Entry: 09-Jan-2011

Start of a new year has given me some motivation to once again to try and write my blog. Let us see how long this lasts.

The end of the year was kind of tough on me. Had a colonoscopy which came up with three small polyps, once which had the potential to grow into something. They got it before it could do any harm the other two were benign. I get to do this again in five years.

On Oct. 25 my 48 year old younger brother, Dale, passed away. The cause of death was accidental overdose which lead to severe respiratory depression. He was a recovering opiate addict who was being treated for depression and adult attention deficit disorder. He was on an antidepressant and methylphenidate i.e. Ritalin. He chose to buy prescription medications such as diazepam, lorazapam, and Oxycontin in order to create a drug cocktail which if he was still alive would be a claim that he was self medicating when really he was trying to get high. He lived a live of deceit and never was honest with his family or health providers.

And while I have lots of great memories of him, it is hard to get pass the fact that I am angry for doing this to himself.

I went to San Diego in November for the SFN meeting. My poster was well received, but did I hate that five hour flight from the East Coast to there. I love Amtrack even more after that experience.

Went home for the holidays and have a nice time there. Mom and Dale used to fight constantly and create a lot of tension. This year it was very pleasant. Went to State College to send a few days with my sister. I won her a t shirt at the Lady Lions-Bucknell basketball game but catching the attention of the cheerleaders handing them out with a loud yell. I was not happy that three old guys in front of us were screaming for a free Subway sub that was handed out earlier which made the DJ toss it at them and their scramble to get the sub caused it to be destroyed over us all.

Saw True Grit, the Coen Brothers remake, which I liked a lot (A) and also the Black Swan, which was okay (B), the best part was Natalie Portman's performance, she deserves an Oscar.

And I have to admit, I am enjoying Private Practice this year, somehow they actually started writing good scripts again. I also like Detroit 187 and Human Target, both which will probably get cancelled.

Lie to Me has started to get really bad, I think that they are making the mistake they did with House and focusing too much on Lightman's nutty behavior instead of the mysteries. Will not miss it if Fox axes it.

Well, I blew my football pool this weekend, with the first two games. I had New Orleans going to the Super Bowl and they got beat by Seattle. Shannon Sharpe has any team who makes it from the NFC West was a guarantee to got out in the first round. And the hated Jets beat the Colts which mean my beloved Patriots have to play them in the next round. Rex Ryan will be shooting his mouth off all week, I hope we can kill them again like last time.

Let us see how long I can write this blog this go around.

Oh well.