Medical things, as in two times in three days

Wednesday was a trip to the West Los Angeles VA Hospital Dermatology Clinic. I had this shit break out on the webbing between the fingers and it sucked balls….. I got an Rx for a topical ointment and was out quickly. One hour to Sand Canyon Road in Santa Clarita and the In-n-Out.

Friday had me going to the Sepulveda ACC for an imaging appointment. It was to look for an aorta aneurysm check. Age and having been a smoker caused my primary provider at the VA clinic in Lancaster (CA) to order the said procedure….. It was a snap. The stop for chow was the Denny’s at the Sand Canyon Road exit in Santa Clarita.

Next Thursday is the Chronic Pain Clinic at the West Los Angeles Hospital. That one is one of those….. Hmmmmm things ya know……..

I almost forgot…..

I still have this thing going, sort of anyway. I need to go ahead and pay the forty eight bucks a year to keep it going as I am running out of free space after ten years. You read that right, ten years. I started it just a few months after arriving in The Mojave Desert and a new job at Eddie’s Airplane Patch.

I have gained so many friends as a result of this here blog… Channeling our dear departed friend, Buck…. So after I make my medicare quarterly payment, I think this is the next thing on the agenda.

BTW, I am sitting here in the sort of wee hours watching After Hours with Alex Salvi on One America News Network and nursing one or two or three Belching Beaver Deftones Phantom Bride IPA. Yeah, work sucked ass tonight. The new Falcon AMU is a disaster and not the shit hot one we had before the merger of the two F-16 test outfits. Those of us from the Old Ramp Seven Falcon are disillusioned and downright angry……. We got a new OIC(Major with an attitude) and a CMSgt(same) that are pretty much micro managing things especially in the support section where I have worked for the past four plus years. The Old Retired Petty Officer ain’t impressed……

Somewhere tropical-Boat Drinks

What passes for early winter is here in the Southeast Kern County Desert. Highs in the low fifties and lows around freezing. The area is probably going to get hit by the big one on it’s way from the Northern Pacific. Interstate 80 is closed between Sacramento and the Nevada Line at Donner Pass. Interstate 5 over the Grapevine may close as well. From where I live, I will be able to see the snow on the Southern Sierra Nevada Range, Tehachapi and possibly the San Gabriel Mountains…..

Suddenly, I have the urge to go somewhere warm…

“Lately, newspaper mentioned cheap airfare.
I’ve got to fly to Saint Somewhere.
I’m close to bodily harm.”

Maybe not Saint Somewhere but the Florida to Texas Gulf Coast would work….. Lord knows that I could never deal with a winter in North Central Montana or Southern Alberta, where I grew up.

“Boat drinks.
Waitress, I need two more boat drinks.
Then I’m headin’ south ‘fore my dream shrinks.”

ORPO is not a fan of the cold anymore……..

11:11:11

This day is known in the United States of America as Veterans Day. In my childhood it was called Armistice Day by the wizzened, white haired old men in the little towns that I grew up in in Montana. When I lived on the Prairies of Southern Alberta in Canada, it was Remembrance Day. On our first Remembrance Day north of the 49th parallel, we watched the Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau lay a wreath at the Tomb of The Unkown at the Cenotaph in the Capital of the Dominion, Ottawa.  The current PM, Justin Trudeau seems to be a no show for this and it pains me. That is all I will say about that “gentleman.” At the precise moment of 11 minutes after 11 Eastern Time, the entire country of Canada came to a stop….. Let that sink in. Bill Paisley would understand being a former resident of the Maritimes.

The Poem, Flander’s Fields has meaning for me in that a Great Grandfather of mine came to the United States from Ypres in Flanders, now the present day Belgium. I do not consider that blood to be Belgian but Flemish to this very day.

Whatever your background and political persuasion, always remember….

There are those of us who did our time in Forces, whether it was a four year hitch or a twenty year plus career, we give you our gratitude this day……

For those who are no longer with us is this.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”

 

 

Something on the mind

Well since all are pretty much aware that the youngest daughter is with child, a grandson who is due in September, there is some decision making in regard to the lad’s naming. Missus ORPO is pushing for his middle name to be the same as mine which is as most know is Mark. It is hard to not try and have any influence in this process as in reality, it isn’t my decision. Straight up, it is not my decision in any fashion. I have never thought of leaving any legacy as it were at any time in my life. Would I like the grandson to have my name in some manner? Yes I would but I have absolutely no control over that.

On my part, I am glad that I will have a grandson whose early years I will be a part of. In around 18 to 24 months or so, we will be going back to Wichita, Kansas when I retire from the civil service at Edwards AFB. Let’s face it, I ain’t getting any younger and the mileage, wear and tear have taken a toll. I will need every moment that I can get.

I want to be able to take the boy fishing and shooting just like my Paternal Grandfather did with me. He also taught me how to run a bottling line in the days of glass bottles.

Please pardon the ramblings of an old man who now has much on his mind.

Forty Five

Forty Five years ago on a Saturday morning no less, I put my right hand in the air and took the oath of enlistment from an Army 1st Lt. and enlisted in the US Navy.

“I, (Glenn Mark Cassel), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.””

It turned into a long run.

Forty five years already……..

Yeah, I cheated and did the copy and paste from Wikipedia. It was easy ya know.

Another trip around the Sun

64.

Yesterday.

Damn.

I remember when I thought 50 was old.

I would like to thank all my friends on the Book of Faces for the wonderful birthday greetings. All of you hold a special place in my heart and my life.

I will now begin the process of preparing for retirement in 2 years…..

It will be here before I know it. 🤪🤪🤪🤪

On the passing of Captain McCain

I have been watching the “conversations” about John McCain on The Book of Faces since the news of his passing broke in the news media and I must say the some of it upsets me.

First, yes I did vote for him in 2008. No regrets there. Good, that is out of the way.

John McCain served his country admirably and with distinction in the United States Navy. His last tour was in command of Attack Squadron One Seven Four which was one of the largest squadrons in the Navy, responsible for the training of Naval Aviators and Maintenance Personnel heading to A-7 Light Attack Squadrons in the US Atlantic Fleet. That is an awesome responsibility. Nuff said.

There are the rumors of his behaviour while he was a POW during the Vietnam Conflict. As far as I can see those are just that, rumors.

If individuals cannot show some form of decorum regarding his death, they have some serious issues as human beings from the point of view of this Old Retired Petty Officer. At this point, the man’s political views are a moot point. Dignity and respect should be given to his family in the manner of one’s chosen beliefs and values. I have seen comments from a few Christians that are quite frankly reprehensible at best. Some Christian behaviour on their part.  Cancer is a vile thing. It took my Dad and I have had it myself. When Captain McCain made the decision to stop treatment, it was a decision to be taken lightly. My Dad did the same thing.

When the funeral happens in the near future, I truly hope that all of us take the time to bow or cover our heads as whatever religious custom dictates in respect and reflection for a truly good man who gave his best to his country. Remember this one thing, their are those who truly believe that he was a hero. If you chose to believe otherwise, that is your choice. I will not criticize you in an open forum for that. My own upbringing and sense of values will not let me attack you.

The best I can do today. The afflictions of the years and mileage are having an impact on the thought process today.

Just remember this one thing. Only G-d can truly judge us.

ORPO sends.

Ten years ago…11 September 2007…

I know it’s a day early but I have to work tonight starting at midnight.

I turned 53 on my ballast train on the BNSF KO Subdivision in North Dakota. I had tied up the previous night in Jamestown ND. It was a spot dump and went very well and I was done before noon….

I know it was a significant day in the history of Our Republic…..but I was kind of busy.

Tomorrow is the completion of another trip around the Sun……..

After the events 8 years ago with my left kidney, I have been more or less objective concerning the attacks that September day 16 years ago…. I’m still here. If symptoms had manifested, I would have had to get my affairs in order.

To those who may get upset over my viewpoints please remember this one thing, I was facing a major surgery to remove said kidney with the “large mass.”

I will put on my kippa tomorrow and say a prayer for the memory of those lost that day and those who were lost going in harm’s way to kill the perpetrators.

Old Retired Petty Officer Sends.

May Hashem guide you in your day……………………………

Medical Fun and Games Update

I had the scope yesterday. I got the all clear and the doc said I can wait ten years for the next one. I will be 72 then!

There is no cancer or even an indication that it may be present after all the damned blood work, scans and invasive procedures……….

Medical Fun and Games…..

After calling and calling the VA at Sepulveda about my CT Scan that I had on May 8th, the neurology called back and wants me to make an appointment…….

I can’t fathom why they just won’t send me the information. But after all the bullshit, I guess this is a step in the right direction. I still have to find out if my regular doctor who is my primary provider under the Veteran’s Choice Program has the results as well. After work this morning, it’s phone tag part whatever as I quit counting.

The colonoscopy is to be done on Friday the 28th, two days from now. I won’t get a check in time until I talk to the nurse on Thursday. I told this clinic that I need to know ASAP on Thursday so I can get some sleep before the preparation begins……….I think I actually got through.

It has been an aggravating and stressful three months…….

To all of my friends and followers on Facebook, I humbly apologize for the hasty departure. I may fire it up again but in a more compact manner with Neptunus Lex first and foremost.

I haven’t been the most pleasant person to be around. Maybe Missus ORPO and I should split for the Central Coast for a long weekend just to get a change of scenery.

I will be purchasing the upgrade here at WordPress to keep the blog going for quite some time I hope……….

 

Social Media Update

I have given up the social media, ie, Facebook and Google Plus. I was spending far too much time on it. I even cut into the time I should be sleeping.

My other blog, Old Retired Petty Officer is now decommissioned as well. I am debating to upgrade this blog but I have not made up my mind.

Should I upgrade, this will be my sole venue on the web. I am just tired from all the issues with my health and the dealings with the VA Healthcare System, particularly the Great Los Angeles System.  I have spent an inordinate amount of time just calling and leaving messages. I still have not heard the results of the CT Scan that I had done almost two months ago. The wear and tear is becoming a burden………..

If anyone wants to reach me my sole email is now rigger45@hotmail.com. If you would like my phone number, email me and I will give it to you.

This will be on the Lexicans blog as well.

 

Update on the fun and games

I had my ct scan on Monday of last week. I now wait……….. It’s part of the process ya know.

I had an EMG on last Thursday as well. The lady that administered it says I have sciatica….. She says that the nerve is pinched in the lower back. She did tell me the results of my most recent blood work. Good news on that front. Those three antibodies have very low numbers! At least I don’t have that to worry about at present!

I am not going to dodge the fact that I am concerned as there is a family history of cancer and I have had it once already…….

Until next time my friends!!!!

Recent thoughts…………….

It keeps going through my head………….

What is down the road with the possibility of cancer, again……………….

Sometimes the images are going at almost the speed of sound…………

Appointments are made and it is the waiting game…………..

Yes, I am scared of what may happen…………

I should put trust in Hashem to see me through I suppose………

About last Thursday…………..Life It’s Ownself……

This is what I posted at Old Retired Petty Officer this morning…….

About Last Thursday

But for the sake of not using links all the time here is the entire post………………………

On this past Thursday the 13th of April……………….
I had an appointment with the neurologist at the Sepulveda Veteran’s Ambulatory Care Clinic in North Hills, California in the San Fernando Valley. It is such a fun drive in because of the 14, 5 and 405 Freeways. This is a regularly scheduled thing for yours truly as I have had peripheral neuropathy for almost 2 years now.

I showed up on time even with the traffic. The neurologist I see is a young guy and I like him. I hope the Department of Veteran’s Affairs tries to keep him. We did the usual talk about how things have been with my feet and lower legs have been concerning the new medication. That is new since this past winter. I take pregabalin 25mg capsules at the rate of 6 each, twice a day. I told him that sometimes it seems to work and sometimes it doesn’t.

We then got into the lab work from the last visit about three months before………………..yeah………..
A CT and EMG have been ordered. The CT is scheduled for 26 June………..I have a way to make that happen faster, I do believe. I am on the Veteran’s Choice Program because I live over 40 miles away from the nearest VA facility. For me that was the Veteran’s Community Based Outreach Clinic in Lancaster. The Choice Program lets us use the outside the same as the VA system. Perhaps I can get things sped up a bit……………………..😏😏

It seems there were three antibodies in the blood work that are normally associated with………..cancer…………..yeah………..three months? I think that I should have been notified just a bit sooner on this one, perhaps?

A CT Scan and an EMG(Nerve Conduction) were ordered by Doc and off to the lab I went………8 vials of blood were drawn…………….yep……………..shit like this is getting far too regular ya know……

Of course by this time, the mind is going about a million miles an hour just like it did on September 4, 2009 when I got the “good news, bad news” speech from my doctor in Wichita. That was when the left kidney went bye-bye 17 days later.

I now sit waiting…..
When I got home, I tried to sleep as the graveyard shift awaited…………..allegory there, I think? What say you Chris Goodrich? Oh, where were we? Sleep………..yeah. I wound up being up for around 24 hours. I got home Friday morning and after what I hope was the last cigar, the lights went out. I did manage to catch my Beloved Montreal Canadiens win game two over the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Oh yeah, waiting…………………
I called the records folks and did the dance and my records from the time I got in the Greater Los Angeles Veteran’s Healthcare System. There is a mouthful!!!!!
I also have to fill out the release to satisfy the legal stuff.
I need the records for my regular Doc in Tehachapi in that he may have reservations about how things work at the Federal Government level.

Oh, did I mention that the neurologist said that the antibodies were indicative of the possibility of cancer? 😔😔😔😔😔

Missus ORPO and her sister had a long phone conversation yesterday about me………..the Sis-in-Law thinks that I crashed so hard as a reaction to getting the “C” word news………….It can have an effect I suppose.

I guess I will be blogging more again as this will be the journal of that little trip………….
We will see how it goes………………………………….