down in flames again, rising up from the ashes

Just when we thought we were making our way out of the woods, Monster had a relapse on Wednesday. I was almost to work when he phoned, losing his ability to speak, and came back home as quickly as possible to take him into the emergency room at Northside. He was going in and out of TIA's.
First, the CAT scan.
Then, the MRI, which showed the artery had become more disected than before.
Then, and arteriogram to get a better look at the damage. This was also to give everyone something to judge by in deciding whether to continue the drugs and hope for the best (that his body would heal on its own) or whether to attempt putting a stent in the artery to keep it open.

The arteriogram showed the artery becoming more damaged than anyone imagined - and an aneurysm on the artery now. That left no question but to go ahead with surgery to try to repair things with the stent.
They called in a specialist who was highly recommended and esteemed by his doctor. On his off day, he came in still wearing his gym clothes and apologizing for his appearance while I was incredibly happy to see him there so soon. The surgery went well despite some complications: They had to bring in some equipment from St. Joseph across the street and the stent of the right size had to come in from Rockdale.
He came through his surgery very well and his doctors have once again given him a good prognosis.

He's still in ICU at Northside hospital and intensely bored. That floor bans cell phones and wifi so there's no need for me to bring his phone to him.
He's not quite 100% back yet but he looks much better today than yesterday and continues to return to himself.
We're hoping for him to be transferred to a private room tomorrow or Saturday. John is, of course, hoping to come home by Saturday but I'm not expecting him to be released that soon.

trying to be normal as possible

I picked Monster up Sunday at noon.
First stop - the pharmacy to fill three different prescriptions.
Second - out for lunch to eat something other than hospital food.
Third - He was determined to hit at least one fleamarket before going
home.
Fourth - Home, at last, enjoying a nice long-awaited rendevous with
soap and a few gallons of very warm water.

Monday morning, I drove him to have blood drawn for outpatient monitoring. The blood thinners are still not quite at the right level.

Tuesday, today, I got to work on time thanks to a friend volunteering to drive him to his appointment in the morning.

home sick

Monster is still in the hospital today. He's starting to have some serious cabin fever. He wants to go home tomorrow. My guess is it'll probably be at least Monday before they release him.

bleeder

For the next few months, Monster will be on strong blood thinners.

He can't eat dark leafy greens or anything else that is rich in vitamin K, which is the antidote for the blood thinner, for the time being. Hopefully, he'll only be on these meds for a few months. I fear the blood thinners. They so often seem to do more harm than good. They are a necessary evil for now.

The cat misses him too. She actually does seem to be in need of his company. She just mopes on the steps indoors or huddles in her heated spot outside now, like she knows something is wrong. She suffers the lack of his warm feet.

One doctor said he might be able to come home tomorrow if the therapeutic levels in his blood are where they want them to be. His prognosis is very good. Cross your fingers and wish him luck on a quick return to normal.

medicated

For the cough Monster has, he's getting antibiotics because they now believe the "cold" that came with fever is actually bronchitis. That explains why it's been so severe and the cough so bad.

Get out of the house this weekend

Pine Lake Cultural Affairs Committee presents
Cafe Bizzoso: A Vaudevillian Music & Dance Extravaganza
Your Host: Papa Bizzoso aka Don Normando Ismay

On Saturday Nov. 24, come meet members of the Bizzoso family, as they thrill, charm, and entertain you with extraordinary stories, dances, and acts of music, including tap dancing, ukuleles, juggling, and family antics.
The Pine Lake Clubhouse will be transformed into a musical and visual treat, with original paintings by Papa Bizzoso, aka Atlantan/Argentine artist Normando Ismay.
The evening will be hosted by the Papa of the Bizzoso Family himself, who will regale us with stories of the Bizzoso Family.

Performers are arriving from far flung locales including Toronto, Blacksburg, Morocco, and Pine Lake. On the bill are the Ukulele Ladies, Junk DNA: The Cut Off Genes, the Packable Child, the Kinney Family Band, Lilikoi & Moku, The Duchess of Cabbagetown, La Banana, and members of the Deluxe Vaudeville Orchestra. Appearing in person are Elise Witt, Mick Kinney, Celeste Miller, Alexandra Miller MacColl, Ann Kilkelly, Carol Burch Brown, Jennie McKnight, Joyce Brookshire, Chip Epsten, Toni Shifalo, and of course the inimitable Papa Bizzoso.

NOV. 24 8:00 p.m. @ Pine Lake Clubhouse
300 Clubhouse Dr., Pine Lake GA 30072
Directions: http://tinyurl.com/2dvxsr

Admission at the door: $10 general / $5 seniors, kids, students, artists.

All proceeds will benefit the Artists Medical Fund for the Seaberg and Brookshire Families.

For more information, call (404) 297-8398 or visit http://www.elisewitt.com

Tragedy avoided, Bullet dodged.

Monster almost had his lights put out permanently today.
When I came downstairs to wake him up this morning, there was no response from him to sight, sound, etc. Every breath he took ended with a cough and he seemed to be in a dream he couldn't wake up from. By all signs, he had a stroke. I did get one response, finally. When I put my hand to his head, he took it and patted it like he always does, so I knew he was mostly there inside. I phoned 911 and EMT's in Fire Rescue Red vans came and took him to the hospital. I gathered what I could, grabbed his wallet, dressed, and followed them. Found the room he was in, and told doctors what I knew about his medical history, habits, etc. First, the CAT scan showed nothing, which is common for new injuries/strokes. After that, as we waited for him to go in for a MRI, he started becoming more alert and able to respond to sight, sound, etc. He kept rubbing his hands together like he was trying to warm them or feel them. Before they wheeled him out for the MRI, he was able to say small phrases and answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no" but anything else he said was gibberish, like he was not quite finding the words that matched the thoughts. An hour later, after his MRI, he was mostly back, talking normally, and he had recovered the simple motor skills that had gone wonky.
After discussing test results, examining the MRI, and more questions, here is what the doctors believe happened: John had damaged (ruptured?) the interior carotid artery by coughing as long and as violently as he has for the past two nights. The tissue in the walls of the artery started separating like a sandwich and blood began to fill the area between tissue layers. Then, the artery began to close, cutting off circulation to the left side of his brain.
Fortunately, his blood pressure and blood flow regulated (how, I'm not quite sure) and blood flow was restored soon enough to prevent any real and permanent damage.
He's in a private room now. They have him on very strong blood thinners and will have to monitor healing. Hopefully, everything will eventually close up and seal itself with fibrous scar tissue. Hopefully, the scar tissue will not then close the artery. Hopefully, there will be no loose blood clots forming.
They plan to keep him in the hospital anywhere from five to ten days.

My head aches now. My stomach is queasy. I'm a bit dehydated. Going to bed now. Hopefully, we'll both feel better tomorrow morning.

Sick Monster

The Monster came home with a fever of 101 yesterday. We have begun treatment with EmerginC, Umka, and lots of rest in front of the telly.

With the freezing temperatures predicted, we brought Doris inside overnight. I ran to Target after work and bought the necessary litterbox, liners, scoop, etc. Tried to get her to recognize the box and showed it to her twice. The box was untouched this morning but there was no evidence of anything else in the area we had her contained to downstairs. She was, however, eager to be outside when I fed her. I put her heated pad/bed back in the outside carrier when I left for work.

in need of restraint

It's so boring at work today that I keep finding myself drifting into e-commerce and spending the money I make on little things that I certainly do not need.

Feeling very wanty today.

Winter edges closer

Onset of colder, darker days maybe?

Oh This sounds happy. Everything I see or read about this week seems to be pointing to depressing tales of dismal German artists. Maybe I need to purchase that book along with Klaus Kinski's autobiography and snuggle in for some dark and silent winter reading.

Or maybe not. Sounds as appealing as a Ingmar Bergman film fest to me. Not that I don't respect Bergman's work but I can only take these things in small doses. I have friends who will devour all of the above in large amounts but I am too morose by nature to immerse myself in lugubrious meditations.

Give me sitcoms. Give me red wine. Give me colorful sparklies and kitsch. Ginger. Caffeine. Minty freshness.
I still end up celebrating the dark underbelly more than the next person.

I don't feel especially dark this week. I'm just noticing a lot of this sort of stuff swirling around me lately.

Tony does Ghana tonight

No Reservations is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
The Travel Channel, 10:00 PM
Ghana: Visiting Ghana.

Looks like it might be a good show tonight. I know nothing about Ghana other than it's a delicious combination of French and African influences. Could be yummy.

Elvis is the late night DJ at WILO.

I had that darned Harry Chapin song in my head this morning while I brushed my teeth and got ready for work.
It reminds me of a running joke/story with an old friend of mine. My friend grew up in Danville, Virginia, a mill town whose most famous native son is Mojo Nixon. Mojo (I forget his real name - you could probably google it) Nixon's father owned the only soul music radio station in the area, WILO, "Wonderful Willow". Once, after seeing Mojo Nixon perform at the Metroplex, I showed a photo from the show to my buddy's mother, who didn't even seem to notice the television that Mojo was wearing on his head will howling something. She just smiled wide and said "oh, he looks just like his daddy".

slow. slow. slow.

Work is horribly slow this week. Today, I'm filling time by filing old jobs, making follow-up calls to clients, and doing some general maintenance to the machines.

Tonight at, 8:00 p.m., is the tribute to Ronnog Seaberg at EyeDrum.

Georgette Plays A Goth

a good account of this season's trick or treaters

At least Defective Yeti got to see some trick or treaters this year.

A Celebration of Rönnog Seaberg

A Celebration of Rönnog Seaberg, November 9, Eyedrum

Rönnog Seaberg (1932 – 2007)

Friday, November 9
8 pm
Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery
290 MLK Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
info@eyedrum.org
www.eyedrum.org

On Friday, November 9, Steve Seaberg invites everyone to remember and celebrate the life of his late wife, Rönnog Seaberg (1932 – 2007).

Rönnog Seaberg, mother, poet, author, and long standing and beloved member of Atlanta’s arts community, died at home on Wednesday, October 17, 2007. Her last poem “Old Age”, dated October 15, 2007, is included below.

With her husband of 50 years, Mrs. Seaberg created a new art form: acrobatic poetry. It was the physical expression of a life that embraced the world, relied on strong family support and always broke conventions.

Born in Sweden, Mrs. Seaberg earned degrees in literature and religion from the University of Uppsala. She met her Chicago-born husband while he was visiting relatives in her native country. The couple moved to Spain, wed in Morocco and vowed to live life as artists in America. They moved to Atlanta in 1970.

A memorial celebration is scheduled for 8 pm Nov. 9 at the Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery.
The evening will include films and videos of performances by the Seabergs, as well as performances by the remaining company of Seaberg Acrobatic Poetry, a troupe that included the Seabergs and younger performers. There will also be performances by several Atlanta-based performance artists including Allison Rentz and Nat Slaughter.

Rönnog Seaberg’s obituary, from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, can be read here –

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2007/10/28/obit1028.html


OLD AGE

Old age like a tiger
ripping at your skin
to set your mind free.
We kneel of course.

If old age has such force
what strength birth should be
or the full length of life
and the whole earth!

The old silent movies run
from rusty projectors.
The spiderwebs the spiders spun
on spider spindles
food and fun.

Rönnog Seaberg, 10.15 2007


The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center | The Contemporary | 535 Means Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30318

fretting

I woke up this morning at 4:00 AM from troubled dreams. Now I can't go back to sleep for worring about money. Specifically, I'm worried about what the tax man is going to do to me this year. I have no idea what my property taxes are going to be.

Today is National Sushi Day

Today is National Sushi Day in Japan.
Since 1997, November 1st has been "Sushi Day."

Do you need any better reason to go out and enjoy some fresh fish and rice?

Trick or Treat

We stayed home watching Pushing Daisies and waiting to see what, if any, trick-or-treaters we'd get. We had only a couple to knock on our door and we could see the gangs of ghoulies coming down the street, only to turn up the next block before coming to our house at the deadend of the street. Our house looked fabulous but I admit we didn't have it lit at the street well enough and we only finished the decorating at the last couple of days, which decreased our ability to "advertise" that our house would be available for trick-or-treat.

Next year, Halloween will be on a Friday night so we might try to have a multi-level event here with candy and child-friendly monster movies on the telly in front and a firepit and adult refreshments in back. Thus, we could take advantage of our status as being outside the trick-or-treat zone.