Time for a fucking celebration and renewal on my part

[^Rhino!]

A week ago last Monday a little after 3:00 p.m. EST I died. Occurring shortly after I arrived at the E.R. I was resuscitated with CPR and an oxygen feed. I had NOT been drinking or taking any drugs. The cause was carbon monoxide. I was travelling to Tennessee to see my 90-year old father and had pulled in to a well-lit convenience store parking lot next to the interstate less than 50 miles from my destination. I locked the doors and got some sleep, a scenario I've repeated many times before on the road to and from Burningman.

When I woke from a deep sleep, the Roane County Sheriffs deputy was knocking on my door. I opened the door and I knew immediately something was wrong with me as I fell to the ground. My legs wouldn't support me. I did, however, manage to promivide my ID and name before I lapsed into unconsciousness. I could hear what was said, somewhat, that I needed help RIGHT NOW. From what I recall ,I awoke the NEXT DAY after 25 hours of rest.

The local EMTs took me to Roane Hospital in Harriman, Tennessee. Originally they suspected a drug overdose (meth and heroin are commonplace in rural Tennessee, having completely taken over the illicit substance market now that moonshine is almost absent). My blood chemistry told the tale with 74% oxygen when it's supposed to be much greater. After another day's rest I was released, got back to my truck (which had been carefully locked and NOT searched - I would have spotted it - plus no missing valuables) and drove on to spend several great days with Dad, who's still in good health.

I may be kidding a little when I say this, but I feel that the effect of my last act of defiance to the grim reaper, flipping off that motherfucker, was successful. I had the truck checked out and there was a pinhole exhaust leak (now fixed). I stopped by the Roane County Sheriff's Department and thanked them for my life. I also thanked the docs, nurses, and EMTs at the hospital before I left, too.

Surprises:
1, The food at this small 100-bed hospital was surprisingly good. They even served BACON and biscuits and gravy with the breakfast meal. They did GREAT oatmeal, ADDING BLACKBERRIES TO THE TOP and in sufficient number so that you got a blackberry with every bite and then some.
2. COVID-19 required mask use by all outside the patient rooms, but they knew I was OK having my Pfizer vaccination card in my wallet.
3. They had a 'patient sitter' in my room at all times to aid me with anything I needed, a nice young lady who will make a dynamite health care professional some day - she even enjoyed my conversation and told me so.

I'm happy to be alive, still. One important Burningman-related thing hasn't changed: I love all of you, my friends. You have affected my life in the most positive way possible by allowing me to learn how to express my thanks and for accepting me into your midst without any prejudgements.

Carpe diem!

[burner von braun]

Egads!

A BIG "welcome back" to you ^Rhino!

Whew!.. sure glad things went your way, and you're safe and sound!

And thanks for a reminder to all.

[Sham]

Rhino, I'm so glad that everything and everyone was smiling down on you. Very scary to say the least.
I put a carbon monoxide detector in my camper van that has a built in generator, since I sleep in it from time to time.
Take care and enjoy all your bonus days to the fullest.

[^Rhino!]

Thank you for your expressions of concern and love, burner von braun and Sham. Persons like yourselves are the reason I frequent this forum. May whatever Higher Power there may be smile down on all of us and give us the precious tools of knowledge, understanding, compassion, community, and unity in the face of whatever trials we might face. Be it known here for all, one of my personal heroes in these times is a man from Pierre Part, Louisiana named Troy Landry. He puts his philosophy simply, that "when people need help, you lend a hand". Yep, he's the one on Swamp People. He lends hi specialized knowledge of hunting with friends in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana when he's not hunting alligators in the bayous. In Florida, he and his Cajun friends were asked to come in and help others in seeking out and catching large and aggressive Burmese pythons and hybridized South African rock pythons that have caused an ecological disaster in Florida, with over 300,000 of these critters that are rapidly and naturally reproducing in the wild. But I digress.

If any burner here needs help from me - in the form of advice, manpower, or simply an ear to LISTEN non-judgmentally to your problems, I give freely. That's how I roll. I m not traditionally a 'joiner', maintaining memberships in only four geologic organizations (Truth be told, it's for the journals, the field trips, and the continuing education to maintain my certification) but I AM also a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center to combat the proliferation of hate groups in this country. I have no room for hate. Life is too short. My biggest thrill is the restoration of lives worth living. SO, to sum up, PM me with your problems and I'll do what I can. I love you all as a brother burner.

You folk mean everything in my life. I want to help. Serious inquiries welcomed. When you nearly lose your life, the important things become known to you.

[Traveller in Time]

Auch, good to see you back

[Captain Goddammit]

Wow! I’m glad you made it.
I had a similar thing happen a couple years ago, I got in a car crash I shouldn’t have survived. Driving a tiny Mazda Miata, hit hard on the drivers side by a pickup truck, on a rainy Christmas Eve morning.
I’d just put new, really good tires on it… had I not just done that I’d definitely have slid further into the intersection and took that truck bumper straight to my head.
Instead it went over/through the front of the car, spinning it into the opposite ditch, and I got out of it with literally not a scratch.
The First Mate thought I’d be terribly upset about that car I’d had so long and kept in near perfect shape… hell I was just glad to be alive and in one piece!

It’s been six years now and I still consider myself to be living on bonus time.

[^Rhino!]

Traveller in Time and Captain Goddammit, humbly I thank you for your support. It means everything to me here on the "outer rim" of the galaxy (that's the condition I call forced isolation, due first to COVID and now the demands of a book and PhD research (no rest for me). I'm tired of takeout Chinese food, pizza, burgers, and Jimmy Dean's breakfast sausage croissants, no female companionship, and persistent Trumpians in our midst in Missouri. I was grateful to see my aging Dad, and even more so my little sister at the same time. The biscuits and gravy I had at the hospital were a welcome change.

Nonetheless, you end up with an expanded appreciation of all the things you've built or done in life as you revisit them. I swelled with personal quiet pride and appreciation driving along I-270 in St. Louis this week as I travelled over every bridge between I-55 and I44, knowing that it was MY foundation studies and direction of their exploration drilling that made them possible. When you take on a job and see it through to the finish, taking personal responsibility every step of the way and see the results assembled in toto before you years later, well - - you know at least you've ,done it positively and done it right. Being a public servant for nearly 30 years and achieving all of it at or below cost means you did it honorably and set the example for years to come. I'm happy with my life's accomplishments but it means all the more when I'm still appreciated in this, my chosen community of friends.

[ygmir]

wow Rhino!! such a tale.
It's nice that you can tell it, and thanks for telling it.
And the never to oft said warning: Don't sleep in a running vehicle. Pinholes and even leaking exhaust gaskets can and will kill you, if you let them.
I'm glad you're well, had good care, and got to see your family!

[some seeing eye]

We are glad you are still with us!

I always enjoy your commentary on geology and we are looking forward to reading that thesis. With all the interest in lithium mining, and the mining claims on the playa by Gerlach, you are in a good spot to unwind fact from fiction.

[Savannah]

WOW, Rhino!

I'm so glad you're okay, and received such excellent care. <3

[^Rhino!]

Ygmir, my friend, I am glad to know you are alive also. When you return to the playa, will it be with Gate and Perimeter still? I worry about you sometimes with the multiple fires in the NorCal area, and if you ever need help on a fire line in your immediate area, call on me. I'll do my best to get there, bringing a shovel and a Pulaski if need be.

Some seeing eye, same offer applies to you as well over in Oregon. Luckily, your area has as a HUGE set of Federal assets in the area, with troops and helicopters from the Army not only with the National Guard and the US Army out of Ft. Lewis, Washington but more importantly the National Interagency Fire Center command center in Idaho as well. Your SAR and medevac assets in coastal areas also have superbly trained air crews, duty corpsmen, and flight surgeons with the Coast Guard. If necessary, they'll surge air station assets from Astoria or Port Angeles to come in and help. All competent assets, even trained in high angle/vertical slope rescues, flying the HH-65 Dolphin and HH-60AT Jayhawk helicopters. To see a rescue swimmer save someone holding on the side of a cliff is a brave and dangerous feat of love for our fellow man. But again I digress.

Savannah, young lady, you are a goddess of both beauty and compassion. Thank you also for your love and well wishes.

[Savannah]

Savannah, young lady, you are a goddess of both beauty and compassion. Thank you also for your love and well wishes.

Don't make me cry! I am so glad you recovered.

Rhino, how do I avoid what a terrible fate that almost befell you? Was it so cold that night that night that you had to run your heat, meaning the defect in the truck almost killed you? . . . Or was the engine off, but the pinhole still did all of the damage?

(I've been reading about the weather destroying the Bonnaroo festival, so know it's been cold & rainy in Tennessee).

[^Rhino!]

Savannah, thou art definitely one of the finest people I have met in my 61-odd life years, so never ever sell yourself short - you are definitely sass with class, lass, a modern day Phryne Fisher (a fictitious lady detective of the 1920s era in Melbourne, Australia who uses her abilities and smarts to solve crimes never losing sight of justice for the common man). Pardon me for speaking so much from the heart and directly, but the truth of how I think and feel is required. Truth means never having to make up anything.

In answer to your question, the truck was at idle, I had the heat on low. Yesterday, I installed a carbon monoxide detector in the truck. It will NOT happen again.

[Captain Goddammit]

In a quick sort of opposite story, once about 30 years ago I was horribly distraught over a bad relationship and was going to commit suicide.
I went to the garage and got into my beloved 1955 Chevy and figured this was the way for me to go out.
But the goddamm thing wouldn’t start.
That gave me time to come to my senses.

[Miura-7]

[quote=^Rhino! post_id=1210230 time=1630463241 user_id=35364]
A week ago last Monday a little after 3:00 p.m. EST I died. Occurring shortly after I arrived at the E.R. I was resuscitated with CPR and an oxygen feed. I had NOT been drinking or taking any drugs. The cause was carbon monoxide. I was travelling to Tennessee to see my 90-year old father and had pulled in to a well-lit convenience store parking lot next to the interstate less than 50 miles from my destination. I locked the doors and got some sleep, a scenario I've repeated many times before on the road to and from Burningman.

When I woke from a deep sleep, the Roane County Sheriffs deputy was knocking on my door. I opened the door and I knew immediately something was wrong with me as I fell to the ground. My legs wouldn't support me. I did, however, manage to promivide my ID and name before I lapsed into unconsciousness. I could hear what was said, somewhat, that I needed help RIGHT NOW. From what I recall ,I awoke the NEXT DAY after 25 hours of rest.

The local EMTs took me to Roane Hospital in Harriman, Tennessee. Originally they suspected a drug overdose (meth and heroin are commonplace in rural Tennessee, having completely taken over the illicit substance market now that moonshine is almost absent). My blood chemistry told the tale with 74% oxygen when it's supposed to be much greater. After another day's rest I was released, got back to my truck (which had been carefully locked and NOT searched - I would have spotted it - plus no missing valuables) and drove on to spend several great days with Dad, who's still in good health.

I may be kidding a little when I say this, but I feel that the effect of my last act of defiance to the grim reaper, flipping off that motherfucker, was successful. I had the truck checked out and there was a pinhole exhaust leak (now fixed). I stopped by the Roane County Sheriff's Department and thanked them for my life. I also thanked the docs, nurses, and EMTs at the hospital before I left, too.

Surprises:
1, The food at this small 100-bed hospital was surprisingly good. They even served BACON and biscuits and gravy with the breakfast meal. They did GREAT oatmeal, ADDING BLACKBERRIES TO THE TOP and in sufficient number so that you got a blackberry with every bite and then some.
2. COVID-19 required mask use by all outside the patient rooms, but they knew I was OK having my Pfizer vaccination card in my wallet.
3. They had a 'patient sitter' in my room at all times to aid me with anything I needed, a nice young lady who will make a dynamite health care professional some day - she even enjoyed my conversation and told me so.

I'm happy to be alive, still. One important Burningman-related thing hasn't changed: I love all of you, my friends. You have affected my life in the most positive way possible by allowing me to learn how to express my thanks and for accepting me into your midst without any prejudgements.

Carpe diem!
[/quote]
Captain Goddammit posted RIP Rhino. I was like WTF!!! I haven’t posted in awhile so I’m kinda out of the loop. Glad to here you are OK.

[FlyingMonkey]

Holly Crap Rhino. Something like that really puts things in to perspective. So glad everything worked out & we aren't reading about you in "Rest In Peace". It just goes to show how fragile life is & the fact that we have only limited control of it. Recently someone I know was mowing their lawn when out of nowhere a tree fell on her & killed her. Stuff like that is so random and literally wrong place wrong time. Just changing one out of an infinite number of events would have changed so much. You never know when sleeping in late, driving a different route to work or mowing your lawn in a different pattern actually saved your life.

It's hard to live every day like it's your last especially for people working jobs they don't like of going through bad times. But there is so much out of our control you never know when your time will be up.

Is there anything different you do every day to keep that sense of Carpe diem alive? Maybe you should change your ePlaya name to Rhino 2.0.

[^Rhino!]

Thanks for the welcome back, flying monkey!

I've still got about 25 good years left in me, learning every day how to live better and with humor, appreciating irony and reveling in the crazy cool thing we call life. I've made peace with myself and forgiven others. Life is too short to hold grudges. Every day I forge ahead a little bit more. My memory is still sharp and my physical condition is still passable. I have no regrets. I search only for a lady with whom to share it all and answers to silly but revealing questions that puzzle me.

Retaining the sense of "Carpe Diem" goes hand in hand with little things: I make my bed first thing in the morning when I get up. That means I've started the day by accomplishing something,,and it's all downhill thereafter.

[Captain Goddammit]

I did think you deserved an honorable mention in the RIP thread

[^Rhino!]

I did think you deserved an honorable mention in the RIP thread

Captain, that's akin to the local yokels administering Narcan to me. I had to tell the attending M.D, at the hospital that I didn't do any drugs other than those prescribed to me, that opiates weren't included, and hence Narcan was contraindicated. Still, I was on a Narcan drip for 2 days. Docs that don't listen to patients are the bane of the health care profession.

Stupidity all too often rears its ugly head all over, though. I even got grilled and pressured by an ATF agent at the event in 2008 at Moonshine Tavern on the 9:00 plaza. He wanted to know how much they were charging for moonshine there. He couldn't understand that Burningman is a gifting environment, and we were getting it for free. He was clueless.

Nonetheless, thank you for your concern. The report of my passing is overexaggerated and erroneous.

[Captain Goddammit]

I don’t know WTF you’re going off about. I thought in your shoes you’d be pretty happy and have half a sense of humor.
Guess not.

[^Rhino!]

My profuse apologies, Captain. I am extremely happy to be alive. It's just that lately I've been fighting off pain from my knee joint, which is rubbing bone on bone until I get the joint replaced.

[Captain Goddammit]

Ah… the First Mate had a knee replaced not too long ago.
That shit is NO fun.

[^Rhino!]

Captain, my best wishes to you and healing best wishes to the First Mate.

[Captain Goddammit]

I mean, really how cool is it to be the only guy who ever rightfully earned a spot on “RIP” and is still here?!!
That’s legendary.

[Savannah]

Savannah, thou art definitely one of the finest people I have met in my 61-odd life years, so never ever sell yourself short - you are definitely sass with class, lass, a modern day Phryne Fisher (a fictitious lady detective of the 1920s era in Melbourne, Australia who uses her abilities and smarts to solve crimes never losing sight of justice for the common man). Pardon me for speaking so much from the heart and directly, but the truth of how I think and feel is required. Truth means never having to make up anything.

That is one of the loveliest things anyone has ever said to me in my entire life, and after having thought about it for a few minutes, I do not care to rank any of those few, dear things. (Most of 'em were due to my parents.)

In answer to your question, the truck was at idle, I had the heat on low. Yesterday, I installed a carbon monoxide detector in the truck. It will NOT happen again.

Thank you, THANK YOU, for your candor.

Why? . . . I do not own, and never have owned, my own vehicle. I got my license well after most people do in life, and my first solo roadtrip was 4 hours in an immense, rented Chevy Silverado on a huge interstate, and I was terrified I would kill someone in the 80mph curves in which the rest of the world was so comfortable. It was awful.

I survived, as I suppose is apparent. And after a few years of getting over myself, I have driven trucks to, from, and during the Burn. (At the Burn is easiest. I'm supposed to go slow there.) . . . Unlike when being chased through a mountain pass by 2 French Burner tourists between Cedarville and Eagleville. FUCK THOSE PEOPLE.

*ahem*

ANYWAY . . . were I to own a truck, or even sleep in a truck (I am bad at that) . . . while I am so sad and angry you came so close to harm, I am very grateful for your subsequent advice at how to be safe.

Thank you.

[^Rhino!]

Captain:

I have been fortunate in my life to have experienced much of the richness of its tapestry. Cheating the grim reaper, though not my primary forte, is something that has made my life all the more satisfying. In 2008, I charged into an unknown situation here in Missouri at the location of a multiple vehicle accident involving a jackknifed truck and a station wagon. The truck was burning, and having just been on the road back from Burningman I was motivated by the sense of getting things done that we all possess in our do-ocracy,I pulled the truck driver to safety and then treated the wounds of the man in the station wagon, applying direct pressure using gauze I had in the first aid kit I always keep in my truck. It was only later that I realized that the diesel tank of the truck could have exploded since it was under pressure from being partially collapsed. My life was at risk, but it's in my personal ethical code NEVER to turn my back on someone who desperately needs me.

Now, Savannah:

I was for many years a 'road warrior' spending over100 nights per year away from home (which may explain partially the ease with which I survived pandemic solitude since it's now NICE to enjoy home's comforts) and drove upwards of 40,000 miles per year across the state going from one job to the next. Napping in the car during pouring rain ( we didn't have an enclosed drilling platform) was OK, and I've never had a problem until two weeks ago in my own vehicle.

My own ferocious pursuit of safety on the job put me in good stead with my crews as well as upper management. In all my years on the job as a licensed geologist and designated professional excavator in charge of crew safety I never struck an underground utility, contactedan overhead powerline, or had any lost-time injuries of myself OR MY CREWS, I planned the work, and then worked the plan. I would only break policy when the rewards were great relative to the risks taken.

I'm gratified that you enjoy my honest heartfelt appreciation of you and your positive outlook and intent. May the Creator rain blessings down on you.

[gaminwench]

Dawg (God\dess) bless you, Rhino.

[^Rhino!]

Dawg (God\dess) bless you, Rhino.

Thank you, gaminwench, even if I'm not dyslexic.

You know, during this whole affair every doctor and nurse called it carbon dioxide poisoning. I had to tell them that the carbon MONoxide made me turn green....lol

They must have thought I was a plant - - - well in a way, I am. I belong to the Geologic Society of America and I was checking their level of scientific literacy, Being a multistate licensee in the practice of geology I can certify that such a chemical misstep makes them sound as dumb as rocks.