Eric Lamaze is my hero!

I am so proud of Eric Lamaze and Hickstead for winning a gold medal for Canada. Eric had overcome cocaine addiction, thoughts of suidide after he was banned from the sport, and yet he overcame all that and got the gold. Hickstead is about the most beautiful jumper that I've ever seen. Unfortunatley, I didn't get to see it live on TV, I'm not sure if NBC showed it, but they have video on YouTube (that goodness for pirating LOL). If they did it must have been when I was at work or sleeping. I'm not fond of NBCs coverage of the Olympics; the hype and lack of non-American viewing. But I digress...Hickstead and Lamaze were amazing.

Being 50

Yesterday was my 50th birthday. I still can't believe it. Inside of me is a 25-year-old screaming WTF happened! I don't feel 50, I don't look 50, it's all surreal to me. I look at photos of my mother and grandmother when they were 50 and they sure looked a lot older than I do now. Especially my grandmother, at 50 she was a grandmother and didn't look any different than when she was 70. After having a bunch of kids she morphed into that middle-aged stout woman you see in all the old photos. The day before my birthday was the SANDAG press conference. Here's the text:

511 honors one millionth caller

During a period of soaring gas prices, SANDAG honored a North County woman as the one millionth caller to its 511 traffic and commuter service – sooner than expected as calls have jumped during the run up in fuel prices.

“As gas prices have gone through the roof, people have started looking for alternatives to driving alone,” said SANDAG Chair and Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Teresa Sessom. “Alternative commute information is one of the free services 511 offers – along with many others, including real-time traffic and highway incident information.”

Sessom and Airwatch traffic reporter Cal Walker honored the one millionth caller – San Marcos resident Cynde Durnford-Branecki – in the lobby of American Specialty Health in downtown San Diego, where she works as a graphic designer.

Durnford-Branecki commutes daily from San Marcos. She rides her bicycle to a Sprinter station, loads her bike on the train for the trip to Escondido, then takes an Express Bus downtown. She called 511 in July to request a bike locker at the Escondido train station and ended up being the one millionth caller.

SANDAG and 511 gave Durnford-Branecki a plaque commemorating the call. She also received a gift basket, including a $250 REI gift certificate, a comprehensive bike maintenance class at REI, two VIP passes to the San Diego Natural History Museum, two passes to the Maritime Museum of San Diego, two meal passes to Souplantation, one round-trip trip to and from the San Diego airport for two from Cloud 9, and various 511 logo items.

Launched by SANDAG and its partners in February 2007, it took the 511 service just 18 months to process one million phone calls. The pace increased as gas prices began climbing in March, eventually hitting $5 a gallon before declining slightly.

During the first quarter of this year, a total of about 230,000 people called 511. In the second quarter, that number jumped to 272,000. One of the biggest increases was in people inquiring about public transportation, which jumped 26 percent to 43,000 callers. Over the same time period, calls increased by 17 percent to RideLink, a SANDAG service for commuters interested in alternative commute choices and employers interested in offering commuter benefits programs.

San Diego’s regional 511 system is part of a national effort. Since it began approximately six years ago in the Cincinnati area, the program has taken hold in 43 communities nationwide, offering 128 million Americans the service – nearly half the population of the country.

As of May, 112 million people had called into the service for information nationwide. In May alone, 2.4 million people nationwide called 511 for transportation information.

Our local 511 service stems from a collaborative partnership among SANDAG, California Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, California Highway Patrol, and San Diego County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE).

It was pretty cool, everyone in my department and other came down to cheer me on. I did a little speech at the end and didn't throw up...that's a miracle in itself. I had fun.

Biking

So I've had an interesting month. It all started when we bought bikes a few months and flourished into a life-changing attitude. I wanted to get healthy, plain and simple. I was tired of being fat and wheezy. So we bought bikes and started riding on the weekends. Then they finished the rapid train. It was nice but too far to walk to, plus I really didn't drive that far to the transit centre to catch my bus downtown. But, then gas prices started getting higher and higher and we were getting broker and broker. I don't drive far however, my car only takes premium. Bruce on the other had had to drive a fair distance to work. Then I noticed they put bike lockers at the transit centre. So I thought, what if I rode my bike to the rail station, took that to the transit centre and then store my bike at the transit centre. On the way home, I'd skip the train and ride my bike home along the bike trail they built along the rail line. I was saving gas and getting my exercise in at the same time. It was a brilliant plan. Ah, but it gets better. When I called the new 511 number they have set up for commuters I was told I was the millionth caller! They have a press conference schedule on August 7th with the media at my company. My boss is thrilled because it give our fitness programs exposure. I supposed to be getting a nice price too. How cool is that?

Memorial Day

First, let me say that I'm not used to Memorial Day. I mostly grew up in Canada where we have Remembrance Day on Nov. 11—Veteran's Day in the US. I think that Memorial Day is at the wrong time of the month. Traditionally it's the opening weekend of summer and has become a happy holiday, which is not what it's supposed to signify. Remembrance Day in Canada is solemn; people stop at 11 minutes after 11 a.m. and pay their respect to the military people who have made the ultimate sacrifice. People down here say "Happy Memorial Day" and ads talk about huge sales and celebrating the weekend. The reason for the weekend is lost in all the hype. It's being overshadowed by the fact that the weather is finally clearing and summer is in the air. People are naturally giddy. So I think the day should be moved to November 11. That date is close to Thanksgiving when people are naturally reflective and thinking of their loved ones. Mind you I just recently read an article that the next generation of Canadians are not learning their wartime history. I hope that's not true. It would be sad for any country to forget it's war dead.

It's Not Fair

I sometimes wonder about the unfairness of this world. Why good people die and why bad people seem to carry on. I know that in the end the bad people get their comeuppance—I'm not a super religious person but I do believe in heaven and hell. Just recently I heard that one of the most brilliant and funny science fiction writers, Terry Prachett of the Discword series, has a rare form of Alzheimer's that is actually making his brain shrivel up. That just seems so unfair to me. It's more than that he's a darn good writer. His satire and wit are amazing. He's one of those rare writers that makes you laugh out loud (much to the consternation of my commuter bus co-riders) and think. He has that dry sense of humour the English are famous for tenfold. I just love his writing and it seems such a tragedy that I won't have the thrill of walking into the book store and seeing that he has a new novel out. And there in lies the unfairness, a person with such a brilliant mind getting a disease that robs him of the one thing that makes him so unique. And yet there are people out there that are dumber than dirt who will live to 90 with all their faculties (mind you they might not have their teeth). It's just not fair.

Take Care Eric

It's terrible when you're worried about someone and you can't really do anything because they're so far away. At least with e-mail you can keep in contact a lot more effectively then in the "old days." So about the only thing I can do is worry and pray. So here's my prayer for Eric. Take care of yourself, nothing is ever as bad as you think because, over time, you will start to feel better. I know that personally. Just think of tomorrow and not about today. Thinking of only today and how bad you feel today will only make it seem like there is nothing to live for. But you have plenty to live for. So my prayers are with you. I think about you every minute of the day. YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. I've asked every saint I can think of to look over you, including St. Francis...you never know and I'm hedging all my bets!

RIP Herb Peterson

It's a sad day, poor old Herb Peterson, passes away today. Mr. Peterson was one of those rare people that you worshiped and cursed at the same time. Who is Herb Peterson? He invented the most perfect and most fattening food ever made—the Egg McMuffin. I used to think that the Egg McMuffin was the world's most perfect and handy-to-eat food until I came to California and discovered the egg burrito. Hats off to you Mr. Peterson for single-handily creating a food that we crave and yet hate because it's so darn fattening. Isn't that just a metaphor for life?

Prince Harry

I'm rather pissed off with the Drudge Report for leaking that Prince Harry is in Afghanistan. How dare they put his life in danger! Don't think the Taliban isn't going to pay attention? If they have to move him for security reason then his unit is going to affected as well. Having a unit in turmoil is not good for morale. I understand the need to report the news but to report something that affects his safety and performing his duties—that's just not right. It's not responsible reporting.

Super Tuesday

Thank God that Super Tuesday is here. I've been home recouperating for over a week now and if I see one more political commerical I'm going to scream. The Indian Gaming one is the worst—they keep putting up rebuttle commericals the minute the opposition airs theirs. Most of them are so negative and deceiving. For example, the Indian Gaming one gives you the impression that if you vote no then it's over, but that's not true. The proposition was already passed, a no vote takes it to court...wasting yet more money. I would love to watch the news and not have the word Obama, Hillary, Mitt or anyone's else's name mentioned just for one night! When we're in the middle of an election year it's almost as if the rest of the world doesn't exist. I have to watch the BBC to find out what's going on outside of our shores. Enough already!

Bah Humbug!

So I've been home recouperating for five days now and I'm already sick of politics and the news. It's only January and I don't want to hear another word about the run for the White House. Get it over already! I can't beleive all the money and time they spend on the election, it's such a waste. They should run for two months tops and stop with all the bickering and finger pointing. The one that cracks me up is the proposition for the Indian gaming. They've spent millions on ads on TV rebutting each other. Then I hear on the news that the bill has already been passed by the state and federal governments so it's a done deal. If we vote no then all we're doing is allowing the opponents to go to court and waste more money! But do they say that in the ads? No it sounds like we get to make the decision. It's all so fake and surreal. And if I hear one more thing about Brittany Spears on the news I'll scream. When did this become a news item?

Out of the Hospital

l really hate hospitals which is a terrible thing for a nurse's daughter to admit. What kind of place wakes you up at 3 a.m. to give you a shot in your arm for pain? I wasn't in pain, I was sleeping! I didn't get any rest while I was in there, especially at night because our room was near the nurse's station so it got noisy. I thought it was humorous that they had signs posted all over the floor that said "Quiet Zone 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Guess it didn't count for staff. I had a spinal and happy juice instead of general anesthesia. First time for me and I was nervous. I thought that I was going to be awake for the surgery but the happy juice was very happy indeed. I didn't even feel the spinal, so that was nice. When I first got up to the ward I heard them play lullaby over the PA system. The nurse told me that they do that each time a baby is born in the hospital. I thought, "how sweet." Not so sweet that night when six babies were born between midnight and 4 a.m. I woke for each and every one of those lullaby announcements!

I think the worst part of getting any type of adominal surgery is the gas they pump into your abdomin to give them room to work. To put it bluntly, the only way to get rid of it is to fart. And the only way you can pass gas is to get up and walk around the floor. The nurses are fanatics about walking and farting. Every time they came into the room they'd smile sweetly and asked if you walked recently and passed gas. Well, I couldn't pass gas, proably because 1) I'm too English to do such things in public and 2) my roommate was Iranian and had a huge family that was constantly in the room which lead back to problem #1. Thank God my nurses weren't nuns (it was a Catholic hospital) or my svinkter would have been permanently shut! By day two I was in so much pain that they had to give me morphine. Naturally I threw up after that had to be put back on IV and stayed in an extra day. I was never so glad when I finally let go of a long, loud fart that a beer guzzling football fan would be proud of! Good time was had by all.

But all in all, the staff and my doctor were very nice and took good care of me. I've always admired nurses, they take a lot of crap from patients and doctors and are terribly understaffed, but I sure am glad to be home and in my own bed.

Three More Days

I'm trying not to be nervous about the operation, but it's hard not to. I have the day off work tomorrow because it's a holiday and then I go to work on Tuesday to tidy things up. Wednesday, I have to report to the hospital at 8 a.m. and the surgery is at 10 a.m. I wish I hadn't decided to go to work on Tuesday. Some people are good at letting work help them forget about situations. I'm the opposite. I'd rather be home in a comfortable environment instead of dealing with work. I've always been one of those people that thinks work is just that, work. It doesn't define who I am, family does that. I probably thought different when I was younger, but I think when you hit a certain age...ahem...middle age...your priorities change. Chasing the almighty buck isn't as important as working on your relationships.

Long Time No Blog

It's January and I promise that I will blog more often. I didn't realize that I hadn't posted anything since May of last year . Well I'm going to be home for the next six weeks convalescing from a hysterectomy so perhaps I'll blog more, at least in between the bouts of pain. I'm really not looking forward to having a part of my body removed, even if it's been quite a pain the last few years. Boy, I am not going to miss my uterus one minute. I have my pre-op meeting with the doctor on Monday and they told me to write down any questions I may have. I really couldn't think of any at the time, but in the middle of the night I woke up with a couple of stupid ones. So, if they take out the uterus, what happens to the ovaries? Do they just hang there? Is there a chance of them shifting around now that there's a hole? And, what do they do with the hole in your cervix, stitch it up? You can't have a hole that goes nowhere right? So if there's nothing there when you have sex, all the sperm is going to come right out because it has no place to go. Yuck. I don't think I'll ask those questions to the doctor, they sound a bit odd if you ask me. But those are the type of things that I think of in the middle of the night. I've never quite gotten over asking 3-year old type questions even as an adult—why is the sky blue? I used to drive my mom nuts, but to her credit, she used to get the encyclopedia out right then and there and get an answer to my questions. That was until she figured out I was asking them during washing up time so I could get out of doing dishes (it never worked). That God when we got a dishwasher. Anyway, I digress. I did ask a girlfriend who is going through nursing school and she set me straight. I'm still a little grossed out thinking that all that gunk comes right back now now because the hole has been sewn up LOL!