Day at Pali Momi Hospital

I had been dreading this day for weeks. Another cardiology appointment, but at the Pali Momi Hospital in Pearl City. I wanted to get a good night's rest because I would be required to leave early in the morning on the bus. Unfortunately for me, I was not able to get any rest last night at Slob Manor (read: rental housing). Tom, the drunkard, returned from parts unknown at 9:30pm with severe lacerations on his face. He was inebriated on cheap booze. And, he had been driving his battered automobile. By the way, he has no insurance coverage on the vehicle either.

Rather than simply call an ambulance, Alan and the "chef" spent another 30 minutes arguing with an obstinant drunkard. Finally, Alan took him somewhere ... I don't know where, and I don't care. The fools, including the landlord, are all enablers of a drunkard with self-destructive tendencies. Their compassion is misdirected. And, their actions are being scrutinized as I make the final decision about whether to move out of the dump.

Typical Heatwave Hottie

Then, there's the heatwave. Nearly three months now. Sweltering heat day and night. The trade winds are scarce and only act to circulate the hot air like a convection oven. My squalid room is also a convection oven. The ceiling fan only serves to efficiently swirl the hot air around. The sweat forms easily on my skin and dries to a sticky residue. Sleep becomes impossible. Eventually the hot air induces a stuffy kind of claustrophobia. Even breathing becomes difficult.

Typical Sleepless Hottie

A sleepless night only left me even more famished in the morning. Unfortunately, I was given instructions that no food should be eaten prior to the cardiology appointment. I boarded the bus to town at 7am this morning, just as I had planned. Traffic was extremely congested. The bus arrived in town 30 minutes late. I barely had time to drop off my gym bag at the gym. Then, I barely made it back to the bus stop in time for the connecting route to Pearl City.

Typical Eventful Hottie

The final leg of the journey was uneventful. I alighted at the designated bus stop right across the street from the hospital. I was actually early for my 9:30am appointment. Sadly, I waited until 10:15am before I was admitted.

Immediately, an intravenous tube was inserted in my arm. A dose of radioactive tracer was then injected into my bloodstream. There was some kind of mix-up because I was told that I would be subject to a chemical stress test. The technicians, however, had written instructions to proctor a treadmill stress test. I had to wait twenty minutes for the toxic substance to circulate through my body. Then, baseline images were taken of my heart. The process took another 15 minutes.

The treadmill stress test was next. As soon as my target heart rate was achieved, I was given another infusion of the radioactive tracer. Subsequently, I was told to take an hour break. I could eat lunch during that time. Upon return at 12:15pm as instructed, I had to wait another 30 minutes before the imaging machine was free. By the time the final images were taken, it was 1pm. I knew that I had already missed the bus back to town.

Typical Sweltering Hottie

So, I walked down to Kamehameha Highway in the sweltering heat. I was able to board a bus back from there. My arrival in town was at 2pm. My workout at the gym only included the cardio component. I was completely fatigued. All in all, certainly not the best of days.

Slob Manor Mini-Update®
According to Alan, the "chef" called the landlord about the damaged cinder block wall about two hours after the incident occurred. The landlord and the police arrived sometime after I departed on my evening outing. Tom, the drunkard, finally confessed after much badgering. However, his version of the story was a fabrication. I decided to tell Alan what really happened. The landlord, I was told, gave Tom, the drunkard, a two-day notice to vacate the premises. The notice was scribbled on a piece of scratch paper. More idle threats from the landlord. "Tom is not going anywhere," I said. "We will all be long gone before he leaves."