"Disease of the Week"; Harry Potter; Ari; Leaves

Two weeks since I last updated. And here it is another Friday evening.

Last time I was muttering about nausea and irritability. Which I assumed was a side effect of the Biaxin. But when I stopped the Biaxin, I didn't notice any difference. In fact the nausea got worse.

My next thought was a stomach bug. But that didn't seem right either. Then I remembered that several years ago, I had similiar symptoms that turned out to be caused by a severe kidney infection. And I began to suspect that was the case in this instance.

As the weekend progressed, I felt worse and worse. Monday morning, I called and got an appointment at the clinic. I was hoping to avoid a long wait. I got there at 12:30 and sat in the waiting room wishing someone would just shoot me.

After an hour or so, I was called back, and I explained my problem to the nurse who then took my temp and said it was 102. The doctor appeared and indicated concern about the temp. I voiced my suspicions, and he requested a urine sample. When he came back he said that it was indeed a urinary/kidney infection. He then gave me a shot and prescriptions for an antibiotic and an antinausea.

Essentially I spent the rest of the week in bed feeling terrible. For several days, urinating was extremely painful. Then gradually I began to feel slightly better. Saturday, I was able to go out and have lunch. And Sunday I actually went to see "Harry Potter."

Opportunistic infections control my life. I more or less lead my existence within certain boundaries, hoping that nothing else will happen. Oddly enough, this doesn't depress me; well, at least, not any more than normal. I've come to accept the limitations. If my story were a TV drama, it would be called "Disease of the Week."

Both movies create this wonderous, magical world filled with details. Daniel Ratcliff is perfect as Harry. As are all the performers. The sets, props, locations and costumes are splendid. I actually found myself wanting to know more about the teachers, and the kids and the school.

I've read that work has started on the third movie - in Scotland. The setting for three is the same as two, so I'm not sure what impact the change of location will have. Of course, so many movies shot in the UK become great travel adverts. Odd that few American movies have such an impact. In fact, I can't recall a single American movie of late that's made me curious about the location.

Uncompromising is almost an understatement. Ari appears to live for sex and drugs. And any opportunity to renounce his heritage. There's a strong tinge of nihilism to his life. Yet, one that you can understand without accepting or rejecting.

Again I was reminded of Fellini. A character moves through a series of tableaus each representing some aspect of his culture. And in the end, he arrives at the sea. With possibly some more self-awareness.

The sex scenes are explicit without being prurient. It leaves no doubt that Ari is driven by a need for casual sex. At any opportunity.

PAX!