Some People Have All The Luck
But the luck is not necessarily good.
I have a friend who should just avoid the water altogether, because every time in the last ten years he has been on a boat for more than a day, there is a problem.
It started to go really bad when he went with a group of guys to bring a wooden vessel back from the Atlantic Coast. One of the group had bought the boat on the ‘Net and it was too big for a trailer.
They kind of checked things out and then entered the InterCoastal Waterway that allows passage to the Gulf from the Atlantic using Lake Okeechobee. There were minor problems that were patched up until they got to the lake. The level of the lake was low and the engine cooling system sucked up mud which blocked it and caused the engine to overheat, and, well, die. Fortunately the water was shallow enough to wade to shore to arrange a tow to a marina, but people ran out of time for this adventure and ended up taking the bus home.
My friend just left New Orleans today on a cruise to the Yucatan. He checked the weather between here and the Yucatan and it was ‘great’.
He should have scanned a bit further South into the Caribbean where he would have seen Invest 99. It might not affect his cruise ship, but with his luck …
7 comments
Yeah, I can understand. 🙂
Curiously, it’s like gambling in a way. You can have streaks of luck, good or bad. My streaks seem to be getting longer for some reason as I get older. I had my longest streak of good luck, and now I have the longest streak of bad. *shrug*
OT: Just got results of lots of tests the past few weeks. Seems I am to be scheduled for another ERCP procedure in 3 to 6 Months (dependent upon on certain health issues), and I am scheduled to see an orthopedic specialist in 2 weeks about my knee. Seems I may need a reconstruction. Not what I wanted to hear right now. Also, going to see an Endocrinologist and a Psychiatrist (seems I have some anger issues that are getting difficult for me to control, and some depression). We are hoping that both are being caused (at least partially) to a suspected hormone imbalance or some other hormone related issue, or possibly a thyroid problem (which is possible as I had an under-active thyroid 20 odd years ago which did cause some emotional and physiological issues). I will do anything to avoid anti-depressants. And I do mean *anything*!
I just thought you’d like to know where I’m at. Apologies if that’s not the case.
take care all.
All things tend to balance out, although only Slavs seem to understand that at a gut level. They sense that every good thing will be balanced at some point with a bad, for every summer there will be a winter. I have always been more than a bit apprehensive when things seem to break my way for any extended period, as I begin to wait for the balance to swing.
Yes, there is always the anger, the darkness that has to be controlled and contained. It takes a lot out of you.
Hormone balance is harder to maintain as we get older and things wear out. Small problems become bigger and treating the symptoms doesn’t really fix anything, it just masks it for a while. The thyroid has only recently been noted to affect a lot of different things, including weight and mood, although it seems to be a catalyst more than a direct cause. It apparently is needed for other processes to work as designed, i.e. the hormone that directly affects the problem doesn’t work properly unless the thyroid level is adequate. Nothing is as simple as we would hope.
I have a friend who had both knees replaced, and she swears by the procedure. She has been a runner her entire life and pounded her knees to death on concrete and asphalt. She is back at it without the pain, and not worrying about falling when a knee gives out. It also corrected some back pain issues that she had.
It is still surgery, and no one wants to go under the knife.
I wish you well, m8, and, yes, we would like to know. We are friends around this place, and we care, even if out respective ‘leaders’ don’t.
You are right about the Slav’s. 🙂 I met several and got to know some very well over the years. I used to think of them as just fatalistic. 🙂 But I learned that they they were probably the Worlds greatest realists. 🙂 They taught me much. I was (unofficially) adopted by a family when one of their daughter’s/sister’s and I got pretty serious. it was a very… interesting experience. maybe I’ll tell you some stories one day. I’ve never really talked about that period of my life with anyone. One thing about them, family and privacy are everything. 🙂
Yes. I’ve had some experience with the Thyroid as I mentioned. At that time, it was an Asian doctor who was both Eastern & Western trained who got me through it. At that time, Western medicine said that a bad thyroid couldn’t be cured. Eastern medicine laughed at that, and turned out to be correct. 🙂 Sadly, that doctor passed away some years ago. A true shame.
I’ve had more than enough surgery in my life. I can do without any more. There are as many good as there are bad stories about knee reconstructions. When I had my last round of surgery, I was next to a guy in his 70’s who had to have the procedure three times on the same knee in his life. He said they don’t last, amongst other things.
One thing that was amusing for me was that the surgical staff were very worried about how I would react to the anesthesia, given age, health weight etc. One of the reasons they waited longer than they should have was that they wanted to ensure there was in ICU bed available for me for up to 3 days. I told them a few times I don’t have a problem with anesthesia (I’d been under many times in my life after all). But these days, the surgeons are paranoid. after the first procedure, I awoke from the anesthesia quickly and cracked a joke. Then asked for some ice (easier to suck on some ice after a tube and camera etc have been down one’s throat). The recovery staff looked quite nonplussed! I told them I was an ‘Expert Patient’! 😆 Isn’t it amazing that most medical staff don’t really listen to, or believe, patients? *shrug*
I’ve had anger almost my whole life. But I have always been able to control it. Even under extreme situations. I have always been in control, always. Now, it get’s harder every day. Some day’s I am afraid to get out of bed, just in case. I haven’t felt truly afraid of anything or anyone since I was a child. I don’t mean fear, that’s a normal human reaction to danger. I mean *scared*, like a trapped animal with no way out. You understand? I don’t know how to deal with it. I have always believed that there was always a way out, but that sometimes, fate or bad luck happens, and I always just accepted that. When I got shot in the chest in Cambodia, I saw the KR guerrilla about to fire his AK-47, and knew I had no time, and the best I could do was make sure the round hit my armor and stood up. If I hadn’t, I’d be dead. the armor stopped the round penetrating, but it still hurts like hell, and I was knocked to the ground. The massive adrenaline surge helped, and the endorphins and quinine the body produces in those circumstances, but I wasn’t at all scared. I accepted that I would either live or die. I’ve always had good instincts. But not any more. I don’t know how to deal with that.
I’ve always known that true strength comes from the mind, the will, and what we call the *heart*. I have always believed in honor. I don’t know what I believe any more. I feel quite… uncertain. I’m not used to that either. I do know that part of why i feel afraid, is that I am afraid I might hurt someone, or worse. I am not as fit or as strong as I was in the Military, but I am very well trained. A couple of teenage kids I have gotten to know were messing about trying to prove who had the fastest reflexes about a week ago. I wasn’t in a good mood, I’d had a tiring and painful day. One of them tried to surprise me by suddenly lashing out a hand in front of my face, you know the game. We all did it. Before I could think, or anyone knew what was happening, I whipped out my hand and jabbed his brachial plexus nerve bundle (shoulder). It causes temporary paralysis of the arm and a burning pain. It happened so fast, it was over in a couple seconds. The father of the boy was sitting next to me, and couldn’t believe it, he said he hadn’t seen me move, I hadn’t even looked at the kid. Once I realized what had happened, I quickly went to the boy and began working to relieve the pain and bring feeling and control back. He was OK in a minute, but very wary of me. Understandable of course. I apologized of course… but I was very annoyed with myself. I won’t let that happen again. Whatever it takes. I cannot afford to lose control.
And thanks Bryan. though we have never met, I trust you and respect you very much. And others here. 🙂 I meant no offense by my comment. It’s simply that, lately I have been making some wrong assumptions about people. I don’t feel I can trust myself any more. Something else I am not used to.
Yeah, I’m a mess. 🙂 But I know it. I think my biggest problem is simply that I don’t know why, or understand how, this is happening. And if I don’t know or understand, I can’t fix it. and time is running out. It seems the Doctors only want to deal with the symptoms, and them only one at a time. There seems to be little or no holistic approach. And I think I need to find one. Perhaps I need to find another East/West doctor. But that’s not easy in a town, even a large one (by our standards anyway). Still… *shrug* I’m not very good at quitting either. 😉 🙂
Besides… I still want to publish my book when the gag is lifted, and piss off a lot of *important* (or at least, once important) people! 😆
yes, we do care! also, we want to read the book. 😀
expert patient! that’s sure a good way to put it. and yeah, we’re still finding out, in medical science, that even when it’s only lowly thyroids [or any other seemingly insignificant part], dirk gently was right about that fundamental interconnectedness of all things.
Yes, I know what you mean about reflexive action, which is the reason I wouldn’t even consider getting a concealed carry permit in Florida, although it is an astoundingly easy thing to do. I know that if I was carrying a weapon I would react as trained to any threat, and I don’t want to do that any more. I don’t need anything else to weigh on my conscience. I never made a wrong decision, but there is always a first time, and I don’t want to deal with it. That’s why I like my shotgun – you don’t have to fire it, and everyone becomes polite and law-abiding when they see it.
We all start to doubt our abilities as we get older, and we faced additional stress with each passing year. There is no easy answer that I’ve found, and yes, it does get harder to control the anger, but you do it anyway, because you know you must.
Just take it one day at a time.
Boy, are you ever right about the attitude of medical people if you are over 50 – they act as if you are senile and can’t understand what is happening because it is so complicated. That’s why I would rather go to a vet. They give you straight answers and show you all of the test results. They are also a hell of lot cheaper for doing the same thing.
The new replacements are much better than what was available even 5 years ago. They have done enough of them and some of the makers have been sued, so that the manufacturers understand that they have to provide a good product. That said, it is still your body, and you have to be convinced that it’s worth it. I wouldn’t do it, but then with few exceptions, I don’t like doctors even a little bit. Dealing with them on my Mother’s behalf is a real strain on my anger management program [arrogant sods].
We can only do what we have the ability to do, and no more. Everyone has limitations, and we have to accept that whether we like it or not. As people we still have to convince ourselves that what we do is the best decision for us. If you need more time, take it. Recover before starting the next stage. That isn’t an unreasonable objection to further invasive treatment, that you need time to recover.
It’s your decision, and you will find us still here and ready to read your book, no matter what you decide. BTW, I’m under a 50 year restriction for what I would really like to write about. If it had been 30, most of the low-lifes were still alive to answer for what they did, at least to history, if not to justice.
Thanks hipparchia. 🙂 You are of course one of *the others* I have referred too, and one of the reasons I even *bother* here. 🙂 You don’t often say much, but I always enjoy and respect when you do. 🙂 Me, I talk way too much! 😆 *shrug* Sometimes, a little is a lot. Sometimes, it isn’t. 😉
I agree with you Brian about Vet’s! I’ve had animals all my life, and I’ve seen several vet’s along the way. They have my utmost respect. I don’t know how it is u=in the USA, but here in Aus, to study to become a Vet, you have to score 10 points higher than you do to become a GP! Amazing isn’t it? We place a higher value on animals than people (what a surprise… Not!)
I’ve mentioned before that whenever I renewed my security license, they add “armed guard” to my list of qualifications. And every time, I tell them to remove it. If I carry a firearm, I will use it. the problem with me, and others like me, is that we don’t need a gun to be extremely dangerous. Everything can be considered a deadly weapon.
It isn’t because of age that I am doubting myself Bryan. That and weight are the two most used excuses by doctor’s. 🙂 I know myself very well. This is not me. there is something very wrong, and I don’t know what or why, and if something isn’t dome soon… someone is going to get hurt or worse. It seems I finally have a GP who is listening. And he seems to seriously want to help. So I’ll give him a chance. We’ll see. 🙂
I was going to reply last night, but i watched the latest TDS, and became very angry and agitated. I am sure you would be very angry too Bryan, so I am not sure I should post the links or not. But maybe so others can see the kinds of things that get me extremely angry. But I just had a great dinner with a wonderful lady and her two kids (1 5 yo boy who is absolutely fearless, that I think I have mentioned before, and her 11 yo daughter who is a true character and makes me laugh). 😀 So, I am feeling better than I have all week. 🙂 I’ll be house/kid sitting for her for a couple days in a couple weeks. The kids and I are looking forward to it! it will be a lot of fun for me. 🙂
TDS – October 24, 2012 – Dakota Meyer
Donald Trump challenges President Obama, military veterans fight the civilian economy, and war hero Dakota Meyer describes a dark day in Afghanistan.
FYI, There were two parts of that that got me angry. The first was the way Veterans are being treated (and that’s not at all new, I blogged about that extensively at LM), the 2nd is the Dakota Meyer interview, because I have been there (in Cambodia), especially that part where he talks about his commanders back in their safe base making really stupid decisions.
There is a good extended 2 part interview with Dakota here:
Exclusive – Dakota Meyer Extended Interview Pt 1
In this exclusive, unedited interview, Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer describes the battle of Ganjgal as the worst day imaginable, multiplied by a million.
Exclusive – Dakota Meyer Extended Interview Pt 2
In this exclusive, unedited interview, Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer calls on Americans of all stripes to go out and make a difference.
Nothing really changes, does it?
Nothing changes, or Rudyard Kipling couldn’t have written Tommy Atkins in 1892. You are a hero while the fighting is going on, but people seem to believe that you should die or fade away rather than coming home and ‘becoming a burden on the taxpayers”. We were sending packages containing toiletries and underwear to the main receiving hospital in Germany, because bloody Rumsfeld couldn’t supply the wounded coming off the battlefield in Iraq with the basics. The supplies were sent on medevac and combat aircraft rotating in and out of the area, because the Pentagon was too busy writing specifications and discussing contracts to deal with anything like that.
The damn staff weenies changing targets to ‘maximize aircraft utilization”, without considering that they may have missed the enemy and hit friendlies. MAC-V could just as easily been on another planet.
They send kids into combat and make no provisions for them after the shooting is over. And people wonder why the suicide rate is so high among the military and veterans.
All we can do is to keep calling them out on their perverse form of “patriotism”, and never let up. There was a time when I would have recommended that someone coming out of high school who didn’t know what they wanted to do, do a tour in the military to learn some life skills, save some money, and get their heads in order. I don’t do that any more, because the current military thinks they are disposable, like paper towels, not an important resource.