Heart Surgery

Mark had a big heart operation. He had his aorta sleeved due to a distension of more than 5 millimetres. It was a big, serious operation, with possible serious complications of paraplegia, and death.

They had to stop the blood flow to his heart for a certain amount of time while they pulled the sleeve into place, and if they cutoff the blood flow for too long, that was when he could lose future mobility. And Mark is very outdoorsy and active. Me, it probably wouldn't matter, chuckle.

It all started at midday. So, I played Dusty Springfield, his favourite singer, all day. Actually, The Dusty in Memphis album is kind of nice.

It was all done through keyhole surgery so the recovery time is much better, but still it was going to take hours.

I didn't hear all day, which I kind of took as a good sign, because, you know, if he'd died, I probably would have heard sooner, so assumed it was a good sign.

I was just falling asleep on the couch at 10pm when he called. It was all done, all successful, the big worry of the 5 millimetre distension bursting now gone.

He said he felt fine and that he was really hungry.

David Came Over

David came over for dinner. He got Sam to cook him his favourite dinner, of course.

He said he'd grown a beard to cover up the fact he'd put on weight. I told him he'd need to grow a bigger beard.

It was good to see him.

He is down in Melbourne attending to his flock, giving them what they want, a spiritual retreat in them tha hills, and the sycophants have responded.

Some how I manage to lend him my car to get to the country next weekend. Not exactly sure how that happened, as David plans all these things out well in adavance, you know, but not the transport.

Be generous, Sam said later, when I questioned it.

But he would have had it planned already, you know what he's like.

David, despite the smoke and mirrors regarding said weight gain, bought large blocks of KitKat choclate.

He got us to watch MAFS. Dear God... time I won't ever get back.

Rain Rain

It rained for most of the day, as it has for the last few days. The rain has fallen steadily. There has been alot of rain, hopefully it fell in the catchment ares, as they have fallen recently.

Don't get me wrong, I kind of like it, warm and wet, but then I've been working inside, of course.

The weather people said we were all at risk of some catastrophic weather outcomes, when two low pressure systems joined up, I don't know if that happened. Oh yes, heavy rain, causing some big puddles.

Birthday Lunch

It was that overcast, grey, very light rainy, warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt weather, which I kind of like.

Rain dripped from the umbrellas we were sitting under, which is kind of melancholic and heart warming, dare I say a certain kind of romantic.

Jane has always been that kind of semi alternative, Northcote set, so they were the people present.

All lovely to be with.

Step son Jay has grown into quite a boy.

His girlfriend is some kind of goth chick with multiple face piercings and heavy black makeup. Not sure what Jay sees in that? But, I don't have to, do I? You can just hear her in years to come when she has pulled them out and wiped off the heavy black eyeliner say, "What was I thinking."

Jay had some mates there, a tall one, and a fat one. The tall one sat back and got by on his good looks, dare I say like usual, the fat one was giving 'it' big time to make up for his, er, apparent inadequacies.

They all went and played games halfway through the arvo.

Jane had her friends there too and we chatted house sales and life and reminisced.

There were a few guys at the venue in really awful clothes, and Jane was quick to tell me that now a days, the worse the clothes, the cooler they are considered. Who knew?

Jules turned up towards the end, he'd been playing netball with his mob and was bruised and damaged.

We stayed until late afternoon when we headed home when Jules did. I gave Jay a hug and wished him happy birthday. Oh, to be 22 again, imagine what you could do if you knew what you knew now?

Sunday Lunch

I'm going to go and have lunch with my step-daughter and my step-grandson. It's his birthday today, he must be turning, er, um, I should know this, 22?

It will be nie. I never see them enough.

It is a weird kind of day, muggy warm, overcast grey, with intermittent rain. You know, one of this days. Well, at least it isn't cold.

David called a few days ago. He invited us out for dinner with some mates.

"You know something, David, I'm already doing lunch with Jane, and you know something, that is enough people for me for one day."

"I completely understand," said David.

Sublime Saturday

We went out for lunch, it was a gorgeous day. We walked the dogs. Walking through the park was sublime. We ate Indonesian food. It was kind of quiet in Lygon Street.

How quickly the days pass and I am looking down Monday morning, again. Apparently, I am supposed to go ito the office. I'm still thinking about quitting my job, because I don't want to go back to the office. Yeah, I know, even I'm sick of hearing myself say it.

Why am I so scared to do it? Those go-getting type amongst us would just quit and go onto bigger & better things. Why aren't I one of those go-getting types?

The day drifted away. The sun shone in the lounge room window. I fell asleep for a while on the couch. Nice. A good way to spend a Saturday.

Sunny Friday

I watched The Empty Canvas. Otto and I lay on the couch together.

Brun heads upstairs straight after Sam heading upstairs to start work.

I thought about going to the gym, I truly did.

The sun is shining outside, it is a gorgeous day.

I must do something other than sitting on my arse all day. I must.

Tra la.

Then my favouirte, handsome, South African car YouTuber posted and that's me accounted for until lunch.

It's my ex's birthday, Happy Birthday Lauri.

The Empty Canvas

I got my converted VHS Bette Davis movie back. Horst Buchholz is magnificent and I have been fascinated with Bette Davis ever since I saw Whatever Happened To Baby Jane as an 8 year old.

I had to drive out to the northern suburbs, which I kind of know. $30 later and I am kind of disappointed with the result, although watchable, it is pretty poor.

Now, I wonder, if this is just this conversion, or is this as good as I can hope? I don't know?

Could someone do a better job of it? I wonder?

Old black and white movies really have to be good prints/versions for all that contrasting light and shadows to shine.

I might ask someone else if they can do a better job of it. There is a classic movie shop in the city, I might ask them. One day. No hurry. 

The empty canvas is the only one I can truly put my name to.

Now, I have to find and English language version of The Scientific Card Player. The other Italian movie Bette Davis made.

The rest of the day, I lay on the couch watching car reno shows on YouTube. Day off, why not.

I fell asleep in the afternoon. You have to love that. The sun shone outside, the day went on regardless.

I didn't go to the gym, much to Sam's chagrin. I must go to the gym. I must go tomorrow.