A Touch of the Ritz

Loren needed something sent back to Fed Ex, so I decided to incorporate the hunt for a drop box into my walk. I figured success might be found at the clinic buildings so I headed east. As a Fed Ex Ground truck passed me and turned the corner, I momentarily toyed with the idea of trying to run him down. "Nope," I thought. "Too grasping." These things must be handled DEL-icately.

It being a beautiful afternoon, I proceeded on my way and was given instructions from the lady at the information booth in the Gonda Building. "Across the street, in the subway level of the Kahler Hotel."

I walked inside and was immediately taken back to early 20th century ambiance. Plush carpet, polished brass fixtures. The feeling was that of old wealth and forgotten culture. I could just imagine men in tall hats with begowned ladies on their arms. There was even a bellhop. True, he had gray hair, but he was in uniform, on standby at the desk. I felt a little out of place in my vinyl sweatpants and tee-shirt with rolled up sleeves. My only claim to respectability was a long-sleeved shirt knotted about my waist. (sigh) Oh well, it was obvious a lot of clinic visitors stayed there. They probably just thought I was one of the mental patients. I accomplished my errand and proceeded back by a slightly roundabout route.

Our own little plush accomadation now includes a mini fridge and freezer. I can keep my stash of foodstuffs there and Loren can store his meal leftovers. The social services have been pretty good about giving me a food alowance, but, if I ate in the cafeteria all the time I'd start larding it up pretty fast. Must maintain some semblance of self-control.

Loren is relieved to learn they will not be giving him the Toprol again this evening. Once was enough, though the doctors are not convinced that is what made him feel badly. It's almost amusing to see the different approaches from the three teams. There are the electrophysiologists who deal with his pacemaker and related meds. There is the heart failure team who really try to push the beta blockers. And there is the transplant crew who oversee everything, and, ultimately make the final decisions. They all have their priorities and yet they all have to come to consensus and work together. We feel pretty good about everybody, but it does make for quite a flow of people through here sometimes.

Loren and I tried to watch "Daddy Daycare," which is one of the complimentary movies. Unfortunately, there is no way to pause it, so we missed two significant sections when talking with the Physical Therapist and the Heart Failure doc. Guess we shouldn't complain, though. At least Loren is safe up here.

Besides, we still have the computer and the fridge. And, I still have a couple of pieces of chocolate left.

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