ICU Bed #13
31 08 2010This afternoon I went to PGH to witness the closing of an art exhibit about the Morong 43, and to see an old acquaintance who is a revolutionary poet. Alex used to be a bull of a man – around six feet and no less than 250 lbs. A friend said he went on an unsupervised diet and got very thin, very fast. That, along with existing diabetes and TB, coupled with a recent bout of flu, created a perfect storm that has left him breathing through a respirator. The normal blood sugar level, I’m told, is between 80-120. His is at 1200+. He must’ve lost close to 100 lbs.
I was not prepared to see him in that weakened state. I could tell he had a hard time just lifting his eyelids. I didn’t know what to say. Tried to cheer him up by saying the guys are out there also hoping for his recovery, that we’re organizing several fund-raising events to help his family out. I was running out of words and it felt awkward, but what more can you say? He couldn’t talk, but at times he tried to smile, and at the end of our brief conversation he lifted his hand to me, which must have taken quite an effort. I reached for it and squeezed it tight.
Fervently hoping he gets better soon. I want to see him as cheery as before. Sigh. Hospitals are depressing places, aren’t they?
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Categories : daily grind
on pets, plans, and old songs
30 08 2010Three weeks on and the baby hamsters are growing strong and healthy. They’ve started to grow light brown hairs on their bodies to cover their pinkish skins. Their mom is just fantastic with the way she takes care of them and breastfeeds them whenever they need her. Their dad just sleeps all day. Heh.
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Bonding with the white kitten. She loves to sneak inside my room to play here. The little one is friendlier than I thought. At first her aggressiveness when getting her food put me off. Right now, though, she’s rubbing herself on my foot, asking for some loving and attention. She likes it when I stroke her back and scratch her chin.
I think she has fallen asleep on my lap.
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Former colleagues are tempting me with job offers in different companies. Being asked to conduct a workshop on web design and other online interests. Might contribute to a comics anthology. Trying to find secular orgs to volunteer for.
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Spent the night with Ralph and his cousins, who happen to live nearby. Tasted the best crunchy sisig ever, and ordered sinful crispy pata for good measure. Having low blood pressure certainly has its benefits.
Jammed over indie songs with his cousin Dennis. When his iPod batteries ran out, I subbed with my phone and played mostly 80’s music, which caused the others present to tease us about showing our age. Talked about the good ol’ days of Voltron, Thundercats, and Bioman. Swapped travel and adventure stories, making me long for more.
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Categories : daily grind, pets
lupa ay laya
29 08 2010
Musician Bobby Balingit of The Wuds on his ukulele.
Went to Ten02 Bar at Timog for a fund-raising concert and see my old friends from the activist world. Left home at 9pm and got back at 3am. Needless to say, I enjoyed the gig immensely. Saw T, V, E, B and the Jeddi.
Master guitarist Bobby Balingit sang a heartfelt song using his new ukulele. After some poetry reading, a crazy US congressman from Maine and his rented Pinoy band The Outsourced rocked the house. He opened with a long spiel about how American bands should consider outsourcing to save on costs. It was pretty funny. Then he sang a la Slapshock and it was infectious. The music got me buying beer. That never happened before.
Andy Deported reading his spiel.
Thin crust Quattro Formaggi and Red Horse. Michael was right, with my size, one bottle was enough to do me in. Mahina. The event was pretty successful with a lot of bands playing and people paying for tickets. Raise funds, check. T sold a couple of stickers, too, with a logo she made for ARREST. I’ll have to see my friends again for more serious purposes next time.
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Categories : daily grind, FRIENDS
it's all geek to me 