080421

five days of good health what shall I accomplish today?

071121d

our lodger takes good care of the dog does she still need us?

071121c

sitting up takes more energy than you'd think wheelchair

031620b

I have a routine doctor's appointment scheduled for tomorrow and I suddenly realized they might be canceling all such appointments. But so far they haven't answered the phone or return my call so I don't know. And it's an hour drive to this particular doctor; I sure don't want to do that for no reason!I don't want to reschedule this appointment, because I have already waited more than two months for it, but I also don't really want to go to the hospital and catch something there.

121619

winter storm coming
we're nailing up the shutters
but I'm home

121519b

Home from my first holiday dinner
of the season
grateful to have left the hospital
in time for fellowship among friends
wanting to pass this feeling along
to you

121219

Looks like I will be set free tomorrow. Free to get back to the usual day-to-day commotion of life. Free to work, or loaf in my own house. Free from four close walls. I'm going mobile.

121019

Day 6 in the hospital. I will probably be moved today from the ICU to a regular floor. One step closer to going home. All of these nurses are very good, and in this part of the hospital they have enough time to take good care of their patients. They have only two or three patients, plus all the paperwork! On the floor most nurses have eight or nine patients, which I know from experience of the patient side of the relationship is far too much.

I am still getting better, and have not yet run out of reading material. Like that would ever happen.

120919d

My doctor, who is a good doctor, told the nurse that he wanted me move to the regular floor only if she could send me to one of the two best halls. My wife wasn't there. Later, she reminded me, that one of those halls is the one that gave me a pressure sore last time I was in here. Because their staffing levels are too low to actually do their jobs. Because the hospital doesn't treat nurses well enough to get enough nurses. What now?

120919b

Dreaming about time travel
in the ICU
Should have gone back and told myself
Stop and drink another cup of coffee
On that road to Mobile
Wasted my time
Explaining to that waitress from Porlock
How I could prove
That I wasn't a time traveler
When I knew durn well
That I was

12071 9 c

When this nurse was born, my youngest daughter was six years old. The nurse has a baby and looks pretty darn young. we are both enjoying her learning about how to deal with someone in my condition. So that makes me feel virtuous and makes her a better nurse -- good for both of us.

12071 9 b

I hated being in the hospital in the springtime, because
I was missing the time of the year that had the best weather. This time of year, I am not missing much, as long as I get out before the holidays. I think I will.

the only work I can get done here is reading submissions to Dreams and Nightmares and to eye to the telescope. I am doing those things. I am still reading books, even more than I usually can. That is the best thing about being in the hospital. Aside from not dying, of course.

120619

I have spent two nights and a day in the hospital and will be here at least several more days. So, I may be able to make progress accepting and rejecting poems for future issues of the magazine, but won't be able to do anything more on the upcoming issue until I get out.

I am making some progress, but and the quite weak. I will try to respond two messages, but will be slower than usual.

080619c

Celebrating a year since I spent time in the hospital. I like to think I have become more careful of my health.

062619c

a day in the cold
hospital mostly waiting
outside I thaw

061219c

hospital bed
day lily season
is over

113018

to the hospital

but as a visitor
a novelty

092718b

such outrage
on my behalf
make some calls, Dr.

092418c

I find it really annoying when all alarming symptoms recur after I spent three weeks in the hospital last month. I do not want to go back again. But I can't afford to just ignore this.

On a related note. I did get a fair amount of work done on the next issue of Dreams & Nightmares this past weekend, but not enough to make up for any more time away from home!

082818

home from the hospital
mounds of unpaid bills
greet me