Liberal Thinking At Its Best
This morning's Daily Breeze front page headlined a story "Lethal Injection Protocol Upheld" where in the Supremes by a 5-4 vote decided to go forward with the three drug lethal dosage thus potentially sending sadistic and senseless criminals to get in line for execution. They have been enjoying life for the past nine years. Granted it was on death row, but some of these men should have been killed at birth, such were their crimes.
Meanwhile:
Terminally ill patients and their loved ones are fighting for the Right to Die privilege to (currently) no avail.
So: let us coddle those poor murderers! God forbid they should suffer the pain of their victims!
People that were careless enough to get a terminal disease, well? They're gonna die anyhow, let's not waste any good drugs on them! Just keep their screams muffled and let Nature take its course.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
A Beautiful Edible Summer Favorite
Here in American Foodlandia, we celebrate season changes by what we eat. This is a favorite for several reasons - first and foremost it's not only good to eat, but cooling, too. It's lovely on a plain white plate. The eyes have to get hungry first...
Basically it's a "starter" or appetizer at the dinner table. It's a wonderful addition to the cocktail hour.
What am I babbling on about? You must know that it involves the French where the first of anything of the season is honored by a plate devoted to and only for the first of any season -- new peas, fresh corn, etc.
Thus Charentais or Cavalier melons, cut in large bite sizes
Wrap in prosciutto and put them on a shallow dish
Drizzle a good quality olive oil over them
Dust with two grinds of coarse sea salt
Eat.
Preferably on a shaded outdoor spot. Bon appetite!
Basically it's a "starter" or appetizer at the dinner table. It's a wonderful addition to the cocktail hour.
What am I babbling on about? You must know that it involves the French where the first of anything of the season is honored by a plate devoted to and only for the first of any season -- new peas, fresh corn, etc.
Thus Charentais or Cavalier melons, cut in large bite sizes
Wrap in prosciutto and put them on a shallow dish
Drizzle a good quality olive oil over them
Dust with two grinds of coarse sea salt
Eat.
Preferably on a shaded outdoor spot. Bon appetite!
Sunday, June 28, 2015
30 Hours in the Hospital
What They Do to You (none of it painful per se) but annoying never the less.
First off for a CT scan. They were looking for a clot of blood in my skull which could prove a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and none found. Not satisfied, they decided to keep me in for 24 hours' observation. Good as I am, I couldn't keep a rat entertained for 24 hours, but they insisted. Remember this was after the paramedics pronounced me "Okay."
After a wait, I was taken up to a single room on the 4th floor. Nothing much happened until evening when I was taken back downstairs for a carotid sonogram to see if anything was blocking them. There was not.
This was followed by an MRI -- or as I think of it trapped in a washing machine with boulders -- of my head
Nothing wrong there either.
Back to the room. A nurse told me that they weren't going to give me any hypertension drugs as they wanted to run my blood pressure 'way up to "saturate your brain with blood "So if you see, for example 200/180, don't be frightened."
In retrospect, why didn't they just let me go home? I'd cleared all of the other tests. Why did they want to give me a stroke? Hadn't I done enough for them by presenting "normal" in everything they could throw at me?
At bedtime, I was asked how I'd been sleeping? and I said "Not well - moving around in bed a lot to find a comfortable position. Soothingly I was told, "We'll we're just going to give you a light shot of morphine so you'll sleep well!" To my sure and certain knowledge morphine is not a sleep aid! Although abusers might find themselves "nodded out."
Subsequently somewhere in the dead of night, I was sleeping well. The only reason I woke up was hearing my name softly but repeatedly being said. Somewhat confused, I opened my eyes to find the face of the Asian male nurse 4 in. from my own.
Warning: if you're going to Providence Little Co. of Mary, pack a lunch. The food is beyond ghastly. This is what I ate during 28-30 hours there - 1/2 pack Cheetos and one half sparsely spread peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread.
If you are hydrated for any length of time you will pee like a racehorse for the next two days.
And I hope passionately that none of you ever do have to go there.
First off for a CT scan. They were looking for a clot of blood in my skull which could prove a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and none found. Not satisfied, they decided to keep me in for 24 hours' observation. Good as I am, I couldn't keep a rat entertained for 24 hours, but they insisted. Remember this was after the paramedics pronounced me "Okay."
After a wait, I was taken up to a single room on the 4th floor. Nothing much happened until evening when I was taken back downstairs for a carotid sonogram to see if anything was blocking them. There was not.
This was followed by an MRI -- or as I think of it trapped in a washing machine with boulders -- of my head
Nothing wrong there either.
Back to the room. A nurse told me that they weren't going to give me any hypertension drugs as they wanted to run my blood pressure 'way up to "saturate your brain with blood "So if you see, for example 200/180, don't be frightened."
In retrospect, why didn't they just let me go home? I'd cleared all of the other tests. Why did they want to give me a stroke? Hadn't I done enough for them by presenting "normal" in everything they could throw at me?
At bedtime, I was asked how I'd been sleeping? and I said "Not well - moving around in bed a lot to find a comfortable position. Soothingly I was told, "We'll we're just going to give you a light shot of morphine so you'll sleep well!" To my sure and certain knowledge morphine is not a sleep aid! Although abusers might find themselves "nodded out."
Subsequently somewhere in the dead of night, I was sleeping well. The only reason I woke up was hearing my name softly but repeatedly being said. Somewhat confused, I opened my eyes to find the face of the Asian male nurse 4 in. from my own.
Warning: if you're going to Providence Little Co. of Mary, pack a lunch. The food is beyond ghastly. This is what I ate during 28-30 hours there - 1/2 pack Cheetos and one half sparsely spread peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread.
If you are hydrated for any length of time you will pee like a racehorse for the next two days.
And I hope passionately that none of you ever do have to go there.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
30 Hours in the Hospital
How I Got There in the 1st Place
Coming home from an errand, as Richie began to back down the driveway, my left hand began to tingle with "pins and needles" and when I dismounted from the front seat, I ... felt funny. Richie handed me the walker and I said something to him and noticed I was slurring my words and the left side of my lower lip was numb - like Novocain.
I sat on the edge of the daybed in the office while he called the paramedics. Soon enough they showed up - four of them with more on the way.. Three were in uniform and the 4th had on his turnout's jacket. I looked at him and asked, "Did you think I would pee on you?"
Guffaws.
They ran me through the heart attack drill (which I'd already done for Richie - raise both arms straight up, smile/grimace, touch your nose, stick your arms straight out and touch the para's nose) took blood pressure, EKG,asked many questions as to onset, duration (15 to 20 seconds and gone. Slurring gone.
The guy examining me said that everything was normal, implying false alarm as there was nothing the matter with me. "Good," I said. "I thought I'd be a catch and release.
But! Wait! The other three launched into protests, aimed at me - better to be safe than sorry Let us take you over to the ER for a better look and foolishly I acceded. Which I will never do again - even if they are stark naked except for a loincloth and closely resembling a much younger Brad Pitt. Fuhgeddabout it.
On the other hand, in my defense (Ladies, many of you will understand) when three devilishly attractive - handsome men, totally fit, 30s to early 40s - want you to do
something you may well do it.
We all had a nice visit in the ambulance while Himself followed in his car. We will take our leave of our heroine in the ambulance bay of the Providence Little Co. of Mary ER door.
Coming home from an errand, as Richie began to back down the driveway, my left hand began to tingle with "pins and needles" and when I dismounted from the front seat, I ... felt funny. Richie handed me the walker and I said something to him and noticed I was slurring my words and the left side of my lower lip was numb - like Novocain.
I sat on the edge of the daybed in the office while he called the paramedics. Soon enough they showed up - four of them with more on the way.. Three were in uniform and the 4th had on his turnout's jacket. I looked at him and asked, "Did you think I would pee on you?"
Guffaws.
They ran me through the heart attack drill (which I'd already done for Richie - raise both arms straight up, smile/grimace, touch your nose, stick your arms straight out and touch the para's nose) took blood pressure, EKG,asked many questions as to onset, duration (15 to 20 seconds and gone. Slurring gone.
The guy examining me said that everything was normal, implying false alarm as there was nothing the matter with me. "Good," I said. "I thought I'd be a catch and release.
But! Wait! The other three launched into protests, aimed at me - better to be safe than sorry Let us take you over to the ER for a better look and foolishly I acceded. Which I will never do again - even if they are stark naked except for a loincloth and closely resembling a much younger Brad Pitt. Fuhgeddabout it.
On the other hand, in my defense (Ladies, many of you will understand) when three devilishly attractive - handsome men, totally fit, 30s to early 40s - want you to do
something you may well do it.
We all had a nice visit in the ambulance while Himself followed in his car. We will take our leave of our heroine in the ambulance bay of the Providence Little Co. of Mary ER door.
Friday, June 26, 2015
1st Things 1st
I feared a hip replacement. However, I can npw put my fears back in a suitcase in the closet.
CT Report
Findings - There are fractures of the superior and inferior of the right pubic bone. Fracture lines are seen within the body of the rt. pubic bone as well. Callus formation is seen at both fracture sites, but these fractures don't do not yet appear completely healed. The soft tissues are unremarkable. The sacroiliac joints appear intact.
Impressions
Good alignment of the rt. femoral neck following hip fracture.
The screws across the fracture are in the femoral head and appear to be in a good position.
Incidental right superior and inferior pubic bone fractures with fracture lines involving the rt. body of the pubic bone as well.
There is callus formation of the pubic bone fractures as well.
There is callus formation but the fractures are not healed. THIS COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE PATIENT'S EXCESSIVE PAIN.
Healing is taking place. Patience and no further incidents and I should be okay.
And some good dope wouldn't hurt!
CT Report
Findings - There are fractures of the superior and inferior of the right pubic bone. Fracture lines are seen within the body of the rt. pubic bone as well. Callus formation is seen at both fracture sites, but these fractures don't do not yet appear completely healed. The soft tissues are unremarkable. The sacroiliac joints appear intact.
Impressions
Good alignment of the rt. femoral neck following hip fracture.
The screws across the fracture are in the femoral head and appear to be in a good position.
Incidental right superior and inferior pubic bone fractures with fracture lines involving the rt. body of the pubic bone as well.
There is callus formation of the pubic bone fractures as well.
There is callus formation but the fractures are not healed. THIS COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE PATIENT'S EXCESSIVE PAIN.
Healing is taking place. Patience and no further incidents and I should be okay.
And some good dope wouldn't hurt!
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Erasing History?
This is a reference to the South Carolina natives fussing about displaying the Confederate flag.
I agree with a Letters to the Editor writer who pointed out that is foolish to think that abolishing a flag will stop the seriously deranged from going on rampages and conducting mass shootings.
But an underlying tinkling bell of concern in my thinking is that the Civil War happened. It's fact. The United States of that day went to war against each other.
Is this proposed flag ban the beginning of an attempted historical change? You know -- like the 6 million Jews that never died in the Holocaust?
I agree with a Letters to the Editor writer who pointed out that is foolish to think that abolishing a flag will stop the seriously deranged from going on rampages and conducting mass shootings.
But an underlying tinkling bell of concern in my thinking is that the Civil War happened. It's fact. The United States of that day went to war against each other.
Is this proposed flag ban the beginning of an attempted historical change? You know -- like the 6 million Jews that never died in the Holocaust?
Monday, June 22, 2015
Lifelong Compliments
There are compliments that one will remember for life, possibly because they are so far afield of what you think of yourself. Someone has seized on something good about you that you never would have expected.
I have had three such compliments in my life and currently I'm 75. Sadly they were given me in the '70s (and none since) and I was in my 30s back then. Clearly I peaked early and haven't done anything noteworthy since.
Ah, well.
First: I worked as a secretary for East/West Network which published the magazines found on airlines. I wiggled my way into non-secretarial jobs (wrote the PSA coming events column and shot the first Long Beach Grand Prix) which is neither here nor there.
I stopped at Reception one fine day and in conversation with Audrey, said receptionist, we got into some kind of conversation that came to a conclusion when she took my hand and told me, "You've got soul" which, since she was of mixed race, really tickled me.
Second: I worked for a Jewish lawyer in Beverly Hills and one day he looked at me and said, "Goyisher punim; Yiddisher kupf." I looked puzzled. He laughed and said, " Gentile face, Jewish brain" which I thought was so notable that I've remembered it to this day.
He later blotted his copy book when I came back from lunch, prancing and strutting around his office to show off my white, brand new London Fog raincoat. He studied me, laughed and tossed about a paragraph of Yiddish on me. "Huh" I gaped? He said, "Only a slob buys white." I think that may been a curse because ever since that remark, I have never worn white that I didn't spill on it.
The third: And I kind of think you had to be there - I was a word processor for Daum/Johnston, a commercial real estate firm with some 27 salesmen so a second woman was hired and we shared an office. We got along immediately; we socialized - we were close.
One fine day, we were working away and she asked me to hand her something or do something for her - can't remember - and I stuck out my forearm and said, "Does this look black to you?" (and the compliment was) that she exploded into laughter. And thereafter, if I asked her for something, she would wordlessly stick out her forearm and look questioningly at me. And we'd roar all over again.
I have had three such compliments in my life and currently I'm 75. Sadly they were given me in the '70s (and none since) and I was in my 30s back then. Clearly I peaked early and haven't done anything noteworthy since.
Ah, well.
First: I worked as a secretary for East/West Network which published the magazines found on airlines. I wiggled my way into non-secretarial jobs (wrote the PSA coming events column and shot the first Long Beach Grand Prix) which is neither here nor there.
I stopped at Reception one fine day and in conversation with Audrey, said receptionist, we got into some kind of conversation that came to a conclusion when she took my hand and told me, "You've got soul" which, since she was of mixed race, really tickled me.
Second: I worked for a Jewish lawyer in Beverly Hills and one day he looked at me and said, "Goyisher punim; Yiddisher kupf." I looked puzzled. He laughed and said, " Gentile face, Jewish brain" which I thought was so notable that I've remembered it to this day.
He later blotted his copy book when I came back from lunch, prancing and strutting around his office to show off my white, brand new London Fog raincoat. He studied me, laughed and tossed about a paragraph of Yiddish on me. "Huh" I gaped? He said, "Only a slob buys white." I think that may been a curse because ever since that remark, I have never worn white that I didn't spill on it.
The third: And I kind of think you had to be there - I was a word processor for Daum/Johnston, a commercial real estate firm with some 27 salesmen so a second woman was hired and we shared an office. We got along immediately; we socialized - we were close.
One fine day, we were working away and she asked me to hand her something or do something for her - can't remember - and I stuck out my forearm and said, "Does this look black to you?" (and the compliment was) that she exploded into laughter. And thereafter, if I asked her for something, she would wordlessly stick out her forearm and look questioningly at me. And we'd roar all over again.
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