Category: Commentary

Oh, the Humanity!

It might not have been a good idea to watch Avengers: Endgame on Sunday morning and this season’s Episode 3 of Game of Thrones on Monday evening. I’m an emotional wreck.

No spoilers, but in both cases some favorite characters died. I know exactly which ones left us in Endgame, but thanks to the overly dark ambience in Game of Thrones, I’m not completely sure who was killed and who is still among the living. There may be tears shed after next week’s episode when we learn their fates.

On a slightly, but not really, related note, this floater in my right eye is bumming me out. My understanding is that it might be my new normal. I’m thinking of naming it “Splot” because it’s more than a “Spot,” but less than a “Blot.” Out, damned Splot!

I teared up as I told Studly Doright that there’s a possibility I’ll never get to ride a roller coaster again for fear of ending up with a detached retina. Roller coasters are my thing, and I’d hoped for a few more good years of riding with my grandkids. Studly, who doesn’t want anything to do with roller coasters had trouble empathizing with me.

“It’s like when you had to give up racquetball after your knee replacement surgeries,” I told him.

“Yep, and I did it,” he gloated. Studly isn’t exactly known for his willpower, so that carried some weight.

“As long as I can still read, I guess I’ll be okay,” I sighed.

“Look on the bright side,” Studly said. “Reading has never sent you to the chiropractor. Roller coaster riding always does.”

He’s right, dammit. Here’s to many more years of reading.

Peace, people.

I’m All Right

Yesterday I had a doctor’s appointment in Tallahassee. It was the last in a series of appointments and procedures involving my cranky digestive system. Everything went well. While the doctors identified a couple of minor issues, basically I’m merely aging and falling apart piece by piece.

After paying an arm and a leg (heh) for the privilege of learning I’m old, I left the doctor’s office feeling poorer, but relieved. I’d prepared myself for bad news, hypochondriac that I am, and instead I just learned that my body is going through some changes.

Hmmm. Didn’t I hear the same thing back in sixth grade? Puberty was a piece of cake compared to this, though. Okay, so I didn’t like the pimples and period stuff, and the awkwardness and insecurities really stunk. Oh, and the growth spurt that propelled me to the top of my class’s height chart and kept me there through most of junior high and high school wasn’t much fun either.

On second thought, I wouldn’t trade my current issues for those I faced in puberty. To paraphrase one of my favorite movie quotes: “We don’t need no stinking training bras.”

Hooray for aging. Hooray for me.

https://youtu.be/rbQgaHZOFZ0

Peace, people.

Sleep App Update

A couple of months ago I posted a piece about the sleep app, “Calm,” and I figured it was time for an update. Here’s a link to the original post, if anyone’s interested: https://nananoyz5forme.com/2019/03/10/sweet-sleep-in-an-app/

Knowing myself as I do, I really worried that after the novelty of the Calm app wore off that my anxiety would kick in and counter the positive results I’d experienced. Turns out, I don’t know myself all that well. Huh. Who’d have thunk it?

Don’t get me wrong. I have had a couple of sleepless nights since downloading the app, but that’s TWO nights out of more than 60, and that my friends is a win. If you didn’t read my earlier link, and honestly, you really should so you’ll be up to speed, the Calm app has meditation exercises and relaxing music, but best of all, there are sleep stories to send the listener off to a restful sleep.

I have several favorite sleep stories that are almost guaranteed to take me to lala land.

1) “The Butterfly Sanctuary,” read by Clarke Peters. His voice makes me melt. Like buttah.

2) “Wonder,” read by Mr. Alright, Alright, Alright himself, Mathew McConaughey. Talk about sending a girl off to sleep with a smile on her face!

3) “Aberystwyth by Train,” read by Stephen Lyons. Imagine falling asleep to the lulling rhythm of a train traveling along the northern coast of Wales. Oh my!

There are many other stories. Some are short fictional tales, others are excerpts from non-fiction, like astronaut Terry Virts’s “View from Above.”

There have been a couple that I’ve not found relaxing. Ironically enough, “Calm Airways” is one of them. It’s a poem, and a rather eye rollingly corny one at that. And this is going to sound sexist, but I still find the male voices more conducive to my own relaxation. I’m sure that wouldn’t be true for every listener.

Some of the stories are intended for children, but the only one I’ve listened to is “The Little Mermaid.” My six-year-old granddaughter and I downloaded the familiar tale to listen to when we shared a bed during her recent visit to Doright Manor. Once the story ended she was still wide awake and not at all happy that it wasn’t a bit like the Disney version.

Nothing’s perfect, right? But this app has really been a godsend. I heartily recommend it for anyone who struggles with insomnia.

Peace, and calm, people.

Thanks, Thanos

If you’ve watched Avengers, Infinity War, chances are you’ve wondered if you were one of the lucky ones who survived the population culling brought on by Thanos. I know I’ve contemplated my fate.

Now, thanks to www.didthanoskill.me you can have certainty and plan accordingly. As for me:

Yes, I’ll be around. I’m anxious to have Studly Doright check his status, though. It could get lonely during the apocalypse. Captain America survived. He might be a good stand in for Studly, in a pinch.

Game of Thrones Thoughts

I refuse to overthink the storyline of the final season of Game of Thrones. These are some thoughts that have wandered through my mind, though.

1) Some of my favorite characters are going to die violent deaths.

2) I will be bereft for a time.

3) Dragons are going to kick ass on both sides of the war, and there will most likely be fratricide among the flying reptiles.

4) A child conceived on the eve of battle between the living and the dead could end up ruling the seven kingdoms.

5) There should be an award in recognition of the character that’s demonstrated the most growth. I vote for Arya. No, Sansa. Jaime? Wait, Bran isn’t even human anymore. Does that count as growth?

6) Is it okay to like Theon now? He’s let us down so many times.

7) Back to the dragons–the Game of Thrones dragons are, without a doubt, the most perfectly rendered dragons ever.

8) Tyrion–I hope he lives.

9) Cersei–meh, not so much.

10) I’d like to see Brienne fall in love with someone who loves her passionately. Someone who adores her and lets her know that every single day of her life.

S’Miles

Under the heading, “Be Careful for What You Search”:

On a whim yesterday I googled “S’Mores made with Peeps.” Who knew it was a thing? Next Easter, when I’m not being so very careful with my food choices, I might need to do further research.

What say you? Would you s’carf down these alternative s’mores or s’tay away from indulging in the s’weet treats?

They were good for a few s’miles, anyway.

Peace, Peeps.

Floater or Flying Insect

Lately, when I dine al fresco, as I do often in Florida, much of my time is spent wondering if I’m watching a gnat buzz around my meal, or if it’s just a floater plaguing my vision.

Gnat

Floaters

Today I swatted at an insect only to realize it was literally all in my head. It’s almost as if I have a lame 3D movie playing continuously, and I keep reaching for the illusion.

I’m sure I’ll get used to the effect, but what if a real gnat lands on my meal? What if I swallow one? I have a bad feeling about this.

Peace, people!

Snapshot #230

I’m calling this one, “It Was a Dark and Stormy Morning.” It’s not particularly original, I know, but think of it as an homage to one of the greatest writers of our time.

We Have a Floater

Lately my health has been Rosanne Rosannadanna-ish. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

Yesterday I was in the waiting room of a radiology clinic awaiting a CT scan of my digestive tract when my right eye went wonky. First there was a bright flash of light from the corner of that eye followed by what can only be described as a parade of ink blot animals à la Rorschach. Well, to me they appeared to be animals. Who knows what some of you degenerates might’ve seen. There was an elephant dragging a walrus, a hippo in a tutu, a lamb with a baton, among others.

I called the eye doctor’s office just before I was handed my first barium smoothie, and had an appointment scheduled after just a few sips. Yum, yum.

The second smoothie didn’t go down quite as easily, but it could’ve been worse. Some folks in the prep area had to drink three of the concoctions. The CT scan was kind of fascinating. I’m always amazed by, and a little leery of, the ways in which systems within the body can be manipulated:

Them: We can make you think you’re urinating.

Me: No, you can’t!

Me, two seconds later: Holy cow! I think I’m urinating.

After the test I grabbed a quick bite to eat and went directly to my eye doctor’s office. They took more pictures of the inside of my eyes than a helicopter mom takes of her offspring.

Not my eye, but still pretty cool, right?

I’d worried that my retina was detached, but apparently people in my age group are susceptible to such floaters.

Most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes becomes more liquid. Microscopic fibers within the vitreous tend to clump and can cast tiny shadows on your retina. The shadows you see are called floaters.

Diagnosis: I’m old.

I’m scheduled to see my gastroenterologist tomorrow, and if all goes well I’ll get a similar diagnosis from him: “Nothing to see here. Move along. You’re just old.”

Today though, I’m going for a facial. My insides might be old, but my outsides don’t have to advertise that.

Peace, people.