Almost feeling good!

Monday, November 24th, 2008 @ 8:08AM

Despite the fact that my nose is stuffed with gauze and splints.

This photo is from this morning.  I didn’t smile because the tip of my nose is still a little sore and stretching it is mildly uncomfortable.  You might notice that my nose is a little swollen or expanded due to the splints inside. (Read on for more about that.) Things are feeling much better; the worst day was Friday when everything was extremely swollen and painful.  I’ve never been punched in the nose or injured seriously, but I can assure you that I’ll avoid those outcomes at all costs if they’re anything like this.  When my nose is swollen, I look like Chief Wiggum.

I’m fortunate to have the good doctor Kelly Stoker at my disposal for this procedure; colleagues and former patients speak with overt accolades for him and I can only agree with his care so far.  The process is simple.  He had to surgically remove and straighten the chunk of cartilidge and tissue that should run down the center of my nose. In my case, it is crooked, blocking off my left nostril. This results on chronic sinus infections that are aggravated by poor drainage.  It is true that for nearly every day out of the last year I’ve suffered from a prolonged sinus infection. I was going to get this done earlier in the summer, but I altered my plans so I could be recovered enough to officiate high school football.  It was an entire season with a sinus infection making it difficult to physically exery myself.

Anyway, things are on the mend. Right now I have rolls of gauze and splints in each nostril. There is absolutely no air passing through my nasal cavity at all, and my mouth is constantly dry.  I drink a lot of water and Slurpees and suck on a lot of Popsicles.  Below is a photo of what the splints in my nose probably look like. (They may not be exact, I pulled this photo from Wikipedia.)

Tomorrow the doctor will remove all the splints and packing. I hope to be back on Wednesday.

todd

Slowly recovering…

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 @ 9:44AM

On the road to recovery.

Entering the hospital.

Here I am about to go into the operating room. I’m in my sexy gown.

This is how I looked when I got home. Due to breathing through my mouth only, I offered the nurses $1000 for a Slurpee. They did bring me a popsicle, but my lovely wife (and excellent nurse) stopped at the 7-11 on the way home. My mouth is still massively dry because my nose is plugged with gauze and other items.  These will get yanked out on Tuesday afternoon and we hope I’m fine at that point.  I just have headaches and nostril-aches still going on, and my mouth is still dry. Mmmm...Slurpee sounds good.  Let me see if I can sweet talk the lovely Mrs. Nuke ‘Em into getting me a Slurpee. (I bet I can!)

I hope to see you on Wednesday.

todd nuke ‘em

Off to get my nose fixed.

Thursday, November 20th, 2008 @ 6:02AM

For the mere price of $2000 out of pocket.

There are lots of fun things I can do with $2000, but that’s my co-payment for my surgery.  I found that out late last night.  I’m a lucky guy with a nice job, but $2000 is gonna hurt a little bit no matter what.  Oh well, I guess the insurance company will pay a heck of a lot more than that.

Anyway, it’s 5:04 am and I’m about to get ready to leave.  Mrs. Nuke ‘Em is taking her knitting and I’m taking my Barack Obama book “The Audacity of Hope” so we can have something to do while we wait.

Later,

todd

Depeche Mode is inventing new sounds.

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 @ 7:51AM

Sample that!

I’ve been a longtime fan and admirer of Depeche Mode because of their constant need to break ground on new albums, manufacturing new sounds and combinations of sounds to create amazing music.  They are in the studio right now working on a new album that will arrive in 2009.  Watch the following clip.  With Depeche Mode, there are no limits.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Train In Vain” The Clash
1:20 “Non Dairy Creamer” Third Eye Blind (It’s a new song from these guys!)

I hate my nose.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 @ 1:35PM

:(

I can’t breathe! It will be so great when the doctor plays roto-rooter with my sinus.  I’ll do my best to post blogs and photos as I recover.  The surgery is Thursday.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Cemeteries of London” Coldplay
1:20 “The City Sleeps” MC 900 Foot Jesus

Insert drill into nostril.

Thursday, November 13th, 2008 @ 12:59PM

I'm having surgery one week from today.

My nose is a mess inside. It’s always plugged up and I can’t breathe. The doctor determined that I have a deviated septum, so they’re going to fix it.  I’ll be out for a few days, but I’ll continue to update this blog with photos and pain killer inspired rants.  It all goes down a week from today.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Still Around” 3OH!3
1:20 “Verse Chorus Verse” Nirvana

The Skyrocketing Price of Pretzels.

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 @ 12:47PM

Now at 90 cents!

With the crippling economy and recent record-setting gasoline prices, the news just keeps getting worse.  Of course I’m talking about the rising costs of junk food from the X96 company vending machine down the hall by the bathrooms.  It used to be that a dollar could get you a bag of chips or some Twinkies with change that would stack up over the coming days to equal enough for a Coke.  It used to be a bag of delicious pretzels would only cost me 75 cents, but over the last year the price has climbed to a staggering 90 cents.

Please, Mr. Obama, urge congress to pass a Pretzel Stimulus Package.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Lovers In Japan / Reign of Love” Coldplay
1:20 “The Dolphin’s Cry” Live

The Sound of the Smiths

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 @ 2:18PM

The new compilation from The Smiths

Rhino Records remastered 45 Smiths classics for the new compilation The Sound of the Smiths.  If you’ve been curious about this legendary 80s band, this is a great compilation that you should add to your collection.  They are the originators of emo.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Terrible Lie” Nine Inch Nails
1:20 “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before” The Smiths

Playing in the basement with my trains.

Monday, November 10th, 2008 @ 7:52AM

Yeah, I had to get two model UTA Frontrunner trains because I'm a nerd.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Crawling In The Dark” Hoobastank
1:20 “Aerials” System Of A Down

We announce the X96 Nightmare Before Xmas Monday at 7am!

Friday, November 7th, 2008 @ 2:21PM

So make sure you're listening to Radio From Hell.

Here are the songs I played on todd’s iPod today.
10:20 “Panic” The Smiths
1:20 “Propane Nightmares” Pendulum