Monday, October 31, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
An Office Romance RTF
An Office Romance RTF is worth the read for anyone who has ever worked in an office with Office for months on end. (like me...)
Warning: This story was originally written for Playboy magazine, so it is a bit racy!
later...
Warning: This story was originally written for Playboy magazine, so it is a bit racy!
later...
Broccoli Toast and Spinach Spread
Sandra has been developing her personal culinary specialities. She was very happy with her Broccoli toast creation the other night. I insisted on eating my boiled broccoli by itself; but, Sandra said I was being silly and the Broccoli toast was delicious.
Today in my lunch box I have spinach spread on the rolls Sandra packed for me this morning. I am not quite sure how she prepares this gourmet food; but I know it involves spinach, cheese and a food processor.
later...
Today in my lunch box I have spinach spread on the rolls Sandra packed for me this morning. I am not quite sure how she prepares this gourmet food; but I know it involves spinach, cheese and a food processor.
later...
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Engagement Party...
Well the weekend is almost over and so is the Engagement Party events. It all started at about seven thirty am on Friday morning when my father arrived to fetch me for the airport. We arrived in Capetown at about 11 am and picked up the hired car and made our way down to Claremont and the B&B at which we were staying.
The B&B was very comfortable and relaxing except that I kept sneezing and my ears kept itching. Anyways, I suddenly found out that my shoes were not acceptable (which was true) and that we were going to go shopping for new shoes. But first we went to say hello to Jonx and Steven and to have some lunch at Carlucci's.
After that we went shopping at the Claremont shopping center which I found to be quite an ordeal. Eventually I asked to be taken back to the B&B for forty winks whilst my mother stayed at the center.
Later I had a shower and set off to meet our new in-laws-to-be. We arrived at the President hotel where a suite had been hired out for a cozy warm heimische shabbas dinner.
The evening was a delight and was fill with laughter conversation and smiles. Afterwards we all headed homeward warm and flushed with the enjoyment of the family celebration.
The next morning I was up early and my father dropped me off at Stevie and Jonx's; and whisked Jonx off to purchase his fancy shmancy Canon digital camera with which he hopes to drive his career as a photographer.
[UPDATE]: The new photo of me on my blog; and the beautiful picture of Robbie and Terri were taken by Jonx with his new camera.
I relaxed and playstationed for a while; and then made contact with Arik and went over for a visit and a laugh. A few hours later I was back at the flat and then Jonx and Mom and Dad and Stevie were all in the flat. It was almost 3pm and I was hungry.
Jonx and I went off to Carlucci's for a bite. Howie then contacted me and he joined us at the table. Soon Robbie and Terri were there too and we all ate and chatted. Terri had just had her hair cut and styled in anticipation of the Engagement party at the Grace hotel at the Waterfront.
After lunch I headed back to the B&B with my parents to relax before the evening's fun.
At 6 we arrived at the Grace hotel; and after a bit of confusion finding the bar that had been reserved for the private function; I found a seat and ensconced myself waiting for the people. And people arrived.
Brett Pillemer and Howie Gasmin and Shaun Knox were the people there that I knew the best. It was a fun evening.
The next morning I was up early and spent breakfast chatting with Phil, the son of the owners of the B&B. He had completed an honours in Physics (in astrophysics) a few years ago; and, over the last few years had been studying philosophy. He had just received a scholarship from Oxford to study the philosophy of physics.
After breakfast I joined Jason and Naomi for the morning (whilst my parents and Jonx and Steven went up for a scenic journey around Stellenbosch.) I had and enjoyed breakfast and then wandered Greenpoint market. I bought a second-hand CD of Eddie Brickhill and the New Bohemians, a belt and a flying pig.
[UPDATE]: I was so exicted when I got home to give Sandra the flying pig as a present; that I dropped it on the floor and it broke.
After the morning of reminiscing and chatting and catching up I got dropped off at the flat.
I wanted to playstation but there is something wrong with tv remote so I could not get the station to change to the playstation channel.
So... I decided to be productive and write these memories down before they disappear into the fog of memory.
I think I will return to my current novel that I am reading, the new Umberto Eco novel.
later...
The B&B was very comfortable and relaxing except that I kept sneezing and my ears kept itching. Anyways, I suddenly found out that my shoes were not acceptable (which was true) and that we were going to go shopping for new shoes. But first we went to say hello to Jonx and Steven and to have some lunch at Carlucci's.
After that we went shopping at the Claremont shopping center which I found to be quite an ordeal. Eventually I asked to be taken back to the B&B for forty winks whilst my mother stayed at the center.
Later I had a shower and set off to meet our new in-laws-to-be. We arrived at the President hotel where a suite had been hired out for a cozy warm heimische shabbas dinner.
The evening was a delight and was fill with laughter conversation and smiles. Afterwards we all headed homeward warm and flushed with the enjoyment of the family celebration.
The next morning I was up early and my father dropped me off at Stevie and Jonx's; and whisked Jonx off to purchase his fancy shmancy Canon digital camera with which he hopes to drive his career as a photographer.
[UPDATE]: The new photo of me on my blog; and the beautiful picture of Robbie and Terri were taken by Jonx with his new camera.
I relaxed and playstationed for a while; and then made contact with Arik and went over for a visit and a laugh. A few hours later I was back at the flat and then Jonx and Mom and Dad and Stevie were all in the flat. It was almost 3pm and I was hungry.
Jonx and I went off to Carlucci's for a bite. Howie then contacted me and he joined us at the table. Soon Robbie and Terri were there too and we all ate and chatted. Terri had just had her hair cut and styled in anticipation of the Engagement party at the Grace hotel at the Waterfront.
After lunch I headed back to the B&B with my parents to relax before the evening's fun.
At 6 we arrived at the Grace hotel; and after a bit of confusion finding the bar that had been reserved for the private function; I found a seat and ensconced myself waiting for the people. And people arrived.
Brett Pillemer and Howie Gasmin and Shaun Knox were the people there that I knew the best. It was a fun evening.
The next morning I was up early and spent breakfast chatting with Phil, the son of the owners of the B&B. He had completed an honours in Physics (in astrophysics) a few years ago; and, over the last few years had been studying philosophy. He had just received a scholarship from Oxford to study the philosophy of physics.
After breakfast I joined Jason and Naomi for the morning (whilst my parents and Jonx and Steven went up for a scenic journey around Stellenbosch.) I had and enjoyed breakfast and then wandered Greenpoint market. I bought a second-hand CD of Eddie Brickhill and the New Bohemians, a belt and a flying pig.
[UPDATE]: I was so exicted when I got home to give Sandra the flying pig as a present; that I dropped it on the floor and it broke.
After the morning of reminiscing and chatting and catching up I got dropped off at the flat.
I wanted to playstation but there is something wrong with tv remote so I could not get the station to change to the playstation channel.
So... I decided to be productive and write these memories down before they disappear into the fog of memory.
I think I will return to my current novel that I am reading, the new Umberto Eco novel.
later...
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Ancient Persian Custom
Apparently the Persians before they would serve their meals would bring out a silver tray to display to all diners. On the tray would be a whip and a scale. All diners would have some time to meditate on these two items; and then the actual food would be be brought out to enjoy. These two items were meant to lead one to eat with modesty and with forethought; so one would not eat what was not suitable to each individuals constitution and one would not eat out of balance with one's needs.
When I told Sandra about this interesting custom she thought perhaps we should emulate the Persian way and take this ancient tradition up ourselves. But its not possible as we cannot afford to buy a silver tray at the moment.
I have now written two out of five exams and feel saitisifed that I did all right. I have a third tomorrow. Sandra writes her first exam tomorrow - Chemistry. This is the subject she struggled with the most; so I am relieved that it will be out the way quickest so that her tension dissipates a little.
She has just been for a stroll to relax a bit; and has just returned to tell me that according to the fact that I am not studying "my lovely husband has ten minutes for me".
so, until later...
When I told Sandra about this interesting custom she thought perhaps we should emulate the Persian way and take this ancient tradition up ourselves. But its not possible as we cannot afford to buy a silver tray at the moment.
I have now written two out of five exams and feel saitisifed that I did all right. I have a third tomorrow. Sandra writes her first exam tomorrow - Chemistry. This is the subject she struggled with the most; so I am relieved that it will be out the way quickest so that her tension dissipates a little.
She has just been for a stroll to relax a bit; and has just returned to tell me that according to the fact that I am not studying "my lovely husband has ten minutes for me".
so, until later...
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
Phone fixed
Well at last after 5 days without a phone our phone is now working again.
Last week we discovered that our phone was no longer working. I called Telkom and informed them that there was a problem that needed to be fixed. (I called them on the 5th.) I told them that there would only be people at home on the 5th and on the 7th. But that there would be no-one here on the the 6th.
Of course, on the 6th, I got a phone call at 8:30 am from Telkom technician.
"Hello, I am outside your flat."
Anyways, he said he would come back on the 7th.
Of course he did not. I phoned three times on the 7th.
Eventually someone turned up on the 8th. He looked at the line. He did things with his special telkom equipment. He concluded that the problem was not with our line but with the exchange. He said it would be fixed in 1/2 an hour.
Of course it was not.
I phoned Telkom again later on the 8th. I phoned again on the 9th. On the 9th the operator who answered the phone said she would escalate the problem to management.
On the 10th at 8:30am I got a call from Telkom management promising me he would personally make sure the problem was resolved.
1 hour later it was - apparently some piece of equipment somewhere somehow stopped working.
Anyways, I have a working phone again. After almost a week without a phone. Yay.
Tomorrow I write my first of 5 UNISA exams. Structured System Analysis.
later...
Last week we discovered that our phone was no longer working. I called Telkom and informed them that there was a problem that needed to be fixed. (I called them on the 5th.) I told them that there would only be people at home on the 5th and on the 7th. But that there would be no-one here on the the 6th.
Of course, on the 6th, I got a phone call at 8:30 am from Telkom technician.
"Hello, I am outside your flat."
Anyways, he said he would come back on the 7th.
Of course he did not. I phoned three times on the 7th.
Eventually someone turned up on the 8th. He looked at the line. He did things with his special telkom equipment. He concluded that the problem was not with our line but with the exchange. He said it would be fixed in 1/2 an hour.
Of course it was not.
I phoned Telkom again later on the 8th. I phoned again on the 9th. On the 9th the operator who answered the phone said she would escalate the problem to management.
On the 10th at 8:30am I got a call from Telkom management promising me he would personally make sure the problem was resolved.
1 hour later it was - apparently some piece of equipment somewhere somehow stopped working.
Anyways, I have a working phone again. After almost a week without a phone. Yay.
Tomorrow I write my first of 5 UNISA exams. Structured System Analysis.
later...
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Physics
Sandra just phoned me all excited, as she just discovered that for her last Physics test she got an amazing 74% - which means that her year mark for Physics is 68%.
She also got an average of 72% for her anatomy tests!
Not so long ago she was all despondent about Physics and felt that she had no hope in doing well enough to be allowed to sit for the final exams.
Well, it seems that its only Chemistry that is still unknown and a big worry.
She should know by the end of the day.
And on a more frustrated note something has gone wrong with my telephone line at home. It is not working. The technician is going to come tomorrow morning to take a look.
And on a more organised note I have organised a new passport. (my old passport was expiring in December). I now have a South Africa passport valid until 2015.
Sandra's passport has expired; and she has not yet got round to doing something about that.
[UPDATE]: Sandra says that this is not true. She has phoned them and they say she has to wait until someone gets back from holiday somewhere else before she can apply for a new passport etc. She says they also said that a temporary passport should be possible.
Thats a bit of a worry as we were thinking of going to visit Germany in late January to congratulate the newlyweds. Hopefully she will be able to sort something out.
later...
[UPDATE]: Sandra has her DP for chemistry. So she can write all the exams.
She also got an average of 72% for her anatomy tests!
Not so long ago she was all despondent about Physics and felt that she had no hope in doing well enough to be allowed to sit for the final exams.
Well, it seems that its only Chemistry that is still unknown and a big worry.
She should know by the end of the day.
And on a more frustrated note something has gone wrong with my telephone line at home. It is not working. The technician is going to come tomorrow morning to take a look.
And on a more organised note I have organised a new passport. (my old passport was expiring in December). I now have a South Africa passport valid until 2015.
Sandra's passport has expired; and she has not yet got round to doing something about that.
[UPDATE]: Sandra says that this is not true. She has phoned them and they say she has to wait until someone gets back from holiday somewhere else before she can apply for a new passport etc. She says they also said that a temporary passport should be possible.
Thats a bit of a worry as we were thinking of going to visit Germany in late January to congratulate the newlyweds. Hopefully she will be able to sort something out.
later...
[UPDATE]: Sandra has her DP for chemistry. So she can write all the exams.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Platelet scare on Shabat before New Year!
Well 18 months ago my platelets count were plummeting to zero; I needed absurd amounts of cortisone to be stay above 20k; IVIG stopped working and I was strongly resistant to take the treatments that could make me infertile. And then I took Mabthera and my count soared.
Since then I have been above 150k. Occasionaly 400+k. Once I dropped to 121k but went up again.
Since then (the 121k) I have been very careful to try and only do the count when I feel good and healthy; and when I feel uccky I try not to test unless I have good reason to be concerned!
And then on Tuesday, I had a headache did a platelet count (114k) went onto antibiotics crossed my fingers.
That night just after midnight I experienced rigors. I started shivering uncontrollably and feeling very very very cold. My wife took my temperature and I had no temperature. I was shivering so much I could not talk properly; and my wife rushed me to casualty at the hospital. By the time time I got to the hospital the shaking had stopped. I returned home.
I took a platelet count the next afternoon.
41k.
Not a happy moment. I have never been that low and not kept falling to hit zero.
I phoned my doctor and made an appointment for the next morning.
I did a count Friday morning.
48k.
I was really relieved. (Funny that the way one feels to a count is so relative!) Meanwhile I felt that worst of the virus was over. I was keeping my sinuses clear and sleeping.
I chatted with my doctor. She said that long term statistics were coming in on the Mabthera. That in Belgium patients were staying in remission 36 months, 48 months.
She said my strange rigors was probably because due to all the immuno-suppressants I have taken over the years my body does not react properly to viruses. (As well as being asplenic.)
I said I did not want to touch any cortisone or anything else unless I started presenting. She agreed, she said it was clear that cortisone for me was not a solution from my history. She said she would prepare the medical aid that I appeared to be relapsing and that I must test again on Monday (today) when hopefully the virus would be gone and lets all just cross fingers and press thumbs.
I tested at 6am this morning.
116k.
I immediately grabbed my tefillin and talit and rushed off to shacharit. (The Rav asked what my Mother's Hebrew name was and I was not sure, better find out so he can get the special prayer said for me...)
And I then set off for the 45 minute drive to work.
Looks like I am still in remission! And I had been trying to decide what books to take with me to hospital.
Well hopefully this is a good sign for the new year!
Happy New Year.
Since then I have been above 150k. Occasionaly 400+k. Once I dropped to 121k but went up again.
Since then (the 121k) I have been very careful to try and only do the count when I feel good and healthy; and when I feel uccky I try not to test unless I have good reason to be concerned!
And then on Tuesday, I had a headache did a platelet count (114k) went onto antibiotics crossed my fingers.
That night just after midnight I experienced rigors. I started shivering uncontrollably and feeling very very very cold. My wife took my temperature and I had no temperature. I was shivering so much I could not talk properly; and my wife rushed me to casualty at the hospital. By the time time I got to the hospital the shaking had stopped. I returned home.
I took a platelet count the next afternoon.
41k.
Not a happy moment. I have never been that low and not kept falling to hit zero.
I phoned my doctor and made an appointment for the next morning.
I did a count Friday morning.
48k.
I was really relieved. (Funny that the way one feels to a count is so relative!) Meanwhile I felt that worst of the virus was over. I was keeping my sinuses clear and sleeping.
I chatted with my doctor. She said that long term statistics were coming in on the Mabthera. That in Belgium patients were staying in remission 36 months, 48 months.
She said my strange rigors was probably because due to all the immuno-suppressants I have taken over the years my body does not react properly to viruses. (As well as being asplenic.)
I said I did not want to touch any cortisone or anything else unless I started presenting. She agreed, she said it was clear that cortisone for me was not a solution from my history. She said she would prepare the medical aid that I appeared to be relapsing and that I must test again on Monday (today) when hopefully the virus would be gone and lets all just cross fingers and press thumbs.
I tested at 6am this morning.
116k.
I immediately grabbed my tefillin and talit and rushed off to shacharit. (The Rav asked what my Mother's Hebrew name was and I was not sure, better find out so he can get the special prayer said for me...)
And I then set off for the 45 minute drive to work.
Looks like I am still in remission! And I had been trying to decide what books to take with me to hospital.
Well hopefully this is a good sign for the new year!
Happy New Year.
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