This Cecil the Lion thing puzzles me. Why is the PETA awe-rolling ardent animal support group going after an obscure dentist (a dentist fa Gawd's sake)?
The guilty parties are clearly the natives who lured the poor sunuvabitch out of his habitat and into his doom. And who advertised (presumably) in hunting magazines about the availability of a real lion to shoot? Those are the guilty parties to me.
This mornings L.A. Times devoted an inordinate amount of space to the fact ((I guess) that our freeways don't match architectural styles! What you're seeing out of your windows is a mishmash! The horror! You go from "natural" hill protection to manmade slide stoppers! All in a space of perhaps 8 miles when you aren't focused on the traffic around you. This is an outrage just not to be born!
For those aesthetes traveling such as the 405, for example, this is almost the trigger for a nervous breakdown.
There were strong hints that we need to start making our freeways more unified in their appearance. This is almost as big a bad idea as the "bullet train to Nowhere" and goes far to explain why California in it's entirety has earned the reputation as "The Land of the Flakes and Nuts."
This would have never flitted across my radar screen had I not see it mentioned in the Daily News, UK --Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn have been together for the past 23 years. The happy couple are now 79 and 44 respectively. And Allen is quoted as saying, "I thought it was just a fling."
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Being Funny for 101 Years
Yesterday was a comic named "Professor" Irwin Corey's 101 birthday. I looked him up only being familiar with his name. Of note: he and his wife were married for 70 years!
Now that's a goal!
In other news, the surgeon removed 10 staples from my butt (Richie counted) and my ass didn't fall off, so progress is being made.
However when the PT lady came this afternoon she indicated that she was less than best pleased at my progress. She issued a series of exercises that are to be done seven times per day. She got me up on the exercise bike (which I enjoyed) and told me I have to ride seven times a day. To my sister in Chicago - look for me around New Year's Day.
Now that's a goal!
In other news, the surgeon removed 10 staples from my butt (Richie counted) and my ass didn't fall off, so progress is being made.
However when the PT lady came this afternoon she indicated that she was less than best pleased at my progress. She issued a series of exercises that are to be done seven times per day. She got me up on the exercise bike (which I enjoyed) and told me I have to ride seven times a day. To my sister in Chicago - look for me around New Year's Day.
Monday, July 27, 2015
In the News
Obituary
Bobbi Kristina Brown has died, at the ripe old age of 22. She spent the last six months in a coma, following an ill-fated attempt to emulate her mother who drowned trying to scuba dive in mere inches of bathwater.
Oh, the furor (for Mommie)! Given the usual media hysteria when a noted person dies, I am expecting front pages re decedent's property and estate except for the fact that all valuables have apparently been recovered by family well before the issuance of the death certificate.
So let's move on.
California pundits (or those that consider themselves such) are wetting themselves with excitement about the presumed increase to $15/hour minimum wage. In the resulting exultations, this pertinent fact was not highlighted: 50% of Californians work for our government. It seems to me that firing 50% of them would be a good start.
Physical therapy resumes this afternoon. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death ... (JOKE)
Bobbi Kristina Brown has died, at the ripe old age of 22. She spent the last six months in a coma, following an ill-fated attempt to emulate her mother who drowned trying to scuba dive in mere inches of bathwater.
Oh, the furor (for Mommie)! Given the usual media hysteria when a noted person dies, I am expecting front pages re decedent's property and estate except for the fact that all valuables have apparently been recovered by family well before the issuance of the death certificate.
So let's move on.
California pundits (or those that consider themselves such) are wetting themselves with excitement about the presumed increase to $15/hour minimum wage. In the resulting exultations, this pertinent fact was not highlighted: 50% of Californians work for our government. It seems to me that firing 50% of them would be a good start.
Physical therapy resumes this afternoon. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death ... (JOKE)
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Reread
As I suspected, whined yesterday.
One a brighter note, the Daily Breeze ran my letter on "Grey Water Cocktails" this morning. Originally ran 7/3/15.
One a brighter note, the Daily Breeze ran my letter on "Grey Water Cocktails" this morning. Originally ran 7/3/15.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Home Again
Got home yesterday(Friday) around noon when they finally released me. Surgeon wouldn't let me go until after one more round of physical therapy. I was three days post-op.
After laboriously making it up the stairs, I couldn't stand up without getting dizzy so I spent the night upstairs in a chair especially rigged so that my hips were positioned above my knees. Richie wouldn't leave me, so he chaired it, too. The night passed uneventfully.
And so has the day in my chair. Day 5. I was malnourished and dehydrated (another reason to hate hospitals) so today I have eaten every three hours (semi-solids such as yogurt) An easily my own weight's worth of water and I still haven't peed.
I mention these details in answer to this Q/A - Isn't a hip replacement easy peasy? The answer is a RESOUNDING - NO.
After laboriously making it up the stairs, I couldn't stand up without getting dizzy so I spent the night upstairs in a chair especially rigged so that my hips were positioned above my knees. Richie wouldn't leave me, so he chaired it, too. The night passed uneventfully.
And so has the day in my chair. Day 5. I was malnourished and dehydrated (another reason to hate hospitals) so today I have eaten every three hours (semi-solids such as yogurt) An easily my own weight's worth of water and I still haven't peed.
I mention these details in answer to this Q/A - Isn't a hip replacement easy peasy? The answer is a RESOUNDING - NO.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Packing For the Hospital
To this day, pregnant women pack a little bag and put it where it's at hand for the dash to the hospital. I looked at the lists of various items that Moms consider absolutely necessary and I needed exactly none of them. I did pack three Depends because: who knows if I'll be able to get out of bed, still somewhat dazed from the anesthetic and then do something stupid like trying to pee out of a window. Rather not chance it.
Much like pregnant women, elective surgery patients need to pack a bag, too. I imagine that upscale women bring their own Porthault bed linens, personal scent to spray around the room, boxes of Lady Godiva for visitors and a supply of flower vases for the offerings.
My bag is considerably simpler. Two changes of clothes (in case I get stuck here for three days, not two;) several paperback books, a sweatshirt as hospital rooms would generally also be useful for hanging sides of beef, make-up and that's about it.
I have given a great deal more thought to this morning's outfit. Ancient khaki shorts (because they are easy to peel down and pull back up as the nurses check the incision site or do whatever else that requires looking at one's derriere) and a favorite t-shirt that reads "Get Over It!" to cheer my own self. Plus I have never worn it without it getting a compliment.
A hospital, for God's sake, should be a slam dunk.
To give Staff a laugh I will be wearing a pair of fluorescent orange "Cheekies" from Victoria's Secret. I don't think many 75 year old women wear them. And this is only the second wearing for me. Lace itches.
We have to be there at 11:30 a.m. for a surgery presumed to begin at 1 p.m., into Recovery by 3 p.m., out of there by maximum 5 p.m. and then DINNER and a BIG drink of water!
To avoid the Michelle Obama Memorial cafeteria, Richie will leg it over to Guiliani's for Italian sandwiches. And so to sleep. Ready to kick ass tomorrow morning.
Much like pregnant women, elective surgery patients need to pack a bag, too. I imagine that upscale women bring their own Porthault bed linens, personal scent to spray around the room, boxes of Lady Godiva for visitors and a supply of flower vases for the offerings.
My bag is considerably simpler. Two changes of clothes (in case I get stuck here for three days, not two;) several paperback books, a sweatshirt as hospital rooms would generally also be useful for hanging sides of beef, make-up and that's about it.
I have given a great deal more thought to this morning's outfit. Ancient khaki shorts (because they are easy to peel down and pull back up as the nurses check the incision site or do whatever else that requires looking at one's derriere) and a favorite t-shirt that reads "Get Over It!" to cheer my own self. Plus I have never worn it without it getting a compliment.
A hospital, for God's sake, should be a slam dunk.
To give Staff a laugh I will be wearing a pair of fluorescent orange "Cheekies" from Victoria's Secret. I don't think many 75 year old women wear them. And this is only the second wearing for me. Lace itches.
We have to be there at 11:30 a.m. for a surgery presumed to begin at 1 p.m., into Recovery by 3 p.m., out of there by maximum 5 p.m. and then DINNER and a BIG drink of water!
To avoid the Michelle Obama Memorial cafeteria, Richie will leg it over to Guiliani's for Italian sandwiches. And so to sleep. Ready to kick ass tomorrow morning.
Monday, July 20, 2015
24 Hours
Yesterday morning I woke up to sheer terror (about tomorrow's surgery to replace my right hip.) What if it didn't work? What if it did work and I broke it somehow? (And I wasn't even out of bed yet.) Yes it was a major case of the fantods and purpose tremors.
Today? Woke up as sunny as a day at the beach. After all, some 323,000 hip replacements are done annually. Before you "Ooooh" about that, know that it's nearly double that figure for knee replacements.
More positives: I will be on the 2nd floor, not the 4th. The nursing staff up there is friendly and professional, but the "doctor" who is responsible for all of the patients on 4 is not. She never showed up after having been called for until hours later. I got the distinct impression that she loves swanning about on 4, taking her own sweet time to respond.
As I am not a pussy (like her staff) I shrugged and checked myself out AMA (Against Medical Advice) both times. This did not inspire cozy warmth on the part of the nurses and in retaliation they only removed half of the cardiac leads (which is no big deal.)
Lastly: because I have had nearly four months on a walker, have done the exercises ordered, am expecting to be able to go home well within the "1 or 2 days post op."
The point of this is - don't succumb to terror (like I did) but instead realize you are going to get much-needed help, pain pills galore and CHEER UP!
Today? Woke up as sunny as a day at the beach. After all, some 323,000 hip replacements are done annually. Before you "Ooooh" about that, know that it's nearly double that figure for knee replacements.
More positives: I will be on the 2nd floor, not the 4th. The nursing staff up there is friendly and professional, but the "doctor" who is responsible for all of the patients on 4 is not. She never showed up after having been called for until hours later. I got the distinct impression that she loves swanning about on 4, taking her own sweet time to respond.
As I am not a pussy (like her staff) I shrugged and checked myself out AMA (Against Medical Advice) both times. This did not inspire cozy warmth on the part of the nurses and in retaliation they only removed half of the cardiac leads (which is no big deal.)
Lastly: because I have had nearly four months on a walker, have done the exercises ordered, am expecting to be able to go home well within the "1 or 2 days post op."
The point of this is - don't succumb to terror (like I did) but instead realize you are going to get much-needed help, pain pills galore and CHEER UP!
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