Day Three

I just had day three of my chamber treatments at Dr. Lombard's former office on North Sixth Street.

It's a 90-minute treatment that I get five times a week.

I don't see my regular doctor, Dr. Bacharach, until July 22nd. They called yesterday to cancel my appointment for Tuesday. Don't know if that's a good sign or not.

I have to see Dr. Green next Wednesday. He's an infection doctor. I need to have some sign that these treatments and the IV meds I'm taken are working.

Prayers are still welcome.

New band director

This is part of Cheryl Stansbury's story that appears in this week's Columbia Ledger.

The Columbia High School Band has a new leader.
Scott Muenz was hired out of pool of 42 applicants for the position. In addition to instructing the band, he will also serve as a music teacher at the high school.
Muenz replaces Robert Richards, who was charged in April for allegedly having sexual relations with a student. Richards, recently, waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Herman and is waiting to stand trial in Lancaster County County.
Muenz first day at Columbia will be Aug. 21.

You heard it here

In a few weeks, thank god, the area will be alive with the sound of fall sports practice as preparations begin for the 2008 season.
Until then, the pickings are sparse.
During my recent two weeks in solitary confinement, I got to watch a lot of television, the good, bad and real ugly. Okay, mostly ugly.
I did get to watch a lot of the Phillies. Despite a horrible trip through the American League, they still remain in first place, some how.
But there’s one thing I don’t think you’ll see the rest of the year and that’s Brett Myers wearing pinstripes. They tried to trade him before shipping him to Lehigh Valley and since he make some comments about pitching in the bullpen, rather than being a starter, I don’t see him fitting the bill.
Sure, there is an opening in the bullpen with “Flash” Gordon being out, but I think Myers, who I thought had some physical issues, is a mental case. I think and I’ve heard some talk about it, he would be better off, being traded.
If his head is screwed on straight, he can definitely help the team, but...
Right now, I think the Phillies need three pitchers to finish the season. One to replace Myers, another to send Adam Eaton out to pasture and another arm in the bullpen. Clay Condrey and Rudy Seanez need to go.
Offfensively, they are fine, except I’m running out of patience with Carlos Ruiz (Chris Coste needs to catch five days a week) and Geoff Jenkins. Perhaps another bat off bench would help.
But it all comes back to one thing and even though he’s been pretty steady this year, that one thing that could really hurt the Phillies resides in the dugout and his name is Charlie Manuel. He still doesn’t use his pitchers right, often times leaving them in too long. He also needs to settle on a batting order. Forget moving it around against lefties. These guys are pros and if Jimmy Rollins is suppose to lead off, keep his at that spot.
Some tweaking is needed, but I don’t see any big reason as to why the Phillies shouldn’t repeat. As for making a long run in October, they need to get a couple of arms.

Odds and ends...

• Training camps in the NFL open next week and will someone please tell Brett Favre to stay retired.
• Won’t be going to the Eagles’ camp this year, breaking about a 10 year streak, if not longer.
• Media Day for the L-L League in football is Friday, Aug. 8.
• Didn’t watch it, but was told some of the best television over the weekend was the Wimbledon men’s final.
Told you, tennis is like watching auto racing and golf. Nap time!
• I think the United States will do well in track and swimming based on the trials I saw the last few weeks.
• Nice to see former WGAL sportscaster Jim Stone getting some air time covering the Olympic track.
He’s in San Diego and was working for NBC as sort of a stringer-type for the track.
• All-Star game on Tuesday night will be one to watch just because its at Yankee Stadium, one of the classic parks in the game.

My summer hasn't been the greatest

If you are wondering where I’ve been for the past few weeks, well, my summer has been the pits.
I recently ended up back in the hospital with gall bladder problems and continuing my recovery from my leg wound.
Here’s what happened this time around.
Wednesday, June 21, I ended up in the emergency room at Lancaster General Hospital with stomach pain. Well, some antibiotics and a shot, four hours later, I was heading home, as good as new, or so I thought.
The next morning I work up, getting ready for an appointment to get my leg rebuilt and vomited a couple of times. It wasn’t good, but I made it home from my appointment and asked a friend to take me to the hospital.
That was 11 o’clock in the morning. Again, the ER wanted to release me to come home, but I knew better because the pain was still there. So they decided to keep me and almost 12 hours later I got a room on the fourth floor this time.
It took about five days for the doctors to figure how where my pain was coming from. Those who visited me or called me during that time, know I wasn’t the easiest person to deal with.
Monday afternoon, there was this test that showed my gall bladder needed to come out. Surgery was the next day and the pain went away.
I still have some issues with my leg. There’s an infection and I am on IV antibiotics and started therapy for that on Monday.
The next four or five weeks are going to be critical for my leg.
I don’t want to sugar coat anything with this problem, but I remember back about seven or right years ago when I had my leg taken off. I had a pretty good attitude dealing with that. I think that helped get me back on my feet so quickly. However, this time around, I am very scared that the path I am on with antibiotics and therapy won’t work and I will have a big decision to make.
I’m not much of a religious person, but I have found myself more over the last month praying several times a day. I hope it helps.
I’d like to take this time to thank my co-workers for picking up the slack and also my friends and family for being there when I really need them. I know I can count on them and I really am not sure how to say thanks, but please stay with me through this and I’ll make it.
I haven’t been to a Phillies’ game since April because of my problems. A trip to see the first-place Phillies is in the making and that will help me recover.
I came back to work on Monday and am trying to keep things normal, so I don’t sit around and worry. But it’s been tough.
I turn 50 in about a month and one of my goals is to be walking at that time and be able to make it out to football practice.
I know I need to listen to what the various docs are saying and believe me I am trying.
So, if you don’t mind please say a prayer or two for me and just knowing there are a lot of people out there willing to help and support me is a big help.