Remember.

Thank a veteran today. They all deserve our respect and thanks.

In Honor Of NLT's Unofficial Theme Song, And The Men (And Ship) That Inspired It.

From yesterday's Toledo Blade.

The mystery of the Big Fitz
THREE decades have passed now since the gales of November came early and created the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald. But the tragic sinking of the grandest ship on the Great Lakes, and the loss of all 29 men aboard her in a fierce storm on Lake Superior, remains the lakes' most famous shipwreck, and on a broader scale, second only to the Titanic in terms of public consciousness and fascination.
Unlike the Titanic, which sank in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg in the north Atlantic Ocean, what sent the Fitzgerald to the bottom on Nov. 10, 1975, will never be known with certainty.
Speculation still abounds. She had bottomed out earlier in the day, took on too much water, and lost buoyancy, one theory says. Two monster waves overtook the ship from the stern and sent her bow beneath the waves, and she couldn't recover, goes another.
She was downbound, fully loaded, and riding low in the water. So swift was the ship's disappearance that she simply vanished from the radar screen of the Arthur Anderson, trailing the Fitz by 10 miles or so, with no time for an SOS or radio call for help.
It is the mystery that feeds the legend.
The Fitz was not a glamorous cruise liner with swimming pools, rock-climbing walls, and movie theaters. It was big long box with an engine, hauling 25,000 tons of iron ore pellets.
But it was also the biggest, longest, and fastest ship out there. At 729 feet, it was longer than Toledo's O-I building at 1 Seagate, is tall - by more than 300 feet.
The Fitz drew admiring salutes from other ships, and when the massive vessel pulled slowly and snugly through the Soo locks linking Lake Huron and Lake Superior, she was a tourist attraction.
The Toledo area has a special reason to remember the Fitzgerald and the men who died - she was Toledo's ship.
Though "Milwaukee" was painted on her stern, Toledo was virtually her home port. For years her customary itinerary was to sail from Toledo to Silver Bay or Two Harbors, Minn., load iron ore from Minnesota's Mesabi range, and bring it back to Toledo to unload.
Several members of the crew made their homes in Toledo or nearby, including the ship's veteran captain, Ernest McSorley.
The families of the 29 men have formed a bond over the years since the accident. Many of them gather every year on or near the anniversary of the sinking for a memorial service at the Mariners' Church in downtown Detroit.
This year the service will be Sunday at 11 a.m. It will mark the 30th time the Rev. Richard W. Ingalls brings together the wives and the sons and the daughters of the victims, to ring the church bell 29 times, once for each crew member, and once more for all the others who've lost their lives on these beautiful but often treacherous lakes.
The legend of the Fitz lives on for another reason - singer and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot's haunting ballad, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." It is a song which speaks to the power of the lake they call Gitche Gumee.
The Fitz lies in 530 feet of water, not far from the relatively safe shelter that Whitefish Point on Michigan's Upper Peninsula might have provided that terrible night had the ship made it. The wreckage lies in two pieces, the stern overturned, the bow section upright where it plowed into the bottom with great force and to devastating effect.
To this day, the tragedy is a painful reminder that even a ship as majestic and mighty as the Edmund Fitzgerald could not withstand the fury of nature.
We must all stand in awe, and remember those who were lost.

Ironic, Ain't It?? (Or, Maybe Sometimes You SHOULD Drink And Drive.)

From the Associated Press:

Sultan, Washington - A man whose friends felt he was too drunk to drive home after his 55th birthday party was struck and killed by a car as he walked home. Police in Sultan, Washington, say friends and family took Benjamin Wright's keys away from him and told him to stay at his son's place. Wright said he was going outside to smoke, but apparently began walking home instead. He was fatally struck by a car. Police say the driver, a 54-year-old woman, apparently didn't see Wright in the road. No word on whether charges will be filed.

Two Heart Related Items.

First off.....

Went to the cardiologist yesterday. Got the 2D sonogram (an ultrasound for my heart.) Got strapped to a monitor for 24 hours (doing it now.) Won't know how I did for a few days, probably. Will update as soon as news breaks.

Second "Heart" related item....

Our company Christmas party is December 2nd. They've suggested we dress as our favorite musical era, act, or artist. I was thinking about going as Meat Loaf...or Ann AND Nancy Wilson in Heart. Both of them.

Any other suggestions for a good outfit??

Extra Onions, Extra Sauce, Ten Cents.

Fresh from the cardiologist yesterday, I'm sitting here hungry as hell for the steamy goodness that is Coney Island Hot Dogs. Order them with Extra Onions, and Extra Sauce. Extra onions are 6 cents, and extra sauce is 6 cents, but you can get both for ten cents. Can't find a better bargain anywhere. Take that, Eddie Merlot's and your 'all sides are extra' trendiness!

(Actually, Eddie Merlot's is very good too....but they haven't been a Fort Wayne fixture since 1914, as Coney Island has.)

Order three, with a bowl of chili soup, and a seven ounce Coke (the ONLY way to drink Coke....or, order a large Pepsi if you must.) If the docs say it's ok, this weekend might be a Powers/Coney buffet at the house...Maybe even a gathering for a good ol' food hopping.....Call for RSVPs.

A Thought For The Day. (Since I'm Way Behind, I Can Do More Than One.)

"A new poll shows that 66 percent of Americans think President Bush is doing a poor job of handling the war in Iraq. And the remaining 34 percent think Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs to church."

--Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live last week

A Thought For The Day. (I Gotta Take Care Of This Too. God, I Wonder What My Co-Pay Will Be For This One.)

If you're not true to your teeth, they'll be false to you.

--Tom Griswold (Bob and Tom)
http://www.idleriot.com/media/videos/Funny/1586/Cracking_Teeth.html

Updated Update. (Or, Now It Can Be Told.)

So....What's New?

Let's see.....

Been battling a head cold. Last Monday, after my workout, I finally broke down and went to RediMed to get the damn thing taken care of. Got some antibiotics and a decongestant....got my ears cleaned out (you don't want to know, but I can hear better)...found out I had a sinus infection, as well as a mild infection in both ears. Took the meds...went to sleep.

Tuesday....a pretty calm day. Took advantage of the lull to get ahead at work. Good thing, cause....

Wednesday. Got in at 5. Got on at 6. Sitting at the computer in the control room at 6:25. Woke up on the floor at 6:30, with severe pain in my side (bruised ribs and strained back). Seems I passed out and fell off the chair...crumpling in a heap on the studio floor. Called Elvis (no, that's not a euphemism...I really did.) Mary Jane took me to the ER at Lutheran.

Got in to the ER....They were concerned about my heart. I was concerned about the extreme pain that was doubling me over and making it hard to breathe. Thank God they WEREN'T the same thing. Checked me in (whose idea is it to have patients interviewed BEFORE they get to see the doctor, anyway?) Got to go back to Room 12. Eric the nurse helped me back. Eric is a good nurse. Deserves his props.

Put an IV into my hand (have I told you how much I hate needles?) Asked about the ex-girlfriend (Laura) that works at Lutheran ER. Was told she had gone home for the day. Took me down for Xrays. On the way down the hall, caught the eye of the same Laura (she WAS off, but not home--a common feeling if you've ever been in radio.) She later described the subsequent experience as surreal, but not in a bad way. From my point of view, it WAS surreal....and not necessarily in a good way.

The nurse that helped me down to ER wanted to know who I was, cause "the entire Bear staff is in there with him". (Read: MJ.) Laura laughed, and told her to ask me. At this point, I was back down in the room. Dr. Koury (ER doc) came in...saw my Fort jacket on the chair...and freaked. Wanted one of his own. Checked my vitals....ok'ed some morphine for the back pain. MMMM...morphine.

Mary Jane had to leave....Laura came in. Glad to have her there. Think she might have thought I would be uncomfortable with her there. Anything but. In fact, it was kind of funny to watch the staff's attempts to relate to my 'private nurse'. Stayed with me off and on for a great deal of the morning...even helped with the morphine shot. Broke the news that they'd have to stick me again for the CT scan. Not the best way to spend time with someone you care for, but was appreciated nonetheless. Thank you, Laura Lea.

Funny moment came when the assistant for the cardiologist came in....put me through the usual litany of questions re: medical history. Asked if I had suffered from 'stress, anxiety, mental illness or depression.' Answered yes to all of the above, but none diagnosed. The cardiology guy, Laura and I all had a quick, knowing laugh.

Cardiologist came in....asked if he could call me "Tiny". Big Bob and Tom fan, too. Told me that almost everything looked good...made an appointment for next Tuesday (today.) Finally the morphine took effect...and I drifted off to Wonkaland. Cept sugar free.
Woke up to RJ with the Hummer parked outside... took me back to the station.... worked on music till the morphine wore off.... went to get my meds. Went home.....took drugs.....slept. Took a day off (if you know me, you know how rare that is.)

Got Dr. Koury his Fort jacket...he was thrilled. Friday night at O's, had one of his nurses (Jeannette) accost me for one of her own. Cute girl.....unfortunately married. Plus the jackets cost about a hundred bucks apiece....and I need to save my money for co-pays. Sorry, honey. Spent the rest of the weekend on muscle relaxants and Vicodin. MMMMM....Vicodin.

Today, I go into the cardiologist for a 2-D sonogram (think an ultrasound for my heart), a possible treadmill test, and to get fitted for a monitor. Gotta wear it for a day or two....see if they can find anything wrong. The possibility exists that there IS nothing wrong. Keeping my fingers crossed for that hopeful outcome. I'll let you know.

So...what's new with you??

Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. JQP for their thoughts here....to Laura, for staying with me...to Meri Jane, for taking me to the ER quickly, and without hitting any bumps....and to all who have inquired as to my well being in person. I'm sure there are more who aren't aware at all...the event hasn't been widely publicized. For your kind thoughts and prayers, I am thankful, too.

And Pie....Thanks. I love you a lot.