Tag Archives: jet lag

Ryan Update

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Ryan is on the mend but it is going to be a long haul. But he is young and otherwise healthy and determined. I know he is improving because he is getting impatient! I never thought I would see that as a positive indication!

He was sleeping when I got there in the early this afternoon. I had woken at 3:30 this morning, got up for a while, had coffee (decaf I found out later – thanks, Betsy) went back to bed around 6 and slept til 9:30. I sat in the chair and watched him, all hooked up to drips and machines that monitor everything. It was heartbreaking, this my oldest little boy who was born in that hospital, just off the critical list with a condition that hit like a sledgehammer, with no warning.

The tumor is called an gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The initial biopsy results are good; non-malignant but all the results are not in yet, so we must wait.

While I was there, the doctor came in and said he is making a fast recovery and they should be able to remove the stomach tube tomorrow. This is what Ryan is complaining about. It goes through his nose into his stomach to keep it drained and it is very uncomfortable. He hasn’t had anything to eat or drink since he had surgery on Wednesday and he knows that once he starts to get some real food into his system, he will recover faster. But he has to wait til tomorrow to reach that milestone.

He is up and walking too. We walked around the nursing station twice, avoiding others walking slower! This is essential as it keeps his circulation going and helps expel the fluids from his stomach. I pushed the IV stand along with him, I never ever envisioned this. But I have to keep reminding myself that he is so lucky to have had this happen where he was. If it had happened 15 minutes later, he could have been on the freeway with horrendous consequences. As it was, he was with Randy and close to Hoag Hospital, which is one of the best in the U.S. Ryan said today, not acknowledging the freeway implications, but that if it had happened later, he would have been taken to some god-forsaken hospital in some seedy part of Los Angeles! And what might the results have been? We don’t think about that.

So I am staying with Betsy at the “Loveshack” tonight and June (who is Chelsea my old cat’s foster mum) has offered me a place while Ryan is down here, bless her! Then when he is released, will go up to Encino. Then Les can go back to work.

And after that…who knows?

I just know that it was essential that I be here and even though it might have seemed a precipitous move on my part given my financial situation, it is the only move that made – and still makes – any sense to me.

Warm South Africa

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I made it!

After the hassles of getting to Southern California from Seattle, the flight from Los Angeles to Durban was a breeze. Nothing unusual, no delays, cancellations or anything else. It was long though, and boring. But I was fortunate to get four seats across on the 14.5 hour flight from New York to Johannesburg. I managed that when I checked in online, and found there was the option to change my seat – so checked and found the flight very lightly booked, changed the seat to an empty row and lucked out.

weaver-tree

The acacia tree loaded with weavers nests

So here I sit on the verandah at Mick and Debbie’s house; warm, a bit overcast, the weavers are making a hell of a noise building all their nests and am enjoying a good cup of coffee.

It has taken a couple of days to recover from the jet lag – helped along with several 5-hour energy drinks that I brought with me. When I arrived in Durban, Debbie picked me up and although I can always picture the countryside in my mind, seeing it again reinforces how beautiful this country is. Even the drive from the airport, with the rolling hills, trees and open spaces is awe-inspiring.

Their house is just as I remember it from three years ago, except my room which they redid and it is wonderful! I unpacked and kept moving during the afternoon so I would sleep that night. Saturday we went into town to get a converter for my water machine. Found exactly what I needed so now back on the Kangen, thank goodness!

I brought my little GSM phone so went to get a sim car – South Africa has the most bizarre system of getting a phone! I am fortunate in that Mick signed an affadavit for me, saying I was staying with him. But anyone coming into the country has to go to the police to “qualify” to get a phone. Can you just picture people arriving at the airport after a long flight, wanting to get a pay-as-you-go phone while they are here and having to immediately go to the police station? I tried just using my U.S. passport, but it didn’t work!

Debbie wanted to change carriers and she had to supply three months bank statements, utility bills, and an affadavit saying she lives at the house because they have a P.O. Box for their mail! How the hell do the squatters manage to geta phone? They certainly don’t have bank accounts and addresses!

Debbie changed her mind and decided not to change carriers – too many hoops to jump through!

Then went to the grocery store and was in sticker shock! Still am. I cannot believe how much the prices have gone up in the three years since I was here last. They are almost as high as in the States! Definitely not an inexpensive place to live any more, which is a real shame.

Today is a lazy day. Mick and Deb went to Durban to meet her parents who are on the Queen Mary but I decided I needed another down day to regroup, so catching up on emails etc and just kicking back. Next week, I hope to sort out some kind of transportation but not rushing into anything. I will check with Country Life and find out if I can submit articles to them and perhaps get that going again. I loved that job!

I’m Baaaack!

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Arrived last night at the house around 7:45 after a very long and tiring flight. It was such a pleasure to see Susan at the airport gate when I arrived! The flight was about 45 minutes late, so poor thing had to wait for me.


Flying in to Seattle, the clouds covered in and it looked just like when I left – gray! But it stays light until late and it isn’t that cold.

Buddy came rushing out when he heard the car and was so happy to see me – he was so excited he was drooling and the engine running hard. Hinckley came in a bit later and was a bit more stand-offish but got over it fast and both slept with me last night.

I woke up at 4 am – so it’s going to take a while to get over jet lag, made harder by the gray today. The garden is a mess – masses of weeds so it’s a good thing it wasn’t shown while I was gone. Grass growing up between the flagstone, veges looking sad and the kiwi vine taking over the pathway. Rhodies are looking sad too as they haven’t had any water. Saw a bald eagle soaring in front of the house being chased by crows, and I always look at them as a good sign, so things must get better.

Went through a mountain of mail – tossed 95% of it – now must go and get some food.

It’s lonely here – the thing I had been dreading most. So got to get this place sold pronto so I can get the hell out of here.

No more jet lag

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Today I am over the jet lag and totally on to South African time – and it feels goooood.

Spent a quiet day reading on the verandah in the sun (for a short time – if I stayed too long I would get fried not having seen the sun for months!). And working on the new site, doing the tutorials and learning a lot about how it works. (That’s the jacuzzi on the right.)

This evening, Mick has gone to squash where he plays in a league and Debbie is off at her landscaping class so I am here by myself. But it is fun because Susan called on my magicjack phone and we had a long talk and now I am hoping she gets hold of Janet to have her call me as we now know it works!

How amazing is that! There Susan is on the opposite side of the world, and she just picks up the phone and it is as clear as a bell – over the internet – and the best part is – it’s FREE! I should be selling the things! But I am sure glad I am not there – gale warnings and the water shuttle that is in place to take people across the Hood Canal while the bridge is down, is inoperable so I can imagine all the irate people trying to commute and not able to get where they are supposed to go. But from the emails I get from the Dept. of Transportation, the work on the bridge is progressing well, but suspect that today is one of the days the contractor takes as a gimme.

Oh damn, Sibongele didn’t come today (she works for someone else on Tuesdays) so I had to make my bed and clean up after myself in the kitchen. But she comes to work tomorrow so all the other dishes piling up in the scullery will be taken care of in the morning. I could get used to this.

Tomorrow I am going to lunch with Rosemary, my old friend from high school, and her daughter Catherine who is my god daughter. Can’t wait.