Cam I Am

Yesterday I went to see my doctor..   I went in hoping that I would be able to return to work in the new year..

Things didn’t work out exactly as I hoped…

Since I had my cortisone shot earlier this month, I’ve been able to do a lot more around the house.  I’m not pain-free, but I figured that I could return to work, as long as I was careful.

My doctor checked my range of motion and then said, “I can’t send you back to work the way you are”.  While I was expecting this answer, I was still disappointed..  He then said that if I was the determined to try, he said that I had to go to physio for “strengthening and work conditioning” for 3-4 weeks..  I managed to negotiate with him a little and had him agree to see how I’m doing after 2 weeks..  If I’m getting worse again, I’m off for some time to come..  Hopefully, things go well with it and he’ll let me return after a couple weeks of that…

This uncertainty still causes stress.  My poor wife and kids have had to put up with me being grouchy and short-tempered.  The frustrating part is that I can completely recognize when I’m in a mood, but find it difficult to snap out of it..  I’m really greatful for them, their patience and understanding…

So, in four more weeks when I see my doctor next, I hope that I get the news I’m looking for…

I’m a Facebook addict..  I freely admit that..  While I’ve been off work, I’ve spent more time logged into Facebook than I care to admit..

So, while I was on today, and one of my friends, John Giles,  posted an interesting link about Mac users vs. PC users.  At the end of this rant, was an interesting quote.  The author was commenting on the iTunes End User Agreement; specifically about how we are not to use iTunes to create biological or nuclear missiles..

After I laughed my ass off, I decided to check it out..  and sure enough, it does state that!  In fact, here is the actual wording:

“By using the Apple Software, you … agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture, or production of missiles, or nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons.”

There it is..  I’m not allowed to make a nuclear weapon using iTunes..  That’s too bad!  I mean, that “Launch Missile” icon in it is just going to waste!   What are they thinking? I know that they are covering all the bases with endless possibilities, but still..

Something else that is bothering me is this political correctness crap.  “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holiday’s”..    We live in Canada, where we predominantly celebrate Christmas..  So say Merry Christmas!  What’s the big deal?  Are we REALLY offending anyone with wishing them a Merry Christmas?   I’m not knocking on their doors like JW’s trying to get them to convert to my beliefs!  (I’ll save my opinion on THAT issue!)..

It’s a holiday..  Yes, there is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it’s about being with family..  it’s about giving gifts to those who you love..  it’s generally a happy time of year..  If  you don’t celebrate Christmas, that’s fine!  When someone says Merry Christmas to you, just say thanks and move on!

The political correctness pendulum has swung too far…

It’s December 10th already…  and I think that I am pretty much ready for Christmas..

On the weekend, my wife and I went to Shaw’s Annual Christmas Party.  This year it was held at Canada Place, in downtown Vancouver, with over 1900 people attending. It’s one of those events that I always look forward to.

The food was good, the live band was very good, and the wine?  Well..  let’s just say that I had my fair share…  (Okay..  I had way too much..  but I wasn’t aware that a couple people were adding more into my glass when I wasn’t looking)..    Fortunately, my wife was driving..   

The weekend before, we went to Shaw’s Annual Kids Christmas Party.  This was at Crash Crawley’s in Coquitlam (an indoor playground, for those of you who don’t know).  Breakfast was served, kids played for hours, and they even got a picture with Santa! 

At home, it appears that everything is nearly in order.  We still need a few things, but I think that will be easily handled.   We won’t be making a mad rush to the store on the 24th to buy gifts and a turkey. We’ve done most of the shopping (for gifts anyways), our Christmas cards ready to be mailed, and our tree, lights, and decorations are up..  

For a change this year, I will be cooking dinner.  Hopefully, I will not have a repeat of the last turkey dinner that I cooked a few years ago.  Dinner wasn’t ready until midnight, and our friends kids had fallen asleep waiting.. 

All things considered, this should be a great Christmas.  Ever since our first daughter was born, Christmas has been a very happy, exciting, even magical time of year.  When I was a kid, I remember how much I couldn’t wait to go see Santa at the Oshawa Centre, just to tell him what I wanted for Christmas.  I laugh about how my younger brothers and I would rountinely get busted trying to sneak down the stairs at 3AM on Christmas morning to see if Santa came..

It should be a great Christmas for us..

A few months ago, I posted a quick story about being called a cable insulter by someone in the elevator..

My brother, Andrew, just sent this to me, so I thought I’d share it with everyone..

Today I went for my consult about getting a cortisone shot to help with my back pain..

After discussing the pro’s and con’s, other options, and having the doctor answer some questions, he asked me if I was interested in the shot..

I told him that I was very interested, and then he offered to do it on the spot..  I wasn’t prepared for this, only because I was told, when I made the appointment, that he probably wouldn’t do it the same day as the consult. 

Apparently, this wasn’t the case today..  the doctor told me that it was a slow day, and that there was no point in making me drive from Maple Ridge to Richmond in a few days to have it done..

So, I did it!  My back still feels very sore, but it will take several days for me to feel any different..

Hopefully, I can return to work within a few weeks..   I think that there is a distant light at the end of the tunnel now!

The last few days have been busy..

First of all, my wife threw me a surprise birthday party..  I had figured out that she had been planning a party for me, but I was wrong about the day she planned it for..  and the 80’s theme was certainly a surprise.  It was a lot of fun, even with the costume she had picked out for me..    It was definately a nice surprise.

On my actual birthday (Monday), the day was fairly low-key.  My wife went to work, and I was home with the kids.  That night, we had a nice dinner, a birthday cake, and a nice quiet family night.  With one expection..

Colleen had scheduled an appointment for me to see a doctor about the potential of getting laser treatment for my back.  I went and talked to the doctor, but I was still unconvinced that this is a realistic avenue to take for me to get better.  I’ve decided to hold off until Wednesday to see how my consult for the cortisone shot goes.  We’ll see from there..