"The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body." (Syrus)

Today I awoke with the same pain in my left side as I had yesterday. I tried calling my doctor to see if he had an opening this afternoon. I'm in great suspense to see what the matter can be. The problem is that in two more days, my class "Fun with Shakespeare" is supposed to begin, and I don't see how I can move around as I like to do while teaching. If you stay in the same spot, the class usually falls asleep, but if you move between the aisles, they are curious as to when you are going to stop and where you are going, so they tend to stay awake. However, the doctor's office was closed for lunch, so I have to wait until after 1pm before I call again. Another problem today is that the cleaning crew is coming about 2:30 and I want to be someplace else, rather than in the house. Maybe I'll go to a movie--or to a mall. If at the mall, all I'll be able to do is to sit down on a big chair and watch the world go by for a couple of hours. Or I'll see how far I can walk with just a cane. The scooter is in the house and I can't take it apart and put it back together as well as RH+ can. Speaking of her, yesterday I accompanied her to the City of Hope "donor" luncheon at Benvenuto's. I had to wear a jacket and a tie. There were about 150 people there. A luncheon is provided every year for people who have contributed financially or with labor for the cause. The food was excellent, but the entertainer was below par--a guy who sang a multitude of songs in Italian. He was definitely in the wrong arena for that considering the dominant ethnic group listening to him. While he was doing his thing, dessert was being served and I opted for one of my favorites--profiteroles. And so, this seems to be the perfect lead-in to my "10 Best" list for the end of my list for meals. My 10 Best desserts are:

1) Chocolate ice cream sundae 2) 7 layer chocolate cake 3) Baked Alaska 4) Napoleon 5) Eclair 6) Apple crisp a la mode 7) Chocolate creme pie 8) NY Style chocolate cheesecake 9) Profiteroles 10) Bananas Foster

Well, I finally reached the doctor after his lunch and he decided that I had a "kidney stone". A kidney stone? I am not aware of having any stones in my diet...stones are not on my 10 best list of delectable delights. At any rate, he prescribed "hydromorphone HCL" tablets for the pain, and ordered an ultra sound for next Thursday. The pill sounds as though it contains some kind of morphine...which is OK with me, as long as it alleviates the stone pain. At this point I don't know how we're going to get rid of it--maybe blow it up. Smash it into small pebbles, perhaps? Anyway, we'll deal with it as we deal with any of the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" that pop up from time to time. Which reminds me that my class of "Hamlet" begins on Friday, and I will have news about how that event will work out. I know you all cannot wait to hear about it. Most of my students will be coming in with walkers, canes, and wheelchairs which is a far cry from mini-skirts.