Saturday, March 22, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Strange Times
I find it slightly ironic that this health situation hits me right when I decide to start changing my diet and lifestyle. My mom said it might have been my own subconscious letting me know that I wasn't treating my body right. For some reason I do see that being a possibility. I always believed that the answers to your life are usually right in front of you and your mind/unconscious/soul actually has a good idea of what is best for you. We usually just ignore it.
So as much as I love Wendy's, Whataburger etc. I think I love my quality of life more.
God, shopping at whole foods is pricey though. I bought a bunch of good stuff today. I am going to do my best to make this a lasting change rather than a fad. My face is slowly getting movement back and I have come to appreciate how i used to have a two sided smile. That and being able to wink at people. Something I never did but think I should start trying.
It looks like we will be playing a set in front of over a thousand people next month. We have a prime slot on Sunday. This is something I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around. Needless to say I am jazzed as all get out. Ill have to fly down there right after Kevin's wedding.
My life is completely different than a year ago. And I am grateful for it.
So as much as I love Wendy's, Whataburger etc. I think I love my quality of life more.
God, shopping at whole foods is pricey though. I bought a bunch of good stuff today. I am going to do my best to make this a lasting change rather than a fad. My face is slowly getting movement back and I have come to appreciate how i used to have a two sided smile. That and being able to wink at people. Something I never did but think I should start trying.
It looks like we will be playing a set in front of over a thousand people next month. We have a prime slot on Sunday. This is something I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around. Needless to say I am jazzed as all get out. Ill have to fly down there right after Kevin's wedding.
My life is completely different than a year ago. And I am grateful for it.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Bachelor Weekend
Kevin came down with Chris to celebrate his bachelor weekend with me. We had a blast playing frisbee golf, going out for SXSW and just laughing a lot. It really took my mind of this new condition of mine.
Speaking of which, I have regained more movement, though a hearty laugh definitely shows one side of my face is still slightly paralyzed. But I'll be fine.
The shows went well despite the funny face. It looks like we will be playing a festival in front of a LOT of people in April. Very cool. Details soon because I feel like doing something else.
Speaking of which, I have regained more movement, though a hearty laugh definitely shows one side of my face is still slightly paralyzed. But I'll be fine.
The shows went well despite the funny face. It looks like we will be playing a festival in front of a LOT of people in April. Very cool. Details soon because I feel like doing something else.
Friday, March 14, 2008
I have a disease!!!
The other day I noticed that my tongue on the left side tasted kinda weird. Like it had been burned and was slightly numb. Well yesterday the whole left side of my face kinda stopped working right. I couldnt blink my left and eye my smile was slightly crooked. I thought I might have had a mild stroke but my motor skills were still okay and I wasnt disoriented.
I had just consumed a large mocha frappacino so maybe the high dose of sugar and caffeine kicked my condition into overdrive. Whatever it was I kinda freaked out. I have this hole in my tooth from a loose filling that fell out a few years ago that I assumed was the culprit. Maybe some nerve was being pinched or something dental related. I went to the dentist this morning and the dentist pretty quickly said he knew exactly what this was.
Bells Palsy.
The word Palsy scared the shit out of me. Apparently this is a condition that affects about one in 40,000 people and is basically a nerve in the face that is pinched due to some sort of inflammation caused by a possible virus. Doctors aren't really sure what it is but usually diagnosis it after ruling out more serious complications like stroke. Regardless its sort of freaky. Ive never been sick in my life with "a condition" or Disease named after someone.
My situation was mild because some people literally have half their face droop down because of it. I can tell a difference in my face but most people probably cant. My smile is sort of funny though. Like the lip rises correctly on the right side but just stays put on the left. A "Bell's smile" I read.
They say the bulk of people get better quickly and most recover 100% by a few months. As I type this I have some rice (sushi) in my lower left lip that I cant quite get my tongue to grab. So basically my face, and muscles in and around it, is stupid for awhile. Hopefully not too long. Cash donations are appreciated if you feel sorry for me. =)
I had just consumed a large mocha frappacino so maybe the high dose of sugar and caffeine kicked my condition into overdrive. Whatever it was I kinda freaked out. I have this hole in my tooth from a loose filling that fell out a few years ago that I assumed was the culprit. Maybe some nerve was being pinched or something dental related. I went to the dentist this morning and the dentist pretty quickly said he knew exactly what this was.
Bells Palsy.
The word Palsy scared the shit out of me. Apparently this is a condition that affects about one in 40,000 people and is basically a nerve in the face that is pinched due to some sort of inflammation caused by a possible virus. Doctors aren't really sure what it is but usually diagnosis it after ruling out more serious complications like stroke. Regardless its sort of freaky. Ive never been sick in my life with "a condition" or Disease named after someone.
My situation was mild because some people literally have half their face droop down because of it. I can tell a difference in my face but most people probably cant. My smile is sort of funny though. Like the lip rises correctly on the right side but just stays put on the left. A "Bell's smile" I read.
They say the bulk of people get better quickly and most recover 100% by a few months. As I type this I have some rice (sushi) in my lower left lip that I cant quite get my tongue to grab. So basically my face, and muscles in and around it, is stupid for awhile. Hopefully not too long. Cash donations are appreciated if you feel sorry for me. =)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Hooray for the Art Show
Wow Iris kinda freaked out. A LOT of people showed up to this show. But no cops were called, nothing was destroyed (other than one of my strings and Travis' snare, which we rigged with duct tape.)
We made back some of the money we spent on the beer so that was nice. A lot of very nice people came and were enthusiastic so I feel good about things. I'm never really fully satisfied with my performance but I need to get over it. Jared and Michelle were there so I had the family thing going. They seemed to enjoy themselves. A journalist showed up and gave me some good constructive criticism. I need that more than I need praise.
I really enjoy this whole music playing thing. I think Id like to do it for a living. How on earth are we going to make that happen? I get nervous just thinking about it. I think a big challenge for me will be maintaining a self reliance and belief in my abilities when the the going gets rough. This point in time for the band is all praise for us because we are playing for mainly friends and friends of friends. Though i notice comments that seem above and beyond obligatory remarks I have to keep my head together. I know my weaknesses and thats all I see sometimes.
Yet I know we are a young band with promise. I believe it. I hear people say they hear our name being thrown around in conversations. That feels nice. But I cant rest until I'm paying my bills with it. Even then I don't think I am going to want to rest. Ill be living a dream and will want to take it as far as it will go.
We made back some of the money we spent on the beer so that was nice. A lot of very nice people came and were enthusiastic so I feel good about things. I'm never really fully satisfied with my performance but I need to get over it. Jared and Michelle were there so I had the family thing going. They seemed to enjoy themselves. A journalist showed up and gave me some good constructive criticism. I need that more than I need praise.
I really enjoy this whole music playing thing. I think Id like to do it for a living. How on earth are we going to make that happen? I get nervous just thinking about it. I think a big challenge for me will be maintaining a self reliance and belief in my abilities when the the going gets rough. This point in time for the band is all praise for us because we are playing for mainly friends and friends of friends. Though i notice comments that seem above and beyond obligatory remarks I have to keep my head together. I know my weaknesses and thats all I see sometimes.
Yet I know we are a young band with promise. I believe it. I hear people say they hear our name being thrown around in conversations. That feels nice. But I cant rest until I'm paying my bills with it. Even then I don't think I am going to want to rest. Ill be living a dream and will want to take it as far as it will go.
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