Health, The Gift That Keeps Giving

 

 This is a week off from work for me. My company has the use them or lose them vacation day policy so voila. On my first official day off, I got fitted with a Holter monitor. For almost a month now, my heart has been doing funny things. It either feels like it's racing, or the normal lub dub feels like lub DUB!. I also get dizzy. No idea if that's connected to the heart thing. It doesn't hurt. My PCP could not capture an episode on EKG so now I'm wired up and strapped in until tomorrow. Thankfully, my heart has been going nuts today so there will be dozens of incidents recorded.

My doctor thinks I might be having an extra heartbeat so my heart is either trying to catch up or slow down. Since the internet exists, I believe this is what she's talking about. The second paragraph does not make me feel any better. I'm not "an otherwise healthy person". I had a stroke due to a congenital heart defect. I have an implant fixing that defect. Nothing too fancy - basically a tiny plug between atria.


The internet really needs to stop existing for people who are stuck between the moment of knowing something is wrong and the moment of diagnosis. I had an uncle, who I loved, admired, and kinda wished was my dad, that died young due to a heart problem, atrial fibrillation. He was a big, sunny, generous guy who would send us presents for no reason. His generosity also paid for my university education. I also know he died basically because he did not follow his doctor's advice. So, if I do have A fib, I know I don't have to follow his path. But, in a weird way, it would be nice to have that in common with such a lovely person.


According to the computer information hole, heart rhythm can be restored with drugs, electricity, or surgery. Also, heart rhythm issues increases stroke risk. Hi weepy anxiety attack, I'm sure you're awesome for my heart health! So, my week off and this Xmas can be a horror show if I want to let it be. If it's bad news, I know the treatments and what I can do to help. Those are two things I did not know or have control over when I had my stroke. If it's good news, why let it throw a pall over this week? I'll allow myself bursts of freaking out.

2014: Goodbye Quincy

Well, I've made my decision - I need to move.  I have been debating back and forth about what to do.  What settled the question occurred this week.  I have been living in my current apartment for over four years.  I asked my landlord to provide some kind of help removing snow from the doorways, stairs, and driveway.  It is very difficult and painful due to my car accident injuries..  My landlord told me, "I am not running a disability clinic." and told me he'd raise my rent if I get a landscaping company to help me.  Sayonara Quincy!

What I liked about Quincy:

• Being so close to the city, just a couple T stops away
• The smell of the ocean some mornings in the summer
• Indian food delivered.
• The heat of summer cooling off so completely at night I could turn off my air conditioner and just use a fan
• All the Dunkin Donuts

What I Disliked:

• The number of mentally ill people just walking the streets
• The cost of living
• The city government - closing T stations with no notice and bungling a revitalization project.
• The sheer number of angry, unfriendly people.  Two examples:
• The first time I've ever heard "nigger" screamed at a person happened in Quincy.  Glad I was able to go 33 years without that entering my ear holes.
• A middle aged woman had a harmless man begging removed from a store entrance.  He wasn't doing anything but asking for help.  Yeah, he was dirty looking.  So, I gave him everything I had in my purse and apologized for her.
• In conclusion, Quincy is not a city where the milk of human kindness flourishes.  When you do encounter it, it's a surprise among the weeds.
• Driving through the same intersection where I was injured and my car was totaled.  I will be so glad to leave behind that reminder

So, my plan is to move probably March-ish.  It's tough to move in the middle of winter and I don't want to pay for any more heating oil ($366 for only 100 gallons - eek!)  I'd like to move someplace closer to work and still has access to the city.  A place that provides snow removal, allows cats, and doesn't use heating oil.  I"m considering apartment complexes after living in houses for the past 11 years.

Come Wade in the Shallow End With Me

I know I’m a grown ass adult but I still tend to go through obsessions like I am a teen.  

Recently, my obsession has been focused on yummy British actors.  The newest one is this guy:

 He suffers from what I call the “Aragorn disease” where he looks hotter more scruffy.  Clean and put together?  Blech.  The actor himself is very charming in interviews and I love how aware he is about female characters on television shows here.

 If you’re a fan of Sleepy Hollow, I have to recommend io9’s reviews.  They are very insightful and funny.  Also, if you have become a Tom Mison fan, he was on episode 1 season 1 of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl”.  You’re welcome.

This guy has been my mainstay crush for a couple years.  I do have to admit that I thought he looked like an alien when I first saw him.  Then, I realized the power of those cheekbones…  The only reason why I watched the new Star Trek was because of him.  By the way, the PR on his character was completely screwed up.  Why outright lie to the audience?  Beyond good looks, he comes across as humble, intelligent, and a deep feeling person.  

It helps that he always talk about wanting to have kids.  Um, you and I are the same age.  Combine my Hungarian cheekbones and yours, we will have a superhuman race!  But they will be gingers so that could wind up kinda creepy…

 Finally,  Thor; The Dark World has kicked this up a notch.

 I'm noticing a pattern now, gingers who darken their hair.  I call the Thor movies the, "Wait for this blonde guy to get off the screen until Loki" movies.  I've watched The Avengers a million times because how awesome a villain he is.  I'm also watching the Hollow Crown BBC series for him.

The funny thing is that I saw "Midnight in Paris" where he played F. Scott Fitzgerald and it was only after The Avengers, it clicked!  I should probably check out War Horse and The Deep Blue Sea.  Also, anyone in London, he's going to be in Coriolanus on stage (blue shirt pic above is him in rehearsal).


I'll leave you with this very important PSA.