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Sunday, December 10, 2006
more snow photos… (photos)
ok, since my painting is not going so well… more pretty photos. honestly, I will have something new to share in the near future. 
This one was shot out of the window of a delta flight to seattle and yes, it does have abit of digital cleanup… still a pretty cool photo considering…
Friday, December 08, 2006
Photo Friday: Fresh
ARTLIFE • photos (all) • photo friday • (1) Comments • Permalink
Thursday, December 07, 2006
vote for pix for jpg magazine (including mine!)
“sea grass” to Embrace the Blur
http://jpgmag.com/photos/20237
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Voting will close on 8 December 2006 when the editors will start to put together the issue. Prize: $100 US and a free 1 year subscription. Photographers published in the Embrace the Blur theme will get a brand new Lensbaby 3G!
ARTLIFE • exhibits • mixed media • photos (all) • (1) Comments • Permalink
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
the pain game
one year ago I was released from the hospital for a bleeding ulcer. It’s kind of the funny. I would have never thought I had an ulcer. I’ve always been able to eat what I want without any problems (the spicier the better!). I’ve had more problems with migraines, allergies, and back pain (fallout from a car accident), than stomach or gi woes. All of which probably contributed to having an ulcer.
One of the scariest outcomes of having an ulcer is that I have to now be very careful with pain medication. I do have a few options (migraine meds included) but for the most part it’s just the rare otc tynenol. I try not to think about what will happen if I need something really serious for pain—hopefully there will be something for me to take. I think one of the good things that happened when I was in the hospital (besides healing) is that I detoxed. I know that makes me sound like a junky, but I didn’t realize what a hold caffeine had on me. I certainly didn’t realize how much I depended on advil or aleeve for those little aches and pains. Tynenol didn’t used to have any effect on me and now it works. I’m not sure if that is psychological (it must work!) or whether that is an affect of the tolerance I had most likely developed from nsaids. I also now wonder whether some of my headaches and/or back pain were rebound affect.
Last year was kind of rough for me. It took me almost 5 months to get back to feeling like myself. The subsequent anemia from the blood loss was really hard to deal with. I know I was on the edge of the numbers needed for a blood transfusion (I was actually set up for a blood transfusion and blood was pulled but it was never given to me). Since I became sick on the weekend, I am wondering if no one at the insurance company was able to make that decision. I’m just not sure. In retrospect, it seems weird that I got to the point of being “about” to have a transfusion, but then it didn’t happened. Of course, at that point, I was so sick and woozy, that honestly, I was not going to question or fight about anything. I didn’t really have anyone to advocate for me, either, which is how I ended in a waiting room for 3 hours before I was admitted (as I didn’t say that I was in pain, I was considered a low priority).
Having had this experience, I can now see how patients die in emergency rooms while waiting for treatment (even at a “good” hospital). I can see how people aren’t really healed by hospitals and most importantly, I can see what a game health insurance is. I have insurance. It is very expensive and it is supposed to be “good” insurance. In my opininion, the coverage is questionable and seems to be “deny first, authorize later.” I had several followup tests that ended up not being covered. I’m still paying off my bills, one year after the fact. I consider myself lucky that I will finally have my bills paid off at the end of the year. Kind of ridiculous, isn’t it?
I have made some changes. No NSAIDs and less in the way of all medication. Less in the way of acidic foods and trying not to overeat. I’m trying to listen to my body better because I certainly don’t want to be back in the hospital anytime soon.
Monday, December 04, 2006
More on google’s book-scanning project
U. of Virginia joins Google's book-scanning project
Following hot on the heels of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which joined Google's amibitious library-digitization effort last month, the University of Virginia has signed on to the project.
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=1711
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