Solitude is awareness paradise

Long time ago I heard a sentence like that from a psychoanalyst; yes, I went to a therapist some 10 years ago or so. It better be true for, otherwise, how can I explain all the minute details I’ve observed and ideas I’ve come up with during these hours by myself in LAX (Los Angeles International airport; it’s not a brand name of a laxative :-)?

Save water; it’s easier than you think

So it said on a small sticker on the mirror in front of the Sloan automatic faucet in one of the Los Angeles International Airport restrooms. Why then, didn’t the automatic faucet use motion detection only to let water run instead of using a timer? When I wash my hands I follow four steps: 1) wet my hands, very shortly; 2) put some soap and rub my hands; 3) rinse my hands with water, a bit longer than the first time; 4) dry my hands. During the first step the faucet let water run for a period of time much longer than necessary, thus wasting water. If they had used only motion detection the system would have stopped water flow sooner when I was soaping and rubbing my hands and water would’ve have been saved; it would’ve been easier than what the Sloan engineers thought.

On accepting one’s reality

It wasn’t easy for me to seat for the first time in my life on a wheelchair but, I had to since my flight from Mayagüez to San Juan had been delayed. I would’ve not been able to check in my luggage and made it to the gate had I not asked for special assistance to American Airlines when I got to San Juan. They continued to provide me with wheelchairs in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. Thank you very much. I learned realism and humility.

Things didn’t stop there. At Cal Poly, the organizers of the meeting I was attending, both from Cal Poly and HP, were very kind and considered. Again, they taught me that pride wouldn’t take me far; my gratitude forever. And no, I’m not giving in to MS (no, I’m not referring to Microsoft but to Multiple Sclerosis). I’ll fight it with all my energies and continue to walk, slowly as it may be, until my legs (or my nervous system) allow me.

Prayer of the "workoholics"

Lord, please tape my family’s life so that I can watch it in my next life. My spouse is taping the game/soap opera for me.

Digital Divide

Los Angeles International Airport, Terminal 4, in the Burger King – Starbucks Coffee restaurant close to gates 46 through 49, Friday April 27, 2007, 4:15 pm.
An Oriental good-looking woman seats in a small roundtable. Across the table is a white American-looking tall guy. They must’ve been married for several years since they barely exchange a few words during the 30 minutes or so I sat in a table close to theirs. The guy was absorved by his computer screen.

Long time ...

A very good friend of mine sent me an email, concerned because I had not written in my blog for a very long time. My fault. I let sometimes my work and other activities fill up my days and do not get around to reflecting and writing as we all should. My thoughts and ideas accompany me when I'm driving or in the shower or anywhere and when I'm by myself but the fact is that I didn't sit down to type in my personal blog. Anyway, I'm back and with news. Three months ago, after finally changing physician, or neurologist to be more precise, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, or MS as is commonly denoted.

The only difference from my previous post is that now I know what I have and am under treatment. Regrets? Nope, it's not worth it. I can't change my past, so I have to go on with my life and business as usual, or almost as usual. I have been making some adjustments because of my movement limitations and I also have to squeeze in time for physical therapy sessions. Anyway, this is no excuse for not stopping for some minutes to write and share with my few readers my reflections and thoughts.

Ideas to write about? Yes, I've had a lot, specially when I am by myself, but I will be trying to get back to the discipline of writing in my blog more frequently.