Post Number 627-----Whoo hoo!!!!!!!

Why is Post Number #627 important to me?

It's my all-time favorite number.

Why, you ask?

When I was five, I had to spend five days at the hospital due to an allergic reaction to peanuts.

I stayed in room 627.

For five days, the nurses spoke of how cute I was (and I liked them, too!), I walked around the 6th floor over and over and over again counting (great way to learn numerical skills!), and I got lots of cards and my very own Mickey Mouse Watch!

I also remember, upon coming home, I found out my older brother and sister played Rook together during my absence, and I was none too happy about missing the games!

Until my deviated septum surgery in 2003 and shoulder surgery in 2004, that had been the only hospital stay I had had.

And, for some reason, the legacy of that first stay has always been that that's where I met my favorite number.....

LONG LIVE 627!!!!

There'll be alot of blogging goin' on 'round here!

Thank you, Foghorn Leghorn for that cameo appearance.

When last we left you, week three of laryngitis was underway. Finally, on Wednesday, I bit the bullet and called my ear/nose/throat doctor who did the incredible job on my deviated septum in 2003. The fear was it would be awhile before I could get an appointment. Much to my surprise, they set me up for a 3pm appointment yesterday.

I'm very thankful for the work-in appointment. Dr. Cross did the scope (the camera that goes up your nose, then heads downward to see your throat---and NO, it doesn't hurt!), and we could see two things.

--Smooth vocal cords were nowhere near smooth.
--Polyp on the right cord.

Dr. Cross is confident the meds he gave me will eliminate the polyp, and in addition to the meds, he told me not to talk for two weeks.

Two weeks.

How many of you remember the cartoon where a huge snowstorm hits Grannie's house, leaving Sylvester and Tweety snowed in. On the radio, Sylvester hears the reporter say, "..all roads will be closed for six weeks." Sylvester shouts, "SIX WEEKS??!!?? I'LL STARVE!!!!"

He proceeds to go all over the kitchen, finding nothing but bird seed in every cabinet. Sylvester has one choice. Kill da Tweety??

And there you have the cartoon premise, except that in the end, when Grannie can finally get to the house, she's brought whole bags of....bird seed.

So therefore, I'm a cat in a bird seed world, "silenced" in for two weeks. :)

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So far, it's not been bad. I said exactly one word all day Friday and that was a mistake. Early Saturday morning, and I'm up to nine words. Two sentences. OOPS! And it's the weirdest feeling once you catch yourself doing something that comes SO naturally, then chastisizing yourself over it. So, ten words so far. I can return to vocalization on, HA!, Friday April 13th. We may be at the beach, that morning.

Possible first words...."stop pooping on my van!" ?????

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I typed my wife my daily details tonight and told her the next 13 days are going to be very interesting. I'll make no impressions yet, but I do see some "observation" categories already coming into place.

--Who keeps on doing the daily thing with you, communicating and all, even though you can't speak aloud.

--Who decides to have less communication with you, for whatever reason.

--If you are in any type of group setting, how you not being able to speak changes the dynamics of the room. Do I feel like an outsider? An eavesdropper? Who goes the extra mile to make sure what's normally communicated still gets done? Even though you're still "one of the gang", do you feel that way?

--People who demand of you what they've always wanted, and they don't care if you can't talk. You know, like co-workers IN THE BUILDING who pick up their phone to CALL ME, as if I could answer the phone! Get up, walk down one hall, down another, and voila! I'm there!!

--A MAJOR point.....what will I learn about myself?!?!??? Will I be more appreciative of the power of speaking? Will I learn to use it better, more efficiently? Will this help me not only stop taking speaking, but many other things, for granted?

--How will my ability to observe and understand other people change, and, hopefully, improve? You know, sometimes you can't really listen to the whole situation until you shut up.

And now's my chance to get all the details on all the situations. :)

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Needless to say I will probably spend more time here than normal for the next two weeks, the great outlet this is for speaking your mind.

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Final Four CORRECTION---In my Monday post I stated Gary Hess had picked Georgetown to win it all. I was wrong; his email read Florida over Georgetown. Oops!


I'm looking forward to the games tomorrow night.

So, for now, time for good night, plenty of pondering, but, please, as always...no wagering.