Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Of Books and a MRI Machines

I went to the hospital this at 10am today for the MRI.  After all the check in procedures, they told me there would be a delay because there were several in-patient's that they were working in ahead of me.  Ok....that's fine, I understand that.  But this was at 10:30am and today was Book Club Day which started shortly after noon.  In fact Barbara was going to be at my house about 11:50am.  I knew I'd never make it so, I asked if they could work me in later this afternoon and they said I could come back about 5pm.  I actually got there about 4:15pm and was in the machine within 15 minutes.

If you've ever had an MRI, you know that the exam takes awhile and the noise is terrible.  They give you headphones and ask which kind of music you'd like to hear but you really can't hear much except all the loud & weird noises of the machine. Now I've had many MRI's, several on my head (for migraines), one or two on my back but today something happened that was a first.  I actually fell asleep on that hard, uncomfortable table and with all the blasting noises of the machine.  I couldn't believe it.  Now all these exams produce a digital picture, so as I left, they handed me a package with the films.  The tech's words to me were "you're family doctor will get the report tomorrow and then when you see the orthopedic surgeon, you'll have the films."   I didn't like the sound of the last part of that sentence at all !!!!

Onto the middle of my day.  This being the first Wednesday of the month, it was Book Club Day at the local Roundtable Pizza.  Once again two local authors visited us and told us a little about their life as published writers. 

 The first author was Marianne Stillings, who besides writing books is still working a management job at the Boeing Company. She was quite delightful and we all enjoyed her. On my way back to the hospital, I stopped at Half Price Books and bought two of her books (I know...I don't need anymore books) "Satisfaction" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evie." 

The second author was Pat Pritchard (western romance) who also writes under the name of Alexis Morgan (paranormal type books).  She started by writing western romance and that was what she was known for. So when she had a desire to change genre, her publisher said she'd need to use a different name.  So she chose "Alexis Morgan"....the names of her two cats.  That cracked us up.  How many other authors choose a name that way?    One of her Pat Pritchard books is entitled "The Book of Love."  That one sounded like a fun book, so I'll look for it on line. Half Price Books didn't have it.  Pat also worked for many years, as a teaching assistant retiring last June. I guess being just a writer is a hard way to make a living, until you've been published hundreds of times.

I heard from our journal friend Joni again today.  She and her husband have been visiting family and friends in Arizona but are on their way home.  When she contacted me this afternoon they were in Jackpot, Nevada and would be going from there to Boise, Idaho to visit family and then thru eastern Washington to their home here in western Washington.

It was a beautiful day here today....sunny and I think the temperature got up into the middle 50's.  Maybe, just maybe that bad winter weather is over.................

I'm waiting to get my hands on the memory card from Bob's camera to do the entry on his (not mine~I spent the day in the cabin) visit to Ensenada, Mexico.   All I have are pictures taken from the ship. 

Now that's it's been a few weeks since the Writer's strike was settled, the regular week night programs are slowly returning.  Now call me crazy...but I absolutely love "The Office."  I even have Seasons One & Two on DVD and Season Three on order.  It was always on late when I was working (in an office) so couldn't watch it on a regular basis.  Well back to "The Office"... this Thursday night it's back and on for 2 solid hours !!!  I won't be on the computer and I won't be answering the phone or the door. I'll be absorbed in the goings on at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

Until next time........Linda

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is that book club thing at the roundtable on Hosmer?  I have a photography group meeting there once a month. :-)

I can't imagine falling asleep in an MRI - noisy!  Hope the reports are all good - thinking positive thoughts.

Did you go to the goodbye party for the boss lady?

Monica
http://journals.aol.com/mariebm56/aol-community-photo-challenge/entries/2008/03/28/aol-community-photo-challengeaged-fun/659

Anonymous said...

Ooops wrong link at the bottom there! LOL - I was adding a link in my entry and forgot it was that and not my journal links.  Sorry about that!

Monica

Anonymous said...

I can't stand the MRI machine.  It makes me physically ill and I have panic attacks.  I have to use an open MRI (which my doctor finally has thankfully).  I was reading you side bar and it sounds like you have had a full life.  I wish I lived closer to the ocean (I'm in TN) but I would prefer the Gulf I think...lol.
Hugs, Joyce

Anonymous said...

is an MRI the same as a CAT scan?  I think I have had one just not sure which one.

Anonymous said...

that doesn't sound good, Linda, when the tech said that comment about the orthopedic surgeon; but at least you got the MRI done; I never had one yet, but I heard you have to lie still and its a bit claustrophic, I'm not sure about that, LOL

that book club sounds fun and both authors highlighted today sound like great ones to check out; thanks!

looking forward to Bob's pictures when you get a chance to post them

betty

Anonymous said...

Evening my friend,

I am glad your MRI procedure went all right but don't you just love the idiotic comments technicians can make.

Well I am glad to hear someone else is a TV rerun addict.   My son bought me season 1 and 2 of JAG and then I got 4567....and my poor Chuckie gets to go to sleep with another episode.  

Looking forward to the possibility of a get-together.

Tomorrow Hubby has his physio. and I will pick up my car that I had detailed.
I think I may give it to my youngest as her hubby has been transferred to a firehall much further from home and their second vehicle is not that reliable

This car originally belonged to this daughter so she knows it is reliable.

Love and hugs..

Lori

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda,
thank you for the warm comment on my Blog today.
How did you find my blog anyway?  It's so good to meet kind hearted people like you in this goofy world.
Cordially,
Tom Schuckman
Union Grove, WI
"Old Soldier Tom's Journal"
tschuckman@aol.com
Disabled Vietnam Veteran:  68-70.

Anonymous said...

I'm not fond of MRI's but.......... Hope everything turns out well.

Jimmy

Anonymous said...

HOpe the results of your MRI are alright!  Loved reading about all your goings on yesterday.  What an interesting book club you belong to.  How wonderful that you get to actually meet some authors and such.  We had beautiful weather here yesterday as well.  I believe that spring has truly sprung!  We had the British Version of The Office over here.  I have never watched it, if you can believe it!  But now I wish I had!
Marie
http://ayearatoakcottage.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Hope the results from the MRI are OK, Linda.

Anonymous said...

My son had his MRI a few days ago and they asked him if he wanted the headphones and he looks at them and signed "what for" I can't hear anyhow! lol  Must have been weird feeling all that rumbling and not hearing any of it!  LOL  He was labeled as having Migraines too.  They gave him meds and home we went.   Hope yours turns out good!  

Anonymous said...

hi linda, i hope the results from the mri are ok. take care mrs t xxx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mleppard06/eternity/

Anonymous said...

I hope the results are favorable.  I am so claustrophobic I have to be sedated, they attempted once to do it without sedation and I had such a panic attack my blood pressure went dangerously high.  You are one tough lady to be able to fall asleep in that horrible little chamber!!!
Lisa

Anonymous said...

(((((((((((((((LINDA))))))))))))))))))))))I will be raying for good outcome on the resluts of your test.

Anonymous said...

Hope they didn't see anything too serious during the MRI. I've fallen asleep during an MRI too, LOL! Martha :-)

Anonymous said...

I had to laugh at you going to sleep while having your MRI ~ wouldn't it be lovely if everyone could do that :o) ~ hope the results are good ~ Ally x

Anonymous said...

Great story, just enough humor - hoping for good results.  CATHY

Anonymous said...

Fell asleep during an MRI?   I've never heard of such!!  lol  (I've never had one, either.     Maybe the chick just assumed you'd be seeing an orthopedic surgeon.   She probably just says that to everyone, so don't worry too much yet.
~Meg