Paul Ryburn's Journal

In the 1980s there was a young professional wrestler named Mike Von Erich. On an overseas tour with his brothers, he developed toxic shock syndrome. After a long hospital stay, he was released, but he was never the same again physically or mentally.

On November 1, I was taken to the hospital for cellulitis. My body became septic trying to fight the condition. I remained at Regional One for 19 days. They released me, but like MVE I fear I may never be the same again.

I’ve already had to go back to the hospital for 3 additional days.

My swollen left foot hurts except when my shoes are off and lying in bed.

I’m constantly nervous and anxious.

And I’m staying in a homeless shelter, where I still have to follow the rules – sit still in chapel 1-2 hours a day, keep my shoes on, shower every day.

I promise I won’t do what Mike did. (He killed himself in 1987.)

But I worry I’ll never be the same physically or mentally and it scares me to death.

I need my friends. I need the people who love me.

paul.ryburn@gmail.com

 

I had to go back to the hospital on Friday – Methodist this time. I was treated and got better. Monday I was released. I’m back staying at the Union Mission.

Y’all, I am not well mentally. I have about 1001 things stressing me out. I feel so alone. I feel like the world is closing in on me. My anxiety level is to the moon and back.

This blog may disappear soon. My paulryburn.com domain expires next week. I have the money on a debit card to renew it, but the renewal form requires a phone number and I no longer have one.

I need to get out of the Mission but I don’t see a path to that.

I need help. More than anything I need a friend who will listen and not judge me or lecture me.

My apologies to those who have come here expecting the Downtown news. I have let you down the past couple of months.

The Downtown Christmas tree lighting is tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, from 4 to 6 PM at Peabody Place and Main. Holiday vendor market, free hot chocolate and Butterific cookies. Get your photo taken with Santa.

The Tigers got a 68-64 win at San Francisco last night. Next up: vs. 2 UConn at 1:30 Monday in the Maui Invitational. TV: ESPN

Dumbass of the Day

Apologies for the brevity of this post. Still not feeling 100%.

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I’m out of the hospital and just left Bardog, where it was Allie Cat’s last regularly-scheduled shift. (She’ll work Saturday, Dec. 7, the day of the St. Jude Marathon. They’ll open at 7:30 that day.) While I was there, someone ordered a sausage patty, well done. As opposed to a medium rare sausage patty?

HOT GIRL ALERT: Downtown will be crawling with hot girls, dressed to the nines, starting about 3 PM this Saturday. The reason why will be a Justin Timberlake concert at FedExForum that night.

The Grizzlies hit the road to visit the Chicago Bulls Saturday. Slider Inn Downtown will host a watch party beginning at 7 PM.

In other Grizz news, congrats to Taylor Jenkins on becoming the winningest Grizzlies head coach of all time. He surpassed Lionel Hollins with last night’s win over the 76ers.

The McRib returns December 3 and this year, you can buy the sauce by the jug.

The Metal Museum seeks a guest services assistant.

The Archives Bistro inside Hotel Napoleon is hiring all positions.

I’m walking around Downtown but am still a little shaky. Give me a week or two to get this blog back up to full speed. I still plan on celebrating my belated birthday at Bardog Saturday from 11 AM until 3 PM or later if anyone wants to have a PBR with me.

Gotta go chase down a couple of interesting snippets of Downtown gossip. Back maybe Saturday with more news.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
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It looks like I’m going to be released from the hospital tomorrow, Wednesday, November 20. It was weird spending my birthday in the hospital, but it’s absolutely where I needed to be.

I’ll be at Bardog Saturday from about 11 AM to 3 PM if anyone wants to have a birthday PBR with me.

 It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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I am in Regional One, the hospital on Jefferson.

My left leg has been extremely swollen lately, so swollen I could barely fit in the new shoes a friend gave me. The morning of Friday, November 1, I felt extremely hot. I tried to walk Downtown and do my normal routine, I began to feel so weak that I had to call an ambulance.

I was in bad shape. My temperature was 102. My blood pressure was 160/100. I was admitted to the acute care department.

Since then, I’ve gotten much better. My temperature is down to normal and my blood pressure is 117/75. I’m walking around my hospital room just fine. Two of my favorite Bardog girls came to see me and my friends Randy and Teresa brought me dessert.

I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in here. Monday, November 18 is my birthday and I really don’t want to be in the hospital on my birthday or the weekend proceeding it….we shall see.

Thanks for sticking with me. I’ll get back to regular news updates as soon as I can.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Those of you who miss the Jalapeno Popper Throwdowns they used to have out in The Edge District might want to stop by the Flying Saucer… they have a burger special you’ll like. The Pepper Popper Pounder is a beef patty topped with ranch aioli, bacon, cheddar, jack & cream cheese blend, and fried jalapenos, topped with a bacon-wrapped jalapeno.

Soul & Spirits is hosting a Halloween party and haunted tour Thursday from 4 to 9. Drink specials, free candy, costume contest, Tacos Mon Dragon food truck.

Friday from 5 to 10, Grind City Brewing will release a Mexican dark lager to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. DJ Witnesse spins 7-9. $10 flights all night. Happy Brunch Spot food truck.

And then on Saturday, 901 Hot Wing Fest comes to Grind City. 15 teams will compete and donations will go to Grahamwood Elementary.

West Memphis is getting a Buc-ee’s.

Keep an eye on the weather… a band of thunderstorms is expected to roll through Memphis at AM rush hour Thursday.

That’s it. Back when I can be.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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Memphis 901 FC has made it to the playoff. The Western Conference quarterfinals will be this Saturday, November 2 at 1 PM, with Memphis hosting Orange County SC at AutoZone Park.

Flying Saucer will host a High Cotton and Flyway raffle Wednesday, November 6 at 7 PM. Drink any of those breweries’ beers between now and then to enter to win a High Cotton LED sign or a pair of Flyway cornhole boards. Must be present to win.

Former Tiger Jayden Hardaway (Penny’s son) has been selected in the NBA G League draft. He’ll be playing for the Capital City Go-Go, affiliate of the Washington Wizards. Jayden will be teammates with Dennis Rodman’s son DJ.

Penny’s Tigers lost 96-88 in an exhibition to 2 Alabama last night.

The Grizzlies lost last night as well, 126-123 to Chicago. They host the Brooklyn Nets at home Wednesday night, with the first 3000 fans getting a #GrizzVotes pin. TV: FanDuel Sports

It figures… heavy rain will move in on Halloween. Near-record highs for Memphis (mid 80s) today and tomorrow though.

Taste of Home has 46 Halloween food ideas.

MPD is looking at artificial intelligence to thwart street takeovers. The AI tech can detect the sound of drifting tires, allowing cops to get there before big crowds gather.

Memphis Social Bicycle Club meets at Downtown and Midtown locations to ride. Join them for a 1 PM ride this Sunday departing from Wiseacre Downtown.

There was a rally for the Trumpster at Madison Square Garden this past weekend. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe spoke and called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Many Americans of Puerto Rican descent are enraged. Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is very possibly THE swing state in next week’s election and it has a large Puerto Rican population.

Thinking about staying out today. I want to get some writing done on Medium and I’m thinking about attending serial killer/true crime trivia at the Saucer tonight. Back with more news when I get the chance.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Memphis Comic Expo is at the Renasant Convention Center today and tomorrow.

The Picklewich, a sandwich with giant pickle slices in the place of bread, rolls out at Jimmy John’s stores nationwide on Monday.

The Grizzlies host the Orlando Magic tonight at 7:00. The first 10,000 fans will receive a Grizzlies Classic Edition Reversible Bucket Hat.

The final Downtown Memphis Commission Alley Dayz party of the season will be in The Edge at Ugly Art Co., 635 Madison, Wednesday starting at 5:30 PM. Dress up in costume for Alley Ween.

I kinda want this:

The I-55 bridge is closed for construction for a few days beginning today.

Today is Hug a Sheep Day.

It’s also Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day. Because everything’s bigger in Texas, except the number of wins by the Dallas Cowboys.

Community Alliance for the Homeless seeks a CEO.

Moulin Rouge, the Musical is at the Orpheum next week.

Collage Dance Collective’s Firebird is at the Cannon Center this weekend.

For the first time since 1988, the Washington Post has elected not to endorse a presidential candidate.

San Francisco’s light rail system still depends on floppy disks to operate.

MATA’s laid-off trolley drivers have returned as bus drivers, but the goal is to get them back in their trolleys in 2025.

That’s all. Back when I can be.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Today is the second-to-last Wednesday for chicken curry as the Majestic Grille’s soup special. Come November, chili returns on Wednesdays.

A new convenience store, Sandra’s Sundries, is going to open on Adams between Front and Main in the northwest corner of the Claridge House. A sign in their window indicates they intend to carry beer.

College football games of interest Saturday:

• 12 Notre Dame at 24 Navy, 11:00 AM, ABC
• Oklahoma at 18 Ole Miss, 11:00 AM, ESPN
• Charlotte at Memphis, 11:00 AM, ESPNU
• Arkansas at Mississippi State, 11:45 AM, SEC Network
• 20 Illinois at 1 Oregon, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 21 Missouri at 15 Alabama, 2:30 PM, ABC
• 5 Texas at 25 Vanderbilt, 3:15 PM, SEC Network
• Troy at Arkansas State, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• 8 LSU at 14 Texas A&M, 6:30 PM, ABC

I walked all the way to the newly-reopened Zinnie’s Tuesday night and loved it. It was not busy/crowded at all and such a nice change of pace from the Downtown bars.

I got to chat with bartender Ashley and found out they’re still figuring out the menu. I told her how my mom and grandmother drove over in the summer of ’95 and we ate at Zinnie’s East. Ashley said if she could find a copy of that menu, she might consider bringing an item or two back from it.

For those of you who are Blind Bear alumni, the fabulous Maddie is working at Zinnie’s four nights a week. Tuesday was not one of them though.

I wish I could put Zinnie’s in my regular rotation of places to visit, but it’s so far away. I was wheezing and having to stop to lean against lamp posts on my walk back Downtown.

One other thing I like about Zinnie’s: They close at a HARD THREE every night. Not, “Well, we tell people we close at 3, but if there’s not a lot of people in here at 2:05 we might decide to close early.” I HATE IT when bars do that.

Downtown construction site managers: Suggestion for you based on some things I’ve seen. If your project location is a block from a bar, you might wanna subject your workers to a random Breathalyzer. Heavy machinery and being fucked up don’t go together. Just sayin…

Grizzlies 126, Utah 124 last night. Ja and Des each dropped 20+, which is to be expected, but so did Santi Aldama. Next up: Friday at Houston.

Back as soon as I can be.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com