I just had the most ridiculous day of appointments I have ever had. It started with a doctor's appoitment with Dr. Sinha of Buffalo Medical group. He was just about the worst doctor I ever had. Second worst. I had to see him so he could become my primary care physician and write referrals to the allergist so the insurance company would pay Apparently, my word that I am extremely allergic to cats isn't good enough for them but it is if I tell Dr. Sinha first and then he tells them, it is.

I was such in such stark contrast to my appointment last week with Dr. Reisman (e:paul,4613) who was so great.

I got my first physical since 2000 and he is supposed to be my primary care physician. First of all I didn't undress. Weird right. He didn't look at my skin till I asked him to look at a mole I wanted checked out. He gives me a referal to a dermotologist.

No testes check. I mean I am almost thirty and you always read about how testicular cancer is a killer in men my age. I even coughed as a gesture but I didn't want to ask him because I felt weird as I already asked him to check my moles and the bumpo in my arm.

Regular self-examination is an important health habit. But it can't substitute for a doctor's examination. Your doctor should check your testicles whenever you have a physical exam.

Quoted from CNN health

Then the funniest part was the foot check. He said can I look at your feet. I said sure and he pushed my sock down to my ankle. Mind you my shoes were still on. Then he says, 'looks good.' I am not kidding you.

At least he gave me the referrals I asked for now the insurance company will be satisfied but I really don't understand it all. This experience was in such sharp contrast to my experience with Dr. Reismann and Dr. Visco earlier this month. Both of them seemed so thorough in their questioning and care.

The only thing this guy has going for him is his promity to my house and work. He sent me in for routine bloodwork and then he will see me in six months. Maybe bloodwork is so good nowadays they don't have to really check yoou over anymore.

Over the river and through the woods
So then I g to UB to deal with graduation crap. At first secretary A gives me the . 'it's impossible' routine. The one professor is in Cuba till after the deadline and another left the school for another university. They don't have asystem to deal ith these kind of situations. Then secretary B, comes in and smooths stuff out. Unfortunately, this will have to involve secretary C who is way across campus.

So I go see C who says straight out I need a new committee. This gets excalated to a supervisor who actually uses the words 'fucking retard's to describe other people along the chain of command. Basically, it was insane but it looks like if just through 15 more hoops thougout the week, then I can graduate and that a faxed signature can work.

Supevisor also told me UB was just rated 15th worst for professor accessibilty in the country and used the example of a student who was trying to drop after the drop deadline. Turns out the student was dropping because the professor never attended the class ever and she felt it was unethical to receive a grade even though he was promising the students an A.

What a day so far.

We spent two days at Vermont's Townshend State Park between places.

The moss was crazy at Townshend Park in Vermont


They also had lots of posion Ivy that I avoided carefully and sucessfully.




We got to camp right at the edge of the stream




The tree above our tent was so tall, it is hard to imagine with the picture.


Here are some video impressions of what is what like.

See the brook babble.

::Download Flash Video::

Hear the fire crackle

::Download Flash Video::

relax to the creek

::Download Flash Video::

We started out in the adirondacks at Jabe Pond like last year (e:paul,3494) . It wasn't too warm most of the time but we had lots of fun canooeing, chopping firewood, feed chipmunks, etc.

This bird is called a loon. They are so crazy and make noises like coyotes all night long. Jabe Pond is very full of them.


They sound like this.

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::

Here we are enjoying the campfire at night.


This is the view from campsite onto the pond


We built this makeshift shelter to protect us from the rain


Here I am collecting lots of firewood. It was an island so we were kind of limited but I figured out a way to lasso the dead sticks off pine trees using a medium size rock tied to a rope.


It got real foggy on the rainy days but it wasn't too cold.


Stabbing tree stumps


Lots of naps


Getting crazy about something


(e:terry) got crazy too


Sitting in the shelter for more rain protection


Sleeping when the sun came out again


(e:terry) cooking something yummy


Somebody likes to take lots of pictures of (e:terry) and it wasn't me. Notice the datestampless pictures.
















The campsite


Rowing Home



The naked pics - just stop looking if you are not wanting to see them.

Our friend Dave is an avid nudist and every year we go on vacation with him. At first I didn't believe there were so any nudists in the world but it seems he finds clusters of them everywhere.




Here I a looking really serious for a naked person. I don't know how that happend.



What is (e:terry) doing in this picture


Nice reflection








Vermont has lots of swimming holes and apparently, there is not a law against nudity in Vermont. The one place called the Ledges is in Vermont on public land

It is a giant swimming area in the resevoir of a dam. There are lots of people here of all ages and both sexes.





The other place is Rock River. It is more gay.

So we just spent two days in the rain. Luckily, skin dries and most of the other stuff was safe in the tent and makeshift shelter.

We are now in Vermont and I found out my email box is full. I hope nothing critical came through. Why the fuck would I put a max on my own mailbox.

This place has something called "Zoe's Double Hex" onion strings. They taste great but I am afraid of their effects on my quality of life in the van.

I am o top of whiteface mountain, there is a hint of technology.

Dear Diary, At 8:30 this morning I went for allergy testing with Dr Reisman of Buffalo medical group over on ess jay. He has the best bed side manor of any doctor I ever had. He is friendly, ask s lots of questions and genuinely seems like he cares.










I hours later


It's kind of funny to get allergy tested for cat allergies. I think my lif e is pretty much a constant battle between me and those fucking furballs.

The test starts out as a couple little pin pricks loaded with the allergen. Let me tell you it doesn't end that way. Eight hours later the cat hive dot grew to the size of a silver dollar and the redness started traveling u p my vein and up my bicep. Well now I am officially allergic to cats and c an start getting shots next Monday. I am so excited. Luckily, the shots a re given out on High St right next to my work.

Turns out I am allergic to grass and ragweed too. He gave me some zyrtek t o try for that and a new kind of inhaler for cat expsosure.

After that we came home to get ready for the camping trip. I brought a pai r of pants and a sweater with some white teeshirts. I figure I won't need that many clothes on an island in the sun. I am so excited to think about nothing and [dict]chillax[/dict]. Unfortunately, I still need to send my r evised thesis ciatations.

Chopped down a really tall sumac tree in our backyard with and axe.



I like weilding an axe now that my arms are stronger.



Walmart sells metal microwaves with metal inserts. How can this be possibl e? Says it browns too.


There is a new toy called a tap a tune. What a freakin ripoff on the fisher price 'pull a tune.' I was obsessed with it and still have my original wood and metal one. (GOOGLE - xyloworld)

I have a vaccu addiction. I now own around 8 vaccums. These are three new ones from this week. I almost bought one that was a vacuum/broom.







We built a giant tortoise encloser and a giant walking squirrel cage in the house. Both of them were major tasks.

Some cop at the pet store decided to park in the handicap spot.


We bought $192 worth of pen supplies at home depot.




The squirrel enclose on its side.


Basra moving from the old house. Basra is still not ready to accept the new hole I dug for him. I think he thinks it is another animals hole in the ground. He is afraid to stay in it but finally decided to fall asleep half in and half out.


Basra at the new house with more space, more food and a bigger hole to live in at night.





He tried to get out for a while


Tehn he found one of the pears. He loves the pears.


Finally he eats pears and is happy.

::Download Flash Video::

I a still getting stronger even without the gym. I almost think I gained more muscle moving than going to the gym. It is nice to finally be a solid 150 where I never go below it, even if I don't eat much for the day because I a busy.

My butt is in the next pic stop scrolling if you don't want to see it

I have been so freakin busy that I haven't had a chance to post. It's the kind of busy where my hands are to dirty to touch the phone. No, not the kind of busy you are thinking. I have been cleaning cat hair for days but I think I am generally not alergic to the house anymore. Well at least not floor one and two.

Here are some random pics from mobile living.

There is a bees nest in my closet.


Charlotee has been missing since the rain.


This Chinese money is as worthless as monopoly money, should I just throw it out?


My Office is great.


The squirrels love to eat the pears, I should make pear jelly for humans.




(e:terry) hates birds but this one got his attention.


When I was at the pet store the other day in the rain, there was a man with sorts on and a rain coat. From the back he looked like a flasher. It was hard to get a good pic.


I left the hot tub open and the worms found it. It was gross

I love the way this looks. It is not made by me but has me thinking about math in a positive way.

::Download Flash SWF::

We worked on the house so much more last night. (e:leetee) and (e:theecarey) helped us out a bunch with dusting. My mother cleaned the refrigerator. It looks like it is new. I actually took out a toilet, repaired it and put it back. It turns out it wa sthe toilet that was leaking onto the floor and causing the daage in the bathroom. I never thought I would do able to do it, but luckily my phone and the internet gave me some on the spot tips that made it all work.

Yesterday was the night of the strange bugs. (e:theecarey) and I found a preying mantis at home depot and brought it home. They are the coolest bugs. I think she got a pic of it on her phone. Then when we got home there was this crazy huge spider. A type of which I had never seen before.



We met our new neighbors and hung out with them for the evening. Their house is fancetastic and they see like pretty cool people. On the other side of them are some gay republicans. Weird.