Friend to the end

I was cleaning up my house the other day (yes, hard to believe) and came across some old photographs. They plunged me right back into my life as a child and pubescent teenager pretty quickly. They weren't photographs of prom, or pictures of me running around the house in my underwear (I'm sure they are around here somewhere), but pictures of the best friend anyone can ever have as a child. My dog.

Her name was Midget. Interesting name right? Well, my Dad always had a soft spot for animals that no one wanted (we also had a cat who was a "dumped" stray and later a golden retriever/coyote mix-totally awesome) and he brought home the tiniest cutest little animal one day when I was about six. She was the runt of the litter so we adopted the name Midget. Cute, huh?

Well I wanted to share with you two things. A few pictures of the best dog EVER. And a story about what kind of dog she was.

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I do have pics of her as a puppy somewhere, but I think that's also the one with me in my underwear!

So Midget was by far the sweetest animal I have ever owned (or met). I mentioned earlier a cat that was stray (Smoky). Well Midget and her became best friends; in the process defeating the age old cat vs. dog standard. The cutest things I remember? Smoky used to have kittens in Midget's dog house. Midget would curl up at the door, prop her paws up on it, and watch. It was a sight to behold. I think we broke her heart when we had her spade. She would have been a great mother to some puppies. Once the kittens got older and they started coming out of the house, Midget would sleep outside on the grass and the kittens would sleep on top of her! But by far the neatest thing I remember is when we would feed the animals. We would have anywhere from 6 to 10 cats at one time (depending on litter size and if we kept any) and we fed the cats and Midget Alpo dog food. We'd empty about three cans on a pie plate and Midget would let the cats eat first then clean off what was left.

I sure do miss her (still after about 17 years)-and I hope you have enjoyed the read :-)

Chalazion (warning: medical drama)

Don't know what this is? If you don't-then that's a good thing for you. I've had a wonderful life filled with them, including numerous surgeries to get rid of em. Intrigued yet? Trust me, it isn't the greatest thing in the world.

I just had surgery, again, Friday to have two more of these bad boys removed. To keep you from having to google this wonderful word candy, I will get you in the know.

Chalazion (sha-lay-ze-on) are swollen masses that occur inside your eyelids. (commence queasiness in stomach now). This occurs when the natural oils in your pores cannot drain forcing them to swell. And yes-they are uncomfortable. Sometimes they block my vision; other times they make me look like I'm constantly crying (No I'm not sad over what you have just told me). And still other times they make me look stoned. (this may not be because of the chalazion ha ha).

Anyway-the procedure to remove these sucks. I thought about writing a wonderful descriptionary context better than "sucks", but honestly that just about fits it. First and foremost, and the most easy part, they put eye drops in to numb your eyeball. Not that they will be touching it in anyway-I think that just do it for fun. Then I proceeded to get not one...not two...but THREE SHOTS IN MY EYELID. Holy jumpin jesus juice that hurt.

(pause for dramatic effect)

But now the fun part. Ladies? You ever curl your eyelashes? You know that contraption you use that's crescent shaped? They use one of these puppies to grasp your eyelid and then clamp it back against your forehead. Now I know why they numb your eyeball, because suddenly you are reading the deepest secrets of your inner brain because its backwards (the eye not my secrets). Then just as quick as can be they "lance" the "bump" and squeeze the shit out of your eyelid to get the stuff out. The stuff I'm assuming is a collection of various colored liquids consisting of something I'd rather not think about. And all done!

The truly sad part? I'm liable to get these the remainder of my life. Some go away. Some swell to the size of peas. Hell I've had 8 surgeries so far. I'm a pro now!

So, yeah, I've been busy....

So it has been forever since I have had a chance to really sit down and write a blog; well at least a blog longer than a twitter update. I've been meaning to-I have had a few opportunites-but damn have I been busy. A few updates of what has kept me from sharing with my blogger friends.

Numero uno: I had to travel to Tennessee for two weeks for work. While exciting to go somewhere new (not that I haven't been to the state-just not that far east), it did suck the ever-loving life out of me. Grand total time of two trips in two weeks: 26 hours and almost 1900 miles. ugh. Future blog-my experience in the hotel (not what you think!)

Numero dos: I recently started back at school. Not the type where you have to attend and sit in a class with some of the strangest people you could meet in person; the online type. However, being that this might just be the hardest class I have ever taken, it has required me to fore go doing anything I'd prefer to do. Too bad it lasts until January.

Numero tres: I recently broke it off with my girlfriend of five months. Now you might think "gee Derek now you have more time to blog." While this may be true, that was part of the reason I couldn't blog. Goodbye domestication, hello blogging freedom! While she was a superb woman and had great kids, it just wasn't quite what I was looking for (One of these days I'm going to have to quit being so damn picky. Thank god I like cats)

Numero quattro: My friend Zach stayed for about a week who I haven't seen for almost a year. Yup-no way to blog if you're drunk, killing stuff on a PS3, and ignoring number 2 and number 3. Ooooops!


I'm trying-I'm really trying to make time for real life friends and still pop online and spew my true feelings out (aw how sentimental), but damn life is hard to juggle. Forgive me blogger friends! Note to self: Put blogging on calendar.....

Thanks Katie for reminding me....

So I'm sitting here in my undies thinking about Hawaii. Strange, I know (just so you know, I ALWAYS write blogs in my undies-true story). However, I recently updated my blog (slightly..) and Katie left me a msg saying she liked it :-) Thanks K!

Anyway-the update I made was with a picture I took while in Hawaii last year. I thought I just might mention some things to do and NOT do while there. I had to go for a business trip, so I was alone and I wasn't there long...so needless to say, I didn't get to do much. However-here is my list :-)

DO visit the beach. I couldn't stay there long due to working during the day. However, it is gorgeous there. Temp was around 75 all day and night and nothing beats watching the sun go down over the pacific ocean.

DO take plenty of cash! If you are like me, you like to eat. I spent 50 bucks on just a piece of chicken, rice, and a beer. Not to mention milk is like seven dollars a gallon!

DO make time to see Pearl Harbor. If it is the one and only time you visit Hawaii, you must experience the memorial to the national tragedy. VERY moving.

DO take lots of pictures. You won't regret it. Even people with no picture taking skills (like me) manage to make crappy shots look somewhat decent!

However, DO NOT plan on sleeping. With the 5 hour time difference I had, at 4:30 I was ready for bed, and by 1 am I was sitting awake in the hotel room.

DO NOT stay on Oahu-stay on Maui. The traffic is HORRIBLE at best. Drivers don't even signal....they just hang their hands out the window and say "hang loose" (Imagine me doing the hand movement now.)

DO NOT visit the week of Halloween, unless you plan on not doing 2 spots above (sleeping). They party all night (damn it I was there on business)

DO NOT go alone. How boring is it to sit in one of the most beautiful places in the world
and have no one to share it with...:-(

I will tell you that it is a very beautiful there. You must visit, at least once. Thanks for the reminder Katie!

It arrived....

So, I entered a contest of Lazyking's a while back, and lo and behold I won :-) I emailed Lazy, and he said he placed the order and I would receive it soon. AND IT IS HERE :-) You can read the contest blog here. And check out the rest of the blog. LK has it goin on :-)

And yes...I put it sideways, just so I can imagine you tilting your head to the left ;-)

Blessed

In this day and age, when it is considered normal for a man to walk out on his own child, I just wanted to take a quick moment and say that I am very lucky to have a father who has shown me the kind of man that I want to be. Through his guidance, I know the importance of being there for your children and your family. Although I have not been blessed with children of my own, I know that I will walk in my father's footsteps and be the kind of father who sets an example for others. For all those other fathers out there, happy day!

Sweat...

Notice I didn't say "sweet." There is a reason for this. I get home from work today, not bad really, it was fine, and it was 90 degrees most of the day-quite comfortable, just slightly humid. Looking forward to getting home and putting my feet up in a nice, air-conditioned house. You know the feeling: feet all sweaty from being cramped in your shoes, sweats run down your back during the day when you've had a chance to walk outside, just want to strip your clothes off and relax. Then BAM! I walk in the door and my AC quit workin-its hotter INSIDE than outside. Oh the humanity.....

Anybody close with a nice cool house???