I've been a bit of a recluse on social media over the last 2 months (heck, for most of 2021) but particularly since my diagnosis of hypertension and the discovery of a potential life-threatening 4cm ascending aortic aneurysm that was found during an echo heart scan.
I've been dealing with all the weird emotions that come along with a diagnosis such as that, in addition to health insurance debacles, medication prescriptions, and refills without having insurance yet (waiting for my insurance application to go from pending to active so I can schedule a follow-up echo), and side effect adjustments for a couple new medications for my blood pressure.
Thankfully I feel like I'm leveling out a bit and feel more "like myself" again. That plus the ongoing mental health battles of depression and bipolar disorder, I've just felt super introverted over the last two months since I was released from the hospital.
Aside from all of that, I've been creating a lot. I cut out drinking alcohol on a regular basis, which went a few years ago from drinking a lot during the week to a few times a week, to only drinking some beer and wine on weekends. I stopped that 2 months ago. I will still partake in an adult beverage for special holidays and events, but beyond that, I am glad to be rid of that form of self-medication. I feel more coherent, more creative, am having more fun and accomplishing a lot more personal projects.
Current projects I'm working on or that are getting ready to release. First and foremost I am so excited about an upcoming paranormal horror film that just wrapped production in Connecticut starring Robert La Sardo (Nip/Tuck, The Mule, CSI Miami) and Jason London (Dazed and Confused). I can't share any more specific information right now, but soon! What I can say is that this is the first film that I wrote the original story for that has been made into a feature film. I am also a Co-Producer on it, contributed to some of the music score, and am also the music supervisor. Additionally, it looks like at least one of the movie trailers will feature a song from my industrial metal band Brain Matter. I can't wait to share that and more details on this film!
Speaking of Brain Matter, we released our EP "Someone To Devour" in November on all streaming platforms PLUS physical CD through The Charon Collective. I've been writing, recording and producing the EP since April. If you like bands like Static-X, older Tool, Pantera, Fear Factory, Godflesh, Argyle Park, KLANK, Death Therapy, maybe some Rammstein and more, you will want to give this one a listen! I am really proud of how the production and songs turned out. This is another project of myself and my brother Kristeffor Olson, who co-wrote some beats and did the bass, in addition to our death metal band Mangled Carpenter.
Speaking of Mangled Carpenter, it's been such an awesome year for our first full-length album 'Under the Shadow'. We've made a lot of friends, networked, and have received so much great feedback on the album from fans. It really exceeded our expectations since the style of music is pretty niche, being death metal driven with grindcore influences.
I also worked on a reissue of last year's Mangled Carpenter Christmas album A Very Mangled Christmas (Remangled). I decided to remix the songs, update the artwork, and include a previously unreleased track that I didn't get finished in time for the release last year. It's an original Christmas song called 'A Very Mangled Christmas',
That pretty much sums up what's been keeping me busy lately.
An Update I Wrote in September after my Hospital Stay:
I've been a little MIA. Spent the 3 day Labor Day weekend in the hospital (I'm out now) with some heart and blood pressure issues that came out of the blue but are hereditary.
They found a 4cm ascending aortic aneurysm near my heart. I also had some internal bleeding so had to do some tests for those too (which thankfully turned out ok).
I am now on blood pressure meds and am going to keep monitoring that heart issue with another echocardiogram in 6-12 months. Also just ordered a blood pressure monitor. Fun times. Feeling better with my bp meds.
The last picture is where Shannon wrote her # on my arm in sharpie because I always forget it and so the hospital could find it for emergency contact. They thought that was 'so cool'.
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