A Movie You Have Got to See

Tonight we watched the movie "Taken" and I must say I was riveted and entertained for one and one half hours. Liam Neeson was wonderful and he made a great movie out of a very simple plot. His propensity for dodging bullets was a little over the top perhaps and his Irish brogue slipped through in a couple spots but it didn't distract from the movie itself. If you want to be entertained for an evening either rent it or download it on you computer from Amazon.com.. If I'm wrong, let me know.

20 Years of Darkness Discovered in Darkness

Have you ever thought about what it must be like to be blind? I give tremendous credit to those who are blind for their courage, fortitude and sheer will to overcome this handicap and function day to day. Daytime is darkness for them and darkness is as daytime. I am told that blind people become more attuned to the sense of hearing, vibration and proprioception by accommodation. The other senses are heightened and more keen due to the loss of another.

Image now, if you will, that after 20 years of social and emotional blindness you found out that suddenly now you could see... but the time had been lost and the events that occurred during those years forever forged your indelible stamp on other human beings. You might say to yourself, "Wait a minute, I was kept in the dark, secrets were revealed, and one certainly would have forged a different stamp had he been able to see himself as a select few saw him." "After all, mistakes can be rectified, right?" However, the die was cast, your mold was made and the die destroyed forever. It was too late. It was too late. It is too late.
I always enjoy watching movies about trials and what occurs in a courtroom. The prosecuting attorney may say something very inflammatory about the defendant and immediately the defense council bolts to his feet and says, "move to strike, your honor....inflammatory". The judge says, "sustained; the jury will disregard the prosecutor's last remark". But the fact is.....the jurors ears and mind already heard the inflammatory remark and that was the prosecutors intent all the time. He knows their mind cannot just forget forever what was said. I'd take a hundred " sustained " decisions from the judge just so that people in the jury box could hear what I wanted them to hear. Whatever happens after that is of no consequence because people just can't forget. Here is an example. For the next twenty four hours, do not think about a pink elephant on white roller skates holding an umbrella in its trunk. See what I mean? As hard as you try to not think about it you have to actively think about not thinking about it.....and then you are thinking about it again. Me too!
The person or persons for whom this particular blogs message was intended are not blind and sit behind a prosecutor's table all to themselves. Their closing argument is this: "Your honor, this defendant did irreparable damage to my client and deserves punitive time to think about what he has done and how the past he created in blindness he will now be relived over and over and over again." The jury sits mute, waiting for the defence's closing statement. The defence counsel demands a mistrial on the grounds that his client was unfit for trial because he was blind for the last 20 years and could not possibly have known the consequences of his actions. He was blind since he was six months old and that blindness still prevails today. He also has the constitutional right to face his accusers and he cannot because he is blind and can not see them." The judge tapped his gavel and gave his own decision in lieu of a jury decision. The judge stated," It is not a crime to be physically, socially or emotionally blind or ignorant or unsure unless said person committed actions with malice afore thought. "I don't feel that is the case here". "Let's be careful not to be too demanding and stringent on past mistakes one makes out of inexperience or ignorance or faulty ingrained family values." "If we do, we all are guilty at one time in our lives." "This case is closed"!

Back Again Finally and a Recent Heart Breaking Loss

At times like these, THIS is where I wish I were. I know I haven't been very up to date with my blog but I'll get better. I have a couple things to tell my friends and anyone who cares to listen. By the way, this castle is in Germany at Swan Lake in Bavaria.
On the first of this month we lost our precious Scottie whom we had for almost ten years. Her name was Maggie Mae and her death was of acute onset and shockingly sudden. Upon CT we found she had a glioblastoma of the brain and the damage was already done so she went to the rainbow bridge that day. The rainbow bridge is a place just on this side of heaven where our pets who have left this earth before us go to wait for our arrival. Then we all go across the bridge together into heaven. The story of the rainbow bridge is of Scottish lore and has been told since anyone can remember. I'll have five beloved babies waiting for me: Bonnie, Kelly, MacKenzie, Patrick and Maggie Mae. Maggie was the toughest to lose because she was with me every day since I became disabled and just her presence gave much comfort. I shall miss her a lot.
Hope does help the situation. I WILL get another Scottish Terrier puppy after this grieving process is over. We are just the type of people who have to have a Scottie. I had a room mate for a short time in medical school who had a Husky who was just absolutely beautiful. (the dog was beautiful). I'm sure Ray will know where I am coming from when it is Nanook's time. Unless you've been there you cannot really understand.
In a lot of ways dogs can be better companions than people. They give unconditional love and all they need is some food, water and a little love back. They have no hidden agendas, no ulterior motives and they are loyal. Also, one thing I have noticed about dogs...with the exception of Snoopy...is that dogs don't think absurd thoughts, have paranoid delusions, assume that what other people think about you is more important that what you think about yourself and never need risperdol or seroquel for any delusions that may present. Good thing, I couldn't afford the drugs. Talk to you later.

A City Mourns And Their Sabres Add A Respite

By now everyone has heard of the tragic plane crash of a Continental Airplane into a residential neighborhood in Clarence Center, New York. This little town is a suburb of Buffalo and one in which many of the members of the Sabres NHL hockey team live. Tragedy hit home about 1:30 in the morning on Friday, February 13, 2009 when a jet lost control, went off radar and plummeted into a house like a spear killing all on board the jet and one person living in the house it struck. Miraculously, two other family members, including a child survived the fire. The child crawled out of the house while it was on fire after the roof had caved in around her. Also, the two houses next door to the house were unaffected by the devastation and no other injuries were reported. Last evening at 7:30 p.m. the fire was still so hot it was smoldering and crews could not get in to investigate any further than trying to retrieve the black box data recorder. The city started to mourn and shock had set in like a dark smothering blanket.
There was an NHL game to be played in Buffalo last night between the Buffalo Sabres and the San Jose Sharks. Team members, coaches and all associated with the team decided in unison to play their very best to give the city a brief respite from their shared grief because the community of Buffalo is quite close. The city's nickname is "The City of Good Neighbors" and that was proven on the ice at HSBC Arena last evening.
The Sabres game out with effort and hard work like they were possessed and on a mission. I have watched the Sabres play since their inception in 1970 and I have NEVER seen such an effort. They quickly scored 3 goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. Bear in mind that the team they were playing was THE BEST in the NHL. But, this night was to be Buffalo's night! After falling behind to the Sharks 5-4 with less than 3 minutes left in the game the Sabres saw and felt that sense of urgency to keep the promise they made to the city of Buffalo and its loyal fans. With 3.8 seconds remaining with defeat looming, our captain, Craig Rivet scored to tie the game. The arena went wild and people were hugging people and some of the players had tears in their eyes...but the mission was not yet finished. Overtime came and went with no further scoring and now it was time for a hero to salvage a terrible day in the city's history. Next, the shootout ensued. On the last shot of the shoot out the Sabres took a short, undersized, stocky Derek Roy backhanded the puck into the roof of the net and scored. Again, pandemonium ensued in the stands as the Sabres led but the hero was still a mystery. On the Shark's last opportunity to tie the game, a quiet, reserved and humble man named Ryan Miller - our goaltender - stopped the final shot by the Sharks player and the Sabres had won a miraculous 11Th hour, come from behind game the keep their promise to the city and fulfil their goal of giving a few hours of respite on an otherwise bleak day!!
Anyone watching that game, whether in Buffalo or on national television HAD to give a tip of the hat and kudos to a team that came to its city's rescue. It is fitting to quote Herb Brookes who led the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team to beat the Russians and win the gold medal in the Olympics against seemingly impossible odds. He said," Boys, we could play this team 100 times and lose every time but NOT TONIGHT. TONIGHT IS OUR NIGHT TO SHINE so go out there and take it!!" Amen Herb, Amen!

Some Bad News, folks.

I contacted my rheumatologist last week and send him some rather bleak pictures of my left medial calf so he could take a look and advise me. Several purpuric lesions showed up out of the blue, coalesced and started to ulcerate in several small places. This lesion is about the size of a silver dollar. So, we tripled my dose of steroids, doubled the dose of my two chemotherapies and added another medication. The pictures I took of the leg today showed a worsening of the condition despite our most vigorous efforts. I'm sorry to say that my immune system is starting to fail across the board. The two of you (Californians) that know me quite well and my brother... who knows me best of all...know that I have been through tougher times than this in medical school on three occasions but bounced back and simply refused to give up! I mean, I was studying for exams while in the hospital recovering from a nasty bout of supurrative peritonitis after a botched surgery. Then, these two wonderful, selfless people smuggled in KFC and shared it with me in the hospital and made me laugh and forget my troubles for a while....despite strong objections from the surgeons.....about the KFC that is. It was just too bad for the surgeons. Meanwhile, my brother - who is irreplaceable in my life - was here in S.C. at Clemson studying, playing hockey, making sure my wife was O.K. and caring about me from a distance... I could feel it! I just want to thank you three guys for truly caring about me through this Wegener's stuff (which may not turn out so well) and all my other "battles" I have endured and won since you have respectively all have gotten to know me. In closing, there are two photographs that I still have and had them digitally converted. These two photos mean the world to me. One is of me dancing with a beautiful California girl at a wedding and the other is one of my brother with his arm around my shoulder. He flew here to be with me for less than 24 hours, from the pacific northwest; because he cared. He sacrificed his time, effort and money to be with a very sick brother because he knew I needed him. Now, this Sunday, two dear friends and their son (who is also a physician by proxy) are coming to spend some time with me. You guys are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!! Love to all of you.....Joseph J Palkowski M.D. (aka. Dr. Joe Wegener or just plain joe)

First Visit for Some Dear Friends

We got some great news the other day that made Christmas even more special and will surely brighten the New Year. Two friends of ours and their cool little boy are coming to see us for a weekend in February. I haven't seen these guys (mom and dad) in person in nearly 7 years and I really can't wait. The ironic part of it all is that they only live in the next state but we have never been able to work out a schedule where we could finally get together. It was really fun getting Dr. Wilk Junior his first doctor's bag for Christmas. I hear he loved it and you wouldn't believe how sick people suddenly got after Santa brought him his bag. I am told he was treating everyone and giving injections too. He was a very careing little physician. When he is old enough to understand I will tell him to charge for as many bullets as he can because the reimbursement rates aren't so hot. But for now, taking care of mommy and daddy is one of his priorities. When mommy and daddy come to see us we suddenly will be overcome with the desire to go to either TGIFridays or Copper River Grill and there is no cure little Alex can give for that. I guess we will just have to succumb to that illness. We are looking forward to seeing you. Love you guys...........Joe (aka Santa) and Paula.

I know What I Get for Christmas..A Mansion

Christmas is a festive time of year for we Christians because we get giddy and a little child-like...and there's nothing wrong with that! The other night I read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and I felt like a little kid again; even just for a few minutes. The tree was all aglow, we had a nice fire crackling in the fireplace and my wife was baking Christmas cookies. Personally, I LOVE Christmas because i really enjoy giving people gifts. I have always been like that. Whether I was a child or in medical school it made no difference. If you ask any one of my close friends they will tell you the same. BUT, the real cool thing about Christmas is knowing what you're getting before Christmas even comes and you didn't peek :).
As for me, I am promised to get a mansion of gold. Imagine that! But how could I possibly know that? The Bible says in Luke 14: "As Jesus was talking to his followers He said, Don't let you hearts be worried...you believe in God so believe in me too. In my father's house (heaven) there are many mansions: if this was not true I would not tell you this. I will go and prepare a place for you now. And when I go and prepare a place for you now I will come back to earth again later and we will all be together. That way, where I am, you will be there too...in Heaven. I have told you these things now because I am here with you now". In Revelation 22, we are told three times to "Be ready, for I (Jesus) am coming back quickly". Oh yes, I almost forgot. My mansion will be very well lit too because there will be no darkness in Heaven. Revelation 22 says: "And there shall be no night there; and there wil be no need for candles or light from the sun because the Lord God will give us light and we shall reign for ever and ever."
Now THAT is what I call a Christmas present. You might be thinking, " Joe, how do know this stuff and what makes you so sure this will happen"? The answer is simple, my friends. 2008 years ago God gave us all the very first Christmas present and it was a baby named Jesus. What people of the time didn't know (and many still don't) is that Jesus was God in human form and later personally told the writers of the Bible these things I am relating to you now... first hand. You can't do better than that. But, if you want to live next to my mansion in heaven you'll have to believe that God sent his son, Jesus, to die for our sins so we don't have to and just accept that as fact and trust it and God. Then, just follow God's direction and no matter what life takes you through, your end result will be a place without pain, crying, sorrow or death....but with a mansion. It sounds very simple, doesn't it? Almost too simple. Well, accepting a gift from a friend is very simple too. You just merely take the gift and enjoy it. But this gift from God is the best gift you could ever get because this gift gives you eternal life!! The difference with this gift too is that millions upon millions of people have not accepted the gift (they don't have to DO anything to receive it) but they will not be in heaven with us because they rejected the gift. It is very, very sad but true. But as Linus so aply stated in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" .... "that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown". Merry Christmas, everyone. Love to Everybody!!