*breathe* *breathe*

Ok, the happy-dance is more like a slow waltz today, but it's happy nonetheless. I'd say I'm up to slightly more than half of my normal lung capacity and climbing slowly but steadily.

I was coughing when I got into the office and people were concerned - I said "hey, at least that means I'm breathing!". Colors are much brighter and I'm more clearheaded than yesterday. Which makes sense because my blood O2 levels were about 1/3 of the way down from Normal towards "We're calling the ER now".

My chest still feels tight and my lungs kind of feel like someone scoured them with steel wool as the swelling goes down, but hopefully we're on a roll now. I even have a refill on the 'roids if I need to step-down more slowly than prescribed. (4 days at 60mg, 6 days at 40mg, then 3-6 at 20mg and 6 at 10mg). I don't get the insomnia that some people do with prednisone. It's a bit harder to sleep, and I wake up a lot, but am able to pretty much go right back to sleep when it happens.

I'm still on the super-Zithromax, which is good because there is still infecty-goo needing to come out, but considering that yesterday I was actually at the point of thinking about who to call to feed Pepper if I ended up in the hospital...today is a LOT better

Celtic Woman on PBS

This happens to be on while I'm reading my mail, as it's beg-a-thon week.

You know, I LOVE good celtic music. While this is slick and well produced and nicely arranged, I personally find it kind of thin. All the women seem to be sopranos, and their voices are SO overprocessed that there is little trace of any individuality left. There is little resemblance to any style of traditional singing or ornament, or connection to the real life that this music grew out of.

(The only one that really impressed me was Moraire, the high-energy dancing fiddle player - very worthy of being a star!)

Frankly I've really gotten more visceral enjoyment out of a couple of guys in a pub or a small group on a stage at a faire - When it's grand I can really connect to them as people, as musicians, and I can feel the love and energy they pour into their music.

I suppose it's good that so many celtic musicians are getting work and exposure, but it leaves me a little flat somehow.