Some Guy's Blog

Rocking Out

Since picking up the Wii version of Rock Band at the beach this summer, Megan and I have both really enjoyed it. It turns out Megan Van Fleet is an excellent drummer! I don’t play drums that much, but when I do, I struggle on easy. She can definitely get through all the songs on medium, only struggling on the hardest ones. I’ve had to try to up my game and start practicing hard guitars, but we really don’t play that much.

I’m Not Fat, I’m Big Boned!

As a part of my post-surgery life, I’ve been referred to Elite Physical Therapy here in Charlotte, and it’s unbelievable. Joe kicks my ass twice weekly, and has also taken his own time to show me how to kick my own ass at the Y. I’ve got the pictures to prove it.

As a result of physical therapy, I now consider myself 99.99% pain free. There is only the slightest bit of very occasional bother. We have been working on restoring my flexibility, core-strengthening (which relieves stress on the back), and recently more total body activities. I have definitely learned that you do not need weights to get stronger; your own body can provide all the resistance you need.

I am excited about getting back into a rhythm of going to the gym. I went last night to do a full session on the elliptical runner, and I was reminded about how I used to start plenty of days that way. It’s been over 18 months since the last time I was doing that, and I’ve definitely lost a few steps, but I came home energized.

Still a Geek

charlotte.rb has a new Meetup group sponsored by the guys at Engine Yard. It has been a bit of a relief to have a chance to participate in a professional group that I did not have to start myself.

I am working a lot more with Rails 2.1 and it’s new features. I hope to be able to write up some of it soon.

I am also working on a talk that I hope to present at RailsConf 2009— it won’t be just another Scaling Rails talk, I promise you that. It’ll be the first talk I’ve ever really spent time and energy on, and I hope to have enough fun making it so that if it gets rejected, I will still think it was worth it.

Fall’s Season Passes

Farewell, Monk, Psych, In Plain Sight, and Burn Notice! We will see you again soon. Here’s what we’re ready for this fall.

• House
• Heroes
• Pushing Daisies
• Project Runway (I’m getting destroyed this year in our fantasy Project Runway showdown)
• Desperate Housewives

and Megan has these upstairs

• 90210
• NCIS

Still Church Goers

For those of you who are familiar with my typical routine, it may surprise you that I really look forward to going to church each week. Megan and I became members of the UUCC earlier in the summer, and it’s something that we both look forward to every Sunday. It encourages us both to better habits (like just going for it and waking up earlier) that we’ve both struggled with a bit at times.

Thanks

I am slowly getting around to writing letters to everyone that’s impacted my life. My handwriting is bad enough that the experience may not be 100% pleasant for the recipient, but I was inspired by a service given by a guest speaker one week. He read aloud a note that his son had written him years ago, in conjunction with a gift of a book. It was clear, even years later, how this note made him feel so wonderful and happy.

We all have the power to do that for the ones we love. I want to encourage everyone to take a little bit of time out of your day to write from the heart to the people you love. They will never forget it, and it will make you feel good, too.

I, also, hope to write here more often. I am trying to get back into a lot of habits, and sometimes the last thing I feel like when I get home is more keyboarding.

Aspirational Tactics: “

(Via Business Guys on Business Trips (New every Monday!).)

Texas Bar Sues Church: “

In a small Texas town, (Mt. Vernon) Drummond’s bar began construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. 

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building’s demise in its reply to the court.

As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not.’

I don’t know about you, but this was a much appreciated chuckle for me today – thanks Jim.

(Via alexking.org.)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my health problems with my leg, this may come as a surprise.

I had surgery a week ago, on Wednesday morning. You can see a description of lumbar micro-discectomy at my doctors’ site.

I was nervous leading up to the incident, especially after finding out that I would be intubated, but that’s in the rear view mirror now. After they put the IV in, I remember a few more discussions and then them leaving me in a hall for a second. Next thing I remember was waking up after the procedure in the recovery room and asking for some water.

In terms of the pain that has been a part of my life for so long, that particular kind of pain is gone. I am healing from surgery, and that’s never going to be a ride at Carowinds, but there’s no comparison between them. I am so fortunate to come across excellent doctors and an exceptional hospital in Charlotte

We’ve come a long way from that pretty helpless first 24 hours after the surgery, but there’s still always to go on the recovery process. I did have enough strength to run some errands yesterday afternoon, but I am on a very strict schedule for how long I can sit up straight. I even have what’s basically a perfect assistant there, having picked up Awaken during one of the last Mac software blowouts. I also have to wear these ridiculous tights for some kind of circulation issue in my legs. Don’t expect pictures.

My mother has been in town helping the recovery process, and she leaves in a few hours. I know both Megan and I have found her presence invaluable. It will be hard to say goodbye this time.

To sum up, I am still not fully independent (try keeping track of how often you bend at the waist today) but I am sure that day will come soon. That will be welcome.