Richard's Random Ramblings

[David]

Mid 60s here. Oh, never mind, that was my age.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

I won't even tell you what it has been here....you might all start throwing dictionaries and thesauri (?) at my head!

[Ruth]

Ruth wrote: "Mid 70s here."

Mine, too.

[Ken, Moderator]

Hey, Matthew (I believe you're new). I lived in Morris County for 6 yrs and traveled to Princeton. In fact, I almost lost my son there in the Co-op (or whatever it's called where they sell Princeton propaganda). He was hiding in the middle of a circular clothes rack (he was around 4 at the time) and completely ignored me as I went crazy calling him. Due to this episode, I think I'm still known as "The Madman of Princeton" (not that I'd have a lock on madness in a place like that).

Richard, it looks like your thread has been hijacked by the Weather Channel. Wait until the end of the week. I heard tell it's going to be sub-zero here in greater (or lesser) Boston (and I'll let Debs speak Celsius because I have the Rosetta Stone CDs but still can't speak a word of it)...

[Matthieu]

Haha, that's quite funny, Newengland. I used to do the same thing when I was a little kid. Princeton has been horribly boring as of late. I reckon the weather is keeping the people off of the streets. I can't wait for intersession. It'll be really nice to go home again.

[Ken, Moderator]

Hmn. I thought all the colleges were on break NOW and had been since just before Christmas. The standard college break is Dec. 20-ish through Jan. 20-ish, no? Of course, it'd be just like Princeton to do things differently. Beautiful campus, anyway. Give it that.

[Matthieu]

Our break went from Dec. 15-Jan. 2nd. I went went back on the 4th. It was quite short. I know that my friends at Harvard and MIT had similar experiences.

Horrible scheduling aside, I (for the most part) like it here.

[David]

Princeton--beer jackets, eating clubs, and the odious Wilson?

But then, I must be living far in the past.

[Ken, Moderator]

Odious Wilson = Woodrow Wilson? Princeton guy, non? Like Bill the Basketball Dude Who Thought He Might Be President. (Notice I've forgotten his name.)

Shouldn't we be talking Princeton in the Anything Goes Kitchen Party Thread due north of here? Shouldn't we be complaining about poison Ivy schedulers there? I don't want Richard to Randomly think we're Rambling off-topic (namely: HIS).

[David]

Please don't provoke a Wilson rant . . .

[Ken, Moderator]

Well, luckily for Obama, his men are saying, "We won't know what our brand will do to the economy. It will take years." Eight years would be convenient. By then it would fall into someone else's brand-labeled lap.

Good to see you musing at ridiculously early hours, Ricardo. You're worse than me (if that's possible). I at least slept until 5 this morning (and I have the week off).

[Rowena]

I've got The Hidden Persuaders, but it's been years since I read it, and never thought of its relevance to "branding".

Isn't this the book that deals with subliminal messaging, such as flashing LIAR across the forehead of a certain politician too fast for the conscious eye to see?

And didn't a certain cigarette company associate themselves with virility by making clouds in the background seem to resemble horses sporting pronounced degrees of readiness to procreate?

This was dirty tricks marketing.

[Rowena]

Coincidence
Talking of Hidden Persuaders, and subliminal messages, there are a couple of exposes (or not) of Disney cartoon movies on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd2SZN...

[Ken, Moderator]

Disney conspiracy theories remain rampant... in fact, I think Bambi shot JFK, Snow White conceived the twin towers attack, and the Little Mermaid faked the moon landing.

[Rowena]

Oh, that Little Mermaid!
Of all beings, merfolk are the least likely to fake space travel. Their deep oceans serve as the planet's longest runways.

:-)

[Ken, Moderator]

That's just it, Rowena! Who would EVER suspect that little mermaid of such subterfuge?

(P.S. The set for the fake filming of Apollo 11's landing was Atlantis.)

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Oh Richard! What a nightmare! Thinking of you, and I hope all's well that ends well.......

[Ruth]

OMG. Be careful. We don't want to hear next that you've cut off your thumb chopping onions.

Hope your mom turns out to be fine.

[Ken, Moderator]

Thinking of you (running around to various Boston hospitals has to be the 9th circle of Hell)...

[Rowena]

Richard,
My best wishes for both of your parents' speedy recovery.
Drive carefully!

[Ken, Moderator]

A little caffeine's OK. That stuff in Diet Sodas? Worse than sugar. Hope her doctor makes her give it up for Lent...

[Ken, Moderator]

Not just aspartame, either. The whole lot of them (Splenda, Aspartame, what-have-you).

I put a few inches of cranberry juice in a carafe, fill it with tap water, and keep it in the fridge. Drink a couple of carafes a day. Recommend it to Mum (only she gets to pick the juice...).

[Ruth]

I like a bit of fruit juice or lemonade in sparkling water.

As for your mom's heart. I've had what they used to call palpitations for about 5 years now. No caffeine or alcohol for me, but otherwise it's not a problem. So if what she had is anything like what I have, I'm sure she'll be fine.

[Boreal Elizabeth]

so sorry to hear about your distressing events
hope your mom can get off the caffeine it really is not good for us and i agree with ne on the aspartane and other sweetners
take care of yourself as you are taking care of your parents!

[Ruth]

The problem I have with all this is that the same qualities that make her a star in the world of political theater are exactly the kind of qualities I don't want to see anywhere near the Oval Office.

Bingo.

[Ken, Moderator]

Unfortunately, the more the media and the stars have fun with her obvious ineptitude, the more she cultivates an indignant underdog image among the ignorantgentsia.

[Tyler]

Does the media enchantment with these qualities remind us of someone else recently? It is not outside the realm of possibility that she could become president.

[Ruth]

Tyler wrote: "Does the media enchantment with these qualities remind us of someone else recently? It is not outside the realm of possibility that she could become president."

Well there goes the good night's sleep I was planning on.

[Ken, Moderator]

Dan Quayle? He was a favorite pinata for awhile, but he pales in comparison to Palin!

Palinata?

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

You could start a business!!

[Ken, Moderator]

But then she'd publically call me out (for more attention) in her next on-the-spot interview and I'd have to apologize about the likeness on the face of all those ass pinatas. Er. Palinatas.

[Carol]

Wow ,Richard what a ride. I joined after you vacated your seat. I look forward to hearing more from you. Tumor is an ugly word, because it carries such negativity., sooooo I am sending to you a score of positive thoughts. I hope these Doctor's finally got it right.

Your parents sound like they are survivor's just as you are. I suppose dad was doing something he should not have been doing?( on the roof maybe)

I have a Kindle, after much trepidation, but I have enjoyed it. I still like the
feel of a paper and ink book, so I am about half and half.

Welcome back, I will be thinking of you this Monday. Keep us informed .

[Ken, Moderator]

Hi, Richard. Good to see you again, but whoa, the reasons for your absence are heavy indeed. What were the symptoms you were experiencing? I've never heard of a tumor growing in the lining around the brain, but you learn something every day. Also, the story about your doctors is one worth heeding. It's so difficult to find a good doctor who is WILLING TO LISTEN, and then ABLE TO SOLVE. Really.

Anyway, as Carol said, I hope you keep us informed and check in regularly again. You're not only a stubborn Irishman, you're a well-spoken one.

[Ruth]

Wow, Richard, what a nasty stretch you've been going through. Glad your parents are doing well now. Bummer about the tumor.

I not only know that you can have a tumor in the lining around the brain, I've had one. A meningioma, as I assume yours must be, too. Good news is that mine was removed about 15 years ago and there has been no recurrence. Hope you get good news from the second specialist.

[Ruth]

Richard, I think going to the best is a very wise decision when it comes to something as important as this. I was fortunate to live only an hour from Los Angeles and found a wonderful specialist at UCLA. You want someone who sees this stuff all the time, not just once in a while. My guy could do my surgery in his sleep.

Yours sounds more complicated than mine, but I'm hoping you get good news on Monday. Brain surgery is scary as hell, but it sure was a relief to get that thing out of there.

[Carol]

And Richard, she is as quick as she ever was. You would never know she had suffered from such a drastic malady. I think the point is to find the best doctor that will work with you and for you in your best interests. Health care is not only physical , but mental as well. Each case is unique and various ways need to be implemented for your recovery. Surgery, nutrition and holistic medicines. That is my opinion !!

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

So good to see you back Richard! Sometimes a long unbroken absence leaves you thinking the worst......so glad there is still life and hope! Will also be awaiting Monday's update.....

[Ruth]

In my experience, Richard, the idea of brain surgery was a great deal more scary than its actuality.

[Ken, Moderator]

In theory, anyway, cutting the outer "lining" seems less scary than getting more invasive. That said, I'd be scared as hell anyway and asking Ruth to post sweet somethings like #139 every day as pick-me-ups.

And congrats on the sobriety thing. Something about Boston and Irishness and the drinking culture. I have relatives on the South Shore and alcohol has wreaked havoc with a number of them, some of whom are no longer with us thanks to these addictions (um, and others)....

[Ken, Moderator]

My great grandfather owned a bar in Hartford, but he was Polish and didn't drink. As for the Irish side of my family, no one owned anything in the business, but they kept it thriving.

Billy Bulger! Wow. Small world in Southie. Funny how Hollywood (and now some lame reality show) is bent on stereotyping the neighborhood....

[Joanne]

Just to add a gripe about health care. I came back from Seattle to find my ex DIL horribly sick with the flu. My son, her ex, was helping her. She was feverish, dehydrated, not making a lot of sense. The doctor she saw diagnosed her with a "tension headache" and despite her alarmingly low B/P, prescribed a muscle relaxer. I threw a fit on the phone and got her an appt. with her regular doctor. She's recovering, no thanks to the "thrive" bunch.
I think you are a good advocate for yourself Richard, and hope you get the best healthcare possible.

[Joanne]

Richard wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Just to add a gripe about health care. I came back from Seattle to find my ex DIL horribly sick with the flu. My son, her ex, was helping her. She was feverish, dehydrated, not makin..."
There is no advocate like an indomitable mom. A top-notch attorney can't hurt either. My best to all of you.

[Joanne]

Gabi wrote: "I hope you whapped it right up 'em, Joanne!"

I was in shock when she got home and told me the diagnosis and prescription. Her regular doctor said to her nervously "You aren't taking this prescription are you ?" I wish she would lodge a formal complaint, but right now she's just happy to be alive.

[Ruth]

I'm so glad you found the right doctor, Richard. And that the news is good. I'll repeat, I was scared to death of the surgery, but even more scared of leaving the damn thing in there until it began to make trouble. But the surgery was easier than my gall bladder surgery in terms of discomfort. My only after effect was that I was totally weak and wiped out for awhile. Other than that, duck soup.

I hope you come back and report to us as soon as you can after surgery.

[Ken, Moderator]

I second Ruth's sentiments. We'll be praying for you and your surgeon -- a mighty team! -- on 13 February. And it sure feels good to feel good about your surgeon. Which is the premier hospital in Boston for these things? Seems they all have their specialities nowadays. No biggie if you'd rather not share. I'm just being curious as I usually am about all things medical.

[Joanne]

Thinking of you Richard, and I'm so glad you have confidence in your doctor. Rest up before, rest up after, may all be as it should be.

[Ruth]

If you can spring for it, Richard, get yourself an iPad or something of that ilk. You can connect through wifi or with a telephone connection, and do almost everything with it. I spend more time on it now, than on my fancy big iMac.

[Carol]

I have a Samsung Galaxy tablet which I use the most. It connects through our wifi and is a bit cheaper than an iPad. Either way would be a good solution if you could swing it. You might want to have us around. We could be your official cheering squad.

[Ruth]

Hooray!

[Carol]

Yippy!