It’s been on vacation for about three months now. I guess I should probably find out how it’s doing. I’m sure it’s coming along fine. This has been a particularly brutal winter for more southern Colorado so I’m not surprised it is taking a little white longer.

Recently I volunteered to be on the Board of Directors for my neighborhoods civic association. I think I might also be the VP now, I’m not certain about that. I am also helping to direct the revamping of the website it still has a long way to go. You can check it out at http://www.highlands460.org

My health has held up okay, knock on wood, minor setback recently but things are still going well. I have been skiing 3 times already this season. We are heading up again this weekend. It feels really good to be back doing something I love so much.

The animals are well as well. Kona is about two now and is finally mellowing out a little. He is like a little dog trapped in a big dogs body, it’s almost funny. Elvis is getting older, he is about 13 now. He has slowed down a lot, but he’s holding up. Losing JJ last year impacted him and stressed him out. They weren’t really buddies, but change always jacks a cat up.

My parents recently sold the house I spent my teen and early adult years in. It went pretty fast and I was sad to see them sell it because I loved that house and the lot it was on. Still, the new place is nice, it is on a golf course and my Dad always wanted that.

Everything else is pretty much the same, getting pumped up about our trip in a couple weeks and even more excited about the BIG Vegas trip in June. If you want more details on that trip (everyone is invited) drop me a line and I will fill you in on the details.

Ok then, that’s it for now.

Finally coming around from this nasty cold. Spent my weekend holed up until Sunday afternoon. Then I went out, finished changing out my plug wires on the Scout. Did some investigating on a flopping belt and found one of my crank pulley’s is bent.

I also noticed that with all this driving the Scout is almost leaking more oil than it did before I replaced most of the seals and gaskets. I guess fortunately it all appears to be valve cover and oil pan related so other than being a pain in the ass to clean everything back up, it should be easy to resolve. I probably overtightened the bolts on those aluminum parts and messed up the seal.

The Audi hits the shop finally tomorrow to get some replacement springs in the front after having one disintegrate and the other about to. Also getting the timing belt replaced. Just in time for our trip to New Mexico too.

It’s nice to be feeling better, today is infusion day so that will help too. Sadly it seems like I am always getting concerning news from doctors so off for more tests and the sort later this week. I’m trying to always look at the positive side of things, but sometimes it’s easier to just be down.

If all goes well with the Audi over the next few days it appears the Scout will be heading to get it’s makeover this weekend. Now I just need to find someone to make the trek with me so I can get back home.

I have written in the past about donating plasma, it’s good for everyone if you are eligible to do it. Because of your generous donation of life saving plasma most donation centers will compensate you for your donation because of the time it takes.

A company called Talecris is the manufacturer of Gamunex, one of, if not the best, IVIG product on the market. It is the choice product of National Jewish which is a leading research hospital in immunological and respiratory illnesses. Talecris has some plasma donation centers set up around the country including two locations in Colorado. The reason I point this out is some people have asked how they could potentially donate to directly benefit me. Well since you can’t direct that your plasma go to me, donating to the source of the IVIG product I (and many others) receive is the next best thing I guess.

No matter what, if you can donate plasma please do. It makes a huge difference on many people’s lives.

First off, I must commend Governor Bill Ritter and the Colorado Legislature for pushing through a change to prevent predatory lending in Colorado. If you pay attention to this stuff at all you will find that Colorado has the had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation for most of the last year or so. This is really sad because a lot of people were not educated on what they were really getting into. Sure some of that falls on the consumer, but when you are intentionally getting someone into something that is going to f them over in a few years, well you are a jerk.

The new law requires mortgage brokers to be licensed and the rules around it are nice. It seems on news articles posted today most Realtors and existing mortgage houses are pleased with the change. Legit businesses and brokers have nothing to worry about, it’s just those scum bags that roll in from out of state trying to pounce on people. So yay, something good. Now hopefully we can work our way off that foreclosure list.

Now onto other things in the news, Andrew Speaker, it’s all over the place. The TB patient who terrified a nation. Ha, the damn media loves to spin shit and create mass hysteria. Granted I was a little concerned at first, but as usual the news loves to report on only some of the details and not all. Now we seem to have the whole story and it’s really not that sensational after all. Sure there are very real concerns about passengers on those flights and anyone else he may have been in contact with, but everything is being followed up on.

I bring this up because I spend at least one day a month at National Jewish where he is currently in isolation being treated for his extreme drug resistant TB. I was there last week before he arrived and I asked a ultrasound tech what the feeling was in the hospital. This was down in radiology and he told me some of the folks were nervous and talking about donning multiple masks and all that. I was a little concerned because this institution deals with patients like this all the time. So if they are worried should I be?

I was back there yesterday and things were much different, the media presence is absurd. What a bunch of assholes, yeah I mean you media asstards. There is a guy from the media sitting in the patient waiting area using the phone for patients to call in his report while people wait for their appointments. Granted he technically wasn’t doing anything illegal and couldn’t be made to leave, but show some God damn respect for people. These news reporters are so concerned about themselves and their careers they don’t care about the impact it has on others. National Jewish is a leading research hospital, they have a lot of very sick people come in and out of those doors, people who may even have something far worse than TB. National Jewish deals with TB patients all the time, and has a history as a Sanitarium for TB patients in their past.

My point here is I understand the and respect (to an extent) freedom of the press, without that America would not be so great. However, sometimes we need to step back and think about someone other than ourselves. That reporter could have asked to use a private room to make the call instead of doing in front of patients. NJ is a great place, they are very compassionate and understand these types of things. I just wish the folks working for media outlets shared the same compassion for human life.

I will preface this post, as I am a hypocrite sort of. A long time ago I gave blood, it was a less than pleasant experience. However I did it. I felt proud about doing something to help others. The only problem, after that experience I stopped giving blood. Mainly because I thought about how horrible I felt after the fact (physically). I have always promoted and encouraged people to donate blood.

Now I am an a situation in my life where I depend on those that donate blood and blood products. I get my insurance statement each time I get an infusion. Each infusion costs approximately $6,700 of that about $6,300 is for the actual blood product I receive. Granted the hope is in the future costs will come down as processes improve, but part of the cost has to do with supply.

I am fortunate that my insurance covers these costs (for now). They may not in the future and for many other patients, they can’t get coverage or just don’t have insurance.

I am a prime example of an excuse maker, “I don’t like the way I feel afterwards” or “next time.” The fact of the matter is donating blood and blood products (plasma) is not just about helping people that are in accidents or surgeries, but helping people with all sorts of needs.

For instance I receive infusions of IgG. The product I received comes from hundreds or thousands of donors. People exposed and immune to various colds and other illnesses. This is used to build up my deficient immune system. There are many many many people who are in much worse of a situation than I am and need these same types of infusions.

Stop into a cancer center any day of the week and you’ll see cancer patients who immune systems are shot from their cancer treatments. They receive these same types of infusions. There are children born with the same deficiency I have who need this as well.

While you can’t direct where your donation goes in this case, because of what is needed, just giving blood and blood products helps keep a balance. It’s not really asking that much.

Now before everyone jumps down my throat, sure, this sounds typical. The guy who wouldn’t help is now asking for it. That is a fair statement. I am not the only one though. It is human nature to avoid things we either don’t understand or don’t enjoy. Sometimes one has to overlook the small negative impact something like donating blood has on their body because of the benefit it creates for many others. Kind of like the theory of Utility.

Obviously it will always be an individual decision, and some people can’t give blood for various reasons. Some just don’t want to. That is just a fact of life. All I ask is if you are capable of giving blood, and you just keep putting it off, don’t. Most office buildings, malls and hospitals do blood drives throughout the year. It doesn’t take much time and it does make a big impact on many different lives. Don’t be like me, making excuses then finding that you are in need and being the person asking others to donate. It is an awkward feeling and doesn’t seem fair.

Here are some links on donating blood and other products (plasma):

• American Red Cross
• Bonfils Blood Center - Colorado
• How is Plasma Used?
• Blood Products