Anyone that's phoned me in the last 2 or 3 months knows I sound like I smoke 2 packs a day, though I've never smoked in my life. Finally the coughing was too much to take and I went to the doctor today. Apparently I have incredibly bad allergies, resulting in near whooping-caliber cough attacks. I had one at the office visit, and he was surprised it took me so long to come in with a hack like that.  
 
Started new medicine to treat the symptoms, so I hope to feel much better next week. Some rest would be great! If I'm feeling better, I'll be at a class on Monday with my dad learning all about TEX and LaTEX. Come Tuesday, I should be back to posting pictures I've collected around the shop, answering serial number requests and catching up on emails.

Hope you're feeling better soon Mica!
 
Toby

Mica ,   I send you my sincere wish's for a thorough recovery from these  respiratory complications.  
 
          Wolf
 
(Message edited by sonicus on June 25, 2010)

Everyone who answers the phone over there these sounds like they need a stiff course of antibiotics, daily inhalations of ravensara and a month off!
 
Get well soon, all of you Wickershams!
 
Edwin

Look after yourself Mica. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Good health is invaluable (speaking from experience)
 
slawie
 
(Message edited by slawie on June 25, 2010)

You've got  E S S :  Expensive Sawdust Syndrome ! And you've been sniffing glue all these years !  
 
Get well soon, kiddo ! !  My best to your Mom and Dad.
 
 
J o e y

Accept my hopes and best wishes for a speedy recovery and full restoration of health.
Mike

Too much wood dust Mica???

Made me think of Cool Hand Luke. Not the egg part, just the there are some men you just can't reach part.
 
Best of health and recovery to you!

Totally understand:  
I had pneumonia going up to our cabin during last years vacation, same week in June as now, (we just returned from there today for this years stay), driving for seven hours, and me and the clinic up there didn\t know it until returning home after seeing our local doctor. Three weeks of that! Very careful now.
 
Hope you feel better SOON!
 
   -Rich

Mica -  
 
Best wishes for a quick recovery.
 
Folks mentioned this somewhat lightheartedly here, but you probably should tell your doctor that you do have regular exposure to exotic wood dust as part of his consideration of your case.  Many of the rosewoods and other exotics lead to high allergic reactions when the oils in the wood are released into the air (can't think of the right term, but I'm pretty sure it's not aerobicized!).  There have been a number of luthiers who have developed severe allergic reactions due to years of breathing rosewood and ebony dust - Bozo Podunavac who made Leo Kottke's guitars stopped for many years, and I believe that the late Tony Zemaitis had wood allergies as well.    
 
You've got at least a double whammy there, since you've been around this stuff for at least your entire life and probably had indirect exposure before you were born as well!  Not to mention that   Alembic sets the high bar on access to really rare and exotic wood.
 
And are you guys getting ready to print a textbook or something?  I haven't heard anybody mention TeX in a long time other than in the layout of mathematical formulae.  I had the great pleasure of taking classes from Don Knuth at Stanford when he was actively teaching (and before I stopped actively learning).  He was actively working on TeX at the time.  He and your dad are very similar - quiet and modest guys with more individual brainpower than a room full of smart guys.
 
David Fung

From the OTHER end of the brainpower scale . . . . what is TEX and LaTEX?
 
J o e y

Take care, Mica!  
 
David, I suspect that Mica is well aware of the issues associated with wood dust and I would be shocked if her doctor wasn't aware of her occupation and exposure to it. That said, it never hurts to be sure.
 
-bob

TeX
 
LaTeX

Joey; pretty much outside my level of comprehension.