Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in howell9000's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, June 26th, 2008
2:17 pm	Things Meme - stolen from Malkav Found on several of my f-lists' journals: * Post 3 things you've done in your lifetime that you don't think anybody else on your friends list has done. * See if anybody else responds with "I've done that." * Have your friends cut & paste this into their journal to see what unique things they've done in their life. 1) Shot, skinned, cooked and eaten rattlesnake. 2) Stitched my own finger shut. 3) Best time in a one mile run was seven minutes. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
4:12 pm	doctor's appointment today I got to tell my mom she was done smoking today! Went into the appointment knowing exactly what all of my clothing and paraphenalia weighed. Ten pounds. Got on the scales and it hovered at 345! 345 minus 10 is 335! I made it by a pound! My blood pressure was 110/60. My heart rate was 68 bpm. Depending on how things go, I may be off all my meds by the end of the year! Oh, and I can drink next weekend! Current Mood: ecstatic (26 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
5:04 pm	must be getting low For some of you, you might think that me applying for work with Wal-Mart is the ultimate evil. Yeah....it could be! Current Mood: mischievous (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, June 2nd, 2008
2:30 pm	Doctor's Appointment Today Well, Mother gets another reprieve. I only made it down to 343. So, she has another three weeks to put tobacco into her lungs! Seven pounds in three weeks. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. choo-choo!!!! THis means, for those of you counting, that I have officially lost forty-three (43) pounds in twelvel weeks. Other bits of news. My blood pressure was 110 over 60. The nurse was astonished! My heart rate was seventy-two. Both of those numbers have continued to diminish as well as my waist-line. I am supposed to get with one of the trainers at Jermaine Taylor's new gym this week. HE is going to put me on an exercise/weight training regiment. Look out for the upcoming gun show! I talked to the doctor about flights. While he didn't naysay me traveling to Phoenix, he certainly wasn't all giddy about it. It may be a moot point as funds are running ridiculously low. On a side note. Medications are silly. I got the generic (THE GENERIC) med for one of my prescriptions today and it was $84. The other generic was $4. I was both happy and sad. On a don't-be-mad-at-the-howie note, I only had 500 calories yesterday. One cup of applesauce, a small bag of Baked Lays, and a reduced calorie hot dog. I got busy. I now know what it is like to "forget to eat." It's a very new sensation for me. I am close, I reckon, on the idea of "Eating to live" rather than "Living to eat." Still no working plans for the new vice. Everyone keeps saying "sex." I need female partners for that! Applications are being accepted now! :P Current Mood: contemplative Current Music: Cher's NPR in the background (18 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, May 5th, 2008
4:31 pm	Doctor's Appointment today - sad and good Well, today was an interesting mix of happy and sad. Sad is, even though my "backed into britches" are loose now, I managed to get my weight back up over 350. The nurses and doctor attribute it to increased muscular mass! RAR! /me flexes! On the plus side, my blood pressure was 130 over 70. My heart rate was 72 beats per minute, which is way down from the 95 to 110 range it has been in. Made a slight change in my blood thinner medication, so that will be full of fun and excitement! On the plus side, I got the okay to go to Shreveport but no further than that. I asked about Cincinatti. The doctor looked at me: "Uh, no." Made me chuckle! The big down side is that I couldn't call my mother and tell her she was done smoking. That messes with my head a bit. I was sure I had made so much progress that I would be able to call her and tell her she was done. I went in like an athlete for a weigh in. I shucked my shoes, unloaded my pockets and all but got down to my skivvies there in the hallway. I was severely saddened to see my weight had gone UP! So, grrrrr! She was happy, though. She had come up this weekend and was trying to renegotiate the deal, but I wouldn't let her! She now has until June 2 before I try again to make her quit smoking forever! on a completely different note, i am going to have over half of one of my classes have to retake the class, due to poor performance. I hope it is on their parts and not mine! Current Mood: disappointed (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 1st, 2008
11:59 am	doctor's appointment on monday Well, I have a doctor's appointment on Monday. This will mark two monnths that Ihave been out of the hospital and on my diet. I have had a couple of cheat days, to be sure, but I think I have been pretty good. I just want the scales to reflect that! I was 386 when I checked out of the hospital. I want to be at 336 or less on Monday. If that happens, I get to call my Mother and tell her that she is done smoking! I have backed into a pair of jeans that I have not worn since I tried Atkins a few years ago. They have since started to become a bit looser where they should be getting looser! All that being said, I am still nervous. I have a long row to hoe here. I just got to remember that the weight didn't get on in a flash, so it is not going to come off that quickly, either! crud!!! I got to head to class! More later! Last day of classes! Finals to give next week! muwhahahahahahahaha Current Mood: nervous Current Music: none (11 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
3:37 pm	update Well, It has been three weeks to the day that I got out of the hospital. Things are going pretty good. I get a bit stronger every day. I have gone back to school teaching. This week is Spring Break, so I get another week to recoup. Then, five weeks of class, finals, and I am done for a while. I will probably be looking for a summer job of some nature...I don't think my division will have any classes to give to the part-timers. But, better stuff. My last doctor's appointment was last Thursday. When I checked out of the hospital I weighed 386. I almost got under 350 at the doctor's appointment! Just over 30 pounds in two weeks. It's a little scary to contemplate. I am, quite literraly, melting away to normal!!! I normally would have said "wasting" but that has negative connotations! I am still on the blood thinners and will be for six months. However, my trips to the doctor so they can check my INR levels of coumadin has become more infrequent, which is a good thing. Also, the doctor has taken me off of one of my diabetes meds. I am no longer taking Glyburide. I am just on the Metfornin. I am hopeful that with continued weight loss and such I will be able to get off the meds completely. I would like to be able to handle my diabetes with just diet. Speaking of diet, it has been weird. The hospitalist wanted me on an 1800 calorie a day diet. Mother was thrilled by this. Myself, I was wondering what I had done in a past life to earn this man's enmity! The next day MY doctor came in and said 2000 calories! WOOT! Mother started with "The other doctor said..." I cut her off with: "He's not MY doctor!" So, we compromised. I shoot for 1800 and do not go over 2000. I have been keeping a food journal. Everything that I consume is placed in the Excel sheet. I averaged it up yesterday. I have been averaging 1500 calories a day for the last three weeks. I have only exceeded 1800 twice. I am keeping everything down, including recipes that I use or create. I intend to turn it into a diet book and make millions. Hell, if Jared can do it with Subway, why can't I do it? I have another appointment on April 3rd. I am curious to see if the weightloss trend continues. So, the only bad thing right now is the fact that I can't travel over 30 minutes or so in a vehicle. Doctor's orders. I had to threaten him with impending Mother Doom, just so I could make it to my Mother's for Easter. So, no Spring Break trips for me! Curses!!! Anyway, I can't thank everybody enough for the thoughts and well wishes. It has meant more than you know. Current Mood: determined (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
12:53 pm	howie gets to go home!!!! I am going home!! There are some things I have to be careful about. A few visits to the doctor to finish stabilizing my blood thinner levels. But, I am heading home! Current Mood: ecstatic (7 Comments |Comment on this)
10:12 am	howie, health and you - update Well, it has been a busy last couple of days! My blood LOVES coumadin! It went from normal to "therapeutic levels" overnight! The doctorwas concerned that my level of coumadin might be too high. We were shooting at a target range of two to under three. This morning the number was 3.2. The pulmonologist, Dr. Lee, said, "Unless we find a reason to keep you, we are going to let you go today." He found out my personal doctor was doing rounds today. He then wanted Dr. Dobbs to sign off on my release as well. I will probably have to come to the doctor's office to have lab work done on my blood on an outpatient basis until we get the coumadin levels stabilized. Got the results of the head CT scan. Yes, I have a brain! Also, there was no evidence of risk for aneurisms! Bonus! I am breating much easier. I still get winded getting up and around; however, I am recovering my breath much easier. Yesterday was a comedy of errors. I swear I thought they were trying to kill me!!! Let me tel you! No shit, there I was... I have been on a diabetic, low sodium diet since I got here. Yesterday, for lunch, they brought me chicken and dressing, gravy, corn, white roll, a sugared fruit cup. I looked incredulously at the nursing assistant that brought. I pointed out that I have been on a diabetic diet since Sunday. That I WAS diabetic and she tried to make things better, but failed miserably. This is an extension of the confusion I have had about diet since I have been here. My doctor told me that I would have to go on a low-carb diet. No taters, no carrots, no breads, no pastas...or, at least, very restricted. So, what do I have for dinner on Sunday night? Mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and a wheat roll. Dinner Monday night? au gratin potatoes, carrots, and a wheat roll. See my confusion? I spoke of my confusion to the hospitalist, Dr. Kendrick, and he told me: "Don't judge your diet by what the hospital gives you." WHAT?!?!!? Should not the hospital be giving me stuff that will help promote the proper diet? Seems a bit contradictory to me. So, I have had two CT scans: one Sunday, one Monday. Both times the techs administering the test told me that I would need to wait at least two days and probably have a kidney screening to make sure all of the iodine dye was out of my system before I began taking my diabetes medicine agains. There was concern of "drug interaction." Yesterday afternoon, the nurse, started to give me an injectio of 1000 mgs of my diabetes medicine. I stopped her and asked her about the kidney screening. She said that she "believed" that it was only twenty-four hours. I asked her to find out cause I wanted someone to "know." Turns out I was right! So, I saved the hospital a lawsuit, I do believe! So, I may be out later today. If I do, I'll post again! I can not tell you what your comments and well wishes to me have meant. It's been a real booster. much love to all of you. Current Mood: hopeful (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, March 3rd, 2008
6:45 pm	howie, health and you Okay, for some of y'all, this is not an update, it is a notice. So, here we go. Last Wednesday, I went ot the doctor about my cough. Doctor diagnosed as bronchitis with a possible side afliction of pneumonia. In the process of determining this, we also discover that I am diabetic! Go me! THe meds I get completely send me for a loop and I cancel class on Thursday. Fast forward to late Saturday night. I get ready to go to bed, and I cannot catch my breath. I take a shower and do other things to get everything okay. No dice. I call early SUnday morning to my doctor's "on-call" person. They advise me to go to the ER. Apparently, I say all the right words in admission because I am whisked away to a room in the ER. Three nurses decend upon me like vultures on a three-day, bloated, dead critter. A few hours pass, several tests are ran, and I find out I have pulmonary emboli. Blodclots in my lungs. Not one, not two, but "multiple." Nobody has defined "multiple" to me yet. I am quite curious. I am immediately admitted to the hospital. THey begin giving me blood thinners to help alleviate the creation of anymore clots and begin the dissolution of some of the clots that are currently existing. Now, I am waiitng on the results of a head CT scan. My father and his mother died from aneurisms. There is some concern about the levels of blood thinner and that possibility in me. I am in Conway Regional (that's the hospital where I live) and will be til at least Friday. just wanted to let y'all know. Current Mood: contemplative (39 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, February 14th, 2008
10:16 am	For the Believers Pedestal There is a place in the deep recesses of my soul. That the light of another has ne'er graced. The road there is long and winding. Upon the uppermost peak, You will find me waiting. With hammer and chisel in hand, Sitting on a bench, next to a pedestal. This pedestal, which none other has ever seen, Is awaiting one to fill its waiting seat. Nearby a plaque, upon which can be read: "Here is the one whom I love Here is the one that I do cherish Here is the one that I worship Here is the one that doth heal my soul. Here is the one that is my very best friend" The chiseled remains are on the ground. The ages old dust has yet to be disturbed. On my bench, at the edge of the cliff, I await, The one person that shall be mine and I, hers. Current Mood: melancholy (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, January 25th, 2008
6:10 pm	Stolen from Laura Welcome to the newest edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun! Just copy this entire questionnaire and paste into a new LJ entry that you can post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. 1.WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My Grandfathers. 2.WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? earlier today...i love me a sappy movie. 3.DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No, it is atrocious! 4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Roast beef. 5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? None 6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would hope so. 7.DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Moi? use sarcasm? Never! 8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes. 9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No. 10.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Corn Pops. 11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually. 12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Depends on the definition, but, yes, I think I am strong in most ways. 13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Ozark Walnut or Rocky Road. 14.WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes. 15. RED OR PINK? Red, if I had to choose. 16.WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I rarely let anyone in. 17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Grandfather. 18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? It would be fun. 19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No shoes and I am wearing black shorts. 20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Corn Pops cereal. 21. WHAT ARE YOU listening to RIGHT NOW? Marilyn. 22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Kelley Green 23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Women, thunderstorms, freshly tilled earth. 24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Cher 26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Basketball. 27. HAIR COLOR? Salt-n-pepper. 28. EYE COLOR? Amber and Hazel. 29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? 20/15 eyes 30 FAVORITE FOOD? Yes. 31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Depends on my mood. Although I have more "happy ending" movies than I do scary ones. 32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Man on Fire. 33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Red 34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter. 35. HUGS OR KISSES? yes, please. 36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Pink Stuff. 37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Unknown. 38. Least likely to respond? See response to number 37. 39.WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? textboots for my class I teach. 40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have a mouse pad. 41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Nothing. 42. FAVORITE SOUND? I do not know. 43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles. 44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Anaheim, California, or Boston, Massachusetts. 45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? People person. 46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Pine Bluff, Arkansas 47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anybody that responds. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, January 7th, 2008
4:25 pm	What Howell Means You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very charming... dangerously so. You have the potential to break a lot of hearts. You know how what you want, how to get it, and that you will get it. You have the power to rule the world. Let's hope you're a benevolent dictator! You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning? (Comment on this)
Monday, August 20th, 2007
1:04 pm	Got this from Krista The Boy Next Door Random Gentle Love Dreamer (RGLD) Kind, yearning, playful, you are The Boy Next Door. You're looking for real Love, a lot like girls do. It might not be manly, but it's sweet. We think the next three years will be very exciting and fruitful ones for you. Your spontaneous, creative side makes you a charming date, and we think you have a horny side just waiting to shine. Or glisten, rather. You enter new relationships unusually hopeful, and the first moments are especially glorious. If you've had some things not work out before, so what. Your exact male opposite: The 5-Night Stand Deliberate Brutal Sex Master On paper, most girls would name the Boy Next Door as their ideal mate. In the real world, however, you're often passed over for more dangerous or masculine men. You're the typical "nice guy:" without just a touch of cockiness, you're doomed with girls. A shoulder to cry on? Okay, sure. But never a penis to hold. More than any other type, Boys Next Door evolve as they get older. As we said, many find true love, but some fail miserably in the search. These tarnished few grow up to be The Men Next Door, who are creepy as hell, offering backrubs to kids and what not. ALWAYS AVOID: The Nymph (DBSD) CONSIDER: The Maid of Honor (DGLM), The Peach (RGLM) Link: The Online Dating Persona Test @ OkCupid - free online dating. (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 3rd, 2007
5:53 pm	People are NOT being less dumb! Man, oh man, how about a nasty one today!!! So, no shit, there I was, driving into work. Hell, I was even going to be in earlier than usual! Go me! I am listening to the radio, which is rare for me, when I hear that Pulaski Technical College had canceled all classes for the day. ALL CLASSES!!! On all eight campuses! What on earth is going on? Turns out, last night, around 11:30 p.m., North Little Rock police received an anonymous call from someone that overheard two white males discussing about how what they had planned to do on PTC's campus would make what happened at Virginia Tech seem like a walk in the park. Holy Crap!! How does a person respond to that? The school, I believe, did the right thing. They evacuated campus this morning, as soon as they found out. Of course, they did not find out until 7:30 a.m. It took the NLRPD eight hours to inform the President of PTC that a direct threat against the safety and well-being of almost 9,000 students and another 1,000 faculty and staff were at risk. I hope, with every ounce of my being (that's a LOT of hope, mind you) that this was a prank. Somebody wanted to get out of finals. Odd thing is, finals do not start until next week. Today was the last day of class. We have already received the heads up that school will continue tomorrow and finals will be given on schedule. So, we have to consider the possibility that the terrorists (cause that is what they are) will just delay their attack. Even with a heightened police presence, we won't be safe. All the terrorists have to do is wait until the police presence has dispersed. Then, they can carry out their nefarious scheme. Who can say? (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 30th, 2007
10:02 pm	(Comment on this)
Thursday, April 5th, 2007
5:55 pm	SERE the planning Well, I have made the initial plans to be at SERE. I just don't know if I am getting in Wednesday or Friday. oh well. howell (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007
10:34 am	SCaRE the Recovering Morning, Still not caught up on sleep from SCaRE. Don't expect much in the way of RC Howie for now. (NO!!! That is not Radio Controlled!!!) I have tales to tell. I just got to get them all in place!!! expect more soon... howell p.s. HELL YEAH!!! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
4:47 pm	for all the Haters, or those with a mild disliking (Comment on this)
Saturday, February 10th, 2007
12:38 am	Dang...I dropped a couple points. Your Ultimate Purity Score Is... Category Your Score Average Self-Lovin' 85% Never taken out of the packaging 64.7% Shamelessness 100% 78.8% Sex Drive 100% 77.2% Straightness 89.3% Just go fuck something, okay? 43.9% Gayness 100% 83.7% Fucking Sick 100% 89.9% You are 92.84% pure Average Score: 72.3% Take The Ultimate Purity Test and see how you match up! (By The Ferrett) (Comment on this)