Bird Mart this May was chock full of Green Cheeks and Moluccans, but luckily I happed into a lovely bearded gentleman looking for a male ringneck. I was looking for a female. So, we saw a pair and split the difference.
Now Sterling, my randy ringneck, can refrain from flogging his flamingo and has a lovely wife, Jessie. And, soon I hope I will be hearing the pitter-pat of little birdie feet. (I promise I will update with new photos soon... No, really, I will! I'm not kidding. It's gonna happen... start holding your breath now)
5.26.2005
Star Light, Star Bright...
For one measly day I would love to experience the high of manipulating the psyche, soma and selective reasoning of the public at large (as opposed to the large public). Recently I had the honor of visiting the "No. 1" vascular surgeon in DFW, who proceeded to spend all of 20 minutes with the now not-so-blue pinky, subject me to sonogram, doppler and finger cuffs, only to relay the diagnosis equivalent to "I dunno." On the basis of that, he recommended an echo-cardiogram - simple enough. Checked in with his upstairscardiology group and sent me to their office to powwow with their "No. 1" cardiologist. I signed in and confirmed that I would be seeing Dr. Carry. After 20 minutes I reconfirmed that I would be meeting personally with Dr. Carry, and the receptionist was firm that it would be just a minute. A mere 1 hour and 20 minutes later, I was called sweetly through the magic door and was greeted glibly by Dr. Carry. I bluntly asked if it was standard procedure to keep patiemts waiting for up to two hours. She hemmed and hawed, justified the wait by explaining that I was a "work-in" and as I escalated my inquiries and ejaculations (no pejoratives, mind you), she now-nowed, there-thered me to my utter dishevelment.
I stormed out uttering incoherencies and gesticulating wildly, all the time trying to prevent tears of anger and frustration from slipping out and giving away my emotional discomfiture. Upon reaching the safe haven of my car, I wept and hiccoughed, jerked and spasmed until I could get enough air to call Dr. Pearl. After repeated unsatisfying jockies with his office manager, he finally came on the line and queried me in a sweet "I'm-talking-to-an-hysterical-person" voice, and he was right. I had lost my senses - left without my staggering command of grammar and a devastating vocabulary, I could only whimper ineffectual commentary as to inefficiency and indiscretion. So, now, not only was I angry and frustrated but I was muted by my own inflated emotion.
Without any additional information being imparted as to my health and/or well-being, these "professionals" managed to squander a full day of my valuable time, several hours of my precious mental health, and all of my sanguine goodwill. Yes, yes... I know what you are saying... I let them frappe me into this state, but wouldn't anyone be incensed?? If you aren't, you should get that way. Doctors have challenged even the most stoic and forgiving with their inattention and unconcern for the time and trust of their patients.
OK, so they spent seven years in school preparing to wrangle the vicissitudes of the human body, they got divorced, ignored their children and wives, and bowed in obeisance to the medical powers that be, but does that negate the necessity of continuing to be human? I say, let's take our bodies into our own hands, use the vast sources of imformation available to us and begin to know ourselves so that we can begin the process of diagnosis and treatment withou the intervention of a medical automaton who pilfers our pockets for his ski trips to Vail.
Patient, Heal Thyself!
I stormed out uttering incoherencies and gesticulating wildly, all the time trying to prevent tears of anger and frustration from slipping out and giving away my emotional discomfiture. Upon reaching the safe haven of my car, I wept and hiccoughed, jerked and spasmed until I could get enough air to call Dr. Pearl. After repeated unsatisfying jockies with his office manager, he finally came on the line and queried me in a sweet "I'm-talking-to-an-hysterical-person" voice, and he was right. I had lost my senses - left without my staggering command of grammar and a devastating vocabulary, I could only whimper ineffectual commentary as to inefficiency and indiscretion. So, now, not only was I angry and frustrated but I was muted by my own inflated emotion.
Without any additional information being imparted as to my health and/or well-being, these "professionals" managed to squander a full day of my valuable time, several hours of my precious mental health, and all of my sanguine goodwill. Yes, yes... I know what you are saying... I let them frappe me into this state, but wouldn't anyone be incensed?? If you aren't, you should get that way. Doctors have challenged even the most stoic and forgiving with their inattention and unconcern for the time and trust of their patients.
OK, so they spent seven years in school preparing to wrangle the vicissitudes of the human body, they got divorced, ignored their children and wives, and bowed in obeisance to the medical powers that be, but does that negate the necessity of continuing to be human? I say, let's take our bodies into our own hands, use the vast sources of imformation available to us and begin to know ourselves so that we can begin the process of diagnosis and treatment withou the intervention of a medical automaton who pilfers our pockets for his ski trips to Vail.
Patient, Heal Thyself!
5.11.2005
As I watched the grayscale monitor, the thin wire coasted gracefully across the charcoal duskiness of my lumbar vertebrae before merging onto my large thoracic thru-way. "More thrust!" I said to myself in a silly Scotts accent and a larger catheter magically appeared on the screen. This new and improved rooter ascended my torso and arched gracefully over my aorta. I talked and burbled happily aware of my pharmaceutical phaerie gliding gently in and around inquiring gently as to my comfort. Everyone should have one of these anxiolytic angels to soothe and assuage nerves gone awry, stomachs gone floppsy, and arteries repelling invaders. I wondered when they would use the big rubber mallet...
Dr. Day, (after recovering from my nauseated greeting) explained the next series of events as he tapped and wiggled my femoral cannula, Long Hair banged the dye reservoir heartily and Eagle Eye confirmed the absence of naughty invasive bubbles. Somehow visions of a well-used but restorable classic car came to mind as I listened to the bangs and rattles, grunts and assertions.
All of this for the "blue pinky". One whole day spent in the confines of Baylor Medical, finger refusing to be even slightly bluish, to discover that my radial artery (sinister) is completely blocked, jammed up, occluded to the hilt for no apparent reason. Dr. Day asked if I had been using my arm as a tool or deadly weapon to which I cordially responded in the negative, internally wondering if he was altogether a twit or still reeling from my gastric salutation. Indeed, I often wield my arm in a threatening manner, and have offered it's services to many a construction worker as substitute for some pneumatic device, but never, in my wildest imaginings, thought this could be harmful to the delicate underpinnings of my vascula. Git!!
Dr. Pearle will be inspecting me next and the wonders of a thrombosis may be revealed. Stay tuned for vastly amazing and enchanting pictures of the "blue pinky" itself, and if we are lucky, the radiographies.
Dr. Day, (after recovering from my nauseated greeting) explained the next series of events as he tapped and wiggled my femoral cannula, Long Hair banged the dye reservoir heartily and Eagle Eye confirmed the absence of naughty invasive bubbles. Somehow visions of a well-used but restorable classic car came to mind as I listened to the bangs and rattles, grunts and assertions.
All of this for the "blue pinky". One whole day spent in the confines of Baylor Medical, finger refusing to be even slightly bluish, to discover that my radial artery (sinister) is completely blocked, jammed up, occluded to the hilt for no apparent reason. Dr. Day asked if I had been using my arm as a tool or deadly weapon to which I cordially responded in the negative, internally wondering if he was altogether a twit or still reeling from my gastric salutation. Indeed, I often wield my arm in a threatening manner, and have offered it's services to many a construction worker as substitute for some pneumatic device, but never, in my wildest imaginings, thought this could be harmful to the delicate underpinnings of my vascula. Git!!
Dr. Pearle will be inspecting me next and the wonders of a thrombosis may be revealed. Stay tuned for vastly amazing and enchanting pictures of the "blue pinky" itself, and if we are lucky, the radiographies.
5.06.2005
Follow up to Cruelty
I love animals dearly but this is just too funny (similar to the penguin thing).
Cruelty Free
My brother, Dolph, told me to go to this site. Happily, it doesn't condemn meat eaters but offers simple solutions to finding quality food products with which one can be guilt free. Our family is completely invested in this concept - our meats come from Burgundy Pasture beef and our eggs come from a local woman who has chickens in her yard. We were never intended to be strictly vegetarian, however we have propogated generations of humans who believe it is their right to consume massive quantities of flesh in order to feed the consumerism that is leading us down the path to self destruction. Contrary to the beliefs of zealots and the misguided, humans are not the pinnacle of the animal kingdom and are not entitled to abuse, neglect and otherwise harm fellow species at will.
So, eat your meat or you won't get any pudding... just make sure you are raising your own or purchasing from someone who holds life tenderly and dearly.
So, eat your meat or you won't get any pudding... just make sure you are raising your own or purchasing from someone who holds life tenderly and dearly.
5.04.2005
This is becoming alarming
Yet another in a string of cetacean strandings and deaths this spring. What does this say about our earth and about us???
4.29.2005
Body Stuff
It's small, blue and tingly. My pinky finger, I mean. For the last two days, perhaps three, the pinky finger (5th phalange sinister to be exact) of my left hand has been numb, with a cyanotic nail bed and cold. Every now and then I see this little seemingly dead thing waving around down there and I give it a rub and squeeze to move the blood back and forth, but it never seems to really "wake up". It makes me wonder what may be going on... just curious, not alarmed, as it still seems to function when called upon. Previous to the "pinky thing", the thumb on the same hand had been experiencing some soreness on the pad, similar to a deep bruise or bone bruise, making it quite tender to perform such simple operations as opening the car door - my latch has a button that you have to push. And, just the morning of the "pinky thing", I felt a sharp pain in the offending phalange stemming from no apparent provocation.
As of today, the thumb seems to be better, the pinky continues to be obstinate and the wrist has gotten into the action. It now feels as if one of the small, pebble-shaped wrist bones has become dislodged and is creating a feeling of "not-quite-right" - ness. I've twisted, turned, massaged and pulled to no effect.
Only 40 and already falling apart!
As of today, the thumb seems to be better, the pinky continues to be obstinate and the wrist has gotten into the action. It now feels as if one of the small, pebble-shaped wrist bones has become dislodged and is creating a feeling of "not-quite-right" - ness. I've twisted, turned, massaged and pulled to no effect.
Only 40 and already falling apart!
4.25.2005
Damn Technology
OK, I got all motivated and wrote something the other day. Something really exquisite, amazing and esoteric... I will never be able to re-create it and it probably would have made me real famous, but this damn posting blogger thing just tossed it aside like so much gutter detritus. Bastards!
Actually, I have quite a bit to post about, however this whole grad school thing, as I have mentioned before, is cutting to the quick of my social and private time. Project this, paper that, cohort meeting there, final here... blah, blah, blah. Not to mention that it is stifling my creativity. But I will bravely thump along. I purchased my first digital camera and have cleverly left it sitting on my bar where it will read my thoughts, leap to task and whirl madly about the metroplex snapping shots of the bizarre, unheard of, and awesome. (I haven't even gotten a good photo of the Twins with it yet. Oh, I am so lame.)
Anywho, shortly, I will be regaling my distinct, if microscopic, audience with my own myopic visions of nature, self and family. Beware!
Actually, I have quite a bit to post about, however this whole grad school thing, as I have mentioned before, is cutting to the quick of my social and private time. Project this, paper that, cohort meeting there, final here... blah, blah, blah. Not to mention that it is stifling my creativity. But I will bravely thump along. I purchased my first digital camera and have cleverly left it sitting on my bar where it will read my thoughts, leap to task and whirl madly about the metroplex snapping shots of the bizarre, unheard of, and awesome. (I haven't even gotten a good photo of the Twins with it yet. Oh, I am so lame.)
Anywho, shortly, I will be regaling my distinct, if microscopic, audience with my own myopic visions of nature, self and family. Beware!
4.14.2005
Coffee Klastch (?)
philosophy
"As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define your philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation - or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown." -
Ayn Rand, 1982
"As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define your philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation - or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown." -
Ayn Rand, 1982
4.01.2005
Compresssion
A good friend once malapropped that he felt "compressed". Not so ludicrous when you realize he meant that he was depressed. Loathe to explain for the maddening averages/normals, I comment that I am compressed today. Only slightly, and for no apparent or immediate reason - steadily on the looney pills, no crises imminent - all is status quo in the house of sYd. Nevertheless, I am experiencing a malaise coupled with a disquieting desire to weep for no reason.
Maybe it's the normalcy of it all. Mom states that I am an adrenalin junkie which I equate with insane spills from cliffs wearing only a bandana, a wetsuit filled with fillets and a quick splash with great whites, etc., not with the mild thrills that seem to crop up in my daily rounds. But she may have a point. This continuing subtlety of life may be compressing my adrenalin jones and resulting in this feeling of not-quite-enough.
Maybe it's the normalcy of it all. Mom states that I am an adrenalin junkie which I equate with insane spills from cliffs wearing only a bandana, a wetsuit filled with fillets and a quick splash with great whites, etc., not with the mild thrills that seem to crop up in my daily rounds. But she may have a point. This continuing subtlety of life may be compressing my adrenalin jones and resulting in this feeling of not-quite-enough.
3.25.2005
Addendum to the Coyote
As a member of the yahoo groups Bird Hobbyist and 9-1-1 Parrot Alert, I am the joyful recipient of scads, oodles and virtual mountains of bird "stuff". Usually I browse and delete unless there is something of grand interest. Today's digest contained an heading, "Celebrity Birds". Piqued, I scrolled down to find that the celebrities were the hawks in New York City and a pair of barn owls with two, count them, TWO! nest cams. (BTW, www.palemale.com & www.theowlcam.com )
OK - I'm all about nature, but this has me vexed. Yes, yes, let's make sure that in this urban, people infested world children can access the bird cams and learn about species that they may not ever, EVER encounter in their "natural" lives... which brings up the opposing position, why are we accessing a virtual world to learn about animals, places, things in general that we should be able to walk out of doors and capture with our own eyes. I can get very frothy about this subject, but it usually turns people off and all sorts of argument ensues (unless of course you are a member of the elite few intellectuals who agrees with me..YeeHaw!).
Bottom line: If we could manage our resources and greed in a more moderate way, we might all be privy to the majesty that is our natural world without resorting to a "virtual" world.
OK - I'm all about nature, but this has me vexed. Yes, yes, let's make sure that in this urban, people infested world children can access the bird cams and learn about species that they may not ever, EVER encounter in their "natural" lives... which brings up the opposing position, why are we accessing a virtual world to learn about animals, places, things in general that we should be able to walk out of doors and capture with our own eyes. I can get very frothy about this subject, but it usually turns people off and all sorts of argument ensues (unless of course you are a member of the elite few intellectuals who agrees with me..YeeHaw!).
Bottom line: If we could manage our resources and greed in a more moderate way, we might all be privy to the majesty that is our natural world without resorting to a "virtual" world.
3.21.2005
Nature Lover
We rounded the corner of the running track in Quannah Parker park and much to my amazement, I spotted a coyote - a BIG one- hunting in the field. Yippee was the first to notice the motionless canine, watching and waiting to pounce upon some unsuspecting vole. He quivered with anticipation. As soon as the coyote scored his little rodent treat, Yippee leapt to full speed and was after his distant relative, just closing the gap as the hunter fled into the forest. I was stunned. A coyote, at 1:30 in the afternoon, on a bright and delightful Sunday. A Mummy, I supposed. Perhaps rustling up the grub for her early pups. Yippee was disappointed that his attempts at contact were not met with more enthusiasm, and Dittles gallumphed behind wondering what all the excitement was, as she couldn't see over the ruined brown winter grasses. Chelsea, our little birder, snubbed the chase as far too banal - fowl were much more challenging as well as good eating.
I hate living in all this urbanity where the sight of mating hawks and feeding coyotes is a rarity. I'm ready for the farm, Jed!
I hate living in all this urbanity where the sight of mating hawks and feeding coyotes is a rarity. I'm ready for the farm, Jed!
3.17.2005
Mid-Term #2
Completed.
Three hours of self-editing prose now submitted with no recourse.
This is grad school.
Three hours of self-editing prose now submitted with no recourse.
This is grad school.
Well... It's about time!
I was scared that if I wrote about this, it would all vanish in a POOF! of djinn smoke. However, after 4 months (lunar, that is) I guess I should introduce you to MrTuck.
Despairing of ever meeting someone with my own quirky interests, superior intelligence and prose skills, and a true gentleman; I posted an incredibly flippant profile on Match.com as a farewell flip-off. Lo, and Behold!, 24 hours after posting, I receive a flippant response... and the game was on. Perhaps I had niggled the Fates just enough for my thread to be loosed to the karmic winds. Maybe I just gave up, let go, and what I wanted came right back to me.
Happy, Happy... Joy, Joy!!!
Despairing of ever meeting someone with my own quirky interests, superior intelligence and prose skills, and a true gentleman; I posted an incredibly flippant profile on Match.com as a farewell flip-off. Lo, and Behold!, 24 hours after posting, I receive a flippant response... and the game was on. Perhaps I had niggled the Fates just enough for my thread to be loosed to the karmic winds. Maybe I just gave up, let go, and what I wanted came right back to me.
Happy, Happy... Joy, Joy!!!
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