I'm normal, well almost!

My tests came back and I do not have Cushings Syndrome! That is a major relief, I was scared to no end. Now I can concentrate in getting healthy and losing weight, down 7 pounds so far. Happy dance!

Cosmo is well, stayed by my side all day yesterday while I had a monster of a headache and slept most of the day. I missed work, as I could barely see out of my eyes, not too good to drive a car as well.

Cosmo is my "little superhund"! He is able to move a large rug with his teeth to another room, over carpeting as well. I don't know how he accomplishes this feat, as I have never seen him do the trick, but he is a strong little bugger. Also, I see he can move the chair to my kitchen table just enough to hop on it and grab anything he wants, like my "instant glucose" liquid gel which he ate the entire tube. Every drop! Plus the label, which has gone missing. Now, I must be diligent as not to leave anything of value on my table. Buggers indeed!

Update

I have lost six pounds so far. I absolutely have no appetite at all. This is a miracle drug, do take away my ravenous hunger pains, it is a true miracle. Only time will tell. So far my favorite snack: sugar free ice pops...in many flavors, I feel no guilt.

I meet with a registered dietitian via phone call later this week.

I even lost my cravings for chips, ice cream, Chinese food, but not Sushi. Anything with chocolate makes me gag.

I took my daughter to Longhorn steakhouse for a late lunch/early dinner. I had a small salad, mixed steamed veggies, plain ice tea, and a 6oz steak, and didn't finish all of the meal. She behaved the entire time. I let her have a spare DVD player and some movies.She admitted via a phone call that she took Zohan, and a few others, which I will reclaim later this week.

I know I can't live off of ice pops, but in this heat and humidity, they are refreshing.

Off to bed now, I have a 5am wake up.

Symlin the missing hormone.

My new endocrinologist from The Cleveland Clinic has put me on a new medication to help me improve my Type II diabetes; SymlinPen; https://www.symlin.com/ an injectable hormone. This medication is something that a person with a normal pancreas produces. The hormone is called amylin. I am far from normal! So far I have been on the medication for two days and have seen a slight lowering of my BG readings and a decrease in my appetite. A side effect can be nausea, but I have none so far. I started out at the 60mcg dose yesterday and just have begun today at the 120mcg dose three times a day before my major meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I need to have at my meal at least 250 calories or 30 grams of carbs. That should not be too difficult for me to manage.

I believe it will take some time for major results. The good thing this medication does is that it makes me feel fuller at a meal, and I eat less, and snack less as well. That is a great miracle. But time will tell. I am still taking sliding scale amounts of Humalog ( 5u per 50 over 150, but if below I take 3u if over 80) and long acting Lantus at bedtime. I have not decreased any of those doses yet. I am hoping to decrease those amounts along with Lantus, but my FBG is till too high.

I am also grateful that I have health insurance as my pharmacy charges over $300.00 for a months supply (4 pens). I also but a box of needles as well. This is tier II and I pay $15.00 for each prescription. My plan is to switch to all pens, which will make my life more easier.

The other problem is that I have a major vitamin D defficiency. Normal range is 30-80, I have 17.5. So, I am taking 50,000IU of Vitamin D 3x a week for 3 months, and then 50,000IU once a week for probably the rest of my life. I am still awaiting the results of my tests to determine if I have Cushing's Syndrome.

Have not been able to update in a long while...

I do apologize. Life got in the way and complications have arisen. My daughter is now living in a group home with people who have mental health issues. I have been unable to deal with her lately. She is out of control and will not listen to reason. This was the last chance, which she blew. I have tried and tried and have been unable to work things out. I nearly lost my job and my health has faultered. I am not equipped to handle her anymore. My family and BF are in agreement for her to live in a group home. She will never live with me anymore. That is the way it has to be.

I do not have cancer, in my "female" parts. That surgery went well and I am fully recovered. However I am being worked up at Cleveland Clinic for possible Cushing's Syndrome. How lovely! This is not what I need. It seems like I have all the "markers" for the disease. I am not feeling well, and I thought is was just extreme stress, but I guess I am wrong. I am undergoing tests right now, a salivary cortisol collection over two nights, and tonight is the last night. I did a 24 hour urine collection, which was just lovely, NOT! I have had more blood taken out of them than a vampire sucks...

I have seen a most excellent endocrinologist, actually three of them to be exact, and I go back tomorrow. Not looking forward to the visit. I have checked on what the treatments are and they don't look very pretty: surgery, radiation, chemo, drugs. I especially like the "gamma knife" surgery option, less invasive. Great, I can now glow in the night!

I promise I will update my blog as soon as I know more.

My JRT; Cosmo had his surgery last Tuesday. Yeppers, he got fixed! He is doing well and will be back at the dog park perhaps this coming Saturday.

Until then.

Cosmo and Shmooo at Mentor Dog Park 4/5/09

What luck!

Sometime after dinner, last Friday my refrigerator/freezer ceased to function. I had no idea until Saturday morning when I made a bowl of Rice Crispies. Warm milk, warm everything. I just went shopping and it was packed. Meat, fish, chicken, microwave meals, ect, ect, ect. Newly purchased milk, yogurt, butter, as well. All went into the dumpster. My dear daughter neglected to tell me anything until it was too late. I could have went out and bought ice to at least save something.

I really am not so wealthy I can just go out and buy more food. I was between paychecks, and the food money was already spent. I was only able to save very little food.

I live in an apartment complex and told them and a semi-new dented appliance was delivered within an hour. I was amazed, only one hour, as it took one month for them to fix my neighbors broken sink.

I called the office to thank them of the quick delivery of the new appliance, albeit dents and all. I also asked them if I would be reimbursed since all my new food spoiled, and the co-owner; Susan said she “will look into it”. I am not placing any bets here.

My nice red wool rug was also stained when the maintenance man failed to dump the drip pan and bad gunk was dripped all over the rug. Now, it needs to be cleaned and that will cost a lot of cash, which I do not have.

I was preparing for my surgery by having a stocked freezer of easy to prepare meals as I may not be able to cook and of course my daughter never helps at all with anything.

Now I have to start over.

I am totally scared of having surgery

I will lose control, they can't use a local, must be a general. They have no idea if it is cancer, I am hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Ovarian and cervical cancer is treatable if caught in time, but on the other hand can be deadly.

So if it is the big C, I'll need more surgery and probably chemotherapy. I'll lose my hair, I never liked my hair anyway. Hell, I can go goth or metal with all the wigs available. I have always wanted long thick hair!

I just want to go shopping now. That is how I feel better...shopping. Not the best thing to do, well besides eating chocolate.

I know when I have the initial surgery I'll need help in the home with my dog Cosmo, and my dearest daughter will have to step up to the plate. But I am having doubts and she is most laziest human I have ever known. She doesn't even have the ability to replace a roll of toilet paper, let alone wash dirty dishes. Her bedroom should be condemned by the health department.

I don't have the income to hire a helper, just to walk the dog. I have no one to help. I have a friend at work who will stop by, she is a nurse and I hope she can help me a bit.

Sometimes I wish I never became a mom.

Wonders Never Cease

The Finish Line credit came through today!

Mentor Dog Park 3/15/09

They took the shoes back!!!

I had to go further up the chain to the VP who put me in contact with the district manager...

The shoes went back and a credit was applied to my card today. (supposedly)

Well, as of 3/22/09, no credit has shown up. Hummmmm....

I need your help!

I called the Finish Line again today. 1-888-777-3949. I asked for "Valerie" at X5071. Guess what she is not the district manager like I was told. She is a CS rep who is out of the office until SUNDAY!

Finish Line had no intentions of calling me back within 48-72 hours! I was told there is not a district manager in the office. WTH???

The current cs rep would not let me talk to a supervisor at all.

She said I have to file another complaint. What happened to the original complaint???

I basically argued with the cs rep over the phone. She would not help at all.

My dear daughter is quite upset.

I am going to the consumerist.com now to see if they will help. I am very frustrated.

First contact with management:

Dear Mr. Marchetti,

My daughter bought a pair of high top tennis shoes about 1-2 weeks ago (2/28/09) at The Finish Line at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, OH. She thought she would like them, she came home put them on again and didn't like them, had them on for about 5 minutes. Stayed in the home and on carpet the whole time.We took them back to get another pair today, however they had nothing in her size at all that she liked.

The store assistant manager would not accept a refund. He had a horrible grin on his face the whole time. He was mean and crude and extremely rude. He was practically laughing at both of us. I felt so embarrassed and worthless at his actions. Accused my DD of swearing, I thought my daughter was going to have a psychiatric meltdown. I get their catalog all the time and my DD did not see anything she liked. My DD, who is disabled was extremely upset. Upsetting a child like mine who has multiple mental health issues is not wise, trust me!

There was nothing wrong with these shoes. They are "Baby Phat" patent leather hi-tops. The minute you put the shoes on they crease. That is the nature of patent leather. I called the number on the back of the receipt to open up a complaint with a district manager. I was told I would receive a call in 1-3 business days.

UPDATE: as of 3/11/09 @ 1:06pm I have not received any calls from Finish Line's district manager.

UPDATE: as of 3/12/09 @ 10:45am, still no call from the district manager.

UPDATE: as of 3/13/09 @ 6:30pm, still no call from the district manager.

I called the Finish Line again today. 1-888-777-3949. I asked for "Valerie" at X5071. Guess what she is not the district manager like I was told. She is a CS rep who is out of the office until SUNDAY!

Finish Line had no intentions of calling me back within 48-72 hours! I was told there is not a district manager in the office. WTH???

The current cs rep would not let me talk to a supervisor at all.

She said I have to file another complaint. What happened to the original complaint???

I basically argued with the cs rep over the phone. She would not help at all.

My dear daughter is quite upset.

Management reply:

Ms. Scheer,

I am sorry to hear about the service you received in our Great Lakes store. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention. This is not the type of service we expect from our stores. I talked to the District Manager yesterday. He said the number he has is your work number. He tried calling it and left a message. He will be following up again tomorrow. If you have another number for him to contact you at, please let me know.

Mike Marchetti
Executive V.P. Store Operations
Finish Line
3308 N. Mitthoeffer Road
Indianapolis, IN 46235
(317) 899-1022

The district manager called me on 3/16/09 and I said I would return the shoes on 3/19/09, which I have done. I'm just waiting for the credit to show up.

Wait, wait, don't tell me!

I'm on the show. It is a radio show played on NPR. I'll be on "Bluff the Listener" section. They give you three news item stories and you have to guess which one is for real. If you win, you get Carl Kasell on your answering machine recording. They tape me by phone tomorrow night, it is usually broadcast on the weekends. Here in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. I was interviewed by a very nice person who asked me a bunch of questions, like hobbies, ect. I also mentioned I had a dog Cosmo and I blog. It is one of my favorite shows on the radio. OK, call me silly, but it is what I like. Listen as I try not to make too much of a fool out of myself!

http://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/index.html

The Finish Line's sad customer service!

I have posted this on http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=386210


My daughter bought a pair of high top tennis shoes about 1-2 weeks ago (2/28/09) at The Finish Line at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, OH. She thought she would like them, she came home put them on again and didn't like them, had them on for about 5 minutes. Stayed in the home and on carpet the whole time.We took them back to get another pair today, however they had nothing in her size at all that she liked.

The store assistant manager would not accept a refund. He had a horrible grin on his face the whole time. He was mean and crude and extremely rude. He was practically laughing at both of us. I felt so embarrassed and worthless at his actions. Accused my DD of swearing, I thought my daughter was going to have a psychiatric meltdown. I get their catalog all the time and my DD did not see anything she liked. My DD, who is disabled was extremely upset. Upsetting a child like mine who has multiple mental health issues is not wise, trust me!

There was nothing wrong with these shoes. They are "Baby Phat" patent leather hi-tops. The minute you put the shoes on they crease. That is the nature of patent leather. I called the number on the back of the receipt to open up a complaint with a district manager. I was told I would receive a call in 1-3 business days.

I'm not holding my breath. I have lost faith in the corporate world. It is just all about the money.We went across the mall aisle to Foot Locker and told the manager what just transpired. We had her look at the shoes and she said that the shoes were in perfect condition to be sold, not used at all. Foot Locker does not carry that brand of shoe. My DD found a pair of Nikes that The Finish Line did not have and she bought them, the manager even threw in a pair of insoles for free. What a nice manager and very generous as well. As G-d is my witness, I will never, ever buy anything from The Finish Line.

My daughter is on SSI and is lucky to be able to afford new shoes. I have not been able to get her any shoes this year. The shoes with tax were about $50.00 and change. That is a lot of monery for her. She is so concerned about her looks and worries how others look at her, is a self esteem issue.What are my chances that Visa will side with me and/or a district manager will credit her account? It is a checking account that her SSI checks go to, I am the holder of the account as an authorized representative. The card was used as a credit card, not a debit card. NCB said to call Visa, which I did.I can't begin to tell you how much money I have spent at that store and on-line as well. Since I used a Visa to purchase the Finish Line shoes I called them when I returned home, but the CS rep told me that department does not open until 9am, and that is when I will call.

I know I can file a complaint to escalate this if nothing is done. There is http://www.planetfeedback.com/ and the Ohio AG, the BBB. I hope it does not come to that. I know to some that these shoes cost a lot of money and someone on SSI should not be buying shoes like these, but try to explain that to my DD who has multiple complex health issues.

ETA:
Have mercy on my soul, it is extremely difficult to shop for anything with my daughter!

UPDATE: as of 3/11/09 @ 1:06pm I have not received any calls from Finish Line's district manager.

UPDATE: as of 3/12/09 @ 10:45am, still no call from the district manager.

UPDATE: as of 3/13/09 @ 6:30pm, still no call from the district manager.

I'm sick.

Due to my illness and upcoming surgery, I have abandoned my diet, but still am watching what I eat. I have lost a total of 12 pounds so far. I will have surgery in April and will be off of work for about one week. I just pray it is not cancer!

Goody Goody

8 pounds have gone off of my body. Yea, I know it's mostly water, but it is 8 pounds gone. Nice job!

Weight Loss!!

I was weak, I stepped on the scale this morning. Six pounds gone. I am doing the happy dance now!

I'm on a diet...either I lose weight or I drop dead!

I started Monday, February 16th, 2009. It is my version on a PSMF diet, high protein shakes; whey and soy; (EAS and Trader Joe's, ON Gold Standard), meal bars, chicken and seafood, and very low carbs. I am eating something every 2-3 hours. I need to get back to the gym, but I need to wait another two weeks for my system to settle down and my BG to stabilize. I really wanted to go on the Cleveland Clinic PSMF program but my health insurance; Aetna would not approve. Never mind that I'm a diabetic on insulin and need to lose weight so I don't die and with a family history of CAD. They don't care. This isn't about cosmetics, it is about saving my life. So I'm doing this myself without the benefit of medical supervision. I am taking an Rx of potassium, 10meq a day. I am checking my blood glucose several times a day so I don't pass out. That is the hardest, as my finger tips really hurt! I have had to decrease my Lantus a bit, even since last night as my FBS was lower than normal. To be continued...

So far , today, this is wat I have consumed:
starting at 7am:

1 EAS vanilla whey protein shake, 120cal?, 23g protein, I think 2-3 carbs
3 hard boiled egg whites
16 oz water with Benefiber no sugar packett
1 EAS chocolate whey protein shake, as above
1 cup black tea, hot
1 diet Coke, 20oz (my weakness)
1 South Beach Living meal replacement bar; 140cal, 10g protein, 15g carbs
1 cup coffee, with stevia and powder coffee cream
1 16oz water with sugar free flavor packett
1 potassium tab; 10meq
1 enalapril, an ACE med; 10mg
1000mg Vit C in the first shake
1 EAS ready to drink shake

It is now 6:26pm and I am now home and will have to make a shake. I'll then watch the Nightly News with Brian Williams to find out how much the bail out will be costing me and the American taxpayers.

Monday, I was shaky and very hungry, I have food on the brain. Yesterday was a bit better, and today, I am not hungry. I am eating a lot of protein and I am trying to figure out how much protein I really need. I have been on several web sites and they conflict each other. One says I need one gram of protein per pound of body weight. That maybe a bit too much for me. If I have six shakes a day that is only 144g of protein per day, that is not enough. I know I need help, and I have no where to turn. I know I need help with this and have nowhere to turn. Is anyone out there?

My BF let me know as he is worried I will get really tired. I feel his concerns, as I probably am eating pretty unhealthy. I have energy now, but I feel not enough to work out at a gym. My FitWorks membership will expire in May, and I will not renew. I have found another gym (Titans), a real gym where true body builders go. I will check it out and see if they have a trial membership. They also have a juice bar attached. I don't want to sign a contract, as I do not know what the future holds for me. I was a total fool to join FitWorks.

I just wish I could have the monitoring at the Cleveland Clinic.Aetna keeps emailing me on the benefits for being healthy and keeping my diabetes in check, but they provide basically no support! I guess they would rather pay for a heart bypass surgery (name your disease here) instead of helping someone get healthy. Makes no sense to me as well.

Right now I am researching supplements that I may need to take. Besides the potassium, I take Omega-3 fish oil (really stinks), 2,400mg/a serving and total Omega-3's are 720mg. 1gr of Vit C crystals I dissolve in the shakes. I need a multi-vit and mineral tab, calcium, magnesium (I heard this is a very important mineral), and ALA, CLA. But, I don't know what to chose or how much to take. That is the huge problem.

I know probably three people read this blog, so if there is anyone out the who can help, please contact me.

News Flash

I have been away much too long from my blog. I do apologize for my absence. I have been having a lot of problems with my daughter and she need to move out of my home. I have been most generous with the time frame and have given her 3.5 months. She is on SSI and has a part time job. Her idiot boyfriend brought illegal drugs (a huge amount of pot) into my home and I could have been arrested and lost my ability to keep my employment. I have called the police to my home several times as well as my BF who lives out of state. The police do absolutely nothing. Sure, they talk to her, but she is a psychopath and knows how to act in front of them. She is not only mentally ill but is homicidal and has made numerous threats to harm me. She went ballistic last night ( my friend was here to see this) and I was so upset and Cosmo was shaking and would not leave from under my bed. My friend is coming over tonight to try to work this out and we are trying to get her admitted to the local psychiatric hospital. Chelsea refuses to go. I fear for my life every time I go to sleep. I fear that she will put poison in my insulin and kill me. There is no where I can go as I won't leave Cosmo behind.

I am very grateful to a good friend from work, a nurse who has dealt with people who have severe mental illness, such as my daughter. She know how this is killing me.

On a good note.............

I have started to write a book. The working title is: The House on North Cadillac Drive.

I'm currently forming an outline and developing chapters. It is non-fiction and sort of autobiographical. My BF is very encouraged with my progress so far. Now all I need is a publisher willing to work work a new writer.

And, yes I spent my childhood years on North Cadillac Drive. I moved into the home in 1959 as a baby and moved out in 1971 to a house on the other side of the city.

The other news, I'm glad the US Air had no fatalities. I viewed that on the nightly news and was totally amazed at the landing in the Hudson River.

You Decide. Do YOU Need A Bailout?

My answer on foxnews.com.
Comment by Cosmos Human
November 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I wish I could bailout my parents. My mom is turning 74 next month and still has to work. She and my father who works as well; are exhausted. There are no “golden years” for them.

I work full time as a social worker and also support a disabled child. I didn’t ask to become a single parent and my daughter didn’t ask to become disabled.

I do the best I can with what I have. Many Americans do the same as well. We do our best to try to make good financial decisions and try to stay within our means. However, life happens and often throws up a curve ball. That is when diaster strikes and we aren’t prepared. At this moment I am trying to figure out how to save up a six month reserve in case I lose my job, and it’s not easy.

I’m far from being a big-shot zillion dollar executive or a corporation with zillions dollars in profits, make that losses…and our government is coming to rescue them.

I make a bad decision, I have to live with that decision and try to make the best of it, but an automaker or a bank repeats what I have done and our elected officials come running to their aid. Is that fair? Is that the right thing to do?

As a social worker I have seen things that should not be. I have been witness to such great poverty and despair, I have been in tears, as there have been so much suffering.

When will the government help its own citizens who have nothing, but mabe a little pride left?

The Invasion of the Mickey Mice

As you can read here, mice have invaded my apartment, and really nothing is being done. So as a last resort I have filed a complaint with the health district. Later steps are court action and the media... This has become an intolerable living situation. My daughter is terrified to say the least. Now where is Carl Monday?

Dear Lake County General Health District,

Rodents have invaded my apartment. I have been complaining to the management and I feel that I am not being taken seriously and this hazardous and unhealthy condition has continued. I along with my disabled daughter do not deserve to live in these horrible conditions. I am so very afraid that mice will invade my bed while I sleep and my daughter is terrified of being bitten. I also have a puppy and am afraid of him being attacked or contracting a disease. I have purchased at my own expense as the management office did not have steel wool or duct tape to plug the holes in my kitchen where the rodents have been entering, to no avail, they still enter. Also I have purchased glue traps and did catch one rodent. Yet they still enter.

Management has sealed holes and cracks from the outside of the building and sealed under the cabinet adjacent to the gas stove. However, rodents are still entering my apartment. Every morning there are rodent dropping in the kitchen and in and on the gas stove. I have not been able to use the stove as it is a health hazard. I am physically unable to move the gas stove and refrigerator to assess the situation and clean. I was told by “Laura” the apartment clerk that management was to clean and assess the areas I just mentioned, and it has not been done. “Laura” also stated that I was to get a call back from “Doug” the manager last week, which did not occur. They have not hired a professional licensed exterminator. I do not at this time have funds to hire someone and I feel like I am being held hostage living here.

I have photographs of the rodent droppings. Maintenance was in my apartment on 11/13/08 to clean up droppings and place peanut butter on traps, which the mice ate and were not caught.

I and my daughter are becoming ill from this infestation both physically and psychologically. I am hoping the Lake County Health District can assist with this matter. I really don’t know what more I can do.

Midge gets her first collar

HUNTSBURG, Ohio -- A very little dog had a very big day Thursday. Midge the drug dog is celebrating her first "collar."It all started with a break-in in Huntsburg in Geauga County. A deputy drove by a house near Hunt Road and noticed a car that didn't belong there.Two people emerged from the home carrying a big screen TV. As soon as they spotted the deputy, they dropped the TV and ran.The deputy called in reinforcements and the chase was on. The sheriff said the two suspects stole a couple of bikes but they were no match for Deputy Juanita Vetter. She was a high school track star and has trained for the Olympics.Vetter chased down Charles See Jr."His comment upon being apprehended, he says, 'That quote end quote is one tenacious broad. I thought I'd be able to outrun her,'" Sheriff Dan McClelland said. See's 16-year-old son was also arrested.Once they were in custody, it was time to search the car they'd been seen with, but it was packed with stolen tools, the sheriff said.A big dog was going to have difficulty getting in. For Midge, it was easy because she is an 8-pound Chihuahua-terrier mix.Midge is a fully trained as a drug dog for the Geauga County Sheriff's Department.She was able to go where the bigger K-9s couldn't, finding Vicodins hidden among all of the stolen goods, deputies said."One of our deputies summed it up best when it was all done. Basically he said, 'Don't come out here and break into our houses unless you want to pay the price,' the sheriff said.The 16-year-old son was released to his mother's custody. There was no immediate word on any charges.Charles See faces a variety of theft charges.Midge celebrated her third birthday Thursday.

Cosmo at the dog park 11/08/2008

Found: shopping list

I was at Marc's discount store here in Mentor on the Lake just this past hour buying the usual stuff for consumption and while replacing the shopping cart I came across this shopping list written on the inside of a pack of Dutch Masters Panetela cigars. I am making a big assumption here, it was compiled by a male. I'm not too sure of the prices posted here, as the Gillette razors have no price. Milk seems a bit too high. Two paper towels for $7.00?
I have seen books written by people who "find" things such as lists and write about them. That is not my goal at this time. I'm just looking for something to keep me out of trouble.

Cosmo's Halloween Photos

Yngwie Malmsteen and Ripper Owens Cleveland Agora 10/18/08

This was the best concert I have attended this year. Yngwie's shredding guitars and Ripper's ripping voice were a primo combination. Jim and I were in the front and center pressed up against the security barrier. We both came away with Yngwie's guitar picks. This was the first time I have seen Ripper live and it won't be the last. Although I still like IE, Jon Schaffer's band, well, they will never be the metal gods without Rippers voice. What was Jon thinking? Ripper even outshined Yngwie, could even be possible? The opening act, a metal band from Russia, and all I can say is their lead guitar and bassist were good. The vocalist was awful and was pained up like the "Joker" from Batman. I think is was a bad imitation of Insane Clown Posse.

Photography by Mark Gromen of BW & BK. http://www.bravewords.com/

Fort Ligonier Days, Ligonier PA 10/11/08

But wait....there's more!

Metallica: One

Metallica: The Day That Never Comes -- Death Magnetic

Jeff Dunham - Achmed the Dead Terrorist

Tomatoes can help your prostate

Find more videos like this on ConsimWorld

Still working on the photos from Iced Earth

Plus, they look even better than the ones I posted below. You can see some of them on another site:

http://social.consimworld.com/photo/photo/slideshow?feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fsocial.consimworld.com%2Fphoto%2Fphoto%2FslideshowFeedForContributor%3FscreenName%3Dap593pd86ozp&back_url=http%3A%2F%2Fsocial.consimworld.com%2Fprofiles%2Fprofile%2Fshow%3Fid%3DLisaScheer%26

It's a 100 pict photo show. View at your own discretion.

Iced Earth HOB Cleveland 09/30/08

WOW is an understatement! This concert totally blew me away. I was up front against the security barrier just short of center stage. I'm still working on the pictures. The lighting was awesome as well as the sound. They played most of my favorites: Something Wicked, Second day at Gettysburg, Iced Earth, Dracula, I Walk Alone, Ten Thousand Strong, In Sacred Flames, Behold The Wicked Child, Hell, there's more. But, sad no encore, as I heard Matt Barlow wasn't feeling well...maybe not true, but when the lights came on, I knew. I'm still processing the concert in what's left of my mind.

There was an opening act, Saviour I believe was their name. They are metal, but need a better range in their vocal areas, but they were descent. They even encouraged a mosh pit to occur. hell, I was pushed a bit.

I also ran into a friend of mine from the Amon Amarth concert from last year. She was standing next to me in the front row. She told me she always sees the same people at metal concerts. She just returned from a metal festival in Germany. I probably should make plans to attend next year during my hopeful three week tour of Europe. IE didn't play in Pittsburgh, and it seemed half of the audience was from there. I was surprised that the venue wasn't sold out. IE is a very important metal band, they have been around a very long time. Jon Schaffer is a guitar God. Matt Barlow's vocals were very good and he seemed to hit some very high notes. He was sporting a new shaven head, sort of looked like Ripper. Brent Smedley was drumming and didn't stop, he was amazing. Troy Seele was on lead guitar and was right in front of me the entire concert and along with Freddie Vidales on the bass. I have no idea how they do it all. OK, I know I'm not the best writer and reviewer, hell, I'm trying.

I'm still working on this post...to be continued.