Health Update: This past Friday, April 26th, 2024 I had to go back to the hospital and have another surgical procedure. The drain connected to the cyst on my spleen stopped draining. I began to experience more pain and had a setback. The surgeon went in with a tiny camera and determined that the location of the drain was no longer able to access the fluid that was left to remove.
The surgeon inserted a “wire” through the drain which extended down into the area where the fluid is located. While sedated and given painkillers it was far from a comfortable procedure. Luckily it went quickly and now the drain is back working. The hope is all the fluid will be drained within the next week or so. Once that occurs another CT scan will be done to confirm the size of the spleen/cyst as well as to see if there is any fluid left. After that hopefully, the drain will be removed and long-term recovery can begin.
I weighed myself Saturday morning and the few pounds he had gained were gone and I was at my lowest of 180 pounds. As of Sunday evening, I’m feeling much better and my appetite has returned.
Went to work Monday feeling the best I’ve felt since getting out of the hospital. By 1:00 pm I was dragging and started to have some pain and discomfort. Stayed until the end of the day and was severely disciplined when I got home by Maine Prepper Girl who said I was doing too much. Heard similar things over the weekend as I tried to do a few things outside.
Ugh.
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These protests across college campuses are getting out of hand. I am a firm believer in free speech and the right to protest. There are situations going on that are illegal and most colleges are doing nothing about it. Calling for acts of violence is illegal and should not be put up with. Disrupting the operations of the campus and impacting those who are paying to attend these institutions should not be allowed. This ranks right up there with blocking traffic on a highway and cops standing by watching them.
Again – I am a free-speech absolutist. Even if I disagree with what a person or group says they should have the right to say it. What is happening at many of these colleges is different.
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Came across this picture of MPG and me when we went to my son’s wedding in Chimney Rock, NC two years ago. Beautiful area and great times!!
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As I grew older I still played video games. Computers. PS One. PS2. Sega Dreamcast. PS4. Hours were spent going after the bad guys and loved the adventure. Several months ago I got a great deal on a mint condition Xbox Series S. I ordered a bunch of used games off eBay and have it hooked up to a 65″ TV.
40 minutes. That’s all I’ve played in probably 6 months. LOL – always so busy.
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The .22LR remains by far my favorite caliber. Pistol or rifle there are just so many aspects of the cartridge that are positive. I have a couple of Ruger 10/22s, a Smith & Wesson M&P15-22, and a Ruger semi-auto among a few more .22s in the safe. I’ve actually thought about putting together a Ruger 10/22 with a Choate pistol grip stock. This is such a classic design and I guess as I get older I’m finding that “stuff” from the past is becoming more attractive to me than all the new tacti-cool stuff. The funds aen’t there right now, but, someday.
Here’s the Choate I’m talking about:
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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.
Rourke
Build a Pantry You Can Rely On — Without the Overwhelm
- Pantry Inventory Sheets (printable)
- Pantry Gap Checklist (what most people forget)
- Pantry Shelf Life Reference Chart
- Bucket Food Storage Guide (Mylar + oxygen absorbers)
- Step-by-step Mylar packing instructions
- $5 / $10 budget food storage plan
- Pantry organization tips
- Food rotation basics
- Practical preparedness advice
- Want to build a pantry but don’t know where to start
- Are trying to prepare on a budget
- Want to keep your food storage organized
- Live in an area with storms, outages, or uncertainty
- Want to take better care of your household
- Peace of mind
- Flexibility during hard times
- One less thing to worry about
Hopefully your on the mend! The protests are being funded by out side dark money. Saw today,Soros and Rockefeller foundations/I think I have that one right, are giving these morons/outsiders tons of money to protest and agitate. Not a good thing.
Mr. Rourke,
I have been in your shoes for different reasons. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing so your body can recover. My orthopedic surgeon who replaced my ankle told me, “it is better to follow directions and heal the first time around then do too much and have to keep starting from scratch’. He was right, I burned two weeks vacation laying in bed nursing that ankle after surgery. I made spring motorcycle season on time that year as surgery was in January of 2020. There are people I know who had the same surgery and did not listen. They had multiple surgeries and still have issues today. Not preaching, just sharing some hard earned wisdom. Teddy Roosevelt said “We can only do what we can with what we have where we are at”. Heal first, then chores, it will be there when you are healthy enough. Prayers and best wishes to you and MPG.
Progress can be slow but in the end you will be healed. Don’t overdo the exertion and listen to MPG
Glad to hear that you’re on the mend! As someone with chronic health issues, listen to everyone above. Sometimes, pushing yourself is the worst thing possible.