Broken

Well, my dad fell.  And like many other people his age (late 80s) he managed to break a bone, specifically his femur.  The ball at the top of the femur snapped off, and they had to replace it.  That was 10 days ago.  He spent 7 days in the hospital, and then was moved to rehab.
Apparently the PTs don't work weekends, so after 2 days at this place he started rehab yesterday.  It's a Medicare for-profit facility...short-staffed, but except for cold eggs at breakfast he says the food has been good.  The pain medication he was on at the hospital and the first day or 2 here was not agreeing with him - apparently he is like me - synthetic opiates make us crazy.  So he's off those, and his brain is now functioning.
I, however, am a wreck.  The apartment he and mom have lived in for 25 years is 2 stories, and full of stuff.  I don't see how he can manage here.  So, I am trying to figure out how to tell him (or lead him to the conclusion) that they need to move.  Dad's a stubborn man, and he will not like the idea of moving to an "assisted living" place.  Hopefully the idea of someone else doing the house cleaning and cooking will help the idea along - I wish I had someone to do those things for me.
So I have 2 weeks - that is how long the PT said it would probably take to get him going again.
Keep your fingers crossed.....

Colonies

This is fascinating, and seems so ordinary at the same rime:  we're screwing up our bacterial balance with soap and cosmetics.

From the NYT

While most microbiome studies have focused on the health implications of what’s found deep in the gut, companies like AOBiome are interested in how we can manipulate the hidden universe of organisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) teeming throughout our glands, hair follicles and epidermis. They see long-term medical possibilities in the idea of adding skin bacteria instead of vanquishing them with antibacterials — the potential to change how we diagnose and treat serious skin ailments. 

It's a short read. Hopefully the research will lead to treatments for excema, diabetic wounds that won't heal, and a host of other skin problems.