Neutrality Caturday

Kitteh has the right idea.

*

'Internet Slowdown' is Coming

This goes down tomorrow. You are hereby warned.

Top websites partaking in September 10 day of action in support of net neutrality. From Common Dreams:

Calling attention to the widespread disruption that will occur if Internet 'fast lanes' become the norm for wealthy websites, grassroots groups have organized a widespread Internet Slowdown Day on Wednesday to voice their support for net neutrality. 

A number of the Internet's largest companies including Etsy, Kickstarter, Mozilla, reddit, Foursquare, Vimeo, and Wordpress have announced that they will also join in the September 10th action by displaying an alert with a symbolic "spinning wheel of death" loading symbol and pushing individuals to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission, Congress and the White House.
"As that wheel spins, the rules about how the Internet works are being redrawn," Amy Goodman wrote this week.
As Goodman explains, large Internet service providers, or ISPs— such as Comcast, Time Warner, AT&T and Verizon— are "trying to change the rules that govern your online life," by creating a two-tiered Internet where certain content providers will pay to get preferred access on an Internet "fast lane."
Current FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is currently weighing a new classification for the Internet that could be a "huge boon" for big cable companies, according to protest organizers Fight for the Future. Those participating are calling on Wheeler and the federal government to protect Internet democracy and reclassify the web as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, which will mandate that ISPs deliver all content at equal speeds.
The FCC is expected to issue a final rule as soon as the end of the year.

Feel free to pass this on, or at least the above link to the original story at Common Dreams.

And so it goes.
*

Fending, Finding, and FUBAR**

FUBAR - FTW!

Friday turned into an epic FUBAR day; equal parts Fellini and The Marx Brothers at their best - with a little Doris Day thrown in for balance.  Without going into confusing detail, let’s just say that between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. chaos, computer glitches, dumb decisions, were the norm rather than exception.  Beaucoup stoopid, as I say. And on top of all the rest, a last-minute discovery that platelets were low caused more hysteria, yet another delay

Anyway, after 22 hours without food or drink I was beyond hungry or thirsty and closer to numb.  Beyond feeling discomfort or pain. Since the day went longer than anyone dreamed it could, my offer to buy Kelli’s lunch went out the window. By the time she fetched me at the hospital, it was late and she still had work to do at the office. I was dropped off at home and had to fend for myself.

Fine. While still coming out of the anesthetic haze, I microwaved some frozen Beef Daube, covered it with rice and along with copious amounts of water - had dinner. 

After the small meal I hit the bed and was out almost immediately. Slept long and deep, thanks to the goddess. Today it all seems so surreal.  But, it all happened. 

There are three patches on my chest - there should only be 2 - only the goddess knows what was done to me in all the confusion. In any case, I survived, am aware (to a degree), walking, talking (when necessary) and functioning as normally as any human could after such an experience. 

Of course, I am sore, but none the worse for what the old body was put through.  Breakfast was scrambled eggs, toast and a coffee. Today it’s back to the routine of drugs, (some were suspended prior to surgery) foods (even though it’s 90’F outdoors, I crave a heavy chicken with veggie soup), and a little light exercise.

There were six items on my gay agenda today:

• Walk the Boardwalk at dawn.
• Appointment at the Center for the Neupogen shot.
• Pick up new prescriptions at the Pharmacy.
• Prepare Chicken soup.
• Order a telephone answering device for the land line.
• Upgrade the memory in the MAC MINI.

The weather was ideal for the walk. Cool, cloudy, with a light fog. It's nice to have the boardwalk and ocean almost all to myself. Though the ocean was calm, one could still enjoy the sounds and smell while walking in the light fog. It was a peaceful bit of heaven.

One of the Lab Techs at the Center tried to scold me for not showing up for the second Neupogen shot yesterday.  After I chewed her face off for 5 minutes, she walked away with tail between her legs.  Came by as I was leaving later to apologize. Never judge anyone’s actions or inactions, especially if you don’t know the reason or cause.

The pharmacy was an interesting experience, as well. The two pharmacists - both of African Heritage - are very kind, helpful, and generous with their time and knowledge. Their names are Aousten and Ougwan.  Both are gentlemen of about my age. 

They always greet me with a smile and floored me today,  telling me how nice it is to serve me. That they were sorry a person like me am going through what I am at present. They were clearly having a bad day, customer-wise.  It is July, after all. Still, it’s nice to receive such a rare compliment anytime.

With the upgrading of cables Verizon is doing in my neighborhood, the landline and DSL service have been problematic over the past weeks (or months, who can remember?), as a result I’ve been missing calls.  Not good in the current situation. I decided I needed a digital answering device to collect any missed calls, so went hunting at Radio Shack & Staple’s. 

There is no doubt in my mind why both those companies are about to go belly-up. The staff is clueless and as bright as a bag of hammers. (One had never heard of a digital telephone answering device, vaguely knew what a wired phone was. Honest!) So, getting nowhere fast, I tried the usual suspects - K-Mart, and finally Wal-Mart, only to come up empty again.

On to Amazon (why don’t I ever think of this option first?) and found one within seconds. They’re more sophisticated these days, offer more recording time and more bells and whistles, too. So, ten minutes and $10.00 later, an answering device will be arriving at my home on Monday.

Have to make a note to think of Amazon first when it comes to obscure, uncommon items.  I’m a Prime member - for the free Kindle Library, movies, and 2-day shipping, but it’s never first in my head for situations like this  There were many options to choose from and the item descriptions usually covered questions one would normally ask an informed sales person, who, unfortunately, exist only in the shadows of the past.

Picked up the fresh veggies for the soup on the way home, resisting temptation to munch on the raw *celery and carrots;  whimpering as I dropped them into the Dutch Oven with the broth. Soup will be ready by suppertime.  Yay!  Me!

Always the procrastinator! When I purchased the MAC MINI last year, the sale price included only 8GB of memory. The money saved by going with the 8, instead of 16GB upgrade was enough for the purchase of the super drive DVD.  I thought the 8 would be sufficient for my needs.

A go-to friend at the restaurant, and self-proclaimed MAC MANIAC wasn't so sure.  He thought the 16 would be more efficient and faster. I couldn’t afford the added expense - especially dealing with a then unknown illness - so the (on sale) MINI with the 8GB won out.

Well, not to be dismissed, my friend gave me the 16GB modules a few weeks later. He had removed them from a non-working MAC and wouldn’t take a penny for them.  Just insisting I install them and see the difference.  Well, 9 months later and I finally switched them out - the 16 for the 8 - and you know, he was absolutely right. 

It’s a snap to do, requiring nimble fingers, and no tools.  Totally unlike a Windows PC. The no tools thing I could handle, the nimble fingers thing was another story.  Still, I got it done and am a very happy camper. Now I have to suck it up, call Eddie to tell him the deed is done and listen his “I told you, so” reprimand. It'll be worth it.

This post is longer than expected, but there’s been more activity these past 48 hours: Port removed, New Port embedded, Fresh Soup, New Telephone answering device, improved MAC, and a much higher platelet count, to boot.

That last bit may be the reason I have more  energy this evening than usual. I graciously accept any and all.

And so it goes.

*

**FUBAR = fucked up beyond all recognition.

New Life Necessities

With 2 printers, Apple charger/Connector, and Stick Drive, I needed more USB ports for the MINI.  Yeah, "wireless" my ass!  This small, inexpensive addition satisfied that need. Problem solved! Without additional strain on the CPU. Sweet!

Old Faithful (30+ year old) Swing Away opener recently bought the farm and finding a suitable replacement nearby proved impossible. Retail options are limited here. Zyliss (the garlic press folks - love their stuff) and Amazon to the rescue - for under $10. with free shipping. Arrived today. With that colour, it will never get lost in the drawer.

The bane of my current existence. Never dreamed I’d be in need of one, but recent history has proven me wrong - again. (I seem to be wrong quite often, lately.) I’ve had it a week and it’s already come in handy once. Most likely a second time, today.  So, I guess it is a necessity, after all.  Doesn’t mean I have to like it, or be proud of having to display it.

And so it goes.

*

Tossin’ and Turnin’!

Just another sleepless night around these parts. I did fall asleep around 8 last night but was wide awake again by midnight. I stayed in the dark for a while hoping that sleep would return, but after an hour of that frustration, I turned on the lights and read until 4 am when I had to take my first drugs of the day. 

Scrambled up an egg and a slice of toast, followed it up with juice and a coffee Although I couldn’t eat it all, I felt better for the bit in my stomach.

Got a message from the Locosguys last evening asking that I give them some ideas for their upcoming long weekend trip to New Orleans. They want me to come by the restaurant today, and if I feel up to it I will take them up on their offer. I'd love the chance to see everyone and be out among the living for a change.

So, the dark, pre-dawn hours were spent collecting links to websites for restaurants that I know and love. I don’t know the guys' taste in foods, but I hope they are at least adventurous enough to try some very different dishes, or known dishes served up in unconventional ways.  Anyway, that’s up to them. I’m just preparing the list and will chat with them at length sometime today - I hope.

They’ve already made hotel reservations, using travel points, as they said, so I am not responsible for that part of the trip. I know little about the grand hotel they’ve booked, other than that it’s known locally as a hot, expensive tourist and conventioneer’s place.  Not something I would choose, but they ain’t me.  This is their first trip to the city, so they’ll have fun, I am sure.

All this has given me something to do to pass time otherwise spent reading. I’ve re-read all the Pern books I’d read years ago, plus I downloaded a few of the newer additions to the saga.  They’ve been a nice diversion and very quick reads. Sometimes too quick, if you get my drift. There are a few still that I haven’t read, so if this insomnia keeps hanging around, I might download one or two to remain occupied and pass the boring time.

I haven’t been on FB in over a month for obvious reasons, and I find that I don’t miss it. Turns out that it’s not what I thought it would be anymore - a far cry from anything remotely “social” at least to my mind. In any case, I doubt I’ll return after all this time. 

It's an absolutely glorious day here and since it's also Mother's Day, I hope I can find a parking spot near the restaurant.  If not, well...  It is what it is.

And so it goes.

*

Using Windows XP & Internet Explorer? Stop!!!

28, April, 2014.  The federal government today urged Americans to suspend usage of Internet Explorer. 

The U.S. and UK governments on Monday advised computer users to consider using alternatives to Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer browser until the company fixes a security flaw that hackers used to launch attacks. The Internet Explorer bug, disclosed over the weekend, is the first high-profile computer threat to emerge since Microsoft stopped providing security updates for Windows XP earlier this month. That means PCs running the 13-year-old operating system will remain unprotected, even after Microsoft releases updates to defend against it.The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team said in an advisory released on Monday that the vulnerability in versions 6 to 11 of Internet Explorer could lead to "the complete compromise" of an affected system.

Try Firefox or Chrome instead.  Both are free and both are faster than IE. Always have been. The bigger plus is that you will be safer than you would be otherwise.

More later.

*

June is Bustin’ Out in April

Wait, wait! That’s not how the song goes.

It’s downright hot today. Jumped up to about 80’ by midday and hasn’t begun to drop yet. Spent a low-key day today.  A little fatigue set in, maybe because of all the strenuous (?) activity yesterday.  

The sister called and talked about everything and nothing for almost an hour. She was especially chatty, gushing about the hospital and her medical team - she’ll be in the massive complex that is Touro Infirmary Hospital.  I think it was more for my benefit than hers;  her way of assuring me that she is in good hands. If she’s in Touro, I know that already. She goes in for prep on Tuesday afternoon, surgery scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Her oldest daughter will be staying with her through the surgery and at least part of the recovery. When she has to return to her home, there will be a visiting nurse staff with the sister 12 hours daily.  By that time, (hopefully) 12 hours should be more than enough to keep her comfortable.

My greatest fear, knowing my ornery sister as I do, is that she’ll push herself to do more, thinking that in some way that will make her heal faster. If it were up to me, I’d strap her down, slide a bedpan under her butt and leave her alone for those 3 hours of each off-shift until she got the message.  They don’t call me Nurse Diesel for nothing!

But, she will do whatever the hell she wants to do, and no one can change that. There will be a lot of yelling and screaming between her and my niece; I can almost hear it now.  Sigh!

Tomorrow afternoon I have an appointment with the surgeon who will schedule the PICC implant surgery. PICC = peripherally inserted central catheter.

(Sassy-Bear had one recently and not to be outdone, I just needed one, too. Although his was temporary, sad to say that mine will be pretty much permanent.)

I’m hoping the doctor can do the surgery before I return for Labs on Thursday and another transfusion day on Friday.  It will make life easier for the nurses - and me! No more poking, no more hit or miss with veins.  Just an always accessible port for any and all seasons and reasons. 

One more step to becoming a true Cyborg. There will be this plastic (or nylon) disc-shaped entry point on the upper left of my chest.  Skin will soon grow over it making it barely visible - and certainly less painful for all concerned. 

Anyway.

I’m frustrated by the fact that the black ink cartridge in the new inkjet printer is already spent.  In operation only three months and it’s empty.  Whether it is truly empty or dried up, there is no way of knowing. This will never do. I ordered a replacement as I also ordered the new laser printer which I will use for most everything from now on. 

From my experience, Inkjets are prone to many problems. First of all they are liquid, wet, and are applied while wet.   They can be runny. The prints are air-dried and can take longer depending on the environment. The freshly printed pages are moist to the touch.

Toner is a dry powder, goes on dry and is heated to seal the image to the paper.  Immediately and permanently sealed. Toner doesn’t dry out, age, or clump.  One cartridge assembly usually lasts me about 1.5 to 2 years - depending on usage.

The toner cartridge for the new printer is even less expensive than the one used in the older one that died. It will cost about $56.00.  The replacement inkjet cartridge will cost about $15.00.  $56.00 = 1.5 years, vs $15.00 = 3 months ($60.00 average per year).  It’s just simple math. Enough said.

I’ll keep the Inkjet printer for the scanner option, at least for now. I may chuck the whole affair when the other inks dry up and replace it with my flatbed scanner - which, had I known better, would have done in the first place and saved all this aggravation. Still, a lesson learned. While technology has moved forward, the business of inkjet printing has remained in the middle ages. Not worth the investment.  There, I said it…

Hey, Epson!  Sue me. 

OK! Here’s my first entry into the Sunday Selfie, or Selfie Sunday (whatever it’s called) meme. It was actually taken yesterday and the only reason for the jacket is the wind.  I know, it’s usually windy as the ocean, but I haven’t always been immune-compromised. So, it is what it is. 

Laugh all you want. I do that every morning in front of the mirror as I attempt to shave. There were always few pictures of myself (I was the photographer, after all) but there are even fewer now since the destruction from my previous life and the flooding by Katrina.

And so it goes.

*

Random Thoughts & Checking Off Lists

The innards have finally settled down pretty much after the bout with the side effects from the Augmentin. The stomach is still a bit queasy at times and I’m not eating much solid foods, but well, “every day in every way”  as the saying goes…

Organizing the new desk I’ve decided that I need to go back to a laser printer for the crisp, clean copies I am used to. I don’t trust inks to be permanent - they still run when wet - anything I need to print must be either filed here or sent to the hospital for filing.  Laser toner once heated binds to the paper permanently.

I’ll use some of the tax refund for the purchase. $100.00 will cover this small footprint job at right (includes extra toner cartridge) which will fit snuggly on the "Z" shelf next to the desk. Since the Epson is my MAC scanner, a good and fast printer is all I need. Toner cartridges have dropped in price, too.  I wonder if the price drop has to do with the increased popularity of the inkjet printers. Dunno, and don’t care. I’ll take the lower price and better quality. Maybe fools will catch on later.

I’ve discovered that I am up to my gonads in wires and chargers associated with all the ‘wireless’ devices accumulated over the years. Though the chargers belonging to the old cell phones went with those phones to their new home via the State Police program for battered women, I still have more than enough to contend with. There are also old mice and keyboards from the PC days that I keep trying to give away but no one seems to want.

Years ago, Ron - the dear gossip - at Retired in Delaware, insisted that I purchase a web camera so we could video chat via Skype.  So I bought one.

Why?  I don’t know.  We lived about a half mile from one another, so I gathered it was just a fun toy he wanted to play with.  Then the old PC died and the old web camera wasn’t compatible with the new one.  Ron’s Skyping calls had dwindled by then, but I bought a newer web camera just to have it handy.  A wasted investment.

A year later Ron made the jump to the MAC and that was the end of Skype. So, there are 2 Logitech webcams floating around this place, too. Now that I have the MAC iPad, iPhone, and iPod, they are gathering dust and sometimes under foot at the most inconvenient times. Yes, now I have FaceTime, which is more sophisticated than Skype ever was, not that it matters.  

Now that I think of it, I wonder if the newest web camera could be used with the MINI…my monitor isn’t an Apple, therefore has no builtin camera.  I’m wondering if I could plug the camera into a USB port, check for new drivers and see what happens.  Seems a waste to throw the thing away. 

There are 3 stand microphones from the old (?) days of early voice recognition, which again, are of no use any longer. I could go on and on, but it's making me depressed so I'll stop for now.  Anyway, you get the idea.

The old PC is waiting for Eddie to return from Romania to remove my personal files and photos from the HD before chucking it, or repairing it for someone else. Yes, it's been sitting by the front door for over a month (where else can I put it?) and I can't wait for his return next week before Easter.  

When I have the strength and energy the old Laser Printer needs to go to the tech & electronics recycle center, which is not nearby anymore.

Anyway…I’ve gotta get rid of all this stuff!!?!!

I’ve organized all the relevant cords, cables, wires, and chargers with the devices I use today; they sit neatly wrapped and labelled in two covered, plastic containers on a shelf where all such things live. Nice and clean.  Though these items too, seem to multiply for some unknown reason.  Sigh!

Got a call from the Oncologist’s office acknowledging that I discontinued the Augmentin over the weekend and letting me know the doctor will be looking into a replacement.  They also told me that they called a prescription for an antidepressant, which I can pick up either this afternoon or tomorrow.  

I guess that may be in response to my complaints of short-temper while on the Prednisone, which may be carried over to the Danazol - but I haven’t detected increased agitation since I made the change.  Don’t know what the new drug is, so I can’t look it up, but I’ll find out soon enough.

I may have mentioned this before, but you know a year ago I was only on ONE prescription medication - for the high blood pressure.  Now I am washing down 9; some are taken more than once daily. This new antidepressant will bring that total to an even 10.  

Say, do I get some kind of award for that?  New washer and dryer? Trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico?  Hoboken, NJ?  Hey, I ain’t fussy.

The sister’s birthday is tomorrow so I caught her this morning by phone before she had the chance to leave the apartment.  She was happy for the call, but remains quite scared about the open heart surgery coming up next week.  Can’t say I blame her, but she’s strong, asked lots of questions, and her medical team has been available for anything she needs going into this last week prior to the operation. They’ve covered every inch of what will be her physical domain during recovery and there’s no more they can do, except be there for moral support.  Me too.

I really need to put some solid food into my system today, but nothing sounds interesting or the least bit appetizing.  I’ve down the last yogurt and I am tired of canned fruits.  Maybe something will jump out at me when I do the shopping tomorrow.  Trouble is, I can feel myself getting weaker every day.  

That said, I don’t think I’ll be driving to the drug store for the new prescription today.  Just not up to it, is all.  

And so it goes.

*

That Tedious Apple Update

All of you long time MAC users out there would know this far better than I. As described in the earlier post, a message box appeared in the upper right of my screen last evening informing me that a massive update of Maverick OS X needed to be downloaded and installed.  No option to wait til some other time, or simply a “not now” was unacceptable.  

The download began. Period! The files were huge. It took over 11 hours just to download all file to the hard drive.  Although I didn’t need to, I had full use of the computer during those long hours as the system ticked off the gigs being streamed into my computer. 

However, when that finally ended and the installation process began, I lost all control of the computer as it was elsewhere occupied with the task at hand.  That, I assume, of rebuilding the entire OS from scratch. At least that's my take on the situation. There was no place or time for my puny endeavors at the keyboard. Blank screen and unresponsive keyboard were the order of the rest of the morning

This detailed install took another 2 hours keeping me abreast of what was going on without relinquishing control of the device or keyboard.  

Beyond the additional 2 hours of dead time, the system then began to sort out files and perform a number of reboot sequences, the likes of which I have not seen since my old Microsoft Windows days, and which I thought were over when I switched to the MAC.  Clearly, something happened and Apple needed to address the issue without user interference.  Which it certainly did, like it or not.

Just a quick few minutes with the update following the final reboot, and I notice that many things (including personal preferences) have been altered, lost, or put heaven-knows-where.  

The update boasts a whole new Safari experience, which I haven’t ventured into, since my last experience with the browser ended in bitter shutdown - by me! I’ve used Chrome with great results since then and not sure I want to risk a return engagement with Safari at this time. 

Well, on the up side, this massive update was free. Had it been MS Windows we’d likely have had to cough up big bucks to get everything fixed, up and running again.  Well, whatever.  I just want to find out where in Hell my personal files are now.  Jeez!!!

Hey!  This just appeared in the upper right of the screen.  I guess I ought to check it out, huh?

But not now.  Right now I am off to check out office chairs to go with the new desk. Not much online, so I’ll see what Staples has on sale, if anything. Then on the way home, I’ll swing by Dos Locos and see what they need me to help with  this week.

And so it goes.

*

Printers & Cables & Liars, Oh My!

Spent the better part of Thursday installing - tweaking (not twerking, though that may have been of some help) the new printer to get it to work.  No easy job, that. 

Wording in the Epson advertising  clearly stated there was no need for a USB cable, that the printer was ready to use almost out of the box.  Almost.  Remember that.  Almost.  

In any case, the printer doesn't include a USB cable and nowhere did the ad suggest purchasing one, especially if printer will be used on a network, and by various other devices. So, I didn't bother to order one. (The cost would have been a whole extra $3.00, btw)

After removing the blue tape from the printer parts that could be damaged in shipping, I noticed that some tape held absolutely nothing whatsoever. Ah, bless those Chinese!   Extra tape?  No worries, just stick it anywhere. I know where I'd like to stick it. 

Followed directions for setup, installed the inks, programmed the date, time, etc. and then inserted the installation CD containing the drivers and another step-by-step for final set up.  As the CD was doing its thing, I went back to the quick setup sheets to continue the setup manually, and guess what?  Oh, come on, you can guess…

Setup step #7 header: Wireless Connection.

Text reads as follows:

You must install the software on every computer from which you want to print. For the first installation, we recommend using a USB cable (not included) to simplify wireless setup.

Say, what???  You need a wire to simplify a wireless setup??? You know, you can't make this shit up!

OK, so I have a USB cable for my laser printer (which is looking far more reliable every minute now) so I had to abort the install, regroup, and start over again. 

Another aggravation was that every time I tried to input my network information, (which is case sensitive) the damned printer kept switching from lower to upper case for no reason.  (I kept wondering how many times a device could be thrown to the floor, or across the room and still work.) Anyway, the fourth try was the charm.  Everything finally installed, network found, passwords approved and updated.

Next up was the calibration, nozzle cleaning, head alignment and colour saturation. All this must be done by hand using the LCD screen and keys on the printer face - nothing easy there, to be sure.  In older models - when I used ink jets in the past - this was controlled through the software on the computer.  (One reason I decided to go with Epson.) Of course, this new method is "simplified" only for the printer manufacturer, not the end user. 

Anyway…That took another 40 sheets of paper all by itself.  To add salt to the wound, the raw stock feed isn't a flatbed after all.  It's gravity feed, which I hate.  (These tend to jam and can cause major headaches if you change stock weight, size, or are in a rush.) There is not one picture on any website, Epson or otherwise, that shows this ugly little truth.  Why yes, I am pissed.  Why do you ask?

Four hours later the deed is done and I need a cold compress and a very dry martini to get settled down. 

At this stage I have no idea if the damned printer will work wirelessly, or not. For now, I am leaving the USB cable connected and will transfer it to whatever printer I need for any given job.  The idea was to make this black monster the primary printer/scanner/copier, but I don't think that's going to happen.  

Apple and the Mac have been completely useless throughout this entire process.  If it wasn't for Mac not supporting laser printers/scanners, none of this would have transpired.  Still, few regrets.

Note:  Just read that "Image Capture" program is required to get the most out of the scanner component of the printer on a Mac.  Isn't that just swell, though…I am really thrilled now. 

I am stuck with the very situation that I wanted to avoid - having a separate scanner connected to the computer along side a printer - but that's what I've got. 

Well, that was yesterday.  

Today I am going to make a valiant effort to remove the snow and ice blanket covering the car so that I can get out on the weekend for a little necessary grocery shopping.  

It's still in the teens here with winds at about 20 mph, so  I don't know how long I'll last - being short of breath and all - but it has to be done, at least before the next storm barrels through.

And so it goes.

*

A New Year Adventure in Healthcare

Oh, you know the drill:  Stoopid happens, and all too often we are on the receiving end. Amiright???

Having the benefit of a few days to look back and sort out the events of last week, it's more stupid and scary than it seemed when it happened. 

Let me begin at the beginning - of the new year. Normally, on a patient's first appointment date of each month, the patient is required to register - again - each month.  OK, got that.

Arrived earlier than my appointed time to register only to find that with the new year  a brand-y spanking new computer system, process, program was in place. The new program had been in place since late November 2013, yet no training was provided before the system updated automatically on the first day of 2014.  Are you with me so far?  Good.

A grand total of 45 minutes wasted while the poor patient rep struggled to make sense of the new program. A technician was finally called in and - -  he was as befuddled as everyone else. Meanwhile patients continued arriving for chemo treatments and blood products.

There are multiple registration desks but no one was breaking through the bottleneck at all desks, meaning patients weren't getting labs done, or treatment. 

Finally, the technician suggested that patients present all relevant personal data (insurance cards, photo ID, etc) to the patient rep. who would make copies to be entered into the system as things were sorted out. Because of many SNAFU in the past, I carry all paperwork with me in 3 file folders for easy reference and proof, should there be a need.  And see, now there was a need. Waited another 10 minutes as copies were made and my original papers returned, then I was on my way.

Unfortunately, not everyone was as anal as I and were left at the mercy of the damnable new system.  

The lab and transfusion room were clueless as to what was holding up everything, throwing the entire center into chaos, making frantic efforts to move patients along. Since I was the first appointment - and the first to arrive - the lab took the blood, checked the patient bracelet with my ID and blood code info quickly and sent me to the transfusion room. 

All this madness had thrown everything off balance. In the rush and running around, I checked the blood bag to match the code with my type to that on the bracelet and work sheet. They didn't match.  I called for a halt, telling the nurses that the blood products delivered for me were NOT my type. This caused an epic scene worthy of the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, and Abbott and Costello combined. With a smidge of Mel Brooks added for kinky good measure. 

The problem pointed to the source. The hospital distribution system made serious errors. This was not a good sign.  Extra care and confirmations were in order. More time lost.

Heated arguments ensued by phone that could easily be overheard - at least one side - loud and clear. Excuses, finger pointing, blaming others wasn't going to cut it.

Note: Never fuck with a mama head nurse who isn't willing to put up with any shit.  Make no excuses for holidays or short staffing. She will cut your gizzard out and hang it from the nearest pole.   I would have happily taken the photographs.

As stated above, I was the first patient scheduled and due to the fiasco at registration then the blood drama, was delayed almost 2 hours. Same for the person arriving after me. And the patient after that.  Seems nobody had the 'patient care' work ethic going for them on NYE and some orders were royally screwed up.

Vans were dispatched with the corrected orders and eventually the staff got things back to something resembling normalcy. Patients coming after us had no idea what happened earlier, so mass panic was therefore averted.  Smiles were on all faces and the new year had just begun - again.  La-Dee-Da.  I don't care what you say. La-Dee-Fuckin'-Da.

As I tuned out the world listening to Enya, I was grateful when the Benadryl injection kicked in sending me off to dreamland.

All in all, just another day spent where the magic happens. And I get to do it all over again this week.  Yes, La-Dee-Fuckin'-Da!

And so it goes.

*

Happy New Year? Yeah, uh-huh…

Blood work yesterday indicated a need for transfusion.  They couldn't squeeze me in that afternoon (NYE, perhaps?) so I was scheduled for 1/2/14 at 7:30 am.  By all means, Happy New Year!

Anyway, after the blood work and the oncologist it was time to be cheered up. Or so I thought.   Back in town auto and foot traffic was maddening. I wanted to spend some time at Dos Locos with staff and friends, but couldn't find a place to park. And although I live a mere 3 blocks away, it's not a walk I can make easily these days. I was lucky to find a vacant parking spot close to home, not far from my usual space.  Still, it was a walk I didn't look forward to, or need. Not by a long shot.

I called to let them know why I would be a no-show and they told me it had been "a zoo" since opening and the wait for table for lunch was around 45 minutes.  Glad I didn't try to visit.  Still, I really missed not being there.  So there it is:  Assuming the old saying is true, I'll be spending more time with hospital and cancer center staff in 2014.  Not a thrilling thought, that.

The sister now knows she isn't a match for me. I had to tell her.  She was getting suspicious, it wasn't fair, and I'd put it off long enough.  She was disappointed and upset at first until I told her that quite frequently siblings aren't a good match, so it wasn't anyone's fault.  We shared our quiet Christmas day stories and dinner menus, and by the time we ended the call she was in good spirits and I even had her laughing a bit. Always a good way to end a call. 

I made a light supper, enjoyed a glass of wine and was under the covers before 8 pm, ticking off the final minutes of a most  worn-out, thread-bare year. Couldn't wait for it to be over.  Asleep almost immediately.

I was awakened at midnight by the sound of the fireworks on the beach followed by people singing in the streets. I smiled and went back to sleep - I made it! - waiting for the dawn of the new year.

I was awakened - again, an hour later by loud, angry voices coming from below.  It was the redneck neighbors (the ones with the "Duck Dynasty" WELCOME mat on their porch, yeah, that bunch).  Drunk, angry, crying, banging car doors, apartment doors, and anything else they could find to bang up without breaking. 

His deep, hillbilly growl was replaced by little girl-like sobs as he begged her to forgive him (for whatever?) and let him in.  She continued screaming behind the closed (and locked) apartment door.  I promised myself that if he broke down the door, I would call the police.  

But, no need.  Like every good redneck mama, she got her way, played her role, brought him under control, got him to his knees and allowed him in - sobbing wildly all the time.

All this drama got me nervous and worked up (no stranger to domestic violence and loud arguments), it took a while to calm myself down again.  Slid back under the covers and slipped away once again into a dream state that, no matter the content, would be a better experience than I had just been privy to wide awake. 

I woke up to a quiet building and street.  Made a coffee, sourdough toast and found a few text messages and one missed FaceTime opportunity on the phone. It was way too early to reply, so I made a note to do so later in the day.

Following breakfast, I cranked up the Mac preparing to update files of medical statements, results of phone calls when I realized  the printer was dead. It powers on, but there's no cycling sounds and no heat for the toner.  The engine seems to have bought the farm.  

It was unplugged and the innards were cleaned and brushed. (This is done every few months anyway.) I connected the laptop (running Windows - which means all functions should work) again nothing.  I sipped another coffee.

The printer drivers were reinstalled on the MAC (which only allows for printing - scan & copy functions aren't supported) but to no effect.  When the printer is turned off, then on again, there is an audible 'click' but the motor is silent. It's been a great printer and a good buy back in 2008, so I checked out Canon's website for repair information.  

First shocker: the nearest authorized repair shop is 45 miles away in Dover, DE. Second shocker: input of the model number coughed up a minimum estimate of $75.00! It cost $129.00 six years ago.  No complaints.  It's a laser printer and very economical to operate.  The one drawback, as noted above,  MAC doesn't support scan and copy functions and Canon offers no support or explanation.  I don't know why.

So the hunt is on today for a new 'Mac compatible' all-in-one printer.  At this point it appears I may have to give up laser  if I want all functions of an all-in-one, or settle for a plain laser printer and use the flatbed scanner for copies and scanning.  More wires and the extra space required bother me, though. 

It's always something!

Anyway, I'll try again today (early) to stop by Dos Locos for New Year wishes and a cup of cheer. By the sounds of revelry last night, I may be lucky to get a parking spot today because the night crawlers are likely to be late in bed, or nursing nasty hangovers.  Or, both.

Scheduled for transfusion tomorrow morning at 7:30 am means I'll probably be out of there by 3 pm.  That ought to keep me moving for another week or two.

Cheers!  And, Happy New Year.

And so it goes.

*

Saturn As Only a Spacecraft Could See it.

This got my day off on a happy note. Launched in the late 90s (after about 15 years in development, I believe) and sending back

incredible images since the early years of this new century, Cassini is the gift that keeps on giving. These latest images are from a recent rendezvous with the beautiful planet. Just look at that image! Wow!  Just, Wow!

It's nice to know that even while the tea party-inspired government shutdown brought science and industry on Terra to a halt, Cassini was doing what comes naturally - even if no one gave a damn! Fortunately, many do give a damn.
From Universe Today:

So what did NASA do during the US government shutdown? You can’t just turn off spacecraft that are operating millions of miles away, so missions like the Mars rovers and the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn continued to send back images to Earth during the 16 days that most of NASA wasn’t up and running like usual. On October 10, 2013, as Cassini flew high above the planet’s equatorial plane, the spacecraft’s camera took 36 images of Saturn, a dozen each using the various red, green, and blue filters used to create color images. 

The images were transferred back to Earth and put on the Cassini raw images page. Gordan Ugarkovic from Croatia, and a member of the image editing wizards at UnmannedSpaceflight.com, grabbed the raw files, processed them, then assembled the images into this jaw-dropping mosaic. 

This is a view from Saturn that we could never get from Earth; only a spacecraft orbiting the planet could take it. You can see the north pole and the swirling maelstrom of clouds that creates the hexagonal polar vortex, the thin bands in Saturn’s atmosphere, and — of course — what really stands out is the incredible view of Saturn’s rings. To see the original 3 MB version, see this page on UMSF. 

“You shouldn’t be surprised to see processing artifacts here and there,” cautioned Ugarkovic via email to Universe Today. “It is, after all, based on raw JPEG images only.” 

See more of Gordan’s work at his Flickr page. 

But in the words of UMSF’s Astro0, “That’s the sort of view I’ve dreamed I would only ever see in a science fiction movie or if we had some kind of amazing futuristic spacecraft orbiting around that distant ringed planet….WAIT! We do!” 

For more of what NASA did during the shutdown, Bill Dunford at Riding With Robots put together a great summary, quoting the @SarcasticRover that “You can’t shut down awesome.” Bill started the #ThingsNASAMightTweet hashtag that reminded everyone of all the things NASA does, but they couldn’t tweet about during the shutdown. People from around the world chimed in, adding what was important to them about NASA, and as of today, tweets with that hashtag have passed 27 million impressions.

Click through the links within the story or check out the other interesting stories at the Universe Today website for yourself.

More later.
*

Monday - Schmunday. Feh!

Is it Tuesday already - how time flies when you're wasting it! 

The dreaded first weekday came and went with little to show for it around here. There were a few items on the to-do list including bathroom cleaning, sorting and filing the latest medical paperwork,  a load (or 2) of laundry, a bit of large batch cooking to replenish the dwindling supplies in the freezer.

Dragged out the bucket & sponges,  labeled a few file folders, consolidated the laundry bags and supplies, sorted out the ingredients intended for each recipe, placing each group on the countertops, then promptly went to bed for an hour.  The folders remained empty, cleaning supplies were put away, the laundry supplies remain near the front door as low energy dogged me most of the day.

Aside from making a batch of Jello (don't laugh) there were no stirring insights from the culinary muses so I stared at the shiny steel day.   As I was about to abort the whole idea a thought crossed my tiny drug-rattled brain: if I put it all away the cooking will never get done. Now, how's that for genius thinking? That settled it.  Left them alone,worked around the obstacles as I prepared  supper, and vowed to get creative today.

Monday being a holiday and all, attempts to reach the SSA and Medicare offices were futile; though open with a skeleton staff, the phones were always busy.

Columbus Day isn't celebrated here. There were a few parades upstate in the bigger cities, but his tainted reputation in light of new historical data means he's pretty much shot his wad of popularity and credibility these days.

Drove to the restaurant to check in with the locos guys, but they had a staff meeting at the other restaurant and I didn't want to be out in public for 2 hours waiting for them. As it was, everyone wanted to hug me - and how could I refuse - I love hugs and relished the contact with people who cared about me.

As I drove home I thought how wonderful it would be to get this illness behind me and go back to work at the job I adore, with the people I love. Something to think about and work towards as I step into the medical unknown - again.

Spent a few hours learning more about how the MAC and the Safari Browser work. The daily challenge and fun at the same time. Haven't figured out how to transfer the address book from Chrome, yet.  Maybe today.

Opening Saturday's mail was the most excitement to be had all day, for in it was a massive envelope from the Hematologist with the proverbial questionnaires, statements of patients rights, and maps & directions to their offices - some 60 - 65 miles north of here.

It should be easy to find with my sidekick, Debbie, who's coming along.  Her company will be a blessing, making the boring drive go a lot faster. She wants to leave at 10 am, to enjoy a relaxing drive arriving in plenty of time to share a quiet lunch somewhere of her choosing.  The appointment is set for 2:30 pm - it's a 2 hour drive - so (if all goes as planned) we'll have the luxury of 2 hours to spare for whatever we want to do.

The giant Christiana Mall is a short distance from the hospital campus, where the medical offices are located, so Deb may want to show me around the joint.  I have never been there. Actually I haven't been to a shopping mall in about 10 years, and to tell the truth it hasn't been missed.

So far today, the pans and Dutch oven are on display; cutting boards are out. All ingredients are here, no need for a quick jaunt to the store; only a few vegetables to be chopped or sliced, so I may as well get to it.

And so it goes.
*

Let it Rain. I've Got My Mac to Keep me Warm

Behold!  I am writing my first post on the new Mac MINI and I AM LOVING IT.  Set up would have been a beaucoup easy had I not second-guessed myself looking to make it more difficult. That's the Windows user in me talking. Nothing was ever easy with Windows.  

Aside from the Laptop, I am no longer a "Gates" Keeper.  

The Mac MINI is, well, mini - about 7 inches, - the DVD player - 5 inches - sits on top. Both are extremely quiet. 

The existing wireless keyboard and mouse work OK, but Mac shortcuts aren't available since there is no Command key. Those issues can be worked around for the time being.

Safari (the browser) is fine, so far. May switch back to Chrome at a later date.  The machine came with a limited word processor "TextEdit" installed, but I may look into purchasing "Pages" down the road as I learn my way around the new Operating System.  

I've discovered the Scan option on my all-in-one Laser printer/copier/scanner doesn't work with Mac. After an extensive search, it appears that this isn't an isolated problem. For some reason, there are no drivers available for the Scan program on a Mac. 

Checking various printer specs turns up compatibility with various versions of Windows, but for Mac "print" is the only option available.  Downloading and installing my existing printer driver was a snap, the Mac took care of it without a problem, but doesn't recognize the Scan option.

A specific search for all-in-one printers "for Mac" brought disappointing results. As far as I can tell, the only AIO printers compatible with Mac are Inkjet printers. Don't know why, really.  Laser printers are a bit more costly, but the consumables are cheaper in the long run and there is no danger of inks clogging or drying up.   Colour is unimportant; replacement cartridges are more costly than the printers themselves (honest) and have lower page output count. Laser cartridges are slightly more expensive but last much longer.  Inks tend to run when wet. Laser doesn't, because the toner is heat-bound to the paper.

Example: a highly rated Canon AIO inkjet printer is priced at $64.00 while the replacement ink set (B/W & Colour) is priced at around $50.00. Another major annoyance, there is only one colour cartridge which contains the yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, meaning that if you use one colour more than the others, you must replace the entire cartridge.  (Think of the St. James Bible, you know they say Jesus spoke in Red!) That's a huge waste of ink - and money. 

Going to stick with my laser printer; dust off and re-connect the flatbed scanner (purchased to copy the old slides) which will take up more space - not to mention more wires to contend with.  Bother!

With Amanda McBroom, Eva Cassidy, and Holly Near as background, I'll wyle away the hours on this rainy day discovering secrets of the Mini. 

So…if any of you Mac users have comments and/or suggestions, they would be appreciated.

And so it goes.
*

3 Steps Forward - 0 Steps Back

That is something practically unheard-of  around here, where it's usually 1 step forward - 2 steps back.  So, I'll take this good fortune, thank you very much.

Went to breakfast at our other restaurant in Lewes, DE. It was the first time I've seen my friends and co-workers in a month, and my first dine out since August. I requested a table far from any groups or families, they put me back in the corner, which made it easier for us to chat and catch up on what's been going on since my illness hit. It was great fun to talk with others - rather than to myself - and enjoy a really delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, home fries, biscuits, and a good cup of coffee.  Heavenly.

My appetite is good but I continue to lose weight.  Down another pound to 167' 2 days ago at the Dr.'s office. Frustrating!

Mailed a form to the SSA asking that they discontinue withholding Federal Tax from my monthly check.  I don't know when any action will be taken.  There is a big blue banner on the main page with disclaimers due to the Shutdown.  I don't know why, the SSA is a separate entity with it's own pool of funds - and there is a surplus of a few billion in the account. Scare tactics by the Repugs, more than likely. Anyway, we shall see.

Stopped by Dos Locos for a few minutes to see Linda (the GM) and other staff. There were gentle hugs all round, but no one wanted to stay too close for fear of passing on something that might cause infection. The human contact was something I've sorely missed.  (It made me think of the isolation PWAs had to endure back in the 80s when it was rare for anyone to touch, never mind hug, a person with AIDS - for very different reasons, of course. Now I know how that must have felt, and it isn't good.) While there I offered to give Linda my keys to the restaurant, but she refused.  I guess she's hoping I'll come back soon.  I am, too.  I miss my job terribly, honestly, I do.

Received a heads-up email this morning that the new Mac MINI, is out for delivery. "Signature Required" when it arrives. They will not leave an Apple package on the porch. Fine with me, it's raining buckets here and I wouldn't want the boxes to get wet.  The storm has been sitting off the coast, not going anywhere and continually hitting us with wind-driven heavy rains.

Later: The boxes have arrived and I can't wait to tear into them. They are very small, really. Mac users have told me how easy they are to set up, all one has to do is follow on-screen instructions and I'll be in business in no time. We'll see.  And yes, it gives me something to look forward to, as well as wake up some inactive brain cells rather than the passive ones that make up my daily routine. 

The hematologist's office finally called, there is an appointment set up for next Wednesday. Someone is lined up to drive with me (it's 60 miles north of here) in case I have a adverse reaction to tests or any drugs they give me.  At least those are two things less to worry about. Another biopsy in in my future, but not sure if they will do that during the first visit, or schedule it for another day. With my luck it will be the latter.  

Note: Today marks the 6th day without chills, headache, or a fever. May this good luck continue until I see the hematologist next week.

Now where is that box cutter?

And so it goes.
*

Busy Bees, Honey Gums, and Apples

No fever detected since Thursday afternoon.  Don't have great reserves of energy I used to, but I found that after sweating out a breaking fever, ingesting beverages with electrolyte replacement properties gives a little boost and am able to get chores done. I learned this following the bouts on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Before sunrise; before anyone began to stir around here, this little worker bee was downstairs doing 4 loads of laundry, so as to have fresh bed linens and clean undies JIC another fever hits. At this point it appears that the new meds are having a positive effect.  I ain't takin' no chances, anymore.  Could happen at any time and I could end up back in the slammer hospital. Of course, being relieved of fevers, chills and headaches gives me hope to make a few plans for the future in the meantime. 

Went to the Post Office to get my passport renewed. Removed the mask only long enough for the pictures to be taken. They turned out OK, this mug doesn't  look as bad as I thought.  Passport expired last month and I decided to go for a replacement on the off-chance I'll be around a while and in case the opportunity presents itself for a special holiday trip.  I mean, I can no longer work at the restaurant, at least for the foreseeable future, so if anyone asks, I've got the time and the inclination, baby. 

Anyhoo, it being Fall Sidewalk Sale weekend I stopped at a candy table to purchase Dutch honey-gums; great for the throat and good to have handy when the mouth is dry. I was tempted to stop at a few other tables, but thought better of it. No need to push my luck; it's been bad enough lately. As usual, everyone stared and kept their distance as I moved about. People are strange. It was early and not yet crowded, so I believe I am relatively safe. 

As I teased earlier, I am making tentative plans for a trip to Ireland to visit the Titanic Museum in Belfast, and maybe even that cruise to Alaska (there is a special deal in the works for a 10 day cruise beginning on May 1, 2014)  being offered by Holland America, on one of their smaller ships (which I'd prefer) carrying about 1500 passengers. I am not interested in one of those floating cities with 5000+ of my dearest and closest friends.  Besides, there are always fewer children on HAL ships. Anyway… I have saved the info and will see how life turns out over these next few months before making a decision or taking the plunge.

And speaking of taking the plunge (how's that for a segue?) I've just ordered the Apple, MAC MINI (which is on sale at 35% off) and, since it doesn't come with one, an USB Super DVD Drive (not on sale) which compliments the MINI in stylish appearance and quiet operation. The fact that I also receive an additional 5% cash back by using the Discover Card is an added bonus. The package should arrive in about 4 days.  (click the image at right to embiggen & view dimensions.)

As mentioned in an earlier post, For the immediate future I can use the existing wireless keyboard & mouse, as well as my fairly new LED monitor, which already has connection capability for the MAC.  If all goes well, I can always order a regulation MAC Keyboard and Mouse, but this will suit my needs just fine for now.  I'm looking forward to a full keyboard and screen again - and giving the laptop a well-deserved rest. As well as my poor hands that feel as though they've been attached by the thumbs for months.

And so it goes

*