Magnetic Resonance Imaging

My first MRI was some years ago at Winter Park Memorial Hospital. It was a fairly new tecnology at the time and what I remember most was the sound, a repititious BAAHNNG BAAHNNG BAAHNNG. There were other sounds as well but not as memorable. As a result of my recent biopsy pathology report I had a MRI scan today at the Al Ahli Hospital in Doha. The equipment is a very shiny, new looking Siemens MAGONET scanner. As a general rule I love German technology but the baby is LOUD and noisy. Of course the staff knows this and I was provided with a pair of headphones and music to make the experience tolerable. Now my only question is, "what is worse, a loud, noisy scanner or listening to ABBA on headphones for 50 minutes?"

Dusty   14 September 2013

Dust Bunnies are your friends...........

Dust bunnies are your friends………. 

Has been one of the guiding principles of my life, along with floss daily, don’t pick flowers in your neighbor’s yard and never, ever, refer to your Mother, wife or girlfriend as “the old lady”. I have always believed that a house that was spotlessly clean becomes an overly attractive host to germs. A house that is semi-clean and tidy is less appealing to germlife and therefore much healthier for human habitation. When faced with the choice to go play golf or clean house, there is really no choice at all, hitting the links wins every time.

This life philosophy, “The World According to Steve Schoene” has been seriously challenged living in Doha. I live on the fifth floor, in a one bdrm flat with bathroom, powder room, kitchen and living/dining room combined. There is no exterior balcony suitable for growing drought resistant plants. It has polished marble floors throughout with double glazed, reflective glass windows that are never opened.

My normal pattern is to run around the rooms with dust mop every two days, three days max. But this picture shows what happens from a busy week with unplanned doctor visits and decisions to go to the gym rather than dust mop the floors. 7 days, just 7 days, where does it all come from? No one can say, but all who live here experience the same thing. Inescapable dust. Everywhere.      I remain……..

Dusty in Doha