My half a year in Taipei back in 2002 was such a whirlwind, surreal time that those of us who became friends here call it "The Vortex". I haven't been back in five years, and a tumor the size of a banana that doctors found in my mom's abdomen has called me back. I am living in a hospital as we await her Wednesday surgery. Everyone's in good spirits, it's likely not malignant.
Living in the hospital is not so bad. I have my own couch to sleep on and a private shower. This would be a hotel if the rooms were nicer and I didn't share elevators with people connected to IVs. In the basement is a food court, complete with all the comforts of home - Burger King, 7-11 and Starbucks (ridiculously expensive on all parts of the globe).
The hospital is just north of Taipei, nestled in the mountains. I made the mistake of trying to run up a steep slope as part of a morning job. My lack of cardiovascular training was clear when the old ladies with canes passed me by.
I'll try to post some pictures soon, but the wireless connection in the hospital is pretty cranky. h
By the DMAs
1.New York
Protz
2.Los Angeles (but traveling)
Jayna
3.Chicago
Jason
5.Dallas-Fort Worth
Dan
Jimmie
Seymour
Wongton
6.San Francisco
Hasser
7.Boston
Channing
Jonathan
Josh
10.Houston
Lil' Lost Robot
Matty
12.Phoenix
Erica
14.Seattle-Tacoma
Thomas
34.Cincinnati
Jay
36.Greenville-Spartanburg
Brad
Cinlach
Grayson
Michelle
Sappy Chick
47.Jacksonville
Garvin
49.Austin
Political Junkie
73.Toledo
Maureen
79.Columbia, SC
Doug
Will's Ladies
137.Columbia-Jefferson City
Wohleber
141.Beaumont-Port Arthur
Mark Hancock
150.Anchorage
Matthew
Foreign Bureaus
Jason (Hong Kong)
1.New York
Protz
2.Los Angeles (but traveling)
Jayna
3.Chicago
Jason
5.Dallas-Fort Worth
Dan
Jimmie
Seymour
Wongton
6.San Francisco
Hasser
7.Boston
Channing
Jonathan
Josh
10.Houston
Lil' Lost Robot
Matty
12.Phoenix
Erica
14.Seattle-Tacoma
Thomas
34.Cincinnati
Jay
36.Greenville-Spartanburg
Brad
Cinlach
Grayson
Michelle
Sappy Chick
47.Jacksonville
Garvin
49.Austin
Political Junkie
73.Toledo
Maureen
79.Columbia, SC
Doug
Will's Ladies
137.Columbia-Jefferson City
Wohleber
141.Beaumont-Port Arthur
Mark Hancock
150.Anchorage
Matthew
Foreign Bureaus
Jason (Hong Kong)
November 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
