Wednesday, June 15, 2016

When I visited Frank O'Barski in the hospital, I wanted to get him to laugh, so I told him to "Live Long and Fester.

My command in the USAF

When I took my Army physical, I also got my first command. The Private who gave me my papers also gave me the records for seven other Air Force recruits, and he complimented me on my entrance exam grades 99th percentile in all areas except administration, where I only scored 80th percentile. We were headed to San Antonio but a situation occurred when we were set to switch planes in Dallas/Fort Worth.

The attendant told me that we were all bumped from the airline (Ozark), and had to wait about four hours to get a plane to San Antonio. I immediately remembered the Airline evaluation Service sheet. I pulled it out and started filling it out in front of the employee. When I got to the part to identify him, he called his supervisor and said, "deep shit problem." They didn't want to piss off the U.S. Air Force.

We all got on the next flight to San Antonio. Dale White and I got First Class seats. One recruit was was deathly afraid of flying. I told him he'd be declared AWOL if I showed up without him at Lackland Air Force Base. I guessed that he preferred Air Force duty to riding around in a Swift Boat in the Mekong Delta, so he closed his eyes and came aboard

And that was my only command in the USAF. After the first medical exam in the USAF, the doctor asked me, "How did you get in here?" I replied, "US Army physical in Chicago." They shipped me home.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Pain management request

I sent the following message to my pain management doctor after discussing access to the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program. As you will see, this is not a "nastygram," but borders on it.

Letter to doctor:

During our meeting last week, when I brought up the topic of medical cannabis it seems that you immediately decided that I was seeking access to THC to become "stoned," and you didn't branch out to the topic of cannabidiol, or CBD. This component of cannabis has medical uses that include treatment of chronic pain. I didn't respond with this argument at the time because I was waiting to see if you would breach the topic. The reason that I would like to access medical cannabis is that there is a quality control requirement involved in state and FDA approval of medicines; "street" access to cannabis does not have any quality measurement. Accurate analysis of cannabis can show percentages of CBD and THC, and properly screened drugs can be used in a controlled manner. My searches into uses of CBD indicate that it may have a positive effect on my pain, and analysis can find products with less than 0.3% THC and up to 24% CBD. I think this is a valid avenue to examine.

The politicians and drug warriors want to keep anything illegal for their own purposes, which include keeping our prisons full and single molecule medicines highly profitable.

I'm not interested in getting "loaded." I want to control the pain. Look into CBD please.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Music works

I had a great practice the other night with Glenn, Dan, and Patrick in Aurora. I have to remember my ear plugs, though. When I started playing my Ibanez BTB, it hurt, then I remembered that one of my students changed the strap to fit her body. Changed it back and played the 35" scale bass for a few hours, but even the length caused pain.

Patrick helped me whenever I needed to do something with the bass, and also helped me get my stuff out of his basement; a great drummer and friend.

Playing Sunday for a small set at the Elbo Room in Chicago to push Album #2. If you want a copy, wait until we're back in town since it costs more to drive there than to wait.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Not waiting, but watching

Results: The area removed from your upper back returned as a seborrheic keratosis, which is a benign(not cancerous) skin growth that occurs with the natural aging process. This diagnosis means no further treatment is needed at this time.

We sezz, "Yay!"

Waiting

No news from the doctor. I've got too much going on. I'll be Bach.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

I really fucked up more than once

Sorry about the title, but I'm really upset about interactions I had with at least a few people.

When I was kicked out of Murphysboro High School, I should have told the person who demanded that I exit my class (as a paying student from SIU) to tell the fucking principal to come and tell me his illegal complaint in front of the teacher and students. He would not have lasted another month. I did not want to win; I wanted him to throw himself into the volcano.

Dr. John Gillespie tried to drag Dad (William Alcott Savory) down in a ridiculous argument about what Dad could do as an engineer. Gillespie was an expert in heart room design, and said he could tell Dad what Dad could do. Not good; Dad just responded, "tell me what you want, and I'll tell you if it's possible!" Next, I had just completed my BS in Occupational Education, and Gillespie turned to me. After a bunch of really stupid, even Junior High School, verbal assaults, I told him, "I can beat the shit out of you - metaphysically." He went really stupid, demanding, "define metaphysically" which I refused to do. I had already done it and got him wound up like an air raid siren. The only problem left was his demand to engage in a physical confrontation. Kat and I left the house. I could have killed him, but it wasn't a good idea to engage an idiot, even though he was highly regarded.

I was in between being a forceful and benevolent person. Lately, I only learned that I could be both.

At least Gillespie didn't point a gun at us.

Sometimes In Winter

I've been listening to "Sometimes In Winter" by Steve Katz. It's an amazing song, and the one that I associate with Sandie, my late wife. I've been able to play it on violin, bass, and sing it for quite a few years. Violin isn't in my specialty right now, but I've met a master flautist who also loves the song.

So, the plan (maybe) is to get enough people together to do a live version and a studio version. I just love the song, and wish I had let Sandie know.

I hate crying.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

I reverted.

I was a '68 hippie, and a '69 draftee. I reverted.

After my stint in the U.S. Air Force, I went back to protest lines; I went back to school. I wonder where all of the people went, but I hope they did well for all of us.

When I was enrolled in Education 302 at Southern Illinois University (SIU), I was assigned, as a requirement of the class, to observe a class being taught in Murphysboro High School near SIU. I was to observe and report on an Automobile Repair Shop class for an hour, one day/week for one semester. After one week there, I was approached by a coordinator who told me I had to be clean shaven and cut off my "long" hair to be in the high school. I paid zero attention to the "suggestion" because I had no focus on that kind of control. 

The next week, I was called (extracted) from the class to the principal's office, where I was told that I disobeyed his order. This guy, looking like a jarhead Marine with his "buzz cut" told me I was not welcome as a "guest" in "HIS" school, and I was ordered to leave and never return. This was in 1974; after I was discharged from the US Air Force; a year in which the students, teachers, and other employees of the school district could NOT be ordered to dress or groom in a fashion that the administration would approve. Student teachers or observers could. (I'm a guest? Do you have guests to your home bring their own food and clean the utensils?)

I was told that I was "the only one" who resisted this order, and that I jeopardized the program (Education) for all who resisted! Doctor Billy G. Dixon told me that, without Ed. 302, I would NEVER complete my teaching degree - I was the only problem. Doctor Michael Jackson, my Ed. 302 professor, reported (at my request) that my classroom performance was a grade of "A." My English Professor was quite involved with civil rights, and immediately took up my case. The bolt I needed appeared in the form of Larry, who lived less than a block away and was also banished from Murphysboro High School (and Ed. 302) for excessive hair, then but not excessive attitude. Larry and I shared our stories, and because he was treated differently and assigned to Carbondale High School, I included him in my assault.

My case was eventually settled by my being assigned to Cahokia High School as a Student Teacher, and being allowed to "make up" my Ed. 302 "deficiency" by my teaching for a month. What a bunch of shit - Cahokia was 90 miles away, and I had to split with Kat and get an apartment in Granite City. I made a great friend in the process, though. 

Weird shit that works. I am willing to help any person in any similar situation against arbitrary power.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Absent, but this apology is not.

It's been a couple of years since I updated this blog. I've been going through a lot of medical situations, and I know that I can take care of some of my problems by writing again. I'm sorry that I've been very low on energy.

The various medications that I've taken have caused a few real problems with regard to side effects. I don't want to inflict those side effects upon others. After talking to doctors and other friends, it became obvious that taking some of the pain medications caused me to lose balance and break other stuff.

I broke my left humerus in September, 2014, and had a nail, some screws and other miscellaneous parts installed. After 14 months of constant pain that physical therapy could not address, I had surgery to remove all of the parts. The doctor had offered cortisone shots, and also presented the less reliable surgery - remove all of the junk with only a 30% chance of success. I told him to go with the less likely option. After the operation, I had improved movement and less pain. I felt that I could rotate my left forearm enough to play violin (and discovered a few weeks ago that I can, but I REALLY need to practice). My efforts at playing bass had been moderately successful, and my playing has improved after the second surgery. As I've said, music keeps me alive.

A down side is that I'm now having pain in my right shoulder and ribs in addition to the left. I had subacromial decompression surgery on the rt. a number of years ago, and it appears to be necessary again. I have to see the doctor again. Living in constant pain is rather distracting, and my life and the lives of all around me are affected.

I have literal and emotional pain dealing with the results of many accidents through the years, and I don't wan't others to suffer through my injuries. Having others focus on my pain does nothing to remove it from me, but may (and I don't want this) cause others to suffer, while doing nothing useful for any of us.


Monday, February 15, 2016

Frank O'Barski

Frank died Wednesday 2/10/16 at about 1730. I had just called Suzanne (wife and amazing partner) to ask if she needed anything. I asked her to say "hi" to Frank for me. He was gone an hour later.

Frank was the giving, curious person that many of us would like to be. Frank and I had lived in Manhattan, New York City, North Bergen, New Jersey, and the San Francisco Bay area without ever meeting. We met when he came to live in DeKalb, Illinois, and spent not enough time together before he was struck with cancer. We kept in touch for not enough years as his illness took him away.

I was trying to do some work at home when I found out, and my partner, Janet, told me to stop trying to work through my tears.

To Suzanne; her son Leo, and all of our friends, the best and gladness that we shared our existence with Frank.

inverted reference

I've been using this parting speech for quite a number of years, and I write it here as an example of silliness that gets a laugh:

"I've got a car out there that fits on the end of this key."


Monday, February 8, 2016

Compliments to Jon

I noticed that some of my writing shows up elsewhere as a post credited to another person. I see that Jon Stewart was credited with writing or saying the following:

"I will not censor myself to comfort your ignorance!"

I intentionally left the last part of the sentence as an improper reference because it was short, and because the public would understand the meaning. Proper use: ... to comfort you in your ignorance ...

I'm not looking for fame or loot, and I appreciate those who think my work is worth copying and crediting to the likes of Jon. I wrote this short statement on my Facebook page a few years ago.

i̶m̶p̶a̶l̶e̶ regale

I will return to i̶m̶p̶a̶l̶e̶  regale you with tales of my latest adventures!