Slow progress

Every day is not the same. The reason I say that is that I got up this morn'n all bended over like the old guy in the fairy tale..."crooked old man". But we ain't gonna be talk'n bout that this morn'n....it will get better after while.

I took the day off yesterday. Called into Google sick. Told 'em I'll be back to work come Monday morn'n....right on time.

You don't want to hear this do ya? Well, I'm gonna tell ya anyhows. I need this crap out of my mind an' what better place to do it...."Billy Bob's Place.


But....that didn't stop my mind from work'n. What if...? What if I showed up at one these back clinics an' start tell'n my side of the story? How I hurt my back an' how long I been in pain. How it's affected my life. I already have a pretty good idea what they gonna say....."that's not the way we do things". Ya see, before I do anything, I want to have a conference with a doctor. Preferably a free consolation.....insurance purposes ya know. I want to talk to a doctor that knows how to do back surgery. Not that I wouldn't sit there an' listen to him/them, or whoever, go on an' on bout physical therapy an' how it will fix anything. I want x-rays, MRI's, CT scans....what ever it take to look inside my back an' show what's go'n on.

I'm not for the physical therapy thing. I'm here to get my back fixed. In order to fix it, ya gotta look inside to see what damage there is. Lift'n weights an' walk'n 5 mile a day for the next 3 months ain't gonna do that. My activities in the last 14 years covers lift'n weights an' walk'n. I still hurt.

Ok, thank ya very much for listen'n....I'm done with that for today.

Son Robert will show up tomorrow. I'm all excitis bout that. "Yo Mama" is mak'n a great big ol' dinner up in the house, so there ain't gonna be any work done tomorrow. Eat.....Sit out on "da porch"....Shoot the breeze a bit an' relax. Sounds good to me. Then Monday, we gonna get down to business......maybe. There's a golf course close by ya know. A Georgia golf course with a gazillion trees......a freak'n forest where ya ain't never gonna find your ball. Ya hear that Barney? Bring plenty of balls.

Ok, I got me a mustache an' beard what needs some trim'n. * think'n, do I cut it off, shorten it, or just do the usual trim job? * Did ya ever grow a beard what quit grow'n? That what mine do. Get's just so long an' that's it.

Ha....fount the pic I was look'n for......

   

Tons of doctor research.....I'm wore slap out

Holy cows, it's time for me to take a break. No I ain't been work'n on stuff. That's for the boys to do.
But....I have been sit'n here at this computer day in an' day out research'n "back surgery" and the doctors that perform the surgerys. Yesterday was no exception with bout 8 full hours of eyeballs glued to the laptop monitor.

Why ain't nobody help'n me do this research???

The back fix'n clinic I mentioned just down the road a piece in Carrollton has a wonderful web site. Their ratings are 5 star facility....accord'n to their web site. They have two doctors that perform back surgery. Both are highly rated...accord'n to their web site. I says..."woohooo, that's the place to go".

Wrong. Further hours of research changed all those figures from 5 stars to a measly 2.5 for both doctors. Four reviews by patients revealed 3 negative and 1 positive reply. What I learnt in school, that's a 25% success rate. I'm think'n that's a long ways from pain free.

Further research of the Atlanta area and surrounding area, I come up with two more possibilities. Through some personal conversations, 1 has been highly recommended. Emery University Spine Hospital. Yet to be researched.

Now, the other one, I did me some research on it. One location is just "up the road a piece" with the main surgery facility located in Atlanta....just "down the road a piece". I spent a good 3 hours or so yesterday read'n procedures an' all that stuff. A slim possibility I may be excluded from a MRI or CT scan from the baling wire in my chest. Depending on the damage to my spine...or what ever, I fount one procedure I would go for in a heartbeat. Through a piece of tubing inserted on my back. Go home the same day. More research is needed.

Recovery time for most surgeries will be up to 6 weeks before I can swak golf'n balls. Ha...that's what they said when I had open heart surgery. Try two weeks an' I was out there on the golf course.

Since I mentioned my back this morn'n, let me tell ya.....I've sit'n on bout a 3.5 pain level for the last 3 days. Not a 24 hour day, but close. Ha....that's back to almost normal. Man boy howdy, what does it feel like to be pain free? 

One of these days, an' I hope it's soon, you ain't gonna hear me talk'n bout pains an' stuff like that. I miss the old Billy Bob we used to know. Oh wait a minute, that old Billy Bob has always whined bout something hurt'n. Like the time he fell slap out of bed an thought he broke his big toe. Damn that hurted something terrible for a dad gum week.

My mind is still messed up from all the "down" stuff in the last couple three months. Road trip troubles have been forgotten. I don't believe in "karma" or nuttin like that, but I have been knowed to "git even" from time to time....depend'n on the severity of treatment I've received. Treat me like shit, I ain't gonna forget.

Ok, I brewed me up a big pot of Billy Bob chicken vegetable soup yesterday. Weren't no room for the noodles the pot was so full. An' I like my noodles. Anyhows, it don't taste like it supposed to taste. Ya see, I decided to try some Asian stir fry vegetables. I've used them before in my beef stew soup with great results, but in the chicken soup....not so good. Where's that damn goat?

Let's take a break an' reflect on things. In my book, that means "do some think'n".....out on "da porch" sip'n up a cup. Dang I miss my "da porch". 

 

Google research.....doctor who???

Whoa is me...it's another day. Supposed to rain ya know, but shoot, let 'er rain. I watch them weather thingys on TV an' the day the storms are gonna hit, I sit outside in the sunshine sip'n up a cup an' do'n some think'n.

Does anybody remember back a few years when that "black cloud" followed me around everwhere I traveled. I would pull into a nice camp site, in the sunshine, set up camp an' by next morn'n I was in a torrential rain pour. Mud everwhere....big ol' lakes in the front yard. Lightning slam'n down right outside my door. Didn't matter where I went, it was gonna rain. No, I don't like rain. I'm not a farmer ya know.

Did a bit of research yesterday on a couple back repair places. I mentioned one the other day in Carrollton, just down the road a piece (25 mile). What I read sounds pretty good, but....when I tried to research the doctor that does surgery, I didn't find much. No customer reviews were found. Not yet anyhows. Although the Clinic website says he is the best back doctor on the east coast.

I've eased back some on my requirements for a doctor, but not on his qualifications. He gotta be a good'un. Google is your best friend.

Ok, cut'n it short. Son Billy showed up with ants in his pants....wants to help daddy. Sadie Mae is [this] close to a nice Dawn warsh job. Hope she don't bite him.

Laters.....

Wait'n out my time....

Have ya ever been to Atlanta? I used to live there many years ago ya know. Instead of get'n a job with the city sanitation department, I went into business for myself. Government contract work for the VA an' FHA housing. The government would kick the property owners out to the street. My company would refurbish, renovate and repair....whole house painting, fist holes in the walls, gun shots in the ceilings, removal of junk cars in the yards, gouges in hardwood floors from dragging whole V-8 motors across them, blood stains......stuff like that. You know what I'm talk'n bout.....homes destroyed.


I don't want to talk bout that stuff. Let's talk bout Walmart. Now I been in many Walmarts around the country and most have a set distribution of product on the shelves. But not this one. My god, I was all over that store look'n for stuff. I spent my usual 2 hours push'n a cart up an' down aisles, fill'n it up with stuff an' more stuff. "You don't need that Billy Bob". Yes I do. If'n I was to build a remote control helicopter, I need it. I buy stuff like that ya know......some day I may need it.
Anyhows, I had almost fill my shop'n list. My right foot begins to hurt....walk'n with a limp now. Gotta find a place to sit down. No, let's just leave. I don't need no frozen TV dinners anyhows.

That's it, that's what I did yesterday. Oh wait. Did I tell ya that Sadie Mae needs a warsh job an' a haircut? I stop at the pet groom'n place up the street. "You gonna charge me HOW much"? My god....$55. Nobody pays $55 for a bath an' a haircut. Anyhows, if'n I had made a appointment, Sadie Mae would be a new dog in two weeks. Two weeks??? There weren't nobody (customers) in the store, no cars in the park'n lot, people was stand'n round do'n nuttin....two weeks for a appointment?

Do I dare talk'n bout "fix'n stuff" on "Sally da house". I think not. Just gonna sit back an' wait for my wonderful son Robert to show up. He's still work'n in Florida ya know. But he will be home this Saturday evening. Sunday we will visit family style.....big ol' dinner an' lay back flap'n jaws. Come Monday.....Ha, we might go play a round of golf ball swak'n.

Ok, I got two things need done immediately....fill the fresh water tank so's I can do up some dirty dishes.

 Take this pot of Billy Bob beef stew soup to the woods along with some stale bread, oatmeal, green grilled chicken, half a pancake, baked taters....stuff like that. Critters eat that kind of stuff ya know. I need the pot to brew me up a big help'n of Billy Bob chicken noodle vegetable soup. Dang I wished I had me a loaf of french bread to go with that soup.
***********************************************************************

A little bit later update.....
Ok, I got them two chores behind me....now what I gonna do? "Dishes Billy Bob, do the dishes". "Oh, an' you could put the awning out if'n it ain't too much work for ya".

I was [this] close to installing the circuit board while I was outside in the blister'n swelter'n heat (91 degs). But, Robert is a electrician an' he would be highly pissed if I was too take electrical work away from him. Maybe I'll just sit back in my easy chair, sip up a cup an' just think bout it. 

  

That couch....it's broke

I like to talk bout fix'n stuff, so that's what we gonna talk bout this morn'n. Well I could mention this damn crookit back I waked up with.....but later.

I was sit'n here think'n bout that damn uncomfortable couch over there. I did me up a bunch of Google and come to the conclusion....I'm in trouble. Fount me a upholstery sell'n place over in Mississippi that will cut to size an' ship me the foam pieces I need. We talk'n $200 here. I can handle that if'n it makes me sit comfortable. *think'n me an' one the boys can fix that in no time* I ain't never did no upholstery work ya know. What could possibly go wrong?

Further Google searches did not find a couch I would be happy with. Nor the costs. Can you believe $400 for ship'n? Camping World. I see in my very near future, a trip to town to look at "household" couches and do'n what modifications necessary to fit in "da house". I can deal with that as long as it's comfortable.

Anyhows....I git up out my chair, go over there to the couch an' attempt to open it up. It's a sofa bed ya know. Half way....that's it, hung up on something. Holy crap, who broke all them support thingys under there???  This couch needs to make a trip to the nearest dumpster.....burried  underground with that dad gum bulldozer.

 Oh wait....I can fix that. *think'n...."how the hell can you fix that Billy Bob"?* Well, I was borned at night, but it weren't last night....hardware cloth an' a piece of 1/4 inches plywood. That would make for one firm solid sit'n couch, an' maybe even be comfortable. I'll keep this in mind as I look through a hunnert furniture stores. Sure would be nice to have a brand spank'n new couch sit'n over there....sigh. But then again, it would be nice to have this one all fixed up. It fits in the opening ya know. An' it's purdy when ya wash it up with a good degreaser detergent an' a couple gallons of water. Dang, that sounds like a bunch of work. 

I ran slap out of water. Just enough to brew me up a pot this morn'n. This means a trip to Walmart to buy up a couple water hoses. I'm bout 70 feet from the water spigot an' I only got 25 feet of hose. In case ya didn't know, RV'ers use drink'n water safe hoses. They ain't got no contamination or that nasty taste ya get from a regular watering hose.

As far as think'n bout adventures an' all that good stuff, it's on hold. I said that yesterday didn't I? I mention it again today 'cause it pisses me off. This depression crap is kill'n me. That's all I think bout.
There's a back fix'n place just up the road a piece, not far from "Yo Mama's". They do micro surgery. I'm at a point that I may even do that. *more Google research* I mean like...."my god, I got to do something".
Excuses....look'n for excuses. I'm skeered to death.....pick'n up a set of knit'n needles.

On the positive side, I cain't wait to go outside an' run a mile. Feel no pain. Go out west an' dig me some dirt (prospecting). Play a round of tackle football. Go danc'n with the young wimmins.  Paddle the "bubba boat" plumb across a lake. "Dream on Billy Bob, ain't never gonna happen". Damn, old age sucks.

I'm think'n that's bout it for today. "Look out Walmart, here come the old Billy Bob".  

Monday??? If you say so......

Today I think I am gonna just lay back an' watch what other people do. You know, read a bunch of blogs.

I rekon all ya gotta do to see who cares bout you, is to get sick. Friendships dwindle. Ya don't hear from them no more. People are like that ya know. Had a guy drop by the boat (S/V Coyote) one day for a chat....he says, "how ya do'n"? Well, since he asked, I commenced to explain to him why I had them cuts an' bruises on me.....why I was hurt'n. I fell from the mast into a pile of "fix it" stuff lay'n on deck. In just a couple minutes he says to me...."well I gotta go, Margaret is wait'n in the car". He jumped on his bicycle an' went fish'n....never see him again. 

Is Billy Bob's Adventures come to a end? I cain't answer that this morn'n. The only things I have to talk bout lately is "pain" an' "fix'n stuff". Lay'n back there in the back my head, cling'n on to my feeble mind, is a few adventures I would like to once again perform. But that's what they are do'n, just lay'n there....."do'n nuttin". It's a sad day.

No progress with the doctors was made last week. It was more of family get together. Laugh'n, sip'n up a cup, talk'n an' a few much needed hugs. It's been a while ya know. "Where the hell is my camera"???

Now, bout that couch. That sucker is in dire need of attention. Remember a while back when I said I wanted comfort? Well that couch ain't got no comfort at all. To replace it with a top of the line, comfortable RV couch, is gonna cost me right at $1400....includ'n shipping (Google ya know). A regular household couch will require modification an' still not maybe fit right. To replace with a recliner, as suggested, I thought bout that too. I went to a furniture store an' sit in some them recliners. I was NOT at all comfortable sit'n in that blamed thing. So.....couch repair is top of the list of things to do.

Ok....that's all folks. Have ya a nice day.  

Nuttin is get'n done....just look'n

Whoa there horse....Whoa, back up!!!

Two explanations are in order this morn'n. The "fix it" list an' back surgery. Due to my poor selection of words, people think I am work'n too hard. In all actuality, only one job is completed out of 12 fix it's on the list. An' I didn't do nuttin. That was my wonderful son Billy that did the work  on that radiator fan, not me. I was sit'n on my ass tell'n him what to do an' how to do it.

 That Billy do a good job.....new motor an' fan blade.

The Onan generator....I jumped on that job the other day all by myself. I mean, how much work is involved to remove a snap on cover an' push a start button? While sit'n in a chair. A cup of coffee in yer hand. No work has been performed on the generator. Just look'n ya know.  No replacement is needed as once it reaches operating speed, it runs just like a brand spank'n new one.

About my two boys that HAD back surgery a few years ago.....like bout 10 years. They are fine. But.....onest or twicest a year, they have scar tissue issues from the surgeries. Pain for a few days an' back to whatever they like to do. That's what I'm look'n for. Or something close to that.

There will be no golf ball swak'n today. Last night I was rudely awakened by them damn backards leg cramp thingys. Each one keep'n me up for a hour before I was able to return to bed. This morn'n, when I got out of bed, I was a crookit old man hurt'n like hell look'n for the aspirin bottle.

That freak'n couch over there. Either stay to hell off'n it or get the damn thing fixed. It hurts my lower back to sit on my couch....or lay back on my couch. Ya see...when I had it reupholstered a couple years ago, the upholstery guy said..."ya wanna change the foam rubber"? Think'n $$$$$, I said no. Now I pay the price in severe back pain every time I sit on it. It's on the list to either fix or replace.
* sit'n here think'n, me an' Robert can change that foam rubber *

The circuit board replacement......

This is the old one....notice all the freak'n fuses. I'm think'n bout 30 minutes an' then some. Test'n operations ya know.

It rained yesterday. But before it did, another one of my sons, Ronny, came by for a visit. In his mind, he was gonna change the circuit board for his daddy. I said "not today 'cause it's gonna rain". It did an' Ronny left the hood wide open. Everthing got soak'n wet. Nuttin shorted out last night. No smoke, no fire.