Narzain’s Comments (group member since May 19, 2009)

Narzain’s comments from the Runs with scissors group.

Still here. My power just came back on last night (yay!). Now hopefully my refrigerator did not completely gank itself. *fingers crossed*

Definitely do. Just make sure you read them in order (Feed, then Deadline, then Blackout), as there are MASSIVE spoilers if you go out of order.

Good gracious! Positive vibes definitely headed that way!

Yes, read it! Join us...

Kim: It's okay to be scared; that's a scary email to get, even if the odds are good that she'll be okay. We're with you, and thinking positive thoughts Karen's way.

Paul: Oh, man, I'm sorry to hear that. More positive thoughts going your way.

He will be missed.

Yes, yes she does.

And I'm free to move about my workplace. The cardiologist visit went well, I've got my rehab plan, and clearance to return to work and to the Y. And there was much rejoicing.

Hey, all. I'm back in the real world. Doing pretty well. I get a rasp in my throat pretty often which makes me couch (no fun at all), but I have very little actual pain. More like a baseline discomfort unless I try to move more than I should (or in a way I shouldn't). And, of course, everything makes me tired. But other than that, I'm feeling well and alert.

Thanks for your support & positive energy!

Thanks! And now my review... (some minor spoilers)

I had forgotten just how much social commentary Juster managed to stick into this book. Granted, the morals are a bit heavy-handed to adult sensibilities (pay attention to the world around you, focus on the important things, it's amazing how many impossible things you can actually do if you try, etc.). But to a child, especially one like Milo (or myself) with a tendency to cruise indifferently through life, it works.

Did this book change my life? No, not when I first read it, and still not now. But it did give me food for thought both times, and made for quite an enjoyable read.

As you may or may not know, I've been dealing with a minor heart condition for a while. It's called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and it means that part of my heart muscle is overdeveloped. Yes, in my whole flabby body I have one beefed-up muscle, and it's not one I want that way. Figures. It's either caused by or the cause of my high blood pressure, and symptoms include pounding heart (out of proportion to exertion) and occasional dizziness. Recently I had a barrage of tests done at the Cleveland Clinic: echo, stress test, EKG, MRI, chest X-ray, you name it. The end result: the specialist recommends surgery.

Yup, open-heart surgery. I don't know the details of the procedure yet, but in a couple days I should know when it's scheduled, and I hope to have a consult with the surgeon so I know exactly what I'm getting into. I do know it'll involve a 5-7 day stay at the Clinic, and we're figuring on a few weeks recovery time at home. The up side is, my specialist is one of the top doctors in the country with HCM, the surgeon is also one of the best in the country, and I'll be at the Cleveland Clinic (which, as a friend of mine says, "invented the heart"). So I'm in very good hands.

Kim & I are dealing with this, each in our own way, with varying levels of freaking out. I'll be wigging worse as it gets closer, and she'll be getting better as 'crisis-handling mode' takes over. So between us, we should be okay. We (which will mostly wind up being Kim) will keep you all posted on the progress of things.

40 was pretty much "meh" to me. Of course, my birthdays have been less and less of a big deal as I go, so everybody's mileage varies.

'Sokay, I wasn't upset, just kinda teasing back.

(Haven't forgotten, just haven't had any library time to spare.)

Since I watched the musical before reading the book, I noticed how faithfully the one followed the other. Some details were changed, or mushed together, but I was seeing the actors from the musical in my head at almost every stage of the book.

One thing that stands out in my mind is the 'troupers versus townies' mentality. Things that we non-troupers think of as shady dealings or irresponsible behavior (stealing whatever wasn't nailed down in the hotel, cramming five boys into a train sleeper compartment along with numerous animals, and so on) were presented as, simply, the way things were from Louise's perspective.

I think Gypsy's positive attitude and overall demeanor stand out as much today as they did in her prime. I'm glad I read her memoirs, and wouldn't mind learning more about her.

Sounds cool to me.

Hi, yes, Narzain is actually posting first about his book instead of waiting for Kim to do it. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Anyway. My January humor read was Dave Barry Does Japan. There will be a slight spoiler at the end of this post; you have been warned.

This was my first time reading anything by Dave Barry, and I almost peed myself laughing many, many times. His dry sense of humor got me almost every time. There were a couple bits that weren't as funny, but that's inevitable.

His take on Japanese culture and customs was hysterical, especially since I have an interest in Japan myself, and mostly knew what he was referring to. All in all, I felt that he treated his subject with respect as well as humor, and that's an important balance.

SPOILER ALERT:

One chapter was entirely non-humor, and it was meant to be so. That was the chapter on Hiroshima. Dave and his family visited Hiroshima on the anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped there, and his take on the remembrance ceremony was serious and sobering. He compared the overall level of festivity displayed with the typical American celebrating Memorial Day: it has become an excuse to get together and have fun, and lost much of the memory of why the ceremony exists. (As Kim has often said, if you want to make people think, get a humorist.)

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading other books by Dave Barry.

Yeah, me too. Though mouse scorn is just weird to experience.

So, I finished it about a week ago and finally got a chance to post again. I did enjoy the entire book. I consider it an intriguing look at both the mental health care industry at the time and the interaction between people who see things just that little bit differently from the "normal."

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW


Is is primarily the story of two strong personalities (McMurphy and Nurse Ratched) in conflict? Or is it more about Chief's awakening and a passing of the torch? Well, that's the question, isn't it?

Woo-hoo!

I know I've said it to you already, but I want it on record: I am very, very proud of you.

Roger-dokey, sarge.

I'm about halfway through right now, and am liking it so far. I enjoy the perspective of Chief's paranoia and how it colors what he sees and hears.

More later as I form a coherent opinion.