The first quarter of 2017.... the good, the bad,.... we'll leave off the ugly.

Well, where to begin.  2017 seemed like it was going to be starting out as a good year.  Seems things often look like they would be good but in the end turn out to not be so... such has the first three full months of this year been to me.

Christmas came and went.  My in-law surprised us with a gift of epic proportion, that of a trip to Hawaii.  She stated we would go in the end of this coming year, so that is a big awesome gift that we can look forward to.  Many things go along with a gift of this magnatude, the least of which is simply figuring out how to pay for it even though the trips airfare and lodging is already covered.  Im extremely excited about it though. I hope that I can get everything done, and save enough to make the trip the most enjoyable of my life.  I know i for one am more thankful than i can explain or express for this opportunity.

Over the month of December, I had severe pain in my sinuses and teeth.  the way it moved around from one side to the other, and lower jaw, to upper jaw, on opposite sides.. and even into excruciating ear pain, made me believe that i had severe infections in my sinuses. My family physician prescribed me amoxicillin and sent me on my way. This seemed to serve as a fix, and got me over Christmas and thru the new year.   Another thing that I found out was that my Mother had once again left my grandfather alone for Christmas.  Due to the family strains and lack of relations there was little i could do regardless of how fucked up the thing is when she uses "i was too stressed out" and "had to get away"  as her excuses.

Towards the end of December, what was once a very close friend that had for whatever reason stepped away from friendship contacted me thru facebook.  He stated his mom had passed away, and knew i'd want to know as my mother and his were also once very close.  I relayed the message to my mother, and while she nor i attended the funereal, we both were quite saddened for his loss.   Life, is very fleeting, and sadly fragile.

During the last week of December my father called me.  He told me he had had enough, and was finally going to check himself into an alcohol rehab facility.  I was hopeful, and thankful that he was taking it in his own hands to get things taken care of.  Not one week in, and i get a call stating the worse.  He had ben admitted to ICU, and had multiple issues.  It was touch-n-go for a while, but he slowly was making a recovery.  He was intubated and on a respirator for over 2 weeks.   During this time, i myself had many issues going on.  Besides the fact i was entering into my 5th class in graduate school, I had a severe pain in my abdomen.

Fearing this abdominal pain could be appendicitis or worse, i underwent many tests.  the CT Scan found that i had an inflamed Duodenum to the point of Duodenitis, which is very similar to Gastritis.  It basically is a bacterial infection of the small intestine, right where it meets your stomach.  Ol' Ironsides had a chink in her plate, and i paid in pain so grand i would wish it on no one.  The only thing ive ever felt that was that strong in the past was my gall bladder pain before it was removed. They prescribed me a very potent antibiotic, Cipro, which is used to treat anthrax, and the bubonic plague among other things.   Well after that round, I felt like i should be good to go with no other issues!!! Sadly that was not to be.  As my father gained strength and finally was off the respirator, and then out of ICU, and finally in the end, returned home life got back to normal... so I thought.

I occasionally still had tooth / sinus pain that was unexplainable.  I decided to bite the bullet so to speak, and go see a dentist in the last week of January.  As not terribly unexpected, i had a lot wrong with my teeth.  And we scheduled an appointment to have half of it corrected on Feb 17th.  Well not all goes as planned ever, as we all know, and then as i get ready to go to the dentist for sedation work, on February 7, 2017 my entire world came crashing down. (much more than it had already had)

My Grandfather, my best friend, of 41 + years, passed away.  His name is John Allen Muntz, and he was born in Reading Pennsylvania on February 9, 1923, and lived through the great depression, World War II; where he served as an armed Guardsman and was even torpedo'ed once, thru the 50's, into the 70's when he had a massive heart attack, and then my birth.  He practically raised me, and was the one and only pillar of my family that was always there with advice, support or any form of help he could offer.(regardless of if he should) In many ways, more than not even, i am the person i am today because of him.   I am thankful for that in more ways than ill ever be able to express or say.  This is probably the only time i really have spoken about his passing much, as it is too much for me to bear.  Even now, a month and 3/4 later.  When he died, life as i knew it essentially did too.  (Not going to mention some of the "Ugly" that i alluded to leaving out in the title, as I'm still going to leave it out, but know that there was a proverbial fuckton of shit on my shoulders already)  So i attended the funeral, and tried to make things go as smoothly as possible with all of my estranged family.  I was lucky enough to have been able to see my grandfathers nephew Eric there, as he drove in from Ohio.  Eric, was always well spoken of by my grandfather and i believe him to be one of his favorite nephews.  I'll never forget how much his showing up meant to me, and would have meant to my grandfather.  of that i am very sure.

I Pretty much at that time stopped work in all earnest regarding grad school. I still had half a class to go, but nothing mattered. the stress of life caught up to me and i gave up.  Somehow, thru the grace of god, i made it, and have snapped out of the "funk" for the most part.  I believe a lot of it has to do with the fact that i finished that class, and didnt take a second this second half the semester.  I dont know how i did it either, but i still managed a B in the course as a final grade.

Now, sitting here at 1030pm on the eve of April, I had had my second of what was supposed to have been 2 total major dentist appointments under sedation.  I say what was supposed to have been, as of course, i've ran into more complications.

The first visit, i had to have a wisdom tooth cut out, and then three root canals done as well as deep cleaning and other things im sure.  The total for that visit was going to be very high.  Just as was the second visit.  So i was able to put in for a credit system to pay for it.  Well let me tell you, I've now financed enough dental work to own a nice Kia, not some stripped down one, but im talking a Sorrento with all the bells and whistles.  Anyways, the first visit was spectacular, and i felt like a million bucks until the Saturday following.  This visit was the one where they cut my wisdom tooth out.  Well the fun here started then.  I evidentially suffered from what is called Dry Socket.  So i was in intensive a all week until i went back for the post op surgery visit.  Once i had that visit he stuffed the pocket with a clove tasting solution and gauze gave me good pain meds as (hydrocodone does nothing for me but make me tired) i am finicky about my pain meds, and then i went on my way.  Well as the month progressed from February thru mid march, i started getting a lot of pain again.  Turns out the friday before my second operation system was to happen, my back tooth that he had filled fell off.. so the tooth is there but the resin is gone.  that was a no go, so he came in on his day off and fixed it for me.  I was good to go again, until 11pm that night when it fell out again.  I ignored it, managed pain with advil and tylenol, and made it to this mornings sedation treatment.


Todays treatment went well, at first.  I do not have much memory of it all, but so far, what i've been told and recall is, 1.) i woke up in the middle of it all. Excruciating pain, while being drilled on.  Not fun.  2.) They had to put me back to sleep, but yet i remember the drilling and the needles. 3.) they had to do a 4th root canal on the tooth on my right. 4.) I think i have 2 caps now permanently on my teeth, may have a 3rd and fourth yet to go.  5.) i have a follow up visit for next thursday as a Post-Op visit. 6.) i have evidentially another tooth to be removed now because the one whose pieces kept falling off that he resined is too far gone i fear.

I have no idea how im going to pay for the rest of the services at this point as the  stuff ive had done thus far even with state insurance (which i might add only covers 1000.00 per year dentally) now has left me with a Dental bill of well over 13k.  I will hopefully keep folks updated here as the saga continues, but at this point its 1045 am and the tylenol pm and other meds are starting to kick in.

To those i love, know i love you more than i can express, and am more thankful for you than you'll ever know.  To those i've wronged, i dont mean to purposefully wrong you, so please accept any apology i can give, and to those who are enemies, well, nothing i can do or say will help you so i will keep you in my prayers, because hating me will only hurt you in the end.

I will start grad school again in may, provided i can find the funds again.  The dental bills will make it hard im sure.  I hope things are better for us all now, and in the future than in the past. I sure hope work is good, and eventually i'll get the raise and titile i deserve as opposed to being called what i am and paid less than i deserve.  God knows work alone has been enough stress to kill a persons outlook, but things will get better i pray. Since our Go-Live with Cerner was a complete failure, there is no way to go but up now from here.

Heres  to hoping that the 2nd quarter in 2017 is much better than the first.  A sign of that hope is my friend having his first child, and another friend buying a smoking hot new camaro, and then yet another friend is nearing the end of his pregnancy with his wife of his second, a daughter he will cherish foever.. You are all blessed, may i too, one day, find such blessings.  As for my friends and family going thru things, Divorces, job changes, or anything else, know those are just temporary states, and everything is fluid... im with you, just call or text if you are in need.  Much love.

Reflections from 2015.

I am Thankful.

In today's world, we often take for granted many things that we have as being "expected" or "routine" or "normal".  Lately, after visiting family, and friends over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting upon myself, my life, and my situation.

For all the flaws i have, both in my life and in my "world" I have come to the glaring conclusion that while nothing is perfect, I am very thankful.

I woke this morning, got dressed, drove to work. Had breakfast of my choosing, worked, had lunch of my choosing, and work some more.  Then tonight, as i end my work day, I will drive home, and complain about the traffic, to cook a meal, in my home, and with my wife and cat spend the remaining part of the day reading, watching television, and enjoying various other hobbies.  I am thankful.

I have more than many can ever dream of.  I have food on demand, climate control, the ability to wear different clothing of my choosing, the ability to go where i wish when i wish, for the most part, a home that i can call my own, regardless of how much i may owe the bank, and automobiles, again regardless of what I owe, that i can call my own. I have hobbies, and have had the drive and desire to educate myself, on my own, figuring out how to pay for things, to better my situation however i may.  Many do not have even half of what i have, material wise, drive, financially, or physically, and for that I am very thankful.

This world, even with its flaws, has been kind to me.  I Have my health, which is the very most important thing, next to having those that love me for who I am, no matter my flaws, looks, or idiocy.  These too, have made me realize, I am Thankful.

I may not have everything, but I surely have more than enough, and that is not including the materialistic things.  In life people are what matters.  Those who are in your life, that love you, for better or worse, are the ones who matter.  We often overlook that, in life's daily tasks, especially in the "first world"  where we're more geared for materialistic wants and desires.  I know the love of family, and that of children who light up every time they see you, even though you are not their parent, and that is nothing less than amazing.  I have the love of friends, some lifelong, some recent, and I pray that i can be a good friend to them, and they to me, and for those things, I am very Thankful.

I challenge each of you to look at your life. Take stock of the material and immaterial items, and realize how blessed you are.  You may not have a dime to your name, but I am willing to bet, you have something and more than not, someone to be thankful for.   We all are born doing one thing, dying.  You never know when, how, or why, but you will surely die one day.  reflect upon your life, your blessings, your trials, and your hopes and aspirations.  Do what you can to make them happen, but do it with a positive attitude, and a forgiving heart.  Know that the cloaked man awaits you, give more than you receive, and you will surely have a life that is one to be most thankful for.

I'm not quite sure why i've been so reflective upon my life lately, but it has been an interesting few weeks/months.  As hard as it is to do, for every negative thing you experience, know there is a lesson to be learned, and for that, a reason to be thankful.  For every positive thing, one must reflect upon those moments as well, and be thankful for them even more so, lest we take the good for granted.  In this holiday season, no matter your race, religion, political background, reflect upon yourself, and know you matter to someone, and have much to be thankful for, even if it is simply just waking up one more day. 

Not a clue...

 As I approach my 40th year on this planet I cannot help but to reflect upon my life and my own mortality. In doing so I acknowledge that I have no kids of my own to base this thought upon, however that will not keep me from making this observation :

My parents had absolutely no clue what to do in life at any given time.

This is in regards to both their own lives and in raising a child or multiple. It occurs to me that I, like they, have done the best with what they had that they could. That is to say They made the best decisions they could with the information and tools they had at the time and at their disposal. I'm quite sure they were just as terrified and worried about any and every life decision they made that say you and I are currently. Yes the circumstances that you and I have may be different but that does not mean that the general situation and conditions were not. It is an interesting thought to ponder life and compare loosely what they did to what I think I would have done at one situation or another. Life is funny that way I suppose.

I don't know where I was generally going with this but there it is. Make of it what you may. Especially those of you with kids. Imagine your parents making the decisions that you make about your kids except you were the child.

Odds and Ends

Things have been busy as always.  The new home is nice, and has really become "home".  I've been in classes again, this semester, and i'm almost done with this degree.  2 more classes and i have a second bachelors degree.  Experimental Psychology.  Fun stuff.

Back in February, my dad came down from DC.  I also bought a new vehicle.  I traded in my 96 dodge ram, and my 01 z28 camaro.  never thought i would have gotten rid of that car, but in the end it was the right thing to do.  In life, you cannot take it with you.  Keeping things because of emotional attachments is generally not a good thing to do, thus i have been trying to be better at that.  Things are just that things.  Anyways, i have gotten rid of 2 cars, for one, and now monthly i get rid of my money i earn as well in the form of a car payment.

Also on the subject of trying to not be materialistic, I've also been trading off other things, selling things, etc, that I said to myself i'd keep.  Its easy once you do it. but It isnt something that is pleasant at first if you think youll wanna keep things for one reason or another, like its my first this, or my first that...

This year, Emily, and I have decided to build and plant a Raised Garden.  I built with her help, a 8x4x16 inch deep raised garden out of kiln dried Cedar, that i stained and sealed. Then we wrapped the inside of the wood with plastic lining, and lined the base with anti weed fiberous cloth.   then we filled the box with 50cu ft of Miracle grow.  We planted 4 cucumber plants, 4 tomato plants, 4 bell pepper plants, 8 romaine lettuce, one bundle of red sweet onions, and 10 Cabbage.  so far its going swimingly, and is growing rapidly. so much so that i fear  that i may have need to expand the garden into another box, or some 5 gallon buckets.  

We also planted a bunch of Iris' and 2 8pm (midnight) lilly plants, as well as a whole mess of regular Day lillies that her aunt Carol gave us while we were in Missouri this easter.  It was a lot of good times in Missouri, but was sad too, as right before we visited, Smokey, emily's cat from childhood, had to be put to sleep. he was 19.

Easter was fun, but rough.  It was our first easter without her grandfather, and also the first without both dogs.  Especially on my mind was Loki, as it was the 1 year anniversary of his passing.  We are lucky though that so far we have our kitty.

Other things on the table are continuing to clean / organize the new home, and garage.  Among that is my old purple car. I need to start working towards getting it back on the road soon, and that means i need an ignition module, and a couple batteries minimally.  The Cavalier, while being a good running car, needs tires, and maybe raised up, so its not so low.. Emily does go back and forth about selling it.

I think for now thats about the most of the updates.  I'll continue to post when i can, and when i remember to.

Wow. been a while....

So, ive been a bit MIA here on my page.

lots of changes have happened since my last post.

I finally sold my old home.  It was bittersweet. I never though id be able to, and yet we were able to sell really fast.  I listed it on Zillow.com, and figured it would take a year for me to fix all the issues, and to have it sold, but low and behold the place sold in 12 days. I had all of a month to get my new house lined up, bought and closed on.  The new house is all that we wanted in a new place minus 2 things.  We wished for a fireplace and a screened in porch..  some things you just cant afford at the time so if we get them ever, we will have to do so in the future.

My orange Camaro is leaking coolant from the heater core, and Herndon Chevrolet tell me that i need a new motor. It runs and drives fine, theyre crazy.  So a new vehicle has been on my mind a good bit.

This year has so far been a year of sadness too for us.  We lost our 2 dogs, of 13.5 and 14 years respectively.  Loki, my rottie, passed away on Easter sunday morning. He had what i believe to be a brain tumor, and maybe a stroke, and had to be put down.  It was one of the hardest things i've had to do ever. Then just a few months later our 14 year old German Shepherd Nikita passed away.  Having to take care of that was perhaps the hardest thing I've done in my adult life.

We also lost Emily's Grandfather in between the two dogs.   He was 94 years old, and we miss him dearly.  All of that happened during the sell, buy and move of our old house.

Lately we're dealing with a lot of scare in the media, with Ebola going around.
It hasnt made it to SC yet, so that is a good thing.

On a personal note, I have my health, but i cant help but feel somewhat empty inside somehow. its almost like something is missing, and im not sure what.  I've been contemplating a sort of autobiography too... but im not sure anyone would like to read about my life much less pay to.  The new house is nice, but it doesnt fill the feeling of what is my purpose here on this planet.  Material items never do...  I work, i go to school, but why am i here.  I feel like im missing purpose.... drive... something. I cant help but to wonder how many of my friends and family, and others, who think the same thing. Who feel unfulfilled, or empty, or whatever it is.  Think on that, and if you have any insight, or similar feelings feel free to post up.

Let me leave this with you... think on what he's saying.

Garages Purple_92_SS's Garage - FQuick.com

Well i figured i'd share my Garage.. this is my cars, past present.. maybe one day future.. lol


Garages Purple_92_SS's Garage - FQuick.com

Boycott Shooters Choice of West Columbia, SC

I will never, and i mean NEVER shop in that store again. Here is why.

earlier today, i went to their store, as they are local to me in lexington/west columbia SC. I went to pickup little things like a ar trigger guard and any mags i could find. Low and behold i spied a 20 round pmag. I jumped on it.. and the trigger guard (Palmetto was sold out of both)

i received excellent service, so much so that i was asked if i wanted 30 round pmags. shocked i said yes, if you have any but i thought you didnt have any. they had a good bit in the back room he said and asked how many i wanted. I said, 2. I wont be greedy or try to buy them out... So i left, texted my co-worker who's 70 years old, told him, and he decided to head that way... texted another friend of mine, and he waited 30 min and went..

my co-worker said he was told they dont have any and whomever told him they did is whom he needs to go get them from by a guy in a grey shirt with a salt and pepper beard n glasses.

My buddy who went after my co worker wnet in and was told sure, here's 2. ahve a good day .. i dont know who helped him.


I was back out this evening with the wife to eat, and decided since i felt bad that my 70 year old co-worker drove 20 miles to get them, and was told rudly they didnt have them, to try my luck for him.

unbeknownst to me, i got the same guy that waited on my co-worker. this guy talked to me like i was a dog, I've never felt so disrespected in a business in my life. Here's roughly how it went down :

GreyClown : have you all been helped?
Me: No i havent. I was wondering if you had any more of those Pmags left in the back room over there (pointing)
greyclown: No we dont have any of those. sorry we have DPMS steel 30 rounders for 27.00 each.
me: i was here a few hours ago and was told you had a few in the back room over there for sale (pointing again)
GreyClown : whos selling you them.
me: well you hopefuly will be
Greyclown: no wasnt me, you better go get them from whomever sold you them.
me : well it was a gentleman in a white t shirt with short black hair and beard.
greyclown : those are not for sale, we have DPMS 30 round metal mags for 27 each ... (walks off)

alot is missing in tonality and expression obviously, but the guy was a total jerk.

Not to mention trying to sell DMPS metal mags for 27 each, is highway robbery as well.
I'm usually pretty laid back, but anyone to treat a customer, or another person for that matter how this guy treated and spoke to me, well that type of company needs to no longer have my money.. its not like they were busy as all get out, and its not like Palmetto State Armory doesnt have 2 stores within 20 miles from that location as well.

Whatever this guys name is, i hope he knows he just lost his company a permanent customer.

sorry for the rant, but i dont want any of our fellow Firearm enthusiasts ripped off by this place, much less to be treated this badly.