An Unexpected Case Study

The morning arrived and with the various blood draws, vital stats, tasteless meals, and another day of sheer boredom, I was greeted with an unusual request.  Would I be willing to be interviewed by a 2nd year medical school student named Jeb.  He spent about an hour with me.  Asked some good questions and then assembled a presentation to the rest of the group.  There were a total of 7 students and two advisers  I was open and honest about my current situation and it made for some good discussion.  It was a great way to see the morning pass by a little more quickly.  If there was one thing that I tried to get across to them was to not judge a book by its' cover and I think some of them got it.

At the end, the adviser held back and shared it was one of the most engaging and interesting sessions he had been involved with in the past several years.  That made me feel good.  This afternoon I received a nice Thank You card from Jeb for my time and being willing to share so openly.  Go figure.

The move is happening at the main office today and so will look forward to hearing how I went.  I know there have been multiple bumps to say the least.  Damon even went over and helped them out today as they were so far behind.  He'll be stopping by later to share.  And so goes another day in the hospital.  Who knows how many more?

An Interesting Perspective

As the saga continues, it is interesting to see how it is the little things that make the day proceed.  There is a whole lot of hurry up and rush in order to come to a dead stand still and do nothing.  Case in point, I was going to order lunch just before noon.  Suddenly, told no, I was being moved.  Well, they pack me up, get everything ready and nothing.  Seriously, I am laying there in a deflated bed for nearly 3 hours waiting for something to happen.  Then the move is anything but smooth as no one knows how to handle the equipment.  I am stunned.

Finally up to new room by 3:30pm and getting settled.  Totally different space and feel.  A lot less attention as well as tubes, wires and alarms.  But you are left much more to your own accord.  In my case they are still watching with an eagle's eye on fluids and making sure things proceed.  There is a nurse's assistant who is an angel, Sheron.  She is the first person to make me laugh in 4 days, thank you!!  She has a caring touch that is lacking on many others.  And so I get settled in a regular room.

Life Refocus

So this trip is at Swedish Cherry Hill.  I was here back in June.  It is an older facility.  Things are a tad different here than over at First Hill.  It is a kind of step sister to First Hill.  Much older building.  They are working at doing some renovations, but let me share, the TV selection still sucks.  In my room in the ICU I get a couple of stations, but most are full of fuzzyiness and so just trying to keep myself entertained.

The bed is not comfortable, but the chair is pretty nice and so sit up as much as allowed.  On a restrictive renal diet and oh can I share that they have now dropped the liquid restriction and in fact gave me a liter of fluid IV to get me peeing again.  Not a happy camper about this situation.

Not The Saturday I Had Planned

Woke up early and chatted with Michael as he set off on his journey to celebrate his retirement from teaching.  He is doing a road trip to the southwest to take in balloon fiesta in New Mexico.  It will be fun to follow his journey through his travel postings.  After the call, I fell asleep for another hour and got up to use the restroom.  Upon returning to the bedroom I could not get my breath, skin turned cold and clammy while I sweated profusely.  Things were not improving and Damon became concerned.  By 9:30am he called 911, a call I did not want to see made as I had just been home from the hospital a little more than a week.

The ambulance situation was just odd.  Sitting on a stool down in the lobby wrapped in a blanket for over an hour surrounded by firemen medics awaiting proper ambulance.  Then getting to the hospital only to end up waiting 7+ hours for a room as there was a problem with getting a bed.  I was totally exhausted by the time I got to my room at nearly 10pm.

Appears my last visit to the hospital set this all in process.  They cut back my fluids and yet kept diuretics at 120mg daily.  Additionally, they did nothing to cutback on my potassium.  That was the big problem.  Over the course of the week, the excess potassium is what made the kidneys start to shut down.  Not a good thing.  So now it is time to get this under control and there are some changes that are going to be made.  Not doing this thing all over again.  Rob, Jodie, Damon and Curtis were all amazing today - thank you all!

Amazing Race 25 Begins

Filming began in the early morning of May 31, 2014 at Times Square in New York City. In contrast to the starts of previous races, which were typically held in private or restricted-access locations to prevent potential spoilers, CBS invited fans to appear at the start line and see the teams off. The publicity of the Times Square start led CBS to announce the identities of the competing teams the same day. The public start also revealed that instead of the Express Pass teams would be awarded a new immunity from elimination pass for coming first in the first leg, which can be used by that team if they come in last place on an elimination leg before Leg 9.

This season will span 26,000 miles (42,000 km) through eight countries, including first time visits to the United States Virgin Islands, Malta, and the Shetland Islands of Scotland.

Chaos At Hand

So for how long did the owner know we were going to have to move out of our space.  Did he do anything to prepare, not really.  We set things in motion to move tomorrow.  Well, sure enough, he goes and drags feet and now everything slated for tomorrow has been moved to next week.  It is exhausting to try and keep up with how crazy all this is.  Calling phone vendors, equipment vendors, arranging movers and trying to not blow up.  It is not easy.

Add to it all the craziness is that the hotel for the conference I am putting together for next year has pulled the rug from out under me so scrambling to get a new hotel in place.  Never a dull moment, but that keeps life interesting.  Looks like I have a replacement in play at this point and this is a very good thing.  So glad it is Friday Eve!

Catching Up

As some of you might have noticed, I was getting a tad behind on the blog.  Life happens and that is just the way it is.  Well, I decided to take a few minutes this day and play catch up on the blog.  Monday was catching up on the bills and yesterday was catching up on the emails.  The apartment is slowly getting caught up and Damon is a major help there.  It is slowly coming together and so there you go.  At times you just have to throw the arms up and say "I give" and in the end it is all ok!  Happy Hump Day!

Lake Of The Woods

My Aunt Pauline painted this years ago and my brother sent it a few weeks ago.  It is a picture of a cabin we used to have up at Lake of the Woods.  Many a summer were spent up there.  It was a simple structure with an outhouse out back.  For years no running water or electricity and that was just fine.  Ah, to think back.  The one detail missing was the big deck out front that was used a lot.

Autumn Arrives

At 7:29pm pacific time to be precise.  Quite happy.  Here we come autumn and indeed it is my favorite time of the year.  Survived another summer.  This one had way too many days in 80+ temps.  Ick.

95 Days & Counting

A friend posted this on facebook and it made me laugh.  1989 and by the way this store has been out of business for years.  But look at some of the prices and the toys...Ninja Turtles are back and popular as ever!

Saturday = Slugday

Well, I sort of pushed myself the past two days and boy when I woke up this morning I knew it.  The body was just drained.  So I am going to take multiple naps and watch stupid TV and in general not do a whole lot and that if fine by me.  Enjoy your weekend!

Something To Think About

Finally Leaving Swedish...

Seriously...I had been cooped up at the apartment for weeks, but getting out of the hospital was awesome.  Thank you Rob for coming and getting me.  Thanks to the amazing nurses, especially Dan, George and Nathan.  The legs have not looked this good in years!  Damon has been so good to me since getting home.  And oh am I looking forward to a good night's sleep!

America's Got Talent Finale

Here is the grand prize winner on America's Got Talent.  A magician who is pretty damn good.  The picture includes the 4 judges from the season.  For once the person I wanted to win actually did!

Still At Swedish

This has been my home away from home for the past week.  It seems things are getting better, but let me tell you that the bed is too short and the chair cuts into my thighs.  Food is adequate.  The thing that made this an awesome day was that Damon got back in town tonight and it was so good to see him.

Let's Talk Dance

A friend posted on facebook and it amused me...Happy Monday!

Star Spangled Banner - 200th

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

 

Weekend At First Hill

So the weekend had me in room 653 in ICU, the same room that I was in a couple of times back in 2012.  Odd seeing people I had seen back then.  Amazing at how many people remembered me.  Several stopped by to say hello.  Lot of tests and a lot of evacuating of fluid going on.  Over three days lost 7 liters of fluid.  My oh my.  Found out that I have been drinking too much water.  Who knew!?  So now on restrictions. 

Finally got to have a sandwich in the afternoon and a stir-fry Saturday night.  Lots of tests and blood draws.  The bed is a tad short, but it manageable.  Have a chair to be able to sit in for a break.  Rob and Jodie were gems and came over not once, but twice with things for me to use.  Oh that would include my laptop so I could get a bit caught up on the blog.

So now we shall see how long I will be here.  No indication as of Saturday night.  Damon arrives back in Seattle on Tuesday.  We shall see.  What I know is that they still offer a pretty sucky schedule on TV.  But then again, I am alive.

Not Quite The Day I Had Planned

Woke up at 3AM and had congestion in my chest.  Discomfort and feeling that I was not getting enough oxygen.  Numbers were low and so turned up to 3 units per minute from 2.  No noticeable change.  Morning passes and continue feeling rotten and chest getting tighter.  Tired and at times disoriented.  Do not feel I can sleep.  Need to keep going.  Have a sandwich at lunch even though not hungry.  Call Dr. Huseby now.  Got Diane, his nurse.  Made some suggestions.  Continued to get more exhausted and knew it was not getting better.  Finally called doctor on call at 6:30pm and after a discussion, she had me call 911.

This is the kind of ambulance that took me to the hospital.  Quite the production and was sent right into the Emergency Room and at one point 8 people were working on me.  Lungs totally clogged with fluid as were my legs - they had swelled as the night progressed.  Breathing was challenging.  By 1:45am I was in ICU and found out it was the absolute right call to make.  So this was not how I had planned the weekend to kick off, but in the end it is how it was.

Memories

Remembering September 11, 2001 as I remember many happier September days spent in New York. Photo taken from Jersey City, likely about this time in 1987 the year when I moved up there.  Such a different time.

Lemons Become Lemonade

I have a friend in NYC by the name of Rebecca.  She has been my go to person for Broadway anything for years.  She was the person who I was eating breakfast with when she introduced me to Jude Law and I had no clue who he was.  But that is a whole other story.  So here is a great tale she shared.

"Here's my lemonade. Change of plan this morning due to a flat tire led me to clean out a closet where I found these earrings my husband had made for me for our wedding. I've been looking for them for five years. Thanks Uny, were good now & the new tires aren't too shabby either."

Naps, A Joy Of Life

A study evaluating the recuperative effects of short and ultra short naps found that napping for 5-10 minutes can create a heightened sense of alertness and increased cognitive ability when comparing to not taking a nap at all.

If you are looking for a quick recharge: nap for 5 – 20 minutes.

If you are looking for deeper sleep rejuvenation: nap for 60 – 90 minutes.

Final tip: When you take your shorter naps, sit up slightly as it will allow you to avoid falling into a deeper sleep. If you dream during these power naps, it could be a sign that you are sleep deprived.  Note to self - I am sleep deprived!!

Happy 350th Birthday

New York City celebrates its 350th birthday today after being officially renamed from New Amsterdam. Here's a list of wacky, weird and wonderful facts about one of the greatest places in the world.

1. The Interborough Rapid Transit Subway was the first subway company in New York City. On Oct. 27, 1904, the first subway line opened.  Some facts: 10,000 men were employed to construct the subway. More than 71,000 tons of steel and nearly 10,000 tons of cast iron were used as well as more than half a million yards of concrete and nearly a million square yards of waterproofing.

2. The longest-running show on Broadway is Phantom of the Opera. It officially opened on Jan. 26, 1988.

3. Strawberry Fields, a living memorial to John Lennon, is designated as a quiet zone in Central Park, meaning dogs, running, rollerblading and bike riding are prohibited.

4. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's gold vault is on the basement floor. As of 2012, the vault housed about 530,000 gold bars, which weigh about 6,700 tons. The vault is able to support the weight because it sits on the bedrock of Manhattan Island, according to the Federal Reserve website.

5. The iconic Hudson River, where Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III miraculously landed a plane in 2009, was first explored by Henry Hudson in 1609.

6. Weekend at The Waldorf in 1945 was the first major motion picture filmed completely in a hotel and outside of Hollywood's studios.

7. There were 19,651,127 people living in New York compared with 316,128,839 living in the USA in 2013, according to the United States Census Bureau.

8. The original Yankee Stadium in the Bronx was baseball's first triple-decked structure, according to MLB.com. It would also be the first to be called a "stadium."

9. Leslie Buck designed the signature Anthora cardboard coffee cup, which was first used in the 1960s. The simple text, though there have been variations, was "We Are Happy To Serve You." Variations of the cup have been sold as tourist memorabilia, including mugs, change purses, tote bags and cuff links.

10. In 1883, The Times dropped its daily price to 2 cents on weekdays to compete with The Sun and The World. The daily crossword puzzle was introduced in 1950. Now, seven-day delivery of The New York Times costs under $9 a week. (That's with the 50% off the regular subscription rate). And home subscribers get unlimited access to digital platforms.


11. Where does the term "The Big Apple" come from when referring to New York? According to Barry Popik, it was a phrase from the New York Morning Telegraph sports writer John J. Fitz Gerald in the 1920s. In one column, he said: "The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York."

12. In 1976, the Empire State Building Observatory welcomed its 50 millionth visitor. And in 1980 the building got its own ZIP code: 10118.


13. According to the New York City Department of Homeless Services, the annual survey found 3,357 unsheltered individuals living on the streets, parks and in other public spaces of the city this January. It is a 6% increase over the previous year.

With thanks to Jessica Durando, USA TODAY Network for these fun facts.

Canada Ahoy!

So a couple of weeks ago it is announced that Burger King is buying Tom Horton's up in Canada and flipping their corporate headquarters up there (on paper only) to avoid paying about $10 million in taxes.  Mind you, Canada is also the only country that I cannot enter in the entire free world due to their archaic laws that really need to be updated.

 Well, now Canada is invading the US via Trader Joe's.  Yes, they have begun selling Poutine in their stores.  This is a party staple of Canadians and one that I just do not understand.  You take perfectly good french fries and then dump cheese curds on them and smother everything in gravy.  Ick.  I do not think it will be on my next shopping trip to TJ's.

OMG - There Really Is A Disney Food Blog

So the Disney Food Blog covers all the different food comings and goings at the various parks.  Who knew?  I came to find this out when I saw the above posted on facebook.  Really, a mac & cheese cone with bacon.  Oh but it gets better.  Click here for the full story on this tasty treat.  So now, I guess I have another blog to follow...it's getting out of control!

Attention Please...

Autumn has arrived according to Starbucks.  Not one to miss an opportunity to merchandise as much as possible Starbucks decided to start selling the pumpkin spice latte a few weeks early this year.  I saw this breakdown and was amused.  Oh I am guilty of buying one or two of them...but that is about all I can handle.  Same goes for the eggnog latte.  It is a craving that is quickly satisfied.

I Will Miss Joan Rivers

From www.joanrivers.com:

“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother.

Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated.

My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.”

Melissa Rivers

A New Addition

Yesterday my new stool arrived for the kitchen.  It is such a change from what I had in there.  The old stool had a hydraulic center column that finally gave out.  This new one is a solid core and you basically spin it around counter clockwise to get the height just where you want it.  Quite nice and comfortable.  The one thing I am not a fan of is the locking wheels, but Moonsong made a good suggestion.  I shall get some duck tape and tape them in an open position.

The other stool has been sent to the recycle yard and it opened up space in the kitchen.  So now I can manage around the kitchen without as much challenge being so low to the ground.  Amazing at how it is the little things that makes life more manageable.  Now I just need to get to unpacking the boxes of knick-knacks that were delivered from the office.  It will be challenging in that there are so many memories, but I really need to let some of them go.

The Power Of Electricity

Electricity - boy you sure do not miss it until you don't have it.  Case in point was this afternoon.  Power went out at 3:50pm and was out for just over 2 hours.  They had predicted more like 3, but boy it was nice to have the power come back on.  It was strangely quiet which was nice.  The various machines humming around the apartment do create quite the white noise.

Switched to my emergency back-up tank of oxygen and felt like Maggie Smith's character in "Divine Secrets of YaYa Sisterhood" which is not a bad thing.  I really liked her in that movie.  So things are back to normal and I have an ever greater appreciation of the power of electricity.  

Holiday Break

It has been a lazy weekend and that is fine by me.  Hope y'all had a good weekend and we will check in with you tomorrow.  Have a good day!