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TalonRider

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  1. TalonRider

    GCM G6

    By TalonRider,

    Those of you who've read my past blogs know that I'm a Diabetic and use an Insulin Pump to manage it. My current pump is a TSlim: X2 using Glucose Continues Monitoring (GCM) G5. Earlier this year, the Tandem Company released their new pump software using the G6 GCM. The G5 required two daily finger sticks to calibrate it. The G6 requires none.
    After verifying my information with Tandem, they then contacted my Doctor for a prescription for the software. I then had to take and pass, an 80 minute course explaining the software and what it does. Once I completed and passed the 3 parts and quizzes, I was sent a download number and the downloader software. It only took 15 minutes to load the new software.
    The IQ technology is designed to give me better control of my blood glucose trying to keep it between 70 and 180. The first night I used it, the pump work me three times during the night with low blood sugar. Low enough that I had to get up and go eat some carbs. The second night, the pump kept me awake for a half an hour with a high blood sugar. It had increased my bolus of insulin to lower my blood sugar and then complained it wasn't going down. I use Humalog which is not fast acting.
    The doctor is definitely going to have to change my pump profile to stop those actions, especially the night activity mode.
  2. TalonRider

    2017 Health Issue Update

    By TalonRider,

    On September 25, 2015 2017, I went for my six month Urological check-up and came away with a clean bill of health. My next check-up is in six months again. 
     
    It's been almost four years now since the bladder tumors were found and I'm Cancer free. After the next appointment, I might be able to switch to an annual bladder check. It's not all that exciting having a small flexible scope pushed into the urethra, not to mention the burning pain when I need to pee the next few times.
  3. TalonRider

    Health Issue 2016

    By TalonRider,

    This story begins almost a week ago on Tuesday, 11/1/2016.
     
    I went online to order a refill of Novalog for my insulin pump. After going thru the process, it tells me that they need to get my doctors permission to renew the script and should be available after two pm Thursday.
    On Wednesday, I called the Doctors office to talk to her nurse. I wind up leaving a message for her to see if I can get some samples to use while I waited. I knew I wasn't going to have enough to last until the Pharmacy can fill the order.
     
    Thursday afternoon, I check with the Pharmacy again and place the order again only to find out it would be available until Tuesday, 11/8/16. In the meantime, the phone rings. It wasn't any one I knew so I didn't answer. Shortly after that call, there was a voice mail from the doctors office. They call went straight to voice mail. It was the doctors nurse returning my call over 24 hours later. It seems in the message I left, the person wrote Humalog and not Novalog so she was calling to verify. By then it was too late to get the Novalog from the office as the Doctor had left for the day.
     
    In the meantime, I'd been sick to my stomach all day and not feeling good. Why you ask? By this time my Blood Sugar is over 600. Not good. At the doctors office suggestion, I go to the Emergency Room where eventually, I wind up in Intensive Care for observation.
     
    Moving forward to late Friday afternoon, one of my doctors there wanted to get me hooked back up to my insulin pump, so I called a friend to get it for me. The hospital I was at doesn't stock and use Humalog so I wound up calling my Pharmacy, which I was going to do on Thursday afternoon. That's when I found out they were still waiting on my regular specialist to authorize the renewal. The hospital doctor wasn't happy about that so he sent a fax to the pharmacy to get some. I then had my friend run out an pick it up.
     
    Finally I was discharged from ICU to another room where I remained until after 2:00 pm Sunday when they finally released me.
  4. TalonRider

    2014 Followup Entry

    By TalonRider,

    Once again, it's been awhile since my last entry.
     
    For this entry, I'm going to concentrate on the walking that I mentioned before. In August of 2014, I bought myself an exercise tracker. I started out with one of the cheaper ones that tracked my daily steps, calories burned, and my sleep at night. I can the information to my computers, phone, and tablet.
     
    When I started having problems with the tracker almost a year later, I upgraded to one of the trackers which has clock built in. It also monitors my heart rate and tracks the number of stairs climbed. Now I don't have to wear the tracker and a watch on the same arm.
     
    Eventually, I did buy a wireless scales to keep track of my weight. I'm slowly getting down to my target weight of 200 lbs from 230 lbs.
     
    The following is going to make you quite tired after you read it.
     
    Since the first tracker, I've walked 4,718,290 steps in 14 months. Can you imagine the life time steps taken?
     
    During this time, I've earned quite a few badges.
     
    In the daily steps section I have the Boat Shoe, Sneaker, Urban Boot, and High Tops.
     
    In the daily climb section I have the Happy Hill (for climbing 10 floors), and the Redwood Forest. This includes stairs and walking up hills.
     
    In the Life Time Climb I have the Helicopter for 500 floors, and the Highdiver for 1,000 floors.
    I get the next badge when I reach 2,000 floors.
     
    I've collected nine (9) Lifetime Distance badges.
    Marathon - 26 miles
    Penguin March - 70 miles
    London Underground - 250 miles, equal to walking the London subway system.
    Serengeti - 500 miles, equal to walking the Serengeti from one end to the other.
    Italy - 736 miles, equal to walking from one end to the other.
    New Zealand - 990 miles Equal to walking from one end to the other.
    Great Barrier Reef - 1,660 miles, equal to walking? from end to the other.
    Japan - 1,869 miles, equal to walking from one end to the other.
    India - 1,997 miles - equal to walking from one end to the other.
    The next badge come when I reach 2,500 miles.
     
    I also have three (3) weight badges for losing 5, 10, & 15 pounds.
  5. TalonRider
    It has been some time since I last blogged anything. The last time was about the stress due to the sale of the place where I worked. That has ended as on February 27, 2014, I took my money and ran. I retired from working with the County. Ironically, the sale took place a few days later. Do I miss the place? Not at all.
     
    WARINNG. IT MAY BE A BIT GRAPHIC FOR SOME AT THIS POINT.
     
    On Saturday, March 15th, I woke up to find blood and clots in my urine. I called my doctor to let him know I was going to the Emergency Room at the local Hospital. I packed a bag and then drove myself in. I spent most of the day in ER waiting for and spending time with the Urologist on call. I spent some time in X-Ray to have an MRI. The doctor worked for awhile to try and get the clots out of my bladder. Eventually, I was admitted and sent to my room.
     
    On Sunday morning, the doctor came in and told me he had me sceduled for Surgery early in the afternoon. Using a scope, he was going to look into my bladder to see what was going on. Monday morning, the catheter was removed and later dischared.
     
    A few days later, I had a followup visit at the Doctors office. There I got the news. He found three (3) Tumors. Pathology identified the tissue samples as Cancer. As the doctor put it, a GOOD cancer as the tumors had not gotten thru the bladder into muscle. Had the tumors gotten thru to the muscle, then it would be the bad type which can spread. We then talked about treatment.
     
    BCG was the treatment for bladder tumors. A solution of the medicine used to treat TB is used to treat the tumors. Once a week of six weeks, I went to the office where the Nurse would insert a catheter into my bladder then let a small amount of fluid into my bladder, only after she inserted some lubricant that also contained Lidocane to numb the Urethra so it didn't hurt. It was still a bit uncomfortable, especially in the area of the Prostate. After the cath was removed, I went home where I spent the next two hours laying around, turning 90 degrees every 15 minutes to make sure the bladder got coated as evenly as possible. A couple of weeks later, I returned to the office where the doctor, using a camera, looked into my bladder. One of the tumor sites during healing, grew what I'll say looked like fuzzy fingers.
     
    I was then scheduled for Out Patient surgery in September where the doctor took care of the tissue. On the follow up visit, I got the news that I'm Cancer free and that my bladder responded so well to the BCG treatment, I won't have to go thru the booster treatments. To do so could cause problems later on. On my last office visit in December, one of the tumor sites looked a little funny but the doctor said it still could be healing. We'll know better after the next visit.
     
    Back on Easter weekend of 2013, I tried for the first time an ecig made by Blue. I eventually bought one of the starter kits and cartriges as I decide to smoke them instead of a cigerette. I slowly finshed off the last four packs I had over a period of time so that by the end of April, I was no longer smoking a tobacco product. It was cheaper to go online and buy several boxes of cartriges and have a bigger selection of flavors to choose from. Online, I had the choice of nicotine levels, high, medium, low, and zero. In stores it was high. low, and zero. My Primary Care Doctor was happy that I was no longer smoking tobacco. He had nothing bad to say about the eCig usage.
     
    I think it was after my first Out Patient cysto that I completely quit vaping all together. So since summer, I've not smoked. I simply saw the eCig as a way to cut down on Nicotine. I'll admit that occasionaly I do get the urge to smoke but it doesn't last long at all. Blues literature may say that their product isn't meant to as an aid to quit smoking but it worked for me.
     
    Also, during the summer, I quit drinking so much diet soda's and diet tea. Now the only caffiene I allow myself is a 16 ounce mug of coffee in the morning. Amongst everything else, I also have high blood pressure. Now I drink plenty of water with those flavor enhancing drops. Plain water just don't cut it.
     
    Since I'm a type 1 diabetic, I've gotten back into walking again. Every morning, I drive two miles to a local park and walk their 1.7 mile course. A road goes thru the park and the walk way crosses it twice. One one side of the road, there is a 0.7 mile course and on the other side is another .07 mile course which also has 0.3 mile section for straight line skating, tho I've not seen anyone skating.
     
    The course I've set for myself takes me about 22 minutes to walk around once and end up back at my car. After a nature break and a drink of water, I take off again on a different course. I end up back at the car for quick drink then I set out on the skaters course and end up walking just over 3 miles in under an hour.
     
    I've made friends with a couple of the dog walkers and after my work out, I walk a little with them. Since mid November I've been going back to the park and walking again. My record of walking in one day is over 15,000 steps which comes to 7.27 miles walked.
     
    I'm also working to lose some weight and being a diabetic makes it a little more difficult to do.
  6. TalonRider

    Reduced Stress

    By TalonRider,

    The last few months have been interesting to say the least.
     
    For those of you who don't know, I work for a County owned and operated Nursing Home in southeastern Pennsylvania. When the current set of Commissioners took office, they slowly began down sizing and consolidating different departments. The even sold off one of the County office buildings only to turn around and lease it back. I think the main reason was to get out from under the debt from the purchase incurred by a previous administration.
     
    Looking back, the old hospital building should never have been purchased. It was remodeled to accommodate offices, a Nursing Home section, and an Assisted Living space. The Assisted Living lasted about five years before it failed and closed.
     
    The Nursing Home section never opened.
     
    Earlier this year they turned to us. They started out by sending out a Request for Information (RFI). The Commissioners wanted to see what their options were in dealing with the Nursing Home. Do they keep the Home, turn it over to a Management Company, or do they sell it?
     
    An RFP, Request For Purchase, was then done and we were sold for 39 Million dollars.
     
    During this time period, it's been hard to maintain a positive outlook on things. Everyone wants answers and they want them now. When I could find out anything that I could pass along to my staff from the Administrator, they wouldn't believe it. It got to the point that I didn't want to deal with people in any form or fashion. Doing this blog entry is probably the longest I've been online for sometime.
     
    We're slowly learning things now that matter to people. The County Pension personnel will be coming out to the facility to talk to each person further about their options.
     
    If things go as stated by the Commissioners, at the end of the year, I will be losing my job and starting a new one at the same time.
  7. TalonRider

    The 2011 Mustang

    By TalonRider,

    As I indicated in a Status Update, on June 14th I traded in my 2007 Mustang for a 2011 Mustang.
     
    Since I've been driving, this is my fourth Mustang. I've had a 1965 Mustang and a 1972 Mach 1.
     
    The new one is Kona Blue Metallic.
     

     
    A couple of things I found out about it today that I didn't know. When I use the turn signals, the rear lights blink in the sequence of inside segment, middle, outside, then repeat until the turn is made.
     
    The other thing I learned is, it has motion sensors on the inside. I had the windows open at work and after lunch I tossed my lunch bag in and the horn started honking. I thought maybe I had accidentally triggered the panic button. Just before 2 PM, a couple of my staff had gone out to look at the car and one of them had stuck her arm and that triggered the alarm again. They thought I was standing back somewhere watching them and hit the button.
  8. TalonRider

    I Have A New Name

    By TalonRider,

    I found out at work today, that I've been given a new name by my staff. They are now referring to me as The Angel of Death. Earlier in the year, I had to escort two of my staff to a meeting with the Administrator about a picture that one of them had posted on Face Book. Unfortunately, it was work related photo that didn't go over too good.
     
    Last week, I had to escort another of my staff for another meeting. With the current state of the economy and working on next years budget, personnel changes have to be made. My department is downsizing by two people. We are trying to avoid layoffs. The person I took to the meeting was offered the opportunity to enroll into the Nurse Aide training class that started today. She accepted the offer and if all goes well, by the end of the year, she'll then transfer into the Nursing Department.
     
    What the staff doesn't know is, there will be one more meeting with another person. This person, I will be glad to be rid of as this person is a major pain in the butt. Unfortunately, this person is one of my supervisors. It will make my job a little harder and I'll quit getting those sudden sharp pains in the back.
     
    Some of the other things the County may do is decrease the amount of paid holiday's, increase our contribution for Health Care to 25% from 20%, a possible no raise for 2010. From what some of my staff have told me, they won't mind those changes as long as they have a job.
     
    These things don't bother me as the hospital I came from only paid us for eight holidays, not 13 plus 3 personal days. We paid 25% of our health care benefits and we went a three year period with a raise.
  9. TalonRider
    What's that? You ask.
     
    Plans are in the works for 8/1/09 to meet another of my internet friends. This isn't just an ordinary friend. He also happens to be my favorite off site author. I'm talking about Jamie, author of 'The Scrolls of Icaria'.
     
    Jamie contacted me, via chat, this past Sunday to let me know he would be flying in Monday and wanted to know if I wanted to get together, providing his schedule allowed it. He's here on business. Even tho he was born and raised in the Harrisburg, PA area, he calls Belgium home.
     
    Via two emails today, we're making plans for this weekend.
     
    If you like sci-fi/fantasy, you'll like T.S.O.I. It's a story about boys with wings and their search for their home/kingdom. Back in late April, early May, I did a complete proof read of Book 1 for Jamie. Over the years, Jamie has corrected various errors that slipped thru the editing process and since I probably know the story as well has him and his editor, Jamie asked me if I would do this for him and I did.
     
    Once this was done, all the chapters and interludes were re-posted so that now anyone new finding the story, will find the best possible copy. If you do decide to read it, don't be in a big hurry to go thru it. Jamie has hidden lots of clues thru out the story. The proofreading that I did was the fifth time for me to read Book 1 and I still found things I missed before.
     
    And if you read it looking for sex, you won't find it. Jamie doesn't write sex, he'll hint to something happening, but he doesn't write.
  10. TalonRider
    Catchy little title for not having written one for awhile.
     
    Not that long ago, I found out someone was going to be in the area for a day at Hershey Park. I sent an email to see if he'd like to meet up since I only live about an hour and a half away from the park.
     
    The day started out a little cool and rainy. Fortunately, it quite just before the park opened for the day. And just to make sure I was easily identified, I wore my yellow Talon T-shirt, the same one I took a picture of and use for my avatar. Strangely enough, I think we spotted each other at about the same time. By now you're probably wondering, "who in the hell is he talking about?" Well, I'll tell you. It was Myr and his two traveling companions.
     
    We had a great day. Our first ride for the day was Fahrenheit 97 Degrees. On this coaster you get pulled up straight up on the lift hill. Once you reach the top and you go over it, you drop at a 97 degree angle.
     
    The fun part of the day came when we were getting ready to ride Lightening Racers. Myr and I had just gotten in the front car. At one point, I turned to him and said, "what's the matter, can't you get it in?" At which point he grabbed it in both hands and got the seat belt buckled. This coaster has a dual restraint system, lap bar and seat belt. While I was holding my half up of the belt, Myr was trying to connect his half and was having problems hitting the buckle.
     
    I believe Myr will be posting documented proof we were there.
     
    Myr and I have been chatting for probably close to 3 years and it was very nice to meet him in person.
  11. TalonRider

    Infusion Pump Update

    By TalonRider,

    It's been awhile since my last entry so I'm doing one in response to a recent post in Shadowgods forum and a pm. I told the sender in a reply, this would make a good blog entry and I'd try to have it up some time today.
     
    A question to the readers was asked, didn't the description of Jonathan shooting up creep you out? I replied with this, Some it would bother, but not me. When you check your blood sugar six times daily and then give yourself injections, you can get used to it.
     
    You can get used to it, but not completely. I can usually watch someone else get stuck and then there's no guarantee I'll still look, but when it comes to having my own lab work done, I usually look away while they insert the needle, then watch as the tubes fill. Part of that also comes from all the years I've worked in the health care profession. I don't see how anyone could subject themselves to it just to get high.
     
    I also used to work with a couple of guy's, who fainted at the site of a needle.
     
    I've been on the pump now for 11 months and it's changed my life. Before the pump, I was taking my blood sugar before each meal and before bed. I would then have to calculate the amount of Humalog to inject with the meals and Lantis at night since it was only injected once daily.
     
    One less worry I have is, now with the pump, I no longer have any need to travel with a bunch of syringes. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of being in an accident, or being pulled over, the car searched, and the syringes found. It would be assumed that I was a user before anything else was said or done. Granted, they would be in the packaging I bought them in, but at the site of them, it would be assumed.
     
    With the pump, I now check my blood sugar (bs) more, before breakfast, before lunch, two hours after lunch, before the evening meal, two hours after, and again before bed. Yes, the number of finger sticks went up, but the number of injections went down. Every few days, I have to refill the disposable syringe and change the location of the inset.
     
    I have better control of my bs levels than I did before. I figure out what my carb intake is for the meal, enter that number into the pump along with my bs reading. It then calculates the amount of insulin. I then enter that number into the pump and it will inject that amount. The pump also delivers a small amount hourly. At the time of writing this, it is programed to deliver 0.70 unit per hour. This changes for different periods of the day for a 24 hour period.
     
    The pump came with a food list that shows the carbs. This list downloaded into a pda that I bought. The pump came with software and a download cable. The program was downloaded to the pda the first time I synced it with the desktop. I was also able to add food items to the Favorites list that I use. At lunch, I pick what I'm having from the list and it will add things up. It's more accurate than trying to guess what the carbs are for something. I've also learned that when it comes to fries and potato chips, double them.
     
    I learned very quickly, after the first time I installed the first inset, to trim away hair. Nothing like pulling out some hair off your belly. There are several sites that can be used, arms, legs, and belly area. I stick with the belly area as it's easier to work with. I'd also need the inset with the longer tubing for the other areas since I keep the pump no my belt or waist band.
     
    Something funny with it. During my brief training period with the pump, I was told I would need to disconnect from the pump when I was changing the piston and inset. I assumed this meant disconnecting the tubing at the pump. So for two weeks I was hanging it from my necklace to shower, it's waterproof. I found out one day that I could disconnect at the inset and use a cap that came with them and shower without the pump hanging around my neck.
     
    If I had to pay for the pump and supplies, I don't think I'd have it. The pump is over $5,500 and my usual order of five boxes of insets and five boxes of infusions set costs over $700. My health insurance pays for most of it. I just have a $20.00 co-pay per line item. Periodically, I have to buy a pack of lithium batteries and a new replacement battery cap.
     
    With today's technology, there are blood sugar monitor's available that can give you real time readings without the need to prick a finger. They are attached to your body, much the same way as my pump, and they are wireless.
  12. TalonRider
    This has been one exciting trip so far. It actually started several days ago. I went to call my brother to let him know I would be coming and when. I discovered that somehow I had lost his number off my cell phone. I couldn't find my younger sisters either. I had noticed several days ago, that I couldn't make or receive calls. I wound up pulling the battery and sim card to get it working again. So emailed a cousin of mine asking her to contact my sister and let her know and to get a hold of my brother.
     
    When I got to my brothers place, no one was home. Some one is usually, someone is there when they know I'm coming. I went to a friend of mine for awhile and called my cousin. She said she didn't get the email. I did get my sisters number from her and called her. She didn't call me back until 11:30 p.m. I did manage to find out what my brothers number was and called and left a message for him to call my friends house. Knowing my brother's wife, I decided to head over there around 8 and still no one was home. I decided to head into town and get something to eat and decided to go to the hotel I stayed in last summer when I took a coaster trip with a friend.
     
    On a good note, I plan to hit Indiana Beach and check out their new coaster for this year, Steel Hawg. (Link)
     
    Now for something a bit humorous, some of the signs I see along the way driving from Pennsylvania to Indiana. While driving in the Harrisburg area, I drive thru Middlesex Township. Along the way, I pass signs for University of California, Pennsylvania. Later on in Ohio, I pass Flushing, Ohio. Then once I get into Indiana, I drive thru Economy at 40 mph.
  13. TalonRider

    Counting Carbs

    By TalonRider,

    It's been awhile since my last blog entry. I had an interesting email today from BD. I get a newsletter from them periodically. I sometimes will post some of the articles at my site The Talon House.
     
    How good are your carb counting skills?
    Take this quiz and find out... more>
     
    I took this quiz to see how well I'd do since I count carbs as part of my daily treatment.
     
    Breakfast: 1/4
    Lunch 4/4
    Dinner 2/4
     
    Try you luck and see how well you do and post your results.
  14. TalonRider

    New Bestest Buddy?

    By TalonRider,

    Unfortunately, it's not of the human kind. In a previous blog, I talked about an Infusion Insulin Pump. I decided to go with it. This now means that I am connected to it 24/7. Anything I do, it goes with me. Even into the shower. I have to hang it on a neckless. The only time it won't be connected to me is when I change the infusion set.
     
    There will be few times that I will have to take it off, most x-rays, coasters with a high g-force and/or use magnetics.. This means that next season, when Dorney Park opens opens VooDoo, I won't be wearing to the park.
     
    On 11/26, I went for my first appointment to go over some things. I thought taking my blood sugar 4 times daily was bad enough. Before breakfast, sometimes before lunch, before my evening meal, and at bedtime. After that appointment, I now take it before each meal and again 2 hours later plus a final time at bedtime. I also have to count and keep track of my Carb intake. All this information when to help set up the pump.
     
    On 12/4, I went for my second appointment that lasted for 3 hours. On this day, we set the pump up and started using as practice to get used to it. I'm using a saline solution currently to get used to it. I'm also still counting carbs the same as I did the first week.
     
    On 12/11, I have my third appointment at which time, I will start using Insulin. The advantage of the pump is, I will no longer have to inject myself 4 times a day. I can do it thru the pump.
     
    The pump is currently set to inject 0.775 units per hour. After meals, I will be able to inject a bolus to help bring down a high blood sugar.
  15. TalonRider

    Decision Time

    By TalonRider,

    Well, it's finally come. What times that you ask? Last week, my employer sent out letters to all the County employee's that eligible for retirement. This is something that they do periodically. They offer an incentive. This year I fall into the criteria set up, 10 years employment and age 55. The other is 30 years employment and any age.
     
    In a couple of weeks, I am to receive another letter showing what my monthly pension would be. It will be calculated to 16 years plus and additional 4 years giving me 20 years.
     
    The way I see it, I've got different choices I could make.
    1. Take early retirement, move back closer to family where the cost if living is cheaper than where I currently am. Get a part time job until I reach full retirement age to collect Social Security. I'd take a big hit if I claimed it now. I could claim that at 66, or even wait until I turn 70 for the maximum. Then there's the pension from my former employer where the pension won't be much, somewhere in the neighborhood of $418 a month. If I take it at age 55, that amount get cuts in half.
     
    Or
     
    2. I could tough it out and wait until full retirement age.
     
    There's no guarantee that an incentive would be offered again, and if so, when. It just depends on the investing the county does with the retirement funds. When the investments make money they tend to make these offers.
     
    I've got some figuring to do in the meantime so that I'll have something to compare.
     
    What ever I decide to do, I have until December 31, 2007, to decide. If I do decide to retire, I'll until June 30, 2008 to retire.
  16. TalonRider
    Thought I give you an update as to the vacation.
     
    Our trip started at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday 8/18/07. About 2 hours into the trip, we got into some stopped traffic. An hour later, we finally go passed the scene of an overturned semi-trailer. We arrived an hour later than planned at Geauga Lake in Aurora Ohio. When we left the park that night, it took us about 45 minutes to find the hotel. We could have found it sooner if I had turned the right direction.
     
    Sunday 8/19, we drove to Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, in the rain. The hour and a half drive, took us 3 hours to do. It rained off and on all day. During the day, our most exciting ride was on Wicked Twister, followed by MaxAir, a big swinging ride in which the riders sit facing out and spinning around while it swings back an forth. We also made a few circuits on the train. When it stop raining, they would start preparing the coasters to run, but as soon as it would start sprinkling again, they would stop.
     
    Monday 8/20, wasn't much better. It rained harder, so we didn't go into the park until late afternoon. We did get to ride more. We did do some circuits on the train again and this time I had my camera, so I will be posting some new pictures when we get back home this weekend. Unfortunately, we didn't get to ride the new for 2007 coaster, Maverick. It hadn't run all weekend.
     
    Tuesday morning 8/21, we left our hotel at the park for the 3 1/2 hour drive to the Cincinnati area for King's Island. But we did have to take a detour off I75 after sitting in traffic for an hour and a half, due to a accident. It took us 6 and a half hours to make the trip. This time includes a stop for breakfast. It also includes about two hours of driving in the rain. I also managed to loose my cell phone today also. I'll be checking in the morning to see if some one by chance found it and turned it in.
     
    Fortunately, it didn't rain at King's Island so we got to do some serious riding, including two coasters that I've not ridden yet, The Italian Job and Firehawk, the new flying coaster. A very interesting ride.
     
    We wound up adding an extra day to King's Island instead of going to Holiday World in Santa Claus, In. The hotel we were going to stay at called me on the Friday before we were to leave to see if we were going to the park. Come to find out, the park is now closing for weekday operations and going to weekend operations only because school is now in session. I'm glad they did that. It would have pissed me off to get all the way there and then find out the park was CLOSED.
     
    I'll update this entry in a day or two.
  17. TalonRider
    I saw this comment in This or That and thought I'd use it as a blog entry.
     
    Ieshwar said:
     
    It is possible for someone to spend years in someones memories. There's hardly a day goes by that I don't think about Phil at least once. If you've read my entry entitled, "Black Friday", you know who I'm talking about. Some people you will never forget, others, you wish you could. I have both, good and not so good , memories and I cherish them all. They say you never forget your first love, and I believe it.
     
    Jan
  19. TalonRider

    Vacation Plans

    By TalonRider,

    Its taken three years, but it's finally going to happen. A friend and I have been talking about taking a trip together to Cedar Point. Peter and I have been riding roller coasters together for five years now and we've both been to CP, but not together.
     
    It's going to be a bit grueling tho. The trip will begin on a Saturday morning. We'll leave my house and drive approximately six hours to Aurora, Ohio, where we'll spend the afternoon and evening at Geaura Lake.
     
    Sunday morning, we'll drive approximately two hours to Sandusky, Ohio, to CP and spend two days there.
     
    Tuesday morning, we'll drive maybe five hours to Kings Mills, Ohio, 20 miles northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio, to Kings Island.
     
    Wednesday morning, we'll drive approximately 4 hours to Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN.
     
    Thursday, we'll drive approximately 5 hours to where I am originally from. That evening, we will go to Indiana Beach, in Monticello, IN.
     
    We'll return to the motel where we'll spend Friday touring the area and resting for the 10. 5 hour return trip to Pennsylvania.
     
    It'll be a long trip, but a fun one for sure.
     
    Out of all the parks listed, I've been to all of them but one. Peter has only been to one of them.
     
    Cedar Fair owns the three parks in Ohio, so we will be able to use our season passes for Dorney Park there. Since we both are members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), we'll be able to get half price admission to another park. This same park also offer free Pepsi to everyone in the park.
  20. TalonRider

    Away

    By TalonRider,

    This blog entry will help explain the entry of Nick's titled, 'Putting my best foot foward'.
     
    I'm currently spending some unexpected time with family. On the morning of 6/14, my youngest sister called me to me know that one of my older sisters died during the night unexpectedly. I didn't leave for Indiana until Saturday morning. I had a doctors appointment scheduled for Friday plus another appointment. I know, I could have rescheduled them, but the Doctor's appointment had been scheduled for eight weeks already.
     
    My sister was a diabetic also and had been since the age of two and a half. At that early age, the early 50's, something happened that caused some brain damage to her. After high school, she became involved with a local organization, Carey Industries, that worked with the challenged. Local industry would bring in work for these individuals to do like sort and package small items.
     
    She was also involved with the Special Olympics.
     
    The arrangements made were a bit unusual from what I'm used to. For obvious reasons, the was no viewing scheduled for Sunday, Fathers Day, so the viewing was scheduled for Monday from 2 p.m. to six p.m. with the service scheduled for 6 p.m. the same day. This allowed for her friends from CI to attend. Burial then took place Tuesday morning with just my youngest sister, a cousin, and myself going. My cousin brought some balloons that we released.
     
    I've had a couple of the sweetest emails from Nick this week and they have been greatly appreciated.
     
    This is the reason why Nick hasn't posted anything new in the past few days. Although, I will admit that I did bring some editing work with me since my brother and nephew are also away at Scout Camp this week. This was also another reason for the arrangements, so they could attend. The work I took with me is a book that I'm editing for a published author. It took me awhile to get into a rythym to work on it. I'm used to doing chapters when they are sent, not the entire book.
     
    I wasn't sure about my internet time. The local Uni that I go to to use their free wireless, doesn't allow you goto any sites that have anything to with LGBT. So that meant sites like Awesomedude and Gay Authors are blocked. I did go to a friend of mines house, but we spent too much time doing other things, don't go there, to go online. I found out last night, out of curiousity, that one of my brothers neighbors has an unsecured wireless network set up. Do guess how this post is being done.
     
    Jan
  21. TalonRider
    This past week was an interesting one for me. I bought a new car, worked on some new chapters from Empathy and Nick, bought a new car, received a book to edit for CPL, attended Coaster Madness 2007. And did I mention I bought a new car?
     
    On Friday, I went to Coaster Madness, an annual event hosted by Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom for coaster and amusement park clubs. From 8:30 a.m. til 10:00 a.m., before the park opened to the general public, we Exclusive Ride Time (ERT) on Thunderhawk, Steel Force and Laser. Lunch was provided and I won a door prize, three coffee cups with pictures from the parks past.
     
    From 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., after the park closed to the general public, we had ERT on The Wild Mouse, Hydra, and The Talon. There's nothing like a night ride on a coaster. Our ERT was cut short by a half hour due to a storm that rolled in. There was a chance of rain forecast and I was hoping it would hold off until we were done for the night.
     
    We also do our annual linen inventory around this time of year and my boss was kind enough to fill in for me so that I could attend.
     
    Bad Seed 6 and Stacking My Claim 16 have been sent back to their authors. I've also taken up a new challenge. I'm doing a special project for CPL. I've never worked with a published author. Instead of working on individual chapters, I have the entire book to do. Sorry, no spoiler here.
     
    This past Wednesday, I traded my 2001 PT Cruiser, paid off since November, for a 2007, Torch Red, Ford Mustang. I decided it was time to trade instead of waiting until later this year. I spent a good part of Saturday washing, adding some black pin stripes and waxing it. The fun part about getting the car was, I didn't tell anyone That I was going to do it so there was a few surprised people at work when they saw it.
  22. TalonRider
    Last week, I did something incredibly stupid that resulted in me spending a few bucks. I'll start at the beginning.
     
    It was a nice late afternoon so I took my laptop out onto the porch to work on a story one of my authors sent me. I got myself set up with everything that I use outside, a chair, something to drink, a bottle with water to put cigarettes in, laptop and a small table to work on. In case your wondering, yes, I have a wireless network set up, not that I need it work on stories. I also like to watch the eye candy that comes and goes from the Restaurant/Bar across the road.
     
    Later on, when I decided to head back inside as it was starting to a little too cool for shorts and a t-shirt. I had the laptop in one hand and started to fold the camp chair up to take inside. I thought to myself, this isn't going to work, so I twisted around and set the laptop down on the table. I turned back to the chair and heard something slam behind me. It seems I had placed the laptop on the wrong spot of the table and it tipped over. The table does have a foot that prevents this from happening, but it's useless on carpeting as it won't roll. It's adjustable but not enough for carpet.
     
    The laptop still works, but runs extremely slow before it locks up completely. I've had it for almost 3 years and thought about getting a new one. The new one is faster than the old one and came installed with Vista.
     
    I've has some website issues, but I don't know if Vista is the problem or not. Sometimes when I come to GA, I get a screen with several different languages that says the account is suspended and to contact the administrator.
     
    Jan
  23. TalonRider

    Diabetes

    By TalonRider,

    Being a diabetic can be fun. I was diagnosed as a type 2 a few years ago. I had one of my normal checkups today. It seems I'm moving towards becoming a type 1. It would seems that the oral meds I take aren't doing the job they should be. Besides the oral meds I take, I've also been taking a couple of different injections, mainly at night.
     
    As far as my daily activities. There are days I spend most of my time in my office working instead of on the production floor with my staff. I also try to use my treadmill two to three times a week. It's good exercise plus it builds up my stamina for the hills that some amusement parks have. And I'll need that for a park I hope to visit this summer in Virgina.
     
    I have my next appointment in April in which I will have the usual lab work done the week before. This time, the doctor has added a test that she hasn't had done before. She's going to have my antibodies checked to see if my body is rejecting, or at least destroying the oral meds I take before they have a chance to work. She did say that I would be a good candidate for the pump if it turns out I've become a type 1. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the pump. This could prove interesting.
  24. TalonRider

    It's War

    By TalonRider,

    It's War, I tell ya, it's war. :2hands:
     
    I live in the upstairs apartment of an older house. A couple of years ago, an older woman moved in to the downstairs apartment. She has a bad habit of turning on the water, or flushing the toilet when I'm trying to use the water for doing the dishes or taking a shower. I would usually start stomping on the floor to get her attention to turn off the water. One day, when I got home from work, she was waiting on me. She asked me if I was mad at her. So we had a talk. I told her, the stomping was usually due to her turning on the water while I was in the shower or trying to run water to do the dishes.
     
    Things got better for awhile.
     
    Here lately, she's back to doing it again. Usually, Sunday morning is the one day I can count on getting a decent shower. NOT today! She didn't go to church. Here I am about to stick my head under the shower head to rinse off the shampoo when I find the water is getting cold. I start stomping. Shortly there after, the water gets warmer. But that's not the end of it. A short time later, she does it again, and so do I.
     
    So why don't I shower in the morning then, you might ask. I don't think it would make any difference. She's up and about while I'm getting ready for work. I don't think she would pay any attention to hearing running water above her and flush her toilet anyway.
     
    Back on December 30th, when I got home from an all day drive that started at 6 in the morning, I decide to get something to eat and then take a shower. It's a good thing I did. On Sunday morning, the next day, she went to church and left her toilet running. I know, I could hear it in my bathroom, which is right above hers. It made me glad I showered the night before.
     
    Something that I want to do is talk to the landlord. I think the tenant next door has moved out. The landlord owns a car lot next door. He uses a small portion of the house as an office, so I'd like to see what the place looks like and what the rent would be.
     
    I do get some measure of revenge tho. When I shower now, I turn the stereo and crank it up so I can here it.
  25. TalonRider

    Photo Album

    By TalonRider,

    I finally got around to posting some pictures of roller coasters that I've ridden. At this point, I've still got a some photo's to upload like pictures from the Sweetest Park on earth, Hershey Park, another PA park and a couple of parks from Virginia.
     
    My favorite Wood coaster is The Beast at King's Island located approximately 20 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio in Kings Mill.
     
    The Beast is nestled in the woods of the park. The only part visible from the ground is the top of the first lift hill. Even from the top level of the 1/3rd scale version of the Eiffel Tower all you can see is the first lift hill and the helix. The park made effective use of the terrain in building it. At 7400 feet in length it's quite a ride, especially after dark. There's very little lighting so it makes for a nice dark ride.
     
    King's Island is also know as the park with first's. They built the first suspended coaster, The Bat, the first standup coaster, King Cobra.
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