OH NO I'M NOT

Last night was my last night of eating for awhile. So to celebrate, we met out at Pepe's...Cindy & I...the big kids...Cindy's aunt Sandy...and several friends. Cindy & the kids called it the..."goodbye to Dan's prostate..party."

Today...is bowel prep day. Need I say more? I thought not. All I have to say about today is...for those of you who think I'm full of sh**...

OH NO I'M NOT. At least not anymore.


Dan

JIM AND ME...SIMILAR THOUGHTS

In June, I blogged that I thought our country should go to work on a 'high-speed rail system'. Not only would it put 'us' to work, but it is a type of transportation that could be utilized to our advantage.

Jim Jubak proposed a similar idea today. His idea is just expressed in nicer words...he's a better writer. He proposed other ideas as well...but I just focused on the high-speed rail.

See what you think of his other ideas. He may have a point.


Dan

BOTTLE CAP PIN-ONS

Well this will certainly show my and my readers age. Those my age and older will know what I mean. Those younger than me, will likely not have a clue...or even be capable of imagining...what I'm talking about.

This article...the heading...not the story itself...caught my eye...and took me way back to my younger years.

In the 'old days'...pop (coke, pepsi, nehi, royal crown...you name 'em) came in bottles. It was years later that I remember pop coming in cans. The lids to those bottles of pop, had to be taken off with a bottle opener. And underneath that lid, was a thin layer of 'cork' that was glued to that underneath side. The purpose of the cork, was that it allowed a good seal between the 'tin' of the bottle cap, and the 'glass' that the cap was pressed onto...thus sealing in the 'fizz' into the bottle.

In our younger years...as I've stated before, we sometimes had to 'invent' games and cool things to do that would be fun. Well...one of the things we did was to slowly, and carefully...so that you didn't tear the cork...you gently pealed the cork from the underneath side of that pop bottle cap. If successful, in one hand you had the cap...and the other, the cork.

We then put the cap on the outside of our shirt and placed the cork on the inside of our shirt and pushed the 2 together, as if you were now trying to put the cork 'back into' the bottle cap...just with your shirt positioned in between.

If successful...you now had a new pin to wear on your shirt...a pop bottle cap pin.

Anyone remember?

Now the younger folks are scratching their head with thoughts of 'what?' and 'so then what'd you do?'

Hey...we were inventive. You would be shocked at the things we found to do to have fun. Sure beat bein' couped up inside playing games on a computer or TV screen.


Dan

A FULL DAY

We had a full day today. Since this summer, we've had this weekend marked on the calendar. For one...it is grandson Mason's birthday. Two...we decided to go to the Purdue campus and tailgate before heading to the game.

All was good...weather perfect...but we lost the football game. Still...a good day to all 10 of the crew to be together. Then it was home later in the afternoon to order some pizzas and open presents...and then of course...cake and ice cream.

A week from today...I hope to be home from the hospital. I'm sure I won't feel as good as I do today...but a big event will be over and the road to recovery will begin.

But today...the 10 had a good day. And that's all I could want.


Dan

FIRE AND WATER

It's been a tension-filled week and Friday afternoon was a welcome sight.

It was windy today so I had the usual limbs down in the yard when I got home. I ran some errands as we prepare for a big day tomorrow, then I picked up the grandkids at the babysitter and headed back home.

While they unwound from a week of school...I headed out to the yard and picked up a bunch of limbs and threw them in the fire pit. Once I got a good fire going, I grabbed a chair, pulled it up near the fire...and unwound...just watching the fire.

I think one of the things Cindy & I enjoy when we're at the beach, is how you can just get mesmerized watching the water. Equally, I can get mesmerized watching a fire burn in the fireplace or in the fire pit.

While I was relaxing, I knew my time would be interrupted by someone wondering what was for supper tonight...and eventually...the interruption came...but until it happened...my week got a little better just unwinding...watching some of my worries burn up in the fire.


Dan

SOGGY BREAD

While at lunch today, I noticed my co-workers sandwich had 'soggy' bread. The meat that had been put on it was wet...and thus the bread got wet.

I hate 'soggy' bread. So our brief lunch discussion was about me...hating 'soggy' bread. I also said I am NOT someone who crumbles up crackers and puts them in my soup. I also HATE...'soggy' crackers. If crackers and bread were meant to be wet and soggy...you would be able to buy them that way.

My mind then flashed back to my dad, who would pour a small bowl of milk, then get a couple slices of bread, tear the bread in pieces and drop them in the milk. (Now THAT ain't right!)

When asked why my dad did that...(it even sounded disgusting to her)...I said dad was from the Depression era, and probably had to do with the fact that you ate...whatever you could get your hands on...and you'd like it...or go hungry.

I recall so, so many eating oddities of dads...but I'll tell you...he was ALWAYS a member of the 'clean plate' club...because he NEVER didn't eat what was on his plate.

I'll tell ya...things would have to be pretty tough for me to choke down some soggy bread or crackers. I guess I've been fortunate enough to never be in that position.


Dan

YOU TALKIN' TO ME?

I caught myself today...doing something I have caught myself doing before. I talked to myself...outloud.

I did a quick look around to see if someone heard me and there was no one around.

Now it wasn't like I was carrying on a major conversation...I said 2 words out loud. So I'm not a major self-talker...or in politically correct language...'intrapersonal communication'.

I googled to see what else I could find about talking to oneself...and mostly I found discussions of Autism...and mental health issues. But those people were talking to themselves constantly, carrying on several sides of the conversation, answering their own questions aloud.

This was just 2 little words. I'm gonna guess some of you readers have caught yourself saying something out loud too.

Let me know if I'm the only goofy one...or if you have found yourself talking aloud too. I'm betting we all do it once in awhile.


Dan

I FEEL YOUR PAIN

This Chicago woman had enough. Her yard became the 'waste' dump for her neighbors dog...and she snapped.

Being a dog owner, we are mindful of the 'yard bombs' that are left behind. When we go on dog walks with Zoe...a bag and garden shovel go with us to scoop up any bombs that might be dropped in neighboring yards.

I often shake my head in disgust at dog walkers who don't have bags with them when they are walking their dogs. I've often thought if I saw someones dog dropping bombs in my yard, I'd scoop them up and walk over to their yard and throw them in theirs.

That's what this lady did...and it landed her in trouble. Seems like the wrong person is behind bars if you ask me.


Dan

WHAT'S THAT SMELL ?

I, for one, like the smell of a new car. It doesn't last long, but for some reason...I just like it. I've never seen it in a can that you can apparently spray in your 'older' car to make it smell like a new one...but it's supposedly out there.

Until reading this article, I never made the connection of how hard it is for car manufacturers to make sure a new car smells the way 'most' people like a new car to smell...rather than some component of 'all' the different parts and oils and plastic and metal and carpeting and rubber and leather that is inside your car.

And they even have 'teams' of individuals whose job is to make sure that new car smell isn't offensive.

I think that might be a good job for me when I retire. Well...maybe not. I bet even that job gets old...after awhile.


Dan

CHANGING OF THE TIMES

While in the cafeteria today, I sat near a table where two of the elderly hospital volunteers were having lunch. I happened to overhear part of their conversation about computers and newspapers.

They shared a concern about information that can be found and shared on the computer. They felt that it made their lives too accessible...and easy for someone to find out things about them that they may not want someone to know.

Then they talked about the speed of news information on the Internet. In 'their day', one read the newspaper to find out what happened the day before. It was new news...about old news. I was reminded how it was days or weeks before some parts of the world knew WWII had ended. Today...news reporting is almost instantaneous to the news happening.

I don't disagree with some of their concerns...but computers and the computer age IS NOT going away. It's positive effects will always outweigh it's negative points.

My grandchildren will probably never have a newspaper or magazine delivered to their home. Watching 'news' on the TV will be a thing of the past. Their news will be updated instantaneously on their 'phones' or computers or whatever gadget is invented between now and then.

Times have changed...and will continue to do so.


Dan

THE BLIND MAN

When they built our new hospital, they tried to make it as user friendly as possible. We have 4 entrances to the hospital for patients and family to come in...depending on where they are headed (OB/ER/Outpatient testing/Visiting).

Outside the outpatient testing and ER entrances...between the drive that cars can pull up to...and the sidewalk leading inside...they installed some red brick with little bumps on them. I thought the bumps were there so the brick could drain more easily after getting wet. Their purpose, I later found, is that they are essentially 'Braille' bricks...for those people who are blind, or visually impaired, to 'feel' when they are leaving one surface to another...(ie. off the drive and heading to the sidewalk...or vice versa).

Today, I passed by a new drug store being built near the hospital...and noticed they had similar bricks in their sidewalk...near the drive that leads to-and-from the street. I suppose this is to alert those who can't see...that they are no longer on 'safe' sidewalk...but rather crossing pavement that cars may enter or exit.

Anyway...I thought the concept was pretty neat. The more I thought of it...my mind took me back to the days when I was little, and I used to go to the post office in Vincennes with dad. Due to his work, he was at the post office almost daily. I recalled the blind man who had a little 10 x 10 cubby-hole in the corner of the post office...where he sold magazines and newspapers and gum, candy, etc. His name was Percy Nightingale.

While dad was in line at the windows to pick up mail or buy stamps or whatever...I'd go over by Percy and watch him as he dealt with his customers that came to see him. Percy was an older 'black' man and everyone knew him...calling him by name...and he knew many of them by the sound of their voice and would return their greeting by saying their name. I would watch Percy as he would listen to what they wanted from him...and then watch him walk to its exact location, pick the item up and walk back to the customer. They would hand him the money and...if it was a bill, Percy would feel it and could somehow tell if it was a $1 or $5 bill or whatever...apparently by it's shape or it's size...and he would then give them the appropriate change, wish them farewell and ask 'who's next?'

I was always amazed at how he was able to do all that...while not able to see...any of it.

My trips to the post office with dad were always an adventure...just watching Percy.


Dan

A DATE TO PENROD

Cindy & I had a 'date' day today...driving to Indianapolis to attend the Penrod Art Fair. When we attended last year, for the first time, the weather was ideal, we saw some very interesting art, heard some good music and had some good food.

It was such a good time, we penciled it on the calendar to go again this year.

One of the artists commented...while we were there today...that it hasn't rained for 29 days in a row...and it decided to rain today!

About 30 minutes after we got there...it began to drizzle...then rain...then pour. We walked from artist tent to artist tent...looking at their wares and trying to stay out of the rain. When is slowed to a mist...we walked to the bus pickup to take us back to our car...and it stopped completely. So we went back in and spent the rest of our time enjoying some new exhibits...and those we passed quickly when we were trying to stay out of the rain.

We had some good sandwiches...listened to Duke Tomatoe...a local favorite band...and bought a few more art goodies to take home.

We think after our retirement...we might have to begin a little artsy-fartsy craft that we can have fun with...and make a little money on the side too.

It was a good day...rain and all.


Dan

A SAD ANNIVERSARY

Tomorrow is the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On the surface...it seems impossible that it's been 9 years. It doesn't seem that long...to me.

On that day nearly 3000 people died in the events that occurred. To their remaining loved ones...those 9 years must seem like an eternity...a painful one they feel...every day.

Since the start of the war that was created from those events...nearly 5700 US military deaths have occurred in Iraq and Afghanistan. To 'their' remaining loved ones...the same pain must be felt...every day.

Our world has changed since that day. Life almost seemed simpler...those short 9 years ago.

Are we wiser since then? In some ways...maybe...but a few radicals make ALL of us look bad in the eyes of much of the world...and we appear FAR from wise. Are we safer since then? Doesn't seem like it.

Have we made steps to let the loss of life...approaching 10,000...to have made sense? Have we honored those who have made the ultimate sacrifice?

Our government seems to be in a stalemate. Our 'so called' leaders are doing a poor job of leading. It is a finger-pointing-to-blame-others mess in Washington.

Tomorrow, we should be honoring those who have lost their lives in the last 9 years...innocently...and in the line of duty to protect us. Their loved ones should feel like those lives weren't given in vain.

At least on this anniversary...I think they'll feel insulted...instead.

It's a sad state.


Dan

GOOGLED

Today at work, I needed to 'Google' something. Many (most?)(all?) of you know about Google. It is a search engine...or a computer tool...to help you find almost anything...about anything.

Maybe you've been in a conversation with someone and you asked them a question...and maybe they responded...'Google it'.

If you want to know how to fix spaghetti...enter the word 'google' in you tool bar at the top of your internet page...and when Google appears...enter 'how do I fix spaghetti' in the blank line. You will get article after article on how to fix spaghetti.

If you want to change the oil filter on your 1947 Plymouth Valient...you can Google it and find out the recommended oil type, filter and how to change it...and how to safely 'greenly' exchange your old oil.

If you want to know 'who' invented your Plymouth...you can Google that too. I don't think there's a topic...or person...you can't find out about.

Thus came my latest idea. I wonder if I can Google....me?

For the hell of it...I Googled...Dan Clark. Well...I found out there are a whole lot of 'me' out there. We are doctors, professional hockey players, pastors, convicted felons, professional wrestlers and motivational speakers...to name a few.

I wasn't on Page 1 of the many listings...nor page 2...not on page 10...nope on page 20...nada on page 30...nothin' on page 40...but at the bottom of page 44...is a link to me and 'this' blog site.

I'm not the very last Dan Clark to be on Google...there are 47 pages of us in all. Personally...I'm glad I'm way back on page 44. If I was on page 1...I'd have probably done something bad, or be a little more 'famous' than I want to be.


Dan

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

I've been rolling around a topic for the last 6 weeks but, thus far, have chosen not to write about it. I've been walking around it...like that elephant in the room that everyone tries to ignore. But I thought about it some more this weekend and decided I 'do' need to write about it. Not for myself...but maybe for some of my readers...or someone my readers know...that may benefit from the information.

I want, and ask for, no sympathy. I'm not telling this story for sympathy. I don't want to be treated differently. I don't want pity. I just want you, or those you love, to know it can happen and to do something about it if it does.

I have cancer.

In June, I had to have an annual checkup with my urologist. He had me perform another PSA lab test. Over the last 10-15 years, my PSA had always hovered around 1.0. But over the last few years, it has slowly crept from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0 to nearly 4.0 When it hit 4 last year, I had a prostate biopsy that was determined to be negative for cancer. But with a strong family history for cancer, I was to return in a year for another PSA.

Well, the year was up, and I repeated my PSA. My PSA level was again high, which resulted in another test being performed...a PCA3+. In English, there is a prostate enzyme that is expressed in your urine. When they check the urine, the prostate antigen should be at a specific level. My results came back and the level was high...indicating a strong likelihood for cancer. My doctor told me the next step was to have another prostate biopsy.

The biopsy was performed in mid-June...and Cindy & I had a 2 week wait for results. At the end of June, we met with my urologist, and he told us the news I wasn't expecting to hear...at least not on that day... 'You have prostate cancer.'

Prostate cancer in men is common. Some physicians will go so far as to say...if a man lives long enough, he will eventually get prostate cancer.

My dad had prostate cancer, found at about age 70. He died from it at age 76.

I'm 56.

My dad's was found too late. Mine was found early.

Cindy & I met with a surgeon in Indianapolis in mid-August. We discussed what options were out there for me, and the one we chose...was to have surgery...to remove the prostate.

Before the surgery, I had a bone scan performed, which looks to see if the cancer has spread to involve the bones. My scan wasn't totally normal...but not terribly abnormal either.

My surgery, a prostatectomy, is scheduled the end of this month, September. I am taking the month of October off from work, to recover and gain some body functions back that I will lose from the surgery.

I'm not looking forward to the surgery...I'm not looking forward to the recovery that will result...

...but 'I am looking forward.'

I expect the surgery to be successful and totally remove the cancer from my body. I expect to fully recover my body functions to the point prior to surgery. I expect the future tests that I will undergo to be negative...with no signs of cancer's return.

I expect all of you...to have yourself checked...or your loved ones checked. Keep your health. Help and encourage them to keep their health.

If something is found...let it be at an early stage...because you were pro-active.

I'm planning on that being the case for me.

The elephant has left the room.


Dan

BIKER COURTESY

I went for a bike ride yesterday...my first in a long time...and it brought back some memories of my younger years and the thousands of miles I put on my bike.

While trying to be observant of the traffic and pedestrians around me, I recalled some general rules of biker courtesy that I learned all those years ago...that I don't think have been handed down to the kids and young adults of today.

I was taught several rules of bike riding. The main one...was that pedestrians are to be respected. When riding down the sidewalk...if I came upon some pedestrians walking toward me...'I' was the one who was to pull over into the grass and slow down or stop until they were past. THEY had the right to the sidewalk...not me and my bike. This rule does not seem to apply today. I couldn't count how many times that Cindy & I had to walk in the grass or risk getting run over by the kid on the bike.

I was taught to ride against traffic while riding in the streets...so I could see the drivers coming at me and have an opportunity to react to what they 'might' do, rather than having the traffic behind me without knowledge of if they might hit me from behind. Today, almost every biker I see rides 'with' the traffic and 'in' the lane of the vehicles...as if they'll 'be damned' if they'll pull over and let me by. They almost challenge you to hit them...apparently so they can contact their lawyer.

I was taught that stop signs applied to me as well. Today...that's not necessarily the case.

I get a little testy when I see bikers not using common sense and common courtesy.

You bikers out there...try using some of each. If you did...maybe you wouldn't have to wear those stupid looking little helmets. They might not be needed.

And don't get me started on the 'moped' riders. Geez! That's a whole 'nuther blog!!



Dan

CUSTOMER SERVICE

It's not new news for anyone...customer service is EVERYTHING. Whatever line of business you're in...or whatever business you may frequent...being a friendly person for your customer...or having the business you are entering with friendly, helpful employees...is a must.

I try to be so flippin' friendly...my customers cry because I'm so nice to them. When I visit a business...I want the same. And if I get it, I make certain I thank them for their service...and sometimes have taken the time to contact their supervisors to make 'them' aware of how helpful and kind their employee was.

Today...I made a visit to my local AT&T branch, (and in the past...they had ALWAYS been very helpful and friendly)...and I left totally frustrated and unhelped. So then I got on their website...as told by 'Mr. Helpful'...and got nowhere. So...I dialed AT&T and finally got through to talk to a human being...and got talked down to and ended up hanging up...still frustrated.

If another phone service called me right now...I'd switch phone companies before I could hang up the phone.

Customer Service is key. Right now...for me...AT&T has lost the keys.


Dan

NEW INVENTION IDEA

Alright...all you inventors...I have something for you to work on. Today...in my short 15 minute drive home...I followed a teen/20 something...who was obviously busy texting instead of driving. While we were stopped at a stoplight...another teen/20 something...coming from the other direction...passed by with head down texting. Last week...Cindy & I followed another vehicle with the driver obviously texting as they alternated between speeding up...slowing down...veering near the center line...

In Indiana, it is NOT against the law to use our cell phones for talking...or texting...while driving. I believe in my brother's state of California...it is. I am going to bet though...that there are still plenty of people who do it there...law or not.

The inventors need to come up with something that stops reception of phone service behind the wheel of the car. Passengers can get reception and thus can talk or text on the phone...but the driver does NOT get it.

That's my only solution to this GROWING problem. Whether you have a law against it or not...people are going to talk on their phone...and text on their phone...while driving. Until someone just makes it IMPOSSIBLE to get reception while a person's butt is sitting in the driver's seat...it will continue.

I'm now to the point that I don't mind someone TALKING on the phone while driving...at least they can look and see what's happening in front of them. You can't do that if you're looking down to text.


Dan