Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Truth is Below the Surface
There is a Buddhist Proverb that says, ‘When the student is ready the master will come.’ I don‘t proclaim to be a Buddhist, but I do proclaim to be a seeker of truth. I believe that there is truthfulness in this proverb. I believe that I am down in Loma Linda for more than just my prostate treatment. I sense that there is a lesson that I am to learn or some knowledge I am to gain. Maybe an experience that I am supposed to go through. Whatever it is, while I am here I want to be ready for it whatever it is.
Friday, March 19, 2010
The YMCA, the YMCA .....not really, but it's a gym.
The first few days after I started working out at the gym I felt like I had been subjected to some new type of old Medieval torture racks. In fact, during the first week all the gym equipment looked like torture machines that could exact whatever a person would want to know from someone using them. Kind of like water boarding but something that a person does to themselves.
I don’t know exactly how many muscles a human body has, but I think the gym has a separate machine for every one of them. By the cries of pain from some of the people using them I have to believe they must hurt if they’re used incorrectly, so you must use them correctly so a person doesn’t do undo damage to themselves. I generally gauge if I want to use a machine based on the decibel of screams when people use them. The louder they scream the less inclined I am to using them.
These last few weeks that I used the gym I’ve felt tired but haven’t felt sore. I guess that’s an improvement. I’ll take tired over sore any day. Haven’t walked the track in the evening lately as I don’t want to run into any rogue Ninja bunnies seeking revenge for something they think I may have done. Easter is coming and I don’t want to piss any rabbits off.
I don’t know exactly how many muscles a human body has, but I think the gym has a separate machine for every one of them. By the cries of pain from some of the people using them I have to believe they must hurt if they’re used incorrectly, so you must use them correctly so a person doesn’t do undo damage to themselves. I generally gauge if I want to use a machine based on the decibel of screams when people use them. The louder they scream the less inclined I am to using them.
These last few weeks that I used the gym I’ve felt tired but haven’t felt sore. I guess that’s an improvement. I’ll take tired over sore any day. Haven’t walked the track in the evening lately as I don’t want to run into any rogue Ninja bunnies seeking revenge for something they think I may have done. Easter is coming and I don’t want to piss any rabbits off.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Anniversay / Trip to LAX
Since March 17 was our anniversary and I knew that I'd be feeling down for not being with HB I decided to do something instead of moping around. It is our 31st anniversary and it just seems like yesterday that we were married and living in a 28' travel trailer. We've come a long way. I'm planning to fly home in about 10 days and Sandi fly back with me. I hope that it works out.
I guess I hadn’t been feeling enough stress, so I decided to on a reconnoitering trip and go to LAX via mass transit. I wanted to see if I could find my way to LAX and see how difficult it would be if I really needed to do it.
I left my apartment about 11:45 AM and drove about a 20 minutes to the eastern-most terminus of the Metro line in San Bernardino. After a few questions I figured out how to use the automated ticket machine and bought the $11 ticket to some place called Union Station. After about a 40 minute wait the train finally arrived, or maybe I just arrived 40 minutes too early. (Lv 1:00 PM) As I found out, Union Station is for anyone coming into or going out of the greater LA area. From there you can take a bus, taxi, van, or another train to your final destination. (Ar 2:30 PM) I arrived there and managed to find the FlyAway van to the airport and bought a $14 round-trip ticket.
After another 20 minute wait I boarded the bus and saw what was it was like to drive a bus in rush hour traffic. This guy wasn’t intimidated by the traffic he just put is put his blinker on and started moving over when he needed to. The driver dropped me off at the arrival gates and I walked down to the departure gates to get on another one going back. (Ar 3:40 PM) Just as I got there the bus going back to Union Station was just pulling out and so I had to wait an hour for the next one to come (Lv 4:45 PM). It’s a good thing I wasn’t in a hurry to get back. My appointment was at 11:15 PM so I knew that I’d have plenty of time to get back. I got back to Union Station and waited for the next eastbound train to San Bernardino (Ar 5:35 PM).
(Lv 6:00 PM) The train was pretty full going back to San Bernardino as this looked like a train that a lot of people that work take to get back home. By the looks of these people it gives me a new-found respect for those that have to do this every day. I felt like I worked an entire day and all I did was ride the bus/train all day. (Ar 7:40 PM) The train arrived back at San Bernardino when it was dark. I was hungry as I had been somewhat hesitant to leave the boarding area, as it seemed that the train or bus left whenever I was farthest away. Anyway, I got back to my apartment and my stress factor immediately went down again.
I guess I hadn’t been feeling enough stress, so I decided to on a reconnoitering trip and go to LAX via mass transit. I wanted to see if I could find my way to LAX and see how difficult it would be if I really needed to do it.
I left my apartment about 11:45 AM and drove about a 20 minutes to the eastern-most terminus of the Metro line in San Bernardino. After a few questions I figured out how to use the automated ticket machine and bought the $11 ticket to some place called Union Station. After about a 40 minute wait the train finally arrived, or maybe I just arrived 40 minutes too early. (Lv 1:00 PM) As I found out, Union Station is for anyone coming into or going out of the greater LA area. From there you can take a bus, taxi, van, or another train to your final destination. (Ar 2:30 PM) I arrived there and managed to find the FlyAway van to the airport and bought a $14 round-trip ticket.
After another 20 minute wait I boarded the bus and saw what was it was like to drive a bus in rush hour traffic. This guy wasn’t intimidated by the traffic he just put is put his blinker on and started moving over when he needed to. The driver dropped me off at the arrival gates and I walked down to the departure gates to get on another one going back. (Ar 3:40 PM) Just as I got there the bus going back to Union Station was just pulling out and so I had to wait an hour for the next one to come (Lv 4:45 PM). It’s a good thing I wasn’t in a hurry to get back. My appointment was at 11:15 PM so I knew that I’d have plenty of time to get back. I got back to Union Station and waited for the next eastbound train to San Bernardino (Ar 5:35 PM).
(Lv 6:00 PM) The train was pretty full going back to San Bernardino as this looked like a train that a lot of people that work take to get back home. By the looks of these people it gives me a new-found respect for those that have to do this every day. I felt like I worked an entire day and all I did was ride the bus/train all day. (Ar 7:40 PM) The train arrived back at San Bernardino when it was dark. I was hungry as I had been somewhat hesitant to leave the boarding area, as it seemed that the train or bus left whenever I was farthest away. Anyway, I got back to my apartment and my stress factor immediately went down again.
The treatment process
For those that are interested in what is involved in the proton treatments, this is what it’s like.
First, all treatment patients are given a time to receive treatment anywhere from 5AM to 11 PM. Since there are always patients completing their treatment plans, there are time slots that come up throughout those times. My treatment times have all been in the evening, except for my initial treatment which was at 9:30 AM. A patient is given a specific time, but are requested to be there 30 minutes early in the event they are ahead of schedule, which they often are. You check into the waiting room with the receptionist and are called back when they are ready.
The first step in the treatment is to go into the changing room, undress and change into a hospital gown. Yes, one that opens in the back and doesn’t have buttons, strips, or Velcro to close it. Yes, they are still drafty. They all have strings that are too short. They still haven't improved on the hospital gowns since the time of Florence Nightengale they've been stuck on the same style.
You then go to a room that is somewhat like the transport room on the Star Wars set. On one side of the room there are computers, screens, monitors, and other types of display systems. On the other side is what looks like the inside of a huge washing machine about 10’ in diameter on its side without the agitator in the middle. Or, if this makes it more palatable, visualize this; think of the inside of a donut with white smooth frosting on the inside. It really has nothing to do with a washing machine or a donut, it only reminds me of one.
There is a large sliding mechanism (think of a maple bar if this helps) where they put you into this form that holds a half piece of PVC pipe about 24” in diameter and 7’ long that slides into the large washing machine / donut looking thing. Each patient has their own half tube as it is form-fitted to each person. On my initial visit they put a piece of plastic sheeting in the tube and had me lie down in it. They then poured quick setting foam into it to fill in any of the void area. This way it is formed fitted and helps them to align your body consistently each treatment.
There is a gray plastic 2’ square screen on the left which I imagine is some type of lead shield and a metal camera lens looking thing on the opposite side. That’s the thing where the protons are actually emitted from. Both of these things rotate from side to side daily so the treatment is given equally. It’s different than other radiation treatment machines where there is only minimal room when you go into a tube-like machine. In this case if I reached out to touch the sides I’d still be about 4’ short of reaching them.
There are 4 technicians in lab coats that manage varying parts of the procedure; putting the form in place, adjusting a patients hips for proper alignment, lining up the proton nozzle, calibrating the instruments, and checking for proper dosage, etc.
They then slip this lead shield type thing into the front of the nozzle that is the same size and shape as the patients prostate. I must say I think that I have a superior shape prostate. It kind of looks like a walnut. The purpose of this thing is to assure that the proton radiation is focused only on a specific area.
During this time the techs are telling you a joke or talking about things that are going on in their lives.
It's just like getting x-rays taken at the dentists office except for the fact that you're getting it done without any clothes on and you're bare naked lying in a coffin-like molded plastic piece of half-rounded PVC pipe and they aren't aiming anything at your mouth.
Also, there are bright red lights that cast a specific line of light to ensure that you are aligned correctly.
The techs disappear behind a lead screen in an enclosed room and a machine starts up that makes a whirring sound. From some place in the room you can hear a beeping sound that signifies the fact that there is proton radiation being emitted. After about two minutes all the whirring, beeping, and humming ceases and the techs come back into the room. You’re free to climb out of the thing and go into another room and put your clothes on while the next guy goes through the same process.
So, it's not painful or invasive, only humiliating, embarrassing, and drafty. I take that back, it is invasive. Think a colonoscopy that they don't put you out for. It's a good thing that I have a high tolerance for embarrassment. Clothes off to clothes on? About 15-20 minutes which leaves about 23 hours 40-45 minutes to actually shop for those donuts.
I guess with some guys there's a minor incontinence problem. In fact, someone that had the treatment put together a flyer that lists all the public bathrooms within a 5 mile radius of the hospital. I’m going to improve it by mapping all the trees too.
First, all treatment patients are given a time to receive treatment anywhere from 5AM to 11 PM. Since there are always patients completing their treatment plans, there are time slots that come up throughout those times. My treatment times have all been in the evening, except for my initial treatment which was at 9:30 AM. A patient is given a specific time, but are requested to be there 30 minutes early in the event they are ahead of schedule, which they often are. You check into the waiting room with the receptionist and are called back when they are ready.
The first step in the treatment is to go into the changing room, undress and change into a hospital gown. Yes, one that opens in the back and doesn’t have buttons, strips, or Velcro to close it. Yes, they are still drafty. They all have strings that are too short. They still haven't improved on the hospital gowns since the time of Florence Nightengale they've been stuck on the same style.
You then go to a room that is somewhat like the transport room on the Star Wars set. On one side of the room there are computers, screens, monitors, and other types of display systems. On the other side is what looks like the inside of a huge washing machine about 10’ in diameter on its side without the agitator in the middle. Or, if this makes it more palatable, visualize this; think of the inside of a donut with white smooth frosting on the inside. It really has nothing to do with a washing machine or a donut, it only reminds me of one.
There is a large sliding mechanism (think of a maple bar if this helps) where they put you into this form that holds a half piece of PVC pipe about 24” in diameter and 7’ long that slides into the large washing machine / donut looking thing. Each patient has their own half tube as it is form-fitted to each person. On my initial visit they put a piece of plastic sheeting in the tube and had me lie down in it. They then poured quick setting foam into it to fill in any of the void area. This way it is formed fitted and helps them to align your body consistently each treatment.
There is a gray plastic 2’ square screen on the left which I imagine is some type of lead shield and a metal camera lens looking thing on the opposite side. That’s the thing where the protons are actually emitted from. Both of these things rotate from side to side daily so the treatment is given equally. It’s different than other radiation treatment machines where there is only minimal room when you go into a tube-like machine. In this case if I reached out to touch the sides I’d still be about 4’ short of reaching them.
There are 4 technicians in lab coats that manage varying parts of the procedure; putting the form in place, adjusting a patients hips for proper alignment, lining up the proton nozzle, calibrating the instruments, and checking for proper dosage, etc.
They then slip this lead shield type thing into the front of the nozzle that is the same size and shape as the patients prostate. I must say I think that I have a superior shape prostate. It kind of looks like a walnut. The purpose of this thing is to assure that the proton radiation is focused only on a specific area.
During this time the techs are telling you a joke or talking about things that are going on in their lives.
It's just like getting x-rays taken at the dentists office except for the fact that you're getting it done without any clothes on and you're bare naked lying in a coffin-like molded plastic piece of half-rounded PVC pipe and they aren't aiming anything at your mouth.
Also, there are bright red lights that cast a specific line of light to ensure that you are aligned correctly.
The techs disappear behind a lead screen in an enclosed room and a machine starts up that makes a whirring sound. From some place in the room you can hear a beeping sound that signifies the fact that there is proton radiation being emitted. After about two minutes all the whirring, beeping, and humming ceases and the techs come back into the room. You’re free to climb out of the thing and go into another room and put your clothes on while the next guy goes through the same process.
So, it's not painful or invasive, only humiliating, embarrassing, and drafty. I take that back, it is invasive. Think a colonoscopy that they don't put you out for. It's a good thing that I have a high tolerance for embarrassment. Clothes off to clothes on? About 15-20 minutes which leaves about 23 hours 40-45 minutes to actually shop for those donuts.
I guess with some guys there's a minor incontinence problem. In fact, someone that had the treatment put together a flyer that lists all the public bathrooms within a 5 mile radius of the hospital. I’m going to improve it by mapping all the trees too.
Friday, March 12, 2010
A quitting story in Alaska in 1977
It was when I was about 20 or 21 years old, and I had just finished a season working as a deckhand crab fishing in Crescent City. That was after my first failed attempt to finish college. My parents didn’t have the money to send, me and I didn’t want to borrow money to do it. Stupid. The skipper only needed his usual deckhand for salmon season, so I needed to find another job. He told me his brother had a 55’ boat and needed a deckhand for the upcoming Black Cod long-line season fishing out of Petersburg, Alaska. Even though Petersburg itself is inside waters they would be fishing the open water Fairweather Grounds in the Gulf of Alaska. Also, I found that a 55' boat is considered to be a small boat for the waters we were to be fishing and couldn't have agreed more.
I called him up and he said that he was leaving the day after next, and if I wanted a job be at the boat in Seattle the next evening. Well, being the impetuous youth that I was I got on the next plane to Seattle and found the boat. I don’t remember how. All I remember is working on the boat the next two weeks with 3 other crew while it was tied to the dock while the skipper was at a nearby bar drinking.
Finally we took off up the Inside Passage going up to Petersburg. It was a beautiful trip up and we only had to pull into a cove once because of bad weather. I do remember waking up the next morning anchored so close to the beach that I could have thrown a rock and hit the gravel. Meanwhile there was about 300’ of water under us. We later rowed ashore and dug a bucket of butter clams on the beach, brought them back to the boat and steamed them. As I remember it took about 3 days to run up to Petersburg.
We only stayed in Petersburg long enough to ice up and buy bait and then took off for the fishing grounds. I do remember on the way to the open water we pulled into some little island community (about 4 houses and a dock) that had a hot springs tubs that anyone could use. We did. On the way out we went by Glacier Bay and saw huge pieces of floating ice that had calved off the glaciers.
Finally we arrived at the fishing grounds about 10 miles offshore and it was really rough and sloppy. We were out there rolling around for about 5 days trying to fill the boat. All the while I was praying to God to not let me die as I knew I would. The weather was worse than any I had fished in in Crescent City and I was wondering what I had done in a previous life to deserve this. It was long-line fishing so we laid out 2 mile long strings of baited hooks and let them soak while we rolled around and tried to sleep for 4-5 hours. We then ran the gear, baited it, put it back in the water, processed the fish, and did it all over again. Since I was the new guy I got all the really lousy jobs again and again. I never saw the shore nor had anby sense of direction for those 5 day.s
When we had caught a sufficient load the skipper decided to run back to Petersburg and delivered our catch. It took us about 28 hours of running to get back to port. There were guys at the dock that unloaded so we didn’t have to do that. I got paid about $1,000 cash and walked around town to see what it was like while the skipper and crew went to the bars.
I had decided to quit, so about midnight went back to the boat and packed all my stuff up and had to climb back up about a 30’ ladder because of how low the tide had fallen. I found the Post Office the next morning (I don’t remember where I slept) and mailed my extra stuff and raingear back to Crescent City. A ferry from the Alaska Ferry System was in port and I remember walking on without a ticket like I owned the joint. I fell asleep on the ferry and woke up in some town about 12 hours south of Petersburg. I walked off the boat and bought a ticket on the next ferry going north to Skagway. I got off at Skagway and hitch-hiked to Fairbanks. It took we about 3 days. Then I bought a train ticket and rode the train to Anchorage. I remember staying in Anchorage visiting a shirt-tail relative of Dad's that was an airline pilot.
I called him up and he said that he was leaving the day after next, and if I wanted a job be at the boat in Seattle the next evening. Well, being the impetuous youth that I was I got on the next plane to Seattle and found the boat. I don’t remember how. All I remember is working on the boat the next two weeks with 3 other crew while it was tied to the dock while the skipper was at a nearby bar drinking.
Finally we took off up the Inside Passage going up to Petersburg. It was a beautiful trip up and we only had to pull into a cove once because of bad weather. I do remember waking up the next morning anchored so close to the beach that I could have thrown a rock and hit the gravel. Meanwhile there was about 300’ of water under us. We later rowed ashore and dug a bucket of butter clams on the beach, brought them back to the boat and steamed them. As I remember it took about 3 days to run up to Petersburg.
We only stayed in Petersburg long enough to ice up and buy bait and then took off for the fishing grounds. I do remember on the way to the open water we pulled into some little island community (about 4 houses and a dock) that had a hot springs tubs that anyone could use. We did. On the way out we went by Glacier Bay and saw huge pieces of floating ice that had calved off the glaciers.
Finally we arrived at the fishing grounds about 10 miles offshore and it was really rough and sloppy. We were out there rolling around for about 5 days trying to fill the boat. All the while I was praying to God to not let me die as I knew I would. The weather was worse than any I had fished in in Crescent City and I was wondering what I had done in a previous life to deserve this. It was long-line fishing so we laid out 2 mile long strings of baited hooks and let them soak while we rolled around and tried to sleep for 4-5 hours. We then ran the gear, baited it, put it back in the water, processed the fish, and did it all over again. Since I was the new guy I got all the really lousy jobs again and again. I never saw the shore nor had anby sense of direction for those 5 day.s
When we had caught a sufficient load the skipper decided to run back to Petersburg and delivered our catch. It took us about 28 hours of running to get back to port. There were guys at the dock that unloaded so we didn’t have to do that. I got paid about $1,000 cash and walked around town to see what it was like while the skipper and crew went to the bars.
I had decided to quit, so about midnight went back to the boat and packed all my stuff up and had to climb back up about a 30’ ladder because of how low the tide had fallen. I found the Post Office the next morning (I don’t remember where I slept) and mailed my extra stuff and raingear back to Crescent City. A ferry from the Alaska Ferry System was in port and I remember walking on without a ticket like I owned the joint. I fell asleep on the ferry and woke up in some town about 12 hours south of Petersburg. I walked off the boat and bought a ticket on the next ferry going north to Skagway. I got off at Skagway and hitch-hiked to Fairbanks. It took we about 3 days. Then I bought a train ticket and rode the train to Anchorage. I remember staying in Anchorage visiting a shirt-tail relative of Dad's that was an airline pilot.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Gonzo walking
http://picasaweb.google.com/randyhoop/VariousGonzalo?feat=email#slideshow/5447565699246564962
Rules, rules, rules...........
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tues., March 9
Sandi came down last Friday and I went to pick her up at LAX. I guess there was a bet going on at home to see if I could actually find the place. Most probably thought I would get lost and end up in a frontier village in Central Mexico. Either that or the Watts district of Los Angeles. I didn’t end up at either place, I just listened to what Mavis Beacon (our GPS lady) said, and I drove right to the correct parking lot in front of the correct terminal. Of course I was there about 2 hours early as I wanted to have enough time to pry my hands off the steering wheel after the two hour drive here. On the way back it took us about 3-½ hours as we sat in the Great Los Angeles Parking Lot (alias freeway) for much of the time.
I don’t know why everyone says that LA is such an unfriendly city. People were honking and waving at me all the way here. I felt like a celebrity or something. I was making new friends all the way. Of course, I haven’t personally met any of them yet. They may have thought I was a movie star or something. Some were even waving their middle finger at me, of course it was probably just because they couldn’t get their other fingers up quick enough.
On Saturday we drove east to Palm Springs. We tried to go to Lake Arrowhead, but we were turned around by chain restrictions as it had just snowed the night before. We did visit the Palm Springs Tramway, but didn’t take it up. We marveled at all wind turbines in the area, drove around town, visited an art festival, and almost viewed the longest playing movie in town 'The Sex Life of Dates.' A town near there is reputed to be the Date Capital of the California. I'm not a big date fan as they're too close to raisins, and I'm not a big raisin fan either.
Sunday we drove out to the desert to Joshua Tree National Park and I almost froze my ass off. It got down to 33* at the higher elevations.
While at the park we saw a sign that said "Exhibit" but we drove past it as I thought it was a tad too cold for any kind of exhibiting. Maybe if we come here later on I'll consider it. I would highly recommend the park, not for exhibiting, but for its natural beauty and starkness.
I don’t know why everyone says that LA is such an unfriendly city. People were honking and waving at me all the way here. I felt like a celebrity or something. I was making new friends all the way. Of course, I haven’t personally met any of them yet. They may have thought I was a movie star or something. Some were even waving their middle finger at me, of course it was probably just because they couldn’t get their other fingers up quick enough.
On Saturday we drove east to Palm Springs. We tried to go to Lake Arrowhead, but we were turned around by chain restrictions as it had just snowed the night before. We did visit the Palm Springs Tramway, but didn’t take it up. We marveled at all wind turbines in the area, drove around town, visited an art festival, and almost viewed the longest playing movie in town 'The Sex Life of Dates.' A town near there is reputed to be the Date Capital of the California. I'm not a big date fan as they're too close to raisins, and I'm not a big raisin fan either.
Sunday we drove out to the desert to Joshua Tree National Park and I almost froze my ass off. It got down to 33* at the higher elevations.
While at the park we saw a sign that said "Exhibit" but we drove past it as I thought it was a tad too cold for any kind of exhibiting. Maybe if we come here later on I'll consider it. I would highly recommend the park, not for exhibiting, but for its natural beauty and starkness.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wed., May 4 Evening Walk / The Heart of the World
This evening I was at the track and walked about 5 miles. When I got there the sun was just going down, and the lights were just coming on, and the bunnies were just coming out. There are two sets of lights on the field. One upper set, evidently for events, and a lower set for day-to-day operations. The lower lights cast long shadows but was very adequate to light the field. I hadn’t walked at night since I ran into all those bulls charging me where luckily I almost only suffered a flesh wound. I saw the same familiar group of people on the other side of the track but paid them no heed. After about two laps I noticed that they were catching up with me and I wondered if they recognized me and wanted to mete out some type of retribution.
After another lap I noticed that my shoelace was untied and I moved to the side of the track and started tying it. Out of the corner out of my eye I noticed movement coming toward me that looked like a shadow looming quickly directly at me. My thoughts went to the group of people that they may be rushing me. The shadow darkened over me and was getting larger, quickly. I braced for impact, or a real goring. I steeled myself and turned to meet my attacker(s).
A silhouette enveloped me as the bunny rabbit hopped to the side of the track.
I’ve been reading the book The Heart of the World, a Journey to Tibet’s Lost Paradise, by Ian Baker since I came down here. The book is 442 pages with about 2 point font. It’s been a slog; a journey of pain and difficulty accompanied by sleepless nights, and long days.
Granted, the author had his difficulties but none so difficult as reading about them. Leeches, sleeping on the cold ground, diplomatic restrictions, walking seemingly thousands of miles all to find this mythological lost paradise of Shangra-La.
It is know as beyul, hidden lands, in the Tibetan-Buddhist belief. Much like the Bermuda Triangle in the Western Hemisphere.
No, I’m not going to tell you if he found it. Just say that he ended up very content.
After another lap I noticed that my shoelace was untied and I moved to the side of the track and started tying it. Out of the corner out of my eye I noticed movement coming toward me that looked like a shadow looming quickly directly at me. My thoughts went to the group of people that they may be rushing me. The shadow darkened over me and was getting larger, quickly. I braced for impact, or a real goring. I steeled myself and turned to meet my attacker(s).
A silhouette enveloped me as the bunny rabbit hopped to the side of the track.
I’ve been reading the book The Heart of the World, a Journey to Tibet’s Lost Paradise, by Ian Baker since I came down here. The book is 442 pages with about 2 point font. It’s been a slog; a journey of pain and difficulty accompanied by sleepless nights, and long days.
Granted, the author had his difficulties but none so difficult as reading about them. Leeches, sleeping on the cold ground, diplomatic restrictions, walking seemingly thousands of miles all to find this mythological lost paradise of Shangra-La.
It is know as beyul, hidden lands, in the Tibetan-Buddhist belief. Much like the Bermuda Triangle in the Western Hemisphere.
No, I’m not going to tell you if he found it. Just say that he ended up very content.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tues., March 2 "I'm One Elevator Gene Short"
I think I may have found a hospital with too many elevators in it. Sometimes these types of things just get out of hand. Bigger is not always better, and especially when it comes to hospitals with too many elevators. Getting where you want to go in a hospital should be pretty straight-forward, but no, they have too many ways to get to places and they don’t always lead to where a person should be. Therein lies the problem. Going to ‘B’ level at one end of a hospital may not get you to ‘B’ level at the other end of the hospital. Then, they really mix it up by throwing a bunch of random numbers in there. Some floors are for patients, some are for nurses, some, are for doctors, and some are for everyone else.
Today when I went to my appointment I left so I’d arrive a half-hour early. Thank goodness I did, because I rode the elevator for 20 minutes before I got to the floor I needed to. Everyone that got on after me wanted to go to every floor except the one I wanted. I may have a gene missing for operating elevators, but I don’t think so.
Finally after riding the elevator for 20 minutes and my dinner was up in my esophagus and then hammered into my bowels I arrived at the floor I wanted. Now I really had to go to the bathroom, but I couldn’t because they want you to have a full bladder for the treatment. Don’t ask me ‘why?’ It’s something about a full bladder keeps the bladder in the proper place for treatment. Yada, yada, yada....
By the time I got in there I was telling them that they “better hurry, or I’m going to have an accident in my hospital gown and short out or defile your jillion dollar piece of equipment!” When they saw we squirming around and walking cross-legged toward their machine they ended running to get my treatment over.
Jim
Today when I went to my appointment I left so I’d arrive a half-hour early. Thank goodness I did, because I rode the elevator for 20 minutes before I got to the floor I needed to. Everyone that got on after me wanted to go to every floor except the one I wanted. I may have a gene missing for operating elevators, but I don’t think so.
Finally after riding the elevator for 20 minutes and my dinner was up in my esophagus and then hammered into my bowels I arrived at the floor I wanted. Now I really had to go to the bathroom, but I couldn’t because they want you to have a full bladder for the treatment. Don’t ask me ‘why?’ It’s something about a full bladder keeps the bladder in the proper place for treatment. Yada, yada, yada....
By the time I got in there I was telling them that they “better hurry, or I’m going to have an accident in my hospital gown and short out or defile your jillion dollar piece of equipment!” When they saw we squirming around and walking cross-legged toward their machine they ended running to get my treatment over.
Jim
Mon., March 1 "The Chicken Bone Lunch"
To ensure that I don’t go back home with a new skill set that I’d be expected to use, I’ve made the not-to-difficult decision not to cook while I‘m here. I know it does take much thought, sacrifice ,and consideration, but I feel it’s best for all concerned. Although this may come as a surprise to some people considering how well I like to eat, I feel it’s the least I can do. I’ll boil water here, but that’s about it.
My meals have been something like this; for breakfast I have oatmeal and coffee, lunch, I eat out somewhere, and for dinner I have some fruit or nuts or yogurt. Sometimes I mix it up a bit and have coffee and oatmeal instead. If I’m lucky and think ahead I actually have milk with the oatmeal. This has not really happened yet, but being the positive thinker that I am, I have high hopes that it will happen in the not-too-distant future. I generally remember to buy milk as I'm walking out of the store and not into the store. If not, I have yogurt with the oatmeal. I have learned that I do not enjoy cranberry juice in my oatmeal.
For lunch I generally eat out. I figure that will be my big meal of the day. Being the bargain shopper that I am I believe that I should be able to find a lunch special somewhere. Today I got lucky. Not rabbit’s foot kind of lucky but chicken leg kind of lucky.
Ok, let me explain. I went on a walking loop that I figured to be about 5 miles, as it turned out if was 5.5 miles. That’s good, especially as there were a lot of places to eat on the way. Now if I’d done this loop and there hadn’t been any places to eat I may have a different perspective.
Anyway, I stopped at this little Mexican café and ordered their special; two tacos for $4.99. I ordered one fish taco and one chicken taco. Yes, they were big and good. I had finished the fish taco and was closing in on the end of chicken taco when I noticed a shape that didn’t look like lettuce, tortilla, cheese, or chicken meat. It was part of a chicken leg bone. Do not have any misperceptions about me though, I have been to KFC before. So although it was odd, it’s just that I didn’t expect to find a chicken bone in my taco. Since the lady was next to me at the counter I showed it to her and said, “I think I have something a little extra in my taco.” She was surprised and was very apologetic. She said “This isn’t supposed to happen. We order boneless chicken. Do you want another one? ” I said, “No, that’s OK, one leg is enough. but thank you.” Anyway, she came out a little later and gave me a coupon for two more tacos. So, I guess I know where I’m eating lunch tomorrow.
My meals have been something like this; for breakfast I have oatmeal and coffee, lunch, I eat out somewhere, and for dinner I have some fruit or nuts or yogurt. Sometimes I mix it up a bit and have coffee and oatmeal instead. If I’m lucky and think ahead I actually have milk with the oatmeal. This has not really happened yet, but being the positive thinker that I am, I have high hopes that it will happen in the not-too-distant future. I generally remember to buy milk as I'm walking out of the store and not into the store. If not, I have yogurt with the oatmeal. I have learned that I do not enjoy cranberry juice in my oatmeal.
For lunch I generally eat out. I figure that will be my big meal of the day. Being the bargain shopper that I am I believe that I should be able to find a lunch special somewhere. Today I got lucky. Not rabbit’s foot kind of lucky but chicken leg kind of lucky.
Ok, let me explain. I went on a walking loop that I figured to be about 5 miles, as it turned out if was 5.5 miles. That’s good, especially as there were a lot of places to eat on the way. Now if I’d done this loop and there hadn’t been any places to eat I may have a different perspective.
Anyway, I stopped at this little Mexican café and ordered their special; two tacos for $4.99. I ordered one fish taco and one chicken taco. Yes, they were big and good. I had finished the fish taco and was closing in on the end of chicken taco when I noticed a shape that didn’t look like lettuce, tortilla, cheese, or chicken meat. It was part of a chicken leg bone. Do not have any misperceptions about me though, I have been to KFC before. So although it was odd, it’s just that I didn’t expect to find a chicken bone in my taco. Since the lady was next to me at the counter I showed it to her and said, “I think I have something a little extra in my taco.” She was surprised and was very apologetic. She said “This isn’t supposed to happen. We order boneless chicken. Do you want another one? ” I said, “No, that’s OK, one leg is enough. but thank you.” Anyway, she came out a little later and gave me a coupon for two more tacos. So, I guess I know where I’m eating lunch tomorrow.
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