Short Week Review

It's late Saturday night. Nothing of real importance to blog about so I will blog about the couple things on my mind before I hit the sack. More than enough anyway.

Kelly and I and the baby went to visit friends earlier this evening. While there I picked up a copy of Masters of Orion 2, one of the best computer games ever made in my opinion. My copy had become too scratched to load some time ago and I did not feel like doing a digital download for $9.99 until I explored all options. Greg had a copy, now if only I can figure out why I cannot load the version 1.31 patch. Can't wait to tackle those Antarans again, plus it's a great multi-player online game.

Thursday morning, Kelly alerted me to an ambulance and fire engine parked across the street at our neighbors. I later learned that Elaine, the block grandma for virtually every kid in the area had suffered a stroke. She is one of the kindest women I've ever known. Her husband, Don, is quite special too. Kelly and I took the baby there early this afternoon to see how Don was holding up. There is not much hope, but was told no one is giving up. Don told me they have lowered her temperature to just above freezing, however he was not sure what that was intended to do. He did say that he was told that just five years ago this kind of stroke would likely have been considered lethal. Our thoughts are with Elaine, Don and their family.

Oddly enough, later that day about 1:00 pm I began feeling uncomfortable. I checked my heart rate and it felt irregular, and I was beginning to feel pressure in my chest and neck. After about twenty minutes I decided I should call my wife. I got up and nearly fell. Fortunately she was by the phone and left immediately, but not until after getting a promise I would dial 911 if I felt any worse.

She took me to Froedert where it was determined I was suffering from the same ailment as back in Sept. 2006 ... my heartbeat continued to be irregular, but more ominously, it had sped to 170 beats a minute. They considered dosing me with a drug that actually stops the heart momentarily. I was not in favor of this. They injected me with this drug in Sept. 2006 and it was extremely unpleasant. Imagine that all blood circulation has ceased. Beginning at the extremities, a feeling of approaching blackness occurs ... then it's gone. Back to normal. I imagine this is what death might feel like ... blackness overwhelms, a shudder, then you're gone.

Anyway, the idea is to restart the heart, kind of like pressing restart on a computer. Fortunately this time, my heart went back into rhythm after about an hour. I was allowed to go home, but now must contact a cardiologist. A younger brother has this and now has a pacemaker. Don't want that.

So, now it is time to sleep. Sleep well readers one and two.

I hope to get to my ideas on the meaning of racism and why the right doesn't seem to get it later this week.