Barenaked Ladies

Today is Silvana's turn to write in the blog. Is that the right term "blog". This is all new to me.
(Terry said "Silvana, it would be nice if you wrote about your evening out". A few months ago Terry and I went to see U2 at the ACC (Air Canada centre) and had an amazing time. For years I wanted to see U2. Afterwards I mentioned that the next band I would like to see is the BNLBarenaked ladies) but I wanted to see them in a small setting. Unfortunately what are the chances of that ever happening. Well, it happened. I get a call from my sister-in-law(Sandra) who asked if I would be interested in seeing the BNL tomorrow night (Oct 19th) at 4:30pm in a private concert for family and friends. Of course I said yes and then I ask the question, "how did you get invited?" Sandra works with Bonnie who is Ed's(lead singer & the cutie) sister. Tomorrow finally arrives and 4:3opm here we are (Sandra, myself, and niece Julia and nephew Anthony) listening to BNL. Only 150/200 people in the studio, bring your own lawn chair, 50 young kids sitting in the front, and best of all the band is only 20 feet away. Of course the music was awesome. Best part, the band didn't go back stage after the concert they came out and mingled with us...AH! What a night...and I have the pictures!!!

Post Surgery

So lots of things happen after surgery. In this specific case you are in CSICU. (Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit). Don't let the CSI part fool you there are no forensics going on but lots of tests are happening. One of the complications that can occur is bleeding which in this case did and was being blamed on the fact that blood thinners were being used before the surgery. Necessary as you don't want thick blood to maybe cause a heart attack or stroke but post surgery you bleed alot. Plavix supposedly takes a while to get out of the system. There was an extra day spent in the CSICU and then off to the regular ward.

Now in regular care more things can happen. Due to the extra bleeding they keep an eye on you to make sure all the fluid drains. In this case it didn't and therefore they need to put you on meds to dry you out. In the mean time it gets hard to breathe with all that stuff built up in there. Also keep an eye on those hemoglobin levels. Too low and you feel very weak and groggy. So 2 more units of blood to get those iron levels up.
Having gone through this with my mom a few times I know they get an angry/mean stage. My mom is usually a Saint but wanted to punch us all and complained about anything and everything. The nurse practioner spoke to me about this a bit today and says it partly due to hemoglobin levels, post surgery meds wearing off but also said different people heal differently and not to compare.
But how can you not. We do it with our kids. What can they do at what stage. Given there were 4 other guys that had surgery on that day you start comparing. One fellow is a smoker and is recovering quite well. Whistling, doing crosswords and showering himself. He'll leave the hospital tomorrow. We are in for a bit more of an endeavour. At least I know he is in good hands because at home this would be a overwhelming.

Blog or Diary

So blogging may be a new thing but it's very close to a diary. I understand it's not private but as you can see from the definition it can also be "a book or pad containing pages marked and arranged in calendar order, in which to note appointments and the like." Add a webpage or some electronic format and there is your blog.
I think this is what I've been using it as. It's easier than a diary and you can quickly attach photos and links and other interesting bits of info. So here is an addition so I can remember what was happening on this day in the future because you know that time changes the way we see things.

My dad was admitted to the hospital earlier this week with chest pain and they quickly did an angiogram and found he needs by-pass surgery. The operation was supposed to be today but it was postponed to tomorrow. A few of the nurses called in sick so they didn't have a full crew. I guess they are human as well :-)

Funniest part of the experience so far if there can be a funny part of surgery. My mom who also had this same surgery as did her brother and her sisters husband told my dad "Welcome to the club"
Worst part so far: Hospital.. do I have to say anything more.

Many folks complain about our health care system. I think once diagnosed things can and do go quickly. The problem is at the front line. Finding what is wrong with us. I've often said we have to be our own doctor. Know our body and what feels right and wrong. But sometimes we need a bit of help from that frontline to push us in the right direction. At this point I don't think they can do it and the system has to change somehow to accomodate those of us that want to know more and try to help ourselves and others.

I know there are many times I've gone to the doctor and told them I have a throat infection or some other ailment. I know they don't like the self diagnosis but I've had it before , it feels the same, I've read a bit to know what to look for and most of the time I'm right. I'd probably feel the same way after going to school for x number of years and practicing medicine for another x to have someone tell me what they think they have. But in most cases it's a few simple test to check for these things. Now I'm not saying we do this all the time. I'm sure those people that say they have Morgellons (Google it you'll be amazed) would just like someone to listen and bounce ideas off of but what doctor has that time.

So where does that leave us? Not sure. Maybe some more inbetweens.
Not doctors but people who know medical stuff and can point people in the right direction.
More and quicker tests for things that happen often.
Better resources for those of us that are interested.
All this is pointing me towards things that are happening like health records being online and searchable and other electronic means of viewing trends but it's just moving too slow.

Nothing solved but day documented without the necessity of a dear diary entry.

Plants

We have received a few new plants since we got the new house. A few of our own that we pawned off on others before we moved and some that came house warming gifts.
At the old house we always claimed there was not enough space for plants as the little space we did have was taken up by necessities. That excuse does not exist anymore as there is enough space in this house at this point (due to lack of furniture and other house accessories) to have a full blown garden in almost every room.
Now I don't have much desire to tend to the plants and Silvana has even less desire to tend to an internal arboretum but people have said it's a good thing to have some plants in the house. Better air quality and some natural moisture from the plants.
So I'm documenting the few that we have now and will see how long they last. I will not try to hasten their demise but I know that I also won't be Johnny Greenthumbs either.

New Front Door

So imagine this the other way. Not sure how I can set the orientation once I've uploaded the file and I'm too tired to try to figure it out at this time so turn your head to the right 90 degrees. We ordered the door a couple of weeks ago ( a gift from my parents Thanks Papou and YiaYia) and it came in just before Thanksgiving. I painted it a few days later.





So it's not really a new door they actually take out the existing window and then cut the remaining necessary piece and insert the new window.

This is what it looked like before

40 is the new 25

I have always looked forward to getting older. Reaching the next phase of life. Seeing things through a new set of eyes, be they my wifes or my kids or even my own with a new pair of glasses. When a friend of mine told me that 40 was the new 25 I sort of understood what was behind it.

Turning 40 doesn't seem to have the same feeling it did in the past. Maybe that's because I'm almost there or maybe it's because of all the stuff you hear about middle age and how you should be feeling and acting. As I thought about it some more I found that "40 is the new 25" may not apply to those that are married or who have kids. I've always said that getting married adds 2 years to your age and each child adds another 2 on top of that which means I'm pushin 50.

As the days to turning 40 come closer I think to the future again and wonder in 50 will be the new 40. I still look forward to getting older but the years are going by faster and faster. See 1 year at 40 is 1/40th of your life so it goes by faster than when you are 12 and it's only 1/12th your life. Ah 12, I remember 12 quite well. Hope I can continue to remember the past as well as I do or at least the past that I've created using the same stories over and over with slight additions each time. O.K. so I digressed a bit, after all I'm almost 40.

So here's to 40 be it the new 25 or not it's coming soon.

See here on what the Dilbert guy says about aging.

Thanksgiving at the Cottage

Although summer was officially over a while ago it seems that Thanksgiving is the final farewell. A feast to celebrate the harvest of which we don't really harvest just feast. Yesterday's weather was perfect and we got to eat outside.
The colours at this time of year are magnificent and everywhere you turn there is a picture to be taken. If only this weather could last until late November. Not that I don't like the winter but fall seems to go to quickly and winter stays too long. I'll keep the fall photos close at hand.

James Gardens 2006

Our annual trip to James Gardens was a bit early this year. The weather this Thanksgiving weekend is supposed to get better each day so we took advantage. Most of the photos turned out very nice even with my ever expanding forehead. This year marks our 10th anniversary so there are plenty of things that are different from the first set of photos we took in October of 96.

Using my own art

If you can call the pictures I take art then I guess the title is right.

Most of the photos I take are of people and places but since I've gone digital I've been more open to taking pictures of objects, things, close ups... No wasted prints if you don't want them but still keep them for some reason.
For a few years now I've stored them and catalogued them and I was never really sure why. I never showed those photos to anyone and rarely printed any of them. With the new house we found that the art work we had up (and by art I mean stuff we got at the flea market) just didn't fit in. I started printing off some of my own photos and placed them in frames and they are looking pretty good. We place them in bathrooms and hallways not a main focal area but they have been suiting our needs and look pretty good. I haven't done much editing of the photos but have used some of the effects in Picasa to enhance the photos a bit.

Brians bathroom is a gray colour and I think this orangey red will pop out nicely

Angela's bathroom is a Green apple colour with purple accents and this photo looks great in it.