Home, at last!

Am going to take a siesta now, since I didn't sleep at all on the flight, and it's now nearly 14:30 the next day (with the 7 hour time shift) and I'd rather control my sleep pattern if at all possible, which it usually is for a day or so and then the jet lag crash catches up to me.

Getting here was a bit problematic at moments but I didn't get too worked up about any of it.

Achy drove me to the airport, and we hit lots of traffic at 2pm, which neither of us had expected. But I wasn't too late at the airport, and there was no line. Unfortunatley, there was also no reservation for me to be on the flight. There had been a reservation, up until the flight I didn't take had taken off without me. So they had me down as having missed that flight, even though they had decided to change my flight of their own accord and even though I'd already confirmed the other flight they had changed me to, but whatever, I wound up flying standby, which meant I had no vegetarian meal. This is not such a big deal, since Iberia's international flight veggie meals are horrid. But it helps explain the total experience. :-(

I was very surprised that I managed to cram all those books I acquired into my suitcase, along with my clothes (I had planned from the get-go on ditching two sweaters and a shirt, so I knew those wouldn't be coming back with, but they didn't really take up all that much space, either). Even more of a miracle, they didn't charge me for being over the weight allowance. :-)

Note to self: if you don't do the dishes before you leave for two and a half weeks, this is what you come home to. After all, Ximo cannot be relied upon to come and visit EVERY time you go away, especially since you took away his set of keys.

But for now, nap-time.

Latest update on Paul

from Greg:

"Hey everyone:

Paul is having a second surgery on his eye today at 2 pm CST. They had wanted to wait until the pneumonia cleared up before scheduling it--obviously, going under anesthesia when you are have trouble breathing to begin with is risky--but alas, the time window is apparently closing so they had to schedule it for tomorrow. The point of this surgery is to clean everything out behind the eye--blood and stuff--and to see what exactly can be done. They have exhaustingly explained every possible scenario with the eye; I for one am convinced they are specialists who know what they are doing. Ultimately, however you want to look at it, it really boils down to "We don't know."

Ah. the wonders of modern medicine!

Paul is making the most of his stay at Touro, and trying to enjoy it as best he can. The pneumonia is apparently under control, and he isn't feeling much pain from his lungs anymore, and his eye doesn't bother him at all. He's nervous and a little anxious and a little scared, but he can still laugh and tease me. He has been truly moved by the way people have rallied around him; as have I. HIs primary care doctor, a really cool lesbian with a great sense of humor and an amazing gift for empathy, told him today, "You never told me you were famous!" We both got a kick out of that. There are several amazing things about Touro: first of all, it's not a hospital, it's an 'infirmary'; they don't have patients--they have 'guests'; they refer to meals as 'room service'; the television has cable; and the nurses are unfailingly smiling, friendly and polite. Even the staff--the people who bring the food, housekeeping, and the 'wheeled escorts' are friendly and nice. It's amazing what a difference insurance makes.

I'm doing fine. Many have asked, so I figured I'd address that issue. I'm not sleeping well, honestly, but I seem to be doing okay as far as being tired is concerned. Some days I am tired, other days I am fine--today was a tired day. I'm actually not smoking as much as I normally do--smoking a cigarette at a hospital is an enormous pain in the ass, and I really have to be jonesing to leave Paul's room on the eighth floor, go down to the first and make my way outside to do so. Paul has officially quit smoking, so I will be as well. (That should do wonders for my moods, right?) As for my work, the Community Center has been incredibly cool about this situation, and everyone I am working with in publishing has been incredibly generous and understanding as well. I do spend a lot of time sitting in a chair while Paul sleeps, so I have been reading, and thus been able to get some work done--I'm actually getting caught up, but not as fast as I'd like. I'm making a point to eat every day, and I've managed to take care of things around the house--paying bills, etc, which is nice because it helps me to take my mind off things. I'm very conscious that I have to take care of myself--until this is all over I can't get sick. But despite the lack of sleep and the heavy weather we've been having, my sinuses have not flared up at all. For the most part, I've managed to remain optimistic and positive. Every once in a while grief, worry and stress try to take control, but I just take deep breaths, relax my mind, and think good thoughts until it goes away. Maybe it's not healthy--I'm not a therapist--but it's working so far. I am having trouble remembering what day it is, though. I know all the positive energy coming our way has helped me a lot.

Thanks again for being our friends,

Greg"