I am in the ambulatory unit of North Shore LIJ. A routine wait for a routine surgery. Not mine. I am accompanying the patient. There are a series of waiting areas each designated for your specific type of waiting. I find a seat in my designated waiting area. It is facing the TV so I can watch if I want. I shouldn't have to as I have a kindle, iPad, 2 books and my blackberry. I can perform multiple functions on several. After I feel comfortable that I have claimed my territory I head off to the restroom. I take my backpack and bag. I leave our coats draped on one seat. I believe they are not trendy enough to be stolen. A very quick visit. I return to find a woman sitting on the hoods and sleeves of our coats.What!! I don't know how she and they became a threesome but they now are. I count 27 of the 32 seats free and yet this person is sitting on parts of our coats. I try to pull them out from under her but she is on her cell giving me her back. Doesn't she feel the furry hoods, clasps and Velcro underneath? After much tugging, I succeed in freeing them. I move to an end with a large tree like the one pictured here. I am tree protected on one side and in back of me is a glass partition separating the play area from the waiting room. One child is playing and he has an older guardian. I decide to write about what is happening. I take out my iPad and start a blog story. The coat woman starts listening to her messages on speaker phone.The speaker phone is loud as are her responses. We all now hear and know every one of the exchanges. I decide I need a photo to accompany my story. A waiting room photo. However, when I stand to focus my camera the boy in the playroom knocks on the glass and announces "I am playing, sorry if I am bothering you."
AM I BOTHERING YOU?
His guardian joins him in being sorry for any disturbance. I explain to both I am not standing to complain about them, but to take a picture to include in my blog. I then complain to them about the coat sitter and tell them that she will be in my story. I think the little boy wants to be in it also. He is now.
MAKE A NOISE, MAYBE I WILL TURN AROUND
I decide I must have a latte or something like that. This will involve a very long walk to a little kiosk like cafe indented in the hospital wall. I fear they will come out to announce the successful completion of the surgery while I am gone. I leave the coats again, confident that they are not theft-worthy After a long walk through all the waiting rooms I arrive at the cafe. I check out the cafe supplies and spot some hazelnut coffee. The procedure seems to be that you pay for your cup and then go get your coffee and accoutrements. The cashier is facing away from me. How to get his attention without scaring him? He continues to face the register. This is going on a few minutes. Suddenly he turns and staggers back "Wow, you scared me, maybe you should have made a noise" A noise? What kind of noise? He explains he is not sure he would have heard even if I did make a noise.
YOU SCARED ME
He asks "Do you believe in selective hearing?" I say I do and because Paul is in surgery I use him as my example of a selective hearing person. I pay for my cup. Then go to the stand for the hazelnut. The carafe is almost empty and I only eke out a few ounces. I then add some regular, bringing the level to half. full. Oh well. Then I take the half and half. Empty. I am screwed. I have to scare the cashier again as he is back to facing the register. What noise should I make? Woof, woof?? I pick words. "Oh hello, any half and half?" I say without a noise. He turns and brings a container. I guess that is selective hearing. He will selectively hear the question "any half and half? and turn around. I now know the password.
I make it back to my waiting area. Our coats are there.
IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THE CORNER SPOT
I get settled, raise my cup of half hazelnut, half regular and half and half and at my first sip the tech comes out informing me that the patient is in recovery. "May I take my coffee?" I ask."Try it. They'll take it from you if it is not okay."
It is okay. Everyone in recovery is drinking. Hydration. I see Paul. I am tempted to say "Any half and half?" and see if he looks up. I'll try that line at home. Time to pack up and go.
Again
a Saturday. Yay. When March 17th is a Sunday, the NYC parade is on a
Saturday, March 16... that is the rule and the reason is so we can
attend religious services on Sunday. Saturday is the best for everyone
as it is a non-work and no school day for most and the next day is the
same. I am packed and ready to go-Liam is also ready
In my lime green backpack, I have extra beads, boas etc. to distribute among the group in case more green is needed.The
New Hyde Park train station is obscured by crowds of scantily green
clad teenagers. I fear I will not get a ticket as they all seem to have
no clue how to buy a ticket. Those that can see the machine are having
much trouble sticking dollars in the slot. The 9:35 train is announced
to be on time. It is 9:41. All are in good spirits and we all make the
train.
Our
group meets at Penn Station and we subway up to 77th. When emerging
from the subway I never know which way is 5th Avenue but today it is
easy as groups of the green covered folks lead the way. We arrive on
5th, sidle into the front row, lean on the barrier and are set. The parade is still coming.
We find out later that the start is delayed 20 minutes. We are joined by
a city dwelling newbie and now are complete; ready to interact,
watch, chat, tweet and take pix. We do all that. Turns out I took the boa wig and
not the neck boa, a mistake I have committed twice. I suppose Liam is
wearing the boa at home. We make do. Switching and borrowing until we are
fine with our outfits. Following video is a collection of marchers, bands, songs and more...at around 6:11 minutes you will enjoy heavy snow showers
Amidst
the cheering and hand slapping we have the annual Chuck Schumer visit to
our group. Renée calls him and he runs to us, a flag between with his
teeth to accomplish a hands on hello.
Senator Chuck Schumer and Renée
A grand effort. Thanks Senator Chuck
Liam stays home with Daddy Paul who has to pass up this year's festivities. The Kindle and remotes are ready to go for the home pack of two.I am not sure what is happening at home but I imagine a Guinness day and maybe some TV parade watching. Dogs do march in the parade- Irish wolfhounds. They earn it as they work. Liam is not a working dog.
We subway down to Rolf's for our traditional post parade early dinner... a really cozy atmosphere. See why http://rolfsnyc.com/www.rolfsnyc.com/Welcome.html
Actually one of the group likened the men's bathroom to a fun house. Yes, they do have corned beef. We get creative and substitute red cabbage. Inspired. Salty and sweet. Take note, Food Network.
POTATOES, CORNED BEEF AND RED CABBAGE
Not that everyone ordered it. We have some weisswurst (veal sausage) and sauerkraut at our table.
It snows, rains and the sky is grey. "We have weather" as they say in Ireland.
And
then it is done. LIRR home for me with a group of raving drunken young
men. The lead bellow-er is making animal noises. I think maybe a hyena. He passes out after 10 minutes. The trip is 35 minutes. I consider his coma the luck of the Irish. Another St. Paddy's Day parade wrapped up. On Sunday the celebration continues...I have enough green to go for at least a week. If it warms up, make that two.
Sláinte
(Cheers, Clink)
GUINNESS AND LIAM
Thanks to Izzy for my unauthorized use of his food photos
Next week I will participate in our library's semiannual book club party. We
submit titles of books we have read, talk about them informally and then give an oral review to the group hoping to
generate interest for a shared experience. Here is a preview of two of my three submissions. A third, RACK CANCER: sharing hope has been previously reviewed- see link http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2012_09_09_archive.html
I have said that the memoir genre is my favorite choice for a good read so I will start with one.
Yes, Chef: a memoir
by Marcus Samuelsson.
When
I ate at Aquavit in the early 2000's, I was intrigued by the
combination of chocolate and spice in a dessert. Somewhere I know I have
a photo and a description. Not so unusual to mix sweet and spice now but more than a decade
ago it was. I was told that the creator of the dish was Aquavit's young black Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson. Very up
and coming. This memoir is his life story, so far. I say so far because
he is now only 43. Adopted at three with his sister by a Swedish family
he learns to cook by watching and helping his grandmother, Helga. Later he interns in Europe, suffers,
fails, has a child, succeeds, comes to America, becomes an award chef winning at
24. And that is just the beginning. He has to buy back the use of his
name from Aquavit's owner, he finds his Ethiopian family, he marries, he
does the first state dinner for the Obama White House. He opens his dream restaurant in the meat
packing district. It fails. He opens Red Rooster in Harlem, it thrives, always "chasing flavors" he says. "Food's my only bag. It's my gig, my
art, my life. Always has been, always will be."
"I represent so many things to so many people. In Ethiopia I am ferengi or
"white" because I am an American of means. In Sweden, I represent "new
Sweden," which to them means an integrated Sweden. In America, I'm black
or African American or an immigrant; it depends. For me, the labels
aren't as important as the journey. I took the train from Götesborg to
Switzerland, from Switzerland to Austria, and back again. Along the way,
I became a chef, a father, a husband, a mentor, and a friend."
"After all that traveling, I am, at last, home."
I recommend joining him on the journey.
Bruce
by Peter Ames Carlin
I also like biographies. They can
be tricky. If the person is dead the author might have more leeway with
his/her depiction of the person though it has not stopped unauthorized
biographies of the living, both complimentary and not. Bruce by
Peter Ames Carlin is not exactly authorized but seems to have Bruce's
okay. This book shows more of a real Bruce Springsteen. The author
writes about the not so admirable actions and the character flaws of Bruce. A
reviewer cautioned that we may not feel the same about Bruce after reading
and that was meant for the "worshipers" which I might be. And I sure
understand that can very well happen. I read Kitty Kelley's
unauthorized bio of Oprah. It was a book club pick; I would not
have selected it on my own as I know the author's proclivity for taking down idols in her celeb bios. My feelings changed towards Oprah. I now see her
differently. I am coming back though. My pedestal for her was way too high for a human being. Then there was the The Last Boy
about Mickey Mantle. Paul and Liam read it and during their sessions Paul would share passages. I have not yet read it. I am almost ready. With The Mick I always think what could have been.
The
Bruce book does have more stories and conversations than I had previously known. It delves into
his childhood-a difficult one, by living standards
as well as by behaviors of the adults in it. Bruce's actions indicate a loyal friend, a
powerful writer and a deep thinking man as well as a thoughtless, self-absorbed, cold man. I accept the package. All parts of a complex
person. I like that he has been in therapy, fights depression, is
evolving and uses his performances to beat out his demons. He keeps
trying and knows his value to his fans. During each concert I
feel transported and in communion with the audience and the band. At its end I feel better than when I went in, every time. I can invoke that memory of the end of show Born to Run anthem whenever my natural Irish gloom descends or unwelcome dreams intrude upon the night.
Above I quoted Marcus
and let his words speak. I'll do the same for Bruce-take a listen
A
nightmare! Another winter storm. Saturn. I briefly forgot about Nemo
and thought that we had gone full cycle from s to s- Sandy and now back
to Saturn. No, this is a severe winter storm, a nor'easter, one of The
Weather Channel's newly named group of winter storms. This is to be a
three day "Sit and Spin" a phrase so aptly used by our favorite weather
guy...see link http://nycweatherguy.blogspot.com/
Timeline
Tuesday-
morning sky is clear blue reminiscent of 9/11, unusual for a winter
sky and especially lately when all is grey and cloudy. White clouds
drift in quickly and the look changes. We are advised, alerted and warned
by weather reports that this will all change. The spring feel of this sunny
day will soon be gone. Liam explores outside on the mushy half
thawed lawn. He is not a fan of moisture unless in a bowl.
Wednesday-
Wind, severe weather alerts every half hour on all channels, Gusts have
captured and deposited garbage cans all over. We have gained another. I
have to find its owner and do. Power stays on
with a brief flicker
midday. Liam barks at the wind.
No howling hound, he saves that for passersby. He watches, no interest in romping.
All devices are charging. Expecting a rattling noisy shaky night with power loss waking up cold.
LIAM FEELING SAFE ON UPSTAIRS LANDING
Thursday-
Morning, power on, less wind, no gusts, a coating of snow. wintry mix falling.
Early afternoon, the "eye" of the storm... I know. I am mixing hurricane
and winter storm, only hurricanes have eyes. News updates have more
whacking later...the weather folks will not give this one up. Hey, we
have been waiting since Tuesday. This is stressful. Folks fearing
flooding, power loss, tree damage. impassable roads.
Nothing happening.
LIAM AND FRIEND CHECKING THE BACKYARD
The
half hour reports have stopped. Jim Cantore is up in Massachusetts. He
goes where the action is. This makes me think it is done. Liam checks
the backyard. Are we spared? More warnings that the commute might be slushy. Slushy... we can take that, Snow showers mentioned for tomorrow...
LIAM SOAKING UP THE HEAT IN CASE POWER GOES
Nightmare storm? not yet...hope it is okay for all.
Talking
of nightmares. My deepest thanks for all the suggestions, sharings and
support I received on last week's "BadDream Girl" blog story. I did think about and try to use all ideas. Guess what? Progress. I "won" a few
times. A night or two the dreams vanished, leaving no bad sad mood
residue. Sincerely appreciate your feedback and comments.
Now if we can get through this part two of the nightmare storm, I can return to my routine nightmares. Stay calm, be mindful, meditate. It should be over by Friday noon. I bought wine for tonight.
Bad
dreams are generally classified as nightmares. They are labeled
unpleasant dreams in the wiki definition following -an interesting
compilation here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare
What
are the causes of bad dreams? Well just about everything from
unresolved past and present conflicts and anxieties ...triggers might be
people, places, coffee, food, wine, movies, music, sleep apnea,
restless leg, medication, almost anything except dogs. Nightmare
is a word we throw around to describe anything really terrible "What a
nightmare!" That would be a not so fun happening. I can say this every
morning as I have bad unpleasant/dreams/nightmares EVERY night. I
decided that this year I would fix this. Each January since retirement I
have decided to fix something in me that is broken. I figure in
retirement I have more time to devote to big broken things. I started
in January 2008- the first month of my retirement. My first fixer was
to adopt a rescue dog on 1/1/08. Liam fixed me in many ways. He has his
dreams also, some seem bad...as he shakes and shows his own restless
legs, probably unsuccessful squirrel chasing. I put him in a
thundershirt to calm him.
In
2009, I decided to wean myself from paxil (anti-anxiety drug) It took
about 2 months. Last year was the year of the "no"- I
had to simplify my life. I was extremely over-scheduled. I fixed the year
as it went ...no, no no..."no, I won't be back" No, I will not be
available... extricating myself from classes, activities and unnecessary
commitments. In 2013 I now have the year of the nightmare fix. March 1 is here and how am I
doing? I seem to be having more nightmares or maybe I am remembering
better. I have tried most suggested solutions-therapy (years) dream
catchers (several) turkey before bed (Liam got that sandwich and fell
asleep) recording and analyzing (I am on my second journal)
this link offers more dream info http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/recurringdreams2.htm
My
nightmares are about being left out, not having the right tool to do
the job I am assigned, having my place of work move without notifying me (I still work in my nightmares) not
having proper clothes for an assigned task or event, being held captive and trying to
escape to find where everyone has gone. Usually all in one bad dream. I
know of the universal "bridge" dream, the "late for the test" dream,
the "naked" at the meeting dream. Not to diminish their impact but I would love to have a
few of those. As I am writing this song is in my head-
So
tomorrow is March first, and historically I have made progress on my yearly fix at this point. Not with the "year of the nightmare." If I could "win" more times in my
dreams I would consider it an achievement even if I still had the nightmares. I have not really put my mind
to a pre-sleep mantra of dream mindfulness. So I will.
Would like to go back to going to sleep and expecting pleasant dreams as in this childhood photo
CAROL IN CRIB
some fixes are what Liam does- A buddy to cuddle with, a blanket, a pillow
Tonight I resolve to rewrite the script of my nightmare. Or be a winner in it
I
have decided to do Home Yoga. I take a yoga class at the library once a
week. I really like it and only recently have been able to recall many of
the positions. For four years I was not able to remember more than a few
sequential poses. The emphasis had been on breath work-very heavy
breathing. Liam demonstrates in next photo.Our
current class is geared more to movement. Now the poses seem to be
staying in my head. I find this very heartening as new knowledge is
supposed to be hard to keep as one ages. I store my library class mat
in the car with the other paraphernalia that goes with class yoga-
pillow and blanket. I buy a second yoga mat for the house. I bring both inside and lay
them out to see if I want to switch them up. I notice the new one is
smaller in length, width and thickness.
Hmmm... Ideally the new one should now go to class because space is
limited and this would give the class an inch or two extra. If we all
got this size mat we could fit another person! However, I decide to keep
the new one at home, open space here is not so plentiful either. Liam
finds all this very interesting and sniffs around. I am sure there is a smell to the new
mat. I do a few of the
moves and Liam is mesmerized. Many yoga poses are copied from animals and
nature. Maybe he thinks I am a tree, a pigeon, a cat, a cow or of course
the famous downward facing dog.
DOWNWARD FACING DOG
He follows me through and shows me a pose
I have never done
though it is an iconic beginner one.
CHILD'S POSE-A CLASSIC IN YOGA
I find I do not need to refresh my memory too much as dogs know how to
stretch and how to move their bodies to un-kink them. I can watch Liam
instead of remembering. I have a buddy. Our own home yoga class. Thanks
Liam for the variation on the downward facing dog-upward facing dog-another new one for me.
The snow arrives Friday afternoon February 8. An ice
rain snow combination affectionately dubbed a wintry mix by weather
forecasters. This season The Weather Channel began naming storms and we
are up to "n." This one is Nemo. If you don't know their rationale here
is the link explaining why it is good for storms to have names http://www.weather.com/news/why-we-name-winter-storms-20121001
Nemo
deposits about 12 inches here in New Hyde Park, Long Island. When
Saturday arrives we have no losses: we maintain and gain- we maintain power, trees, roof and we gain
snow. We have a 5 year old rescue dog Liam who has been waiting to go
out and do his business. He takes a look and heads out reluctantly.
I
expect and anticipate watching him play in the snow. Dogs love
the snow. This is an oft repeated statement. Unchallenged. Supported by a
media deluge of doggie snow photos from all over whenever there is a
snowstorm. And right next door we have an "up close and personal"
performance of "Dogs love the Snow." My neighbor's granddogs, Tango
and Charlotte, run, jump, hug, roll, play dead, circle,
feign disinterest, pop up, fall. What a joy to see! Pure pleasure for
them and for the audience. Dogs love
the snow.
LIAM WATCHING THE DOGGIE NEIGHBORS PLAY
HUG THE PERIMETER, THEN RUN THE RIM
Tango and Charlotte are called in, our
voyeurism is over. Liam hugs the perimeter of our yard in his careful
exploration of the blizzard landscape. He then takes off for a full run of the rim. He
stops at a tree to check on a squirrel. Treeing. I have learned this
term from
this week's annual Westminster AKC Dog show. There are breeds who keep
animals up in a tree. Good for hunting.
Liam trees a squirrel.
TREEING A SQUIRREL
The squirrel remains high up in the oak. Liam
shows no
interest in the snow. I watch the Nemo news reports and see
many videos featuring dogs frolicking in
the snow. Liam
does not like the snow on his feet. He is low to the ground and his
belly touches the snow. He does not like that either. Liam will not sit
in the snow, not for
a second. He does not like any wetness at all near his body. Dogs love
the snow. Really? I see photos of my friend's dog sitting in the snow in
Central
Park, snowfrosted twig in mouth. A dog loving the snow. This next photo
is as close as fun in the snow that Liam achieves...Standing...
looking...
Paul
points out that Liam is small and possibly fears drowning in the snow.
Maybe. I have to content myself with you tube videos, Twitter, FB pix
and fun visits of my neighbor's dogs. I see that many dogs love the snow.
We are dog owners with a yard that has no paw prints .
Liam completes his leaping trip around the edges
ends up back on the concrete and quickly barks to reenter the house.
It is facing the TV so I can watch if I want. I shouldn't have to as I have a kindle, iPad, 2 books and my blackberry. 
I can perform multiple functions on several. After I feel comfortable that I have claimed my territory I head off to the restroom. I take my backpack and bag. 
I leave our coats draped on one seat. I believe they are not trendy enough to be stolen. A very quick visit. I return to find a woman sitting on the hoods and sleeves of our coats.What!! I don't know how she and they became a threesome but they now are. I count 27 of the 32 seats free and yet this person is sitting on parts of our coats. I try to pull them out from under her but she is on her cell giving me her back. Doesn't she feel the furry hoods, clasps and Velcro underneath? After much tugging, I succeed in freeing them. I move to an end with a large tree like the one pictured here. 
I am tree protected on one side and in back of me is a glass partition separating the play area from the waiting room. One child is playing and he has an older guardian. I decide to write about what is happening. I take out my iPad and start a blog story. The coat woman starts listening to her messages on speaker phone.The speaker phone is loud as are her responses. We all now hear and know every one of the exchanges. I decide I need a photo to accompany my story. A waiting room photo. However, when I stand to focus my camera the boy in the playroom knocks on the glass and announces "I am playing, sorry if I am bothering you." 
