Tank birthday and I'm a Geezer

[Paul B]

On my raining early walk this morning I saw something in the grass in the distance. At first I thought it was a wounded baby deer, or a rabid racoon or maybe even an Alien from the Andromeda Galaxy. But No!. It was this snapping turtle about 25lbs and about 2 1/2' long head to tail.

I tried to pick him up from the back of his shell because they have a nasty bite, but I am going for a new shoulder in a few weeks and the thing hurts enough, so I decided not to pick him up. So, I decided to just walk behind him and nudge him back to a large pond that is full of big bullfrogs which is most likely where he came from.
He is probably running out of food and the water is shallow, so he was looking for a new home. In the direction he was going, he would have had to walk for miles to find another freshwater pond so against his will, I returned him to his pond.

 

[Paul B]

I know this is supposed to be about fish, so I will write something about fish so I don't get banned. My tank seems to be doing very well. All the fish are doing what they are supposed to do. I finally eliminated all the invasive sponge, diatoms, and algae. I don't have much time to actually work on the tank due to my wife's disability. In about 4 weeks I am getting a new shoulder so will be out of commission for a few weeks.

In about three weeks, I will be undergoing a new right shoulder surgery, so I will be out of commission for a few weeks. As a result, I will need to hire a ghostwriter. I will see if Hemingway is free.



All that red algae is gone, it only lasted a few days but all the codium is still there. There is a lot more codium than in this picture as I pick the stuff up all the time. It won't live forever but it looks great for a few months. So far I have not seen any of those flying parasites although I have been looking. I hear that after 55 years, they become a concern.

All my cooler corals were decimated while removing the invasive sponges.


I try to feed the tank twice a day because that long nose butterfly is very young and can only eat the tiniest food so I want to make sure he gets enough. But he will eat all the live worms he can get.

 

[Paul B]

So I finally found some people who like to eat Porgies and invited them over. I didn't think they would all agree to come so I have a lot of cooking to do. I have about 140 Porgies, (which means 280 fillets) so I won't run out of fish. I have 7 "guests" coming over so I made olive oil and rosemary bread along with Borchetta. I grew the tomatoes, basil and parsley.



I have to get cooking with these Porgy fillets. Maybe I will even save some for my fish

 

[diana a]

Awww homemade Borchetta...the best. There is nothing like home grown tomatoes. Is it Porgy season here? Love them too.

 

[Paul B]

It seems to be porgy season. As soon as you put a hook in the water, nothing but porgies.

 

[Paul B]

I just got off the phone with the hospital. I think they have me on speed dial, as this will be, I think, my 39th surgery. I have to go in next week for the "Pre Surgery" nonsense. I wrote down everything except the date, and of course, they don't answer the phone.

After the pre-surgery nonsense, I have to go to my own doctor for more pre-surgery nonsense. This way, everyone gets paid. I mean, there must be 300 doctors and nurses in the hospital, so while I am there doing some stupid things like filling out forms in triplicate, you would think, while I am there anyway, they could do the entire pre-surgery waste of time. It's only a blood pressure test and an EKG, which takes all of one minute.

Anyway, then on another day, (naturally, they can't do this while I am there) I have to go back before the surgery for the "Fitting of the Brace," which is a sling that they probably have 50 of in a drawer, but it is another hospital visit. Thank God I have insurance for all these wastes of time, and I don't live around the corner from the hospital. But the good thing is that my favorite LFS is right near the hospital.

Eventually, I think the 21st or so I am scheduled for the surgery to get a brand-new shiny shoulder to match my other one.

Next week is our 52nd wedding anniversary so we are going to a B&B for overnight.

Our friend Sue will pick me up from the hospital the next day and stay with us for a day or two to help take care of me and maybe peal me a grape, then the next day I think our Daughter will come over to stray another day or two. Right after that, I should be ready for bungee jumping and gymnastics.

This was from my last new shoulder surgery.

 

[Paul B]

I had to be in the hospital this morning at 8:00 am for the stupid pre-surgery thing. The nurse took my blood pressure, which, by the way, is always perfect. I should be in the "Blood Pressure Monthly" magazine. My pressure is always a little low, which is good for when I discuss diseases with people on here

She also took blood, urine, (not urinema) and I think she also took a few tens out of my wallet and invited me out to dinner. She looked at my history and saw that I already had 38 surgeries so she said, I should be sitting on the guerney and you should be here. I told her that anyone who gets to my age and hasn't had 10 or 20 surgeries didn't work hard enough or have enough fun in their life.

If I could stand my screaming, I would replace my shoulder myself.

All my surgeries were for stupid things like worn-out things, broken bones, tears, cuts, etc, and nothing important like adrenaline glands, kidneys, or brain stuff.
If you sit behind a desk all your life or sit in your wife's car for years, you will never break anything or need an operation. I love surgeries, as that is the only time I get a really good sleep .

 

[Paul B]

I couple of months ago I had a new back procedure done and it totally eliminated my back pain. You know, pain you get from working hard, like MAN working. I don't mean like swatting flying microscope parasites nine feet from your tank.

Anyway, yesterday a girl from the company who makes the thing used in the procedure called me. At first, I thought she wanted to take me out to dinner but I told her I was married. I learned she didn't want to do that and besides she is in California.

She asked me questions for 20 minutes about the procedure and how I feel.

She wants me to possibly travel around the country speaking about the procedure. I told her I was sleeping when they did it so I don't have much information about the procedure, but she wants me to speak none the less.

I would rather speak about fish so we will see. Back pain isn't a very exciting topic. Unless, of course you have back pain.

 

[MadReefer]

I couple of months ago I had a new back procedure done and it totally eliminated my back pain. You know, pain you get from working hard, like MAN working. I don't mean like swatting flying microscope parasites nine feet from your tank.

Anyway, yesterday a girl from the company who makes the thing used in the procedure called me. At first, I thought she wanted to take me out to dinner but I told her I was married. I learned she didn't want to do that and besides she is in California.

She asked me questions for 20 minutes about the procedure and how I feel.

She wants me to possibly travel around the country speaking about the procedure. I told her I was sleeping when they did it so I don't have much information about the procedure, but she wants me to speak none the less.

I would rather speak about fish so we will see. Back pain isn't a very exciting topic. Unless, of course you have back pain.

That would be a pain staking conversation. I'll let myself out.

 

[diana a]

When is your surgery scheduled for?

 

[Paul B]

It's scheduled for the 21st of this month.
Tomorrow we are going away for our 52nd wedding anniversary to Cape Cod for a couple of days. My friend will take care of the fish and our friend, Sue above will stay with us for a couple of days. After that, I am on my own but we have a lot of friends here who I am sure will constantly visit and bring me food.

 

[diana a]

Happy anniversary!!! How many years? Have fun in Cape Cod.

 

[Paul B]

52 years Diana.