| lesley153
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| That's a great shame. I thought mine were too, but perhaps they're in the future. |
Reply #1181. Aug 15 10, 5:42 PM
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| Lochalsh
|
Oh, I'm grateful for what I've had--forty-eight states in my country, almost all of Western Europe, Hawaii twice, not to mention Mexico and Canada--but I just don't think I'll ever range so far again. I'm not ready for the rocking chair, though--ever, ever, ever!
And yet, it would be a shame not to add Bedford to my life list. :( :)
Reply #1182. Aug 15 10, 5:50 PM
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| Lochalsh
|
Omigosh, Hawaii *is* one of the forty-eight states I've been to, and not a separate entity! This is what I get for chuckling (very softly) at a visitor to Hawaii who said "Back in the U.S." when the usual term for the contiguous states is "the mainland."
I feel like such a, such a...what is the term? Nebbish?
Reply #1183. Aug 15 10, 5:59 PM
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| lesley153
|
A Nebbish is a sad sack who can't get anything right except - perhaps - provoking pity, but even that's not certain.
There's an astonishing number of words for fool, simpleton, ignoramus, idiot... Putz needs to be used carefully because of its alternative meaning. Schlemiel is a little more colourful but safer. Neither is appropriate. I don't know any words for someone who doesn't know where they are or what day it is.
After an operation in 1997, I was in a hospital ward when the shop trolley came round with sweets and newspapers. One of the women didn't have enough change for a paper, and I didn't offer her any because I only had British currency, which wouldn't go very far in New Zealand. Later I heard a visitor's conversation about the journey. All the roads were numbered as they would be here, and all the place names were in England. Eventually I plucked up the courage to ask what country we were in. The rather surprised answer was that we were in England. I blame the drugs! :)
I wonder what Ronald Reagan and G W Bush blamed for not knowing where they were? |
Reply #1184. Aug 15 10, 6:51 PM
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satguru 
|
I'd say 'tsedrayter' is the best word if confused in any way or scatty. There seems to be one for most things although anyone since my grandparent's generation only know the bare bones unless very orthodox who still speak it fluently. That counts me out though despite the kosher viennas, you don't need to believe to eat and enjoy them...
Reply #1185. Aug 15 10, 7:25 PM
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| lesley153
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David, thank you, that's a lovely word.
(I hope Lochalsh isn't upset by the amount of time we've spent trying to answer her question, which was probably only rhetorical anyway.) |
Reply #1186. Aug 15 10, 7:50 PM
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tezza1551
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In my language, we would say "winyarn".. it means much the same as "nebbish", but with a sort of sadness.. it might be used to describe someone who is an alcoholic or with a mental illness.. "oh he's winyarn, poor fellow".
Reply #1187. Aug 15 10, 8:04 PM
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| Lochalsh
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It *was* rhetorical, but I'd never complain about a language lesson. :)
Reply #1188. Aug 15 10, 8:25 PM
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| veronikkamarrz
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Good grief Lesley! I'm assuming THIS surgury went much better, considering that you at least knew where you were!
Did I read that right...? I've never heard 'nebbish' is that Jewish? Could be that I'm a putz. THAT I have heard. ;)
Reply #1189. Aug 15 10, 9:13 PM
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| lesley153
|
What a useful word, winyam. Nebbish implies sadness too but I don't know what people say when the nebbish has a health problem or addiction. That's my homework. :)
Yes thank you, VM. Last time, I had rampant endocarditis, which had been undiagnosed for three weeks so managed to get a pretty strong hold, and spent two months in hospital, for much of which I was hallucinating. I'm usually a sweet, docile thing, but I had to be held down for a lumber puncture, which I don't remember, and was only told about when I asked why I had a sticky plaster on my back.
Once a hundred people had told them I wasn't a drunk, they had to think of something else, so they decided to go for meningitis. I don't know anything about diagnostic processes, but I wonder how many countries only check for one thing at a time till they get it right? and why we're so bad at it here?
Last month, I mentioned my mental trip to New Zealand to one of the nurses, who smiled and said that was quite tame compared with some of the things patients imagine. I still blame the drugs! :)
I've written here about a local boy whose endocarditis was diagnosed in Germany within about four hours of his starting to be ill, and compared it with my three weeks. I was chatting to the boy's father last week and he said that a doctor in England told him that his son's endocarditis wouldn't have been diagnosed if he had been in England.
I can't remember how many politicians have said "the NHS is safe in our hands," and it probably is, more or less; but I'm not sure I still feel safe in the NHS's hands.
Today's health report:
I've been doing Grown-Up Steps upstairs for nearly a week, and it gets easier every time: today is my first day without painkillers - so far, so good: and I've just eaten a whole mango. It is possible! (And delicious.) |
Reply #1190. Aug 16 10, 9:34 AM
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| lesley153
|
| PS: Yes, VM, nebbish is Yiddish, no you're not a putz, and I'm going to hate myself for this but the puncture I had was lumbar. As far as I know, I haven't got any wooden bits. |
Reply #1191. Aug 16 10, 10:08 AM
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| veronikkamarrz
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Ha! No splinters... Yes, I actually meant Yiddish.
Reply #1192. Aug 16 10, 10:17 AM
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Deunan
|
Lumbar punctures are not "fun". Hated it! It's good you don't remember.
I am glad you are doing better, Lesley. It is fantastic news!
Reply #1193. Aug 16 10, 10:35 AM
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| Lochalsh
|
I woke up after an epidural steroid injection several years ago only to be told that I'd been singing German Christmas carols during the entire procedure. Thing is, I really don't know German, at least not in my conscious life.
Does it help to know you've at least one buddy who's been to Medical Fantasyland? :)
Reply #1194. Aug 16 10, 10:46 AM
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| Lochalsh
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carols *in* German, that is
Reply #1195. Aug 16 10, 10:49 AM
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Deunan
|
When I am "under" I give out recipes.
Reply #1196. Aug 16 10, 10:54 AM
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| lesley153
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| Thanks, Deunan! And thank you both for sharing your stories. It's always good to know you're not the only one. |
Reply #1197. Aug 16 10, 11:01 AM
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garrysouders
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The last time I was under the wife tells me I was singing goat hearder songs and inviting all to try some of my goat cheese, she said the nurses were in stiches.
Reply #1198. Aug 16 10, 11:03 AM
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| Lochalsh
|
Hey, Garry, you could at least have acknowledged your surroundings and sung about when the "wind comes sweepin' down the plain." :)
Lesley, about the lumber: if you sing the way I do, it's better a mote than a motet ....
Reply #1199. Aug 16 10, 11:09 AM
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| Lochalsh
|
(that made no sense whatsoever. sorry)
Reply #1200. Aug 16 10, 11:10 AM
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