The bravest person I've ever known: Kitsap River has passed

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Thursday January 28, 2021 · 7:00 AM PST

2021/01/28 · 07:00

There is no easy way to say this: Kitsap River has passed.

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Saturday February 18, 2017 · 11:34 PM PST

2017/02/18 · 23:34

It was six years ago today that Kitsap River received the gift of life from an anonymous — and unfortunately deceased — donor. Six years that she would not otherwise have had on this side of the veil. Six years that I wouldn’t have had with her.

Six years that I would not trade for anything.

She and Bimaaji (her transplant; the name means “giver of life” in Ashinaabe) are doing well. Her nephrologist says it’ll be good for another twenty years at least. From his lips to the gods’ ears.

Just wanted to let y’all know. Thanks.

Oh, and be sure to check the “organ donor” box on your driver’s license, the next time you get a chance. Your generosity could save a dozen lives.

Saturday Hate Mail 5/10/14: follow-up report

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Thursday May 15, 2014 · 9:00 AM PDT

2014/05/15 · 09:00

I would have responded to Kos's most recent Saturday Hate-mail-a-palooza a lot sooner, but Kitsap River and I just got back from visiting her mother in Northern California on the occasion of her 80th birthday. (That's mom, not KR, in case some of you weren't clear on that.)

Briefly, Kos discussed -- and riffed on the hilarity of -- a masterfully-written takedown notice by one Manny Favela of Park Avenue Enterprises, regarding a recent diary by yours truly concerning a hideous experience with Mr. Favela, his enterprise's products and... well, let's jump over the orange filament for What Happened Next.

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Sunday March 09, 2014 · 10:00 AM PDT

2014/03/09 · 10:00

Sherman, set the wayback machine to a couple of weeks ago, when the last of our halogen torchiere lamps decided it would much rather be horizontal than vertical. We (being my beloved Kitsap River and my self) started shopping for a replacement. The primary criteria were that the lamp was bright enough, and reasonably priced.

Turns out, that particular type of lamp is no longer made. A few years back, Underwriters Laboratories (you know, the people who put all those "UL Approved" tags on electrical appliances) determined that 300-watt halogen bulbs in vertical lamps were a fire hazard and no longer sanctioned their manufacture. Who knew?

We had already bought a torchiere which used CFLs but it wasn't nearly bright enough for our needs. So we scoured the intarwebz for anything similar to what we needed. And found the only manufacturer of 250-watt halogen torchiere lamps, a place called Park Avenue Enterprises, in Chino, CA. So we ordered one.

Now, please understand that for the past six-plus years, I have worked as a senior customer service representative at a major high-tech company. I deal with angry customers every working day. So I understand good customer service, and because of that I always treat the customer service people I contact with the same courtesy and respect that I hope to receive from my own customers.

To find to what happened when it arrived, follow the orange filament...

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Sunday December 22, 2013 · 10:00 AM PST

2013/12/22 · 10:00

Since at least the mid-1990s (if not earlier), mayors, governors, senators, and even presidents and prime ministers have made symbolic friendly political wagers on the result of major sports events. This stakes in this tradition typically involve local food items, "cute" embarrassing situations (such as the mayor of the losing team's city posting a YouTube video of him or her wearing the other team's jersey at a public event), public service projects, and the like.

For example, in the 2009-2010 NFL playoffs:

Senators Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a friendly wager on the outcome of the 2010 National Football Conference Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings: "If the Saints win, Klobuchar will cook gumbo and deliver it to Landrieu's office while wearing a Drew Brees jersey for Louisiana constituents to enjoy. If the Vikings win, Landrieu will cook a Minnesota wild rice casserole and deliver it to Klobuchar's office while wearing a Brett Favre jersey for Minnesota constituents to enjoy." The Saints won.

Likewise:

During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, US President Barack Obama and Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper wagered a case of beer on the outcome of the gold medal game in the men's ice hockey tournament. President Obama sent Prime Minister Harper a case of Molson Canadian and a case of Yuengling lager (Obama's favorite beer, brewed in Pennsylvania) to settle the bet.

So I was thinking about the forthcoming Super Bowl. At this moment, the odds-on favorites are the Denver Broncos to represent the AFC, and the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC.

Take a look past the orange deflated pigskin for what crossed my mind.

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Friday October 11, 2013 · 5:00 AM PDT

2013/10/11 · 05:00

The sports blog on Cleveland's CBS affiliate has an article on racist NFL team names and logos. They cite a poster created by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in conjunction with their report, "Ending the Legacy Of Racism in Sports & the Era of Harmful 'Indian' Sports Mascots" (downloadable PDF).

The sports blog's article begins:

An American Indian organization has shed new light on the context of how offensive and racist sports team images like the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins is to their community.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) published a powerful poster featuring two baseball hats that each have a stereotypical racist image of a Jewish man and Chinese man to show it has the same connotation as the Cleveland Indians. The hats were titled "New York Jews" and "San Francisco Chinamen."

The quote on the poster reads, "No race, creed or religion should endure the ridicule faced by the Native Americans today. Please help us put an end to this mockery and racism by visiting www.ncai.org".

Citation and text cropped, but quoted above

More after the crumpled orange penalty flag...

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Tuesday February 26, 2013 · 8:58 AM PST

2013/02/26 · 08:58

My beloved wife, Kitsap River, has been suffering from cataracts for several years. A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to blurring of vision, and is the most common cause of blindness.

Kitsap River has cataracts in both eyes, which we suspect has been exacerbated by the very dosages of prednisone that helps her keep her kidney transplant, although in retrospect she's shown symptoms of these cataracts for at least the past decade. These include difficulty appreciating colors and changes in contrast, in driving, reading, and recognizing faces, and problems coping with glare from bright lights.

Treatment for cataracts involves surgical replacement of the occluded lens with an artificial implant.

This afternoon, Kitsap River goes under the knife.

(More below the ixtl...)

Update: We're home. The operation went smoothly and we expect a complete recovery. River is resting quietly in a darkened room, and I'm sitting on the bed beside her attending to her needs (and delivering well-deserved mojo to all who have commented here). I'm sure she'll post her own diary tomorrow on the experience.

Once again, thank you all for your supporting energy and well wishes. May Apollo Phsyician, and Aesculepius, and Hygeia, and Panacea, and all the gods and goddesses keep you safe from every ailment.

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Thursday December 20, 2012 · 2:41 PM PST

2012/12/20 · 14:41

My ~~partner~~ wife Kitsap River (thank you, voters of Washington State, for confirming same-sex marriage!), has been throwing up for the past two days. She's been unable to keep anything down, especially her anti-rejection drugs.

In whatever manner you feel most comfortable, please direct healing energy in her direction.

More below the fold, with details not for the squeamish...

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Saturday December 17, 2011 · 1:27 PM PST

2011/12/17 · 13:27

I mean, really… I haven't written a diary in over a year — and that was a paean to Kitsap River in honor of her fiftieth birthday — I almost never write substantive comments, and of late I don't even browse diaries all that much.

So why should someone give me a lifetime subscription as a gift?

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Saturday December 11, 2010 · 3:10 PM PST

2010/12/11 · 15:10

Pain hurts.

Let me be very clear about that: pain hurts. Pain is not just the body's way of saying, "Stop that this instant!" — over the long term it's debilitating, enervating, and several other -ings.

Five nights a week, week in and week out, I have to hurt the person I love more than life itself. I have to cause pain that's often severe enough for her to cry out loud.

Five nights a week, knowing what's about to come, she sits and accepts it.

This, to me, is true bravery: doing what you know has to be done, whatever the pain and personal cost.

And yesterday was Kitsap River's birthday.

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Sunday March 21, 2010 · 10:08 PM PDT

2010/03/21 · 22:08

There were tears of joy shed tonight at Paradux Hill, as Kitsap River and I watched history being made. And as we watched and cried together, all we could say was, "Never again."

Charles CurtisStanley

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

Sunday November 29, 2009 · 3:07 PM PST

2009/11/29 · 15:07

Over the past few months, Sara R has been creating a series of "community quilts" bearing messages of healing, support, and love. One of the recipients is my partner, Kitsap River, and we finally received it yesterday.

Edited; first picture resized per commenter's request

Warning: image-heavy content over the fold...

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The bravest person I've ever known: Kitsap River has passed

Six years already? Yes! Six years!

Saturday Hate Mail 5/10/14: follow-up report

Warning: Avoid Park Avenue Enterprises (Chino, CA)!

Super Bowl XLVIII and the Friendly Political Wager

Next week in the NFL, the New York Jews vs the SF Chinamen

She who hath eyes, let her see: Post-Op Update

Kitsap River is ill - Update 2

What have I done to deserve this?

The bravest person I've ever known: Kitsap River

Tears of joy tonight

A gift of love, tears of joy