We have been back in Holland for almost 3 months now, and all this time I have been planning on writing about the most scary thing happening to me in Taiwan. I never really get the chance, until now.
We arrived on Saturday, and the following thursday we went out for dinner. And somewhere during the evening I got an gigantic headache. It felt like me head would explode. I went to bed early, but just couldn't sleep bcos of it. Early in the morning (6 am), I "woke" up and sat upright in bed. Something didn't feel right. And all of a sudden it felt like my vestibular system were turned off. I woke up YuMei and said to her that she'd better call an ambulance, bcos I was in serious trouble. The whole room was spinning. I couldn't sit up straight anymore. If I did I either fell back again, or had to vomit. My arms was leading a life on it's own, making movements I didn't have control over. It was really scary.
YuMei woke up her mom, who immediately thought of a stroke, since her late husband has had two before he passed away. That scared the shit out of me, I already was picturing myself in wheelchair for the rest of my life, or worse.
They woke up my brother in law, who helped me to the car, and drove us to the hospital.
Now, I don't know how many of you have had the unpleasant experience of being in a hospital in a foreign country, not able to speak the language, not knowing what is happening around you. But believe me, it is SCARY! Luckily I had YuMei to translate, and comfort me.
Also luckily I was to sick and tired to actually notice anything around me. All I was focussing on was how to lie down without feeling sick or having to throw up. That also prevented me from noticing that I was being used as a human pin cushion.
After a few tests, also for stroke (which luckily came out negative), the doctors still didn't know what it was. Meanwhile I was feeling better already, and was send home at 12:00. But not before I was given a huge pile of medication and corresponding instructions.
(Meanwhile, Alec had the time of his life, seeing all the ambulances come and go with whailing sirens.)
I have been in bed for 2 or 3 days and felt already a bit better. Still I was walking like grandpa, and had to have support every 10 meters or so. Still, I already felt that there wasn't going to be any approvement on that Wednesday I was suppost to have those interviews, so I had to postpone them. I mean, I have send them my resume in which it said I am 35 years old. I don't think they would take that serious, when they see an 80 year old grandpa shuffling in.
Later, back in Holland, I went to the doctor, and told him all this. He diagnost it as being a classic case of Labyrinthitis, which is an infection of the vestibular system.
I just now read it back, and feel lucky. Lucky that no damage was done. However, the wikipedia and other medical books are always writing about what COULD happen if..... Basically it always looks and feels more serious than it actually is. Still, it scared the shit out of me.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Music makes the world go round!
I haven't posted here in over 2 weeks already, and I feel a bit ashamed about it. I don't have any excuse, other than being lazy. I could also have said that I didn't have any inspiration or something like that, but that wouldn't be true, I got plenty of inspiration. Just like the other day. I was listening to some music, and BOOM!...had inspiration. The only thing was how to start it. I was thinking about starting with"I am getting old". Sure, I am getting old....aren't we all? And what does it have to do with music? So.....I am just trying a different approach.
The other day I was driving the car, and was listening to City FM finally again. This radiostation is playing all rock classics, just the kind of music I like. And when I listened, I was amazed how my music changed. Music I wouldn't dream of listening ever, I am now singing along with at the top of my longs. Music I used to love now just doesn't do anything to me.
Also songs or bands I have never have given a second thought is now constantly in my mind.
let me give you an example. I used to go crazy with the music of UB40, and had the whole collection of CD's available. Now I hardly play it anymore. And I have a little confession to make here. I was crazy about them when I was about 17 - 18 and started to go out and stuff. And (here is my confession:) also starting to experiment with hasj and weed. And I must admit, it felt great being high, sitting in the bus back home, with UB40 on the headphones of my walkman. It was "groovy".
Lateron my choice changed to a little bit more the rough side,...Metallica, Guns 'n' Roses, just about anything that has a bit of a guitar and a bit of a kick. Actually this started a bit when I went to a concert of Toto with a friend of mine. Wow....Those guys where good. Come to think of it...KFC has a slogan: "We know what to do with chicken". Well....Steve Lukather knew what to do with a guitar! Check this out! He is not playing the guitar, he making love to her and she is LOVING it!. That is what got my juices flowing at the time. And from there it "got worse". Guns 'n' Roses, Metallica. Funny thing is actually, that in my UB40-time, a friend of mine was crazy about G'n'R, and I always hated the music, and always had a "battle" with him about it. And before that I had a friend who was crazy about Metallica, Megadeth (no link here, I don't wanna scare you off) and much heavier than that. And again, same story.
Nowadays, I just listen to about anything that CityFM plays on the radio. Well, that is when I got the chance. We have aCD from Alec in the player, and it has been in there for about 2 months already, and has to be in there when His Royal Naughtyness is sitting in the car and played as well. I can sing along with all the songs by now.
Anyway, they are usually playing music from the '80's, which is the time when I start to develop a taste (or maybe lack of taste) in music. And the funny part is, like I mentioned earlier, that my taste has changed so much that a lot of songs I can really appreciate. Like Joe Jackson,...I never really thought about his music. Well, still not actually, I would never buy a CD, but the song above and this song, just keep playing in your mind, once you heard it.
Hmm....I also wanted to write about how singers could also dissappoint you. There is this song, it's one of my favorites, "One night in Bangkok" by Murray Head. It is so perfectly balanced, so massive and powerfull. So, I went searching for some other songs by him, and came across this. This voice wasn't at all as I heard in the song. Maybe he'd changed it or something, but it was kinda dissapointing.
But just earlier I went searching for it again, and came across other songs, like this one. It is so delicate, so subtile. I think I heard it once or twice, but never really payed attention to it.
"Is there a point to your story?", you might wonder? Not really, just wanted to write about this. But, if you insist, here is my point: Not only the style of the music chances, your choice in music also may chance over the years. Don't fight it, go with the flow. I remember that when I was kid I always made fun of my dad and his love for "The Platters", "The Carpenters" and so on. Now I realize, probably Alec will do the same with me in due time, as punishment for me making fun of my dad. And it probably will be something like this:"HAHAHA, you and your music, that music where they actually had to PLAY a guitar or drums! HAHAHAHA!!! So out of date!!!"
The other day I was driving the car, and was listening to City FM finally again. This radiostation is playing all rock classics, just the kind of music I like. And when I listened, I was amazed how my music changed. Music I wouldn't dream of listening ever, I am now singing along with at the top of my longs. Music I used to love now just doesn't do anything to me.
Also songs or bands I have never have given a second thought is now constantly in my mind.
let me give you an example. I used to go crazy with the music of UB40, and had the whole collection of CD's available. Now I hardly play it anymore. And I have a little confession to make here. I was crazy about them when I was about 17 - 18 and started to go out and stuff. And (here is my confession:) also starting to experiment with hasj and weed. And I must admit, it felt great being high, sitting in the bus back home, with UB40 on the headphones of my walkman. It was "groovy".
Lateron my choice changed to a little bit more the rough side,...Metallica, Guns 'n' Roses, just about anything that has a bit of a guitar and a bit of a kick. Actually this started a bit when I went to a concert of Toto with a friend of mine. Wow....Those guys where good. Come to think of it...KFC has a slogan: "We know what to do with chicken". Well....Steve Lukather knew what to do with a guitar! Check this out! He is not playing the guitar, he making love to her and she is LOVING it!. That is what got my juices flowing at the time. And from there it "got worse". Guns 'n' Roses, Metallica. Funny thing is actually, that in my UB40-time, a friend of mine was crazy about G'n'R, and I always hated the music, and always had a "battle" with him about it. And before that I had a friend who was crazy about Metallica, Megadeth (no link here, I don't wanna scare you off) and much heavier than that. And again, same story.
Nowadays, I just listen to about anything that CityFM plays on the radio. Well, that is when I got the chance. We have aCD from Alec in the player, and it has been in there for about 2 months already, and has to be in there when His Royal Naughtyness is sitting in the car and played as well. I can sing along with all the songs by now.
Anyway, they are usually playing music from the '80's, which is the time when I start to develop a taste (or maybe lack of taste) in music. And the funny part is, like I mentioned earlier, that my taste has changed so much that a lot of songs I can really appreciate. Like Joe Jackson,...I never really thought about his music. Well, still not actually, I would never buy a CD, but the song above and this song, just keep playing in your mind, once you heard it.
Hmm....I also wanted to write about how singers could also dissappoint you. There is this song, it's one of my favorites, "One night in Bangkok" by Murray Head. It is so perfectly balanced, so massive and powerfull. So, I went searching for some other songs by him, and came across this. This voice wasn't at all as I heard in the song. Maybe he'd changed it or something, but it was kinda dissapointing.
But just earlier I went searching for it again, and came across other songs, like this one. It is so delicate, so subtile. I think I heard it once or twice, but never really payed attention to it.
"Is there a point to your story?", you might wonder? Not really, just wanted to write about this. But, if you insist, here is my point: Not only the style of the music chances, your choice in music also may chance over the years. Don't fight it, go with the flow. I remember that when I was kid I always made fun of my dad and his love for "The Platters", "The Carpenters" and so on. Now I realize, probably Alec will do the same with me in due time, as punishment for me making fun of my dad. And it probably will be something like this:"HAHAHA, you and your music, that music where they actually had to PLAY a guitar or drums! HAHAHAHA!!! So out of date!!!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
