21. Snowbound in Toronto
with Pigorian Chants
January 16, 1999
These were the headlines:
No snow today. It was actually a balmy degree or two above freezing and the snow began melting. The huge icicles hanging from our roof actually caused some of our windows to leak. I am afraid to find out what damage is being done to the roof. Oh well, I'm certainly not going up there to clean off the snow and ice. No way. I am still getting over one life threatening experience. That's enough. I can deal with some wet towels and a few buckets of water, thank you very much.
The snow is still kinda neat. The dogs are slowly but surely forging new pathways through the huge drifts in the backyard, but neither of them has yet ventured to the back of the yard. Scooter takes great joy in snapping at snowballs which I take great joy in whipping at her flailing jaws. I have filled the bird feeders which has resulted in an interesting show just outside the kitchen windows.
Driving around is an adventure, especially getting in and out of driveways. The snow is piled so high at the driveway entrances that is impossible to see if anyone is coming at you. One just has to take a chance and inch out into the roadway. Sort of like Russian roulette. Enough about the weather. Before you know it, spring will be here.
It is now about a month since my last Bum Ticker chapter and almost ten weeks since my surgery. In my last chapter I tried to conclude this journal and say farewell, but the eMails keep coming in and I been encouraged to just carry on. So with Marc Cohn's new album, "Burning the Daze" now playing, here we go.
From: [email protected]
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999 09:25:17 -0800
Subject: The Bum Ticker's absence
Steve,
Your eMail is probably overwhelmed with questions about your
journal. Perhaps you've decided to publish it? I think that would be an
excellent idea.
I started reading it about a month ago when I learned I was going
to have a valve replacement, but I chickened out midway. It was vastly
informative and humorous as well.
Hope you get back on line soon.
Bruce Wilbur
Everyone is constantly telling me how much better I look now. Better colour. Ten years younger... Blah, blah... I can do most anything, but am still avoiding lifting anything heavy. And no snow shoveling, of course.
I went to the office, unofficially, a couple of times last week for about three or four hours a day. I will ease myself back into the routine slowly. It's funny, while I feel physically ready to take on a full day's work, I don't think I am prepared mentally. The doctor himself said that it wouldn't be as easy I think. I leave home feeling energized and ready to take it on, but then just walking up the one flight of stairs to the office I feel winded and like there's a weight on my chest. That's not from the stairs! I can do a couple of miles on the treadmill without that feeling. It must be the subconscious pressure of the stress I feel re-entering my world at work.
I am very lucky that I could afford the luxury of taking over two months off, and without really having to worry about what was happening there. Thanks to the excellent relationship I have with my co-workers, my brother Larry and our assistant, Lois. They, along with our other staff, Heather and Al, really did keep the house in order in my absence. They did an excellent job not only with that, but with shielding me from any stress. Thanks guys!
In my abundance of spare time I have been reorganizing my web sites including our corporate home page: http://www.aldgategroup.com. I also did a new site for my friends Penner and Rod, http://www.vaxxine.com/bhdrum which has some incredible shots of Penner playing Barrelhouse Drums at Toronto's Skydome. Of course, I completely re-designed my favourite links page: http://www.aldgategroup.com/stevesfaves.html.
From: "Wells, Darcy" <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 18 De c 1998 17:01:36 -0600
Subject: bum tickers
Steve,
Hi! Received your last chapters. Thanks so much for sharing your
story...from some of the emails that you posted, it's obvious that you've
helped many! Sounds like you're doing well and are beginning to get up and
around...congratulations!! It sure feels great once you really begin to
feel well again, doesn't it?!
Well, I went for the dreaded TE Echo this past Monday. They did an excellent job of putting me out for the entire ordeal...no recollection of it whatsoever! The test showed that my aortic valve (you know...the one that was just replaced less than two years ago), is leaking in two places. Another surgery is inevitable. Now it's just a
matter of deciding when. Thankfully, my doctor doesn't feel that it's an
emergency situation, so no hasty decisions during the holidays. We're going
to meet with the surgeon after the first of the year, and see what's what.
I feel the same as I did last go around...if it has to be done, let's just
do it so that we can get it behind us and all get on with our lives.
Actually, I'm feeling surprisingly O.K. about the whole thing...I got
through it once, I can do it again. It's my family that I worry about...I
hate to put them through this--again. I really think that in a lot of ways,
it's worse for those who love us, don't you? It must be very difficult to
have to stand by and watch someone you care about go through it. Oh well,
this too shall pass...
For now, I'm going to focus on positive thoughts and having a merry
Christmas...you do the same!
Happy Holidays!
Darcy
From: "Claire Hicks" <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1998 09:48:18 PST
Subject: Re: Mr. Swineheart part two- more mail.
Dear Steve,
Just a quick update. I have written long ago, and I have really enjoyed
keeping up to date with your journal as I prepared for my heart surgery.
I have to admit, the few days before surgery I could not bring my self
to read a few entries, but I will catch up with them once I am home with
all that time on my hands.
I am now in my 6th day after surgery at Mayo's St. Mary's Hospital in
Rochester, MN. My surgery was on Monday, 12/14. I had my pulmonary
valve replaced with a pig valve, and my tricuspid and mitral valve both
repaired. The surgeon, who is world famous, also did a reduction to my
entire enlarged heart. Yesterday I went in and had my pacemaker which
was 15 years old replaced. Now I am well on the way to recovery and
anxious to get home for Christmas with my hubby to our two college age
daughters. (Who are home already waiting for our return.) They are
thinking I will be able to get out of here by Wed., which will put us
home on Christmas eve, as we will make the nine hour drive in two days.
I don't know if you remember me, or have my past letter(s) on file, but
I had surgery as an infant, 8 mo, and again at 4 years, and open heart
surgery setting many records when I was 9 in 1961. I feel so blessed to
have the opportunity to restore my future, and look forward to many
bright days ahead.
I know the recovery at home will be rough, but I have lots of help. I
will try to write again when we get home.
Have a wonderful holiday if it is not before then, and enjoy the lunches
at the Dog and Drum....sounds like a place we would love!
Sincerely,
Oink, Oink......loyally in pigdom!
Claire Hicks
Fort Wayne, Indiana
From: "Steve Goldberger" <[email protected]>
To: "Claire Hicks" <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1998 15:10:43 -0500
Subject: Re: Pig Valves
Claire, Oh yeah,
Prepare yourself for an onslaught of piggy related gifty things this xmas.
Mine have already started to arrive.
oink oink snort snork.
Steve
From: [email protected]
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 21:22:44 EST
Subject: Re: ho ho ho--Happy New Year
Happy New Year--Steve and Dory
How are you doing? Haven't heard from you for a while. I miss the updates in
"The Bum Ticker". I hope you have started the up-tick on feeling better than
you did before your surgery. What have you been up to! Or has the weather
kept you in a lot?
Well, my date is set for 2/24. It's done. I really like the surgeon. Very
easy to talk to and listens to everything. I am having it done at All
Children's Hospital here in St. Petersburg--people come from all over the
world to bring children for heart and other surgeries. My neighbor is the CEO
and the surgeon comes very highly recommended. He was really good with all of
my questions, and liked the fact that I had an arsenal of information gleaned
from the Internet. I guess I feel a little better about it now. I had my
husband come with me as I felt it was time he got involved. As we were
waiting, I told him I had changed my mind and didn't want to go through with
it. He said "Sure, we'll just go find some Ubangi faith healers." He really
liked the doctor too, and he can be very critical. I have chosen to go the
St. Judes valve route. Doctor also thinks it is best for me. Also keeps me
on the heart/lung machine the shortest time which I am interested in. He said
I can eat and drink whatever I want when on coumadin as long as I don't binge
on broccoli or alcohol. I told him if I were going to binge, it would be on
custard pie!
He also said that once I get past the physical assault on my
body from the surgery in general, that I should really notice a positive
difference in how I feel in general! Not that I feel bad--but better is
always good! (I do have a heavy chest and get tired easily---just keep
going!).
So that's it for now. "Let it be written, let it be done."
Here's to hoping
you have crossed the threshold of up-tick and getting better every day!
Later.....Susan
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 20:18:21 -0700
From: "Peter dellaFemina" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Mr. Swineheart part two- more mail.
Steve,
Ahhh - finally caught up! But a bit sad that it's over (the journal I mean). I've really enjoyed living through YOUR ordeal ... so much good humor, you really provided an great service to those about to embark on the OHS journey. And like I said before, a wonderfully funny trip down memory lane for some of us. Can't thank you enough, man!
As an aside, I've thought a lot about my music days, too, thanks to you. Kinda miss it. Oh well, if my friends keep buggin' me to take my axe outta the case maybe I'll be inspired to really work on it. After all, I'm not writing much these days and we all need an outlet, ya know?
Keep in touch, okay?
Peter.
The Negative Guy
(probably away from my Mac)
HOME PAGE: http://www.geocities.com/~contours
I went to my printer and had about twenty copies of the Bum Ticker Pages printed up and bound in book form. I've been giving these to friends and family that are interested and not on the Internet. Before printing them up I did some editing and corrected (most) of the typos and other errors. But reading it over again, I always find another mistake to fix on the next edition. Jeeze, at this rate it will be perfect by the twentieth printing. I haven't bothered fixing up this on-line edition, it's just too much work. And hell, the Internet is full of unedited, bad English.
On December 16th, I went in to see Dr. David (the surgeon) for our first meeting since he did his number on me. He reviewed his file and we discussed my medications. He asked me to lift my shirt to see the incision which he said looked as it should. He said that the pig valve he used is much improved over the old ones. He said they've been in use for about eight years, so we know that they last at least eight years. Ha! (Doctor humour). Dr. Wolfe (cardiologist) will monitor me once a year and after about ten years we will pay real close attention to the condition of the valve. He said that I shouldn't get my hopes up too high and that although I was feeling much better, it had only been five weeks and there was still a way to go in my recovery process. I thanked him for all he had done for me and said goodbye, for what I hope will be a long time.
On the 17th we had lunch with Ken and Christa, our next door neighbours here in Toronto whom we hadn't seen since before the surgery. They had been away for a month in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Bali. So between their travel adventures and our surgical ones, we had lots to catch up on.
The next day we loaded up and drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake where we planned to stay until the new year. That weekend, Platypus Rex, a band that I play with regularly was playing at the Angel Inn with Dave Westlake filling in for me. I stopped in to see them for a short while on Saturday night and actually sat in for a few songs. I played sitting down, was quite rusty, but it was great! It was so good to be back at it. Everyone was so pleased to see me at the pub. Peter Ling, the owner of the Angel, was so relieved I could see he was holding back the tears. I went home that evening feeling pretty thrilled. I was back!
Monday night, the 21st was the Angel's staff Christmas party and they had hired Platypus Rex to play as well. It was a good thing that I was back because Dave (my stand-in) was getting married the next morning and had to leave early. Herb asked me if I was up to filling in for my fill in. There was no stoppin' me. I played the last set, again sitting down. All was well. Especially since all I had to do was show up and didn't have to lift any equipment.
We had a very nice, but quiet Christmas week. We saw our friends, ate too much and just hung out.
One of the gigs I had to cancel due to the uncertainty of my recovery time was new year's eve at the Angel. It would have been my third consecutive new year's date there and it really meant a lot to me. It is the place where just about everyone in town winds up at midnight. Fortunately however, when I canceled, Peter offered the date to Platypus Rex. So guess who was the bass player? It's funny how things work out like that. Again, I took it easy. Rested and did nothing all day in preparation. Sat on a stool. But it was really great this year. The place was so packed, you couldn't move.
From: "Deanie Henderson" <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 19:51:29 PST
Subject: Re: Mr. Swineheart part two- more mail
Dear Steve,
Thanks for your courage to web out your trials and tribulations so that
those of us who have ahead what you have behind you can learn and
benefit from your wit and endurance.
Deanie
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 10:51:09 -0600
From: Stacey Hunter Hecht <[email protected]>
Subject: thanks from south of the border
I happened upon your journal through following a link from cachnet, and
wanted to thank you for posting it. My husband (33 yrs. old) was just
diagnosed with a leaky aortic valve, and it was incredibly therapeutic for
me to read about your experience with decision-making, surgery and
recovery. Most of all your story conveyed to me a sense of living
abundantly through these events in our lives...something which I hope to be
able to do.
Blessings on you and your family, and best wishes for a continued recovery --
Stacey Hunter Hecht
Department of Political Science
Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ENTRIES IN MY ON-LINE GUEST BOOK
12/13/98 10:22:58 PM
Name: deb swallow
How did you get here? heart patient chat centre
Where are you from? Greenwich, London
How do you rate my Bum Ticker Pages? good fun!!!!
Would you like to be on my mailing list? yup
if so what's your E-mail address: [email protected]
Do you have a heart problem? If so, what? Aortic valve replacement with a pericardial (cow!) valve. As a singer I didn't fancy a metronome in my chest.
Comments: I spent some early hours reading your story. It felt good to hear another musician's story. I'm really interested in the drumming for 2000-I'm especially interested in that as I'm up the road from the 'lemmium dome' as my daughter calls it! I also recognize that the millennium is just to do with one cultural calender. Anyway big love xxx Debs
Name: Doug Henness
How did you get here? Web search on "heart valve replacement"
Where are you from? Tipp City, Ohio
How do you rate my Bum Ticker Pages? Very entertaining, very informative and reassuring to those who might be going through similar trials
Do you have a heart problem? If so, what? Need aortic valve replacement - probably early in 1999
Comments: Many, many thanks Steve! You have touched my defective heart and given me reassurance and strength to cope with my soon to come adventure. God bless you & your family.
January so far has been a bust due to the snow. Although last Monday night Dick Binsley dropped by for a visit. Dick is a very talented actor we met in Niagara-on-the-Lake where he is a long time Shaw Festival company member. He lives in Toronto during the off-season and is currently performing to rave reviews at the Tarragon Theatre in Canadian playwright Jason Sherman's new play, It's All True. Anyway we've been meaning to get together for a long while now, but Monday's are his only days off. It had just snowed for three days straight and another storm was about to begin that night so I didn't expect that he would be coming. However, he did come despite the snow and bad roads. The three of us had a lovely time discussing music, theatre and the meaning of life. I think the real reason he insisted on braving the elements though, was that he had a hilarious CD for me.
"GRUNT", Pigorian Chants from Snouto Domoinko de Silo. Performed by The Ad Hog Camerata. A cute book and CD discovered, translated, notated and Illuminated by Sandra Boynton. "Twelve times a day, the simple swine of Snouto Domoinko grunt the unadorned, ethereal music of Pigorian Chant... Intoned in the original Pig Latin, with antiphonal responsoria and commentaria in Latin, and featuring the ethereal polyphony of chickens, this music is not to be forgotten."
When you listen to this it sounds seriously like authentic Gregorian chants. It is beautifully sung, but the lyrics are hilarious. For example,
Track 3, The farmer sings:
"Soooo-ee. Sooooooooooo-eee.
Si non nunc venietis,
cibum gallinis dabo."
(Translated: Sooee, sooee, If you don't come now, I'll give your food to the Chickens.)
Chickens:
Sententia bona. (Good idea)
Pig's response:
Op-stay, op-stay
E're-way oming-cay. (Stop, stop, we're coming!)"
Track 4 "Breaking the Fast, the pigs sing:
Op-slay ime-tay. Op-slay ime-tay. (Slop time! Slop time!)
Op-slay ime-tay. Op-slay ime-tay. (Slop time! Slop time!)
Ood-fay, orious-glay ood-fay. (Food, glorious food!)
Um-yay, um-yay." (Yum yum.)
We all had a good laugh and this fabulous and thoughtful gift from Dick just puts the icing on the cake of all the piggy stuff I've received since the life saving transplantation of that swine valve into my ticker.
Name: MARY FINSTAD
How did you get here? VIA MOUSE
Where are you from? ONTARIO...1 HOUR FROM TORONTO
How do you rate my Bum Ticker Pages? VERY COOL
Would you like to be on my mailing list? MIGHT AS WELL GO FOR THE FULL MONTY!
if so what's your E-mail address: [email protected]
Do you have a heart problem? If so, what? TETROLOGY OF FALLOT REPAIRED. PACEMAKER. PULMONARY VALVE REPLACEMENT (PIG VALVE).TRICUSPID REPAIR. PVC'S. RESUSCITATION ACCOMPANIED BY A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHEN MY KIDS WERE ONE AND THREE. OH YA...AND MY HEART HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CARE TOO MUCH!!
Comments: REALLY ENJOYED YOUR STORY AND CAN RELATE. NOTICED YOU DID HAVE SOME POST-OP "VERBAL DIARRHEA" THOUGH. NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A EUPHORIA. I KNOW CAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE TOO. AS WELL AS THE ALL TOO COMMON POST-OP DEPRESSION. YOU'LL FIND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS YOU'LL TALK LESS AND LESS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE RAT-RACE ONCE AGAIN. YET, IN THE BACK OF YOUR SOUL NEVER MINIMIZING THE SMALL PLEASURES OF LIFE. NEVER TAKING THEM FOR GRANTED. A QUIET CALM AND INNER PEACE.
We're just hunkered down here wondering when it (the snow and winter) will all end. Slowly winding back into my work/play routines. I am much more patient these days. I drive slower, take my time at things. Don't worry so much if stuff doesn't get done as planned. I'm not as compelled to be out "doing" as I used to be.
I have been enjoying what I have left of my "time off" and just cherishing life daily. I have been working on getting my singing muscles back in shape by learning several new songs for my next performance coming up on February 20th. Dory and I have spent many a night lately sitting in the kitchen singing harmony. We're happy. As happy as pigs in slop.
Op-slay, op-slay. (Slop, slop) Oink. (Oink.)
A few shots of our street just before another 10 inches fell last week
And this just in:
From: [email protected]
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 10:39:54 -0800
Subject: New valve - new life!
Dear Steve,
How many thank-yous can you handle? Your fascinating, humourous
(Canadian spelling at no extra charge) and thoughtful journal of your
experience has produced all the emotions you'd expect.
Your personal response to my question regarding the site really
delighted me. Thoughtfulness is always appreciated but especially when
it's so personal.
I'm having my valve replaced one week from tomorrow. I look forward to
many more years on this wonderful planet (unless property on Mars
becomes really affordable).
Thanks again and, if you're putting together a newsletter (or an opera
company - I'm an out-of-work baritone since our local opera company
folded), put me and my wonderful supportive wife Aimy (pronounced I and
Me) on it.
Bruce
Next Chapter 22 - I've Got Piggy-car-what? Five months later...
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