I went to a college basketball game last night with my family.
It was a Division II game at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.
It's interesting looking at the game program and, in particular, at the players date of birth.
Many college "seniors" are 25 years old.
How might you ask?
Many graduate from high school at 19 (were often held back a year to help ensure they would dominate in sports), get red shirted their first year of college and then play for another 4 years (often even at the same school!). Some get a 6th year if they are granted a "medical red shirt" for an injury.
It's got to be an advantage for some who get to play against a 17-21 year old (who graduated high school on time and wants to finish college in 4 years).
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
The dishwasher
A 56 year old male was on two oral medications for his diabetes.
His wife wanted to know why he had to take two different medications for the same disease.
I started a long discussion on the mechanism of action of the two medications but quickly determined they were not following what I had to say.
I decided to try a different approach.
Me: Do you all have a dishwasher at home?
Wife: Yes.
Me: Does the dishwasher get your dishes clean if you put them directly into the dishwasher?
Wife: No, we always rinse the plates first before we put them into the dishwasher.
Me: So you need to do two things to get your dishes clean, right? Your husband has to take two medications to control his diabetes. They both help, in different ways, to keep the sugars lower.
Wife: Oh, now I see. That explains it, thanks.
I actually have no idea why I used a dishwasher for this analogy. Probably because I've washed a lot of dishes over the years and my wife gets annoyed with me when I try to skip the first step (the rinsing part that is).
For whatever reason, it seemed to work this one time.
His wife wanted to know why he had to take two different medications for the same disease.
I started a long discussion on the mechanism of action of the two medications but quickly determined they were not following what I had to say.
I decided to try a different approach.
Me: Do you all have a dishwasher at home?
Wife: Yes.
Me: Does the dishwasher get your dishes clean if you put them directly into the dishwasher?
Wife: No, we always rinse the plates first before we put them into the dishwasher.
Me: So you need to do two things to get your dishes clean, right? Your husband has to take two medications to control his diabetes. They both help, in different ways, to keep the sugars lower.
Wife: Oh, now I see. That explains it, thanks.
I actually have no idea why I used a dishwasher for this analogy. Probably because I've washed a lot of dishes over the years and my wife gets annoyed with me when I try to skip the first step (the rinsing part that is).
For whatever reason, it seemed to work this one time.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Just my elbow!
I had an MRI yesterday of my left elbow (the same elbow that I fractured three years ago).
I'm pretty sure I have radial tunnel syndrome and so is the orthopedic specialist.
The radial nerve gets impinged in the region of the elbow and then sends neuropathic symptoms distally in the forearm.
It's been going on for a few months and it's starting to get old.
The MRI took about 30 minutes (and everyone aware of the claustrophobia and noise will know that's a long time)!
I only got scolded once by the technician when my foot started to slip off the pillow.
When the technician pulled me out of the scanner the only thing I could think of saying was "I just hope I never get something really big wrong with me!"
He laughed.
I'm pretty sure I have radial tunnel syndrome and so is the orthopedic specialist.
The radial nerve gets impinged in the region of the elbow and then sends neuropathic symptoms distally in the forearm.
It's been going on for a few months and it's starting to get old.
The MRI took about 30 minutes (and everyone aware of the claustrophobia and noise will know that's a long time)!
I only got scolded once by the technician when my foot started to slip off the pillow.
When the technician pulled me out of the scanner the only thing I could think of saying was "I just hope I never get something really big wrong with me!"
He laughed.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Our cute starter home...since 1994
We went to a great party recently.
It was given by friends of ours that live in a beautiful new home (3500 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths).
It had all the cool extras (60 inch TVs, high ceilings, spacious kitchen, huge closets, pool/spa, outdoor fireplace, etc.).
As we were leaving, one of the hosts mentioned, "you should see some of the other homes in this neighborhood, they're huge!"
That gave us something to think about as we drove back to our "cute starter home (as a friends wife called our home almost 18 years ago)."
Our home is just right for us, however, and we're mortgage free at a time when our kids are getting ready to head off to college.
The timing couldn't be better to still be in our starter home.
It was given by friends of ours that live in a beautiful new home (3500 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths).
It had all the cool extras (60 inch TVs, high ceilings, spacious kitchen, huge closets, pool/spa, outdoor fireplace, etc.).
As we were leaving, one of the hosts mentioned, "you should see some of the other homes in this neighborhood, they're huge!"
That gave us something to think about as we drove back to our "cute starter home (as a friends wife called our home almost 18 years ago)."
Our home is just right for us, however, and we're mortgage free at a time when our kids are getting ready to head off to college.
The timing couldn't be better to still be in our starter home.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Shocking church services
A 64 year old male had been attending an evangelical church for a number of years but hadn't attended for the last few months.
During two different services, a few months ago, while in the midst of an altar call and some "raise the roof" music, his implanted defibrillator had fired.
On both occasions, he was dropped to the floor by the shock, and the rescue squad took him to the local hospital for an evaluation.
He's not sure what to do.
He's had the implanted defibrillator for the last four years and it had never discharged prior to these occasions.
His cardiologist confirms his defibrillator is working properly and is calibrated perfectly.
He has some options (stay at home, change churches, leave before the altar call) but he (after some more prayer) will need to decide for himself.
It's easy to understand the emotions that he's dealing with after, basically, being hit twice in the chest with a baseball bat during the most inspirational part of the services.
During two different services, a few months ago, while in the midst of an altar call and some "raise the roof" music, his implanted defibrillator had fired.
On both occasions, he was dropped to the floor by the shock, and the rescue squad took him to the local hospital for an evaluation.
He's not sure what to do.
He's had the implanted defibrillator for the last four years and it had never discharged prior to these occasions.
His cardiologist confirms his defibrillator is working properly and is calibrated perfectly.
He has some options (stay at home, change churches, leave before the altar call) but he (after some more prayer) will need to decide for himself.
It's easy to understand the emotions that he's dealing with after, basically, being hit twice in the chest with a baseball bat during the most inspirational part of the services.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Good advice
It's always great to have family visiting for the holidays.
Often it's also a time to rehash stories.
Somehow, we got on the topic of our trip to Ireland last year.
At one point during our trip we had a choice of taking major roads to our next stop or taking a scenic route over the mountains.
We were at the National Horse Stud Farm and headed to Wiclow, on the east coast.
I asked an older Irish fellow selling ice cream if the roads to Wiclow, via the scenic mountainous route, were well marked.
He replied, "Oh no lad, you know Ireland, not atall (one word), but just take it slow...and hope for the best."
We did just that and have another life long memory.
We are all finally able to laugh while remembering the hair pin turns, narrow roads, near head-on-collisions with oncoming cars, and possible sheep around every turn, in the middle of the road, while driving on the opposite side of the road and operating a manual transmission, with my left hand, for the first time in my life!
Often it's also a time to rehash stories.
Somehow, we got on the topic of our trip to Ireland last year.
At one point during our trip we had a choice of taking major roads to our next stop or taking a scenic route over the mountains.
We were at the National Horse Stud Farm and headed to Wiclow, on the east coast.
I asked an older Irish fellow selling ice cream if the roads to Wiclow, via the scenic mountainous route, were well marked.
He replied, "Oh no lad, you know Ireland, not atall (one word), but just take it slow...and hope for the best."
We did just that and have another life long memory.
We are all finally able to laugh while remembering the hair pin turns, narrow roads, near head-on-collisions with oncoming cars, and possible sheep around every turn, in the middle of the road, while driving on the opposite side of the road and operating a manual transmission, with my left hand, for the first time in my life!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Have a wonderful day!
"Maybe Christmas, " he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more."
Dr. Seuss from "How the Grinch stole Christmas"
"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it white."
Bing Crosby
Merry Christmas everyone!
Dr. Seuss from "How the Grinch stole Christmas"
"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it white."
Bing Crosby
Merry Christmas everyone!
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