Spader's back... yay! Our satellite got fixed, well kind of, and we now get all the channels that had mysteriously disappeared (except CNN). It was quite a bummer during the election, but that's where the Internet came in handy. So we are back watching "The Practice" - we are on the Jill Clayburgh episode for those of you who may have been watching this in real time back in 2004. It pays to stay out of the mainstream; now that we are able to watch these old series, they seem brand new to us!
By the way, I'm sick of being sick as a dog! I got really tired of the chronic sore throat and went to the American Medical Center. I think the "American" part just means that it's super expensive... Well we found the
place near the Embassy. The greatest part is that they speak English - it comes in handy, especially when you're not feeling well. I went in and chatted with the Indian doctor, trained in Britain, whose wife and kids live in Russia... he tested me for strep - negative. He gave me, or at the last minute had his nurse give me (Joe was in the examination room with me) the anti-inflammation shot. Don't ask... Actually, the shot hadn't been ready - it was in the delivery truck caught in traffic, so while we waited for the drug delivery, the doc showed me how to administer some nose spray he was prescribing for my irritated and inflamed nasal passages. OK, so you're supposed to spray it in a nostril then snort it up. Probably second nature for some people, but for me it was like patting my head and rubbing my stomach, so I had to concentrate. Nostril one was not quite successful... nostril two - WOW! I could tell I had done it "right"... it seemed to go straight into my brain - a combination of eating ice cream too fast and turning a somersault in the pool and forgetting to hold your nose (see suspicious-looking bottle with blue top in photo).
place near the Embassy. The greatest part is that they speak English - it comes in handy, especially when you're not feeling well. I went in and chatted with the Indian doctor, trained in Britain, whose wife and kids live in Russia... he tested me for strep - negative. He gave me, or at the last minute had his nurse give me (Joe was in the examination room with me) the anti-inflammation shot. Don't ask... Actually, the shot hadn't been ready - it was in the delivery truck caught in traffic, so while we waited for the drug delivery, the doc showed me how to administer some nose spray he was prescribing for my irritated and inflamed nasal passages. OK, so you're supposed to spray it in a nostril then snort it up. Probably second nature for some people, but for me it was like patting my head and rubbing my stomach, so I had to concentrate. Nostril one was not quite successful... nostril two - WOW! I could tell I had done it "right"... it seemed to go straight into my brain - a combination of eating ice cream too fast and turning a somersault in the pool and forgetting to hold your nose (see suspicious-looking bottle with blue top in photo).
To make a long story short, when I was paying the bill I started to feel woozy. We walked to the metro and I felt HORRIBLE. Actually, I felt positively dizzy and a pain like I had never felt before in my head struck me. I staggered around as we changed trains (thank god Joe was guiding me around and a kind young man gave me his metro seat - I was able to muster the Russian for 'thank you'). I finally made it home and hit the couch, took some Excedrin, and held my head. Joe asked, "What would you like me to do?" I said I wished for an ice pack; I knew we didn't even have ice. Joe thought quickly and ran for the bag of frozen green beans. I put it on my head and it slowly eased the intense migraine I was experiencing. God bless vegetables from the frozen foods section! Joe called the doc and he said maybe I snorted too enthusiastically - he had TOLD ME TO! (the doc, not Joe) Anyhow, I recovered and the shot actually brought down my swelling. I think I may finally get over this "bug" as I have to give trainings for Peace Corps next week!
Finally, I'd just like to say in addition to all the above, I felt smart this week. We watched "Network" - an old movie from the 70's that I had never seen. I highly recommend it and wish they still made movies like this... ones with good acting and thought-provoking subject matter. It's true that the more things change, the more they stay the same... crazy! I've always identified with the 70's even though I was just a kid then. Weird.
More soon...
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