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Time Out From Politics & A Prayer (+ Open Thread)

   Larry is “out of pocket,” as professionals like Larry get to say, but he’ll be posting in a day or so. While I was posting the piece just below this afternoon, I got a phone call that made all that seem so unimportant. I can’t get the news out of my mind, so I just have to share with you. My surgeon’s office called me to tell me they’d have to cancel my appointment because my marvelous surgeon collapsed Friday in the OR, was in critical condition, had emergency surgery, and is recuperating but won’t be back until mid-March 2008. He took such outstanding care of me, and the surgery was performed with the highest standards. I wish I could show you my perfect scars and the xray that shows how expertly my new titanium hips are aligned. Here’s an audio (stream / download) of a radio interview with my surgeon talking about hip and knee replacement, with call-in questions. The host kids him about his New York City accent! He’s done over 4,000 hip/knee replacements, and patients come to him from all over the country. I’m rooting for his fast, full recovery, and will send him a card tomorrow.

By the way, I see that the Senate’s surveillance bill has been delayed until the new year, which is making the White House anxious.

UPDATE: Why trampolines are dangerous:


att00213.jpg

(Click on the image to see it full view.)

What else besides the presidential campaigns is on your minds?

P.S. I’m in a lot of pain at the moment, but that’s from a physical therapy session last Thursday in the PT building’s pool. The therapist pushed me too hard, and I’ll tell her tomorrow that we need to slow things down.

But the pool is amazing. The therapist can remotely move the bottom of the pool to floor level — then I climbed on, and held on to the big bar that extends across the pool. The therapist then lowered me down into the very warm water. There were underwater cameras so I could watch my legs as I did the exercises on a large television set sitting on the floor across from me while I was in the pool. I never knew such features were possible in a therapy pool! (It’s not large enough for laps, just for walking around and doing leg lifts and marching to build up leg strength.)

  • Lindy

    I’m happy to hear you’re recovering well. That FISA bill news is the best I’ve heard all day.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Thank you! But, those underwater cameras confirmed my worst fears: I’m not ballerina material.

      P.S. I’m adding a photo that my friend Tom just sent me — it’s a depiction of why trampolines are dangerous.

  • http://cujo359.blogspot.com Cujo359

    Sorry to read about your surgeon, Susan. Hope he recovers.

    That’s great news about the FISA changes being tabled. I’ll bet there are a few nervous telecom CEOs, too. I’m hoping it’s a good sign.

  • Thinker

    That say what “comes around goes around”, Susan. Life has a nasty habit of throwing a spanner in the works, just when things are starting to go right again. But that is the contract. I believe we aren’t here for a free ride.

    Perhaps your surgeon needed to experience what his patients have, or rather a critical operation to become an even better surgeon. I do wish him well, even if it just to ensure you provide the material to allow me to bounce my ideas off this board.

    Though I am sure my answers rarely seem to match the envisaged response, your commitment to personal fulfilment though your endurance at this board has earned you my respect, SusanUNPC.

  • http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ Leslie

    Hope your surgeon recovers quickly and fully!

    HURRAH for Senator Dodd on the FISA bill!!!! He fought telecom immunity in an uphill battle, against the Dem leadership and the GOP, and won the day. We owe him a debt of gratitude. Only 10 Democrats supported a filibuster on telecom immunity, here they are:

    Boxer (D-CA)
    Brown (D-OH)
    Cantwell (D-WA)
    Cardin (D-MD)
    Dodd (D-CT)
    Feingold (D-WI)
    Harkin (D-IA)
    Kerry (D-MA)
    Menendez (D-NJ)
    Wyden (D-OR)

    Clinton and Obama didn’t vote. So much for backbone!

    • TeakWoodKite

      My sane half was wondering who the 10 little Indians were! Thanks for the info…
      As of this afternoon Whitehouse “had no position” according to his office when she called.

      • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

        Maria, Maria … I just … that ‘s my senator! She’s another one of those who works so hard. We’re so lucky she squeaked past Slade Gorton in 2000 (oh, that count went on for weeks).

        Harkin is another favorite. And Ron Wyden — another worker! (I saw his wife a couple times recently on BookTV — she owns a bookstore in NYC. She said he buys wonk-ish books about health care policy.)

    • Cee

      Leslie,

      I see that my man Feingold came through again!

      Susan,

      I hope you feel better soon. Also, sorry to hear about your surgeon and I also wish him the best.

    • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

      i was proud to see my senator, ron wyden, on that list … i sometimes get a little upset with him for his timid votes on impeachment but be that as it may … he is a true progressive and represents oregon very well!

  • TeakWoodKite

    From the Report of senate Intel committe on FISA:

    ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF SENATORS BOND, CHAMBLISS, HATCH, AND WARNER

    Our enemies are not stupid. They pay attention to our laws and legal proceedings, sometimes better than we do.

    Ain’t it a shame?

    The PAA was enacted as a temporary solution to a serious legal problem that was causing significant intelligence gaps.

    A FISA Court judge rules against ‘em which they don’t mention, too convienient.

    This ensures that foreign collection can continue and that the FISA Court is not bogged down with reviewing numerous foreign collections outside of its purview.

    We would not anyone to think FISA is the exclusive law on the matter.

    http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=sr209&dbname=110&

    • TeakWoodKite

      Sen Wyden’s point of the Senate members having the right to “read the documents” before they vote is on point. How on, Buddha’s round belly, could you vote on a Bill with out seeing the relivant facts?

      Sounds like the AUMF redux…

      • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

        … and the Patriot Act…

      • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

        …and the Patriot Act…

      • Cee

        Did you know that Feingold was the only one who read the unPatriot Act?

        • TeakwoodKite

          We are reduced to SPAM responses.

          U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein responding to your message
          Tuesday, December 18, 2007 1:20:40 PM

          Thank you for writing regarding the Bush Administration’s request for legislation that would provide liability relief for telecommunications companies that are alleged to have provided assistance to the National Security Agency after September 11, 2001. I appreciate your thoughts on this topic, and welcome the opportunity to respond.

          The Senate Intelligence Committee approved a bill on October 18th amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) by a vote of 13-2. That bill, among many provisions, would provide immunity for such companies if they were specifically requested or directed to provide assistance to the government.

          The Intelligence Committee’s report on the bill includes declassified text stating that the Executive branch provided letters to electronic communication service providers at regular intervals. These letters all directed or requested assistance and noted that the assistance was authorized by the President and was legal. The Committee’s report can be found at http://intelligence.senate.gov/071025/report.pdf.

          I voted for the FISA legislation that passed out of the Intelligence Committee by a bipartisan vote of 13-2. The Senate Judiciary Committee did not take action on the portions of the bill dealing with immunity. The bill is now scheduled to go to the Senate floor. I am keeping an open mind to whether some other legislative approach besides immunity would be best.

          Rest assured that I will make every effort to ensure that new FISA legislation will protect the privacy rights of all Americans without restricting the intelligence community’s ability to protect us from attack.

          Sincerely yours,

          Dianne Feinstein
          United States Senator

  • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

    Susan – that’s scary about your surgeon. Was he that (very) tall, handsome guy?

    Hopefully, he’s on the mend soon. Sounds like you are.

    What a roller coaster ride with the FISA bill! Is there any senator with more guts and integrity right now than Chris Dodd? I don’t think so.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      You were so nice to me and brought me the yummiest treats in the hospital. That was great fun. And I shared your expert info. on how to vote on the initiatives, etc. with my local friends when I got home.

      I really like Chris Dodd, and have for some time. Sure wish he could build some traction in the presidential race … he would make a fine president. He not only has the knowledge and so much experience, but he has leadership qualities. I’d support him. Wonder why Iowans haven’t picked up on his qualities.

      Noticed a post somewhere yesterday touting him for Majority Leader. That’d be good too.

  • http://www.food4humanity.org HoosierHoops

    Susan
    The therapist pushed me too hard, and I’ll tell her tomorrow that we need to slow things down.

    I can promise you this..As many times as you want to hug your therapist..you’ll also want to strangle her.. She sounds like she is really pushing you..
    When your therapy is all complete and it’s hugs and kisses and many thanks all around..There will still be that little voice in your head going ‘ please god just give me one wack to her legs with a bat’
    :)
    I’m just play’n..

    Susan: I don’t really understand all the implications of the FISA bill and the full extent of the liability issues but I find it hard to believe that the legal dept. signed off on this when the gov’t approached the telecoms. Normally i would think legal would never ever sign off on the snooping of their customer base. Which begs the question, How hard did the gov’t lean on the telecoms?
    What tactics and threats were used in the name of national security? Were the arms of the telecoms get twisted to play along or did they help willingly?
    Maybe you can help fill in the blanks of this story for me.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Hey, I haven’t read up on the FISA bill that much either. (Can anyone help explain the details here?)

      But what in the hell is wrong with keeping the old one until we can get a president who’ll promote one that doesn’t let the U.S. spy on anyone?

  • Taters

    Wow. Susan, hang in there kiddo. We’re pulling for you and I’m sorry to hear about all the pain you’re suffering. And I hope your surgeon has a speedy recovery.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Thank you! I’m all bent over this morning — back is out — think I’ll have to cancel PT today. Gotta go more slowly.

      Another issue: The PT won’t let me drive yet. Thankfully, ParaTransit will take me to appointments. I can get in my daughter’s car easily. But my car is very low to the ground and even I am apprehensive. One of these days! Wanna go cruisin’ again.

      Hope your recent tour went smashingly, Taters, and that you had a chance to get out and about in those great cities you visited. WRITE more for us! We love your posts.

  • Marilyn

    Hey Susan,
    I’m happy to learn that you had your hip surgery and that you are recovering.

    I have sent a few emails to you but as you said in your recent email to me, I must be behind your firewal/filter or something.

    Moving on… (Gee I miss Colbert!)

    Alternet has a wonderful article on how your mood can affect healing.

    http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/70342/

    I wish you best for the holidays – many moments of joy!

    Marilyn

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      It’s terrible you didn’t get any e-mails from me. I got the one you sent last night and replied / tell me if you get it.

      What could have happened, because this has happened to me before — GMail saves my e-mails as I’m writing them, and my reply to you could have been one of those where I wrote it, got interrupted, and it got saved as a “Draft” and it never got sent to you. The first few weeks, I had a constant stream of people coming here to help me — there was someone knocking at the door all the time. There were RNs, physical therapists, occupational therapists, people bringing me food, people coming to clean, people delivering groceries, and neighbors checking
      on me … all the time! (Which was all essential, and so needed.) And my old chair was too painful to sit on so I didn’t spend much time at the ‘puter, so I had to get another chair, which a good friend helped me do. I’ll have to dig back and look. (I still have 450+ e-mails in my Inbox that I’ve not gotten to, sigh. — pages and pages of them. Ugh. And that doesn’t count all the e-mails I filtered into folders.)

      I’m so glad to see you here. You’ve been through a lot, including a big move, and you’re always in my thoughts. One of these days, I’ll be able to get on the ferry and come see you! Woohoo! (Just pray I can do it before I need a passport, since those take forever to get now, and are very expensive.)

  • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

    P.S. After I posted it, I listened to that radio interview. It’s hosted by a Seattle radio host who has a medical information show. The sound quality is superb. My surgeon sounds exactly like he did whenever he talked with me about my surgery — sober, factual, and 100% engaged (i.e., tuned in to me). The topic: “Hip and knee replacement: Separating fact from fiction.” I learned a lot listening to it! Including why I’m still having pain … he explains what happens to all the soft tissue that gets damaged, before and after surgery. Fascinating.

    He also talked about which implants are good, which aren’t, and about those advertised arthritis remedies. And which procedures are proven, and which procedures are currently fashionable, but don’t work as well as others.

  • lester