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What a drag it is getting bored: Snore, uh there’s a trial on cable news?

Today I took sick leave because I somehow aggravated my lower back problem yesterday. I should be in bed but you can only take so much. The same goes for the cable news gavel-to-gavel coverage of the George Zimmerman murder trial.

The grilling of 19-year-old prosecution witness Rachel Jeantel proves that much of even the most engaging felony trials can be as exciting as watching paint dry. The witness isn’t to blame. If anything, this friend of victim Trayvon Martin should have been given an award for putting up with excessive badgering from defense attorney Don West. Being that Jeantel is a key prosecution witness, it is understandable West would do everything he can do to damage Jeantel’s credibility. But West kept at it, over and over and over and over again. Enough already, Dude! This is just my assessment and you should know I am not an attorney nor do I play one.

To make matters worse, the networks all seem to take commercial breaks at the same time so one gets the inanity of tampon and insurance commercial just as a little interest is showing in the trial.

I wouldn’t say I am an expert but I have had my ass numbed many a time sitting in court and waiting for someone to say something interesting that I might write down that probably would not find its way in the newspaper. My experience in court trials ranges from the paint drying of a complex case to a few very interesting cases which made national headlines. So I can say with a little experience that courtroom dramas aren’t often very dramatic. All of that isn’t lost on the cable networks. Once the case drags, off the show goes to the talking heads and the commercials.

In short, this lack of excitement wants me to search some for some real entertainment or just go to sleep. I hope I feel better tomorrow.

 

 

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Congress to military: Stop the camo madness!

Congressional member bother themselves with all sorts of wacky issues. Although, sometimes our esteemed congressional members do hit the mark or at least come close.

Navy Times.com reported today that the Senate Armed Services Committee has agreed with their House colleagues that the military is spending way too much on unique-styled camouflage uniforms. I think I might add that the service is also spending too much time in spreading a trend that could hurt the military down the road.

It is ridiculous the number of camo combat uniforms the separate armed services has developed. Once the camouflage was jungle green. Then the desert patterns were added for Middle East service. At times you could see both patterns in the same combat zone which really didn’t make a lot of sense.

Then came a trend under the Donald Rumsfeld era of the Defense Department that “uniforms” should be uniform. First the Marine Corps developed an odd “digital” camo pattern. The Navy followed suit with a blue and gray mix that supposedly would hide some one on a ship, I suppose. That is not to mention they ditched the traditional chambray-dungaree bell bottom working uniform for a “Navy Working Uniform ” that is the style of the Army’s Battle Dress Uniform, (BDU). The Air Force has its own battle dress as well. Eventually, 22 camouflage separate patterns were designed for 45 terrains, according to Navy Times.

Of course, Congress looks here at the bottom line and all the money being spent. But what seems to be missing in such examining is that an “Army of One,” as the recruiting slogan goes, is quickly becoming an Armed Forces of One. The Navy has working uniforms which look as if they were hand-me-downs from the Marines. Give the Congressional staffers and military bureaucrats enough time and money and they are likely to come up with a 3-piece, pin-striped business suit to replace the traditional blue dress of the Marine Corps.

I served during a time of change with Navy uniforms. Although the blue dungaree, chambray working uniforms were still allowed, I was issued a blue jumper and dark blue work pants in boot camp. Our dress uniforms were like a traditional business suit one that was indistinguishable from the chief and officers’ dress along with that round hat with a bill you see in most uniforms, we still were allowed the dress whites and a cool-looking black undress working uniform with black shirt and black pants. Most sailors also didn’t like the dress blues because they saw the Navy sailor traditionally dressed like the sailor on the Crackerjacks box. The noise was heard and that uniform  was brought back in considerably short order.

Hopefully, the military men will have the ability and the foresight to keep tradition in uniforms. One might think it silly that someone would not join a military service because of a uniform. It might not be the only reason, but it does make a difference.

Congress is right to stop the craziness with the camos. Let’s just hope they don’t micromanage uniforms and still give the men and women who wear them the necessary input for which clothes the sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen and coasties will wear.

 

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Talking about the everlasting blues …

Do you want to know just how powerful a song can be when it lands in the hands — heart and soul actually — and voice of the one person?

It was 1975, I believe. I was driving home to East Texas from Gulfport, Miss., on Interstate 12 just east of Baton Rouge. I-12 is one of those short drives that can be forgetful. It is actually an 85.6-mi. intrastate interstate highway that leaves I-10 near Slidell, La., and joins up with the Interstate 10. It might have been lost to my memory had I not driven back and forth on this highway and on I-10 so many times in the 30 or so months I was stationed at the Navy Seabee Base

I would come to my hometown about one weekend a month. That is, until I started meeting some folks on my own and would hang with. But it still was nice to go see the home folks.

On one of those trips, a spring day if I am correct, I heard the unmistakably powerful and soulfully sweet voice of Bobby “Blue” Bland. I had heard his voice many times growing up, listening to the 45 rpm records and LPs of my brothers. Songs like “Cry, Cry, Cry,” and “Ain’t Nothing You Can Do.”  But this day a particular song stuck in my head that day and there it stuck for more than 35 years until I found it on that great reuniter, the internet. I was reintroduced to this song about not the healthiest of relationships and not the best of outcomes.

I speak of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Yolanda.” I knew the name. I remember the beat and after all these years … And now, Bobby is himself gone. Dead at the age of 83. But his songs and legends will live on. May he know the blues now only in song.

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Going to Lafayette or parts east? Don’t let the Beaumont traffic tie you up.

Expect a tie-up on Interstate-10 nearing the Neches River bridge about 80 miles east of Houston. You see, this is actually a normal condition for those of us who live in and around Beaumont. The Neches River bridge — actually named the Purple Heart Memorial Bridge but shoulda been named the George Jones Bridge — is under renovation until who knows when. Right now it is the eastbound lane getting backed up but eventually the westbound lane will have its share. Although, the westbound side will probably get stacked on the Orange County side. Serves them right for failing to vote for George Jones.

At this moment, the eastbound lane on I-10 in Beaumont is backed up some six miles or so from the bridge. That is right before you get to the Washington Boulevard overpass. So if you are reading this while driving. STOP!!! That’s a very stupid thing to do.

A pretty good rule of thumb during construction on the EB side of the bridge is to avoid it at all costs during rush hours. Yes, we get those too. I would not even attempt to cross the bridge on Friday afternoon. During the rest of the week, you should check out this map. It gives a pretty good representation of the live traffic.

But what if you are going to gamble at Delta Downs or the Lake Charles boats? Or perhaps you are going down to Lafayette to do the Cajun twist. Perhaps you might just decide to visit a friend in New Alluns. He be in Harvey and you can find him easy because he stays by his Moms like always, dat is, if he ain’t out chootin’ some bones or maybe even some alleygator. That might not be how the New Alluns people speak, but this here blog it ain’t about etymology nor is about words. And it sho’ nuff ain’t about no double negative. Right on?

That reminds me, I was talking to this creole dude from Thibodaux or some place like that and after every sentence he be saying “right on,” right on? Man, this cat was talking about some bar fights and people bringing knives to gunfights and allus kinda s**t! Right on? Right on.
http://youtu.be/dyMH0Kabrlk
That also remind me. One of my favorite bayou boogie song was a tune called “Cajun Twist.” I hadn’t heard it in a long time but heard that dude who say “choot it” on the alligator show “Swamp People.” I think his name is Troy. He was half singing and half humming a verse while he was doing something or other. And trut’ be tole, he weren’t doing much to either half on that song. Which, I suppose is just as good as sticking to the original lyrics when you do have the vocal blessings.

So, I have given you Randy and the Rockets, doing that old Cajun Twist. And I will give you some alternate routes to Louisiana while I am at it.

There are a couple of ways to get to Louisiana without having to go through Beaumont while this $59 million bridge renovation is under way. And it’s easy to find those ways. All you need is this magical device. It’s called a map.

Everyone needs to learn how to use a map.  Have you a jumbo kinda time whether you be headed to Louisiana or Texas-ana. Have fun this weekend. Stay safe.

AaaaaaaEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

 

 

 

 

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You want to know what’s bothering me? Well, here it is …

This morning I woke early to catch a ride to the VA hospital in Houston. It was one of those 5 o’clock rising-type morns but luckily I made it back home after a five-hour round trip. That is really amazing considering how long it usually takes. This morning’s trip was for a test called an “EMG.” A definition of that term from the Mayo (Hold the mustard) Clinic:

 “Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons). Motor neurons transmit electrical signals that cause muscles to contract. An EMG translates these signals into graphs, sounds or numerical values that a specialist interprets.”

It wasn’t really a pass/fail type test so no No. 2 pencils were involved. I have had these tests before, one of which revealed I had a moderate case of carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands. This morning the EMG was taken on my legs and were conducted by the neurologist I have been seeing for more than a year for my lower back pain.

I had finally decided to once and for all have the VA determine what could be done with regard to my excruciating lower back pain that I developed several years ago. The diagnoses had jumped back and forth from a problem involving disc and bone spurs in my lumbar and sacral spinal regions. I underwent some three MRIs in as many years, all had noted no change in my discs. An early diagnoses had shown what was originally described as a rare condition called arachnoiditis. Subsequent examinations by doctors said not so much. But again, it seems as if we are back at that diagnosis. This time, according to my neurologist after my EMG tests this morning, it seems that my pain is likely compounded from what she, my neurologist, referred to as advanced neuropathy in my legs.

Arachnoiditis is when the arachnoid, a membrane that surrounds and protects nerves of the spinal cord, becomes inflamed and leads to scars that “stick together.” The condition can cause tingling, numbness and burning pain in the lower back and legs. Also:

 “Some people with arachnoiditis will have debilitating muscle cramps, twitches, or spasms.  It may also affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function.  In severe cases, arachnoiditis may cause paralysis of the lower limbs.”

Sounds lovely doesn’t it?

As for cures? Well, there aren’t any. Sounds even better, right? Actually, the medical world treats the symptoms mostly with pain management.

Neuropathy is, according to Mayo:

 ” … a result of nerve damage, often causes numbness and pain in your hands and feet. People typically describe the pain of peripheral neuropathy as tingling or burning, while they may compare the loss of sensation to the feeling of wearing a thin stocking or glove.

 “Peripheral neuropathy (as it is commonly called) can result from problems such as traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes.”

Yes, I have diabetes, type II, and yes I am trying to keep it in check. But my neurologist says even if I keep my diabetes in check it doesn’t mean my neuropathy will go away. This condition, too, is mostly just treated for symptoms which is probably most annoying beyond pain in my condition is mostly numbness in my feet. I shouldn’t wear flip flops in order to prevent feet injury which can turn into something serious due to diabetes, but I do. Often I can’t feel if the flip flops are on my feet. The same goes for socks.

There are a lot of treatments for neuropathy. I am taking a couple of drugs for its treatment. One is neurontin a.k.a. Gabapentin and the other is Lyrica. The pain in my feet is pretty well controlled most of the time. My doctor is adding a lidocaine cream for my feet. But for either malady, there is nothing that can really fix me up.

Surgery is not usually indicated for arachnoiditis and may do more harm than good. My neurologist explained this morning that, most often, the attempts to remove the nerve endings that become stuck will cause surrounding nerves to become stuck.

The no-surgery option comes after also having a “drive-by” diagnosis yesterday by a VA neurosurgeon by telephone who clearly sounded as if he had something else better to do. I mean, every neurosurgeon I have ever seen was live and in-person and who usually gave me a thorough examination. Oh, but not this one, he was so good he could stick a copy of the radiology report up to his temple like the Johnny Carson psychic character “Carnac the Magnificent.”

Oh, and I can’t forget the bulging disc and other problems which have had me taking methadone for severe neck pain over the past seven or so years.

All of which brings up a quiz. Which is the correct question?

–Are I f***ed?

–Am I f***ed?

Well, either answer seems pretty appropriate. It is just of matter whether you want good language or a proper prognosis.

What’s for the future? Well, pretty much the same, for now. I will soon take a look at just how I can live financially with a disability retirement. That is pretty much what I have to figure out right now.

So that is what’s up with me right now. That, and rummaging around the pantry to see what is for supper.