I'm done

The surgeries are done. I've been sliced in 5 spots, the rough edges have been smoothed and the bone has been cut. What an interesting experience in different ways.

* The dull pervasive pain is gone. Before December 16th it was getting worse and always present. I remember my father saying that he lived with it too. I didn't want to be 66 and saying I've been living with it for 25 years. I'm too young. It's such a relief to not be sitting here wondering how much ibuprophin is too much.

* The system. The medical system was interesting. I'm so thankful that I have health insurance. All I had to do was show the cards and it all happened. I was also amazed at how accomidating work was. All I said was I needed this surgery and my employer put in place the short term disibility paperwork. I complain about work sometimes, but I'm really very fortunate. In total I was gone somewhere around 4 1/2 weeks for both shoulders.

* The health technology. (5) 1/2 inch scars. That's all that's left. With as much as they did I'm amazed that I'm as good as I am this quickly. The micro surgery is amazing. The drugs are interesting too. I'm always impressed with how quickly they can put you to sleep. They say "goodnight" and you're asleep. It went as planned both times. I also had something called "the pain pump" for a few days. Basically it's a disposable pump filled with pain medicine that's fed through a tube to the surgery site. Let me tell ya, pulling it out was freaky, 4 or 5 inches of tube from under the skin. I'm glad my wife helped me out with that!

Busy month

It has been a busy 40ish days since I wrote here last. It seems that Facebook is taking priority over the blog. I'm viewing this as more of a public diary than anything, so I suppose I'm only letting my future self down in not writing. Anyway, where to start?

I ended the last blog complaining about shoulder pain. I've since had the surgery. The pain is that of recovery now. I've actually bounced back from this far better than anyone expected. I was actually shoveling some snow after a couple weeks. They had expected me to be away from work for at least 4 weeks, I went back after 3. I still hurt a little inside during certain movements, but it's much better than the constant dull pain I was in back in November. Surgery #2 on the right is on February 17th.

There have been changes here at work too. I've moved from the desktop team to the Technical Support Services team. What does that mean? I'm doing much more coordination, documentation and investigation! I'm enjoying it. I also made it past the latest round of RIF's (reduction in force.) I'll be honest, I was really worried I'd be losing the job. I wasn't so much worried about being unemployed for a bit, but I was about losing the health insurance. Having a diabetic we absolutely must have insurance. Anyway, glad it's over and I'm really sad to see some friends leave the company.

Bought a GTO. Yep, the stars aligned and somehow it worked out. We needed a car so I could drag me and 3 children around. I asked my wife what the parameters were and the answer was 4 wheels and seating for 4. I heard nothing about being slow. So back in October I drove the Corvette and I happened to see that GTO's both have 4 seats and 4 wheels. The price for what you get was amazing I thought. It's a 2004 with that year's Corvette engine in it (5.7L LS1), 6 speed, IRS, leather. It's stuck in the garage for another couple of months, I can't wait for spring!

Catching up

First off, the new job is going well. It's good to have a challenge and there's plenty to do.
My wife and I worked at the VanAndel Arena last week on Friday for the dollar beer / dog night. That promotion is such a mess. They really do a poor job of handling the "cut off" at 8:00. You can't have the line 20 people deep and all of a sudden say "we're done with the dollar promotion!". They've been waiting for up to 20 minutes for their 3rd and 4th cups (maybe 5th and 6th) of beer and you're going to tell them that? We almost had a fist fight! It's also difficult in that they yell at us - volunteers. Some of my fellow workers were taking it personally, but I had to remind them and the customers that we have absolutely nothing to do with it. If there are complaints they need to talk to the booth leader or visit the VanAndel customer service booth.
I'm really looking forward to working this Friday! (not!)
Surgery on the shoulder is in a week. I can't wait. The pain has been horrid lately - I can't take enough ibuprophen to keep up.

Job change

Time for a new job! Thank goodness. Seems like I've been floundering for a couple years now. Not that I've not had fun or not done anything. I've just not been busy enough to keep me happy or more importantly fulfilled! Interestingly for me it's with the Output Services group. Back to a print slanted post. Actually it's supposed to be more about managing projects, coordination of effort and technical architecture. I'm excited and apprehensive. I don't always have the same opinions as the manager of that group, but I think that's alright. I remember back when I was working at DevTech and Tom Ruberry told me that he appreciated me bringing a different view, I didn't have to agree all the time. Neither DevTech or Tom are still around, but I'll always remember that advice.
Oh, and the picture? I took an old printer, gutted it and filled it with dollar store Christmas items as a display at work.

The 40th year

Wow, what a year it's been. I don't think I'll forget 40 any time soon. I was thinking about what a hallmark year it's be the other day and thought I should write about it.
I don't remember the 40th birthday being a big deal. Thanksgiving and a few presents. However, just after the first of the year I took the family on a big adventure. We took a cruise out in the gulf for a week. I love doing those kind of things with the kids & we had fun. Most of what I remember of the spring / summer is bike riding. Hanging out with friends on the long rides, riding to and from work and just riding for fun. Taking the mountain bike ride up in Whitehall was one of my favorites. Working at VanAndel was tiring sometimes but hella good times with my bicycling friends! Brandt and I took a Boyscout trip to Tennissee over the summer for a week and white water rafted, went caving, and mountain biking. It was a good father son trip. 40 has brought several medical difficulties. Nothing that's turned out to be serious, but it was concerning and to be honest I was stressed for a while. What can I say about Death Valley that I haven't already? Vegas + friends + Corvette + bicycles = happy Mike. Another highlight was just a few days ago. 80's night at a bar in downtown GR. Wow a side of me came out that I forgot was in there. I seriously let loose and had a good time. I didn't think I could dance again. All I can say is Wow!
It'll all be wrapped up on the 22nd. We have our end-of-the-year team bicycle party. I get to say goodbye to 40 with friends. What a year it's been. Cool.

AMEX & Credit Cards

I thought it was interesting to see AMEX's headline this morning about job cuts and business worries. Actually it's been interesting watching all the big banks having issues. I hear about debt default, but I don't hear much about disgruntled former clients and the effect of that on their business.

I remember back a decade ago when I was traveling using an American Express card. At some point I ended up in a cash crunch and had trouble paying the bill on time. They decided they didn't like that and instead of offering an alternative they decided they didn't want me as a customer. Had they worked with me and moved that debt to a credit solution instead of their - at the time - traditional pay it off every month card - we might still be friends. They didn't look at me, didn't look at the fact that I was a 30 year old professional moving up. They simply ended the relationship. I had never defaulted and don't ever plan to. How many others did they do that to? What business did they lose simply because they weren't polite? It seems to me that they and their credit buddies have been all about churning customers instead of developing relationships. I looked up AMEX sucks on google and ran into a site devoted to them doing worse things to others - guess I should consider myself lucky. The picture at the top takes you to that link.

Today I do most of my banking with my credit union. They take good care of me and know who I am.

Vegas

Vegas for me is different than for many people - at least it seems. I don't go there to drink and gamble or to attend a conference. I visit it like I visit any other city. I like nice hotels, good food and entertainment and Vegas is full of it.
So, I waited until I got a good deal at a hotel I wanted to stay at. I get emails from most of 'em and a good one popped up at the MGM Grand. The room was very modern - reminded me of the Hudson in Manhattan but about twice the size. The pool was great too! Earlier in the day I realized that I sent my swimsuit back in one of my bags with the bike. Doh! I had to go shopping if I wanted to swim, so I did. I finally found on a few blocks down the strip - which also gave me a chance to shop for stuff for the kids.
I suited up and went down to the pool. I'm always amazed at how big these hotels are, it took me 15 minutes just to walk to the pool! Strawberry Margarita please? I parked my shoes and towel and jumped in the "lazy river". I forgot that those drinks and me with an empty stomach are a bad thing. I felt bad for a while, but laying around in the sun in the big main pool for a while took care of that.
Later I made my way back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We met up at the Paris where the rest of the group stayed. After some hotel room antics (how many people can we fit in JD's glassed in shower? (12)) we set off to dinner. Rob led the way with a flashing bicycle light attached to his rear end to let the group of 20 know where to go. We wound our way down the strip, picking up escort cards along the way for a game of "go fish" later. We found ourselves near some young ladies in naught school girl outfits handing out fliers for a bar. Naturally I asked if I could get a picture with them (forthcoming.) Finally we made it to the Venitian for food @ 9 or Midnight EST! We had a hoot at dinner! The waiter saw the cards and asked if we had big plans for later. Mary knocked Nathan's wine glass on the floor and received much grief. Rhoda gave Amy a nice backrub that I almost felt dirty watching. Oh, the food was good too! I had a nice seared Ahi & and a salad. I retired around 11 and walked back to the 'vette. We drove back to the hotel where I slept and then regrettably had to relinquish the keys in the morning. Vegas was a nice cap to an amazing long weekend. I am so fortunate to have such a good cause, such good friends, great people that support my cause and a drive that pushes me to do it every year. Thank you.