another day of medicine

Today, I ventured farther into the world of modern medicine....

I established a relationship with a naturopathic doctor. His suspicion is that my GI tract is asking for more fiber... (... so he prescribed me some probiotics & a particular cereal recipe for my breakfasts...).

After leaving the doctor's office, I went down the road for a CAT scan. (What a strange sensation... (... feeling the warmth of that contrast solution in my body...)!)

When the CT was finished, the male nurse said I could remove the wristband from my wrist. I didn't think much of it at the time... (... replying that I thought I was going to get blood drawn as well...).

Later in the day---(while washing my hands)---I decided I didn't need to wear the wristband any longer, so I ripped it off... (... & by chance, checked the name on it...).

So, I say to you, Patricia Tison---(wherever you are out there)---may the results of your CAT scan show a healthy GI tract....

this blog post is so meta-

I went to see multiple doctors today. Lately, I've been having a weird, warm pressure in the left-side of my gut (& more recently, some nausea & closed sinuses). Today, I finally mustered the courage to go to Urgent Care... (... & begin the process of finding out what's goin' on inside me...).

Nothing conclusive from that visit yet... (... except for finally finishing Orwell's 1984 while waiting for the doctor... (... & the nurse... (... & then the doctor again...))).

After two hours at home (hangin' wit da G-dawg), I skated to an eye doctor appointment & got my eyes checked.... (That's right; 20/15 vision, suckas!!!!) Woot woot...!

Then---(later in the day)---I decided to blog about it....

(This blog post is so meta-!)

The Wacky Wizard's New Lunch Sandwich: The Spotted Monte....

The Spotted Monte is a variation on the Monte Cristo (... inspired by the English dessert dish, Spotted Dick...).

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Start with two pieces of Freedom Toast.

(The Wacky Wizard used croissants....)

Broil slab of ham with cheese & raisins on it....

Once the meat, etc. is nice & hot... get the Freedom Toast in there to warm up....

When the Freedom Toast is warm... spread grape jelly on & assemble the sandwich....

Finally, chew & enjoy!!!

(But only if you're wacky enough....)

why the chew toy is no longer dead

(a repeat post to show facebook & A.J. who's boss)

I've been telling people here & there, but this is the first mention in full-on, press-release style.

Since early this year, I've been working on a novel-length project. What originated as a 25-page story for a summer workshop later evolved into an 80-page screenplay-story hybrid that played a role in my master's thesis. The tale now continues advancing the full distance by becoming a book-length work of fiction devoted to various themes (mostly U.S. Liberty & wildness [including my main man, Thoreau]).

The tentative (but quite certain) title for this project is The Eventual Case of the Nacirema v. Joe Q. Patriot (& the Walden Fella)... similar to its earlier title as part of my thesis. But while the title remains similar, the word count will change drastically. I published my thesis with a German company called VDM Verlag. The contract with them allows me to re-publish those materials elsewhere as long as I alter at least 20% of the word count. I'd say I'm safely altering far more than that. More like global overhaul... being performed very gradually. (No more rushed deadlines. No more half-assed submissions. When I submit this latest version for publication, it'll be done right, dammit.)

My hope is that I can recover the chew toy as an outlet for updates, realizations, etc. If that happens, I also hope to post some other stories to zimdog pnaws... stories that influenced the sudden onset of The Eventual Case.... (But I'm not gonna post those until I "finish" touching them up, which means taking time away from the bigger picture... and right now, my brain prefers focusing on The Eventual Case....)

In revising from thesis version to book-length version, I'm revamping not only the narrative structure of the tale, but also much of the content. Eventually, I'll be posting sample sections... but only once I have a complete first draft. So for now, I'll just restate what I recently told a friend. One primary goal of the project is to fracture the narrative psyche (... whatever that means).

zimdog's reason for not blogging

why the chew toy is no longer dead

I've been telling people here & there, but this is the first mention in full-on, press-release style.

Since early this year, I've been working on a novel-length project. What originated as a 25-page story for a summer workshop later evolved into an 80-page screenplay-story hybrid that played a role in my master's thesis. The tale now continues advancing the full distance by becoming a book-length work of fiction devoted to various themes (mostly U.S. Liberty & wildness [including my main man, Thoreau]).

The tentative (but quite certain) title for this project is The Eventual Case of the Nacirema v. Joe Q. Patriot (& the Walden Fella)... similar to its earlier title as part of my thesis. But while the title remains similar, the word count will change drastically. I published my thesis with a German company called VDM Verlag. The contract with them allows me to re-publish those materials elsewhere as long as I alter at least 20% of the word count. I'd say I'm safely altering far more than that. More like global overhaul... being performed very gradually. (No more rushed deadlines. No more half-assed submissions. When I submit this latest version for publication, it'll be done right, dammit.)

My hope is that I can recover the chew toy as an outlet for updates, realizations, etc. If that happens, I also hope to post some other stories to zimdog pnaws... stories that influenced the sudden onset of The Eventual Case.... (But I'm not gonna post those until I "finish" touching them up, which means taking time away from the bigger picture... and right now, my brain prefers focusing on The Eventual Case....)

In revising from thesis version to book-length version, I'm revamping not only the narrative structure of the tale, but also much of the content. Eventually, I'll be posting sample sections... but only once I have a complete first draft. So for now, I'll just restate what I recently told a friend. One primary goal of the project is to fracture the narrative psyche (... whatever that means).

Reactions to a question on the u.s. census

Question 8 on "The American Community Survey":

Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have -

a. hot and cold running water?

b. a flush toilet?

c. a bathtub or shower?

d. a sink with a faucet?

e. a stove or range?

f. a refrigerator?

g. telephone service from which you can both make and receive calls? Include cell phones.

Reaction #1:
Wow. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that this question is on here. There must be some primitive American homes on the postal grid. But still, it's the 21st century. Why shouldn't everyone be able to answer yes to all of them like I did?

Reaction #2:
Not only am I lucky to have been born in America, I'm lucky to have been born into the lucky America that takes running water and food storage for granted.

Reaction #3:
This doesn't make me love America more. It makes me more ashamed of economic inequality. Spoiled brats get their Sweet Sixteens boasted on MTV, but the "have-nots" only get to watch, that is if they're lucky enough to experience the luxury of cable television... or "a sink with a faucet" for that matter.

zimdog's quote of the fortnight

I'm sad because I'm happy,
I'm happy because I'm mad,
And I'm mad cuz it's so sappy...
to be happy when you're sad.

-- Oscar the Grouch, Sesame Street