Despite all the instruction from friends to see a doctor today, I didn't do so. Instead, I drank water.
I realized yesterday that I felt a little better with every glass of water, and the penny gradually dropped. Dehydration. Looked up the Mayo Clinic info when I got home, and it seemed clear that I was quite, but not severely, dehydrated.
The combination of lots of talking in a noisy environment and insufficient water worked havoc on my throat and vocal chords. I have hardly spoken at all for nearly 72 hours, and am only now beginning to fear close to recovery.
My throat isn't sore anymore but it still feels very dry, so I'll spend the evening with lots of water. I've felt physically exhausted most of that time as well, but am now feeling somewhat stronger.
Tomorrow I think I'll feel better.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Technology and Travel
Technology has made all travel much easier. Because of free wi-fi in airports, I was able to amuse myself writing, talking on FB, and working a little on photos. In Toronto, I sat at the gate and was amused to hear comments about the small amount of seating. In fact, there was lots of seating, but the gate morphed into a bar area, where food and beverages could be ordered from the iPads at every table.
I observed for a few minutes, and realized that ordering wasn't mandatory. I sat at a table, plugged in my laptop for a charge, and used the iPad for flight and weather information, sports scores, world news, and ... St. Paul obituaries. It was very comfortable, and so nicely configured. Easy to delete any personal information at the end of a session. I was in heaven!
I know the "radiation machines" for people scanning at security checkpoints are controversial, but I like them. The knee replacements are great, but a hassle at airports, so I love the machines. For some reason, none of the four security checkpoints on this trip had their machines in operation, and I was patted down each time. All very efficient and professional, but very time consuming and inefficient. I would have been happy to use the machines. Chances are I'm not going to die of radiation poisoning.
I observed for a few minutes, and realized that ordering wasn't mandatory. I sat at a table, plugged in my laptop for a charge, and used the iPad for flight and weather information, sports scores, world news, and ... St. Paul obituaries. It was very comfortable, and so nicely configured. Easy to delete any personal information at the end of a session. I was in heaven!
I know the "radiation machines" for people scanning at security checkpoints are controversial, but I like them. The knee replacements are great, but a hassle at airports, so I love the machines. For some reason, none of the four security checkpoints on this trip had their machines in operation, and I was patted down each time. All very efficient and professional, but very time consuming and inefficient. I would have been happy to use the machines. Chances are I'm not going to die of radiation poisoning.
Airport Sunday
I rarely miss Mass but I just couldn't go out yesterday morning, and I just wasn't up to looking for mass in either the Ottawa or Toronto Pearson airport. And, although I dreaded spending my Sunday in airports, I felt better as the day progressed so it turned out all right in the end.
I arrived at the Ottawa airport shortly afternoon and was immediately taken by the light, open feeling in that pleasant building. Although my flight wasn't scheduled to leave until 4:00 p.m., I decided to go through security right away and be done with it. By this time, I was a little hungry as I hadn't had much to eat since Friday evening, so I checked out the eating establishments and ended up at D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub, mostly because several football games were on and I thought I might as well torture myself by watching the Vikings (Cleveland 31, Vikings 27).
The food (Caesar salad, French onion soup) was fine but overpriced, as was the Guinness ($8.95!), but most of the people (all men) at the bar had long layovers and just wanted to watch one, or all of the games, so it was a fun atmosphere. I still couldn't talk much so watching sports was just fine with me. Topped up the Guinness with a Starbucks skinny latte.
The plane left about 30 minutes late, so I was dragging by the time we arrived in Toronto in brilliant late afternoon sunshine. On the way to YYZ, I read about navigating airport connections, and learned that they are color coded at Pearson. I followed the purple signs toward the F gates, where all flights to the US originate, and had no trouble. I was intrigued by a semi-automated customs and immigration screening (Steps 1 through 3), that eliminated the need to physically collect a checked bag and personally carry it to the belt for the connecting flight.
The YYZ-MSP flight left promptly at 8:25 and arrived two hours later. I had a row to myself on the plane and treated myself to a Johnny Walker Red, which did wonders for the throat. Arrived home tired but feeling little the worse for wear. Bob picked me up and I was home shortly after 10, happy to plop down exhausted in my own bed.
I arrived at the Ottawa airport shortly afternoon and was immediately taken by the light, open feeling in that pleasant building. Although my flight wasn't scheduled to leave until 4:00 p.m., I decided to go through security right away and be done with it. By this time, I was a little hungry as I hadn't had much to eat since Friday evening, so I checked out the eating establishments and ended up at D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub, mostly because several football games were on and I thought I might as well torture myself by watching the Vikings (Cleveland 31, Vikings 27).
The food (Caesar salad, French onion soup) was fine but overpriced, as was the Guinness ($8.95!), but most of the people (all men) at the bar had long layovers and just wanted to watch one, or all of the games, so it was a fun atmosphere. I still couldn't talk much so watching sports was just fine with me. Topped up the Guinness with a Starbucks skinny latte.
The plane left about 30 minutes late, so I was dragging by the time we arrived in Toronto in brilliant late afternoon sunshine. On the way to YYZ, I read about navigating airport connections, and learned that they are color coded at Pearson. I followed the purple signs toward the F gates, where all flights to the US originate, and had no trouble. I was intrigued by a semi-automated customs and immigration screening (Steps 1 through 3), that eliminated the need to physically collect a checked bag and personally carry it to the belt for the connecting flight.
The YYZ-MSP flight left promptly at 8:25 and arrived two hours later. I had a row to myself on the plane and treated myself to a Johnny Walker Red, which did wonders for the throat. Arrived home tired but feeling little the worse for wear. Bob picked me up and I was home shortly after 10, happy to plop down exhausted in my own bed.
Sick!
On Friday evening, I had a bad sore throat after I arrived back at the hotel and by morning, I could barely talk. I felt OK, though, and my only disappointment was that the day of glorious photo ops was simply not going to happen. No matter; nothing I can do about the weather.
I dropped into the “deluxe lounge” at the hotel for evening appetizers and decided that I wouldn’t need dinner, so I went back to my room to call Bob. By this time, I was really hoarse and not feeling very well. My throat was raw and I could feel my pulse on both sides, something I remember after my tonsils were removed over a half century ago.
I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep very well because of the pain, and awoke whimpering from a fitful sleep just before 3:00 a.m. I instantly knew that I wouldn’t make it to Montreal on this trip. I struggled to change my reservation by calling Air Canada; not a happy experience with laryngitis. The 72-hour change in my reservation cost me $539, and I was grateful that it wasn’t $1,000. I contacted my friend Kathe Lieber via email to let her know I wouldn’t be celebrating her birthday with her after all. Similar email and/or FB messages to 7 other people. I lay down for a couple of hours and then got up.
Under normal circumstances, I would have gone for a swim Sunday morning but I didn’t have the energy to do so. I did a little writing and some work on my photos, and left for the airport just after checkout at noon. The day went surprisingly well but I fell into bed right after unpacking my bag, and didn’t get up till morning.
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum was "kind of" on my radar, but I was very tempted to go to the National Gallery to see some of my favorite paintings. In the end, the War Museum won out on this rainy day. It was the right choice.
The address at 1 Vimy Place memorializes the WWI Battle of Vimy Ridge, a "defining moment" in Canadian military history, when Canada showed its military power, independently of Britain. At great cost, of course. When my grandparents lived in one of the Vetville apartments for veterans in Chateauguay in the late 1950s, the buildings were named after famous battles of the First World War. I think their building was "Arras", named for the Battle of Arras, which also figures prominently in Canadian military history. I can't seem to find an online reference to Vetville, but I think there was a Vimy building in that complex as well.
The foyer in the large building seems to be a site for wedding pictures. I saw two wedding parties while I was there, and the venue somehow seemed oddly appropriate for these young couples, who are of the age of many of the soldiers and their families featured in the exhibit.
The museum project must have been very daunting, as it covers five thousand years of Canadian military history, all the way back to First Nations warfare long before the arrival of Europeans. The guide advised me to start with the Peace Exhibition, a largely interactive exhibit that draws visitors of all ages. I saw children add ribbons to two panels decorated with ribbons of many colors of "peace".
I loved seeing Canadian military history integrated into the continuum of Canadian history. The fortress of Louisbourg, the Battle of the Plains of Abrahm, the War of 1812 all seemed so clear to me, probably for the first time. I felt that I understood the strategy and errors of Generals Montcalm and Wolfe, both of whom died in the battle that forever changed the history of North America.
The Bomber Command section (WWII) was a little disappointing to me, because there wasn't much on my dad's Wellington bomber. It was sobering to read that 25% of Canadian casualties were in Bomber Command, so it's no wonder that neither of my parents expected my dad's return from the war.
The museum's treatment of the Cold War communicated the deep Canadian yearning for peace, and Québec's longstanding distrust of the British war machine. Most interesting to me was the inclusion of the "Trudeau Years" and, especially, the imposition of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis of 1970. So long ago, yet still etched into my mind are images of soldiers on Mount Royal, and troups stationed on the street corners of Montreal.
I left the museum at about 4:30. It wasn't raining too much then, and I felt that I needed a walk. The sky soon emptied on me, leaving me with sopping hair and a wet jacket.
The address at 1 Vimy Place memorializes the WWI Battle of Vimy Ridge, a "defining moment" in Canadian military history, when Canada showed its military power, independently of Britain. At great cost, of course. When my grandparents lived in one of the Vetville apartments for veterans in Chateauguay in the late 1950s, the buildings were named after famous battles of the First World War. I think their building was "Arras", named for the Battle of Arras, which also figures prominently in Canadian military history. I can't seem to find an online reference to Vetville, but I think there was a Vimy building in that complex as well.
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| Wedidng pics at the museum |
The museum project must have been very daunting, as it covers five thousand years of Canadian military history, all the way back to First Nations warfare long before the arrival of Europeans. The guide advised me to start with the Peace Exhibition, a largely interactive exhibit that draws visitors of all ages. I saw children add ribbons to two panels decorated with ribbons of many colors of "peace".
The Bomber Command section (WWII) was a little disappointing to me, because there wasn't much on my dad's Wellington bomber. It was sobering to read that 25% of Canadian casualties were in Bomber Command, so it's no wonder that neither of my parents expected my dad's return from the war.
The museum's treatment of the Cold War communicated the deep Canadian yearning for peace, and Québec's longstanding distrust of the British war machine. Most interesting to me was the inclusion of the "Trudeau Years" and, especially, the imposition of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis of 1970. So long ago, yet still etched into my mind are images of soldiers on Mount Royal, and troups stationed on the street corners of Montreal.
I left the museum at about 4:30. It wasn't raining too much then, and I felt that I needed a walk. The sky soon emptied on me, leaving me with sopping hair and a wet jacket.
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