My Fav Lax Team
You've been waiting no doubt to see the next post in the saga of the 2012 Johns Hopkins Bluejays. The boys are 6 - 0. Boys really, M saw the 2008 Jays at the Hopkins Deli and while loving their physique she also commented " they're just boys " There was no Hopkins Deli the next year.
In perspective though, their past opponents this year are a combined 14 - 18. I wish to add not many teams would want to face UMBC , Princeton, Delaware and Towson in their season. Maybe 1 or 2 not all.
Our big test ( right, " our " test ) is coming w/ Syracuse at Homewood this Sat 3/ 17.
Syracuse lost to Virginia ( also on our schedule ) and seems to be having trouble generating an offense. Typically, SU is speedy and ready to run as they tried to do w/ Va.
P.S. Hopkins has 2 Canadians playing attack and the Palmer - Benn combo is starting to click. Yeah
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Perspective
Although, this blog is not a political- economic reporting site, I feel obligated to make the odd comment in re: the state of the world. What a mess. What should you invest in - failure, its a sure bet. however, this strategy is much akin to betting " Don't pass " while shooting craps. You'd better not do it unless your opposite the side of the shooter. Its the sure bet but you're betting against probably everyone.
The world is in a warming phase - global warming by over-use of the environment, maybe the question. In the Pleistocene ( love throwing around terminlogy like that, I barely know when the Pleistocene was ) the earth was about 7 degrees warmer than now and ocean levels were 10 - 12 ft higher than preent day.
The number of humans abusing the ecosystem was quite small. The earth recovered it seems.
My POV is that energy conservation is wise and recycling is a no brainer. Unfortunately, M thinks that I take recycling beyond reasonable. She says that I want to save everything. Oh well, no happy medium here.
The world is in a warming phase - global warming by over-use of the environment, maybe the question. In the Pleistocene ( love throwing around terminlogy like that, I barely know when the Pleistocene was ) the earth was about 7 degrees warmer than now and ocean levels were 10 - 12 ft higher than preent day.
The number of humans abusing the ecosystem was quite small. The earth recovered it seems.
My POV is that energy conservation is wise and recycling is a no brainer. Unfortunately, M thinks that I take recycling beyond reasonable. She says that I want to save everything. Oh well, no happy medium here.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
GTaH - been there ,done that
Pt II of guilt takes a holiday.
As well as info from the last post re: family in care facilities, I have this to add.
I reported my feelings about an analogy for care givers i.e. we are all treading water.
Here is the story that followed. Two years after my Mom joined the floor ( secure dementia unit ) another resident, also Canadian - Japanese arrived. The daughter " K " came twice or so a week and stayed for two or three hours. Moi, I would blow in say hello / tidy the room / wait for the same topic to come up three times and go. Talk about guilt w/ a capital G.
However, my first 2 weeks as a caregiver had taught me valuable lessons. a) my patience w/ my Mom could be measured in teaspoons b) I wasn't qualified or ready to deal w/ her immediate mental or social environment.
K and I had swapped phone #s and often met or talked, catch as catch can. It seemed to me about three years ago, I was seeing K less and less. I attributed the lessening of contact as my fault. You know 15 minute visits, in and out like vapour.
Well I did get a call from K. " Are you still visiting your Mom ? " she asked. Then in a trembling voice she said " How can you do it and you've been going for 5 years. I can't stand it anymore " Bingo - bango, we are all treading water.
I mentioned shorter visits ala Moi and taking the long view - but the damage was done. Her commute to TLC was longer so shorter visits seemed wasteful.
Apparently, the staff at TLC sees the result of the angst of care givers in short tempers and frustration directed at the resident.
In the first two weeks for Mom, I was helping to get Mom ready for dinner, you know lets head down to the dining room. Oops, she didn't want to go - son's attitude goes ballistic - but a PSW ( personal service worker ) stepped right in , cajoled and firmly got Mom down the hall.
OK lesson learned, the PSW " know " how to do things. therfore, I tidy her room / hang clothes / check for personal supplies chit chat for ten minutes ( or less ) and slide....
Guilt, you bet. Frustration, No.
However, you should know M sees me come in the door and asks " Was this a 1 or 2 martini visit ? "
Reminds me of the Cole Porter song " Two Little Babes in the Woods " w/ the lyrics " they have learned that the fountain of youth, is a mixture of gin and vermouth " Touche, touche.
Oh, only slightly guilty feeling aujourdhui.
As well as info from the last post re: family in care facilities, I have this to add.
I reported my feelings about an analogy for care givers i.e. we are all treading water.
Here is the story that followed. Two years after my Mom joined the floor ( secure dementia unit ) another resident, also Canadian - Japanese arrived. The daughter " K " came twice or so a week and stayed for two or three hours. Moi, I would blow in say hello / tidy the room / wait for the same topic to come up three times and go. Talk about guilt w/ a capital G.
However, my first 2 weeks as a caregiver had taught me valuable lessons. a) my patience w/ my Mom could be measured in teaspoons b) I wasn't qualified or ready to deal w/ her immediate mental or social environment.
K and I had swapped phone #s and often met or talked, catch as catch can. It seemed to me about three years ago, I was seeing K less and less. I attributed the lessening of contact as my fault. You know 15 minute visits, in and out like vapour.
Well I did get a call from K. " Are you still visiting your Mom ? " she asked. Then in a trembling voice she said " How can you do it and you've been going for 5 years. I can't stand it anymore " Bingo - bango, we are all treading water.
I mentioned shorter visits ala Moi and taking the long view - but the damage was done. Her commute to TLC was longer so shorter visits seemed wasteful.
Apparently, the staff at TLC sees the result of the angst of care givers in short tempers and frustration directed at the resident.
In the first two weeks for Mom, I was helping to get Mom ready for dinner, you know lets head down to the dining room. Oops, she didn't want to go - son's attitude goes ballistic - but a PSW ( personal service worker ) stepped right in , cajoled and firmly got Mom down the hall.
OK lesson learned, the PSW " know " how to do things. therfore, I tidy her room / hang clothes / check for personal supplies chit chat for ten minutes ( or less ) and slide....
Guilt, you bet. Frustration, No.
However, you should know M sees me come in the door and asks " Was this a 1 or 2 martini visit ? "
Reminds me of the Cole Porter song " Two Little Babes in the Woods " w/ the lyrics " they have learned that the fountain of youth, is a mixture of gin and vermouth " Touche, touche.
Oh, only slightly guilty feeling aujourdhui.
Friday, 9 March 2012
Guilt takes a holiday
To-day, the annual review of my mother's stay at a long term care facility ( Trilogy LTC ) occurred. This one was # 8, the first being 2005.
Her health is good , considering a ) she is 87 and b) she has dementia. In the yin and yang of life and the way we view it - the staff is siding on the positive, still a polite, in control and pleasant resident. The " me " side is OMG she is getting old, rambles way more and is frail.
Kindly, the staff esp Dr. Housestaff remind me that the path is downhill with no going back but how you run that path is everything. And yes, " No, I didn't make a mistake by putting her in TLC ". Mother is warm and dry and safe.
In the first year, I attended one of the family council meetings out of curiosity. The thought that I'd put forward was that the common viewpoint " we are all in the same boat " wasn't going to help anyone. I felt that a caregiver approaching this group of family council people would see people in the boat throwing a lifeline to the struggling victims " care givers of the TLC residents ". I said that the proper analogy was " we are all treading water here ( care givers of dementia patients ) could we help in any way. "
to-day the social consultant called it " dancing " as in all the staff and care givers were dancing hoping not to get too far out of step in dealing with the unknown reality of the patient.
.
The upshot was that I feel less guilty to-day. To-morrow , well thats to-morrow. Now, realize that it is in their best interest for me to hear that I did the right thing b/c Mom is there, I'm paying and paying them. However, truth be told the alternative is close to unthinkable i.e. mom having lived with us for 8 years. We couldn't take ten days, back in 2004. Aha, been there done that !
Her health is good , considering a ) she is 87 and b) she has dementia. In the yin and yang of life and the way we view it - the staff is siding on the positive, still a polite, in control and pleasant resident. The " me " side is OMG she is getting old, rambles way more and is frail.
Kindly, the staff esp Dr. Housestaff remind me that the path is downhill with no going back but how you run that path is everything. And yes, " No, I didn't make a mistake by putting her in TLC ". Mother is warm and dry and safe.
In the first year, I attended one of the family council meetings out of curiosity. The thought that I'd put forward was that the common viewpoint " we are all in the same boat " wasn't going to help anyone. I felt that a caregiver approaching this group of family council people would see people in the boat throwing a lifeline to the struggling victims " care givers of the TLC residents ". I said that the proper analogy was " we are all treading water here ( care givers of dementia patients ) could we help in any way. "
to-day the social consultant called it " dancing " as in all the staff and care givers were dancing hoping not to get too far out of step in dealing with the unknown reality of the patient.
.
The upshot was that I feel less guilty to-day. To-morrow , well thats to-morrow. Now, realize that it is in their best interest for me to hear that I did the right thing b/c Mom is there, I'm paying and paying them. However, truth be told the alternative is close to unthinkable i.e. mom having lived with us for 8 years. We couldn't take ten days, back in 2004. Aha, been there done that !
Monday, 5 March 2012
Man's troubles just beginning
Ala Will Rogers, in Sympatico news the headline as above finishes w/ " doctors operate on the wrong leg ".
Ten years back, I found a lump in my armpit ( a third breast no doubt ) . I was scheduled for surgery and on the day, I walked to the operating gurney and sat down. the OR nurse, asked me to lie down. she looked at my wrist and saw an elastic band on my left arm. I told her it was to remind the doc which arm he was to operate on. she giggled and said "I'll mark it now " and used a pencil crayon and put an arrow on my arm. Anyway, I'm back to wearing regular bras now - kidding !!!.
BTW, this operation was around the time of the SARS epidemic and the quarantining. SARS was a serious respiratory infection that spread easily. T.O. had a significant outbreak. My operation occurred 1 day before the hospital was closed. Seven days later, I call the hospital and find out that I cannot come in to get my stitches removed. my family doctor was also quarantined at home. finally, 3 days later the surgeon's office said that I could come to his office if I wore a mask.
The nurse had to lift skin to cut the stitches. the surgeon comes in to inspect the site and says " I hear you forgot to come in to get your stitches removed " If he wasn't holding the forceps I think I might have gone for his throat. and he is a big guy.
BTW, if I hadn't got in on that day, elective surgeries were postponed months for some people.
Finally, I try to go back to school and find out the school was quarantined. The principal told me to stay away for ten days.
Ten years back, I found a lump in my armpit ( a third breast no doubt ) . I was scheduled for surgery and on the day, I walked to the operating gurney and sat down. the OR nurse, asked me to lie down. she looked at my wrist and saw an elastic band on my left arm. I told her it was to remind the doc which arm he was to operate on. she giggled and said "I'll mark it now " and used a pencil crayon and put an arrow on my arm. Anyway, I'm back to wearing regular bras now - kidding !!!.
BTW, this operation was around the time of the SARS epidemic and the quarantining. SARS was a serious respiratory infection that spread easily. T.O. had a significant outbreak. My operation occurred 1 day before the hospital was closed. Seven days later, I call the hospital and find out that I cannot come in to get my stitches removed. my family doctor was also quarantined at home. finally, 3 days later the surgeon's office said that I could come to his office if I wore a mask.
The nurse had to lift skin to cut the stitches. the surgeon comes in to inspect the site and says " I hear you forgot to come in to get your stitches removed " If he wasn't holding the forceps I think I might have gone for his throat. and he is a big guy.
BTW, if I hadn't got in on that day, elective surgeries were postponed months for some people.
Finally, I try to go back to school and find out the school was quarantined. The principal told me to stay away for ten days.
Friday, 2 March 2012
JHU in this news
Da da -- Johns Hopkins runs their season record to 4- 0 w/ an away win at Princeton. From the box score / stats JHU didn't seem to have an advantage but reports all said that time of possession went to the J s. The Tigers were w/out J. McBride a standout in most games. The live in-game blogs claim the score ( 10 - 8 ) was not indicative of the dominance of JHU.
Next the J s face the Manhattan Jaspers at Homewood.
The in game blogger was reporting from England ( I think ) as he watched the game live. Here I am in Canada and I'm watching a cartoon of the game from the Princeton website. I cannot get either radio ( could 2 years ago ) and of course, no TV. I would need ESPN U normally, to watch JHU games or ESPN 3.
Next the J s face the Manhattan Jaspers at Homewood.
The in game blogger was reporting from England ( I think ) as he watched the game live. Here I am in Canada and I'm watching a cartoon of the game from the Princeton website. I cannot get either radio ( could 2 years ago ) and of course, no TV. I would need ESPN U normally, to watch JHU games or ESPN 3.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
OIMRBWT
Oh It Must Really Be Winter Time
At X-S Cargo, DVD movies were 4.99. This recalls the sales when I was buying VHS tapes for 4.99. Of course, by then, DVD s were hot and selling for $18. I'm always a little behind the curve. No, I'm permanently behind the curve. Luddite moi.
" V for Vendetta " curious, big brother is doing you, kind of movie. Natalie Portman has a really cute bum. I know, get off the NP schtick. I'm hopeless.
" Eastern Promises " violent. But what do expect when Igor does mafia. Stars, sort of , Viggo Mortenson, as a thug w/ a heart or close ties to MI- 6 , KSB ( new KGB ? ). " EP " is a bit of a reach.
At X-S Cargo, DVD movies were 4.99. This recalls the sales when I was buying VHS tapes for 4.99. Of course, by then, DVD s were hot and selling for $18. I'm always a little behind the curve. No, I'm permanently behind the curve. Luddite moi.
" V for Vendetta " curious, big brother is doing you, kind of movie. Natalie Portman has a really cute bum. I know, get off the NP schtick. I'm hopeless.
" Eastern Promises " violent. But what do expect when Igor does mafia. Stars, sort of , Viggo Mortenson, as a thug w/ a heart or close ties to MI- 6 , KSB ( new KGB ? ). " EP " is a bit of a reach.
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