Oh Where Oh Where Has That Kind Face Gone...

[bethanne]

LOL! I was thinking the same thing... They are definately think we have gone over the edge... Maybe we will let them think we are a little out there for a bit longer...

I sure needed a laugh this week. thanks Bill....

I am having a hard time getting used to nefidine (sp?) calcium channel blocker...

I am glad you are doing well and you know a sense of humor is a good thing to have.

 

[Ross]

I am having a hard time getting used to nefidine (sp?) calcium channel blocker...

Feeling slightly spacey are we precious? I couldn't take it with my other bp meds. I had to let 4 to 6 hours go by and then take it or I was a basket case.

 

[Karlynn]

I couldn't take it with my other bp meds. I had to let 4 to 6 hours go by and then take it or I was a basket case.

So you just prefer to be your usual nut case instead?

Sorry, just couldn't resist!

 

[Raverlaw]

This one's for Peggy

This one's for Peggy

Peggy,

Since you had the honor of being the first one to *beg* me to put my shirt back on, here you go - brand new avatar!

This is symbolic of my return to work (albeit less than full time) three weeks post op.

And for anyone who believes that I suit up with tie for work every day in a small town like this, I've got a neat bridge for sale in Brooklyn, too!

 

[labguides]

<<This is symbolic of my return to work (albeit less than full time) three weeks post op. >>


You are amazing to be working part time at 3 weeks post-op. When you return to work full time, I hope you still have time for us. You keep things lively.

 

[bethanne]

WooHoo! Don't we look all spiffy.

You are not serious about returning to work so fast are you? Don't be overdoing it now...

I am truly impressed with your tenacity and spirit. Good for you!
Any tips for those in the waiting room for a speedy recovery?

And yes this photo is much better

 

[Raverlaw]

Bethanne,

Here are my patented tips for those in the waiting room:

10. Spend as much time as possible with your family and friends.

9. Take time to do some nice things for your self - rest, go to a movie, go out to a nice restaurant, whatever you like to do.

8. Read up as much as you can on the procedure you will have.

7. Visit your hospital and meet the patient care coordinator. Take a tour of the CVICU where you will be.

6. Plan for your re-hab period at home. Comfortable chair, accumulate things to read when you feel like it, etc.

5. Get some thank you cards. You will be inundated with flowers, plants and calls. Be prepared!

4. If you won't have family immediately available to drive you places, line up some good friends for transport to the doctors and for blood tests during the weeks you can't drive.

3. Don't watch TV. It is depressing and negative.

2. Look forward positively to the days AFTER your surgery, when you will be *fixed* (I love that word) and feeling better every day.

And the number one tip?

1. Bug Steve to get some new magazines for the waiting room!

 

[Ross]

So you just prefer to be your usual nut case instead?

Sorry, just couldn't resist!

 

[Bryan B]

Bill I have to disagree with the TV for the following reasons:

1.) March Madness

2) The Masters

3.) Beginning of baseball season

4.) American Idol

5.) 2nd season of the Soprano's on DVD

6.) 1st season of Curb your enthusiasim on DVD

I picked a good month to recouperate

My Mom also picked up a new James Patterson book, "The Jester", and I can read the paper from cover to cover if I get bored. Also looking forward to Mom's excellent home cooking, surfing the net, getting my taxes done, etc. What I hope most for is plenty of Carolina spring weather to take my walks with my dad and pooch.

While I'm not looking forward to the surgery, I am looking forward to the "difficult" schedule that lies ahead of me after surgery.

 

[Raverlaw]

Bryan,

Not having watched TV for the last 7 years, I wouldn't know about most of those, except the March Madness, and I am a little disappointed in basketball as a sport at the moment.

The walks are the best part of post-surgery; I hope to make them a permanent part of my new life!

 

[Abbanabba]

Ross - I see you've also made a change of avatar..!!! They just keep on getting scarier!!

A : )

 

[SJJ]

Bill,
Each to their own is the important thing, but if you haven't watched any television for the past seven years you've missed out (at least in my mind) on some excellent programming available on the History Channel, PBS, the Discovery Channel and the National Geographic Channel to name a few. If one is selective, there are many educational, stimulating and interesting possibilities; opera, theatre, CBS Sunday Morning, A & E's Breakfast with the Arts.........think about checking it out before assuming everything is **** tube quality.
Sue

 

[bethanne]

Thanks Bill for the waiting room list...

It seems the TV watching topic is stirring things up a bit. It may be worth a thread in small tack....

I'm impressed that you have found life after TV. There are a few shows I like to watch...

The Guardian, Judging Amy & Alias but now they are into "re-run season" It may be a good time to "wean off tv"...

I am definately in a season of evaluating my life's choices... the ones I do not want to repeat and the changes I can make to achieve the things I want to achieve. ..

Your list is full of positive actions.

I think TV viewing can lead us into being more reactive than proactive...

 

[Raverlaw]

We live in an area where broadcast channels are virtually impossible to receive, so cable and satellite are the only alternatives. I might embrace a system that let me subscribe only to the things I WANT to watch, or even better, pay per view. The local cable company, however, only sells packages where you have to take 70 channels of c**p to get one or two good channels. We turned it off 7 years ago when my son was in middle school and was having trouble prioritizing his time.

All of us suddenly had a lot more free time. I do miss some of the interesting educational stuff out there, but the benefits of no TV outweigh the loss of that material, some of which is available on videotape at the library, etc.

We do rent and watch movies (Ever try Netflix?), but we watch what WE want to watch when WE want to watch it.

My daughter, who is 10 now, doesn't remember "channel TV" (as she calls it), and is an avid reader and writer with a great imagination. I completely agree that TV is too passive, and would argue that 99% of what's out there is "dumbed down" for the masses.

When I was recovering at the hospital, I clicked on the TV a couple of times for diversion. Even the Discovery channel was disappointing (junkyard wars?) After just a few minutes, I felt like I had had a lobotomy instead of OHS

 

[bethanne]

Hi Bill,
I am taking you up on your advice and kidnapping my husband thursday and flying to San Francisco. We will stay with my sister Thursday night in Pal Alto and rent a car and drive to Pacific Grove for two days. Our plans are to play in San Francisco on Sunday and fly back Monday.

We are really looking forward to some fun times..

and I have been fairly successful of cutting back on the tube time...

 

[Blanche]

Bethanne:

I just booked a hotel room in SanFrancisco for May 1-6. Al's birthday is on May 3. When you return from your trip, if you have some great tips or suggestions on places and things, please share them with us. We especially enjoy Sunday Brunch at the SanFrancisco Hilton (make reservations) and a tour of Berkley after lunch at Chez Panissse. If the weather is nice, the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is a great spot.

Enjoy your visit.

Regards,

Blanche

 

[Marge]

<< My daughter, who is 10 now, doesn't remember "channel TV" (as she calls it), and is an avid reader and writer with a great imagination. I completely agree that TV is too passive, and would argue that 99% of what's out there is "dumbed down" for the masses. >>

I think that is true, Bill, and it is even true for a lot of what passes for "educational" or "informational" TV -- the History Channe/Discovery/etc. programs are often SO dumbed down, they are pathetic. Your kid is much better off reading! Even PBS used to have much better programs. Major performing arts programs they used to have on PBS, like Live From Lincoln Center, have been cut way back. Nova is still pretty good, and I like Front Line and some of the Charlie Rose interviews. Every now and then there's a big series like Ken Burns' "Jazz," but, as you said, you can usually get those from the library.

I admit, I'd kind of like to have HBO when I hear my highly intelligent friends discussing programs like The Sopranos. I'd also like to get BRAVO. Our cable company is really horrible, though. Friends who live just a few miles over get BRAVO with their basic cable. When WE get a new cable channel, it usually turns out to be another damn shopping channel. I've been thinking of getting satellite -- I'd like to get BBC America or TV Cinq (the French language station).

 

[Raverlaw]

Marge,

Way back when we had cable, Bravo Channel was one of our favorites because of the foreign movies. Well, now we have Netflix www.netflix.com . Netflix has loads of great foreign films, and being on DVD, you can watch them on YOUR schedule. I highly recommend it for anyone who is tired of the limited fare at their local video palace.

 

[Marge]

Confession time: I DON'T HAVE A DVD PLAYER. (Except for our computers.) And we only have ONE TV. We are really living in the dark ages, I guess, when it comes to "home entertainment." But I will look into Netflix.