See Pentagon Would Extend Tanker Deadline 60 Days.
In addition to the possible bid by a Russian aircraft company on the KC-X, EADS evidently has the clout to have the Pentagon extend the deadline on the KC-X proposal deadline.
EADS wants an additional 90 days, the Pentagon has indicated that the deadline would be extended by 60 days if EADS promises to bid against Boeing.
EADS had reversed its original decision to not submit a bid after Northrop Grumman withdrew from the KC-X competition.
Northrop Grumman was not willing to submit a proposal, as it did not have the clout to prevent the requirements from being written to favor the smaller tanker that Boeing will be proposal.
Northrop decided not to submit a proposal because Wes Bush did not want to expend resources.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Russian company expected to bid on Air Force refueling tanker
See Russian company expected to bid on Air Force refueling tanker.
Now that Northrop Grumman has decided not to compete for the KC-X against Boeing, a Russian company will be proposing its tanker design based on the Russian Ilyushin Il-96, a four-engine commercial airliner.
This is a Russian-state owned aerospace company, United Aircraft Corporation. It will create a joint venture between a still to be announced U.S. contract company and UAC-America.
Nothing but the best for our American fighting forces.
Now that Northrop Grumman has decided not to compete for the KC-X against Boeing, a Russian company will be proposing its tanker design based on the Russian Ilyushin Il-96, a four-engine commercial airliner.
This is a Russian-state owned aerospace company, United Aircraft Corporation. It will create a joint venture between a still to be announced U.S. contract company and UAC-America.
Nothing but the best for our American fighting forces.
15 great leadership questions
See 15 great leadership questions.
How many of THESE questions has your manager EVER asked YOU?
At Northrop Grumman, many of the managers are sent to some kind of manager "charm school" to make them more "manager-like".
Unfortunately, being trained to be a good manager is NOT good training to be a good leader.
Take a look at these questions and think about how often your manager has asked you ANY of them.
(I am willing to bet that you won't be able to answer with more than ten, five, three, . . .)
1.”What can I do to make you more effective?”
How many of THESE questions has your manager EVER asked YOU?
At Northrop Grumman, many of the managers are sent to some kind of manager "charm school" to make them more "manager-like".
Unfortunately, being trained to be a good manager is NOT good training to be a good leader.
Take a look at these questions and think about how often your manager has asked you ANY of them.
(I am willing to bet that you won't be able to answer with more than ten, five, three, . . .)
1.”What can I do to make you more effective?”
2. What’s keeping you from falling asleep at night?
3. What one thing should I do more? (or one thing I should do less?)
4. What roadblocks are holding you back? (or preventing your projects from moving ahead?)
5. What’s the most important issue you are dealing with right now?
6. What do our competitors do better than us?
7. If you were in my job, what’s the first thing you would you do?
8. What do we do better than anyone else?
9. How can I improve your team’s productivity?
10. What are the two key behaviors of our leadership team?
11. What one thing can we do to make our weekly meeting more effective?
12. What are your top three goals for next month?
13. What’s waking you up at 3:00 in the morning?
14. When you think about our goals, what are we forgetting?
15. If I could do just one thing for you as a result of this discussion, what would it be?
Of course, Northrop Grumman managers are not paid or budgeted time to work with their employees in such a manner as asking employees a bunch of silly questions that would make the employees be more effective (as opposed to efficient) and that might make employees feel that the company values the employees as human being instead of faceless cogs in a some kind of machine.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Pentagon says cost of new F-35 fighter jet will be double original estimates - latimes.com
Pentagon says cost of new F-35 fighter jet will be double original estimates - latimes.com
Northrop Grumman is only a subcontractor to prime contractor Lockheed-Martin on the F-35.
At one time, long ago, when it was merely the Northrop Aircraft Company, the company prided itself on "on-time" and "under-cost" fulfillment of its contracts.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Northrop Grumman is only a subcontractor to prime contractor Lockheed-Martin on the F-35.
At one time, long ago, when it was merely the Northrop Aircraft Company, the company prided itself on "on-time" and "under-cost" fulfillment of its contracts.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Tanker Competition Drop Out
Northrop Grumman and its European partner EADS won the $35 billion Air Force tanker contract in February 2008.
Boeing protested this decision and had the decision overturned.
The Air Force then re-wrote the requirements for the tanker contract.
Northrop Grumman has now dropped out of the tanker competition.
EADS has also dropped out of the tanker competition.
Wes Bush decided that Northrop Grumman did not need to expend resources competing for a tanker contract that had its requirements re-written to favor the smaller Boeing tanker designer.
UPDATE: I must assume that Wes Bush does not believe that Northrop Grumman has the clout to protest the eventual decision if/when Boeing wins the KC-X contract. Northrop Grumman has already shown that it doesn't have the clout to uphold its February 2008 win of the original KC-X proposal against Boeing's subsequent protest.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Boeing protested this decision and had the decision overturned.
The Air Force then re-wrote the requirements for the tanker contract.
Northrop Grumman has now dropped out of the tanker competition.
EADS has also dropped out of the tanker competition.
Wes Bush decided that Northrop Grumman did not need to expend resources competing for a tanker contract that had its requirements re-written to favor the smaller Boeing tanker designer.
UPDATE: I must assume that Wes Bush does not believe that Northrop Grumman has the clout to protest the eventual decision if/when Boeing wins the KC-X contract. Northrop Grumman has already shown that it doesn't have the clout to uphold its February 2008 win of the original KC-X proposal against Boeing's subsequent protest.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Five Weeks Today
Five weeks ago, January 26, was the date of open heart surgery.
Still slightly sore, still get tired easily.
Need to build up stamina - walking 25 minutes (not fast) a day.
Looking forward to resuming more "normal" activities.
No driving or heavy lifting for six weeks. Will still take it easy.
Still slightly sore, still get tired easily.
Need to build up stamina - walking 25 minutes (not fast) a day.
Looking forward to resuming more "normal" activities.
No driving or heavy lifting for six weeks. Will still take it easy.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Doctor's Appointment Wednesday February 10
Kept my monthly appointment with the kidney specialist on Wednesday.
He said that I looked good for having had open heart surgery two weeks prior (on January 26).
Hemoglobin numbers are still low, so my procrit dosage was increased, and an iron infusion has been scheduled.
Protein number is low, so increased protein intake has been prescribed.
Coumadin (polite word for rat poison, Warfarin) is being adjusted for increase INR to prevent clotting around my new pig valve.
Most of the other numbers are looking good.
Still sore, and get tired easily. I sleep a lot too.
Anemia explains the lack of energy.
He said that I looked good for having had open heart surgery two weeks prior (on January 26).
Hemoglobin numbers are still low, so my procrit dosage was increased, and an iron infusion has been scheduled.
Protein number is low, so increased protein intake has been prescribed.
Coumadin (polite word for rat poison, Warfarin) is being adjusted for increase INR to prevent clotting around my new pig valve.
Most of the other numbers are looking good.
Still sore, and get tired easily. I sleep a lot too.
Anemia explains the lack of energy.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Super Bowl Commercials
Some Super Bowl commercials stood out for me.
NO, you do NOT need to WATCH the Super Bowl on TV to see the commercials. Wait until the game is over and then watch the AD BLITZ channel on YouTube.
1. Doritos commercial where the A**HOLE sees the anti-bark collar on a dog at the park and tries to get it to "speak" (and shock itself) for a Doritos.
The dog wants the Doritos, and removes the anti-bark shock collar and places it on the neck of the A**HOLE who the dog then shocks and immobilizes onto the ground, freeing up the bag of Doritos.
Good job, dog - you won against those who would torment you!
I only wish the same for Northrop Grumman employees.
2. Snickers commercial. Guys are playing football in the mud. The QB rags on one guy who is playing like (and looks like Betty White) for his poor play. His girl friend gives him a Snickers bar and he turns into his regular self.
The QB, on the other hand, plays (and looks like Abe Vigoda) in the next play. The tagline of the commercial - when you are hungry, you are not yourself.
We do what we need to do, no matter how ugly it looks. Northrop Grumman employees can surely identify with that.
3. Dodge Ram Charger. A list of stuff that men have to put up with (get to work at 8:00AM, attend boring two hour meetings, keep mouth shut instead of telling the truth, leaving the toilet seat down, etc.) to get along in life, and it ends with "I get to drive the car that I want", which is the Dodge Ram Charger, Man's Last Stand.
Some men are LUCKY to be rewarded for what they put up with. Not every Northrop Grumman employee will be rewarded for what they put up with at Northrop Grumman.
4. Bridgestone tire commercial. Dark and rainy night on the open highway, a car is stopped by a well-armed group of men who demand his Bridgestone tires.
The driver of the car pushes his very hot wife dressed in black leather out of the car, backs up and turns his car around, making his escape.
"I said your LIFE, not your WIFE!"
Some married men know what's really important!
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
NO, you do NOT need to WATCH the Super Bowl on TV to see the commercials. Wait until the game is over and then watch the AD BLITZ channel on YouTube.
1. Doritos commercial where the A**HOLE sees the anti-bark collar on a dog at the park and tries to get it to "speak" (and shock itself) for a Doritos.
The dog wants the Doritos, and removes the anti-bark shock collar and places it on the neck of the A**HOLE who the dog then shocks and immobilizes onto the ground, freeing up the bag of Doritos.
Good job, dog - you won against those who would torment you!
I only wish the same for Northrop Grumman employees.
2. Snickers commercial. Guys are playing football in the mud. The QB rags on one guy who is playing like (and looks like Betty White) for his poor play. His girl friend gives him a Snickers bar and he turns into his regular self.
The QB, on the other hand, plays (and looks like Abe Vigoda) in the next play. The tagline of the commercial - when you are hungry, you are not yourself.
We do what we need to do, no matter how ugly it looks. Northrop Grumman employees can surely identify with that.
3. Dodge Ram Charger. A list of stuff that men have to put up with (get to work at 8:00AM, attend boring two hour meetings, keep mouth shut instead of telling the truth, leaving the toilet seat down, etc.) to get along in life, and it ends with "I get to drive the car that I want", which is the Dodge Ram Charger, Man's Last Stand.
Some men are LUCKY to be rewarded for what they put up with. Not every Northrop Grumman employee will be rewarded for what they put up with at Northrop Grumman.
4. Bridgestone tire commercial. Dark and rainy night on the open highway, a car is stopped by a well-armed group of men who demand his Bridgestone tires.
The driver of the car pushes his very hot wife dressed in black leather out of the car, backs up and turns his car around, making his escape.
"I said your LIFE, not your WIFE!"
Some married men know what's really important!
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Saw Something Northrop Grumman Does NOT Know?
I saw this on-line that runs counter to everything that Northrop Grumman management believes it knows:
Study: Employees with flexible hours work harder, are more satisfied
Northrop Grumman management somehow just knows that the 9/80 work schedule program is favored by the majority of those employees who vote for it as long as it is convenient for management.
Northrop Grumman management's idea of flexibility is the alternating Friday off.
You don't get to choose whether or not you do 9/80 work schedule. Once a site goes onto 9/80, EVERYBODY at that site works 9/80.
Where's the flexibility? As long as you can get your eighty hours logged onto L/ANS every two weeks, Northrop Grumman management does not care when you come into work - weekends, after hours, etc.
However, the manager will ask that each employee publish their nominal hours - when they come in, when they leave, and when they take their lunch break. This is hard to do if they want to be within California labor laws (there's no federal law requiring that you are given a lunch break.)
SUPPOSEDLY by California law the employee is REQUIRED to take a lunch break (seven-tenths of an hour = 42 minutes?) but many employees will choose to "work through lunch" and not spend as long of a day at Northrop Grumman.
For the working mothers and fathers at Northrop Grumman, 9/80 presents a logistical challenge in getting the little ones to and from child care within the necessary time limits imposed by the various caregivers.
For those folks driving long distances to and from work, a commute time of two to six hours on top of the nominal nine hour workday makes for a very long day.
Nothing but the best for the Northrop Grumman employee.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Study: Employees with flexible hours work harder, are more satisfied
Northrop Grumman management somehow just knows that the 9/80 work schedule program is favored by the majority of those employees who vote for it as long as it is convenient for management.
Northrop Grumman management's idea of flexibility is the alternating Friday off.
You don't get to choose whether or not you do 9/80 work schedule. Once a site goes onto 9/80, EVERYBODY at that site works 9/80.
Where's the flexibility? As long as you can get your eighty hours logged onto L/ANS every two weeks, Northrop Grumman management does not care when you come into work - weekends, after hours, etc.
However, the manager will ask that each employee publish their nominal hours - when they come in, when they leave, and when they take their lunch break. This is hard to do if they want to be within California labor laws (there's no federal law requiring that you are given a lunch break.)
SUPPOSEDLY by California law the employee is REQUIRED to take a lunch break (seven-tenths of an hour = 42 minutes?) but many employees will choose to "work through lunch" and not spend as long of a day at Northrop Grumman.
For the working mothers and fathers at Northrop Grumman, 9/80 presents a logistical challenge in getting the little ones to and from child care within the necessary time limits imposed by the various caregivers.
For those folks driving long distances to and from work, a commute time of two to six hours on top of the nominal nine hour workday makes for a very long day.
Nothing but the best for the Northrop Grumman employee.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Still Sore but Less
Vicodin has been a companion, but not as frequently as before.
Nominally it's "Take 1 tablet orally every 6 hours as needed for pain not to exceed 4 tablets in 24 hours."
First three days home I took it as prescribed, taking four tablets in a 24 hour period.
The last three days it's not needed as much, and only took three tablets in a 24 hour period.
Still sore, but differently - I like to think that I am getting better.
Nominally it's "Take 1 tablet orally every 6 hours as needed for pain not to exceed 4 tablets in 24 hours."
First three days home I took it as prescribed, taking four tablets in a 24 hour period.
The last three days it's not needed as much, and only took three tablets in a 24 hour period.
Still sore, but differently - I like to think that I am getting better.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Robert Gates Tries to Get F-35 to Fly Right
I saw this in the latest issue of Time magazine (February 15, 2010) in a article regarding Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
"...as he did on Feb. 1 when he fired the military officer overseeing the Pentagon's new F-35 stealth-fighter jet program for cost overruns and technical failures and punished Lockheed Martin by withholding $615 million in fees. Lots of defense contractors and program managers underachieve, yet they always get away with it. Not with Gates..."
I had to look real hard to see this story in the L.A.Times - it is not big enough news regarding Northrop Grumman, sub-contract to Lockheed Martin on the F-35 to have its own story, as I found it in the eighth paragraph down in the story Pentagon budget calls for more unmanned aircraft.
"Gates announced Monday he was firing the officer in charge of the program and withholding $614 million from Lockheed Martin, the prime F-35 contractor. He said he would appoint a new general or admiral to oversee the program."
The New York Times thought the story was bigger, as it had the February 1 story Gates Shakes Up Leadership for F-35.
"...as he did on Feb. 1 when he fired the military officer overseeing the Pentagon's new F-35 stealth-fighter jet program for cost overruns and technical failures and punished Lockheed Martin by withholding $615 million in fees. Lots of defense contractors and program managers underachieve, yet they always get away with it. Not with Gates..."
I had to look real hard to see this story in the L.A.Times - it is not big enough news regarding Northrop Grumman, sub-contract to Lockheed Martin on the F-35 to have its own story, as I found it in the eighth paragraph down in the story Pentagon budget calls for more unmanned aircraft.
"Gates announced Monday he was firing the officer in charge of the program and withholding $614 million from Lockheed Martin, the prime F-35 contractor. He said he would appoint a new general or admiral to oversee the program."
The New York Times thought the story was bigger, as it had the February 1 story Gates Shakes Up Leadership for F-35.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate
As part of the Peritoneal Dialysis regimen, I record my blood pressure and pulse rate twice a day.
My blood pressure has DROPPED to a more "normal" 121/69 this morning, as well as my pulse rate, going from 80 -90 to 65 this morning - this suggests that my heart is now beating more efficiently and effectively - GOOD STUFF!
My blood pressure has DROPPED to a more "normal" 121/69 this morning, as well as my pulse rate, going from 80 -90 to 65 this morning - this suggests that my heart is now beating more efficiently and effectively - GOOD STUFF!
Monday, February 01, 2010
When I Sleep I Don't Move
I notice that I wake up in the same position that I had when I laid down to sleep - flat on my back at night, flat on my back when napping during the day.
This means that I don't move around when I am sleep probably because it HURTS to move, so I DON'T move.
Talked to "Dr. Sam" regarding my Coumadin. I will be working with him to maintain a specific level of Coumadin for the desired anticoagulant effects. Regular blood test tests are needed as well as an awareness of anything and everything that could affect the Coumadin activity.
The Mobile Phlebotomy Service will be coming to our house to take blood from me tomorrow morning.
Wikipedia says that it was a pesticide (sounds better than "Rat Poison", doesn't it?) that was discovered to have it usefulness when "...an incident in 1951, where a US Army inductee unsuccessfully attempted suicide with warfarin and recovered fully, studies began in the use of warfarin as a therapeutic anticoagulant..."
This means that I don't move around when I am sleep probably because it HURTS to move, so I DON'T move.
Talked to "Dr. Sam" regarding my Coumadin. I will be working with him to maintain a specific level of Coumadin for the desired anticoagulant effects. Regular blood test tests are needed as well as an awareness of anything and everything that could affect the Coumadin activity.
The Mobile Phlebotomy Service will be coming to our house to take blood from me tomorrow morning.
Wikipedia says that it was a pesticide (sounds better than "Rat Poison", doesn't it?) that was discovered to have it usefulness when "...an incident in 1951, where a US Army inductee unsuccessfully attempted suicide with warfarin and recovered fully, studies began in the use of warfarin as a therapeutic anticoagulant..."
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Got Home Today
Got to go home today
Kaiser Permanent has a group of dedicated people who work in the same place, but don't necessarily talk o each other and coordinate things.
The idea of being "discharged" was a good thing for Dr. Sidhu, the man in the turban and beard who liked the idea of being rid of me on Sunday. I don't know what was supposed to be communicated and to whom, but the nursing staff was asking me when I was being discharged. I gave them "1:00PM" as that was the ime that Dr. Sidu's assistance suggested me me. She was nice to me - instead of telling me to "hold your breath" and yanking the wires of the temporary pacemaker out of my chest, she actually CUT the stitches with tiny shart scissors and then removing the wires.
Got printed instructions on new, old and discontinued meds, and how to take care of me for the next six weeks. (keep things clean and dry, watch for signs of infection and heart failure, etc.)
No driving, no heavy lfting (five pounds or more!) for six weeks. no vigorous upper body activity - have to allow the rib cage to heal up which takes weeks.
While napping, sister Kendyl Lyn called - I returned her call.
Also, Esther Germany, Toastmaster friend called from France - at least that what the "country code" show in my Google Voice Mail - Thank You! for the call, Esther - you had some good news!?
Another new adventure is being on Coumadin, (brand name - polite word for warfarin, which is RAT POISON). This being an anticoagulant, I need to be aware of diet, what I am eating/not eating, ANYTHING that will affect my "clotting factors" and having regular blood tests to measure how much my "International Normalized Ratio" (INR) is.
Because of the Pig Valve, I need to watch out for my body's tendancy to react to it and form a clot. A normal person's INR is 1.0. I need to have an INR of 2 to 3.
Because this is done by blood test and we have stairs to go up and down in the house, we asked about the possibility of the phebotomist coming. The nursing staff had asked and found that this was not done. However, the Anti-Coagulant Pharmacist Rick said that this could be arranged!
Kaiser Permanent has a group of dedicated people who work in the same place, but don't necessarily talk o each other and coordinate things.
The idea of being "discharged" was a good thing for Dr. Sidhu, the man in the turban and beard who liked the idea of being rid of me on Sunday. I don't know what was supposed to be communicated and to whom, but the nursing staff was asking me when I was being discharged. I gave them "1:00PM" as that was the ime that Dr. Sidu's assistance suggested me me. She was nice to me - instead of telling me to "hold your breath" and yanking the wires of the temporary pacemaker out of my chest, she actually CUT the stitches with tiny shart scissors and then removing the wires.
Got printed instructions on new, old and discontinued meds, and how to take care of me for the next six weeks. (keep things clean and dry, watch for signs of infection and heart failure, etc.)
No driving, no heavy lfting (five pounds or more!) for six weeks. no vigorous upper body activity - have to allow the rib cage to heal up which takes weeks.
While napping, sister Kendyl Lyn called - I returned her call.
Also, Esther Germany, Toastmaster friend called from France - at least that what the "country code" show in my Google Voice Mail - Thank You! for the call, Esther - you had some good news!?
Another new adventure is being on Coumadin, (brand name - polite word for warfarin, which is RAT POISON). This being an anticoagulant, I need to be aware of diet, what I am eating/not eating, ANYTHING that will affect my "clotting factors" and having regular blood tests to measure how much my "International Normalized Ratio" (INR) is.
Because of the Pig Valve, I need to watch out for my body's tendancy to react to it and form a clot. A normal person's INR is 1.0. I need to have an INR of 2 to 3.
Because this is done by blood test and we have stairs to go up and down in the house, we asked about the possibility of the phebotomist coming. The nursing staff had asked and found that this was not done. However, the Anti-Coagulant Pharmacist Rick said that this could be arranged!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Going Home Tomorrow (Sunday)
The cardiac doctor with the turban and beard said that I was good to go home on Sunday.
His assistant who came to check my incision (nice job with no ragged edges - Thank You! Dr. Pfeffer!) told me that I would be discharged about 1:00PM after all the paperwork, instructions, and medications are done.
I was told by one of the nurses that the two wires connecting my heart to a temporary pacemaker would be removed on tne day I go home. ("Hold your breath!" and YANK! as there's only a couple of stitches used.)
They try not to keep their patients too many days because they don't want the patient to get sick in the hospital.
They say that I did good.
Tuesday: Got the aortic valve removed and replaced, and two(?) bypass grafts. Went to sleep 7AM and was remember being awake at 7PM, although I'm told that I was in and out earlier Tuesday.
Wedneday: breathing tube removed and able to "talk". Able to "sit" uprightin a chair for total of seven hours (four hours in intensive care, three in intermediate care after chest tubed were taken out - "Hold your breath" YANK!). Moved from 3rd floor intensive care unit room (no bathroom with toilet) to 5th floor intermediate care unit room (got a bathriim with shower and toilet.)
Thursday: Walked up and down the hallway three times; passed on walking Wednesday as I had already seven hours of "sitting".
Friday: Big day for visitors - Bill, Gordon, Donna, Rick, Mom, Lily, Diana, Elizabeth,And Virginia. Smerke called on the phone.
There's cable television that we don't have at home.. Watched the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, AMC, CNN, and the Kaiser educational video on coumadin (polite word for warfarin which is known as a rat poison.) which I will now be taking to prevent blood clots.
Movies and programs included bits and pieces of Alien 2 and Alien 3, The Fugitive, Terminator 2 (I nap in between the bits and pieces that I watch.)
What was really good was "The Night of the Living Dead" where the live people did not refer to the living dead as "Zombies," The final resolution of the zombie problem was the phone call to the U.S. Army phone number stencilled on the storage container containing the original living dead (Secret Project of the U.S. Army) that was mis-delivered to a body parts shop in Louisville, Kentucky.
The U.S. Army simply launched a low-yield tactical nuclear shell that resulted in 4,000 killls over a twenty-square mile area.
Clean and efficient!
Sent from my Peek
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Today's Wedneday
Yesterday was the DAY.
Fell asleep before 7:00AM (Teresa gave me a couple pills to "relax" in addition to acid-gas reflux(?) pill plus another of something. Diana says she talked to me as I was falling asleep, AND I don't remember talking to her.
Means that I don't remember ANYTHING between 7 in the morning to 7 Tuesday night when I know I woke up and knew that I did NOT DIE. Good Stuff! People are praying for me from the East Coast to the West Coast and who knows from elsewhere.
I know that I did not die for real becuse the book did not fall out of Norine's bookcase.
I don't remember:
- having IV put into right wrist and left neck .but do know that the two were removed by Maria.
- a tube put my pee-pee to collect my pee but know that Vicky pulled it out after telling me, "take a deep breath!" It hurt!. It also hurts when I pee.
- anything about the operation itself - the evidence I have is pain in chest that hurts when I breath and cough, two tubes coming out of my chest draining bloody fluid and gas, and a BIG bandage on my right leg where Vicky says they took a vein for bypass graft.
I think I had the operation.
I was moved from the ICU to "intermediate" care room because I am doing "well." I feel like I got hit by a bus, hurting all over, can't breathe or cough without pain and discomfort.
I am "doing well" because I can talk and sat upright in a real chair for several hours, as well as not asking for pain meds beyond what give me without asking.
Tomorrow they say that they are going to make me WALK with all these tubes wires hanging off me.
I am in Room 5781 with phone number 323-783-5781, visiting hours 8AM to 8PM with age limit and no colds/influenza.
Sent from my Peek
(Yesterday was) the DAY
Written Tuesday 1/26, ~5:30 AM.
Today is the DAY.
Nothing by mouth after midnight – no food, water, or meds –nothing.
Woke up at 4:00AM.
Took a shower with the scrub soap as a pre-operation preparation.
Lily and Diana brought me to Kaiser to check-in at 5:20 and will stand by until I come out of surgery, approximately 1:00 – 1:30PM.
I will be put "asleep" at 7:00AM, and won't wake up fully until Wednesday, being in and out of it (consciousness) today (Tuesday) after coming out of surgery.
This blog entry is being emailed for me by Diana, who also writes:
He has survived surgery and is in ICU. Miraculously, he is also sitting up. The breathing tube has been removed from his throat, too, so his recovery is going very well!
--
Diana M. Jue, MIT '11
MCP, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
International Development Group
dmjue@mit.edu
(626) 616-9238
Today is the DAY.
Nothing by mouth after midnight – no food, water, or meds –nothing.
Woke up at 4:00AM.
Took a shower with the scrub soap as a pre-operation preparation.
Lily and Diana brought me to Kaiser to check-in at 5:20 and will stand by until I come out of surgery, approximately 1:00 – 1:30PM.
I will be put "asleep" at 7:00AM, and won't wake up fully until Wednesday, being in and out of it (consciousness) today (Tuesday) after coming out of surgery.
This blog entry is being emailed for me by Diana, who also writes:
He has survived surgery and is in ICU. Miraculously, he is also sitting up. The breathing tube has been removed from his throat, too, so his recovery is going very well!
--
Diana M. Jue, MIT '11
MCP, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
International Development Group
dmjue@mit.edu
(626) 616-9238
Monday, January 25, 2010
One More Day
Tomorrow morning will be IT - open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve and double/triple bypass.
I have been assured that I will "go to sleep" and "wake up" after its all done with no memory of the surgery. Might be better to have no memory of what happens, and not know what the surgeons actually say about the patient.
Had blood (four vials) and urine tested, chest x-rays (back and side), filled out paperwork for admission - just need to sign in at 5:15A.M. tomorrow morning.
I will be made to sleep at 7:00A.M., and should be done by 1:00P.M. or 1:30P.M. Then I will be drifting in and out of consciousness the rest of the day and fully awake Wednesday.
Probably will be in Intensive Care for one or two days, followed by intermediate care for five to eight days, and then home for three to six weeks of recovery.
Talked with the anesthesiologist who answered questions.
Daughter Diana will send out an email after I come out of surgery.
I have been assured that I will "go to sleep" and "wake up" after its all done with no memory of the surgery. Might be better to have no memory of what happens, and not know what the surgeons actually say about the patient.
Had blood (four vials) and urine tested, chest x-rays (back and side), filled out paperwork for admission - just need to sign in at 5:15A.M. tomorrow morning.
I will be made to sleep at 7:00A.M., and should be done by 1:00P.M. or 1:30P.M. Then I will be drifting in and out of consciousness the rest of the day and fully awake Wednesday.
Probably will be in Intensive Care for one or two days, followed by intermediate care for five to eight days, and then home for three to six weeks of recovery.
Talked with the anesthesiologist who answered questions.
Daughter Diana will send out an email after I come out of surgery.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Two More Days
In two days I will have heart surgery for aortic valve replacement and double/triple bypass.
While I have no problems with dying (everybody dies, see "Memento Mori") what has me concerned is the uncertainty involved - statistically this procedure has 85% survival rate.
That is, if I were to have this procedure done 100 times I would die 15 times "on average".
(This means statistically if an increasingly large number of batches of 100 procedures were to be done, the average number of times of dying in 100 procedures would converge to 15 as the number of batches gets larger.)
On the other hand, there's the certainty of being dead in two years if I do not have the procedure done - it's a no-brainer as far as making the decision to have or not-have the surgery.
After surviving and recovering from surgery I plan on having my ear pierced as a symbol of surviving a life-threatening situation..
(This comes from the sailor's tradition of ear-piercing if he were to survive a shipwreck, along with other things such as crossing the equator for the first time, or to ensure a Christian burial if his body washes ashore after a shipwreck.)
Instead of black pearl, I had made an earring with a two carat canary-yellow simulated diamond in a bevel setting (sits lower on the ear lobe), and will probably go to Old Towne Pasadena to a tattoo and body piercing shop that I found on Yelp for the ear piercing.
Diana will have her ears pierced. We will do this in May when she comes back from school.
Sent from my Peek
edited 3:34PM Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
"Stifling" - Why I Do It?
I previously wrote that I was writing this blog for my health. The full article on "stifling" can be found here.
Like all good husbands in the world, I listen to my wife.
She told me not to COMPLAIN, i.e., say something is the not right more than once. She does not want it repeated.
So I did not say anything when my health was deteriorating - that would be complaining, as my health was deteriorating over more than one day and the complaint would have been "repeated".
I did not say anything about my situation at Northrop Grumman - that would be complaining, as it was a continuous situation over many months and thus "repeated".
I was doing my best not to complain, me being the good husband who listens to his wife who does not want to hear repeated complaints from her husband.
OF COURSE, she tells me that I am STUPID because I did not do what employees at the Bank of America do in situations that they do not like - go on "disability" and still be paid for not working because of poor health and bad work conditions.
I am not of the high moral fiber as that of the typical Bank of America employee. Ken Lewis is an excellent example of a Bank of America employee.
The woman does NOT want to hear me complain.
As I am not a "manly man", I am prone to complaining - pissing and moaning like a woman, I guess.
My wife Lily tells me that I am "too sensitive", and that I should be more like her friend's husband, Addison (cute name).
When Susan tells Addison that he is "totally worthless", Addison (it is reported), will just "laugh it off" like a manly man.
"Ha! Ha! Hah! What, Woman?! You call me TOTALLY WORTHLESS?! Ha! Ha! Hah!"
I, Michael Jue, am not a "manly man" as Addison, and am NOT able to "laugh it off" as he does.
My COMPLAINT was that I didn't like being told that I was "totally worthless" by my wife. I just don't like it. I am too "sensitive".
Of course, she is TOTALLY JUSTIFIED, as I do not give her enough money, and what little money I give her, it is not given fast enough. Thus, I am "totally worthless" to my wife, Lily.
Another time, I was complaining that the air conditioning was not turned high enough in the car while travelling to San Francisco in the San Joaquin valley heat one summer. As the girls and she get cold more easily than I get hot, her solution to my complaint was a single word, "SUFFER!"
I have learned not to complain.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
Like all good husbands in the world, I listen to my wife.
She told me not to COMPLAIN, i.e., say something is the not right more than once. She does not want it repeated.
So I did not say anything when my health was deteriorating - that would be complaining, as my health was deteriorating over more than one day and the complaint would have been "repeated".
I did not say anything about my situation at Northrop Grumman - that would be complaining, as it was a continuous situation over many months and thus "repeated".
I was doing my best not to complain, me being the good husband who listens to his wife who does not want to hear repeated complaints from her husband.
OF COURSE, she tells me that I am STUPID because I did not do what employees at the Bank of America do in situations that they do not like - go on "disability" and still be paid for not working because of poor health and bad work conditions.
I am not of the high moral fiber as that of the typical Bank of America employee. Ken Lewis is an excellent example of a Bank of America employee.
The woman does NOT want to hear me complain.
As I am not a "manly man", I am prone to complaining - pissing and moaning like a woman, I guess.
My wife Lily tells me that I am "too sensitive", and that I should be more like her friend's husband, Addison (cute name).
When Susan tells Addison that he is "totally worthless", Addison (it is reported), will just "laugh it off" like a manly man.
"Ha! Ha! Hah! What, Woman?! You call me TOTALLY WORTHLESS?! Ha! Ha! Hah!"
I, Michael Jue, am not a "manly man" as Addison, and am NOT able to "laugh it off" as he does.
My COMPLAINT was that I didn't like being told that I was "totally worthless" by my wife. I just don't like it. I am too "sensitive".
Of course, she is TOTALLY JUSTIFIED, as I do not give her enough money, and what little money I give her, it is not given fast enough. Thus, I am "totally worthless" to my wife, Lily.
Another time, I was complaining that the air conditioning was not turned high enough in the car while travelling to San Francisco in the San Joaquin valley heat one summer. As the girls and she get cold more easily than I get hot, her solution to my complaint was a single word, "SUFFER!"
I have learned not to complain.
Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.
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