You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December, 2007.
Happy New Year to everyone!
May 2008 be a good year for us all!
Tell me what you hope 2008 will bring to you!
Every year I make a very long list of New Year resolutions. I haven’t been very successful at keeping them. Perhaps I make too many. I loose track of them. Usually there are over a dozen. They seem reasonable, but I slack off – so they get added again to the next year’s list ‘until they are accomplished’. Some have been on the roster for over 5 years.
So! For 2008 I thought I would change my approach. Rather than resolutions to promote virtue I thought these would do:
1 – This one is always intentionally left blank lest my father and siblings are reading my blog again.
2- Drink more booze, particularly wine. Would you believe this is an ongoing resolution I keep failing to accomplish? I study wine and I have a good nose and taste for them. But I seldom have any. In Arizona wine ‘bakes’ too easily. Someone is not fond of red wine (it gives him headaches) and drinking wine alone is no fun. This year we hope to buy a wine cooler. I hope this allows me to consume more of the stuff. Besides it is good for the heart so there.
3- My nearest and dearest are lousy at reading my mind, so I will have to start saying out loud what I want/what I want others to do.
I envy you all with mates with telepathy.
4- I promise not to smoke more than one cigar at a time.
5 – No more drinking hot sauce directly from the bottle.
6 – My neighbor gave me a batch of beauty products for Christmas – eye wrinkle cream, hair thinning restorer, and shaving gel. And I thought I was OK! I promised her I would give these snake oil products a try. I shall be oh so beautiful by 2009 – provided #2 and #4 doesn’t kill me first.
7 – No more telling patients they should feel guilty that is disgusting you have not right doing such an awful thing and who raised you anyway.
8 – No more bear baiting telemarketers about “What are you wearing?”
9 – No more reciting the Mrs. Moorehead lines from “The Women” when patients come in with the discovery their spouse is unfaithful. (I also do The Countess pretty good too.)
10 – No more making New Year’s resolutions.
Last weekend my car got the King-size Titanic Unsinkable Molly Brown car wash.
Usually I am a tidy person who likes things in order. However my car-care is not very good; it stays dirty for a very long time between car washes. I like to wash my car myself but this is frowned upon here in Arizona. So I go to a car wash when I stop being cheap when the car is too dirty even for me. The fine dust film that covers the inside of the car got too deep last month, thanks to my habit of driving with open windows in the filthy Phoenix air.
It was time for a clean up.
Scottsdale has a carwash car spa. Young Mexican hombres work their butts off cleaning cars while the Scottsdale residents sit on the side lines. The car owners are dressed well, sip Starbucks, and talk on cell phones while their SUVs and Hummers get washed by people of questionable legal status. It is overall rather creepy. It makes me think of Imperial Rome.
I was conned charmed by the nice young woofy man who recommended I try the “Deluxe in and outside job”. He assured me it would only take an hour.
3 hours later, the car was done. The Mexican lads did a very thorough job. I have not seen such precision since I worked at an OCD clinic. I admit my car hasn’t been this clean since when it was new.
Out of whimsy, I purchased one of those cardboard pine air fresheners shaped like a pine tree. You know the type – they hang down from the rearview mirror. Now my car is overwhelmed with stink smells like pine and makes me think I am driving a taxi.
Someone is volunteering more and more to ‘take his car’ when we run errands.
I should do it again in another 7 years.
Or next week if Mr. Woofy takes my order.
in 2007 I have been using WordPress.
Most of my blogging buddies use Blogger. It looks like Blogger has improved; I have not heard recent grips about it. So in 2/08 I am considering coming back to Blogger.
If anyone is reading this, could you leave a comment you came and visited
and
could you tell me if you are happy/dissatisfied with Blogger
Regards,
Urspo
Some days the desire to write is there without any item on which to write.
The Muses took an extensive Christmas Holiday to visit the Graces, who always do up their place for the holidays. So I am on my own today.
Speaking of being on one’s own, it seems blogging is quiet this week, what with people away and doing other things. There seems to be only a few people scribbling out posts.
This year we are actually going to do something on New Year’s Eve. A fellow we met on our November cruise invited us out for a dinner party. I am looking forward to this.
Someone and I usually stay at home on New Year’s Eve. Worse, I am programmed to call it a night when I see the ball in Times Square drop down – which is 10PM local time.
My parents have celebrated NYE with the same two couples since I was a tot. The six go out for dinner, have an allegedly quiet moment at midnight, give each other a kiss, and go home. As children we dreamed up all sorts of morbid, awful fantasies about what our parents were ‘really doing’, but it turns out just our wild imaginations. In some ways a disappointment. The parents are a Midwest as I.
On 12/31, I call my uncle and sister in law to wish them a Happy Birthday, for so it is for both of them. As my uncle slips into dementia, this call gets sadder to do. I doubt he will remember me or even know it is his birthday.
Also on this day I reread “The Little Match Girl” by Hans C. Anderson. If you don’t know this story, give it a try – it is only 4 pages long and very tender.
I play “The Perfect Year” from Sunset Boulevard. Sometimes I dance around a bit, having learned the tango once upon a time. This drives Someone bats.
What are your tentative plans for New Years’ Eve?
Today is Boxing Day. Despite several people explaining it to me I can not retain what should happen.
We had a pleasant at-home Christmas with a very nice breakfast and supper for two. I gave Someone an electronic Sudoku device, so I won’t see him for a while.Someone gave me a Annie Lennox’s new CD, which was much appreciated.
Between Christmas and New Year’s Day are the days my grandmother called ‘The Holidays’. This was the time to go socializing and have parties and dinners. Thinking of her reminds me to make a Hummer. At this time of year Grandmother made a holiday drink called a Hummer. It consists of ice cream (chocolate or vanilla) and a variety of liquors. As a child I thought is a terrible waste of ice cream; as an adult I think it is a terrible waste of brandy.
It is time for the annual trek to a bookstore to get next year’s blank journal.
It is also the time to start reading the seed catalogs and organizing what will be ordered in early January.
The trilogy of Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving, and Christmas ends with a 4th holiday – the winter vacation in January. We usually go for a week to Key West. In 2008 we are going on a week long cruise to the Caribbean. Time to make a new Hawaiian shirt!
Happy Christmas to you all!
Here are the virtual presents Spo-Claus is giving to you (if I could!)
A Life in a day – a “grab and carry” all-expense paid spree for one hour in Border’s
Actor Schmactor – some free time to write again! I miss him!
All Things but None – a dream date with Enya
Ashram at Pooh Corner –’Tiamet spray’, guaranteed to keep the pests away
At the Alter of my Ego – a hug
Becoming Visible – a bunch of fun software to add to his new computer.
Being Normal – a plane ticket to come visit the States
Benton Quest – a job
Blog Eat Blog World –he’s got everything , so how about a new beau?
Bunny Lynn Boofay – Cheez Whiz for days and some tasty treats for King Louis XV.
Butterfly Girl – a weekend at a spa; alone!
Captain Caveman – a trip to the States
Cinca Diva – another one that gets a plane ticket to come to the States for a holiday
City Woof - a boyfriend, who can treat him as well as he deserves or a fabulous new job in 2008; you choose!
Cliffie’s Notes – new flooring and carpeting
DanNation – a fabulous new bowling ball – and some lessons hohoho!
Daniel, Guy in the Desert – care packages every month to survive the cold of the Pacific Northwest. And nice UPS fellows to deliver them.
David’s Daily Drama – tickets to hear the Bette Midler in Las Vegas in 2008
Dewey’s Dashboard – a winning lottery ticket
Designer Blog – oh he has everything! How about a cedar bucket and ladle, carved by a pacific Northewest Native American artist, for that sweat lodge?
Devious Steve O – firewood to keep warm him and his hubby warm on those long winter nights
DMMGMFM – a year’s supply of gasoline so she can go anywhere!
Gossamer Tapestry – several new patrons oh so willing to fork over cash for whatever project he wants at work.
Greedy Maelstrom – a fabulous new bookshelf for all his instructional DVDs.
Hello Waffles – a jockstrap with Hello Kitty embroidery.
Homer’s World – a king size titanic unsinkable Molly Brown kitchen to help in his cooking creations.
I’m Here..He’s There – Spider, I want you wellness and prosperity.
Just Keep Moving On – positive vibes to get him blogging again and a winning Lotto ticket
Let’s Say You Are Right – boxes for cats; paper for orgami
Life’s Colourful Brushstrokes - success in his new work in 2008. and discipline!
Living in the Woods – a gig with the Chicago a symphony to play Mahler’s #8.
Looking out from a Southern Closet – Prada’s latest line in hunting clothes
Maddog in the City – Another truckload of Diet Coke
Maggie’s – bionic hips and a subscription to “Pug’s Life” magazine.
Merrily We Roll Along – a shipment of 2nd growth “Estate” Darjeeling
Mind of a the Bear - A copy of ‘The King, The Warrior, The Magician and The Lover’ by Dr. Moore.
Mountain Cabin – fabulous pink flamingo Christmas ornaments for that tree of his.
My Confessions – a winning Lotto ticket
My Musings – a year’s prescription coverage
Open a Window – a fellowship or a fellow!
Pink Pages – an emerald the size of a golf ball.
Philosophy By Me – Another one who gets a plane ticket to come visit the States.
Pipedreams – a new house.
Purple Twinkie – an invitation from a major publishing company to produce “Recipes from the Purple Twinkie”.
Rodger Dodger – safety gloves.
Rural Wat – a hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies.
Scott-O-Rama – an eye candy dish.
Scuff Productions – whatever he wants from Territorial Seed company’s spring catalog.
Smiley’s Place – health and peace.
Sorted Lives – a 2 week holiday cruise with “M”.
Spirit of Saint Lewis – a large hat rack to show off his caps.
Stern Point of View – a cosmo shaker
Steve’s Whirlyworld – A new version to play of ‘Texas Hold’em”
Still Thinking – spiritual growth and a woofy new boyfriend
Temporary Trouble Spots – a hour on “The Mile”; all expenses paid
Two Inches of Formica – a leather bound journal in which to record his poetry
The Other Andrew – a truckload of wool in every colour.
The Vark Does Bark – Mental Cleanser; economy size.
Welcome to my Truth – a Muse, so he will return to blogging.
Whisper in the Void – a buzz cut hohoho
Would I? – a weekly massage throughout the winter until April.
The Winter Solstice has been celebrated in rituals for millennia long before it was baptized into Christianity. Just about every culture north of 45 degrees seems to have some sort of holiday at this time of year, to mark the return of the sun and the spring. The celebration of the sun’s return was more appreciated when I lived in the Midwest. In Arizona the sun’s return means temperatures will soon again be over 100!
My British/Anglo-Saxon/Celtic blood tends to boil up at this time of year. As a few psychoanalytic teachers have said – “The archaic is never that deep within” And rituals are vital to the Psyche.
On this day I light a candle and think about the past year and the year to come.
It seems I am focusing on the “glass half empty” part of 2007. It was a tough year. Or I am recalling only the tough parts? I need to reread my 2007 journal and blog to remind me of the good elements that are presenting eluding memory.Work was tiring; there were few deaths at work. Our last cat died. The house has some problems that want repair. Some of my favorite bloggers closed down. There were a series of disappointments in my personal life – a few more than ‘the usual amount’.
I end this cycle of the sun feeling worn down. I need to revitalize, and get more sleep. Eat better; attend more to stretching. And not let work get me down so. The usual self-care things
Anyway, Happy Solstice! May the return of the sunshine and next year’s spring be a better time for all of us.
Newer Spo-fans may not know that I like history, particularly the history of medicine. Reading old medical books is fascinating.
Here is a list of cures ancient Chinese physicians attributed to tea. It comes from a Chinese medicine book, transcribed in 1686 by T. Povery;
1. It purifyes the Bloud of that which is grosse and Heavy.
2. It Vanquisheth heavy Dreames.
3. It Easeth the brain of heavy Damps.
4. Easeth and cureth giddinesse and Paines in the Heade.
5. Prevents the Dropsies.
6. Drieth Moist humours in the Head.
7. Consumes Rawnesse.
8. Opens Obstructions.
9. Cleares the Sight.
10. Clenseth and Purifieth adults humours and a hot Liver.
11. Purifieth defects of the Bladder and Kiddneys.
12. Vanquisheth Superfluous Sleep
13. Drives away dissiness, makes on Nimble and Valient.
14. Encourageth the heart and Drives away feare.
15. Drives away all Paines of the Collick which proceed from Wind.
16. Strengthens the Inward parts and Prevents Consumptions.
17. Strengthens the Memory.
18. Sharpens the Will and Quickens the Understanding.
19. Purgeth Safely the Gaul.
20. Strengthens the use of due benevolence.
I treat a lot of patients over the age of 70. I also see a lot of ‘high risk’ people, people with HIV, people with both mood problems and substance abuse, people no one else wants to see. As a consequence, I suspect I see a lot more deaths than my psychiatric colleagues.
I got a call this week a patient is dead. This one was an elderly lady with a combination of Parkinson’s disease and psychosis. Her last years were marred by progressive paranoia, dependence on her sister, multiple doctor appointments and oh so many medication trials. Apparently she fell down in the night. She was found dead the next morning by her family.
Dying is seldom the way we want it to be. We all want the ideal death –we will eat lovely last meal, call around the loved ones, saying something profound in the farewell, and close the eyes and be done with it. It doesn’t happen that way. Rather, people loose their functions, grow dependant on others, and slip oh slow slowly into a dysfunctional state, only to have something undignified occur, like falling down.
In the movie ‘Big Fish’ a boy glimpses into a witch’s eye and sees he will die having a heart attack while sitting on the toilet. He is horrified he will be found that way; pants down and butt up on the floor. That is how death often gets us – literally and figuratively with our pants down.
So how can you have “death with dignity”? Everyone talks about it; everyone wants it, but what this is is almost impossible to define as its probability. As dying is likely to be a slow decline like my little old lady patient, it is how we live our lives that make Death dignified.
Please live as well as you can and accept the inevitable. That is “dying with dignity” – living as well you can, before the descent.
I hope my little old lady who fell down the stairs had that.
