Toad in the Hole

Photo of the Week 7/25/10

2010-07-26T01:49:35Z

Conversation is good.

Dear Administration,

2010-07-22T04:14:46Z

Assembling the Circular Firing Squad does not in itself make you a decent leftist.

Signed,
Duck N. Cover

So, OK

2010-07-20T16:20:10Z

Did fine with initial pair of Xolair shots. Came home and googled up the raw costs of the drug, which I’d deliberately avoided doing beforehand. (First hit’s free, remember.) I won’t know if it works for a couple of months at least; meanwhile I’m having sweats and hotflashes just thinking about How the hell do I pay for it if it does help?? Right now it’s in the hands of the insurers and Genentech.

I considered selling naming rights, but calling myself Omalizumab would be even worse than Veronica.

Take a Deep Breath

2010-07-17T20:08:49Z

Monday morning I’m off to the allergist for a trial of Xolair. This one of those Different allergy meds, works on (the?) other allergy “pathway” from the one Singulair (which I’ve been taking for a few years) does. I think. I also think it’s one of those psychological flags that I’ve learned how both work, more than once, and the knowledge is not reliably available to the rest of my brain. Slides right out.

I have to get a fresh EpiPen first, and hang out in the office for an hour and a half afterwards; apparently there’s a somewhat higher risk of anaphylactic shock with this than with Singulair (which is a pill) and regular immunotherapy. It also doesn;t work for everyone.

If it works, it’ll be a great help, maybe a break from all the damned inhaled steroids, maybe a leg up to actually getting functional again. OTOH, if it works, I’ll need financial help from a Genentech program to pay for it and that’s IF Blue Screw OKs paying the insurance part. Whatever that may be. Genentech sent a starter pack to my doc. First hit’s free, kid.

Want ambivalence? I’ve got extra.

The Soundtrack of Hell

2010-07-14T18:22:17Z

is a vuvuzela orchestra with a chorus of circular saws, half of the latter cutting tile.

Good News, Bad News

2010-07-13T05:36:11Z

The good news is that my principal antidepressant has gone generic.

The bad news is that they found termites downstairs.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2010-07-10T16:49:12Z

I got an hour-and-a-half massage yesterday from an incredibly generous friend who’s a CMT, among other talents.

I still feel good.

Mahalo, Jim!

Sunny

2010-07-07T03:59:04Z

It helps sometimes.

This Bud’s

2010-06-25T05:40:40Z

for whom?

This is in my garden. I have no idea of how, when, or where I acquired it.

I Love Aloha Shirts

2010-06-22T17:40:52Z

In case anybody didn’t know. This one is a particularly recursive, conceptual Kleinbottle delight.

Word for the Day

2010-06-21T02:55:05Z

Chilipecker

Occurs when the maker of the guacamole forgets to wash his hands before as well as after bathroom break.

Biomimicry

2010-06-17T20:05:27Z

Coolest engine of destruction ever. I got to watch it and its attendant lesser big-machines for a couple of hours as they tore down the former state public health (IIRC) building at Hearst and Oxford in Berkeley. The building itself is no great loss.

Click to view Large.

“Oh, the World

2010-06-16T04:53:11Z

is so full of a number of things
I am sure we should be as happy as kings.”

All it Takes

2010-06-15T05:40:43Z

sometimes is a sit.

Vespers

2010-06-14T02:44:46Z

It’s a Catholic joke.

Let us all sing praises to the unknown inventor(s) of glass.