ProfessorTomoe

Let's see if we can consolidate some of the "what are you eating/drinking/breathing" threads into this one. I am currently ingesting Crystal Light tea. Just had some hummus & pita chips beforehand. I'm considering getting a glass of Bulgarian buttermilk (I was shocked that my local Albertson's actually had the Bulgarian style! Nom.).

As with the thread from the previous incarnation of the board, I begin this one with a request that the information within remain confidential. This is a thread for those seeking support as they deal with very sensitive situations involving either their own or a loved one's health. Please let this be a thread where such information can be shared with a level of trust. Now, back to the topic at hand. I picked up my second filling of Brintellix yesterday—all $141 of it, for a month's supply. I find it odd that it is an antidepressant, yet the price is so high that it is depressing just to purchase it. As for its effects, I'm still getting used to them. I haven't been able to sleep for more than three hours at a time for a couple of weeks now. When I do wake up in the middle of the night, I'm not groggy. In fact, I feel for at least a short time that I've had a decent night's sleep. That sensation only lasts a few hours, though. I don't crash out—I just sort of fade to the point where I need to sleep again. Very weird. I've also lost weight. Not a lot, but every pound counts, and it's been a slow and steady drop. Some of this might be related to the small dose of metformin that I'm on (my A1C hit 6.5 again, causing my primary doctor to freak out). I seriously don't know. Whatever the reason, it made my cardiologist happy at my appointment yesterday. Speaking of cardiologists, mine determined that I am status quo as far as my PVCs are concerned. He hasn't seen them in the short 30-second EKGs he runs at every appointment, but the memory of my Holter monitor results from several years ago is enough to keep him on his toes. Still, he saw no reason to increase my lisinopril or to add a beta blocker to my shoebox full of medicines. I hope this thread will be as useful as the last one was. Thanks for any support you can provide.

My turn to ride the crazy Migraine train. It hit with no warning, despite me taking my preventative 60mg of Qulipta last night. I took a Nurtec ODT 75mg as soon as I realized it was a migraine. Forty minutes later, nothing had kicked in yet, so I took a Sudafed and then, a few minutes later, a capsule of medical-grade caffeine (200mg). It's now almost 1 hour and 50 minutes past onset, and the pain has subsided from a 9 to a 6.5 or a 7. Most of it is on my right side, as usual, but it has hit both sides, albeit unequally. As long as I keep the lights off and the television muted, I think I can live with the current level, but I wish I didn't have to. I've started tracking it on Migraine Buddy to see if that helps me any. Simultaneously, I'm using a tracking chart that's part of a Word document. Same goal.

I just saw one about six weeks ago, and he didn't see any major problems with my eyes. He said I had cataracts in the extremely early stages, but nothing to worry about. He definitely didn't say anything about the yellow tint I get on waking up sometimes. Anyway, my vision came back to normal about 5 minutes prior to me typing in the above complaint. If it happens again, I'm going to see my primary doctor and get a referral to a different eye doctor.

Most annoying. For the second time in the past week, I've woke up and couldn't focus on anything. My glasses didn't do me any good. It took about 20 minutes for my eyes to settle down and start focusing on letters that I normally can see without much problem. My wife checked my blood sugar, just to be sure. It came in at 139 - a tiny bit high, but not enough to cause this kind of problem. You'd expect numbrs in the 200s to cause this.

Many things have happened since my last post. I've hooked up with a publisher of sheet music who apparently likes what I've written for solos and chamber ensembles. The publisher is Cimarron Music Press, and they have signed up to publish eight (8) of my works! That includes 2 solos, 5 original ensembles, and one arranged ensemble (an excerpt of a Bruckner symphony). I've put up a page on my website with links to all of the pages they've published so far, plus links to the YouTube videos for each. Here's the link to it: https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/music/music-published-through-cimarron-music-press/ Please give it a look when you get the chance. Thank you!

I'd like to use this thread as a way to highlight new releases of my music. Anyone else who has any music coming out is welcome to do the same. For starters, I've just released a song called "Ant Farm Melee" to my Bandcamp account. You can read all about it on my latest blog post. Please grab a copy of the song today!

We have had an H-E-B grocery store open up in our vicinity. For those of you who don't know, H-E-B is a Texas-based chain that frequently comes out on top of the grocery store rankings. They are, to put it simply, outstanding. Their store brands are as good as, if not better than, national brands. Their fresh foods are top notch. We are truly lucky to have one near us. And we have not gone yet. Put it simply, the place is jam-packed. We're going to give it a couple more weeks before we even dare attempt a foray into the place. Reports and photographs show it to be a madhouse right now, so yeah - we wait. Sigh.

Sorry for the absence - I've been busy putting something together - a new album! My first one in ages. It's called "Going Big," and it's up on Bandcamp now. It consists of pieces that I've released before, but they're all compiled here now. All my "Big" works, like Concert Band, Orchestra, French Horn Choir, that sort of thing. Here's the link: https://leejackson1.bandcamp.com/album/going-big Please grab a copy and pass the word along! Thanks!

If things go as planned, Mrs. Prof. will be purchasing a new laptop for herself about now: https://www.microcenter.com/product/649163/acer-aspire-5-a515-57-52yq-156-laptop-computer-gray She does not need a huge multimedia machine. She just needs something she can use to do spreadsheets, communicate, and watch streaming content. Please tell me I haven't steered her wrong.

This silver/gold business is turning out to be fun to discuss, so I figured I'd set up a new topic for it. I did a little more digging on APMEX's site and found what @mlooney was discussing, more or less: something called "Prepper Silver." Little one gram bars that are meant to be bartered at will in the event of a financial meltdown: The image is obviously much larger than the bullion would be in real life. Here's what the sales pitch has to say in part: I was actually thinking of buying one of these little guys just because they're cute and cheap...until I read this crap. Now, I think I'd feel dirty carrying out the transaction. I don't know. I might buy one anyway, but I'd have to swallow some serious pride in the process.

I've tried Firefox and Arc, both on the Mac.

Trying again with the image link: http://www.lbjackson.com/images/Libertad2023Obverse01.jpg http://www.lbjackson.com/images/Libertad2023Reverse01.jpg This is a 2023 Mexican .999 fine 1 oz silver coin called a Libertad. I got it on Monday. Libertads have been appreciating in value rapidly on a yearly basis. In a couple of years, this thing, which cost around $38 when new in 2023, will probably bring in around $60. EDIT: damned undefined error. I give up.

Let's try posting a picture again... https://i.imgur.com/lG7Abx9.jpeg Nope, I'm still getting that damned "undefined" error. Well, anyway, this is my current "Family Portrait," version 3. Lotsa sparklies in there.

Meow. *Ka-CHING!* https://imgur.com/a/vBxHwX9 (still not working for some reason)

It's difficult because they are quick, especially the brown ones, and they have a tendency to jump over the lazy dauxg.

My silver odyssey has paid off big time. Here's my "family portrait," containing my current stash: https://media.invisioncic.com/l328053/monthly_2025_05/FamilyPortrait2_0-small.jpg.ee3ba9a3f3312d12aa561e62072a2312.jpg For some reason, the board won't let me link images anymore, so please click on that. It's safe, I promise. It's a metric assload of silver - around 21 troy ounces - worth almost $700 at spot prices. I don't know if I'm going to sell any of it or not. Maybe, maybe not. We'll see.

Those are for sinners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvZJp1ddYXM

Surgery went well, although the new drain line is shorter than the old one. It's a PITA to deal with in the bathroom.

Here's more. The "wait and see" got a LOT worse. My right leg looks like The Elephant Man's leg now. I had a sonogram today - they found a 7.3 cm "bubble" of fluid in there, so they're going to put me under tomorrow (Friday) and insert a new drain. Just what I always wanted - more surgery.

No, no "Meh," fortunately. In other news, I'm starting to swell up a bit. The doctor said to expect this, and that I should ice down the area, which I have done.

New silver added to the repository: It is a 2015 Canadian $8 "Superleaf" coin, and it comes in at .9999 Fine. That's the purest silver I have in my collection. Beautiful coin.

I saw the surgeon today, and he took a good look at the damage. Pronounced it "wait and see."-type damage. I've already got an appointment on Thursday, so we're keeping that and will use it to reassess. In any case, he said he's seen worse.

The pope is dead. However: If you are a devout Catholic, you may be offended by what follows. Please forgive me. It is only meant as friendly humor. Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Pisces Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Swimmeatus qui sibi nomen imposuit Dopefish.

Oh shiat. I got my drain hose caught in the folds of my recliner leg rest upon standing and yanked it out, stitches and all. There wasn't even any pain as a warning. There's pain now, though. My right side is sore. I'm going to have to see the surgeon on Monday to figure out what to do. Oh shiat.