I want to have a long talk with whoever inserted the tube into my navel for this surgery. My stomach is bruised the size of two half dollar coins under my bellybutton. When I had my appendectomy there was nothing left over but my tiny scars. This thing hurts! >.<

The throat meds have appeared to kick in-- still not 100% but I think I will get some sleep tonight. I'm grateful I have a doctor's note for 2 days. Between the surgery and then immediately getting sick I really need some complete down time.

My dear friend, my team Science teacher, was at 7-11 this morning indulging in a sandwich and hot cocoa. This woman literally lives hand to mouth, because her ex-husband doesn't take care of his financial responsibilities. Due to this, she does a TON of after school coaching to earn some money for their 3 kids. So, I literally mean indulge-- she saved up $5 over the last 2 weeks because she knew today was going to be a long day and she'd want a little pick me up.

There's a long line, and the parent behind her says, "Aren't you my son's honors science teacher? Didn't you graduate from Random Name High school in the 80's?" Turns out, they went to the same school 20 years ago, kinda knew similar people, yada yada. The line progresses: her in a hand-me-down dress and slippers, him in a sharp 3-piece suit. Finally, it gets to her turn in line and he says from behind her, "Great talking with ya, bud. Thanks for taking care of my coffee!" and. he. leaves.Dodges out the door before she can say anything In his tricked out Mercedes. So, there is my friend freaking out because she doesn't have a spare quarter to her name right now.


I gave her my lunch.


Now, our Touching Base day is Wednesday. I'll be interested to see if he comes in, and what she says.


Seriously, wtf? Parents...

So, rumor is spreading at my school that Brian is out to due H1N1-- which is totally not the case. Between the emergency run (due to his back on Friday), the fact that he isn't contracted to come in on teacher workdays (and why give these jackasses free time?) AND thathe came down with a cold (and has had a low fever) he's just pretty damned worn out.


One of the librarians saw me today, and asked about H1N1, reminded me to wash my hands, etc. etc. etc. and asked how he liked sleeping on the couch. I looked at her quizzically, and told her *I* was sleeping on the couch,and she berated me.



Seriously? WTF? I would expect HIM to give ME the if I felt like crap, especially when one of my issues was back pain that sent me to the emergency room.


I don't get some of these women. Like, on our first day back my Science teacher saw me looking at job openings at every county in NoVa. She teased me that I was looking for other work, and I explained that I already had a firefox folder set up to show all the openings, so I could send stuff off to Brian. The Math teacher on my team gave me shit for it-- that he should look it up for himself! But he was under 1200 computers that morning, and I was sitting around, sipping starbucks... so why wouldn't I check for him? She just rolled her eyes.


You'd think, after how snarky I am to him (in public no less!) that these people would be happy I'm actually being nice to him.

 

 

Whatever.

So we meet again.


I had a nice girl make me a very pretty mocha. Mmmm.


Looks like Brian might be out of work for the remainder of the week; we're not supposed to come back until 24 hours AFTERthe fever subsides, and save one 98.7 while he was on meds, he's still exhausted and hovering around 101.


There as been lots of driving. Which, I guess, is a good thing.


But I still don't have to LIKE it :P



Thank you for the kind and supportive comments on Monday. It meant a LOT to me.

At this time, I am hunkered down in a Panera off Bus234, after dropping Brian off at his night class. He's still a little loopy off the back meds, and we (read: I, he grudgingly) decided that I could chauffeur him tonight.

Now, I have a bit of a thrill, as I sit with a bowl of soup, a ball of yarn, and this laptop and I am... completely on my own.

For most of you, this will sound pathetic and ridiculous-- but keep in mind, Brian and I have been together forever.  10 years ago, I was making eyes at him in German 2, wishing he would ask me to Homecoming so I could get out of having to take my deadbeat then-boyfriend. Since I was 15 years old, he has been there. I have no qualms with this-- we enjoy each other immensely-- but there has been little time in the last decade where I haven't been with him, or my immediate family, when out. Certainly in the last 3 years, as it has taken me nearly that long to regain sufficient confidence behind the wheel after my panic attack on my 22nd birthday. That alone has been a cross to bear that people from every facet in my life (Brian, my mom, Corey --via I395, and my co-workers) have patiently helped me work on.

This isn't like when I have to drive myself to work when Brian is sick-- that's a home away from home in itself. This is completely alien. I'm surrounded by strangers (and you know what  a fabulous people person I am...) and I feel remarkably empowered. Practically giddy. Dare I say, grown up.


Well, it's about damn time :P

1. Comment to this entry saying 'ICONS!' and I will pick SIX of your icons.
2. Make an entry in your own journal and talk about the icons I chose.
--First 5; first come, first serve!

The 6 chosen for me by windansea :



This was taken right after my sister and I decided to get bangs (following viewing Yes Man and loving Zoe's bangs and kickass navy blue coat with red piping.) It's one of my favorite pictures of myself since I've been married, and sometimes I just like to have a real picture of me (as opposed to Belldandy, etc.) I also like how I'm blocking most of the backyard, so it looks like there are trees and hills behind me, like there used to be before they build an elementary school.


The part of the picture you're missing here, is me squishing my upper body against the sign >.< This was at IKEA-- Brian and I live about 10 minutes from one-- and as soon as we saw this sign (being beautifully immature) we started laughing and yoinked out the camera. I originally made it an icon because I think some people were shocked by it-- I was very demure at the time-- and I liked getting the "Wow, that's so funny, hurk-a-durk-sex-joke" attention... which is kinda ironic and sad now, if you think about it. Still, it represents a hilarious day out with my boyfriend in college, and sometimes I miss those days!


This was for Mike (viper1969 ) after an AWESOME night out having sushi. Some of the D&D guys and I met up with Holly at this cool place off 28. Being the complete loser that I am, I can't work chopsticks to save my life (IslandGuy, on FO, even got me kiddie chopstick holder helpers as a wedding gift when he took us around Waikiki) Unfortunately, the place we went to didn't automatically offer silverwear, and I was embarassed as Hell to ask. To make matters worse, I drop the damn things after my first bite. I was too mortified to ask for another pair (I made Brian do it for me) and as the woman walked away Mike gives me this smug grin, "Oh clumsy gaijin." I knew this pic was at the end of the 1st season of AMG, so I ripped the image and used it. So, if it's not to creepy-- Mike, I see this and think of you making me laugh!


Anger Management. Aside from the fact I probably need it (being overly sensitive, a grudge holder, and constantly on the edge) I found myself to be remarkably clever with this one. Also, I wanted something that didn't look as whiny as Skuld complaining. This one is for Serious. Business. (Like, an entry that I block from my husband bitching about my MIL... not that I ever do that, dear...)


I'm quite proud of this one-- I made it myself! Brian showed me the cartoons one afternoon, and when the kid made this face it was EXACTLY how I felt after a long day at work. I found tutorials online (on how to make an animated gif in Photoshop) and whipped this up. Now only did it come out kinda cool, but Brian was rather impreassed that I navigated the technology. He is very big in the "I hate people who can't do for themselves" (I think work makes him bitter, after he shows the same woman, for three years, twice a week how to print a document from Word in the computer lab.) I was thrilled he was proud of me-- even over something little and silly like this.

Side note: I always meant to make an animated gif of Kurtz from NYCC 2009, the images are sitting somewhere. I have to do that, it was pretty damn funny when we passed around the camera in the hotel room afterwards...


This was made for my Twitter account-- everyone had trendy, bright images, and thefirst picture in this set didn't translate well into a smaller image. I love the Face Your Manga character creator-- as well as the German South Park one-- I think it has something to do with creating an ideal self-- if only I always had perfect skin and looked like my glass was half full. But, I guess that takes us back to anger management...


bored yet? :P

...but there are several of you who have been particularly supportive, so here we go:

Wonderful doctor in Culpeper; Melissa Delgado. I think she is going to be my saving grace, because I cried like a baby after the exam, and talking with her, and as she left the room for me to get dressed again she said, "Don't worry, it isn't in your head."

FINALLY, relief. Maybe now I can be a good wife...

Gave me some topical stuff for the initial intercourse pain (Brian will be thrilled as I have to evaluate the pain level over the next 2 weeks, gigidy) if it doesn't work we go to-- I kid you not-- vajayjay valium. Hopefully it won't come to that. Her discovery of my pain areas, in under 5 minutes and literally hitting the spots that put me in agony (though essentially jabbing with a q-tip was a little weird... effective, but weird) was amazing. I can't believe I've been to other doctors who refused to even LOOK, let alone poke around. Seems like common sense to me!

We moved on to more serious issues-- my constant UTIs, and severe cycle pain. The UTIs I've always written off to stress, and not being able to use the restroom whenever I need to, because I havekids for 5 hours straight. Apparently, it might be more serious, so she's going to do a cystoscopy (which is apparently part of her speciality) to take a look around.  As far as the severe pain, the weird change in my cycle in the last 10 months, and the bleeding after trying to have fun... I showed her the pictures from the appendectomy (of my insides!) and she saw a LOT more evidence of endrometriosis than the other one did-- very faint shadows-- and she said my history, paired with the last year, and other evidence, it would be best to have a laparoscopy now, rather than later. If I couldn't get off work to do that soon (like, if I had to wait until next summer vacation) I'd be better off on the pill. I gave her my back story on the pill and she changed her mind (totally listened to me). As it was, I don't want to wait (why would I?) So both procedures will happen on November 24th. I'm nervous, scared, and excited. She said that patients who do the laparoscopy and the topical cream have very.. healthy lives within 6 weeks. So, I could be ringing in the new year in serious style...

It was just a relief to be listened to, and not talked at. I feel really confident using this woman, and think it will go well. I have a goal to get in (better) shape in the next 5 weeks-- since it's always better to be in better shape anyway, let alone when going in for survery-- but I am so tired after last night (up til 2:30 helping my mom with some legal paperwork) every time I stand up I feel lightheaded. I figure I'll pop out the Wii Fit and a DVD tomorrow before the guys come over for games.

Whew. Back to (attempting to) crochet a scarf for Brian, and close up shop for the night.

When I was 16 (October 2000) my maternal grandparents moved out from Arizona to Quantico. They brought all their dogs with them, and after getting settled in their new digs were surprised to discover the two males-- Leo and Clifford-- fought over "ownership" of my Opi. My Omi favored Leo, and decided she would get rid of Clifford. My mother told her that was crazy-- he's a rare type of heeler, and she had been offered $2500 by her Arizona vet, but turned him down. No one was sure how old he was-- he was found half starved and nearly dead on the side of a desert highway. By the time he came to VA he was between 3 and 5 years old. My mom said she would bring Clifford to our place for a little while the dogs got their bearings (and Leo got the taste of a chunk of Cliff's ear out of his palate). I really liked Clifford, and wanted to keep him, but my dad said no.

My dad had an annoying habit when it came to the many rescued dogs that my Omi collected-- he renamed them. Before I was born he evidently renamed one of her dogs "Fred" and she hated it-- but got so used to hearing the dog called that, by the time dad and mom left everyone was calling the dog Fred.  My dad renamed Clifford "Chester". We knew once he was renamed (and we caught dad feeding him townhouse crackers during a football game on TV) he was here to stay.

After my dad died, my sister and I were talking about the last father/daughter date we had: going to see the Disney movie "The Kid" with Bruce Willis... and we watched again on some sentimental Saturday night... and learned that the little boy wished he could have "the best dog in the world" which he would name Chester. It was a special connection.

Chest eventually (as all things seem to in our home) lost his svelte form and became a chubbster. He was our warthog-- he snorted, farted, and made a pig of himself. Several years ago he developed a lump on the side of his neck-- a bulbous mass. We took him to the vet, and were assured it wasn't cancer, and as long as it didn't appear to impede his breathing, he could live with a "fat sack". A few years back, he developed a large black wart on his nose. Because we weren't sure of his age (and he was over weight) he wasn't a candidate to be put under for a removal surgery. Again, not "pretty" but not harmful.

We got Tasha as a buddy for Chester-- even took him to the adoption site so he could meet her before we made a bid to bring her home. There, he was fine. Once she was home, he hated her. It's only been since my mom's other dogs (Heidi and Patches) passed away that he has begun to tolerate her. Even now, he'll put up with Charlie long before he'll look at Tasha.

Within the last week, he has begun to eat less, have labored breathing, he will refuse to go down the steps to go outside, drinks an insane amout of water, and (to put it gently) leak gallons all over the floor in his sleep. We saw this when Heidi started to go down hill, when Patches started to go down hill.. we invested thousands of dollars into them to keep them alive, and as comfortable as possible, only to have to face that it was to no avail and put them down a few painful weeks later.

Mom and I spoke last night and have made the difficult choice to take him to be put down tonight.

 

I feel like I've sentenced the last part of our old life to death. He is the last dog my dad knew, and I want to do right by him. If I'm honest with myself I know his decline is going to be rapid if we make him hold out any more-- we saw it with the ol' girls over the last three years. He is the last of the three musketeers, the original trio, and while I feel detached now, I imagine I will be a wreck around 6:30.

He's been a very, very good boy:

November, 2001. Chester winks some approval after my "Romeo and Juliet" finale (I was the Nurse)
His skinnier days... and mine, I guess =\
 

I think the ladies with the hourglass shapes are rockin' the cat walk:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1214799/London-Fashion-Week-stylist-resigns-designers-decision-use-size-14-models-show.html


Good for him, and to hell with the jackasses that quit over it.

Why is the "awesome face" called AHAD?

http://totallylookslike.com/upcoming/?pid=7875

"What is something you've always wanted to say to me?"

Comments are screened, of course.

Go ahead. Let me have it.

Fucking Christ, the woman who replaced my best friend in the English department is an over-the-top-MUST-recommend-it Twilight fan.



Sighs

Where the fuck was this "chantix" 10 years ago?

http://twitter.com/sternengel





shut up.

Anyone caught Staneth's FO avatar as of late? I didn't think he was serious last night!  Seth, I think you will REALLY appreciate it.

One of my students from last year sent me a message letting me know there's a Carbon Leaf concert at WolfTrap, and she remembered that I liked them alot (since I used lyrics during poetry warm-ups).


How darling was that? Made my day.

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic


I'm digging this dude; I've watched Captain N, We're Back!, Ferngully, and Pagemaster so far.

"Yes, small child?"
"I don't get the Air Hercules thing... it's an allusion, right? Or a joke, but we don;t get it."
"Do any of you know who Michael Jordan is?"
ONE 10 year old: "I do! He was in Space Jam!"
"...oh lord... Uh huh, he was also a biiiiig basketball player, with his own line of shoes called Air Jordans. They were very popular."
"Ohhhh, so it's just and old thing, from when Hercules came out?"
"Sure, go with that. I need some Excederin."


I showed my CTY kids Hercules this year, to go with The Hero's Journey, and it was also on TV today. I caught it at the scene where the cyclops smashes Herc into his own billboard and was reminded of the above conversation. My students were 9 and 10, and I have never had a class that made me feel so archaic before :)