One from Column one ...

The results of the blood work came back in a confusing letter from my doctor. It said my thyroid replacement looked high, so prescriptions are enclosed. I've had a thyroid replacement prescription for 21 years now, but no one ever said anything about two at once.

And no mention of the blood sugar level which I had deposited myself on my doctor's doorstep in the first place for. Gee, thanks.

Actually, I called, and it turns out to average my replacement between two standard dosages I am to alternate pills every other day. Okay, I can do that. Nice of them to tell me up front.

And as for the blood sugar, yes, I am normal (that way, at least).

Big Brother is Watching You Type

AIM has changed their terms of service to say they can use your messages any way they want, and that you have no privacy.

This is a real Lawyers Gone Wild episode (you can see it from the one-sided nature of the agreement), and is going to make Microsoft's IM products look downright popular.

Never Been to Spain

Blame my sister the Bluegrass Mama for this one as well.

States I've visited, not counting airport layovers. I do count the states I have only driven through.



create your own personalized map of the USA.

Oddly enough, a text variation on this almost went into my 10 Things list, in particular that I've been to all the states from Tennessee north and/or east.

From those nice folks at World 66

Back On The Chain Gang

With the high blood pressure causing eye problems, it's time to get serious about losing some weight. I care about my eyes.

I had my last caffeine on Friday. I had the caffeine crash from hell Saturday. That's actually good, it means I had been cutting back before Friday to crash the following day.

I hit the exercise bike Sunday for 24 minutes. (Just to prove I could.)

I had exactly two snacks, one an apple, yesterday. Lunch itself was McDonald's, but was not a piggy lunch.

I hit the exercise bike today for 32 minutes. (A more regular timing).

I had exactly one snack this morning, and bought a banana while out at lunch for the afternoon snack. Lunch itself was turkey on wheat.

And so it begins again ...

Doctor My Eyes

Our story thus far ...

Well, the optometrist shipped me back to the primary care physician, who on Thursday (3 March) took one look at my previous regular blood sugar tests and expressed complete disbelief I could have diabetes.

(Hey kids, there is a reason to see a doctor on regular basis -- a well kept medical history is your friend.)

She ordered up the usual fasting profile (including blood sugar) anyway, upped the blood pressure medications, and shipped me off to the ophthalmologist.

Friday, the ophthalmologist dilated my eyes (again), took a look, and said that yup, I have minor hemorrhaging. Most likely it's caused by the high blood pressure. I am to give it four weeks, and then see a retina specialist across town.

A Meme: Ten things

Ten things I've done that you probably have not.

1. Been well networked, including:
   
   
   
   • Owned a modem in 1985,
     
   • Listed a host in the UUCP maps in 1989,
     
   • Registered a internet domain in 1990 (when there were only ~ 6500 domains total)
     
   • Provided dial up email services to my family in five states in 1992
     
   • Installed a home LAN in 1993,
     
   • Setup a 24x7 link to the Internet in 1995,
     
   • Setup a personal web site in 1996,
     
   • Had a cable modem in the summer 1997
     
   
   All of this only counts as one item, and now that's all out of the way.
   
2. Gone boating in a DUKW on a central New York Finger Lake in November.
   
3. Took 11 years to graduate the 4 year college I entered full-time out of high school.
   
4. Worked for five different alumni of my college at five different companies.
   
5. Been in every one of New York's 62 counties.
   
6. Went directly from the first year of Army ROTC to the third year. (But never finished, due to the length of the rest of my college career.)
   
7. Took the road test for my driver's license in a British sports car two years younger than I was.
   
8. Ridden 1300 miles on a bicycle around town in one summer.
   
9. Totaled three vehicles within ten years on interstate highways and walked away from all three crashes. (And since then had 18 years without a chargable accident, knock wood.)
   
10. Met my future wife via the Internet (in particular Usenet) in 1989, before most people knew there was an Internet. (And for the record, I then courted her very much in person for six months.)
    

Inspired by my sister the Bluegrass Mama

Let It Bleed

Back during the week of February 14th I had a cold, and this evolved into a screaming pain on the right side of my face (probably my sinuses) and occasional blurry spots in my vision. I made the usual HMO fly-by and they put on me antibiotics, also put me on high BP medicine (that's been coming for a while), and told me see my optometrist since my exam was due anyway.

The optometrist was yesterday (Saturday)

The optometrist dilated my pupils, and took a look inside the right eye with microscope. Then looked at the left. Then looked back at the right to compare to the two. Result of the exam: My right retina has minor hemorrhaging.

"Not a problem, but something which requires follow up." Easy for him to say.

He's directed me back to my primary care physician for a full sugar profile (to check for diabetes), and also for a referral to an ophthalmologist.

(And yes, my fingers are gonna do the dialing Monday morning.

[Later .. corrected optician to optometrist.]