ne plus ultra, rambling

Man dies after fall from moving RV in Superior

Duluth News Tribune
Published Friday, August 29, 2008

A 29-year old man who was riding on top of a moving motorhome in Superior died from injuries suffered when he fell off the roof and was run over by the RV this morning. The accident happened at about 4 a.m. on Wisconsin Point.

Superior Police say the man was part of a six-person group, apparently members of a traveling band.

Two of the men were riding on the “slimy, wet roof’’ when one apparently slipped off over the hood and fell in front of the vehicle as the motorhome was moving down the road, said Capt. Matt Markon.

Superior Police are awaiting toxicology reports before they determine whether alcohol played a direct role in the accident.

The victim is believed to be from Tennessee or Kentucky, Markon said.

Superior Police were called to St. Mary’s Hospital just before 5 a.m. on a report of a man injured by being hit by a vehicle. The man died shortly thereafter from injuries suffered in the accident.

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As usual, the paper is half right, but you get the general idea…

Andrew and I made books from the reunion early this Summer, and at the get-together tonight we handed them out to his grandparents, parents, brother and sister.  And by made books I mean had photobooks made professionally, and by Andrew and I, I mean he helped pay after I had them made.  LOL.  It was awesome though.  Everyone loved them.  I got some amazing pictures of everyone at the reunion and it seemed to mean a lot to everyone to have candid photos in a hardcover, bound book.

It’s just so nice to be able to do nice things for other people.

I can’t wait to go back to nights.  I am a night person.  Every time I talk to someone on nights I remember why I like it so much.  My schedule changes in two weeks…right after I have surgery.  Only eight work days left on this other shift…

There’s just some really good people on nights right now, and one of my favorite night guys just became Sgt on nights.  So it’ll should be interesting at least.

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Last night we tried to dye my friend’s hair purple.  It didn’t work.  At all.  Since my hair is blonde right now, I’ve been wanting to go hot pink, this kinda makes me think twice… My attempts at blue a while back never worked, why would hot pink?  I still might try.

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I owed my old partner a couple hours from a last minute, save-my-ass trade, so I came in to work at 3:45 this morning.  No one should ever have to come in to work at 3:45 am.  It’s god awful getting up at 2:30 am.  And sleep?  Ha.  I love Mtn Dew!

Andrew’s family is coming over for grilling and such tonight.  Hopefully with the 2 hour nap I plan on taking this afternoon I can stay up past, oh, I don’t know, 7?

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*shivers*  My morning of work is definitely making the news.                      …..of course, I should add.  Cause this shit always happens while I’m working.

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The calipers went on my car.  I have 20k miles on it.  I was not happy about needing to get anything fixed on it yet….and yes, of course it’s under warranty.

But speaking of cars, Andrew got his Mini Cooper S Clubman JCW…HOTNESS!  Heh.  It’s so much fun!

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And McCain just announced he’s running with Sarah Palin, a woman.  That took me waaaay by surprise.  I don’t know…

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Tomorrow is my newphew’s birthday party.  He turned 3 earlier this week :)  I’m very excited to go see all of them.  Okay, so I’m really just excited to play with the Thomas the Train train set we bought him…

So as I expected I’ll be having surgery again.  Dr. Freeman has time off coming up so they can’t get me in for surgery for two weeks.  It’ll be September 11th.  This time it’ll be more extensive cutting of the bile ducts and sphincters, pancreas, and they’ll place stents again.

I felt amazing after the first surgery, so I have high hopes.  And a game plan.

Warning!  Whining ahead! 

I’m going back down to the cities tonight, my appointment to see Dr. Freeman is in the morning.  (HCMC, Pancreas and Liver Centers of MN, etc.)

I was pretty depressed yesterday though.  I weigh myself every Monday morning, and I weight as little as I did when I had the second surgery on my pancreas three and an half months ago.  That kinda makes me feel like the pancreas surgeries were pointless.  I mean, I felt significantly better right away, and I gained like ten pounds.  Yet as I’ve gotten progressively worse, I’ve lost weight, been sick, and been in a lot of pain.

It goes in cycles.  This last time the cycle started was Florida.  It’s been getting progressively worse since then.  The cycle before FL I ended up in the ER twice in a week.  Then I was okay (maybe a 2-4 on the pain scale) for a week or two.  Then it starts again.  A week and an half ago I was in the ER again.  Even with the narcotics I have the pain is unbearable.  I’ve been missing work.  I can’t keep food down.  Each cycle is worse.  I feel like I won’t make it through the next one.

I’m glad I see Dr. Freeman tomorrow.

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Originally uploaded by pete (aka Amanda)

I got the rest of my trip pictures up on Flickr.  The Chicago set is here.

Me and the Giant Pink Elephant Wearing Glasses

Originally uploaded by pete (aka Amanda)

I thought I’d get pictures up yesterday, but that didn’t happen. I put the Pink Elephant pictures up today though (they’re the only ones for now).

So I’ve been ignoring my blog, for the most part.  I really can’t decide if I want to keep it or not, but for now it stays.  What it’s coming down to is drama.  There are people who read my blog and decide that I’m writing directly to them, and I’m getting backlash from multiple places for it.  And I know I’m writing in a public domain, ANYONE can read this.  I had 3,384 unique visits, or 5,870 page views last week, even though I’ve barely been writing.  So if you’re reading this and think I’m writing directly to YOU, I’m not.  And if you’re offended, STOP READING.  My blog is just my blog.  Reading this does not constitute some deep personal relationship with me.  *takes a deep breath*  Moving on…

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Friday, two days ago, Andrew and I drove to Chicago to pick up his sister.  (I’m going to get some pictures up on Flickr hopefully tonight.)  His genius smart sister was at the University of Chicago doing an internship of bio-physicist stuff all Summer.  And yes, I had to look up how to spell “physicist”.

So on the way down Andrew and I stopped off at a random exit to get gas or mtn dew or something and we saw a giant pink elephant that was wearing glasses.  What?  You think I’m kidding?  I’m not, it’s on Flickr.  (Wordpress hates me today.)

Traffic, from Madison to Chicago, sucked ass.  Stop.  And.  Road contruction!  Go.  More stop than go.  HOURS and HOURS.  At least it wasn’t raining.  We got checked in to the hotel downtown, ate, got situated, picked up Smarty Pants (heh, Andrew’s sister is awesome by the way) and went to Millenium Park as it was getting dark.  I was really excited because the only other times I’ve been there it’s been during the day and/or Winter.  I got some okay pictures of the reflections of Chicago in the jelly-bean thingy, but genius me forgot her tripod at home.  1600 ISO at 1.4, 50mm prime (if you don’t know cameras just ignore that), some of them were still a little blurry, I DID MY BEST, OKAY?

We went up in the John Hancock building and took some fun pictures, saw the fountain show.  Then went to bed, woke up, picked up Smarty Pants and did the 10 hour drive home.  Fucking traffic (it should only take like 7.5 hours).

Best part of the ride home?  Finding obscure music on our iPods to play.  Seriously.  When’s the last time you listened to Mambo Number 5?

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Originally uploaded by pete (aka Amanda)

Kinda sums up how I feel lately. I just really like this photo…

About life in general. 

And things like my blog.