Great Music by a Great Orchestra

Feeling great today.. All seems close to normal...those who know me have sent wonderfully moving messages about my recent medical procedures. You know we humans need connectedness.. and I have it in spades.

Wanna chat a bit about what I am doing these days. On a part time basis I attempt to sell seasonal subscription packages for a great arts organization. Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra is a world class orchestra. As I understand it, the Orchestra is a medium sized orchestra.

It season beginning this fall is one of the best it has ever put together. If you ever get to the national capital area and they have a concert on you should try to take it in. And of course if you live in this area you may always get a phone call from me or one of my colleagues

(Just a different type of entry for this one time)

Taking It Easy Finishing Up

had a good post-procedure day yesterday... today hope to go at least to a headstone unveiling of a late friend who became one after being a tax client for several years. Really started appreciating her when she left me a heartwarming voice mail message a little over a year ago on the day of a test procedure.

Sadly she left this world last October....

Then may later off to see several residents of two long term care facilities one of whom may still be in a hospital.

It's Done

Well yesterday was a unique day in my life.

At the hospital a bit early.. first thing was the putting on of a 'halo'.. a round metal device.. on my head. The doctor freezes 4 (ended up being 6) tiny spots on my head (which hurt for a few seconds as he put in the 'freezing agent'. He then placed this 'halo' around my head. It sat somewhat lower than I thought it would.. there will be a photo on Facebook in next day or so.

Then I had CT scan which was ok.. only a few minutes long.

Then I was taken for my cerebral angiogram. That procedure in total lasted about one to one and a half hours.. but then there is a 4 hour period where one has to lie still and do virtually nothing. Frequent visits from nurses etc. to check on wound (the angiogram probe is inserted in groin and routed through your body to place where a tiny camera records 'photos').

After this very long wait they take you into a radiation room. After all the setting up they all leave the room and start the machine. I had four sessions.. all quite short.. suspect I was radiated for less than 15 minutes.

Then halo/hat was taken off, one last check by doctor and nurse and I was free to go home. A short bout of nausea delayed our departure but only for a few minutes.

Feel not too bad today but will be mostly 'taking it easy' this weekend.

Last Day

Just one more day with my 'untreated' condition. Tomorrow's 8 or so hours hospital visit will start the rest of my life (as does every day does it not??((:-))).

Got myself elected to the board of another organization this week... initial indications will have tons of emails to go through.. but that's ok... just have to repriorize time with other groups...

2 days to go

Getting closer to radial surgery.. still quite upbeat about it.. hope side effects are minimal...professionals have told me I should be able to resume normal activities the next day .. hope I can as we have invitations to lots of stuff happening this coming weekend.

4 Days to Go

No more tingling/numbness sensations last 24 hours which is good.. nevertheless their occurrence is challenging... so looking forward to procedure at end of this week....

Have visitation and funeral for an 'aunt in law' the middle of this week

Compassionate Heartwarming Stories

Just got back from storytelling session at our place of worship...two good friend - Palestinian and Israeli - who live in Ottawa, have published a book of stories about good side of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Heard some of their stories read out loud this morning...

I only wish all had such a good relationship.. we are all humans after all

5 Days to Go

Only five days until my radial surgery... glad it's getting closer.. on Thursday afternoon; Thursday evening; and early Friday morning.. had consecutive bouts of numbness/tingling in my left hand... at least one last longer than other recent episodes...I know that Friday's procedure may not end episodes completely but will be start of 'curing' process.

BTW I intend to have picture taken of my temporary headgear that day ((:-)).

Iran (cont.)

Heard more about protests and killings in Iran this morning... hope people can find a way to settle this thing in a nonviolent manner....

Iran

The people united will never be defeated!!! Saw some TV images of clashes in Iran...I strongly hope for a more tolerant society in that part of the world

2 Real Heroes of Mine and So Many Others

We have lots of challenges in our society. But you know these pale in comparison to many other places in the world. I think of Burma where an opposition leader remains in detention nearly 20 years after winning a free election. The Burmese junta just doesn't get it!!! People all over the world are of one mind in asking that she be freed. Hat's off to that wonderful person on her 64th birthday.

And then we have the opposition supporters in Iran. Wow.. what a bunch of gutsy folks. Having the strength of character to publicly ask for changes in a flawed election. And publicly asking for changes even with fewer media present. THe government there not only doesn't like change but appears to want fewer international media to report on its reaction to the desire for change.

But over the long time the people will prevail...

Social Networking

I am a fan of social networking. A colleague of mine has 'challenged' me to set up a facebook group for the organization we both belong to.. I intend to take up the challenge..watch here for how it goes.

Hypocrisy of right wing radio hosts

The 'hypocrisy' of our conservative right wing radio in this town continues. I recently heard one of them 'venting' about the trial of our mayor on charges of influence peddling. The program host was saying if our mayor was found guilty then similar charges could be brought against a former Liberal Prime Minister for enticing MP's to cross the floor; or the three opposition party leaders for planning their coalition last fall. The program host conveniently forgets that our current Conservative Prime Minister has done the same thing.. he happens to forget the two floor crossings initiated by the current Prime Minister.

Of course that station never lets facts get in the way of an opinion.

Public Health/Safety Issue

Hey here in our community a local politician is asking that our public transit vehicles be equipped with sanitizers to reduce the spread of infections diseases. And he is being criticized for it by all the usual 'nay sayers'.

This should be a no-brainer. Anything in the interests of promoting definition seems to me to be a 'good thing'. Lots of initiatives in the past are initially roundly criticized by the same folks yet over time come to be accepted as normal situations in a socially responsible society/world!!

Friends in Cyberspace

close to 10 years ago I met a person via a listserv on Yahoo Groups. we have talked on the phone many times over htat period.. and emailed each other regularly.

In a little over one hour I will finally meet this gentleman.

when we first 'met' I was living in Saskatchewan.. he continues to live in Nova Scotia (on the west side). Today, my last day in Halifax before returning home, I will be having coffee with him.

Even though we have never physically met it seems like we have been friends forever.

The NIce Thing About Cyberspace

Over 1,000 km from home.. yet able to keep in touch with cyberspace and txt messaging...never really 'out of touch' with anyone...even if a close relative suddenly 'unfriended' me on Facebook ((:-))

Second Post Today

Only sort of enjoying meetings in Halifax.. Have been coming to AGM's of Amnesty International for several years. They are gatherings of human rights activists from across Canada.

The organization like so many others is undergoing constant change during these turbulent times...we seem to spend so much time at these meetings looking inward to how we are doing etc. etc.

I've been coming to these for 9 of the past 10 years.. doubt I'll be going to any future meetings.