Red Rain

I have this blood condition that gives me quite a bit of problems. Courtesy of a genetic mutation, my body produces too many platelets, and now, too many red blood cells. Mazel tov to me!

So to keep my system steady, which means avoiding blood clots and stroke, my options are very limited. I can go on leukemia medication, which seems a bit much to me. Or I can drain off the blood from time to time to bring my counts down.

Last Friday, it was that time. I thought it was a joke, and tried to be lighthearted about it, but in the end I was lightheaded. In less than 5 minutes my body was drained of 540 mLs of red blood in a big old glass bottle, and it was totally gross.

My mistake to ask to see the bottle, which was all frothy and disgustingly red. I must be getting wimpy in my old age but I thought I would faint from that alone.

I just hope it helps.

Air Is Free

Oy vey, I'm becoming such an airhead. Tired out from day's long-winded adventure (see my previous post) I got a late start preparing for class, including packing a lunch and my books.

After riding the rails and schlepping my bike, I arrived at my stop around 4:30 pm, about an hour and a half before class starts, and locked my bike up outside. I took one last look - I figured with such a flimsy cable lock, I'd be out of a bike in no time, but I was also out of options. I had to get to school and this was the closest stop for me and my carpool buddy, who was already on campus. I bit my lip and thought, oh well, G-d is the Boss.

Turns out, class was cancelled, and the notification went out via email when I wasn't anywhere near a computer. Deja vu!

So there I was, sitting and schmoozing over a cup of coffee until class time, and then leisurely strolling to the building just in time to smell a classmate's dinner warming up. Met another classmate when I got to the door, and we all looked at the posted sign saying class cancelled.

Another dear friend, without access to the internet at work, came to class a little early and went home thinking I had forgotten to tell her. When I got her on the phone, I explained how her airhead friend (that would be me) was at that moment sitting outside of class wondering how this could happen twice in one week. Suddenly, it all seemed kinda funny.

When I got dropped off at the subway, I couldn't believe my eyes: my bike was still there. As I was unlocking it, a local came up behind me and told me I need a better chain for my bike. To illustrate, he picked up the skinny cable and demonstrated how one little snip and that bike would be gone.

I asked him how someone would risk going to jail over such a crummy bike, and his answer was remarkable: someone with nothing sees the worth in having something. I got the feeling he was talking about himself, and I just took the bike and walked away, thanking him for keeping an eye on it.

Thank you G-d for keeping an eye on me.

What A Day

Still without a car and running quite late, my son Shlomo and I jumped on our bikes and headed out as fast as we could to the nearest subway station. I just want to mention that the station we headed out to is uphill all the way.

Well, skinny Shlomo was peddling like a maniac and making good time. His mother, aka me, was practically hyperventilating to keep up. Exhausted, we made it to the subway station with 3 minutes to spare, giving us the time we needed to make it two stops up the line, get out of the subway station and ride the two blocks to the medical office to check in for Shlomo's early morning doctor appointment.

Two hours later, we were on our way home, again by subway. This was Shlomo's first ride on the rails, and he liked it. It was pretty crowded, and with the bikes, it was a squeeze.

After we split up, Shlomo going to school and me going to the bank, I noticed a line outside the comic book store offering free comics. Okay, it was the word "free" that caught my eye, so I parked my bike and stood in line for something completely different: inflated Thor thunder sticks and a poster, signed by the director of the movie and one of its stars.

I'm not a comic book person, but I really liked the waiting in line thing. The young man in front of me kinda filled me in on things, but I've seen the billboards around town and knew vaguely about the movie. My other son Mendel is really into this mythology thing, which I find boring, and never fails to fill me in whenever we're at a stop light.

So when my turn came to get the poster signed, there wasn't much to say to the producer, other than good luck. But Jaimie Alexander was wonderful. She not only signed my poster, but put a message to Mendel on it: "Listen to your mother," she wrote, "she loves you."

Guess who's going to see Thor?

Riding the Sad Rails

Usually I leave class early, which is 8:30 pm, but having missed so many classes due to Passover, I decided to stick it out. That meant leaving class at 9:20 pm, riding my bike to the bus stop, and waiting another 40 minutes for a bus.

If that wasn't bad enough, when I finally did get to the subway, I waited another 30 minutes for that. But you know what, that wasn't really the problem.

The problem was a short, skinny Asian kid who looked like he was 12 years old spouting off all kinds of negative stuff. Like, the government is corrupt, the Army is corrupt, guns should be illegal, non-stop. What is it with me and non-stop subway riding talkers?

So I tried to calm this little squirt down, told him to yoga breathe, etc. He smiled, then went right back into it. Repeating the same crap over and over.

My seat mate, an tired black woman, told me the kid is right. I said no. Yeah, but he has the right to free speech. I counter that he's too negative, and someone that negative at such a young age is mentally ill. Then the young man across the way took his earphone out and chimed in: he has the right to his opinion.

I smiled, and told him that the world is not only negative. There are good things going on, good things happening. If you focus on the negative, you are wrong. Think good, and it will be good.

I don't think I convinced anyway, not with the subway being held up 10 minutes at Hollywood and Western Boulevards. It was late. Everyone was tired. But is that an excuse to be sad?

Come on people, be happy!

Riding The Rails

The family van broke down yesterday, and was sent off to the mechanic for resurrection. Just so you know, in terms of automobiles, money makes all things possible.

Which meant that I took the bus today. All day. Yeap. A nightmare come true.

I needed to go to a seminar this morning on Motivational Interviewing in the health field. It's all about empowering your client and helping them find the answers to their problems. It was amazing.

What took 1 hour travel time to get to took nearly 3 hours to get away from. I thought I would go out of my mind. When the subway stop came into view, I nearly flew out the window jumping out of my seat in anticipation of getting off the bus. I had been standing/sitting on that elongated metal box for over 1 hour.

The subway was another matter entirely. The rules have changed: there are no restrictions for bicycles on subways anymore. We just have to put them on certain cars that have less seats and more room.

A fellow traveler got on at my stop, and literally talked, non-stop, for the next 35 minutes about bikes, his bike, my bike, everyone else's bike, the bike he was gonna put together. I loved it. Talk about entertaining. He took my mind off the police activity 5 stops up, which delayed our travel time by 15 minutes.

Which is a funny story by itself. When the conductor explained that police activity was going to keep us sitting still for 4 to 5 minutes, most of us heard 45 minutes and passengers scampered off the train like cockroaches after the light's turned on. It took a passenger's emergency call to the conductor to get that straightened out and we called our fellow passengers back.

If one needs to travel in public, it's best that public is happy, kind, and a little nutty. Makes the time out go that much quicker.

Spending Time Making Friends

This past week, the California Dietetic Association held its convention in Pasadena, California, just a stone's throw from my home. As a member in good standing, I was able to get one of the coveted volunteer positions for students, which means free attendance.

I learned a lot, as my duties included assisting the speakers during three lectures spanning over 4 hours. But what I remember most is spending time with old friends and meeting new ones. It was great to see all my former co-students who have gone on to other endeavors.

In the process, I made new friends as well. May it be the will of G-d that this is only the beginning.

Rock And Roll I Don't Like

Yesterday, Shabbat, a friend came up to me and whispered, "are your sons planning on starting a rock group?"

Now, most mothers might get excited at the prospect of their sons entering the limelight, showcasing their talent, being popular. But not me. The thought sent a cold chill down my spine.

This is due, in part, to the fact that we have had a rash of deaths among our youth as of late. In the last six months, we've lost three young men: a 22-year old, recently engaged, drowned Erev Shabbat in a diving accident; a 23-year old overdosed; and just a few days ago, a 37 year old father of four was found dead not long after Moshiach Seudah - the final matzoh and wine bash before Passover ends.

So imagine my feelings when I hear "rock group" and my sons in the same breath. Please, boys, play your guitars, hang out with friends, but be careful about the rock world. It's harsh and not very forgiving. I did not train you for that. Making kiddish Friday night, davening with a minyan, loving babies - yeah, I'll take credit for that.

Good thing we don't know the future. No point freaking out early. For now, I'll just yoga breathe.