Grayson has been at St. Vincent's (now Peyton Manning's Children's Hospital at St. Vincent) for about two weeks now. He's been prodded and poked, scanned inside and out and had tubes and cameras shoved though every orafice. We've traveled down the roads of fear, panic, relief, hope, dashed hopes and frustration. But something has finally come back that all doctors involved agree is probably a big part of the problem.
A stomach biopsy came back showing elevated levels of some long complicated science-y word that point towards allergic reations occuring in is GI tract. So they are switching his formula (going directly into his intenstine via nasal tube) to a hypo-allergenic variety. They will check again in a few days to see if that makes a positive change.
He will likely still have to do a few weeks of therapy to help overcome his eating issues. He's spent so long associating eating with discomfort that he'll need help getting past that into some normal feeding behaviors. But they have a program that will come to our house for that.
He is looking very good -- up to 9lbs. 5oz., good color and wide, alert eyes, occasional smiles. There is a chance we could take him home this week (still on feeding tube, but still - home) until they are ready to recheck or while the results are out.
In other health news - I am sick as a dog. Sore throat. Phlegmy cough. Runny, congested sinuses, and as of last night, so nasty red-eye swelling and mucus secretion. So sadly I can't feel comfortable interacting too much witch Grayson, dispite my face mask and constant handwashing. Still it's nice to see him.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
Rug pulled out
We're going to be pretty incommunicado for a while. Grayson started vomiting Saturday night so we rushed him to the emergency room. Being a holiday weekend, we didn't get to touch base with our family practitiioner until Tuesday, by which point we had both been vomiting and didn't want to go back to the hospital and expose the other kids in pediatrics. Since we'd been planning on a trip to Indianapolis for a more detailed workup, Grayson was transferred down to Saint Vincent Children's hospital Tuesday night. We followed Wednesday. We know that he has bad gastroesophogeal reflux, so basically it hurts him to eat. Today he's getting an MRI and a bone scan. He had a CT done yesterday. His poor little feet and hands are bruised from blood draws and he's being fed through a nasogastric tube. Unfortunately, he's vomiting up some of the high calorie formula if it isn't diluted with pedialyte. The neonatalogist/pediatric geneticist doesn't think that whatever the problem is is fatal, but we don't have a name for it yet.
Still, after almost four days without one, Grayson smiled for us before we had to come back home yesterday and he smiled twice for my mom, who's there until we can get back tomorrow.
Still, after almost four days without one, Grayson smiled for us before we had to come back home yesterday and he smiled twice for my mom, who's there until we can get back tomorrow.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Sweet Relief
We haven't posted about this, because it's been very frustrating, but we'd been living with The Incredible Shrinking Baby and then The Incredibly slow growing baby for the past couple of months. Finally, though Grayson's weight is in the positive column! All babies lose weight at first, but Grayson went from his pleasantly plump birth weight of 9 pounds 2 ounces down to 7 pounds 12 ounces. Then, as he grew in length, his weight would go up a bit and then go down a bit. I've been nursing and pumping and supplementing and trying soy supplement (resulting in two days of bad constipation). We've also been trying to keep him as calm as possible, realizing that every screaming fit burns precious calories. Finally, last week he hit a peak of 8 pounds 12 ounces. He also started smiling more and being a bit less fussy. Today, after a week of both parents and a grandma encouraging eating Grayson weighed in at 9 pounds 3 ounces. So, for the first time ever, Grayson's up above his birth weight! He also rolled over for the first time this week, but that single ounce has really made all of us happy. Once he reaches 10 pounds, we'll even let him go road trips again.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Grayson's big photo shoot
Grayson was going to get some super-fancy photo-stylin' done this weekend -- but one of Daddy's co-workers went on vacation and took the super-fancy company camera. In the meantime, we can throw up a couple inferior quality photos by special request.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
We think that he's gorgeous!
Here are some more Grayson pictures. He's starting to gain some weight back, but he's still a tall and skinny boy. He has recently learned that he does not have to sleep at night. We would like to convince him otherwise, but he really is the one in charge here.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
One week later
Sorry that it took so long to update. This week has been a blur.
It really was labor and I skipped over the contractions every 15 minutes and the part where you go to the hospital when your contractions are every 3 to 4 minutes apart for at least an hour. When we left for the hospital at about 2:00am the contractions were 2 minutes apart and lasting 45 to 50 seconds (so I got about a minute breather in between). Unfortunately, when the resident checked me I was 20% effaced, but not dilated at all. So, we hung out in the triage room on the fetal monitor for a couple of hours and I walked around a little and breathed through my contractions since the pain was only about a 2 to 3 out of 10. It did get up to a 4 by the time the resident checked me again at 5:30am, but breathing was working well.
Still no progress as far as dilation went at 5:30am. The resident called Dr. Byrne and she said that we could either go home or wait until she came in about 7:30 or 8:00am. We live very close to the hospital, but at that point it was easier to just stay. Thankfully, they moved us out of the triage room into a labor room with a better bed and a chair that pulled out so that we could try to sleep. My last day at work had been Saturday morning, so by this point I'd been up for about 22 hours and Tony wasn't far behind me since he'd installed the floor in the kitchen that day. I don't feel like I slept, but I must have for at leat half an hour. The contractions got up to a 4 to 5 on the pain scale. I could still breathe through them, if I knelt down on the bed with my head on my hands or I stood and leaned forward onto the bed. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Brzkowski (I'm certain I spelled it wrong) actually came in before Dr. Byrne, just to touch base on anesthetic techniques in case a c-section would be needed.
Dr. Byrne came in and checked me about 8:30am. 2 centimeters dilation (not a whole lot, but progress) and 80% effacement. We discussed options and risks, given the baby's size, and decided to wait and check me again in a few hours. If I was progressing, great. If not, then we would skip cervical softening and pitocin and just move to c-section. I was allowed to move around the room, an IV of lactated ringers was started and I was officially admitted to the hospital. The next few hours were actually OK. Breathing did the job. The contractions did get stronger, but sitting on a birthing ball helped a lot. The rocking chair and sitting/laying in bed did not. Walking was good, too. We listened to cds and played Blockus and waited for our parents to arrive. I didn't want to risk slowing anything down with an epidural. The monitors looked good except for three instances when the baby's heart rate dropped along with or right after a contraction. The nurse, Chris, told us they were also monitoring and not to worry just yet. At 12:30 Dr. Byrne came back. There had been no progress. We opted for the c-section rather than risking further distress or a shoulder dystocia with pitocin.
Grayson Christopher was delivered at 1:52pm on Father's Day, June 17. The cord was wrapped twice around his neck and he had meconium, but he was still able to let out some good yells and his APGAR scores were 7 and 9. Tony cut the cord and even peeked over the sheet once during surgery. Dr. Brzkowski used a spinal block with bupivicaine, fentanyl and morphine and it worked beautifully.
It really was labor and I skipped over the contractions every 15 minutes and the part where you go to the hospital when your contractions are every 3 to 4 minutes apart for at least an hour. When we left for the hospital at about 2:00am the contractions were 2 minutes apart and lasting 45 to 50 seconds (so I got about a minute breather in between). Unfortunately, when the resident checked me I was 20% effaced, but not dilated at all. So, we hung out in the triage room on the fetal monitor for a couple of hours and I walked around a little and breathed through my contractions since the pain was only about a 2 to 3 out of 10. It did get up to a 4 by the time the resident checked me again at 5:30am, but breathing was working well.
Still no progress as far as dilation went at 5:30am. The resident called Dr. Byrne and she said that we could either go home or wait until she came in about 7:30 or 8:00am. We live very close to the hospital, but at that point it was easier to just stay. Thankfully, they moved us out of the triage room into a labor room with a better bed and a chair that pulled out so that we could try to sleep. My last day at work had been Saturday morning, so by this point I'd been up for about 22 hours and Tony wasn't far behind me since he'd installed the floor in the kitchen that day. I don't feel like I slept, but I must have for at leat half an hour. The contractions got up to a 4 to 5 on the pain scale. I could still breathe through them, if I knelt down on the bed with my head on my hands or I stood and leaned forward onto the bed. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Brzkowski (I'm certain I spelled it wrong) actually came in before Dr. Byrne, just to touch base on anesthetic techniques in case a c-section would be needed.
Dr. Byrne came in and checked me about 8:30am. 2 centimeters dilation (not a whole lot, but progress) and 80% effacement. We discussed options and risks, given the baby's size, and decided to wait and check me again in a few hours. If I was progressing, great. If not, then we would skip cervical softening and pitocin and just move to c-section. I was allowed to move around the room, an IV of lactated ringers was started and I was officially admitted to the hospital. The next few hours were actually OK. Breathing did the job. The contractions did get stronger, but sitting on a birthing ball helped a lot. The rocking chair and sitting/laying in bed did not. Walking was good, too. We listened to cds and played Blockus and waited for our parents to arrive. I didn't want to risk slowing anything down with an epidural. The monitors looked good except for three instances when the baby's heart rate dropped along with or right after a contraction. The nurse, Chris, told us they were also monitoring and not to worry just yet. At 12:30 Dr. Byrne came back. There had been no progress. We opted for the c-section rather than risking further distress or a shoulder dystocia with pitocin.
Grayson Christopher was delivered at 1:52pm on Father's Day, June 17. The cord was wrapped twice around his neck and he had meconium, but he was still able to let out some good yells and his APGAR scores were 7 and 9. Tony cut the cord and even peeked over the sheet once during surgery. Dr. Brzkowski used a spinal block with bupivicaine, fentanyl and morphine and it worked beautifully.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Having a Baby
This may be a false alarm, but I certainly can't sleep through the action going on in my belly every minute or two. Not excruciating yet, but probably time to go soon.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
How Big Am I?
We've not been good about posting pictures on this blog, but I think that perhaps today's adventure will illustrate well.
This is not a safe or responsible activity and I promise not to repeat it.
On the way home from the mall today, I set my Orange Julius cup on my belly while at a stoplight. It sat there quite nicely with no support from my hands. It remained there, quite stable, while I drove for a little bit and then pulled to a complete stop at a stop sign. At this point, adulthood reasserted itself and the drink went back into the cupholder. Please don't try this at home (but isn't it just a little bit cool that my belly is actually a functional table?).
This is not a safe or responsible activity and I promise not to repeat it.
On the way home from the mall today, I set my Orange Julius cup on my belly while at a stoplight. It sat there quite nicely with no support from my hands. It remained there, quite stable, while I drove for a little bit and then pulled to a complete stop at a stop sign. At this point, adulthood reasserted itself and the drink went back into the cupholder. Please don't try this at home (but isn't it just a little bit cool that my belly is actually a functional table?).
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Nine months isn't enough
Sorry to have been a bit neglectful, things are moving fast around here!
The Illinois shower was wonderful! We enjoyed relaxing with Mom and Dad and spending time with family and friends that we don't get to see very often. With all the onsies that were made, little Pois will be well turned out for the summer! It was a good last road trip. We had a really nice shower through my office last weekend. The food was great, Pois got more wonderful gifts and the weather almost cooperated such that we could swim.
The kitchen is kicking into high gear, too. The insulation is installed, the drywall is mudded (though I won't bore anyone with grumbles about the unreliable drywaller) and Tony and Sandi are hoping to get everything ready to paint this weekend. I'm trying to hide from the dust at the other end of the house.
Pois is doing great. Quite literally. At the the ultrasound with the maternal-fetal health specialist yesterday the weight estimate was 9 pounds 5 ounces. She says that there is about a 10-15% margin of error which puts the baby between 8.5 and 10.25 pounds. So, we probably won't be waiting another two weeks for the due date. I'm meeting with Dr. Cavallo, the obstetrician, on Wednesday and we're going to figure out the plan, then. There's not much concern for the baby, but there is some concern for getting the baby out of me. He's had some concerns from the beginning based on the bone structure of my pelvic canal. My guess is that we'll have a ceasarian scheduled for late next week or early the following one. Tony and I are both working on giving up the image of labor, just in case. It's actually hard to do. I had looked forward to going through the process and learning what my process would be. Tony would be a great coach. There's still a chance, but whatever is going to be the safest for Pois will be the best. I just have to wait until Wednesday to find out.
The Illinois shower was wonderful! We enjoyed relaxing with Mom and Dad and spending time with family and friends that we don't get to see very often. With all the onsies that were made, little Pois will be well turned out for the summer! It was a good last road trip. We had a really nice shower through my office last weekend. The food was great, Pois got more wonderful gifts and the weather almost cooperated such that we could swim.
The kitchen is kicking into high gear, too. The insulation is installed, the drywall is mudded (though I won't bore anyone with grumbles about the unreliable drywaller) and Tony and Sandi are hoping to get everything ready to paint this weekend. I'm trying to hide from the dust at the other end of the house.
Pois is doing great. Quite literally. At the the ultrasound with the maternal-fetal health specialist yesterday the weight estimate was 9 pounds 5 ounces. She says that there is about a 10-15% margin of error which puts the baby between 8.5 and 10.25 pounds. So, we probably won't be waiting another two weeks for the due date. I'm meeting with Dr. Cavallo, the obstetrician, on Wednesday and we're going to figure out the plan, then. There's not much concern for the baby, but there is some concern for getting the baby out of me. He's had some concerns from the beginning based on the bone structure of my pelvic canal. My guess is that we'll have a ceasarian scheduled for late next week or early the following one. Tony and I are both working on giving up the image of labor, just in case. It's actually hard to do. I had looked forward to going through the process and learning what my process would be. Tony would be a great coach. There's still a chance, but whatever is going to be the safest for Pois will be the best. I just have to wait until Wednesday to find out.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Exciting stuff
Here's what's new from the past 2 weeks:
Baby Shower #1 - This was a lot of fun. I figured out on the trip to Michigan and back that stopping about every 45 minutes on a trip keeps me mobile. Sandi and Valerie did a great job getting everything set up. It was great watching Tony and Robb get competitive with the guess the baby food game (my all time favorite baby shower game EVER, I might just even play it at home with Tony some time). And I was the most off in guessing my belly diameter, about twice what it actually was. We got lots of really nice baby gifts and got to catch up with lots of people.
Big baby - My doctor felt that Pois was measuring a bit big, so he ordered an ultrasound just to check on the baby's size. I was expecting to hear that the baby weighed about 5 pounds. I was a little surprised to find that Pois was at the 81st percentile at 6 pounds (the size where things should be next week). So, either we're looking at about 9 pounds or we're actually 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I understand why my pelvis has been sore lately.
Childbirth classes - We started childbirth classes last week. I love the birthing ball! Even with big Pois, we're going to try the natural approach and if I find that I need an epidural or a caesarian that's OK.
Baby furniture is here! - It's a good thing that we just ordered the crib and dresser, because there's just the right amount of space for those and the glider that Sandi got us. It's such great furniture, though, and the crib should be able to follow the pois to junior age since it converts to a toddler bed and then a twin bed. We just have to figure out how to raise the springs.
Pregant lady fall down - Apparently every pregnant woman has to take a tumble sometime. Mine was a bit unusual because I fell up the stairs rather than down. I was going into work the day after the ultrasound. Some of the staff were having a meeting on the back steps so I courteously decided not to yell, "Everybody move!". I pinpointed a step that I thought I could handle, lifted up may leg, and tipped forward. I reevaluated the step, thought, "How odd, I should be able to take that step," and tried again. Second attempt ended with me falling on my knee and shoulder and everyone fluttering around because I skinned my knee. I did call the doctor, but since I didn't hit my belly and was feeling fine I didn't have to go home.
A force of destruction - My mom and dad brought the Ikea cabinets this weekend. Dad has told us all along that he wants to be part of the tear down. I was thinking that he was just supportive. I was wrong. The man is a true force of destruction. He so enjoyed tearing down the cabinets with Tony. If Mom and Dad had been able to stay a little later all of the cabinets would be out.
On tomorrow's agenda is the nonstress test and another measurement. This weekend is the Illinois shower (our last road trip before I have to stay close to home). Tony is getting the electrician scheduled for next week as the kitchen moves forward.
Baby Shower #1 - This was a lot of fun. I figured out on the trip to Michigan and back that stopping about every 45 minutes on a trip keeps me mobile. Sandi and Valerie did a great job getting everything set up. It was great watching Tony and Robb get competitive with the guess the baby food game (my all time favorite baby shower game EVER, I might just even play it at home with Tony some time). And I was the most off in guessing my belly diameter, about twice what it actually was. We got lots of really nice baby gifts and got to catch up with lots of people.
Big baby - My doctor felt that Pois was measuring a bit big, so he ordered an ultrasound just to check on the baby's size. I was expecting to hear that the baby weighed about 5 pounds. I was a little surprised to find that Pois was at the 81st percentile at 6 pounds (the size where things should be next week). So, either we're looking at about 9 pounds or we're actually 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I understand why my pelvis has been sore lately.
Childbirth classes - We started childbirth classes last week. I love the birthing ball! Even with big Pois, we're going to try the natural approach and if I find that I need an epidural or a caesarian that's OK.
Baby furniture is here! - It's a good thing that we just ordered the crib and dresser, because there's just the right amount of space for those and the glider that Sandi got us. It's such great furniture, though, and the crib should be able to follow the pois to junior age since it converts to a toddler bed and then a twin bed. We just have to figure out how to raise the springs.
Pregant lady fall down - Apparently every pregnant woman has to take a tumble sometime. Mine was a bit unusual because I fell up the stairs rather than down. I was going into work the day after the ultrasound. Some of the staff were having a meeting on the back steps so I courteously decided not to yell, "Everybody move!". I pinpointed a step that I thought I could handle, lifted up may leg, and tipped forward. I reevaluated the step, thought, "How odd, I should be able to take that step," and tried again. Second attempt ended with me falling on my knee and shoulder and everyone fluttering around because I skinned my knee. I did call the doctor, but since I didn't hit my belly and was feeling fine I didn't have to go home.
A force of destruction - My mom and dad brought the Ikea cabinets this weekend. Dad has told us all along that he wants to be part of the tear down. I was thinking that he was just supportive. I was wrong. The man is a true force of destruction. He so enjoyed tearing down the cabinets with Tony. If Mom and Dad had been able to stay a little later all of the cabinets would be out.
On tomorrow's agenda is the nonstress test and another measurement. This weekend is the Illinois shower (our last road trip before I have to stay close to home). Tony is getting the electrician scheduled for next week as the kitchen moves forward.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
There are many many things continuing to go on around here now that we are in the midst of the month of madness. After a significant setback Tony now has the baby's room just about painted ( a few touch-ups are needed). It's amazing how much work had to go into painting one wall! Crib and dresser/changing table should be arriving any day now. If you were to ask either one of us if we are ready, the answer would probably be a resounding NO, but we're ready to be ready, I think.
Mom is doing great! She had her staples out yesterday and received kudos from the nurse for taking good care of her incision. The only cancer found by the pathologist was on an area less than an inch in size on a single fibroid. She figures that the cancer was just a fluke. I think that she had an incredible medical team and applaud their persistance.
Iffy the goat had 3 kids last week. This is her first litter of triplets and they are all boys. Dad was a bit disappointed at first, Iffy is now 1:8 in her female to male ratio, but he says that they are all really cute. It also gave him a reason to come up with names that do not start with X. Apparently there is a goat tradition that all of the kids born in a given year have names that start with a certain letter. They skip Q, but not X.
I went to the doctor yesterday and he feels that the pois is growing a bit ahead of schedule, so I'm going in for another ultrasound this morning to make certain that we don't need to move up my due date by too much. I'm still hoping to not know what gender the baby is, but given that Pois should weigh close to 4 pounds now, that might be impossible. Then again, there's still tons of activity so there may not be any sitting still at all. On Tuesday, Pois learned how to drum on my bladder. Tony thinks that this may be mimicry of typing sounds.
Amanda, our sister-in-law, will be having her baby any day now. She had false labor yesterday, but it sounds like McKenna is raring to go. Seth and Amanda's older daughter, Morgynn, is really excited and looking forward to her little sister. I imagine that Amanda is just ready to be done.
Finally, we have all the fixings for a new kitchen from IKEA sitting at my parents' house. We just have to figure out how to get it here. Tony's hoping to get everything set before Pois comes, but we'll just have wait and see. It would be great to have a dishwasher once the baby is here. Speaking of which, there are dishes just waiting to be washed right now.
Mom is doing great! She had her staples out yesterday and received kudos from the nurse for taking good care of her incision. The only cancer found by the pathologist was on an area less than an inch in size on a single fibroid. She figures that the cancer was just a fluke. I think that she had an incredible medical team and applaud their persistance.
Iffy the goat had 3 kids last week. This is her first litter of triplets and they are all boys. Dad was a bit disappointed at first, Iffy is now 1:8 in her female to male ratio, but he says that they are all really cute. It also gave him a reason to come up with names that do not start with X. Apparently there is a goat tradition that all of the kids born in a given year have names that start with a certain letter. They skip Q, but not X.
I went to the doctor yesterday and he feels that the pois is growing a bit ahead of schedule, so I'm going in for another ultrasound this morning to make certain that we don't need to move up my due date by too much. I'm still hoping to not know what gender the baby is, but given that Pois should weigh close to 4 pounds now, that might be impossible. Then again, there's still tons of activity so there may not be any sitting still at all. On Tuesday, Pois learned how to drum on my bladder. Tony thinks that this may be mimicry of typing sounds.
Amanda, our sister-in-law, will be having her baby any day now. She had false labor yesterday, but it sounds like McKenna is raring to go. Seth and Amanda's older daughter, Morgynn, is really excited and looking forward to her little sister. I imagine that Amanda is just ready to be done.
Finally, we have all the fixings for a new kitchen from IKEA sitting at my parents' house. We just have to figure out how to get it here. Tony's hoping to get everything set before Pois comes, but we'll just have wait and see. It would be great to have a dishwasher once the baby is here. Speaking of which, there are dishes just waiting to be washed right now.
Friday, April 20, 2007
The Fastest Knife in Chicago
I love my Mom. She was diagnosed with very low grade uterine cancer about 3 weeks ago. Today she had her hysterectomy. Yesterday she went to the spa and had a massage, pedicure and manicure (something that she recommends to everyone). The procedure went very well. Instead of two to two and a half hours it only took an hour and a half. Everything looks great so far! She was still a bit groggy from anesthesia when my brother and my father told how well the procedure went. Her response was, "Well, he is the fastest knife in Chicago." So, here's to the fastest knife in Chicago and here's to Mom for her spirit! I can't wait to see her tomorrow.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Beyond Baby, Sort Of
Believe it or not, there are things going on in our lives other than waiting for the baby (they just aren't quite as all-encompassing). Tony's working hard trying to get the kitchen redone before our new family member arrives in June. So far he's gotten estimates from electricians and plumbers. Now he just has to figure out when he can start tearing everything down so things can be rebuilt. I received a visiting scholar appointment from Notre Dame for the next year. In theory, I don't have to much different than the volunteering that I've already been doing, but sounding official makes me want to do something official. So, I'm starting work on a literature review. Hopefully, I'll be able to work on this from home once Pois is here. Am I being overly ambitious, probably, but at least I'm not planning on extracting DNA with a baby strapped to my chest. I know that I have some limitations.
This weekend begins the 6 weeks of intense business around here. Mom is having surgery tomorrow and we'll be going to Illinois to spend some time with her while she's recovering in the hospital. I work the weekend following. The next weekend is the Michigan baby shower courtesy of Valerie and Tony's Mom. I work the weekend following. The weekend after that if the Illinois shower. Fortunately, Mom has some good helpers for this as she will probably still be doing a little recuperating. I work the weekend following. The next weekend we have our hospital tour on Saturday and work shower on Sunday. The weekend after that we may not even leave the house, so if you want to see us, you have to come to us. the weekend following I work (ending my last week at work before maternity leave). The weekend following that is June 23 and my due date. At some point in the mix the crib and dresser will be arriving so we can finish up the baby room and birthing classes start on Wednesday May 9. Really, we do have a life beyond baby anticipation. Please believe me. How sad is it that maternity leave is starting to look like a vacation? I know it won't be. I'll tired and stinky and covered in bodily fluids, but they'll be baby bodily fluids and even if I'm up at 1:00am and 4:00am, I know that I'll be able to be at home at 1:00pm and\
4:00pm. Still awake, but home.
This weekend begins the 6 weeks of intense business around here. Mom is having surgery tomorrow and we'll be going to Illinois to spend some time with her while she's recovering in the hospital. I work the weekend following. The next weekend is the Michigan baby shower courtesy of Valerie and Tony's Mom. I work the weekend following. The weekend after that if the Illinois shower. Fortunately, Mom has some good helpers for this as she will probably still be doing a little recuperating. I work the weekend following. The next weekend we have our hospital tour on Saturday and work shower on Sunday. The weekend after that we may not even leave the house, so if you want to see us, you have to come to us. the weekend following I work (ending my last week at work before maternity leave). The weekend following that is June 23 and my due date. At some point in the mix the crib and dresser will be arriving so we can finish up the baby room and birthing classes start on Wednesday May 9. Really, we do have a life beyond baby anticipation. Please believe me. How sad is it that maternity leave is starting to look like a vacation? I know it won't be. I'll tired and stinky and covered in bodily fluids, but they'll be baby bodily fluids and even if I'm up at 1:00am and 4:00am, I know that I'll be able to be at home at 1:00pm and\
4:00pm. Still awake, but home.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Daddy Tony
In the past couple of weeks Tony has been able to feel our little pea moving around and kicking. It's really exciting to share the movements I've been aware of for the past 2/2 and 1/2 months. What I find even more exciting is that the baby seems to enjoy kicking for Tony. On Sunday night we were watching TV and Tony had his hand on my belly. The baby kicked right beneath it. Tony moved his hand to the other side and Petit Pois punched right there. There was one more move and one more kick right on target. Last night Tony started to read to us and within the first few words there was a little kick. I know that the baby's sense of hearing is well developed now (29+ weeks), so the response to Tony's voice makes sense. I'm not certain what to make of the touching. Perhaps pressure? Temperature? I suppose it could be light, but the room wasn't very birght to begin with so I don't know how much light would get through to the baby anyway.
Apparently the past few nightd Tony and Pois have been playing a bit after I've fallen asleep. Tony mentioned that the baby is very active around midnight, but he's been worried about playing the counting game* because he doesn't want to wake me up. Last night I stayed awake a little longer so we could play, but I figure if dancing Pois won't wake me up then a few gentle belly pokes will be fine. Maybe we'll stay up with the lights on Friday night and see if there's any visibile motion yet.
*Tony found the counting game in The Expectant Father. He leans down near my belly, says "One" and gently pokes my belly once. Then he waits a few seconds for a kick, says, "Two" and pokes my belly twice. So far thre hasn't been much action in response, but last night we got a little flutter of kicking after "One".
Apparently the past few nightd Tony and Pois have been playing a bit after I've fallen asleep. Tony mentioned that the baby is very active around midnight, but he's been worried about playing the counting game* because he doesn't want to wake me up. Last night I stayed awake a little longer so we could play, but I figure if dancing Pois won't wake me up then a few gentle belly pokes will be fine. Maybe we'll stay up with the lights on Friday night and see if there's any visibile motion yet.
*Tony found the counting game in The Expectant Father. He leans down near my belly, says "One" and gently pokes my belly once. Then he waits a few seconds for a kick, says, "Two" and pokes my belly twice. So far thre hasn't been much action in response, but last night we got a little flutter of kicking after "One".
Friday, April 06, 2007
Rolly Poly Doctor
I have almost outgrown my lab coats. Jen adapted the song from Tommy Boy (it was Tommy Boy, right?) at one point last year and I'm doing a lot of singing "Fat girl in a little coat," when I'm at work. Getting up and down from the floor with the big dogs is also becoming quite tricky. Thank the powers that be for exam room tables so that I haul myself off of the floor. That said, I have to admit that I'm getting a bit tired of the intact male caution dog over 100 pound emergencies that seem to be coming my way at least once a week. I'm pregnant. I can't bend. I can't move fast. I am as a rule our practice's biggest income generator (pretty good for having not performed surgery since September) and am valuable at least financially. Perhaps it might be best to refer the 5:45pm 130 pound intact male rottweiler that hasn't seen a vet (or a rabies vaccine) for 4 years and will bite the owner to the emergency clinic that opens in 15 minutes for his hip that luxated 2 days ago. That one was actually a hypothetical combination of several of these emergencies. Of course, once they walk in the door I don't have the ovarios (given that I'm pregnant I can't pretend to be ballsy) to say no because I feel bad about denying them some help. I'd like to establish some kind of a baseline rule, but given that I am the only doctor Thursday and Friday afternoons I'd feel bad. Fortunately, I've only gotten bitten once and that dog didn't break the skin. I have embraced sedation much more enthusiastically, though and was very pleased that this week's 112 pound intact male with porcupine quills in his face liked his sedative quite well. Generally, as worked up as I get knowing that these are coming in the door, I feel so much happier once everything has been dealt with and we all have our fingers, backs and general sanity intact. I think that I will establish those ground rules come next month, though, because I'm not getting any smaller any time soon.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
More good baby news
I had another obstetrician appointment yesterday. I'm finally in the positive on the weight section. I've gained 7 pounds! Dr. Cavallo thinks that I may only gain a total of 15 pounds for this pregnancy since I'm already at week 23. However, now the baby's going to start growing like a weed so it'll be more up to our little pea. The next ultrasound is in 2 weeks so we'll see!
Monday, February 19, 2007
PJ FAQ
I'm late to the official announcement this year, but our 4th Annual Pajama Party is rolling up soon (Saturday, Feb 24, 7pm). For all you with questions (especially the newbies) here ya go.
Pajama Party? That sounds... er... naughty.
Relax. It‘s not THAT kind of party. If we ask you for your keys, it‘s only because you're hammered and we really don't think you should be behind the wheel.
So why pajamas?
We came across the idea a few years ago and it sounded fun. And it has been. Pajamas are comfortable. Pajamas whisper up and down your spine ”relax. lounge. curl up into that happy space and enjoy the moment.” Also, it's hard to give off airs or be pretentious when you are wearing bunny slippers.
Do I have to wear my PJs?
Yes. Unless you sleep nude. Then please wear something resembling PJs. Again, it‘s not THAT kind of party.
You mentioned overnight guests? Is this a sleep-over?
Not necessarily. Unless you‘re from out of town. Or want to get your drink on without worrying about driving home. Or get so warm and comfy you just don‘t want to get up. Or you just need a night out of your own house. You are welcome to the stay for any reason. We have an extra bed, an extra mattress, and four couch-like structures that fold out into sleeping-like structures. And the coveted chaise lounge.
What‘s the alcohol situation?
Our bar is well stocked, but very light on beer and ‘manly-man‘ liquors (gin, whiskey, bourbon). If you have a strong drinking preference that falls in this realm, you may want to BYO.
What can I bring?
Yourself. If you have a signature dish or drink you want to share (we've found that food that doesn't require silverware works best), we'd love to sample it. But it isn't expected. And if you know you are sleeping here, an extra pillow and blanket would be good, just to be safe.
Where do I park?
Overnight parking on the street is fine.
Is this a kid friendly gathering?
Things are relatively tame the first hour or two. You might not want your kids here after that (and others might feel the same way). Babies are a whole different story. Babies are always welcome. We love babies. And we need to acclimate ourselves to babydom.
Should I eat before I come?
Maybe a light dinner. Snackage is plentiful. Probably enough to fill you up. And there is usually some food left at the end of the night.
Can I bring my sig-o?
Absolutely.
Will there be Karaoke?
If there is a demand for it (and there will be). Based on past experience, I would guess it‘ll start 9-10ish.
What's on the menu (so far)?
gutless rumake
candied bacon
sweet satan's seed
s‘mores
aztec elixir cocoa
vosges chocolates
whatever whoever brings
other things that haven't yet occurred to me
probably blueberry-pecan french toast for breakfast (no promises)
Anything my hosts do not welcome that I should know about?
No smoking in the house.
Also strongly discouraged are vomiting, urinating on other peoples‘ beer, and pouring drinks on other peoples‘ heads.
Pajama Party? That sounds... er... naughty.
Relax. It‘s not THAT kind of party. If we ask you for your keys, it‘s only because you're hammered and we really don't think you should be behind the wheel.
So why pajamas?
We came across the idea a few years ago and it sounded fun. And it has been. Pajamas are comfortable. Pajamas whisper up and down your spine ”relax. lounge. curl up into that happy space and enjoy the moment.” Also, it's hard to give off airs or be pretentious when you are wearing bunny slippers.
Do I have to wear my PJs?
Yes. Unless you sleep nude. Then please wear something resembling PJs. Again, it‘s not THAT kind of party.
You mentioned overnight guests? Is this a sleep-over?
Not necessarily. Unless you‘re from out of town. Or want to get your drink on without worrying about driving home. Or get so warm and comfy you just don‘t want to get up. Or you just need a night out of your own house. You are welcome to the stay for any reason. We have an extra bed, an extra mattress, and four couch-like structures that fold out into sleeping-like structures. And the coveted chaise lounge.
What‘s the alcohol situation?
Our bar is well stocked, but very light on beer and ‘manly-man‘ liquors (gin, whiskey, bourbon). If you have a strong drinking preference that falls in this realm, you may want to BYO.
What can I bring?
Yourself. If you have a signature dish or drink you want to share (we've found that food that doesn't require silverware works best), we'd love to sample it. But it isn't expected. And if you know you are sleeping here, an extra pillow and blanket would be good, just to be safe.
Where do I park?
Overnight parking on the street is fine.
Is this a kid friendly gathering?
Things are relatively tame the first hour or two. You might not want your kids here after that (and others might feel the same way). Babies are a whole different story. Babies are always welcome. We love babies. And we need to acclimate ourselves to babydom.
Should I eat before I come?
Maybe a light dinner. Snackage is plentiful. Probably enough to fill you up. And there is usually some food left at the end of the night.
Can I bring my sig-o?
Absolutely.
Will there be Karaoke?
If there is a demand for it (and there will be). Based on past experience, I would guess it‘ll start 9-10ish.
What's on the menu (so far)?
gutless rumake
candied bacon
sweet satan's seed
s‘mores
aztec elixir cocoa
vosges chocolates
whatever whoever brings
other things that haven't yet occurred to me
probably blueberry-pecan french toast for breakfast (no promises)
Anything my hosts do not welcome that I should know about?
No smoking in the house.
Also strongly discouraged are vomiting, urinating on other peoples‘ beer, and pouring drinks on other peoples‘ heads.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Sweet Relief
Really big news is sometimes accompanied by really big worries. About a week ago, we got some lab tests back that indicated the baby might be at higher risk for spina bifida (higher being a 1 in 55 chance as opposed to a 1 in 10,000 chance). So, this morning was the first ultrasound with Dr. Hariharran, the fetal medicine specialist. I'd been really fretting about what we would need to do to adjust and adapt if there would be a serious problem. Fortunately, normal spine, normal heart, normal bladder, normal colon so far and this child can move! I'm not certain that our little one (and there is just the one)was still for more than a few seconds at a time. We got to see the face, though, with a tiny little pointed chin. Even more exciting, we watched the baby attempt to suck his or her thumb. I have to say attempt because first one hand was chosen, then dismissed, then the other hand was tried. The baby liked the second hand better and opened up its mouth, but the thumb ended up somewhere around the nose. What a great morning!
Tony has the pictures, so hopefully he'll scan them in and post them.
Tony has the pictures, so hopefully he'll scan them in and post them.
Friday, January 12, 2007
BIG NEWS. The biggest we've ever had.
We are going to be parents.
I know this isn't news to our closest friends and family. But since we've already told them, we decided it was OK to let the rest of the world in on our gushings of joy (I phrase I should ween out of my vocabulary before the delivery room).
Amy is about 4 month's along, and the time has flown by. No doubt the due date of June 23 will be upon us before we know it.
This is such an exciting time for us. It's hard to find a good starting point to share our giddiness and anxiety.
Amy is having a very uncomplicated pregnacy so far. No morning sickness. No wacky cravings. No serious mood swings. She's been a little sleepier (but always is in the winter) and a little more cranky (mostly at work, so i don't see it as much), and has had some mild food aversions and preference shifts (Apples and blueberries are good. Chocolate not as much). She hasn't gained any weight as of the last doctor visit (she dropped a little tween the first two visits, and gained it back tween the next two), but I think that will be changing as she is just starting to show a tiny bit.
Amy is pretty sure she feels the baby moving. S/he seems most active during car rides and at lunch time. Although I have yet to feel the little one move, I did get to hear the heartbeat, which wooshes at a quick pace next to Mommy's slower rythm. Its like a little in utero techno beat, a visual which Amy realy enjoys, especially now the s/he's moving about.
And no, we aren't goigng to find out of its a boy or girl (if we can help it.).
And if you must know, if its a boy, we're going to name it "Illiopolis Helsinki". If its a girl, its name will be "Mishawaka Tokyo".
I know this isn't news to our closest friends and family. But since we've already told them, we decided it was OK to let the rest of the world in on our gushings of joy (I phrase I should ween out of my vocabulary before the delivery room).
Amy is about 4 month's along, and the time has flown by. No doubt the due date of June 23 will be upon us before we know it.
This is such an exciting time for us. It's hard to find a good starting point to share our giddiness and anxiety.
Amy is having a very uncomplicated pregnacy so far. No morning sickness. No wacky cravings. No serious mood swings. She's been a little sleepier (but always is in the winter) and a little more cranky (mostly at work, so i don't see it as much), and has had some mild food aversions and preference shifts (Apples and blueberries are good. Chocolate not as much). She hasn't gained any weight as of the last doctor visit (she dropped a little tween the first two visits, and gained it back tween the next two), but I think that will be changing as she is just starting to show a tiny bit.
Amy is pretty sure she feels the baby moving. S/he seems most active during car rides and at lunch time. Although I have yet to feel the little one move, I did get to hear the heartbeat, which wooshes at a quick pace next to Mommy's slower rythm. Its like a little in utero techno beat, a visual which Amy realy enjoys, especially now the s/he's moving about.
And no, we aren't goigng to find out of its a boy or girl (if we can help it.).
And if you must know, if its a boy, we're going to name it "Illiopolis Helsinki". If its a girl, its name will be "Mishawaka Tokyo".
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Worst Vacation Attempt Ever
This is old news now - but the shear volume of typing necessary to tell this story has scared us from the blog entirely.
But now, the story shall be told (on the blog. It's had more than its share of being passed down in the oral record.)
Memorial Day Weekend: Needing a vacation, I took the whole week off. But we also decided decided it would be a good time for a long weekend road trip to Missourri to see my brother, sister in law and the adroable sack of cutness that is our niece, Morgynn. So Amy got friday off, I carved another half-day off out of my Friday afternoon, and we were on the road by 2:00pm Friday.
It was a hot day, but otherwise a good drive. Until we approached Terra Haute. That's when Amy's overheating light popped up on the dashboard. So... off to the side of the road. Pop the hood. Everything look OK. No plumes of milky steam. A higher level of coolant than maybe there should be on a hot engine. Probably just too much AC on too hot a day with a car that isn't used to it. No problem. Wait a few more minutes. Get back on the highway. And pull over again half a mile later. Repeat the primitive diagnostics scan. Everything still in order. A longer intermission. One more time back on the road. And Overheating light and check engine light within a mile (and less than 2 miles from the Terre Haute exit).
Sidenote: we have resisted getting a cell phone for years. Amy dislikes the idea of anyone being able to reach her anytime, anyplace, and I just don't talk enough to justify the expense. By a stroke of syncronicity, I had purchased our first cell phone three days earlier. Thank God.
So, new cell phone in hand (and fully charged, because i also decided to by a car recharge unit), we called for a tow-truck. The freindly/surly tow man took us to a nearby place off the next exit, with food and lodging nearby. The repair shop would be open first thing in the morning, and took business on a first come first serve basis. He also suggested that, hungry though we were,we'd be wise to get our hotel first, because, although there were a number of hotels visible within a mile, it was getting lat, it was Memorial Day weekend, and, most dooming, we were an hour from Indianapolis - which, Memorial Day weekend, means the Indy 500. Which meant rooms would be unusually scarce.
We didn't have to look long, but that may have been luck of the draw. We got the last nonsmoking room of the first two hotels (side by side, owned by the came chain) we checked. There was only one other smoking room. Which, sadly, might have gone to the woman and her three pre-teeners who came in just after us, also with car in tow.
A good, late dinner and up early the next morning. But not early enough. We arrived at 7:40, ten minutes after opening, and they already had all three garage stalls open and working, and a few cars waiting to get in. they had us in by 9:00, and by 10 were able to deliver the news. the news being of the not good variety.
It wasn't anything as simple as a shorte fuse or temperture gauge misread. It was probably the water pump. But they weren't sure, didn't have the part anyway, and were already booked for the day even if they could get the part. Which they couldn't. But they were willing to check around for someplace that might be able to help. And found one. Nearby. Close enough that we could drive to it without any car trouble.
It was maybe 2-3 miles away. Halfway there, the check engine and overheat lights popped back on, beeping shrilly for the remainder of the very long-feeling short drive. But we made it. The mechanic, another freindly/surly sort, said of course they couldn't fix it at the other place, they were all idiots over there, and went to have a look.
Rex returned within half an hour asking us if we had any plans for the day, because we might want to consider doing some car shopping. By their diagnostic scans, the problem was engine related. A cracked cylinder. Which wasn't supplying adequate power to the water pump, which is why it wasn't working (if this sounds like mechanical hogwashery, chalk it up to my mistranslation and inaccurate memory. I was also getting counsel from my stepfather--also named Rex, but we'll call him by the less personal 'stepfather' to avoid confusion--via the wonders of the newly purchased cell phone. He concurred it was unlikey, but possible, and the method for checking it was right).
So, that's an engine repair/replace. On a 2000 Volkswagon Bug. In a town with no volkswagon dealership. On a weekend. And a busy holiday weekend at that. And this sort of repair was out of Rex's comfort zone. His experience on Bugs just didn't run that deep. And it'd be 2 grand. At the very least.
No dealership. No available parts. No experienced Volkwagon mechanic available. No time. No luck.
And no idea what to do next.
Rex's shop was open through and including Memorial Day. He offered to let us store the vehicle there, until Tuesday rolled around and it could be dealt with. And that was all well and good. But we were still stuck in Terre Haute. and almost certain not to find lodging one night closer to the Indy 500. And Amy had to work Tuesday. So we couldn't wait around even if it were an option. And the thought of having to coordinate with an unknown mechanic 4 hours from home and drive back to pick up the car later wasn't settling too well either.
Fortunately, stepfather has a car-hauler. Unfortuneately, stepfather also live in Durand, Mi, 7 hours from Terre Haute, and surely had plans of his own for Memorial Day weekend. But it seemed the least unpleasant of the few options we had. So I calledmom to ask her, um, if this was the sort of favor I should even ask, or if this would be kind of an abuse of the convenience of his having married into the family not even three years ago. She put him on the phone before I could gauge the appropriateness. And I explained the situation (what I hadn't explained already on previous calls) really hoping he might feel terrible for us and offer to pick it up on his own. He did feel terrible for us. That was clear. But the offer didn't come up. so back to my mom, and, hesitantly, expaining the akwardness of what I was thinking before being put on the spot. So she discussed and said they could, could we at least pay for their gas. Which would be at least $200. My response: Heck, yeah. And dinner and a hotel if you want it.
Either thinking of my own financial well being or wanting to exhaust one last option so he didn't have to take 14 hours out of his weekend (wouldn't blame him), stepfather suggested that it might actually be cheaper to find someone to tow it straight from Terre Haute to South Bend. So, with Rex's help, I called aorund, found a place willing and able to tow it, and then we got to the cost. Roughly $900. Soooo stepfather and mom would be driving down to pick up the car in the next couple days.
Now, with all that taken care of, we turned to moving ourselves along. decided we'd shell out for the rental car and continue out trip. But guess what. Rental car places, all of them, are closed for the weekend by Saturday noon. And it was now 1:00. We even tried calling the (still open) Enterprise at the Indy airport to see how far that "we'll pick you up." slogan carried. Not as far as Terre Haute.
So, since clearly getting ANYWHERE would be a challenge, we shifted gears towards just getting home. And asked if there was a bus station nearby. And there was. 3-5 miles away. And a very nice woman watching our melodrama playing out before her offered to drive us there when her car got done in a couple hours. And Rex, also with a front row seat to the whole production, said, "Hell, Wilma, you can take 'em in my truck right now," and tossed her his keys.
So, at the Greyhound station, we baught our tickets back to South Bend. South Bend to Indy, a two hour break, switch busses to Chicago, a half hour break, and switch busses to South Bend, arriving 2:50 am, local time. At least we'd be home.
I think we got the last two seats to Indy (for the buss we took. We could have chosen to wait for a slightly later buss to Inday, but decided, if we were going to have to kill 2 hours, we'd rather do it in Indy). And our time in Indy wasn't bad. Would have been nice if it had been the plan. Got some food, browsed a bookstore, and back to the bus station.
And the bus pulled in. The busdriver and some passengers got off. And...nothing. Being familiar with boarding commuter trains and more standard passenger trains, and figuring this should be similar, I said to myself: "Seating will be first come first serve. I'd rather spend the trip to chicago with my wife than a stranger, so we'd best get on now. I would expect this to be more like a standard passenger train, where people line up and get there tickets checked while they board. but there is no line. and the bus door is wide open. So it must be more like a commuter train and they get your ticket once you are on. And if not, its their own damn fault for leaving the bus door wide open and unattended or not clearly designating what the procedure is."
So I urged Amy to get on the bus. Who still had more patience than me and a greater concern about following rules even if they are not clear. So she asked someone on the bus "do they check our tickets when we are all onme, or are we supposed to show someone before we get on." and of course, the asnwere was "before we get on".
This really pissed me off. Because I was tired and impatient and what the fuck were they going to do, kick us off because no one was there to check our ticket before getting we got on? But now, at amy's insistance, we had to disembark and stand around and wait. And while we were standing around waiting for someone to come to the buss to take out ticket so we could legitimently get on the buss, a whole crowd of people clustered at the doorway inside the station. The bus driver came to the door at the front of the cluster and started checking people tickets, who then walked past us and on to the bus.
And thus my pateince snapped.
I was there first. I had been waiting 20 minutes, in clear sight of any number of Greyhound employees. And now I was going to be the last one on the bus and have to sit next to some smelly, sweaty stranger for 4 hours because Geyhound doesn't believe in posting a simple fucking "line up here" sign and any number of people who surely knew this unspoken, unwritten rule could have tapped us and said 'hey, if you're waiting to get on the bus, you'll need too line up over there", and my wife had to be too much of a goody-goody to just let us sit on the bus and wait for them to figure out we screwed up because of their scrweed up system. BULLSHIT. Someone was getting an earful of something!
But damn Amy again, she wouldn't let me. And this time, she was right (I still say we should have stayed on the bus when we got on the first time. It's there problem for not educating their customers on boarding procedures). I probably would not have gone so far as to get us banned from our bus, but someone else was already cause quite a stir, a policeman was already sorting out that altercation, and my ranting probably would have had authorities against us quicker than for us.
So after 15 minutes on the bus I lightened up and let it go. At least I did get to sit next to Amy, after she asked someone if they would switch seats.
And on our way to Chicago, the bus made a breif pit stop. "Get your snakcs and get back on, "said the busdriver, "you've got ten minutes." and what had to be 30 minutes later, the bus left the truck stop.
We arrived in Chicago at 12:18, wondering if maybe the busdriver forgot to set her watch back before announcing the time. We got of, checked out tickets and frantically set out to figure out where we needed to go to catch out connecting bus, which could leave any minute (again, yeah Greyhound for making everything so clear). While I was trying to decifer the departures arrivals board, Amy snuck away and came back long faced. "Our bus left 8 minutes ago."
The ticket counter people told her that our ticket was still good for the next bus to South Bend, whihc would be leaving at 7:15 AM. so we could wait in the bus station in downtown Chicago until then, or there was a hotel a few blocks away. And though I was tired, I thought this might be a more appropriate moment to pull out the hint of outrage that my irritated but exhuasted self could muster.
I walked up the the "customer service" desk, holding my temper but clearly frustrated. The 'customer service representative' gave me a very monotone "Can I help you, sir".
Not sure where to being, I said as much, and handed her my ticket. This seemed as good a starting point as any.
She looked up at me, blank-faced, and said, "You missed your bus, sir."
And I explained, in the halting, akward manner of someone who is very angry, very tired, very frustrated, and very much trying to be reasonable, that i was well aware of this, that I missed it because of poor scheduling and a bus drivers whim to take a 30+ minute "ten minute" stop whith only 30 minutes time between the connecting bus schedule, and what was Greyound going to do to get me to my destination on schedule or otherwise make good on the situation.
And she looked up at me, with all the expression of a sack of potatoes, and said, "That's what you get when you take public transportation, sir."
Now, THIS would have been the appropriate time for me to go apeshit. But really, how can you argue with that. When you go to the customer service desk, and complain about poor service, and the customer service representative's response is "that's because we have bad service" -- there's pretty much no place to go from there.
So we went to the $$$ hotel, got a good night's sleep, and took the South Shore commuter train into South Bend late the next morning.
It took us 4 hours to get as far as Terre Haute. It took us 44 hours to get back home.
But now, the story shall be told (on the blog. It's had more than its share of being passed down in the oral record.)
Memorial Day Weekend: Needing a vacation, I took the whole week off. But we also decided decided it would be a good time for a long weekend road trip to Missourri to see my brother, sister in law and the adroable sack of cutness that is our niece, Morgynn. So Amy got friday off, I carved another half-day off out of my Friday afternoon, and we were on the road by 2:00pm Friday.
It was a hot day, but otherwise a good drive. Until we approached Terra Haute. That's when Amy's overheating light popped up on the dashboard. So... off to the side of the road. Pop the hood. Everything look OK. No plumes of milky steam. A higher level of coolant than maybe there should be on a hot engine. Probably just too much AC on too hot a day with a car that isn't used to it. No problem. Wait a few more minutes. Get back on the highway. And pull over again half a mile later. Repeat the primitive diagnostics scan. Everything still in order. A longer intermission. One more time back on the road. And Overheating light and check engine light within a mile (and less than 2 miles from the Terre Haute exit).
Sidenote: we have resisted getting a cell phone for years. Amy dislikes the idea of anyone being able to reach her anytime, anyplace, and I just don't talk enough to justify the expense. By a stroke of syncronicity, I had purchased our first cell phone three days earlier. Thank God.
So, new cell phone in hand (and fully charged, because i also decided to by a car recharge unit), we called for a tow-truck. The freindly/surly tow man took us to a nearby place off the next exit, with food and lodging nearby. The repair shop would be open first thing in the morning, and took business on a first come first serve basis. He also suggested that, hungry though we were,we'd be wise to get our hotel first, because, although there were a number of hotels visible within a mile, it was getting lat, it was Memorial Day weekend, and, most dooming, we were an hour from Indianapolis - which, Memorial Day weekend, means the Indy 500. Which meant rooms would be unusually scarce.
We didn't have to look long, but that may have been luck of the draw. We got the last nonsmoking room of the first two hotels (side by side, owned by the came chain) we checked. There was only one other smoking room. Which, sadly, might have gone to the woman and her three pre-teeners who came in just after us, also with car in tow.
A good, late dinner and up early the next morning. But not early enough. We arrived at 7:40, ten minutes after opening, and they already had all three garage stalls open and working, and a few cars waiting to get in. they had us in by 9:00, and by 10 were able to deliver the news. the news being of the not good variety.
It wasn't anything as simple as a shorte fuse or temperture gauge misread. It was probably the water pump. But they weren't sure, didn't have the part anyway, and were already booked for the day even if they could get the part. Which they couldn't. But they were willing to check around for someplace that might be able to help. And found one. Nearby. Close enough that we could drive to it without any car trouble.
It was maybe 2-3 miles away. Halfway there, the check engine and overheat lights popped back on, beeping shrilly for the remainder of the very long-feeling short drive. But we made it. The mechanic, another freindly/surly sort, said of course they couldn't fix it at the other place, they were all idiots over there, and went to have a look.
Rex returned within half an hour asking us if we had any plans for the day, because we might want to consider doing some car shopping. By their diagnostic scans, the problem was engine related. A cracked cylinder. Which wasn't supplying adequate power to the water pump, which is why it wasn't working (if this sounds like mechanical hogwashery, chalk it up to my mistranslation and inaccurate memory. I was also getting counsel from my stepfather--also named Rex, but we'll call him by the less personal 'stepfather' to avoid confusion--via the wonders of the newly purchased cell phone. He concurred it was unlikey, but possible, and the method for checking it was right).
So, that's an engine repair/replace. On a 2000 Volkswagon Bug. In a town with no volkswagon dealership. On a weekend. And a busy holiday weekend at that. And this sort of repair was out of Rex's comfort zone. His experience on Bugs just didn't run that deep. And it'd be 2 grand. At the very least.
No dealership. No available parts. No experienced Volkwagon mechanic available. No time. No luck.
And no idea what to do next.
Rex's shop was open through and including Memorial Day. He offered to let us store the vehicle there, until Tuesday rolled around and it could be dealt with. And that was all well and good. But we were still stuck in Terre Haute. and almost certain not to find lodging one night closer to the Indy 500. And Amy had to work Tuesday. So we couldn't wait around even if it were an option. And the thought of having to coordinate with an unknown mechanic 4 hours from home and drive back to pick up the car later wasn't settling too well either.
Fortunately, stepfather has a car-hauler. Unfortuneately, stepfather also live in Durand, Mi, 7 hours from Terre Haute, and surely had plans of his own for Memorial Day weekend. But it seemed the least unpleasant of the few options we had. So I calledmom to ask her, um, if this was the sort of favor I should even ask, or if this would be kind of an abuse of the convenience of his having married into the family not even three years ago. She put him on the phone before I could gauge the appropriateness. And I explained the situation (what I hadn't explained already on previous calls) really hoping he might feel terrible for us and offer to pick it up on his own. He did feel terrible for us. That was clear. But the offer didn't come up. so back to my mom, and, hesitantly, expaining the akwardness of what I was thinking before being put on the spot. So she discussed and said they could, could we at least pay for their gas. Which would be at least $200. My response: Heck, yeah. And dinner and a hotel if you want it.
Either thinking of my own financial well being or wanting to exhaust one last option so he didn't have to take 14 hours out of his weekend (wouldn't blame him), stepfather suggested that it might actually be cheaper to find someone to tow it straight from Terre Haute to South Bend. So, with Rex's help, I called aorund, found a place willing and able to tow it, and then we got to the cost. Roughly $900. Soooo stepfather and mom would be driving down to pick up the car in the next couple days.
Now, with all that taken care of, we turned to moving ourselves along. decided we'd shell out for the rental car and continue out trip. But guess what. Rental car places, all of them, are closed for the weekend by Saturday noon. And it was now 1:00. We even tried calling the (still open) Enterprise at the Indy airport to see how far that "we'll pick you up." slogan carried. Not as far as Terre Haute.
So, since clearly getting ANYWHERE would be a challenge, we shifted gears towards just getting home. And asked if there was a bus station nearby. And there was. 3-5 miles away. And a very nice woman watching our melodrama playing out before her offered to drive us there when her car got done in a couple hours. And Rex, also with a front row seat to the whole production, said, "Hell, Wilma, you can take 'em in my truck right now," and tossed her his keys.
So, at the Greyhound station, we baught our tickets back to South Bend. South Bend to Indy, a two hour break, switch busses to Chicago, a half hour break, and switch busses to South Bend, arriving 2:50 am, local time. At least we'd be home.
I think we got the last two seats to Indy (for the buss we took. We could have chosen to wait for a slightly later buss to Inday, but decided, if we were going to have to kill 2 hours, we'd rather do it in Indy). And our time in Indy wasn't bad. Would have been nice if it had been the plan. Got some food, browsed a bookstore, and back to the bus station.
And the bus pulled in. The busdriver and some passengers got off. And...nothing. Being familiar with boarding commuter trains and more standard passenger trains, and figuring this should be similar, I said to myself: "Seating will be first come first serve. I'd rather spend the trip to chicago with my wife than a stranger, so we'd best get on now. I would expect this to be more like a standard passenger train, where people line up and get there tickets checked while they board. but there is no line. and the bus door is wide open. So it must be more like a commuter train and they get your ticket once you are on. And if not, its their own damn fault for leaving the bus door wide open and unattended or not clearly designating what the procedure is."
So I urged Amy to get on the bus. Who still had more patience than me and a greater concern about following rules even if they are not clear. So she asked someone on the bus "do they check our tickets when we are all onme, or are we supposed to show someone before we get on." and of course, the asnwere was "before we get on".
This really pissed me off. Because I was tired and impatient and what the fuck were they going to do, kick us off because no one was there to check our ticket before getting we got on? But now, at amy's insistance, we had to disembark and stand around and wait. And while we were standing around waiting for someone to come to the buss to take out ticket so we could legitimently get on the buss, a whole crowd of people clustered at the doorway inside the station. The bus driver came to the door at the front of the cluster and started checking people tickets, who then walked past us and on to the bus.
And thus my pateince snapped.
I was there first. I had been waiting 20 minutes, in clear sight of any number of Greyhound employees. And now I was going to be the last one on the bus and have to sit next to some smelly, sweaty stranger for 4 hours because Geyhound doesn't believe in posting a simple fucking "line up here" sign and any number of people who surely knew this unspoken, unwritten rule could have tapped us and said 'hey, if you're waiting to get on the bus, you'll need too line up over there", and my wife had to be too much of a goody-goody to just let us sit on the bus and wait for them to figure out we screwed up because of their scrweed up system. BULLSHIT. Someone was getting an earful of something!
But damn Amy again, she wouldn't let me. And this time, she was right (I still say we should have stayed on the bus when we got on the first time. It's there problem for not educating their customers on boarding procedures). I probably would not have gone so far as to get us banned from our bus, but someone else was already cause quite a stir, a policeman was already sorting out that altercation, and my ranting probably would have had authorities against us quicker than for us.
So after 15 minutes on the bus I lightened up and let it go. At least I did get to sit next to Amy, after she asked someone if they would switch seats.
And on our way to Chicago, the bus made a breif pit stop. "Get your snakcs and get back on, "said the busdriver, "you've got ten minutes." and what had to be 30 minutes later, the bus left the truck stop.
We arrived in Chicago at 12:18, wondering if maybe the busdriver forgot to set her watch back before announcing the time. We got of, checked out tickets and frantically set out to figure out where we needed to go to catch out connecting bus, which could leave any minute (again, yeah Greyhound for making everything so clear). While I was trying to decifer the departures arrivals board, Amy snuck away and came back long faced. "Our bus left 8 minutes ago."
The ticket counter people told her that our ticket was still good for the next bus to South Bend, whihc would be leaving at 7:15 AM. so we could wait in the bus station in downtown Chicago until then, or there was a hotel a few blocks away. And though I was tired, I thought this might be a more appropriate moment to pull out the hint of outrage that my irritated but exhuasted self could muster.
I walked up the the "customer service" desk, holding my temper but clearly frustrated. The 'customer service representative' gave me a very monotone "Can I help you, sir".
Not sure where to being, I said as much, and handed her my ticket. This seemed as good a starting point as any.
She looked up at me, blank-faced, and said, "You missed your bus, sir."
And I explained, in the halting, akward manner of someone who is very angry, very tired, very frustrated, and very much trying to be reasonable, that i was well aware of this, that I missed it because of poor scheduling and a bus drivers whim to take a 30+ minute "ten minute" stop whith only 30 minutes time between the connecting bus schedule, and what was Greyound going to do to get me to my destination on schedule or otherwise make good on the situation.
And she looked up at me, with all the expression of a sack of potatoes, and said, "That's what you get when you take public transportation, sir."
Now, THIS would have been the appropriate time for me to go apeshit. But really, how can you argue with that. When you go to the customer service desk, and complain about poor service, and the customer service representative's response is "that's because we have bad service" -- there's pretty much no place to go from there.
So we went to the $$$ hotel, got a good night's sleep, and took the South Shore commuter train into South Bend late the next morning.
It took us 4 hours to get as far as Terre Haute. It took us 44 hours to get back home.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Eye really don't know what happened.
My big fat freak-show of an eye, circa 5.18.06, about 6:45 am. I'm considering charging admission.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Morning of Mystery or I Didn't Coldcock Tony
Really. I do not remember punching him in the eye while we slept last night. Nor does he remember waking up after having been punched. However, he woke up about 6:30 this morning, went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror to find a very swollen and red left eyelid staring back at him. By the time I saw it it was already starting to turn purple.
The emergency room is very quiet before 7:00 am. We decided to go because we didn't know how quickly it would progress or if it even would. When did it start? Sometime between midnight and 6:30. If it started at 1:00 it was probably a slowly progressing process. If it started at 6:00 then it might get even bigger and start sloughing skin before our physician's office opened. As things turned out, the bruising progressed into an even more magnificent black eye. The emergency room physician isn't quite sure what happened so Tony's applying cold compresses (you are applying cold compresses, aren't you, Tony?)and he can take Benedryl just in case it's an allergic reaction or Tylenol if it becomes painful. I'm still wondering if it's a very poorly placed spider bite, but the physician doesn't seem to think so.
Anyway, if see Tony over the next few days, be nice. It's got to be terrible to wake up and discover that you have an unexpected black eye. It's got to be even worse to have everyone you see ask if your wife gave it to you.
The emergency room is very quiet before 7:00 am. We decided to go because we didn't know how quickly it would progress or if it even would. When did it start? Sometime between midnight and 6:30. If it started at 1:00 it was probably a slowly progressing process. If it started at 6:00 then it might get even bigger and start sloughing skin before our physician's office opened. As things turned out, the bruising progressed into an even more magnificent black eye. The emergency room physician isn't quite sure what happened so Tony's applying cold compresses (you are applying cold compresses, aren't you, Tony?)and he can take Benedryl just in case it's an allergic reaction or Tylenol if it becomes painful. I'm still wondering if it's a very poorly placed spider bite, but the physician doesn't seem to think so.
Anyway, if see Tony over the next few days, be nice. It's got to be terrible to wake up and discover that you have an unexpected black eye. It's got to be even worse to have everyone you see ask if your wife gave it to you.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Comics Jam War - winners announced
So, some time among Bob's trials, I was participating in the first
Comics Jam War. The Jam War is sort of an organized follow up to 24-Hour Comic Day.
The 24-Hour Comic is an exhausting excersize - creating a lot of comic book in a very small span of time. 24 pages in 24 hours, compared to professional industry standards of about a page a day (and thats just the pencils - no writing, lettering or inking).
Jam War takes the basic premise and relaxes it, then turns it into a competition with cash prizes. Eight pages in 12 hours, and you get to work in teams. Compared to a 24-Hour Comic, this is a leisurely pace. But still crazy fast.
Anywho, I had the good fortune to partner with a writer who I think is going to be quite the up and commer and an artist who is amazingly fast, talented, and doesn't like inking his own work, so I did that part, along with the lettering and digital compositing.
So, April 1st, our team and 7 others gathered at BuyMeToys.com in Mishawaka. Only teams working out of offcial (fee paid) host stores could enter (over 100 teams entered from US and Canada... I think Canada, Maybe Mexico? I forget, but it was over 100). We had a blast. 12 hours of blood sweat, tears, giggling and ink. In the end, 5 of our location's teams finished, and two of the books looked especially promising.
And in the end... One of those books took first place honors. The other, my team, recieved honorable mention this means that of the 100+ teams, our will be one of the seven chosen to be published in the upcoming (July) Jam War book. That, and 10 copies each of the book, is our award. And the joy of the experience and pride in the accomplishment.
Comics Jam War. The Jam War is sort of an organized follow up to 24-Hour Comic Day.
The 24-Hour Comic is an exhausting excersize - creating a lot of comic book in a very small span of time. 24 pages in 24 hours, compared to professional industry standards of about a page a day (and thats just the pencils - no writing, lettering or inking).
Jam War takes the basic premise and relaxes it, then turns it into a competition with cash prizes. Eight pages in 12 hours, and you get to work in teams. Compared to a 24-Hour Comic, this is a leisurely pace. But still crazy fast.
Anywho, I had the good fortune to partner with a writer who I think is going to be quite the up and commer and an artist who is amazingly fast, talented, and doesn't like inking his own work, so I did that part, along with the lettering and digital compositing.
So, April 1st, our team and 7 others gathered at BuyMeToys.com in Mishawaka. Only teams working out of offcial (fee paid) host stores could enter (over 100 teams entered from US and Canada... I think Canada, Maybe Mexico? I forget, but it was over 100). We had a blast. 12 hours of blood sweat, tears, giggling and ink. In the end, 5 of our location's teams finished, and two of the books looked especially promising.
And in the end... One of those books took first place honors. The other, my team, recieved honorable mention this means that of the 100+ teams, our will be one of the seven chosen to be published in the upcoming (July) Jam War book. That, and 10 copies each of the book, is our award. And the joy of the experience and pride in the accomplishment.
Not ready to die yet!
I got the update from Dr. Warzee this afternoon. Bob is doing great! She was able to pull his thoracic drain tube this morning. He is eating. AND he's sulking because he has a bandage on his chest. That sounds like my boyo!
According to my source on the inside (thanks Jess!)the lung lobes are being processed today and will be set for evaluation tomorrow. I'm excited to see what type of nastiness was removed. I'm also a little bummed that I won't get to see the mass itself. I'd look to go eye to eye (or eye to tumor as it were) with the bugger and do my best squinty-eyed glare. Of course, I'd also kind of like to stomp on it but that's not professional. Or really very helpful. Yes, perhaps it's best left in Jessica's hands now that Dr. Warzee's have extracted it.
So, Saturday Tony and I will be driving up to E.L. to pick up our skinny little guy. Then we'll start fattening him back up in preparation for chemotherapy or the next surgery. I'm not going to worry too much about that now. I'm just thrilled that he's decided to be with us for at least a little while longer.
According to my source on the inside (thanks Jess!)the lung lobes are being processed today and will be set for evaluation tomorrow. I'm excited to see what type of nastiness was removed. I'm also a little bummed that I won't get to see the mass itself. I'd look to go eye to eye (or eye to tumor as it were) with the bugger and do my best squinty-eyed glare. Of course, I'd also kind of like to stomp on it but that's not professional. Or really very helpful. Yes, perhaps it's best left in Jessica's hands now that Dr. Warzee's have extracted it.
So, Saturday Tony and I will be driving up to E.L. to pick up our skinny little guy. Then we'll start fattening him back up in preparation for chemotherapy or the next surgery. I'm not going to worry too much about that now. I'm just thrilled that he's decided to be with us for at least a little while longer.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The Big Day
Yesterday Bob and I arose at 5am and set out for East Lansing at 5:50. Bob's sedative again worked well and this time I remembered to order caffiene from the 24 hour Starbucks. I was actually able to feel the intestinal mass on Sunday and was a little worried that once again the plan would have to change.
Things were not looking so hot when we got up to M.S.U. Bob was down to 6 pounds, 10 ounces. This is more than a pound lost since his first visit last month. It's also just about half of what his normal (slightly pudgy) weight is. What was extra scary is that he has actually had an appetite over the last 10 days. Dr. Warzee could also feel the intestinal mass. When I left the plan was to repeat the chest radiograph to check for metastasis, repeat the abdominal ultrasound (I wanted to know how much the intestinal mass had progressed) and repeat a CBC. CBC stands for complete blood count. I had run one, with a chemistry panel, last week but he looked a bit anemic to Dr. Warzee and because of the resolving abscess his white cells were a bit high on my CBC. Pending any disasterous findings, surgery would be today.
I was all done by 9:20 and left Bob to Dr. Warzee. After some aimless wandering around downtown, I decided to just head for home. I stopped for some additional caffiene and hit the highway at about 10:30. It was gloomy, rainy and cold. The temperature had actually dropped from the very early morning. Not a pleasant 2 and 1/2 hours, but I was very thankful for the heater and the windshield wipers. And, I got home in time to take a toasty warm shower before work.
I go to work and had a message from Dr. Warzee. The ultrasound showed no change in the intestinal mass (must just be easier to feel because he's sooooo skinny now), but the radiologist felt that the chest mass might actually be in the lung rather than the mediastinum. The mediastinum is the structure that supports the heart, the trachea and the major blood vessels and lymph nodes within the chest. Different surgical approaches are needed for the lung (usually cutting ribs) versus the mediastinum (midline sternotomy - going through the breastbone itself). Would it be OK to perform a CT scan to confirm where it is? Yes.
This morning, I got the news: the mass is in the right cranial lung lobe, but given the size a sternotomy will still be the best approach. Anesthesia will start at 9:00 with the thoracic mass removal first, followed by debulking the leg mass if Bob is still stable.
As soon as I arrived at work I got the second call. The mass was indeed in the right cranial lung lobe. This was removed along with the right middle lung lobe because there were some suspicious nodules there. The mediastinal lymph nodes were too small to locate, but there was adherence to the mediastinum and the cranial vena cava (very major blood vessel). He's recovering from anesthesia and so far is doing well. The debulking was not performed because he was getting cold and there had been a blood pressure drop, but that's perfectly OK by me.
So, Bob's down 1/3 of his lung tissue but also down a very nasty tumor. Not certain yet when he'll be returning home. That's going to depend upon fluid accumulation in the chest, but he's made it this far!
Things were not looking so hot when we got up to M.S.U. Bob was down to 6 pounds, 10 ounces. This is more than a pound lost since his first visit last month. It's also just about half of what his normal (slightly pudgy) weight is. What was extra scary is that he has actually had an appetite over the last 10 days. Dr. Warzee could also feel the intestinal mass. When I left the plan was to repeat the chest radiograph to check for metastasis, repeat the abdominal ultrasound (I wanted to know how much the intestinal mass had progressed) and repeat a CBC. CBC stands for complete blood count. I had run one, with a chemistry panel, last week but he looked a bit anemic to Dr. Warzee and because of the resolving abscess his white cells were a bit high on my CBC. Pending any disasterous findings, surgery would be today.
I was all done by 9:20 and left Bob to Dr. Warzee. After some aimless wandering around downtown, I decided to just head for home. I stopped for some additional caffiene and hit the highway at about 10:30. It was gloomy, rainy and cold. The temperature had actually dropped from the very early morning. Not a pleasant 2 and 1/2 hours, but I was very thankful for the heater and the windshield wipers. And, I got home in time to take a toasty warm shower before work.
I go to work and had a message from Dr. Warzee. The ultrasound showed no change in the intestinal mass (must just be easier to feel because he's sooooo skinny now), but the radiologist felt that the chest mass might actually be in the lung rather than the mediastinum. The mediastinum is the structure that supports the heart, the trachea and the major blood vessels and lymph nodes within the chest. Different surgical approaches are needed for the lung (usually cutting ribs) versus the mediastinum (midline sternotomy - going through the breastbone itself). Would it be OK to perform a CT scan to confirm where it is? Yes.
This morning, I got the news: the mass is in the right cranial lung lobe, but given the size a sternotomy will still be the best approach. Anesthesia will start at 9:00 with the thoracic mass removal first, followed by debulking the leg mass if Bob is still stable.
As soon as I arrived at work I got the second call. The mass was indeed in the right cranial lung lobe. This was removed along with the right middle lung lobe because there were some suspicious nodules there. The mediastinal lymph nodes were too small to locate, but there was adherence to the mediastinum and the cranial vena cava (very major blood vessel). He's recovering from anesthesia and so far is doing well. The debulking was not performed because he was getting cold and there had been a blood pressure drop, but that's perfectly OK by me.
So, Bob's down 1/3 of his lung tissue but also down a very nasty tumor. Not certain yet when he'll be returning home. That's going to depend upon fluid accumulation in the chest, but he's made it this far!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
General updates
I went to the dentist this week! The alarm did not go off on Monday morning so I woke up in a half-doze and thought, "Wow, it's light out and Tony's alarm hasn't gone off. I wonder how much longer I have to sleep?" I rolled over, looked at the clock, read 7:25, yelled a few expletives. Yelled something about getting up to Tony. Then, grabbing my robe so as not to flash the neighbors, rushed to the kitchen and downed my four capsules of amoxicillin. The directions were to take it an hour before my 8:00 appointment. Fortunately, our alarm clock is a little fast. I actually enjoyed the appointment. I like having my teeth cleaned. The dentist was quiet and focused, but not in an unfriendly way. I did have to a have a couple of fillings and he was very thorough in making sure that my bite was comfortable and there were no sharp edges afterward. So now, after the initial exam and echocardiogram and consultation with my physician I can finally say that I have clean teeth!
Bob is doing OK. He's still skinny (lost 2 ounces over last weekend), but he surprised me on Tuesday by chasing Colfax away from her dry food. If he wants to eat dry diet food instead of fatty canned food, more power to him. He's not been so good about the litter box so he's been shacked up in the cafe room with the doves when Tony and I can't supervise him. It also keeps Colfax out of the aforementioned fatty canned food. This prevents further butt bites as well. Tuesday is the next trip up to East Lansing. Hopefully Bob can have the surgery and all will settle down for a bit!
Bob is doing OK. He's still skinny (lost 2 ounces over last weekend), but he surprised me on Tuesday by chasing Colfax away from her dry food. If he wants to eat dry diet food instead of fatty canned food, more power to him. He's not been so good about the litter box so he's been shacked up in the cafe room with the doves when Tony and I can't supervise him. It also keeps Colfax out of the aforementioned fatty canned food. This prevents further butt bites as well. Tuesday is the next trip up to East Lansing. Hopefully Bob can have the surgery and all will settle down for a bit!
Friday, April 14, 2006
So Far ...
Bob is eating OK.
Colfax has been behaving herself.
No inappropriate urination or defecation.
Only one bout of vomiting.
Things are peaceful since the abcess burst.
I hope that it lasts until Bob's appointment on the 25th.
Colfax has been behaving herself.
No inappropriate urination or defecation.
Only one bout of vomiting.
Things are peaceful since the abcess burst.
I hope that it lasts until Bob's appointment on the 25th.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Bob and Colfax
We have another cat. Colfax is the queen cat in our household. Colfax is not pleased that Bob is getting canned cat food and yummy baby food to encourage his appetite. This means that I do a lot of chasing her away from Bob whe he is eating and removing his food when is done eating. Why? Because he will not stand up for himself. If she comes by he will stop eating and wander off to the nearest pillow to lie down. Colfax has gotten quite fat over the past few weeks. Bob has not seemed to lose more weight, but he is still between 7 and 7 and 1/2 pounds. Skinny skinny skinny Bob. Oh, and when Colfax eats canned food she vomits. Often on the furniture.
Sometime over the weekend the hostilites intensified. Bob was feeling very dumpy yesterday. Didn't want to eat, didn't want to follow Tony around the house. He wasn't even concerned that Tony and I were eating ribs within feet of where he was sleeping. "Crap", I thought, "he's thinking about dying again". So this morning I was super excited to see him wandering around and hear him complaining to me about something (lack of food? noisy birds? his assessment as to the best and worst non-litterbox places to urinate and defecate?). I picked him up and noticed that the fur over his right hip was really unkempt. Since this illness began he's been known to sit in the canned food, so possibly that was it. I looked closer. The skin was red and inflammed and there was a small amount of pus draining. I see a lot of cat fight injuries. Colfax had actually bitten him in the butt over the soft cat food!
Animals don't have a lot of correlation in their long term memories. The bite probably happened 2 or 3 days ago. So, I couldn't yell at Colfax. No, I just had to take Bob to work, restart antibiotics and ask Katie to clean his purulent butt up. Oh, and I've had to cancel his Thursday M.S.U. appointment. So, the tumors get a little break. Also, Colfax threw up a large part of bob's morning meal on one of the couches. Again, not a very good long term correlative memory.
Sigh .
Sometime over the weekend the hostilites intensified. Bob was feeling very dumpy yesterday. Didn't want to eat, didn't want to follow Tony around the house. He wasn't even concerned that Tony and I were eating ribs within feet of where he was sleeping. "Crap", I thought, "he's thinking about dying again". So this morning I was super excited to see him wandering around and hear him complaining to me about something (lack of food? noisy birds? his assessment as to the best and worst non-litterbox places to urinate and defecate?). I picked him up and noticed that the fur over his right hip was really unkempt. Since this illness began he's been known to sit in the canned food, so possibly that was it. I looked closer. The skin was red and inflammed and there was a small amount of pus draining. I see a lot of cat fight injuries. Colfax had actually bitten him in the butt over the soft cat food!
Animals don't have a lot of correlation in their long term memories. The bite probably happened 2 or 3 days ago. So, I couldn't yell at Colfax. No, I just had to take Bob to work, restart antibiotics and ask Katie to clean his purulent butt up. Oh, and I've had to cancel his Thursday M.S.U. appointment. So, the tumors get a little break. Also, Colfax threw up a large part of bob's morning meal on one of the couches. Again, not a very good long term correlative memory.
Sigh .
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
More of Bob
Sorry about the delay. Our computer at home has been down.
The ride home on Sunday was pretty good. I was planning on trying it without sedation, but Bob vomited before we'd gone four miles, so out came the ace. He's been happy to be home, wanting lots of attention. His appetite isn't great, but he'll nibble on baby food and seafood flavored cat food. He apparently enjoyed tuna and sardines at M.S.U. so I'll have to pick up a can on my way home. He is pooping, too, so no intestinal perforation!
I actually had the chest rad taken this morning while I was in surgery. It hasn't gone away. In fact, it seems a little bigger to me. I'm going to give Dr. Warzee a call this afternoon and we'll move to the next plan. Most likely the chest mass is a thymoma and surgery is going to be the option. Since Bob is on prednisolone, I probably won't be taking him up for surgery until I can wean him off. Probably next week.
I just looked up thymoma in the magical Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine by Ettinger. Go figure, true thymomas are uncommon :). However, outlook is good with surgical resection, especially in well-encapsulated, discrete tumors. We definately have well-demarcated on the rads, so I'm going to consider that discrete. Thymomas also tend not to spread, so that leaves the origin of the intestinal tumor open. I think I feel good about the thoractomy, though. Bob's weight loss, lack of appetite and depression could also be attributed to a thymoma. Won't know for sure until pathology comes back, but it sounds like a probable diagnosis.
The ride home on Sunday was pretty good. I was planning on trying it without sedation, but Bob vomited before we'd gone four miles, so out came the ace. He's been happy to be home, wanting lots of attention. His appetite isn't great, but he'll nibble on baby food and seafood flavored cat food. He apparently enjoyed tuna and sardines at M.S.U. so I'll have to pick up a can on my way home. He is pooping, too, so no intestinal perforation!
I actually had the chest rad taken this morning while I was in surgery. It hasn't gone away. In fact, it seems a little bigger to me. I'm going to give Dr. Warzee a call this afternoon and we'll move to the next plan. Most likely the chest mass is a thymoma and surgery is going to be the option. Since Bob is on prednisolone, I probably won't be taking him up for surgery until I can wean him off. Probably next week.
I just looked up thymoma in the magical Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine by Ettinger. Go figure, true thymomas are uncommon :). However, outlook is good with surgical resection, especially in well-encapsulated, discrete tumors. We definately have well-demarcated on the rads, so I'm going to consider that discrete. Thymomas also tend not to spread, so that leaves the origin of the intestinal tumor open. I think I feel good about the thoractomy, though. Bob's weight loss, lack of appetite and depression could also be attributed to a thymoma. Won't know for sure until pathology comes back, but it sounds like a probable diagnosis.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Bob
Anyone who has visited our home, even if only to deliver a pizza, has met Bob. Bob is quite possibly the coolest cat ever. Without a doubt he is the sluttiest . He loves everyone. Bob also has a mass in his chest. Right in front of his heart. Right cranioventral lung lobe about the level of T3 to T5 for the other medical nerds out there. I discoverd this about 2 weeks ago when I was running preanesthetic tests so that I could remove a tumor on his leg. On a whim, I took chest rads. I am so glad that I did because much as this sucks it would have sucked that much worse to have him die on my surgical table.
So, what do you do when you are a veterinarian and your sweet boyo has a mass in his chest? Well, you show the rads to your boss, just in case maybe your eyes are on the fritz (I think that this would count as denial in the stages of grief). You discuss performing a thoracotomy at your practice to remove the mass. You realize that a) you don't have a ventilator so someone will have to breathe for your pet the entire time and b) there's that ugly dying on your table fact rearing its ugly ugly head. So, you e-mail your husband and ask him to meet you at work to go over the films.
What happens next? Oddly enough, with Tony there I went into discussion-with-client-mode. I showed him the rads, explained what I was seeing and what the options were and realized what I offer a client. Not surgery by me without a ventilator. Not kitty hospice. No. I would recommend my client go to see an oncologist. I broached the topic, along with an estimated price tag that I will not repeat here and Tony, bless him, simply replied, "But it's Bob."
Tomorrow morning Bob and I will be up at 5:00 so that we can leave at 6:00 (hopefully with him well-sedated). Our appointment at Michigan State is for 9:00. What happens next? I don't know. If it's not surgical then I guess we'll consider chemo or kitty hospice. If it is surgical, then we'll give it a chance. I guess worst case we lose him on the table of a specialist where everything can be done. Best case we get our happy Bob for a little while longer.
So, what do you do when you are a veterinarian and your sweet boyo has a mass in his chest? Well, you show the rads to your boss, just in case maybe your eyes are on the fritz (I think that this would count as denial in the stages of grief). You discuss performing a thoracotomy at your practice to remove the mass. You realize that a) you don't have a ventilator so someone will have to breathe for your pet the entire time and b) there's that ugly dying on your table fact rearing its ugly ugly head. So, you e-mail your husband and ask him to meet you at work to go over the films.
What happens next? Oddly enough, with Tony there I went into discussion-with-client-mode. I showed him the rads, explained what I was seeing and what the options were and realized what I offer a client. Not surgery by me without a ventilator. Not kitty hospice. No. I would recommend my client go to see an oncologist. I broached the topic, along with an estimated price tag that I will not repeat here and Tony, bless him, simply replied, "But it's Bob."
Tomorrow morning Bob and I will be up at 5:00 so that we can leave at 6:00 (hopefully with him well-sedated). Our appointment at Michigan State is for 9:00. What happens next? I don't know. If it's not surgical then I guess we'll consider chemo or kitty hospice. If it is surgical, then we'll give it a chance. I guess worst case we lose him on the table of a specialist where everything can be done. Best case we get our happy Bob for a little while longer.
Friday, February 24, 2006
All I Wanted ...
So I decided that with the new year I would act as a responsible adult and go to the dentist. I have no problem with dentists, no phobias or panic attacks in the chair. I love the feeling of nice clean teeth. I just never took the time to get set up with one. I made an appointment for an exam and went in promptly on time. While I did not enjoy the radiograph process (the inside of my mandible was tender from the film for a few days), I was happy with the results and ready to schedule my cleaning and the couple of fillings I need because I'm an erratic flosser. However, in filling out the paperwork I remembered that my physician had heard a heart murmur years ago (I can't hear it myself), so I checked heart murmur on the medical history form. Dentists are thorough and responsible people, so he wanted to contact my physician about antibiotics before the cleaning. No problem. I love my physician. She's incredibly thorough and she takes my weird self-diagnostics concerns into consideration without patronizing me (it helps that I really enjoy seeing what my blood tests look line - as long as I've got insurance I'm game for diagnostics). I spent about 2 weeks playing phone tag with her office, though. Turns out she wanted me to have an echocardiogram. OK, no big, I'd talk to her about it at my general female well-being appointment on Monday.
Well, Monday comes and other female matters eliminate the possibility of the general female wll-being appointment. I called the office to reschedule and mentioned that I'm supposed to set up an echo and can someone call me back. Monday night I have a message saying the echo is scheduled for today (Friday) at 12:45. I work at 1:00. Not going to happen. I was able to reschedule the echo for this morning and have now gotten to see my heart from many different views as well as a bonus peek at my liver and sludgy gallbladder (the sludgy is my interpretation, not the technician's as she cannot even interpret the heart stuff and has not been trained on abdominal ultrasonography). I'll have the results on Monday. Then, at long last, I might be able to get my teeth cleaned.
Count down of about 32 hours to the PJ Party by the way!
Well, Monday comes and other female matters eliminate the possibility of the general female wll-being appointment. I called the office to reschedule and mentioned that I'm supposed to set up an echo and can someone call me back. Monday night I have a message saying the echo is scheduled for today (Friday) at 12:45. I work at 1:00. Not going to happen. I was able to reschedule the echo for this morning and have now gotten to see my heart from many different views as well as a bonus peek at my liver and sludgy gallbladder (the sludgy is my interpretation, not the technician's as she cannot even interpret the heart stuff and has not been trained on abdominal ultrasonography). I'll have the results on Monday. Then, at long last, I might be able to get my teeth cleaned.
Count down of about 32 hours to the PJ Party by the way!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Beyond PJs
Plans are rolling right along for the Pajama Party, but other things are happening, too.
Tony went to a practice session for Comic Jam last weekend. Comic Jam is similar to 24-Hour Comic Day except instead of one person writing, drawing and inking a 24 page book (1 page per hour) a team works on a book. I think that it's still a 24 hour process, but I'm not certain about the length of the book. He had a great time and it sounds like his team is set for the real thing. The real Jam is scheduled (appropriately enough) on April 1st.
My parents are visiting my brother in Ecuador right now. I have heard anything since they left, so I'm assuming they got there intact. All three should be in the Galapagos Islands right now. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the stories when they get back.
My friend Michelle is moving to Alabama on Monday. I don't get to see Michelle very often, but she's just an amazingly fun person with a huge heart. I didn't realise how sad I am about her leaving until after her goodbye party last night. The world is a better place because she's in it and I'm really lucky that I got to work with her after I finished school. Happily, she and her husband, Jerry, have to return their rental trailer to South Bend, so they might be crashing the PJ Party!
Right, PJ Party ... It looks like we could have as many as 30 people this year. We're really going to have to finish the basement or get a bigger house. Tony's busily making more floor pillows and planning on moving furniture around. I'm happy because now that winter is back I can try making ice lanterns. Also, the pajama party isn't quite as meaningful when it's 50 degrees outside. Countdown of 8 days left!
Tony went to a practice session for Comic Jam last weekend. Comic Jam is similar to 24-Hour Comic Day except instead of one person writing, drawing and inking a 24 page book (1 page per hour) a team works on a book. I think that it's still a 24 hour process, but I'm not certain about the length of the book. He had a great time and it sounds like his team is set for the real thing. The real Jam is scheduled (appropriately enough) on April 1st.
My parents are visiting my brother in Ecuador right now. I have heard anything since they left, so I'm assuming they got there intact. All three should be in the Galapagos Islands right now. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the stories when they get back.
My friend Michelle is moving to Alabama on Monday. I don't get to see Michelle very often, but she's just an amazingly fun person with a huge heart. I didn't realise how sad I am about her leaving until after her goodbye party last night. The world is a better place because she's in it and I'm really lucky that I got to work with her after I finished school. Happily, she and her husband, Jerry, have to return their rental trailer to South Bend, so they might be crashing the PJ Party!
Right, PJ Party ... It looks like we could have as many as 30 people this year. We're really going to have to finish the basement or get a bigger house. Tony's busily making more floor pillows and planning on moving furniture around. I'm happy because now that winter is back I can try making ice lanterns. Also, the pajama party isn't quite as meaningful when it's 50 degrees outside. Countdown of 8 days left!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Chez PJ - Party Menu forecast
With head-colds breezing through the home, work towards party prep is off to a slow start.
But we have figured out the vittles.
The list includes some old faves, some news one, and one of probably many dishes coming with one of our guests:
"Gutless" Rumaki (Rumaki minus the liver)
Mushroom-Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon wrapped, Parmesean Stuffed Dates
Sweet Satan's Seed (sweet/spicey nut mix)
Igor Bars (geek-treat supreme. sweet-tooth indulgence heaven)
Jalepeno ice cream frosted chocolate cupcakes (yes, you read that right)
Pink Squirrel (ice cream + liquors + frilly name = one sweet buzz)
More alcohol than can safely be consumed
Misc. chips, dips, veggi-trays and the like.
AND...
Cast your vote now! Which would be the better use of our crockpot:
A) Hot Buttered Rum
or
B) Spiced Plum Soup (also suitable for drinking)
If you don't add a comment wiht your opinion, we just might not let you have any.
But we have figured out the vittles.
The list includes some old faves, some news one, and one of probably many dishes coming with one of our guests:
"Gutless" Rumaki (Rumaki minus the liver)
Mushroom-Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon wrapped, Parmesean Stuffed Dates
Sweet Satan's Seed (sweet/spicey nut mix)
Igor Bars (geek-treat supreme. sweet-tooth indulgence heaven)
Jalepeno ice cream frosted chocolate cupcakes (yes, you read that right)
Pink Squirrel (ice cream + liquors + frilly name = one sweet buzz)
More alcohol than can safely be consumed
Misc. chips, dips, veggi-trays and the like.
AND...
Cast your vote now! Which would be the better use of our crockpot:
A) Hot Buttered Rum
or
B) Spiced Plum Soup (also suitable for drinking)
If you don't add a comment wiht your opinion, we just might not let you have any.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Music reviews
You really need to check out this groups reviews sections. Really. Now.
They may not all be winners, but I don't think there's a loser in the bunch.
They may not all be winners, but I don't think there's a loser in the bunch.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Watching my language
Probably the final installment of the" male half of the blog" mini-series:
I have lately at work taken on some copy-writing. Despite my lackluster presence on this blog, I like writing, and feel that, when I'm not just rambling on the keyboard (like, say, now) I can be a fairly effective writer. If not polished or experienced. Anyway, our writer was backed up, I had nothing to do, and one of the account reps said he had a radio spot that needed writing. The boss man said go for it. And I don't think I did a half bad job. Nor did the account rep, nor Mr. Boss-man. Unfortunately, The client is not so easily impressed. So I had to write a second, not-nearly-as-good-but-pleased-the-client script. Apparently reminded of my knack for creative writing, I shortly thereafter wrote a second radio spot, a couple ads and punched up some headlines. It's nice to be able to grow ones experience in different directions.
More recently, I bought myself a lecture series on tape about language. It's history and structure and the like. Interesting stuff. Very engaging lecturer. Keeps me intellectually entertained on my drive to and from work. For those interested in learning about a variety of fascinating subjects on their way to and from work, check out www.teach12.com. The language tape series that has me currently enthralled is "The Story of Human Language".
I have lately at work taken on some copy-writing. Despite my lackluster presence on this blog, I like writing, and feel that, when I'm not just rambling on the keyboard (like, say, now) I can be a fairly effective writer. If not polished or experienced. Anyway, our writer was backed up, I had nothing to do, and one of the account reps said he had a radio spot that needed writing. The boss man said go for it. And I don't think I did a half bad job. Nor did the account rep, nor Mr. Boss-man. Unfortunately, The client is not so easily impressed. So I had to write a second, not-nearly-as-good-but-pleased-the-client script. Apparently reminded of my knack for creative writing, I shortly thereafter wrote a second radio spot, a couple ads and punched up some headlines. It's nice to be able to grow ones experience in different directions.
More recently, I bought myself a lecture series on tape about language. It's history and structure and the like. Interesting stuff. Very engaging lecturer. Keeps me intellectually entertained on my drive to and from work. For those interested in learning about a variety of fascinating subjects on their way to and from work, check out www.teach12.com. The language tape series that has me currently enthralled is "The Story of Human Language".
Stone-walling
Next in our mini-series of mundananity from the life of Tony...
Over a year ago, I bought some very attractive stone tiles for Amy's bathroom. (Amy's bathroom because she gets creative control over decorating it. Likewise, we have Tony's kitchen, which I expect to be thoroughly updating soon). These stone tiles, made of dozens of roughly 1 inch round stones mosaiced onto mesh tile, were promptly "installed" in the storage area of the basement (which is a bit of a redundancy, as that is what the entirety of the basement is). For almost a year, they waited for me to find (a) the time, (b) the knowledge and (c) the motivation to put them up above the shower in the bathroom. Sometime around about Christmas, I found all three.
Well, at least two of the three. Knowledge would come with experience.
It was knowledge that had kept me from the task for a year. I'd find a good, sturdy book on tiling. Filled with helpful illustrations and blue boxes with important notes and clarifications off to the sides. And without fail, it would omit explanation of how to do a step, make assumptions that one knows things that one resorting to this type of book wouldn't know, or offer instruction that went contrary to the previous books instruction.
Finally, I sat down with 4 different references, cross-examined and compared the information, and was confident I had constructed a workable plan for my project. So off to Lowe's I went for supplies. I've found Lowe's to generally be filled with people who are neither helpful nor knowledgeable, and have had many frustrated experiences there. This was not one of them. I found a salesperson who, before I knew it, had corrected half of my misguided 'plan', picked out my supplies, and given me a clear, straightforward to-do instruction list. Which worked very well.
Until the end.
For those who don't know, once you've got the tiles stuck to the wall, you have to mix the grout and smear it over the surface, getting it all between the cracks. The grout sets quickly (20 minutes, I was told) so once you start, there isn't time to waste. So, I mixed double the amount of grout I expected to need, just to be safe, checked that I had everything I might need on hand, stepped up onto the ledge of the tub, and set to work. Scooped a good pile of grout on my trowel, lifted it over my head to the wall above, and watched as gravity took hold of the grout and plopped it toward the tub's floor.
And it sets quickly remember. So I couldn't just say 'bah, I'll clean it up later'. I might risk having a permanent concrete-like lump in the middle of our bathtub. So I set to cleaning it up. Returned to, more carefully) spread the grout on the wall, occasionally dropping bits and slightly larger bits along the way. And, having lost so much grout to gravities seductive call, I got halfway done and had run out of mixed grout. Now panic was setting in. I'm mixing, I'm cleaning, I'm trying in vain to smear this cake batter-mixture from hell on the wall above me rather than below me, and cursing like a pirate with turret's all the while.
Amy choose this moment to treat herself to some coffee. Someplace far away from home. Smart girl.
In the end it looks very nice, with some incidental grout splatter on the joining walls and ceiling. I may get around to sanding them off before next year.
Over a year ago, I bought some very attractive stone tiles for Amy's bathroom. (Amy's bathroom because she gets creative control over decorating it. Likewise, we have Tony's kitchen, which I expect to be thoroughly updating soon). These stone tiles, made of dozens of roughly 1 inch round stones mosaiced onto mesh tile, were promptly "installed" in the storage area of the basement (which is a bit of a redundancy, as that is what the entirety of the basement is). For almost a year, they waited for me to find (a) the time, (b) the knowledge and (c) the motivation to put them up above the shower in the bathroom. Sometime around about Christmas, I found all three.
Well, at least two of the three. Knowledge would come with experience.
It was knowledge that had kept me from the task for a year. I'd find a good, sturdy book on tiling. Filled with helpful illustrations and blue boxes with important notes and clarifications off to the sides. And without fail, it would omit explanation of how to do a step, make assumptions that one knows things that one resorting to this type of book wouldn't know, or offer instruction that went contrary to the previous books instruction.
Finally, I sat down with 4 different references, cross-examined and compared the information, and was confident I had constructed a workable plan for my project. So off to Lowe's I went for supplies. I've found Lowe's to generally be filled with people who are neither helpful nor knowledgeable, and have had many frustrated experiences there. This was not one of them. I found a salesperson who, before I knew it, had corrected half of my misguided 'plan', picked out my supplies, and given me a clear, straightforward to-do instruction list. Which worked very well.
Until the end.
For those who don't know, once you've got the tiles stuck to the wall, you have to mix the grout and smear it over the surface, getting it all between the cracks. The grout sets quickly (20 minutes, I was told) so once you start, there isn't time to waste. So, I mixed double the amount of grout I expected to need, just to be safe, checked that I had everything I might need on hand, stepped up onto the ledge of the tub, and set to work. Scooped a good pile of grout on my trowel, lifted it over my head to the wall above, and watched as gravity took hold of the grout and plopped it toward the tub's floor.
And it sets quickly remember. So I couldn't just say 'bah, I'll clean it up later'. I might risk having a permanent concrete-like lump in the middle of our bathtub. So I set to cleaning it up. Returned to, more carefully) spread the grout on the wall, occasionally dropping bits and slightly larger bits along the way. And, having lost so much grout to gravities seductive call, I got halfway done and had run out of mixed grout. Now panic was setting in. I'm mixing, I'm cleaning, I'm trying in vain to smear this cake batter-mixture from hell on the wall above me rather than below me, and cursing like a pirate with turret's all the while.
Amy choose this moment to treat herself to some coffee. Someplace far away from home. Smart girl.
In the end it looks very nice, with some incidental grout splatter on the joining walls and ceiling. I may get around to sanding them off before next year.
Lights! Camera! Inaction!
Incredibly slow day at work means you get several postings from the silent partner today.
Since I've not been bloggerly of late, I'll take this time to catch up on recent events in my life with a mini-series of recent amazingly mundane adventures. First up:
Lights! Camera! Inaction!
Back in November I auditioned for an independent film. Just on a whim. Saw a poster making an open casting call and noted they needed a couple "male 20-30" types. Acting isn't something I've ever really put myself into - but I've enjoy what little experiences I've had (acting class, high school plays and the like). And, as there was a casting call poster in the Mishawaka Border's, and the auditions were taking place in on of the meeting rooms at the local library, the intimidation factor was pretty low.
Surprisingly, though it's a no-budget film, it has a decent script and seems to be pretty professionally thought out and structured so that it actually CAN be filmed on weekends and evening - around people's real life schedules. I did not get the part they had me read for (20-something Yale grad) - but I did make enough of an impression to get a call back for a second audition, and heaps of praise, with a lot of "I'm really not just being nice. I really mean it" thrown in. Right off the bat the mentioned that my lack of experience was actually refreshing, because they'd auditioned a lot of people with stage acting experience, and acting on stage and on camera are two very different things. It surprised me that anyone with actual acting experience wouldn't be aware of that and adjust for it. Seems obvious to me. Anywho, didn't get a speaking part, but depending on need and scheduling, they may call me in as an extra. We'll see. Regardless, it was a fun leap to take.
Since I've not been bloggerly of late, I'll take this time to catch up on recent events in my life with a mini-series of recent amazingly mundane adventures. First up:
Lights! Camera! Inaction!
Back in November I auditioned for an independent film. Just on a whim. Saw a poster making an open casting call and noted they needed a couple "male 20-30" types. Acting isn't something I've ever really put myself into - but I've enjoy what little experiences I've had (acting class, high school plays and the like). And, as there was a casting call poster in the Mishawaka Border's, and the auditions were taking place in on of the meeting rooms at the local library, the intimidation factor was pretty low.
Surprisingly, though it's a no-budget film, it has a decent script and seems to be pretty professionally thought out and structured so that it actually CAN be filmed on weekends and evening - around people's real life schedules. I did not get the part they had me read for (20-something Yale grad) - but I did make enough of an impression to get a call back for a second audition, and heaps of praise, with a lot of "I'm really not just being nice. I really mean it" thrown in. Right off the bat the mentioned that my lack of experience was actually refreshing, because they'd auditioned a lot of people with stage acting experience, and acting on stage and on camera are two very different things. It surprised me that anyone with actual acting experience wouldn't be aware of that and adjust for it. Seems obvious to me. Anywho, didn't get a speaking part, but depending on need and scheduling, they may call me in as an extra. We'll see. Regardless, it was a fun leap to take.
Cheesiest Update Ever
OK, I know the male half of this blog (me) hasn't posted in ages. And I'm truely sorry. Hopefully this illustration Amy mentioned a couple entries ago (in a comment under the entry "New Year") will at least start to make amends for my absence.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Lives Within Lives
Yesterday I was showing some friends pictures of the spleen that I removed last week. Jason commented that I have this whole other life from the one that they know me in. It's true, but as I thought more about it I realized that everyone does. It's not that we're all paranoid and super secretive, though I will admit that there are parts of myself I protect from everyone but a very few. I think that it's simply that we need to be so many types of ourself to navigate the world. I have my lab-time life and my work life and my life at home with Tony and our friends and family. I like taking of my doctor face at the end of the day. Whether I like putting it on is another issue entirely. Anyhow, Tony has home life and art director life. I know that my friends also have their own lives that don't necessarily intersect with mine and it's easy to forget in our interactions that they go off and do these amazing and interesting things. I feel really lucky when I can hear the stories later. Even if the stories don't involve spleens.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Parents Are Amazing
Truly!
About a week ago Tony's family visited us. Tony's family is wonderful and this visit included his brother, Seth, our sister-in-law, Amanda and our niece, Morgynn. we really don't get to see them often and we were especially excited to see Morgynn as there aren't many children in our life right now. We forgot, in our anticipation, all that an almost-three-year-old entails. Morgynn did really well with the house and the cats. Only one thing got broken. I got to see Bob do a classic turn and run (yes, nonanimated cats can pull off this move). And, we were exhausted the next day.
So, I am in complete awe of those of you who are parents (particularly of toddlers). Kudos to you for having the energy to keep up with them day after day after day. You have the toughest job on the planet! And thanks Mom and Dad!
About a week ago Tony's family visited us. Tony's family is wonderful and this visit included his brother, Seth, our sister-in-law, Amanda and our niece, Morgynn. we really don't get to see them often and we were especially excited to see Morgynn as there aren't many children in our life right now. We forgot, in our anticipation, all that an almost-three-year-old entails. Morgynn did really well with the house and the cats. Only one thing got broken. I got to see Bob do a classic turn and run (yes, nonanimated cats can pull off this move). And, we were exhausted the next day.
So, I am in complete awe of those of you who are parents (particularly of toddlers). Kudos to you for having the energy to keep up with them day after day after day. You have the toughest job on the planet! And thanks Mom and Dad!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
New Year
We spent a really nice New Year's Eve with Megan, Guy and their dogs. Fargo and Dakota are very good houseguests and Bob, our kitty, was too under the weather to cause trouble. I made my first venture into stuffed poultry (rock cornish game hens) and will soon be learning the best ways to handle poultry and stuffing. Thanks Guy and Alton Brown! I think the best thing that I cooked that evening was Winter Plum Soup from Cooking Light. It tasted great and made the house smell good, too! We played a very spirited game of Candamir that night and enjoyed Settlers of the Stone Age on New Year's Day. I prefer Candamir with four players, but it's nice to have a two-player Cataan game out there.
I've decided that every year needs a theme. I think that 2006 may be the Year of the Pirate at our house.
However, it may end up being the Year of Cheese. Any opinions on this? (Megan and Guy, I think 2005 may have been the Year of the Pirate for you).
Tomorrow is the final day of Christmas for us. Hmm, that adds up to 15 days of Christmas. I think we need to add on 13 chocolate covered coffee beans, 14 kooky paper clips and 15 caramels to complete the song. Happy New Year!
I've decided that every year needs a theme. I think that 2006 may be the Year of the Pirate at our house.
However, it may end up being the Year of Cheese. Any opinions on this? (Megan and Guy, I think 2005 may have been the Year of the Pirate for you).
Tomorrow is the final day of Christmas for us. Hmm, that adds up to 15 days of Christmas. I think we need to add on 13 chocolate covered coffee beans, 14 kooky paper clips and 15 caramels to complete the song. Happy New Year!
Friday, November 18, 2005
Return from Slacking
Have we been slacking on the blog? Yes.
Have we been slacking in life as we know it? Only moderately so.
Since we last posted there have been ...
A trip to Saugatuck where we met Jesus in a nice little cafe (pictures to arrive at some point) and
bought a really nice piece of furniture at a really good price.
Tony's return trip to Saugatuck to pick up said piece of furniture (some things just don't fit in the back of
a VW Beetle).
Halloween.
Our third anniversary (the cause of the aforementioned trips).
My 31st birthday. I felt so loved.
A trip to Indianapolis to see the Lord of the Rings exhibition. It was a wonderful geek-out experience
and as a bonus we ran into our friends Jerry and Michelle. They were leaving the Colts game while
we were leaving the museum. Jerry was painted blue and white. the Colts won. He was very happy.
It's always a bit odd to travel 3 hours and run into friends that you never run into at home.
A piece of our siding fell off while we were in Indianapolis (of course, it's been raing and/or snowing
ever since).
The first snow of the season.
I was given authoritah in the lab. I promise not to whack anyone with a baton, though. (Did you know
that just about everyone loves South Park? It's quite amazing!)
What lies ahead ...
Thanksgiving! Actually it'll probably just be me and Tony this year, but we're still going to feast and
use the good china.
I have a week's vacation in early December, may go to Kalamazoo to see the Chihuly exhibit, will go to
Chicago to see the Pompei exhibit.
Hopefulyy less slacking on the blog!
Have we been slacking in life as we know it? Only moderately so.
Since we last posted there have been ...
A trip to Saugatuck where we met Jesus in a nice little cafe (pictures to arrive at some point) and
bought a really nice piece of furniture at a really good price.
Tony's return trip to Saugatuck to pick up said piece of furniture (some things just don't fit in the back of
a VW Beetle).
Halloween.
Our third anniversary (the cause of the aforementioned trips).
My 31st birthday. I felt so loved.
A trip to Indianapolis to see the Lord of the Rings exhibition. It was a wonderful geek-out experience
and as a bonus we ran into our friends Jerry and Michelle. They were leaving the Colts game while
we were leaving the museum. Jerry was painted blue and white. the Colts won. He was very happy.
It's always a bit odd to travel 3 hours and run into friends that you never run into at home.
A piece of our siding fell off while we were in Indianapolis (of course, it's been raing and/or snowing
ever since).
The first snow of the season.
I was given authoritah in the lab. I promise not to whack anyone with a baton, though. (Did you know
that just about everyone loves South Park? It's quite amazing!)
What lies ahead ...
Thanksgiving! Actually it'll probably just be me and Tony this year, but we're still going to feast and
use the good china.
I have a week's vacation in early December, may go to Kalamazoo to see the Chihuly exhibit, will go to
Chicago to see the Pompei exhibit.
Hopefulyy less slacking on the blog!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail Part II: Out of the Closet
The book had been cleverly stashed in The Really Large Closet. The Really Large Closet is a wonderful place. It has three ascending levels and I can sit quite comfortably on the top one. I considered putting a light up there and some of our big pillows and making it into a little fort. That was before it was filled with comic boxes. Now, it just looks like an only slightly larger than normal closet full of random junk. That's actually what it is (filled with random junk, I mean). I think that that is what drew "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail" to it. The Holy Grail could be in there and neither Tony nor I would ever find it. Luckily I found the book and there are still no library fines. Woo hoo!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
"Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail"
This the true title of a book I checked out of the library and have now lost. This is really disappointing for two reasons.
1. I had really enjoyed the little I had read of this nonfictional account of a punk rocker who decides to find the Holy Grail in France.
2. I enjoy being smug about not having library fines when Tony has to pay out large sums of money.
So, if anyone who attended the Katie Party happens to have seen "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail" sitting around, please let me know.
While I was wondering where R.S. had gotten to, I went ahead and read "The Historian". While there are no aging punks in this book I really enjoyed it. I thought the concluding section felt a bit off, but overall it was well worth the hardcover price and I'm looking forward to passing it on to my Mom when I see her next weekend.
1. I had really enjoyed the little I had read of this nonfictional account of a punk rocker who decides to find the Holy Grail in France.
2. I enjoy being smug about not having library fines when Tony has to pay out large sums of money.
So, if anyone who attended the Katie Party happens to have seen "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail" sitting around, please let me know.
While I was wondering where R.S. had gotten to, I went ahead and read "The Historian". While there are no aging punks in this book I really enjoyed it. I thought the concluding section felt a bit off, but overall it was well worth the hardcover price and I'm looking forward to passing it on to my Mom when I see her next weekend.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Katie Party aftermath
Another fine night of eating, drinking, laughing and karaoke-ing.
We can deem the part must have been successful, because it was a topic of much discussion at Amy;s work and lab, and two people have requested that we now throw a party in their names. Perhaps this is a chargeable service - "for the low price of $99.95, Amy an Tony party service will throw a party of your very own."
At 13 people, not a huge party, but within the area of optimal guests/fun/space ratio. Not a ton of leftover food. Lots of mess, but centralized to the kitchen, dining room, and back room (and, sadly, still present in the kitchen).
Although the blog is the place for breakdown of party minutiae, I'll leave that for Amy. 'Cuz I don't feel like it (and I'm at work right now).
Thank you all who came, shame on those who didn't (especially those who said you would but "forgot" or "double booked" or "didn't exactly give a reason, which might mean we don't want to know". You know who you are).
We can deem the part must have been successful, because it was a topic of much discussion at Amy;s work and lab, and two people have requested that we now throw a party in their names. Perhaps this is a chargeable service - "for the low price of $99.95, Amy an Tony party service will throw a party of your very own."
At 13 people, not a huge party, but within the area of optimal guests/fun/space ratio. Not a ton of leftover food. Lots of mess, but centralized to the kitchen, dining room, and back room (and, sadly, still present in the kitchen).
Although the blog is the place for breakdown of party minutiae, I'll leave that for Amy. 'Cuz I don't feel like it (and I'm at work right now).
Thank you all who came, shame on those who didn't (especially those who said you would but "forgot" or "double booked" or "didn't exactly give a reason, which might mean we don't want to know". You know who you are).
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Another Party - for Katie
We're having another party next weekend. My friend Katie requested another pajama party a few months ago. Now, while winter pajamas are cute and fluffy and cuddly, summer pajamas tend to be only cute. Sometimes they are even nonexistant. So, no summer pajama party. However, we're rarely opposed to having a party (it gives us an excuse to clean the house, after all) so next weekend Katie's party will become a reality. We've begun cleaning already and have purchased a new Karaoke Revolution disc in anticipation. We also bought some more Caramel Temptation. if we can't have real pajamas, we can at least drink caramel pajamas!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Burgled!
So I might have next caught up and written a few words about my Father's (adoptive, not genetic) visit, or our weekend fun in Chicago. But instead, I'm compelled to share annoying crappy news.
We've been burgaled. Two nights in a row. Maybe three.
Nothing of tremendous value was taken. Petty Burglary. A weedwacker. A gaspowered lawnmower (which wasn't working anyway). An old bike (which may actually have been quite valuable in an antique/collectible sort of way - the jury is still out on that one). But ti's more the principle that's pissing me off.
It happens once, and oh well, things happen. But it is becoming a pattern. And I'm not sure how immeadiately anything can be done.
I went out to my car Monday morning to find the garage door open. And I was sure I had closed it. The I noted an oddly 'empty' spot in the garage. My mom's handed down 1978 Motebecane Touring bike was gone. This morning the door was open again (and you can be damn sure I closed had it that time) and we were minus one lawnmower. And a weedwacker, which might have been gone before unnoticed.
Our garage door auto opener and lock have been broke for some time. We tried to fix it a few times, but the "oh its easy, all you have to do is this" advice proved insufficient. I will confess to having a couple times in the past absent-mindedly left it open overnight. Obviously I'll be far less likely to do so in the future.
The truely aggravating thing is that there is no immeadiate fix to keep it from happening again. I somehow doubt we can get Lowe's out to install a new opener after I get home at 5:30. Or a locksmith. And I think our previous experiences have shown this is beyond and evening of 'do-it-ourselves". Maybe motion lights are easy to install. I can hope.
The other annoying thing (well, one of) is the dangerous desire to wait in the garage overnight and catch the bastard. Yeah. That's safe.
It's also tempting to play 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'. Stupid, but tempting. We have a lot of stuff that is broken/valuelss (old broken TVs, etc.) that we'd have to pay for the city to pick up with out garbage. Maybe I could just leave those in the front of the garage and get 'em toted for free. And encourage repeat visits from our freindly neighborhood thieves guild.
We've been burgaled. Two nights in a row. Maybe three.
Nothing of tremendous value was taken. Petty Burglary. A weedwacker. A gaspowered lawnmower (which wasn't working anyway). An old bike (which may actually have been quite valuable in an antique/collectible sort of way - the jury is still out on that one). But ti's more the principle that's pissing me off.
It happens once, and oh well, things happen. But it is becoming a pattern. And I'm not sure how immeadiately anything can be done.
I went out to my car Monday morning to find the garage door open. And I was sure I had closed it. The I noted an oddly 'empty' spot in the garage. My mom's handed down 1978 Motebecane Touring bike was gone. This morning the door was open again (and you can be damn sure I closed had it that time) and we were minus one lawnmower. And a weedwacker, which might have been gone before unnoticed.
Our garage door auto opener and lock have been broke for some time. We tried to fix it a few times, but the "oh its easy, all you have to do is this" advice proved insufficient. I will confess to having a couple times in the past absent-mindedly left it open overnight. Obviously I'll be far less likely to do so in the future.
The truely aggravating thing is that there is no immeadiate fix to keep it from happening again. I somehow doubt we can get Lowe's out to install a new opener after I get home at 5:30. Or a locksmith. And I think our previous experiences have shown this is beyond and evening of 'do-it-ourselves". Maybe motion lights are easy to install. I can hope.
The other annoying thing (well, one of) is the dangerous desire to wait in the garage overnight and catch the bastard. Yeah. That's safe.
It's also tempting to play 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'. Stupid, but tempting. We have a lot of stuff that is broken/valuelss (old broken TVs, etc.) that we'd have to pay for the city to pick up with out garbage. Maybe I could just leave those in the front of the garage and get 'em toted for free. And encourage repeat visits from our freindly neighborhood thieves guild.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
The Wife Has Returned
I made it back from California well educated and glad to be home. Monterey was nice and it was great to see Valerie, but it was very hard to be stuck in the same dark room for several hours at a time. I had scary flashback to E-100 the large, usually very dark lecture hall that sucked up many hours of my life between the ages of 20 and 22.
Tony did get a few things done while I was gone. The recycling got taken out, the kitchen is cleaner than I left it and our remaining baby dove is becoming more social. Unfortunately, Bob did some things, too. Urinating on the Welcome mat in the cafe room being the most significant. I'll see what nature's Miracle can do, but it might just be time for a new mat.
Last night was fun! Westayed in Chicago and went clubbing. This involved Tony playing sugar daddy and buying me appropriate clothes before we left the hotel. We tried 3 clubs, but only got into 1 because there was a special event going on at the second and we didn't really want to pay $40 cover for music we didn't care for at the third. Now Tony's napping (we rarely see 3am anymore) and I'm thinking that's a great idea.
Tony did get a few things done while I was gone. The recycling got taken out, the kitchen is cleaner than I left it and our remaining baby dove is becoming more social. Unfortunately, Bob did some things, too. Urinating on the Welcome mat in the cafe room being the most significant. I'll see what nature's Miracle can do, but it might just be time for a new mat.
Last night was fun! Westayed in Chicago and went clubbing. This involved Tony playing sugar daddy and buying me appropriate clothes before we left the hotel. We tried 3 clubs, but only got into 1 because there was a special event going on at the second and we didn't really want to pay $40 cover for music we didn't care for at the third. Now Tony's napping (we rarely see 3am anymore) and I'm thinking that's a great idea.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
When the wife is away...
...the husband falls into a temporary depressed state and accomplishes nothing.
Amy is at a vet conference in California this week. Leaving me with loads of time to get things done in a distractionless environment.
Or not.
Mostly not, so far.
Amy is at a vet conference in California this week. Leaving me with loads of time to get things done in a distractionless environment.
Or not.
Mostly not, so far.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Goodbye: finding words
I still feel like I should say something of my grandfather's passing. But while I feel compelled to say *something*, there is nothing in particular I am compelled to say.
I have yet to experience that moment of purging grief. Where you get out all the raw emotion so you can move past the event. I've had moments of sad quiet and eyes pooled with tears, but not that defining moment where I get it out of my system.
It makes me feel a bit guilty. That I don't have more mourning to exhibit. And I know that I'm being unfair to myself, everyone expresses grief and experiences loss differently, blah, blah, blah. But still I feel like my lack of emotional upheaval somehow devalues his life.
And maybe its just because he didn't die all in one day. He's been on the brink for over a year now. There were several times I had to reallign my mindset to accept the possibility of his passing. I had many moments to come to terms with his passing. None really definite. None conclusive. But enough to adjust to the notion.
In my eyes, in my heart, he didn't die last Friday. He died at some indeterminable point between his 50th wedding anniversary and Friday. Sometime shortly after Father's day, I think. During some gradual but not exactly slow decline, stopped speaking. Stopped eating. Forgot how to swallow. Lost control of his bowels. Technically, he was still alive - but the man I knew had passed on, and it was growing clear he wouldn't be coming back - or at least, not for any extended stay.
And there was a period of time, several months into his battle with cancer, that I expected him to make a recovery. He grew stronger. More able. Walked for short distances on his own. Engaged in conversation. Real conversation. More so at times than he did before the cancer started. Even as his strength slipped, there was still hope.
But after the celebrating (as much as he was able to do so) his 50th wedding anniversary, his health deteriorated rapidly. He had looked bad then, and I was told it was a 'good day' for him. I chose to say goodbye then - hoping it might not actually be the final goodbye, but accepting that it probably was. I wanted to say goodbye when he was able to say it back - and I wasn't sure he'd be able to do that again.
And it was a good goodbye. I asked for a big hug, and he squeezed me tighter than i thought he should have been able, in his frail state. And that show of strength gave me one last fleeting hope that maybe we one have another goodbye.
I wish I could say that had been our final moment. Sadly it wasn't. I called the house on Father's day - hoping maybe my father had called there and left a phone number recently (long, irrelevent story). I figured, as long as I was on the phone, I should take the opportunity to wish my grandfather happy father's day. Great idea, yet really not a very good idea. Even when fully cognisant, Grandpa didn't hear very well. My last moments with him involved me trying, wiht no success, to explain that I was wishing him "Happy Fathers Day", not "something bothers me" and certainly not "you are bothering me". My last moments were spent asking him to give the phone back to grandma, leaving him wondering why I had called to say that he bothered me.
I can take some small comfort in being sure he didn't retain that memory for very long. I kind of hope I don't either.
I have yet to experience that moment of purging grief. Where you get out all the raw emotion so you can move past the event. I've had moments of sad quiet and eyes pooled with tears, but not that defining moment where I get it out of my system.
It makes me feel a bit guilty. That I don't have more mourning to exhibit. And I know that I'm being unfair to myself, everyone expresses grief and experiences loss differently, blah, blah, blah. But still I feel like my lack of emotional upheaval somehow devalues his life.
And maybe its just because he didn't die all in one day. He's been on the brink for over a year now. There were several times I had to reallign my mindset to accept the possibility of his passing. I had many moments to come to terms with his passing. None really definite. None conclusive. But enough to adjust to the notion.
In my eyes, in my heart, he didn't die last Friday. He died at some indeterminable point between his 50th wedding anniversary and Friday. Sometime shortly after Father's day, I think. During some gradual but not exactly slow decline, stopped speaking. Stopped eating. Forgot how to swallow. Lost control of his bowels. Technically, he was still alive - but the man I knew had passed on, and it was growing clear he wouldn't be coming back - or at least, not for any extended stay.
And there was a period of time, several months into his battle with cancer, that I expected him to make a recovery. He grew stronger. More able. Walked for short distances on his own. Engaged in conversation. Real conversation. More so at times than he did before the cancer started. Even as his strength slipped, there was still hope.
But after the celebrating (as much as he was able to do so) his 50th wedding anniversary, his health deteriorated rapidly. He had looked bad then, and I was told it was a 'good day' for him. I chose to say goodbye then - hoping it might not actually be the final goodbye, but accepting that it probably was. I wanted to say goodbye when he was able to say it back - and I wasn't sure he'd be able to do that again.
And it was a good goodbye. I asked for a big hug, and he squeezed me tighter than i thought he should have been able, in his frail state. And that show of strength gave me one last fleeting hope that maybe we one have another goodbye.
I wish I could say that had been our final moment. Sadly it wasn't. I called the house on Father's day - hoping maybe my father had called there and left a phone number recently (long, irrelevent story). I figured, as long as I was on the phone, I should take the opportunity to wish my grandfather happy father's day. Great idea, yet really not a very good idea. Even when fully cognisant, Grandpa didn't hear very well. My last moments with him involved me trying, wiht no success, to explain that I was wishing him "Happy Fathers Day", not "something bothers me" and certainly not "you are bothering me". My last moments were spent asking him to give the phone back to grandma, leaving him wondering why I had called to say that he bothered me.
I can take some small comfort in being sure he didn't retain that memory for very long. I kind of hope I don't either.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Saying Goodbye
Tony's grandfather passed away last Friday. While this was expected, it was still very sad. He had struggled with brain cancer for 14 months and did pretty well for most of that time. On Monday night we made the trip up to Michigan so that we could say goodbye on Tuesday. It was a wonderful funeral, with lots of fond memories and a good amount of laughter. Grandpa Hayden never minded being the butt of jokes (although it's debatable how much of any given joke he heard) as long as there was laughter. I'll miss his big heart and his open expressions of joy and wonder at what his grandchildren accomplished in the world. I don't think that I'll miss hearing the details of bumper styling for the 1936 truck he was restoring, but you never really know. He welcomed me into the family from the first time he met me and I never felt like anything besides a grandkid who had stumbled into the fold a little later in life than most of the others.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Ooh, My Aura's Showing
We went to a psychic fair last weekend. It was my fault - I have a friend who has a friend who sees auras. She told me that mine was interesting, but never told me any more. I have great fun with these sorts of things, so I was intrigued and frustrated that she went back to Australia without ever explaining. I wanted to know what color my aura is. Aura reading was on the flyer for this psychic fair, so I decided that this was my chance to define "interesting".
I got home from work and dragged a less interested Tony to the bead store. I happily paid my $10 and was escorted into a dimly lit back room. The aura reader was a heavy-set black man wearing a nice black t-shirt and olive green slacks. His name was Bill. He did have an ankh pendant on, so there was some element of the mystical there. We introduced ourselves and the first thing that he mentioned was that he saw the seven dwarves and they looked very excited and cheerful. I wasn't expecting Disney references, but who am I to say that personal symbolism shouldn't encompass pop culture? I did tell him that I am a vet, so a good number of animal references came up. Lots of different kinds of dogs, which is apparently unusual, and he asked me if I'd ever worked with exotic pets (weekly), specifically monkeys (I like prosimians, but for most people that's splitting hairs) and snakes (one to twice a year) and cranes (on this one I've got nothin'). Supposedly it's bad luck to share the interpretation, but if you ask me personally I'll explain what it all meant.
What did I learn? I worked with animals in a past life when I was a man (he seemed to think that the man part would bother me, but who cares I'm a woman this time around). No matter where my life goes I need to learn about politics. And, underneath all of the creatures frolicking, my aura is white with yellow at my crown and blue at my throat. It was fun! I might do it again some time, but I think that I'll do a past-life regression next just to get to know this man that I was :)
Oh, Tony had a reading, too. His spirits were not quite as cooperative, but they did suggest that he eat more garlic.
I got home from work and dragged a less interested Tony to the bead store. I happily paid my $10 and was escorted into a dimly lit back room. The aura reader was a heavy-set black man wearing a nice black t-shirt and olive green slacks. His name was Bill. He did have an ankh pendant on, so there was some element of the mystical there. We introduced ourselves and the first thing that he mentioned was that he saw the seven dwarves and they looked very excited and cheerful. I wasn't expecting Disney references, but who am I to say that personal symbolism shouldn't encompass pop culture? I did tell him that I am a vet, so a good number of animal references came up. Lots of different kinds of dogs, which is apparently unusual, and he asked me if I'd ever worked with exotic pets (weekly), specifically monkeys (I like prosimians, but for most people that's splitting hairs) and snakes (one to twice a year) and cranes (on this one I've got nothin'). Supposedly it's bad luck to share the interpretation, but if you ask me personally I'll explain what it all meant.
What did I learn? I worked with animals in a past life when I was a man (he seemed to think that the man part would bother me, but who cares I'm a woman this time around). No matter where my life goes I need to learn about politics. And, underneath all of the creatures frolicking, my aura is white with yellow at my crown and blue at my throat. It was fun! I might do it again some time, but I think that I'll do a past-life regression next just to get to know this man that I was :)
Oh, Tony had a reading, too. His spirits were not quite as cooperative, but they did suggest that he eat more garlic.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Side of the Angels?
As a general rule, I don't want to talk about my job here. There are lots of reasons for my ambivalence, but I think that it might be good to talk about yesterday because it's weighing on my mind (I know, I know, ego blog) and because, frankly, just about everybody involved lost.
Long story short. Yesterday we were confronted with a truly tragic animal hoarding situation. Animal hoarding is the pathologic version of the crazy cat lady. Probably most crazy cat ladies would be diagnosed with whatever the correct psychological term is for this condition. Most of the time all of these pets (and there can be hundreds) are kept in a house/apartment/trailer. Sometimes the hoarder is able to lead an otherwise normal life, sometimes it's obvious that there's a problem. You've probably all seen these stories in the newspaper or on Animal Planet. The owner always has a sense of being the savior to these animals.
Right, so what was so bad about yesterday? Yesterday's hoarder was escaping from an abusive husband with her twenty-something cats in her car. She was also trying to get the cats vaccinated so that they could stay somewhere outside of her car while she was, presumably, getting her life together. Most of these cats and kittens were sick. Animal Control and the Humane Society were both looking for her and her carload of cats. In the end, she lost almost all of the cats (she was allowed to keep a few, healthy cats), a lot of hope and probably won't get the emotional and psychological help she needs. Did we do the right thing? Yes. Was she wrong to keep these cats with her in the car? Without a doubt. Will the cats be better off now? Those that survive (and I include the ones she was able to keep) yes. Will she make it to living a safe and healthy life? Possibly. I don't know the statistics, but I seem to recall that hoarders tend to hoard again even with treatment and I can't imagine she'll get any soon. Call me overly grim, but I worry that she might kill herself. She had herself, her car and these cats. Oh, and she was trying to do the right thing and lost out anyway.
Doing the right thing is incredibly bitter sometimes.
Long story short. Yesterday we were confronted with a truly tragic animal hoarding situation. Animal hoarding is the pathologic version of the crazy cat lady. Probably most crazy cat ladies would be diagnosed with whatever the correct psychological term is for this condition. Most of the time all of these pets (and there can be hundreds) are kept in a house/apartment/trailer. Sometimes the hoarder is able to lead an otherwise normal life, sometimes it's obvious that there's a problem. You've probably all seen these stories in the newspaper or on Animal Planet. The owner always has a sense of being the savior to these animals.
Right, so what was so bad about yesterday? Yesterday's hoarder was escaping from an abusive husband with her twenty-something cats in her car. She was also trying to get the cats vaccinated so that they could stay somewhere outside of her car while she was, presumably, getting her life together. Most of these cats and kittens were sick. Animal Control and the Humane Society were both looking for her and her carload of cats. In the end, she lost almost all of the cats (she was allowed to keep a few, healthy cats), a lot of hope and probably won't get the emotional and psychological help she needs. Did we do the right thing? Yes. Was she wrong to keep these cats with her in the car? Without a doubt. Will the cats be better off now? Those that survive (and I include the ones she was able to keep) yes. Will she make it to living a safe and healthy life? Possibly. I don't know the statistics, but I seem to recall that hoarders tend to hoard again even with treatment and I can't imagine she'll get any soon. Call me overly grim, but I worry that she might kill herself. She had herself, her car and these cats. Oh, and she was trying to do the right thing and lost out anyway.
Doing the right thing is incredibly bitter sometimes.
Monday, July 04, 2005
West Virginia Wedding
This July 4th holiday weekend Amy and I drove out to West Virginia for her cousin's wedding. It was a long-ass drive, but would have certainly felt longer (to me) if i had to drive more than a couple hours of it (the unwritten rule, which much of Amy's family seems determined to believe is some sort of cover story for...something, is that whomever's family is the cause/destination of the trip, that person gets transportation and agenda-making duty/priveledge).
We had a great time. The wedding was short and sweet, reception was quite nice - the 'second reception' with dancing/etc was cancelled in favor of a get together at families house - which was a load of fun. It's the first me I've got a good chance to really relax and get to know a lot that side of Amy's family. They are a hoot. They remind me very much of my own family, just a decade older and more settled.
The following day we spent a little time at John and Jamie's (parents of Erin, the bride, Amy's cousin) camper on the (Ohio?) river, went out on the jet ski, which was a lot of fun, and just hung out some more and said our good-byes. At least three times over. It's hard to actually *leave* when there's that much family. Just liike an event wiht my family. ).
And, as a special treat for the upcoming week, I forgot to pack my medication for the trip. My happy, emotionally stabilizing, keep me from unneccesarily spiralling into a shallow but unavoidable pit off frustration and helplessness medication. It usually takes a couple missed days for me to notice, and that effect doesn't generally hit untill the 3nd-5th day. Day 3, and haven't gotten fidgety yet. We'll keep you posted in any 'mundane adventures' result.
We had a great time. The wedding was short and sweet, reception was quite nice - the 'second reception' with dancing/etc was cancelled in favor of a get together at families house - which was a load of fun. It's the first me I've got a good chance to really relax and get to know a lot that side of Amy's family. They are a hoot. They remind me very much of my own family, just a decade older and more settled.
The following day we spent a little time at John and Jamie's (parents of Erin, the bride, Amy's cousin) camper on the (Ohio?) river, went out on the jet ski, which was a lot of fun, and just hung out some more and said our good-byes. At least three times over. It's hard to actually *leave* when there's that much family. Just liike an event wiht my family. ).
And, as a special treat for the upcoming week, I forgot to pack my medication for the trip. My happy, emotionally stabilizing, keep me from unneccesarily spiralling into a shallow but unavoidable pit off frustration and helplessness medication. It usually takes a couple missed days for me to notice, and that effect doesn't generally hit untill the 3nd-5th day. Day 3, and haven't gotten fidgety yet. We'll keep you posted in any 'mundane adventures' result.
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