La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I shaved my head and trimmed my beard Thursday afternoon. My nails needed clipping but I didn’t get around to that. Sally Hanson has a product called Hard as Nails, which is supposed to strengthen weak, pealing, brittle nails. I’ve never needed that. My nails have always been as hard as nails. I should have clipped them.
Overnight Thursday, while I slept, I scraped two fingers across the top of my head. I woke myself (and San Geraldo) with a yelp. What a mess. Apparently I had scraped my forehead earlier in the night because I already had a scab there. San Geraldo put bandages on my head Friday morning and I wear a cap any time I leave the house. I’m going to look for a cotton knit cap to wear at night. I’m sure I’ll look super cool. I’m a danger to myself. I’m glad I had already shaved my head because it might be a while before I can do it again.
We were back at the nephrologist Friday afternoon. Lots of great news. My lab work indicates that the new med is working well. She almost jumped out of her chair with excitement as she looked at the results. I had looked at the results online and thought things were going well when I saw one of the numbers that should be below 120 and had been in the 7 thousands was down to the 3 thousands. She’s increased the new med very slightly and I’ll see her again, with new lab results, in three weeks.
With that, I made my reservations for New York in January. I hope to have a lot more energy by then. My sleepiness is to be expected and I’m hoping the coming improvements will include a restoration of some energy. I’ve shortened my usual stay by several days and will devote all my time to The Kid Brother. I initially made reservations on Iberia Airlines, which has been good and consistently cheapest. With prices climbing as they have, I can no longer justify the huge difference between Economy and Business Class, so I booked Economy Plus this time. After the fact, I checked the Delta Airlines website, which has always been more expensive. I discovered I could get better seats for nearly €500 less round-trip. On Iberia’s €1,400 fare (after all the fees were added) €500 is a huge savings. So, I’m flying Delta.
Can’t wait to tell The Kid Brother there’s an actual plan. I hope to see him on video chat this week. He still hasn’t had his mobile phone problems resolved. I said “You need to go into the office and have them get WhatsApp working.” He muttered. “I don’t have the time! I got work, ya know?!?” “You work one day a week, pal. That leaves you another six days to get your phone taken care of. Just do it already!” “OK. OK. Sheesh!” “And test it by calling me from the office. It doesn’t matter what time. We’ll talk for a second just so we know it’s working.” “Good idea!” (Except he refused last time when the manager wanted to do just that because “We talk on Tuesdays at 6!”) I told her to insist.
Me afeité la cabeza y me corté la barba el jueves por la tarde. Necesitaba cortarme las uñas, pero no logré hacerlo. Sally Hanson tiene un producto llamado Hard as Nails (Tan Duro Como las Uñas/los Clavos), que se supone fortalece las uñas débiles, descascaradas y quebradizas. Nunca he necesitado eso. Mis uñas siempre han sido tan duras como las uñas. Debería haberlos recortado. NOTA: En inglés, la palabra para uña y clavo es la misma — nail.
La noche del jueves, mientras dormía, me rasqué la parte superior de la cabeza con dos dedos. Me desperté (y a San Geraldo) con un grito. Que desastre. Aparentemente me había raspado la frente esa misma noche porque ya tenía una costra allí. San Geraldo me puso vendas en la cabeza ayer por la mañana y uso gorra cada vez que salgo de casa. Voy a buscar un gorro de punto de algodón para ponerme de noche. Estoy seguro de que me veré súper genial. Soy un peligro para mí mismo. Me alegro de haberme afeitado la cabeza porque puede que pase un tiempo antes de que pueda volver a hacerlo.
El viernes por la tarde volvimos a la nefróloga. Muchas buenas noticias. Mi análisis de laboratorio indica que el nuevo medicamento está funcionando bien. Casi saltó de su silla de emoción mientras miraba los resultados. Miré los resultados en línea y pensé que las cosas iban bien cuando vi que uno de los números que debería estar por debajo de 120 y que había estado en los 7 mil se había reducido a los 3 mil. Ha aumentado muy ligeramente el nuevo medicamento y la volveré a ver, con nuevos resultados de laboratorio, en tres semanas.
Con eso hice mis reservas para Nueva York en enero. Espero tener mucha más energía para entonces. Mi somnolencia es de esperarse y espero que las próximas mejoras incluyan una recuperación de algo de energía. He acortado mi estancia habitual varios días y dedicaré todo mi tiempo a The Kid Brother. Inicialmente hice reservas en Iberia Airlines, que ha sido buena y consistentemente más barata. Con los precios subiendo como lo han hecho, ya no puedo justificar la enorme diferencia entre Economy y Business Class, así que esta vez reservé Economy Plus. Después del hecho, revisé el sitio web de Delta Airlines, que siempre ha sido más caro. Descubrí que podía conseguir mejores asientos por casi 500 € menos ida y vuelta. En la tarifa de 1.400 € de Iberia (después de añadir todas las tarifas), 500 € es un gran ahorro. Entonces, estoy volando en Delta.
No puedo esperar para decirle a El Hermanito que hay un plan real. Espero verlo en el video chat esta semana. Todavía no ha resuelto los problemas de su teléfono móvil. Le dije: “Tienes que ir a la oficina y pedirles que pongan a funcionar WhatsApp”. Él murmuró. “¡No tengo tiempo! Tengo trabajo, ¿sabes?!? “Trabajas un día a la semana, amigo. Eso te deja otros seis días para que te ocupen de tu móvil. ¡Hazlo ya! “OK. OK. ¡Dios mío!” “Y pruébalo llamándome desde la oficina. No importa a qué hora. Hablaremos por un segundo para saber que está funcionando”. “¡Buena idea!” (Excepto que se negó la última vez cuando el gerente quería hacer precisamente eso porque “¡Hablamos los martes a las 18:00!”) Le dije a ella que insistiera.
• Se cortan las palmeras para el verano. Lo dejaron allí por un momento y pensé: “Ese es un alcance tremendamente largo”.
• Su compañero de trabajo volvió a ayudar a limpiar el Paseo de lo que ya estaba cortado y lo dejó con la cabeza entre las frondas por unos 10 minutos. No cortar hasta que hubiera alguien abajo.
• Montaje de juguetes de playa antes de hacerse a la mar.
• Flores secas y confitadas de hibisco. Delicioso pero con demasiada azúcar.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I suggest from now on you wrap yourself in bubble wrap 24/7!!!
Good news on the test and meds front; I imagine that might ease some of the unrest?
I adore the Kid Brother! He makes me smile.
Bob:
I do love the idea of bubble wrap. But I’d be popping it all night (on purpose) and SG would not be happy.
I so get KB! I know people like him, and I’m glad he has a good older brother. I get how exasperating it is to get him to do something just a bit different from the pattern.
One thing you don’t think of is to tell your friends, take care and don’t scratch a wound in your head!
Boud pontificating up there.
Also boud: would you like the Latin for that? Rem acu tetigisti. There. Worth every penny you paid for it.
Boud:
Ooh, I like it! Did you just happen to know that?
Boud:
Yeah,KB hates change and I love it. But I completely understand. It really bugs me that no one ever warns me about not scraping my head in my sleep.
We’ve just got back from a week in Saas Fee, our favourite Swiss Valley. When we were there we bought a pair of nail scissors/clippers as my nails are so hard to cut through. We laughed when we thought that our souvenir from a Swiss holiday was nail scissors. A sign we’re getting ‘old’. I know not a notion you wish to embrace, but it happens. LOL. Perhaps you could consider buying a pair too.
Karen:
I’ve bought nail clippers on vacation. They’re very special to me (not) and bring back memories.
Love this news
JEAN???? Is that you???? We have missed you and were just again talking about you. Please write!
Great news on the kidney meds front — congrats! Could wearing a thin pair of gloves to bed solve the problem as well, instead of a night cap? Go for a pair of long silky evening gloves for that glamorous look!
Debra:
I think gloves would drive me crazy, but I think I’ve found lightweight cotton caps that will work. Then again, I hadn’t considered my long silky evening gloves. I have so many pairs!
Oh, Mitchell! I frequently bite my tongue so hard it bleeds in my sleep. I wake up and for a millisecond I think the devil has set my tongue on fire. It’s horrible! Why do we hurt ourselves?
The VERY best news about your medical issues. That is so great. And I’m glad to hear you’re planning your next trip to see KB. I’m looking forward to those posts.
Ms. Moon
P.S. As always- the best photos.
Ms. Moonsigh,
Ow! Biting your tongue must be awful. Although tongues heal more quickly than heads. I’m going to order some cotton nightcaps. I don’t know what you can do avoid biting your tongue!
OMG! Another self-harm injury. You really are a danger to yourself. I agree with Bob …. bubble wrap.
Shirley:
I would have way too much fun with bubble wrap.
Things are looking ‘up’ for sure on all fronts.
Good that your health is improving and LOVE the doctor’s reaction!!
Jim:
SG and I were both elated when we saw her reaction.
Ouch – that looks painful! The older I get, the thinner my skin seems to get, so the more I injure myself.
That’s great news about the meds working for you. May it just get better and better!
Kelly:
Yeah, I’d like to blame it on thinner skin.
I’m imagining one of those stocking caps that you see in old-time illustrations or cartoons, like the kind Scrooge wore when by various ghosts (not that you have anything against Christmas, but that’s the image that popped in my head.)
Kirk:
I’m imagining one of those caps, too. I have found modern versions online — without the long tails.
Congrats on getting the travel plans done. I’m going to visit cousins in the fall and I also found business class to be a bit (a lot) more that I wanted to spend. So I’ll be flying in Premium Economy for the first time (uh, that makes it sounds like I’m a regular in business class, but I’m not). I’m flying on Air France. I’m hoping it’ll be pretty comfy as I’m a smallish guy and regular economy seats don’t really cramp me (much), so the bigger premium seats should feel luxurious.
Walt the Fourth:
I’m over 6 feet tall and I usually find premium economy comfortable — although I sure prefer business class. But I don’t sleep no matter where I sit.
If a headwound does not bleed, it is a very bad thing. Great news on the travel front. We flew premium economy on BA coming home, it was much more comfortable than standard economy.
David:
Oh, yeah, I’ve had a couple of those head wounds. All my recent ones, however, have bled. I guess that’s a good thing. We avoid standard economy simply because there’s no room for our legs (and I mean NO ROOM). Premium economy is fine. I’ve just spoiled myself in recent years with business class.
Oh, my goodness, Mitchell. I read this yesterday but couldn’t comment. It made my stomach go flip flop and flutter (not in a good way), when I glanced at the photo… yikes! But, excellent news on the medical front! Woo hoooooo!
Judy C:
The head wounds are really aggravating, but the medical news was wonderful.
You are a danger to yourself, dear!
Some fab photos there – especially that cactus fruit! I have never tried candied hibiscus flower, but hibiscus cordial’s sweet enough, so I can imagine. The very thought of being left stranded at that height, with my head in a palm tree, makes me shudder. Jx
Gawd knows why that posted as “anonymous”, when I am signed into WP, but hey ho. It’s me, Jon. Jx
Jon,
The tree trimmer left in the middle of those fronds looked like something out of Monty Python. I like the hibiscus flower but that’s about a year’s worth of sugar.
I wonder those candied Ibiscus flowers would that not affect blood pressure? When you mentioned nephrologist, I always think of butterflies in a green house. I know there is no connections but hey. I know plane tickets are very expensive these days and for what. However I am so use to travelling in Business class I prefer to bite the bullet hard than sit in economy, too cramped. In PEI every male wears a baseball cap when out on the street. I have a collection of them, most wear a Blue Jays Baseball team hat, the bird is our island symbol and the team was brought to Toronto by an Islander.
Laurent:
Oh, yes, too much sugar can also raise blood pressure. On previous trips, I spoiled myself with first and business class, but prices are soaring and my annual trip to NYC eats into the travel funds. So this time around I’m looking for ways to cut costs. Basic economy is a way I just can’t go.
I too am glad to hear of good medical news
No more bleeds; it is bad on the complexion.
Urspo:
At least my nighttime scratch attacks haven’t affected the perfection of my face.
YAY for good health news!!!! Does your shorter visit to NYC next year mean there’s no change for a blogger lunch next year? Please say it isn’t so!
Sassybear:
It’s a long way off. So we’ll see what can be managed. Hugs!