Ok, Campers, been a great couple of weeks lately and an even better one coming up. After that opening, I know y'all are chomping at the bit in excitement. Right? So let's get started.
As, y'all know, back on Halloween, Mrs J and I were involved in a car accident after I had an unexpected (I'd never been diagnosed with it) Atrial Flutter* incident. I lost consciousness at 75MPH (the speed limit there, Beans) and went off the highway and into a ditch and hit a rock embankment.
The truck was totaled. Mrs J was bruised and sore, but essentially ok. I had hit the steering wheel and was unconscious for a bit, but regained it as the ambulance drove up. Long story short, I had 3 cracked vertebrae in my neck and my sternum was broken from hitting the steering column. Yes, we both had our seat belts on.
Spent a week in the hospital, not because of the injuries but because of the heart issue.
But because of the bone and neck injuries, I wore a neck brace for 4 months and recently (finally!) got permission to take it off. During a visit with my Cardiologist a few days ago, he said everything about the AFib was coming along nicely, and released me from my indenture. I'm having another procedure, called an Ablation, done next month to, hopefully, finish up the process.
I'm not a doctor, nor have I played one on TV, but apparently, they run a tube up one of the blood vessels in my leg into my heart and do something up there in one of the other chambers of my heart to get that fixed. It's an outpatient procedure, so shouldn't (Please, Lord!) be difficult.
But everybody seems confident, so...full speed ahead.
I found it interesting, that after the Doctor gave me the release blessing, I was released from my restriction on driving. Didn't have to go beg for mercy from TEXDOT, just saw that my name was no longer on the prohibited list.
I got to drive home! Wow! Big Smile on my face.
And all this came about just in time.
Mrs J and I are flying to France on Wed, 8 Apr, to go on a wine cruise on a river there . Over the past few years, she has set up a few of these with the winemakers we know in our area. They, in turn, invite their wine club members to sign up. While cruising, the winemaker conducts wine seminars and the guests get to enjoy tasting his wine, what's not to like? Mrs J has set up a few of these in the past and they're gaining popularity, so it's a win/win for ALCON.
And they're fun. This one will be on the Rhone River in Provence. Nice scenery, nice friendly customers, nice wine...what's not to like?
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| Our boat on the Rhone River |
So, I think there's internet on the boat, and will keep you up to date if so. But, it you're hearing the sounds of silence, the lack thereof might be explainable.
We'll see.
Peace out y'all!
*When Mrs J read this article this morning, she corrected me on the medical diagnosis. Given that she was there and conscious and I was there but unconscious, she was correct. No surprise, she usually is.
It feels good to be driving a pickup?
ReplyDeleteWell...It did, but that one is demolished and I miss it. We were down to one car, my wife's Ford Focus. I couldn't drive, so she chauffeured me around. My Son and family are assigned to England and, as you are aware, they drive on the wrong side of the road, so his Tahoe is here. That's "my" car for now. We'll see how things turn out, he's not due back for a year or so, so we've got time. I would like another pickup. There's a lot of utility in one.
Deletejuvat
I've never been to the Rhone. If I went, and if I were a military man, I might ask where it was that Hannibal crossed it, elephants and all.
ReplyDeleteDearieme, Hmmm, I might need to do a bit of preparatory research homework before we get there. That might be a way to minimize a long (long, long) airplane ride. Thanks for the Idea!
Deletejuvat
Enjoy your new found freedom friend! We expect pictures when you get back. I've always thought about a Viking river cruise
ReplyDeleteWe've been on a couple, they're pretty darn nice. The boat only holds a hundred or so, passengers, so not nearly as crowded as a cruise ship, The stops along the way are similar in that regard. Not to many turistas on shore. Food's good, service is excellent, crew is friendly. Pretty nice all round. Give it a try, I think you'll enjoy it.
Deletejuvat
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Life has a bit more impact on my consciousness nowadays.!
Deletejuvat
That is fantastic news Juvat!
ReplyDeleteAblation is a pretty common technique. The ever-standard "They are putting a thing into you", but I think one of the less risky sorts of things.
Have a great time! And yes, send pictures!
THBB, That's pretty much what the Cardiologist said. I hope so.
DeleteAs to a good time and pictures, will do....Of Course!
;-)
juvat
Back behind the wheel eh? If I hear distant sirens from down South up here in the NorthLand then I know who's responsible. .....:) Have fun across the Pond sir, enjoy, not many folks on that ship....low key....nice.
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteYeah, I'm probably a bit overly cautious. Maybe like an old lady driving (90 something years old). Not that any of the fonder sex that visit this blog have any driving "issues". No sir!
Yeah, like I said, we've been on this type cruise before. The passengers are relaxed, basically people like us. Lots of getting acquainted activities. No assigned dinner seating, so you can dine with a new friend if you so desire. Quiet, Food's great. The views are phenomenal.
Give it a try sometime, you might like it.
juvat
The good news continues, so keep on doing what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels and bon appetite.
If you see any Frog politicians, please give them a single finger salute for me.
Glad to see the F-15 guys got picked up by friendlies.
John Blackshoe
JB,
DeleteLast first, As am I, As am I. Thank you Lord. Now, I've read a lot of F'in BS about the War in General and the Air War specifically by the press. Pisses my lower posterior anatomy off it does. Two aircraft shot down, one of which crashed on our side of the lines. The other had the pilot rescued almost immediately. The WSO had to escape and evade for a few days. An O-6 would have been a big turn around for Iran. But, he followed his Escape and Evasion training and it worked. He was rescued. 30K sorties flown, One accidental crash and one shot down with both crews rescued. Pretty Damn good numbers. Regardless what the stupid press thinks, says or does. A pox on them.
Yes, it pisses me off.
juvat
Safe and Enjoyable travels, my digital Bro!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're moving toward normalcy. The heart thing I've done. I wasn't even sore. I was surprised that my surgeon found the vein through my (now fattened) upper leg. Haven't had a squeezer-suit on for decades now.
Blessings on your trip - just have fun!
D4Fuzz
Fuzz,
DeleteWill do, and glad to hear that 1) yours was successful and 2) it wasn't as bad as my imagination could lead me.
Have fun? With about 40 folks from around here that like wine? How can anyone have fun in those circumstances?
Wait...That came out wrong "How can anyone not..."
That's better.
Will do.
juvat
Pickup. Recently was given a ride in a Ford Maverick. Having owned three Mitsubishi Mighty Max, I'm not opposed to smaller trucks. The Maverick impressed me. He let me drive it for about twenty miles. While I would like a longer bed, we were doing truck things with it and it worked well.
ReplyDeleteWSF,
DeleteThink I'm going to go back to a Ford Pickup. Last one literally saved my life. Engine compartment was crushed but everything from the Front Doors to the tailgate was nearly perfect.
Thank you Lord ! (and Ford)!
juvat
My nephew needed to pull a heavy trailer 800 miles. I loaned him my 1-ton truck and I got to use his parts runner 2025 F-100 Lariat with the 5.0 engine. IMO the F-150 above the base level has become a car with an open truck. Ford needs to put the Godzilla engine in the F-150.
DeleteT2
DeleteSounds like something to look into. My heaviest load is a pallet of hay, which is heavier than most folks ( including myself when I first started moving it), There will almost certainly be other, maybe heavier, loads, so a heftier truck might be approved by management,
;-)
juvat
Greetings from Chicago!
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it. All is well around here. We'll be flying out day after tomorrow. Got nothing better to do on the jet that type, so...And I have confirmed that the boat has satellite internet. So...
DeleteOh and as for Chicago, Keep your head on a swivel and Check Six!
juvat
I'm already on my next flight. California here I come!
DeleteHave fun! Stay away from politicians. That’s a normal warning, but it’s much more dangerous there,
Deletejuvat
Great news all around!
ReplyDeleteYes it is, Old NFO
Deletejuvat