Enjoying my Weekend

I've been off since Monday morning.  Oops.  Let me rephrase that.  I've been off work since Monday morning.  The Midwest has getting pounded with tons of snow (some more then others) and cold (some much more then others!).   Around 2am Tuesday morning I took my laundry to the laundry room.  I was around 8 degrees.  I almost didn't see a step and it could've been really messy.  I thought it was pretty cool that I hadn't fallen.  Well.  That was the beginning.  On my way back to my apartment I walked that same sidewalk and it didn't go so well.  I flat out did not see the step and fell flat on my face.  That was pleasant. 

Around 4am I went back to switch out the clothes (I got distracted) and was just over $1.00 short.  Now I had to go get quarters up at the gas station.  Not a big deal normally but this time I have to put on long johns, thermal t shirt, reflective vest, etc. so I don't get hit and I can stay warm.  (It is what is is.  Part of life.)  I got the quarters and took care of the clothes.  Everything was good. 

As it got closer to morning I thought it'd be cool to get a picture of the sunrise at the Huffman Dam.  I left late and thought I was going to miss it as it was getting pretty light.  At one point I saw the light reflecting off of a cloud behind me and took a picture of it. However, something just seemed off about it, but I just couldn't place it.  I continued riding and it kept getting brighter but it still had not dawned on me.    It's about 4 miles to the dam and I had ridden just about 3 when sunlight started reflecting off buildings.  Hmmm...  At this point I stopped, turned around and wouldn't you know it, there was the sun peaking over the rooftops.  It was actually pretty spectacular.  It was then that I remembered I always came down to the dam to see the sun set and of course the sun always sets in the west. 

I figured since I was almost there I'd at least finish the trek.  I went to get on my bike and my front tire was flat.  HA!!!  I sure am glad I put long johns and all my cold weather gear on! (It was 5 degrees)  The icing on the cake was that I had brand new hiking boots on.  So I was able to break them in.  Yea for me!  On the bright side, it was a beautiful, cold sunny morning and I did get an awesome picture (see below)!  Plus, I couldn't have asked for a better day to go for a walk.  It would've been nice to make it to the dam but oh well.  It also reminded me why I like the morning.  Seeing the sun come up and things coming to life is just amazing.  I think I'll be doing it next week too!

                                 

My Favorite Christmas Carol: Silent Night

When I was little I remember Dad telling  me he could sing Silent Night in German.  That was so cool!  Ever since then it has been my favorite Christmas carol.  I think I like it too because I like the night so much.  The silent night is powerful.  It's nice to be out when it is so peaceful.  My morning rides home are enjoyable for that very reason.  It's quiet.  The stars are out.  It can be so peaceful....until a car comes along.  :-) 

I decided to do some digging and so I looked online to find out a little more about the history of the song "Silent Night".  The author, Joesph Mohr was born in the city of Salzburg on the December 11, 1792 .  As a boy  he was poor until he met Johann Nepomuk Hiernle . Hiernle served as a vicar and leader of music at the Salzburg Cathedral.   This gave Mohr a good opportunity to get an education as well as develop his skills as a musician and his childhood was spent preparing for the priest hood.  On August 21,1815 he graduated from seminary and was ordained a priest.

Mohr served as assistant priest in  Mariapfarr, Austria from 1815-1817.  It was there that he wrote the words to "Silent Night."

Franz Xaver Gruber was born on November 25, 1787 at Unterweizburg 9 in the village of Hochburg in the Inn River region of Upper Austria.  He wrote the melody to "Silent Night."    He was the fifth of six children and his parents were linen weavers.  Although he was expected to take up the family trade he wanted to become a teacher.  He discovered his love of music early on and his school teacher encouraged him by giving him lessons.   He was a weave until he turned 18.  Then his father allowed  him to follow his desire to become a teacher and this alos gave him opportunity to serve as organist in the local church.

As "fate" would have it in 1816 both Franz and Joesph were in the same town at the same church on Christmas Eve.  Joesph was an assistant priest and Franz the organist.  Mohr asked Gruber to write a melody for two solo voices with choir and for accompaniment by guitar. The exact events are unknown but it is thought that the organ may have been damaged so they had to go with another instrument as a plan b of sorts.

The fascinating thing I've found is that the English version of "Silent Night" has only three verses coinciding with a translation of an original text of verses 1, 6 and 2, in that order.  The original song actually has six verses.  The reason this is important is in regards to the historical context of the song.  Specfically verse four.

Silent night! Holy night!
Where on this day all power
of fatherly love poured forth
And like a brother lovingly embraced
Jesus the peoples of the world,
Jesus the peoples of the world.

The area in which Mohr lived had just underwent the Napoleonic wars (1792-1815) which had caused much suffering..  New borders were being drawn and things that people had been doing for centuries were changing.  That's why verse four took special meaning to the people of that area.  I find it intriguing that a song we hear in the malls and on the radio every year has such a deep spiritual and yet at the same time political origin.  People who were living in an economy much like ours, facing depression and coming out of a war were given the gift of this song.  A message of encouragement giving the people hope.  Why?  Because there is a Father who loved them and all the peoples of the world.  What a message!  Certainly something that still holds true today!


sources: http://www.stillenacht.at/en/index.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/text_and_music.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/origin_song.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/spreading_song.asp
 http://www.stillenacht.at/en/gruber.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/mohr.asp

Some thoughts

My plan was for my next post to be on Silent Night.  That is in the works.  However this would be (to use the Star Trek vernacular) supplemental.  For me it's actually an experiment as well.  This will be my first time using a computer to free "write."  But I digress.  Onward and upward.

Most (if not all) who read this blog know of the tragic events of this past week in CT.  For me on the outside looking in I can't even begin to comprehend how to begin to comprehend what they are going through.  However, I found myself trying to identify with them.  Putting myself in their shoes.  All night at work I found myself asking God, "Why?"  I spent the ride home continuing to mull it over in my head.  Ironically, he answered.  I'll tell you what he said in a minute and this is why.  Even after he answered I still kept asking why.  It was almost like I was a little kid.  You know the one.

Kid:  "Why do dogs have tails?"

Mom:  "Because that's how God made them."

Kid:  "Why?"

Mom:  "He just did."

Kid:  "Why?"

...and on it goes.

Isn't that how we are sometimes?  Even when God gives an answer it's not good enough or we just take it in stride and don't even consider that he might be answering the very question we've been asking.  We don't need to keep wondering.  He answered!

Now, one of the things that has been plaguing many people and still is (myself included) is how will God use this?  What good can come from a tragedy like this?  Plus, why at Christmas of all times?  This stuff is horrible at any time but does it have to be on at a time when people celebrate family?  Don't criminals have at least a little bit of compassion?  All questions we can't answer.  It seems hopeless.  I'll admit that I was angry.  Angry to the point that I actually thought that bringing the guy back so I could kill him would be a solution.  Now, that said, I dismissed it immediately as that is in no way, shape, or form the right way to resolve this.  That is not how Jesus would do it and it is not how I would either.  I had written a post and as I wrote it I could feel the anger in my fingers.  I stopped typing.  I will not let the Devil control me.  He has a foothold already in the area of sarcasm.  I have to be very careful how I respond to people.  Even if I am not angry I can sound like it.  I've had to go back and apologize more times then  I care to admit over the last few months just because of that.  But now, on to God's answer.  I hit a bit of a rabbit trail there.  :-)

My aunt posted a picture of a girl who was shot in the classroom.  Her name is Emile Parker.  They moved from Utah 8 months ago.  The preschool she was at set up a fund for her family on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EmilieParkerFund).  I thought that was cool.  Anyway,  she was a Christian and God pointed out to me that a revival may start as a result of this.  Appreciation for the family, their values and all it entails.  Maybe this is the start of something big.  Regardless of anything, I know it has made everything appreciate family all the more.  Now I can rejoice!  Before I could rejoice as well.  I just couldn't see past all the barriers.  Have a good day!

A Christmas Day Tradition

I mentioned a Christmas hike on my Facebook page today and it inspired me to share the Christmas tradition I had established while living in the Upper Peninsula.  This will be fun for all as it will be much more visual then all of my previous posts.  :-)  You won't have to hear from me as much.  :-)  That said, I do need to share how it started.

Christmas morning 2000.  It was around 7:30am and I was sitting in my living room after opening my gifts wondering what to do with the rest of my day.  Then the thought occurred to me.  Why not take a drive up to Great Sand Bay and have breakfast on the ice.  Given that it was a last minute thing I decided to have a bowl of cold cereal.  And it was cold cereal!  Great Sand Bay is almost 30 minutes from Hancock.  It was between 20 and 30 degrees when I left It at 8am and I had one of those custom Kelloggs cereal bowls.  It was large and glass.  I grabbed a gallon of milk, some Rice Chex (I think), and thinking that the milk would get warm if I kept it on the front seat I stuck it in the trunk.  :-)  (FYI:  Not a good idea.  Don't get me wrong.  It will stay cold but it's still not a good idea.)  Thirty minutes later at thirty degrees, probably less, I pulled up to Great Sand Bay.  It was ice covered.  I pulled out my glass bowl.  It was in the front seat.  However, it didn't matter.  When I pulled out the now nearly frozen (and partially green) milk my cold cereal became ice cold.  It was at that time that I determined that the next year I would make pancakes.  I did eat breakfast on the ice though!    After I finished I continued my trek up to Copper Harbor. However, along the way there were spots I made it a point to stop at every year.  They were actually spots I stopped at year round anyway so it just made sense to stop there on Christmas morning.  One of the stops I made was at was at Eagle Harbor.  

As the years passed and I started taking pictures this turned into a real adventure.  Christmas morning the Keewenaw was mine.  I would see next to no one and would call my parents from Copper Harbor.  I called from a phone booth one time.  I wish I'd taken a picture of it.  I think there are two phone booths next to a hotel in Copper Harbor.  I called from one of them.  No need to call from both.  :-) Then as the winters warmed up I was able to call from the top of Brockway which was cool but depressing since I was able to drive my Ford Escort up a road that normally only snowmobiles could get up.   Then of course I'd have to get a picture of the Copper Harbor lighthouse.  Every year I would always go to this spot
 and get a picture.  I'd take hundreds of shots trying to get that stupid light.  I was really happy I had the LCD screen in the back.  That helped!  So I guess not as many pictures but my trek was mainly one to get out and enjoy the morning.

As I think about those eight years and how I much I enjoyed those yearly treks up to Copper Harbor (I did eat breakfast every year at Great Sand Bay, although not on the ice every year as it didn't freeze. :-)  That was the initial tradition.  Breakfast at Great Sand Bay overlooking Lake Superior.) I know that it was only for a season. :-)  Hmmm...  No.  There was no pun intended but I suppose it could've worked well there.  I now have to look to the future and what God has in store for me now.  It is exciting!  I can't wait to see He has waiting for me around that bend!
  

A Dedication

Moving back to the Midwest has enabled me to get closer to a larger portion of my family.  Siblings I haven't had a lot of contact with over the last fifteen years as well as Mom and Dad.  With the recent addition of the twins to the ever growing family I've been able to see Mom and Dad even more then I thought I would and this past Monday night I was able to meet for what has become almost a weekly meeting with either one or both of them.  After discussing different things the topic turned to the future.

Let me pause for a moment.  When I look at the future I have always seen them in it.  I have refused to take them out.  They can't not be there.  Right?  I've thought this way for years and in the back of my mind I've always known this was wrong.  However, I was young and naive.  Now, I've seen death.  I've seen it up close and personal.  It happens.  It is very real.  Death brings a new meaning to life.  You appreciate it more.  You appreciate life and you respect death. 

As we sat we Dad and Mom both talked about heritage and what they hope will happen after they are gone. I started really listening to what they had to say.  (Not that I don't normally)  Almost as if I'd never see them again.  I know their intent wasn't to make me think they were dying or that they were giving me their "last requests" and I hope that when they read this they don't think that.  But I did realize that Dad was being Dad.  (And Mom was too...being mom.  She was being the godly mother I love love and respect).  The man I respected.  No.  The father I love and respect.  For years he and mom both have been telling us to stay strong in our faith.  Not only have they been telling us, but they've been training us.  For years, every morning before school we would sit and listen to Dad read out of the Bible and Mom read from a book.  Then they would pray with us and we'd be off to school.  So I know that both his and mom's desire is that we continue the Godly heritage they have built in us.  That has been their goal for my entire life.   What I appreciate is that Dad and Mom both weren't just doing this "for fun."  This was a way of life.  Dad has always stood and stands for what he believes in.  Mom is right there with him.    They have weathered storms from every direction.  Together they have stood, like a lighthouse. That is the heritage I hope to pass on to my children, if I have any.  If I don't then I hope that the knowledge they have entrusted to me will bless those around me as I have been blessed.    "Oh may all who come behind us, find us faithful." (Steve Green)

The Untold Adventure

This blog has chronicled "The Adventures of the Northwoods Nomad".  Some of them have ended with me surviving a wreck (or causing one.  I'm not sure if I've told that story).  Others are just plain weird.  But there is one adventure that I've yet to tell.  It's is my life long bout with epilepsy.  Yes.  I have epilepsy.  I've had it the majority of my life and it has certainly been an adventure!  For awhile it subsided enough that I was able to drive and, truth be told, if things stay they way they are now, I could probably drive again.  Will I?  No.  Why?  There's always a chance that something might happen and if something does and someone dies or is hurt as a result, is it really worth it?  No it isn't.  It does make things a bit more difficult but I've managed to get by for the past few years and I'll make it.  So here goes.  It's quite the ride so hang on.  :-) 

I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was eleven.  Initially, the seizures were small but eventually I started having grand mal seizures and it got to the point where I was having them five times a week.  I was fortunate that I had them at the same time every day.  Every day, I would get up and my mom would sit with me until I had my seizure, then I'd sleep it off and go to school.  I had been homeschooled from second grade through ninth grade which helped, not only to develop a good educational foundation but also we were able to at least get somewhat of a handle on what was happening to me before I returned to school.  My school really worked with me.  We were able to work it out with the school so that (initially) my first three hours were study halls to give me enough time to sleep off the seizures.

I really don't remember much about high school.   Between the ages of thirteen and seventeen I was trying a lot of different epilepsy medications.  At one point I was on two different medications, Tegretol and Dilantin, and was taking 1800mg a day.  That's about as high as you can go.  I tried every prescription drug on the market with no success.  Basically we spent four years trying different drugs, working with levels, and seeing different neurologists.  The third and final one we saw told my parents that there really was nothing more he could do.  His recommendation was brain surgery and referred  us to MINCEP.  (www.mincep.com) in Minneapolis, MN.  They were the first comprehensive epilepsy center in the United States and have served as a model for epilepsy centers throughout the world.  At that time we had two options.  We could go to MINCEP where they were doing the surgery I needed daily or we could go to the University of Michigan (that's where my parents' insurance company wanted us to go) where the doctor had done it once.  Forgive the pun, no don't forgive the pun.  It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out!

Prior to doing the surgery they had to see if I was even eligible.  If the infected area was in a place that also had motor skills, (i.e., sight, speech, etc) then they would remove what they could and do their best to control the seizures with medication.     I spent two weeks at MINCEP going through tests so  they could see exactly where the damaged area was.  They were able to determine that no motor skills were in the damaged area.   As it turns out there was nothing there.  It was dead brain.  (So many jokes, so little time). 

When I was born they used forceps and I had a bruise on the left side of my head.  My mother was told it was nothing to worry about.  However, the bruise caused my brain to kind of reset.  It moved everything to the right hand side.  I was left handed when I was born and now I'm ambidextrous.  When the doctor performed the surgery he said he was pulling up layers of dead brain all the way down to the grey matter.   

My high school was very cooperative  with us.  I was gone almost two months and still graduated on time.  They faxed me my assignments.  In one class the teacher just had me read a book.

Looking back you see things from a different perspective.  Going into that surgery I wanted one thing.  A driver's license and I was going to get it.  I didn't pray.   I just knew it would work.  It shouldn't have.  Mine was a horizontal view.  However, there were hundreds (maybe more) of people who felt differently and were lifting me before God.  There were literally people all over the world praying and if it wasn't for them I could very well still be sitting in my parents' basement.  Since 1992 I've lived in North Carolina, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio and I've had a full time job for twenty one years as of this year.  In each place I've been able to live on my own; prior to 1992 that may not have happened.   

When I was there one morning I got more letters then the entire floor!  They were all cards, some from people I didn't even know.  I also got cards from my high school's faculty, my biology class, the football team, cheerleaders, (I was on the yearbook and took pictures at the games)

Then of course there was a small bonus.  January 26, 1992.  The Washington Redskins were playing the Buffalo Bills.  Most people were in their living rooms watching the game.  I was in a hospital room.  However, my room was in Minneapolis.  :-)  I honestly don't know how close I was to the Metrodome but I was the closest I'll ever get to a Superbowl!  It was pretty cool.  I had made a bet that if Buffalo lost I'd shave my head.  It was a pretty safe bet and one that I lost.

Thankfully, I didn't need much rehab...initially.  But there's an interesting twist to this particular point.   The human body is going through many changes around age eleven and the epilepsy started to mature as well.  This had an interesting side affect.  The normal mental growth of an average teenager wasn't the same for me.  That's not to say I didn't have any.  When I was seventeen I didn't have the brain of an eleven year old.  I think the fact that my parents pushing me to read and educating me outside of school (even after I went back) really helped.  The fact that I graduated on time is evidence of that.  They were constantly reading to us.  Every morning.  In fact, that's what we did while we waited for me to have a seizure.   It kept my brain working.

source:   http://neurodoc.in/vagal_nerve_stimulation

After my surgery I spent pretty much an entire decade in a "discovering life" mentality.  I suppose that's what most people in their twenties do.  However, I was combining the teen years I'd missed with my twenties.  I did a lot of stupid stuff.  Again.  Characteristics of both.

During that time I had been seizure free for several years, and in 2003 my neurologist asked me if I would be open to having a Vegus Nerve Stimulator installed.   It is designed to prevent seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via the vagus nerve. (http://www.epilepsy.com/EPILEPSY/vns).  It is battery powered and the battery lasts seven years depending on the setting.      I actually had one of the first models so I watched them go from using laptops to check the battery power and pulses to the current (no pun intended) model which is the size of an iPhone.  Ironically the scanner I stick on my chest is still huge.  I've always thought that was weird.

In 2004 I started having seizures again.  It happened fairly regularly over the next few years.  I was living in Upper Michigan which was great but it not an area that is conducive to someone who is not driving.  In 2008 I had the opportunity to move to Colorado Springs as my brother (Joel) who was stationed out there, knew I was having financial difficulties,as well as the medical issues (driving and such) and offered to put me up.  I ended up being there for almost four years and he made some tremendous sacrifices that I am very thankful for.

As I said, one of the reasons I moved from Michigan to Colorado was because driving was an issue.  What I did not know was that Colorado Springs was running out of money and they were making budget cuts.  One of the cuts they made was to the public transportation system.  They cut out weekends and shortened the hours of operation during the week.  The buses stopped running at seven pm.  Since I started work at nine and I got off at five I had to come up with something else.  My hours and their hours didn't really work out too well together.  Now, initially, I did try and take the bus to work during my first week in Colorado Springs.  Joel had dropped me off the night before.  That morning I rode home but fell asleep and missed my stop.  The driver woke me up at the end of his route.  I was on an empty bus.  Oops.  The good thing was I was close to Walmart, so I went in there, bought a bike, and started riding home.  Since I finished work at five and it was about nine at this point Joel called me to find out where I was.  I was about ten miles out and he ended up coming to get me. That's how I started riding to work.  It was a good thing too because I eventually I would've had to start riding and by starting off doing it I was ahead of the game and in really good shape!  By the time I left Colorado Springs I had ridden over thirteen thousand miles.  Twenty miles a day.  I rode in everything but hail and the only reason I didn't ride in that was because it was never hailing while I was riding.  I wore a ski mask, ski goggles (when needed), long johns, thermal t shirt.  The works.  I even had studded tires.    Some people thought I was insane and I  probably was.  Maybe I still am.  :-)  The bottom line for me was (and is) I will get to work.  Period.  I crossed the line one time but fortunately I was prepared for the cold weather.  It makes for some good stories though!  :-)

Now, based on my experience, If you are looking for a good neurologist, Colorado Springs is not the place to look.  I'm not saying they aren't there, but Colorado Springs is a city focused on athletes.  If they are going to bring doctors in it won't be to work on your brain.  I had a hard time finding a good neurologist.  My experience was not good.   But that's just me.  Others may have different experiences.  I certainly hope so.

In 2011 I moved to Ohio and once I got here I called MINCEP and asked them who they'd recommend.  They sent me to the UC Health. (http://www.uchealth.com/).  They are one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation.  During my first several months here I had several grand mal seizures but what I found out was that there were several drugs that I didn't even know about.  (The neurologist I had seen just prior to my leaving Colorado Springs had told me there was nothing more he could do for me except monitor my VNS)  Those meds eventually helped to get my seizures under almost complete control.  I will never say complete control as there is always a chance for a seizure.

In closing, it's been amazing to see what God has brought me through and the road  he has taken me down.  I won't say it has always been fun but that's life.  He never said it's be easy.  I can't wait to see what God has next for me!  The adventure continues!

Batman verses Superman

(SPOILER ALERT)With the end of the Dark Knight trilogy this summer and the initial trailer for the Christopher Nolan version of Superman I've come across a long standing argument between comic book readers and super hero lovers.  Who is better?  Batman or Superman?  When I was a kid I always liked watching the Superman.  Now though, I think I like Batman better.  Over the years I've still enjoyed watching Superman cartoons but have to say that Batman has won me over.  Even the cartoons.  Especially Batman Beyond.


I actually enjoy watching Batman Beyond more then the original Batman cartoon.  That said the original is always the best.

When it comes to Superman how is it that we are the only ones who know that Clark Kent is just wearing glasses.  Is Lois Lane really that stupid?  I've always wondered how how oblivious a ""smart" reporter like Lois Lane could miss the fairly obvious fact that her coworker was just Superman in a suit and tie. 

The Dark Knight Trilogy is by far the best adaptation of Batman ever done and is my favorite.  While life is considerably more depressing at times one thing I have noticed is that Batman has much more fun then Superman.  I mean what can you really do with a cape?  If you recall in The Incredibles the cape was a big problem.  Superheros kept getting sucked up into jet engines.  (Of course Batman has a cape but that is not his main mode of transportation and most of the time he's either on the ground and is always away from jet engines.)   You'd think that being an alien from another world Superman's parents would have planned for him to have a little extra spending money.  He does have the "Fortress of Solitude."  Can't he ask for a raise in his allowance?  .  That said, even without money Superman could use that  super brain of his and build super toys.  Oh wait. He doesn't need to because nothing can beat him.  See, that's the problem.  How many times can The Daily Planet  run that story?  In theory, you should only be able to get away with that once.  After that it's old news.

Now, If you look at the list of Bat Toys you've got the car (the Tumbler beats every Batmobile EVER hands down!), the motorcycle, and what I suppose you could call a Bat hovercraft/jet.  Bottom line.  It flies and it's awesome!    And we can't forget the utility belt.  Bruce Wayne being a "billionaire playboy" certainly has it's perks when it comes to gadgets. 

There really isn't much to Superman other then the fact that he has super strength and has to stay away from kryptonite.  As much as I enjoyed watching Christopher Reeves as Superman when it comes down to it there really isn't all that much about Superman that's all that appealing.  Although he does get the girl.  But then again, they all do.  I don't recall any Superman having any big moral revelations other then the fact that he needed to control his speed.

Batman on the other hand is human which means he can fail.  He will fail.  In every movie Christopher Nolan movie he did fail. In fact The Dark Knight Rises opens eight years after the last movie and Batman took the fall for the murder of Harvey Dent.  Not much of a super hero, but very human.  As his Dad tells him in Batman Begins, "Why do we fall Bruce?  So we can learn to pick ourselves up."    That says something.  He can learn.  And he might not be Batman when he does it.  That is an important lesson in and of itself.  So while Superman flies around the earth, slowing it down to save Lois Lane, Batman (or maybe Bruce Wayne) will be teaching us why it is important to be the little engine that could.  Superman might have super strength but my money is on Batman.  He has to find a way to beat Superman.  That's what makes him the better superhero and the better man.  But that's just me.