Assessing the Week that was.

Nearly two weeks of 2007 are already history and already certain familiar themes are making themselves felt. 

 

The weather here in Southern Ontario south of the Niagara Escarpment continues to be wet, mild, and drear.  I'm fairly certain there's a sun up there somewhere but from our vantage point it's been largely a stranger.  Mind you the fact I leave for work over four hours before sunrise, work inside, and then go home for a nap that ends after sunset doesn't help. 

 

Modern science has once again established that my medical problems are all in my head—my sinuses and trachea as a matter of fact.  Being seven years past my fiftieth birthday I was told a colonoscopy was in order.  There's nothing like entering a hospital, even a good one, to make one aware of one's place in the scheme of things.  In Ontario colonoscopies are booked twelve years in advance—and even then the doctor rescheduled it two weeks in advance.  That one is a number is established upon arrival when one is prompted to pick one to be served.  God forbid you arrive late.  At that point the theme of hurry up and wait is established.  Somehow I forgot to take my book with me and was forced to occupy myself with an issue of Canadian Living.  I learned all about balsamic vinegar and that Melatonin can now legally be sold in Canada—did you know that?  First one waits in the outer office, then in the outpatient's room.  Assigned a bed one is presented with the infamous backless gown and told to strip to one's socks.  An IV Stent is inserted and the waiting begins.  One hour later one is wheeled into the examination room.  There one waits another half hour—this time without one's glasses—the auto-blood pressure cup is timed.  Upon arrival without explanation and barely a greeting the specialist starts ramming drugs into one's veins—that actually hurt.  I'd agreed to sedation; what I didn't expect was that I wouldn't regain consciousness until the indignities were complete and I was back in the day room.  At this point the results were shouted from twenty feet across a crowded room.  Five years before the next insult.  Guess I'm supposed to feel relieved.  Anyone who has had such diagnostic work performed knows that it's the "preparation" that makes it such a joy.  I may never look at Jell-0 again.  The purgative costs $ 25.00!  The irony of arriving home from work for the second round to find the apartment building's water supply shut down lacked some humour at the time.  Yes I actually went into work after spending an entire evening on the porcelain throne. 

 

So went the first half of my week.  I actually lost 5 pounds in 2 days and have replaced only 2 of them.  Apparently someone wanted a night off as I arrived Friday to news that there'd been a bomb scare at the plant.  I pity the poor dog's bodies that have to search a building that size.  Our mail arrived late and we'll probably pay for it on Monday.  One thing there is no lack of is junk mail. 

 

I continue to have what are euphemistically called senior's moments.  How I managed to forget to renew the sticker on my car's license plate and drive it for six months like that—I live beside a police station—I really don't know.  The fact that it read 06 and it is now 07 was probably the tip off yesterday.  Don't know about you, but I'm not accustomed to being pulled over by unmarked cars.  The sticker is now in place. 

 

I'll be visiting my sister near Halifax in February and I'm presently on a mission to expose them to a few of the cultural events available in their area.  Just booked tickets to the ballet at the Rebecca Cohn.  Marvelous what one can do online at this distance.  We're now negotiating an evening of Dinner Theatre. 

 

Last Sunday I walked down to witness the Mayor's Levee marking Oakville's 150^th Anniversary.  Lots of hot air but no worthwhile libations to mark the occasion.  A new unused snow plough, a brand new bus were on display—half a mil each; along with the fire department's new sky crane—c.5 mil that one.  The exercise was good for me. 

 

Updated my OS with Microsoft's latest futile attempts to keep ahead of malicious internet users.  Somehow they manage to create more problems than they fix.  The recommended new driver for my pivoting screen is incompatible with Windows XP.  Took an evening to remember how to boot into 'Safe Mode', uninstall it, and re-install the original.  Some time I'll learn to leave well enough alone. 

 

And there you have my week.  Tell me about yours.