The key to happiness

Money didn't make the list.
Neither did vacation homes or private jets. (Or body enhancements!)
Prevention.com has this list of things destined to make you--and me--happy. The things on the list make sense.
The one I especially like: Savor mystery.
We just can't know everything. That shouldn't make us intellectually lazy; but the world is a complex place and the more we appreciate that and revere mystery, the better off we are. In my humble opinion.
Also, today is the penultimate day of the year. I have waited 364 days to use that word. Cheers.

In praise of nurses

I can't seem to get off the medical/hospital subject. (Maybe one of these days!)
Here's the latest Well blog from the Times in which Dana Jennings writes about some of the nurses he's known.
I can't say enough good things about the nurses we've encountered over the past 11 days. One got my dad up out of bed today! A real step forward, so to speak, though my understanding is that he just stood up. I talked to him on the phone after the Big Event.
I have no qualms with his surgeons, either, who broke the stereotype of cold and robotic and terse. Both have spent time with us they probably didn't have. Three cheers for these folks, who know who they are.

Tips for the long haul

Did a search for "the long haul," as in, What do you do when a family member is in for the long haul in their healing? My dad has a long road ahead and today, three days into his awakened state, he's saying he needs to get out of bed and go home. Google came up with things like long flights (such as to Tokyo); or tips for long-distance truck drivers.
It breaks my heart to walk out of his room and leave him behind.
So, here are a few of my own, off the top of my head:
1) Be patient with the patient, and yourself. He (in this case) is struggling to take everything in. Even though you know more about the reality of the situation, you are taking in new realities as well.
2) He is slow to soak everything in, in part because of the post-drug fog; so don't hit him with all the information at once. Let him lead with questions and correct if necessary and when appropriate.
3) Get rest. Eat. Go about your normal routine as much as possible.
4) Pay attention to the visiting hours. They're in place not only for the staff but for the family. Get away as you can and should.

St. Francis Hospital: Of rhythms and rhymes and harmonies

My dad remains in the hospital. Rather a sucky time of year to be in the hospital--but then again, when is it ever good? Not sure what we'll do for Christmas but my main wish is he's alert and doing much better.
My mom and I, and my husband and many others, have been around the place since Saturday. For me, it's enough time to pick up on some more things. Here are more random observations, in no particular order: If you know you're going to St. Francis much later than 8 a.m., it's best to park across the street at Starbucks or Gold's Gym and walk. You'll save a lot of time circling up and down the parking deck.
We have found the staff to be professional and kind and honest and tender, not only with my daddy but with us.
As he's gained hours and days away from his surgery, the nurses and docs don't stay in the room as much. That's a good sign.
Hospital food remains high quality. I'm not that picky an eater but it helps to have decent food when you feel tied to the premises.
Take note: The gift shop is having a 75 percent off sale on Christmas items. This has come in handy.
Surgeries tend to happen in the morning, unless one has an emergency. More people in waiting rooms in the morning and early afternoon.
Just curious: Why is the hallway to the CCU area chilly? There's a noticeable difference between other hallways. Is it to ward off germs?

Advent graces

I've been out of the blog scene the past few days because my dad had emergency surgery Saturday morning.
It was (and still is, to some degree) pretty scary. He remains on a ventilator but is doing well, all things considered.
Basically he perforated a hole in his colon; there was also a mass at the end of his colon that they took out and as I understand it pretty much got the whole colon out too.
If all continues to go well, they'll reattach everything at a later date.
His doctors and nurses are excellent, and he's in great hands. I can't say enough good things about the medical team caring for him.
In addition to that, here are a few graces and observations:

--People are there for you. We have received so much care and love just in the past three days it's hard to articulate and give thanks adequately.

--The main nurse I see every day is a guy named Eric. He treats my dad so tenderly. When he's putting in a new drug or something, he'll say, "Here you go, my friend."

--When you are in a waiting room, that is not the time to jump into another group's conversation and interject your political venom. This happened to us Sunday. Someone in our crew brought up something about President Obama and this man, at least five feet away, yelled out something stupid and stomped out. Dude. Really?

--Hospital food is not as bad as some say.

Advent graces

I've been out of the blog scene the past few days because my dad had emergency surgery Saturday morning. It was (and still is, to some degree) pretty scary. Basically he perforated a hole in his colon; there was also a mass at the end of his colon that they took out and as I understand it pretty much got the whole colon out too. If all continues to go well, they'll reattach everything at a later date.
His doctors and nurses are excellent, and he's in great hands. I can't say enough good things about the medical team caring for him.
In addition to that, here are a few graces and observations:
--People are there for you. We have received so much care and love just in the past three days it's hard to articulate and give thanks adequately.
--The main nurse I see every day is a guy named Eric. He treats my dad so tenderly. When he's putting in a new drug or something, he'll say, "Here you go, my friend."
--When you are in a waiting room, that is not the time to jump into another group's conversation and interject your political venom. This happened to us Sunday. Someone in our crew brought up something about President Obama and this man, at least five feet away, yelled out something stupid and stomped out. Dude. Really?
--Hospital food is not as bad as some say.

Msn.com: Checkup can include little white lies

Great eight-piece advice column on your doctor visit.
You have to be up-front, even if it's awkward or you're afraid. Your doc can diagnose better that way. And, I can see how this would be a problem: Telling him/her what you think is wrong with you. Tell symptoms. Let him/her decide.
And try not to be too chatty when he's going over your chart. (I'm guilty of this one.) Let him concentrate on your health.

Alzheimer's Disease: Ten Thousand Joys, Ten Thousand Sorrows

When Harrison Hoblitzelle, or Hob as he was known, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 72, he and his wife, Olivia, decided to go through the disease as lovingly and consciously as possible. A tall order indeed.
In her memoir of living with Hob when he had Alzheimer's, Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle puts into practice her background in psychology, meditation and wisdom traditions to try to understand what Hob is going through and also keep their lives together as his mind slipped away.
"Ten Thousand Joys, Ten Thousand Sorrows: a Couple's Journey Through Alzheimer's" is a brutally honest yet graceful account of understanding the disease. Olivia, who helped to develop one of the first mind/body medicine programs in the country at Harvard Medical School, currently focuses on elder issues, spirituality and conscious aging.
Read the rest here. This is a great Q/A with someone who's walked the trail.


Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2010/12/15/1387323/alzheimers-memoir-captures-journey.html#ixzz18EojcikG

New York Times: Should nightmares have happy endings?

Therapy may help people who suffer from chronic nightmares learn how to turn bad dreams into good ones. But now some experts wonder if changing your nightmares from scary to safe is always a good idea, reports Sarah Kershaw in Science Times.
Read the rest here.
I suffer from nightmares quite frequently. Or, part of the dream is a nightmare, and I'm working on a solution during another part of it. I had a DOOZY of a nightmare last week involving work. No real happy ending in the dream but I did confront the person in the dream, so that was good.
I tend to agree that nightmares should be taken as they are. We tend to be so focused on happy endings (and that dreaded word "closure") that we often miss the mystery and depth of what frightening things can teach.

Emory University: Symposium on prevention

The Sixth Annual National Symposium on Predictive Health, to be held Tuesday and Wednesday at Emory University, will focus on integrating biology, behavior and environment, and will emphasize maintaining health rather than treating disease. The theme of the symposium is "Human Health: Molecules to Mankind.”
Major topics will include environmental health, genomics, nutrition, toxicology, fetal nutrition, air pollution and ethics as they relate to predictive health.
The Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute symposium will be held at the Emory Conference Center, 1615 Clifton Road, Atlanta.
Read the rest here.
What a great idea. We're so good at treating disease and dealing with crisis/crises. But we "need improvement" on the front side.

Mayo Clinic: Exercising in the cold weather

Even the most hearty among us have to plan for days like this.
("Mama said there'd be days like this.")
I know my friends in the Twin Cities would laugh but it got kinda nippy here today. Highs in the 30s. (which is indeed chilly for these parts.) Up there, the roof of the Metrodome in Minneapolis collapsed due to heavy snow.
But I digress. If you venture out to run or walk or bike, you have to be prepared.
The Mayo Clinic has this piece on being prepared for cold-weather exercise. Careful out there, peeps.

Tobacco: Even a little bit does damage

This report released today is pretty sobering.
Even if you take one puff, there's immediate and lasting damage.
I don't smoke and never have (and that's not a sanctimonious statement; I've done other damaging things to myself, knowingly and unknowingly). But smokers can't get away with "it's just this once," or "I only smoked for a few years."
Also had read this story about a major lawsuit won by the family of a dead man, who dipped tobacco beginning at 13. I never understand the rationale for these huge winnings, because unless an employee of the tobacco manufacturer is putting the cigarettes (or smokeless tobacco) into your mouth without your knowledge, you have a responsibility to be, well, responsible.

Elizabeth Edwards: 1949-2010

So sad about the passing of Elizabeth Edwards, and all that she endured. It's sad she died young. It's sad she had a son precede her in death. It's sad her husband cheated on her, lied, had a baby by another woman, lied and got other people to lie.
It seems Elizabeth had her own dignity about her. She suffered with all this, God knows.
(I'm also well aware that what gets presented to the public is often fuzzy. She could have been completely undignified behind closed doors, and threw vases for sport, for all we know.)
BUT. The fact remains she had a hard life, as most families of Spotlight People seem to do. Rest in peace, brave one.

New York: A man with a bicyle to consider

Matthew McLaughlin of New York has fit his choice of home around his biking habits.
A school teacher, McLaughlin has rented various apartments, and now owns one in Astoria. His choice of dwellings had to be in proximity to his school because he usually rides. But he also wanted a top floor, if possible, and then plenty of room to store his bike.
Fascinating, how this mode of transportation can dictate housing choice.
Read the rest here.

Weigh Down: How to minimize calories during the holidays

You're hanging around the kitchen, chatting up the cook. Next thing you know, you've eaten the whole dish of spinach dip. Or, a long-standing family feud breaks out. Your response? Drink more! Then some more!
For sure, holidays can be stressful and even more high-caloric than our other 11 months of the year. But you can say no.
J.J. Flizanes, director of Invisible Fitness, offers these tips for staying sane--metabolically speaking--during the coming weeks.

Laird Hamilton: Outside Magazine interview

Sometimes you look at a person when they reveal their profession and you say, "Of course." This was the case in looking at Laird Hamilton, surfer extraordinaire. It's the sun-tanned face from his outdoor profession.
It's not that I'm a surfer--AT ALL--but this was an interesting read.
I like what he says about life being harder than death. Not that I'm an advocate for death. But it's true--living is hard work.

Garrison Keillor: The stroke update

After a blood clot infiltrated his gray matter, the Prairie Home Companion host started thinking seriously about sex (and other important stuff). As always, Garrison Keillor delivers.

By Garrison Keillor, Nov. 15, 2010
People keep asking about my stroke.
I am okay, really--not staggering around with one arm hanging limp, or glassy-eyed or slurring my speech, flecks of spittle on my lips. And yet people still say, "How are you doing?" in that special way that means, "Tell us the painful truth and feel free to cry." Really, it was only a minor stroke, but I will tell about it one last time and then let's move on to something interesting--such as sex or sweet corn or the Rapture--and I will never discuss this again.
Thank you for your patience.
Read the rest here, and enjoy.