Vacation

I have been on vacation since December 24th and haven't gotten anything I planned completed. I wanted to clean out our office, clean out the pantry, the refrigerator. What exactly is frig and why would one re-frigerate something. Was it already frigged? Anyway, I spent the first three days in a painful fog, but I have been doing a little extra housework each day since then. Yesterday, I spent four hours playing Zelda on the Wii (I always did love that game). I am almost 47 years old, still playing video games; it's supposed to keep my brain young I think. The vacation officially lasts until next Wednesday but after today, there will be no more housework catch-up. We are leaving tomorrow to visit grandpa. I can't wait. He is the cutest little old guy who has personally seen so much history. I want to get a picture of him this visit to put in my new picture frame.

Christmas

For the first time in years, I was able to buy my boys a toy and it was also a surprise! At their ages, 17 and 22, it is easier to ask them what they want and go buy it. But this year, we had some extra money and I bought a Wii. It was fun to watch the concentration on their faces as they played. Last night, Mike and I got a chuckle out of hearing their laughter coming from the living room. Anything that keeps them bonding as brothers is alright by me. I am grateful that they have turned into such fine young men. Jeffrey has taken to shoveling the walk without my asking. I still think he's been replaced by an alien but I like this new child.

I got lots of new clothes for work, including two suede jackets. I am slowly building up a work wardrobe now that I am wearing girl clothes instead of scrubs. I also got a beautiful pair of diamond and blue topaz earrings. Oh, and an computerized picture frame for all of my pictures. I sort of begged for that one. I need to decorate my cubicle at work.

Mikey got computer parts (video card), a folding recliner for camping, awning lights, and two books. I happened to be walking past our cafeteria and they were holding an author signing of the Train to Polevka. Who knew the author was from Utah. So Mikey got an autographed copy.

All in all, it was a great Christmas.

The Analytical Mind

There have been a series of storms this week which means I have spent more time than I like in bed with either an ice bag on my head or heat; whichever seems to feel best at the time. I tried to take fewer meds this morning so I could finish my paper which was a mistake. After being slammed upside the head with the Full Monty of Pain (tremors, weakness, nausea, bone pain), I was lying in bed analyzing the symptoms. Some of the thoughts going through my head, "how can I feel so weak while laying flat on my back?" "I wonder how I can feel internally shaky but not be moving" "Maybe the bones in my face will eventually just fall away from whatever is causing this". OK, there were drugs involved. I'm pretty sure my face isn't going to fall away. But sometimes I wonder if there isn't something wrong that we can't find like a bone infection in my face. Nothing should hurt this bad this often without some kind of Xray evidence, right? Wrong.

Naughty Dreams

On the off chance that you are reading this blog (Mom or Dad), turn back now. I mean it. Don't go any further.

This morning, I woke up feverish which is not unusual for me (see any posts related to my health). But, it explains why I have felt like I've been hit with a sleepy stick the last two days. I made it an entire hour before I needed any pain pills so I took a Lortab without my usual morning Phenergan chaser (nausea with pain, oh joy). I could not understand why taking less drugs than usual and I was feeling drugged and sleepy. Then around noon, the pain hit me with full nauseating-just-kill-me-now force. So, I took a quarter of Phenergan and went to bed with an ice bag on my face. I slept for three hours; Mike would say that means I needed it. I would say that means I will not get anything done today on my first vacation day. I don't like sleeping on drugs because it makes my dreams busy. Many times, I am being chased in my dreams but on special days I am doing the chasing. I was chasing the big O. Obviously I am in need of a good orgasm. I was dreaming about erect phalluses of all shapes and sizes both human and electronic. I chased and sometimes was able to enjoy penises for three hours. Apparently, I need to get laid. Lucky Mike!

Avoiding Assigned Reading

I am supposed to be reading this week's assignments and I have read a paragraph. I should get points for that. Then I logged in to blogger and read the blogs of note, went to the Daily Coyote to see how that beautiful animal in Wyoming is doing. Lets see, paid the bills, answered work emails and now I'm writing in this blog. What can I say; I'm a stellar nose-to-the-grindstone kind of student.

Double take

I swear I saw Little Richard crossing the street in the pouring rain carrying a bottle of wiper fluid. I was sitting at a stoplight when a man dressed in a black suit with the collar turned up walked across the street carrying a bottle of windshield washer fluid. He looked just like Little Richard. Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

Woof!

I am working on my paper while listening to a Christmas music playlist on Rhapsody. Il Divo just came up and my first thought was, "woof!". Lord have mercy, those men are hot! Now Josh Groban has a very hot voice but going "woof" at him seems like child molestation. I could very easily molest some of those Il Divo guys though. I wouldn't be to rough on them, I swear it. OK, ok, back to work....

Well this isn't working...

I tried to go to work today when I was already in pain. I had taken a Lortab and was starting to feel better when I left, but the activity of just walking into the building made it so much worse that by the time I made it to my meeting, all I wanted to do was lie down. I called Mike and had him come get me. Every bump in the road on the way home resonated in my skull. I slept for a few hours and felt better (pain not gone though, its never really gone just resting). It is starting to come back again now and I just don't think I want to try and handle that again twice in one day. If this does not improve, I will run out of Lortabs before I can refill the prescription though.

I am trying to write a paper that was due last night. I'd like to say that I am not getting anywhere because of the pain, but it is really because I am a world-class procrastinator. If they ever give gold medals in putting things off, I will be in strong contention. Three classes in and I am hating this going back to school thing. But I have already spent the money, I am getting the damn degree if I have to kill for it.

Thoughts about pain...

There hasn't been a day since about mid-October in which I haven't had intense sinus pain. Yesterday, I saw myself in the mirror and I was so pale my lips were white. My nose, teeth, cheeks, forehead, and skull all have this crushing pain that makes my thighs feel weak and shaky. As an added bonus, I get waves of nausea that sometime even come in my sleep. I had been rationing my Lortab because I don't want to use too much but my doctor told me to knock that shit off and start taking them at least twice a day. Frankly, I don't even know if that is helping get a handle on it. It makes it so I can function. I haven't called in sick in months. I just put my head down, grit my teeth and go on. Mike worries about me, but I always tell him that pain never killed anyone (makes you want to die but doesn't kill you). Yesterday, I thought maybe hiding in the closet would be good but the pain would just follow me in if I did that. Isn't it odd that severe pain makes you want to hide? Like that would really help. The psyche is an odd thing.

This morning the pain wasn't too bad yet and I hadn't been to the gym since October so I figured what the hell and gave it a shot. I took a preemptive Lortab and headed for water aerobics. I made it through about 45 minutes of the class before the urge to throw up made me get out of the pool. I'm quite proud of myself and my muscles feel great! Plus I love being the smallest one in the pool!

Joint Commission

My new job heavily involves being ready to pass accreditation of various approval bodies. The major one is The Joint Commission which used to be called JCAHO. I am recovering from their visit last week. I spent most of my days shadowing one of the surveyors and writing down my observations and whatever questions he asked so we may make sure we cover everything in which they are focusing. I would come in every morning by 0700 and leave around 5-6 P.M. From the inside, we thought we would not pass because we know what issues which still need work. The surveyors from the outside were so overwhelmingly impressed with the fine institution I have called home since 1989, that they did not really ask the hard questions we ask of ourselves. They called us a "first class academic institution which clearly cares about patient safety". I have always been very proud of where I work and what I do, but I was doubly proud to hear how great we are from outside inspectors.