Year, I'd say. Except for an unexpected visit from Chris, the whole evening was pretty dismal.
As the holiday weekend went on, the pressure and pain from my expanding sinuses increased. The pressure from my sinuses put pressure on my upper teeth, making them too tender to be able to eat any solid foods, and the infection appears to have spread to my gums, as well. In spite of popping a Vicodin, left over from my last excercise in terror (my injured right foot), the pain kept me awake most of the night, and I faced the new day today with about two hours of sleep. However, being the dedicated soul that I am, and having skipped a day of work yesterday (see yesterday's blog), I decided it was time to provide evidence to my cow-orkers that I did, in fact, exist beyond a few cryptic e-mails and phone calls. So, I went into the office. Not one of my better decisions.
Tried to buck up and take it like a man, but the pain finally won out, and I called my doctor to see if I could get in sometime after 3 P.M. The plan was to wait for Chung, the laundry guy, to show up with my clean shirts and pick up the bag of dirty ones. Well, THAT didn't happen, so I endured a couple of extra hours of discomfort because of that! Thanks, Chung!
Four o'clock. That was my scheduled appointment. And since it was snowing outside, I gave myself an hour to make what is normally a 20-25 minute drive back to my neighborhood, where my doctor's office is also located. One of my smarter decisions, I'd say.
Well, the doctor confirmed what I could have told him and saved myself the visit and co-pay. Sinus infection. PLUS, it appears, an abcessed tooth. So, I'm given a list as long as my.....well, maybe a little longer, of things I need to do. Increase fluids, cut down on smoking (yeah, right), and take all of these drugs, including anti-biotics for 15 days. The one thing he forgot, but I didn't, was the PAIN! He said he'd prefer to let my dentist address that, but by now it's after five, and I know it's unlikely my dentist will see me that late in the day.
After a sympathy ploy, and a lot of batting the "baby blues", he finally gave in and wrote a prescription for Vicodin. YES! THANK YOU, GOD! Only enough to get me through about 24 hours, but still.... I do have quite a stash left from my foot mishap, so, don't expect too much in the way of coherent thought for the next day or so.
Meanwhile, in Denver right now, it's 10 degrees, wind chill below zero, and snowing like hell. Expect up to five inches tonight, and another 3 or 4 inches tomorrow. That will be too deep for me to measure with my conventional method, but just barely.
Wish me a good night's sleep, okay?
Jaydog
The battle began New Year's Eve, and derailed my party plans. Bad omen for the New Year, I'd say. Except for an unexpected visit from Chris, the whole evening was pretty dismal.
As the holiday weekend went on, the pressure and pain from my expanding sinuses increased. The pressure from my sinuses put pressure on my upper teeth, making them too tender to be able to eat any solid foods, and the infection appears to have spread to my gums, as well. In spite of popping a Vicodin, left over from my last excercise in terror (my injured right foot), the pain kept me awake most of the night, and I faced the new day today with about two hours of sleep. However, being the dedicated soul that I am, and having skipped a day of work yesterday (see yesterday's blog), I decided it was time to provide evidence to my cow-orkers that I did, in fact, exist beyond a few cryptic e-mails and phone calls. So, I went into the office. Not one of my better decisions.
Tried to buck up and take it like a man, but the pain finally won out, and I called my doctor to see if I could get in sometime after 3 P.M. The plan was to wait for Chung, the laundry guy, to show up with my clean shirts and pick up the bag of dirty ones. Well, THAT didn't happen, so I endured a couple of extra hours of discomfort because of that! Thanks, Chung!
Four o'clock. That was my scheduled appointment. And since it was snowing outside, I gave myself an hour to make what is normally a 20-25 minute drive back to my neighborhood, where my doctor's office is also located. One of my smarter decisions, I'd say.
Well, the doctor confirmed what I could have told him and saved myself the visit and co-pay. Sinus infection. PLUS, it appears, an abcessed tooth. So, I'm given a list as long as my.....well, maybe a little longer, of things I need to do. Increase fluids, cut down on smoking (yeah, right), and take all of these drugs, including anti-biotics for 15 days. The one thing he forgot, but I didn't, was the PAIN! He said he'd prefer to let my dentist address that, but by now it's after five, and I know it's unlikely my dentist will see me that late in the day.
After a sympathy ploy, and a lot of batting the "baby blues", he finally gave in and wrote a prescription for Vicodin. YES! THANK YOU, GOD! Only enough to get me through about 24 hours, but still.... I do have quite a stash left from my foot mishap, so, don't expect too much in the way of coherent thought for the next day or so.
Meanwhile, in Denver right now, it's 10 degrees, wind chill below zero, and snowing like hell. Expect up to five inches tonight, and another 3 or 4 inches tomorrow. That will be too deep for me to measure with my conventional method, but just barely.
Wish me a good night's sleep, okay?
Jaydog
Monday, January 03, 2005
A taste of hell...
Okay, call me stupid...
Allowed the tags on my car to expire in November. Thirty day grace period was up on December 31st. Duh....
Hey, I had every intention of getting it taken care of ahead of time. But you know what they say about good intentions! I even tried to get everything done on December 31st, but was thwarted twice. One, the City and County of Denver closed the DMV office located five minutes from my house, and two, the emmisions testing station was closed all day (a Friday, remember) so that their empoyees could spend the day with their families. What a crock! Just how do people spend New Year's Eve with their families, anyway? Give the little tykes a bottle of Jack with a nipple? Anyway, it was a conspiracy.....I'm sure of it.
So, today, not feeling well anyway, I decided to take a vacation day and face the music.
First stop: the emissions testing station. The sign out front says "Waitng Time: 90 minutes". Arrrggghhhhhh! But I must pay for my transgressions, so pull into the line of cars. Fortunately, the gods are smiling on me, as it only takes about an hour.
Filled with hope, I made the 35 minute drive to the DMV office on the north side of Denver. I walk through the doors, take my number....478....and look up at the sign. NOW SERVING 351. Aggghhhhh! Shoot me now!
Anyway, the end of this story? Nearly two hours later, I walk out with my new tags in my hand, and a smile on my face.
So, I've learned my lesson! Until next year...
Jaydog
An afterthought...Talked with a friend of mine this morning...so a personal note: TC, glad you're still my friend. Whatever the future brings for either of us, IABHFYB.
Allowed the tags on my car to expire in November. Thirty day grace period was up on December 31st. Duh....
Hey, I had every intention of getting it taken care of ahead of time. But you know what they say about good intentions! I even tried to get everything done on December 31st, but was thwarted twice. One, the City and County of Denver closed the DMV office located five minutes from my house, and two, the emmisions testing station was closed all day (a Friday, remember) so that their empoyees could spend the day with their families. What a crock! Just how do people spend New Year's Eve with their families, anyway? Give the little tykes a bottle of Jack with a nipple? Anyway, it was a conspiracy.....I'm sure of it.
So, today, not feeling well anyway, I decided to take a vacation day and face the music.
First stop: the emissions testing station. The sign out front says "Waitng Time: 90 minutes". Arrrggghhhhhh! But I must pay for my transgressions, so pull into the line of cars. Fortunately, the gods are smiling on me, as it only takes about an hour.
Filled with hope, I made the 35 minute drive to the DMV office on the north side of Denver. I walk through the doors, take my number....478....and look up at the sign. NOW SERVING 351. Aggghhhhh! Shoot me now!
Anyway, the end of this story? Nearly two hours later, I walk out with my new tags in my hand, and a smile on my face.
So, I've learned my lesson! Until next year...
Jaydog
An afterthought...Talked with a friend of mine this morning...so a personal note: TC, glad you're still my friend. Whatever the future brings for either of us, IABHFYB.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Happy Memories
The new year has always been an exciting time for me. A time of hope. A time of new beginnings. This coming from someone who generally hates the "holidays". I have nothing against Christmas. Please understand that. I love Christmas and the true meaning behind the day. I just hate the holidays.
Now I'm facing the next few days with a sense of dread. One year ago January 6th I lost a very good friend of mine. My life hasn't been the same since.
Susi and I were friends for longer than even I care to admit. She became sort of a surrogate mother to me, and I loved her for it. A year later and I still miss her. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of her, or encounter something that reminds me of her.
An online chat buddy of mine, I'll just call him "J" here, has experienced a lot of loss in the past couple of years. He is still grieving, it seems. I try to bolster his spirits by encouraging him to reflect on the happy times.....to cling to those memories. Now I'm about to test my own advice.
I'm sure it's going to be difficult. Anniversaries of sad events always are. But I'm going to give it my best shot. There is no shortage of happy memories to recall in this case.
Wish me luck.
Susi, I love you...and I miss you terribly.
Jaydog
Now I'm facing the next few days with a sense of dread. One year ago January 6th I lost a very good friend of mine. My life hasn't been the same since.
Susi and I were friends for longer than even I care to admit. She became sort of a surrogate mother to me, and I loved her for it. A year later and I still miss her. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of her, or encounter something that reminds me of her.
An online chat buddy of mine, I'll just call him "J" here, has experienced a lot of loss in the past couple of years. He is still grieving, it seems. I try to bolster his spirits by encouraging him to reflect on the happy times.....to cling to those memories. Now I'm about to test my own advice.
I'm sure it's going to be difficult. Anniversaries of sad events always are. But I'm going to give it my best shot. There is no shortage of happy memories to recall in this case.
Wish me luck.
Susi, I love you...and I miss you terribly.
Jaydog
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Not tired yet...
Okay...not ready to sleep yet. Still trying to get used to the idea that it's 2005, and wondering how many times in the next few days and weeks I'll mistakenly put 2004 on reports that I send out.
Anyway, for those of you with too much time on your hands, here's something for you to do.
http://www.lostfrog.org/
Anyway, for those of you with too much time on your hands, here's something for you to do.
http://www.lostfrog.org/
Let's Start the New Year Right...
How about a little visual stimulation? For those of you whose eyes aren't too blurry, at least...
Another Year...
Here it is, another new year...
To all of my friends, best wishes for a happy and prosperous one!
It's the usual custom to make some resolutions for the coming year, but since they usually aren't kept, why exert the mental effort? Besides, aren't resolutions an admission that you failed during the previous year? Who wants to admit that? Certainly not me!
Okay, okay....I'm not perfect, so I'll concede a couple of things. Happy now?
In the coming year, I resolve to...
To all of my friends, best wishes for a happy and prosperous one!
It's the usual custom to make some resolutions for the coming year, but since they usually aren't kept, why exert the mental effort? Besides, aren't resolutions an admission that you failed during the previous year? Who wants to admit that? Certainly not me!
Okay, okay....I'm not perfect, so I'll concede a couple of things. Happy now?
In the coming year, I resolve to...
- Be a better son to my parents...
- Be a better brother to my brothers...
- Be a better friend to my friends...
- Be a better person to my fellow travelers on earth.
There. How's that? If you really think about it, everything else could be squeezed into one of those categories.
So that's all I'm gonna say about that.
To everyone near and dear to me....I love you all!
Jaydog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
