The Progeny
A Weekend Sans Football
Actually, EVERY weekend is without football at our house. (both here and at home) Though, we may have watched parts of two different Superbowls. Thankfully, none in the most recent of years. Yes, it is possible to be perfectly normal and not crave football, even over New Year's weekend.
Instead, we packed a couple of videos and headed over to the lab to get another of Loren's 3 hour infusions. First, though, there was a little matter of getting out of the parking lot. Actually, it was somewhat dicey getting to and into the car. I had to exercise the ultimate authority by giving the door several body slams just to OPEN it. Thanks to the newly lubricated choke, it starts like a dream. (but, I kinda miss those ol' adrenaline spiking episodes, the ten or twelve tries, "Come on, come on baby, START!....." It always made me feel like I'd accomplished something)
After leaving the heat and both defrosters on high for 20 minutes, I went back out to start hacking at the windshields. They were not too much trouble, but the windshield wipers were MOST uncooperative. Since Loren decided to hog the driver's seat, I continued to chop and scrape and threaten the wipers until they complied. The parking lot was a sheet of ice, but thanks to the studded tires Loren had bought we traversed it safely. (I'm not sure these tires are legal in Minnesota, but since we're from Iowa, and leaving before long.....)
Now I realized why Loren had waved me away from the wheel. It was not because he mistrusted my driving, he just wanted to test those new tires on the ice. We proceeded down the three blocks to the clinic, with repeated starts and stops, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are at least 9 varieties of whiplash.
The CytoGam infusion was distinctive only in that the insertion of the IV was the most painful Loren has ever experienced. They have been putting them in his right hand, to save his arm for the other lab draws. I don't know what the problem was, but the nurse just kept pushing the needle and pushing and it just hurt him very much. He groaned and very nearly yelled. I hope that never happens again. But once that was over, we settled in and watched, "Dave," a comedy about a guy who stands in for the president. Fairly funny and a good way to pass the time.
Speaking of amusing, I am in the middle of reading, "Disraeli," by André Maurois. It is translated from the French by Hamish Miles. I don't know if it would be more droll in it's original language, but it is quite pleasing in English. Here are two funny excerpts. There are many more, equally as entertaining.
(page 6) -( this actually refers to the grandfather) - "The father smoothed out the quarrels by giving presents to mother and son. In his eyes, an unhappy child was a child who wanted a toy. When this son of his ran away from home one day and was found lying stretched on a tomb, he embraced him and gave him a pony. "
(page 100) "...and the dinner was rather dreary, but they were served with a swan, very white, very tender, and well stuffed with truffles, and that in itself was good company."
Originally published (in English) by Random House, I highly recommend this biography.
And while we're on the subject of books, I have found me a used bookstore within walking distance :-) Some of the items are not cheap, but I managed, on the half-priced shelf, to find a hardback of "Short Stores," by Robert Louis Stevenson. The spine has a piece torn out of it, which is, no doubt, why I was able to purchase it for 3 dollars.
I am hard pressed now, whether to proceed next to the Goodwill store I have found, or revisit the used bookstore. I'll think it over while I am not watching football.
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Instead, we packed a couple of videos and headed over to the lab to get another of Loren's 3 hour infusions. First, though, there was a little matter of getting out of the parking lot. Actually, it was somewhat dicey getting to and into the car. I had to exercise the ultimate authority by giving the door several body slams just to OPEN it. Thanks to the newly lubricated choke, it starts like a dream. (but, I kinda miss those ol' adrenaline spiking episodes, the ten or twelve tries, "Come on, come on baby, START!....." It always made me feel like I'd accomplished something)
After leaving the heat and both defrosters on high for 20 minutes, I went back out to start hacking at the windshields. They were not too much trouble, but the windshield wipers were MOST uncooperative. Since Loren decided to hog the driver's seat, I continued to chop and scrape and threaten the wipers until they complied. The parking lot was a sheet of ice, but thanks to the studded tires Loren had bought we traversed it safely. (I'm not sure these tires are legal in Minnesota, but since we're from Iowa, and leaving before long.....)
Now I realized why Loren had waved me away from the wheel. It was not because he mistrusted my driving, he just wanted to test those new tires on the ice. We proceeded down the three blocks to the clinic, with repeated starts and stops, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are at least 9 varieties of whiplash.
The CytoGam infusion was distinctive only in that the insertion of the IV was the most painful Loren has ever experienced. They have been putting them in his right hand, to save his arm for the other lab draws. I don't know what the problem was, but the nurse just kept pushing the needle and pushing and it just hurt him very much. He groaned and very nearly yelled. I hope that never happens again. But once that was over, we settled in and watched, "Dave," a comedy about a guy who stands in for the president. Fairly funny and a good way to pass the time.
Speaking of amusing, I am in the middle of reading, "Disraeli," by André Maurois. It is translated from the French by Hamish Miles. I don't know if it would be more droll in it's original language, but it is quite pleasing in English. Here are two funny excerpts. There are many more, equally as entertaining.
(page 6) -( this actually refers to the grandfather) - "The father smoothed out the quarrels by giving presents to mother and son. In his eyes, an unhappy child was a child who wanted a toy. When this son of his ran away from home one day and was found lying stretched on a tomb, he embraced him and gave him a pony. "
(page 100) "...and the dinner was rather dreary, but they were served with a swan, very white, very tender, and well stuffed with truffles, and that in itself was good company."
Originally published (in English) by Random House, I highly recommend this biography.
And while we're on the subject of books, I have found me a used bookstore within walking distance :-) Some of the items are not cheap, but I managed, on the half-priced shelf, to find a hardback of "Short Stores," by Robert Louis Stevenson. The spine has a piece torn out of it, which is, no doubt, why I was able to purchase it for 3 dollars.
I am hard pressed now, whether to proceed next to the Goodwill store I have found, or revisit the used bookstore. I'll think it over while I am not watching football.
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posted by Ma Hoyt | 3:36 PM
3 Comments:
Atleast you are getting ice and snow. In Texas, we have only had a few cool days so far, but then again, the winter is not near over yet. Enjoy the winter while you can.
Yes, we got ice, but I could not be-LIEVE that Brownsville had a foot of snow. More than anyone up this-a-way.
We were in the Rio Grande Valley for Christmas and it was amazing to wake up on Christmas morning to see ice and snow on the palm and orange trees. We took photos before opening presents because we knew it wouldn't last.
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