Matters of the Heart

Okay, I know I posted about Crabman's heart issues already but I didn't go into the nuts and bolts of his condition. I also know this will not interest 99.9% of you readers BUT I wanted to throw in a few key words on this blog in hopes of targeting those who might be searching the net for similar conditions (such as neonatal lupus, neonatal pericardial effusion, right-sided congestive heart failure at birth, neonatal cardiomyopathy, yucky ducky NICU stays.) The rest of you should feel free to browse the remainder of Steph's Other Space until you find something that interests you. Those of you who have found this blog because of an internet search on this topic, PLEASE EMAIL ME (stephsotherspace@gmail.com)! I will be happy to convey any information I've obtained through years of my own research and personal experiences. If you know a child affected by neonatal lupus syndrome, please check out this site also. There's so much information on that site and I can personally attest to the expertise (and astonishing compassion) of the physicians who head up the Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus.

Okay, well that takes care of New Year's Resolution #23.

Next up is a story that I know I will not do justice to so please be patient as multiple edits may be needed to get the story straight (hopefully my sister and parents will throw in their two cents...hint, hint!) I read this story today and immediately thought of my dad. (Those of you who have known our family for years are probably familiar with this story already.) You see, my dad was once rushed from the stands of Neyland Stadium and across that familiar white and orange checkerboard field to UT's University Hospital for chest pains. Yes, as in they thought he was having a heart attack... at the football game. Apparently he jumped up, arms stretched over his head (I assume in an "it's good" kinda way) after the game-winning kick. However, he quickly felt something pull in his chest and sort of doubled over. I think he scared all the people around him, who summoned security and eventually a stretcher, medics, the whole 9 yards so to speak. Once at the hospital, the doctors ran tests and determined he had strained a chest muscle. The details in my brain are a little fuzzy because I wasn't there (didn't start going to games until 1992) and in the end he was a-okay which is really all that mattered. Besides, "The Heart Attack Game" is so much funnier than "The Chest Muscle Strain Game." I think there's even a news clip somewhere at my parents' house from a local TV station that somehow got a hold of this story but don't hold your breath waiting for us to digitally convert it and upload it to youtube. Maybe I can get my mom to scan a picture of my dad with his full-blown afro. You know, just so you have a visual and whatnot.

Wow, when you couple this with my "Baby Almost Born at Legion Field" story, it seems as though our family may have a football problem. You are laughing with us, right? Roll.Tide.

Well, that was easy!

So we've had some internet problems at our house for the past couple of weeks where the internet wouldn't work and we'd have to call an automated customer service line to reset the modem. Plumberboy did it the last time and I clearly remember asking him if he talked to a real human to find out what was going on. And of course (say it with me), he did not. (Sound familiar, ladies?) So this morning I called, reset the modem, and then talked to a real human (or a very astute Southern sounding computer) who seems to have quickly resolved the problem. They also bumped up our internet connection speed at no charge. Apparently, we were outdated and didn't even know it. So now if we could just find a smaller cable box or something to go with our flat panel TV... you know, Best Buy fails to mention the honkin' big digital cable box when they sell you that low profile, wall-hangable TV and so far Charter has no answers for this problem. So please share if you have somehow circumvented that large unattractive hunk of metal they call a digital cable tuner box.

Okay, a few things before I get back to working on our never-ending pile of clutter and laundry... You see, I got a good night's sleep for the first time in a while last night and I'm kinda feeling bad for ole Heath Ledger since it's well-documented that he was quite the insomniac. I have felt like--well, crap-- for the last few days due to lack of quality sleep but today I actually have energy thanks to about 7 or 8 hours of that glorious stuff. I don't ache all over and I'm not drowsy. It must have been miserable for Ledger to only sleep a couple of hours a night and I'm confident it impaired his judgment. But then, just when I start to feel bad for him, I realize he was a heroin and cocaine addict and I'm pretty sure that would affect your sleeping habits. Sure, he was addicted and probably couldn't stop per se but at some point he was clean and made the boneheaded decision to take the drugs. People tend to forget that about addicts... they--99% of the time--weren't born with that habit so at some point they can take the responsibility. And have you seen the video of him at the drug party from a few years ago? He commented that he shouldn't be there and that his girlfriend was going to kill him because they had a 3-month-old baby. He could even remember her name but did he get up and walk away? Um, no. And just as a sidenote, his hair screamed "drug addict!" If it's true that the drug use shows up in your hair (obviously since it's a proven, court-mandated way to test for drugs), then that man probably should have OD'd years ago. His hair looked fried and was receding halfway across his skull. He was only 28 people but I think he looked much, much older. Now please don't mistake what I am saying...I think this situation is very, very tragic. I just wish Heath and all the other addicted people of the world would realize that you are not destined for that situation. There is hope.

Anyway, I also wanted to discuss something I found rather interesting. I was, in fact, quoted on another blog. A very unique blog to say the least. You can check it out here. I know, I know. How very odd but I'm grateful that maybe some totally random (yet not random at all) people may have read those words about Jesus. YAY FOR INTERNET!

Okay, I would love to share more (like maybe a shift in my political inclinations) but for now I've got to take advantage of my newfound energy and get to work on this house. And oh yeah, pay attention to Crabman too because he's been eagerly awaiting my departure from this computer terminal and believe you me, patience is not his strong suit. Happy Thursday!

For what it's worth...

This story is just unbelievable. N-to-tha-asty. Though not as nasty as this. (Well, it's a toss up...Bon appetit! )

Other highlights from today: John E is out. Rudy is out too and he likes John M. Discuss.