I saw my doctor in July 2022 and learned I had atrial fibrillation. Since then I’ve been taking meds for it and seeing a cardiologist. The meds had it under control until yesterday, when at a checkup with the cardiologist it was back. Now I’m scheduled for a cardioversion procedure to shock my telltale heart back into its regular rhythm, and have doubled the medication dosage. The procedure’s scheduled for the 1st of November, and it’s possible the increased dosage of flecainide will have done the trick by then, in which case no procedure. That’s what I’m hoping for, but if I have to get the shock treatment, I’m okay with that too. Too bad the procedure won’t be on Hallowe’en, which would be more appropriate, but maybe the med tech’ll have a hunchback or something. Getting old … full of surprises.
Hallowe’en, my birthday and favorite holiday. The unboxing of the birthday Seiko is less than a week away. Excitement abounds. As if that’s not enough to look forward to, our son Gregory and daughter-in-law Beth are driving down for Thanksgiving. Now to think of something we lads can smoke in the Weber. I lean toward brisket, with turkey breast a close second; Greg might have an even better idea.
A couple of years ago we started buying prepared Thanksgiving dinners, one year from Whole Foods and one year I think from Costco. We almost always share the day and the meal with our friend Mary Anne, who’ll join us again this year. I always like to smoke something out back — meat or poultry — to serve on the side. Our son and I (Mary Anne too) love anything smoked or smothered in barbecue sauce. I’m not sure about Beth, but I know Donna’s not that hot on yee-haw country cookin’; in any event, there’ll be something on the table for everyone, and lots of leftovers.
We started the week with 100°F highs, then yesterday it clouded over and never got out of the low 70s. It’s 10:30 a.m. on Thursday as I write, the thermometer outside the window showing 66°F. Damn, it’s about time.
As always happens when I put more than one library book at a time on hold, they come in a clump. I’m currently reading four — three novels and a collection of nonfiction essays — all due back in a week or two. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to retire to my reading chair, turn on the reading lamp, put my feet up on the reading hassock, put a dog in my reading lap, and fart around on the iPad for an hour before actually cracking a book.
Stay fresh, cheese bags.