The body is a weird place.

I spent a day away from work yesterday recouping from an impromptu trip to the clinic late windstorm nite. A trip that was odd...

It all started Tuesday morning during the daily ritual - the shower. I noticed a welt under my armpit. No biggie, since I get them when the weather gets warm and I sweat. And, as a big human, I do sweat...

So, off to work I go, then come home and change. No real change in the welt.

windstorm AM, I do the shower routine, and notice the welt is the size of a golfball. So, off to work, notice that it itches a little more, and even a bit of numbness in the fingers. The wife takes a look at it when she gets home from work and notices it has gotten larger. So, off in the car, trap off to the clinic, and get seen.

I know it profile isn't anything but a boil, an abscess, or a "carbuncle" .

SO, the doc says "gotta lance it, may take a half an hour". After prepping, cleaning, and even getting the area ready for the procedure, it still took about an hour.

Then came the lidocane - when they say it will burn, they aren't kidding... but, it will get numb..

Doc grabbs a scalpel, and makes a 1" cut on top of the lump. Then, lets it drain. After 10 minutes, he says "Wow, it was a large one... now, for the core". Then, goes to squeezing. And, squeezing. And squeezing....

FINALLY finishing, he then bandages up the wound, tells me to take the day, then I see the side of the bed and the drop pail to catch the lap-pads. Blood. Lots of it. No wonder I felt woozie...

He showed me some of the matter from the core - its indescribable...

From what He said, its caused by chemicals that open the skin pours, allows sweat, dead skin, hair, and even deodorant inside to percolate and fester. And, an abscess is formed.

Its amazing how weird the body can be. No wonder why they call medicine a 'practice'...

Air(head) America

I took the plunge yesterday and began to listen to 'the other side of the talk dial' while doing my algebra homework. It was an eye-opener...

Let me start with that I really don't consider myself a conservative, liberal, or any of the other dogmas that corrupt the political landscape. If anything, I'm a blend of libertarian and conservative views, if they could blend. I like little (if any) intrusion in my life, fortune, and wellbeing by any entity that claims 'to act in my behalf', which, is camouflage to reap power and as much as they can.

But, the AA (Air America) crew is waaaaay out there.

The local Baltimore talk radio station is romper-room compared to the spite, outright hate, and complete demogoguery broadcast. Its no wonder that the markets they are active in are major population centers, and, the ratings are subterranean and dropping. The man I heard last night was so shrill, the microphone cover needs changing due to spittle saturation and the threat of instant rust formation.

I'm for voicing your opinion. I'm for standing up for what one thinks is right. Heck, civil disobedience IS an American historical trait (if not, Concord and Lexington were just keggers that got out of hand...). But, outright hatred and vileness is not discord - its certifiable and would get a common man 72 hours in his favorite white, padded room for observation because he's not behind the protection of a microphone and a battery of support that would make Michael Jackson's look like public defenders.

I guess you could say that it is their right to broadcast and present their ideas and thoughts for all to see. I'm just afraid of what waits in the audience, receiving....
* * * UPDATE <0824/05> * * *
Seems the AA guys got themselves in a bit of scandle - taking cookie money from the Boys/Girls club in NYC...tsk, tsk..

I guess its for the kids, so....its okay...

"oh, you're gonna have a blast..."

The next time your boss is excessivly upbeat about a project, kick him in the knee.... =]

Origins

Okay,

I'm a "Classic Rock" nut. From growing up in the late 60's, current era (CE for the revisionists...) 'rock' music is, IMHO, whinny, sorrowful, monotone, and screed. There are no more Jimi Hendrix' (altho Lenny Kravitz comes close), Led Zepplins, or Pink Floyds.

Procol Harum (www. procolharum.com) was about as pychedelic as a band could get. From songs like Conquistador, Shine on Brightly, and A Whiter Shade of Pale, they did trip the light fandango...

Here are the lyrics:

We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
the room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
when we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray

and so it was the later
as the miller told his tale
as her face, at first just ghostly
turned a whiter shade of pale

She said "there is no reason
and the truth is plain to see"
but I wondered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of 16 vestal virgins
that were leaving for the coast
and althought my eyes were open
they might just as well be closed.

http://www.procolharum.com/w/w9901.htm (there are additional lyrics that were sung at live concerts that I was not aware of - guess I'm not the fan I should be...=) )

The lyrics are open to interpretation, but who really knows? If you have some insight, please, share....

A_R

A_R is revealed!!!!

For all my Mad Cow Steakhouse friends, I am *the* arclight.

Accept no imitations - ask for the 'real deal'....=)

A_R

Opening Salvo....

To whom this concerns....

....where do I begin....

At the behest of a colleague, friend, and pseudo-mentor, I've taken the blog plunge. Got no Idea where this will lead, got no idea what to say, and where this will go.

Only thing I can say is Jerry Garcia's tomic words: "I will get by.." or "what a long strange trip its been...", take your pick if you know me.... =)

I guess I'll post thoughts, ideas, 'neat things', and other things that pique my interests. Only time will tell...

Thanks for coming by, please comment, and take my verbiage with a healthy dose of salt and tequila...=)

A_R