A Foo's Reflections
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "math_foo" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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06:41 pm
[Link] | After three nights with the auto-PAP machine I have made it through the whole day without needing a nap for the first time since April.
Current Mood:  hopeful
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02:59 pm
[Link] | Last night my Uncle Bill died.
I wasn't really close to him, so I don't really feel much of anything about it all; but it has my mom is shaken. He was ill; but everyone thought he had another year or so in him.
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07:47 pm
[Link] | Today I saw the sleep specialist about the result of MSLT.
The good news it isn't Narcolepsy after all. He thought it was; but the results of the test were negative. Which brings me to the bad news. I do have sleep apena. I'll be getting and an auto-cpap machine on Monday to use for a week to determine what level of ventilation I'll need. Then I'll do a four week trial with a cpap machine to see if it makes a difference.
I am a little disappointed that it isn't narcolepsy. I am relieved it isn't narcolepsy. And currently, I am optimistic about cpap.
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08:34 am
[Link] | Came home last night to a message on my answering machine. An appointment slot has opened up for me to have my MLST on Thursday. Now I am terribly nervous I'll go in on Thursday and the excitement and novelty of being there will keep me awake. On the other hand I'll be spending the night there Wednesday night, and if I sleep anything like I did last time, I should be quite exhausted on Thursday.
Current Mood:  anxious
Tags: health, sleep
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01:14 pm
[Link] |
Narcolepsy Update
( Becuase other people's health problems are boring. )
Tags: health, life, sleep
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11:27 pm
[Link] | Gave blood for the 12th time tonight. There were two new things there. They had new finger poking devices for the initial iron level tests. They hurt much less than the old ones. I was so grateful for the improvement, I went to the trouble of filling out a comments form just to say that I really liked them. The other new thing were new machines for taking blood pressure/pulse and temperature as part of your interview with the nurse. A 9 minute donation time put it roughly average.
I have recognized the nurses for awhile; but they have started recognizing me.
There was an overly enthusiastic newspaper clipping thanking blood donors up on the wall, written by one of the nurses who had just gone on maternity leave.
Current Mood:  exsanguinated
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06:20 pm
[Link] | It's been a month. I should probably say something.
Went camping, made lots of Jam.
I have an entry filled with my latest tale of woe and emo; but rewriting it till I can read it the next day without wanting to slap myself for being overly self pitying.
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09:46 pm
[Link] |
A new record
Gave blood tonight. A new record of 6 minutes and 15 seconds. I was apparently rather pale afterwards. Stupid heat.
Tags: blood
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06:21 pm
[Link] | Another down beat Friday entry. This one isn't quite a depressing as last weeks though.
I got a tentative diagnosis of narcolepsy this morning. They'll know for sure after I do a sleep study; but that may not be for awhile.
Sorry everyone I have fallen asleep on!
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07:31 pm
[Link] | Jason died today.
He was a good dog.
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10:49 pm
[Link] |
Beets and Carrots and Rhubarb
Went paint-balling with my workplace yesterday. If we remove the bit where I got hit on the knuckles of my right hand the second time and getting hit on my head, I'd say I had fun. I couldn't close my right hand for over an hour afterwards. And I think the blow to the head may have caused a mild concussion. Both still hurt today; but the swelling has gone down. Another time, I'd wear gloves. And a helmet.
Today was a less violent day.
We went to the farmer's market, where in addition to a few other things I bought a few new basil plants. I repotted them today. Only one lone basil plant had survived. I rotated the box the basil plants are growing in to give it the best light. One of the strawberry plants was repotted. I still need another pot for the strawberry plant I am keeping inside.
I, being a big softie even for a plant I plan on eating, haven't been able to bring myself to throw out the excess lettuces, or plant them outside to be eaten by rabbits in their infancy. I moved some into pots that are probably too small; but better than leaving them in the trays they came in. I took the pot the very first plant we acquired (quite by unfortunate accident) had been in, and cleared out the dried brown remains of it and planted another three lettuces. I have tripled my lettuce capacity. There is still room for a few more pots; but I still haven't used even half the lettuce I bought.
Come on people, someone has to have balcony or a windowsill or unused flower bed! Please give these lettuces home! They are still growing despite their cramped quarters.
The really exciting news has been the arrival of the beets. Most of the seeds appear to have sprouted today. (At least, I think it is the beets, I have gotten a little confused about which pot was carrots and which was beets; but the little stems are purpley red.). All but one of the onions has come up. The radishes are being a little disappointing. After the first two, only one more has poked its head up. If no one else has shown up by next weekend, I think I'll reseed
In the meantime, I grow concerned for the carrots. I planted them before the beets, and the two seed packets say they have the same germination time. The thyme in the mixed herb box is also dying on me. I gave it some plant food (hopefully not too much) and extra water in case, being at the back of the box, it wasn't getting its fair share of the rain.
I ate raw rhubarb for the first time in close to decade tonight. It isn't the same though, to eat it all clean and trim from bundle. Eating wild rhubarb was one of those idyllic cornerstone memories of mid-childhood. I remembered being sufficiently small I'd have to brace myself to pull the stalk out, then cutting the tops and the slimy root off with a pocket knife, and brushing the dirt off before eating it, still slightly warm from the sun.
Current Mood:  nostalgic
Tags: food, garden, life, memory, work
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11:59 pm
[Link] |
Rainy Day
Today's rain, while unwelcome by myself walking -*cough* *getting a ride* *cough*- to work, was well welcomed by the garden on the balcony. The onions and radishes have started sprouting. The lettuces are noticabley larger. No signs from the beets or carrots; but they aren't due to sprout for another week or so. Inside, one of the tomato plants seems to be surging ahead of the other two. On the other hand I have appeared to have killed the basil. It isn't too late, so I think I'll just get a new plant, like the gardening n00b I am. I still need to repot the strawberries, I think I'll keep one inside and one out, to see if the plants are happier in their tinfoil dome with the plant light, or out in the actual sun, little of it my north facing balcony gets.
I had a long talk with my mother last night. My aunt that I thought had recovered from ovarian cancer is very ill again. On a brighter note she told about when she was in university and she and friend went on a road-trip and ended up hitchiking on Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Notablly she did not tell me this story either before or during my time at university.
Sadly I currently have too much sense to climb into the car of a strange drunk man and then make a break for it at the next rest-stop (She made it sound like fun, in a rather unexpected turn of conversation).
The wikipedia article on Saint Pierre and Miquelon has this to say:
"Langlade currently has no year-round residents, since its sole inhabitant, Charles Lafitte, died in July 2006"
Tags: family, garden, life, weather
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11:33 pm
[Link] |
Knife Sharpening Trucks
Last night I learned that there exist knife sharpening trucks, that drive around suburban neighborhoods, ringing bells, and apparently people then come out of their houses, with knifes and scissors, and then the guy in the truck sharpens them for a fee.
I have never seen such a truck. I have never heard anyone mention such a truck. In all the books, and tv shows and movies and magazine articles and websites and blogs I have read over the past 22 years, not once have I ever encountered a knife sharpening truck or a reference to a knife sharpening truck.
How did I miss this? What else have I missed?
EDIT: My mother hadn't heard of them either.
Current Mood: surprised
Tags: life, random
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08:43 pm
[Link] |
Lettuce
So, as last year, we are growing vegetables on our blacony. Unlike last year, this year we planting only somewhat late, instead of suicide late. The trouble is I am a fool. A fool who did not read the instructions on the lettuce plants. I have more than 5 times as many lettuce plants as I can support. I have 39 lettuce plants in need of homes. They don't have to be good ones, just homes. We have gravel and dirt, so if you can supply a containor, I'll plant the lettuce for you.
Just think of the luxury of your very own, freshly picked lettuce for salads this summer!
I have three varieties of lettuce for you to choose from!
PLEASE TAKE SOME OF THIS LETTUCE!
Tags: free, garden
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01:24 am
[Link] |
White Rats in Central Park
Backing up to Tuesday night, we went to bed early with the intention of getting up bright and early to start the day. Our first three days in New York have been very hot, but that night it cooled down. With a cool room to sleep in, the improved quality of sleep was too good to pass up, and we slept in until 10. A quick snack of nuts and fruit, and we were on out way.
Our fist stop was to the Brooklyn bridge which we walked across. I enjoy hearing about the engineering behind things far more than I should. The bridge reminded of the great hydro-dam tour of '05 with my mom. Of course, it goes without saying the view was excellent.
From the Manhattan side of our bridge we made our way up to the Doughnut Plant. I got a coconut creme donut, while alfy got a Valrhona chocolate one. We also got iced chai. We walked to a nearby park to enjoy them. Truly, I had never eaten a real doughnut before that day. Sweet but not cloying. Rich but not greasy. Authentic, rich flavours. The iced chai was also excellent.
This tramscendant experience at an end, we went geo-caching in Central Park. We managed to find find the first cache we searched for, and dispatched ourselves reasonably to avoid being seen by those not in on the game. But our luck did not hold. The next cache was hidden in a gazebo by Bow Bridge. We were not going to get 1 second alone with that cache, let alone enough time to log it. The third cache proved impossible for us to find; but lead us to something much better.
We found to white rats living in Central Park! White, pink eyed, rats, living amongst the rocks where the next cache was supposed to be found! Many pictures, and even some short videos were taken of this event.
Doubly defeated, we switched our geo-caching efforts to an extremely long offset cache that required us to visit every bridge and arch of note in the park (well, maybe we missed one or two; but 32 should cover most of them). We managed to make it to 19 of the 31 yesterday. Also, during our travels through the park, we met a raccoon in a tree! Well pleased with our progress we quit for the day and went in search of dinner.
By now, my decision to wear just shorts and t-shirt on what had been a rather cool day had grown regretful, so I bought a sweater to satisy my desire for warmth. Once I was no longer cold, I grew ambiguous towards my sweater, a feeling that has continued since.
Our travels brought us to little Korea. We choose a likely looking spot; but sadly were to be disappointed. This Korean food proved too authentic for us, I am afraid. I tried to like tongue, I really did; but I am still grossed out today thinking about it. I have seen what cows lick.
Leaving the restaurant, shamed by our incorrigible whiteness, we went to the top of the Empire State building.
Lights spread out as far as the eye could see. The outlines of familiar shapes from maps in orange on black. Streets like arteries of the city, pumping glowing points of life.
I should stop here really before embarrass myself further.
Our feet now completely in revolt, we descended into the subway system to make our way home. Some incident had delayed the train. When we arrived the station was crowded, and when the train arrived, it was packed. We were forced to wait for the next one. Which then decided not to come, leaving us to stand waiting for close to half an hour in Union station.
Who knew a train to Brooklyn would be that popular at 10:30pm?
By then time we got home, and planned our next day, it was too late to write about it. Today was so busy, the same thing has happened, so you'll have to wait again.
Current Mood: tired
Tags: clothes, food, geocaching, life, nyc, random, weather
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11:58 am
[Link] | Too late and too tired to describe today.
Donuts were so awesome, anonymous, that my partner in crime has insisted on another visit.
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10:56 pm
[Link] |
Bronx Zoo
Today we spent most of the day in Bronx zoo. I discovered I loved Okapi very much. Giraffes are startling large. Aardvarks are very cute when digging. Spider monkeys are crazy. Gorillas are very chill, while Baboons act as if a fight will break out any minute. Tigers can be quite unimpressive. Andean condors are also startling large. Lemurs all look like they are all on drugs. Tamarins are inordinately cute, as are Pygmy Marmosets and Mongooses (who would be even cuter if we called them mongeese). African wild dogs are much less ugly than you have been led to believe. Lungfish are creepy.
I had chirashizushi, for the first time, at dinner.
Startling enough, my feet were less sore than before. I knew eventually all this walking would get me into to better shape, I just hadn't expected it to occur fast enough for me to benefit while on this trip.
We did laundry tonight. I prefer the laundromat here to the set up we have in our building.
Current Mood: happy
Tags: food, life, nyc, wildlife
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11:41 pm
[Link] |
Second Day
Our feet and legs still not recovered from the day before, today was a shorter day, consisting mostly of exploring Manhattan. we bought towels at Macy's, since we neglected to bring them, and you can't dry your hair with a shirt. Macy's still has wooden elevators. We mostly browsed shops and observed people. We accidentally had a rather fancy and extremely tasty lunch of quesadilla and margaritas. We hung out for awhile in a park with students so thick on the ground, there were no high quality grassy sitting spots to be had. We returned to the hostel to spend the afternoon in less active pursuits. For supper, we planned to go to a grocery store and then eat fruit and nuts and such in a park; but by the time we got our lethargic selves out of the grocery store, strawberries and grapes in hand, it was dark. So, we supped cross legged on our bunk bed.
I checked my marks on quest. Good news all around, I passed measure theory and did well enough that I will, just barely, graduate with distinction.
Tags: end of term, exam, food, life, marks, nyc, school
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11:57 pm
[Link] |
New York
After breakfast in the hostel, our first act was to go purchase a lock for our room's locker so we wouldn't have to carry as much with us. With Spanish on most of the advertising posters, and as subtitles to all the signs and labels in the shop we were in, I venture the guess that we are perhaps in a Hispanic part of the city.
Most of the day was spent being very touristy. We went to Battery park to take the ferry out to Liberty Island to see the famous statue. While waiting in line for the ferry, we passed three musicians all playing inordinately cheerful Caribbean music. If this was not enough to make you smile, there was a man wearing a rainbow wig, a rainbow tie-dye shirt, who exhorted all who passed him to be happy and to enjoy the sunny day.
It was there that my first of two encounters with 'philosopher kid' occurred.
Behind me in line was a boy of about 8 years old, eating a sponge bob square pants ice cream treat of a somewhat frightening appearance. The rainbow man asked him how the sponge bob was, and received an unhesitating answer that it was tasty. When wished a happy life the boy returned wish. Rainbow man remarking on what a successful interaction it had been, and further exhorted the boy, that in addition to a happy life, that he should do something great with himself. Philosopher kid thanked rainbow man for his sound advice.
It was very hot today in New York. Our line to be processed through 'airport' like security moved along fairly rapidly. Shortly before we passed into the tent with the metal detectors and bomb sniffers, philosopher boy dropped his ice cream. "Oh well. It is not as if I am only going to eat one ice cream in my life". At this observation, I turned and remarked to him that he was the most philosophical kid I had ever encountered. He replied that he was also addicted to coffee.
The airport like security we passed through was unexpected. Alfy lost his multi-tool and pocket knife. They missed my multi-tool. Still in possession of one two inch multi-tool, our evil plier related schemes remained un-thwarted. Alfy's eee was also swabbed for volatile nitrogen compounds, in case it was an explosive.
The statue of liberty itself was both bigger and smaller than expected. I had been told it was smaller than you would think it was, and to a certain extent it was. Yet the engineering feat of building such a statue remained.
Yesterday, we tried HFC sweetened coke, and were appalled. Today we tried HFC sweetened fountain cola, and remained appalled.
The Sakura trees on Liberty island are in full bloom, gently raining pink blossoms. A most pleasant two minutes was spent lying in its shade.
Back on the ferry and onwards to Ellis island. The facility they used to process immigrants in has been restored and is a museum to, well, itself. I was not aware just how open the immigration policy of the US was until 1923.
Back at Battery park we headed for Chinatown on foot, passing the Bull of wall street on our way. We got lost finding Chinatown, then got lost in Chinatown. Then a bird pooped on me.
Why me? This is twice in a reasonably short period of time. What is that I do?
We tried to find little Italy; but the part of our map marked little Italy appeared to be a continuation of Chinatown. Now exhausted, we stumbled into a restaurant on the edge of Greenwich Village, and proceed to drink roughly a pitcher of water apiece over the course of our meal. Tired, sore, and I slightly sunburnt, we went back to our Hostel for an early night.
Current Mood:  drained
Tags: food, life, nyc, random
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10:45 pm
[Link] |
ping.
So, exams, they happened. Except for my last one, I don't think they went overly well. I am pretty sure I passed Pmath 451; but I am keeping my fingers crossed. It came too close.
Last night we went to campus to buy bus tickets to Toronto and I no longer felt at home. I felt like an interloper; that campus was no longer my home.
So it goes.
Today we left for New York by bus. We thought the bus to Toronto left at 7am, and in paranoia got up at 5, and called for a taxi for 6:15. As it turned out, the bus didn't leave until 7:30, and our taxi arrived immediately, leaving us to sit in the Kitchener terminal for an hour. Running on only 4 hours of sleep, that hour was sorely misspent.
In Toronto we got on the bus to New York City. For a 10 hour ride, with time spent off the bus only to go through customs and a 20 minute 'lunch' break at 3pm, it was surprisingly pleasant. In the seat behind us, there was a university student from Finland on a year long exchange to Canada. After finally getting to ask a native Finnish speaker the questions I had been wondering about their 36 noun cases, the topic of conversation proceeded to roam far and wide, and the reminder of the trip passed quickly. She is a geography student and made it sound absolutely fascinating.
We saw a lol-cats billboard for the spca, somewhere in New York state, with this classic kitten and the slogan "I gots no bailouts".
We're staying in a hostel in Brooklyn, which greatly reminds me of R&S's apartment. Old pipes from before they converted the factory, or whatever it was, to a hostel remain carefully preserved, jutting from pure, new, white walls, making me feel as if we are staying inside a modern art gallery of some sort. Our room is very tiny, with only a bunk bed and a stacking chair. Filling the small alcove with the window is our locker and a standing lamp, the only source of light in the room. From the window, I can see another window only a few feet away, and to the left and a little above are balconies from another building. The nearest one is festooned with orange and white lights.
Current Mood: tired
Tags: end of term, exams, life, lol, nyc
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