"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." - Sam Levenson

I went to the electrophysiologist this morning for my 2-week post-op on the pacemaker. Very interesting.
This practice is run like clockwork and I appreciate the way they manage their/my time. After less than 5 minutes in the waiting area the first stop is always the standard check of vitals, including an EKG. Pulse was 59, BP was ... OK, let's just skip that part. Another 5 minutes back in the waiting room and then to an examination room where very quickly a PA comes in. This time it was a gal not much more than half my age who called me "sweetie." Normally I'd find that bothersome, but she was cute (and pregnant). She looked over my records, the surgery site, we talked for about 15 minutes, she answered all my questions and gave me more information. After she left I waited less than 10 minutes and the cardiologist came in.
Bottom line: The dr. is very pleased that they discovered the problem during the test. He said it took very little pressure on my carotid artery to cause my heart to flatline and he's confident that's what caused my bike crash back in June. The pacemaker should prevent that kind of thing from ever happening again (we both suspect the problem explains several other odd incidents over the years). They'll download the device's data in four weeks and then every four months thereafter. I can return to bike riding, sit-ups and the like but have to wait a month before upper body workouts. My particular type of arrhythmia isn't a problem if it isn't stressing me out. The PA said some people feel their heart fluttering, that causes panic, and the panic causes more serious problems. I have never felt the arrhythmia. The only time my heart flutters is when I see a really cool, fast car I wish I owned, and that doesn't induce panic. So, it's all good.
On Sept. 18 I go back to see the other cardiologist - the one who put in the stent. More to learn at that visit.

In the "I can fix that" department:
Aaargh!!

My parents taught us to eat what was put in front of us with gratitude, not complaining. Everyone ate everything. There was no catering to individual preferences and everything on the plate would be eaten in its entirety unless you were sick. It never occurred to us to balk, object, or refuse. We knew the consequences, and they'd be far worse than eating whatever it was in front of us.
Which is why I ate the catfish Pam fixed for dinner tonight.
OK, "ate" means I took a couple of bites. At that point she asked, "Do you like the catfish?"
(no)
"Neither do I. No more catfish."
I asked when that starts.
"Right now."
She fixed me a hotdog to go with the salads.

The head of the CBO said today that if the scheduled reductions in federal spending and increases in tax revenue are allowed to take place the result will be a recession next year. He also said that if the tax rates are left the same and spending cuts deferred the "rapidly escalating federal debt would increase the risk of a fiscal crisis during which...the govt. would lose the ability to borrow at reasonable rates."
I guess that qualifies as a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario.
So I vote for spending no more than the govt. takes in, sorta like we do at our house. Might mean some short term pain but we didn't get into this mess in a year so we can't expect to get out quickly and easily. And imagine a country with finances in the black!