My knee is still a stiff, swollen blob that doesn't like to cooperate when I do the exercises for flexion and extension that I have to do to get it to be "normal". It's sometimes hard to walk this tightrope between getting depressed over what seems to me to be very slow progress, and the fact that, even though it will take a long time to recover to the extent the other knee is fully recovered, this is a temporary condition.
I can't afford to sit on my duff too long. Today, for example, I had visitors and then I had a delivery. I had to hang around the house and wait for both. I didn't get to walk outside (also a major part of my therapy) till after nightfall, and so I didn't walk all that far.
I guess I just have to put my health and my recovery first on my list, and everything else takes a back seat, including visits, phone calls, work on the computer, etc. Anything that's not exercises and walking.
Tomorrow about 12:30 the nurse is coming to me to remove the stitches, which I'm told will improve things somewhat. I sure hope that's right. For one thing, I'd like to be able to sleep in a comfortable position through the night, without waking up in pain and having a hard time getting back to sleep or in a sleep position, then getting up late the next morning. This has been going on for the last few nights, and I find it very troubling.
It's amazing how much we take for granted when we're totally healthy. Who thinks about bending and straightening their knees??? Who thinks about the effort involved in putting on a sock, or a pair of pants, or making the bed???
I definitely want to stay off that damn "pity pot" (the expression used in the 12-Step programs that means self-pity). I don't have any desire to just sit around and mope and do nothing but feel sorry for my current condition and the suffering it entails.
I guess I also need to pray more personally to G-d, that He will see me through this, with a minimum of trouble and pain, as He saw me through the first time.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO A MISERABLE EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING
All I can say about Thursday's Hebron pogrom against Beit Shalom (and I address this to Ehud Barak and his ill ilk):
What did you expect from these kids who (supposedly) rampaged throughout Hebron on Thursday, in rage, bitterness and frustration? This is the culmination of sixty years of the anti-Jewish Left in power, controlling everything and everybody, marginalizing and dehumanizing any and everyone who doesn't accept or agree with their worldview. These beautiful kids who believe in Torat Israel, Am Israel, and Eretz Israel, see so clearly, far more than their elders, your hypocrisy when you make a big deal about "upholding the law", and "abiding by the law" and that the state has the right to control its citizens. You are just the latest anti-Jewish leftie, just like all your predecessors before you who controlled the reigns of power and who brutally and viciously suppressed the right wing, the religious, the charedi - in short, all those who are everything you're NOT! All those who want to see a truly JEWISH state here, who want a state based on Torah, because they know in their hearts and souls that this is the only kind of state that G-d will accept - are worse enemies to you than Arabs, because they threaten your stranglehold on the state, and even more to the point - because you know in your heart of hearts and gut of guts that they will certainly win in the end - because G-d will never allow Israel to be a nation like all other nations!
You and your sick anti-Jewish ilk know your days are numbered, so like a cornered and wild animal, you lash and thrash out at your perceived enemies in a last-ditch effort to put an end to them - and thus to any threat to your power and the perks that go with it.
For years, those of us who are marginalized, dehumanized and made to feel like we don't matter, did our best to contribute to the state in any way we could, because we were more concerned for the common good than for satisfying our own individual needs. And your predecessors played along with it - as long as we knew our place and didn't pose any threat to the ruling oligarchy.
And then along came the so-called "disengagement". These beautiful young lovers of Zion and Am Israel saw all of this cooperation, participation in state-building - collapse like a deck of cards. They saw the total hypocrisy, betrayal and traitorious actions of a government that was elected on one platform and that callously turned about-face and turned its back on its own voters, and adopted the opposite position. They saw a "supreme" court make up its own laws and rules to suit its own leftist political leanings, regardless of "justice".
"Rule of law", you say? The only rule of law you and your ilk promote is that which accords with your anti-Zionist, anti-Jewish and Leftist values that insist we become a state and a people like all others, devoid of any Jewish content. "Democracy", you say? When equal rights and protections under the law apply only to those segments of the population that agree with your values and world view, THIS IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE OF DEMOCRACY!
Barak, consider yourself damn lucky that a lot worse didn't happen! But that's not to say that it won't happen in the future!
Take whole sectors of the population (right-wing, religious, nationalistic, patriotic Jews), isolate them, make them second-class citizens for 60 years, all the while pretending to them that they matter, lie to them, keep them from obtaining any real power in this state, subject them to arbitrary administrative detention for even the most minor infractions, brutally beat them and throw them out of their legally owned homes and farms and lives - all the while allowing Leftie demonstrators to do anything they want and letting the Arabs build illegally all over the country, not to mention rocketing Jews and attacking and murdering them - and watch their frustration mount, like steam in a pressure cooker. It's only a matter of time before that pressure cooker explodes into G-d knows what.
And you, Ehud Barak, will share a heavy burden of blame for the consequences once the explosion happens. You, the rest of your terminally ill cohorts, and the soldiers and cops who participated in this latest expulsion, G-d willing, will pay the ultimate price for your folly both in this world and the next.
What did you expect from these kids who (supposedly) rampaged throughout Hebron on Thursday, in rage, bitterness and frustration? This is the culmination of sixty years of the anti-Jewish Left in power, controlling everything and everybody, marginalizing and dehumanizing any and everyone who doesn't accept or agree with their worldview. These beautiful kids who believe in Torat Israel, Am Israel, and Eretz Israel, see so clearly, far more than their elders, your hypocrisy when you make a big deal about "upholding the law", and "abiding by the law" and that the state has the right to control its citizens. You are just the latest anti-Jewish leftie, just like all your predecessors before you who controlled the reigns of power and who brutally and viciously suppressed the right wing, the religious, the charedi - in short, all those who are everything you're NOT! All those who want to see a truly JEWISH state here, who want a state based on Torah, because they know in their hearts and souls that this is the only kind of state that G-d will accept - are worse enemies to you than Arabs, because they threaten your stranglehold on the state, and even more to the point - because you know in your heart of hearts and gut of guts that they will certainly win in the end - because G-d will never allow Israel to be a nation like all other nations!
You and your sick anti-Jewish ilk know your days are numbered, so like a cornered and wild animal, you lash and thrash out at your perceived enemies in a last-ditch effort to put an end to them - and thus to any threat to your power and the perks that go with it.
For years, those of us who are marginalized, dehumanized and made to feel like we don't matter, did our best to contribute to the state in any way we could, because we were more concerned for the common good than for satisfying our own individual needs. And your predecessors played along with it - as long as we knew our place and didn't pose any threat to the ruling oligarchy.
And then along came the so-called "disengagement". These beautiful young lovers of Zion and Am Israel saw all of this cooperation, participation in state-building - collapse like a deck of cards. They saw the total hypocrisy, betrayal and traitorious actions of a government that was elected on one platform and that callously turned about-face and turned its back on its own voters, and adopted the opposite position. They saw a "supreme" court make up its own laws and rules to suit its own leftist political leanings, regardless of "justice".
"Rule of law", you say? The only rule of law you and your ilk promote is that which accords with your anti-Zionist, anti-Jewish and Leftist values that insist we become a state and a people like all others, devoid of any Jewish content. "Democracy", you say? When equal rights and protections under the law apply only to those segments of the population that agree with your values and world view, THIS IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE OF DEMOCRACY!
Barak, consider yourself damn lucky that a lot worse didn't happen! But that's not to say that it won't happen in the future!
Take whole sectors of the population (right-wing, religious, nationalistic, patriotic Jews), isolate them, make them second-class citizens for 60 years, all the while pretending to them that they matter, lie to them, keep them from obtaining any real power in this state, subject them to arbitrary administrative detention for even the most minor infractions, brutally beat them and throw them out of their legally owned homes and farms and lives - all the while allowing Leftie demonstrators to do anything they want and letting the Arabs build illegally all over the country, not to mention rocketing Jews and attacking and murdering them - and watch their frustration mount, like steam in a pressure cooker. It's only a matter of time before that pressure cooker explodes into G-d knows what.
And you, Ehud Barak, will share a heavy burden of blame for the consequences once the explosion happens. You, the rest of your terminally ill cohorts, and the soldiers and cops who participated in this latest expulsion, G-d willing, will pay the ultimate price for your folly both in this world and the next.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
MY SEXY KNEE-KINI (knee with a bikini)
Wish you were here....(This is what my knee looks like in an X-ray [this is the left knee, replaced 6 yrs ago])
This could actually be a picture postcard, right?
FIFI, ZACHIA AND ME: Partners in Pain
Long time no write, dear blog. Well, the Big Mamoushka has some recovering to do. On Nov. 24 I had a total right-knee replacement at Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. Now a week and a half later, my knee is wearing a very stiff straightjacket, and it and the rest of my leg and foot are swollen, making it very difficult to carry out the exercises for range of motion and extension given to me by the hospital and by my new physiotherapist, who I'll call "DireDevilDave". After a difficult first session on Wednesday, he told me he let me off easy..... hence my choice of names for him.
But that was nothing compared to my hospital roommates, Fifi and Zachia. Two older women who fell and broke a bone connected to the hip, needed complicated surgery and the aftermath was/is very painful. Thank G-d these two elderly ladies both had lots of family around to protect them and their rights.
Fifi, a native of N. Africa (I believe Algeria), was treated especially roughly by the hospital staff, as they moved her from bed to chair and back to bed. Lucky for her, her tough, loud and aggressive daughter, Shoshi, was there to witness and loudly complain. The worst of this happened this past Shabbat, and I was an ear-witness to all (I had my curtains drawn in a naieve attempt to actually get in a Shabbat nap, so my eyes didn't see anything but my ears heard it all).
Fifi, although not always willing to do the movement she was told to do to get ready for the rehab ("shikum") phase of her recovery, showed noticeable improvement in spite of the way she was treated. During the six days I was hospitalized, she went from constantly sleeping or screaming in pain, to interacting with the environment, making calls on her rented phone and having conversations with people. She even drew some laughs as others in the room overheard her tell someone on the phone that her condition was "severe"...... Shoshi says that her mom's definition of "severe" is a bit different from that of others.
On the other side of me, there was Zachia, born in Israel right after her parents immigrated from Turkey, according to her daughter Yochi and her son Yossi. Her parents called her Zachia, a derivative of "zchut", right or privilege, as her parents felt privileged to have a daughter born in Israel. She, too, had difficulty making the right movements for herself, but she was a lot quieter than Fifi.
But the hard part for me to take, leaving aside the screams of pain and obvious discomfort, was that their cases exemplified the way older people are treated in hospitals and in general, in this country and elsewhere. I had no family members present to protect my rights - but then again I am a lot younger and in better shape than either of these ladies, not to mention a lot more mobile and able to care for myself.
The first stage of old age: You become invisible. Actually this happens during middle age. People don't see you. People don't hear you or heed you. Next stage: They hear you, but pretend they don't. They act annoyed and impatient at whatever you say or ask for or need help with.
It was painfully obvious to me how older people are treated here, and even more painful when I realize that this is supposed to be a Jewish country, with the very Jewish value of respecting one's elders. The hospital aides tossing these older ladies about - would they have treated their own mothers this way? I expect this in any other country in the world, but not in a country which is supposed to set an example for all mankind.
I, at age 60, contemplated my own future old age, too, and wondered (and still wonder) how I'll be treated, especially since I have no family here. A few of my friends have told me that they'd make sure I'd be protected, but - some road somewhere is paved with good intentions. It's scary and disheartening.
And now I'm out of there and home, in pain and discomfort - but around the things I know and love (like my little cat Chachi, now sitting next to my screen and trying to chase down the cursor on the screen). But Fifi and Zachia will be there for awhile, going into "shikum", and their recovery will be considerably slower.
Shoshi, Yochi and I all traded phone numbers. I have to remember to give them a call before Shabbat tomorrow.
May all of our pain and suffering be a major kappara for all three of us, and I sure hope we all recover fully to look back and laugh.
But that was nothing compared to my hospital roommates, Fifi and Zachia. Two older women who fell and broke a bone connected to the hip, needed complicated surgery and the aftermath was/is very painful. Thank G-d these two elderly ladies both had lots of family around to protect them and their rights.
Fifi, a native of N. Africa (I believe Algeria), was treated especially roughly by the hospital staff, as they moved her from bed to chair and back to bed. Lucky for her, her tough, loud and aggressive daughter, Shoshi, was there to witness and loudly complain. The worst of this happened this past Shabbat, and I was an ear-witness to all (I had my curtains drawn in a naieve attempt to actually get in a Shabbat nap, so my eyes didn't see anything but my ears heard it all).
Fifi, although not always willing to do the movement she was told to do to get ready for the rehab ("shikum") phase of her recovery, showed noticeable improvement in spite of the way she was treated. During the six days I was hospitalized, she went from constantly sleeping or screaming in pain, to interacting with the environment, making calls on her rented phone and having conversations with people. She even drew some laughs as others in the room overheard her tell someone on the phone that her condition was "severe"...... Shoshi says that her mom's definition of "severe" is a bit different from that of others.
On the other side of me, there was Zachia, born in Israel right after her parents immigrated from Turkey, according to her daughter Yochi and her son Yossi. Her parents called her Zachia, a derivative of "zchut", right or privilege, as her parents felt privileged to have a daughter born in Israel. She, too, had difficulty making the right movements for herself, but she was a lot quieter than Fifi.
But the hard part for me to take, leaving aside the screams of pain and obvious discomfort, was that their cases exemplified the way older people are treated in hospitals and in general, in this country and elsewhere. I had no family members present to protect my rights - but then again I am a lot younger and in better shape than either of these ladies, not to mention a lot more mobile and able to care for myself.
The first stage of old age: You become invisible. Actually this happens during middle age. People don't see you. People don't hear you or heed you. Next stage: They hear you, but pretend they don't. They act annoyed and impatient at whatever you say or ask for or need help with.
It was painfully obvious to me how older people are treated here, and even more painful when I realize that this is supposed to be a Jewish country, with the very Jewish value of respecting one's elders. The hospital aides tossing these older ladies about - would they have treated their own mothers this way? I expect this in any other country in the world, but not in a country which is supposed to set an example for all mankind.
I, at age 60, contemplated my own future old age, too, and wondered (and still wonder) how I'll be treated, especially since I have no family here. A few of my friends have told me that they'd make sure I'd be protected, but - some road somewhere is paved with good intentions. It's scary and disheartening.
And now I'm out of there and home, in pain and discomfort - but around the things I know and love (like my little cat Chachi, now sitting next to my screen and trying to chase down the cursor on the screen). But Fifi and Zachia will be there for awhile, going into "shikum", and their recovery will be considerably slower.
Shoshi, Yochi and I all traded phone numbers. I have to remember to give them a call before Shabbat tomorrow.
May all of our pain and suffering be a major kappara for all three of us, and I sure hope we all recover fully to look back and laugh.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
HAPPY CAJUN AND BLUEGRASS NEW YEAR!
Getting closer.... Hard to believe the BIG DAYS are arriving very soon.... One of my biggest fans has been absolutely BEGGING me to post something on this blog, and since I don't know what to say exactly at this point, I'll compromise and oblige him a little.
I must say that after being without a computer for almost 3 weeks due to the motherboard going kaput, and after spending a mint of cash to get what amounts to a whole new computer, it's such a supreme pleasure to be able to listen to the music I want instead of the crap on the radio, or instead of my scratchy old 33 LP records! CDs? Yep, I've got them but not a decent CD player, although I could play them in the CD drive of the computer. Now that I'm into both Cajun and Bluegrass (I've been listening far more to the latter lately than to the former, I must admit), it's such a supreme pleasure to find the music on the web, and I must be the only one for many blocks around to play this stuff! I often wonder what people passing by my window think.... I really like to blast this stuff.
If anybody reading this is a Bluegrass fan, I suggest Wes Miller or the Earl Brothers. Both can be found on CDbaby.com. Write in the type of music you want to hear in the line on the upper right of the screen. These two and many others can be found. Disadvantage: Each song only plays for the first 2 minutes of it before going to another song (they want you to buy the MP3 download or the CD). Right now I'm listening to "Hillbilly Hero" by the Earl Brothers. I also discovered recently, the Daughters of Bluegrass and their CD Bluegrass Bouquet. Really good (except for one gospel-y song on it, which I always skip over).
Gotta prep for Slichot tonite, so gotta go. Two weeks' vacation are now in effect, and boy do I need them!
Shavua Tov!
I must say that after being without a computer for almost 3 weeks due to the motherboard going kaput, and after spending a mint of cash to get what amounts to a whole new computer, it's such a supreme pleasure to be able to listen to the music I want instead of the crap on the radio, or instead of my scratchy old 33 LP records! CDs? Yep, I've got them but not a decent CD player, although I could play them in the CD drive of the computer. Now that I'm into both Cajun and Bluegrass (I've been listening far more to the latter lately than to the former, I must admit), it's such a supreme pleasure to find the music on the web, and I must be the only one for many blocks around to play this stuff! I often wonder what people passing by my window think.... I really like to blast this stuff.
If anybody reading this is a Bluegrass fan, I suggest Wes Miller or the Earl Brothers. Both can be found on CDbaby.com. Write in the type of music you want to hear in the line on the upper right of the screen. These two and many others can be found. Disadvantage: Each song only plays for the first 2 minutes of it before going to another song (they want you to buy the MP3 download or the CD). Right now I'm listening to "Hillbilly Hero" by the Earl Brothers. I also discovered recently, the Daughters of Bluegrass and their CD Bluegrass Bouquet. Really good (except for one gospel-y song on it, which I always skip over).
Gotta prep for Slichot tonite, so gotta go. Two weeks' vacation are now in effect, and boy do I need them!
Shavua Tov!
Friday, June 27, 2008
JUSTICE, JUSTICE (OR AT LEAST A BREAK) - WHERE ARE YOU???
I'm still depressed after Wednesday's fiasco in court with my sweet friend E. She had a hearing and the judge refused - twice - to postpone it even though - through no fault of her own - her most recent lawyer quit on her. I went to the hearing in Ramat Gan to try to explain to the judge in Hebrew what my friend wanted to say in English. Neither of us were allowed to speak (the reason for my not being allowed was because I'm not a lawyer!).
At any rate, the judgment went against her and for the other side - completely.
Now she needs a top-notch lawyer who won't take any money up front, just a % of the winnings (if any). This lawyer needs to be the reincarnation of Clarence Darrow. Ah, he also needs to speak English fluently.
So the race for a new lawyer is on, as she has only till Sept. 1 to appeal Wednesday's fiasco.
Anyone out there a lawyer or know a lawyer? Please get back to me STAT!
In the meantime, Shabbat Shalom to all.
At any rate, the judgment went against her and for the other side - completely.
Now she needs a top-notch lawyer who won't take any money up front, just a % of the winnings (if any). This lawyer needs to be the reincarnation of Clarence Darrow. Ah, he also needs to speak English fluently.
So the race for a new lawyer is on, as she has only till Sept. 1 to appeal Wednesday's fiasco.
Anyone out there a lawyer or know a lawyer? Please get back to me STAT!
In the meantime, Shabbat Shalom to all.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
A TISHA B'AV DITTY
Can't go to bed without putting in writing Cajun Kreplach's Tisha B'Av ditty:
My people don't wear no shoes
My people don't wear no shoes
My people don't wear no shoes
My people don't wear no shoes
(accordion solos in between singing of above lines several times)
My people don't wear no shoes
My people don't wear no shoes
My people don't wear no shoes
(accordion solos in between singing of above lines several times)
Adapted from "My Baby don't wear no shoes". If ya wanna hear the original, click the link at the bottom of the page and listen through the great songs!
(The song, admittedly, is a little too upbeat and happy for Tisha B'av - but a bit of whimsy never hurt anybody...)
NOW will you let me go to sleep?!
(The song, admittedly, is a little too upbeat and happy for Tisha B'av - but a bit of whimsy never hurt anybody...)
NOW will you let me go to sleep?!
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