2005-08-31 
 

midday muni

There's a lot I'd like to type in right now, but it's all too fresh so I'll tell you about riding Muni instead.

Not my typical Muni ride, this one occured shortly before noon on the way back from the eye doctor.

Muni's different in the middle of the day. The crush and rush of the commute hours gives way to people who don't look frantic or tired. There's a willingness to say excuse me...and because of the saner conditions, less of a need to do so.

OK, so I just reread this whole entry and wanted to make two things clear:

1. Overall, having a mysterious medical malady still sucks, but I'm fine....and doing much better than most who've had the syndrome. (I've heard some not so grand tales lately.)

2. Yes, I originally typed in eye doctor because I couldn't figure out how to spell ophthalmologist. For long words, spell check is only as good as your first three letters and I had lost the first H somewhere along the way. (Not to mention the first L, but that's another story for another time.)

Labels: dose of mikey, medical mystery, san francisco

* posted by me at 12:27 AM

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2005-08-29 
 

can i whine?

Oh yes, this is my blog, I can whine. Should you be someone who doesn't want to hear me whine when I'm doing much better than most the population on this planet, then go away and stop reading now...I'm about to start.

So, I got a rather large bill from the center that removed the lovely lollipop polyp from my inner person earlier this year. A large bill because I was an idiot and expected the doctors and insurance system to work for me. Instead of confirming that the docotor and center I'd been refered to actually was IN network, I just assumed that they would be fully covered. After all, nobody told me otherwise or even mentioned that I should bother to look. So why should I worry?

Bastards.

And stupid patient too, I know, but I'm out 700 bucks now and I feel like whining about it and blaming someone else. So there.

Labels: dose of mikey, medical mystery

* posted by me at 11:11 PM

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2005-08-26 
 

tag you're it

My good friend Michael just tagged me with a meme. For this meme, I'm supposed to list out 10 tunes I've been listening to a lot lately. (For some interesting quotes about what a meme is go here.)

Note: there is a difference between 10 tunes you love at the moment and 10 tunes that you can't seem to get out of your life at the moment, but for me, almsot all of this list falls into the love category.

Two more points of explanation before the list begins.

1. I've recently become quite addicted to Sim City 4. As with the other Sims games, there's an option that allows you to input your own mp3s so that they'll play in the background, and I've made good use of this feature.

2. Point number one aside, my mp3 catalog is minimal and consists mainly of college memory music with some random new stuff sprinkled in. Okay, enough stalling.

My 10 songs in no particular order:

How Soon is Now - The Smiths
I no longer feel black on the inside, but I still wear black on the outside.

Bach – Brandenburg Concertos
It's great for the Region part of Sim City 4. Helps me feel like a real deity.

Ariel - October Project
Just a beautiful song that haunts me.

Love is a Stranger – Eurythmics
Such a soft spot for the whole Sweet Dreams album. (Yes, I remember owning vinyl, so I'm allowed to call them albums.)

Savage – Eurythmics
From a later album, but still gotta love lines like, "These are my guns, these are my furs, this is my living room…"

Filthy Gorgeous – Scissor Sisters
Already loved the Sisters, but when the video for this particular song came out it completely sucked me in. Reminded me of a very specific time in my life and inspired me to finally go buy the whole album.

Comfortably Numb – Scissor Sisters
My first glimpse of the Sisters. How can you not love a song that sounds like the BGs singing Pink Floyd?

Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
Can't say why, but this song almost always makes me happy.

Never For Ever - Kate Bush
Yes, I'm cheating on this one. The whole album is on the playlist and it's hard to say that one song sticks in my head more than any other. (Hounds would be on here if I'd moved that folder over into
the game instead .)

One Word – Kelly Osbourne
Well, I am a gay man after all.

SO, to make this a true meme, I need to propogate it. I tag Chris because he seems to like lists lately, though his list will probably be devoted to either Elmo tunes or songs from a certain group that starts with an R. I tag James because he needs a good excuse to write an update and has a nice eclectic taste in music, and...well Simon's on a break, though I'd be interested to know what the young folk are listening too.

Fact is, most folks I'd tag who also read this site don't do the blog thing. Dude and Dudette...no blogs. Brian O...no blog. M...out of the country, but also no blog. Michelle J....how I'd love to see your list!...but alas no blog.

Most of the other blogs I read, I'm too shy to tag. (Yes, I understand that the preceding statement may sound strange coming from someone who types his life out for all to read, but you'll have to believe me...it's true.)

So random blogger reading this. If you'd like to share your current 10 with the world, I say go for it.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 12:39 AM

(2) comments



2005-08-23 
 

golden handcuffs

Last night I dreamt that a large gluttonous man was chasing me around a stately old theatre. He intended to tie me up with a golden chain. The links on the chain were large enough to wear as bracelets and they glittered in the lights when he swung it around to snare me with it. I woke up screaming

Hmmm. I wonder what THAT means.

Labels: sharketing, spirit

* posted by me at 11:35 PM

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2005-08-21 
 

don't forget

Two facts:

1. Almost every evening, I pass by a secret Safeway on the way to the subway from work. I take the side streets because they're usually quite empty and remember being quite surprised the first time I saw it nestled under a portion of the Maritime Plaza with tall building all around and the fountains and the walkways of the plaza laying over it. I couldn't quite believe someone had put it there. It's smaller than most of its siblings, less trafficked, and generally not quite as unpleasant to shop as the average Safeway.

2. G and I no longer shop Safeway except to buy soda or peanut butter. For some reason, the natural versions we find at Rainbow Grocery or Whole Foods just don't do it for us so we do need to face the cold aisles now and again.

So, I've needed to remember to buy peanut butter from the secret Safeway for a few days now, but kept forgetting. Yesterday, while walking along a usually deserted section of Front Street, I started chanting, "Peanut...peanut butter. Peanut...peanut butter." under my breath as a mnemonic. As often happens in a situation like that, I began chanting a bit louder...and louder...and louder creating a nice little groove with my arms until I was surprised into silence by the homeless man I'd just passed rising suddenly from his blankets and shouting, "Don't forget the jelly!"

Almost scared the piss out of me at the moment, but his words echo in my head today and strike me as being something we all could stand to remember.

Don't forget the jelly.

Labels: dose of mikey, g, san francisco, spirit

* posted by me at 12:28 AM

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2005-08-19 
 

oh wondrous thunder!

Oh wondrous thunder!

Anastacia, vixen of years past, grown full with your own potential. The waxing one now full. Your words bring joy to an unsteady heart, to a soul buried beneath electronic bits and bytes and forced to endure congresses in which only future congress is discussed, ne’er solutions or escape.

Indeed, is this what I have become? An automaton with no rest but that which dear sweet death shall bring? My voice cries out, weakly at first but then stronger and more assured, buoyed by the sweet sound of your voice rising inside of me.

The seeds you have planted grow more than that rarest of beauty now. My hope also grows.

Yours as always –

Stephan

Labels: memory lane, shout out

* posted by me at 1:22 PM

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2005-08-15 
 

medical mystery

So, the visit to the rheumatologist today didn't confirm or deny the original diagnosis, although it did confirm that Reiter's Syndrome is no longer the PC terminology. Now it's termed Reactive Arthritis.

I like that better because it actually describes something about it that a lay person might understand. Besides, Reiter was a Nazi doctor. Since folks like myself tended to be subjected to nasty experimentaion before being killed off by those same doctors, I'm going to agree with the PC police on this one and just refer to it as R.A. from know on. (I could just go back and edit my entry from the other day, but then this whole paragraph would be rather confusing, and I don't believe in self censorship without valid explanation.)

Before you get all up in arms, please note that I said self censorship. I still don't believe anyone has the right to censor materials other than the individual who's writing, reading or viewing them.

And yes, I realize that I've blogged about every but the actual visit and that's because I don't want to think about it right now. I will say that I rather liked Dr. Dobrow and look forward to seeing him again in six weeks, just not the reason for the visit.

Labels: dose of mikey, linkage, medical mystery

* posted by me at 8:53 PM

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2005-08-12 
 

try the other arm

Spent the first day of my long weekend shuttling between various doctors. Had blood drawn and the eyes dilated. I've had some odd symptoms lately, the most annoying of which is severe watering and itching of the eyes. Noncontagious Conjunctivitis. I didn't even know they made a non contagious version, but I got some drops and it should fade soon.

Hopefully the other symptoms will also resolve themselves shortly. Either way, I'm scheduled for a couple more appointments early next week to see if one of the other doctors can confirm the diagnosis of my PCP: Reiter's Syndrome. I'm guessing this isn't really what I have. I'm also hoping that one of the several buckets of blood they gathered today will help prove that and put them on the right track.

I am bummed about missing the mini vacation I had planned for us, but G and I will make it up by going to our little chalet over Glen Canyon for the weekend.

Labels: g, linkage, medical mystery

* posted by me at 2:51 AM

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2005-08-06 
 

hiv evening

I recently found out that a good friend is positive. Later, after being there for him for a while, I went home to G...and I cried. Cried because the disease had infiltrated into yet another corner of my life, cried because it still scares me.

G held me in his arms and comforted me. Reminded me of all the things I already know:

It's not how it used to be. People live. Life continues to go on and there's beauty to be found, even on the harshest of journies.

G, who's danced with the disease for over 15 years reminded me that everything may yet be okay.

There's the answer. That's how I do it.

Alone we may falter and fall, but together we stand strong. Never be afraid to lean on those who love you.

That goes double for you my friend. If you need me, give a ring. I'm done crying and my shoulder's there for you...Thanks to G, and everyone like him who's willing to step into tomorrow.

Labels: dose of mikey, g, shout out, spirit

* posted by me at 11:32 PM

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2005-08-05 
 

stone hot

Came home today to find that one of the many catalogs G and I recieve showcased a lovingly carved discus thrower on the front with only a loose strip of fabric floating around his legs for Modesty's sake. (Modesty, of course, being the easily embarrassed goddess of propriety.)

I pointed the statue's athletic build out to G and the following conversatino ensued:

M: He's hot!

G: He's a statue...

M: Hey statues can be hot.

G: If you say so.

I do say and thus my declaration for today: statues can be hot.

Labels: dose of mikey, g

* posted by me at 5:58 PM

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2005-08-02 
 

safe harbor

I remember playing variations on tag or hide and seek when I was a child and the sudden melting relaxation I would feel when someone called out the all clear.

Depending on the neighborhood and decade you grew up in, this may have varied, but probably went something like this:

Oldie, Oldie, come home free!
or:
All ye, all ye in come free!
or: (one of my favorites)
Molly, Molly, Boxtop Feet!

Tonight, as I walked past a barfull of post work revelry, a dark haired patron with a beer in his hand leaned out of the door and called out to his friend Mark across the street. Mark had just paused while exiting the door of a too modern office building and was looking back inside fretfully until he heard his friend shout.

"Mark! Ollie, ollie, oxen free!"

Without another look back, he crossed the street to his friend.

The whole scene made me smile. We should all have someone calling us to safety at the end of the day.

Labels: memory lane, san francisco

* posted by me at 10:35 PM

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