Tomorrow is the day of my angiogram. (That's tomorrow, 19 September. Does anyone else find this whole "new day per entry" hogwash a little nettlesome?)

Doctors say there's a one-in-two-thousand chance of an "adverse medical event." That's a fancy way of saying "injured or dead." The doctor told me this, then said, "They've done over four thousand of these without a fatality."

At which point I crack wise, "So they're due, right?"

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I'm nervous. I know the odds are very slim of any adverse event, severe or otherwise. Still, I've set up my will, my living will and my medical power of attorney. That's not really what bothers me. I'm 99.95% sure I'll live through it.

What bothers me is what they'll find. What bothers me is what comes next. One of my coronary arteries is off-the-charts as far as plaque goes. Probably, they'll want to do this another time, it'll be a little more than a look-see.

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I know my life is going to change. I'm trying to exercise portion control as well as healthy eating. For now, I'm emphasizing healthy eating. Avoiding simple starches because they turn into sugar quickly. Eschewing fried foods, which I love. Declining red meat as much as I can. Snacking on apples, almonds, grapes.

I'm still eating too much, but I'm working on habits. Training my palate to like those foods, to turn away from BBQ, top sirloin, the such. I'm paying heed to portion control, at least until my willpower crumbles.

Soon, however, my mantra will be, "Hunger is your friend."

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What I'm worried about is being one of those "walking time bomb" type people that everyone else has to tiptoe around. "Don't upset your father, Kitten. We all know how he can't take the stress."

I'm worried that the doctor will say, "No more racquetball," now that I'm starting to regain my eye and reflexes. I know I'll never be as zippy as I was a decade-and-a-half ago, but I've a much better sense of where the ball is going and where I should be.

I'm not worried the doctor will say, "No more bicycling," though, that would seriously suck. The bicycle is almost part of my identity. I don't introduce myself as, "Hi, I'm taer, the bicycling kitty." But it's close. I bike to work daily (it's only a few mines, and mostly level) rain or shine. I draw the line at icestorms. Anyhow, that's my reputation. I try to lead beginner rides around town. It's a socialization excuse, it's freedom to roam, it's so much. I'm all-but-certain the doctor won't proscribe it.

I figure it's about a one-in-two-thousand chance.