Thursday, September 09, 2004

Life Sucks - Part 6

Michel went to the doctor last week and the result was that he doesn't want her going back to work until October. She is still in a lot of pain. And the worker's comp people are giving Michel a hard time because they claim that Michel should be able to do other, lighter work. If they think it's a good idea for a nurse to load up on pain killers and then do charts or discharge planning then they aren't very bright. Michel is supposed to start school next week. She is studying to be a Nurse Practicioner. We still aren't sure if she is going to be able to do the work with this injury.

Anyway, just to add to the fun, we found out that Mikey needs a load of dental work. And by "load" I mean several thousand dollars worth. He will have to be put under anesthesia for the dentist to do the work and that is always a bit scary.

And so it goes.

1 comment:

Helen said...

I guess you could use a streak of good news for a change. All the best.

An aside:
Regarding the review on How to lie with Maps
I've always wondered why this method isn't used more: William the Conqueror in 1086 wanted to find out more about the land he conquered 20 years earlier and compare that year with 1066, the year of the Norman invasion, and also figure out how to accurately tax the citizens. The Domesday Book is a record of a general census of England made by him. His agents took the evidence of local men in each hundred within a county. Descriptions of each piece of land, its present and former holders, the holding itself, and the population on it were among the facts recorded. I think the survey took about a year, covering all major towns except the biggest London and Winchester.

Here's an example of a recording of a holding in Witham in the Latin. :) We might have more material goods to record but fewer serfs and villens. This was an early precursor to tax men and VAT. It was revolutionary in medieval history.

http://www.gyford.com/domesday/images/kingb.gif

Expansion of the first line
1. IIII & XXIIII animalia & CXXXVI porcos & CI oves Totum modo similiter

Translation
1. 4 [--s], & 24 beasts, & 136 pigs, & 101 sheep. The total now the same.
2. In this manor there belonged in the time of King Edward, 34 free men, who then rendered 10
3. shillings of customary payment and 11 pence. Out of these, holds Ilbodo 2, of 45 acres, and they are worth (Ilbodo holds 2)
4. 6 shillings, and render to the manor their customary payment. Tedric Pointel [holds] 8,
5. of half a hide & 22 acres and a half, rendering customary payment, and they are worth 20 shillings.