Waiting

Internet at home kaput today, so I'm trying to get some work done at Starbucks in Sanur, but internet here is fairly kaput, too. Damn! Two-and-a-half million for this internet at home, and it doesn't even work.

So, what next? We called the people and they said they will come to the house. But when? That's the question. In Indonesia, this may mean today, tomorrow, or next week. And in the meantime ....

In the meantime, I'm just sitting here watching the internet cogitate forever about sending or receiving material while I watch people come in and out of Starbucks. Some Americans just came through. Rare event. Most tourists in Bali are Australians, Europeans, Japanese and people from the other Indonesian islands.

Names

I hate to keep writing about being sick, but, hey, what else is there to think about when you're sick. The good news is that the sore throat and fever have finally gone away. The bad news is that this whole episode seems to have MS to kick in with a bit of relapse. The continued ringing in my ears, as the doc here said, is a neurologic problem, and so likely due to MS. Now, there is also pain from my feet to my ass resulting in a stiffness in gait, and there is also an overwhelming sense of fatigue. So I guess I just have to grin and bear it and wait to see how much of this my system will repair over time. Right now, I'm only good for about half a day, after which I feel totally wasted.

So, I get things done in the morning. This morning, for instance, I went down to Sanur for some decent brown bread, and then stopped by for coffee at a new restaurant. The waitress there was very nice and talked with me while I drank my coffee. There was no one else in the restaurant -- which is common, because there are way too many restaurants and far too few people in Sanur. In any case, I learned an interesting thing. I was already aware that most people in Bali have one of four possible names - Wayan, Ketut, Made or Nyoman. What I did not know is that Putu, Kadek and two other names (I've already forgotten) are the same as the first four. That is, Wayan and Putu are the same name. They both mean "First born" and are given to both males and females. Ketut is second, Made third and Nyoman fourth. However, you see, if the father's name is Wayan, his first born must be called Putu, which also means first. Made and Kadek are the same.

The Balinese also have two birthdays per year, but they don't celebrate them in any big way. This is not considered important. I wouldn't celebrate birthdays either if it meant I was getting old twice as fast as other people.

Continuation

Well, I spoke too soon in my last entry. Although the throat infection and fever went away with the antibiotics, the ringing in my ears continued, day and night, so back to the doctor again. There, I learned that the infection in my ears, and the inflammation, had gone, and what was left (the ringing) is a neurologic problem. In other words, MS. Got some pills for this, but they have helped only slightly, so far. Will finish the course and then, if the ringing persists, will try to find a neurologist here. One who has actually heard of MS, hopefully.

A Note from the Sick Bed

Just approaching, or so I hope, the tail-end of a three week illness entailing a sore throat, ringing in the ears, massive headache, fever and so on. Been to the doctor twice, got two different kinds of antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, etc. etc. What a drag.

Funny, my wife got the same illness and was better in two days. But that's MS, ain't it. Immune system too busy attacking harmless systems to bother over-much with a real-life illness. Takes forever to heal from these common viruses. Will be the death of me yet.

So, I've been pretty much out of it. Just wanted to take a minute to jot something down, to serve as proof that I'm still alive.

Cronuts!

Discovered a store nearby that sells Cronuts. Love at first bite. Addicted now. Bought one last night and two more this morning. Delicious! I could totally live on Cronuts and Kapal Api Java Latte powdered coffee. Breakfast, lunch and dinner of champions.

Why is it that the more my wife concentrates on healthy eating, the more doughnuts and cakes I consume? Is it a passive-aggressive rebellion? Or do I just enjoy doughnuts and cakes more than ... well, more than food. Vegetables! Ick! She's taken to going to the outdoor markets and buying broccoli and carrots and lettuce and such-like. Last time there was a worm in the lettuce. I don't like worms with my lettuce. Frankly, I don't even like lettuce with my lettuce.