I'm on my way (aka "irony rocks")!

[Guest]

Spring is almost here, 2003 is looking better (a new me, perhaps?) & even the Chicago Cubs may have a relatively productive year! The latest....

*Kidney Scarring (Tue, Feb 25, appointment)*
24-hr urine test showed overall kidney function is better, despite higher proteins (due to the open heart surgery). Medication (Cozaar) has been increased to reduce the blood pressure to help bring the protein levels down. Next 24-hr urine test is in May.

*Pacemaker (Thu, Feb 27 appointment)*
Tracking the pacemaker transitioned from Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital to Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital (where my cardiologist is). The output could not be reprogrammed lower; scarring still hampers the area around the leads [steroids are not working]. I will phone in transmissions to NMH every 2 weeks (next=Mar 17). Thu, Apr 24, is the appointment at NMH to test the pacemaker to see if the output can be lowered, increasing the life of the pacemaker (now at 2-3 years). If the output cannot be lowered, other alternatives will be discussed, including more surgery...aye.

*Open Heart Surgery (Thu, Feb 27 cardiologist appointment)*
My cardiologist (Mendelson) says the new valve is OK; the EKG showed all is well! The only issue is the pacemaker. I have a healthy appetite, gaining some weight, which is good. I'm feeling better than I did a few months ago, but, it will take at least another month or so for me to be 100% . At my Thu, Apr 24, appointment, an echocardiogram will be done for Mendelson to take a "peak" at the new valve.

*Back To Work (Fri, Feb 28)*
I stayed all 8 hours, but I admit that was overdoing it for the 1st day...at least I have the weekend to relax a bit...a full 5 days next week will be interesting.... My 1st day was a combo of re-connecting with co-workers (more next week as some people were out of the office), adjusting to a new desk (did not completely get the desk arranged) & catching up on voice/Email messages (about 200 Emails). Course, now that I'm back to work, I'm wishing I had felt good enough to take advantage of the time I had off...to get projects done around the house...& do some things that, in general, I don't really get to do (such as road trips)...ah, well...someday....

*Chicago Auto Show & Faith COB Spaghetti Supper (Sat, Feb 22)*
We spent about 2 hours looking around at the Auto Show & that was enough. Walking alone was OK, but the jarring of bumping into people caused the chest to become sore more quickly than I had imagined.... Spaghetti Dinner was wonderful!

*Chevrolet Monte Carlo Petition*
Please look ( http://www.projectmonte.com/petition/ ) &, if you choose, sign & share it with others. Specific information is required to sign, but not all info is publicly viewable. The petition is open for signatures for 3 months; then, it will be printed & delivered to appropriate persons at Chevrolet/GM. If you have questions/comments, please direct to Email [email protected]

*Road Trips*
Funds permitting, I hope to go a number of places in March & April before the weather turns warm enough for me to clean the "baby girls" & start the show season...would be nice to meet more people in person . Course, also gotta find a week to go to TN...hmm....

*Schedule [additions?; great to meet people in person along the way]*
...March = Chicago's Chevy/Vette Fest...anyone want to go?
...March 7 = pizza party dinner (let me know if you want to come)
...March/Apr = ROAD TRIPS (Want me to come visit you?)
...March/Apr = visit Volo Auto Museum, Volo IL? http://www.volocars.com
...Apr 24 = appointment at NMH (pacemaker & cardiologist)
...Apr-Oct = cruise season ... You can find me [& at least 1 of my "baby girls"] *most/some*...MON nites in Elgin IL (N IL Street Rod Association)...WED nites in Elmhurst IL...THURS nites in Schaumburg IL (Chicago RodFathers)...SAT nites in S Elgin IL (Beef Villa, Kane County Gearheads) *or* in Lombard IL...& other places the rest of the week....
...early May = Sammy K Car Show (Kane County Gearheads)
...May = 24-hr urine test
...May 18 = event (N IL Street Rod Association)
...June 26-29 = Monte Carlo Nationals (Elyria OH)...possible "knight tour" to cruise with other MCs to Ohio....
...July 5 = cousin's wedding (CA).
...July 13 = Fiesta Days, McHenry IL (NILSRA)
...July 27 = Sycamore IL Car Show
...Aug 9 = family reunion (near Pittsburgh PA) ... side trip to VA
...Aug 14-16 = 1st Gen MC gathering (Branson MO)
...Aug 21-24 = ValveReplacement.com reunion (Chicago IL)
...Aug 24 = Downtown Elgin IL Car Show
...Sept 19-21 = to Pittsburgh PA (Cubs @ Pirates)
...Sept 27-28 = Jefferson WI Show & Swap Meet

I appreciate the continued prayers & support....while I (we) keep others in my own thoughts & prayers....

"Hell no, I wanna drive" ... Trace Adtkins ... '(Her Favorite Color Is) Chrome'

"We're outta here" ... Steve Azar ... 'I Don't Have To Be Me 'Til Monday'

"The stars might lie, but the numbers never do" ... Mary Chapin-Carpenter ... 'I Feel Lucky'

"Wake me up inside" ... Evanescence ... 'Bring Me To Life'

"It was worth all the while" ... Green Day ... 'Time Of Your Life'

"I'm out of my pain" ... Beth Hart ... 'LA Song'

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot where I was" ... Patty Loveless ... 'I Try To Think About Elvis'

"Walking back into my life" ... Kathy Mattea ... 'Walking Away A Winner'

"You labeled me" ... Metallica ... 'The Unforgiven'

"The life I love is making music with my friends" ... Willie Nelson ... 'On The Road Again'

"I'm not fine" ... Sister Hazel ... 'You're Mistake'

"How should I feel when it comes to you & all the games you play?" ... Social Burn ... 'Down'

"A heart that's hopeful, a head that's full of dreams" ... Michael W Smith ... 'Place In This World'

"We'll keep you close as always" ... Michael W Smith ... 'Friends'

"Now I'm here to stay" ... Vertical Horizon ... 'Best I Ever Had'

"I wouldn't trade those days for nothin'" ... Mark Wills ... '19 something'

Peace...Always,
Cort S . pig's valve & pacemaker-enhanced 29/swm
Instant Messengers...AOL="fc72mc"...Yahoo="knightfan2691"
member, Faith COB, Batavia IL http://www.faithcob.org
Chevy MC's Future = http://www.projectmonte.com/petition/
My Chevy MC Family & Story = http://www.aros.net/~rbuck/cort
G1=1970-1972...72...2nd owner
G2=1973-1977...76...2nd owner
G3=1978-1980...79...3rd owner
G4=1981-1988...81...2nd owner
Ga=1995-1999...uh, no
Gb=2000-200?...00...1st owner *****FOR SALE*****
RIP: 1976=Parents' [my] car ... 1988=Silver Bullet
**********WANTED: 87 MC LS (or) Olds Cutlass**********
http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[Rich]

Wow you really have a busy schedule lined up.
I was an engineer at the GM Design Center (GM Styling) for many years.
I worked on the design of the current MC.
Beleive me we were also not happy with this version being FWD and only V6 powered.
We had a prototype in the building a few years back of the MC over a Catera platform,RWD and V8 powered, it looked pretty good.
Lets hope they come up with a new one soon, maybe built over a Holden platform like the new GTO.
I would like to see the same happen for the Impala.
Incidently some of the design on the current MC was strictly done for Nascar
I was fortunate enough to meet people like Dale Earnhardt when they came to visit and view their future rides.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi there Cort,

Congratulations on your check up! Everything sounds like it's right on schedule for you. See you have a very hetic schedule mapped out for yourself. It was tiring just reading
Take it easy a while longer. Your body will let you know when it's time to stop. The post op tiring sensatoin is hard to explain. It's not your average 'I'm tired feeling'.

Noticed you were a patient at Childern's. Could consider myself part of the club. Started seeing them back when I was 8. At the time they told me I was one of the first to have what I beleive was an echo? That was 27 years ago. How long have you had your pacemaker?

Hmmmm, cars under the stars in Elmhurst right? Well, we just might have to make that one of our local VR.com outings as soon as it warms up. As you may know.... there are many nice cafe's and pubs right in town. We were very busy this past summer getting settled in our house....we never made it to one of the shows. At best, we should plan on a Cubs game! Wonder if they will be playing during reunion time?

Take care.

 

[Guest]

Rich...wow..that's cool that you worked on the design of the current "mc", which I knew was basically done for NASCAR...such a shame that NASCAR has gone to a "one body" for all manufacturers now.... Lucky you...meeting Dale E . Hmm...I'd love to see that RWD, V8 prototype....he he he.... As for that new GTO, I saw it at the Chicago Auto Show...GM can do better that that, and they know it. Yep, it's V8 and RWD...step in the right direction, but only the front of it looks like a Pontiac...the back looks like a Saturn...LOL. But, then again, I'm a Chevy Monte Carlo guy...which is why the petition was started...and will be delivered to people at Chevy/GM [a couple buddies who work for Chevy/GM gave me some contact names ].

Gina...thank you . Yeah, I know...I'm really not all that active right now...it just looks it ... LOL. But, I do realize that I need to stay slow a bit longer...just frustrated is all.... I've only had my pacemaker since Jan 6 of this year...didn't have one before that. Actually, my cardiologist (Mendelson) is at Northwestern Memorial Hospital...the surgery was done at Children's because that's where the surgeon (Mavroudis/backer) is . And, yes, believe that is the name of the cruize-in....it would be cool to meet other VRs there . A Cubs game would be perfect, too !

 

[Rich]

Hi Knightfan
I don't know everything that is going on with GM right now since I've been retired almost one year.
I agree that the new GTO is a step in the right direction but falls far short of what it needs to be.
New platforms come at an unbeleiveable cost so what they will do probably depends a lot on the economy and we all know it's not very good right now.
Make sure you send your petition to people like Bob Lutz and Wayne Cherry(Wayne is VP of design).

 

[Gail in Ca]

Hi Knightfan,
Whew, it makes me tired just reading your post!
I think you must be a tad detail oriented!!
But hey, it makes you happy!
This Oakland fan can't wait for real baseball.
Gail

 

[Guest]

Rich...ahh...lucky you...retirement . Yes, I know about how much $ it takes for a new platform...guess we'll see what GM/Chevy does next.... And, thanks for the names...I had 'em on my list already .

Gail...a tad? LOL! Yes, I am VERY detail oriented...but, that's me . Ah...Oakland A's fan, eh? Cool beans .


Hmm...I'm home early today because I got sent home early.... Apparently, one of my managers decided that I shouldn't be working full days just yet...considering another guy (older than me) in the department, who was out for a month for prostate surgery, spent 2 weeks on a half-time basis when he returned.... I'm sorta in a daze about this...because I feel fine...but, even I admit (as I mentioned in my original post here) that full days are probably a bit too much right now...even 2 months post op...especially since it'll be another month or so before I'm 100% again.... I'll be meeting with my managers tomorrow morning to discuss a schedule....

 

[Guest]

Hmm...finally had a chance to meet with my managers today. Now, they want a note from either the surgeon or my cardiologist stating that I should be working only half days. This just seems a bit bizaar to me....

Neither my cardiologist nor the surgeon seemed concerned about me working full-time days 2 months post-op; yet, one of my managers has "stepped up to the plate" (forgive the quotation...it is the start of baseball season, after all) and has sent me home early the last 3 days because she believes I should be back only part-time for a while....

I called and left a message for my cardiologist...so, we'll see what happens....

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Cort

Hi Cort

Wish my 33 year old son was as organized as you..When he missed Birthdays, ect...he says, Oh, Mom, you know I'm not good at that stuff .If you are being paid full..for a half day's work..take it Don't want to burst your bubble..but 100% back to normal for your body..after OHS in 3 months. don't think so Takes months for them there muscles to get back together Think you may find out for yourself when you take your babies out for a drive. Watch those shoulders. LOL Bonnie

 

[Guest]

Bonnie,

He he he...some people say I'm TOO organized....be that as it may, that's me...tho, I must admit, since I came home from surgery (can't believe it's been 2 months already!), I have not "relied" on my planner much....which is good and bad....LOL.

Oh, yes, I intend to take it if I'm paid for a full day's work...after all, I'm not the one asking for this...tho, I must admit, it has been nice the last 3 days to come home early...I'm just a bit concerned I'll get too used to it...LOL. But, as soon as I figure out who should be writing the note (the surgeon or the cardiologist), we'll see what happens. Still...like my managers said...since I'm not at 100% yet (about another month, according to my cardiologist), they shouldn't be expecting full days from me.... I guess part of my "issue" is having to admit I'm not 100% yet.....and that is tough...because I FEEL fine...even tho, I know...I'm not completely there yet....just a very frustrating feeling.....

Heh...as for driving the baby girls....holy crap...I cannot wait for spring... I'm sick of the 2000 and want to get the older 4 out for a nice long drive.... I did feel the pain in the shoulders and the chest somewhat when I started driving again about a month ago...but, those pains have eased over the last month... But, I'm sure they'll return once I get the older 4 out...if only because I'll be driving a heck of a lot more .

 

[epstns]

Cort - Good to hear from you again. From the calendar you've posted, I can see why you haven't posted much lately. Fine reasons, though.

I think if I were you, I'd keep the girls indoors for another month or so, judging by today's weather. Nasty ice - not good for classics!

 

[Guest]

Hey Steve,

Good to "hear" from you, too . He he he...I *try* to keep busy, anyway....

As for the older 4 baby girls, yep...they will most-likely stay inside until *sigh* mid-April....