The rise of the Purple Haze...

So, I don’t know if you all have been following me with my issues with my 92 Camaro or not, but a few weeks ago I pleaded for help from my friends to try to track down some wiring issues with the car not starting. Specifically, I thought I needed help running down the old viper alarm wiring and either fix it, or remove it entirely, and then installing a new alarm. As I have this dang Cancer, I can’t get under the dashboard of cars anymore to do this type of thing largely because of my back problems resulting from the cancer. Well very few folks replied to that plead. One of my friends did, however. He just happened to be who installed it back in the late 90s early 00’s. HJ unfortunately no longer even lives in this state so he is unable to help much. He did suggest though that I reach out to Gary, another close friend and former car club member from back in the day. 

Gary has over 21 years of experience in the car audio and alarm field as he worked for Norton’s Stereo Shop as an installer / technician. Gary was gracious enough to let me know he’d be able to help me and come on by the house to do so. Before he did, we talked a good bit on the subject, and decided to replace the alarm either way, so with his recommendation, I went and purchased a new code alarm for the car and that way we know that it would be good to go and able to control the door poppers properly once we remove the old faulty Viper and install the new alarm. 

 When Gary got here and troubleshot the car, we were able to get the new car alarm installed and the door poppers working without issue. We also found that the starter kill was nonexistent on the old alarm, so it was not that that was causing the issue with the car not starting. So, with the alarm ruled out as a reason that the car was not starting, we briefly looked at the column some, and found a yellow wire that we thought could be the starter wire that was cut from the column. I told Gary I’d do some research on it and get back with him as to what it was. Gary was a huge help, but he was angry at the car, as it was beating us, so he said he’d try to come back next week sometime (this week) to work on the car and see what else we could figure out. I was very grateful for his offer to continue to help troubleshoot because I can’t do it myself. 

 

SO… Gary came back over on Tuesday, and we decided after I brought him up to speed on the yellow wire.(had posted it and a photo of it on a third gen forum, and it is the old air bag wire that I do not have any more so it is useless wire for me, and not a starter wire) to double check the Clutch Neutral Safety Switch to ensure that switch is actually in good functioning order. My previous mechanic had tested it before, but in the name of thoroughness we figured start there and go bigger if needed. Boy am I glad we did. At first the switch seemed to be working, and then it didn’t, and then it did, and then it didn’t. it turns out, the switch is faulty, randomly. At certain times the switch works and then at other times it doesn’t. Also, Gary noticed when he was under the dash, the mounting of the switch was loose, and not quite dependable. So, we decided to replace it. 

AutoZone was our first choice, and they don’t carry it. Quite disappointed and worried that it was going to be a dealer only discontinued part we went to O’reilly’s auto parts. Lucky for us O’reilly’s had it. For 6.09 total plus tax, I had the new part. It’s amazing that a 6-dollar piece of plastic would cause me all this trouble. But it did. We put the part in, and cleaned up the wiring, and tested it 20-30 times. Each time was successful. So, at this time, we’re assuming the car is fixed, and starts without issues now. I went out this evening and started it again, and it started all 3 times without issue as well. I’m ecstatic. Now I can get back to driving my Purple People Eater all that I want to. 

 

Anyways, I want to extend a great heartfelt thank you to Gary. Without him I’d of been unable to figure out the issues with the car, and unable to get the new alarm wired and removed the old one, and honestly would have a dead car in the yard until my other buddy who’s the normal mechanic can get it back into his shop sometime in probably. November knowing how busy he is. So Gary, thank you. You really helped this guy out, and made my month. It was also good catching up with you, and we need to get a meal out sometime together once this stupid virus stuff is over. Thanks man. Seriously. Thank you.

States I've visited....

So over the. years, i've visited a few states in my time.  I post this up tonight because its currently 3am and i cant sleep.  I will attempt to go back to sleep shortly though. . Anyways... this is the current map as of July 1 2020 of all the states i've visited in my short lifetime.  I hope to make iti further out west some day to visit other things like the Giant Redwoods, or the lights of vegas, but who knows what my future will hold?

you can go here and do an interactiv map of your own i think too.. itis kinda fun.



Sorry for it being off size and out of place some.

Create your own visited states map or check out the JavaScript Charts.

October 3rd, 2019

They say no news is good news, so therefore this must be the best of news.  there really is nothing going on new with my health.  For that, i am extremely thankful.  Yesterday, I had a friend, and co-worker from another department at my office bring over a delicious meal and cake for supper.  She'd been wanting to do something to assist us, and now that things have settled down some, it was a good time to let her know that it was in fact a good time. 

I am so very thankful for my friends, and people i work with.  I cannot state it in enough words. Honestly i just don't have the words for it.  There really are so many good folks out there.  It is like everything in today's day and age though. you never hear about the good, only the bad.  So i'm making it a point to say and thank all of these good folk who have helped me in one way or another along my journey and fight against Cancer. 

I've also recently been following another person who has Cancer.  He founded AR-15.com, a forum that i frequent quite often as it is pertinent to one of my hobbies.  Unfortunately his Cancer is so much worse, he's having to seek treatment in mexico as he's exhausted all treatments that can be given in the States.  From what all the doctors have said, his outlook is pretty grim, and he may not have much time, but he's a fighter.  His attitude is so refreshing and positive it makes me really strive to have a better attitude as well.  I pray for him daily, as i do many of you who i know, for all sorts of things, big and small.  I pray he gets some beneficial treatment with what he's going through in Mexico. 

In other news i've sold our old couch set (the bonded leather set that was flaking off) This is largely because we're redoing the arrangement of our furniture in our lower level.  We're moving from the front open area of the house, by the front door, to the back open room, near the garage door, as it has the fireplace and is a bit more private as its in the back of the home.  Our lower level is really just wide open areas, so there are no defined rooms other than the Kitchen and thats only because of its counters.  I really had no idea how hard it would be to arrange furniture in the back area.  but it is a bit difficult. 

Alex, is getting close to finishing up work on the purple camaro, so my car should be road worthy here shortly hopefully.  Goodness knows I sure am excited about driving it again to a cruise in, or even to my work office for a day just to see what they say lol.


anyways, thats about all i have now that i'm over the Pnuemonia.  

September 28, 2019 - My Charleston Visit and Checkup.

just a quick update, as today @d16man and i went down to charleston for a doctor visit to my bone marrow transplant team. It was a routine check up/check in with them.

long story short, I Got a great review by my doctor in Charleston. My labs are great and I don’t have to come back to Charleston for another checkup here for another six months!! All praise to God. My doctor, Dr. Napoli said that I’m on path for the six to nine month remission plan that he’s seen with some other patients. and he thinks that is what my numbers are trending towards, So we can pray for that!!! Thank you all for your support and prayers, i could not have came this far without all of your support, prayers, and well wishes.  I'm a believer in the power of Prayer, so please keep those coming as they've really been a huge help to me.  I cannot thank you guys enough, everyone who's helped me, large or small, has really humbled me, and just made me be at a loss for words.  Thank you all so much for your kindness support, and prayers. 

Pneumonia and turning 44.

Wow.  It's been like 22 days or more since i posted last. 

It goes to show you how fast time flies, and how much can change in a short amount of time.  Where to start.  On the 31st of August i went to see a movie with my bro Larry.  We went and saw Spider man Far from home.  It was great.  Had a good time.  I felt a little more fatigued and winded more than usual.  All day that day I had worked in my work office, and was hot.  while everyone else was cold in the office.  That should have been the first clue.  I went home after the movie and crashed.  The next morning was a Saturday and i felt like shit.  Finally around 11 am i took my temperature, and it read 102.8.  That was no good at all. I had to immediately call my oncologist, and then my BMT team oncologists in Charleston.   they all came to the same decision, go to the Emergency Room.  So by now its 130 pm and the wife and I are headed to the ER. 

We get to the ER, and thank goodness for the Oncologist, they expedited my arrival, and i went straight back just about.  While there, i had x-rays done of my chest, and had to have an ultrasound used to find a vein to put in the IV in my arm.  Once they did that they filled me with fluids, and IV antibiotics.  They diagnosed me with Community Acquired Pneumonia and prescribed me some antibiotics and sent me home after about 5 hours of being in the ER. I felt better for the most part the rest of that day and night, and all day Sunday.. however Sunday night was horrible, and i was having the chills and sweats and couldn't stop either.  So Monday i called back my oncologist, who looked at what i was prescribed and felt that i needed a stronger antibiotic.  She prescribed one and Emily was kind enough to go to CVS for me as usual and picked it up.  I started the rotation of that antibiotic, per the doctors orders and sometimes i felt fine, sometimes i didn't.  and yet other times i still had the sweats and chills. this went  on till Wednesday when i called back again, and my oncologist said come in to the office.  so that Thursday morning Emily and I went in for an appointment.

Thursday mornings appointment was fairly standard, blood was drawn, and then we saw my oncologist.  After 2 minutes meeting with her, she said I don't pass the eye test, as in i looked horrible and miserable.  She recommended me being admitted to the hospital right then and there.  so i was admitted to the hospital.   It was my first time being in the new wing that was built.  The rooms were big and clean and nice. I had a little anxiety though as i didn't want it to work out like last time where i ended up being in the hospital for over 2 months.   While i was in the hospital they had to do more Xray's of my chest, and since they couldn't find a vein to set an IV in my arms, I had to go to radiology and have a mid line put in my upper arm.  This had two ports on it and was much easier to put fluids in me and Antibiotics in me.  They loaded me up with 5 antibiotics at once on drip and 1 in push as well.  They did this for two days straight, and by the second day i was feeling much better and no longer had the sweats and shakes, I even was able to take a shower  and get cleaned up.  Friday morning the doctor came by and said we could probably go home on Monday.  Seeing that my birthday was coming up on Tuesday, I had previous plans to celebrate with my in laws that weekend and they were coming in from out of state and what not so I really didn't want to stay in the hospital over the weekend.  I asked the Doctor if i felt well enough is there any way i could leave Saturday morning.  She stated that if I felt good enough and the weekend doctor thought that I looked good enough to be discharged i would be able to.    Saturday rolled around, and i felt much better, and the weekend doctor agreed, so I went home. Thank goodness!!!!

I was able to watch the Carolina football game that day, with my family, at home.  While i didn't feel great, I did love having them here with me and being home.  The next few days I didn't do much other than rest, and spend time with my family.  I had a great birthday, on the 10th, had wonderful dinner and presents and more than i could ever ask for honestly. The only one that i'd say was missing was my Dad, but he lives in VA so its hard to make it down.  I would say my mother and sister were missing but unfortunately that relationship still is quite estranged, especially with the mother side of things.  Shes not bothered reaching out to me since her last phone call to me when i was in Charleston for my bone marrow transplant last April. Kinda shitty. actually, not kinda, more like totally.  so be it though.  Until they are clean and sober and sane i cannot deal with them.

The rest of the week was pretty good as i rested and healed as i went to a few doctors appointments and got a clean bill of health from the pneumonia.  That brings us to the rest of this past week.  I've spent my day's working from home.  building my strength and trying to make sure i'm healthy.   Work has been good, although i miss going in to the office to see my colleagues. 

My buddy Alex has been working on my Camaro for the past month or so roughly, and he's been getting very close to being done with it.  Sadly he's found that my carburetor may be a culprit, and that it may be bad.  This is not good as it can be a 600.00 issue or more.  I'm not looking forward to having to spend more money on the car, but i want to have it dependable and it is almost there thanks to Alex.  I'm very excited about that. 

Well that is about it for now, so i'm going to stop here and say until next time.  

Have you ever noticed, nothing's quite as good as the original?

Today, As i came home from my abdominal ultrasound appointment, I saw a newer volklswagon beetle getting off the interstate.  it was bright yellow, and a little grey haired woman was driving it and on the bottom of the door it said in black lettering 'Beetle".  At first i thought nothing of it, until i read the word beetle.  It was then it struck me, thats not a beetle, thats the modern bug, Thats when it hit me.  Nothing, is ever quite as good as the original.

the nostalgia that was invoked thinking about the original beetle will never, be able to be invoked by that 2000s era bug.  Cover bands, while good, are not as good as the original.  Even Journey, with their newish lead singer, as good as he is... is not, steve perry. I imagine this holds true most of the time, but I bet there are some times that the newest version is way way better than the original, but id wager that depends on what you're after.  Performance for instance.  The new corvette is hands down better in every form of performance than the original, but does it invoke the nostalgia and class of the original? of course not. it cant.  Its too new for one. 

ahwell.. just a random thought while driving.  ponder it if you'd like.


p.s.  Ultrasound went well, other than the positions and pressure she had to apply or have me in hurt my back, and im hurting a good bit right now.

Chemo Round 2, Second cycle.

I'm exhausted.  Flat out Exhausted, still.   even after a weekend that was pretty mild, and full of a good bit of resting.   Last week, i pushed myself pretty hard.  In fact I'm pretty sure i over did it.  What did i do that was so draining you ask?  well I was off Chemo, so that was a big plus for once, however, i ended up getting up early every day except Wednesday, and going in to the office to work.  That's right, i actually went in to the office, and worked the entire day four days last week. 

Monday and Tuesday, Emily and I car-pooled together.  It was awesome.  I really enjoyed our ride to and from work together.  Yes, i had her get to work real early so she had time to kill, and yes, i had to stay late in the parking lot and wait an hour after i got off work, but it was nice being able to car-pool together.  I was very tired each night though, and pretty much just had supper each day and went to bed. Wednesday i stayed home and worked from home, so it wasn't that exciting. 

Thursday I drove my own Truck in to the office, and she drove her car.  I got sent home a little early as it was a slow evening, and i was exhausted and my co-workers could tell.  I fell asleep when i got home promptly at like 330 pm, and didn't wake up until after Emily had finished cooking supper.  I ate supper and went back to sleep till the next morning.  Friday morning we car-pooled again,  This time because at lunch i had to take her car to Jim Hudson GMC for it's 30 day checkup.  All went well with that, except they are ordering a new steering wheel to be installed for it, as the plastic trim on it isn't exactly fitting perfectly.  They'll call me once the new parts are in, and schedule a date for me to bring the car in for repair/replacement.  So after that, i went back to the office and worked the rest of the day.  I left work and went to wait to pick Emily up.  We picked up supper and went home. Ate, and watched some Live PD before bed.   I was dozing mostly during the live PD though, and dont remember much of anything. 

Saturday rolled around, and Emily let me sleep in as much as I could. Unfortunately that is not much because i tend to get headaches if I stay in the bed too long.  I did nap some more on the couch while she did some Grocery shopping and went to Pets mart to get some litter for the cat.  That afternoon we met a guy about a gun, and had a quiet evening.  Emily had really worked hard all morning/ day  cleaning, changing litter, etc.  I did go with her to the dump, so we did do that too.  It was a busy day for her more than me, but I was still exhausted. 

Sunday rolls around, and yet again, Emily and I are exhausted still. I end up sleeping quite a bit, either in bed or on the couch, and she does the same.  She also was kind enough to go to CVS for me and get my medications, while cooking a home made crock pot chicken and dumplings, which were exquisite. I really enjoyed them, and would love to eat them a lot more honestly. but they are so filling that one serving is all you can manage.  It was early to bed for me then too, as I knew i needed my rest considering that i had to work on Monday. 

Monday, today, is the beginning of the week.  I'm working from home again.  After last week's learning of a new ticketing system, which is primarily what i do, I needed to test out how i'd work from home doing what i would now be doing from home as its totally different from what it was last 2 weeks ago.  Luckily half way through the day, it appears to be going well.  I'm still exhausted mind you, and i started chemo again today.  Which is not my happiest thing to do, but so be it.

Later this week, i have a dentist appointment and i have to go get an ultrasound on my abdomen, due to elevated liver enzyme levels at the last time i was in my oncologist office.  This should be a busy week, and I sure hope i can get some meaningful rest.  Time will tell.  I've not decided if or when i'll go back to the office to work.  Maybe i will do one day this week, i am not sure yet.  a lot depends how i feel and what all i have going on with doctor appointments.Anyways, im going to sign off for now, and i'm gonna leave you without any neat photo inserts this time.. just a nice big, wall of text.  Thanks for reading, and please feel free to comment, or donate through my Go-Fund-Me or Paypal.