2 September 2023
I must be totally addled this morning. I kept trying to work a crossword puzzle and when I got stymied, I used my phone to check the answers. It’s the L.A. Times crossword and Saturdays are the most difficult. I always print out two crosswords: the L.A. Times and the New York Times. The New York Times also has yesterday’s answers at the bottom, not so the L.A. Times. I kept Googling for the L.A. Times answers to the Saturday, September 2, 2023 puzzle on the phone and it made absolutely no sense. None of the clues were the same.
So, when I came in to do the blog, I realized I had left both of today’s puzzles in the printer. I was trying to solve the New York Times puzzle for May 12, 2023, not the Saturday L.A. Times. I print both puzzles daily and always work on the L.A. Times but sometimes don’t the New York Times. Some days I do one puzzle, some days four. In the end, I have a stack of printed puzzles of the New York Times I keep on hand to work in case of hurricanes and boredom. It bit me in the butt this morning trying to solve the May 12th NYTimes puzzle.
Part of my addle-ation may have to do with bouts of diarrhea last night and first thing this morning. Then I did my morning walk and managed 1.5 miles. The temperature was nice (77°F) but the humidity was 93%. I knew I was a little wobbly on the walk so it’s no surprise I got confused on the crosswords.
Today is the day I would do my monthly clean but I suspect with the way I feel, it’ll be much less than normal. The toilet definitely needs some work but the rest may be a cursory clean. Then there’s always the wash.
I meant to write about this yesterday when I was waiting for my injection to boost my immune system. I count myself most fortunate when it comes to medical insurance. Medicare pretty much pays everything cancer related and what Medicare doesn’t pay, United Health Care does. After two surgeries, one emergency room visit, one hospital stay, and three infusions, I’ve paid out $9.31.
While waiting, numerous people walked up to the window at the cancer center with insurance problems. Some had no insurance, some had large (and I mean large) deductibles. To the credit of the staff at the window, they handled each and every case with tact and support. If they had to ask someone to wait, they would get back to them when free and work with them on insurance. When you add money woes to cancer diagnoses, you can see some of these people are at their wit’s end. I appreciate the effort Holy Cross goes to to assuage the anxieties of their clientele. I’m fortunate that I don’t have those problems (or at least haven’t been billed for them yet).
College football season technically begins today. There have been some early games, early upsets, and early speculation, but the rubber hits the road today. I used to love going to high school football games at Morton. The team was pretty good but they just never could beat Magee or Mendenhall. College football was a lot of fun and I have great memories of games at Ole Miss and Memphis and Jackson. After all, it was the Archie Manning era at Ole Miss.
Today, college football has become semi-professional. Athletes can sign contracts for the use of their names and images and endorsements. I’ve already mentioned how some high school students are held back one or two grades so they can better compete as an older athlete. I’ve seen some college quarterbacks who look like they are in their late 20’s when they should be in the 18-21 year range. I still watch a little college football on tv but nothing like I used to. It’s lost some of its luster and excitement when you consider it’s semi-pro ball. It’s certainly a far cry from the original intent of intramural sports.
I used to turn on baseball games when I needed a nap. The lack of action on the baseball field and the quiet comments by the announcers was a sure fire way to put you to sleep. It looks like college football might also be a take on the insomnia cure.
Monday, I’m scheduled to eat at the Secret Garden with Jim, Holley, Tom and Kurt. Tuesday is the third Taxol infusion. I assume I’ll be scheduled for a hydration infusion either on Wednesday or Thursday and probably more immune injections that week. I’ve also scheduled to go to dinner with Daryl and Bill on Monday the 11th. Each of the dinner invitations I’ve had to give the caveat of having to cancel if my diarrhea isn’t under control. Fortunately, my friends understand and realize there are exigencies. I’ll let you know how things turn out.
Stay tuned!