Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like the picture-in-picture feature on our TV. I finally figured it out the other night. This is technology beyond my understanding. I know people have been enjoying 2 programs at once since the 1990’s but I’m new to it, OK? For me, the ideal combo for pic-n-pic is a comedy special or a favorite sitcom on the main screen with a sporting event in the smaller screen. Now I can kick back and REALLY relax!

This week, I love Julie’s new GPS device. I gave Julie a Garmin GPS device for her birthday and have used it more than she has. It is amazing how spot-on this thing is. It’s quick too – if you opt for an alternate route or get off course, it will quickly reconfigure your path. I haven’t set CAMDEN, AL as a destination on the Garmin yet but I doubt there will be any troubles. Because we all know…ALL ROADS LEAD TO CAMDEN!

This week, I don’t like waking up on Thursday and thinking that it’s Friday. I do this every week for some reason. As soon as my eyes are open, I’m in a great mood. But I make the realization that it’s only Thursday before my feet hit the floor and I become ill. Not sure why I do this but it is a big let down! I think it is because Wednesdays are such long days for me. I go to bed each Wednesday night with a great sense of accomplishment and that feeling probably triggers the false mindset that the next day is Friday.

Finger Update! Only one quick picture to show you but I will say things are going much better. June 8th is the two-month mark since my injury. I made a big breakthrough just the other day when I began typing with the finger in question. I have even been able to write normally as of late too. Who would have imagined that it would take nearly 2 months for me to use my finger again? Best of all, the “hump” is flattening out more and more each day.

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like appointment television. With DRVs and the ability to stream movies and TV shows to your Blu Ray player, people no longer have to live their lives around TV programming. Growing up, I associated Thursday night with The Cosby Show. Nowadays you don’t have to stop everything you’re doing on Thursday night to watch The Office or 30 Rock. Watch it later in the week or better yet, stream the entire season and plow through it this weekend. An no commercials!

Speaking of Blu Ray players, look what this jackleg did. All that work for a toy?


And I know my sister will want to go search YouTube for a Cosby clip so I’ll just post one for her here. Oh Elvin!


This week, I love the Lord. He has shown us some big signs lately to remind us that He is indeed taking care of us.

This week, I don’t like the non-use of turn signals. Turn signals are totally optional in the greater Birmingham area. Did you know that? Well, you should. This nugget of knowledge comes in very handy when you are traveling at high rates of speed on the interstate. Other useful applications include when you see a car seemingly parked in the turn lane on a major highway. No, this driver does not need assistance. They are simply waiting for the right moment to merge into traffic or to make the turn.

Finger update!!!

I’ve been told by my co-blogger that posting grotesque photos of my finger injury may not be all that prudent. Tomorrow (May 6) marks 4 weeks since my accident. I had a major breakthrough last week but I will not go into the gory details. Nor will I post any of the cool photos that documented said breakthrough. Just think “butterfly emerging from its cocoon” and you will get the picture. Let me know if you would like to see the photos for yourself and I’ll email them to you. I won’t leaving you hanging though…here’s the latest on the finger front.

The tip is very, very tender and you can see that the “hump” is still on the scene. Nice pink color though, don’t you think? Thanks again for your prayers. I’m taking the day off on Friday and spending ALL DAY at Farm Links thanks to my sweet, sweet wife. I’ll have some photos and videos for you soon.

Finger Update!

The two-week mark has passed since I was attacked by a pig. Last week, my stitches were removed in under 2 minutes. I’m now allowed to get the cut area wet but I can’t soak the area. This new freedom has been very helpful in getting some of that crusty black stuff out of the way. Here is an updated pic.




The “flap”, as stated by the clinic doctor, is indeed dying more and more each day. The skin is hardening like a big hangnail. To prevent snags on my clothing, I am using one of Julie’s nail files to soften the edges. I know – that’s disgusting…but you asked for details. Actually, you didn’t. My bad. But you have to heck out this other angle:

See the hump? Yeah, no feeling in that whatsoever. The rest of my finger tip has come back to life though and I have full flexibility. No pain unless I bump the cut…which I did at work the other day and it hurt so bad that I just knew it was going to start gushing my DNA again. But it didn’t. I am planning on a return to the golf course in early May. Thank you for your continued prayers and the flowers from the anonymous sources. You really know how to make a boy blush!

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like that Tiger Woods’ approval rating is plummeting. He told us that he was going to return to his Buddhist foundation and do a better job of keeping his temper in check on the course. Well, it didn’t take long to see that his pledge didn’t stick. In his dramatic return, Tiger was seen throwing clubs and heard using the Lord’s name in vain on multiple occasions. (By the way, what is up with that? He’s Buddhist yet slurs my God? I don’t think so, chump.) Tiger did more to hurt himself than help and a win by good-guy Phil Mickelson was icing on the cake. NIKE can’t drop him now. They’re stuck with him. If you read blogs and comments on articles then it is easy to see that Tiger’s supporters are vanishing quickly. I'll wager that he won’t be gaining new sponsors anytime soon. It is refreshing to see that some people still have their values intact. Now if we could only get the ball rolling on a steroid inquiry…

This week, I love knowing that it is all downhill from here. Julie and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary this weekend! It is hard to believe that it has already been 1 year. I’ve loved every minute of it. My love for Julie is like the Hoover Dam: it gets stronger every day. When we got married, everyone told us that the first year is the hardest. Well, shoot! Our first year has been gravy so I’m glad to know that the years that follow will be even smoother! LOVE YOU JULIE! I’ve got an idea for when we renew our vows!

This week, I don’t like LOST. There…I said it. I’m just going to say that, as the conclusion of this once-fine television show nears, LOST is shaping up for a major letdown. There are a lot of people out there that are more faithful than me but their spin on the recent episodes are really stretching it. I just figure that if I go ahead and give up hope for a great ending now, I’ll be all the more satisfied if the shoe actually does have a great, mind-blowing ending. And if it doesn’t, my feelings won’t be hurt as badly.

FINGER UPDATE!

Today is DAY 6 and I noticed that my flexibility in the joint nearest my finger tip has somewhat returned. No pain, unless I bump the cut. The swelling has gone way down and my stitches appear very "loose". I go back to have the stitches removed tomorrow (April 15). I bet I could do it myself but I don't want to perform my inaugural surgery on my own hand. Know what I mean Vern?

I hope they give me some "what now?" instructions after the stitches are out. I've kept the cut dry, just like I was told. But the tip of my finger feels like I dipped it in paint and allowed it to dry. I hope I'll be able to clean it up and get that black stuff out of there too. I think it is dried blood. If you've got any tips, please send them my way.

Think...then act

I consider myself a cautious person (remember that I dated Julie for a looong time). I usually think things through before I take action. But I failed to stick to this practice on Thursday and I paid the price.

I cut the tip of my finger at work and could not get it to stop bleeding. I got my wonderful supervisor to take me to a walk-in clinic to get stitches and a tetanus shot. I came home with this awesome bandage.

Here is a close-up of my injury without the bandage. I was told to keep the cut very dry and my stitches would be removed in a week. I never knew how much I relied on my right index finger before.

Want to know how this happened? Part of my marketing duties at work include managing our giveaway inventory. We have a bunch of porcelain piggy banks that we give to kids/schools/churches. I noticed a crack in one of the pigs and instantly began trying to pry the piggy bank apart at the crack. No thinking was involved and I did not consider the repercussions. Well, the piggy bank came apart and sliced the stew out of my finger tip. Moral of the story: THINK THEN ACT.

My masculinity takes a big hit each time I tell the story of almost losing my finger to a piggy bank. Julie has been taking very good care of me and I do appreciate all of the flowers and cards you have sent. I know a lot of you are concerned about my golf game but I assure you that I will get back out there soon and will continue to provide the videos that you love so much.

REMEMBER THIS LESSON KIDS!