Welcome to my weekly blog
Catch up on what has been going on in my life this past week. if you are interested in previous weeks, click the dates to the right to read into my past!
July. 15. 2008
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It has been exactly 1 month since I have typed a blog. I apologize for my lack of typing. However, I have had plenty of material to write about. My mind has been racing a million thoughts per minute it seems. I feel as if I have been on the most challenging personal rollercoaster these past few months. I am happy to report; I believe I am going to be able to finish the ride.
My back is slowly and I mean S…L…O….W….L….Y getting better, but the point is, it is improving. I met with the doctor on 6.30.2008 for my 4 week visit after surgery. He gave me hope that I will someday return to the activities that previously occupied my life. One being basketball. This is how it sounded in his words “from what I recall you are very passionate about basketball” my response “yes” Dr. Coaster “Well I believe it is important that you engage in such activities if you love it. There is going to be a risk regardless of the activity that you can injure your back again, but if you love it, I think it is ok that you participate in it, and I want you to play.” I still have mixed feelings on the subject. For all that I love the sport, especially playing it, I just can’t imagine re-injuring my back and having to cycle through the mental torment, not to mention the physical limitations it brings along. Time will tell what I decide to do I suppose. I do know that I am going to pick up the game of golf. It is an extremely mentally challenging sport and if you think about it, you can play until you are very old ;-)
I have been able to return to work part time. It has been good to go out and at least talk to my people. I have realized that work is a big part of my life. Sometimes it is not the easiest, funest or most widely recognized work, but I love my job. I have always said that the one reason I have chosen to stay at Wal-Mart was because of the people that work there. The older I get, the more I realize what life is all about. It’s about the people that you share it with. I have had numerous opportunities to do something different, to move up the so called ladder a bit faster. But every day I thank the man above that I have been blessed with the clarity of recognizing what is right in front of me. It may mean I move a bit slower up that ladder or get paid a little less than the alternatives, but not all that is good comes in the form of success and money. I believe it comes in the form of the people I work with and work for and the difference I can be in their lives.
I took an impromptu trip to Utah on July 3, 2008. It ended up that I did not have to work that weekend, so I decided I better get home and see the latest addition to our family; Liam Lincoln Palmer. Jennifer was able to come with me and we arrived in Utah via my Honda civic at midnight the morning of July 4th. We crashed at my grandma’s house in WJ as we usually do. The morning of the 4th we took my grandma to breakfast to meet my mom, her boyfriend and my sister Angela. It was nice to catch up over a good meal. My mom had previous plans, so Jennifer, Angela and I went to the gateway downtown for some shopping. Angela was able to get some good shirts for herself. My favorite purchase of the day was a pack of Nike belts. Everyone in my family had previous plans for the 4th and since my trip was unannounced, I wasn’t a part of those plans. Jennifer and I ended up having a great meal at the Market Street Grill near the University of Utah. We then went up the canyon to Park City to catch the fireworks. It was a very interesting experience. They have their annual firework show take place on the golf course. We had a blanket and we walked down about a 300 yard fairway and picked a great spot right under an aged oak tree. It ended up being one of my favorite memories of Independence Day.
On Saturday we finally got to see Lincoln’s family. We went to a matinee showing of Wall.E. London sat with me most of the film and was actually pretty good throughout. After the movie Jennifer and I went to dinner with Linc and his family. It was fun to see the boys interact with each other. They are so full of life. It’s amazing to me how each child starts to develop their own personality at such early ages.
One of the fondest memories I brought back from my latest trip to Utah was the time I spent playing Wii with my Grandma. Yes, my 82 year old grandmother has a Wii. Don’t let the age mistake you; she is damn good at it! Check out all my pictures relating to this blog on my PHOTOS page.
Thanks for Reading,
HPP
June 15 2008
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So I awoke this morning with excruciating pain in my newly operated on back. I wanted to just lie there forever, but I figured it would be much better to get up and get moving. My theory proved to work for the most part.. I watched MSNBC for about an hour to catch up on the latest politics and breaking news. I then wandered to the fridge to retrieve an apple.
I am in a somber mood today .. .it is father’s day. For some odd reason I found myself at my computer , looking through all the videos I have taken over the years. . .mostly which are concert videos. Kenny Chesney cheered me up a bit with a shaky rendition of "Anything But Mine" from a concert I attended last summer. I then found a tribute video that I had made for my Grandfather some years ago to remember him. I watched the first 10 seconds and started to cry. I MISS HIM. It was weird to hear his voice , so deep and prominent, yet so soothing. It brought back so many memories, none of which are bad. How can that be? I have been thinking about life a lot lately and what it's all about. What my purpose is. . . .I don't know, but what I did realize this morning is that it's possible to live a regular, ordinary life and by doing so you can make such a difference in people’s lives. You don't have to be famous or wealthy, infact sometimes those things take away from your ability to be genuine. If I can find a way to influence just one person the way my Grandfather has influenced me, I will deem my life a success. In Honor of him and his example, I have posted my tributary video on this site. Just click DRG's picture below, or visit my PHOTOS page. Thank you for your example David Richard. You have been the difference in my life. Happy father’s day. I love you.
(MOM, if you happen to watch the video, pay close attention to the scene with you and your dad in the back yard sitting on the lawn chairs. In that moment you were both so happy. I paused it and just cried. )
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May 30 - June 6
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This past week has been on of the most challenging in my life thus far. On June 2, 2008 I met with a neurological surgeon to discuss a back injury I sustained on April 30th playing basketball. He concluded that surgery was the only way to fix the injury. The last disc in my back had been fractured and the fractured portion was pushing on my Thecal Sac (the sac running down your spine that holds all the nerves running down your spine) therefore, causing excruciating pain down my left leg. To be honest with you, I don't know how I handled the pain for so long. During the 3rd week of injury, the doctors did prescribe Vicodin for a method of dealing with the sharp pain.
The Surgeon I selected by the name of Hans Coester decided that my injury was serious enough to rearrange his schedule in order to get me in as quickly as possible. On Wednesday June 4, I went under for surgery at 4:30pm MST. The operation only took about 45min to complete. I woke up from being knocked out right as I was exiting the surgery room. It was a different experience. I have never had stiches, let alone surgery. . . and it was just my luck that I happen to have Back surgery of all things! Luckily my mother flew out from Salt Lake City to spend the week with me. She has been a great help in getting me back to health. It has also been nice just to catch up with her a bit with no distractions.