Saturday, November 06, 2010

Unrelated Segments

Lately I have neither the time nor the will to do any real blogging. Too busy, too distracted. Work and family are, of course, enough to occupy anyone's waking hours, but recently things seem to have switched into overdrive.
My father-in-law had multiple by-pass surgery the other day, so things have been both tense and busy around here as family members from the countryside/out of town use our place as a staging ground for hospital visits. We're the only ones living "in town," and that's where the big hospital that does stuff like heart surgery is, so...
Don't get me wrong, though. I really wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, if you can't hang for a while at a family member's place because you care about and want to check up on another family member who happens to be getting his chest ripped open by doctors we all hope know what the fuck they're doing, well, what the fuck, eh?
The day of my father-in-law's surgery we were all at the hospital. We were all allowed to be right there in ICU when they wheeled him to surgery. We were there to wish him well and cheer him on. I would in no way be bullshitting you if I told you this was one of the more poignant moments I've ever experienced. It was. I'm not sure if this kind of thing is even allowed back in Canada. It probably should be.
The surgery took about 8 hours. Everyone but me stayed at the hospital for the entire procedure. I just couldn't. I told my wife I was going home to do some housework. I wanted to be helpful, but there was no fucking way I was staying at that hospital for 8 hours. I think this has caused some tension for my wife. Now is not the time, but when her father is in the clear I'll have to tell her about the 3 days I spent on "death watch" at my own father's hospital bedside.
Anyway, that was a couple of days ago. My wife and I went to see him this evening. Visiting hours in ICU are very restricted and, unfortunately, my daughter is not allowed in. This really is too bad because I know that she's the one he really would like to see. He was napping when we went in. As he woke up, the first thing he saw was my wife standing beside a nurse. My wife is also nurse. He spoke my wife and daughter's names, momentarily thinking they were both there. I think I'd go crazy working in a hospital. It looks, though, like my father-in-law is going to pull through OK.

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On top of family-related stuff there's (always) work-related stuff. Some nice folks in The Philippines and in Thailand have deemed some of my half-baked ideas about teaching English to be worthy of presentation at their (ahem!) international conferences. The first presentation is about a month away, and I've got a shitload of work to do on it. Mostly grunt work (the ideas are always in my brain! Hahaha!!!), but I've got to get it PowerPoint-ready and all that crap. And all that crap. My contract's up this school year, so I'd like to get this one paper-ready as well. Gotta put food on the table and all that crap, ya know?

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Speaking of work, did anyone see the first episode of The Walking Dead? Wow! A gritty, gory TV series about the zombie apocalypse! On the same channel as Mad Men! Can't wait for the next episode. And, speaking of TV, does anyone else get the sense that TV may soon (if it isn't already) be better than movies? The best movies I've seen recently suck compared to the best TV shows. Movies have always kinda sucked at telling stories adapted from, say, novels. TV doesn't have to worry about coming in under two hours...

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In my very un-humble opinion, the best rock band in the world today is Motorpsycho. They're from Norway. And man, do they kick ass.

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I want a new camera.

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From the Department of Things I Hate, But Many Friends (Whose Opinions I Respect) and Most of the Rest of the World Seem to Like: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Doctor Who; musicals (film or play). These are deserving of posts of their own but, short version: The first two are related (whether they like it or not). They're neither funny enough to be comedy, nor serious enough to be SF. I don't see the appeal. Yawn. Musicals are, to me, an abomination. I know I'm in the minority, and am willing to accept that I might objectively be wrong. But, singing fucking cats and shit? Gimme a fucking break. And combining drama with music? Please. Like some French guy (I forget who) said, "Things too stupid to be spoken are often sung" (well, whoever it was said something like that).

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Good night.

4 comments:

  1. Wow, for somebody who's been quiet for such a while, you sure came back with a vengeance. There's a lot here that's got me hankering to throw in my own two cents.

    Your father-in-law: I can relate somewhat, having gone through Bobby's triple by-pass some years ago. It's a terrifying ordeal for the family, for sure. My brother, who has some background in nursing, encouraged me at the time, saying the surgery was so commonplace nowadays that there was little to worry about; and Bobby came through it fine. Is your father-in-law looking more pinkish around the face? That's a sign the blood is flowing more freely now. Your family has my hopes and good wishes. Things should work out fine. Will your wife ever forgive you ... ? Eh.

    So you have a revolutionary new technique in teaching English. Well, if you find yourself out of work by next year, you might be able to peddle it here in the States. We don't do that in schools anymore. Teach, that is.

    The Walking Dead? I recorded the debut episode and forgot to watch it before Bobby erased it. Glad you enjoyed it.

    Motorpsycho? Whatever ...

    I see you want a new camera. Well, duh.

    I'm with you on The Hitchhiker's Guide... and Doctor Who. However, you find musicals to be an abomination? YOU ARE DEAD TO ME! Cause, see, I'm just a guy who cain't say no to the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom; and, anyway, anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you.

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  2. Hi Rick, I'm glad your father-in-law came through OK. Not allowing children in ICU is probably to shield them, and to protect patients from germs, but it would have been nice for him to see your daughter. sp

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  3. Recent hospital-related event comparison u.s. vs japan: japan comes out miles ahead in the humane treatment of loved ones department of course: my mom's recent major surgery in a large Denver hospital where they only allowed one person (my father) into the pre-op room and NO ONE into the icu - we waited 5 hours to be allowed to see her. this is a long time.
    anyway, i am wishing your family well, and hope you get a new camera because i love your photos.

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  4. Thanks for the kind wishes, guys.

    Glenn,
    About musicals: as I tried to convey, I'm quite willing to accept that I'm just *wrong.* I can actually give you a million reasons why I don't like them, but I think at bottom it boils down to my simply not liking the music. Maybe I just haven't seen the right ones...?

    Sussah,
    Yes, I think you're right about kids in ICU. It kinda sucks, but it's probably for the best.

    Susan,
    I think Japan may be one place where "custom" trumps legal considerations (liability, etc.).
    Actually I still have the camera I've been using the past few months (my trusty cell phone cam). I'm just growing weary of its limitations (lousy zoom, poor focus in less than optimal light, etc.).

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