PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic WienSam

Sam,
Glad to see that you are on the mend. Won't be long and you will be making beautiful music.

J. Rich

Sam,

I am glad things are going well, you must still take it easy and follow the DR's advice. I have had a few back surgeries myself and they are not fun. Glad to hear you are feeling better. Hang in there !

Trax

Hey Sam,
Glad to hear that the operation was a success. As Trax said, pay attention to the Doc.

Sam,

I'm glad and relieved to hear your surgery was so successful. Best wishes for a rapid and complete recovery!

Take good care,

John

Hey Sam. Glad to see you're back. Will be looking forward to your posts in the near future.

Hi guys - thanks again.

Apparently, I am not to allow myself to stress or stretch for the next 6 weeks and no lifting or carrying. This will be quite amusing as my g/f (and keys player) had her finger bitten by a strange dog while looking after my dog. She ended up in hospital herself last weekend and developed an infection in her right arm to boot where they inserted her drip. So, we will make a right pair! She has her left hand in a cast up to the elbow until next week and I have to wear a soft collar in public and while travelling until the end of August. I fly back to Vienna tomorrow and she will meet me at the airport. Then she will be doing the shopping and carrying and I will have to do the 'delicate' work (like cutting vegetables, washing up, cooking, etc). A friend of mine has a gig that we are going to on Saturday night - my g/f in a cast, me in a collar and my dog with an ear infection!

Anyways, I'm mending rather well. Still numbness in the fingers of my right hand and the odd screaming shooting lightning shot of pain in the nerves of my right shoulder that goes as quickly as it arrives (just like somebody shoving an acupuncture needle straight into my nerve and then immediately retracting it). Other than that, it has been a remarkably quick recovery so far.

I'm still having physiotherapy, electro-therapy and ultra-sound (Man! I dig that ultra-sound! Wish I could get something rigged up with PG software! ) and yet, in those weeks where I don't get it, I seem to revert to before the operation after a full week with no therapy - shaking hands, muscle cramps and so on. It is almost as if the operation achieved nothing sometimes. I am still far from conducting a normal life.

It seems I fall between two stools here in Vienna: I am still benefiting from the National Health Service in the UK (as a 'visitor') and I am not in the Austrian National Health System (it's free in the UK but you have to pay for it here). However, as a 'visitor' (I have actually been here for just over 7 years now), all my medical treatment comes under 'urgent need' and this means I have to visit the health authorities every two weeks to get an extension on my therapy.

As to my g/f - we split up in September immediately after a short fun holiday break in Rome with her mother and brother. The holiday was great and I was totally stunned when she said she suddenly wanted to call a halt to proceedings. I put it down to her employment stresses and my health problems over the summer (though the health problems shouldn't have been an issue for her as she is a qualified though never practised MD). She claims it is because I am too egocentric (there maybe more than a grain of truth in that ). Now she has me going to 'couple therapy' with her, which seems very strange considering we don't live together and have not been a couple for over two months. Women?

Then the pound takes a nose-dive against the Euro and wipes one third off the value of my income (currently living on money from the UK) and the government cuts down interest to a negligible level, when I am living off what little capital reserves I have left. I have about 18 months tops to fully recover and generate a decent income or I will be on the streets (in more ways than one).

Last night I was asked by a new acquaintance, an artist from Hamburg, how I was dealing with the 'after operation' depression. I wasn't even aware that 'after operation depression' existed! Considering I had a major operation for cancer two years ago (that I am still suffering physical recuperation problems with), the spinal operation this summer, the break up with the most wonderful g/f I have ever had (and I have had more than my fair share), the economic crisis, the collapse of the pound, a sick dog (who won't stop attacking herself due to skin irritation - it has cost me over €100 already in vet's bills), a never-ending need for medication (thyroid problems for the rest of my life that can only be treated with private medicine from the US), a father with health problems, a mother with financial problems, a flat that I can't clean and can't afford a cleaner for, lack of employment (I couldn't be relied upon to work at the moment anyway) and many more besides, it is a wonder I am still here... I put it down to my musician friends, here on this forum and in Vienna, and the support I am having with my song-writing (thanks very much: Skyline, Wyndham, Rich, John Conley, John Whitney, Mike and others - you guys are being so supportive and I am so grateful).

'Post operative depression'? I'm still here and I'm still going for it.

Still, I have written enough songs for an album this year! My backing vocals are on a CD that a friend of mine produced under his own label! I have had some gigs! My voiceover work is finally beginning to create a market for itself! RealBand has finally arrived and I am having so much fun with it! AND, I seem to have finally ended my now 2.5 year long battle with my computers to get them to be where I want them and to do what I want them to do! Roll on beta testing on BIAB 2009!

Where would I be without music? Probably six feet under...

I feel a blues song coming on

I'm alive.

I know I haven't been active on the PG forum lately (and I am SO grateful for the friends I have here) but I have been SO busy running from one medical appointment to another (eyes, ears, teeth, neurologist, urologist, doctor, psycho tests to help me get my mind straight, reiki, etc) and trying to sort out my flat (which looks like an abandoned Post Office), let alone attending friends' gigs and sorting out a collapsed DAW, that I really haven't had any time at all. I'll be back (as Arnie would say)

And it doesn't help having a broken heart (Monika) that is now in a state of 'Its complicated' yet with hope and determination (we finally started dating again last Friday) we have every chance, in due course, of being reunited

It is a rough and bumpy dirt road but I will get there

Can I hang in there? YES, I CAN!

Sam.... You are having a Lion share of turmoil right now but I'm glad at least there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for you. Like everyone else I wish you well....

I have posted this song for you that I recorded a while ago and I think it may hold a message for you in more ways than one.

A MATTER OF TIME

Kindest Regards,

Dave.

I think I now know a little about what you are going through, I still am visiting the Wound Clinic and healing over here. Also the Ear Surgeon.

My ears are still blown out from the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, too. Left ear is especially bad, like it is "popped" almost all the time, no stereo listening for this boy right now, let alone any fun flying.

HANG IN THERE, SAM!


--Mac

@Dave: Beautiful! Man! Sometimes I think we Brits do better Country than the Yanks! That is one hell of a song. Having listened to it half a dozen times or more, I have saved it onto my Desktop for repeat listening. I love this song! Is it one of your originals? That is definitely a HIT. Can you please give me the lyrics? Each time I listen to it I hear something else... I can imagine you playing this on TOTP. The message and sentiment come through clear - thank you so much

@Mac: With what YOU are going through, I really appreciate your support and understanding. Thank you so much. I am only sorry I can't do anything to help YOU. You hang in there, Mac. Seems you could do with a bit of TLC too. Can we make it? YES, WE CAN!

Glad you like it Sam..... I wish it were one of my songs bus alas, not so. You'll be surprised to learn it was a song from an early Elvis album "US Male" I know you like Elvis and that's another one of the reasons I posted it. The song is not very well known but is a beautiful song none the less.
After an operation to remove my gallbladder went disasterously wrong three years ago, I ended up with blood poisoning and infection, as well as all kinds of crap which took a long recovery time. This was mainly because of my muscle wasting disorder (Polymyositis) It meant I was unable to work for several months but for some reason that particular recording was the first thing I did to get back in swing! So in a way may also be a "Good Luck Charm" !

I'll Jot the lyrics for ya later.
All the best,
Dave.

Here's the lyrics Sam....


(Words & music by Clive Westlake)

It's a matter of time before I go back there
A matter of time before I go home

I have been way from her now for a long time
And I've lived a life I thought that it should be
It's a long, long way from now to maybe sometime
And the waiting round is really killing me

It's a matter of time before I go back there
A matter of time oh Lord, before I go home
It's a long way I know and the goin' ain't easy
She'll see me again it's a matter of time

I think I'll take a train right early in the morning
Just to see how far I get along the way
But the trains don't run too often only sometimes
So I guess I'd better wait another day

It's a matter of time before I go back there
A matter of time before I go home
It's a long way I know and the goin' ain't easy
She'll see me again, it's just a matter of time
She'll see me I know it's a matter of time

Thanks very much, Dave. You put a very nice interpretation on it. As one of my songs goes ('Music & Lyrics') '... if you'll only give me time...'

Beautiful song, well played and recorded. Thank you

If you've got the money...

Just about sums up my life at the moment. Seems I am being taken hostage through financial impecunity. Still trying to find a way out and get back on my feet. Johnny Cash what would YOU make of it? Heck! I heard that Merle was a prisoner in the audience when JC played at St Quentin...

Nonetheless, some of my best friends here are faring worse

Willie is in the background on this vid. Man, does he get around!