KosAbility: Unexpected Twists Make Life Interesting (updated)

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Sunday September 23, 2012 · 2:00 PM PDT

2012/09/23 · 14:00

MODERATOR'S NOTE: CJ put this diary in the queue for publication today, expecting to be here. Instead, he is fighting for his life and may not live through the weekend. This left me with a decision to make. Do I post it? Do I post something else? Perhaps nothing at all today?

I think you deserve to know what the last few weeks have been like for our friend. (As you might expect, he has continued to wring every bit of life out of his situation that he can.) I think you have a right to know what music he planned to share with you. Most of all, the Daily Kos community - especially the KosAbility community - should have access to the poem he wrote with you in mind.

CJ is in critical condition as I write this Sunday morning. I promise to share any news I receive as a diary update.

Nurse Kelley ♥

KosAbility is a community diary series posted at 5 PM ET every Sunday and Wednesday by volunteer diarists. This is a gathering place for people who are living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues surrounding this topic. There are two parts to each diary. First, a volunteer diarist will offer their specific knowledge and insight about a topic they know intimately. Then, readers are invited to comment on what they've read and/or ask general questions about disabilities, share something they've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about the unfairness of their situation. Our only rule is to be kind; trolls will be spayed or neutered.

A month ago, your correspondent was faced with the daunting prospect of unsuccessful chemotherapy resulting in blood transfusions this month.

Instead, my oncologist informed me early in the month that the last round of chemo had been, at least, partially successful, and I could, in fact, relax for what initially promised to be AN ENTIRE MONTH with no IV needles hanging from my only arm as they pumped cancer killing drugs into my system. And even that promise might go by the wayside.

Oh joy!

The diary below chronicles the activities of a "prisoner" released on parole until the "CLL wardens" come by to take him back to the Infusion Center once again.

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday September 10, 2012 · 3:30 PM PDT

2012/09/10 · 15:30

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

More from me again this week.

Pain is driving my brain to write.

Peace

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday September 03, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/09/03 · 16:00

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

Four offering this week:

The first two almost wrote themselves after the comedy of the GOP Convention in Florida. Offered with no explanation, didn't seem to need any.

And then, with my connection to KosAbility, a dedication to those tireless folk who give up Wednesdays and Sundays to help those less fortunate than themselves. Never asking for anything in return and always available with a kind word, good advice and, when needed, money!

Last this week, pain is the Jester of Bad Jokes

Peace

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 27, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/08/27 · 16:00

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

7 new pieces offered this week:

1. Musings on a churlish regular who frequents our local coffee shop, ostensibly to complain about Obama, Democrats, Unions, non-Christians and related (to him) subjects. The man is a retired teacher! Whoa!

"A life lived in neutral gear is no life at all"

2. Then, I just discovered that a friend, like me spent several years of his early childhood living in a Quonsett Hut. If you haven't been there, you will never know!

3. Next, this week, Romney's exhortation to "borrow college money from your parents" got me to thinking how totally out of touch this ghoul is. This immigrant who has had all his assets taken by the medieval US healthcare system has a teenager about to go to college and I can only afford to buy him a 2B pencil! His grades are great and we will be OK!

4. And the Romney/Ryan behavior is so reminiscent of some earlier megalomaniacal characters in history that the propaganda piece wrote itself.

5. Perhaps you will agree, perhaps not. My career was as an Economist, but I always wrote poetry and painted and always thought that the poets/painters/composers/writers held the key to our future. We simply don't enshrine ledgers in Museums!

6. A mea culpa upon realizing that listening is a better way of telling your own story

7. A reaction to first learning that the chemotherapy is not working and I will need to go to blood transfusions. Then to find out, this morning, that all is changed, at least for another week. And...

Please respond with poems of your own

Peace

ulookarmless for National Parody Administration

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday August 25, 2012 · 3:50 PM PDT

2012/08/25 · 15:50

A Romney theme song, if he could only carry a tune!

Mitt's street corner do-wop love song to himself with special acknowledgement to his dog Paul.

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 13, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/08/13 · 16:00

Youth and truth have been on my mind this week.

-My offspring and their babies will be drastically impacted if the monsters of the right and their know-nothing minions achieve their aims

-Young people are dying needlessly all over the world

-Education in this nation is in as poor a state as it's been for 50 years

-Is there a lawyer who can tell the truth in this country?

-Where are the new thinkers?

Tell me I'm wrong! Somebody! Please?!!

ulookarmless for National Parody Administration

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday August 07, 2012 · 12:52 PM PDT

2012/08/07 · 12:52

Oh what else is there to say.

Read on if you dare!

ulookarmless for KosAbility

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday August 05, 2012 · 2:00 PM PDT

2012/08/05 · 14:00

KosAbility is a community diary series posted at 5 PM ET every Sunday and Wednesday by volunteer diarists. This is a gathering place for people who are living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues surrounding this topic. There are two parts to each diary. First, a volunteer diarist will offer their specific knowledge and insight about a topic they know intimately. Then, readers are invited to comment on what they've read and/or ask general questions about disabilities, share something they've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about the unfairness of their situation. Our only rule is to be kind; trolls will be spayed or neutered.

On July 4th, 2004 I collapsed while filling my wife's car at the local gas station.

I awoke in the local hospital two days later to discover that I had had a massive stroke which affected my right side, my speech was slurred and my brain was slowed to a crawl.

An intern noticed an angry red patch on my left arm, called for a biopsy and within a week, the resident oncologist advised me that I had a cancerous tumor in the form of a neural sheath sarcoma. He then sent me to the UCLA Medical Center where a famous surgeon would operate to remove the tumor thereby saving my life. (At the expense of losing my left arm)

Thus began a tale of wonderful treatment from some medical professionals and of unbelievable mistreatment by the administration of health care in America by both government and, in particular, the bloodsucking insurance industry who wrap themselves in the language of care without meaning a single word of their own slogans.

This diary sets out the latest chapter in the continuing saga.

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday July 30, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/07/30 · 16:00

We've had some fun in the last few weeks. However, the intention of Indigo Kalliope was ever to promote serious poetry from left wing and working class writers. So please indulge me this week and please, please, sign up for the next few open dates with your poetry of the people.

In my humble opinion, government has too long been in the hands of lawyers, accountants and, in general, those with the imaginations of slugs.

Imagine if artists, poets, musicians were an integral part of running this country. Just imagine.

Peace

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday July 16, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/07/16 · 16:00

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

Poor little right wingers have much to cry about these days, particularly with the threat of a candidate so out of touch with their base John Boehner is not the only Goposaur who cries himself to sleep at night.

So, in the spirit of cooperation and friendship we leftycommiepinkobleedingheartliberals are known for, herewith are some soothing nursery rhymes to rock the right-wingers into gentle slumber

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 25, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/06/25 · 16:00

Some thoughts on how I approach the world and reflections on the attitudes of the right.

A villanelle on the true aims of the corporate West in the Middle East.

Also a poem prompted by an article on Anders Breivik on the BBC World Service on Sunday.

And finally, in case you get the impression I am not religious. Far from it. The final piece explains.

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

ulookarmless for Indigo Kalliope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 11, 2012 · 4:00 PM PDT

2012/06/11 · 16:00

Join us every Monday night for drinks at the Daily Kos community political poetry club
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional
The keypad is mightier than the sword

Only one poem tonight, but a suggestion for a new horoscope for this digital age.

First the poem, then a simple chart, finally the beginnings of an horological explanation of each sign in the new zodiac.

Incidentally, my birthday is October 23.

Enjoy

Peace

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KosAbility: Unexpected Twists Make Life Interesting (updated)

Indigo Kalliope: - Poems from the Left - The Myth of Information

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NPA: Lead Me from Darkness into Light

Indigo Kalliope: Poems from the Left - Open Thread

NPA: Republican Kittens Lose Their Mittens

KosAbility: Still Here!

Indigo Kalliope: Poems from the Left - The Health of Nations

Indigo Kalliope: Poems from the Left - Nursery Rhymes to Stop Even John Boehner Crying

Indigo Kalliope: Poems from the Left - Who Are You?

Indigo Kalliope:- Poems from the Left - A New Zodiac for the 21st Century