Would be ecstatic to include your poetry on the Blogs to Check Out list. Best I've ever read. Cheaper than eBay. (pat, pat, smack, pat)
Signed: Admirer of Exceptional Talent (and certifiable smart ass)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Quoted Text
"Technically, every blog that quotes a news article is infringing on the news publisher's copyright. It's just that most publishers could cite fair use as a defense, were the matter ever formally raised in court. What qualifies as fair use, however, is not clear, making it difficult... to guess how a court would rule on an infringement claim."
Quoted text of InformationWeek.
Quoted text of InformationWeek.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
POOP! (Updated twice)
Call to orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday:
"Hey, Doc! Can I work a few hours during rushes to take orders in drive-thru?"
"You can work with no use of the right arm."
"Not even push buttons on register? No lifting, no change making."
"No use of right arm."
Hm. Wonder if I'm suppose to be typing?
(Update)
Hard copy of doctor's work release:
No use of right arm.
Must wear splint for 6-8 weeks post op.
May be able to lift 10 lbs or more in approximately 3-4 months.
First physical therapy appointment:
Take off splint except when out of house or sleeping.
Use hand for anything, except lifting, as much as possible.
Perform arm extending exercises hourly.
Perform all range of motion exercises for 30-45 minutes 3-4 times daily.
Is it me or are these professionals in contradiction?
Call back to doctor's office:
I'm really confused. What you said and what PT said seem opposite. Do nothing if working and everything if at home?
Response of physician assistant:
You're in a protected environment at home. If you use your arm at work, you may forget your limitations and do something harmful. If you can do your job left-handed, you can work.
Ultimately, the decision is mine. I can assess the aspects of the job with the experience of having recovered from a shattered shoulder while working it.
When I applied for this job, I had not yet been released by the doctor for a 3-way break of the humerus (knocked the ball off the end of left shoulder) and several tears of the rotator cuff. But I had to go to work. I was down to my last dime - literally. I didn't mention that I'd been injured or had limitations. When I was told to sweep and mop the dining room, I took a deep breath and prayed. Mopping was on my no-no list and that is a big dining room. It hurt. I couldn't wait to get off and go to bed. I asked Shaquilla to alternate our duties so that I didn't have to mop every shift.
Reaching boxes on high shelves was a problem because my reach measured 140 degrees instead of 180, and my muscles had atrophied from three months of non-use. I learned to scooch the box over the edge of the shelf with one hand, let it fall onto my chest while using that hand to guide it and slow the impact. It was an exercise of engineering. I also taught myself to get the boxes back on that shelf. I found ways to do everything. I took care of myself. I'm not saying it was easy, but I was determined... and careful.
One day, I realized that I didn't hurt anymore. I wasn't diving into bed after each shift. I was compensating less. My reach didn't improve nor will it, but I can do anything the other women can and one that most of the guys can't - get the lids off the salt shakers!
So therein lies the rub. I've done this before without the doctor's approval. It was better physical therapy than the kind I couldn't pay for (because I was broke).
What are the considerations? I'm in early recovery and very vulnerable. I can wear my splint for protection and limiting movement. I can start out slow and allow myself time to learn the job left-handed. I can accept fewer hours to limit my duties. Knowing what I can do here at home and what the job requires, I know how much I can use my arm and what I can use it for. I can be clear about what I can't do. My athleticism gives me a natural physical awareness. More importantly, I trust myself. Whether it's a broken finger (which I did in March) or a shattered shoulder, my instincts and reflexes are sharp enough to compensate without harming myself.
Next step? Contact the manager on Friday. She has had a bad wrist break and worked during recovery. That's a good thing. Well, for me.
(Update 2)
Yay! Therapist attests to clear, logical thinking.
"Hey, Doc! Can I work a few hours during rushes to take orders in drive-thru?"
"You can work with no use of the right arm."
"Not even push buttons on register? No lifting, no change making."
"No use of right arm."
Hm. Wonder if I'm suppose to be typing?
(Update)
Hard copy of doctor's work release:
No use of right arm.
Must wear splint for 6-8 weeks post op.
May be able to lift 10 lbs or more in approximately 3-4 months.
First physical therapy appointment:
Take off splint except when out of house or sleeping.
Use hand for anything, except lifting, as much as possible.
Perform arm extending exercises hourly.
Perform all range of motion exercises for 30-45 minutes 3-4 times daily.
Is it me or are these professionals in contradiction?
Call back to doctor's office:
I'm really confused. What you said and what PT said seem opposite. Do nothing if working and everything if at home?
Response of physician assistant:
You're in a protected environment at home. If you use your arm at work, you may forget your limitations and do something harmful. If you can do your job left-handed, you can work.
Ultimately, the decision is mine. I can assess the aspects of the job with the experience of having recovered from a shattered shoulder while working it.
When I applied for this job, I had not yet been released by the doctor for a 3-way break of the humerus (knocked the ball off the end of left shoulder) and several tears of the rotator cuff. But I had to go to work. I was down to my last dime - literally. I didn't mention that I'd been injured or had limitations. When I was told to sweep and mop the dining room, I took a deep breath and prayed. Mopping was on my no-no list and that is a big dining room. It hurt. I couldn't wait to get off and go to bed. I asked Shaquilla to alternate our duties so that I didn't have to mop every shift.
Reaching boxes on high shelves was a problem because my reach measured 140 degrees instead of 180, and my muscles had atrophied from three months of non-use. I learned to scooch the box over the edge of the shelf with one hand, let it fall onto my chest while using that hand to guide it and slow the impact. It was an exercise of engineering. I also taught myself to get the boxes back on that shelf. I found ways to do everything. I took care of myself. I'm not saying it was easy, but I was determined... and careful.
One day, I realized that I didn't hurt anymore. I wasn't diving into bed after each shift. I was compensating less. My reach didn't improve nor will it, but I can do anything the other women can and one that most of the guys can't - get the lids off the salt shakers!
So therein lies the rub. I've done this before without the doctor's approval. It was better physical therapy than the kind I couldn't pay for (because I was broke).
What are the considerations? I'm in early recovery and very vulnerable. I can wear my splint for protection and limiting movement. I can start out slow and allow myself time to learn the job left-handed. I can accept fewer hours to limit my duties. Knowing what I can do here at home and what the job requires, I know how much I can use my arm and what I can use it for. I can be clear about what I can't do. My athleticism gives me a natural physical awareness. More importantly, I trust myself. Whether it's a broken finger (which I did in March) or a shattered shoulder, my instincts and reflexes are sharp enough to compensate without harming myself.
Next step? Contact the manager on Friday. She has had a bad wrist break and worked during recovery. That's a good thing. Well, for me.
(Update 2)
Yay! Therapist attests to clear, logical thinking.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Ann Telnaes Animations
If you have not seen an Ann Telnaes Animation, you have not seen the best in political satire.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Released Today
"During Hubble’s 100 000th orbit around the Earth it peered into the nebula near the star cluster NGC 2074 (upper, left). The region is a firestorm of raw stellar creation, perhaps triggered by a nearby supernova explosion. It lies about 170 000 light-years away near the Tarantula nebula, one of the most active star-forming regions in our Local Group of galaxies."
You MUST go to The European Homepage for the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope site. Absolutely the most incredible pictures and complete information about Hubble's 18 years of exploration. Make sure to check out the goodies tab. Free downloads from calendars and posters to wallpapers and much more! Any of the tabs could capture your attention for long spans of time so make the site a Favorite and visit often. (And the photos make mesmerizing digital jigsaw puzzles. Yay!)
It Is Confirmed
I no longer bounce.
Metal is expensive! $5,124.75 worth
Long is long! Horizontal screw is 5"
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Undeniable Love
I Knew:
I'd had surgery to piece together a shattered shoulder
I'd come home Sunday afternoon
Monday morning I couldn't breath
I had been in the emergency room
they hurriedly put me on oxygen
they said I had pneumonia
only 2/3 of one lung functioned
they'd given me more and more oxygen
I was worsening
I felt agitated
scared
I Didn't Know:
how I got to the hospital
I'd blacked out or gone into a coma, or both
they'd admitted me to ICU
they'd called Nettie in to make dire decisions
how many phone calls she and Freddie shared over three days
the doctors were alarmed to discover it wasn't pneumonia
tests negated an embolism
the doctors suspected ARDS
I'd been intubated
the doctors told the kids to be prepared for the worst
how this news affected them
what they felt
how much I wanted to live
I Felt:
groggy as from a deep sleep
a light, gentle, inviting stroking on my forehead
my eyes open
I Saw:
eyes surging limitless tenderness
a smile warming the 3" of air between us
a face radiating unspeakable words
I Heard:
the hushed, sweet words, "Hey, you"
I Sensed:
an undeniable love
I Accept:
there may never be more
it's all good
I'd come home Sunday afternoon
Monday morning I couldn't breath
I had been in the emergency room
they hurriedly put me on oxygen
they said I had pneumonia
only 2/3 of one lung functioned
they'd given me more and more oxygen
I was worsening
I felt agitated
scared
I Didn't Know:
how I got to the hospital
I'd blacked out or gone into a coma, or both
they'd admitted me to ICU
they'd called Nettie in to make dire decisions
how many phone calls she and Freddie shared over three days
the doctors were alarmed to discover it wasn't pneumonia
tests negated an embolism
the doctors suspected ARDS
I'd been intubated
the doctors told the kids to be prepared for the worst
how this news affected them
what they felt
how much I wanted to live
I Felt:
groggy as from a deep sleep
a light, gentle, inviting stroking on my forehead
my eyes open
I Saw:
eyes surging limitless tenderness
a smile warming the 3" of air between us
a face radiating unspeakable words
I Heard:
the hushed, sweet words, "Hey, you"
I Sensed:
an undeniable love
I Accept:
there may never be more
it's all good
In the Moment
What is it about blogging? It's very exciting. My mind is on the edge. Everything I see, think, feel turns into words. It stops only when I turn it off.
Having a camera in my hand feels similar. It is just as involving. I feel engrossed when I 'have my eye on' looking for the picture in everything.
Painting, too, is similar though not as involving. If I focus, I can see the finished canvas and the elements of content: focal point, expressions.
I ask myself why I enjoy these. What makes these times so exciting? Ahh. I know. Creating anything is empowering but being in the moment is the best!
Having a camera in my hand feels similar. It is just as involving. I feel engrossed when I 'have my eye on' looking for the picture in everything.
Painting, too, is similar though not as involving. If I focus, I can see the finished canvas and the elements of content: focal point, expressions.
I ask myself why I enjoy these. What makes these times so exciting? Ahh. I know. Creating anything is empowering but being in the moment is the best!
Shuddering
The computer awaits my arrival from hospital stay. Thrilled to park my butt in the blue office chair and make up for lost time.
Crap! I'm left handed. Mouse is a track ball operated by right thumb. Now what?
Two choices. Leave as is using pinky and ring fingers for track ball, middle for left click and index for right click. Or, same for track ball, switch right and left clicks to left-handed settings. Second choice seems confusing. Go with first.
Hm. Working rather well. Left hand mirrors right. (Can it be that I'm ambidextrous?)
Lots of typing one handed. Pretty easy but lots of typing.
Open cap on coffee creamer. Turn on lamps. Set alarm clock. Unroll toilet paper. Slice an onion! Turn key in lock. Butter toast. Pick up change. Get Nestle's Quik from top shelf. Brush hair. Sign name. EAT! There are a myriad of tasks this hand has never done. Sheesh! This is work.
Drink coffee and talk on phone. Not possible.
Rest head on pillow, prop casted arm on pillow, arrange top sheet, place left hand on chest as always.
Muscle spasms. Twinging. My gawd, this hand is shuddering! Brings to mind a toddler just after a temper tantrum.
"It's OK, little hand. You've done a great job taking over all of the responsibilities. It will get better. I promise."
And so it did.
Crap! I'm left handed. Mouse is a track ball operated by right thumb. Now what?
Two choices. Leave as is using pinky and ring fingers for track ball, middle for left click and index for right click. Or, same for track ball, switch right and left clicks to left-handed settings. Second choice seems confusing. Go with first.
Hm. Working rather well. Left hand mirrors right. (Can it be that I'm ambidextrous?)
Lots of typing one handed. Pretty easy but lots of typing.
Open cap on coffee creamer. Turn on lamps. Set alarm clock. Unroll toilet paper. Slice an onion! Turn key in lock. Butter toast. Pick up change. Get Nestle's Quik from top shelf. Brush hair. Sign name. EAT! There are a myriad of tasks this hand has never done. Sheesh! This is work.
Drink coffee and talk on phone. Not possible.
Rest head on pillow, prop casted arm on pillow, arrange top sheet, place left hand on chest as always.
Muscle spasms. Twinging. My gawd, this hand is shuddering! Brings to mind a toddler just after a temper tantrum.
"It's OK, little hand. You've done a great job taking over all of the responsibilities. It will get better. I promise."
And so it did.
50-Something: The Adolescence of Aging
Picture of adolescent: between cute kid and gorgeous adult.
Picture of 50-something: between gorgeous adult and cute senior.
Picture of 50-something: between gorgeous adult and cute senior.
Obama, You are Beginning to Piss Me Off!
I am concerned that, since June, you are sliiiding your primary promises to the right.
Troop withdrawal in 16 months --> with moderations
Opposed to off-shore drilling --> limited off-shore drilling
Health care --> give it to Hillary... Bill did.
You are using Hillary and Bill at the convention. Yes, you do need to wonder if Bill will steal the stage. You question his well-earned privilege to do so?!
You seem to think that appearances on The View, Ellen, and Paula's Home Cooking will replace VP Hillary Clinton.
My gawd, man, you even want to give Michigan and Florida delegates their full vote! The vote that would have defeated you in June.
The chads of 2008.
The stolen win.
And you are different than Bush?!!
You better straighten up, young man. I am one Pissed Off Hillary Supporter, and you won't see 2012 if you don't fly right!
I encourage you, the reader, to consider signing An Open Letter to Obama published in the August 18, 2008 edition of The Nation.
Troop withdrawal in 16 months --> with moderations
Opposed to off-shore drilling --> limited off-shore drilling
Health care --> give it to Hillary... Bill did.
You are using Hillary and Bill at the convention. Yes, you do need to wonder if Bill will steal the stage. You question his well-earned privilege to do so?!
You seem to think that appearances on The View, Ellen, and Paula's Home Cooking will replace VP Hillary Clinton.
My gawd, man, you even want to give Michigan and Florida delegates their full vote! The vote that would have defeated you in June.
The chads of 2008.
The stolen win.
And you are different than Bush?!!
You better straighten up, young man. I am one Pissed Off Hillary Supporter, and you won't see 2012 if you don't fly right!
I encourage you, the reader, to consider signing An Open Letter to Obama published in the August 18, 2008 edition of The Nation.
Headline 8/10
BBC News headline: Why Tom Daley is the real deal
WHAT?!?!
That jerk from Texas?!
That coercive, manipulating, power monger?
That unethical Republican THIEF?
That water and air polluter?
That gun-carrying SOB?
That PAC to end all PACs?
That tax dodger?
That take-it-from-the poor-and -give-it-to-the-rich asshole?
That right-wing hater of all God's creatures except white, rich, Republican, male Texans? Wait. They are not God's creatures, so I guess it is all of God's creatures!
I love BBC News. But they really got it wrong this time!
Oh.
Tom Daley.
Not Tom DeLay.
Never mind.
(Thank you, Gilda)
WHAT?!?!
That jerk from Texas?!
That coercive, manipulating, power monger?
That unethical Republican THIEF?
That water and air polluter?
That gun-carrying SOB?
That PAC to end all PACs?
That tax dodger?
That take-it-from-the poor-and -give-it-to-the-rich asshole?
That right-wing hater of all God's creatures except white, rich, Republican, male Texans? Wait. They are not God's creatures, so I guess it is all of God's creatures!
I love BBC News. But they really got it wrong this time!
Oh.
Tom Daley.
Not Tom DeLay.
Never mind.
(Thank you, Gilda)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Movies: Then and Again
Received an invitation today to see a matinée showing of The Mummy (2008). I knew nothing of this movie. Considering his taste in movies and the title, I was prepared to endure the experience. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it.
The last film I saw in a theatre was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). I went with a woman whom I wanted an intimate and sexual relationship. She did not want the sexual aspect. Today I went with a man who wants an intimate and sexual relationship. I do not want the sexual aspect.
Michelle Yeoh stars in both movies. As a thread of the past in the present, she joins the movie-going time intervals. I will see another movie soon. Although Momma Mia is on my must see list, I will probably see Babylon A.D. first which stars Michelle Yeoh.
Recognizing Brandon Frazer, I recalled seeing The Mummy (1999) on video. My choices then, as today, were to watch or be alone. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it.
The last film I saw in a theatre was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). I went with a woman whom I wanted an intimate and sexual relationship. She did not want the sexual aspect. Today I went with a man who wants an intimate and sexual relationship. I do not want the sexual aspect.
Michelle Yeoh stars in both movies. As a thread of the past in the present, she joins the movie-going time intervals. I will see another movie soon. Although Momma Mia is on my must see list, I will probably see Babylon A.D. first which stars Michelle Yeoh.
Recognizing Brandon Frazer, I recalled seeing The Mummy (1999) on video. My choices then, as today, were to watch or be alone. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it.
A Sojourn of Perusal
Responded to a friend by email today for her surprise gift of a couple hundred dollars. Writing her warms me. I recall the closeness we have shared and the fondness we have felt over the years. As an author, she has encouraged me to write my stories. I am amazed by the way words can flow through my fingertips and how enjoyable it is. Thank you, Kathy. A sojourn of perusal it shall be.
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