FYI / ENT

Regarding my vocal health in the past two months, I’ve gotten tired of questions without answers. Today, I got answers. I drove over to Austin last night from my home in Brenham. It always amuses me to make the drive in my pickup, passing through Burton, Carmine, Giddings, Elgin and Manor, before reaching my sister’s home in Pflugerville. You pass sights like the Cotton Gin Museum and fireworks stands advertising, “Buy 1 - Get 11 Free!”, all the time keeping your air-conditioning cranked up because it’s still 99 degrees outside and it’s 8:00pm. Ah...Southeast Texas in the summer.

I saw an ENT in Austin this morning. He works with opera singers and he’s been my sister’s family ENT for 23 years. Because of Colleen’s long history with him, I felt immediately at ease. The diagnosis... a combination of things, but nothing serious. I’ve got an infection which is high up in the sinuses, in my ear and glands on the right side of my head; I’ve got a mild case of acid reflux; and post-nasal drip.

The doctor put me on a double-cycle of the antibiotic Ketek (a new medication; its main side-effect can be blurred vision ... which I will monitor), Nasonex Nasal Spray and Nexium. However, the big relief, which I saw for myself on camera, is that my chords are clear..no nodes, no blisters, no broken blood vessels in my throat. Despite the trauma of the pill- choking incident, there is no damage.

I’ve always prided myself on being a healthy, technically sound singer. Now that I have answers to the vocal health questions, I can finally breath of a sigh of relief. I want to thank everyone for standing by me during this bewildering time. I appreciate it!

After the appointment, my sister Colleen and I drove back to my parents home in Brenham where we belatedly celebrated my niece’s 21st birthday and let her regale us with tales from her recent six-week stay in Costa Rica. Mom put together a nice supper and baked a chocolate cake for a large-ish group including Cait, Colleen, my sister-in-law Lisa, my twin nephews Brennan and Ryan, Ryan’s new girlfriend Randa, my folks and me.

A party is always boisterous at our house and tonight was no exception. I got a lot of mileage and raucous laughter from the group while teasing Randa and Ryan. They were passing around a picture taken last weekend at my brother’s hunting lease. Ryan is so proud of his sweet blonde sixteen-year- old girlfriend. She shot a wild pig, her first, and they got an 8X10 of her kneeling down, with rifle in hand, over the dead pig. In my 18-year-old nephew’s eyes, that girl’s a keeper! LOL!

Bottom-line, we were celebrating a birthday tonight, but the knowledge gained today ... that my voice is fine and that I will be fine... made it an extra welcome celebration!

FYI / ENT

Regarding my vocal health in the past two months, I’ve gotten tired of questions without answers. Today, I got answers. I drove over to Austin last night from my home in Brenham. It always amuses me to make the drive in my pickup, passing through Burton, Carmine, Giddings, Elgin and Manor, before reaching my sister’s home in Pflugerville. You pass sights like the Cotton Gin Museum and fireworks stands advertising, “Buy 1 - Get 11 Free!”, all the time keeping your air-conditioning cranked up because it’s still 99 degrees outside and it’s 8:00pm. Ah...Southeast Texas in the summer.

I saw an ENT in Austin this morning. He works with opera singers and he’s been my sister’s family ENT for 23 years. Because of Colleen’s long history with him, I felt immediately at ease. The diagnosis... a combination of things, but nothing serious. I’ve got an infection which is high up in the sinuses, in my ear and glands on the right side of my head; I’ve got a mild case of acid reflux; and post-nasal drip.

The doctor put me on a double-cycle of the antibiotic Ketek (a new medication; its main side-effect can be blurred vision ... which I will monitor), Nasonex Nasal Spray and Nexium. However, the big relief, which I saw for myself on camera, is that my chords are clear..no nodes, no blisters, no broken blood vessels in my throat. Despite the trauma of the pill- choking incident, there is no damage.

I’ve always prided myself on being a healthy, technically sound singer. Now that I have answers to the vocal health questions, I can finally breath of a sigh of relief. I want to thank everyone for standing by me during this bewildering time. I appreciate it!

After the appointment, my sister Colleen and I drove back to my parents home in Brenham where we belatedly celebrated my niece’s 21st birthday and let her regale us with tales from her recent six-week stay in Costa Rica. Mom put together a nice supper and baked a chocolate cake for a large-ish group including Cait, Colleen, my sister-in-law Lisa, my twin nephews Brennan and Ryan, Ryan’s new girlfriend Randa, my folks and me.

A party is always boisterous at our house and tonight was no exception. I got a lot of mileage and raucous laughter from the group while teasing Randa and Ryan. They were passing around a picture taken last weekend at my brother’s hunting lease. Ryan is so proud of his sweet blonde sixteen-year- old girlfriend. She shot a wild pig, her first, and they got an 8X10 of her kneeling down, with rifle in hand, over the dead pig. In my 18-year-old nephew’s eyes, that girl’s a keeper! LOL!

Bottom-line, we were celebrating a birthday tonight, but the knowledge gained today ... that my voice is fine and that I will be fine... made it an extra welcome celebration!