channel 0

While listening to, of all things, "Le Carillonneur" by Le hit des petits calins (which I readily admit I actually purchased on iTunes), my little left speaker crackled, crackled some more, and then crackled on.

Why hello, little left speaker.

And I thought the problem was with the cable. Perhaps it just needed to be woken up by the active cell phone I'd set down next to it?

Regarding Organ Days, which begin practically before spring break ends, I hope Mr. Lohmann is not too hard on me.




On an unrelated note, my teeth feel funny.

post-op

I woke up extremely uncomfortable and shifted around frequently hoping to find a more comfortable position. I also wanted my cell phone (my best friend in times of limited mobility), but was unable to really articulate this, or anything else for that matter.

According to Dr. Belzer, I was "kicking and thrashing everywhere" when I woke up, which reassured him that my leg was working. I admit that that sounds in line with my post-accident mindset in Belgium. I suppose the real scenario was somewhere in between.

It's fortunate that I passed out again, because when I awoke in the recovery room, I was still pretty ill. With a last ounce of effort, I smsed a resolute "Done" [sic] to Mr. Stephenson, convincing myself (erroneously) that I was really just fine. I passed out again and awoke much, much, much improved. The Filipino nurse who saw me out reminded me that Daly City is foggy because of the large Filipino population, which is always steaming fish and rice. And that's what we say about the Chinese in the Sunset district!

JR informs me that he was hiking in a Hawai'ian volcano crater when I called him from the airport. Typical. What a place to be before heading back to blizzardly Denver, though.

Udon from Mifune in J-Town is still my favorite (warm) comfort food in the world. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

pre-op

Spun around San Francisco today without really meaning to. Saw Dr. Belzer, who broke the news to me that the operation would be entirely unnecessary, at 8:30 AM. Was out by 9:15 AM still determined to see it through. Claimed a free cup of lavender earl grey at Peet's Coffee in Laurel Heights, hightailed it to Caffe Puccini and realized that the service there know what my dad's going to order before he can even open his mouth, realized from that that my parents are creatures of habits and I the opposite, enjoyed a thick rich slice of blackberry pie, wandered around North Beach and intently engaged in religious tourism, snooped around the Fairmont Hotel and yoinked a pencil for Baskeyfield since I could think of no one else to justify yoinking it, wandered into Grace Cathedral and immediately had to hold back watery eyes as the sounds of symphonic Aeolian Skinner organ chords washed around us fortuitously, chose a Sennhauser for Christmas courtesy of my parents from the Guitar Center's new location, hopped around the Legion of Honor realizing that the cleverly hidden organ was by E.M. Skinner himself, helped myself to the 50% gift shop sale, took a hike around the mountainous beachfront park on an empty stomach at 2 PM, traveled along my favorite SF highway, and then finally touched down on home again impatient to get started on "real" work, which turned out to be continuing my clean-out spree, sending more cards, processing my summer photos, and receiving a FedExed teddy bear from the minioner in Houston.

Guess "real" work is going to wait until after I'm titanium free.

business

For anyone awaiting such practicalities, my operation this Friday occurs at 7:30 am, and I should be home by the afternoon.



These practicalities are also interesting, although some of the most interesting books I'm dreaming of are of course not available on Amazon. Donations to the Alexander Capelluto Foundation would be even better presents. A windstorm has been raging outside, and the lights just went out. Too bad I woke up at 6 am. There isn't any sunlight. But now I get to burn my candles, and my parents can't object!

surprise

Returned home to find an anonymous Christmas gift at my front door: A twelve-piece limited edition set of cocktail truffles in a handsome martini shaker. My first martini shaker ever! Now if only I still had martini glasses from the days when I found collecting them entertaining.

I have to admit that, despite its American manufacture, this chocolate is completely palatable. Possibly even exquisite. I think I'm catching on. As one gets older, one receives fewer presents, but the presents get more tasteful and more extravagant. And more anonymous.

Then again, Ingrid gave me The Best of Dr. Suess, the pair of jeans I'd left in Cambridge two years ago and had been asking after ever since, Peet's candy, and yet more yoinked airline safety cards in various languages. Utterly tasteless and utterly ... brilliant.

warmth

After weeks of intending to do so, I just closed my storm windows. They resisted for so long that I thought I wouldn't succeed, but I did. I took time out for me! And now maybe I will regain a little bit of sanity. It is nice to have the screens obscuring the upper half of my windows too, since the blinds that I resent so much block out the sky anyway. If I can remember to buy some produce at the public market tomorrow, I may even return to culinary sanity.