September 30, 2006

Space to Spare





Not an especially secure storage locker. Not a lot of space.
Ideal for migrating birds to store their possessions until spring.


(where you'll find their nest-egg)

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September 26, 2006

Today's Horoscope

From astrology.com :



Today, you see how the energy you put out is coming back to you. Get ready for a profound sense of fullness, of reward. There's a long overdue justice coming your way today...All of your hard work is finally starting to pay off.

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September 25, 2006

Attainment Scaling

I had a follow-up with GI today, and (after putting it off for a month) the TPN clinic. I was led to the exam room then left alone. I looked at the pictures of the stomach and paced around a little.

Then I decided I would weigh myself. Taking my weight is mandatory at each visit. I don't judge my improvement by weight; I consider energy level and the answer to 'how do i feel' to be better indicators of improvements.

Regardless, I know that Usha will weigh me. If by some miracle she doesn't, I know Suzanne will. Suzanne never forgets.

I took off my shoes (I'm never allowed to keep them on) and stepped up. I was aghast! The scale showed 7 ½ kg down since July! I thought my weight would be down a bit, but 7 ½ kg, quick do the math, that's 16½ pounds!

So I put my shoes on, pulled my sweater on, put my keys into my pocket, put all the coins from my wallet into the other pocket and stepped back on the scale. Not much different. Dread creeped over me, which was too bad, because up until then, I was having a (relatively) good day.

Stella and Suzanne came in and Suzanne asked me to get on the scale. I stepped on. I thought heavy thoughts. She looked. I stepped off. She moved the scale. I stepped on, she looked, I stepped off. She tapped the scale. I repeated the on/off. She did the math and said "There's no way, you've lost that much." Whew! Different scale, different numbers. That's more like it.

Line: check. Meds: check. Hydration: needs improvement. Iron infusion? Better get it checked. I admit to them that I am not in a good routine with the program right now, and they know that I will pull it all together again. I always do.

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September 20, 2006

Thank You

Thank you to all my sponsors who have pledged contributions for the Breast Cancer Foundation's Run for the Cure. Ten days until the event and I've reached and revised then surpassed my fundraising goals.

I'm not surprised...I know some pretty terrific people!

If I do make it to Kingston that day, be assured that the picture you are seeking will be posted.

Pledges can be made until October 31, 2006 at Run for the Cure .

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Joe

Monday night Joe called. Nobody was home so he left a message. Part of his message went something like this:

'...and Chris, it's driving me crazy...what was the guy's name who used to ride his bike around behind the garbage trucks so he could see them crush the trash?'

I called him back and left a quick message for him: "Dave Lemans. Fond regards."

I'm happy I could work in a Joe-story.



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September 15, 2006

Green Thumb

Had an unscheduled visit to the Fracture Clinic with Andrew today. His cast had to be removed so the doc could check the pins.

Once the cast had been cut and removed, the tech cleaned Andrew's skin with some Hibidane or Chlorhex or something like that. Andrew is careful about keeping the cast and his arm/hand dry, plus it's only been 2 weeks since this cast went on, so I didn't notice any real skin changes.

"I have a green thumb," Andrew exclaimed.
"Thank God somebody in the family does," I said. "Finally someone will tend to the plants!"
"Good one," praised Andrew.

The pins: declared to be normal. Guess they're bothering him because of the atrophy in his arm.

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September 14, 2006

Traffic Signals

I keep a counter on my blog to count visits to the site. I've had the counter since February 2006, when I told friends and family about the site. Very recently I discovered the depth of information that counter keeps. Relax, it doesn't collect information about the visitor, just the visit.

That's how I discovered I had a visit from someone who was connected to the internet through the server of the Government of the Province of Ontario. I don't know which pages were viewed during the visit, but that person was on the site for 22 minutes, 59 seconds. Most visits don't record that much server information.

The counter is how I found out that I have a regular reader in Finland. I don't know anybody in Finland, but a user who logs onto a server in Finland reads about my circumstances 1-2 times each week.

Most visits are recorded as IP addresses, which isn't very meaningful to me. Seventy-seven percent of readers are in Canada. Nothing surprising about that stat. The average visit is about 4 minutes.

The optimist says today's visit would've been somebody at MOH checking the site; the practical part of me says it was probably the District Assistant to the Field Administrator of Miscellaneous Services on his break, surfing to the next blog.

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September 12, 2006

I'm Not Hercules

Monday 1:30 p.m. at an intersection. This particular intersection has a total of 7 left turn lanes, 8 lanes for thru-traffic, plus each direction has a right turn lane. It is a major intersection.

I was the first car in an outside left turn lane and my light was red. There was a car in the middle of the intersection. The car wasn't moving and was positioned in such a way that traffic could not pass. Right turns could be made and one southbound lane was passing.

Horns started. I rolled down the window and heard the driver trying to start the engine. I got out of my car, approached the stranded driver and asked what the problem was.
"I ran out of gas. I called the Auto Club," the older man said. By older, I mean older than my parents (who are still young).

"Well, we gotta get you out of the intersection. We'll have to push you out of the way." I said.
I was far enough from the car that we had to raise our voices. And there were lots of cars around. Many drivers had windows open on their vehicles.

Again, louder, I said, "We'll have to push the car out of the way." I waved to a couple drivers to encourage them to help. One was on the phone; another had to adjust something on the dash. All the while, more cars lined up and waited for the man's Oldsmobile to get out of the way.

Now, I'm no Hercules. I'm not Goliath. I'm not feeble, but I know that I do not look like I can single-handedly move this man's car across 3 lanes of roadway. I could not interest anyone in helping. Finally, four cars behind mine, a door opened. The driver got out and came to help.

We did it. Me and this other guy. While the others watched. Once the Olds was out of the way, we shook hands and went back to our own vehicles.

I do not understand how any of those other drivers could watch this situation, assess it and then make a conscious effort to not help. Sad, isn't it?

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September 06, 2006

I'm Positive I'm Negative

No new stories today. No road trips in a week.

No communication from the Ministry for 2 months; and based on the last letter I received, none in the forecast. A low pressure system pushing in, making the mood gray. Fifty-percent chance of relief. I was named President of the Be Miserable for a Day Club but the honor does nothing to improve my disposition.

Tomorrow, I will cede the position to a new President. That makes me feel better.

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