Mad Macedonian

Medical Update: Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3, Testing

In the wake of my last update I went to my next appointment this morning, and the news is mostly positive.

The liver ultrasound came back with no onions, and the anemia is of no real concern, though my folic acid and B-12 levels were such that another blood test was done so they can decide if to prescribe 1 or both.

Since it's been 6 yrs. since my colonoscopy they gave me a packet to get samples for testing so as to see if I need another one.

My next appointment related to my eyes is on Monday.

Air Poetry 5: Houston, You Sure Are an Interesting Bunch!

...You just won't believe how you can turn it to your creative advantage.

There you are walking down Westheimer, through the Galleria, a museum, a  Fiesta supermarket, attending a Texans, or Rockets game, eating lunch at James Coney Island, attending Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday go to meetin' at Lakewood Church, in a public restroom, on a Metro bus, actually just about anywhere where you are around other people...and can hear what they are saying...to their companion, to a clerk, a docent, a fellow parishner, on a cell phone, or yelling at a ball game, or in a bathroom where all the stalls are occupied, and someone is hopping up, and down, in desperate straits...

Have you ever thought to write down what you hear, and how those scraps of overheard conversations, when strung together, often have an interesting sort of poetry about the result?

Patty Mooney did. Of course, the notion came only after 40 years of writing poetry.

Hey, better late than never!

As she writes: "Now, suddenly, the skies have parted to reveal an unfathomably huge reservoir of poetry, a free-for-all of poems that are ripe for swiping out of the air with a virtual butterfly net.  Anyone can do it."

She first blogged about this new, fun, idea for poetry, on her personal blog, in July 2011, and it's an interesting essay.

Experimental, quirky, funny, long, short, nonsensical, thought-provoking? An air poem is all of the above, and more.

Visit Air Poetry & its facebook page as well.

Prancin' in the Rain

At long last we had a huge storm come through Houston for the first time since I moved here.

Thunder, lightening, flooded streets, sidewalks, yards, and bayous.

I want to apologize to Gene Kelly and the guy who wrote the song he danced to.

Prancin' in the Rain

I'm prancin’ in the rain
Just prancin’ in the rain
What a wondrous feelin'
I'm happy as sin
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
Joy’s in my heart
And I'm ready to create
Let the clouds open up
All over this place
I’ve got a future to obtain
I've a smile on my face
As I walk down the street
To me life is so neat
Just prancin’,
Prancin’ in the rain

 

 

Prancin’ in the rain
La-dee-da-dee da
La-dee-da-dee-da
I'm happy as sin!
I'm laughin' and prancin’ in the rain!

100 Word Musings 5: Life is Like a Package of Hot Dogs

In July 2010 I began a series of what I hoped would be a new collection of stories...

What Thanks Do I Get? A 100 Word Musing

Things happened and now it is the start of a new year.

I have hopes and dreams for a creative future despite everything else going on in my life.

It's time I get back in the 100 word musings game.

My friend Laurence Simon hosts the 100 Word Stories Podcast every week, and has done so since 2005.

My cat, Nikita, has submitted to the podcast, inspired to create his own series, on his blog, Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat, called 100 Word Cat Stories (7 so far, by him and Elvira Mistress of Felinity)

It's time I submitted one of my own.

The topic this week? "Mustard".

Medical Update & More: Yappy Hew Near!

Sigh...

I knew it wasn't gong to be easy. I just have to trust that it will all work out somehow.

I turned in the application, and documents to the County liaison with MD Anderson. She had been trying to reach them last week to ask about the strictness of their 6 months in TX requirement.
She got through this morning, and the person she talked to said I would have to wait until March 20th, when I will have lived here for 6 months, to turn in the application.

My liaison lady, who has worked at her job 18 years, says that sometimes if the situation is serious enough, and there is a month or 2 to go before the 6 mo., they have relented, so she and my docs at Ben Taub, who had forwarded my medical records already, will keep trying. In the meantime the docs will monitor my medical situation.

Next appointment there will be the 14th.

I checked my test results on my "My Heath" page on the county website, and while most of my blood results were positive, including my Phenytoin level, I received a letter telling me I have mild anemia and will have to have a check-up on that. I called and since my next appointment with the county is the 11th it will be brought up then.

My problem is financial, right now.

I have just $165 in my checking and savings combined.

I don't know if I can get a limit increase on my credit card, and am reluctant to cash in my IRA, but may have to survive.

I have my electric bill, credit card, virgin mobile, and renter’s ins. yet to pay this month, not to mention the doc visit co-pays, Cat food in a couple weeks, and more money on my transit Q-card as needed.

Then my rent is due by the 3rd...

I am still expecting a 2nd job interview, following the first one, and stopped by the store, Sunday, to let them know I was still interested.

I called the local office of the Cancer Society of America and they gave me a list of area resources to look into, so I will check them out and learn more.

I am tired, worried, yet hopeful that somehow everything will work itself out.

As I wrote before, this is no time to be freaking out, and so I am doing my best to not do so.

101 I Am's: 2013 Edition - Inspired by Pastor Joel Osteen

I took the first step towards spreading my writing wings in Houston, with the start of a series on my visit to the Houston Cat Club's 60th Annual Charity Cat Show (My small admission kindly paid by a local friend who also attended.)

I have set up a Facebook Page for my writing efforts (A Mad Macedonian and 2 Opinionated Pussycats.) separate from my personal Facebook. I am also going to attempt remodels of both
blogs.

(As we remodel the donation buttons are still parked in the sidebars of both blogs, but also at the top of the page here, and here, on Meowsings.)

101 I Am's: 2013 Edition - Inspired by Pastor Joel Osteen

I first brainstormed this exercise, in a 1 hour, timed, writing prompt on the evening of January, 27, 2004. I posted it on my first blog on February 1, 2004. This was years before most of my readers, and Facebook Friends met, or re-connected with (Especially my old High School Classmates!), me. I then updated it on Nov. 29, 2010.

This completely new, and radically different, version was inspired by an essay by my friend Amanda Socci, and a sermon by Pastor Joel Osteen (I have been attending Lakewood Church for a couple of months now, since moving to Houston) who also discussed the subject on an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Life Class Show last year.

“Never say negative things about yourself. Always be positive, as words have creative power and can change your life.

The right “I am” can help you fulfill your destiny.

What follows the “I am” will come calling for you, as you are permitting it into your life”

Joel Osteen

“By just altering our mindset slightly and putting more weight on the things that we give thanks for, we are effectively decreasing the importance of our problems.  Once we manage to express thanks in the morning, we need to continue the positive thread by changing the way we say “I Am.” “

Amanda Socci

After reading Amanda’s piece and then watching Joel’s sermon, and around 10 related video clips of the Oprah show he appeared in, I sat down this evening to change the list of my 101 I Am’s, updating it for my hopes and dreams, and the challenges I face, heading into 2013, and beyond. It serves as a fitting sequel to my Nov. 2012 30 Days of Gratitude series of daily posts (Start with #1, or scroll the month at your leisure.).