I survived the surgery.

The doctors kept me in hospital for a week to make certain that there was no infection. It was a relatively pleasant week. For the most part, the pain killers kept me happy and sleepy. There wasn't any pain to speak of. The nursing staff at Baptist Health was the same who took care of me after the initial surgery. Each of them is professional, skilled, friendly and courteous. I enjoyed their company.

Fran came and sat with me every day while I was there. As soon as I was able to get out of bed without falling back in, I began walking. Dr. Kim assured me that walking was the best way I could help myself. While the epidural anaesthesia was in place, someone had to walk with me, mostly to make sure that if I fell, they could call for help. I was in the same room that I had when I was recovering from my first surgery and knew the sixth floor well. Alas, the drugs made concentration very hard. I could hardly read, much less write.

Now that I'm home, I'm on "light duty". I can lift nothing more than ten pounds. That puts Little Kitty off limits for a few weeks. I can pet him, but can't pick him up.

Our other cat, Shaquira is lighter so I can lift her into my lap for petting. She's affectionate. But prefers Fran to me. Her previous "servant" moved and could not take her along so she persuaded us to give the kitty a home. She's named after the dancer. If ever you saw her play with a mouse toy, You would agree that the name is earned.


It's Fran's birthday. Both kids came in to help celebrate. I'm going to stop here and edit more into this later.

It is a little later. We had a dinner (take out ribs from Shorty Small's) and they got to watch Fran repack my dressing. What fun. Right now, they're sitting around the table, catching up on family matters. I'm going to join them. It's late for me and I can't concentrate. The analgesic prescribed for me is making me slightly dizzy. Fun, huh?

Today is the day I prepare for surgery to reverse my colostomy. It's not a pretty process, cleaning out the bowel, but the end result will be worth it.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow with mixed feelings. Yes, I want to have my body back to normal. And I have some apprehension about invasive surgery being done on someone my age. My intention is still to live forever. So far, so good.

In any case, I thought that since this may be my last entry, I should remark on the possibility in case someone wonders where I am in the future. My wishes are known to my wife: harvest all useable organs and burn the rest, scattering my ashes in a garden somewhere. If the possibility of my departure from this blog and the rest of the world upsets you, please memorialize me by having a drink of your favorite beverage and doing something that you enjoy in my memory.

For me, fun has been with my family. When we younger and prices were lower, we would load the kids and their friends into our car and "movie marathon". We'd try to see how many films we wanted to see that we could view in a day. That often required some serious planning since the theaters started playing the films at different times and not always in such a way that we could just hop along at random. We managed eight once. But that was because my daughter took us to a midnight showing of ROCKY HORRO SHOW.

I also love to visit places I have never been.

Both abroad and here in the USA.

Finally, I have become a gardener. Fran and I work on our garden year round and when it's not so hot and humid that it makes me miserable, it is fun. Planting flowers, watching them bloom and pulling weeds is a diverting occupation. But someone correctly said that, "Gardens require a lot of water... mostly in the form of perspiration."

So, how do I feel about life? I'm grateful. Many things have come my way that I liked and enjoyed. Some things made me stronger; others added to my knowledge. I'm not sure that I ever gained wisdom. But like Randy Pausch, I was able to do many of the things that I set as goals for myself when I was young enough to think I could plan my life. Unlike him, I don't have a list.

My life has been one, chiefly of contentment, with some excursions into joy and others into sadness. No complaints.

Con report

This is probably a very late convention report. Pretty much my whole family attended Denvention (the world science fiction convention [worldcon], held in Denver this year.) It was a good con (Fans, called fen in the plural by themselves, call conventions cons.) There were plenty of authors and artists in attendance. They made themselves available, for the most part, to con goers. The panels were multiple and of interest to a wide variety of people.

For me the best thing was that I got to get together with friends I see only once or twice a year. I'm assuming that most readers do not know about science fiction conventions (cons from now on). Along with getting to meet and talk with favorite sf authors and artists, there are lots of other things to do. Panels are just what they sound like. A group of four or five people talk about a subject of interest. Some are experts, others are just interested in the subject. Subjects vary. I've attended panels on how to start writing, how to write a query letter to a publisher or agent, small unit infantry tactics, the effect of materials science on weaponry, exotic pets and medicine in space. That is just in the last year or two.

In addition to panels, there are readings by authors. Some writers know how to read aloud very effectively. John Dalmas held a group of about 30 spellbound by reading from a first draft of one of his novels. Usually on panels and at readings, there is a question and answer period afterwards. That usually continues after the panel is over and the group has to give up the space for another panel. Fen just naturally follow the people they want to hear into the hall and it goes on until someone has to leave for another panel or reading.

Most cons host an art show. This can consist of available prints, but many have original works by everyone from juvenile artists to professional. Some of the art done by professionals sells in the tens of thousands of dollars. But there is quite a bit which is both attractive and affordable. In my opinion, some of the good art is sold for less than the frame is worth.

Almost every con has a dealer's room, often called hucksters. Depending on the size of the con, there will be from a dozen to hundreds of people selling all kinds of things that are of interest. Off the top of my head, there are costumes (sf and medieval), weapons (everything from swords to ray guns), new books, old books, comic books, books on tape... all kinds of books, not just sf and fantasy. You can buy tapes and DvDs of movies and TV shows, jewelry, gadgets like blinking light pins and electronic signs you program yourself, and stuff that is just neat.




There is often a masquerade. These are shows put on by the con and the participants compete with fabulous costumes or skits. Some of the costumes are very complex and can take over a year to conceive and finish. A group of judges with experience in costuming preside over the event and award prizes to the best, the funniest, the cutest (hard decision when a bunch of adorable, little kids show up in constume)



and the best workmanship. Some fen like dressing up. They wear hall costumes that can be anything from a sexy outfit to a full suit of armor (even space suits). My very first con was one in St. Louis. I had heard of worldcon (thought you had to be someone like Isaac Asimov to attend) and knew nothing of the local cons. What attracted me was the sight of a van stopping in a hotel parking lot and a group of five or six Jawas (remember the little robed guys who kidnapped the "droids" in Star Wars?) running into the lobby. I parked and followed. My life hasn't been the same since.



In the evening there are parties. The site of each worldcon is chosen two years in advance. Cities bidding for a worldcon throw parties to show fen just how much fun their city can be. Other folk host parties because they like parties. A third category is the 'thank you' party that is hosted by a former worldcon city to thank fen who supported them. Ah yes, among the parties that are thrown by people who are just party animals is the "faux bid" party. These are for places that don't exist, like Oz or Utopia and for places that exist but are very hard to reach, like Mars or the moon. Quite a few of these parties offer drinks, both alcoholic and non as well as snacks.

Many cons host a con suite where you can get a free soda (or a beer if you're of legal age), a place to sit and talk or sometimes a dance floor. The parties and suite are no charge. But plenty of them have a kitty where you can stick some cash to help defray the host's expenses.

Worldcon and some others publish a newsletter. These can be daily or just once during the con. They contain changes in the programming schedule, gossip, information on the hotels and restaurants in the area. One delightful newsletter consists of just snippets of conversations overheard at the con. Of course, these are free as well.

Once you begin attending cons, you realize that there are regulars who show up every year. Some of them help organize the con, others just like the atmosphere and parties. It doesn't take long to make friends who can last many years (30 and counting for a couple.)

Oops, almost forgot GAMING. There are two basic kinds of games: board games like "Dungeons and Dragons" and live action role playing games (LARP). Board games and computer games have progressed far beyond D&D. There are some multi-million dollar game publishers. LARP started from a short story called "The Tenth Victim," about a society where murder was permitted so long as you signed up for it. An assassin was assigned a victim who knew that he was the target. The object of the whole business was to survive, either as assassin or victim while killing the other guy. After winning ten of these games, the player became somewhat famous.

At first, these games were played without costume. The weapons were pointed fingers and the rules somewhat vague. More recently, they have been organized, with headquarters and costumes. Vampire LARP is not the most popular. Some of the costumes are quite well done. Mundane (non-fan) hotel guests may be surprised by finding a realistically made up corpse in a hallway or stairwell who gives anyone passing information on what the crime scene looks like. At one con, a body outline was sketched on the floor with masking tape.

That is a basic outline of the science fiction convention. Don't forget that sf contains many sub-genres such as fantasy and horror, just to mention two of lots and lots.

some facts about hybrid vehicles

The picture is of some coral bells that bloomed last month.

We drive Toyota hybrids, a Prius and a Highlander. They do get better mileage than most cars of their size and weight. The Prius regularly gets between 40 and 50 miles per gallon. The hybrid highlander usually gives me between 25 and 30 mpg.

But there are some things that affect the mileage.
1. Wind can either boost or drop the efficiency.
2. Wet pavement makes the mileage drop.
3. Hilly terrain in the city lowers mileage, but at highway speeds can increase it.
4. Mountains: for some reason, we get up to 60 mpg when driving through the mountains.
5. Speed: the faster you go over 60 mph, the lower the gas mileage.
6. Traffic: stop and go traffic can raise the efficiency.
7. Air conditioning will drop between 2 and 8 miles per gallon on both cars. This one is a "Catch 22". If you drive at highway speeds with the AC off and the windows open, your mileage is worse than with the windows closed and the AC on.

All in all, we are pretty happy with the cars. They do save us quite a bit of gasoline. And all the gages and dials are fun to watch.

a note from July 22

Even with the oppressive heat, I find time to get out in the garden. Our first surprise lily has bloomed next to the gardenia bush. I was pleasantly surprised to find that we still had a gardenia blossom, a new one. I had been sure that the heat would have stopped its flowering.

My only tomato plant has some fruit on it too. This is the "mystery mater" that was forced on my wife as she left a greenhouse sale at which she had been volunteering. Not only does it have fruit, but it has set three fresh blossoms. I may yet get home grown tomatoes from my garden this year. Even if not, Mr. Vang's are delicious.

Our new cat (Spooky) seems to be starting to get along with the old. But I am surprised by the increase in dominance activities of the old cat (Little Kitty). Not only will he stalk her, but he will try to jump my feet when my back is turned. Happily, I worked with tigers for five years. This is their favorite hunting behavior and they think its funny to jump on the backs of their friends. When they were younger and weighed less than 250 pounds, they would hit my back and slide off. When they were mature and rising twice that weight, they just rode me down, got off and laughed. Yes tigers can laugh.



Little Kitty appears above and Spooky, below.



Looking carefully at the photos, neither appears terribly happy. Perhaps it is because I disturbed them at their favorite cool spots on the floor. One will try another time.

More authors who have had an effect

In no particular order (so what else is new?), here are some more of the writers whose works are memorable:

Leo Tolstoy - I may have mentioned that I read "War and Peace" while I was in Vietnam.

Percy Bysshe Shelley - Any reasonably modern poet who can write epics is worthy of regard.

Charles Dickens - Gone from required reading in high school to old friend.

Sir Walter Scott - I love adventure. He writes it well.

Robert Lewis Stevenson - Like I said, I love adventure... as long as it's somebody else's adventure.

Rudyard Kipling - His adventure stories hold me and his poetry is almost something you could put to music.

e. e. cummins - He's just cool.

Walt Whitman - Stirring verse from a point of view I hadn't considered until I read him.

Jules Verne - one of my first SF authors. An amazing number of his predictions were right.

H. G. Wells - another of my first SF authors.

Homer - Two classic epics that have been rewritten under various guises for thousands of years.

Julius Caesar - (not in Latin) If you want to know about military tactics and army movements, this is on of the first masters.

Did I mention Damon Runyan? He's funny. I like funny.

William Faulkner - was the quintessential writer of the 1930's, a good storyteller and a neat view of the South.

Christopher Marlowe - whose plays were every bit as neat as Shakespeare's.

Robert Herrick - a really cool, dirty, old man.

John Milton - You read and read and read and still don't come to the end.

Andrew Marvell - His images come to life in his words.

Lord Byron - If only because his life was so interesting and he was so passionate that it came through the words.

Robert Browning - Only some of his stuff caught at me. But it stuck.

Saki (H. H. Munro) - very different stories and a wicked sense of humor.

Jane Austen - stories of an interesting period told with gentle, subtle humor.

And that's all I can think of today.

Summer has come to Arkansas and we are getting body heat temperatures an high humidity. These combined with almost calm winds make the out of doors oppressive. When it cools a little in the evening, there are enthusiastic mosquitos who come to dine on me. But the blackberries are in season and that is a bit plus

Fifth of July

Yesterday was Independence Day. The first news of independence I received yesterday was from an old Army buddy. He had an eye problem that was threatening him with blindness. His ophthalmologist worked out a way to save his sight. So my good friend won't need a white cane or seeing eye dog. He'll be able to walk and drive, even ride his Harley. That's good news about independence.

My family went to the Fourth of July celebration on the river. It was lovely. Toward evening, the temperature dropped and a light breeze sprang up. We listened to the music and were comfortable. My two sons-in-law explored the breweries here in Little Rock and found some beers that were very much to their taste. They were noisily happy on the ride home.

But there were other things that I did not like so well. They were nice gestures, well meaning and they put me ill at ease. When the Little Rock Symphony began their part of the concert, the conductor asked all members of the armed forces, past and present, to stand. My daughters urged me to stand and I did. But as I stood, I could not help but remember the friends I left in Vietnam. The memories were not just of the dead (my company was remarkably fortunate during my tour; they were very few) but of the people I spent a year with who did not answer the letters or wrote back that writing to a buddy brought back too many harsh memories. Those friends were lost to me as were the ones whose addresses I never managed to obtain.

At the end of the concert, during the 1812 Overture, the fireworks started. They were magnificent, the best I have seen in Little Rock. The pyrotechicians fired them from the Main Street Bridge, over the Arkansas River. But as I watched, I remembered what they had been originally. The black red air bursts that showered shrapnel down on soldiers, the white smoke that meant white phosphorus had been used. The horrible burns that it inflicted, how they would not stop burning unless the doctors put the soldier into some oxygen free medium and removed the glowing particles in the dark. Those were not good memories.

What I experienced was not the flat panic of a flash back. I just was remembering the purpose of those explosions originally. What we and others have turned into beauty are deadly serious in war. They can injure or kill inexperienced people who try to fire them without the precautions on all their labels. Never-the-less, I enjoyed my day and the evening. It was good to be with so many people I love and so many others whose sole purpose was celebration.