Television

You'll remember that we have a new flat screen 100cm (40in.) television.  We had to order a demodulator for satellite reception from England and it arrived yesterday.

As I write, I am watching a 2005 production of The Marriage of Figaro from the Royal Opera House on the BBC.  It's not like being there, but it is like watching the external broadcast in the plaza at Covent Garden.

Sigh.  So good.  I just had to write this.

This is why I don't argue with Nick about having a television.

Everything scheduled

May 25:    Consultation with urologist and anaesthetist.
June 1:     Hospital - stents into kidneys
June 7:     Consultation with surgeon and anaesthetist.
June 22:   Surgery

Now if I could just get an eye appointment.  I have one, but I doubt I'll be up for it on June 24.  I'll throw myself on the secretary's mercy and see if she'll fit me in.  I'm not optimistic.

Then I'll throw myself on the mercy of the dentist.  I have more hope there; she's really nice.  You can't get your teeth worked on while you're having chemo because you don't heal.

However, even if the optomotrist doesn't work out, I can now watch television.  We bought a flat-screen 102cm (40 in) screen.  It's a whole new experience after watching our portable for the last couple of years.  I can see!  I can read the subtitles!  I don't need the subtitles!  I can hear!  (Better sound).

Lance Armstrong's foundation, LiveStrong, does fabulous work for cancer: lobbying, supporting patients and carers and providing information.  I entered their virtual Tour de California.  If I get placed high enough, Lance or one of his team will ride the Tour de France with my sticker on his bike.  I am a big fan of his -- as a rider and as a fighter against cancer.

You can push me up in the ratings by cheering for me.  You can cheer every day.  Please do -- and tell your friends and FB friends, too.  Thank you.  Link.

Books, Dogs, Television & Staples

I got through a book a day in the hospital -- the up side -- including an audio book the first day when my eyes wouldn't focus, and I was too sick to turn pages, anyway.

Endangered Species is really about murder and Loggerhead turtles, but has a nice riff on dog love: You can't control other people or their emotions. You can't make people love you. But dogs love you all the time; hence, their attraction. Pretty good analysis for a cat person. Later, there was a crack about Pit Bulls, but I figure it's an old book and she knows better now.
Before I was a dog owner, I was a cat person (still am) and I considered slavering love a sign of wimpishness -- on both our parts, the dog and the owner. I found it took less than 24 hours of unstinting love from Io Jima, my first Chow, to change my mind.

I watched a little television: the news in English, sport in German and rubbish in French. One afternoon I came across a health talk program entitled The Internet is Not Your GP (in French). Bwahahahaha! How to make your doctor hate you.

My staples came out this morning. Hooray, I can shower.