Mmm, hospital coffee

The people in the hospital were very nice, anticipating aspects of the procedure that might uncomfortable, scary, confusing. Hospitals can be an unsettling place because, I think, the people who work there see the same things each day, while folks from the outside are there for something that is new and strange.

Sandra and I arrived shortly before 6:30. On Tuesday I'd received two phone calls from the hospital, one telling me to report to a room on the 3^rd floor, the other to the 2^nd. We arrived at the room on the 3^rd where we were directed to the 2^nd. Now we know.

The procedure itself was a swirl of activity and lights until it was lights out for me. It all felt like it went quickly, but it was a few hours before I was back in my room (which didn't look familiar at all), some time after 10:00. I declined the offer of breakfast, but did have a cup of coffee.

My only discomfort is a sore jaw because I was clenching my teeth so hard. A couple of Tylenol^® takes care of that. There's some goop left over in my hair, a conductivity gel.

Sandra brought me home by noon. (I think. I'm having difficulty with time and dates. I keep thinking that today is Monday and, on this cloudy day, I can't guess the time; I have to check a clock.)

In all, I feel ok, tired, but ok.

It's easy to find positive thoughts when you know where to look

Tomorrow morning I'll start a series of ECT treatments. It's an out-patient procedure, two to three times a week. They tell me that it won't hurt and I believe them. They say that there might some temporary memory loss and I'll say, of course, "What memory loss?"

Today I've had two calls from the hospital, telling me to report at two different offices and at different times. The doctors are still trying to locate the lab results of the tests that I had last Friday. My definition of bad bureaucracy is that climate in the workplace that causes good, well-intentioned, smart people to do bad or stupid things.

I was told a long time ago about the power of a gratitude list. At its most simple, it's a list of the people and fortunes which I'm grateful. Even on my worst days, I can easily fill a page. I have many blessing, near and far.

In the meantime, the world out there goes along its mega-goofy ways:

• Britney Spears kicked her husband to the curb by way of a Blackberry text message.
• One can get a technical writing job working in on Asset-Forfeiture and Money-Laundering projects.
  
• OK, bring in the violins: a Hell's Angel is feeling bad because the Angels have been ruled a criminal organization (organisation?) in Canada.
• A Wisconsin legislator has a novel idea to protect students against armed assaults - arm the teachers. A high-school physics teacher of mine used to throw chalk at the wiseguys sleeping in the back of the room. How much more interesting would it be if he carried a 9mm?

I'll write as best as I can during the coming weeks.

The low, gray clouds of November

A quick way to retrieve your current weather conditions and forecast is to type this into your browser's address bar: http://weather.gov/01331, where 01331 is your ZIP code. (via lifehacker). Of course, what you'll find around here at this time in mid-New England won't be very interesting.

We've had rain followed by showers followed by rain again, this for several days and for several days more. The skies may be the color of wet dustballs, but there are fine points of celebration and thanksgiving.

Happy 64^th Anniversary, Marian and Woody, including nearly 25 years as housemates. Life's pretty good, y'know.