Monday, November 28, 2005
Lost in construction
I know it's been a while, blogger. I've missed you. *Actually*, I've been working 10 hour days and am exhausted. My bad.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
And to reiterate...
For those of you who do not read the Divas blog...
This month marks a year since someone I was close to passed away. To be specific, it was my ex-boyfriends Aunt, who I got to know pretty well in the time that we were together. We did some cooking together, a little shopping, trip to the Zoo. Then she started having trouble moving her neck, and had pain in her shoulder. After a month or so went by, they finally got to the root of the problem; it was ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's disease.
The abridged version of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is that it's a muscular neuron disease. Basically, it slowly deprives you of all motor functions and renders your muscles completely usesless, and caused degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.
There is no cure, and most all treatments become pointless after a period of time. It's final, and it's the worst thing to witness someone you care about going through.
I was reading the last book in The Dark Tower series that morning. I had just gotten to the part in the book where Eddie, my favorite character dies. I was crying, but not just crying. I was *sobbing*, full-force body-shaking sobs, complete with snot and puffiness in the face. I sat there thinking, "I can't believe I'm crying like this over a BOOK". Not five minuites later the phone rang. Laura had died. We drove over there to sit with her husband while he waited for the funeral home. I knew this was coming, I was prepared. But I had just seen her the night before, though she may or may not have seen me since at that point she had finally gotten a morphine drip. I had cleaned her face and brushed her hair, held her hand while I read my book, the sound of her breathing machine a heartbeat in the background.
There wasn't going to be anymore brushing hair, no more cooking together, no more trips to the zoo. No more hearing her yell "FUCK!" when I beat her at Scrabble. It was just...the end.
We found out that she had ALS in June. She died in early November. She had five months with a rapidly deteriorating quality of life.
As I said, there is no cure. But there is research in the works. Which is currently being hindered by the current administrations ban on using new stem cells for research. The National Stem Cell Information Site describes Stem Cells as "Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive." The ban needs to be lifted on the research on new stem cells, which are not only invaulable to ALS research, but also Parkinson's disease and a host of others.
Please visit The ALS Advocacy Page as well as the infomation page for HBO's documentary Three Sisters and read about Jennifer Estess, who lived six years with ALS and helped raise millions for research, awareness and advocacy.
This month marks a year since someone I was close to passed away. To be specific, it was my ex-boyfriends Aunt, who I got to know pretty well in the time that we were together. We did some cooking together, a little shopping, trip to the Zoo. Then she started having trouble moving her neck, and had pain in her shoulder. After a month or so went by, they finally got to the root of the problem; it was ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's disease.
The abridged version of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is that it's a muscular neuron disease. Basically, it slowly deprives you of all motor functions and renders your muscles completely usesless, and caused degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.
There is no cure, and most all treatments become pointless after a period of time. It's final, and it's the worst thing to witness someone you care about going through.
I was reading the last book in The Dark Tower series that morning. I had just gotten to the part in the book where Eddie, my favorite character dies. I was crying, but not just crying. I was *sobbing*, full-force body-shaking sobs, complete with snot and puffiness in the face. I sat there thinking, "I can't believe I'm crying like this over a BOOK". Not five minuites later the phone rang. Laura had died. We drove over there to sit with her husband while he waited for the funeral home. I knew this was coming, I was prepared. But I had just seen her the night before, though she may or may not have seen me since at that point she had finally gotten a morphine drip. I had cleaned her face and brushed her hair, held her hand while I read my book, the sound of her breathing machine a heartbeat in the background.
There wasn't going to be anymore brushing hair, no more cooking together, no more trips to the zoo. No more hearing her yell "FUCK!" when I beat her at Scrabble. It was just...the end.
We found out that she had ALS in June. She died in early November. She had five months with a rapidly deteriorating quality of life.
As I said, there is no cure. But there is research in the works. Which is currently being hindered by the current administrations ban on using new stem cells for research. The National Stem Cell Information Site describes Stem Cells as "Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive." The ban needs to be lifted on the research on new stem cells, which are not only invaulable to ALS research, but also Parkinson's disease and a host of others.
Please visit The ALS Advocacy Page as well as the infomation page for HBO's documentary Three Sisters and read about Jennifer Estess, who lived six years with ALS and helped raise millions for research, awareness and advocacy.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
A day spent at the Social Security Office
Just when you think your past is behind you...it turns out that the social security office never processed your name change from your divorce! And you have to spend the day in the small, humid, yucky offices of social security. And you forgot to bring a book.
A a note on that:
Some people should never breed. I saw damn fine proof of that today. Yikes. Of course I count myself in that group. Because I can't even keep fish alive. I can keep cats alive, but mostly because they eat the fish.
****
I have been invited to a fancy-dress-hot-liquor (and probably Bacon) party! I decided to do it up Sadie Hawkins style and ask someone to be my date. Is it still considered Sadie Hawkins if I asked Crystal?
Staying put, by the way. At least until we get that big scary christian exodus. Then it's Bye Bye Birdie!
A a note on that:
Some people should never breed. I saw damn fine proof of that today. Yikes. Of course I count myself in that group. Because I can't even keep fish alive. I can keep cats alive, but mostly because they eat the fish.
****
I have been invited to a fancy-dress-hot-liquor (and probably Bacon) party! I decided to do it up Sadie Hawkins style and ask someone to be my date. Is it still considered Sadie Hawkins if I asked Crystal?
Staying put, by the way. At least until we get that big scary christian exodus. Then it's Bye Bye Birdie!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Buffy Rules!
Just a note from the land of fandom...
On Bravo's Top 100 TV Characters of all time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer ranks at #13!
That's my girl!
On Bravo's Top 100 TV Characters of all time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer ranks at #13!
That's my girl!
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Wicked Trio
I amended my blog links for my 3 favorite geek boys, Dane, BOBI, and Adam. I decided it was kind of mean to put them in numerical order, so now they are all my fake boyfriends in equal measure. What a hussy I am.
So I got this new job. It's very dusty. And I don't get paid sick days. You find that a lot when you work in some kind of service industry. It's to discourage technicians from being out sick. But I get sick, like, a lot. At least twice a winter and once in the spring.
And I'm still considering moving to Greenville. I'm getting to the point I never thought I would get to. I'm getting sick of Columbia. I grew up in such a tiny craphole town, that being here seemed so vogue. Now I just kind of feel "meh" about it. Plus, I want to NOT live near any Ex's. To quote Sex & The City: "I'd always imagined running into my ex and his new wife. Except in my scenario, It was with a truck."
So I got this new job. It's very dusty. And I don't get paid sick days. You find that a lot when you work in some kind of service industry. It's to discourage technicians from being out sick. But I get sick, like, a lot. At least twice a winter and once in the spring.
And I'm still considering moving to Greenville. I'm getting to the point I never thought I would get to. I'm getting sick of Columbia. I grew up in such a tiny craphole town, that being here seemed so vogue. Now I just kind of feel "meh" about it. Plus, I want to NOT live near any Ex's. To quote Sex & The City: "I'd always imagined running into my ex and his new wife. Except in my scenario, It was with a truck."
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Friday, November 04, 2005
Stop me before I hit the pay per view!
Okay, pretty typical week. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday = work, work, work. Thrusday = got fired. Huh? Wait, rewind? Yeah, got fired. Came home at noon a big ol' snot ball, with scary prom queen mascara running down my face and DAMMIT, did I just get fired or what? Uh, yeah. I so did. So back to it being noon yesterday. I walk in the door and have a total Cordelia moment "Excuse Me, I have to call EVERYONE I have EVER MET Right Now!!!" Called my friends and other persons, cried, shock shock shock. *Ding!* Idea Light! Let's have a cocktail! Absolut + Cranberry Juice = the cure for crying. Yay! Now I'm totally unemployed AND I've got a buzz!
Anyway. Thought I might ride the unemployment tide while Georgie Boy still lets people HAVE unemployment. Then I can do something I've always excelled at, which is Lounging. I have a fucking GOLD medal in Lounging. How do you think I keep up with so many TV shows? Now I will have to add daytime TV to my retinue. Although I'm hoping I can just catch Reruns of Quantum Leap instead of having to resort to watching Passions. EEK!
Anyway. Thought I might ride the unemployment tide while Georgie Boy still lets people HAVE unemployment. Then I can do something I've always excelled at, which is Lounging. I have a fucking GOLD medal in Lounging. How do you think I keep up with so many TV shows? Now I will have to add daytime TV to my retinue. Although I'm hoping I can just catch Reruns of Quantum Leap instead of having to resort to watching Passions. EEK!
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