Povey Prattle

"So"  (as many people begin their sentences) "you may recall that I have an on-going problem with sleepiness".  I often sleep at night  for up to eight hours without interruption.  Despite this good sleep, I am always sleepy throughout the day.  When, during the day,  I rest and relax in my comfortable arm chair I fall asleep at the drop of hat, and then fall into a deep sleep for an hour or more. Earlier this year I spent two nights at a "sleep clinic" - hooked up as I was to all manner of monitors. The tests revealed that I have a very low level of sleep apnea. The sleep clinic Doctor (whose bedside manner left much to be desired) recommended a CPAP machine. I use it faithfully. Its' monitor records a low level of apnea (which most likely would be higher without the use of the machine). Notwithstanding this, I continue to be sleepy throughout each day. Upon hearing this, my very excellent Primary Care Physician ordered a major  blood...

http://io9.com/10-scientific-ideas-that-scientists-wish-you-would-stop-1591309822

Faithful readers of this blog will recall my various and sundry encounters with the woman who lives next door, some good, some bad, some damned ugly! She has been in and out of various hospitals and nursing homes for well nigh eighteen months. Most recently she has been in a very fine nursing home down in Venice, FL.  I tried to get to see her about once a week, mostly for the sake of her three brothers who live in Michigan. The oldest brother, a retired Judge, called me last Friday to let me know that she had consented to receive hospice care - her end being somewhere in sight due to persistent congestive heart failure. He asked me to find a lawyer so that she could make a will (not that she has any wealth [far from it], but to facilitate the disposal of her estate "when the time comes". I got to see her last Saturday.  She was subdued, sad, and weepy, but glad to be at peace with her three brothers.  We talked about dying.  She grinned a bit ...

Iraq? Afghanistan?       No, this is a policeman in Ferguson, MO.   I say again  - this is a policeman in Ferguson, MO   Is this the new norm?  Is this O.K.?   Is this something we should accept as being acceptable in a constitutional democracy?     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     It was maybe some twenty years ago that, late in the afternoon, I returned to my office at St. Stephen's Parish on Allen Street in  Pittsfield, MA and saw the policemen.   They stood on the roof of the Pittsfield Police Station, (also on Allen St) just across the road from St. Stephen's. They were heavily armed. They were dressed in black. I was highly disturbed.   It turned out that this semi-militarized Police presence was in place to provide "security" after  drug raids...

        Photo' via "Science Meets Faith"  

I bought a 1lb bag of frozen broccoli the other week -  simply because it was "on sale".  That purchase inspired me to make broccoli soup today.   Healthy eating?   Maybe - until I added about 8oz of leftover sour cream.   Tasty?  You bet your life.   I will eat it cold for my lunch on the next three or four days  (with some good ciabatta bread).   Here is the recipe (sans sour cream)   http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/broccoli-soup-recipe.html        

S leeping in Church/ S uper Moon/ S mashing Cheese S leeping in Church I visited another parish this morning -  not my regular home, but a place where I like and care for many of the people. But, "oh dear"  I twice drifted off to sleep during the sermon.  This had little to so with the sermon. It has to so with my continuing problem of intense sleepiness throughout the day. A couple of  my Doctors think that this sleepiness is rooted in sleep-apnea.  I am not so sure.  I use the CPAP machine on a regular basis.  Its programme records very low levels of apnea. So I will be back to my Primary Care Physician soon (after submitting blood for testing) - then she and I will try to figure out why I frequently  fall asleep at the drop of a hat (and mostly when no hat is in sight). S uper Moon The internet (at least in North America) is filled with the "news"  that we should expect another "super-moon" tonight.  I am ...