Those Are The Breaks!

I've been pretty fortunate in my volleyball career. Sure, i've twisted ankles, jammed fingers, and endured knee surgery and chronic shoulder and knee pain, but one thing I had never done is broken a bone.

Until November 16, 2008.

We were playing High Performance Diesel, a formidable opponent lead by my friend, and frequent blog commenter, Hank "Big Country" Myers. It was the third game and I set up across from Hank to block. Apparently, he thought he could blow one past my outstretched arms. He was wrong. (Of course, usually he is right, and pounds the ball past me easily, on this occasion, I got the block.) Unfortunately, Hank's hit smashed into the tip of my thumb with great, GREAT force.

Now, dear friends, I'm not going to lie to you, my thumb hurt, bad. But my first instinct was that he bent my nail back, maybe jammed it a bit, but nothing more. The first thing I looked at was the nail. It was white and bruised, like a nail would be that was bent back.


(My nail...I thought the ball just bent it back.)

When the play was over, I called a time-out. I shook it a little, and said let's go. Dad asked if I wanted some tape, I thought that would be a good idea, you know, to keep my thumb nail from bending back again. I was on the weak side when the play happened (for those of you not in the know, it's the right, front) and when the match was over, I was in the middle front. So, I made almost a complete rotation on the court.

I joked around after the game that he got me good. People started to mention that it "looked broken" and one guy even got nauseous when he saw it. It did look kinda strange, but it couldn't be broken, right? I mean, if it were broken, I would have run off the court screaming, right?

When I got home, I snapped a few picks.


(The pad of my thumb...a little bruised.)


(The money shot...does this look broken to you?)


(Bending my first knuckle...I think something is wrong here!)

I re-taped it and went to bed. I couldn't sleep. My thumb was throbbing. I took some stuff, and drifted off. The next morning, the pain was back and my thumb was turning black. Becky called in sick to help with Hendrix, and I went to PromptMed.


(The swelling was worse on day 2.)

I arrived at PromptMed at 7:30, and let's just say, "PromptMed" isn't very Prompt. I was told the X-ray technician wouldn't be in until 9, so I took a nap in the doctor's office.

I was finally whisked away to the x-ray room, and then after another wait, the doctor returned.

"I hope you're proud of yourself," she said, x-ray in hand.


(Thumb position in x-ray.)


(X-ray number 1.)


(X-ray number 2.)

Um, yeah, I guess it was broken.

I went to see another doctor (not for a second opinion, but because PromptMed couldn't do anything else) and he said surgery was in order. I was thinking, "Ok, they will re-set the bone, I'll tape that bad boy up and I'll be ready for the tourney in 2 weeks."

But, then he said they would be inserting a pin...I knew my season was over.

I went to the Surgery Center, where the nurse instructed me to strip down to my socks and underwear and put on the lovely surgery robe. This was difficult...ever try tying the strings of a hospital gown, you know, the ones in the back?? Now, have you ever tried tying those with a broken thumb?? Not easy.

I sat in the bed for over an hour before the doc came and took me to surgery. They started by giving me shots to numb my thumb. This, my friends, felt like an injection of molten lava into my thumb...with each CC of the numbing med, it felt like my thumb was about to explode. After three shots, he began.

It was pretty cool to see him manipulating my thumb bone on the x-ray screen until finally it was back into place. Then he busted out the drill. The nurse began asking me arbitrary questions that i'm sure were designed to take my mind off the drill. But, I felt no pain. He drilled into the tip, straight down past the knuckle. He inserted the pin and put a little yellow ball on the end to hold it.

He "baby-proofed" my thumb by giving me extra wrapping...I do have a five month old, you know, and he can kick like nobody's business!!


(My baby-proofed thumb...note the ginormous bruise on my palm!)


(Another view.)

Ok, now this is where the photos get gross. Below is the yellow ball that holds the pin, followed by three links...click them AT YOUR OWN RISK!! They are pretty gross, but not way gross. Thought you would like to see them...


(Yellow, pin holding, ball.)

Disturbing Thumb Image #1

Disturbing Thumb Image #2

Disturbing Thumb Image #3

I have a doctor's appointment Wednesday, the 10th to hopefully get the pin out after 3 weeks of immobility. A few weeks of rehab and I should be good to go for co-ed in January!

(On a personal note, thanks for breaking my thumb, Hank! That was the most expensive block I ever had. Can't wait to get healed so you can buy me that steak...because, as you said, I have to be healed because you won't be cutting my steak for me!! ha ha.)

(Also, much thanks to my mom, who came and helped with Hendrix the first week...you just don't know how much you use your thumb until you can't! Thanks to Becky for week 2 help, and thanks to dad for helping when mom and Becky couldn't.)

Mitch Mitchell and the Jimi Hendrix Curse

I got a call yesterday from long time Get Out Of Life Alive reader, and my good friend, Hank aka Big Country. He told me that he had just heard Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, had died.

I was sad.

Mitch was the last member of a super group who had inspired countless musical acts and non-musical acts over the last 4 decades. After the initial shock, I started to think about the group in general...

Jimi died in 1970, at the age of 27.
Noel Redding, the Experience bassist, died in 2003, aged 57.
Mitch died in 2008, aged 61.
Chas Chandler, the group's manager, died in 1996, aged 57.

All of these ages seem young to me. (Younger than the 71 normal life expectancy for males.)

Jimi's post Experience band, the Band of Gypsys, also had three members...

Buddy Miles died this year, aged 60.
Billy Cox is the sole living member of the two groups...he's 67.

Maybe Jimi was cursed! Here are some other acts Jimi played with in the early days:

Slim Harpo: died aged 46, heart attack
Tommy Tucker: died aged 48, food poisoning/inhaling carbon tetrachloride refinishing hardwood floors
Sam Cooke: died aged 33, shot
Jackie Wilson: died aged 49, coma after suffering a heart attack
Curtis Knight: died aged 54, ??

Of course Jimi played with Little Richard, too, and he's alive along with Billy Cox, and I'm sure countless others. But, dang, that's numerous premature deaths!

(Editor's Note: Don't give me the whole, "they all probably were druggies and that caused their early deaths because you know that's crap. Look at Keith Richards...he's 64 and alive, did lots of drugs, too. None of the above died from drugs, either.)

So, what's the moral of this? I don't know. Just interesting. Maybe Jimi was cursed...I say watch out Billy Cox!! (Little Richard is safe...he's 75.)

RIP, Mitch.

My Voice Was Heard...My Vote Counted!

I sat and watched anxiously as the election results began to pour in. Would this be the year that MY voice would be heard? Would this be the year that MY vote would count? I stayed up late into the night...well, actually, early into the morning, and finally it happened!

I couldn't believe I made a difference! My man was elected!!

So, let me be the first to congratulate you, Allen Smith, you won your bid to become Bartholomew County Coroner, easily defeating Vest Coroner, or Bulletproof Vest, or whatever his name was!

Congrats, Allen! Now go out there and Coroner to the best of your ability!!

Vote !!!

There are a few things that I try desperately not to talk about on this blog. One is religion...and another is politics. It's simple really, with both you seem to get a lot of, in my case, unwanted attention. But today, on the eve of a monumental Presidential election, I just wanted to drop a post to encourage everyone to vote!

Yes, vote. Republican, Democrat, Independent, or whatever you want. A lot of people have fought and died so you can have this privilege, so go out there and do it tomorrow!!

Funny side story...

Becky and I were driving out of our town when Becky went on a rant about one of the political signs we saw.


(The sign in question.)

Becky: "There's no way I'm voting for that guy!"

Me: "Who? Vest?"

Becky: "Yep, I mean look at that huge sign and he can't even put Elect Vest FOR Coroner...just Elect Vest Coroner. I mean, how hard would it have been to put FOR in there...it's a huge sign, he had the room."

Me: "Maybe his name is Vest Coroner...you know, Vest Coroner, Attorney-at-law...I'll take crime off the streets!"

Becky: "That's not what a Coroner does..."

Me: "Whatever."

Becky: "Well, I'm not voting for him."

Me: "Is he a Democrat or Republican?"

Becky: "I don't know..."

Me: "Maybe that's what the signs of people running for Coroner usually say."

After driving a few blocks we came upon Vest's opposition...Allen Smith. His sign said "Elect Allen Smith for Bartholomew County Coroner"...it was a little yard sign, too, which made Becky's mind even MORE made up.

Becky: "See, he has a small sign and he can fit all that in there. Vest is being cocky with his big sign, and his lack of the word FOR."

Me: "I guess..."

So, there you have it. Becky will not be Electing Vest Coroner.

For the record, all you political people out there, Becky and I are not all willy-nilly with our votes. We usually take our time and do our due diligence to select the candidate who fits our beliefs. But in this case, Becky isn't budging...I mean, it is Coroner here, not President or Mayor...and, would you vote for a guy who has a gangsta lean going like our boy Vest there??

I thought not.


(Look at that lean. I wonder what Vest's first name it? My money is on Bulletproof!)

Now GO VOTE!!

(NOTE: Mr. Vest's first name is Jason. So, his first name is NOT Bulletproof...but I bet his middle name is!!)

False Negative 3: Results

I think I've kept you in the dark long enough. Time to reveal the results of False Negative 3. (For those of you who haven't already called and got the results from me personally...you know who you are!!)

Well, Paypal said they would take up to 90 days to decide the outcome of the case, so I settled in for a long, drawn out process. Three days later, it was all over. Yes, THREE DAYS!!

I received the following email from Paypal:

We have concluded our investigation and have decided in your favor. Any funds that may have been temporarily held have been returned to your account.

Yes, I won. So let this be a lesson to you. That lesson should be stand up for yourself when you believe you have done no wrong. Unfortunately, the lesson will probably be when you want your money back, make sure your story isn't about "the sound of the lp," but rather "the appearance." (Or, make sure you lie UPFRONT if you have to in order to win your case.)

Hopefully the world holds better people than that. Can't we all just get along??

False Negative 3: My Third Ebay Dispute

I'm begining to think I might be a bad Ebay seller, as I recently had my THIRD Ebay dispute. Read the case file, and I'll let you be the judge. I'll post the results next week.

BACKGROUND

Item: Beatles '65 LP, mono, still in shrink.

Item description: Vinyl - NM Beautiful lp!!

NOTE: VINYL IS NOT PLAY TESTED! If you would like for me test an lp, just let me know!

(Please ask any and all questions BEFORE the auction ends. I will answer any questions you might have on condition, playability, shipping etc...Please don't hesitate to ask!!)

Buyer purchased this and one other lp from me.


EMAIL FROM BUYER TO ME:

Hello...

I received the albums today, thank you. The Beatles 65' plays with static background noise more on side 2 than 1, the other album plays and sounds great and I am very happy with that one.

Thanks

MY RESPONSE:

Hi...sorry about not getting back with you sooner...as stated in my description, I only grade the lp on sight, they are not play tested unless requested before the end of auction. sorry !!


BUYER RESPONSE:

why have a 7 day return policy? a NM vinyl should SOUND NM you can see the marks under bright it miss-graded the other album was dead on. i'll take it up with paypal.

ADDITIONAL INFO...from the description of the item...

Return policy details: The buyer has 7 days to return the item (the buyer pays shipping fees). The item will be refunded.


MY RESPONSE:

With all due respect, I never advertised the lp as NM SOUNDING. I clearly stated that the vinyl was NOT PLAY TESTED (twice in fact...once I say it's not play tested and the second time I say please ask if you want the lp play tested). Please, in the future, read the full description before you bid. It saves troubles like this. I am an honest seller with an excellent feedback rating...I am not trying to cheat anyone...I simply do not have the time to listen to everything I sell, so that is why it is imperative that you ask questions before you bid.


BUYER RESPONSE:

I never said you were not honest or trying to cheat me its just my opinion the album was misgraded visually and i simply want to return it. Like I said the other album was dead on and i am very happy with it. No, you never said it sounded NM but it was graded NM and should be pleasant to listen to. i am not trying to give you a hard time or anything or even being nasty about it, i guess i don't understand why you have a 7 day return and won't honor it.


MY RESPONSE:

I'm sorry if I seem defensive, as that is truly not how I mean to sound. Sometimes email can make you "sound" one way, when in reality it's not what I am trying to portray. Sorry, again about that. It seems the issue here is one that is a hair splitting one. I believe the NM visual grade was accurate, as it was just that, a visual grade. That has zero to do with the sound. Therefore, I do not think the refund policy applies, as the description was accurate. I expressly added the play test rules for this very reason...so I would not have to argue about the record. I hope you understand my position...I wrote the play test info for a reason, so everyone would know the NM grade was a visual one, not a sound one...they are, in this instant, completely seperate things...if you said initially the visual grade was incorrect, that would be one thing, but you were disapointed in the SOUND, which I specifically wrote about in the description. On principle, I cannot honor the refund because the basis for your request does not fit Ebays refund policy. I am sorry about this and hope you understand my position.
-------------------

At this point, the buyer filed a dispute with Paypal claiming the item was significantly different than described. He went on to say people should grade records via the Goldmine standard (record grading/pricing guide).

I disputed the claim again, and actually agreed with the Goldmine claim...not because I grade by those standards, but because the Goldmine grading actually goes to my point.

BUYER RESPONDS:

how do my words agree with you? what are you reading? static noise is always due to some kind of marks on the vinyl . you grade vinyl under bright light dont you? again what is the 7 day return policy for i don't see any stipulations on the listing. can you tell me where it is ? if you grade NM then it should be near mint all the way.

MY RESPONSE:

Sir, the stipulation is I DO NOT PLAY TEST THE RECORDS, PLEASE EMAIL ME BEFORE THE END OF THE AUCTION IF YOU WANT ME TO LISTEN TO THE RECORD QUALITY. Goldmine clearly states a NM record: Virtually flawless records are not perfect. NOT PERFECT. A very minor scuff and very little else can appear on the vinyl. You said...under bright light you can see the marks on the vinyl. This makes the record not perfect, but still NM. Besides that, the sound is irrelivent to the grade because I said, SPECIFICALLY that I DID NOT grade based on sound. So, anything in your complaint about sound is not my responsibility as you did not inquire on it PRIOR to purchasing the record. That is YOUR fault, not mine. I've bought and sold thousands of records, and I know how to grade. I stand behind my grade, and disagree that the record is significantly not as described as your complaint claims. If you had a problem with the condition initially, we also wouldn't be here right now...but your first email was about SOUND, and you have changed that, I believe falsely, to a visual grading issue because you know the sound quality is a moot issue in this case. Let me say this again, the sound quality is not part of the grade because 3 times I stated it was not part of the grade...3 TIMES...you failed to inquire about me listening to the record, so that negates your claim and thus the refund policy.

BUYER RESPONSE:

you are very difficult too work with i have purchased records in the $$$$$ range with ease we can go back and forth on this for weeks i am trying to be very civil on this but clearly we are not going to come to civil conclusion .so lets have paypal decide and get it over with.
---------------

At this point, the buyer escalated the dispute to a claim.

I responded one last time, basically I pleaded with the Paypal people to not let the buyer win this case based on the bogus claim that the record was visually graded wrong. Remember, his first email said the SOUND was a little off, not the visual grade. I still stick by the grade of Near Mint, and contend the sound was never graded, and shouldn't be the basis for a refund, as he never requested that I listen to it.

Am I being difficult? Yes. But on principle I believe I did nothing wrong, and I refuse to give in to people who take shortcuts and want to be rewarded for it. The case went to mediation, and the verdict was returned...

What do you think? Should I have to refund the money? Or will the sale stand? Post your comment and I'll reveil the verdict soon!!

Hendrix Dylan...The First Four Months

As promised, here is a photo history of Hendrix Dylan entitled:

HENDRIX DYLAN...THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS

(it's a little misleading, as he won't be 4 months until the 22nd, but whatever...)

Click on any photo to enlarge


(Ah, birth, what a happy time...well, maybe not for Hendrix! June 22, 2008...7 lbs 10.5 oz)


(2 days old...rockin' his Mini Hendrix onesie.)


(Baby's first bath.)


(Finally at home...first week.)


(Ah, doesn't he look peaceful??)


(Lookin' over daddy's shoulder...one month old.)


(Hendrix's first big smile, caught on camera!! One and a half months old.)


(A little tummy time...)


(Two months old...Hendrix's impression of Pete Townshend from The Who!! Awesome windmill action!)


(Hendrix in his big boy jeans that his cousin Juli bought him. Doesn't he look all grown up?)



(Hendrix finds his thumb...2 1/2 months old.)


(Classic Hendrix stare!)


(Hendrix and mommy...3 months old)


(What'chu lookin' at? Hendrix sporting his Electric Baby onesie...thanks, Nellie!!)


(Mommy and Hendrix...laughing as usual!)



(Hendrix the froggie!! 3 1/2 months old!)


(You get two Hendrix the froggie, cause he's just that darn cute!!)

September

What happened to September?? Have I really not blogged since August? Well,
I'm ready to make it up to everyone right now!!

It's 1:20 pm on Monday...Columbus Day, I believe. Since I've been a stay-at-home dad, dates escape me totally, but I'm pretty sure it's the 13th. Hendrix is fast asleep, laying (or is it lying?? help me grammar friends) on my chest. His face is slightly red from crying...or should I say screaming...for the half hour prior to falling asleep. Poor guy, i'm not sure why he was crying, besides being tired. I think he may have a tooth fixing to break through.

Hendrix will be 4 months old on the 22nd. It's great being home with him, because it makes the time go slower, and I can enjoy him growing up more. He really has been good, only cries when he's tired really. Sleeps through the night, too...can't ask for anything more. I will post photos tomorrow, I promise.

Volleyball has started again, my 18th season. I feel great knee wise, but my shoulder is giving me problems. Nothing new, just have to fight through it. Hopefully, I will be able to play some tourneys next summer, I'm ready (hint, hint...anyone who wants to play...Hank, let's play some doubles in Louisville this year, what do you say??)

Reffing the ladies again this year, and having a good time. It's cool to see new players, and veterans getting better. Of course, the money is the main draw. It's nice to know we have Christmas covered, especially with 15 nieces and nephews.

Overall, I just wanted to touch base, let you all know I'm still around, and I PROMISE to blog at least once a week, or you can have your money back!!

I love you all...please comment to let me know you haven't given up on me!!

Tony and Hendrix

My Michael Phelps Moment...Sort Of

Since the Olympics are now officially over, Hendrix and I just don't know what to do with ourselves during the day. (For those of you not in the know, I left my job to be a full time stay-at-home dad on August 6th.)

We decided it would be fun to re-live my glory days as an elite volleyball player by sharing with you the many medals I have won in my illustrious career...you know, because of the Olympic spirit and stuff.

The first medal I won was in 1992 at the White River Park State Games (Indiana). I was 15 at the time, and we took home the Bronze.


(1992 Bronze medal...White River Park State Games.)



(Close up of the '92 Bronze.)

The next year, we repeated our success at the game by taking home another Bronze.



(Close up of the '93 Bronze and the Silver medal we won at the Qualifier.)

In '95, we won Bronze for a third time at the newly named Hoosier State Game.


(1995 Bronze medal...Hoosier State Games.)


(Close up of the '95 medal.)

After winning our third Bronze, we decided to go for the big time and enter a team in the Michina Region USVBA (United States Volleyball Association). (Michiana is Michigan and Indiana, duh!!)

That year we played flawlessly, winning every tourney we entered, including the Regional.


(1995 USVBA Regional Champions Medal.)


(Close up of the '95 USVBA medal.)

In 1996, I was named to the USVBA All Region 2nd Team as an Outside Hitter.


(1996 All Region 2nd Tea, medal.)


(Close up of above medal.)

In 1998. we won the Regionals a second time, but they were too cheap to give meadls out anymore (can you verify we won this Big Country, for the readers?)

In 1998, I made my beach volleyball debut with a first place finish with partner Shannon Burch at the Kentucky Derby Festival, Miller Lite 1998 Volleyball Classic.


(Kentucky Derby Festival Volleyball Classic medal.)


(Close up of the '98 medal.)

Here is my Michael Phelps moment...all of my medals together...ok, it's not 8 Olympic Golds in one year, but i'm still proud!!

I know, I know...

Yes.

You're right.

I know.

I'll try to do better.

You are the greatest, and I suck.

I am well aware that I haven't posted in a very long time, but I've been tired. I guess that's what babies do to you.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Becky had our baby. Here's the announcement:


(Hendrix Dylan, 2 weeks old in this announcement photo.)

Hendrix turned one month old Tuesday, and I'm generally not for the whole "one month anniversary" or "one month birthday" stuff, but this is a little different. So, Becky made some brownies for the occasion, and I sang a little Happy One Month Birthday to him.

And do you know Hendrix had the nerve to not eat any brownies? What's with that kid?? I guess that just means more for me.

Anyway, I won't bore you with baby stuff, but I will try to post more.

That is all.

Facing Down the Flood

Saturday, June 7th started out crappy...little did I know, it was about to get much worse for Columbus, Indiana. My mom and dad came from Greensburg to help install a new bathtub along with my niece, Paige and my nephew, Chandler. It was raining when they arrived, but nothing major.

Dad and I headed up Central Avenue and over to Johnathon Moore Pike to Menards to pick up the bathtub Becky and I bought a few days prior. With our house, nothing is standard size, so we bought the 59 and 1/2 inch tub, hoping it would fit into our 58 and 1/2 inch space with some dry wall removal. We encounter our first problem when the tub was brought to the van. It was too large, and we were forced to retreat and get a truck to haul it.

Strike One.

We borrowed a truck from a guy dad works with, and returned. We picked up the tub and analysed how we were going to get the tub into the bathroom, as it was wide, and the doors were not. When we got home and started to unpack the tub, I noticed the drain was on the wrong side...

Strike Two.

At this point, I knew it was going to be a long day. It was about noon and the rain had stopped. I decided that the original tub wasn't going to fit, so dad and I picked out a new one, which was 60 inches long, but dad was confident it would fit. Dad dropped the original off and picked up the new one as I got a refund. It was 1 o'clock, and the rain began once again. This time, hard.

But it didn't last long, as it had stopped pretty much before we got back home. We put the tub on the grass, and dad took the kids with him to return the truck. When they got back, Becky took them to the park, which is only 4 blocks or so from the house. That's when mother nature threw Strike Three.

As she returned, she mentioned that Hawcreek Blvd was covered in water. We thought that was odd, as it had stopped raining and the sun was out. We turned on the news, and it talked about I-65 being closed. We had planned to go to Greenwood to eat dinner at the Outback, but that was now cancelled, so we went to Texas Roadhouse instead. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

We got back home and soon, police cars lined the road in front of our house. Was it an accident? We looked, but saw nothing except traffic being diverted. We turned on the tv once again to see the Columbus Regional Hospital, which is a block behind the park Becky took the kids to, completely flooded. Water devoured the basement of the hospital, and started filling the 1st floor. It was closed and patients began being transported. We soon learned 25th Street (7 blocks away) was closed, 17th Street (the road the hospital is on) was closed, Johnathon Moore Pike (where we had been twice to get the tub) was also shut down. The flood was ravaging the city.


(Columbus Regional Hospital under water)


We walked down to the corner, and saw the water coming up the road on 17th Street, inching it's way closer. I went back to the house, and with the help of the kids, I unloaded my display case in the basement, home to my entire 300 plus Beatles record collection, and transported it to the upstairs. I took Becky aside and pointed out the order of importance of the other things in the basement. If the water started coming, the second display case was next to go (with my Jimi Hendrix record collection), followed by whatever we could grab.

We went back outside and watched as the water made it up 17th, and to the alley behind our house...but then, as quickly as it came, it began resending. We had been surrounded, but the worst was over. We were safe.

It wasn't until the next morning, as dad and I drove around Columbus, that we realized the devastation the flood had caused. Just mere blocks away, the flood had reached the rooftops of houses, just mere blocks away, the flood has indefinitely closed the Columbus Regional Hospital, just mere blocks away, some people lost it all.


(Johnathon Moore Pike in Columbus...yes, there is a road under there.)


(2nd Street bridge.)

I feel a little guilty about the water sparing us, but above all, I feel blessed.

(PS...the tub fit!!)

Having Wisdom Teeth Doesn't Make You Smart!

I'm not a big fan of pain. Realistically, I don't think anyone strives to be in pain. Of course, some handle it well, and others not so well. I'm of the impression that I usually can take the pain fairly well, but I was still scared when it finally came time to get my wisdom teeth removed. (NOTE: Just because I can take the pain well, doesn't mean I don't complain about the pain. Wait, maybe that means I don't take the pain well...whatever.)

It had been several years since they grew in, and I had been putting off the procedure for about three when I finally ran out of excuses, and the dentist scheduled them to come out. I'm not going to lie to you, I was terrified.

Pain...metal pulling on my tooth...the cracking, the breaking, the suction, the pain. What it I got dry socket?? I nervously smiled at the receptionist as she gave me a reminder card.

"Don't worry," she said, "I just had mine out a month ago, and it was fine. They'll give you the Nitrous, and it won't put you out, but it'll make it so you won't even care what's happening."

Even though I wanted to be reassured by that, I wasn't. I still feared the extraction. When the time came, I had called up all of my courage, and I entered without showing my fear. I was going to conquer it head on, to hell with the pain!!

I watched a video on oral care and the doctor numbed my mouth. They put the Nitrous on me. Amazingly enough, the receptionist was right...I found that I just didn't care what was happening. The dentist came in, and quickly yanked the first one out. I couldn't believe it was that easy!! The second one required him to rotate his pulling motion in a circle. After punching me in the face about 10 times with the circular motion, the second tooth came out.

"Halftime," the dentist said. I closed my eyes and smiled.

The third tooth broke, but I still didn't care. After a little drilling and some work, it was gone. The last tooth broke as well. But there was no pain. In the whole procedure, there was no pain. I feared that it would come, once the Nitrous wore off.

But, alas, it did not. I was eating chicken noodle soup that very night. By the next day, it was Mac and Cheese and mashed potatoes. On the third day, I took Becky to Red Lobster for her birthday. The only fear remaining was getting food in the gaping holes where my teeth once were. Now, only a month later, the holes have closed for the most part. I still have the occasional bit of food to rinse out, but nothing major (I remember, early on, rinsing a full mac and cheese noodle from one of the holes!!)

And, most importantly, there was no pain!!

June 28th

Welcome back to a Special Edition of Extreme Home Makeover!! Watch as we transform this ordinary office, into something extraordinary!!

(CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE)


(Before: Corner of the office shows the dark blue bottom wallpaper below, and the green paint above a dark, brown chair rail. NOTE: For all you ghost theorists out there, Becky just swept, hence the inclusion of "orbs.")


(Before: Just down from the last picture, you can see the rest of the wall and the old CD rack on the right side...)


(Before: Here is a frontal view of the CD rack and wall.)

Now the "demolition" begins. I use the term loosely, as the only thing we tore down was the wallpaper. (NOTE: By "we" I mean my mom and I. The homeowner, Becky, was not allowed to participate in this project. Hey, wait, I'm a homeowner, too!! I guess this is less Extreme Home Makeover, and more While You Were Out, except Becky knew about it...whatev.)

Here are some pics of the walls sans wallpaper. I kinda dug the pink at the bottom, but alas, it didn't fit in with the designers scheme, so we had to paint over it.







As you can see from the below photos, the job was coming along nicely, once we added the primer to the walls.






(Our Super Supervisor, D-Bear, watches the action from the open window.)

And then, the paint went up.







We added some border, and a few accessories, and voila!!! We actually colormatched the blue from a bib, and the green from an outfit to get the colors (both were a part of the Carter's John Lennon Collection.) Most of the below items actually came from the Carter's John Lennon collection.


(After: Corner of new nursery includes crib, wall hanging, quilt, rug, and huge turtle.)


(After: Close up of the wall hanging.)


(After: Close up of the quilt.)


(After: Here is a photo of the bookcase which houses some of the stuff we've acquired. Detailed photos at the bottom of this post if interested!)


(After: We framed some John Lennon artwork up, to add to the John Lennon feel in the room.)


(After: This is a poem that I wrote that Becky framed along with a few ultrasound photos.)


(After: Entry Rug.)


(Photo of the walker, stroller, and bouncy seat.)


(Photo of the Pack-n-Play.)


(Photo of the lamp, night light and diaper stacker. The bear just matches, but is not a John Lennon. Still cute!!)


(Two Diaper Bags.)


(Bookends, pacifiers, booties, and elephant rattle.)


(Heirloom Pillow)


(Music playing Elephant.)

For those of you not in the know, and haven't figured it out yet, Becky and I are expecting our first child on June 28th. We are having a boy!! We are super excited, of course, but still a bit nervous. What better to shake off those baby nerves than lots of presents via a baby shower, am I right?!? If you are interested in attending, or just want to send us cash or, you know, whatever, let me know!!

(PS, I'm only kidding about the gifts and cash and stuff...but Becky's not.)