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23161. Ms. No - 12/12/2007 6:36:18 PM I know weather can be a pain to deal with, but I've been telling my mother for weeks now that she'd better order up a good thunderstorm while I'm out for Christmas. I miss them in the worst way. 23162. alistairconnor - 12/12/2007 6:39:33 PM All I want for Christmas is a couple of feet of snow. 23163. Ms. No - 12/12/2007 6:48:10 PM Ha! Love the donkey story, Arky!
I've developed a fear of heights as I've gotten older. This is strange to me because I never had much of one as a child even though I used to have horrid recurring falling dreams.
When I was youngest they involved slides that I couldn't get off of and the sensation was like that continual falling down the steep side of the roller coaster. Later they did become roller coaster nightmares only what they consisted of for the longest time was that leaned-back, steady, click-click-click you get as you climb to the top of the plunge.
I graduated from that to elevator dreams, but it never gave me a fear of actual elevators.
On one of my trips to D.C. I traveled a bit with an Australian guy who was a lift repairman. We were in the elevator at the Old Post Office and he was explaining to me all of the reasons why it wasn't possible for us to crash to the ground.
Funnily, he could be quite adamant about it. He'd get worked up about it as if someone had said something nasty or fearful about his beloved dog.
23164. thoughtful - 12/14/2007 5:18:57 PM This year's holiday card:
The sun awakens,
Parting clouds, lighting the sea,
A new day of life.
Hope all of you enjoy the holiday season and I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. 23165. judithathome - 12/14/2007 7:57:38 PM Thoughtful, that is stunning...I wish I had something like it for you but my best wishes for the coming year will have to suffice. 23166. wabbit - 12/14/2007 9:38:55 PM Beautiful photo, t'ful, and a nice haiku as well! I'm looking forward to seeing your shots of yesterday's snowfall.
23167. Ms. No - 12/14/2007 11:42:35 PM Oh, gorgeous! Thanks, thoughtful!! 23168. Ms. No - 12/14/2007 11:45:47 PM I am diligently transcribing 90 seconds of speech recorded in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis off the northwest coast of Scotland.
The only thing that's frustrating me is that I don't have the proper phoenetic alphabet to write what I'm hearing. Actually, what I don't have is the knowledge to pick those symbols out of the International Phonetic Alphabet which is greatly expanded from the American Phonetic Alphabet that I know.
I'm still having loads of geeky fun! 23169. wonkers2 - 12/14/2007 11:51:49 PM Call Me Ishmael 23170. Ms. No - 12/15/2007 12:22:14 AM Ah, I'd fogotten what a wonderful voice he had. 23171. arkymalarky - 12/15/2007 4:04:58 AM Beautiful, Thoughtful!
I FINALLY got a call this evening. I have two arteries with some blockage and she (the cardiologist's nurse) said it's "borderline" for needing an angiogram, but they will monitor it and treat it with medication, which from what I understood means keeping my cholesterol and heart rate down. I don't have high blood pressure. I don't have any restrictions, but strict instructions about what to look for and report that would indicate things are getting worse, so they can recheck.
All in all, I'm happy with what I learned and my numbers are already SO MUCH BETTER than they were in April, and my stress level is so much lower (as is my weight)--I'm glad I shelled out the money and didn't go with the angiogram. And I don't have to worry every time I get a chest pain. 23172. Ms. No - 12/15/2007 5:28:29 AM Excellent news, Arky! 23173. wonkers2 - 12/15/2007 6:27:01 AM Exercise a bit and eat right and you'll be okay Arky. 23174. judithathome - 12/15/2007 3:06:43 PM Are you on cholesterol meds, Arky? Are they giving you Plavix? That's what my son is taking for blockage...that and asprin. His doctor is monitoring his asprin intake and the Plavix every two weeks until he gets some sort of blood test in the correct range. It's a new blood test and he can only have it done in Dallas...once, they had to call him back because the lab tech hadn't taken enough blood and Leslie hit the ceiling...now he harps at them to get enough because he's not driving in Dallas traffic twice in one day.
He told the doctor that if wants him to have another stroke, just call him back to the lab an hour after he gets home. Ha! 23175. arkymalarky - 12/15/2007 9:54:52 PM Thanks No!
I feel pretty good, Wonk, because I've already lost about 20 pounds from my highest weight this summer and my stress level is WAY down since finishing grad school, which I personally think is what caused it in the first place--plus the on-the-go eating and no exercise that goes with being too overloaded. I'm walking regularly and eating MUCH better.
Judith,
I don't see him until the end of the month, but I've already got my cholesterol down from 237 in April to 148 today and the "bad" cholesterol from 147 to 76. So I doubt he'll put me on anything except maybe a beta blocker to keep my heart rate down, but my doc is adjusting my thyroid meds down a hair because it checked too high, and that may get it down. I don't know if they'll give me anything for the blockage, but I got the impression that they will keep it monitored and if they have reason to believe it's getting worse I'll have to have an angiogram and at that point they'll decide whether to do a stent or medicine. They do have me on aspirin. I don't have any risk factors now, and I've never had high blood pressure, but my heart rate has always been pretty fast. Exercise should help that too.
No shit about the doctors/staff causing the diseases they're supposed to cure. I wasted TWO sick days, and so did Bob, plus a trip to LR, which is stressful on its own, because they didn't call me and tell me about the insurance issue. And insurance companies are evil. Can't remember if I've said that. ;-> 23176. judithathome - 12/16/2007 5:16:55 PM I think that is something that is just understood....! Ha!
However, I do have to give a thumbss up to my son's insurance through Lockheed...it paid 100% of his ICU, hospital, doctor, and physical therapy. So he's very relieved that he still has a job there. 23177. arkymalarky - 12/16/2007 5:21:03 PM I'll say. That's fantastic. Our insurance sucks. And state gov't retirees, for the same insurance teachers have, pay unde3r $200 a month. Teachers who retire pay over $400. As workers we pay WAY more than the state employees do, and then they hold us hostage from retirement. We've tried to fight it in the legislature, but they know those under 65 who qualify for retirement would bolt and they'd have a teacher shortage emergency. 23178. wonkers2 - 12/16/2007 7:21:20 PM Mago sent us bad weather last night--7 inches of blowing snow. This morning the wind continued to blow at 30 knots. More snow later today. 23179. arkymalarky - 12/16/2007 7:31:02 PM It's clear as a bell and in the 40s here. Gorgeous day. 23180. Ms. No - 12/16/2007 8:54:54 PM Arky,
Couldn't they make it a two-tier system so that those who stay 'til 65 get a better rate?
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