Day 2

***WARNING this post contains frank discussions that my be disgusting to some readers. If you read it don't complain to me. If you complain to me...well I really just don't care.***

The second day, of a yet undetermined number, is coming to an end. This day has seen a little action and an attempt at battling anxiety. Let's take a little chronological walk through the highlights.

Twenty after five in the morning I was curtly awakened (I hesitate to say rude as it was not so much rude, but simple and to the point). Now that time of the morning is usually reserved for one of two things: sleeping, or still partying from the previous day. As I was not partying, inertia dictated that I was to remain sleeping. When she said she was going to do a blood test, I mumbled something and held out my arm. Well, I woke up pretty quick when I realized what was actually happening. Good thing I am not afraid of needles, but to be honest it didn't really hurt. She left; I kept sleeping.

One hour after my previous awakening, I was drawn back to consciousness again. This time for a temperature and blood pressure check. Since breakfast was soon, and I wanted a shower and coffee, I dragged my ass outta bed. The view out the window was stunning, as the sun rose to begin it's near perfect twelve hour trek across the heavens.

Breakfast was mediocre. Menus are created in three day spans, and I wasn't here to sign up for the “bread” meal. On a side note, a common, and ridiculous, question from Japanese people is “Which do you like rice or bread?” Which is usually followed (without waiting for an answer) by some statement about how Japanese people like rice but Americans (read: Westerners...god I hate that) like bread so much. I usually tell them that in THE WEST (stress not America) people like many things, and that saying you like rice or bread is a strange idea, as you can like both. This concept is usually not understood, as how is it possible to like both the same (sometimes I say I like noodles just to screw with them). This morning with the breakfast lady was no different. She handed me the Japanese style breakfast (fish, rice, miso soup, some veggies) and said that next time the bread breakfast would probably be better wouldn't it. I launched into the aforementioned spiel, and the results were standard. To be honest, the bread breakfast is usually more appealing, not because I don't like rice, but because it comes with eggs and fruit not fish and soup.

Twenty to nine and it was time for a trip to physio. They did the final pre-op tests and checks on my leg. As usual I was cracking jokes and getting the staff to enjoy their job a little more. All went well, and I was back in my room by half past nine. Which is when I realized that I might become a record setter in the ward.

Two in the afternoon yesterday until two in the afternoon today was my chance to be a champion. This is nothing spectacular, and everything short of it. Really this is nothing to write home about, but screw you all, I'm going to anyway. For the said twenty four hour period I had to collect all my urine. They provided me with a graded cup and bucket like pitcher. Last night I amused myself comparing how much my bladder held until I had to pee. It ranged from two hundred fifty to three hundred millilitres. Not bad, that's a can of pop right there. This morning I was a little more sensitive and I was only getting out about one hundred fifty millilitres. That was till I hit the mother load and almost overfilled the cup at a whopping four hundred millilitres. I will stop talking about my pee in a second, but first to my record. I could have squeezed in (or is that out?) one more time, but I lost track of time. However, in the end I wound up with a whopping record setting three litres of pee, so much so that I had to get a second bucket to hold it all. Thank you one litre nalgene bottle and travel coffee mug, I couldn't have done it with out you. (speaking of which: pee break)

Before my pissing contest ended, five of my night class students (the gals) came to visit. They brought lunch and came just as I got my plate of non-memorable food. We chatted it up and had a right old time in the lounge. They brought me some very nice flowers, and one of the girls lent me a book (Kafka on the Shore). It was a great break to a potentially boring day.

After they left I had coffee with a friend I made in the ward, and his friend. We are the ACL club.
Koyasu-san (who lives one town over) is in for his second knee, and the other gentleman (an elementary school teacher) is in for a tear he did over ten years ago. Talking with them had made me feel much better about the whole process. They have not only gone through it, and can thus understand my anxieties, but they have also gone through it with the doctors and staff that I will. Their (and others') insistence that this department is famous is echoed by the fact that there are patients from far away who come here for the doctors skill. I am resting a little more assured with both that knowledge and also with the fact that I have a few friends who truly understand. I know that Koyasu-san and I are going to be friends after this is all over. There isn't a chance he will let that not happen.

Nine in the evening came, and I had to stop eating and drinking. With the surgery and general anaesthetic tomorrow I had to go on the Hollywood diet (way more effective than South Beach). I wolfed down dinner, with hopes it would pass in the same fashion it was consumed. You see (children stop reading) what ever doesn't make it out on it's own accord by six tomorrow morning is getting flushed out. I can't even think of something sarcastic enough to write here, that's how happy I am about that.

Shortly after my...internal shower...I will receive breakfast...internally...or intravenously I should say. Lunch will be the same. Almost as good as this evenings Hollywood diet, but still one calorie is one too many, right Paris? When the clock strikes two, or maybe three, tomorrow afternoon, it will be time to head on down to the OR. The diagnostic procedure will take about fifteen minutes. If they go ahead with the full meal deal, it will be about an hour and a half. After that it's the recovery room and most likely feeling pretty ill.

I can write that all, but I don't know if I really have my head around it all. I am not really nervous, or all that anxious...which leads me to believe it hasn't sunk in yet or that I have more control over my fears than I though (or that I am an android incapable of feelings, but that miraculously has knee ligaments). Whatever the situation, I go under tomorrow. I may not get around to writing a day three post, and I can guarantee if I do write it I won't be posting it tomorrow. This is long however, so enjoy it; read it again; read some old posts; or do whatever it is you do when you are not computing the letters that spell the story of my life in Japan. Until I post again: I love you all, see ya on the other side.