Olympics

I'm spending most of my time now watching the Olympics.  I love the Olympics and all it stands for.  The athletes are amazing and the best of the best.  All the training, discipline, sacrifice, and dedication put into what they accomplish is incredible.  Their families, too.  When those interviewers who get in their faces right after a competition act like a silver medal is losing really get on my nerves.  How many people ever get to compete in the Olympics, much less get a medal. 

The stories are so inspiring and interesting.  What must it feel like to be on that level of accomplishment and talent!  They experience incredible happiness and disappointment, but they are there!

 

Goat Trivia

A male goat that has been neutered is known as a wether.

Stress Test

The stress echo test wasn't that bad.  They hooked me up to an EKG, blood pressure cuff, and some other things that go to the echocardiogram machine.  They did a baseline echo and then I got on the treadmill which started out flat and slow and increased in speed and elevation every 2 minutes.  They had me do just 8 minutes on it, which oddly I made it fine.  My hips and knees hurt before I got too out of breath.  For a person who has to rest after a shower sometimes and gets winded bringing in groceries and getting the mail, I thought that was good.  When the nurse asked me questions before the test, I told her I didn't think I'd last too long.  She said she agreed after looking at the pictures of my heart.  Hmmm.  As much as I dread this surgery, I am really looking forward to feeling better. 

Hearing too much about people getting MRSA after surgery in various hospitals in Nashville, including Vanderbilt.  Scary.  Is it happening where you are, too, or do you know?

Possible Reprieve

My surgeon called yesterday (yes, he himself called) to tell me he needs more information before proceeding with surgery.  The echocardiogram I had last week showed a difference from the MRI results, so he wants me to have a stress echo.  I dread that since I've heard how hard this is on people.  I have it Friday afternoon.  Then I'll see Dr. Maltais next Thursday, August 2, to learn the results.  He said he doesn't want to perform this surgery if it won't help my situation.  Me, either.  So I hope I won't have the surgery but really do want to feel better.  I keep feeling worse.  Maybe they can fix that some other way.  We'll see and hope. 

Bring in the Clowns

Phobia: coulrophobia Fear of: clowns.

Bleeding-Heart Liberal

I'm having open-heart surgery July 31 at Vanderbilt. It's for a genetic condition (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy) and mitral valve replacement. Was told a long time ago that I have a heart murmur which has now gone from mild to moderate to severe and explains why I've been feeling progressively worse for a while now. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and other symptoms have increased to the point of having to rest after a shower most days. I'm looking forward to feeling better but would like to fast forward through the next several months.

The good news is ... check out my hot surgeon HERE.  

Soup Trivia

In the court of French King Louis XI, the fine ladies lived mainly on soup because they believed that excessive chewing would cause them to develop premature facial wrinkles.

Elephant Trivia

Until he’s about 21 years old, the male Indian elephant isn’t interested in romancing a female elephant.

I Find This Interesting

If a pin were heated to the same temperature as the center of the Sun, its fierce heat would set everything within 60 miles ablaze.

Huh, Not Guns.

From the 1850s to the 1880s, the most common cause of death among cowboys in the American West was being dragged by a horse while caught in the stirrups.

OK

The modern bowling ball was invented in 1862.

Brendan is no Bambi

On TV game shows, a contestant who freezes before the camera is called a Bambi, in reference to a deer paralyzed by the glare of headlights.

Bowling Trivia

Some form of bowling is played in more than 90 countries around the world. Approximately 100 million people participate in bowling today.

Aspie & His Grandmother

You might not know that those with Asperger's have freakishly good memories.  Brendan can hear something once or twice and has it in his mind.  So you can imagine some of our conversations.  He calls me on the phone regularly several times a week.  Then and when we're together, he teaches me routines he wants me to know.  These might be from a cartoon on the computer he watches, Sesame Street, a song, or who knows where and what.  He used to tell me something once or twice and expect me to recall it verbatim just the way he can until I've convinced him that not everyone has excellent memories like his and his mother's.  I also don't like memorizing things that aren't my idea. 

Now he breaks it down and has me repeat short phrases over and over and over until I get it right.  Drives me nuts!  I finally came up with something that won't help that much but is an effort at least.  I told him I don't have room in my mind to remember all these extra things he asks me to because my brain is almost full from all the years of things I have to remember.  I have to use the room I have for things I'll need to remember during the rest of my life.

It comes in handy that he has that memory because it's like having a nine-year-old Google with me.  His latest thing is to tell how Opry Mills Mall has changed since it was completely redone inside after the flood.  He goes through it store by store by restaurant by everything to say what was there and what replaced it.  Life is never dull with that kid!

TR Trivia

Teddy Roosevelt was the police commissioner of New York City in 1895 when he formed the "Bicycle Squad." Members of the squad chased down speeders who exceeded the speed limit of 8 miles per hour.

Hot Day and Not in a Good Way

I stayed out of the house as much as possible today.  Right now it's 87 in the house, so the a/c is working some or it would be even hotter since it was 105 today and humid as always.  It's 83 outside, so my house needs to cool down.  Forecast for the next two days is 100, but it's supposed to get cooler Monday to 95.  However, Tuesday and Wednesday are predicted to be 79 and 82.  I hope so!  This is suckful!  (Brendan's word)

I had a long lunch with friends and then went to Mother's after I got a new cover for my iPhone that I'm going to have to take back.  They told me it should fit on my iHome which is what I use to charge it and listen to music.  Wrong.  And I can't get it off the phone!  That thing is totally on there.  The cover has to be off of the phone because any cover is too wide to fit on the docking station. 

Well, isn't this a fascinating post?  LOL

A/C

My  a/c isn't keeping up with the heat.  I called the place that does plumbing and central heat and air who does work for me, an they can't be here until tomorrow.  She said they are swamped, which I can imagine!  So I'm meeting friends for lunch and then will find some other cool places to go.  Literally.

Anyway, so far it hasn't gotten above 86 in the house, and I slept well last night with a fan pointed toward the bed.  Glad I have that one.  I rarely use it, but need it now.  I have a ceiling fan in the den, so I can watch TV and be on the computer is relative comfort.  I was gone most of the day yesterday and didn't know it wasn't working that well until I got home.  Then it was too late to call the repairmen.  I think it's about 82 in here now.  My ex-husband used to say I had one temperature where I was comfortable, and if it deviated more than 2 degrees in either direction, I was miserable.  He was more perceptive than I thought.  That temperature is 71. 

Two things I don't like are being uncomfortable and inconvenienced.  Otherwise, I'm easy to get along with.   

Happy 4th, Blogmates!

It's so hot here that the grass is crunchy.  All fireworks, fires, grilling, and excessive use of water have been banned in parts of the state.  We don't want to be on fire. 

Cool

Legendary musician and composer Frank Zappa was a greeting-card designer before he formed the Mothers of Invention.