*** Thanks Everyone ***

All my thanks to everyone for your well wishes, kind words, thoughts, and concerns during my hospital stay. As I said at my birthday, I'm overwhelmed at the warm and thoughtful people in my life. I am truly a lucky guy.

"Hospitals, Nurses, and Frank Rodriquez"

I know we need hospitals, but why do they need to so intrusive? I was in there for about 48 hours and it seemed like a lifetime, or more.
Nurses? Ha, every guy knows what I'm thinking here.
Frank Rodriquez, I'll deal with him in a minute.

Hospitals are SUPPOSED to make you well, but why did I feel more sick when I left?
I was in as a heart patient, and I understand their reasons, but seriously, how much blood do you need from one person? Almost immediately, they pulled 6 or 7 vials of blood from me. This alone made me question their sanity. I asked if they could conduct multiple test on one sample, but they said the system didn't allow that. I'm thinking they need an improved system.

On the second day, they took me to a big room with a 2 million dollar machine sitting in it. They slide me across to the table, and give me a drug to make me woozy. This was the first truly positive thing they had done for me. Hospitals have some TRULY amazing shit they can pump into you. Made me forget all about that asshole Frank Rodriquez, who was in the other bed in my room. At this point, I didn't have a care in the world, which is really good because they were about to cut a hole in me near my groin, and shove a tube up my vein, through my chest and into my heart, and pump some radioactive stuff into me. This sounds far worse then it really is, or at least the aforementioned drugs made it seem that way. They then watch 4 big monitors that show all of my heart, and they can tell how everything is working. They then ship you back to your room where you then have to deal with roommates and nurses.

On the first night, a nurse came to the room multiple times an hour. They have a job to do, and I understand this. What I don't understand is why this nurse felt the need to wake me up at 1:15 am to get my weight. They had weighed me a few hours before and posted it on the board in the room, in plain sight. I pointed to the board and she said it might have changed. For the first time in my life, I told a nurse to please leave, and rolled over for my next nap, which is what you do in the hospital, you don't sleep. You take a series of naps.

Which brings me to Mr. Rodriquez. This loud, obnoxious bore came into my room in the afternoon and preceded to just start flipping the channels on the TV, without saying a word to me. This would have been alright except for the fact I was watching a program at the time. He had several nurses around him because he had just came in, and all he wanted to do was play with the TV. He couldn't even see the TV for the people. I decided to just let him have his way, as it seemed to be more fun anyway. And it was. This guy was a true asshole that only cared about his perceived needs. It was all about him. He talked at the top of his voice, barking out instruction to the nurses, his companion, me, and anyone else he could find. He had them turn the TV away from me so he could see it better, without even asking if it would bother me. While I don't even care, I was just amazed that he didn't even seem to be aware of the people around him. None of this really bothered me much, I'm just mentioning it because of what REALLY, REALLY pissed me off about this guy.

When MY nurse, we had separate ones, came into the room to consult with me, tell me about my meds, shots, or whatever, this asshole would interrupt her and start bitching about something he needed or wanted. He would interrupt her in mid-sentence EVERY time she came in. She would tell him EVERY time when she was finished with me, she would help him. This made no difference to him, he continued talking. This absolutely clueless bastard could not understand it.

All in all, though, they think I'm fine. No further damage to my heart has been detected since my initial heart attacks. I will know more in 2 weeks or so. Frank Rodriquez, I will hope you somehow wake up, but I doubt it. In your 70+ years of living, you haven't learned a thing about caring for other people, and this is sad. I do wish you the best, however.

**Top Ten Reasons You Shouldn't Use Facebook**

#10 - We don't give a damn if you're going to bed now, unless it's with someone we know.

#9 - We especially don't give a damn if you got drunk and puked. Why is this special? Any moron can do this.

#8 - They call it a "Social Network" for a reason. Be sociable. Don't use it to trash people, unless they using it for one of these reasons.

#7 - Most criminals can read, at least a little. Rapists, thieves, and muggers love knowing when you are going to
the store...etc.

#6 - If Facebook is your life, get a life. See reason #8. If you meet someone interesting, tell us about it.

#5 - Your boss and teacher can read, and read your Facebook they WILL do. Remember this the next time you call in sick so you can go have fun instead.

#4 - People will analyze everything you say in great detail.

#3 - You think Mark Zuckerberg is rich enough.

#2 - You were wondering how that long lost, forgotten medical bill found you? Now you know.

And the number one reason you shouldn't use Facebook --

#1 - You are so obsessed with drama you think no one will notice that you changed your relationship status. Get over yourself NOW. This is a PUBLIC website. If you go off changing your status after a little tiff, to draw attention to yourself, to have people feel sorry for you, to get everyone to talk about YOU, you are this...

An attention grabbing, self obsessed media hound who wants the whole world to know about them. We don't feel sorry, we feel pity.

"Philadelphia Sticky Buns"

February 21 is National Sticky Bun Day, a day to celebrate that whole class of goodies made from leavened dough and (usually) sugar or honey. Included are cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, hot cross buns…

These treats are believed to have come to the United States with the Germans who settled in eastern Pennsylvania during the early 19th century.

To mark National Sticky Bun Day, here’s a recipe for Philadelphia Sticky Buns...

Philadelphia Sticky Buns
Ingredients:
***Buns***
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
Granulated sugar
2 env. active dry yeast
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon peel
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

***Topping***
1 cup light brown sugar, packed tightly
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup chopped pecans

***Filling***
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed tightly
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

For Buns: Heat milk in a small saucepan over moderate heat until small bubbles form around the edges; remove from heat. Stir in butter, salt, and 1/3 cup sugar; cool to lukewarm.

In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast and 1/2 tsp. sugar over 1/2 cup very warm water (110 to 115 degrees F.); let stand 5 minutes.

Add milk mixture, eggs and lemon peel. Add 2 cups of the flour and beat 1 minute with a wooden spoon. Gradually beat or stir in as much of remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough.

On a lightly floured board knead dough 5 to 7 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a greased bowl and turn once to bring greased side up. Cover and let rise 1 to 2 hours in a warm place, until double in volume.

For Topping: In a saucepan heat brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup over low heat. When butter is melted bring to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring constantly. Pour syrup into two 9-inch square baking pans. Sprinkle with nuts.

To shape and bake buns: Mix filling ingredients in a bowl. On a lightly floured surface, cut dough in half and let stand 5 minutes. Roll one piece of dough into a 14×9-inch rectangle; spread with half the filling. Roll up like a jelly roll, starting with one long side. Cut into 12 pieces; arrange on top of syrup in pan. Repeat with remaining dough. Let rise 40 to 60 minutes or until double in volume.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until well browned. Turn out onto a large plate. Spoon syrup over buns; let cool completely. Buns freeze and reheat well.

Makes two dozen.

" I'm Back"

I have returned to my blog and will post here on a frequent/infrequent basis. Meanwhile, you can read my ranting and ravings for as long as the few seconds it takes you to get bored. My last postings were several years ago when I was so pissed off about the wars. They are mostly coming to a close, so I will concentrate on current events and try to point out some humor so that we all can hopefully have a slighter better day. Thanks for stopping by, and if you are a new reader, welcome, and if you are a former reader, I appreciate your need for punishment, and of course, your loyalty. The postings will start shortly.......