- 22:23 Viewsonic 16" monitor (P6K) + CD-R King TV Box (P2K)=new LCD TV setup without the LCD TV pricing. Shiny toy is shiny! :)
- 22:25 also: got Epson colored inks for refillable carts, in one-litre bottles for cyan, magenta, and yellow. lifetime supply, much?
- 22:27 checked out Megamall Atrium - it is beautiful! have resolved to eat at Teriyaki Boy and Pepper Steak next year. whee!
- 22:28 someone is beta-testing their firecrackers. poor pussycat somewhere does. not. want.
- 22:31 it was a good day at the mall. even managed to get last-minute groceries done! life's good, and we're grateful. :)
- 23:24 Oh? I seem to have missed the down time of LiveJournal. So that's why it seemed like a good idea to run off to the mall today...
- 00:00 i would like nothing better than to move in slightly slow motion for the next 24 hours or so.
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- 17:15 ::waves:: hi all! signing on now. just finished printing hubby's family news magazine.
- 17:17 hubby just learned how to burn mp3 discs. he is *happy*, let me tell you. ::grin::
- 17:19 have started reading "Blood and Gold" by Anne Rice. when finished, I will have done with her, and the books will go to the donation box!
- 17:43 sent off newsletter to hubby's relations. :) am being called in to dinner!
- 22:20 looking at reviews for the LG KU250. am getting the feeling that i am the only person around who doesn't use her mobile phone to play games.
- 22:31 planning a trip to megamall tomorrow. need to cash in some gift checks; check out craft world (yarn! again!); check out CD-R King.
- 23:05 it has just dawned on me that the 8-day holiday? probably means a lot of mail backed up at central processing...oy.
- 23:25 oh, come ON. you were the ranking official there - why didn't you stop your son's goons from beating up those people?
- 23:30 you claim that "we didn't start it" but damn you sure as hell finished it, didn't you? you could have STOPPED THEM! -> ping.fm/WmyCh
- 00:19 Please explain to me the logic behind naming a huge-ass firecracker a "Bin Laden Bomb"? Yes, I know it looks like a home-made IED, but...!
- 00:20 To think an entire township makes a living out of manufacturing these lunatic-sized firecrackers...::dies::
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- 22:50 i don't think i'm even going to try catching up with my twitter page. i've been away a very long time. maybe tomorrow.
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- 16:26 ping.fm/mVZnj -> Twilight to be adapted for Pinoy TV. OUTRAGE! :D
- 06:22 ping.fm/YJHIh -> F*CKING S.O.B.S. (and the kid has been "marked", mind you - that's some scary shit).
- 07:58 Holy...LOLCATS is a Yuletide Challenge category? -> ping.fm/siY9P ::dies laughing:: Kewl!
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Christmas Day was my birthday, and it was a good a birthday as anyone could hope to have. Seriously, even with the unexpected visit to Makati Med's ER later in the afternoon.
It was a quiet day, just the way I wanted. I slept in, had a late breakfast. There was a hearty lunch, and time online after a shower. Some minor tidying up, and then after lunch Dad decided he wanted to go see if National Book Store Glorietta was open, so that he could buy the pocket diaries he wanted. Apparently the ones I picked up for him at the Market!Market! Branch did not fit the bill at all. ::shrug::
Ma came along for the ride, and after dropping Dad off at the fortunately open NBS, I took Ma on a slow circle around the commercial center so she could see the décor.
Got home, and just I got out of my travel clothes, I heard a strange note to Ramon's coughing – the one that predicts very bad things if not attended to immediately. So events proceed in this manner:
Me: C'mon, let's get you checked out at the ER. If it's nothing, then it's nothing, but at least we'll know it's nothing. Oh, and take this Lasix tablet first.
He: Ok. (we dress up) Where are my Japanese slippers?
Me: They're around here...ah, yes. Here they are. Oh, hell, I can't find the Avanza keys. We'll just have to take the Innova. Meet me outside. (goes to master bedroom) Ma, Ramon and I have to go out and check his lungs...
Ma: Oh? Just be careful, traffic...
And just as Ramon enters the car, he does that cough/gurgle thing that ended up with him being confined the last time. Thank the good Lord for no traffic on Christmas Day – not to mention that the side gate of the Village, the shortest route to the hospital, was open! Ramon was lucid all throughout the ten-something minute drive, even had time to kiss me when he got out of the car. I remembered to give him the little folder with his senior ID and his prescriptions, which saved oodles of talking.
Parked the car, entered the ER in time to see Ramon surrounded by the doctors on duty:
Doc: Haven't we seen you here before?
Me: Um, about six months ago, if you were here on the afternoon shift, just like now. ::grin::
Doc: I thought so. Same thing?
Me: Same thing. Lasix is going to be our friend again, by the look of it.
Doc: At least he's conscious enough to tell us what's going on. The first time we met, he was fully- stretchered.
So they set up my hubby in the critical care bay, hooked him up to oxygen and a nebulizer (which was a first), gave him an intravenous injection of Lasix, called for the x-ray machine, taped a monitoring chart to the rail...all quite as usual. Had to ask for a piss-pot (aka urinal with gradations) to monitor his output. Yours truly acted as de facto nursing aide, writing down time and quantity of output.
X-ray confirmed Ramon's lungs were about 50% flooded, as opposed to the nearly 80% from the last time. But his blood oxygen stayed at 98-100% and heartbeat went from 96 to a very relaxed 72. Blood pressure went down as well. Naturally Dr. Gatmaitan ordered hubby to be confined for observation purposes, which made hubby very unhappy.
He: I'm sorry, darling, I spoiled your birthday.
Me: Oh, shut up – at least we know it's just for the night. ::kiss::
He: But still...woe.
Me: Remember? I promised God in front of the whole world – better, worse, sickness, health, et cetera. It's going to be fine. Now I'll just pop into admissions and get us a room, mmmkay?
Admissions was a speedy affair – they had the room I wanted at the price I wanted, and thus the deposit was small. For which God be thanked, my finances can still handle the stress. \o/ It only took about three hours to get us into the room, which was a miracle of speed after what we've been through before.
Called Dad to let him know where we were, and his first reaction was to swear. ::snort:: Sent a text to the maid that I would be eating dinner at home and that Ramon was going to stay the night at the hospital. Once Ramon was settled in the room, I went down to the parking lot, paid the gruesome parking fee, and drove leisurely home.
Ma was all but in tears and didn't want me to go back to stay the night in the hospital. Oh, dear. She offered me money to tide me over, just in case – I told her I had enough in my wallet, and I had the credit card, and please not to worry, we would be back the next day anyway.
The cats were puzzled when I didn't settle down, even though I fed them, put them out and let them back in again. Our Buding looked for Ramon and went “MAAAAOU” while pouncing on his empty rocking chair, poor sweet love. Had dinner, gathered necessary stuff, closed up the house, and then it was back to the hospital.
My kumare and my goddaughter popped in to share Christmas cheer and assure themselves of our well-being after their own Christmas dinner. As a result, the hospital room was filled with interesting news and lots of laughter, which helped lift Ramon's spirits. Shortly after they left, the duty nurse came in with the nebulizer and it was midnight before we turned out the lights and settled down to sleep.
In the early hours of the morning, lab tech arrived to take a blood sample. I picked up breakfast at McDonald's, and after the new duty nurses had come by to update Ramon's charts, after medicines were drunk and vital signs taken, after both of us had short naps – Ramon announced his intention to take a stroll around the hospital. When we apprised the nurses' station of this, they asked where we were headed, and I solemnly promised we would keep to the lobby, and maybe the first floor. No going out of doors, oh no.
So we took a ramble from the lobby to the first floor, (Ramon climbed the escaltor over my clucks of disapproval) and found the new location of the soon-to-be-opened refurbished Floating Restaurant. Had a nice chat with the owner, then I got a bite to eat at the cafeteria.
Back to the room, in time for Dr. Gatmaitan's arrival. He gave Ramon a once-over, adjusted the prescriptions, and signed the discharge forms that would allow us to go home. Ramon was able to have lunch and a morning snack in the time I spent downstairs settling the bill – the best part was finding out that there was a refund from the deposit, which we will be able to collect on January 8th, which happens to be Ramon's follow-up visit with Dr. Gatmaitan.
Got home, unpacked, sorted things, changed out of hospital clothes and before too long, hubby and I were blissfully sleeping in our own bed. Woke up, and life went on as normal, and it was very good.
Much to be thankful for, despite appearances. An overnight stay, money enough to cover the bills, efficient staff who know how to extract blood without fussing the patient, a husband who recovered quickly and will maybe now listen more closely to me about taking care of himself.
# # # # # #
Today was a quiet day. I got the chest freezer defrosted. Cooked a red bean dish that met with general approval. Ran our laundry through the machine. Downloaded any number of torrents. Sorted and updated my bookmarks! Now all I have to do is post this, and I'll have done for the day. Catch you when I catch you!
:)
- 13:27 dr said we can go home; also we have a refund on our deposit!
- 07:38 up early. cats fed, freezer defrosted, laundry running. torrent list updated, now downloading. DVR list reviewed - must program later.
- 07:39 slow-cooker beans in the pot. hopefully for lunch!
- 07:45 ping.fm/LJIeO -> HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE ADVERTISING VALENTINE'S DAY ALREADY?
- 07:57 ping.fm/t9ucP - I remember some of these services...
- 10:48 laundry done. three torrents downloaded. freezer defrosted. beans+ham+ground round+bacon slow cooker experiment ready for lunch! ::bounce::
- 10:48 love the way the day is going, i do.
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- 13:06 just had birthday/Christmas lunch. ooof. am bloated! :)
- 13:22 the cute part about having only frequently called numbers on the mobile phone...?
- 13:22 when greetings come from folk who have your number but aren't in the phone...and you have NO. IDEA. who the bloody hell they are.
- 09:39 hubby went to ER last night; congested lungs. hoping to get out of hospi later.
- 10:03 finished "The Mummy" by Anne Rice. should i leave it behind for next patient?
- 10:14 augh, now eartha kitt has passed away? 2008 really a bum year. harold pinter too? WTH.
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- 18:56 roughly six hours more before my birthday! spent the day at the mall for last-minute purchases; 'twas fun!
- 23:10 at some point next year, i would dearly love to make lengua with mushrooms and red wine...
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It wants just two more hours before midnight, the house is asleep, and I am enjoying a fairly quiet time. Someone in the house behind us turned on their radio with the speakers at a volume more suited to New Year's Eve...a well-placed “Hello?” on my part has brought the speaker volume down to acceptable levels. The staff, however...ah, well, it's Christmas, I can forgive quite a lot on Christmas Eve. Especially since those voices are nothing new to me at this hour.
So in a very short time, I'll be celebrating my birthday. Ramon and I had this conversation in the car on the way home:
Me: Just think, I'm going to be a year older in a few more hours!
He: 42?
Me: Awww, he really loves me, he gave me a discount. ::grin::
He: Ok, 32?
Me: Heh. 47, I'll be. In three years, I'll be 50 – surely by then I'll have the right to celebrate my birthday with a bang.
He: Well, it's nothing to be sad about, you know.
Me: Hell, no. I read somewhere to always be grateful for getting older, because the only things that don't grow older are dead...
He: ::chuckles::
Me: 'Sides, it means twelve fresh months that haven't been screwed over yet! Twelve new months to spend with you, God willing. It's a wonderful thing, yes?
He: Definitely a wonderful thing.
# # # # # #
We actually spent the day at the mall. We started in Park Square One, with a stop at CD-R King to try and get bottled ink for the printer. No such luck, so I bought a pack of DVD-Rs instead (Kodak).
Started browsing in the book sale in front of True Value – which ended up with me buying seven books at nicely discounted prices. I have Once An Eagle by Anton Myrer. Does anyone remember when that book was made into a TV series, and everyone was gaga over the lead? Good times.
I have a book about famous French courtesans, a Russian princess who followed her husband into exile in Siberia when the communists took over, a take on the story of Esther. As for the rest, you'll just have to wait, since I'm typing this in the dark and am too comfortable to want to turn on the lights, mmmkay? ::smile::
Dumped the books in the car, then bought Christmas CDs at Odyssey. Which means there will be the traditional Ray Coniff medley ringing through the house on Christmas Day. ::bounce:: Also, traditional Filipino Christmas carols, yay! I have a bossa nova Christmas album, a Gregorian Christmas chant album, and some others for general listening.
Drooled over the pretty, pretty new phone models on our way to a salad lunch at Wendy's. Then Ramon went to National while I went to Dreams. Picked up two skeins of yarn and a case for all the straight needles. They're moving to the new Glorietta 5 building by January – they'll be on the third floor. I understand that this is because of the renovations to Glorietta 2 and 1 that will be taking place. Gods, I hope they don't tinker with the Glorietta 1 theatre layouts – those are still the best ever in all of Makati.
Picked up Ramon at National, then off we went to SM Makati. Popped Ramon into the Prestige Lounge, then it was down to the third floor to (a) renew my Prestige card, and (b) see how to make best use of my SM gift cheques that are expiring at the end of the month. I grabbed some lovely cotton-spandex shirts in pastel colors, and a “buy one take one” offer on the cutest pajamas I've seen in the lingerie section. Used one gift cheque on those purposes; I had it in mind to use the other on the grocery shopping, but seeing all the folk in the supermarket kind of boggled my mind. (Which gives me an excuse to go back and get something else just a shade over Php500.)
Ramon took a look at Surplus Shop, where I bought throw pillows for the rocking chairs – the kind with ties at the corners, so that they won't slip. Yup, sometimes I can be truly inspired when it comes to home decorating. ::chuckle::
Afternoon snack at Sisig Hooray! Then I took advantage of this special offer that SM has for a stuffed plushie cow at a discounted price – got it for Ma's little menagerie. Once that was finished, we slid into our grocery mode, in which Ramon took charge of the baggage, and piled them into a cart while finding a seat so he wouldn't get tired standing about. I entered the bedlam that is any supermarket during Christmas...and thanks to my knowledge of the layout and a short list, I finished getting everything we needed in a pretty short amount of time. Sent a text to Ramon to meet me at the senior citizen cashier lane, and we were lucky in that no one else was getting checked out before us. Woot! ::bounce::
So husband took charge of the bags once again, while I got the car and brought it round. Returned home to much rejoicing from the cats, and life went on as usual. By the time you all read this, I'll have greeted my birth day with quiet thanks and not a few yawns....I trust that the holidays and the year to come will be kind and generous to you all.
:)
- 19:25 ping.fm/6c1pz -> Philippine version of Twilight in the works. CAN HAV HEADACHE NAO PLZ?
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