Texas Rangers June 14 2012

Have things finally turned around? The hitting seems to be coming back, although mostly at the bottom of the order. But what has really been astounding is the pitching: with Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, and Alexei Ogando all on the 15 Day Disabled List, and Roy Oswalt pitching himself back into shape at Frisco, all the starters have done is throw three shutouts in the last five games, allowing only one run in the fourth game and losing the fifth. Did I just jinx it?

Bell's Palsy- Continued Improvement

For the last two days I have been able to shut my left eye completely. I no longer have a problem rinsing and spitting when I brush my teeth. A friend who had not seen me in a week remarked on the noticeable improvement.

Bell's Palsy- Progress

Since I last wrote several days ago, there has been some marked improvement. Some movement has returned to the left side of my face. My smile is straightening out. The wrinkles are beginning to return to the left side of my forehead. Most important, though, is my speech. I am "fluffing" fewer words than before. Yesterday, in a two-hour lecture, I only noticed it once. Last night, when it has been more prevalent, I did not notice it at all.

C. S. Lewis

I have come to the conclusion that if you cannot translate your own thoughts into uneducated language, then your thoughts are confused. Power to translate is the test of having really understood your own meaning.
-quoted in Alister McGrath. The Passionate Intellect. (41)

Philip Rieff

What men lose when they become as free as gods is precisely that sense of being chosen, which encourages them in their gratitude, to take their subsequent choices seriously. Put in another way, this means: Freedom does not exist without responsibility.
-Philip Rieff. The Triumph of the Therapeutic. (79)

Bell's Palsy- Surprises

Two surprises actually.
I was dreading teaching summer school, two hours lecture a day five days a week, with my speech problem. But (at least after two days) it seems to be working like therapy. I am more comfortable talking and my face looks better after the workout.
The second surprise is the support I am getting. It is a strange way to find out who the people are who really care, those that are rooting for me, praying for me.

Bell's Palsy

Today I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.
No surprise really, we've suspected it for about ten days now. The relief is that it was not a stroke or a tumor.
What is Bell's Palsy? Basically, it is thought to be a viral affection affecting one of the facial nerves. The left side of my face is affected. I cannot close my left eye completely. The wrinkles are gone from the left side of my forehead. My mouth is crooked. I cannot whistle. I fluff some words when I speak, although people assure me it is not noticeable.
I lectured today for two hours and sometimes it seemed like I was slurring every other word. I notice now, four hours later, that the left side of my jaw is really sore but my pronunciation appears to be a lot better.