Overdue Update

You are advised to skip this introductory paragraph, unless you like convoluted, largely-meaningless sentences. Here is what I would have written about on Thursday, if I had felt a need to write then what I would have written Wednesday, if I had finished doing these things before Thursday started. In point of fact, I had done all of these things before Thursday started somewhere--many wheres, in fact.

Wednesday, I went to my doctor's office in order to get some pleasure reading done. Soon after I arrived, I was provided with a quiet, secluded room where I could read undisturbed for about an hour--very considerate of them. When my seclusion was broken, I had a nice conversation with my doctor, in which he informed me, among other things, that my cholesterol is high, that my bad cholesterol is out of balance with my good cholesterol, and that my bad cholesterol tended more toward the dangerous, dense stuff than the more benign, fluffy sort of bad cholesterol. Super. My feelings about it all are mixed--on the one hand, I'm bummed that my health isn't better; it would be awfully nice to go to the doctor and have him tell me that not only do I feel fine, but I am, in fact, in perfect health. On the other hand, living in a country where a large number of people do not have access to preventative care, I am also very glad that I do and that I am therefore dealing with this now instead of when I am, say, having a heart attack at 50. That would be a much worse way to learn that my cholesterol has it in for me, so I've started taking Advicor. The doctor set me up on a nightly ritual in which--I'm not making this up, the doctor really told me to do this--I eat triscuits and apple sauce, then down my pill and chase it with four fish oil pills. After this, I perform my evening ablutions... I'm telling you, it's all rituals and magic, that's how my health will be perfected.

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On a note that is so completely unrelated--except for occurring on Wednesday--that I have to separate it from my medical concerns with a long horizontal bar, I went out Wednesday evening to hear a band I like that had come to Providence. The band, which I discovered through Pandora, is Carbon Leaf. I had already bought three of Carbon Leaf's CDs so I knew quite a few songs and knew I liked the band, but it was a whole other experience to hear Carbon Leaf live. Barry Privett, the lead singer, has a great stage presence, charismatic with strongly emotive singing. Carter Gravatt, on various lead guitars and a mandolin, was great, shining especially in a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Bron-y-aur Stomp." Each member performs very well and not only shines when given the opportunity but also plays a supporting with grace. The band gels very well. The performance was great and I look forward to seeing Carbon Leaf perform live again soon when they come to my area. The sound, unfortunately, didn't always leave the vocals very clear, which wasn't a problem for the songs I already knew, but made hearing new songs difficult. Even then, it was clear there were good things going on.

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