Happy Birthday Logan

Happy Birthday to Logan he turns 3 today. He's growing up too fast.

He's grown up so much in the last three years. Can't wait to see him when he's 18 or 21.

Otherwise just a quick one today. I'm taking a break from yet another assessment. This next month is not going to be too pretty. My thesis paper is due, my bug collection and a group presentation. So lots of coffee will be involved as I'll be sleep deprived for most of it. But after that I'll just have two exams and then I'll be done. I hope.

My back is doing a lot better. I'm on the waiting list for surgery but it would probably not be until the middle of June but I'm seriously considering not having it done. But I'm not sure if it is better to get it over with or to wait until next time it slips again. I will call on Thursday and see what they recommend. It's only painful when I first get up and the numbness is just about gone. So it seems like it's getting better as I can run now without any problem. A long way from only a month ago.

I'm still looking for jobs down here and in New Zealand as well. I have applied for a few but I've been too busy with school stuff to have a good look. I'm hoping for Auckland or Melbourne as my first picks...so if anyone knows of any contacts it would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to starting something new that I actually enjoy. Hopefully I can find something. We'll see.

Just a few pictures for you this time.

From my bug collection

I'll let you know what they are when I figure them out.

How much is your beer worth???
I think some are off though because it's hard to find a pint here for less than $4.50.

Back to more work.
Cheers,
Brandon

Old Man Update

I'm sure most of you know already that I didn't end up having surgery a few weeks ago. The trip to the emergency room just helped with the pain and that's about it. Not too much news from then on. But I did finally meet with the neurosurgeon, actually just a nurse in the neurosurgeon's office, on Friday morning.

She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know and the same story and test on my reflexes and what not were also done. They want me to come in for an MRI on Wednesday so they can get a better view of the disk and how much far it is still out of place. Then Friday I have another appointment so hopefully I will find out some real info on what they think will be the next thing to do. I still have the numbness which they said isn't a good thing and the pain is still in my hip when I get up in the morning. If I would have gotten the MRI 3 weeks ago I could already be 2 weeks into the recovery if I would have had the surgery done. But hey that's what you get with uni doctors I guess. I'm sure the same thing would have happened if I was in the States so I guess I cant really make it go any faster.

Not too much else going on besides school stuff. Writing and more research as usual. But I did find some amusing stuff on the web during the week when I was laid up and not moving to well. Sorry for no pictures this time....just some links.

I actually remember watching some of these- The 10 Most Insane, Child-Warping Moments of '80s Cartoons

Some are expected but there are a few that surprise you - 67 Celebrities Who Are Scientologists

Same with this one - 50 Celebrities’ Real Names

You guys can watch the full episodes but we can't get them down here - South Park Studios


I was 53 WPM - Speedtest

Not sure how accurate this is, I was 91 with a virtual age of 13, what ever that means...they didn't have a selection for a slipped disk though - Life Expectancy Calculator

Yes some people actually believe this - Creation Museum

Cant get past level 7 - Apple Shooter

Great place to look for cheap stuff - Ben's Bargains

Here as well, with free shipping - most of it made in China though - DealExtreme

Cool way to view the Box Office - The Ebb and Flow of Movies

Looking for a vacation spot??? - Private Islands for Rent


Probably another update next weekend once I find out something useful to tell about my back. Cheers,
B.

Crazy Last Two Weeks

Lots has gone on in the past two weeks. I had my B-day on the 8th...the big 30...it's just a number but as I found out last week I'm really old in body years. Our new roommates moved in and some bad news.

On my b-day we headed to the beach in the afternoon and went down south by Surfers Paradise and enjoyed the sun along with some wind for a few hours. I finally spent my birthday day on the beach and it only took me 30 years to do it. Anyways, after we came back a bunch of us went to the only Mexican restaurant around town and enjoyed the most expensive Mexican food I've ever had. Then to a bar down the street for a few drinks then off to the dance club. It was nice and chill. I decided to get myself a little present for my b-day as I do every year but then it ends up I probably won't end up needing the soccer boots I ordered so I'll have to get me something else.

But I found out later in the week that I'm really old. Last Thursday I went to soccer training and got about a half a lap around for the warm-up and my hip got really tight. I tried stretching and moving around to see if it would loosen up but nothing. Friday it was ok then on Saturday I woke up and it was really bad. I couldn't touch my toes or twist at all. It got a little better as the day went on so I decided to go to one of friends for a house party. It was a good time with some really good costumes. The pictures will come later as I'll have to get them from other people as I didn't bring my camera. But most of the time I spent hanging from the rafters to try and take the pressure off my hip.

I woke up Sunday and I was really, really bad...every way I moved it hurt. I spent most of the day on the couch stationary as that was the way it didn't hurt. I'd get up occasionally as it helped a little to move as well. Then Sunday evening my toes started going numb. Not good. I slept standing up/leaning over my desk and got about 3 hours of sleep but not all at the same time.

Then the doctor visits started. Monday I walked extremely slowly to the Uni clinic. I could get about 20-30m then had to bend over or lean on something to stop the pain. It took me 25 minutes for a walk that usually takes 8 minutes. The pain would start in my butt then go down the back of my leg to my calf and all without feeling half my foot or my last three toes. Lots of fun. I finally made it and the doctor think it's my hip. I then walked another 20 minutes back to the CityCat then to the X-ray place...another 45 minutes to go 1/2km...45 minutes back...then 25 minutes back home. They gave me some meds but they didn't work. The one had codeine which doesn't work on me and the other one was advil which wasn't strong enough.

Tuesday morning I went back to the Uni doc...at least Helix gave me a ride to CityCat but I still had to walk to the clinic from the river. Now they tell me it's my back and not my hip. Now I have to walk all the way across campus to sort out my insurance stuff as they didn't have me in the system and I found out the school messed up and put my insurance money towards my tuition instead. At least now I won't have to pay out of pocket anymore. I then walked back across campus again to the CityCat then to the other radiologist for my CT scan.

Then I found out the bad news. My body's about 50 years old. I have a bulging/slipped/herniated disk in my back. Not good. Very, very bad. It is pushing on my sciatic nerve which is the cause of the numbness in my foot and calf. It goes into my spinal canal 17mm or about 3/8ths of an inch. Yeah it's pretty bad.

Wednesday I went back to the Uni doc and supposedly was given a referral to the local hospital here for a consult with a neurologist and would have surgery done on Thursday sometime. But I showed up to the neurology dept. at the hospital and they have no idea what I'm talking about. Here the doc at the uni never called or anything besides giving me a little note to the doctor. I find out later that if she would have called they could have fit me in yesterday.

Instead I spent the day in the emergency room...from 9am 'till 6pm. I saw the nurse in the first hour or two...then the physio around 1:30...then finally the real doctor around 3. She gave me some good meds and the pain finally subsided. It was nice to not bend over or sit with my leg in a strange position and to be able to walk around without pain.

She told me I'll most likely have to have the surgery to move the disk off my nerve or you can get permanent paralysis if the disk moves farther. So yeah it's quite serious. The surgery they will most likely do is to snip out a little section of the vertebra to relieve the pressure off the nerve. But I'll be asking a bunch of questions on Tuesday or Wednesday (hopefully) when I have the consult with the neurosurgeon. So I don't know if I'll be able to do any sports again or run or anything I like to do. Hopefully early next week I'll find out if and when I'll be having surgery and keep everyone informed. Now that I've got some good meds the pain is still there but not as bad so I'm good for a while at least. I'm sorry to get my family and friends all worried about me yesterday and I'll make for sure I'll be having the surgery before I tell anyone.

I hope everyone will be able to get together with their families and friends for the holiday this weekend and enjoy some good food. Eat some for me. I'll be thinking of everyone back home as no one will be here with the crippled old man to spend Easter. But it's all cool..I'll be able to watch the race and enjoy the sunshine. Ok now for some pictures.

A big moth that flew in my room

Our local brushtail possum

Diffraction lines in some schnapps

The hazards of soccer

They know how to do the beach down here

Cheers,
B

Home

Sorry for the lack of an update since I've been back down here. I'm soaking up the nice sun as I missed it very much, playing soccer, writing, reading and more uni learning.

I had a great time during my 4 weeks back home. The flight back wasn't too bad as I had a whole row to myself. The weather wasn't cooperating but Ohio isn't the greatest place in the wintertime. It would have been nice to see the sun a little more but oh well. But I didn't really like the cold when it was down to -30C wind chill...that's a little too cold for me.

I think I was able to see everyone I wanted to, except for my Vegas crew, and it was good to just be with the fam and chill out. I missed everyone as it's not the same communicating through email or phone calls. Drank some cheap beer, gained a few kilo's and finally got some time to relax before school started up again.

Saw the Butler's new addition, got to see the Superbowl without having to explain all the rules to everyone, saw snow for the first time in a year then shoveled some snow, drove my car (really missed doing), did lots of home improvements, put up some cabinets, had some early birthday ice cream cake, mmmm, went on a pub crawl, played Wii, played with my puppy dogs, and plenty of other stuff I missed.

Thanks to everyone for feeding me, the beer, talking and just hanging out as I missed it a lot. If I end up staying down here I'll have to make the trip back home more often than once a year. Ok here are some pictures for everyone.

The kitchen before...not sure when the after will be done

The first bar of 18...1 every 1/2 hour


My puppy dog, Sasha


Logan helping me blow out the candels

Typical Cleveland weather...it's 1:30 in the afternoon.

Starting early
The half time entertainment

Thanks again to everyone especially my parents and my brother for everything. Miss you already.

Cheers

Headed Back Home

Sorry for the lack of updates the past month or two. I've been enjoying my little break after my research project concluded with two 12 hour days in the lab with two 9 hour days on each side.


And I've been a little lazy as well.


A lot has gone on since the last update...new baby (not mine)...The Big Day In...Christmas...New Years...more birthdays...Richard, Happy 30th, and Bradley...hiking...research...partying...etc.

Congrats to Todd and Erin as Hudson was born on the 19th of December. I can't wait to see him when I get back in town. He's way to cute.

The Big Day In will most likely be something I bring back with me. Hil and her friend Lara started it sometime ago and have done it every year since. People came and went through the day but they were there for the full 16 hours of craziness.

It starts at about 10am and goes until 2am at the RE here in town. The RE has one of the longest opening hours of any bar in town. So you take your first sip just after 10 and your last around 2...with almost constant drinking all day. I joined them for the start but had to take about a 3 hour hiatus as I had to tend to my turtles as they had hatched the day before (great timing).

T-shirts were made, Trivia Pursuit, Uno, pool and Jenga were played, good conversation, friends and of course plenty of beer...one of the most fun days since I've been here. I didn't make the full 16 but managed about 13 or so. It was a great time and really nice and chilled as I was super stressed the three days before working. Needless to say the next day was spent recovering.

About 2nd hour in.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and was able to see all their loved ones. Hil came over on Christmas Eve and spent some time with me which was really good as everyone else was gone for the day and I was feeling kind of lonely. Thank You.

For Christmas I went over to Emma's parents place and had some prawns (no there not shrimp) for lunch then a great meal for dinner as well. It was cool to experience the different traditions and foods, and the best part is you can eat outside without freezing your tail off as you would up north. Very cool and it was nice that they invited me over.

Hil came over again on Boxing day and spent most of the day with me as well and we had a great time just chilling with a good movie and some popcorn. I have to bring it back for everyone to watch...If I can find it. Then she was off down south to a music festival for New Years and road trip with her mates.

New Years was spent over at a party thrown by a workmate of Emma's and on the way we got drenched as the rain was pretty bad and we almost lost part of our case as the cardboard was starting to fall apart. It turned out ok though. It wasn't very big maybe 20 or so people and was nice and chilled out.

The day before New Years we went down to Emma's boyfriends parents place, which is right next to the rainforest where I did the field course a few months back. I'm still trying to find it on Google Earth so when I do I'll post where it is for everyone. It's probably one of the most amasing places I've been to in a while. They own about 1000ha, or close to 2800acres, of farmland/rainforest about 1.5 hours from the city.

Hil left about a week ago for her new job down in Canberra, which I was really sad to see her go but she got down safe after the two day drive which is good. She's got really cool house but is still waiting for the rest of her stuff to get there and hopefully it won't be too long. I miss her, but doing alright.

This past weekend a few of us went for a day long hike/rock hopping up the river, again at Emma's boyfriend parent place, that runs into rainforest and the national park. Waterfalls, swimming holes, spiders, yabby's, rainforest...it doesn't get much better. It was way too much fun as it reminded me of all the time I spent in the forest down the street when I was a little kid. We didn't make it all the way to the 60m water fall we were aiming for but I didn't care as it was great time. Maybe next time we'll get there. Today I'm still sore but I think I'm getting too old as well. The lack of exercise and increase in studying this past year is catching up to me.

Mo and Emma

Yabby

I'll be arriving back in Cleveland sometime Wednesday night for a stay of about 3 weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again and finding out all the stuff I have missed out on in the past year. I'll be staying at the same house so if anyone one wants to drop by. I should have my mom's cell which I'll be using and most of you have gotten an email with the number as well. And the home number is the same also. I'm devised a little list of things that I miss or will miss from both home and here.

Home...What I miss.
Family, friends, my puppy dogs, my mom's cooking, cheap pizza, cheap beer, my car, a good stereo, a comfy couch, carpet, snow, showers long than 4 minutes, a dryer, cable tv, unlimited internet, football, hockey, no mosquitoes, the mountains (can't get them in Ohio though),...

Down Under...What I'll miss.
Friends, the sun and warm temps, thongs (flip-flops), shorts, great ethnic food, soccer, really good beer, cricket, rugby, my hammock, prawns, the beach, the city, good public transport, the kookaburra's and parrots...

We'll see how long I last in the freezing cold before I want to get back down to the summer here. I should be ok though. I'll try and see everyone I can while I'm back. If I miss anyone they will just have to come down and visit me here. I'll see everyone in the next few weeks.

Some more links for everyone to enjoy.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Cool Illusions
Cleveland Indy Media Center
Got Gas???
Only in America
I guess this was a big Christmas item this year...make it yourself cheap
One of the Best "The Onion" stories I've seen

Cheers,
B

Happy Birday Dad

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy B-day Dad and also the 35 years at Parker.

A larger update will happen sometime in the next few days.

Later,
B

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday
Mom

I hope you had a great time down in Columbus for your day. I miss you.

Love,
B

Holidays

The past couple of weeks have been really nice without anything to do. No assessments, papers, stress, etc. Next week will be interesting as my turtles will begin to hatch and the frantic race to get everything analysed will begin and end in a few days. But I guess it comes with the territory.

Not too much else going on down here. They elected a new Prime Minister of the Labour (Democratic) Party so hopefully the trend will continue next year back in the states. We'll see.

I've been doing a lot of reading with my time off and looking for jobs for next year. There are plenty of them down here and the pay rate is better even with the exchange rate. And seeing as I have to take out some more loans in about a month it will be good to find something that pays well.

Our housemate, Michael, moved out last week and a new guy Antione, from Paris, moved in on Wednesday. It's kind of strange having different people in the house all the time but also cool because you get to meet new people all the time. He'll only be here for about 3 months then traveling around and back to France. Then we'll have someone new for a few months again.

Here are some pictures I don't think I have posted yet but everyone always likes them so here you go.

Our local resident Golden Orb Spiders

My Movember stache

Some parrots next door. They love it when our neighbours don't cut their grass. I'll have to get a bird book to see what species they are.

Hil snaping pics at the Halloween party. Can't wait to see the ones from Thailand these the past two weeks.

Eric as Papa Smurf
Erin's gold shoes.

Scenic rainforest

Can't remember what kind of rodent this one was.

Bondi Beach, Sydney

Here are some links I've accumulate:

Overheard in New York | The Voice of the City
Dark Roasted Blend
Haltadefinizione
Flookers :: Dumbolf
Flip
The Decemberists


I'll post some more next week as I've have to grab some grub and head off to soccer. Also I'll be taking orders if anyone would like me to bring anything back for them. I already have requests from here to bring back stuff from the US, ipods, climbing gear etc.

Later,
B.