This is not your usual Jay...

Hello readers of MLCotW, this AMY from BadGroove here...and as you may or may not know...Jay has left to marry T...and will probably gone for a week or so...and he has asked me to keep you all as entertained as I possibly can. Now I have some big shoes to fill because Jay is pretty darn witty...but I will do what I can...

Blogger looks a lot different since the last time I used it...and I nearly accidently set Jay up for a gmail account by accident...but I digress...I am proud to be posting here...and you all can expect to see a lot of me around here...

Brought to you by your guest host Amy

Whoa! Blogger changed...Oh &...

I'm leaving, on a jet plane, coincidentally. I do know when I'll be back again, though. In the meantime, the site will be in the capable hands of Amy (thanks Amy :) ). I'll try to send her an email or pony express a note to her or send up a signal flare or something to let her (& the other two readers that aren't going out to Arkansas with me) know that T & I are still alive.

See you all next week!

Pepys Project II: Electric Boogaloo

The Pepys Project has been revamped. It's a great site for finding new blogsites all around the world.

Go here. Check it out. Have another cookie.

One Week

For those of you who've been following - there's only one week left 'til the Wedding!

Guess I'd better get that closet cleaned out.

Guest Posting

Amy has so graciously opened her blog for guest posting (I hope she knows what she's gotten herself into). You can find my first venture into guesting here.

Check it out. Enjoy. Have a cookie.

Why can't forever mean forever?

I'm noticing again (as this happened with my first go 'round with marriage, too), that the closer I get to the Big Day, the more people I know that are splitting up. It seems that when I'm single, all my friends are married, making me the proverbial third wheel (& given the single status that I'd had for years & years, this wheel's got a lot of miles on it). When I was married the first time, all my friends were single.

And here we go again. I've already got one friend going through a rough spot & now I find out that another friend has split. Ugh! I hate when that happens.

I hate seeing this happen. It's one of the worst things to ever go through. The hurt. The pain. The sorrow over seeing something that was so beautiful & new & full of promise fade. To watch the person that you gave your heart of hearts to walk away. The loneliness. The heartbreak.

Even though you both may never see these words, my prayers are with you.

Grrr...I hate this.

Waiting

In a little bit, I'm going to the doctor to find out the results of last weeks biopsy. I knw T & her family & my mom are all chompin' at the bit to know what the lab found, but as for me? I dunno. I have a sense of peace & calm about the situation. I put the whole thing in God's more than capable hands. I'm not really worried. If things aren't as we are all hoping for, I still know that I'm in good hands. If things turn out all clear, then it's just another tesimony of faith. Either way, I know I'm going to be alright.

Although, I'd really rather never have to have a biopsy again. Ever.

Update I got the all clear from the doctor - no cancer! Wee haw!

Fuzzy Doughnuts

I stopped by a doughnut shop on the way to work this morning, as I had a few extra minutes before work. When I walked in, I saw a woman, nicely dressed, knelt down in front of the counter picking up a box of a dozen doughnuts that she'd dropped. I figured she'd pick them up & get another box. To my shock & amazement, she put the top back on the box, said "Let's try that again" & WALKED OUT WITH THE DOUGHNUTS THAT HAD BEEN DROPPED!!!

Eww! Ewww!! EWWWW!!!!!

I feel so sorry for her unsuspecting co-workers.

Co-Worker #1: Mmm...doughnuts! I think I'll have a glazed one. Uh, what's the fuzzy stuff on top of this one?

Woman: Oh...uhh...it's a...umm...new topping! Yes, yes, a new topping. It's not like I dropped them on the floor or anything...heh, heh.

Co-Worker #1: What was that?

Woman: Uh...nothing, nothing.

Co-Worker #2: Why is this jelly doughnut so gritty?

Woman: They're sprinkles.

Co-Worker #2: Gravel is a sprinkle?

Woman: Gravel sprinkles are a great source of minerals. Now are you going to eat it or not?

Co-Worker #2: *crunch* Ow! My tooth!

Co-Worker #1: I'm not feeling so good...

I think I may have second thoughts the next time someone brings in a pink box.

And another one gone & another one gone...

Crumbs...in the past month, three blogs (two that I frequented, one new one) have closed up shop.

I'm beginning to get a complex.

T-Minus less than two weeks

Yup...this time two weeks from now, T & I will be schmoopin' it up on our honeymoon.

Tick, tick, tickity tick...

Spring Cleaning

I have so much crap in my favorites folder.

Time to clean it up a bit.

Ugh...this type of spring cleaning isn't anymore fun than real spring cleaning.

I'm not a masochist...

...really, I'm not.

But you wouldn't know it by the amount of pain inflicted on me this past week.

Last Thursday, I had to have four teeth filled. Friday, I was poked & prodded by the doctor trying to figure out what's growing in my chest. Tuesday, the biopsy mentioned in the previous post. Then, another trip to the dentist to have two more teeth filled.

I'm really, really not a masochist. Honest. For true.

Let me just say...

...biopsies suck. Not the actual procedure itself so much, but the healing process afterward.

I normally don't talk about health issues on MLCotW (other than whining & complaining about being tired & delightful retellings of my dealings with trying to get an appointment with my doctor). For one thing, I'm not sick all that often. Tired, yes. Sick, not quite so much. For another thing, I'm sure not too many of you (maybe two of the five regular readers) really want &/or need to know about my current state of physical well-being. And, sometimes the ailment's of a personal nature. But, as this has been consuming my thought processes for the past couple months & this site is about the comings & goings of the Jayverse, I figured "What the hey?"

And before I go any further, at this point, I'm fine. Just waiting for some results.

Now, on with our story.

Around the beginning of February, I started noticing some pain in the right chesticle area (the breastal region for you ladies). It felt like someone had repeatedly poked me in the chest. Then, I noticed the lump. I didn't freak, but I kept an eye (or hand, rather) on it. As the month wore on, the mass started getting bigger & more touchy. I finally went to my doctor in March & after a couple of tests (ladies, I have a whole new appreciation for the things you go through), the good doctor couldn't determine what was going on in there. The Big "C" was never mentioned, but it was in the back of everyone’s mind.

I was then referred to a doctor who specializes in the chesticle region. While she doesn't think it's the Big "C", she's not 100% certain. Soooo, we opted for an ultrasound guided needle biopsy, just to make sure everything is clear.

Now, don't let the term "needle biopsy" fool you, because a needle is only used when they anesthetize the area. The real name for this procedure should be "roto-rooter biopsy" because the thing they used was not a needle. Not by a longshot. Maybe a needle for tranquilizing elephants. Or harpooning whales. Anyway...

The whole procedure was quite painless. The only time that I got a little uncomfortable was when the doctor uttered a little "Oops" while he was poking around.

"Oops" is not something you want to hear from someone with a Shop-Vac inserted into your chest.

The biopsy machine-a-ma-jigger consists of a large hand held device that looks a lot like a Bic torch lighter (you know, the kind you use to start a fireplace or light candles or burn down your offi...uh, scratch that last one), a roto-rooter (you thought I was kidding?) & a vacuum cleaner. The doctor numbed the area, made a small incision & commenced to suckin' out little samples of the offending matter that the rooter cut out. I didn't dare look at what he was doing, for fear that I'd lose it. So, as much as I wanted to, I didn't get to see what the little buggers looked like.

After all that, the doctor basically taped me back together (no stitches for once), wrapped my chest in an icepack & an Ace bandage & sent me on my way. I spent the rest of the afternoon & evening sweating under the wrap, itching & staring at the cleavage that the wrap had created (can't...look...away - in a car wreck kind of way. Believe me, hairy man cleavage is not a turn-on.).

Later in the evening, the numbness started wearing off. By bedtime, it felt like I’d been kicked in the chest by a mule. It made for a very uncomfortable night’s sleep.

This morning I had to change the dressing & then rewrap the Ace bandage. It was at this point that I discovered that I wasn't blessed with either a great amount of dexterity or a third arm, because trying to wrap a cloth around my chest proved to be quite the challenge. I finally got it around & fastened it together. I found as I was driving to work that I had fastened it too tightly, though. I spent the whole trip to work tugging on the bandage through my shirt, trying to breathe & get the blood flowing to my lower half again.

Since then, I've rewrapped the bandage about three times & have been tortured by the continuous itching that comes with having one's chest wrapped. I don't see how you ladies do this every day. It's hot. It itches. It does, however, offer me a degree of support that I've never before enjoyed. Take the good with the bad, I guess.

Anyway, I don't mean to sound like I’m making light of the breast cancer (besides, if I do indeed have it, I'm in good company; Richard "Shaft" Roundtree - "the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about" - is a male breast cancer survivor. I think I'll start calling myself "Shaft." What? Why not?). It is a serious matter that has had more than a few of us worried. But, I’ve had a great deal of support from my mom & T & her family & friends have been doing their best to help through prayer, concern & well wishing (it's nice to know that I have a fan club). I owe them all a great debt of gratitude. And to my doctors, as well, for listening to me & not just dismissing things.

Well, I am now home & am wrap free.

Scratching has never felt soooo good.

"He is not here, He has risen"

Hope you & yours have a blessed Easter.

Remember, it's not all chocolate bunnies & peeps ;)

So complicated

A helpful guide to deciphering the many emotions of Avril Lavigne.

Just in case you were wondering.

C'mon...you know you were.

Oops...

I almost forgot - it's also my niece's twentieth b-day (yep, her & The Boy were born exactly ten years apart).

Happy birthday, Mitz.

I'll be sure to remember the little cake.

Happy Birthday!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I am the proud father of a ten year old. Today is The Boy's birthday.

Happy birthday, Sonshine.

You'll never know how truly blessed I am to have you as a son.

"I miss the comfort in being sad"

Ten years.

I can still remember seeing the reports of Kurt Cobain's death on the MTV news. It was the first time I'd ever seen Kurt Loder choke up. It didn't seem real, but at the same time, it wasn't too terribly surprising. Sad, but not surprising.

I remember when "Nevermind" hit it big. I was still listening to the last screams, howls & breaths of the 80's hair metal era: Guns n' Roses, LA Guns, Great White, etc. I remember hearing about Nirvana. A friend of mine in the dorm I lived in told me to get their album - not to bother waiting to hear the next single (my "Two Song" rule: before I'd buy a new album, I had to hear & like at least two songs), but to just go out & get it.

I didn't take his advice.

My loss.

I remember thinking that they were going to be another flash in the pan (after having been burned by so many one hit wonder metal bands, I was just a wee bit cynical of the music industry). I heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" about eleventy-billion times & was pretty tired of it. A great song, but, as per usual, MTV played it into the ground. Even worse, Pearl Jam came out about the same time & all I would hear from these bands was how much they hated all of the fame & fortune they'd achieved. I kept thinking "You've reached a position in the music world that so many other bands dream about but never see & you're whining about it?" Every time I saw them on TV, I'd flip the channel. It was so bleak & dark. My little sister had a few of Nirvana's singles. I'd look at the song titles & just think about how depressing it all sounded.

In 1992, some friends (including the guy who told me to get "Nevermind") & I decided to try to start a band. The drummer was officially the only person who knew what he was doing. I had had a bass & a couple six-string electric guitars for awhile, but didn't know how to play much beyond "Iron Man." Since we were musically handicapped, we learned songs that didn't involve more than three chords. That pretty much narrowed our pool of bands to cover to The Ramones & Nirvana. Dave, the guitarist in the band, showed me how to play "Blitzkrieg Bop" from The Ramones on the bass, but Nirvana's "Territorial P*ssings" was the first song that the band really got down tight. The power of the song was incredible. It was raw (especially in our inexperienced hands) & blistering. After learning that song, I finally bought "Nevermind."

And I found out what I'd been missing.

It was loud. It was hard. It was fast. I was finally a devoted fan of Nirvana.

I still couldn't stand hearing Cobain & Eddie Vedder cry about being famous. I had heard all the stories about Cobain's problems & addictions & all that. I kept thinking "Why don't you just quit? I'd have more respect for you if you dropped out of the scene, either completely or if you just took a lower profile." It was sad to see him, at times happy (such as after the birth of his daughter), like he finally had some sense of peace about him &other times, you could see the chaos...the pain...the sadness in his eyes. You could see that he was searching, that he wanted something to fill the void he had inside. Unfortunately, he had chosen what so many people who are searching choose - drugs. Combine that with a serious case of depression &...well...

We know where that finally led him.

On that April day ten years ago, a voice was forever silenced.

A little girl lost her father.

A woman lost her husband.

Two men lost a friend.

And the world lost a brilliant & talented artist.

Sanctuary!

It seems that I can't go to the restroom without everybody & their cat following me in. And a lot of them apparently haven't been properly schooled in Da Rules. All I want is a little peace & quiet, just for a few minutes. Is that too much to ask?

So...tired...

Lousy time change. Now my sleep's all screwed up.

Musica

I found this over at Chris's site & decided to take a whack at it. The idea is to pick the first song that relates to each of the following. Here we go...

Reminds you of your youth...Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band I used to belt this one out at the top of my lungs, thinking it was about an afternoon romp & not knowing what it was really about: lunch.

Gives you the chills...Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Stevie Ray Vaughan Quite possibly the best redo of a Jimi Hendrix song. Stevie made that guitar scream! I never had the pleasure of seeing him in concert, but I did get to catch him on Austin City Limits. He shredded so hard on this song that he broke a string & kept on playing. The roadie brought out another guitar & Stevie switched them out without missing a lick.

Makes you want to bang your head...80's speed metal, punk, grunge

OK, those aren't songs.

Get over it.

Oh, alright, I'll give you a few examples: Into the Lungs of Hell/Set the World Afire - Megadeth Actually, all of So Far, So Good...So What? ripped your face off with it's speed & the bombastic assault of Dave Mustaine's snarl, Dave Ellefson's bass & the only appearances of Jeff Young on guitar & Chuck Behler on drums. It blew Metallica out of the water (sorry guys). But the first two tracks are my personal favorites from the album.

Punk? Hands down, The Ramones first album. My best friend in high school turned me on to The Ramones & they were favorites of the band that I was in for a time (What can I say? Their songs were easy to learn.) The only song that lags a bit is I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, only because it suddenly slows the album down. Before & after that? Pure punk ecstacy.

And last but not least, grunge. Lessee...Nevermind - Nirvana, of course (another favorite of the band); Dirt - Alice In Chains...Dark, dirty &...well...grungy. Would? is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.

Honorable mentions: The Audience Is Listening - Steve Vai; Ace of Spades & The One To Sing the Blues - Motorhead; Hit the Lights - Metallica (I never said I didn't like 'em...I just like Megadeth better)

You wish you knew the lyrics to...Up the Beach - Jane's Addiction If anyone knows the words, let me know.

Makes you so upset you turn it off...Teenie pop crapola & most rap (I can take some late 80's, but that's about it).

Was/is 'your song' with someone else...Songbird & Anniversary Song - Eva Cassidy, Come Away With Me - Nora Jones...Not really "our songs," but T turned me on to both artists & these three songs remind me of her when I hear them.

*Note - Songbird will be making an appearance in the wedding. It's just that good, people.

Makes you want to dance...Paradise By the Dashboard Light - Meatloaf Does his wife just call him "Meat?"

Helps you heal after a breakup...Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails Oh yeah, this tape got a lot of mileage in the 90's.

Your parents made you listen to...My parents didn't make me listen to anything, although there was an abundance of Neil Diamond & Lou Rawls around the house. More often than not, though, my sister & I commandeered the radio as soon as we'd get into the car, so Mom didn't have much of a chance to pop in any of her tunes.

Ignites a specific memory...I couldn't really narrow that down to any one song. I attach music to my memories, what I was listening to when something happend or what kind of music was out during certain periods in my life. I guess that's why I don't like to share music with others too much; music is a very personal thing to me.

You've dedicated to someone...I don't think I've ever done that before.

You identify with...Sex Machine - James Brown Why are you laughing? Stop that!