Woke at 6:00 refreshed and happy to be here.
Bed is very firm, apparently my body likes it as I slept well. As I mentioned in my Day 0 post I have my own heater in the room. It's actually a heater / air-conditioner. Very fancy with a remote control -- unfortunately all in Chinese. Since I'm not suppose to run the heater at night I woke to a chilly room, so before getting out of bed I tried turning it on via remote. After about 10 minutes I crawled out from the comforter to find I had turned on the AC!
After a few minutes of fiddling I got it to start cranking out heat.
Did some QiGong, but did not complete all 8 brocades before breakfast arrived. Noodle soup with and egg and some green tea. The tea turns out to have been a mistake -- it was quite tasty (I'm in China after all) but it really kicked up the tremors. I had mostly stopped drinking caffeinated tea for that reason -- today just confirmed I need to stick with the herbal and flower varieties.
After breakfast the daily routine continued with my check in with Dr Krista, Tom, nurse CC and Susan (another translator as John had the day off). I found out that my daily treatment would be scheduled for 11am. This will work well as it gives me a structured morning up until lunch and siesta.
Lunch was chicken and celery with steamed veggies and rice. Very tasty.
After lunch I tried to print out my list of supplements and my medical records. All together about 50 pages. When I took the documents on a USB stick to the translators office they looked at me like I was crazy. 50 pages seemed like an unreasonable request.
While I was waiting, one of the translators was bumping deep house. I think I'll have to connect with him another time ;).
This afternoon I tried out the work-out room, 20 minutes of bike and eliptical, then a few minutes with barbells, finishing off with 30 minutes in the massage chair. Gotta get me one of those...
Back to my room, freshly cleaned -- started working on a blog post when dinner arrived, a whole fried fish (some kind of white fish), eggplant and of course, steamed rice.
No meditation or mantras today, but I will have time to work them into the routine tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Day 0
I arrived at the Zhongfang Red Cross International Hospital Saturday morning after being picked up by my translator "John" at the Huaihua airport.
The drive from the airport was interesting, I took some video and will upload in a future post. We passed very old, old, newer and brand new structures -- all seem to be randomly build next to each other.
Lots of trucks and busses on the road, the ever present scooters and motorcycles and the occasional passenger car. Then there are these what look to me to be diesel powered rickshaws. Where instead of a person pulling the cart, there is a two wheeled diesel engine. There were some carts being pulled by people as well, including one by a man wearing a suit!
As we approached Zhongfang (20 miles south) 20-30 story buildings started to appear and rows of identical multi-family dwellings like you see in suburbs off the highway in the states. Zhongfang is China's "youngest city" -- celebrating it's 3rd year and from what I saw driving in is one giant construction zone.
The hospital is a nice 6 story brick and cement building, the entire front half of the building above the 2nd floor is open with large balconies facing toward the city. Lovely in the spring and summer I'm sure, but makes for a cold building when it's 2 degrees celsius.
I was taken to my room, 45 sq meters with it's own bathroom, heater, mini-fridge and water cooler. Two beds, dresser and armoire, one treatment table, a desk, 40" flat panel TV and a few chairs. Comfortable but sparse with tall ceilings and nothing on the white walls except a mirror.
Lunch was delivered to my room, a tasty meal of chicken, bok choy and rice.
After an hour to myself of eating, unpacking and reading the "Information Guide" I was escorted to a conference room where I met my team: Dr. Ming (center president), Dr. Krista (my assigned doctor), nurse CC, Tom the acupuncture and massage practitioner, translator John and then there was Professor ______. I didn't catch her name, as it was the only one that wasn't westernized (or short) -- but she is definitely the elder of the group. Everyone cued off of her questions as they discussed among themselves in Chinese and asked me questions through John (except for Dr. Ming who is quite competent with English).
The team then came back to my room where they spent about 30 minutes reading my pulses, looking at my tongue (two primary diagnostic protocols in TCM) and looking at my right arm where most of the atrophy has occurred. After everyone left the Professor stopped by again (but without a translator) and showed me some paperwork (in Chinese) and said a few things to me (again in Chinese) but had a knowing smile on her face. It seemed to me she was telling me that she was going to manage my case directly -- I did my best to communicate back that I thought I understood. She smiled, nodded and left. Again, I'm not exactly sure what it was all about but I was comforted by her presence and spirit.
About an hour later Tom came in (with translator) and I received my first treatment. More details on his technique in the future, but he was confident with his needles and gave a strong and thorough tui-na (medical massage).
My herbal tea arrived shortly after the treatment. I drank one bottle and completed unpacking. It was much stronger than what they have had me drinking at home for the last few months -- and they definitely switched up the formula. Now with 20% more pungent tastes!
Dinner came an hour or so later, I barely finished because I was so tired. Had a quick IM with Margit then washed up and was in bed by 6:30. Had to set and alarm for midnight so I could take my other bottle of herbal tea. Woke up, drank the tea, crashed until 6:00 am. I woke up feeling rested and happy to be here.
Feeling grateful for all of the help received to arrive here and excited about the healing that has already begun.
-dta
The drive from the airport was interesting, I took some video and will upload in a future post. We passed very old, old, newer and brand new structures -- all seem to be randomly build next to each other.
Lots of trucks and busses on the road, the ever present scooters and motorcycles and the occasional passenger car. Then there are these what look to me to be diesel powered rickshaws. Where instead of a person pulling the cart, there is a two wheeled diesel engine. There were some carts being pulled by people as well, including one by a man wearing a suit!
As we approached Zhongfang (20 miles south) 20-30 story buildings started to appear and rows of identical multi-family dwellings like you see in suburbs off the highway in the states. Zhongfang is China's "youngest city" -- celebrating it's 3rd year and from what I saw driving in is one giant construction zone.
The hospital is a nice 6 story brick and cement building, the entire front half of the building above the 2nd floor is open with large balconies facing toward the city. Lovely in the spring and summer I'm sure, but makes for a cold building when it's 2 degrees celsius.
I was taken to my room, 45 sq meters with it's own bathroom, heater, mini-fridge and water cooler. Two beds, dresser and armoire, one treatment table, a desk, 40" flat panel TV and a few chairs. Comfortable but sparse with tall ceilings and nothing on the white walls except a mirror.
Lunch was delivered to my room, a tasty meal of chicken, bok choy and rice.
After an hour to myself of eating, unpacking and reading the "Information Guide" I was escorted to a conference room where I met my team: Dr. Ming (center president), Dr. Krista (my assigned doctor), nurse CC, Tom the acupuncture and massage practitioner, translator John and then there was Professor ______. I didn't catch her name, as it was the only one that wasn't westernized (or short) -- but she is definitely the elder of the group. Everyone cued off of her questions as they discussed among themselves in Chinese and asked me questions through John (except for Dr. Ming who is quite competent with English).
The team then came back to my room where they spent about 30 minutes reading my pulses, looking at my tongue (two primary diagnostic protocols in TCM) and looking at my right arm where most of the atrophy has occurred. After everyone left the Professor stopped by again (but without a translator) and showed me some paperwork (in Chinese) and said a few things to me (again in Chinese) but had a knowing smile on her face. It seemed to me she was telling me that she was going to manage my case directly -- I did my best to communicate back that I thought I understood. She smiled, nodded and left. Again, I'm not exactly sure what it was all about but I was comforted by her presence and spirit.
About an hour later Tom came in (with translator) and I received my first treatment. More details on his technique in the future, but he was confident with his needles and gave a strong and thorough tui-na (medical massage).
My herbal tea arrived shortly after the treatment. I drank one bottle and completed unpacking. It was much stronger than what they have had me drinking at home for the last few months -- and they definitely switched up the formula. Now with 20% more pungent tastes!
Dinner came an hour or so later, I barely finished because I was so tired. Had a quick IM with Margit then washed up and was in bed by 6:30. Had to set and alarm for midnight so I could take my other bottle of herbal tea. Woke up, drank the tea, crashed until 6:00 am. I woke up feeling rested and happy to be here.
Feeling grateful for all of the help received to arrive here and excited about the healing that has already begun.
-dta
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Arrived in China
It was a long flight, 12 hours to Tokyo, a few hours layover then a 4 hour flight to Shanghai. It was almost a full 24 hours from departure in Minneapolis to arriving at my hotel.
The flight to Tokyo was a large plane and was packed. Since we were flying west it stayed light until just before landing, added to the surrealness of it all.
Customs in Japan and China was a breeze ( actually the whole trip, which has not been the case for me in several years since my common name is on the no-fly list.)
I was impressed by the size of the airport in Shanghai. Easily the most immense complex I've ever seen. Very modern and spacious, the few hundred people at baggage claim seemed small compared to the space.
The taxi ride to the hotel also had the same feeling. Lots of well lit roads with very few people traveling. As we got closer to the city center I expected to see a crowded city, but most of the large apartment buildings we passed looked mostly empty and the city seemed asleep. I arrived at the hotel (Ramada Plaza) around 10:30pm local time. Even when I got to my room and looked out the window the city seemed quite and sparse.
The hotel guests seem to mostly be western -- breakfast was a mixed fare of west and east. Because of my egg-free diet, I ate mostly veggies and rice. The city is starting to come alive, but again not as crowded as I had anticipated. I'm sure there are parts of this megacity that are dense, but the area I'm in feels like a European business center. I can see the Best Buy offices from my room and the hotel is running an Agile conference for HP. ;)
I complete my travel to the clinic in the morning, should arrive late afternoon. Feeling good, all limbs are functioning well. My speech is slurred and slow, but I'm not talking much so it's not a problem. I have a few apps on my iPad that let me type in English and it will translate to Mandarin, as well as allow others to type or draw Mandarin with translation back.
Everyone I have encountered has been very friendly and helpful, a great start to the trip!
More from Zhongfang in a day or so!
Much love and gratitude,
-dta
The flight to Tokyo was a large plane and was packed. Since we were flying west it stayed light until just before landing, added to the surrealness of it all.
Customs in Japan and China was a breeze ( actually the whole trip, which has not been the case for me in several years since my common name is on the no-fly list.)
I was impressed by the size of the airport in Shanghai. Easily the most immense complex I've ever seen. Very modern and spacious, the few hundred people at baggage claim seemed small compared to the space.
The taxi ride to the hotel also had the same feeling. Lots of well lit roads with very few people traveling. As we got closer to the city center I expected to see a crowded city, but most of the large apartment buildings we passed looked mostly empty and the city seemed asleep. I arrived at the hotel (Ramada Plaza) around 10:30pm local time. Even when I got to my room and looked out the window the city seemed quite and sparse.
The hotel guests seem to mostly be western -- breakfast was a mixed fare of west and east. Because of my egg-free diet, I ate mostly veggies and rice. The city is starting to come alive, but again not as crowded as I had anticipated. I'm sure there are parts of this megacity that are dense, but the area I'm in feels like a European business center. I can see the Best Buy offices from my room and the hotel is running an Agile conference for HP. ;)
I complete my travel to the clinic in the morning, should arrive late afternoon. Feeling good, all limbs are functioning well. My speech is slurred and slow, but I'm not talking much so it's not a problem. I have a few apps on my iPad that let me type in English and it will translate to Mandarin, as well as allow others to type or draw Mandarin with translation back.
Everyone I have encountered has been very friendly and helpful, a great start to the trip!
More from Zhongfang in a day or so!
Much love and gratitude,
-dta
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
ALS Treatment update - November 2010
Again, we'd like to start with expressing our deep gratitude for all of the amazing love and support that has been flowing our way. We are confident and encouraged that this is a fight we will win together.
I recently returned from a week in Seattle where I had the opportunity to DJ for two great events -- and had a blast doing it! Had no issues that evening, there are even pictures of me waving my right arm high in the air. It was a great time!
In addition I had the opportunity to be seen by 6 healers in modalities that ranged from energy, subtle body, psychic, cranial sacral, SOMA, nutrition and homeopathy.
The treatments and information were powerful. We believe there is a winning formula for beating ALS, and it includes:
Detox (metals, toxic chemicals)
Diet (Glutten and dairy free)
Deep Acupuncture
Herbal Remedies
Deep Tissue massage
Rest
Meditation and prayer
The Chinese acupuncture and herb treatments are coming from a clinic in China that has concentrated on treating ALS since 2005. You can read more here: www.tcmtreatment.com.
I am planning to travel to China in January of 2010 to receive 4 weeks of treatment and bring the information back home to work with local providers to extend the healing.
Rest assured, we are still pursuing all available western treatments, unfortunately there is currently only one that is approved by the FDA. It's job is to help reduce glutamate levels in the blood. This will also be helped by detox and dietary changes.
If you are joining us in prayer, our current visioning is healing along the brain stem and spine -- specifically in the center of the back with golden healing light filling the back, throat and arms.
There is a fundraising event happening on November 27 to help off-set the cost of China and treatments I'm currently receiving here in MN. You can find out more information here:
With much love,
-dta, margit and grace
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Health Status - October 2010
I'd like to start by first offering my gratitude for all of the love and support that has been sent our way as we have been working through the process of diagnosis. Your prayers and intentions are felt, and have had a positive impact on our experience.
Yesterday I received a diagnosis of ALS (also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease). It is a disease of the motor neurons and is currently manifesting in my speech and my arms -- predominantly my right.
We consider this diagnosis a blessing, it opens up many support channels ranging from disability insurance to VA coverage.
I will be providing more information in near term regarding the treatment options we are pursuing. For now it is sufficient to say that we are leaving no stone unturned.
Thank you again for your love and support. If you are looking for an intention for prayer, at this time we are focusing on slowing down; slowing the deterioration of neurons, slowing the atrophy of muscles and just general slowing down in life.
Again, we consider this diagnosis a blessing -- an opportunity to connect with the things that are important in life and concentrate on healing.
Best regards,
-dta
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Error: This domain has been disabled - Google Apps
Coming out of my blogging sabbatical to post this:
I was a premier subscriber, didn't need the "features" that came with premier, so after two years cancelled. On the same day I receive the email from Google letting me know that I've been downgraded, the domain is suddenly disabled.
Now that's a downgrade!
Can't contact Google via email, without having the premier account. No way to re-up for the premier account with the domain disabled.
After some searching I found that I can add my domain to a growing list of domains that have had the same downgrading problem here, where volunteer Power Poster LMckin51 will gladly add me to a list to be reviewed "on Friday" when apparently such issues are considered.
#GOOGLEFAIL
[UPDATE] - My service has been restored, total downtime just over 2 days. I assume this is the doings of LMckin51, for whom I am deeply grateful.
No communication from Google, and still can't access the control panel. Completely underwhelmed with the backdoor approach to getting an issue into the queue.
[UPDATE 2] - My service has been restored, but not other users on the domain (ie: my wife).
[UPDATE 3] - Everything is down (disabled) again.
[UPDATE 4] - 1/30/2010 Domain is full restored after finally being able to access my account's Control Panel. A confirmed bug that took at least 2 weeks to escalate and fix. Wow.
One win, I managed to track down the form for submitting account access issues officially to Google.
https://www.google.com/support/a/bin/request.py?contact_type=cantaccess
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"Your identity will be displayed by what you don't use." -kk
Another excellent article by Kevin Kelly on our continuing Convergence.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Giles Bowkett: TDD And Experiments: I Was Wrong
Giles Bowkett: TDD And Experiments: I Was Wrong
If you are extending an existing system, or architecting a framework TDD (Test Driven Development) is supreme.
But if you are inventing, the organic process of creative coding allows you the ability to stub things out in real-time... all neurons firing.
If you are extending an existing system, or architecting a framework TDD (Test Driven Development) is supreme.
But if you are inventing, the organic process of creative coding allows you the ability to stub things out in real-time... all neurons firing.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
All your data are belong to Redmond
It seems Facebook violated their own privacy policies when it comes to sharing data with 3rd parties. With Microsoft investing in Facebook to the tune of 240 million, this could have been predicted.
Last week the Borg released their own social-network enhanced version of Windows Live.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Alden Anderson 2.0 celebrates 4 years
Alden Anderson 2.0 is celebrating it's 4th anniversary this month, and we've put together a new website with information on our super not-so-secret project, RAVEN.
RAVEN stands for Relevence Action Value ENgine, it's our patented Business Rule Platform.
We will be producing a case study soon, more information to follow here and at the new site.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Some election tracking links
Novel:
Distraction:
Essential:
Google election gadget (Note to self - make a timely gadget get a gajillion hits...)
Google election gadget (Note to self - make a timely gadget get a gajillion hits...)
Apple is losing the Hearts & Minds battle
Apparently, the new sexy MacBooks come with a version of iTunes that won't recognize an iTouch or iPhone that has been jailbroken or unlocked.
But, if you have iTunes on Windows somewhere (like in Fusion or that old HP notebook) you are still in luck.
Why would you jailbreak an iTouch/iPhone? Because Apple has a stranglehold on the applications that can be added to the devices, and has refused to allow alternatives to built-in apps like Safari, Mail or iTunes. Or, maybe you don't want/can't afford to pay AT&T's outrageous international roaming rates.
But, if you have iTunes on Windows somewhere (like in Fusion or that old HP notebook) you are still in luck.
Why would you jailbreak an iTouch/iPhone? Because Apple has a stranglehold on the applications that can be added to the devices, and has refused to allow alternatives to built-in apps like Safari, Mail or iTunes. Or, maybe you don't want/can't afford to pay AT&T's outrageous international roaming rates.
This is another slide in the descent of Apple becoming the old Microsoft - only worse, because they own the hardware too.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Learn Arduino in Seattle
Josh Kopel will be teaching an Arduino workshop through Seattle's 911 Media Arts Center.
The Arduino is a small programmable device capable of big things. With it you can examine the world through various sensors and use the data to control motors, lights and just about any other electronic device. Come learn how to build kinetic sculpture, audio sequencers, home automation systems or whatever you can imagine. This class will focus on controlling motors using the Arduino, and we will be investigating how to recycle/re-use commonly discarded ink jet printers for their component parts. Bring your best ideas and wildest concepts and lets get them moving. Course fee is 255.00 plus 40.00 lab fee: total 295. The lab fee will over a motor control kit, some additional electronics, and a supply of printers to hack. You will need to have a laptop computer (win XP or Vista, OSX, or Linux*), and you should purchase your own Arduino Diecimila.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Schneier on Barack Obama's Security Mindset
I have made this general point again and again -- about airline security, about terrorism, about a lot of things -- that the person in charge of the security system can't be the person who decides what resources to devote to that security system. The analogy I like to use is a company: the VP of marketing wants all the money for marketing, the VP of engineering wants all the money for engineering, and so on; and the CEO has to balance all of those needs and do what's right for the company. So of course the TSA wants to spend all this money on new airplane security systems; that's their job. Someone above the TSA has to balance the risks to airlines with the other risks our country faces and allocate budget accordingly. Security is a trade-off, and that trade-off has to be made by someone with responsibility over all aspects of that trade-off.
I don't think I've ever heard a politician make this point so explicitly.
More at Schneier's on Security
Thursday, October 23, 2008
VFP Investors to get their own bailout?
I wish I had heard the conversation leading up to this point. Why is Ken telling people to go out and buy copies of VFP9, so they can be sold on ebay when MS stops selling?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Android'd
I've had 3 of the last 4 Windows Mobile offerings, I didn't jump at the first iPhone, but I did try out the 3g when it first shipped. So my wife was not surprised when I left the house early this AM to stand in line for one of the first G1 phones in Seattle.
OMG.
It's not as slim and sleek as the 3g, but what it lacks in footprint it makes up for in sheer geek-ability.
I've had a hard time doing anything today other than fondling this lovely piece of gear and downloading (for free, for now) every app that I would ever want to think about using.
If you are a Facebook user, you'll find the process of adding apps to the phone familiar. It lets you know what services you are exposing to the app.
I've read several reviews, and yes -- there is room for improvement but... OMG.
I spent a long weekend trying to jailbreak my G3 just so I could capture videos and secure (crypto) email. With the G1, it's Prego baby -- it's all in there.
OMG.
OMG.
It's not as slim and sleek as the 3g, but what it lacks in footprint it makes up for in sheer geek-ability.
I've had a hard time doing anything today other than fondling this lovely piece of gear and downloading (for free, for now) every app that I would ever want to think about using.
If you are a Facebook user, you'll find the process of adding apps to the phone familiar. It lets you know what services you are exposing to the app.
I've read several reviews, and yes -- there is room for improvement but... OMG.
I spent a long weekend trying to jailbreak my G3 just so I could capture videos and secure (crypto) email. With the G1, it's Prego baby -- it's all in there.
OMG.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Is It Worth Upgrading to SQL Server 2008?
Nice article by Nigel Maneffa, covering the features that come with the SQL2008 upgrade. It appears that most of the new features that were part of the CTP are Enterprise only.
Free registration required @ SQLServerCentral.com, worth the time.
Free registration required @ SQLServerCentral.com, worth the time.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Geekthink on a Resource Based Economy
Zeitgeist, the movie has an addendum. If you haven't seen the original it makes for interesting viewing.
In the addendum there is a presentation of the Venus Project and the concept of a Resource Based Economy. Geeks are responding @ Microsoft's Channel 9. Good read.
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