Some people are cat people and some people are dog people. When I was a kid I always thought I was a dog person but then when my sister turned 18 her friends got her a cat named Oscar. Oscar was a great cat both playful and affectionate. I went off to school and my sister shortly after so Oscar became my parent's cat. He came down with some liver issues and sadly passed away.
My parents had grown very fond of having a cat which prompted my mother to go out and get a new one. This cat was a Calico named Brandi. Brandi was one of those cats who hated being picked up and was, for lack of a better word, very bitchy. But we all grew to love her too. She saw my mom die of cancer and out lasted my dad who died several years later after suffering a stroke. I was living with my dad at the time of his death and took Brandi with me when I moved. Brandi lasted to the ripe old cat age of 17 and then I had to put her down after she became very sick with cancer and was in great pain. I remember taking Brandi to the vet when she first got sick. The vet asked me if I knew Brandi was blind and I was truly dumbfounded. I had seen no indication of this. Apparently animals are very versatile and can handle things like going blind well. When Brandi was put to sleep she was surrounding by loved ones - myself, my girlfriend and her son. Being sentimental I spared no expense for the her remains. I had Brandi cremated and put in a clay urn and a mold taken of her paw. It is prominently displayed in my house today.
A month or two after Brandi passed away I took my girlfriend and her son down to the animal shelter to pick out a new feline. My girlfriend chose my current cat and named her Taurus. Taurus is a great cat. She is the biggest suck of all the cats I've ever had. She starves for attention and, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend, is in everyone's business. You can't go to the bathroom in peace or eat a meal without her wanting some.
Taurus can be very destructive. Just the other day she chewed up my phone charge chord. That makes the number of chords she has destroyed five. Unlike my parents I did not have the heart to declaw Taurus and as a result she has scratched a lot of things. If my mom were alive she would be aghast at what Taurus has done to furniture of hers I still have. She also destroyed the blinds in my room so she could look out the window. Then Taurus ripped off the material under my bed so she could have something to sleep on. But every time Taurus does something destructive she looks at me with that innocent face and I can't help but forgive her.
Taurus' newest thing is jumping on my back while I'm sleeping and kneading. She started off doing this a few times a week and now his worked up to a few times every night. I try to see if I can out last here before the pain of her claws in my back get too much. She usually wins and I have to kick her off my back.
Taurus is a great cat and myself, my girlfriend and her son (even though he won't admit it) love her with all our hearts. She's a great companion.
Dave the Dude
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
The Irritation of This Wait is Going to Give me a Heart Attack
As I stated two blogs ago I had a recent trip to the ER due to some chest pains that may or may not have been heart related. A follow up appointment was made to the cardiologist. In my experience the wait time at a specialist's office is not long at all. I've seen several specialists over the years. So I went to this appointment thinking I'd be in and out in no time. Luckily I brought a book to read.
I should have realized that something was amiss when I entered the office and they were showing a movie. I've been to offices where they have the TV on but never a full-length movie. I checked in with the nurse and took a seat. I mostly read my book but would glance up at the movie, Mama Mia, periodically. One thing I did notice was that I was the youngest guy in the waiting room. Most of the other patrons seemed to be at least 15 to 20 years my elder. Usually when I'm in a waiting room it's pretty quiet but these people were having loud discussions all around. Mostly about the movie they were watching. It was pretty amusing.
After about an hour wait I was called into a room to do a test on a treadmill. The tech shaved several areas of my chest and stomach with a disposable razor without shaving cream. He proceeded to rub the shaved area with an alcohol swab. Oy, did it sting. It stung for the whole test. I was then hooked up to several wires and proceeded to run at different speeds on the treadmill. After approximately 20 minutes I sat down out of breath. I returned to the waiting room to await the cardiologist himself. By the time I returned to the waiting room there was another movie on. I paid scant attention to it but by the time it was over and another movie was put on I still had not seen the doctor.
Finally I was called in to see the cardiologist. He told me that most of the time the test I had taken either showed something wrong or everything was okay. Unfortunately, in my case the test was inconclusive and I would have to return for further testing. I will also have to have a 48 hour heart monitor on as well.
The total time I spent at this office had been five hours. The week before I had spent six hours at the ER. I was not allowed to have any coffee 24 hours prior to the test and by the time I left the office I realized, for the first time, just how important my morning coffee is to me. I could barely keep my eyes open.
I have two more appointments coming up and have no expectations that the wait will be short. If it's one thing I have learned is that if my acceptance is higher than my expectations then I won't get upset. I guess I'll have to work on my acceptance of wait times between now and my next appointments.
Dave the Dude
I should have realized that something was amiss when I entered the office and they were showing a movie. I've been to offices where they have the TV on but never a full-length movie. I checked in with the nurse and took a seat. I mostly read my book but would glance up at the movie, Mama Mia, periodically. One thing I did notice was that I was the youngest guy in the waiting room. Most of the other patrons seemed to be at least 15 to 20 years my elder. Usually when I'm in a waiting room it's pretty quiet but these people were having loud discussions all around. Mostly about the movie they were watching. It was pretty amusing.
After about an hour wait I was called into a room to do a test on a treadmill. The tech shaved several areas of my chest and stomach with a disposable razor without shaving cream. He proceeded to rub the shaved area with an alcohol swab. Oy, did it sting. It stung for the whole test. I was then hooked up to several wires and proceeded to run at different speeds on the treadmill. After approximately 20 minutes I sat down out of breath. I returned to the waiting room to await the cardiologist himself. By the time I returned to the waiting room there was another movie on. I paid scant attention to it but by the time it was over and another movie was put on I still had not seen the doctor.
Finally I was called in to see the cardiologist. He told me that most of the time the test I had taken either showed something wrong or everything was okay. Unfortunately, in my case the test was inconclusive and I would have to return for further testing. I will also have to have a 48 hour heart monitor on as well.
The total time I spent at this office had been five hours. The week before I had spent six hours at the ER. I was not allowed to have any coffee 24 hours prior to the test and by the time I left the office I realized, for the first time, just how important my morning coffee is to me. I could barely keep my eyes open.
I have two more appointments coming up and have no expectations that the wait will be short. If it's one thing I have learned is that if my acceptance is higher than my expectations then I won't get upset. I guess I'll have to work on my acceptance of wait times between now and my next appointments.
Dave the Dude
Saturday, November 15, 2014
One Dave At A Time: Draconian Measures
One Dave At A Time: Draconian Measures: I was sent an e-mail the other day at work that explained some new rules a large alcohol and drug treatment centre was implementing in both ...
Draconian Measures
I was sent an e-mail the other day at work that explained some new rules a large alcohol and drug treatment centre was implementing in both it's residential treatment centre and sober living communities. After discussing it with some colleagues it seems these new rules are being adopted by several centres.
The new rules ban smoking on all centre and housing property of the organization. Okay - fair enough. If you don't want people smoking on your property that's okay. I don't agree with it as I feel when someone is quitting alcohol and/or drugs they have enough on their shoulders without having to worry about quitting smoking. Many disagree with me. I speak from personal experience and not some hypothetical scientific theory.
The problem with these new rules is that they go one step further. People are allowed to smoke off property but if a client comes back to the treatment centre or sober living community just smelling of smoke they are automatically discharged - kicked out in layman's terms.
I feel this extremely Draconian. It sounds to me like this was a decision by some upper management who don't deal directly with clients nor realize the hurt this can cause them. Treatment centres and sober living communities are there to help the still suffering alcoholic/addict. How can kicking someone out for smelling like cigarette smoke help anyone? Often people are their lowest when they are staying at these places (especially government or charity run organizations). To me these rules are like kicking someone when they're down. I know how hard it is for staff at treatment centres to kick people out. In some cases you are actually signing someone's death warrant. Do we really want to risk someone's life over second-hand smoke? To me this is health care gone overboard.
Dave the Dude
The new rules ban smoking on all centre and housing property of the organization. Okay - fair enough. If you don't want people smoking on your property that's okay. I don't agree with it as I feel when someone is quitting alcohol and/or drugs they have enough on their shoulders without having to worry about quitting smoking. Many disagree with me. I speak from personal experience and not some hypothetical scientific theory.
The problem with these new rules is that they go one step further. People are allowed to smoke off property but if a client comes back to the treatment centre or sober living community just smelling of smoke they are automatically discharged - kicked out in layman's terms.
I feel this extremely Draconian. It sounds to me like this was a decision by some upper management who don't deal directly with clients nor realize the hurt this can cause them. Treatment centres and sober living communities are there to help the still suffering alcoholic/addict. How can kicking someone out for smelling like cigarette smoke help anyone? Often people are their lowest when they are staying at these places (especially government or charity run organizations). To me these rules are like kicking someone when they're down. I know how hard it is for staff at treatment centres to kick people out. In some cases you are actually signing someone's death warrant. Do we really want to risk someone's life over second-hand smoke? To me this is health care gone overboard.
Dave the Dude
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Emergency Room....yawn
This past week I had the infuriating experience that Ontarians have to face at least a few times in their life. Waiting in the ER. I'd been getting these weird chest pains off and on for a couple months now but they didn't last long. I awoke Monday and the pain was steady throughout the day. I shared this information with several work friends and my girlfriend who advised me to go to the ER. I decided to wait it out because I hate going to the ER. Tuesday morning came and I continued to have the same pain so after work I broke down and called TeleHealth.
TeleHealth is Ontario's medical hotline where you can talk to a Registered Nurse who will advise you on whether to go to the ER or not. I was hoping I would get advised to stay home. However, my RN told me to take a taxi or ambulance to the hospital stat. I decided to drive myself.
I arrived at the ER and after about 20 minutes got to see the triage nurse. She was wearing what appeared to be a see through welder's mask. Turned out it was part of our province's new Ebola safety measures. Anyways, after seeing the second nurse, much to the dismay of those in the waiting room (some who gave me dirty looks) I was taken in right away and hooked up to an ECG. After the ECG was complete I was asked to go back to the waiting room (much to the chagrin of those already there, including the ones who had thrown me a dirty look). And wait I did.
I sat down and began to read my book and people watch every now and then. The place was full. I observed that I seemed to be the only one with a book. I can never understand how people can show up to the ER or even a doctor's office without anything to do. Most of the people glanced at the TV with CP24 running (very low volume) or just stared into space. Several people were complaining of the long wait. I had gotten there at approximately 5:00 PM and many had already been there since around 2:00 PM. I would later learn that a lot of people were there for approximately eight hours.
I notice one lady who was there with he elderly mother who was telling anyone who would listen that they'd been there for hours and that she was told that if her mother's doctor had just called ahead they would have gotten in right away. This went on for a long time in which I went from feeling empathy to just wishing she would shut up already.
There was one kid there with his Mom and Grandmother who had been there for a long time. He became very agitated when told his Dad would not be coming to pick him. He kept telling his mother that he wasn't going to stay and that it wasn't fair. I had to agree with him. I later observed it was his Grandfather they were all there for.
Finally at 10:00 PM I got to see the doctor. I met with him for approximately five minutes and was then sent off to get a blood test. The lady who took my blood (the very same who gave me the ECG) jabbed the needle in. I have never had a blood test hurt so much. There were several other people getting blood taken and they were all in agreement with me. While waiting for blood I noticed an old priest lying on a gurney. He shimmied off it and was struggling to put on his jacket. I went over and helped him get it on. A few minutes later I saw the nurse run after him for he had decided to wander off. She got him back and laid him back on the gurney.
After the blood was taken I was sent back to the waiting room once more. An hour later everyone I had sat with to get blood taken were getting called back in save for me. It turned out I had missed my name being called as I was in the bathroom. Luckily I figured that out within 15 minutes. Turns out my ECG and blood tests were all fine. The ER referred me to a cardiologist and told me his office would call me the next day. The next day came and the cardiologist's office never called. I waited until the end of work the next day and called them myself.
I'll have to see what happens when I go to the office later this week for some sort of test. I was told not to have any caffeine for 24 hours and to wear comfortable clothes. Hopefully it goes well.
Dave the Dude
TeleHealth is Ontario's medical hotline where you can talk to a Registered Nurse who will advise you on whether to go to the ER or not. I was hoping I would get advised to stay home. However, my RN told me to take a taxi or ambulance to the hospital stat. I decided to drive myself.
I arrived at the ER and after about 20 minutes got to see the triage nurse. She was wearing what appeared to be a see through welder's mask. Turned out it was part of our province's new Ebola safety measures. Anyways, after seeing the second nurse, much to the dismay of those in the waiting room (some who gave me dirty looks) I was taken in right away and hooked up to an ECG. After the ECG was complete I was asked to go back to the waiting room (much to the chagrin of those already there, including the ones who had thrown me a dirty look). And wait I did.
I sat down and began to read my book and people watch every now and then. The place was full. I observed that I seemed to be the only one with a book. I can never understand how people can show up to the ER or even a doctor's office without anything to do. Most of the people glanced at the TV with CP24 running (very low volume) or just stared into space. Several people were complaining of the long wait. I had gotten there at approximately 5:00 PM and many had already been there since around 2:00 PM. I would later learn that a lot of people were there for approximately eight hours.
I notice one lady who was there with he elderly mother who was telling anyone who would listen that they'd been there for hours and that she was told that if her mother's doctor had just called ahead they would have gotten in right away. This went on for a long time in which I went from feeling empathy to just wishing she would shut up already.
There was one kid there with his Mom and Grandmother who had been there for a long time. He became very agitated when told his Dad would not be coming to pick him. He kept telling his mother that he wasn't going to stay and that it wasn't fair. I had to agree with him. I later observed it was his Grandfather they were all there for.
Finally at 10:00 PM I got to see the doctor. I met with him for approximately five minutes and was then sent off to get a blood test. The lady who took my blood (the very same who gave me the ECG) jabbed the needle in. I have never had a blood test hurt so much. There were several other people getting blood taken and they were all in agreement with me. While waiting for blood I noticed an old priest lying on a gurney. He shimmied off it and was struggling to put on his jacket. I went over and helped him get it on. A few minutes later I saw the nurse run after him for he had decided to wander off. She got him back and laid him back on the gurney.
After the blood was taken I was sent back to the waiting room once more. An hour later everyone I had sat with to get blood taken were getting called back in save for me. It turned out I had missed my name being called as I was in the bathroom. Luckily I figured that out within 15 minutes. Turns out my ECG and blood tests were all fine. The ER referred me to a cardiologist and told me his office would call me the next day. The next day came and the cardiologist's office never called. I waited until the end of work the next day and called them myself.
I'll have to see what happens when I go to the office later this week for some sort of test. I was told not to have any caffeine for 24 hours and to wear comfortable clothes. Hopefully it goes well.
Dave the Dude
Monday, November 3, 2014
Can't think of anything inspiring to write about
I love writing and that's why I started this blog. But I have always been waiting for something to inspire me before I wrote anything. The last few months have been pretty non-inspiring. My life has not had any dramatic ups or downs and thus I have not had anything grab my goat to write about.
However, I've decided to write even if I don't have anything inspiring to write about. I'll just talk about how my week went if nothing else comes to mind.
This past week had no ups and downs. For me that is a good thing. Before I got into recvoery I was addicted to excitement. Might be the reason I was attracted to cocaine/crack. I was always trying to top my previous "adventure". When I got into recvoery I had to learn to enjoy a moderate life. Today I like my life nice and steady. A good weekend for me is an uneventful one. I'm content to have a coffee, hang out with friends and loved ones and watch a good flick or television show.
Speaking of television shows one of my favourite new ones for this season is Gotham. It's the story of Gotham before Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. The first episode opens with the murder of Wayne's family and the introduction of a young Detective Gordon (furture Commissioner Gordon). We also are introduced to young versions of The Penguin, Cat Woman and The Riddler. It's a very dark series and has lots of potential. Constantine is not bad either. I think it's the new Supernatural (for those of you who are into that show). Supernatural just started it's 10th season and seems like it might have "jumped the shark". Despite this I'll keep watching it for now. Another show I didn't like at the begining but have stuck around with faith that it will get better is Mulaney. The first few episodes were terrible but last night's was pretty good. I actually laughed out loud at several jokes. If you get a chance to watch Mulaney's standup speical check it out (you can see it on NetFlix).
That's it for now. So until next week...
Dave the Dude
However, I've decided to write even if I don't have anything inspiring to write about. I'll just talk about how my week went if nothing else comes to mind.
This past week had no ups and downs. For me that is a good thing. Before I got into recvoery I was addicted to excitement. Might be the reason I was attracted to cocaine/crack. I was always trying to top my previous "adventure". When I got into recvoery I had to learn to enjoy a moderate life. Today I like my life nice and steady. A good weekend for me is an uneventful one. I'm content to have a coffee, hang out with friends and loved ones and watch a good flick or television show.
Speaking of television shows one of my favourite new ones for this season is Gotham. It's the story of Gotham before Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. The first episode opens with the murder of Wayne's family and the introduction of a young Detective Gordon (furture Commissioner Gordon). We also are introduced to young versions of The Penguin, Cat Woman and The Riddler. It's a very dark series and has lots of potential. Constantine is not bad either. I think it's the new Supernatural (for those of you who are into that show). Supernatural just started it's 10th season and seems like it might have "jumped the shark". Despite this I'll keep watching it for now. Another show I didn't like at the begining but have stuck around with faith that it will get better is Mulaney. The first few episodes were terrible but last night's was pretty good. I actually laughed out loud at several jokes. If you get a chance to watch Mulaney's standup speical check it out (you can see it on NetFlix).
That's it for now. So until next week...
Dave the Dude
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)