Do too much/do nothing day

Today's Blog/Website of the Day is one listed previously, but there are screen shots of Tim Burton's film of ALICE IN WONDERLAND that just have to be seen. http://bookpage.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/a-first-look-at-the-all-new-alice/#more-841. With Tim Burton, it's sure to be twisted. I think it will be released next March.

I was just not in the mood to finish MARCH VIOLETS right now so I'm currently reading TO KILL OR CURE by Susanna Gregory, 13th in series of 15 featuring Matthew Bartholomew, physician, and his colleague Brother Michael, in 14th century Cambridge, England. Here's a description:

A murderous town-and-gown conflict propels the action. The various university colleges have been keeping students' rents low so they can afford their academic fees, but avaricious landlords now want to triple the rents, a threat to the colleges' existence. Meanwhile, Bartholomew and his three fellow Cambridge physicians find their income drained off by the chicanery of phony medicus Richard Arderne, out to make a killing healing the sick and raising the dead by waving a supposedly magic feather. Three grisly murders add to Brother Michael and Bartholomew's woes.

It was published in 2008 and has 448 pages. I love this series though it does tend to go on sometimes when you want to cut to the chase and solve the thing

I'm QM-ing the current read on 4MA these next few days. I hope the questions will go okay and that there will actually be discussion generated. Of course, the holiday may slow things down.

Had a doctor's appointment (my creatinine is still elevated but with all the antibiotics I've had in me they're not too worried yet -- and of course everyone has to see my mummy foot now that the swelling is going down), had to stop at post office to mail a couple paperbackswap books that should have gone out two weeks ago, and then got groceries at Walmart this morning so I was very tuckered by the time we got home and I've been taking it very easy this afternoon with my leg elevated and drinking lots of water.

Today has felt like a Saturday. Steve has today off and we're just lazing around. A nice thunderstorm blew through a little while ago. There's the occasional fireworks going off around us (we live outside city limits). But mostly the neighborhood seems deserted -- did most people go camping? Steve will walk Tug in a little bit and I'll be making taco salad for dinner.

I don't think there's anything special on tv tonight though on Sunday is the new Agatha Christie on Masterpiece Theatre with Matthew Macfadyen in it. A must see for that. And the Miss Marple doesn't look to irritating this time. I enjoy Agatha Christies but I don't think I've ever read a Miss Marple; I've preferred Hercule Poirot stories. Add it to the to-be-read stack.

That's it.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Any good books out there?

I'm thinking that MARCH VIOLETS may not be suiting my reading mood. I haven't really being drawn to pick it up within the last 24 hours. I think it's the voice of the book; I love the Berlin WWII setting but it is so over the top tough guy/PI/slang ... I've been reading just about anything but so that's a sign I need something else for the reading taste buds. I've browsed through the latest Mystery News that showed up while I was in the hospital. Doing some personal development reading. I may have to face that fact that I must choose again. I have lots of books but nothing jumping out yet. Any good books out there?

Today's Blog/Website of the Day is Medieval-Novels found at http://www.medieval-novels.com/. "We are dedicated to making medieval-novels.com the most comprehensive list of novels set between 500 and 1600 AD (more or less) ever put together."

Poor Tug. Steve stopped by from work on the way to a job site to put the garbage can back in the garage and bring me the mail so got Tug all wound up for a walk which I cannot accomodate. So he's all but aroo-ing his sad fate and mean momma who's laying on the couch doing NOTHING but stare into that machine again.

I SWEAR med techs have it in for my veins. This morning, I had to provide blood for doctor's appointment tomorrow. Now when I was admitted to the hospital, they blew out the good veins on the right arm, the so-so veins on the left arm, and finally got it in my left hand which isn't ideal and is painful=ish. They just made hamburger of the veins in my arms. STILL have black and blue marks a week later. So this morning .... same story. Part of the problem is that for two decades, I donated blood because I'm type O negative. They don't tell you that it creates all kinds of scar tissue that makes it difficult later on should you happen to need those veins for yourself; they just want your blood. Oy.

I don't think there's anthing on tv for me tonight so maybe I'll find something to read amongst my precious' (voice of Gollum). :)

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

The break out

Thank you for such nice comments, everyone. Quick medical update: I got home from the hospital Monday afternoon and I'm convelescing at home. I can hobble a bit now on my left leg (cellulitis) and my foot -- now that it's shrinking down from being so swollen -- looks like a wrinkled old mummy. My spots (allergic reaction to the antibiotic) are beginning to fade though still a little itchy. I've got a couple doctor followups over the next few days. Overall, progress is (slowly) being made. I do have a healthy appreciation for a lot of things now. :)

Today's Blog/Website of the Day is Criminal Minds found at http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/. This is an author conglomerate blog. Check it out now.

I'm currently reading MARCH VIOLETS by Phillip Kerr. This is 1st of 5 in series featuring Bernie Gunther, a German private eye who hates the Nazis, in Berlin, Germany, 1936-1947. Here's a description:

The brutality and corruption of Nazi Germany serve as the backdrop for this impressive debut mystery novel. Scottish-born Kerr re-creates the period accurately and with verve; the novel reeks of the sordid decade that saw Hitler's rise to power. Bernhard Gunther is a hard-boiled Berlin detective who specializes in tracking down missing persons--mostly Jews. He is summoned by a wealthy industrialist to find the murderer of his daughter and son-in-law, killed during the robbery of a priceless diamond necklace. Gunther quickly is catapulted into a major political scandal involving Hitler's two main henchmen, Goering and Himmler. The search for clues takes Gunther to morgues overflowing with Nazi victims; raucous nightclubs; the Olympic games where Jesse Owens tramples the theory of Aryan racial superiority; the boudoir of a famous actress; and finally to the Dachau concentration camp. Fights with Gestapo agents, shoot-outs with adulterers, run-ins with a variety of criminals, and dead bodies in unexpected places keep readers guessing to the very end. Narrator Gunther is a spirited guide through the chaos of 1930s Berlin and, more important, a detective cast in the classic mold.

It was published in 1989 and has 246 pages.

So, just taking it easy these next few days. Hope the same for everyone.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Friday Update

Still in the hospital. Might have gone home today (though foot still swollen and I can't walk on it but the infection is lessening) but I have now had an allergic reaction to a medication I've been given; don't know which one. I'm covered in spots. I can't begin to convey how annoying this is and how tired I am of this. I can tell you I'm pretty much over my anxiety about shots -- it's IV flushes that make me cringe now.

Started reading THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE by Steig Larsson. This is second of the Millenium Trilogy. Here's a description:

Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden are murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society - but no-one can find her. Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium, does not believe the police. Using all his magazine staff and resources to prove Salander's innocence, Blomkvist also uncovers her terrible past, spent in criminally corrupt institutions. Yet Salander is more avenging angel than helpless victim. She may be an expert at staying out of sight - but she has ways of tracking down her most elusive enemies.

This was published this year and 608 pages. It's keeping my attention which is an important thing.

Here's what's on my wish list for the next 48 hours:

• I want to be able to walk.


• I want to have this allergic reaction to go away.


• I want to leave this hospital and go home.


• I want to never encounter this kind of infection ever ever again.

I don't think any of this list is unreasonable.

Of course, one cannot blog in this particular space/time without mentioning the passing of Michael Jackson. I never liked his music but I acknowledge his immense talent and the huuuuge impact he made on entertainment and pop music. Isn't it sad that all people can really say is how tragic, what a tragic life. Wouldn't you hate that when you died? I mean, it was a LIFE, moment by moment for 50 years.

And Farrah Fawcett passing on the same day. Again, wouldn't it be sad that the most she's remembered for is the way she looked 30 years ago? She lived a life more than that. Some may say that at least she is remembered by millions of people and not just an obscure nobody like the rest of us who pass over but is that really that important? I think not.

They say it comes in threes. Ed McMahon was the first of this triplet and not only was he the second banana for most of his career, he comes in third or is barely there. One of my nurses was saying "yeah, they come in threes and somebody died a just a little while ago but we couldn't remember who it was...."

For some stupid reason the theme song from Fame popped into my brain now. Make it go away.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday

Day three of hospital stay. Well, two and a half. It is believed that my infection is the superbug, MRSA, but no way to confirm. One antibiotic that is first used to fight it, I took for five days with not strong enough results. It is responding to the IV antibiotic treatment of MRSA. I'm getting IV antiobiotic twice a day to go after the infection in my left leg/foot. There is improvement but not enough to go home yet. What I think will come out of this for me is that I will become a germaphobe. :) I may become fanatic about it having seen the dark side.

MRSA is a monster staph bug; a huge problem EVERYWHERE but I'm suspecting the following: I've read that there may be a 10 day incubation period. About 10 days prior to the beginnings of feeling ill, Steve and I were in airports and airplanes to and from Dallas. How often have you seen them clean the people areas? How often do they really clean the insides of planes after all that humanity and germs have been through? Just makes you shiver if you think about it which why you don't think about it and don't really take precautions. Not anymore for me, baby!

Finally finished reading THE AWFUL SECRET by Bernard Knight. Will be starting A MOMENT OF SILENCE by Anna Dean. This is first of two in series featuring amateur sleuth Dido Kent in England-1805. Here's a description:

1805. An engagement party is taking place for Mr Richard Montague, son of wealthy landowner Sir Edgar Montague, and his fiancee Catherine. During a dance with his beloved, a strange thing happens: a man appears at Richard's shoulder and appears to communicate something to him without saying a word. Instantly breaking off the engagement, he rushes off to speak to his father, never to be seen again. Distraught with worry, Catherine sends for her spinster aunt, Miss Dido Kent, who has a penchant for solving mysteries. Catherine pleads with her to find her fiance and to discover the truth behind his disappearance.

LJ liked it a lot so I hope to as well. We have similar tastes.

Today's Blog/Website of the Day is the Mayo Clinic's info on prevention of MRSA infection found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=prevention.

Let's keep it healthy out there, people. Trust me.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Blog not abandoned, just...

Sorry, not posting. My leg condition, which turned out to be cellulitis, has an infection believed to be MRSA. I'm currently checked in the hospital for the IV antibiotic. Oy.

Will check in soon.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Update the 2nd

I've had some good upticks and some downward ticks.

The downs:

• Got sick on the pain medication yesterday and threw up a bit and had to fight nausea for a lot of the day until it was out of my system.
• Last night's antibiotic felt like it "opened" on the way down the throat and burned all the way. Suffering pain internally from that today. Hope that will be gone by tomorrow.

The ups:

• I think the cellulitis is receding. Slowly, yes. I'm still not walk on my foot/leg. But there is less pain and maybe I'm seeing less red at near the knee.
• I was able to get to the shower by myself this morning and got most of a shower and washed my hair. It had been since Wednesday. Oy, did that feel good and improve my outlook for a while.

It's a good thing nursing wasn't the family business that Steve had to go into: he sucks at it. Basically, I think he may resent the whole situation but at this point, I can't help that. I feel like I'm nagging when all I'm doing is asking for food to be brought. He's not really speaking to me and avoiding me right now so I haven't been able to talk to him about what's going on.

I haven't done a whole lot of reading yet but did crack open the Bernard Knight for a bit last night. And I watched the DVD of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I was afraid it wouldn't have held up too well over the years; it was a little cheesy but not bad for a sicky to waste some afternoon hours yesterday. Both Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour tended to strike poses a lot, knowing how beautiful they looked. :)

If I can find where the clicker went to, I hope to watch Next Food Network Star tonight. I also hope I'm able to sleep tonight -- that one has been difficult the last few days. Oy.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster