I didn’t got out of the office at all. I was sending and receiving e-mails, doing paperwork, billing, scheduling, contracts, blah, blah. My eyes have officially glazed over and a martini sounds pretty good right now.
Tomorrow I have to get out and visit some clients/prospects. What’s the point of wearing a suit if I’m not out trying to impress someone–anyone.
Almost time to go home. My fingers kill. Bet Chris makes me mow the lawn. I’ll let you know tomorrow if that’s the case.
Take care,
me
Psyched my wife isn’t working Saturday so we’ll have some time to spend together. Tonight though–bowling. I don’t want to go bowling, but my wife already paid for it and I have no choice. I suppose it could be considered a form of exercise though not really.
This weekend include soccer practice for Alex, Zach’s hip-hop recital at Roberts Wesleyan College in fun night at the high school. Zach is going to sleep over at Nick’s house and Chris and I are going to go out to dinner.
it is becoming more difficult to walk. My optimism about being on a drug is beginning to fade. I still feel very healthy but walking is becoming more of a chore than ever. I worked out yesterday on t he Nautilaus and I hope that if I strengthen my muscles I can slow down whenever progression is happening. I’m starting to see visions of wheelchairs again. it isn’t always easy to stay positivebut I have to at least for the sake of the kids.
I’ll continue this later…
I know, I haven’t blogged in years, and I may not last very long again, but I’m thinking of shorter posts with more pedestrian thoughts. Simple stuff.
To update: I work work for WXXI. I love my job and my new friends here. I feel very welcome. I’m doing well but it seems that my ability to walk any distances has shortened.
My carpel tunnel is worse. Getting older and weaker, but still relatively healthy. Haven’t had so much as a cold in a year and a half. Could be the Tysabri?
I am at work and can’t spend much time here. Will come back soon. Write if you find me. Plus I am on Facebook so look me up.
I have so much new, it is not even close to funny. To those that have read my blog, I am sorry it has been so long since I have written anything. To those reading for the first time, welcome.
I now work for public television. But wait there is something familiar about that phrase. Oh yeah, I used to say that for 11 years as a way to identify myself. The difference is that now I work for Rochester’s public television broadcaster, WXXI. The station I grew up watching. The one that helped me to learn English so many years ago.
And WXXI makes me feel like I am home again. Not the Bob Villa show, but definitely comfort zone. The Tysabri kicks ass. I feel great. No problems, though I did have to be carried out of a cub scout hike a couple of months ago. The stuff works.
I can’t blog long. Like I said I’m at work. But I now sell underwriting and anyone in the Rochester area interested in promoting your business using the power of public television, give me a call at work: 585-258-0337. We’ll talk.
OK, I screwed up the date on the infusion. It isn’t today, It’s next Friday. Well, Ex-cuuuuuuuuuSe me. Anyway, I now have a free afternoon. But here’s the big news. I just got a job offer from WXXI, Rochester’s public television/radio broadcaster. I am incredibly exited about making my way back home to public television.
I start on the 15th of October and will be selling underwriting for the station. I feel healthy and ready to go!
So if you are in the Rochester area, own a business and need to do some advertising, beware! I’ll be calling.
I have my third Tysabri infusion in 45 minutes. I expect to be a new man shortly thereafter. Wish me luck. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Feeling good today. In fact if I had to describe mood, I would say moderately jovial. Looking forward to job offer soon. The kids are healthy. Been in touch with friends and relatives for chats recently. Things are pretty good. I’m actually looking at my future and, to me, it seems less than bleak. That’s a good thing.
Now I have to go sign up the boys for basketball and buy Alex a trombone lesson book. I know that sounds like fun and you are probably thinking “I wish I could do that stuff for you Vlad”. Thanks, I appreciate the sentiment but I have to do this myself. These things are part of the responsibility of fatherhood, and I embrace them. But I really do have to go do this stuff.
Parenthood. Tell me what you think. Are you a parent with obstacles. What’s it like, and what do you do about it?
I had a second interview for a grrrrr-eat job! I met with an executive vice president and an assistant VP. It went very well (at least from my perspective). I really think they liked me. I am exceptionally well-qualified for this job, and I think they can see that. My resume seems to have built specifically for this job, though I didn’t change a word.
I’m not saying where this job is for fear of summoning the bad luck gods. But we discussed a number of topics with which I was very comfortable. I just have a really good feeling about it, save one little problem: This blog exists and I didn’t edit it. You may ask, “What’s the problem?” At least those of you who have no eye for the obvious may ask this. Here’s the rub: I did not disclose my unfortunate little case of MS. Now I know I can do this job, and do it well. But MS has this quality that tends to make employers nervous. They think, “I’m going to hire this guy and get stuck with a cripple”. Now I am not saying this is unreasonable. Had I the opportunity to choose between two applicants and I knew one of them had Parkinson’s disease, ALS, or AIDS, all other things being equal, I would probably (definitely?!?) choose the other. It’s common sense. Who would want to be stuck with such a liability. Think of the investment one makes in a new employee, the training, physical plant, benefits, etc. Why would I put myself in position of suffering such a loss?
Of course, all things are rarely equal. And the future is uncertain. Should I hire the seemingly healthy employee, who is to say they wouldnt have a preference of driving really fast while intoxicated. Or glade skiing. Or Russian roulette. Who’s to say they don’t end up having a grating personality. Or a meth habit. Maybe by night they become a cross-dressing thrillseeker who enjoys frequenting Country Western bars. You just never know.
In contrast I stay home most nights save for the occasional support group, board or school meeting. I barely drink any more, and certainly never drive while drinking. I don’t play any extreme sports. No motorcycles. Eat healthy. Am on a tremendous new medication which is likely to keep me healthy for years, and thanks to my vegetarian wife tend to eat healthy. My mental faculties are just as acute as ever. My limbs work fine and all my senses are top-notch, except for my sense of touch, which seems to be returning in my feet and left hand. The right hasn’t done much.
Anyway, it boils down to: I’m a good hire. Though I seem to use colons (the grammatical kind) a little to often.
I’m not someone who prays often. In fact I never pray. But I’m tempted this time. I would feel like a hypocrite if I did so I won’t. But if anyone out there does pray and if you might be inclined to pray for someone you don’t know very well, I certainly won’t get mad if you did.
Let me know what you think.
Will write a longer post soon with info re: the Boston MS Advocates conference at the Park Plaza. Right now I’m going off to breakfast.
Weird thing, I got stung by a bee yesterday and it hurt pretty bad, at least more than I am used to in a bee sting. It became red and kinda painful for the remainder of the night. I woke up this morning and it is still there and still hurts. I was put some corticosteroid cream on. Hopefully that will help.
Anyway, will blog again soon….
I know, I’ve been bad. I spoke with my cousin Jasmina yesterday and realized I hadn’t blogged in almost two months. To say I’ve been busy would be disengenuous to say the least. I just haven’t felt like writing. I’ve had ups and downs. Should I go on disability, should I find a job, should I switch to Tysabri, stay on Avonex, switch doctors, stay with the same?
I’m not going on disability. I am going on Tysabri. I did switch doctors and the new one is tremendous. He sits with patients, talks strategy, actually recomends a course of action, tells you you could be in serious trouble if you don’t start getting aggressive. I love this guy. I saw him speak at the Marriot the other week, and he actually cares! His wife has MS. He’s on a mission and he wants to stop MS in its’ tracks. I start Tysabri either at the end of the week or beginning of next. It’s more powerful than Avonex and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I won’t be allergic to it in any way. If you engage in prayer, feel free to start now.
I couldn’t get the boys into camp this week, so for the most part I’ll be hanging out with them. I have a job interview tomorrow, so my mom will watch them for a couple of hours. My nephew Adam wants to go to a movie with me tomorrow afternoon. I probably won’t be able to. That may be sking to much of Baba (that’s what my mom is called, it’s a Macedonian thing)
I’ve been thinking a lot about the the fact that a lot of employers are now Googling potential hires to see what kind of stupid stuff they are loading onto their MySpace pages. I’m thinking my blog is pretty tame and if anything shows how thoughtful and responsible I am. I hope it doesn’t paint me as scatterbrained and helpless. I don’t know, what picture are you getting?
Again, whatever the future holds, and I had this conversation last week with someone, it is usually solved by serendipity. Either something is meant to be and it all comes together, or it isn’t. I always attempt to recognize opportunities as they arise and grab hold when appropriate. It’s always worked before, so there is no reason to despair. If this interview doesn’t work out, it won’t be because I didn’t try it’ll be because something better awaits. I’ve heard of all kinds of successful people who make opportunity happen, even when it wasn’t there, but I generally don’t believe it. Luck has as much to do with success as self-direction.
I’ve been lucky to get some good jobs, lucky to have a great family, lucky to have some amazing friends, lucky to get a disease at a time there are real treatments to help me. Do I believe any of this? Yes. Do I believe all of it? Well….
Let me know what YOU think?
