|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Happy Birthday; now spread your legs and scoot this way.
No, not a rape scene. Maybe I'll talk about that some other time.
Today was my yearly physical, which I've been putting off for about 6 months. I've been preparing for it by smoking like a chimney for the past 2 months (well, only the past 3 weeks have been bad). Two days ago, I had my blood taken as instructed and expected the results to be weird, full of the effects of the nicotine and carbon monoxide that with which I've been flooding my body. No booze though, alcohol just hasn't been my drug of choice lately; makes me too sick.
Instead, I'm treated with a barrage of good news from Dr. Lori. I've lost more than 10% of my body weight since my last visit. My cholesterol is still under 200, but the HDL has gone up from 32 to 54 (!) which brings my LDL/HDL ratio down, from 3.5 to 2.3 - great news (should be under 3.2). My mild anemia - gone. Thyroid, sugars, kidney and liver function - good. Un-effin'-believable. Must be the weight loss, cutting back moderately on carbs and avoiding dairy for the past 2 years that have kept me on the good side. It also goes to show you that stress doesn't always hurt us irreparably.
Now for my favorite part, the Butt-Scootin' Boogie (PAP smear). Clothes off (except my socks 'cuz my toes were cold), lie on the table, scoot down to the end and spread 'em. Feet in stirrups. Speculum in. Warmed up a little to near body temp, good. Ouch. Damn, I forgot to talk an Advil before I went. More uncomfortable this time than the last. Okay, that's over. Now she reaches in my gown and feels up my tits. This takes a while because I'm not an A cup. All the while we talk about how well I'm sleeping and dealing with stress. She gives me 4 Ambien samples and a prescription if it works for me. I don't want anything more serious than that, all I need is more sleep. Me and nicotine are doing fine dealing with everything else.
I'm not out of the woods yet, there's one more part to this, the mammogram, which is scheduled for next Monday. I expect and hope for it to be clear. Then I can breathe easy until the next time I remember not to put all this off.
Thanks for lunch and the present Roxanne.
Posted at 04:15 pm by InnerLyly
Happy Birthday; now spread your legs and scoot this way.
Permanence
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
'Alternative' to Evolution: "Intelligent Design"
An ABCNews poll has found that 61% of Americans believe the Biblical explanation of how humans came to be on Earth.
"Intelligent design" - A Dover, Pennsylvania school district is the first in the nation to mandate teaching students about "intelligent design," which says that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a supreme being.
The district's science teachers all refused to read the new text, disgusted. (No word on their employment status at this time.) Critics are saying that this is a way to sneak the Biblical Creation explanation into the 9th grade biology cirriculum, circumventing all Federal laws of separation of church and state. This district is in a small, mid-state rural farm area 20 miles south of Harrisburg. As you've already guessed, there people who believe that the evangelical Christian way is the only way, and those who don't agree can fuck off. The school board apparently agrees, because the vote was 6-3 for "Intelligent Design". 2 of those who voted against it resigned soon after.
When I was in 9th grade I had a social studies teacher who traveled the world studying religions. By the time I was in 10th grade, she had earned her PhD in Eastern Religion. Her specialty was the religions of India. Listening to her explain them in detail, her fascination with them was evident from a cultural and historical standpoint, and she never tried to convert any of us to Hindu, Bhuddism, or any of the other religions. To the best of my memory, she displayed no bias during the lectures. Only information. She always said "Hindus believe that..." keeping her own views out of it. The Constitution separates church and state, so she was just following the rules. I don't even know what religion, if any, she followed.
Looking back, I believe she was an unusual case compared to most teachers. Is it even possible anymore to find a teacher or professor who doesn't have an opinion for or against a hot botton issue like religion? (I understand the fact that in college, the debate over the topic makes the class.) Is it possible to find someone who can teach a class on religion, in junior high or high school, that just presents the historical facts about the major and even minor world religions without getting into why they may or may not respect or understand a particular doctrine? Why keep us in the dark about the rest of the world? For most of them, their political and social culture is wrapped around their religions - if we don't understand that, we don't understand them, and that's one of our biggest problems right now. If you don't believe me, just watch Spurious George's (better known to you as Dubya) lips move...
Posted at 06:33 pm by InnerLyly
'Alternative' to Evolution: "Intelligent Design"
Permanence
Friday, January 14, 2005
Thursday and Friday night I almost missed the most beautiful site, except that circumstances forced me to be in my car to witness it. The moon was low in the western sky, crescent huge and hung low, inviting me to run and hop on it like I was in a storybook. Almost big enough to throw out a rope and lasso it in to me. I wonder why I was treated to such a wondrous thing; whomever, thank you.
Posted at 11:26 pm by InnerLyly
The Moon
Permanence
The baby, the motorcyle and the kitchen sink
The past two nights I've gotten some really sound sleep. This morning I remembered the dreams I'd had. Experts say we have them almost everynight, we just don't remember them. I can tell I've dreamed, I just don't remember them all the time.
Last night I had 3. I don't think they were related but they occurred one after the other, without a commercial break.
In the first dream, there was some guy I've seen on television, don't know his name, but I was kissing him. The online interpretation: "To dream of a kiss denotes love, affection, tranquility, harmony, and contentment." Okay, hmm, don't think so.
In the second, I was looking at a small, cinder-block abandoned home with no roof at the edge of a post-harvest cornfield. It was though it had been blown away by a tornado, but all the debris had been taken away inside and out. The interpretation: "To see a house in your dream represents your own soul and self. To see an old, run-down house in your dream, represents your old beliefs, attitudes and how you used to think or feel. A situation in your current life may be bringing about those same old attitudes and feelings. Alternatively, the old house may symbolize your need to update you mode of thinking." There was a motorcycle in the front yard, covered with a tarp. I took off the tarp and saw a shiny black Harley with chrome trim. I wheeled it from the grass to the pavement. There were no keys with it. The interpretation: "To see or ride a motorcycle in your dream symbolizes your desire for freedom and need for adventure." True. We're batting 1 out of 2 now.
In the last segment, I was suddenly whisked away from there to the inside of a large store, like Wal-Mart or Target. I had a baby in a car seat. It wasn't mine. There was a female friend with me, don't remember who. A man came along and I recognized him as the baby's father. I handed over the baby and carrier to him, but I was sad as I did it, as though the baby was mine. We kept walking with him and the baby until we left the store. Interpretation: "To see a baby in your dream, signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. Babies may symbolize something in your own inner nature which is pure, vulnerable, and/or uncorrupted." There is probably some kernal of that in everyone.
Posted at 05:00 pm by InnerLyly
The baby, the motorcyle and the kitchen sink
Permanence
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"When you step to the edge of all the light you have left and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you might believe one of two things will happen: There will be something solid for you to step upon, or you will learn how to fly." -Anonymous
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________
Links to photography and paintings:
______________________
______________________
Blogs:
______________________
Email me if you want a banner:
  
courtesy of J f Z and Blueskelton.
|
|
|
|
|
|
