I love my team. I was very down when I came into work yesterday. They did everything they could to cheer me up. Jokes were flying in our team chat room but nothing helped until my friend Scott sent this link. That basically opened the flood gates. I couldn’t stop laughing. It was one of those moments where you’re like I don’t feel that great right now but when I imagine how that dude must feel I realize it’s not that bad. I felt guilty for laughing at another person’s pain. Then I watched it again and cracked up all over again.

* Thought I’d post an email I put together yesterday to family and friends about my injury and current condition. Kind of tired of answering people’s questions one by one. How many times can you explain a ligament exploding in your knee? I’ve gotten a lot of “I bet that hurt a lot.” Um… yeah. Don’t take this as lack of appreciation for people’s concern. I know it’s heartfelt. Two weeks of it (will be 3 by the time I have my surgery) is just wearing on me.*

Lots of folks have been asking about my injury and when the surgery is happening so I thought I’d just make a big email and send it out to everyone instead of answering individually. Family folks who receive this please forward it to other family members not on this list. I don’t have anywhere near everybody’s address.

I tore the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in my right knee Tuesday before last (4/11/06) playing soccer. It was kind of a freak thing. I did a move I’ve done thousands of times since I started playing soccer (basically just planting my foot and making a cut). It just so happened my knee chose that time to give out. There was a lot of pain initially (a lot of pain) and for the next couple of days but since then it hasn’t really hurt that much. The doctor gave me pain meds (an anti-inflammatory and a heavy duty pain killer). I take the anti-inflammatory daily as prescribed but haven’t had to use the other medicine very much the last two weeks.

My sports medicine doctor initially diagnosed the injury as an LCL tear. That’s pretty rare (compared to MCL and ACL injuries) and based upon the type of motion I was making when the tear occurred I came to the conclusion that that wasn’t likely based upon the research I did online. She ordered an MRI to make sure. The results came back early last week and showed that I had a completely torn ACL. The sports medicine doctor referred to an orthopedic surgeon.

I had my consult with my surgeon yesterday (4/25/06). She went over the MRI pictures and laid out my options. Those were basically surgery or no surgery. No surgery would mean not having to get cut on and basically using medicine and rehab to try to strengthen my knee/leg as best as possible. That option wouldn’t ever repair the damage though. Since none of the tissue of the ligament is attached at all there’s nothing to grow back. That would be okay if I planned on living a fairly sedentary lifestyle for the rest of my life but I’m 29. I have a sedentary job but outside of work I’m very active. I need two working knees. Considering what the doctor had to say about that option I came to the conclusion that surgery would be my best option. I won’t get into details but I chose the surgery option which traditionally has a faster recovery time. Faster in this case is a fairly relative term. I’ll be back up and on my feet more quickly but as far as full recovery and a clean bill of health that will still be a long way off. My surgeon said she doesn’t even want me thinking about playing soccer for at least 6 months. That would put my return at the end of the Fall soccer season. I’ve been thinking about it and figure if I have to wait that long what’s a few more months so I’m setting my sights on getting back out on the field in Spring 2007. I’ll use the extra time to get in really good shape. I’ve lost a little over 50 pounds since the end of the Fall 05 soccer season. More will likely come off during rehab.

The doctor said surgery is the easy part. Rehab is where the real work comes in. They want me up and moving around a couple of days after surgery. Physical Therapy will start shortly there after. Dr. Palmeiri projects I’ll be out of commission 6 weeks. Maybe a little bit less depending on how well I respond to the therapy.

I’ll be attacking this like I’ve approached losing weight and getting back to playing soccer at the level I used to play this year. I’m going to go all out. Going all out at first won’t mean much because my leg and body won’t have much to give but if I keep working at it the strength will come back. The doctor said rehab goes much better if you have goals and work towards achieving them. If your only aim is to be off work with no real ambition to get better then rehab will go poorly and progress will be slow. Well my Mom and Dad didn’t raise me to be a knot on a log. I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can to get healthy again so I can a) get back to work b)get back on the soccer field and c) return to the more active lifestyle I’ve established for myself this year.

Please keep me in your prayers. God has given me peace about the surgery and whatnot so my fears and anxiety have started to subside in that area. Just pray that God gives me the strength to endure this process and come out on the other side a stronger person both physically and spiritually. I just spoke to my Mom who reminded me of Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I appreciate the prayers and concerns that have already been expressed for me and my family throughout this exciting yet trying year so far.

That’s the situation in a nutshell. I’ve been putting on a happy face for a while now trying to conceal the pain and discomfort but the energy it’s taking to do that and just walk around on 1 and a half legs has me really drained right now. I think I’m learning what the Bible means when it talks about depending totally and completely on God. I think I’ve prayed more in this last month or two than I probably had in the previous 6 months combined. It’s been an awesome year so far. I’ve experienced tremendous personal growth. This whole knee thing is just another step in that process. For those who read this and know me I hope it doesn’t discourage you from reaching out and contacting me. All I ask is that we not talk about this (meaning all this emotional blah you just read above). Let’s talk about fun stuff like World Cup 2006 or Nissan/Infiniti bringing the Skyline GTR to the States in 2007, or both my soccer teams kicking but in their respective divisions or fuzzy bunny slippers. Anything but my stupid knee and rehab and how much pain I’m in. The pains’ not that bad. I’ve got great legal drugs for that. I thank God daily for my brother, my parents, my girlfriend, my church family, my soccer team(s) and my coworkers. I don’t know what I’d do without them in my life.

Stillfree.com – This is way old but I thought I’d post it anyway since I “rediscovered” it earlier today. Air Force One has always fascinated me. I’ve been in close proximity to the planes (they’ve got multiple ones you know) several times. The former president (Bush the 1st I think) visited Okinawa back in the day. I got to see the beautiful plane out on the tarmac. We also crossed paths with the beast in Hawaii of all places. That was unexpected. They had the armed helicoptors and full protection detail. Very cool. The current President (Bush the 2nd) flew through Memphis last fall on the way down to observe the Katrina devestation.

Whoo! Haven’t done one of these in a while. A lot has happened over the last couple of weeks. I’ve have a girlfriend (Thank You Jesus!), found out my Mom doesn’t have cancer (Thank You Lord!) and I completely tore my ACL playing soccer (Ouch!). My highly recommended (on iLounge) but very cheap FM transmitter also decided to die in my car a couple days ago so there’s been no ipod listening in the car (bummer since I’ve been spending a lot of time in Ichiban lately) . Well this morning the groove was going so good as I left the house that I had to keep listening. So I drove to work with my headphones on (which, as my roommate likes to point out, is illegal). The ipod and I have been on point for close to 3 weeks now. It can do almost no wrong as far as picking songs I feel like hearing. Let’s take a look.

Playlist: @ Big D Radio – Go To List (Notice the name change. This is the same list as the old Morning Mix. Just a different title. It’s composed of 5 star rated songs from all genres not played within the last 3 days.)

• King Without A Crown – Matisyahu – Youth

• Legacy – (Junkie XL Remix) – Infusion – Ultra Music Festival
• Sesame’s Treet – Smart E’s – Sesame’s Treet
  I searched for years and years to find this song and the album it came off of. My quest began when my friend (Beadle) brought the album with back with him after a trip to Hawaii over summer break. That was before the days of consumer available CD burners. My fruitless search continued until the advent of Ebay. I found the CD on there. It was brand new in the plastic. The disc came in the original very late 80’s, early 90’s card board album art/packaging all for less than I would have paid for it ($10.50) back in the day at the Base Exchange (BX). Classic. Now not only do I have it on CD, I’ve got it on vinyl as well. Picked that up online from some used vinyl shop based in Great Britain. It’s the only piece of vinyl I own. If my pipe dream of becoming a bedroom DJ ever comes to being Sesame’s Treet will be the first record to grace my as yet unpurchased Technics 1200’s.
• Troubles - Alicia Keys – Songs In A Minor
  This is another one of my theme songs from that last few years. One of these days I’m going to compile a complete list of those.
• The Move – Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
• Freetime – Kenna – New Sacred Cow
  I wish Kenna would hurry up and release a new album. Dude’s got skills. Considering how long it took to get this album out though it could be a while. I guess I can afford to wait for quality.
• Feels Just Like It Should - Jamiroquai – Dynamite
  You can’t listen to this song and not get juiced up. It’s just so funky. Track is nasty (the good nasty).
• The Scientist – Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head
  Chris Martin’s falsetto is waaaaay better than mine but this song is always fun to sing along to.
• Feeling You, Feeling Me [Interlude] – Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys
  This will probably be making an appearance on a mix CD for the significant other soon.
• Chi-City – Common – Be
  Be has been bumpin’ in my iTunes and iPod since last summer. Chi-City is one of my favorite song off of there. Favorite Line: A black figure, in the middle of chaos and gun fire. So many raps about rims, I’m surprised niggas ain’t become tires. Preach on Common Sense. I’ve been thinking that for years.
• Girlfriend – Alicia Keys – Songs In A Minor
• Zenophile – Mylo – Destroy Rock & Roll
  Yes there are other songs on the Mylo album. The ipod hasn’t been playing Drop The Pressure much any more which is kind of good. It’s a great song but I was kind of burning out on it.
• Tell Me (Classic House Mix) – Groove Theory
• Sea People – Emiliana Torrini – Love In The Time Of Science
  This barely qualifies as a song. It’s really short. Beautiful but short.
• Signs – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson & Justin Timberlake [Memphis Represent!]
  This came on just as I pulling into the parking lot. Normally when a great song comes on I stay in the car to finish listening to it but I got to work 8 minutes early and needed every bit of it to hobble from Ichiban into the building to my desk on 1 leg in the rain. Barely made.

Funny Gif,
originally uploaded by Okiboy14.

I found this funny GIF on a message board earlier today. I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s much funnier animated. Yoshi’s eyes make him look like he’s being raped prison style. Mario just looks stunned. Meanwhile Doc (from Mike Tyson’s Punchout) is just chillin’ in the cut. Hillarious.

2 Iraqi Teachers Slain in Front of Pupils – It hurts my heart to think about the trauma the children who witnessed this horrific act are experiencing and will probably experience later on in life. This hits really close to home for me because my father is a long time teacher. My mother is a former teacher and comes from a long line of teachers on her side of the family. My girlfriend’s mother is a retired teacher. How depraved and cold hearted do you have to be to 1) kill a person who’s calling in life is to impart knowledge to children and 2) commit that grave act in the presence of innocent little kids? That’s sickening.

skyline_on_gtown,
originally uploaded by Okiboy14.

A coworker sent me this link. It’s an authentic right hand drive R32 Skyline GTR in the Memphis Metro area. That pic was taken on Germantown Parkway which is literally 4 or 5 miles from where I’m sitting right now. I’ve driven this car before (not this exact one but one like it). That one was gun metal gray not black. And it was mean. Twin Turbo. 278 hp? My ass! The twin turbo beast had to be pushing at least 400 hp. It should be illegal to have that much power at your fingertips/throttle pedal. The drive was a going away present from my friend Jason back in Okinawa. We were driving along on my last night on island. On the way home Jason says “Wanna Drive?” In my mind I was saying “Hell yes I wanna drive. Been waiting 2 years to drive this car.” Out loud I said “Sure.” It was all I could do not to run every red light from where we were all the way through the 20 minute drive home. I’ll have to post a picture of Jason’s car some time. Sweet ride. What a rush! If you haven’t noticed I have a slight Skyline fetish.

Great news!!!! Our mother Joyce got her test results back and she officially has a clean bill of health in all areas. Hallelujah! I’m literally crying tears of joy as I type this. Thanks so much to everyone who’s offered up prayers and conerns on my mother’s behalf. Mom has recovered from her biopsy procedure and started back to work earlier this week. The doctors didn’t expect the test results to be back for 3-4 weeks. God doesn’t work on man’s time table. Praise the Lord!!!

God may not always provide the answer we’re asking for but he always provides an answer (his answer) in his time. As if I needed any more confirmation that God is alive and working in our lives, in big ways and small ways every day, he goes and does this. I can’t stop crying. I’ve got work to do but I don’t care. I’m so happy and joyful right now.

Good Morning K-Mart shoppers. It’s a bright, sunny day outside. Wonderful spring morning. I think spring and fall are the best times of the year. It’s not too cool but it’s not too hot either. Just right. Totally vibing with the ipod this morning. Let’s get to it.

Playlist: Big D Radio – Morning Mix

* I’m going to start noting skips in my playlist recaps. It kind of helps me gauge how much me and the ipod are vibing on a given day.*

• Skip
• Skip
• Like I Love You – Justin Timberlake – Justified
  Memphis represent!!!! Perfect song to start the morning. I was a dancing fool in the shower when this came on. Can’t wait til dude’s next album drops.

• Two Step (Live) – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds – Live at Luther College
  Two Step is probably my favorite live DMB song. The key word there is live. I don’t know why but I was never really feeling the studio version. It’s a nice song on record but never really blew me away. That was before I started experiencing Dave and company live. What?!?!? Two Step is off the hook. I’ve purchased several live concert recordings in addition to downloading fan recordings of their shows online (thanks to DMB’s fairly liberal live taping policy). Two Step is a repeated standout in my mind at each show. The two DMB concerts I’ve been able to attend to date have further reinforced that.
• A Kiss Without Commitment (UK Bonus Track) – Daniel Bedingfield – Second First Impression
  I seriously wonder if Daniel is living in my head sometimes because his songs really strike a cord with me. His tracks are tight from a purely musical standpoint (which I have mad respect for) but he’s also on point in the lyrical department. This song is a prime example of both of those areas.
• Steam Will Rise – Silverchair – Neon Ballroom
• Wishing Never – The Alpha Conspiracy – Aura
  Not much to say about this track. I always enjoy it when it plays. Just another one of those random iTunes gems I stumbled upon one day. One of these days I’m gonna have to do some hardcore digging on The Alpha Conspiracy.
• Everlong (Acoustic) - Foo Fighters –
  Random live recording of Dave Grohl playing Everlong on the Howard Stern radio show of all places that I found out on the web.
• Hand In Hand – Hanson – This Time Around
  I won’t rehash my respect (dare I say love?) for Hanson again except to say check out their two studio releases (This Time Around and Underneath) since the major pop success of MMMBOP and Middle of Nowhere. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
• Section – The Roots – Illadelph Halflife
• Soul Power – James Brown – Star Time (Disc 3)
• Warehouse – Dave Matthews Band – Smirnoff Music Centre 9/3/2005 –
  Another gem from the show that wasn’t meant to be. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had actually taken that roadtrip.
• Only One – Yellowcard – Ocean Avenue –
  Great song to listen to on a nice spring morning like today. Thoughts of a new person in your life floating through your mind. Nice. Nearly missed my turn off to work this morning thanks to this song and said thoughts.

That’s it. Cool list huh? Folks think I’m crazy but I’m developing a theory on Apple and the 5th Generation iPod with Video. This is my 3rd iPod in about a year and a half time frame so I have a bit of experience with the devices. I swear me and my 5G are on same the wavelength sometimes which makes me wonder if there isn’t some super secret brain wave attenuator built into the device or something. My old 2G and 3G didn’t have this theoretical device. The theory is still being developed but that’s the basic hypothesis. Maybe an email to ThinkSecret is in order to see if they can get their hound dogs on that.

No huge revelations or cosmic wavelength connections from this morning’s mix. To be honest I skipped the first 7 songs it chose to play because I just wasn’t feeling them at the time. It’s nice to see the ipod seems to have gotten off of the Tuesday “Love” theme it’s been on the last two weeks. The first week it foreshadowed doom. Last week, not so much but you never want to get stuck in a rut.

Playlist – Big D Radio – Morning Mix

• My Name Is Jonas - Weezer – Weezer
• Talk - Coldplay – X & Y
• Take Me Away (Into The Night) - 4 Strings – Believe
• Reborn - Rebecca St. James
• I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need To Get By - Mary J. Blige & Method Man – I’ll Be There For You
  Great song. I remember the first time I heard this song and saw the video. I have mixed feelings about videos. Once you see a video in conjunction with a song, the visuals are firmly implanted in your mind. The two are linked pretty much forever at least for me. I’m very visually and obviously audio oriented. Music videos are an audio-visual medium. I like videos because they’re fun and artistic (that’s the high level ideal of them at least). I don’t like videos because they tend to be an artistic representation of what the director or the band or even the record company draws from the lyrics or wants to promote etc. I don’t want someone else’s visual perception of the music I like implanted in my head. Part of the fun of reading or listening to/creating music for me is coming up with my own visuals in my head. That’s the other half of the equation. Listening to the music/reading the book and getting lost in the world that they invoke in my mind completes the experience. The book or music provides the framework or jumping off point for exploration. My imagination fills in the rest. Movies are a little bit different for me. I really, really enjoy movies. I enjoy getting enveloped in someone else’s world for a short period of time. Ultimately though I have no control over the experience outside of watching or not watching. That’s why I’ve always dreamt of making my own movies and seeing my own vision up on the big screen. I’m way off topic though so I’ll reign it back in a bit. The video for this track and the actual track are imbedded in my mind but I think that’s a good thing because the two meld so well. I think it helps that the first time I heard the song and saw the video were one in the same.

• Southernplaylisticadillacmuzik – Outkast
  This is the first Outkast song I ever heard. I knew immediately that these dudes were different and represented a sound or an approach to making music that I’d never experienced before. I also remember thinking I can’t believe they’re playing this on our crappy military radio station.
• Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson – History (Disc 1)
• Chi-City – Common – Be
• Do Not Move – David Crowder Band – A Collision Is Coming Ep
• How Many Mics – The Fugees – The Score
  Not my absolute favorite track of an incredible album but probably 5th or 6th in my top tracks list.