7/16/24

 Tuesday, July 16, 2024

In bed     Lights out at 10:15, awake at 3:20. Let Lilly out at 3:45.  Bad hip pain, lower right back. I tried to sit on Rachel waiting for Lilly and almost fell b/c the brakes were not engaged.  I nodded off at some point and woke up at 6:45 to let Lilly out again and another PS.  I nodded off a couple times later and ended up for good at 10:10.

Prednisone, day 65, - - - -,  I took my 15 mg. at 4:35 a.m. followed by a breakfast of cottage cheese, blackberries, and strawberries at 5.  I received a response from his nurse to Sunday's secure message to Dr. Ryzka, but I am still waiting for a response from Dr. Ryzka.  The blood test results from the ER visit showed an elevated "Sed rate" of 25 compared to normals of 0-15, but a normal CRP of <4.0 compared to normals of >< 10.0.   I took 1,000 mg. of Tylenol at about 3:45 or 4:00.  By 7 a.m. I am still experiencing no pain relief from either the prednisone or the Tylenol. . . .  Dr. Ryzka called at 4:45 p.m. and adjusted my prednisone dosage.  Next 2 weeks, 15 mg. in the morning, 5 mg. at night; next 2 weeks, 15 mg.; next 4 weeks, 10 mg., then 7.5 mg.

My first thought on hearing of yesterday's dismissal of the documents case in Florida by Judge Aileen Cannon was "Germany, 1933." Gleichschaltung was the process of Nazification employed by Hitler and his political party.  It consisted of a series of laws that basically suspended the Weimar Constitution and gave all power to the new Reich Chancellor, Hitler.  I consider Judge Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case with the Supreme Court's decision in the presidential immunity case, along with the near assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania and the iconic photo of him, bloodied and defiant under the American flag, as ominous portents of what is to come.  All of it has to be considered against the backdrop of Joe Biden as an enfeebled, aging, weak, and stumble-tongued octogenarian whose time has come and gone.  I watched the nominating process of the RNC. I saw the excitement and unity behind Donald Trump's candidacy and thought of the condition of the Democratic Party today and the malaise over Joe Biden's candidacy.  I also thought of the scene in Cabaret in which, in a slowly expanding close-up of a Brown-shirted,  blue-eyed, blond youth sings 

The sun on the meadow is summery warm.

The stag in the forest runs free.

But gather together to greet the storm.

Tomorrow belongs to me.

The branch of the linden is leafy and green,

The Rhine gives its gold to the sea.

But somewhere a glory awaits unseen.

Tomorrow belongs to me.

The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes

The blossom embraces the bee.

But soon, says a whisper;

"Arise, arise,

Tomorrow belongs..."

I watched the whole film again this afternoon while waiting for some communication from Dr. Ryzka.  It is one of my all-time favorites, a truly remarkable work of art and film literature and of history, portraying that period of German history when the Weimar Republic was on its last legs and the German aristocracy and upper class were supporting the Nazis as a bulwark against the communists.  Its portrayal of social and moral decadence and its sense of foreboding could hardly be more graphic.  The choreography by Bob Fosse is superb as is the music and the acting by Joel Gray, Liza Minelli, and Michael York, and the screenplay with its memorable lines:  Brian: "Oh, screw Maximillian.  Sally: I do.  Brian: So do I.  Sally: You two bastards!  Brian: Shouldn't that be three?"  The depiction of personal, social, and political corruption is superb and magnificent.  I had forgotten about the issue of Sally's pregnancy and the issue of abortion, Fritz Wendel's hidden Jewish identity, and the closing scene of the audience filled with brownshirts and swasticas, seen through a distorting glass. 

Yesterday I watched Crossing Delancy, another favorite with Peter Beinart and Amy Irving.  I have several favorite classics saved in my library on YouTubeTV.   I started Sophie's Choice, Meryl Streep's finest role.  In an opening scene, Peter MacNichol as 'Stingo', moves into his rented room in Brooklyn toting 3 cases of Spam, bringing back memories of the night shift in the TACC in Danang.  I broke off from Sophie's Choice, to watch The Remains of the Day with Geri after dinner.