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• My visit with the neurologist, my second opinion for my back, went well yesterday. It started with me bringing a CD of my MRI.
  • In the most professional, polite, and direct way, he said he wasn’t too fond of the interpretations and diagnosis of my radiologist (for the MRI) and orthopedic. My orthopedic stated he was concerned about nerve damage leading to a loss of bladder control, and I shouldn’t put spinal fusion surgery off too long. The neurologist thought that was dramatic and maybe a bit of scare tactic. It was interesting go through his diagnosis and then compare it to the orthopedic’s, and it was a bit entertaining watching him read the orthopedic’s patient notes after he gave me his diagnosis.
  • He did agree that I more than likely need surgery, but it wasn’t as emergent as the orthopedic put it. He also said a spinal fusion wouldn’t be the option he’d suggest, but the less invasive (but still invasive) lumbar laminectomy, “surgery that creates space by removing the lamina — the back part of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal.” Basically, remove some bone to make more room for the nerves.
  • The next step is for me to get a CT lumbar myelogram. Basically, a CT scan with some dye injected into my spine to see what kind of nerve blockage I have. If there is a stoppage, surgery is almost a sure thing. If little to no stoppage, I can put off surgery for a while.
• Pecan Lodge was only a five minute drive from the doctor’s office. He arrived there at 2:00 PM, and hour before closing, and thankfully they still has some brisket left.
• Armchair political consultant – As I’ve stated before, if I were a paid political consultant to President Trump and my focus was not what’s best for party or country but to set him up for re-election victory, I’d advise him to “liberate” North Korea. It’s becoming more real with Trump’s comment, “They will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.” Politically, he has nothing to lose. His base and the majority of conservatives don’t like the idea of a soft president and national security is important to them. For instance, here’s what First Baptist Dallas’ pastor had to say: ‘God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un,’ evangelical adviser says
  • “When it comes to how we should deal with evil doers, the Bible, in the book of Romans, is very clear: God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary — including war — to stop evil,” Jeffress said. “In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un.”
• Houston police put an end to the use of Whataburger tents as crime scene markers
• Something for Texas Google Chrome users – A plugin that removes Tennessee from drop down menus. For you non-Texans, when you hit the “T” key, Tennessee first appears and you have to hit “T” again to get to Texas. Yup, a first-world Texas technology problem.
• I’m certain he’ll still keep the beard – David Letterman Returning to TV With Netflix Talk Show
  • It seems like the new show will mainly focus on interviews, which I think was his strong suit anyway. I don’t think I read anything about an audience, so that would be interesting not hearing any laughing or reaction in the background. And what about Paul? Surely he’ll be along for the ride somehow.

• DaughterGeeding’s fish, Penelope, died. She buried her under one of the trees in front of GeedingManor and made the above grave marker.
• The weather was fantastic yesterday. It would be great if every day in August was like that.
• First World Problem – Eating out and sitting at a table that rocks or isn’t balanced.
• @IrisMeyrick – Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not in one ahead.
• These are the most — and the least — trusted news sources in the U.S.

  • The most trusted news source in the U.S. is The Economist — a weekly magazine published in the U.K., according to a recent survey from the University of Missouri’s Reynolds Journalism Institute.

  • The second-most reliable is public television, followed by Reuters and BBC. Two U.S. nonprofit outlets, NPR and PBS, came in at fifth and sixth, while the U.K.’s The Guardian clinched the seventh spot. The U.S.-based Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News rounded out the top 10 trusted names in journalism.

  • At the other extreme, Occupy Democrats — a political website with a self-claimed agenda of counterbalancing the Republican Tea Party — won the dubious honor of being the most untrustworthy in the nation. Buzzfeed, Breitbart and Infowars also scored dismally on the trust-meter.
• A couple of sports GIFs – Basketball Idiocracy and Pole Vaulting Oops

• Spoiler Free – ‘Game of Thrones’ – I’m n0t sure I’ve ever watched a television show in which I felt more suspense and tension than last night’s episode. Heck, I think I had five strokes sixteen heart attacks, one aneurysm, and countlessly loss bowel control towards the end. It was like watching an NFL playoff game between two teams you like and wanting both to somehow win.
• We watch ‘Game of Thrones’ using our Amazon Fire device using our HBOGo account. The quality and sound from the Fire device is better than our DirecTV satellite device and it will automatically show you a behind the scenes segment of the just watched episode.
• Tomorrow I’m going to get a second opinion on my back with the chief of neurosurgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. When I made my appointment and told the office I was getting a second opinion, I asked if they needed my orthopedic’s information to get his notes or whatever else they may need. They said they would only need a CD of my MRI and like to avoid any prior diagnosis information so the doctor can make an unbiased diagnosis.
• I have a neighbor who works for LaDainian Tomlinson as the head for one of his foundations. He took his wife and four kids to Canton, OH for all the Hall of Fame events. On the way to Canton, Michael Irvin was on their plane. On the way home, Emmitt Smith and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were on their plane. His teenage son must have been on cloud nine. It was fun following him and his wife on social media seeing all the people they rubbed elbows with at parties and events. The younger me would have been jealous, but the older me is just really happy for him and his family.
• Jerry Jones’ speech was about what I expected and I was happy to hear all the verbal bouquets he threw towards Jimmy Johnson. The only thing that did surprise me was the custom Hall of Fame sneakers Nike founder Phil Knight sent him to wear. He threw a lot of accolades towards his wife and children, but what he said about Jerry Jr. was noticeably short. It’s funny how no one thought anyone could out ego or over do things than the fictional Dallasite J.R. Ewing, but Jerry totally has the edge on him. At least Jerry is a better family man, maybe not a man of morals, but at least he’s a family man.
• I’m surprised this part of Kurt Warner’s speech hasn’t gotten more traction, it has challenged me to be a better father. And while my father may have had me late in late and didn’t do a lot of atheltic type activities with me, he certainly always was there and gave me his time in many other ways.
  • “As a father of seven I’ve come to understand the selflessness and patience it takes to parent a child who is always asking for something. This made me respect my dad more because I was one of those children. I rarely asked for the newest toys or the latest video games or the coolest shoes. My greatest ask was always for my dad’s time. Dad, will you play catch with me in the backyard? Dad, can you take us to the park so we can play one-on-one-on-one? Dad, will you drive us to the gym and spend your whole afternoon rebounding for me? I’ve come to appreciate that the greatest gift any parent could give their child is saying yes to spending with them. Dad, I know there were plenty of times you would have chosen to do something different, something you enjoyed more, but thank you for all the times you said ‘yes’ because your ‘yes’ expanded my spark into a flame and your yeses kept me going when everyone else was saying ‘no’. I love you.”
• WifeGeeding’s father was once a high school coach and one of his former students is now his doctor. His name is Dr. Hand. Dr. Hand is married to a Dr. Hand. It’s a bit funny referring to the husband and wife as “the Hands” and all the puns that could ensue. Dr. Hand, by the way, still refers to WifeGeeding’s father as “Coach”.
• Anyone remember that old show ‘The Banana Splits’? Remember the intro? Six Flags over Texas was a part of it.
• You can confuse self-driving cars by altering street signs
• You know my love of presidential history and trivia, so a picture like this amazes me.
  
• This tweet got my attention and I examined the results on the left seeing Lloyd Bentsen winning the U.S. Senate race, Jim Wright winning U.S. Re. Dist 12, Jim Mattox winning the Attorney General race,  Bob Bullock winning the Comptroller race, and Ann Richards winning the State Treasurer race. Oh, and some guy named “Woody Glasscock” (giggle) loss the race to be the Commissioner of General Land.

Every inch of that front page from 1982 is worth reading https://t.co/3R2bY1b50R

— Aman Batheja (@amanbatheja) August 6, 2017