Methinks blogging seems to be going out of fashion. Twittering and facebooking are adding to the onslaught of "instant gratification" and two-way, nay, multi-threaded socialization. Blogging is one-dimensional, journal keeping too isolated an act in a world where people seem compelled to be constantly in touch with one another. At what price? Where blogging once threaten the art of keeping a diary the old fashioned way, will the constant barrage of bits and bytes from smarter and smarter devices that keep getting smaller and smaller threaten the art of conversation? People chat but not face to face, hiding behind a light emitting screen and little buttons. People socialize but without the commitment that comes with looking into another's eyes. I love technology and the changes wrought by technology, for the betterment of the majority but I also mourn the passing of some of the old ways.
But I did not start out bemoaning the superficiality of the new modes of social computing. Rather, it was to celebrate the advances I have made in the last week, from hobbling around on crutches and losing sleep to long bouts of pain to hobbling around on my own feet and watching the foot return to some semblance of its normal size. Yes, my right foot is still bigger in some parts than normal and much of it is still purple and green, especially on all the toes and at the base of the ankle. But the pain is less and more intermittent. The progress though, has been less than I would have liked. It is only five days to Carynn's arrival and six days to white water rafting near Modesto.
Nic is gone to her apartment, school has begun for both the kids still with us. High school is going to be a very different experience I think for the half man and I hope he stays the course he was on in his last year at Iron Horse. Not lose the momentum, nor lose the drive he gained staying at the top. And the girl too. Staying by herself would be a new experience and requires a level of maturity to keep herself safe, well fed, clean and healthy, all by herself. While keeping her grades up. Life's changes can be frightening for the parents.
Meantime, we have our approvals for the visa extension. Next stop, the permanent residency. Beyond, the re-union of the family. Hopefully.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Snap
Two fairly loud snaps and I knew instinctively I was in trouble. Instantly, I found I could not stand on my right leg and within seconds, an ugly swelling started to become very noticeable. The horrific pain that consumed me that night and next morning after we reached home from Rohnert Park was excruciating. Initially, it did not hurt quite as much and I could still hobble around. But after we reached home and I did my usual routine to get ready for bed, the hobbling triggered off an hour or more of pain you would not expect from just a sprain.
Monday morning, just hobbling to the wash basin to brush my teeth set off more than 2 hours of agony waiting for the Man to come home so he could get me to the doctor. The Half Man, albeit some cajoling was needed, was very sweet after, making the initial doctor appointment and thereafter changing it twice because of uncertainty about the Man's return from his tennis game. By then, the pain was so excruciating, I could not even bear to lay my foot down on the floor and the Man had to carry me on his back into the clinic.
Doc thought I could have broken some bones so off to take almost 10 x-rays. But first an ankle hold to stabilize and a pair of crutches so I can move around. But the crutches took some getting used to and they hurt the armpits.
Back home, the kids have been wonderful with making ice packs for me to ice the swollen ankle. So today, the ankle actually looks like it is recovering somewhat. But it is all green, very fat and there are ugly broad purplish swaths on both sides where you can tell the blood vessels had obviously been broken and were leaking blood into the leg.
Monday morning, just hobbling to the wash basin to brush my teeth set off more than 2 hours of agony waiting for the Man to come home so he could get me to the doctor. The Half Man, albeit some cajoling was needed, was very sweet after, making the initial doctor appointment and thereafter changing it twice because of uncertainty about the Man's return from his tennis game. By then, the pain was so excruciating, I could not even bear to lay my foot down on the floor and the Man had to carry me on his back into the clinic.
Doc thought I could have broken some bones so off to take almost 10 x-rays. But first an ankle hold to stabilize and a pair of crutches so I can move around. But the crutches took some getting used to and they hurt the armpits.
Back home, the kids have been wonderful with making ice packs for me to ice the swollen ankle. So today, the ankle actually looks like it is recovering somewhat. But it is all green, very fat and there are ugly broad purplish swaths on both sides where you can tell the blood vessels had obviously been broken and were leaking blood into the leg.
Waiting for doc's call to see if I need to go back to the clinic for follow up.
And this is Ryan with his Chinese classmates on the final day of school sent by his teacher.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Active
It's been a busy weekend. Substituted my Friday off next week so Nic and I could go to Nik's house to masak masak (with Lay Keow as well) making curry puffs and the pink peach shaped rice cakes that Carynn used to love so much as a kid. We had a lot of fun. The first batch of dough for both items were disasters, too dry and just impossible to shape. So Nik left us in the backyard under her canopy and banned us from the kitchen while she made a second batch of both. With those, we were able to turn out very decent looking puffs and rice cakes. The Man and a Half joined us late because of some tennis event they had to attend, We had the usual banter sessions and sinful amounts of food and left as usual close to the witching hour. But so enjoyable.
Next day, we were off to the Stead tennis open at Moraga. Tom and Thilma were there but we did not stay as long as I would have liked because of a certain complaining young man. It was my first real tennis tournament and the quality of play, though not like the grand slams were very high. The competitors were mainly from the college circuits so they were highly competitive. I hope we go to more tournaments.
And today, Sunday, we were off to Union City near James Logan High School for the tennis competition organized by the association that runs the Half Man's Chinese classes. You can tell the calibre was just not the same as yesterday's. The Man had two plays. The Half Man was competing for the first time, if we discount the other time when he played in San Ramon with a bunch of young kids. Butterflies notwithstanding, he did okay. It;s not about the winning at this point, just the exposure and having the experience and the fun of competing. The weather was merciless though. Temperatures were in the 90's and there was no real place to sit where we could get shade so we ended up, like most other parents crouching in the walkways between the courts where fortunately, the tennis courts' wind screens afforded good enough shade and there was actually a good breeze blowing through. But we were starting to get real lethargic from the heat. So after the competition, we drove a half mile to the nearest shopping square and had us some icy shaves and pau pau cha. And on reaching home, I just had to catch a short snooze even though it was close to 5:00 pm and at the risk of disrupting my normal sleep tonight.
Busy weekend, but so much fun. Tomorrow is going to be hot with parts of East Bay going into the triple digit temperatures but you can tell the long days of summer are already waning because the lights have to come on slightly earlier each night.
Next day, we were off to the Stead tennis open at Moraga. Tom and Thilma were there but we did not stay as long as I would have liked because of a certain complaining young man. It was my first real tennis tournament and the quality of play, though not like the grand slams were very high. The competitors were mainly from the college circuits so they were highly competitive. I hope we go to more tournaments.
And today, Sunday, we were off to Union City near James Logan High School for the tennis competition organized by the association that runs the Half Man's Chinese classes. You can tell the calibre was just not the same as yesterday's. The Man had two plays. The Half Man was competing for the first time, if we discount the other time when he played in San Ramon with a bunch of young kids. Butterflies notwithstanding, he did okay. It;s not about the winning at this point, just the exposure and having the experience and the fun of competing. The weather was merciless though. Temperatures were in the 90's and there was no real place to sit where we could get shade so we ended up, like most other parents crouching in the walkways between the courts where fortunately, the tennis courts' wind screens afforded good enough shade and there was actually a good breeze blowing through. But we were starting to get real lethargic from the heat. So after the competition, we drove a half mile to the nearest shopping square and had us some icy shaves and pau pau cha. And on reaching home, I just had to catch a short snooze even though it was close to 5:00 pm and at the risk of disrupting my normal sleep tonight.
Busy weekend, but so much fun. Tomorrow is going to be hot with parts of East Bay going into the triple digit temperatures but you can tell the long days of summer are already waning because the lights have to come on slightly earlier each night.
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