You know how in Canada we use the generic term “drugs” to refer to prescription drugs as well as the non-legal variety? It turns out that’s not the case here in Bolivia. Which is why the guys were so entertained the other day, when I made the comment that I really liked my drugs. To be clear, I was referring to the doctor proscribed, buy-them-at-the-pharmacy versions. But to a bunch of ex-street kids who are familiar with more varieties of the not-so-legal kind, than I even knew existed, the idea of their leader/director/father figure stating that he likes his “drugs” was pretty entertaining. It got a good laugh. They quickly corrected me, that I, in fact, liked my “medicine”.

Anyhow, the doctor gave me this liquid stuff in a little bottle (since I don’t really know what it is, I like to think of it as my “magic liquid”), to help me sleep. Between the back problems and the ridiculous neck brace I’m supposed to sleep with…I needed a little help. And help I got…it’s good stuff.

The reason I’m sharing this little personal tidbit of information that would probably be better left unwritten about, is that I had a funny experience last night. At least funny to me. I think I may have overdosed a bit. I forgot to take anything Thursday night, and had a brutal sleep. So last night when I was finally heading off to bed, at the last moment I remembered to make sure I took my recommended dosage of my “medicine”.

But see…that’s where I messed up I think. I’m supposed to put five or so drops of the liquid into a glass of water and drink it. But it was late and I was tired and I didn’t have my contacts in. It’s hard to see little drops at the best of times. Suffice to say that I may have put more than five or so drops into my water. I remember thinking for a moment (before I dropped into unconsciousness) that the liquid tasted a little more strongly than normal.

I remember one of the guys who wants to live with us, coming into my room at around 10 AM to talk to me. I kind of remember the conversation (sadly it was supposed to be an important one) and the fact that I couldn’t seem to form my words very clearly. My tongue kept getting in the way and my lips seemed really big. Then Franz came into my room with my lunch and I couldn’t believe I’d slept until noon. Then I looked at the clock and realized I hadn’t actually slept until noon. It was, in fact, two in the afternoon.

So again, just to be clear…I really do like my drugs.
  

Lots of you have been writing and asking what’s going on…how Jorge is, and why I suddenly seemed to drop off the planet. Well, here’s the story… =)

First of all, Jorge. He’s doing better each day. Last week he needed surgery to deal with more bleeding in his stomach, and that went well. Then this past Wednesday he had another surgery to his face and shoulder. I guess he broke bones in his face in the accident, but in the moment there were more pressing issues, and that wasn’t mentioned to us. So on Wednesday the doctors did some repairing…I don’t know much more than that I’m afraid.  But I did talk to his sister today, and she said he’s doing well.

Thanks again to all of you who’ve been praying and giving towards Jorge’s medical costs. The family has asked me a number of times to express their thanks. It really has meant a lot to them and to me.

So, secondly…what’s been happening to me. I just reread my last post and realized that I did kind of leave things hanging. Sorry about that. I went to the doctor that week re: my back and neck. As it turns out, it seems I wasn’t very diligent with taking care of myself after my accident last August (go figure) and it’s come back to bite me. At first he thought I had a herniated disk. I didn’t know what that meant, so I wasn’t that worried. Then someone from Canada told me it was actually kind of serious…and I got a little freaked out. For a couple of days there was talk of surgeries and whatnot, and I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen. But then I had an MRI (yea?  I think that’s what it was…) and the doctor happily told me…something… In general I understood that I had problems with a couple of disks in my middle back, but with physio therapy and two or three weeks of bed rest, I’d be fine.

Which brings me to why I haven’t written anything before now. Normally I have to go to one of the coffee places here in town that has free wireless to check my e-mail and get online. But not being able to drive has made that a bit complicated. It’s actually made life in general a bit complicated. I’ve had to interpret the doctor’s “stay in bed” command a little loosely to mean, “stay close to your bed”. But before you all freak out and send me a million e-mails lecturing me, I’m doing pretty good with not doing too much. There are moments when I don’t have a choice (the boys would get rather grumpy if I didn’t go to the bank to get money to buy food to feed them…), but mostly I’m trying to relax. I’m pretty sore, so it’s not hard to be motivated.

As to why I’m now able to get online in my house…I finally broke down and got internet. After one day of doing nothing I was pretty much ready to snap. I read….watched TV…read some more…cleaned my room a bit…watched more TV……then had lunch… By two in the afternoon I was ready to kill someone I was so bored. So Isabel called and arranged for me to get hooked up. Funny thing. I thought it was going to be this big ordeal and be super expensive. It’s a tiny modem that connects to the USB port on my computer. It’s wireless and high speed. And it’s costing me less than my “free” wireless at the coffee places (come on…I had to eat while I was there…and trust me when I say, they have the best cheesecake you’ve ever eaten…and then a couple of Cokes to wash everything down…). I’m actually going to save some money. Go figure.

So, I should be able to keep you a little more updated now, on what’s happening here. Like you need more updates on my blog.  But for you few diligent ones, there should be lots to read these days. I have nothing else to do…

Just to close off, let me just tell you a couple of things about my medical treatments.  Yes, yes, I’m getting old. I know. Just let it go…

Anyhow, the MRI was freaky. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure, let me tell you about it. =) You’re slid into a long, plastic tube that’s only inches from your face. I’m not really claustrophobic, but I had to keep my eyes closed the whole time. It made me tense. I’ve never been in a coffin, but it’s what I imagine being in a coffin would feel like. And it sounded like I was in a helicopter. I’ve never been in a helicopter either, but the technician warned me that it would sound like a helicopter and I have no reason to doubt him. All I know is that it was noisy.

And then there’s my physio. For you late nighters, remember the Oriental, really happy, health nut guy’s infomercial about those little pads you put on your back or legs and then electricity passes through them? And it makes your muscles twitch and contract? I was always a little sceptical about that one. However, I’ve become a believer. They’ve been doing that to relax my back, and it’s pretty cool. It makes my shoulder jump up and down and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve already decided I want a set of them, and Isabel told me tonight she’d look into where I can buy them. They’re awesome…

So there you go. That’s my life.  Thanks again for praying everyone!  I appreciate it…