Last week I was at Stanford Hospital with my wife. On Tuesday (Apr 8), I was stuck in a waiting room which had no Wi-Fi. It was hell! Below are a collection of thoughts I recorded of the day.

Random thoughts while in the waiting room at Stanford’s Advanced Surgery Center:

I spent some time visiting with some older editions of Vogue, InStyle and other glamor type magazines while sitting in the waiting room. For those that know me, any indication of fashion sense that I may have possessed was lost long ago to the needs for comfort and cost. So I found myself checking out what was “hot” and “trendy” and I found out those big bags and high heels are in. Yup! And really crappy looking outfits are still the rave. And ugly models still seem to be the fashions. Shite! Over half of the “models” would break hanging out with me.

My much better half was laughing at me. Not because I was completely clueless on fashion – which I happily admit I am – but she was laughing because I thought the large bag look was practical. Hell you could carry a three bedroom house in some of them. She did point out that one could wreck ones back carrying one of them. As for the high heels, I still believe any one capable of wearing six inch heels has potential in Vegas. VEGAS BABY!!!

Waiting rooms at 5:30 am are surprisingly busy. Man, there is money in surgery!

You get a parking pass for the first day of surgery — but after that you are on your own – and the rates at Stanford Medical Center are outrageous. But how does one tell your loved one that you have to cut short your visit short or be forced to get a bank loan?

My iPod Shuffle is my best friend right now. Loaded over 14 hours of music from my college days – U2, REM, Police and much more. I figure I will be tuning out a lot over the next few days.

My iTunes Library now has 492 songs, which equates to 1.3 days worth of music. That is by no means a lot for most people, but for me is amazing in that every song in there I have purchased previously either as a vinyl record, cassette, or cd. Some of the U2 songs I have purchased four times.

They have purple rubber gloves here. I am going to snag me a few sets!

My better half was rolled into surgery at 7:15 am. Three hour wait. Lack of “open” Wi-Fi perturbs me. Last time I was here, I was able to access it.

The waiting room is pretty full. About 14 separate groups waiting – either on love ones or their turn.

Interesting admitting system at this hospital, then again, this is my first time watching the flow. You are brought in two hours before the scheduled time. This meant that Cinna and I left Santa Cruz at 4:00 am to get here by 5:30 am. Made good time, showed up at 5:05 am. We walked into the center with the admitting staff. We were first in line!

Once signed in – you wait. Finally at 5:45 am, Cinna was taken back to “get ready” which means that she was given one of those surgical robes – you know, the ones with no “back” to them. Then she laid there and got prodded and poked by different medical people. All of them are very polite. The most frequent questions my better half received:

• Are you staying overnight?
• What is your birthday?
• Do you have any allergies?

The anesthesiologists was wearing pink clogs – sweet!

Reading the latest issue (March 29^th-April 4^th) of The Economist which contains a 14 page report on the future of American foreign policy. Interesting writing, but most of the predictions are well known and obvious. Their section on the future US / China relationship is interesting.

There is also a great little piece on Heathrow and the opening of the new Terminal 5. Looks like without a third runway being built, Heathrow will forever be impacted with delayed flights and mass mobs.

In other news, Kansas Jayhawks won the National Championship last night in over time. I was watching the game on the computer – love the live stream – able to work at my desk and look over for quick game moment. I bet Brett have a few bevies last night.

Back in a few – going to find grub and caffeine.

Back now – 8:50 am

Found breakfast – pretty decent egg and ham with cubed potatoes. Only $3.99! Though I did laugh when I looked for hot sauce and only found ketchup. Blaahhh! How can anyone eat without hot sauce?

Back now in the waiting room which is still very busy. I was wondering if anyone brings kids here, then I spotted one little one. He is too small to count as a “real” kid. Looking around, I see no house apes in sight.

I just “watched” a nurse chew out a patient for being late and not having a ride home. Poor old dude looks completely befuddled. Glad she is not yelling at me.

You know how it is when that type of situation happens. At first you are confused – why is someone yelling? – Then you are worried – hmm, can I help? – Then you pretend that you are not paying attention when in reality you are fascinated by human drama – Then you realize that it is not a good thing for the old dude — So then you go back to reading.

Now 9:15 am – this sucks – no internet access – I feel so lost and disconnected.

Now 9:33 am – bored – I realized once again that all of my work is internet based – access is key (though my cell phone is on, I am not paying attention to it) I have found an electrical outlet for my laptop. My two hour battery was about to die. I wonder where my eight hour battery is.

Approximately 12 groups in the room. I see four laptops out. Mostly people are talking or reading. And waiting.

The plan for today, as dictated to me by Cinna, was to wait until she gets out of survey then go sit with her in her room while she recovers. She is staying overnight and looks like the plan is home on Thursday, Friday at the latest.

Then she is home for six weeks. That’s going to put a crimp in my work effort.

A second rug rat spotted.

9:55 am - While writing up some emails, two actual house apes have appeared. Their mom is trying to keep them occupied by feeding them. They are boys, so you know destruction and mayhem is just around the corner.

Usually at this time I have sent out my second batch of emails and have checked twitter and done a read through on a few blogs and checked CNN.

10:30 am

Still no word

10:55 am

Just as I was starting to freak, Doctor Wang showed up to report all went well. She sat with me for about ten minutes and explained about the surgery including photos. All is well. Cinna should be out of recovery by 12:30.

Last thoughts - 8:00 pm

Cinna got to her room (finally) at 2:45 pm. Naturally she was drugged up which is always entertaining. I sat with her until 6:15 pm. Long Long Day.