Radioactive

April 8, 2019

In My Bloodstream: No Change
On The Stereo:Please Call Me Baby, Tom Waits

Update

Today will be a shorter story than usual.  I understand that will be a relief to most, and I will now expect a flood of messages lauding the virtues of brevity - any time that I am involved.

My day has been a bit topsy-turvy, and I have been unable to set aside the required time to do a proper job with this week's entry.  I know most will be astounded that the rubbish I submit would take more the fifteen minutes to cram together, but I am slower than most.  In many ways.  You know that.  It often will take me four or five days to produce one satisfactory blog.

I tried to send out a Facebook message on Friday, and was shut down by the censors that be.  I requested a further review, and was put on notice.  Strict rules are followed without exception.  The internet is fixated with abolishing nudity.  Yet, in my mind, the human body is incredibly beautiful, and a far better option than the implied porn and horrific violence, prolific  everywhere.  Children can play Fortnite, with incredibly brutal and violent acts, including murder, but cannot see a woman's breasts, unless they are feeding a baby.  So, with apologies to those readers who see my Facebook posts, but do not follow my blog, I will try to recreate my witticism of the day.

It went......These people in Seattle always take things a little too far.  Here is a much older pic of how they travel to work on casual Fridays.  (That was my joke, unappreciated by Facebook).

The pics were deemed too risqué.  Titillating.  Not to code.  I beg to differ, but I have no vote.

These silly folks in my picture, were cycling near the Fish Market, where we were walking with our granddaughter, Eleanor.  They were outside, naked and protesting censorship.  They were not avoiding cameras, but were waving and welcoming photos.  So I get shut down and they keep riding the streets of Seattle.  And so it goes.

Eleanor watched this much larger, naked contingent go by.  I figured if she could laugh at the sight, you could take it as well.  Upcoming wound pictures, to me, will be much more difficult to view.  And a lot less amusing.  Graphic and disturbing.  Acceptable to the internet establishment.

In local news, we saw a coyote on our street on Tuesday morning.  It was trotting towards me and turned away, going between houses across from us, on to our 6th fairway and green.  It looked very healthy and frisky, for whatever that's worth.  We have neighbors with cats and small dogs, so I called the guardhouse and asked them to tell our security people.  I expected them to put out an announcement, to make sure there were no pets left out alone, but nothing was done.  Hopefully no harm done.

On a more somber note, we lost a neighbor who, along with his wife, played cards with us from time to time.  He had been in extremely bad shape, house-bound and in much pain.  We would play Hand and Foot at his home and he was noticeably struggling through difficult times.  But he just loved the company, and competition.  His bride was, and is, a trooper.  Caretaking is a challenge - an overdose of work, with little reward.

A few months ago, he decided to join the local Episcopal Church.  He had been attending, but was not a member.  The minister requested that he take a series of lessons, prior to that acceptance.  He attended regular Saturday sessions even as his health deteriorated.  He graduated and then died four days after acceptance.  The man had impeccable timing.  God bless him. And his family.



This morning, early,  I took Kath for blood work at the Florida Cancer Center.  She is seeing a hematologist, who has requested weekly blood draws for a month, and will then see her again to review her low platelet issue.  They were very efficient, and we were quickly on our way to drop her off at her school.

I then drove to Tampa without incident.  You might remember my bladder rebellion last week.  I was commander of my bodily functions today.  Hallelujah.

My last head surgery, as you know,  has been slow to heal.  I went to see Dr. Harrington, and make a decision, whether to continue on this path, or simply perform another large graft.

                               This is what we have been dealing with, over the past three months.

The good doctors removed all the visible scab today.  I have no idea what was accomplished.  My job was to sit quietly and to make no fuss.  I was excellent.



                        Home, but still a bit dizzy from the removal of some residual scab.

I cannot yet remove the bandage, but, by next week we will all have a look at our progress.


I cannot be the school child, who tells the teacher that the dog ate his homework, but my work is tardy as my mouse peed on the keyboard.  Honest.

Next week, God willing.