Ed Bilodeau

This weblog had moved: http://www.coolweblog.com/bilodeau/

# Notice (Oct 19/05): So ends my stay here on Blogger. This morning Google implemented an anti-spam 'feature' that forces me to answer a challenge phrase when I want to post to my own blog. No notice of the change, nothing. Worse is that it doesn't even work! I type the phrase, submit, "An error occured", post deleted. Damn you, Google. Chances are I will revive my blog somewhere else, sometime soon. I'll post the new coordinates here as soon as they become available. (BTW, I'm unable to post anything to my RSS stream, so I'd appreciate it if readers could spread the word and ask people to take a look at this notice)

Update (Oct 19/05, ~noon): After a frustrating few hours (and not just trying out alternatives to Blogger), I've decided that this is a good time to take a break from all this. A day? A week? Who knows. But I need to step away from it before I pass a heavy magnet over the whole mess.

Update 2: According to this post, the reason I'm seeing the CAPTCHA (challenge phrase) is that Blogger has classified my blog as spam. Thanks. User for five years and now I'm spam. I searched the Blogger site, but there is no mention of how to get the spam flag turned off. There is also no way of contacting anyone at Blogger. Wow. Spam they say I am, so spam I must be. Maybe it is time to take a break.

Friday, August 26, 2005

# I'm back, in a way.

The operation (Monday) went well. I was able to go home the same day, drainage tube, codine, and all. At first, it was very rough, but with every day came more energy and less pain. This morning I had my follow up visit with my doctor, to remove the stitches and the tube. All is good, although my medical leave has been extended to September 11, just to make sure I heal properly.

While the operation was a minor one (for me, the words 'minor' and 'operation' do not exist together), it was a major event, one that has had a significant effect on me. I was able, I think, to overcome my fear of hospitals and doctors, to let myself be taken care of my others, to give up the illusion of control that I, that we all, work so hard to maintain. I feel as though I've grown (although physically, I've shrunk!)

I could not have done it without Nathalie by my side, not only through her love and support (and patience!), but also through the arguably more mundane task of picking up my slack in the household chores, on top of everything else she has going on. With her at the helm, steering and paddling enough for both of us, I could pull in my oar, lie back, and let the river carry me.

...

I have no intention of spending my convalecence online. There is no way that staring at this cathode ray tube (nor the one in the other room, for that matter) is going to heal or rejuvinate me. But I will be around, occasionally.

Comments:

Ed, I hope your recovery continues speedily and without incident.

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:20 PM

Thanks! :)

# posted by

Quietloft : 2:55 PM