Day One!

I'm sitting at Chicago's O'Hare airport waiting for my 4:15 flight to Dusseldorf, Germany eating a roastbeef and cheese bagel (thanks, Joni). The news is on TV talking about the failed 700 billion dollar bailout. Man, this country is hurting. I might be leaving just in time!

My flight left Missoula at 6:58 AM. I flew into Denver and already had a voicemail from the Missoula office. The Accounting server went down moments after I left Missoula. AMAZING! Luckily they got it up and running again but it makes me a bit nervous as to why it crashed in the first place. DANG computers!

I chatted with a few folks while waiting for my flight in Denver. Thanasis was online and asked me where I was at. I told him I was in Denver. He wasn't expecting to hear from me until I was in Germany. He wished me a great flight and assured me Germany would make me healthier than ever. Hope he's right. My friend from Australia, Lindsay, was also online. I hadn't talked to him in quite a while. When I told him I was headed to Germany he insisted my next trip be to Australia. That WOULD be cool. Jim was online and I told him the first 1 1/2 hours of my vacation was going great. My New York friend, Arnold, was also online. I asked him if O'Hare had free Internet. I knew he had been there recently. He said yes. He was WRONG!!!

I also chatted with Joni for a few minutes. She was checking my flight status online. I told her I would call once I got to Chicago. But wouldn't you know it? My frickin' cell is dead with no plugs in site. I'll have to go searching for one and plug in long enough to give her a call. She got up bright and early this morning to bring me in. She must love me! She suggested I get some Dramamine to cure my slight motion sickness headache and help me sleep. Good idea.

I've got a bunch of folks sitting around me speaking everything but English. And I haven't even left the country yet.

I saw my friend, Dan, online too. He served a mission in Germany. I let him know I was on my way.

Holli just text me and said, "Can you believe it? You are almost in Germany!" No, I can't!

Off to find a plug...

21 Hours and counting!

Looks like it's really going to happen. I called Holli this morning and he's very excited about me coming. He said there is so much to do and talk about. The band also bought a new hard drive based 8 track recorder to do some recording with. I'm going to have a great time, I know!!! A little nervous but excited.

Joni finished her stained glass project last night. We installed it over the kitchen sink. It looks great. She did a great job on it. Except for the frame she did the rest.

Our Houston office is FINALLY up and running again after Hurricane Ike. It took over 2 weeks to get power back. Amazing!

DAMMIT!

Okay, I got the CT scan the other day. Nurse called with the results and said I have a sinus infection. I was so relieved. FINALLY I knew what was causing my problems. I could at least deal with it. So the next step was to go see the ENT specialist. He was sent the results of the scan as well. So in I went today looking for an answer on how to get rid of this nasty infection I've got.

"No infection," said the calm doctor. "Your CT looks clean!"

"WHAT?" I was shocked. "But the nurse told me I had an infection."

He explained that the scan showed a mild irritation in the sinuses, but nothing more than any healthy person would have. He saw NO indication of an infection.

His suggestion? Possible allergies. But I know I feel a lot shittier than just an allergy. I don't have any of the tell-tale signs of an allergy. No runny nose. No skin rashes. No watery eyes. No sore throat. No digestive issues. Allergy medication doesn't help. So HOW can I have a frickin' allergy.

So I'm back to the drawing board. I am going in Monday for some blood work that may (or may not) indicate that I have an allergy. My first thought was to say to hell with the trip to Germany. But then again if there is something in my environment causing this mysterious "allergy," chances of it being in Germany is pretty dang low. So maybe this could be a test or sorts. If I feel good in Germany I will know that I must be allergic to something here.

DAMMIT!!!!!!

Five Days and Counting!

Got a voicemail first thing this morning from my cuz, Donal. He congratulated me on having a diagnosis. He has been having dizzy spells too and has gone through all sorts of testing with no luck and no answers. It sucks! He had to cancel his trip to Ireland recently cuz of it.

My Greek friends, Thanasis and Helen, got a webcam. It was exciting to see them online. They gave me quick tour of their house and we talked for a while. They are such good people. I hope to meet them someday.

I found out an old acquaintance of mine is stationed in Germany. He's about 2 1/2 hours away from Dusseldorf. We are talking about meeting up while I'm there. We'll see if that works out.

Holli got online for a bit. Tomorrow is his last day of school before his vacation. He checked into a trip to Paris and has come up with some other plans, including spending a couple days in the studio recording a song together. That'll be so cool! I guess I should be practicing drums!

I'm also going to try to hook up with another guy I met from Holland. He's only about 1 1/2 hours from Holli. He also seems like a real cool guy. Can't wait to meet all these people I've been chatting with. It's really going to happen. I'm so frickin' excited.

Called Brandon last night to wish him a happy birthday. He'll be in Missoula December 7-14. We are going to see NIN while he's here.

Just a few days away!

I got a call from the nurse last night. They got the CT scan and said it looks clear excpet for the Sinus infection, which they already knew. WHAT??? I didn't know that we had determined it was a sinus infection for sure. Regardless that is good news. Now I know what it is and can deal with it from here. It was the unknown that drove me crazy. Every day I would be onto a new illness that I was convinced I had. Now I can stop being a hypoconriac and get on with my life.

I've been chatting with Johahn from Holland. We are going to try to meet up too. He seems like a real nice guy. Of course, I'm very excited to finally meet Holli. I feel like we are brothers. A little nervous as well. But that's probably good.

What the hell?

Okay, so I'm supposed to be leaving for Germany in one week. I am still feeling like crap for the most part. Very dizzy and tired still. I went in for my CT Scan this morning. It lasted all of 2 minutes (seriously). Fastest $1300 I've ever spent. Results in a couple of days.

But at this point I'm still planning my trip to Europe.