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Going Home
Apr. 29th, 2010 11:56 amIt's time. My dad has about 24-48 hours left, so Kellie and I are flying to St. Louis today (at the gate as I write this).
There is nothing worse than going home under these circumstances - having to call into work, cancel appointments for various things (including my MRI), and buy tickets for flights that depart 3 hours after the news. Still, I'm hoping for a chance to say good-bye and I love you one last time.
Now I'm hoping to Gordon Gano that I'll get a seat on a full flight. :-/
I'll write more when I get the chance. Love to you all!
There is nothing worse than going home under these circumstances - having to call into work, cancel appointments for various things (including my MRI), and buy tickets for flights that depart 3 hours after the news. Still, I'm hoping for a chance to say good-bye and I love you one last time.
Now I'm hoping to Gordon Gano that I'll get a seat on a full flight. :-/
I'll write more when I get the chance. Love to you all!
Seizure Follow-Up
Apr. 27th, 2010 10:32 pmSo, as you may have read last week, I had a seizure in the middle of the Starbucks next to my office. Took my own shirt off and everything!
Anyways, I went back to the Starbucks on Wednesday (4/21) to find out what happened. It turns out that I did indeed take off my own shirt - no one did it for me. Also, I appeared to be drunk when it started - according to Kellie, that is how I appear when I have a complex partial seizure. Typically I just have that seizure and that's that. This time, I went from that complex partial into a secondary generalized seizure (aka tonic-clonic or "the seizure depicted everywhere").
At work, there were some conflicting stories on what happened: some people thought I'd fallen down the stairs, others knew that it happened next door. When my manager asked me about it, to find out if a work comp claim was needed, I told her what happened. She's asked me to put something together for the office, to explain seizure first aid since a lot of people probably have no idea what to do or what to look for! Since I'm not particularly fond of public speaking, even with people I've known for years, this should be interesting to say the least.
I went to my neurologist, and he has increased the dosing on one of my medications (oh joy). As for the colloid cyst, I'm getting an MRI on Friday to get a double-check to make sure that it's indeed nothing to worry about.
(For listening/reading this, I am giving you Eric Szmanda (CSI) and his puppy dog to make it all worthwhile. Or something.
Anyways, I went back to the Starbucks on Wednesday (4/21) to find out what happened. It turns out that I did indeed take off my own shirt - no one did it for me. Also, I appeared to be drunk when it started - according to Kellie, that is how I appear when I have a complex partial seizure. Typically I just have that seizure and that's that. This time, I went from that complex partial into a secondary generalized seizure (aka tonic-clonic or "the seizure depicted everywhere").
At work, there were some conflicting stories on what happened: some people thought I'd fallen down the stairs, others knew that it happened next door. When my manager asked me about it, to find out if a work comp claim was needed, I told her what happened. She's asked me to put something together for the office, to explain seizure first aid since a lot of people probably have no idea what to do or what to look for! Since I'm not particularly fond of public speaking, even with people I've known for years, this should be interesting to say the least.
I went to my neurologist, and he has increased the dosing on one of my medications (oh joy). As for the colloid cyst, I'm getting an MRI on Friday to get a double-check to make sure that it's indeed nothing to worry about.
(For listening/reading this, I am giving you Eric Szmanda (CSI) and his puppy dog to make it all worthwhile. Or something.
Yep, FOX will show "The Family Guy"; ABC shows "Desperate Housewives" and both will show plenty of Victoria's Secret ads with skinny women prancing around to techno-dancy music. But, the hot second an ad dares to show a fat chick ... and one that (Shock! Horror!) is planning on getting laid, no less ... that ad can't be shown AT ALL. Oh, the hypocrisy.
The model is gorgeous, all curves and confidence. And oh yeah, the lingerie is quite pretty as well.
The model is gorgeous, all curves and confidence. And oh yeah, the lingerie is quite pretty as well.
I thought I'd write something to kind of get people up to date on who and what I am - especially since I've gotten some new friends lately! (And since this was written in 2007 ... maybe it's time to update this!)
( Here I Am, Baby... )
( Here I Am, Baby... )
Your Friendly Neighborhood...
Apr. 20th, 2010 03:55 pmStarbucks Spontaneous Burlesque Star! (Oh my Gord - if only it were that easy and had a more fun back-story!)
Here's the story behind it: yesterday afternoon, I went to the Starbucks next to my office for a frappucino - no big deal, right? Except while I was waiting for my drink, I apparently decided to have a shake of my own. Yep, I had a grand mal seizure in the middle of the store. I felt it coming on - well, at least the partial aspect of it, so I didn't think much of it. I just assumed that it would be minor, and come and go pretty quickly.
That is, until I woke up on the floor with my shirt off, a major headache and people standing over me. A fellow customer offered his jacket to cover me, since I was shirtless and cold. An ambulance came for me and I was off to the ER at UCSF, strapped to a backboard with a neck brace. Unfortunately, I don't remember too much of it - the seizure or the first hour in the ER - which is common for me post-seizure.
My boss contacted Kellie to let her know that I had a seizure, and I was going to the hospital. The EMT in the back with me called Kellie to let her know what hospital I was going to, and also got to use an iPhone (mine) for the first time.
The ER visit entailed a lot of lying down with the neck brace on, and occasionally being able to sit up in the bed. Also X-rays that didn't show anything - which resulted in a CT scan for an additional check for neck/spinal damage. They found something in my brain (I mean, besides finding that I have a brain!), so they had to do the CT scan again, with a contrast dye this time. If you've never had a CT scan done - especially not with the contrast dye, the dye makes you feel warm all over ... then causes you to experience a chlorine-y smell.
Anyways the contrast dye gave a better image of my brain, and revealed that I have a benign colloid cyst on/in my brain. The ER doctor suggested that this could be a possible explanation as to why the numerous seizure meds haven't been working very well for me, and that I go to my neurologist for a follow-up visit.
Several hours after arriving, I left the ER able to walk out (thankfully). Today, I'm at home, bruised, sore and achy as hell - my hope is that I'll be going to work tomorrow. In the meantime, that's my story about how I became a one-time burlesque star at my neighborhood Starbucks. Most likely I'll never live it down, so I may as well have a sense of humor about it!
Here's the story behind it: yesterday afternoon, I went to the Starbucks next to my office for a frappucino - no big deal, right? Except while I was waiting for my drink, I apparently decided to have a shake of my own. Yep, I had a grand mal seizure in the middle of the store. I felt it coming on - well, at least the partial aspect of it, so I didn't think much of it. I just assumed that it would be minor, and come and go pretty quickly.
That is, until I woke up on the floor with my shirt off, a major headache and people standing over me. A fellow customer offered his jacket to cover me, since I was shirtless and cold. An ambulance came for me and I was off to the ER at UCSF, strapped to a backboard with a neck brace. Unfortunately, I don't remember too much of it - the seizure or the first hour in the ER - which is common for me post-seizure.
My boss contacted Kellie to let her know that I had a seizure, and I was going to the hospital. The EMT in the back with me called Kellie to let her know what hospital I was going to, and also got to use an iPhone (mine) for the first time.
The ER visit entailed a lot of lying down with the neck brace on, and occasionally being able to sit up in the bed. Also X-rays that didn't show anything - which resulted in a CT scan for an additional check for neck/spinal damage. They found something in my brain (I mean, besides finding that I have a brain!), so they had to do the CT scan again, with a contrast dye this time. If you've never had a CT scan done - especially not with the contrast dye, the dye makes you feel warm all over ... then causes you to experience a chlorine-y smell.
Anyways the contrast dye gave a better image of my brain, and revealed that I have a benign colloid cyst on/in my brain. The ER doctor suggested that this could be a possible explanation as to why the numerous seizure meds haven't been working very well for me, and that I go to my neurologist for a follow-up visit.
Several hours after arriving, I left the ER able to walk out (thankfully). Today, I'm at home, bruised, sore and achy as hell - my hope is that I'll be going to work tomorrow. In the meantime, that's my story about how I became a one-time burlesque star at my neighborhood Starbucks. Most likely I'll never live it down, so I may as well have a sense of humor about it!
Random Questions
Mar. 21st, 2010 10:42 pmA few years ago, I was occasionally posting questions from The Book of Questions - Love & Sex in my Sex Magic filter.
Well, it's been a couple of years since I've posted in that filter ... seriously slacking on that one! Anyways, I wanted to post a couple of questions from the book - nothing sexual (sorry!), but questions about love and relationships.
( If? Where? Why? What? How much have you got? )
If you want to see the 'sexier' stuff and you're not a part of the sex filter - let me know, and I can add you. :-)
Well, it's been a couple of years since I've posted in that filter ... seriously slacking on that one! Anyways, I wanted to post a couple of questions from the book - nothing sexual (sorry!), but questions about love and relationships.
( If? Where? Why? What? How much have you got? )
If you want to see the 'sexier' stuff and you're not a part of the sex filter - let me know, and I can add you. :-)
Good news for once!
Mar. 16th, 2010 10:51 pmOkay, so most of the family stuff is going on - no avoiding that. Still, I do have some good family news. :-)
My brother and sister in law's adoption of Drew is finalized (as of today), so he is "legal", as Dan put it. And, next month, Kellie and I get to meet the little dude!
Which leads into the other good news: Next month, Drew is being blessed (for non-Mormons, this is like the Mormon equivalent of a christening), so we're going up to Oregon for that. When I talked to mom about it yesterday, she told me that she wouldn't be able to go - due to finances. I told Kellie that, and she and I set about to conspiring over how to make it happen, since we didn't want her to miss such a big event. We started with offering to share a hotel room and car while she is in Oregon, so that would be one (or so) less expense to worry about.
Today, my mom e-mailed me to let me know that she and Rylee would be coming out for the blessing! Her brother and sister-in-law gave her some money to help pay for the airplane fare - they want her to be out there as much as we do. :-) So, their plan is to fly into San Francisco, drive up to Oregon with Kellie and me, and come back to SF with us - spend a couple of days hanging out in the city and taking Rylee to our respective offices to be shown off to everyone.
I'm thrilled that this is happening, since I know that if she couldn't have gone she'd probably regret it. So it'll be a good time - she'll visit San Francisco, go to Oregon to see her grandson (and Rylee gets to meet her cousin) and we get to see the family again.
And I'll include some new pics of the little ones - Rylee is finally starting to grow hair, and Drew's quite the little pugilist.
( Photos of the munchkins )
And I leave you with this - on the bus this morning, there was a little boy (about 4 y/o) looking out the window and pointing up at the California State seal: "Look! There's a pirate!"
My brother and sister in law's adoption of Drew is finalized (as of today), so he is "legal", as Dan put it. And, next month, Kellie and I get to meet the little dude!
Which leads into the other good news: Next month, Drew is being blessed (for non-Mormons, this is like the Mormon equivalent of a christening), so we're going up to Oregon for that. When I talked to mom about it yesterday, she told me that she wouldn't be able to go - due to finances. I told Kellie that, and she and I set about to conspiring over how to make it happen, since we didn't want her to miss such a big event. We started with offering to share a hotel room and car while she is in Oregon, so that would be one (or so) less expense to worry about.
Today, my mom e-mailed me to let me know that she and Rylee would be coming out for the blessing! Her brother and sister-in-law gave her some money to help pay for the airplane fare - they want her to be out there as much as we do. :-) So, their plan is to fly into San Francisco, drive up to Oregon with Kellie and me, and come back to SF with us - spend a couple of days hanging out in the city and taking Rylee to our respective offices to be shown off to everyone.
I'm thrilled that this is happening, since I know that if she couldn't have gone she'd probably regret it. So it'll be a good time - she'll visit San Francisco, go to Oregon to see her grandson (and Rylee gets to meet her cousin) and we get to see the family again.
And I'll include some new pics of the little ones - Rylee is finally starting to grow hair, and Drew's quite the little pugilist.
( Photos of the munchkins )
And I leave you with this - on the bus this morning, there was a little boy (about 4 y/o) looking out the window and pointing up at the California State seal: "Look! There's a pirate!"
Dear world - you suck!
Mar. 14th, 2010 07:45 pmYep, nothing like some bad family news to make the weekend end on such a great note.
( family blues )
I'm just hoping that my family angst will get better, that things will have a more positive turn and resolution.
( family blues )
I'm just hoping that my family angst will get better, that things will have a more positive turn and resolution.
Vertigo - not just a Hitchcock film!
Mar. 5th, 2010 07:31 pmStarting this past Wednesday (the 3d), I started an increase in the dosage for one of my seizure medicines. Lucky me, I started getting side effects from said dosage increase - I'm dizzy ... like a bobbing and weaving gait, and dizziness even when I'm sitting down! And to make it even more fun, I also have twitching in my hands.
Called the doctor about it, and found out that I'm dealing with side effects from the dosage increase. So, the dosage is going back down to its old amount. And I'll be talking to the doctor again on Monday, about getting another of the medications increased.
As I told Kellie - on the show "Good Eats", when Alton Brown provides a disclaimer on a recipe (e.g.: egg nog with raw eggs), he brings out his "attorneys", Itchy and Twitchy - I'm feeling like Twitchy, with Dizzy (their paralegal) for good measure.
Called the doctor about it, and found out that I'm dealing with side effects from the dosage increase. So, the dosage is going back down to its old amount. And I'll be talking to the doctor again on Monday, about getting another of the medications increased.
As I told Kellie - on the show "Good Eats", when Alton Brown provides a disclaimer on a recipe (e.g.: egg nog with raw eggs), he brings out his "attorneys", Itchy and Twitchy - I'm feeling like Twitchy, with Dizzy (their paralegal) for good measure.
As Kellie has mentioned to me, apparently I can be unintentionally funny post-seizures (this was originally written by her... but I've changed some pronouns around):
She asked me if I wanted to take my clothes off (sometimes when I nap post-seizure, I just leave my clothes on). I said yes, because I might want to go to work later. When she asked again (because taking my clothes off to go to work doesn't make sense) I said that if I went to work later I'd want to have my clothes off.
Apparently I've said some other crazy and sometimes funny things - but these were the most recent!
She asked me if I wanted to take my clothes off (sometimes when I nap post-seizure, I just leave my clothes on). I said yes, because I might want to go to work later. When she asked again (because taking my clothes off to go to work doesn't make sense) I said that if I went to work later I'd want to have my clothes off.
Apparently I've said some other crazy and sometimes funny things - but these were the most recent!
Happy Hump Day ... or something like it
Mar. 3rd, 2010 10:56 pmToday was a much better day than Monday. No, really.
I talked to the neurologist on Monday, and one of my existing meds has been increased. I'll be going to the doctor next week, to let him know how the increase is working out - if for some reason, it doesn't work, I'll be on a new medication. Oh, the joys of drug experimentation!
Nonsense with one of my clients seems to be on its way to wrapping up entirely. When my boss, who is normally a very Zen, cool-headed person, calls a client "an idiot" and "a loser" - it's serious! I was referring to the client under far worse terms. But then, I'm not so cool and easygoing ... heh.
Another good thing was getting my iPhone replaced. I know, it's not a good thing - but since the battery was running down from 100% to 50% or less after one day(!) and having been owned for only 8 months, apparently that's not normal. So I went to get the phone checked out - everything was as it should be, and since the phone was under warranty, I got it replaced at no charge. :-)
So, how about you all? Hopefully your week is going well so far!
I talked to the neurologist on Monday, and one of my existing meds has been increased. I'll be going to the doctor next week, to let him know how the increase is working out - if for some reason, it doesn't work, I'll be on a new medication. Oh, the joys of drug experimentation!
Nonsense with one of my clients seems to be on its way to wrapping up entirely. When my boss, who is normally a very Zen, cool-headed person, calls a client "an idiot" and "a loser" - it's serious! I was referring to the client under far worse terms. But then, I'm not so cool and easygoing ... heh.
Another good thing was getting my iPhone replaced. I know, it's not a good thing - but since the battery was running down from 100% to 50% or less after one day(!) and having been owned for only 8 months, apparently that's not normal. So I went to get the phone checked out - everything was as it should be, and since the phone was under warranty, I got it replaced at no charge. :-)
So, how about you all? Hopefully your week is going well so far!
Dear Brain...
Mar. 1st, 2010 03:20 pmYou really fucking suck - you know that?
One seizure, I understand - that happens. A second seizure in the same day? What is that about, eh?
I've been a good girl, taking my meds, getting my sleep ... so what's up brain?!
It sucks having to take a sick day, but I'm glad that I took a full day.
One seizure, I understand - that happens. A second seizure in the same day? What is that about, eh?
I've been a good girl, taking my meds, getting my sleep ... so what's up brain?!
It sucks having to take a sick day, but I'm glad that I took a full day.
in California. Never mind that we're in a deficit, that the San Francisco transit system (MUNI) is wanting to raise fares and cut service - again, two months after having already done this.
Nope, apparently making the first week of March a statewide "Cuss-Free Week" is more important. Really. CA Lawmakers - Cut the foul language, please
The high school student that came up with the whole idea of a "No Cussing Club" kind of amuses me with his logic - he sees a link between foul-mouthed incivility and other forms of problem behavior, such as drug use and bullying.
Well, alrighty then... I'm still going to spend the week swearing. Just like the one year in college when I gave up Lent for Punk!
Nope, apparently making the first week of March a statewide "Cuss-Free Week" is more important. Really. CA Lawmakers - Cut the foul language, please
The high school student that came up with the whole idea of a "No Cussing Club" kind of amuses me with his logic - he sees a link between foul-mouthed incivility and other forms of problem behavior, such as drug use and bullying.
Well, alrighty then... I'm still going to spend the week swearing. Just like the one year in college when I gave up Lent for Punk!
The Non-Sequitur Entry
Feb. 19th, 2010 04:57 pmJust a bunch of rambling at the end of the week (well, the work week at least)!
Ugandan Anti-Gay Pastor - Possible Closet Case? I don't know if you all saw this, but an anti-gay pastor in Uganda decided to show gay porn in his church. Why? Because he wanted his parishoners to be educated on gay sex, and apparently he does this on a regular basis. The kicker? He downloaded the videos from the Internet. How come I have a feeling that he really, really enjoyed the research that went into picking the videos to be shown during his services.
My precious. Managed to snag the last pair in my size, no less! I am a very happy girl for that, since I love Doc Martens and I've lusted after their boots (in general) for ages, and have had several pairs of their shoes and sandals over the past 10 years.
And the other day, Kellie and I made Coffee Heath Bar ice cream, using the Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream and Dessert Book. It turned out pretty good, albeit a little on the soft side. Still, lots of recipes in the book and I'm sure that we'll try many more of them at some point!
Finally, Universal Studios' film Wolfman apparently ripped off Twilight: New Moon. To quote the Twihard fangirl who wrote the letter - "...it was a COMPLETE remaking of the Wolf Pack from the Twilight Saga: New Moon. It gives the werewolves a bad name and makes them look like some deformed mutation of a rabid dog." Yeah, shocked the bejesus out of me, too. And here I was, believing that werewolves and lycanthropy existed before Stephanie Meyers' books. Looks like I was being lied to all this time. ;-)
Ugandan Anti-Gay Pastor - Possible Closet Case? I don't know if you all saw this, but an anti-gay pastor in Uganda decided to show gay porn in his church. Why? Because he wanted his parishoners to be educated on gay sex, and apparently he does this on a regular basis. The kicker? He downloaded the videos from the Internet. How come I have a feeling that he really, really enjoyed the research that went into picking the videos to be shown during his services.
My precious. Managed to snag the last pair in my size, no less! I am a very happy girl for that, since I love Doc Martens and I've lusted after their boots (in general) for ages, and have had several pairs of their shoes and sandals over the past 10 years.
And the other day, Kellie and I made Coffee Heath Bar ice cream, using the Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream and Dessert Book. It turned out pretty good, albeit a little on the soft side. Still, lots of recipes in the book and I'm sure that we'll try many more of them at some point!
Finally, Universal Studios' film Wolfman apparently ripped off Twilight: New Moon. To quote the Twihard fangirl who wrote the letter - "...it was a COMPLETE remaking of the Wolf Pack from the Twilight Saga: New Moon. It gives the werewolves a bad name and makes them look like some deformed mutation of a rabid dog." Yeah, shocked the bejesus out of me, too. And here I was, believing that werewolves and lycanthropy existed before Stephanie Meyers' books. Looks like I was being lied to all this time. ;-)
Music Meme
Feb. 17th, 2010 06:33 pmfrom ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
heyginger: Comment and I'll give you a letter. Then, you post a list of 10 songs beginning with that letter to your journal.
I was given the letter "P", so here is my list, with some extras:
1) "Possession" - Sarah McLachlan
2) "Purple Rain" - Prince
3) "Pleasure Ryland" - Cobra Starship
4) "Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads
5) "Promises, Promises" - Naked Eyes
6) "Powder Blue" - Barenaked Ladies
7) "Papa Don't Preach" - Madonna
8) "Power of Love" - Huey Lewis and the News
9) "Paint It, Black" - Rolling Stones
10) "Peek-A-Boo" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
A couple of extras:
"(Oh) Pretty Woman" - Roy Orbison
"Plush" - Stone Temple Pilots
Any takers?
heyginger: Comment and I'll give you a letter. Then, you post a list of 10 songs beginning with that letter to your journal.I was given the letter "P", so here is my list, with some extras:
1) "Possession" - Sarah McLachlan
2) "Purple Rain" - Prince
3) "Pleasure Ryland" - Cobra Starship
4) "Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads
5) "Promises, Promises" - Naked Eyes
6) "Powder Blue" - Barenaked Ladies
7) "Papa Don't Preach" - Madonna
8) "Power of Love" - Huey Lewis and the News
9) "Paint It, Black" - Rolling Stones
10) "Peek-A-Boo" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
A couple of extras:
"(Oh) Pretty Woman" - Roy Orbison
"Plush" - Stone Temple Pilots
Any takers?
Darling Nicky
Feb. 9th, 2010 08:56 pmNow, this is a paper doll that I can get behind: The Nick Stokes Paper Doll
This blurb just makes it even better:
"There are hours of fun to be had with your new, shiny Nick Stokes digital Paper Doll.
Go to your bedroom, right now, and push your chair up against the door so Mom and Dad can't bug you.
Go ahead...just look at him for a while. It's okay. He actually likes it.
Drag the clothes and dress him up in different outfits. Or just keep looking at him. Naked and stuff."
I just want to know where I can find a Greg Sanders Paper Doll! ;-)
This blurb just makes it even better:
"There are hours of fun to be had with your new, shiny Nick Stokes digital Paper Doll.
Go to your bedroom, right now, and push your chair up against the door so Mom and Dad can't bug you.
Go ahead...just look at him for a while. It's okay. He actually likes it.
Drag the clothes and dress him up in different outfits. Or just keep looking at him. Naked and stuff."
I just want to know where I can find a Greg Sanders Paper Doll! ;-)
