Maladies and Responses; "In spite of the rain"; "Tasteful male nudes"

For the past couple of weeks, I've mumbled about stomach problems. But I kept thinking it would go away. Which of course it didn't. Wednesday, as I sat at my little desk, I realized it was worse than usual. Then I remembered that I'd had something like this at Christmas. And I'd thought then also that it would go away.

I called the clinic, and they said come on. This is the clinic that is not part of my insurance plan, so I pay for everything out of my pocket. But if I'd called the other clinic that is part of the plan, it would have been hours before I could have seen anyone. Most likely the appointments would be full, and I'd be forced to fall back on first-come, first-serve as a walk-in.

The wait was only a few minutes and I found myself in the examining room. As always, I was fearful that the blood pressure would be a problem. But it was not. It was only slightly elevated.

The doctor agreed with my assessment that the problem was bacterial in origin. He mentioned that the viral ones would hit and then go away within a few days. But the bacterial were more persistent. He gave me about a week's worth of Tequin.

Tuesday when I came back from lunch, I was walking up an embankment, when I slipped and twisted my left leg. Nothing serious, but enough to be irritating. So Wednesday evening, the leg began to ache whenever I moved. This matched with the gastro problem meant that I didn't go to sleep until 4. Thursday, I stayed home and really felt terrible. I did sleep better that night, but when I woke up at 5, I called in and said I'd be out for the day. But when I woke up again at 9, I felt much better, so I trotted off to the lute mill.

Over the years and through the various maladies I've encountered, I've learned that my perception of reality is distorted by my physical condition. Somthing that ordinarily would not be bothersome becomes a major headache. Something that should be easily done is now difficult.

Strangely enough, it is this heightened response that I may notice first, before I realize there's an ailment. But I also wonder if others experience this acute sensation but never make a connection to the cause.

"In spite of the rain, or perhaps even because of it, there was business done at Geiger's. Very nice cars stopped in front and very nice-looking people went in and out with wrapped parcels. They were not all men."

I was trying to think of this quote from "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler as my friend and I talked at dinner.

Next I went on line and filled two book orders at Amazon. Then re-listed several books that had expired. (Amazon requires re-listing after 60 days.) I still don't know what to make of books listed for $0.01. How does the seller meet expenses?

In a flurry of capitalistic vigor, I listed several new books. Most of which were in the $1 range. But three are books of tasteful male nudes from the Bruno Gmunder publishing house in Berlin. In each case, there were only a handful of books available. My listings now have the lowest price in each instance.

PAX!