Rant #3,916: You Better, You Bet

Just to get in another health message to you ...

I am feeling a bit better than earlier in the week, actually drove my car--the first time in a week--and did some errands, but I am still not myself, and probably won't be for a while.

My stamina and my energy are low, but yesterday, I also did more than two hours of work on top of everything, so I guess I have earned the right to be a bit worn down.

And Happy Passover to those who follow this great holiday.

It is a holiday where we can all be kings--or queens--as we participate in the holiday feast, and recite the Four Questions about "why this night is different from other nights."

Onto other things ...

As you probably know--whether you want to or not--March Madness is in full swing, and college basketball is revving up its season finale, where it will crown its champion.

I detest college athletics at this point in my life, because they are not amateur anymore, sort of a real minor leagues for primarily football and basketball.

On top of the scholarships the players get, they are being paid, their likenesses are worth money, and the coverage by the media is as if these kids are playing major league sports, which they are not.

And then you have the incessant betting that surrounds these sports and these college-age (18-22) athletes, and it is very unnerving.

And again, the media just goes with this, with even members of the media themselves making and breaking their own brackets, and proudly proclaiming so on the air and in the other media.

This is just plain wrong, but heck, we had a President who got into this while he was in office--President Obama--so if he can do it, anyone can.

The problem with that is that it has gotten to the point that we are truly opening ourselves up to a lot of future problems when kids, themselves, are getting into the betting game, and one story that came out this past week has bothered me to no end--

Probably no one else was bothered, but I was, for sure.

I am sure you heard about this story, because it was broadcast ad nauseum across TV and in the newspapers, but to me, something isn't right here.

The media gave great coverage to this kid who, not knowing what he was doing, chose the exact winners through the earliest rounds of the women's basketball tournament, beating incredible odds.

The media laughed about it, made this kid into some kind of hero, and also, in passing, mentioned that he was an eighth grader, just 14 years of age.

Like I said, that part of the story was mentioned in passing.

A 14 year old betting, making up a bracket?

How did the media find out about this?

Obviously, he created his bracket on one of those now legal betting services, and it probably came out from there, because it was so unusual.

But again, the kid is 14 years old.

He isn't even in high school yet.

Don't these gambling services prohibit minors from participating in their betting business?

Yet the media reported on this to put smiles on our faces, again, since it was so unusual.

Heck, the Associated Press and the NCAA reported on it, so the kid just didn't scratch this out on a piece of scrap paper--

He had to do it somewhere "official" and "legal" where it could be seen.

But doesn't this actually send out the wrong message?

Why is a middle school kid betting to begin with?

What service did he use to circumvent all the rules and be able to make his bracket?

Even if it wasn't on a service, why is a kid not even in high school making up a betting bracket at all?

Are his parents are so proud of him, since they are raising a bettor, rather than a scholar, in their midst?

The kid's bracket has since been broken, but he did something that even experienced bettors four and five times his age don't do.

But aren't we encouraging betting by minors by celebrating this kid's good fortune?

It just rubbed me the wrong way.

If you see all of those commercials on TV for legal betting, you have to squint to see it, but they all have disclaimers at the bottom of the screen about the dangers of betting.

If we applaud this kid, aren't we opening up a real Pandora's Box of underage kids betting, and becoming habitual bettors, which is a gambling addiction?

If I was reporting on this story, I would ask the kid and his parents the questions I asked earlier about his participation in an area that he really shouldn't be involved with.

But in our society today, we think that betting on the NCAA tournament is a big nothing, a fun thing to do, something that connects us with college athletics, an area that most people don't really care about unless it involves their own money.

Rather than applaud this kid, we should ask ourselves whether this kid really deserves our applause--

Or does he actually deserves our pity for what he is getting into at 14 years of age.

Maybe I am old fashioned, but if I was this kid's parent, I don't think I would be too happy that he was spending his spare time making brackets like this.

Probably the only good thing about this is that he has had his 15 minutes of fame, and maybe he can move onto something more constructive for a middle schooler to be doing to bide his time.

Betting should not be in his personal lexicon of things to be doing as he eases into high school.

But the media loves all this, thinks it is great, so what do I know?

I know what is right, and what is wrong, and this is just so wrong that it defies my understanding of why the media jumped on this like they did.

But then again, I know exactly why they did, and quite honestly, in 2026, it really doesn't surprise me one bet ... err ... bit.

Rant #3,915: Little Willy

Yesterday, I had that procedure done, and now, if I feel up to it, I can move on with my life--

Until the next hurdle comes my way, on my birthday.

I have been through the colonoscopy procedure before, and let me tell you, if you haven't ever had one, the prep is far worse than the procedure itself.

So when I have this thing on April 28, it will be a good day.

April 27, however, won't be one of the best days of my life, as the prep really will knock out the day--and other things--for me.

I just think it is almost funny that I am having that procedure done on my birthday, but it won't be the first time I gifted myself with health on my special day.

Way back in 2007, on my 50th birthday, I had my gall bladder removed.

It just worked out that way that time, as I went into the hospital on April 27 with severe stomach pains, and the hospital said all I had was a bad stomach ache. 

However, I told them numerous times that this wasn't just a bad stomach ache, that this was something more, but they insisted--

Until I told them that I had Gilbert's Syndrome, a relatively minor liver disease where the liver does not fully process billirubin, that you can live with your entire life and not feel it.

A previous doctor years earlier told me I had it, and it simply came to mind when they wanted to get me out of there as quickly as they could.

Lo and behold, I went for some more tests, and they literally told me that my gall bladder had to come out.

I went into surgery on April 28, they removed it, but in the middle of the surgery--and I was told this when I awoke from the anesthesia--that they now listed me as an unruly patient, because I supposedly woke up smack dab in the middle of surgery, started pulling things out of me, and said I was done--

And it took six male nurses to hold me down.

I had the surgery, was home on the morning of April 29, and that was that with that.

Kind of strange, but true.

So if I have to basically forfeit a day of my life to find out what is going on in my colon, then so be it.

And I also have the other stent in me which needs to come out, and it will be removed prior to the colonoscopy.

But at least for now, onto other things ...

And don't get me started on "No Kings Day."

Just don't.

Rant #3,914: Climb Ev'ry Mountain

I am slowly but surely getting back to my normal self.

As you read this, I am having removed one of the stents that was put in during the kidney surgery.

I have another one in there, but the doctor wants to keep that one in for the time being.

So, really, I have moved past the first of many hurdles until my health is where it should be.

I have a lot more things to do medically before I can reach that goal, but at least square one is over and done with.

This past Friday, kind of all of a sudden, I felt that I had energy again--four days after the initial surgery.

I honestly don't know why I felt that way, although I think it had to do with the fact that on that day, I finally had an appetite and ate three square meals for the first time all week.

I even snacked a little bit, and I guess it all made me feel better.

The previous day, I did three hours of work, and let me tell you, when you have little in your stomach and you do work, it completely saps your strength, and after I did all of that, I felt like I could barely make it to my bedroom.

But I got through that, and now on to the next mountain I have to climb.

I am still on a lot of medication, but once I can get off all of that, I feel I will be somewhat back to normal--

Until the next hurdle I have to scale, at the end of April, when I have a colonoscopy, which I am dreading, based on the possibilities described in my recent catscan.

But I will beat that too.

I have too much going for me not to.

I have a wonderful family--

I have two weddings coming up in the fall--my daughter's nuptials and my nephew's celebration--

And then there is Passover, coming by the middle of this week, which is probably my favorite Jewish holiday, with all the foods and family gatherings and stuff like that.

I need to be healthy for all of this, and well into the future too.

I am not a religious person, but I have prayed to God to get me through this--

And I hope that God has listened to my pleas.

But whatever the case, I need to get better, and at the hands of some very competent doctors and surgeons, I know that it will take a while, but I will get to where I want to be.

This past weekend, we had my wife's two brothers and their wives over to the apartment, which lifted my spirits.

My wife's youngest brother and his wife are moving to Georgia to be closer to their son, who is now living and working in that state--my nephew who is getting married--so it was kind of a bon voyage party--

And it was good to see them off, and I know they will enjoy their new surroundings.

At sunset on April 1, Passover begins, and my family will have the first seder at my sister's house, and that is always a fun occasion.

And I have work, which keeps me going. 

So right now, I am down, but I am certainly not out, and again, I might not post every day here in the coming weeks, but I will do the best I can to do so.

Writing, at least to me, is the BEST medicine, so once I get done with these pills I am taking, maybe writing will be the only medicine I need to really get back on the horse and really get better.

The future awaits, and I am all locked in and ready to blast off.

Up--

Up--

AND AWAY!

Rant #3,913: Get Back

I guess that each day, I seem to get better.

On Thursday, I pushed myself and caught up with everything I had to do for work--about three hours of editing and writing--and i have to say, I was pooped after doing all of this in one fell swoop.

Health-wise, I reached another milestone that I won't get into too deeply here, but I did it, finally.

I am still on a variety of medicine, so I am absolutely not myself right now.

But I am feeling better, but not goid enough to go back to my old ways.

Baseball is back, so I am getting into that, but my concentration is a bit off, so it is a bit of a chore to watch a three-hour game.

My family has been top-notch with me during this period, so thank God I have them.

And friends--both newer ones and people i have known forever--have been incredible.

I heard from some people I hadn't heard from in 50 years or even more than that!

Incredible!

Just to sum it up, I am in for the long haul with all of this, and it won't be easy to get back to where I should be.

Like i recently said, I will be in and out of the Blog for the immediate future--

But writing is the best medicine fir me, so I might be here more than I think i will be.

So have a good weekend, and I will speak to you again ...

But I just don't know when.

Rant #3,912: Hunky Dory

I have been through Step 1 of hell.

And then, I went through Step 2.

There are more steps to come.

My kidneys were messed up, and I didn't know it.

I had two stones--one in each kidney--and if they stayed in there any longer, I might have lost the use of my kidneys.

This, of course, could lead to dialysis and other problems.

So they had to come out.

Now.

One major stone was left in--it could not be removed, and in time, i might be able to pass it or it can be removed in a non-surgical procedure.

So as you read this, I am a bit of a mess.

I won't go into detail, but it is better that I stay at home for at least a couple of days.

Again, I knew nothing, felt nothing, but everything came up in a catscan.

I have passed a few stones before, and the one or two times I had a problem, it went away immediately once the stones came out.

Not this time.

And over the next month, I have to have tests fir my lung and my colon and my eye, so I am far from out of the woods yet.

But the first mountain has been scaled.

I have a good family, so they will get me through this.

I might be in and out of here for the next few weeks, but I will try to post things here and there for probably the foreseeable future.

So please bear with me.

I am overwhelmed, overloaded, but not defeated.

I can handle it.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Rant #3,911: Undun

This is going to be a very difficult Rant to put together for you, but I feel that it is my duty to get it done.

I had several doctors' appointments last week, and none of them were good.

Without going into great detail, even though I feel fine, I am not doing well health-wise.

I am going to need a number of procedures done to make me healthy again.

I had a catscan on my lung, because something untoward came up in a previous catscan. I soon have to go and get other tests to make sure that that part of my body is OK.

I have some more cancer on my head, so I got it removed, and hopefully, i won't have to go through the staples thing again.

I have some urological troubles, and they must be taken care of sooner rather than later. I am getting that surgical procedure done On Monday morning, in a local hospital, and I am very nervous about it.

Then I have to get a colonoscopy, where I am hopeful that what is found can be taken care of. And let me tell you, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am scheduled to have this procedure done--

On my birthday, April 28.

And I still have the partially detached retina in my eye, which isn't going away anytime soon.

Again, I am not going into details right now, but if you break it all down, it isn't anything good.

Not good at all ... as the "C word" is a possibility.

As I approach my 69th birthday next month, I am a broken person.

My body is failing me.

Maybe I shouldn't complain, since for more than 60 years, my body gave me little to no problems.

I had my gall bladder removed on my 50th birthday, but honestly, that was it.

However, for the past three or so years, my body has taken a downward plunge.

I don't know for sure if it has to do with aging, or things had been brewing for years and no one knew it, but things are absolutely not too good right now.

And again, I feel fine; a minor ache or pain here or there, but nothing to suggest what I am facing.

What i am facing is not just a broken body but also an empty pocketbook, because insurance will only pay for so much, and my money us being drained by all if these doctors' visits and procedures that i need.

Let me add that I am not giving up on work.

I told the team I work with all about this the other afternoon, and they were very supportive.

I let them know that I will still be supplying material for them on a daily basis, but that I am going to have to step back from the bigger things, like covering meetings and conventions and the like.

I told them that I still want to be in the loop, and to not forget about me--

Because I might be down and out, but I am not done just yet.

And let's be honest about it--

I desperately need the money.

The same thing goes for the Blog.

I am not giving it up, period.

Maybe some days I might not post anything as all these things are coming up, but I simply will not give it up.

So you will continue to see content at the Blog as we push to Rant #4,000 later this year.

Writing is my salvation.

It makes me feel good, takes away my worries for a little while, and actually, keeps me healthy, so the Ranting and Raving Blog will live on.

You can count on that.

And I will too.

"A mere bag of shells ... ."

Not really, but let's just say that all of this, all at once, is a bit of a speed bump in the road.

Rant #3,910: Summer Is Fun

Springtime is in the air ...

Yes, I know that just three weeks ago, we had a blizzard that dropped two feet of snow in my neck of the woods, and we continue to experience frigid temperatures--and continued threats of more of the white stuff--here and there.

But today, spring actually begins--

Which actually means that the winter isn't really over yet, even if it is actually spring.

I sit here typing this, and I see my original Yankee Stadium chair right behind me, sitting in front of the air conditioner we have in the room.

Its placement is kind of an irony in and of itself, as it sits in front of something--and is itself something--that one doesn't need to use during the cold weather months.

I brought it inside from our terrace because I didn't want this chair to experience the cold, the snow and everything else that the winter brings us.

It is sitting here, but within due time, it will be brought outside again to our terrace, and when the really warm weather comes, I hope to plunk my tuckis right on the seat and enjoy the warm weather after a pretty bad winter.

And since this is a seat that formerly was used in a baseball stadium, you just know that the warmer weather is coming because the proverbial "Boys of Summer" are coming, too.

The World Baseball Classic, the very phony and artificial "international" tournament which interrupts spring training every couple of years, is finally over and done with, and players are getting back to their normal routines to prepare for the regular season.

This tournament is so genuinely nonsense; all I have to do to explain that is that if I were a professional baseball player, I could not only play for the U.S. team, I could play for the Israeli team, and if they had them, the Russian team, the Latvian team, the Polish team--

Based on my family background and heritage.

A tournament that is designed to bring baseball to non-baseball countries has teams from those countries--like Italy and Israel--that are manned by American baseball players whose heritage allows them to play for these non-U.S. teams.

I just find the whole thing a waste of time, something that no one gives a hoot about once it is over.

But now it is over, and REAL baseball is set to begin next week.

Thank goodness for that!

And again, even a hint of baseball suggests that winter is over, spring is here, and ...

Summer is right around the corner.

So I look at my Yankee Stadium chair, and I know it is misplaced in this room.

It needs to be out on the terrace, in the hot sun, representing that not only is the baseball season ready to begin, but that summer is coming.

And summer is fun--

I can't wait.

Have a great weekend, and I will speak to you again next week.

Batter up!