Here's to a Better New Year

Elspode · 12-31-2003, 12:31 PM

As I will likely be slouching in a 'lounge' chair in the ICU alongside my boy tonight when the bell tolls 12, I thought I'd take this opportunity to extend my wishes for a wonderful New Year to all of you, my online family at The Cellar.

Tonight marks my one year anniversary as a member of this thriving and articulate community, and I want to thank all of you for being there. In particular, my fondest acknowledgements go out to Wolf, Slang, Sycamore, xoxoBruce and Onyx Cougar...you guys and gals have become a bright part of my days this past year, and I appreciate *everything* you've imparted to me.

To the rest of this motley crew, I am always amazed at the breadth and depth of knowledge, the strength of opinions and the sheer *gall* of all of you! You make me laugh and cry, get me pissed and calm me down...what more could I want?

Finally, to Undertoad, for...well, for freaking *everything*...Thanks, and blessings in the coming year.

Peace, ya'll.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-31-2003, 12:38 PM

Aw, go to hell ya freakin pagan.

elSicomoro · 12-31-2003, 12:50 PM

Thanks, Ep.

Stay positive and be strong. And may you and your family have a better year in 2004.

Undertoad · 12-31-2003, 01:07 PM

The other day some TV pundits were discussing the "most admired men and women of 2003" polls, in which typically the pres and first lady are #1. (It was interesting to them because hillary is the #1 woman)

My most admired man of 2003 is elspode, for his attending to his son. And although I don't mean to pressure him in this way, because he is "only" doing the right thing, and can surely only bear so much, here's to him. There are a lot of people who have had to bear a tough human lot, but he's the one doing it now, and he's doing it strong, so here's to ya guy.

My most admired woman of 2003: well it's a four-way tie.

OnyxCougar · 12-31-2003, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undertoad

My most admired man of 2003 is elspode, for his attending to his son. And although I don't mean to pressure him in this way, because he is "only" doing the right thing, and can surely only bear so much, here's to him. There are a lot of people who have had to bear a tough human lot, but he's the one doing it now, and he's doing it strong, so here's to ya guy.

For coping with a very difficult situation with grace and wit, and for all the other reasons I love him, I also vote Patrick my "most admired" man of 2003. (Just don't tell Steve.)

xoxoxoBruce · 12-31-2003, 05:35 PM

Damn it, I knew this thread was going to get all sappy. It's a New Years thing.
Well Elspode is going through shit no one should ever have to. And he's doing it with courage and grace I don't know if I could muster. But don't forget before this latest crisis he's been subjected to unfair burdens all year, one after another, as has his mrs.
Couple of the year, I say.

Griff · 12-31-2003, 05:40 PM

Ditto on that. Keep on keeping on Patrick. Hopefully next year will be a little more boring.

Elspode · 12-31-2003, 05:55 PM

Good lord...I hope we don't end up on the cover of Losers Magazine or something...

Any of you would do the same...t'ain't nothin' special 'bout us'ns. We're just doing what we've gotta do.

Waiting for the Mrs. to show up...we have a two hour window to get dinner together while they do shift change in the ICU. Seems they throw everyone out from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 6:00 to 8:00 each day, no matter who you are.

Steve is now scheduled for surgery to put the permanent shunt in either very late Friday night or very early Saturday morning. So far, the first surgery started at midnight and the second at 7:30 PM. I guess his surgeon is nocturnal or something.

If all goes well (please, for the love of the Gods, let everything go well this time), he could be out on Monday and back home.

Go party, you saps...be safe.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-31-2003, 06:03 PM

Els, things are changing in your immediate future. Good Karma is in the wind. Trust me.

Elspode · 01-03-2004, 02:23 PM

For those of you keeping score, my son Stephen went into surgery at about 9:30 this morning, and it was completed around noonish. He has now been moved to a regular room for his recovery (out of the damn ICU, thank the gods...what an uncomfortable place to be).

The doctor characterized the procedure as having gone smoothly. Steve was pretty uncomfortable afterward, due to a combination of factors - his head hurt from having the internal pressure intentionally built up to enlarge the ventricles to make for easier placement of the catheter, it hurt from the incisions made for the procedure, and his abdomen hurts from the placement of the distal tube (they actually tunnel under the skin to insert this tube) and the incision made in his abdomen to incise the peritoneum for the drainage end of the distal tube to be placed. He was also quite nauseated, probably from a combination of the neurological symptoms and the morphine.

We now wait to see how he comes around. If all is well, his cognition should be pretty much normal by tomorrow at this time. There will be concern for infection for the next few weeks, and that is basically a 'wait and see' proposition.

Stephen's mother will be with him for the next couple of days. If all goes properly, he could be discharged on Monday or Tuesday, and will remain with us for a couple of weeks after that.

Keep up the good vibes...we're not done yet.

elSicomoro · 01-03-2004, 02:34 PM

Y'know, we know that Ep's been going through hell the last couple of weeks...and of course, we're gonna give him mad love b/c good guys like him shouldn't have to go through shit like this.

So I was thinking...why don't we create a "get well card" for Stephen? In Cellar terms, this means creating a thread, putting well wishes in it, and then Ep can print it and share it with Stephen.

The get well card is located here.

wolf · 01-04-2004, 11:34 PM

Happy New Year to you, El.

Good things are coming.

12-31-2003, 05:40 PM	#7
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Ditto on that. Keep on keeping on Patrick. Hopefully next year will be a little more boring. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-31-2003, 05:55 PM	#8
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Good lord...I hope we don't end up on the cover of Losers Magazine or something... Any of you would do the same...t'ain't nothin' special 'bout us'ns. We're just doing what we've gotta do. Waiting for the Mrs. to show up...we have a two hour window to get dinner together while they do shift change in the ICU. Seems they throw everyone out from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 6:00 to 8:00 each day, no matter who you are. Steve is now scheduled for surgery to put the permanent shunt in either very late Friday night or very early Saturday morning. So far, the first surgery started at midnight and the second at 7:30 PM. I guess his surgeon is nocturnal or something. If all goes well (please, for the love of the Gods, let everything go well this time), he could be out on Monday and back home. Go party, you saps...be safe. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-03-2004, 02:23 PM	#10
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Surgery #3 For those of you keeping score, my son Stephen went into surgery at about 9:30 this morning, and it was completed around noonish. He has now been moved to a regular room for his recovery (out of the damn ICU, thank the gods...what an uncomfortable place to be). The doctor characterized the procedure as having gone smoothly. Steve was pretty uncomfortable afterward, due to a combination of factors - his head hurt from having the internal pressure intentionally built up to enlarge the ventricles to make for easier placement of the catheter, it hurt from the incisions made for the procedure, and his abdomen hurts from the placement of the distal tube (they actually tunnel under the skin to insert this tube) and the incision made in his abdomen to incise the peritoneum for the drainage end of the distal tube to be placed. He was also quite nauseated, probably from a combination of the neurological symptoms and the morphine. We now wait to see how he comes around. If all is well, his cognition should be pretty much normal by tomorrow at this time. There will be concern for infection for the next few weeks, and that is basically a 'wait and see' proposition. Stephen's mother will be with him for the next couple of days. If all goes properly, he could be discharged on Monday or Tuesday, and will remain with us for a couple of weeks after that. Keep up the good vibes...we're not done yet. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-04-2004, 11:34 PM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Happy New Year to you, El. Good things are coming. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-31-2003, 12:31 PM	#1
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Here's to a Better New Year As I will likely be slouching in a 'lounge' chair in the ICU alongside my boy tonight when the bell tolls 12, I thought I'd take this opportunity to extend my wishes for a wonderful New Year to all of you, my online family at The Cellar. Tonight marks my one year anniversary as a member of this thriving and articulate community, and I want to thank all of you for being there. In particular, my fondest acknowledgements go out to Wolf, Slang, Sycamore, xoxoBruce and Onyx Cougar...you guys and gals have become a bright part of my days this past year, and I appreciate everything you've imparted to me. To the rest of this motley crew, I am always amazed at the breadth and depth of knowledge, the strength of opinions and the sheer gall of all of you! You make me laugh and cry, get me pissed and calm me down...what more could I want? Finally, to Undertoad, for...well, for freaking everything...Thanks, and blessings in the coming year. Peace, ya'll. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

12-31-2003, 12:38 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Aw, go to hell ya freakin pagan.

12-31-2003, 12:50 PM	#3
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Thanks, Ep. Stay positive and be strong. And may you and your family have a better year in 2004.

12-31-2003, 01:07 PM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The other day some TV pundits were discussing the "most admired men and women of 2003" polls, in which typically the pres and first lady are #1. (It was interesting to them because hillary is the #1 woman) My most admired man of 2003 is elspode, for his attending to his son. And although I don't mean to pressure him in this way, because he is "only" doing the right thing, and can surely only bear so much, here's to him. There are a lot of people who have had to bear a tough human lot, but he's the one doing it now, and he's doing it strong, so here's to ya guy. My most admired woman of 2003: well it's a four-way tie.

12-31-2003, 05:35 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Damn it, I knew this thread was going to get all sappy. It's a New Years thing. Well Elspode is going through shit no one should ever have to. And he's doing it with courage and grace I don't know if I could muster. But don't forget before this latest crisis he's been subjected to unfair burdens all year, one after another, as has his mrs. Couple of the year, I say.

12-31-2003, 06:03 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Els, things are changing in your immediate future. Good Karma is in the wind. Trust me.

01-03-2004, 02:34 PM	#11
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Y'know, we know that Ep's been going through hell the last couple of weeks...and of course, we're gonna give him mad love b/c good guys like him shouldn't have to go through shit like this. So I was thinking...why don't we create a "get well card" for Stephen? In Cellar terms, this means creating a thread, putting well wishes in it, and then Ep can print it and share it with Stephen. The get well card is located here.

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