So, after the thrilling return of “Mad Men” last week, this Sunday brings (brought) “Game of Thrones,” “Silicon Valley” and “Veep.” So it’s a happy day, except that I’m having trouble writing this, due to having sliced my finger yesterday trying to get through a bagel. I have three stitches in the left index finger, a very big bandage and if I weren’t backspacing and correcting constantly, this sentence would look like this. No, too much right hand there.
It would look as though a person who couldn’t find the T, G, V and B keys very well. And now I’m hitting them pretty well.
The guy who stitched me up was swell, an orthopedist from the Philippines who had to settle for being an urgent-care physician’s assistant (or nurse practitioner, can’t remember) here. He would have had to go through another residency, which he couldn’t afford and didn’t want to do, anyway. I liked him right up until I changed the dressing this morning and discovered he didn’t use non-stick gauze, at which I would have favored execution.
A little soak in salt water put things right, although it violated the don’t-get-it-wet rule.
So now here I am, lame but happy because spring is here, tra la and it’s warm enough to open the sun roof and the workload has eased a bit for now. Just a bit feels like a vacation.
Anyway.
Bloggage? Not much, but…
… Actually, I don’t think I have any, but I’m sure you do. Take it away. Bring on Monday.
Dexter said on April 13, 2015 at 1:36 am
Sunday means Simpsons…my friend Earl of NYC posted this last evening on Facebook…if it doesn’t work it means I do not know how to get around his privacy settings. Let us try: https://scontent-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/11150401_10206082118229339_5234415830263026072_n.jpg?oh=4841cace87c221c6bcd8d754aab37dd3&oe=55A4745F
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Sherri said on April 13, 2015 at 2:08 am
I swear, next time I need to be bandaged, I’m bringing my own supplies. I am allergic to adhesive; my skin breaks out in a rash whenever I have to have a bandaid or tape for very long. Some bandaids are worse than others, some tapes are worse than others, though “hypoallergenic” usually refers to the content of the tape, not the adhesive. Over the years, through trial and errors, I discovered what caused me the least problems.
Then, about a year ago, I discovered these. Years of telling doctors and nurses that I had an allergy to adhesives, and they all just looked at me like I was crazy, and none of them had ever encountered this?
Definitely taking them with me next time I need anything bandaged.
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David C. said on April 13, 2015 at 6:15 am
The best bagels are wickedly dangerous. They’re like fugu for your hands. I’ve drawn blood in the service of breakfast a couple of times.
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BigHank53 said on April 13, 2015 at 6:55 am
I’m pretty sure the only way to be safe slicing a bagel is to use one of those chain-mail gloves designed for oyster shucking. Hard on the knife, but for what a trip to get stitches runs, you can afford to replace the knife on a regular basis. I subscribe to the total wimp method: using the shortest paring knife we have to cut from the outside to the hole, then sawing my way around the circumference. I don’t get a flat face on the bagel but who cares?
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Kristen said on April 13, 2015 at 7:21 am
I don’t own one of these, but it sure is pretty (and, as we’ve learned, useful!)…
http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/105867/bagel-slicer
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Linda said on April 13, 2015 at 7:49 am
You need a bagel guillotine (it’s really called that). While you can buy one from Bed Bath and Beyond, my bagel-eating sister got jers from a Temple garage sale.
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Pam said on April 13, 2015 at 8:10 am
I’ll bet Alan could make one of those bagel slicers and his would be very superior! I didn’t think they stitched finger cuts any more. I thought they just used those butterfly bandage strips to hold the would together until it heals.
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alex said on April 13, 2015 at 8:30 am
You can use Superglue on a cut too.
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Julie Robinson said on April 13, 2015 at 9:20 am
Just heard that Hillary Clinton’s first campaign appearance will be tomorrow in my Mom’s hometown, Monticello, Iowa. It is NOT pronounced like Jefferson’s Monticello, as Mara Liasson just did.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Monticello over the years, and they’re gonna have to import Democrats, I’m sure there are none in town. For restaurants there is a choice of Hardee’s and Happy Joe’s Pizza Buffet.
Monticello is home to the uncle who doesn’t think anyone needs any books except the Bible.That pretty much says it all.
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Jeff Borden said on April 13, 2015 at 9:30 am
The roles Iowa and New Hampshire play in American politics are absolutely absurd.
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brian stouder said on April 13, 2015 at 9:45 am
Jeff – agreed, but still we’re (voters at large) better off than the old days of brokered conventions…if only slightly
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Charlotte said on April 13, 2015 at 10:04 am
I swear by these really sticky band-aids that you leave on for a couple of days. Three weeks ago — left index finger, sliced it bad while grafting apple branches (we’ll see if they take, I’m new at this). And Sherrie –the review says they work for people who are allergic to most adhesives. (http://www.band-aid.com/read_review&productId=1039)
Some of us in town are very excited that as part of the new hospital expansion, we’re getting an urgent care. Others are busy pitching fits about how the hospital board LIED to them and changed the name to reflect the partnership with the Billings Clinic. LIED. BETRAYED THE SACRED TRUST OF LIVINGSTON. Me, I think the hysteria is ridiculous — our hospital was built in the 50s, and you can feel the MRSA lurking in the grout. A new hospital, connected with big fat internet tubes to the real hospital in Billings, *and* an Urgent Care? Call it whatever the hell you want.
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LAMary said on April 13, 2015 at 10:06 am
I discovered I was allergic to adhesives when I had a C-section. Big rash and lot of itchiness at a bad time for both.
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Jeff Borden said on April 13, 2015 at 10:27 am
I don’t have a problem with the primary system per se, Brian, and agree that it’s better than a bunch of plutocrats and ward healers making the pick. But the whole Iowa caucus thing is a silly kabuki theater that serves only to push the Republican candidates much further to the right. New Hampshire is not much better. And neither state is anything close to what would be considered the norm in our nation. Rural, agricultural Iowa has only 3.1 million citizens. New Hampshire has 1.3 million and a tiny economy.
I’m already dreading the next presidential campaign. God, it will be gruesome. . .especially if Hillary Clinton gets the nod on the Democratic side, which I guess is an inevitability. I’ll have no choice but to vote for the Democratic candidate, since all the GOPers seem to want to declare war on Iran on the first day in office and the Republican Party now stands about 180 degrees from my viewpoints on important issues of the day. Christ, for the Supreme Court appointments alone, we have to hold the White House.
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Deborah said on April 13, 2015 at 10:31 am
Slicing fingers is so inconvenient. I’ve got lots of stitches in fingers from being a graphic designer using exacto knives. The nerves never grow back together properly and you get numb or tingly spots.
I didn’t watch any TV last night because LB had a birthday party for one of her friends. My husband and I cleared out and spent the night at Ten Thousand Waves, a spa in town where they also have lodging. We had a soak in a hot tub, very chi chi, except it was free, a gift from a friend of LB’s who works here. We’re still here, check out is at noon and it’s very relaxing. LB and her friends watched Game of Thrones during the party, they’re all big fans.
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Dorothy said on April 13, 2015 at 11:11 am
A nice bagel guillotine on Amazon.com is $24.95! Then they have a Walmart-style cheapie one for $6.50, also on Amazon – it’s acrylic. Ebay has lots of them, too I’ve seen them in stores but don’t buy bagels often enough to justify having a special cutter. I do it like BigHank53.
Look at all of THESE nifty choices! http://top10bestreview.com/top-10-best-and-quality-bread-slicer-review/
Telling you all of these ideas is akin to my mother telling us, after we might have cut our finger, or tripped down the stairs, “Honey, don’t do that.” Or as we abbreviate it in my family, HDDT. You’ve already done it so why tell me not to do it?!!? But you get the idea – we don’t want you to cut yourself again.
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Dexter said on April 13, 2015 at 11:35 am
Guenter Grass has transitioned. I’ll bet most of you have read some of his writings. I was blown away when I first read his stories in The New Yorker. He was a Hitler Youth but that is just the beginning of his story.
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Jolene said on April 13, 2015 at 11:50 am
Dorothy, my mother had a slightly different version of HDDT. Hers was, “Why didn’t you ask me if you needed help?” This was uttered when she discovered something that I hadn’t done as well as she thought it should be done. The answer, of course, was that I didn’t ask because I thought I was doing fine until she told me I was doing whatever it was wrong.
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Dexter said on April 13, 2015 at 11:52 am
JeffB, I’ll take it one step further…I’m done. I remember being interested in the 1956 election as a small child, and every one since. I typed my fingers into crampy hooks after blogging began a few elections ago. Well, I guess it was the illegal war against Iraq, the degradation of the nation that whole war scene has brought upon us, and as we wept with joy at the thought of re-birth as we elected an African-American President, we then cringed when his promises turned to echoes bouncing to the stars: Guantanamo Bay , that prison that Obama promised to close immediately…well…it’s still going strong.
Instead he hit the ground running with a temporary “cash for clunkers” automobile buy-back-then-crush program and a temporary program to shore up roadways a bit and employ a few thousand folks…temporarily. Red neck congressman shouted him down in The Mighty Halls during a SOTU as I recall, screaming “LIAR!” at him…no repercussions.
Well, I really became disillusioned in 2006 when the off-year elections went left a bit and the power was there to de-fund the Iraq war. Nope. The Democrats , Pelosi, Kerry, nearly all of them, funded with enthusiasm the war effort, and Hillary Clinton sat in a fancy chair in the Baghdad Green Zone praising the war and promising full speed ahead as the goal was in sight! I got over it and voted for her in the ’08 primary. Maybe I can do it again. But I’m old and tired of all the BS.
And in Goldsboro today another college shooting.
And my van is going to be down for days as the parts come trickling in to repair it. And it’s raining out. Bah. It’s Monday.
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Sherri said on April 13, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Charlotte, those bandaids do work for me. In general, I’ve found that the waterproof adhesives are less likely to cause a reaction. Those waterproof transparent films that Tegaderm are also great; I can wear them for days without any problem. Spray-on bandages are a disaster, though.
I’ve tried some to find out what the different adhesives are, but there’s not a lot of information available.
LAMary, I had the same experience with my C-section. I didn’t really realize that I had an allergic reaction to adhesive until then.
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Sherri said on April 13, 2015 at 12:05 pm
On bagels, after reading once years ago about the number of visits to emergency rooms bagel slicing accidents produced, I switched slicing techniques. I lay the bagel flat and slice horizontally. A bagel cutter device is even safer, though.
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Jeff Borden said on April 13, 2015 at 12:15 pm
I hear you, Dexter. Maybe I’ll disconnect from the Internet for the remainder. . .
I’m certainly not overly enthused by the idea of a Hillary run. As noted above, I cannot foresee ever casting a presidential ballot for the GOP, but that doesn’t mean I like the idea of a coronation. While she isn’t the monster portrayed in right-wing circles, she is way too comfortable with Wall Street and corporate America and she’s likely to be a foreign policy hawk based on her previous record. And the baggage she brings along? Ohmigod.
And, finally, I’m sick to death of family political dynasties, whether they are named Bush, Clinton, Daley or Cuomo.
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alex said on April 13, 2015 at 12:53 pm
I just hope Bill can keep his dick in his drawers for the next two years. That’s one distraction we don’t need.
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adrianne said on April 13, 2015 at 1:02 pm
In what I’m reading as an implicit rebuke to MoDo, who had one of her most idiotic columns on Hillary running for president – last line, why doesn’t she just donate all that campaign cash to the children? – Paul Krugman has a pretty good column today saying forget the personality b.s., the two parties offer such stark choices that it doesn’t matter too much who the candidates are. The Repubs are on a path of mindless destruction of the economy and overseas. All of them, doesn’t matter who gets the nomination. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/opinion/it-takes-a-party.html
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beb said on April 13, 2015 at 1:56 pm
I’m glad Krugman paid out the options so vividly. It’s true there are no good Republicans running for office, and it will be hard to find a worse Democrat.
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LAMary said on April 13, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I don’t know what Physician Assistants make in Michigan, but I do know what they make here in the LA area and I bet it’s better than what an MD makes in the Philippines. Nurse practitioners do pretty well too, depending on the specialty.
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Charlotte said on April 13, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Anyone watching Wolf Hall? I have a huge new crush on Mark Rylance … and the costumes! As someone who sews just a tiny big, I’m fascinated by the costumes … although wouldn’t want to have to wear the boob-smasher bodices those women were smooshed into.
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Sherri said on April 13, 2015 at 2:37 pm
I’m not wild about political dynasties, Hillary’s politics aren’t my favorite, but all that is marginal compared to the hot mess that is Republicanism. Maybe Hillary will start out where Obama has finally ended up: there’s no point in trying to work with the Republicans, because they don’t want to work with you.
One more reason to vote for the Democratic candidate: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/04/uninsured-rate-falls-again-for-random-reason.html
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brian stouder said on April 13, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Basset – the photos you linked yesterday, of the Nashville water filtration plant are strikingly similar to Fort Wayne’s plant. Thanks for sharing them.
As I said, touring Fort Wayne’s facility was almost dream-like; this strange and magnificent edifice, that I’d never been in before, and which directly serves me every single day. (and you have to love the architectural flair that they added to these essential facilities)
Charlotte – Pam has me watching Outlander, which was hard-R porno, last night at least…
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Judybusy said on April 13, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Charlotte–just began watching last night. We had to catch the first episode on demand, then got the second one. I really love the settings, the costumes, etc. I was a bit surprised how tentatively Rylance is playing Cromwell; in my eye, he comes across as much more assertive in the books. Yes, he is still getting things done, but he doesn’t seem as sure of himself as the written character. Makes me want to re-read the books.
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Jolene said on April 13, 2015 at 2:46 pm
I’m watching it too and really liking it. I haven’t read the books, so was glad that my PBS channel broadcast “Inside the Court of Henry VIII,” a one-hour show that provides the highlights of the sweep of history covered in the Mantel books. I don’t know whether it was made as a companion to the WH videos, but it works like one. If you’re interested and are a Roku user, you can find it on the PBS channel. Also available through iTunes.
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Julie Robinson said on April 13, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Wolf Hall is in my queue but I’m behind on TV. The folks in the Brit TV facebook groups have been raving about it so I’m looking forward to it, and the costumes. I read that they spent a lot on the costumes and made most of them, rather than renting retreads as so many shows do. (Did you know there are people who obsessively search shows for costume repeats and post them? It’s true, you can find anything on the internet!)
As for Hillary, I think she’s the best we’ve got right now. I’m at work so I can’t go look for it, but Elizabeth Warren’s last appearance on The Daily Show was stirring. She clearly and emphatically made the case on how the rich have purchased DC at every level. I was ready to send her campaign money.
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Jolene said on April 13, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Brit TV Facebook groups? Can you point me to them? I’m embarrassed to admit how much my reading has dropped off since I got streaming video, and British crime/detective shows have made up a substantial share of my viewing.
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beb said on April 13, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Someone pointed out that while the Bush family is a typical political dynasty – GHW Bush was pres. His son was pres. His other son is running for pres and he has a grandson just starting out in the political game. Meanwhile Hillary is Bubba’s wife, not his daughter or granddaughter. There’s no dynasty there.
When it comes to First Ladies succeeding their husbands, I’d rather have Mrs. Obama than Mrs. Clinton.
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Julie Robinson said on April 13, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Jolene, I found them by liking the Downton Abbey page. I think a couple have since become secret.
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Jeff Borden said on April 13, 2015 at 6:58 pm
I’m with you, Beb.
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Sherri said on April 13, 2015 at 7:22 pm
I’m hopeful that Clinton will run a better campaign than last time. Mark Penn is working for Microsoft now, which is bad for Microsoft but good for Clinton. I also hope that Clinton incorporates Elizabeth Warren’s ideas into her campaign.
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Beth Backus said on April 13, 2015 at 10:44 pm
Brian, good for Pam. Outlander is wonderful. I’ve read all the books–superb writing. Was worried about the Starz series, but it has been a surprisingly good small-scale adaptation. Give it a chance.
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Beth Backus said on April 13, 2015 at 10:47 pm
I hate auto correct. I meant small screen–without the hyphen, phone will leave the word alone.
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Dexter said on April 14, 2015 at 1:15 am
Damn. I just got my credit card paid down to zero zero and, of course…a $600 car repair.
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brian stouder said on April 14, 2015 at 7:25 am
Beth – indeed, Outlander has me pulled in; the porno remark was really only because Pam would never let me hear the end of it, if it was “my” show instead of hers!
We watch it with subtitles on, so as to not miss some of the more colloquial remarks!
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on April 14, 2015 at 9:02 am
This is really not JUST for Brian (on this 150th commemoration of the night Lincoln went to the theater and did not return), but it’s the kind of history I love to do locally, and shows why it can be important. Big kudos to this pastor in Virginia, who found the one document that changes a story in a resonant, beautiful, tragic way.
http://www.npr.org/2015/04/12/398838458/discovery-gives-new-ending-to-a-death-at-the-civil-wars-close
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brian stouder said on April 14, 2015 at 11:10 am
Jeff – ‘beautiful and tragic’, indeed; a wonderful, terrible reminder of where we were, not so long ago.
I’m down to the last 30 pages* of Harold Holzer’s book on Lincoln and the press, and that lended another echo, as the article concluded with how AP picked up the story and ran it nationwide.
*I’m a slow reader anyway, but as the end of great book approaches, I slow down more
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