Michael Vogel

I can see what you’re doing.

If Visit down under by all means. What you do down under is your business but please, no pictures.

OK OK. I’m a happy upright but I’d rather be grand. Actually I’d rather have a grand.

So do i So do I. The last couple of years have been awful. And that’s an understatement. Never mind better days ahead. Surely?

I bought an NI KS88 keyboard about a year ago and haven’t been well enough to even unpack it. My studio is such a mess I can barely get in the room but certainly can’t do anything in there until I can spend the time to tidy it all up. I did a new PC build over a year ago and while the PC is up and running it’s still sitting on my studio workbench with the side panels off. I don’t feel grand at all.

Sadly but not unexpectedly I’m still not allowed to drive. I currently have a Loop recorder inserted under the skin in my chest. It is a small data collection device that constantly runs an ECG or EKG as you Americans would call it. The data is due for download on June 26 then will be reviewed by a cardiologist sometime later. If that shows nothing untoward, then I might be allowed to drive. No promises made. Damn. Gonna be the longest 7 weeks. See ya when I’m “On the Road Again”.

Hey guys. Just want to reiterate my appreciation for your support and well wishes. Tomorrow’s the day I hope to get the go ahead to drive again. The last several months before and after my surgery had complications that meant I wasn’t allowed to drive for medical and common sense reasons. I live in a small rural community with little to no public transport and cabs cost about $140 return to my nearest major town. My daughter and her family live next door to my wife and me and they’ve been a tremendous support in getting me to and from hospital and appointments that have ranged as far afield as 160 klms away. But the loss of independence has been soul destroying as I’ve been fine for a while now and capable of driving, just need the medical clearance. Of course my anxiety doesn’t allow me to be positive as all I can see at the moment is that there’ll be an extended waiting period inflicted on me. Wish me luck.

I emailed the folks at Bandora and was surprised to get a reply from Simon. He has purchased Jammer with the intention of updating it. How quickly that happens will depend on how quickly the word can spread that the core of what was Jammer now Bandora is alive again with prospects for the future. No promises about what and when but why spend money buying a program that’s been stagnant for many years and not develop it. Let’s face it, that’s the only way he’s going to capitalise on his investment. Spread the word guys.

She does ironing?

I’ve got the single seater 4 wheel drive version. Mine’s a daily driver.

double post

It was another boy sir!

Glad to still have you around a bit.

I’m going slow but going. Actually I am starting to feel better. I’ve had a few big days travelling to and from hospital for follow up appointments in the last 6 days. Unfortunately the hospitals are about 155 away. Makes for a long day with lots of walking getting around to different departments for tests etc. while I’m at the hospital. My son-in-law has been able to rearrange his work schedule to take me. He’s a gem of a bloke. Thankfully that travel is all over now and my ongoing care will be at our local hospital only 30 kilometres away. Still can’t drive but hope for positive news on that subject on May 7th when reviewed by my local cardiologist.

That’s sad news. It just happens doesn’t it. We don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s life and then, one day, gone. See that’s a part of the old forum that’s still ever present. That caring about people enough that when someone is not around for a while it triggers a search. It only takes one person to do that but it informs the rest of us and we come together as in this thread and others of good wishes for those who are not well and or doing it tough in some way other than poor health. Ive personally been the beneficiary of well wishes and positivity sent my way while I’ve been unwell. So for me thanks and for Space Cowboy I’m glad to have met you even if only virtually through this forum. Condolences to the family with thoughts of peace and rest going their way.

Thanks for asking. To be honest I’ve had a few setbacks and been back in hospital twice since the op (4 weeks ago today). I’ve had a loop recorder inserted in my chest which will provide an ongoing ECG to hopefully pickup the problem which didn’t raise its ugly head while I was just in hospital for 5 days. A bit like the faulty washing machine that works fine when the repair man arrives. I’ve done the full gamut of tests and I’m currently waiting on a referral for a tilt table test which will be the last but hopefully definitive test I’ll be having. I’ve deliberately not gone into details as I don’t want to trigger a bunch of well intentioned medical advice. At the moment life sucks as I can’t drive or operate machinery or tools of any sort not can I be left alone. My poor wife has to follow me everywhere I go. So I’ve lost my independence and I’m wrapped in cotton wool. After 4 weeks I’ve gotta say that I felt less sick before the surgery and frequently wish I’d been in that small percentage that don’t make it off the operating table alive.

Great work.

I’m in Australia and have used Sweetwater on occasion for both software and hardware. Can certainly recommend them. My current rep is Casey and only have good things to say about him/her.

Hope so.

At this stage, inverting my left wrist and hand is nigh impossible. The surgeon told me that the damage was done when harvesting the graft. Normally there can be some changes in sensation in the radial nerve which can cause temporary numbness or pain but in my case they actually were aware they damaged the nerve. They were honest enough to tell me before I had even become aware of it. Nothing I can do about it. It may improve in time. To the touch the skin is numb but internally it’s like pulling on a series of barbs embedded in the back of the big muscle of my thumb the more I invert the wrist. As with everything else I’ll have to persevere and meet the challenges ahead of me.

Great bunch of suggestions guys. But above all I really appreciate how serious you’re all being in trying to help. You have no idea the morale booster you’ve given me. I’m trying most of the suggestions but I’m quick to come down on myself if I slip a bit. Just so much has happened in such a short time. It wasn’t until March 5th, my 65th birthday, that I had my first recognisable cardiac chest pain. Quad bypass on 13th and now I’m just 18 days post op. Went to pick up my acoustic guitar yesterday, but in taking a vein graft from my left hand they’ve damaged the radial nerve. At this stage I can’t even close my hand around the guitars neck without some serious pain. Bit of a bummer as I wouldn’t mind getting some of that raw emotion out of my system. Still, as long as the forward steps are more numerous than the backward ones I’m doing OK I guess. Thanks for listening guys.

I suppose if I’d had digital heart problems, apps would be the go. Sadly my issues were/are all analog and there ain’t no app going to replace some serious diet and exercise. Damn but I want to be so lazy instead of having to use will power and hard work. My biggest enemy is late night snacking. How do you guys overcome the munchies. I haven’t smoked anything since May 6th 1992 so not drug induced, just habitual late night snacks?

Silly me. Didn’t make my sarcasm very clear did I? Use apps instead of actual diet and excercise. Anywho. Not sure about treadmills. I get very bored walking if the scenery doesn’t change and watching Tele while on a treadmill is even worse. Have tried in the past. We have about an acre and a third (0.5 Hectares to be exact) at home so it’s easy enough to fit in a walk of many hundreds of yards without leaving home. Can even throw in a hill or two but that’s a month or two away yet But have to admit that today we hit a smashing 9°C with a stiff breeze and the notion of a treadmill didn’t seem half bad. With winter coming on maybe I have to overcome my prejudice and maybe rent one for a month or two.

Sadly I already started the diet in hospital and just carried it over once home. Same for the exercise. To be fair though I have found an iDiet and an iTread app from Apple (you know the fruit company) and am thinking of changing to them. What think Ye men and women of wisdom?

I know it was you Gswitz. I was one of those who joined in. A nice thing to be able to help someone out. I think it was a great characterisic of the old forumites as it wasn’t the first time we did it.