This summer I had a possible client with a possible project here in Korea. The work continued to be delayed and delayed, and the final form of the project in the end was just unworkable. I sent a very polite letter declining the project, and never heard anything from them (this was about 3 or 4 weeks ago). Yesterday, over lunch, I just happened to mention to my colleague CH, "I wonder what happened with that company? I wonder why they didn't even reply or confirm my letter?"
Well, last night I had a dream. I was in a large hotel ball room, where dinner was being served. Over in one corner, there was a group of people from this very company conducting a training class! I went over to talk to them, and then my dream ended and I woke up.
This morning, after my breakfast, my cell phone rang with a strange number. I answered, and it was someone from this very same company, asking if I was possibly interested in a different project!
Just too weird. Don't know if this project will pan out or not, there are very few and sketchy details right now, but who knows...
HAND UPDATE: As of Saturday, I could really tell it was healing well. My strength was slowly returning, and I could almost make a complete fist without any pain. However, Sunday I had a couple days setback. I went shopping at Costco, and no matter how careful I was to only use my left hand, I think I hurt it some lifting the shopping "box". Also Saturday and Sunday evening I installed an auxiliary audio power amplifier for Trevor on their terrace. I was so careful, made other people do any lifting or wire pulling. But just once or twice, I slipped up and ended up holding the entire power amplifier in my right hand. Just now, Tuesday morning, I feel almost back to the point I was Saturday before I over-exerted it.
ELBOW UPDATE: The swelling is getting smaller each day, although I think slower than the doctor had suggested. It is still quite warm to the touch, however. It has gone from the painful stage to the numb/itchy stage. But if it doesn't improve remarkably in the next couple days I'll go back.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Medieval Torture
Yesterday the doctor asked me to return today to have another look at the elbow. We finished at the factory in time, so I stopped by after work. He said the swelling was going down, gave me one more antibiotic shot, and said to keep taking the oral antibiotics. If it was still warm and swollen on Friday come by again, if not, it's all over and no reason to come back.
As I was leaving, I asked him about my formerly broken hand, which is still weak and a bit painful. I asked if they had a hot whirlpool tub I could soak my hand in for a short while. He said that they don't use hot water, but instead would give me a "paraffin treatment"! It was either no extra cost or $2 extra, I'm not sure.
This was something I would imagine they used to torture people in days gone by. A heated bowl of hot wax. Dip your hands in repeatedly, and layers build up on your hands. After 5 layers, let it all cool, peel off the wax, and repeat 4 times! It was painfully hot. Several times I wondered if I wasn't actually giving myself burns. Especially the first dip, when it was my bare hand. After that, the subsequent dips in the wax were a little less painful.
I have no idea why this is used instead of water. My hand does feel a little better, but that might just be because it has cooled down from being steamed like a crab. I had the nurse photograph my hands immediately after the procedure. Can you guess which one was treated?
And the one positive side effect: there is absolutely no residual smell from the cast. Now my entire hand smells like a crayon!
As I was leaving, I asked him about my formerly broken hand, which is still weak and a bit painful. I asked if they had a hot whirlpool tub I could soak my hand in for a short while. He said that they don't use hot water, but instead would give me a "paraffin treatment"! It was either no extra cost or $2 extra, I'm not sure.
This was something I would imagine they used to torture people in days gone by. A heated bowl of hot wax. Dip your hands in repeatedly, and layers build up on your hands. After 5 layers, let it all cool, peel off the wax, and repeat 4 times! It was painfully hot. Several times I wondered if I wasn't actually giving myself burns. Especially the first dip, when it was my bare hand. After that, the subsequent dips in the wax were a little less painful.
I have no idea why this is used instead of water. My hand does feel a little better, but that might just be because it has cooled down from being steamed like a crab. I had the nurse photograph my hands immediately after the procedure. Can you guess which one was treated?
And the one positive side effect: there is absolutely no residual smell from the cast. Now my entire hand smells like a crayon!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Elbow Grease
Well, not grease, but rather medicine:
About two weeks ago, as my hand was healing up, the elbow on my other arm began to hurt. I didn't recall hitting it or anything. My best guess was that it was some delayed pain from the sidewalk fall which broke my hand. However, I did NOT mention this to the doctor. I thought it was just a sprain and would heal on its own. I just couldn't face the thought of having a cast on my hand AND my elbow.
But where my hand has been healing just fine, this elbow hasn't gotten any better, and the swelling was getting larger and it felt very warm to the touch. Finally I went to the doctor today and showed him the elbow. He immediately said that it wasn't the bone nor a sprain, but instead I had an infection! Just like when I thought I had a sprain, I have no idea what caused it. So I was given an antibiotic shot, a 3-day course of oral antibiotics, and told to check back tomorrow. He said something about aspirating the infection with a needle if it didn't get better soon!
About two weeks ago, as my hand was healing up, the elbow on my other arm began to hurt. I didn't recall hitting it or anything. My best guess was that it was some delayed pain from the sidewalk fall which broke my hand. However, I did NOT mention this to the doctor. I thought it was just a sprain and would heal on its own. I just couldn't face the thought of having a cast on my hand AND my elbow.
But where my hand has been healing just fine, this elbow hasn't gotten any better, and the swelling was getting larger and it felt very warm to the touch. Finally I went to the doctor today and showed him the elbow. He immediately said that it wasn't the bone nor a sprain, but instead I had an infection! Just like when I thought I had a sprain, I have no idea what caused it. So I was given an antibiotic shot, a 3-day course of oral antibiotics, and told to check back tomorrow. He said something about aspirating the infection with a needle if it didn't get better soon!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
That's A Lot of Spam
My internet service provider has a spam filtering service. You can visit a website which allows you to search and review emails which have been identified as spam. This is necessary sometimes when an email gets accidentally flagged as spam. Well today I happened to notice this statistic counter on the site:
That says that 90% of all my incoming emails are spam! That's hard to believe!
That says that 90% of all my incoming emails are spam! That's hard to believe!
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Who is Ben Harper?
"Who is Ben Harper?" you might ask. I certainly did. Caught this song on the radio the other day, and let me warn you the tune will stick in you mind for days on end!
Steal My Kisses (YouTube Link)
I actually sent a text message to the radio station, asking for the singer. I received a prompt reply from the station with the answer, addressed to me personally. Kind of Big Brother-ish, since I didn't send my name in the message. I must investigate this further.
The above link is to a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles from 2003. In addition to the song, we are treated to an excellent extended bass solo on a Fender 5-string bass.
Ben Harper seems to be one of several American musicians that I have learned of here in Korea, who have a larger following outside the USA than within. Again, listen at your own risk.
If you like his voice, and can get past the full-sleeve tatoos, listen to some of his gospel songs on YouTube with the "Blind Boys of Alabama" group. Good Stuff.
(Apologies to Young Stumbler #1's music blog. I don't intend to compete, this is just a one-time thing. I will return to normal, boring posts soon.)
Steal My Kisses (YouTube Link)
I actually sent a text message to the radio station, asking for the singer. I received a prompt reply from the station with the answer, addressed to me personally. Kind of Big Brother-ish, since I didn't send my name in the message. I must investigate this further.
The above link is to a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles from 2003. In addition to the song, we are treated to an excellent extended bass solo on a Fender 5-string bass.
Ben Harper seems to be one of several American musicians that I have learned of here in Korea, who have a larger following outside the USA than within. Again, listen at your own risk.
If you like his voice, and can get past the full-sleeve tatoos, listen to some of his gospel songs on YouTube with the "Blind Boys of Alabama" group. Good Stuff.
(Apologies to Young Stumbler #1's music blog. I don't intend to compete, this is just a one-time thing. I will return to normal, boring posts soon.)
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