Deciced to get back off Facebook, at least for a while

I think as I've said before, I tend to find it a net-negative experience.

Some great lyric poetry - set to music for the public (Schiller, Goethe and Verlaine)

Modernist lyric poetry (for academics only)

Gerard Manley Hopkins, T.S. Eliot et al. -- not a fan. (Except for Eliot's cat poems, which were the basis of a successful Broadway play.)

Found this interesting re: Richard Blanco's poem for Obama's inaugural, from Jahan Ramazani, an editor of The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry (already suspect to my mind):

“[It] was especially well suited to the occasion,” added Ramazani. “A more knotty or abstruse poem—even if it had a better chance of lasting or was more formally innovative, less conventional in its imagery or diction—would have missed the mark as an act of public address as well as poetry.”

Going back to ancient Greek literature, lyric poetry was not "knotty or abstruse" and was meant for "public" consumption.  (Lyric poetry should be "sincere and clear" (said Verlaine).)  The French even put their "literary" poems to music. (There's no disparity between the popular and the academic, as in English.)

I would also like to point to Friedrich Schiller's "Ode to Joy," incorporated into Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

Wednesday night

Bootsy's doing remarkably well. He's even started running away from me when he knows I'm about to nab him to administer the Clavamox. (It's been a while since I saw him running -- and that would have been chasing Lucky.) I think there's one squirt, maybe two, left of the Clavamox.

Tuesday night

Traffic has been a nightmare lately with all the yahoos in town for the BCS Championship Game (I guess this used to be the "Orange Bowl Game"). Been late to work and late home the last two days, so I've been busier at home after work than usual, trying to get stuff done.

I've also been busier in the morning, getting up a bit earlier to administer Bootsy's medicines. (The Clavamox is almost gone now.)

This morning I was horrified to see that there was a Google+ button at the bottom of my blog posts, revealing my name (and this is an anonymous enterprise here). (I hadn't noticed it before.) I'd kind of been hoodwinked into joining Google+ (as if I needed another social network), but had no idea they'd link my profile -- basic as it was -- to Blogger and put a button on my blog. (Note that I figured out how to get rid of the button.) I also unlinked everything I do on Google sites from Google+ (Google didn't use to own Blogger). When I did that, they asked why, and I wrote that it was an invasion of privacy to reveal my name on my blog without my permission.

BTW, I've been doing blogs for years, beginning here in 2006 (if not sooner).

So many privacy issues on the intertubes. (Goes way back.) The rule of thumb nowadays is that if you use a product that's free, you're the product. So watch out!

Why Platinum Coin Opponents Are All Wrong

From Bloomberg here

Sunday night

So glad the holidays are over. Whew!

And Bootsy is OK. Here I'd thought (sadly) I'd been watching him die a slow death from old age, when in fact he had a condition we didn't know about that was treatable (we already knew about the kidney problem).

I'd tried to ameliorate the kidney problem by putting Bootsy on expensive special foods (available only from the vet's) which he essentially refused to eat, so I'd given up on that. I figured the kidney problem was causing him to waste away, whereas it turned out to be a thyroid problem that has popped up since the kidney problem was diagnosed via blood tests a couple of years ago.  (Last week the vet didn't even remark that the known kidney problem was that much of a problem, being confined to one kidney.)  (I guess I'd forgotten that detail.)

Meanwhile the head cold appears to have cleared up, and he can smell and relishes eating his food again. While it's probably true that a had a mouth infection (the vet detected it), I don't think that had stopped him from eating on New Year's Day. I think the head cold was killing his appetite, since I'd read that cats won't eat anything they can't smell, and you could hear the congestion, plus he was sneezing.  (He even turned his nose up at a strong beef broth, and he loves beef.)  But he's no longer sneezing and I no longer hear the head congestion.  (Maybe the antibiotic Cefazolin, administered at the clinic, cleared that up.)

Meanwhile I'm still administering the Clavamox (for the mouth infection), which is quickly running out. Whew on that also!

Gott sei dank, es ist Freitag!

Das war die Woche die war...

Thursday night

So Bootsy's back home and I was glad they'd discovered the thyroid problem (through blood tests) and got pills to treat it, when I picked him from the vet's today. Was reading all about it online tonight and it appears to be a common problem in older cats (often in tandem with the kidney problem). The thyroid pills are cheap and supposed to be better than what they used to prescribe (fewer side effects).

Apparently they'd determined Bootsy's kidneys were healthy enough for him to undergo the possibly dangerous (and expensive) Cefazolin antibiotic treatment, and he got 3 of those during his stay (vs. the estimated 4). On the bill, it says they were shots (vs. IV). He also got vitamin B-12 to stimulate his appetite. (Working.)

The thyroid pill has to administered twice daily, along with the Clavamox (for his mouth infection and possibly also the sniffles, which can affect appetite if cat can't smell the food -- wasn't told). Until the Clavamox runs out (course of treatment comes to an end), I'll be waking up 5 minutes earlier in the a.m. to administer the medicines. Administering the Clavamox involves immobilizing (and comforting) Bootsy in a towel burrito. After that's over, I can wake up 5 minutes later and only have to pop him the thyroid pill in the Pill Pocket.

The thyroid pill might have to be administered twice daily for life. I have three weeks' worth of pills to administer and then have to schedule an appointment with the vet to do another blood test to see how the pills are working. Meanwhile, he should start gaining some weight back and be healthier.

Wednesday night

Bootsy's in the animal hospital tonight. I was reluctant to let the vet keep him there -- which she prescribed for any possible good outcome for Bootsy -- since they don't have a night staff. The animals in the hospital are left at night by themselves. I just hope Bootsy isn't as miserable as I can imagine he might be. But I just hope he's sleeping and has benefited from the IV to help rehydrate him and stimulate his appetite, etc. (though he's been drinking lots of water if not eating since yesterday.)

They're supposed to administer an IV antibiotic, which curiously I wasn't charged for today (though included in the estimate of the cost of his treatment). Based on online searches today, I think they can't do that till they get test results back for his kidney function (which we already know isn't good), since the drug has to be eliminated via the kidneys. We'll see what the vet says tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'll be going back to work on my regular schedule, unless I get a call from the vet early in the a.m.

Happy New Year!

 Bootsy jumped back up onto the settee today.

I'm glad I was here, observing him. At one point, I noticed he was eyeing the settee, standing in his usual jumping-up place, so I immediately grabbed the cover from the foam bed and placed in on the cushion (for sanitary reasons). I also put the toile footstool there, by the stairs, but he used neither.

The past couple of days he's had a head cold, I think from lying in front of the leaky cat door instead of atop his new foam bed. (I stuck some VapoRub in front of his nose; maybe that helped.)

Earlier, I had rearranged his sleeping area so that he wouldn't be sleeping in front of the cat door. (As you can see, the wind today, e.g., is stronger than the magnets that usually draw the flap into the closed position -- it's pouring right through the opening.)

(Now look who's sleeping on the cat bed)

Sunday night late

Small but important (and painstaking) project this weekend, laying a bead of silicone caulk [arrow] to rescue the big mirror with the attached "Hollywood" light fixture in the master bath (similar to the mirror I removed in the guest bath now under reconstruction) before water intrusion destroyed the silver from the bottom up (as was happening even worse in the guest bath). (Don't plan on redoing this bathroom anytime soon.) The vintage faux marble sink and vanity will remain for now (perhaps for someone else to replace in the future). I still may replace the faucet fixture, however, since it's a little leaky (but I don't think it leaks to the floors below).

This bathroom contains a fiberglass tub enclosure, which could also use some help. (Maybe I'll strike a deal with a reconditioner to have the fiberglass units done in both bathrooms simultaneously.) Meanwhile, I've already spent hundreds of dollars in this bathroom replacing plumbing valves.

Ordered special almond-colored silicone caulk on the Internet for this project (caulk cost $3+ and shipping was $6+; had been unable to locate a small tube of it at the nearby Home Depot).

I first tried doing it on Saturday night but totally botched it (I was out of practice), so fixed it today (entailed lot of scraping with a razor blade).

This is the bathroom I first tackled when I moved here. Added the classical wallpaper border and "artifacts."

(including the Chac-Mool pottery piece, which I'd bought in Cancun following
a side trip to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, along with the smiling Etrucans [?])

Christmas: 1 small pot Yuban + 2 cups Starbucks Pike + spare time = cleaning time!

Spent a good chunk of the day cleaning (floors mostly). And most of that time I spent thinking I needed a new vacuum cleaner (to sweep the tile floors). I was manually (with a wet rag) getting up the stuff the otherwise reliable vacuum cleaner was supposed to pick up (in "bare floor" mode).

After most of the chores were done (and after having started searching for a new vacuum cleaner online), I realized that the hose attachment for the various tools was inserted into the floor-cleaning unit. Thus I was getting no suction (though the brush was rotating).

What a bunch of work that was! After I'd discovered my error in not detaching the hose, I swept another room I hadn't even planned on doing. (So I'm ahead of the game now.)

Up till then, it was really baffling just watching the cat hair blow around and the ubiquitous cat litter atomizing and going nowhere (and having to wipe it up with the rag and keep rinsing the rag out).

(Cleaning is not my forte. But the place is a lot cleaner now.)

Since I haven't been able to find someone to help me with the cleaning (floors mostly), I have to occasionally do it myself. (Didn't use the steamer today since the vacuum wasn't working, so I was down on my hands and feet and ass.) Glad I got some of the most neglected areas done.

More Monday Night Late

Woke up early this a.m. and Boozy was doing OK, so no visit to the vet. But Boozy is weakening, and I'm trying to get him stronger (fighting aggressively against the ongoing kidney failure, which has been ongoing for a few years already).

(Glad I woke up early, since the vet closed at noon today, which I found out after grocery shopping tonight -- vet is by the Publix [Siegel TLC].) (But, again, Boozy was feeling well this a.m., so no vet call or visit required.)

Boozy's downward spiral (which is now upward) came into focus this long weekend when I noticed he no longer had the strength to hop up onto his settee. (I've since found some new food that he likes -- a different brand.  (That was a shot in the dark.))  He's a lot better now.

Watched "The Dark Knight" on Comcast tonight. Seemed very long, but good. (Will watch again tomorrow night at earlier time.)

Monday nite late

(I have no use for religion or frivolity, but have a great day!)

Late Sunday night

Worried about Boozy. May try to get him to the vet tomorrow. We'll see in the morning.

Saturday afternoon

I forgot to mention that yesterday I received a letter from my homeowners insurance company (Citizens). Apparently my claim is being processed and I was advised to meanwhile protect my property from damage, etc. (Done.) I'll not start up with these repairs until I get a check/advice from Citizens.

Weather is nice today (in the mid-70s) so I thought I'd WALK up to Walgreens to pick up my scrip and also stop off at a linen store nearby to get a new towel for Bootsy's settee. The old one is shot and needs to be thrown out.

Boozy has been ailing off and on (throwing up, losing weight, having loose stools). I'm contemplating taking him to the vet's, maybe tomorrow, for a shot, or something. When he's feeling well, which is most of the time, he has an appetite and gets around OK. But today I watched as he tried to hop up on his settee and didn't make it, after which he let out with a cry and went to lie down on the rug next to the sliding glass door (where's he's been spending a lot of time lately).

I have pet stairs going up to the settee, but Boozy doesn't use them. (The other night I even put catnip on the steps in an effort to entice Boozy to use the stairs to get up on the settee.)

Saturday night late

Got lots done today. Had planned on going to Panda Kitchen & Bath up the road, so got up at reasonable hour (after going to bed not terribly late). Had a little pot of coffee and some stroganoff while reading on the Internet before showering and heading up to Panda a little after 2:00 (after taking pills).

I plan on having the fiberglass tub enclosure reconditioned (last step in the whole remodel process). The consultant at Panda told me -- after I'd told her I saw a YouTube from a guy in MA who reconditions these enclosures -- that no one in Florida does this. (She insisted I have the enclosure removed and replaced with a regular tub and tile surround.) She didn't know what she was talking about. See here and here. (I think she's in cohoots with a certain tile store up the street.)

The tub enclosure is very practical and easy to keep clean (no mildew in tile grout, etc.). If I can get it to look shiny and new, I'd prefer to go that route. Plus, all the plumbing has recently been redone for the enclosure and all leaks sealed (@ $280). (And imagine the labor costs involved in sawing the enclosure to pieces, having it hauled away, and installing a tub and tile surround.)

I frankly think that while tiles look nice around a traditional bathtub, they're impractical vs. a solid enclosure (and this is already there and one piece). The tile grout gets mildewed and eventually needs re-doing, and the tiles can start falling off the wall. More opportunity for water intrusion into the backing (unless expensive and difficult to cut concrete backer board is used, but even then...). I've looked into it and have decided on trying to rescue the fiberglass enclosure.

Otherwise, her advice was sensible. She said I needed a contractor or handyman and to talk to the building management about the projects that need to be done (remove old vanity, remove and replace old tire floor, hang light fixture from the repaired drywall, etc.) and get their recommendations, since they're in the know about these types of projects going on in the units. She said a nice 42" vanity and mirror would cost around $1200 (to be installed by Panda). (But maybe I want to find my own mirror.) Not terribly impressed with with that offer.

Meanwhile, the traffic today was crazy, as was to be expected. There were no parking spaces to be had in the shopping center where Panda is located, and drivers were going round and round waiting for someone to pull out of a spot. I went through one (slow) round of that and decided to park around the corner and across the railroad tracks. (Put steering wheel lock in place, since that neighborhood is crappy and there was no activity.) Five minute walk back to Panda. Then went to liquor store by Panda. (My usual rum was out of stock so had to buy something else, which was almost out of stock itself.) (I bought the last of the substitute that was on the shelves -- enough for now.)

Fortunately my truck was still sitting there on the other side of the tracks after doing my business, so I drove down to Home Depot to have a key made and then one block up to Walgreens to pick up a prescription. There were no parking spaces available in that (huge) parking lot either (which also serves a Ross, Office Max, Panera, Burger King, etc.), so I decided to get of there and drive back home. (Still have a few pills left of that prescription [the sleeping pill, estazolam].)

Meanwhile truck was laboring -- maybe need a new clutch. This laboring happens from time to time, but I was just happy to be back home and out of the vehicle.

Walked to convenience down the street store for a carton of cigs and some microwave sandwiches (for the long weekend -- not a lot of food here except the "stroganoff" and some eggs and frozen pizza). Then walked up to E's place for dinner (was hungry by then). (He comped it.)

E. wants to go to Flanigan's next Saturday at noon for lunch (probably his mother's suggestion). Sure, I'll go. Haven't been to Flanigan's in ages.

Day is over and done.

Lobby decorations

As GOP Sinks Plan B, Obama Should Tune Out His Own Party’s Doubters

Robert Shrum's perspective from The Daily Beast