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Friday, August 14, 2009

Productive Days & a Neat Meme


Wednesday was a long and productive day.

My physician, Claudette, came by my house at 9:30 AM and was so excited about the progress I have made toward good health that she literally danced around my living room! I am now off of another prescription drug! I am walking much better, although I still need to carry a walking stick, "just in case." I almost jumped up and joined Claudette in her dance!

Wednesday also brought me Cassandra, who is replacing Tasha as my homemaker/health aide. Cassandra and I didn't get off to a happy start: she made several invalid complaints, such as that my oven doesn't work. It does, but she did not pre-heat it before she put the fish in to bake. Her complaint not only had me checking the fully functioning stove for a non-existent problem, but I ended up eating fried fish, which is not what I wanted or need to eat.

Thursday I was alone. I liked that! I also baked some corn bread to prove that there is nothing wrong with my oven. I really liked that! The corn bread is yummy!


The day ended with my completing a really neat MEME that Carol placed on Facebook. The instructions are simple:
Here are the rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. They don't have to be the greatest books you've ever read, just the ones that stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Copy these instructions and tag 10 (or more) friends, including me—because I'm interested in seeing what books are in your head.

Unfortunately, I didn't obey the first instruction. I found it hard to limit myself to fifteen books that have always stuck with me. I kept removing and adding books for half an hour, until I finally forced my self to accept the list as complete. Below is the list that I published:
  • THE BIBLE (NRSV translation)
  • MEN OF IRON by Howard Pyle
  • EXODUS by Leon Uris
  • THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR by Dan Millman
  • SIDDHARTHA by Herrmann Hesse
  • AWARENESS by Anthony de Mellow
  • ARE YOU RUNNING WITH ME, JESUS? by Malcolm Boyd
  • FIRE IN THE BELLY by Sam Keen
  • ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac
  • DUBLINERS by James Joyce
  • MARX AND THE BIBLE by Jose Miranda
  • IRON JOHN by Robert Bly
  • HYMNS TO AN UNKNOWN GOD by Sam Keen
  • THE GIVING TREE by Shel Silverstein
  • GONZO by Hunter S Thompson
If I had been required to list 150 books, the task would have been much easier!

15 comments:

  1. I love reading these lists. Thank you, Nick for creating yours. I know what you mean about the 15 book limit. You can always make your 150 book list and put it on your blog, though! ;-)

    I almost danced, too, when I read about how happy your physician was. I'm so glad that things are improving for you, Nick!

    I hope that Cassandra can adjust to her new work environment in a kind manner. I mean, isn't that part of her job?

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  2. I do so hope that you and Cassandra find some level ground.
    I agree with Carol, it's part of her job and anyway it's not hard to be kind, in fact it's a lot less taxing on your energy if you are kind. Lets just hope it is a glitch.

    I wouldn't know where to start with regards to my choice of books.
    15 seems such a low number.

    Also glad to hear that you are getting better.
    Much love,
    Lia xx

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  3. Such good news about your health, Nick! I'll do a snoopy-like happy dance here, also!

    Sorry there was a rough start with the new home/health aide. It's too bad that it was so, but perhaps things will smooth out. And cornbread heals lots of issues, doesn't it? :)

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  4. BTW, I just read "The Tortilla Curtain," by T. C. Boyle. It's not new. from mid 90's, I think, but it spurred thoughts about illegal immigration, racist, economic and ecologic matters, but something that struck me was the effects of mob mentality. Interesting read. If you haven't read it, its worth the time.

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  5. great lists,great posting,and I hopr the rough spots get ironed out.

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  6. Nick, it's so good to hear your health is improving. Congratulations on your hard work.

    Great book list, but I wouldn't know where to start!

    I hope Cassandra settles down...maybe she was a bit nervous at first.

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  7. Carol: I think that lists of books are especially neat. I would make a very long list of books that have been important to me in my life, but I have that Library Thing on my sidebar where I list and rate more than 400 such books.

    I tried dancing a jig yesterday afternoon (with my walking stick in hand, of course) and hey! I can still dance.

    The job description I prepared and gave to Cassandra seems to have helped matters. However, I probably need to make it a bit more specific: for example, the loaded the dishwasher with dirty dishes, but didn't turn it on. I fear that, as with the oven and the clothes washer, she doesn't know how to operate it. My greater concern is that she didn't ask me how to operate it.

    Lia: I believe that Cassandra and I are gradually coming to some understandings. I realize that she has been on the job only 2 days and I have yet to form a relationship with her: she doesn't know me and I don't know her. I am confident that, as time progresses, things will improve.

    Yep, fifteen is a low numbers, especially since I have an estimated 2,000 books still in my personal librar even after giving hundreds away. I tried to list those books that have most influenced me through the years. I think that I came up with the top fifteen, although it wasn't a easy task.

    Thank you! Yes, my life and health a slowly improving. I write that even as I realize that I may be becoming a hermit. Yesterday I had so much contact with people in my home that I felt emotionally drained. It may have been the people who were here, but whatever it was I need some quality time of solitude. Just me--and Alex, of course.

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  8. Lynilu: Thank you! Perhaps I can Snoopy Dance some, too. My way of doing it is a lot like a jig and yesterday I proved to myself that I can still do a jig!

    The corn bread was yummy! I wish I could have shared some with folks, but I ate it all in two days.

    I've not read The Tortilla Curtain. It does sound as if it is worth the time to read. I took a course in grad school that touched on the mob mentality; that was more than a bit frightening. I shall attempt to obtain the book as soon as I can.

    Mike: Thank you, my friend. I'm a patient supervisor and I think an excellent one. However, these days I lack the energy that I once had.

    Puss-in-Boots: Thank you. Yes, the work on my health hasn't been easy and continues to require much of my attention. I am most happy about learning to control the diabetes through diet and exercise and now without the aid of medication.

    With that book list, I started with the book that I have read the most through the years and continued with books that have have gone back to and reread several times. For example, I first read Howard Pyle's book, Men of Iron , when I was only about 8 years old. I have probably reread it a dozen or more times in the 55 or so years since that first reading.

    I believe things will work out with Cassandra. I rather suspect that her behaviors have an attention grabbing element to them. One of the few things i have learned about her history is that she grew up in a family with 14 siblings. Perhaps she learned to definite things as crises there.

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  9. Nick, that's really good news. And equally so that your oven works!!

    Take care,
    CJ xx

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  10. Crystal Jigsaw: Thank you. I have the urge to bake some more cornbread, but yesterday Cassandra set the oven on "clean" and went home without wiping it out. I am too obese to bend over and reach the insides of the oven. [:-(

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  11. I'm so happy to read you are doing better Nick and I hope Cassandra turns out better than she started. :)

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  12. Great stuff, Nick. Onwards and upwards.

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