Old people ailments - DJs obsession and Social media - Death to 2021

1,161,480 pages read - so so sad 

When I was "young" (like the 30s) I felt sad for old people talking about their ailments. How pathetic was their lives when the biggest thing they talked about was their gallbladder issues. 

WELL - now that 60 is the new 50 and 67 is the new 52 I have a different look at things.  Getting "old" is not so bad actually.  I LOVE it.  I would not trade this age for anything . . well . . . . unless I could have a great house, money and a perfect wife when I was 30 . . . I would then trade. 

BUT - having gone through a misdiagnosed Knee replacement (missed that one because of a bad cold - COVID?) Polymyalgia rheumatica, regular weird daily issues with literally random parts of my body and NOW trigger finger (more on this in the next paragraph) I understand why so called old people talk about ailments. 

SO - a couple months ago I awoke from a nights sleep and stretched and as I flexed my hand to the ceiling something odd happened.  All my fingers stretched perfectly EXCEPT my middle finger which was stuck clenched.  WEIRD.  

I straightened it with my other hand and it was all good!  HOW ODD!  no pain or anything, just stuck. 

A month later I was meeting my new doctor and mentioned it. arthritis ? It was like a knuckle would get stuck or out of joint. No pain or anything.  She poked around and squeezed my palm.  BAM! there is was.  Trigger finger 

"Trigger finger is a condition in which one of your fingers gets stuck in a bent position. Your finger may bend or straighten with a snap — like a trigger being pulled and released. Trigger finger is also known as stenosing tenosynovitis "

Yesterday I saw a sports specialist and YUP - trigger finger - no known reason, just another random weird thing.  The tendon under that finger is swollen and catches on a knuckle. Time for a shot in the palm. 

Nothing a little Lidocaine and Betamethasone won't take care of. 

Patient tolerance: patient tolerated the procedure well with no immediate
complications

FUCK that - Patients left leg went straight out in a kicking motion -  JESUS CHRIST THAT HURT!  sorry sorry I apologize - BTW - scientifically swearing subdues pain by 10% - yea - it's a thing. really!     

no immediate complications   WHAT???

So I then go to Woodmans looking for a real nice gift of beer, something special.  Didn't find any but I did fill the cart with booze.  I get the the check out and my right hand is LITERALLY a useless stump (the Lidocaine ).  I could not get my wallet out of my back right pocket and I think I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder getting it. Then I had to type in my pin with my left hand which SEEMED to not have the same muscle memory! 

SO - all is well after that and day and night move on like the Wheel of Time. no issues.  I go to bed like normal after seeing my NHL and NBA teams do well (probably the reason I have trigger finger with MASSIVE amounts of number crunching in the last 2 weeks) and my head hits the pillow.  (sorry Balderdash and Mr. Electric - I was still in the middle of crunching).  

About 12:40 I'm STILL comfy but sleep is not happening.  THEN - I'm playing back in my brain, what did I eat - why am I up.  Then I play back what the lowly paid nurse said   Yada yada yada zzzz  yada yada insomnia yada yada. 

AHHH HAAAA!  

Well the 100% time tested remedy for insomnia is a banana or raisins OR - 1 aspirin and a gulp of milk.  Works 100% of the time 

Aspirin thins the blood and helps milk release tryptophan which is what a banana or raisins do (perfect bedtime snacks - I looked it up).  

So that is THAT story. 

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Social Media - I have watched a good number of reaction videos on Youtube.  I did not know they were a THING - Reactors.  They listen to songs they have NEVER heard before. Many are really dumb but when you get vocal coaches or professionals out of their element listening for the very first time and hearing their reactions it's fascinating.

WELL - As most know I have been obsessed with Floor Jensen and Nightwish for years and DJ not so much.  UNTIL a few weeks ago.  She has gone down the rabbit hole of Floor love like most people that listen to her amazing vocals.  

I found a re-reaction video from a vocal coach, 

"This Metal Singer Changed Everything" - video by Charlie Calotta a classically trained tenor who one year ago went down the rabbit hole with a reaction video of Ghost Love Score - the most famous symphonic metal song in the world. 

He scientifically dissects the song and now it even fascinates me even more.  His insights on why people are obsessed with this song and how it was composed and all of its elements and what makes it so . . . . emotional for people that listen to it. Why they go down the said rabbit hole.  

What is not mentioned is it was Floors first performance about 3000 people, 79,000 more people actually!  NOTE - I did not know Floor has a Masterclass class on vocals.  

So if you are really curious how songs are created scientifically - give this re-reaction a listen. 

https://youtu.be/63_9QDGPtG8

 

 We have tickets to see Nightwish in Chicago in May - a bucket list concert for me that I have been waiting for fo 10 years.

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OH - NETFLIX - for  something pretty darn funny check out "Death to 2021" a irrelevant look back to 2021. When it starts out talking about the "Youthful political firebrand of Joe Biden" you know you are in for a treat.          

 OK - time to shovel the end of the driveway.  

       

1883 - and things that blow my mind + a double blog!

OOPS - I guess I never published a blog  LOL 

BUT FIRST - things that are blowing my mind

The biggest thing that keeps me up at night is Jack Nicholson - did you know most of his entire life he LITERALLY thought his mom was his sister and his grandmother was his mom - YUP it's true. 

His REAL mom, June, had him when she was 18 out of wedlock.  In order to avoid gossip his grandma Ethel May, decided to raise young Jack as her son and June would pretend to be his sister.  

He did not find out the truth until both had passed away!   BLOWING . . .  MY . . .  MIND!!  

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There is a muscle that 10% of humans do not have.  It's in your arm.  Put your palm face up, touch your little finger to your thumb and point your palm up.  If you see a tendon, you have the muscle. 

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Every human has a blind spot on each eye that your eye just fills in what it THINKS should be there and you can see this for yourself. 

You can find it in the below image - cover your left eye and put the image about a foot from your face.  Stare at the black dot with your right eye and move the image slowly back and forth until the cross vanishes - BAM - you have found the blind spot and your brain fills in with blank - no cross.  You can do the same with your right eye covered looking at the cross.   Works better on an iPad or something but still works. 

 

 So basically when you are looking around there is one part of your vision that your brain is just making shit up!    

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 We all know that packaged shredded cheese contains sawdust to keep it separated.  

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Owls don't have eyeballs - they have eye tubes! 

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Here is a creepy one - Harry Styles has 4 nipples!  It's called polythelia.  I think there is a game out there - Find Harry Styles nipples. 

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Back to reality - I got a bonus from Bovada when the sports book went down for 2 days after a failed upgrade to their system.  I've never heard of THAT happening before LOL 

This was great, they gave me free money . . . but wait . . .I have to clear this bonus by Christmas or I lose it - BUT WAIT - all my NHL games are postponed until after Christmas!!  CRAP.  SO - in order to clear the bonus I have to play 400 hands of blackjack.  I see they have single deck and looking at the rules the house as a 0.15% edge.  SO - playing perfect blackjack on average I should lose about $7. 

I went to work and won $4 plus the bonus!  Where was this in Las Vegas - when balderdash and Mr. Electric were in LV. Every freaking time I sat down I was down I would lose  $70 in 10 minutes and would spend the next hour getting back to even.  

THEN - we would go to another casino  BAM - down $70 and spend an hour getting back to even - like clockwork.  Happened all week

***** 

We watched 1883 - the prequel to Yellowstone. We're not big Yellowstone fans but this was a rootin shootin western and loved it. (Amazon Prime).  Anybody remember Wagon Train? 

https://youtu.be/ZkbH1zjsM7g

NEXT BLOG 

What is inside my brain today?  Well - DJ has gone DEEP into a Nightwish obsession - I mean DEEP. 

We secured 2 of the last 20 tickets at The Radius in Chicago for a May Nightwish and The Beast in Black concert.  I was asked what exactly the hell is "Symphonic Metal". 

"Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitars of metal with different elements of orchestral classical music, such as symphonic instruments, choirs and sometimes a full orchestra, or just keyboard orchestration.

Symphonic metal bands can feature classically trained vocalists (like Floor Jensen on Nightwish), in which case they can be attributed nicknames such as opera metal or operatic metal. Perhaps the most pioneering and prominent examples of symphonic metal bands Finnish band Nightwish, Italian band Rhapsody of Fire and Dutch bands Within Temptation and Epica. All of these bands place a large focus on elements prevalent in film scores in addition to the more basic classical components utilized more widely in the genre.

 I say DJ has gone deep because she (like me 2 years ago) has fallen deeply in love with their newest album  HUMAN, probably the most beautiful set of songs I have ever heard. 

Just listen to the lyric video of the opening song!! MUSIC  "Floor’s vocal gymnastics in this is insane. Masterclass in singing".

Symphonic Metal at its best

https://youtu.be/rwz7-h9LCDU

    

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Meanwhile the other side of my brain is pissed at the NHL for not having any games - POSTPONED - I guess they don't want to get sick with the FAKE virus  LOL   I was HOT!!  

After tonight's 2 games nothing until after Christmas - but here's the kicker.  Bovada was down for 2 days and because of that they are giving patrons $$ in the form of a bonus - GREAT RIGHT? Except you have to use it before Sunday.  DANG - I have no games until MONDAY!!  F U.  I can play BlackJack I suppose but that will be about 200 hands.  Not that that is bad but . . . . Sports betting is a better choice with not as many wagers.  

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OK - nuff said.  And yes - since I had my Covid booster shot I can now attract metal objects at will, have gained 200 pounds of pure muscle and I hear dead people.  Why would you NOT get the shot - this is awesome!  

Carry on - Peace   

DJs Heavy Metal ephonony - Radius Chicago

What a musically blasted weekend.  

We you all know I have been gushing over Metallica's S&M2 concert DVD.  A symphony and heavy metal where the orchestra  actually has different notes then the metal band, not just playing along, is amazing.  

DJ has never been a metal fan which included Nightwish.  But she has watched S&M2 a few times and Thursday she says  said - OMG - I honestly understand metal now.  I never did before. She goes on.  I always thought they were a loud band but never saw them as "artist".  These geys are REALLY talented - I never understood before.  

8 minute songs, time changes 3 or 4 times in a song that has 3 or 4 different "movements" and so forth.  SO - then we find out that Metallica is having two live concerts on Amazon Prime, their 40th year anniversary we were all in for late nights.  The kicker is it was at 11:00 at night Friday and Sunday.  Yea - we watched both, up until 2AM. 

BUT - before Friday nights concert (waiting) I played HUMAN by Nightwish - OMG she says  "I GET IT!!  So she gushes for the first time over Nightwish (after me loving the band for 10 years). Heavy symphonic metal.

Saturday was Elwood day so she is on her own.  What does she do - OBSESSED over Nightwish and Floor Jensen - especially the Reactor videos where people who have never ever heard of Nightwish and Floor listen for the first time.

https://youtu.be/B3DAZ5DDuaI

YES - as a popular saying goes - DJ has gone down the rabbit hole of Floor Jensen love as MANY MANY do. A huge secret for Americans.  The best pipes in metal!!  These guys sell out huge stadiums in Europe in minutes.   

BUT WAIT!!  

Sunday.

I have a documentary of their 1.5 year world tour - the first band ever to hit all 7 continents in one year.  105 shows.  The thing is that in the middle of the tour, which is being filmed for the ducumentary about what bands REALLY go through, Annette the lead singer quits!  

They have 3 or 4 concerts with the lead singers from Kamolot but it's temporary.  They say Floor Jensen might be available so she flys from Finland and is asked can you learn 15 songs in 48 hours (including the plane trip from Finland to salt Lake City.  She does. Their practice is just before the concert with the sound checks.  

SO - we watch that 2 hour tour documentary and yikes - it's not as glamorous as it looks  LOL 

Then we watch the Metallica concert Sunday night and here I am.  We watched Breaking the Band Metallica - wow - James Hetfield - as a kid watched his mom die slowly of cancer with zero help from modern medicine (Christian Scientists), no funeral - just GONE - and then his dad leaves the family. He is alone at 16.  

And you wonder why his songs have angst?  The whole Metallica story is crazy. Totally opposite of Nightwish which is full of love and happiness.     

So now I have a wife that is into good, the best, Heavy Metal with Metallica and Nightwish and believes BOTH have very very symphonic undertones under the metal.  She never heard that part of metal. The amazing musicianship to create this music.  It actually has to be composed as to just creating a song. 

Did you know Metallica played in front of 1.6 MILLION in one concert in Russia? 

If you need an example to understand - listen to Halo of Fire. So many time changes and "movements" for lack of a better term.    From their latest album - yea  still producing. 

https://youtu.be/2EqYLL7GjTA

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SO - we are trying to get tickets to see Nightwish in Chicago at the Radius in Chicago.  The issue is tickets. Its general Admission BUT there is a premium General admission - what does that mean  LOL  Stay tuned. 

MEANWHILE - the NHL is postponing all cross boarder games between Canada and America!  DANG - I was 8-2 in the NHL over the weekend 5.27 units as games come to a standstill.  

Cheers      

NHL, The Idiot and cabins up north

So where the hell have I been?  I've been in trigger finger hell that's where. 

Trigger Finger - Trigger finger occurs when the tendon in the affected finger becomes inflamed. Those most at risk include women, people with diabetes or arthritis, and people whose regular activities strain their hands.

Symptoms include stiffness, a popping or clicking sensation, and tenderness in the affected finger. Triggering is usually worse in the morning**. Treatment includes splinting, medications, and surgery.

** the reason it's worse in the morning as many people grip their pillow at night stuffing their hand into it. 

Of course entering every single moneyline and puck line into a spreadsheet for everysingle game in the NHL this year does not help. Along with every score and every goalie's averages.  And it's my middle finger - my typing finger it seems. The pain has been worth it. 

The problem in the NHL is that the money line and puckline (like the spread in other sports) are SO SO crazy.  You are either betting -200 or +200 and you would think that the huge favorites would win more often and betting on the huge dogs seemed ludicrous.  I needed to see how spreads worked in the NHL.  

This is the most work I have ever put into one system and the reason why blogging has taken a back seat in the mornings.   I update my goalie spreadsheet, the team spreadsheet and the line spreadsheet. 

HECK - I can write a blog today because there were no games last night  LOL

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Last Thursday we drove to Door County to meet a new builder.  Learned a lot.   ODDLY he was turned on to us by a very good friend from High School.  

When I purchased 5 acres up near Gills Rock I mentioned it and Steve Seybold asked  "Where is this exactly?"   I showed him a map.  We're next door neighbors  LOL  Well divided by a few acres off woods.   SMALL WORLD 

We found out that modular houses are MUCH stronger then stick houses (house built from scratch) and a lot cheaper.  Also learned a lot about above ground waste water systems and it looks like we are moving forward.   Gotta get the soil tested and electric going but construction COULD start next fall. 

The cabin in question MIGHT look something on this order but we're a long way from cementing this al a cart cabin. 

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OH - take down the bird feeders tomorrow - sustained 40mph winds with gusts to 60 starting tomorrow evening.  HUGE system raking the west coast will hit us after we CRUSH the record high tomorrow at 65ish.    

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A good friend ER Nurse has had it with the non vaccinated imbeciles that show up at his ER.  IF he was in a Seinfeld Episode he would be the Nurse Nazi. 

Have you been vaccinated?

NO I HAVE NOT BUT I GOT THIS FROM A VACCINATED FRIEND

And where is your friend now? Is he here? 

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OK - since I am banned once again from facebook for agreeing with a Brandon moron by saying "I agree, America loves a good fascist President"   BANNED!!  I got a few things to say 

First of all The X woman groper will never run for President - he is a coward. Plus he is the greatest thing ever for Democrats - I HOPE he runs - automatic victory 

And while all the QAnon idiots are blaming Biden on everything - let's see here . . . . 

The idiot failed to build the wall, Biden is taking down walls.

The idiot failed to rebuild infrastructure, Biden is.

The idiot failed to provide better health care cover, Biden is.

The idiot failed to end war, Biden did.

The idiot to failed vaccinate America, Biden has.

The idiot failed to reopen America, Biden has.

The idiot failed to put people back to work, Biden has.

The idiot has failed to show proof that his conspiracies for his failures are true, Biden hasn't needed conspiracies.

The idiot slowed FEMA responses, Biden expedited FEMA response.

The idiot put a sunset on personal income tax breaks while no sunset on corporation tax breaks, Biden didn't take from us to give to them.

And since Biden is being blamed for gas prices and inflation and the argument is "He is the guy at the top and thus it's his fault."

OK then - using the right wing argument The idiot killed 500,000 Americans and ignored Covid AND mislead his lemmings to not get vaccinated.  DROP THE MIC

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OK OK - the 28th I'm getting that blasted finger looked at at UW.  

Pretty disappointed in BitCoin - it will be a year since I invested as of Jan 1 and I'm only be up 99.26% at this moment.   

  Phoenix Rising 

     More digital art. 

      

Time to ice the back of my hand - cheers 

Exploring new artwork.

And yes - I know who "knowitall" is. He was a boss for the State of WI - we always liked him as when he left to go home (early) he would always say "Goodnight losers".  Which indeered us to him.  Like the Pillsbury doughboy you ant to kick.   He has actually purchased artwork from me in hopes it would go up in price once I died. 

Of course when he retired his mental capacity has gone way down hill  LOL  

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I've started a new art hobby with digital art.  Of course I went to put a few on my website and it crashed.  

We regret to let you know that Sectigo/COMODO upstream provider is currently experiencing issues with their signing servers. As a result, the certificates may be issued and delivered with a significant delay. Please note that this affects Multi-Domain certificates only

So!  I THINK that means it's not my fault and will fix itself? 

RodMelotte.com   

To give you a idea 

Democracy Under Fire 

A little angry when I did that - But then I was listening to the Peer Gynt Suite No.1 and came up with this 

The Hall of the Mountain King 

 

So - yea - it's been a fun week with colors.  I don't THINK it was the drugs  :-)    although my foray into steampunk has been sort of fun.  My issue is verbage for titles.   I LOVE the steampunk look but am not "into" steampunk.  So when I think of a title I'm worried I'll look pretty . . . . .square.  I need verbage but have not found anything online with proper  . . .words. 

Does steampunk have spaceports?  If I have an image called The Blood Rose Spaceport - does that make sense?     

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OH - I tend to skip over bad times with handicapping (you never hear those times) but this weekend  14-6 in the NHL winning three   +200 wagers.   

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Things I learned - Tahini is NOT the same as Chinese sesame paste, Chinese sesame paste is roasted sesame and Tahini is non-roasted sesame paste.   

Wheel of Time - AWESOME series. sorry = probably mentioned that once already.   

Have a real fun day - hope you don't work outside 

Rod