"written by an Anglo-Saxon..."

...because of the SARS virus, Taiwan commuters must wear masks when riding the subway...cameras monitor quaranteened citizens...5/12/03: a 5.1 quake struck Tokyo...the clashing of hot, dry air with warm, wet Gulf moisture will result in a Dry Line...there is a chance of severe T'storms w/hail in E NM...

...coders are in great demand, but @UNM they are paid the lowest salary in terms of their job skills, as compared to other hospitals...5/12/03: a very empty AM Central bus...there is lots of snow in the northern MTNs...the Walker fire should be 100% contained by 5/14/03...by 5/17/03, it was completely extinguished, but had been deliberately set...the School House fire near Silver City has burned 5,000+ acres...by 6 PM on 5/12/03, there was 10% humidity & a temp of 84 degrees...a dental visit for Brad on 5/14/03...5/13/03: it was 62 degrees @4 AM, with 11% humidity...it was the first day I walked out minus a jacket...the sky wqas very cloudy in the AM...by the end of the day, the high reached 85 degrees...but it soared to 100 degrees in Carlsbad & Hobbs...

...the problems at work never stop...5/12/03: told to explain the changes on charge correction sheets per line...what it is, what it should be...no paragraphs or step by step instructions...indicate the number of subsequent critical care time per day (this is the first time I've heard about that!)...and I produced 2 examples in which Data Entry people were entering each CPT code separately!...we shall see...5/13/03: told that V20.2 is the primary Dx, and it should be linked to the correct CPT code (based on line number)...it never ends!...how is it that the Coder is always the person doing things wrong!...

...5/12-13/03: quiet in PICU & NICU...a baby was getting a "tan" under the purple light (for treating jaundice)...he was on his back, with his rump in the air...no tan lines for these children!...

...mock terrorism attacks are taking place in Seattle ("dirty bomb") & Chicago (bubonic plague) from 5/12-16/03...the results: communication problems leading to unnecessary deaths...5/12/03: in ABQ, a woman was pumping gas into her car at San Mateo & Osuna...a homeless person asked her for money...she refused, and he shot her...he was quickly caught by the police...all this happened in front of her son...in NM, a DWI means under the influence of either drugs or alcohol...

...on his flight to Omaha, President Bush ate a meal prepared at El Pinto in ABQ...he ordered Christmas chili w/ribs...

...per Dr. Cordova, there should be a second meeting for PEDS doctors...also, new interns arrive in June, so they will also need to be trained...now, if people could just trust or believe us...

...Brad cleaned out the balcony, preparing for a new leather sofa in the living room...he will begin searching for one after his visit to the dentist...how things change!...Brad had to cancel his dental appointment because his coverage ended on 4/30/03...but a call to NMAS reinstated him, effective 5/14/03...Brad's sofaquest landed him @American Home furniture store...he bought a walnut colored sofa, made of Italian leather...and he stayed within our price range...it will be delivered on 5/19/03; they will call prior to their arrival...5/17/03: they did call; and will arrive between 10 & 2 on 5/19/03...it will be interesting to learn how they get it up 3 flights of stairs, then up to our second level...we are moving some furniture to help the movers flip the couch over the stairs...the Celtics were eliminated from the NBA playoffs...

...5/14/03: Captain heaved alittle in the early AM, but felt better after the deed had been done...he ate a little tuna, then rested...he recuperated by lying under a scarf that was blowing in a wind caused by the living room fan...5/15/03: there will be a total lunar eclipse, which can be seen in areas S & W of ABQ...the next will occur in NOV, 2003...there was a car chase that lasted 50 miles...during that time the driver was in constant contact with his mother via cell phone...there is also a house in NW ABQ which has been severely damaged twice in 6 weeks by drunk drivers who were speeding...Cuban dignitaries were told to leave both NYC & DC...

...5/14/03: 64 degrees @4 am, with a chance of rain on 5/15/03...after that it gets hot again...lip balm can be used to soothe dry fingers...mine are constantly cracking & bleeding...the theme for tonight is Early to Bed; did not get enough sleep the night before...I did get a good rest, but I will do the same on 5/15/03...not so, I woke up several times for various reasons...at 5 AM, it was 65 degrees, and very cloudy...the sun appeared in the morning...by noon, the wind was blowing...I can see for miles & miles...not today!...in every direction, dust obscured the view...you could not see any of the mountains...there was a wind advisory for central NM...winds reached near 60 mph in parts of ABQ...in NE NM, there was a slight chance for tornados...there was also a chance of dry T'storms...rain was predicted in the Hopi & Navajo areas of AZ...branches fell in our complex, and many other parts of the city...a total lunar eclipse will take place @8 PM MST...the winds (& dust) should abate by 9 PM...there was an Air Quality Alert until midnight of 5/15/03...

...5/15/03: Matrix: Reloaded started today...Dr. Aceves first day went well...C's sister & criminal boyfriend went job hunting thanks to C's mother, who wanted to take them to fast food joints, hotels & grocery stores...but she battling a foot problem, so things are on hold...C's neice could stay with C's Ma-in-law, who also watches C's son, M...M has been very stubborn recently, saying "No" to C, and refusing to do things...M has spent many waking hours alone in his bedroom, as punishment...M may now have company his own age (she is about 1)...C's sister called from OK, crying and in a state of panic...she was in a church cellar due to the sightings of tornados...she wanted to come home then, but was forced to wait 2 days until weather conditions improved...at that point, it was a bus ride back to mama!...5/16/03: more twisters struck in eastern OK, near Springfield, MO & across the entire state of AR...

...in April, wholesale prices on the Produce Price Index dropped the largest amount on record, 1.9%...this was mostly due to falling costs for oil & gas...speaking of which, it is now $1.39/gal, as of 5/15/03...

...5/15/03: course on determining eligible amcillary services...people spoke, we listened, via a phone conference call...11-12:30...very hungry after...

...5/14/03: there was a cooking show that went to the MEWS in P'town in search of the perfect Cape Codder...what they got was the Ultimate Cape Codder, which was served in a martini glass, and cost $7.50!...OW!...

...there have been over 300 tornados during the first half of May, due to 3 storm systems that have followed each other, with no break in between them...it was the third time in one week for twisters to occur in OK; 10 were in the panhandle...others occurred in TX & KS...a tornado with an "S" tail was sighted...Bartlesville, OK airport reported 10 small planes destroyed...

...5/16/03: it was too good to last forever...Drs. Fahl & Annett left billing forms in our area...Dr. Annett placed them on the memo which states that we will not accept charges after 4 PM!...today we located & ate (buffet) @New Chinatown...so-so, nothing to rave about...the outside is very fancy, the inside is not...the hot & sour soup was not good!...even the ice tea was weak!...LAM's is much better...

...this week saw the passing of Robert Stack (84) & June Carter Cash (73)...

...5/16/03: it is now official...President Bush will run for re-election in 2004...passenger vans are most likely to be involved in a rollover...the Preakness takes place on 5/17/03 in Baltimore...it has been confirmed that the Pope has Parkinson's disease...the Pontiff celebrated his 83rd birthday on 5/18/03, and is planning more trips around the globe...Gerald Ford, 89, collapses on golf course due to heat...no serious problems; examined & released from hospital...in 2000, he did have a mild stroke...he is the only president to serve who was not elected to the position...

...early AM 5/17/03: Captain heaved because someone gave him cheese...I think he is lactose intolerant...Brad made a delicious pasta salad, guacamole, chicken liver mousse (minus the whipping cream) & cold squash soup...perfect for the warmer weather...temps are nearly reaching 90 degrees, may do so on 5/18/03...street racing continues on Montgomery & W Central...the city has a zero tolerance for this activity...a car could be booted or taken away, plus a fine...a man hid a gun inside his pants...when he quickly tried to take it out, the gun went off & shot a hole in his stomach...will the trial of the decade be that of Scott Peterson, possibly the next O.J.?...

...5/18/03: Ricky Martin released a new album on 5/20/03...he is going back to his roots...Funny Cide won the Preakness...Brad rearranged the upper area in preparation for the new couch...how come a series will be located in a fictitious small town, but have no problems going to places like NYC or Los Angeles?...on-line business broke even during 2002...there was an increase in sales over the Internet...Captain likes curry!...

...Red Rock fire near Patagonia, AZ in the Coronado National Forest...1300+ acres have burned...previous droughts in AZ & NM have been worse than the current situation...5/18/03: the temps may reach 90...there will be filtered sunshine, with winds 15-20 MPH, maybe a gust to 40 MPH...triple digit heat in SW NM...cooler, more seasonable weather returns by mid-week...tornados in AL, floods in AR, snow in MT...the coolest morning temp in NM was Gallup @49 degrees!...the A/C needs more freon...turned it on 5/17/03, not much change in the room temp...

...over $93 billion is spent on the care & treatment of obesity, mostly in the old & poor...pro-steroids can build muscles & increase testosterone levels, but they can damage many internal organs...UNM will have its first Hispaniac president, who will make roughly $270K/yr....a lawyer tried to ban the sale of Oreo in SF & the entire state of CA...his reason: the fat content in the cookies is bad for children & those with heart disease...needless to say, the idea crumbled...my right thumb & index finger are still cracked & bleeding in spite of coating them with ointment...1981: movie tickets cost $5.00; 2001, discount movie tickets cost $5.25...Nicole Kidman will star in a movie about Howard Hughes...

...5/18/03: watched Tea with Mussolini...the cloudy, breezy conditions made it feel less hot than the day before...GOV Richardson made a TV appearance on ABC this week...Germany & Japan are now troubled with inflation...the US has too large an inventory, causing deflation...it is good for exports, but not for imports (expect prices to rise for cars, TVs & VCRs')...the Matrix: Revisited made $93 million, the highest amount ever for an R-rated film...5/19/03: expect windy conditions overnight, with gusts up to 50 in the valley, and 70 mph near the mountains...Montgomery & Wyoming is the worst intersection in the state...

...C's grandfather, in his late-70s'-early 80s', has given up living...his wife is dead, and both legs have been amputated...his family thought he would pass away this past Friday...C left @2 on 5/16/03...but he survived and now his children take care of him during a fixed period of time during the day...they have to dress & feed him, and put him to bed...

...it has been one year since the Missionary Ridge fire...as of now, Silver City is the most prone for fire this year...high water levis are in style for women...I am tired...during the night of 5/18/03, I slept well at the beginning, but woke up & started thinking of what might happen at the 5/19/03 meeting...the verdict; nothing, for now...5/19/03: the Red Sox are in first place for the first time this year...but they play the Yankees, also trying for the title...