| Author | Message | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1056 Registered: 7-2003 |
Guys, nearly one year ago I posted that I am back. Well, and then a serious health problem happened in June and my life changed completely: I had a retinal thrombosis in my right eye in June last year and the doctors told me to see that as a warning. Could have also been a stroke or a heart attack. Had only 30% visibility left on my right eye. Had to change my whole life. Lost nearly 45lbs yet, stopped smoking, doing Sports now, need to take blood thinners, no stress anymore allowed, no heavy lifting etc. And also very nice injections directly into the eye. So therefore no music and no Band for me since then. Am currently thinking in buying another Alembic. Maybe now my Dream Spyder? We'll see.... Keep in touch guys plse..... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2063 Registered: 11-2004 |
That was a warning indeed, glad you are on the mend and have taken some lifestyle changes. As a health professional, and this is is to everyone, smoking is the worse pastime you can do to yourself!(excluding handling venemous creatures LOL). I have gone back to martial arts after a 21 year absence,starting at white belt again( I was 2nd dan in taekwon do) but the instructors whittled me out and I have train with the higher and dan grades and the style is Wado Ryu(Japanese and not Korean) The point is..you are never too old to change your ways..especially before it is too late Best wishes Oliver | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1057 Registered: 7-2003 |
Terry, thank you for your kind words. Yes indeed, you are absolutely right. Second chance. I did change everything I thought would be helpful. But not beeing able to do like before is a hard learning process. Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 69 Registered: 6-2012 |
Congrats Spyderman! My advice: celebrate by indulging your greatest passion and use the $$ you were spending on excess food, smokes, etc. and apply it to what you've always REALLY wanted! What could give you more pleasure than the ULTIMATE SPYDER? | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1058 Registered: 7-2003 |
David, thank you! Well that is a good point..... Need to think about.... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 1831 Registered: 7-2007 |
Oliver, Glad to hear that you are on a better path after such adversity and here with us! With all the positive changes you've made the learning curve is bound to get less steep. Sending vibes your way ((((((( Spyderman ))))))) Best regards, Art | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1059 Registered: 7-2003 |
Art, thank you! Yes it also works this way! Oliver | ||
| tubeperson
Senior Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 414 Registered: 5-2005 |
Oliver, during October and November I was in the hospital. What should have been a simple 40 minute procedure turned into a 4 hour very dicey surgery, with collateral issues brought on as a result. I understand personally what you have and will be going through. Keeping things simple and not feeling deprived, but rather glad to still be here has helped me a lot. This type of event really puts things into perspective. Good luck and remain happy and healthy! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1543 Registered: 11-2004 |
Oliver, Glad to hear that you were fortunate enough to GET the warning. Far too many never get the chance and simply exit life after a major stroke, heart attack, etc. Sounds as though you've taken that 2nd chance and made some appropriate lifestyle changes in regards to your health and well being. Kudos for that. Giving up smoking, drinking, etc will likely net you enough $ to pay for that custom Alembic after a few years! Go for it!! All the best, Toby | ||
| smokin_dave
Advanced Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 358 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good to see you post again Ollie and your mending up.Quitting smoking is a major plus for you as well as for myself.It's been about a year since I gave up cigs and although I have had a bump or two on the road to being tobacco free I feel a lot better with breathing and such.And if it becomes too tough to tame try electronic cigs.It works for me. | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1060 Registered: 7-2003 |
Steve, Toby, Dave, many thanks for your kind words. I can only second all your opinions! Keep in touch Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2273 Registered: 10-2003 |
Glad you're still with us, Oliver. Peace and good (improving) health! John | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1061 Registered: 7-2003 |
John, thank you so much! Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3021 Registered: 6-2002 |
Good to have you back! | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1064 Registered: 7-2003 |
Adriaan, dank je wel! Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5349 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oliver: Good to hear from you again. Life changes can be an amazing experience. Great to hear you caught things in time. Rewarding yourself with your dream alembic sounds like the right plan. We only live once. Bill, tgo | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7929 Registered: 6-2000 |
Nice to see you, Oliver! May your "second chance" be a long one. | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1065 Registered: 7-2003 |
Bill, thank you very much! | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1066 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mica, thank you! I have sent you a mail aswell.... Talk later Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| oddmetersam
Advanced Member Username: oddmetersam Post Number: 241 Registered: 7-2008 |
Oliver, There's no better feeling than pulling out of a nosedive and the windscreen is suddenly only full of blue skies...and an Alembic bass on the horizon. Looks like you're back in climbing mode. May the sky be the limit. Congrats! -Sam | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11017 Registered: 5-2002 |
Oliver; thank you for sharing your story with us. And it is good to hear from you, and to know that you are recovering. Holding you in my heart. David  | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1067 Registered: 7-2003 |
Sam, thank you so much! Positive thinking is the key.... Thank you! Oliver | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1068 Registered: 7-2003 |
David, thank you so much. I really appreciate.... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 1010 Registered: 11-2003 |
Oliver - so glad to see you back where you belong! Alan | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 473 Registered: 8-2002 |
Ollie, I had a heart attack several years ago. Giving up the smokes was really hard for me and changing my diet was also somewhat difficult. I found that once the smokes were gone my sense of taste increased. Win/win. I also took work that was less stressful and have been really happy working for the bucks not too many but sufficient and the upside is playing more than I have in my entire life. Except for the 3 years in the late 80's when I tried my hand at going pro. Mate! I am glad that you are on the mend. Having these type of health scares really puts our lives and the priorities we set ourselves into perspective. Each of us here at the Alembic Club has a world wide support group that is frequented by extremely talented and wonderfully kind folks. I am sure that if there would be anything that you would require from a buddy, somebody here would hold you (or any of us) up! Lean on me. Live long my friend. slawie | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2795 Registered: 5-2009 |
Oliver , I wish for you the best of the best of everything , that includes that Alembic of your dreams ! | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1428 Registered: 5-2002 |
Oliver, I'm so glad you are OK. The same thing happened to my mom. What makes it hard for her is that she's an artist and when it happened she was in the middle of commuting from Boston to Pietrasanta, Italy to work a sculpture. Needless to say, it interrupted her schedule, as she had to have multiple eye surgeries, each of which required weeks of lying face down with a bubble in the eye. When she finally made it back over, the other eye went out and she ended up being blind in Italy for some weeks before she could get back to work. However, it all ended up OK. The sculpture turned out nicely (http://hechingerreport.org/wp-content/uploads/Statue-of-Robert-Frost-on-the-Amherst-College-Campus-Photo-by-Justin-Snider.jpg) and her health is stable and turning 77 in a couple of weeks. So, you've got many years of much enjoyment ahead of you! I really hope that it includes another Alembic. We need our Spyderman! | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1069 Registered: 7-2003 |
Alan, thank you! Will reply to your mail later today.. Oliver | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1070 Registered: 7-2003 |
Slawie, Sonicus, Edwin, thank you so much for your opinions and kind words. Keep in touch Oliver ( Spyderman ) | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 936 Registered: 6-2006 |
Oliver, Best wishes brother, I think Slawie hit the nail on the proverbial head! This is a really good group of folks here and prayers/ positive vibes and good juju is abound! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1960 Registered: 9-2002 |
Oliver: So very glad for your 'near miss'. After guitars and bands and all the things that occupy our lives, it really comes down to a few things, not the least of which is having a quality of life. I spent a very long time under a great deal of stress . . . . ultimately for no good reason. I've been out from under that now for several years, and can tell you that it's just not worth it. I always have heard about how you spend your life, and I now look at it that way. However long each of us have, only God knows, but it's an amount of time we have to spend, just like spending money. Spend the rest of yours on things that are good for you, and good for you not just in terms of diet or quitting smoking, etc: Spend it on things that make you and those in your life feel happy down to your bones. There's nothing better than that. I had to re-learn how to have fun like a little kid, to re-capture those days of riding a bicycle and playing cowboys. Not entirely possible as a middle-aged man, but was important for me to grasp that innocent concept of fun, which I'd lost. You take care of yourself. I've decided stress is a great thing for concrete, not people ! J o e y | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1071 Registered: 7-2003 |
Paul, Joey, many thanks for your kind words guys. It really feels like coming home in here.... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3329 Registered: 10-2002 |
Great to see you back Oliver and I really hope you get that spyder you're wanting. Graeme | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 1035 Registered: 12-2004 |
A very rare spyder indeed!  | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1074 Registered: 7-2003 |
Graeme, thank you! Keavin, :-) | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1080 Registered: 7-2003 |
Is there only bad luck with me? I have lost my job today, a real surprise without any forecast, nothing..... My boss gave me a call to come into his office for a few minutes. Dang! I hate it..... Dream of my dream Alembic destroyed.... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 78 Registered: 6-2012 |
Sorry to hear that, Oliver, the timing sux. BTW: your dream is still alive within you - it's just been postponed slightly due to unfortunate circumstances beyond your control. Should you get a new job with higher pay, realizing your dream will actually be closer than it was before. Keep the faith, Spyderman! After all, you ARE a superhero, so anything is possible. | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1081 Registered: 7-2003 |
David, thank you!!! Positive thinking! Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 79 Registered: 6-2012 |
It's very powerful. But, you already know that because of what you just went through with your health. Compared to that, this is a piece of cake. Keep yer eyes on th' prize, my friend! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2288 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oliver, that absolutely sucks. So sorry to hear it. Lots of people in that situation, and having it happen to a friend is quite a reality check. As I told another friend in similar circumstances a little while ago, today is over and tomorrow is full of opportunities. I have no doubt something good will find you at the right time. Until then, of course, be well and I am keeping you in my thoughts. John | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1082 Registered: 7-2003 |
John, thank you very much. I am sure I will find something new... Thank you for your nice words..... Keep in touch Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1420 Registered: 10-2006 |
More time to play bass! Peter (Who hopes you can replace this musical windfall with a financial one quickly enough the former doesn't sour!) | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1083 Registered: 7-2003 |
Great statement Peter! More time to play bass, so true! Thank you for the insight...... Oliver (Spyderman) |
