Gina Harris's Blog, page 46

Updated Jeopardy! hosting thoughts

No doubt you have all been waiting breathlessly to know how I feel.

When I last wrote, my preference for host was executive producer Mike Richards. I thought he did the best job, with Aaron Rodgers and Robin Roberts as runners-up. 

(Apparently my preference is for people in the "R" section of the phone book.)

Then things started coming out about Richards' time at The Price Is Right. 

At first glance that wasn't exactly not a concern, but it could be plausible to cast more of the blame on Adam Sandler (no, not that one). 

The next thing that I read was an NPR piece that I thought was very balanced, acknowledging that Richards certainly wasn't just hiring himself with no input, but that it should have been handled better, with more openness:

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/13/1027426388/jeopardy-host-mike-richards

You can make mistakes when you are trying to figure out how to handle a transition without it automatically being calculating. Therefore, the worst note there was the growing unlikeliness that Richards never dreamed of being host, as he'd said. Let's say you realize that the process is going to look crooked; the immediate response needs to be more honesty, not less.

Here's the article that really changed my mind:

https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/8/18/22631299/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-search-process-past-comments

It's disillusioning, but it is better to know.

Wanting the models on The Price Is Right to look more like they are going out on dates or wear bikinis more often (which is somewhat contradictory, because you rarely wear bikinis on dates) sounds not great, but not automatically terrible. 

When the podcast history shows quote after quote focusing on image and appearance that is strongly biased in terms of women needed to look sexy at all times, that is pretty incriminating.

Richard's started to sound like Ken Jennings but with the emphasis more on sexism instead of racism.

In addition, with more information about the control he had over the guest hosts and the episode screenings... okay more disclosure does make it seem much more likely that the process was manipulated. It makes me wonder how much of LeVar Burton's awkwardness was Richards' sabotage.

(Also, it shows that Richards' claim that he was only hosting because the needs required it was an additional lie, as they could have made Jennings' schedule work.)

So, that is all very disappointing. Yes, I still think Richards was the smoothest of the hosts, but it doesn't compensate for the other things.

Something else disturbing from that article was a change on how contestants would be allowed to dress. Finding clothes to wear on air is stressful, and you have enough to worry about. It does not ruin the show if some people wear jeans or other casual attire. That attempt at change just emphasizes his superficiality.

There was actually something that hit harder, but it would be easy to miss. 

Much of my trust in the casting process was based on the crew overall. I had no idea that Maggie Speak and John Lauderdale had retired. They had been there for years, so they had certainly earned it and I hope it wasn't pushed.

Mike Richards was relatively new in his role. With more time I think he could have come around and been shaped by the show or moved out as a bad fit. With the pandemic moving many crew members to home and Alex's death, this is a really critical moment for the show. Honestly I don't want Richards even as executive producer, let alone as the host.

Without knowing what will happen now, but knowing that there will be more guest hosts I hope that we do get a chance to hear from the people Alex had indicated: Alex Faust, Ben Mankiewicz, and Laura Coates.

I still think that the parade of guest hosts and charity contributions was a beautiful remembrance of Alex.

Let's not drop the ball now.

Related posts: 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2021/07/jeopardy-guest-hosts.html

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2021/04/about-jeopardy.html

Music Reviews: Dan Ashley and Brian Mac Ian

I had one review ready to go and then was unable to post it. As both artists have relatively short catalogs, I decided to post them together today.

Dan Ashley 

Dan Ashley is perfectly pleasant.

The music is not great, but it is in no way bad. Listening is enjoyable. You know that it isn't master craftsmanship or lyric poetry, but that the heart is in the right place.

That is not just from the message of the music but also from seeing that all of his proceeds go to charities that he supports.

The best is probably his Christmas song, "Favorite Time of Year". It may get a boost from Christmas spirit, but it feels right for that, and I know I will use it in December.

I feel some guilt for the faint praise of it all, but there is nothing wrong with a musically nice time.

http://danashleymusic.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/danashleymusic 

https://www.instagram.com/danashleymusic/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy9MfJ6pF1IA17bHzhsDy0Q

https://twitter.com/DanAshleyMusic 

 

Brian Mac Ian

Brian Mac Ian's music makes you notice it more, but is also more abrasive.

That may be most noticeable in "Free Will Gorilla", the only track with words, and those words are yelling at you. Playing the tracks in order, I always started with "DeepInBetween", which is recorded at a lower level. I would always turn the volume up for it, and then as "Free Will Gorilla" started, I was being yelled at loudly.

That is probably playing to his strengths. There are two other tracks that are less in your face, but that also leave less of an impression.

In some ways, this makes Mac Ian similar to Timothy Buss, but where Buss feels pretty consistently about cosmic wonder, with Mac Ian it is more like there are four strong but also very separate feelings.

https://brianmacian.bandcamp.com/

https://twitter.com/brianmacian

Leaving my body as-is

Most of the discarded clothes yesterday were things that technically did fit, but not in a way I liked. There wasn't really much in the way of outgrown or motivational clothes left. There was a time.

I recent wrote about recommended increases in my insulin dose leading to higher blood sugar and weight gain.

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2021/08/knowing-my-body-part-1.html

I have made progress over time in accepting my body as it is, which includes being fat. 

I have considered myself fat since I was at least six. 

I have written at other times about how that self-image kept me from recognizing the health and abilities that I had. I have also written that part of surviving that fatness (which I blamed for everything wrong with my life), was that eventually I would figure it out and make it work, and then I would lose weight and everything would be perfect.

The unfortunate thing about that -- and this may sound familiar to some -- is that every time I was ready to try and fix it, I not only failed but put on more fat. It seems like that would be ironic, but there is a lot of logic and science that can tell you a) why that makes so much sense and b) why that works great for an expansive weight-loss industry.

There was a long process of getting to that acceptance, punctuated with many hopes of "Okay, I'm fat, but can't I at least be a little less fat?"

No, apparently.

I had kind of gotten okay with it, and then there was this recent gain. It wasn't fair; I was just trying to be a good patient!

It is probably not appropriate to accept it as my punishment for not pushing back sooner, because that plays into the stigma on fat, and that is unhealthy.

But it is still unfair, and it's unfair that I know that anything I try to do specifically to get rid of it will be likely to fail, and almost certainly result in additional gain.

It means I need to accept this extra. 

It was a source of great stress on the plane, though really, nothing was worse that it had been before.

It might have been an issue if we had tried to go on more rides. For what we did ride it was not an issue, and I am grateful for that.

Let me point out again that no advice is being requested. If you are among the 5% of dieters who successfully keep the weight off (or you have not yet learned that you are actually in the 95), bully for you; don't be obnoxious about it. 

I get the resistance. It is baked into our culture. Even as more and more science confirms it, the biggest difference it seems to make is that diets are now called not-diets-but-lifestyle-changes, but with surprising similarities to diets, right down to the failure rate. 

Believe me, I've tried.

It is hard to discard that mindset that thinness=health, but honestly, as the dieter it was harder to give up on the hope of attractiveness. The thinness=health part just serves as a handy justification for people who want to look down on you. 

I am spending a lot of time now thinking about health, and what it means for me.

Those ruminations have to include an extra fifteen pounds now. I am not happy about it, but I can't let it be an obstacle.

Tidying up my closet

Remember when I wrote how a Twitter thread about Lane Bryant brought back a lot of old memories? 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2021/07/rag-bag.html

I was probably getting there anyway, but I think the thread exacerbated it; I could not stand looking at my closet anymore.

I pulled everything out.

It was very much inspired by Marie Kondo. I read the manga version of her book in 2019. I liked it and found it interesting, but I wasn't really at a point of implementing it yet. You have to figure that someone who calls a tidying expert is at one level of relationship with their possessions that doesn't automatically apply to everyone else. I would think about things she had said for some things, but was overall okay with my level of tidyness.

No longer.

I saw a closet stuffed with clothes I hated, and it had to change.

I know experiences vary, but it was really easy. I know which things I don't like. I usually know why I don't like them. That was why I kept never pulling them out of my closet.

What I had not realized -- and this does take some trust -- was that I would still have enough clothes once I got rid of everything I hated. 

I have "joked" about having three shirts, and I did pretty much rotate only those three. 

Once I eliminated the shirts that show too much arm or the ones that constrict my arms or the ones where the fabric has no give or is too heavy or is a color I hate from a year when the season's palette was not my thing at all... it's actually more like I have eight shirts. 

I can see that one of them is getting older, and it may not stay in the rotation for very long. For now it's there, and after that there will still be seven.

I also have more skirts than I thought, after getting rid of at least five plus two dresses.

More to the point, I can find them now! They are not cramped and obscured by clothes I hate, but bought because I felt I needed to, because of the limited options for poor fat women.

Not everything went as expected. It would have been easy to get rid of the sweatshirts, because I hardly ever get cold enough to wear them. However, I like them when I wear them, so they can stay. (Those are not included in the eight shirts.)

I have been holding on to some T-shirts from events where I volunteered, where there is sentimental value even though I do not look good in those kinds of shirts. They are 100% cotton; they can work well for rags or for wrapping hair; I just hadn't thought of that before.

Finally, my favorite shirt that got torn? It is just some bias tape missing from the neckline, but the way the fabric was gathered, I can't fix it. I realized I can wear it around the house, even if not out and about. I have done so twice now, and it sparked joy.

There has still been no buying of new clothes, but my closet feels more abundant than before.

Back from vacation

Perhaps it would have made more sense to post this yesterday, but yes, I am back.

Yesterday's post would have made perfect sense for today, I realize now. One strong reason to post it yesterday was that it had been already written and only needed slight alterations. 

Last week I wrote posts for all of the days that I was going to be gone: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I had toyed with maybe posting both the Friday and Saturday posts when I got home, and I was sure I would post the Thursday one before we left at 5:45 AM. The morning went by too fast.

I posted the Saturday travel post on Sunday, and posted nothing on the Sunday blog. Then, I am adding another band to the band review that will go up Friday. This feels good, because I did not have a lot to say about the band I already reviewed, so this review will combine two artists with small catalogs and... anyway, the compromise is fine.

The question is whether there was a point in writing ahead, or should I just have figured "Vacation! Don't post!" 

Because I did not end up posting.

Ideally I would like to have some internet access while gone, but if I were able to buy things the first priority would be replacing the desktop. 

All of which is to say that I don't know. I don't know that the blogging daily model is sustainable, but for this time of life there are reasons to do it. Everything is subject to change, and I am a frail mortal.

I feel better as a frail mortal, because I did go out and have some fun.

I talked to strangers (masked). I saw animals and possibly saved two baby squirrels. I cheered. I went on a ride and scored points. I laughed a lot.

We do have fun here, and laugh, but there is something beautiful about getting away. The cats have adjusted again, though there were some attempts to show displeasure that first night back.

It felt invigorating and free, while I still know that it is something that we can be judged for. 

My sisters have been judged for other trips. 

We have been judged for the amount of pets we have.

We don't go around telling the worst people all of our business, but we will be judged for this.

And yet, what I know even more than I knew it before is that everyone needs it. 

I have heard every argument about work ethics and entry-level jobs not deserving a living wage and choices... screw them all! Look at the greed that begets it.

Everyone needs diversion, and chances to eat delicious things and to play and to not feel exhausted. 

I may not post every single day, but it is a source of great pleasure for me that I have material for travel blog posts through the end of the year.

I am grateful for the content, but more grateful for the times.

I am grateful that my sisters took me along, though they did not have to.

And I want that gift for everyone else.

Daily songs inspired by Black Music Month

Note: This was originally intended to be posted Thursday, before I left on vacation. I did not have time, and in fact had three days with neither posts nor daily songs! And yet, it probably doesn't change too much, until we get to the end.

Remember me writing that I seem to put more meaning into the songs of the day when I was not blogging? Well, I am blogging again, but this is still pretty meaningful.

After I finished the songs inspired by the review retrospective, I had a week of songs about heat, and then I started wanting to honor the books and movies that made up my Black Music Month. It works out to just over a month of songs.

I will list the work and then the songs I took from it.

I, Tina: My Life Story by Tina Turner with Kurt Loder 

Obviously I was familiar with many songs mentioned in the book, but both of these were new to me.

7/9 “Rocket 88” by The Kings of Rhythm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0

7/10 “I Might Have Been Queen” by Tina Turner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiIOmuFiy8E

Mary J. Blige's My Life

I especially loved "Hourglass", but wanted to include the other song just for the sheer magic of what it must have been like for Mary to duet with someone who had inspired her so much, though I chose Anita Baker's original version. The duet can be found on-line, separately from the movie.

7/11 “Hourglass” by Mary J. Blige
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDfh0iz3QIg

7/12 “Caught Up In the Rapture” by Anita Baker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrfcbNCqH40

Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny by Nile Rodgers 

I adore Nile more and more all the time. Coming away inspired by his musical instincts, his integrity, and his attitude, I wanted to pull in a lot of the songs mentioned. (Also, it led to an additional viewing.)

7/13 “Le Freak” by CHIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXgSHL7efKg

7/14 “Lost In Music” by Sister Sledge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIrnevgyCFw

7/15 “Upside Down” by Diana Ross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhZ9yGu2wog

7/16 “Modern Love” by David Bowie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HivQqTtiHVw

7/17 “Shadows On Your Side” by Duran Duran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CocRf3aim4Q

From reviews, though they fit comfortably within Black Music Month.

7/18 “Doin' Fine” by Lady A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBQTRKNC0WA

7/19 “When Will the Ignorance End” by Blackberri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt4Lba6ZWn8

Then there was a song from a reviewed band, but is followed by songs from the presentation on Early African American Composers by two of The Ragged Blade Band's member, Cherry and Jerry. 

7/20 “What Kind of Love” by The Ragged Blade Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMheAc2uge8

7/21 “La Pas Ma La” by Ernest Hogan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvu_7l52LF4

7/22 “Frog Legs Rag” by James Scott
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxJDd5A_vM

7/23 “Walking the Dog” composed by Shelton Brooks, performed by Rufus Thomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw1KAlQSYjw

7/24 “Memphis Blues” by W.C. Handy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGqBmlZR3dc

Oregon Symphony Storytime featuring Harlem's Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renée Watson. This was a song written as a memorial for Florence Mills.

It was also fun to realize that the storyteller, Shalanda Sims, was the playwright for Who I Am.

7/25 “Black Beauty” by Duke Ellington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDJtb8Qbbyo

The Defiant Ones

I learned a lot from this. I developed a lot of compassion for Dr. Dre, which is tested now learning that his daughter and grandchildren need help. However, another thing that came from many of these works is that there is a lot that goes into making a person. Even with disagreement, I can see the humanity in almost anyone. (For this documentary specifically, still having a hard time with Marilyn Manson. Maybe not trying that hard.)

7/26 “Supersonic” by J.J. Fad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti1bFMBd6V4

7/27 “Express Yourself” by N.W.A.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31FO_4d9TY

7/28 “The Formula” by The D.O.C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k1XyvwM4no

7/29 “Dance to the Drummer's Beat” by Body & Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9kfNawe3_4

7/30 “Who Am I (What's My Name)?” by Snoop Dogg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2soGJXQAQec

7/31 “So Many Tears” by 2Pac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z52-lIZMbQ

8/1 “Talking To My Diary” by Dr. Dre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_WXSsvIqM

20 Feet from Stardom

I think I may need to blog about this separately, actually. There was a lot. That includes a lot of artists who have been a part of many things you have enjoyed, but not always getting a lot of credit. I wanted to spotlight them as much as possible.

8/2 "Yes" by Merry Clayton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um6fcxN9KjA

8/3 “It Ain't Easy” by Claudia Lennear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCv0Pdxr-6Q

8/4 “Disco To Go” by The Brides of Funkenstein (because of Lynn Mabry)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5Hxgd8EU-A

8/5 “Save Me” by Lisa Fischer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUJhpbB8MsQ

8/6 “I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby” by Táta Vega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbmKSv47i3E

8/7 “Heart Lead The Way” by The Waters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THGjDJuvT7A

8/8 “Forbidden Nights” by Darlene Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4915gjpFEo

The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph 

I highly recommend this book. I listened to a lot of music for it, and this was my favorite of the songs. There were some others I thought about doing, then was not going to because I wanted to wrap up on Thursday, but we know how that went.

8/9 “Before I Let Go” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbj15Zlh-Ag

The Beautiful Ones by Prince with Dan Piepenbring

This is another one where I can't help but be aware how many more songs could be done. I also know it's not the last book I am going to read on Prince, so I think the other songs will come then.

8/10 “The Beautiful Ones” by Prince
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJAeWPEWTw

Miss Sharon Jones!

This may be another movie that needs its own post. If I don't get to that, let me say that I just realized that I had never made "Retreat" a song of the day, though there have been a few from Sharon Jones. I did not realize until I watched why this video was animated: Jones did not think she had the strength to do a video. With some of the dancing footage drawn over, they do still have her spirit. Then the wolves are symbolic of her battle with cancer, and it's really beautiful. There was a lot of love in that group.

8/11 “Retreat” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOYkHjdpdM

The Making and Meaning of We Are Family

Nile's book mentioned this documentary, so I found it and watched it. For all the allusions to our innocence being lost at 9-11, we still seemed so much more innocent there. It was touching, and then there are actually two pretty great videos from it. Lots of familiar faces, and some I had to look up.

8/12 “We Are Family” by Various Artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPnhkr2Vr0Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnD8BYjZiW0

The Black Friend reprise

I did try scheduling some daily song tweets, just to try, because it would be a useful option. They were set up, but did not tweet.

I was trying them with some of those other songs mentione by Frederick Joseph. So, they go today and tomorrow. 

8/16 “Party Like a Rockstar” by Shopboyz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82vpIsQ3lX8

8/17 “Umi Says” by Mos Def
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntLKOd9saI

After that, through September it will be songs from reviewed artists, including some throwbacks that didn't make it into the Review Retrospective, especially when some of those bands have new songs. 

Then I have some exciting plans for October, November, and December.

And all of it does have meaning.

Letting go

No, I am not completely letting go of stress. I doubt I am capable.

I am trying to let go of some things. 

The strongest urge that I felt as various things didn't work out was a need to go and get out and play and see people. Perfect for a pandemic, right?

It was situational though. 

We are getting closer to a brief vacation my sisters scheduled, and last week there were free outdoor concerts featuring people I knew on Wednesday and Thursday.

This represents more than free stuff I can do. It also plays into recent feelings about having this hope of being able to do more as people got vaccinated, then watching that hope evaporate as too many people make terrible choices and variants spread.

I try very hard to be responsible (as noted). It's not just that I don't want to cause harm, but also that I want to be a good example. 

Caught between hope and worry, disappointment and stress, I decided to just go for it. I went to both concerts, headed back to Washington Park on Friday, and tomorrow I will get on a plane and head to an amusement park, though masking all the time.

There is a definite aspect of getting it in now before things get inexorably worse. Also, having things be mostly outside or requiring masks does help some. 

Also, definitely, I just need it. I need to affirm that even the unemployed fat woman (strong indicators of worthlessness) gets to have fun sometimes. I hope I am doing it right.

Without knowing how these next three days are going to go, I can tell you about the three days last week: the combined effect of the two concerts was to make me very sad.

I am sure part of it was the loneliness. Everywhere I looked there were couples and parents with children and groups of friends and extended family units, and I am always alone. If I waited to find people to come along, I would never do anything, but at times there are still pangs.

The other thing that I have found is that I just don't smile as much. It doesn't come as easily.

That makes perfect sense. I have been through some stuff. I am still going through some stuff. But I remember there were times when I was more cheerful, and bouncier, and it was unconstrained. Being around someone who knew me then reminded me of the loss.

And then, I accepted it, because yes, I have been through some stuff; this is a reasonable reaction, if still kind of sad.

Then, I think the reason it was so important to go see more of Washington Park was just to remind myself that I can. Even though I am overtired and my blood sugar is sometimes unpredictable, I can still exert myself, and conquer rough terrain, even if it takes more planning for water and breaks and things.

It's been a big frustration; if I must be built like a Clydesdale then I should be allowed to have the stamina! By appearance I have no right to be delicate. I am somewhere in between.

(And possibly my tendency to push myself unwisely in the past relates to some current troubles.)

Other things have been going on too, and I will get to those, but first I need to get a little further away.

Stressed

One last lesson: my freely offering up medical information about myself is not a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It is a very practical law with some good applications, and people are getting it terribly wrong, though perhaps not accidentally.

If after a job interview the company called my health insurance or tried to find my doctor and get an idea of my health, or if my doctor wrote a blog post about an interesting case and you could tell it was me... then we are getting into areas covered under the act.  

A business asking me about my vaccination status as a condition of me shopping there (or wearing a mask there) is not.

Me choosing to blog about my health is obviously not a HIPAA violation, though it may have downsides.

Moving on.

I told you my eosinophils are somewhat elevated, and the usual suspects do not seem to be at fault. I have my own theory, which is that it's the chronic stress.

I said in an earlier post that I wasn't asking for advice, but there may be a place to help here. I was reading something earlier about the effects of short-term via long-term stress on the body. I thought it was in one book that I was going to re-read for sure, so I didn't take careful notes. Then when I re-read that one, it was not in there. I think I remember something like a KAUR... maybe a protein or enzyme. I am sure that is not right because I haven't had any luck on searches, but if that sounds familiar to anyone, and you can point me to a book or article, that would be great!

Even without that, I am pretty sure it is the stress.

I think it is the four years of caregiver stress, followed by the year of looking for a job and not finding one stress, all of which has been run through with financial stress, not to mention Trump presidency in an increasingly obviously racist police state plus pandemic stress.

I feel it in my body. 

I have felt it coming down on my shoulders, crushing me.

I feel it tightening up muscles. 

I feel it crunching down on my knees and other joints.

Sometimes I feel it pressing against the back of my head, or a tightening around the eyes.

I feel it writhing in my stomach. One of the possible co-conditions for eosinophilia is heartburn, and that has been happening more, I don't think because of that.

Surprisingly (because eosinophilia can also be associated with asthma), there has not really been any shortness of breath, but the chest gets tight sometimes.

There were times during the past five years when I knew I was losing time off of my life. Now I understand how: my already compromised immune system reacting to a threat that it can't fix.

I am not decisively sick, which I guess matches the absence of clarity on what to do or what will happen.

I am just kind of unwell. My body wearing down a little faster than it should, feeling more tired than tracks, because of things that I should be able to have some effect on, but that ultimately I don't control.

Knowing my body, Part 2

When I drop this medical knowledge on you, I hope it's interesting.

It functions as a way of detaching myself from the worry, and also happens as an aspect of my researching everything and trying to comprehend it perfectly. That may be a means of control, but I really do like knowing stuff. That can be motivation enough.

These days, I wish more people were pro medical knowledge.

Regardless, your fun fact for now is that red blood cells -- or erythrocytes -- are all pretty similar, and vastly outnumber the white blood cells. I suppose that means that carrying oxygen throughout the body via hemoglobin is a big job, but a fairly simple one.

The white blood cells, or leukocytes (there are different names and spellings for both colors of cells), are more complex. They have nuclei, which red blood cells and platelets don't. There are different types that have different functions, but those are all about what they fight.

I am going to link to a cool chart on that, because I do find it fascinating:

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/white-blood-cell

However, I am mostly caught up in the eosinophils, which you can see are a type of granulocyte.

Remember that CBC test in January? I had made myself sick drinking so much water, but the phlebotomist still had trouble finding a vein, and I was irritated to find out that I had messed up my sodium levels. My doctor and the pharmacist also both asked me if I was having any allergies. Yeah, some. Nothing big.

There were enough other things going on that the question didn't really register.

Here is another thing that did not go well, though I don't know that anger was really the issue. I was checking MyChart for something, and I saw a consultation at another clinic which I hadn't done. I thought there had been a record-keeping mix-up, where someone else's appointment had accidentally been attached to my chart. No, my doctor had consulted with a hematologist, and those were the notes. 

Obviously I started researching. My eosinophil levels were too high. That is most commonly a response to allergies (that's why I was asked multiple times), parasites, or cancer. (Hematologists usually seem to be affiliated with cancer centers). 

The specialist had recommended testing again in twelve weeks, because my levels weren't that high, and I didn't have any accompanying symptoms. Because of that, it made sense that my doctor had not gotten back to me.

It wasn't how I wanted to find out, but there probably wasn't a good way to find out.

My eosinophil count was still high when it was next checked, though lower. That started a round of tests to try and narrow down a cause. 

I am negative for parasites.I don't show any signs of cancer.My occasional mild hay fever symptoms are not it.

Normally, you would treat the eosinophilia by treating the underlying cause. If you don't know the underlying cause, you let the symptoms that are present guide the testing. That only works if there are symptoms.

Maybe my levels would keep going down. I wasn't very far above average.

They went back up. It wasn't by a lot, but still, it is too high. 

One bad thing about having too high an immune response is that the accelerated wear and tear can cause organ damage over time, much like diabetes.

One of the other potential causes of the elevated eosinophil levels is a genetic mutation. It usually shows up before age 50, so that would be sneaking in just under deadline, but that's a possibility. If that's the issue, the common treatment to alleviate the damage is steroids. Guess what would be another thing likely to add weight while wreaking havoc on my blood sugar!

Also, it really looked like I might be getting a job where the insurance would require changing all of my doctors. (They never called.)

So, when the only path forward was starting lots of invasive tests -- some to look for other potential causes, others to assess how much damage was being done -- the correct answer seemed to be to pause. Wait and see if something happens. 

That's where I am now.

And, that's okay, because I have my own theory about what is going on. There is a logic to my theory, but there is not an obvious remedy for it.

Outdoor Concert Review: Sabroso

 

My next stop was Shute Park in Hillsboro, Oregon, for that city's Showtime Concert Series and the performance by Sabroso. I initially saw them described as Latin Funk, but it is actually "Latin to Funk and everything in between".

I knew the band contained brothers Ricardo and Pablo Ojeda, formerly of Rubberneck and Toque Libre, but I found some other familiar faces as well.

While that certainly includes some faces familiar from Toque Libre shows, a quick glance at the band members' credits shows an impressive background. 

That includes names familiar in Portland, like Curtis Salgao, Nu Shooz, and Crazy 8s, but also B.B. King, and many others.

There was a lot of talent on that stage.

The music was well-received. It seemed initially that it was going to be similar to the Red Light Romeos show, where it was mostly children dancing before the break, and most of the adult dancing was going to happen during the second set.

However, Ricardo announced the break and realized it was one song too soon. Suddenly for the final song of the first set, there were a lot of adults dancing. I believe it was more that they recognized the song and wanted to dance to it, but it was fun to watch the effect.

As it was, the dancing waxed and waned during the second set as well. One of the last songs started a pilgrimage of dancers.

I even saw a dog dancing. I think it was largely that his owners got him worked up, but he had really intelligent eyes... maybe he felt the funk as well. After all, if you're not going to feel the funk on a warm summer night in the park, when are you going to feel it?

Band links:

https://www.sabrosopdx.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Sabrosopdx/

https://www.instagram.com/sabrosopdx/

https://twitter.com/Sabrosopdx

Hillsboro, Oregon Showtime Concert Series:

https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/our-city/departments/parks-recreation/recreation-fun/special-events/showtime-concert-series