Stories of a short, fat bastard.

Last week thefoxaroo arrived for a week of R&R and to escape the rat-race that Sydney is. He loves cold weather, so he came to Dubbo in the middle of summer when the daytime temperatures exceed 36C.

We didn't do a lot - not much excitement unless you count taking turns to launch Kerbals into orbit. On Wednesday we toured the Solar System starting at Pluto/Dubbo, and travelling along the Newell Highway, only pausing so thefoxaroo could take photos of Neptune (Gilgandra), Uranus (Tooraweenah Road intersection), and Saturn (Outside Coonabarrabran).

It was almost mid-day so we dropped into the Baronia Cafe in Coonabarrabran to buy lunch. thefoxaroo had 2 gluten-free cheese and tomato sandwiches, and could have eaten more. I had an eggandbacon sandwich, which contained one egg and an entire week's worth of bacon onna bun. I mean, seriously huge amounts of bacon. The bacon layer was about 20mm thick in the middle. I washed it down with a nice hot cup of tea.

And the Onward! To the Inner Solar System! Jupiter was 15km out of town on the road to the Warrumbungles. Mars is just at the Siding Spring turn-off, on the inside of a bend. You come across and pass Mars suddenly, without warning, but with a lot of "Bugger! Missed Mars! Damn." And so up to the Siding Spring Observatory. Earth is not far from the turn-off. Venus is a few kilometres along the narrow road, and Mercury is a few kilometres beyond that. Then you go through a gate, and into the car park.

Suddenly, observatory.


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All these photos can be seen on my Flickr stream if you wish to embiggen them.

While Sydney was being pounded by storm cells, hail, tornadoes, and the fastest eve wind speed ever measured in the state ever (213kph), Dubbo was having a bit of rain and some small mammatus clouds.

2 frames per second time lapse. No sound.

The visit to the ENT went well and he explained to me what happened.

The throat infection caused the Eustachian tubes that drain the ears into the back of the nasal cavity to swell, effectively sealing them shut and causing negative pressure in the middle ear. This reduced pressure caused fluid to migrate from the tissues, and into my middle ear, basically shutting down both ears. My left ear Eustachian tube wasn't quite as blocked and allowed some fluid out to equalize pressure. The right tube was totally blocked, and the increase in pressure forced the fluid out through the path of lease resistance; ie through the ear drum.

So, he looked at my ears. Left ear: looks good with a little fluid visible. This will eventually drain away completely. The right ear drum has healed totally, leaving just a small area of weakness where the tear was. The doc used a Medical Thing to dig out all the residual dried blood and wax deposits to completely clear out my ear canal.

He recommended no further treatment, I don't need antibiotics and I can stop using the ciproxyn.

My hearing is almost back to normal. At its worst I had to turn the TV up to 85+ to hear ANYTHING. Now I can listen to TV with the volume at 25-30 and hear everything. I can hear the wind in the trees again, and birds, and music, and the distant train horns.

Which is nice.

Dr ENT doesn't bulk-bill, so the visit cost me $285. I will claim most of that back through Medicare.

Twenty days ago I got a mild ear infection; some inflammation but no pain. The doctor gave me 10ml of Ciproxin "USE IT ALL" antibiotic ear drops. The weird thing is the infection caused the sebaceous glands to go mad and produce lots of ear wax, which I couldn't get rid of. I hate sticking things in my ear, like Qtips, due to the fear that I might push too far. So at some point one night a bit of wax stuck to my ear drum, and I was effectively deaf in my right ear.

The doctor prescribed a course of amoxcillian "TAKE THEM ALL" to treat the infection and waxsol to remove the wax. It was frustrating to go without an ear for nearly two weeks. Finally it was all undercontrol, and the doctor syringed the debris out of my ear. The process was really uncomfortable, an the sound of the warm water swirling against my ear drum was really loud. But the water drained out, and after a few bubble pops and crackles I could hear again.

In the meantime, everyone in the family was coming down with some nasty cold virus but my supercharged system held it off.

Or so I thought.

On thursday nigh the back of my throat was starting to send out little messages. "Guys guys guys! I don't want to be a downer or anything but I think that virus sort of thing might be, you know, here."

Immune system: "WHAT?! This means war!"

Brain: "Dude that might be a bit of an over reaction."

Immune system: "WAR!"

By Friday the sore throat went from the back of the nose right down to the bottom of my lungs, and I was having little micro dizzy spells if I stood. So I lay on the lounge and watched daytime TV (MASH, JAG, and Midsommer Murders) and drank tea with honey. I didn't even want to eat toast and vegemite.

Today I am much better. I still have a throat, but I ate toast and vegemite. According to the Victorian-era theory, if it hurts then it must be doing you good. The toast and vegemite hurt a lot but I ate it all. Because Vegemite, dammit.

Pours black and thick and opaque, like a very strong coffee. The head is tan, small and long lasting. No carbonation visible in the class... not much of anything is visible in the glass, just black. A white LED behind the glass shows up as a faint ruby glow on the other side.

First sip: Heavy, slightly bitter chocolate and coffee flavours up front with mild malts. Nice hoppy bitterness that lingers. Mouth-feel is thick and creamy with a faint carbonation tingle on the tongue. The beer burp is very nice.

This stout is like washing down a mouthful of Lindt 90% cocoa-mass dark chocolate with a black coffee. But, unlike the Lindt chocolate which kills and chocolate cravings with one square, this is highly drinkable and more-ish. As the beer warms in the glass, the dark roasted malts become stronger and the bitterness decreases.* It is a little too heavy to drink on its own; it needs a munchy to go with the quaffing - crisps, or cheese, or toast. I had toast, with Vegemite of course. Oh my goodness, eat toast and Vegemite while you drink this!

Note to self: add some to chocolate ice-cream next time I buy some.

This is a yummy beer.

Chocolate Stout
Rogue Ales, Oregon
5.8% alc/vol
650ml bottle (3.3 standard drinks, and I drank it all! AAAAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! *burp*)



Same again, sir? OH YES PLEASE!



*or I became used to the bitterness.

Pours a slightly hazy amber with a small head. Some carbonation visible.

First Sip: Mild hop bitterness and some pine resins dominate up front, but then mild malts and citrus show through when you get used to the hops. Long lasting bitterness on the back of the throat. Nice carbonation tingle on the tongue. Nice beer burp.

I'm still not a fan of IPAs, but this one is nice. The bitterness is very long lasting after the swallow, but it's not too overwhelming. It complements a strong blue-vein cheese rather well. I have another bottle here; I'll see how it goes with a pepperoni, cheese, and pepperoni pizza. I expect they will go well together. (one hour later) Oh. Yeah.

All Day IPA
Founders Brewing Company
4.7% alc/vol
355ml bottle



Same again, sir? Yes please!

Dinner at Mum and Dad's. Chicken in red wine and garlic sauce, on a bed of rice. With eyes.

I wonder which suit I should buy next?

I'm leaning toward "Camo."

STEAM!



( STEAM! )