Someone in my immediate plane vicinity this morning/afternoon had distinctly awful gas.

I'm going to eat catfish.  On purpose.

The floor of the elevator has bits of feather boa all over it.


This is a strange town.

Well, hello there, El Jay.  As you are NOT dead, perhaps I ought to post for once.

There.  I suppose that's sufficient.

Right.  The Writer's Block topic today is fucking BRILLIANT.

Quite obviously a world without Star Trek would be a desolate and horrible place, and I believe life would be completely without worth.  I'm not even sure why the question needs to be posed.

Honestly. 

I'm not joking.


There's other life stuff going on, but as it's all boring and blah, I won't bother with it right now.  Maybe later.  I've been terrible about posting at all lately, I just haven't been able to muster the energy.  I manage to get up and go to work most days, and I consider that to be an accomplishment.

How sad.

Who the hell invented fitted sheets?  Inquiring, laundry-folding minds want to know.  And then punch them in their fitted face.

I have had a long day!  I was starting to feel a bit like we were having a sale on blood transfusions at work.  They're a bloody PITA.  (No pun intended.)  Lowdown:  the department upstairs (my old department) is super short staffed, so I've been commandeered into a makeshift phone nurse (nevermind the fact I am not actually a nurse).  Which means I'm not really getting to do my own job.  On top of that, the woman they hired as my replacement when I was promoted, M, has given notice.  Her last day is Friday.  And they haven't replaced her, so I foresee myself being stuck back up there for some time to come.  At least it's nice to see some of the patients I haven't seen in a few months. 

I'm still waiting for test results from last week.  Don't really know what to expect.  Trying not to get my hopes up that they'll call up and say, "Well, we've finally figured out what's wrong, and here's the pill that fixes it!"  Though that would be nice!  I have the consultation with the ENT specialist next week, so we'll see if that's worth keeping.  I was talking to Dr. Gottasavetheworld this morning about how I've been doing, and when I mentioned going to ENT for my swollen glands, he started feeling all the lymph nodes in my neck!  Freaking fresh.  He could at least have the decency to put me in an exam room and charge me for an office visit!  No, he just clamped his hands right on there and said, "I don't feel anything too alarming."   Well, I feel alarmed, thanks!

I just returned home to find an assortment of mouse parts which Uncle Fuzzbutt has left in various parts of my dwelling.

I think one might have been a leg.  Or the bloody stump of what was once a leg.

I'm glad he likes me, but couldn't we just...cuddle? 

Since the last time I went to the doctor and she asked me about my sleeping habits (specifically, she asked me if I snore -- like I'm supposed to know! and if I dream), I have been having the weirdest dreams.  Most of them involve being chased in some way.  In very large buildings.  Last night, I was with my family (but it was my dream family, not my real family, and I think I had a baby?) and we were at some sort of huge compound in some sort of tropical place.  It had a lot of windows.  And people were shooting at us. 
I don't remember much else, but even that is something.  I can't usually remember any dreams.  So I guess it's good, as she (my doctor) was concerned that I wasn't getting to the deepest level of sleep and that was contributing to my constant fatigue.  I don't think that's the issue.  Not that we've got any clue what the issue is.
I had some more blood tests this week (this makes round...four? of bloodwork), maybe they'll indicate something.  The previous ones certainly haven't pointed at anything.  And I have an appointment with the ENT specialist on the 20th, so maybe he can tell me why my glands have been swollen for four months.  Because the primary care doc didn't have any explanation other than, "well, I don't think you have cancer!"  Great!  Thanks!  But you just "think" that, did you want to actually try and prove it, so we could try and figure out what is really going on?
Sorry.  It's hard not to whine when you feel poopy all the time!  I keep thinking maybe I'll get used to feeling poopy.  Then poopy will feel like normal. 

I really need an icon of the Doctor from Voyager. 

Not much else to report at present!  I painted my coffee table.  It's pretty sweet. 
One of the doctors at work is trying to get me to go to a conference in Hotlanta next month, but I don't think I can front the money.  :(
It's Friday, and diablo_robotico and zomgitskristin are leaving in the morning to go away for a whole week!  :( :(  I'm going to be very ronesome. 

You know, the driving is so good in Keene, and they like roundabouts so much, I think they ought to put in one of these:




mr_clarinet says that is the Magical Roundabout of Hemel Hempstead.  I think it is just the sort of death trap we need to cull a few of the moron drivers of our fair city.

Thanks to mr_clarinet for showing me this; it's too good not to share.

Going to doctor again tomorrow.  Am tired of feeling poopy.  Also lymph nodes in neck swollen for multiple weeks. 

Blargh.

:(

You know when sometimes you just don't feel right?  I was talking to J, one of the nurses, about it this morning and she said, "Yeah, my doctor told me that it was just anxiety."  But I don't mean like that.  I dunno.  I think I'm pretty in tune with my body, and it just doesn't feel right.  Maybe I need another round of antibiotics, or something.  I can't quite put my finger on it, something is just off.  I told J I'm terming it "general malaise."  Seems appropriate.  I suppose if I don't feel better by the end of the week I ought to make an appointment, but honestly, I'm tired of going to the doctor.  I seem to see the doctor lately more than I see my family.  Blargh.

Not too much else going on currently, so here's a funny story from work:
We have a computer "tasking" system to give each other assignments, and Dr. Gottasavetheworld sent one to the nurses to let a patient know her mammogram was fine.  They tried calling three times and left three messages, and she didn't respond, so J sent the task back to Dr. Gottasavetheworld asking whether he'd like to dictate a letter to the patient.  He responded, "Are we only calling her during working hours?"

No, Dr. Gottasavetheworld, the nurses are making these phone calls from home at 9:30 at night.  For heaven's sake.  Just because you live in the center doesn't mean everyone does!   I'm still waiting to see what J writes back in reply.  "Um...yes, we're making these calls during working hours.  BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE WORK." 

Looking forward to Portsmouth this weekend, though I kinda can't believe Possum is going to have a wee baby Possum!  It's weird feeling like so many of your friends are all...adulty.  I don't want to be adulty. 
If I'm too adulty, I can't wear this awesome Pop-Tart necklace:

I want that.

In other news, I'm pretty sure W tried to proposition me last night.  I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying, but I think that was what he was getting at.  *shudders*  Honestly.  How many years has it been?  Move on already.  And aren't you married?  Or engaged, or something?

Also?  What's with the +/- games?  1.  I don't get them.  2.  What is so fun about them?  3.  How many could we possibly need?  I feel like +/- is taking over @.  And also, I don't get them.

Who said I didn't post enough?  Was that you, chicken?  I'm back with a vengeance!

Well, except it's just a meme.  This is for the benefit of the few complete strangers I've noticed adding themselves to my f-list in recent weeks.  Hey, people I don't know!


1. First Name:  Erin

2. Age: 28.  Blargh.

3. Location: Beautiful and scenic Surry, NH!  It's near Keene.  I bet you don't know where that is, either!

4. Occupation:  Clinical Research Manager for Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene.  I got business cards recently!  They're awesome.  Did I tell everyone about the time I got to mail blood?  You can send blood via FedEx.  My title sounds fancier than my job is, but I like my job.  It's very interesting and I learn all sorts of neat things.  Also, I have voice mail and my own desk, which is sort of a new experience for me in the working world.

5. Partner: I am perpetually single.  It's alright.  Uncle Jesse would probably be afraid of any boys I might bring home.  He's afraid of everyone now.

6. Kids: Just...no.

7. Brothers/Sisters: I have three younger brothers.  The eldest is Leslie, who will be 22 next month.  I'd imagine he's also graduating from college (I think he goes to Colby-Sawyer), but I'm not entirely sure.  We haven't spoken in a number of years.  He is my father and step-mother's son. 
Middle brother is Thomas, who just turned 21.  Tom is swell.  He is a service technician at Hyundai, and fixes me car for me when it explodes.  He is my future roommate, along with his kitten Lucky.  She is adorable.  Tom is also adorable, Neilian said so.  That creeped me out when he said it.
Youngest brother is Morgan, who is also my father and step-mother's son, meaning I haven't seen him in a number of years.  He is 15 years younger than I am, which makes him 13.  When I was younger, Linda (that's my step-mother) had a hard time convincing Morgan it was important to wear clothes in the house.  Or yard.  I wonder if he still does that?

I don't have any sisters.

8. Pets: Uncle Jesse the Wonder Cat!  He's a weiner.  But he's very cute and cuddly.

9. List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:
- Did I mention that I mailed blood?
- I cut off my hairs
- I'm nearly done paying off my car loan!  Woo!

10. Where, and for what, did you go to school?:
I went to Boston University School of Education, where I majored in Bilingual Early Childhood Education, as well as Spanish Language and Literature.  It was difficult, but I liked it there and I had a good time.  What I do now has absolutely nothing to do with that degree, but I have a diploma in a lovely frame.

11. Parents?  My parents got divorced when I was 2 and both remarried, Dad to Linda when I was 5, and Mom to Fred when I was 6.  Mom and Fred are still fabulous and wonderful.  In fact, today is their 22nd wedding anniversary, and I'd better go call them. 
My dad died when I was 23 of a heart attack, and I don't speak to Linda anymore, because we never got along particularly well when he was alive.  In fact, he and I didn't get on much when he was alive.  So that's pretty much that.  And the reason I haven't seen my younger brothers in a while.

12. Who are some of your closest friends?:
zomgitskristin of course.  We've been besties since school.  Also Neil, because we're going to get married someday.  Possum, even though I don't see her much lately; she lives too far away.

Anyone who isn't zomgitskristin may require a preamble to this little bit of lyrical genius.

The time:  1999
The place:  I don't really remember.  A skate park in VT somewhere, most likely
The band:  Colorblind

Kik and I used to be pretty heavily involved in the local ska scene, and as band girlfriends had to endure a lot of other totally amazing (read:  mallegedly) bands.  But the best moment ever was when Colorblind whipped out this little ditty.

Kiki, this is for you.
Freeballin'
> Lyrics by Colorblind, Music by Zach Crawford
>
>  My balls are hanging in the air
>  and I don't have a fucking care
>  The air is blowing up my pants
>  It makes me want to dance
> No one will be as happy as me
> Until they  can finally see
> That freeballin' is the way to go
> It's something that you need to know
> Freeballin'...FreebAAA-AAA-llin"
> Now I'm walking down the street
>  My balls hanging low
> I can tie them in a knot
>  I can tie them in a bow
> And when I have to take a pee
>  All I have to do is unzip me
>                                                   
> Chorus
>
> Now when I dream of heaven
>  Everybody walks free
>  Uncluding every dog, every cat, every flea
>  That's why people in hell are so pissed off
>  They can't take their underwear off

Has it really been an entire month since I posted?  I guess it has.  In light of this, lets have some
!

Yeah.  Love 'em.

• Spring Fling was the greatest weekend known in the history of man.  I'm not joking.  It was better than Woodstock.  You can just ask Joel, who has since decided that we should all quit our current gigs to become teachers.  Why, you ask?  So we can all have summers off to open our own summer camp.  Our camp would be for adults, obviously, because summer camp is no fun without the booze.  I had a lot of co-workers at the YMCA who can attest to that.  I mean, wait, what?  No.  We never did that.
• Work is good.  I enrolled a patient last week and started her IP this week, so that was interesting.  I got to mail blood, too!  I've never mailed blood before.  I sent it all the way to Ohio!  I hope it made it all the way to Ohio. 
  
• Did you know the same belongings have been in the trunk of my car since August of 2006?  I'm not kidding.  Incidentally, I cleaned the trunk of my car today.  Corky was in there!  Poor Corky. 
  
• I have to find people to go see Mogwai with me.  Anyone want to see Mogwai at the Wilbur Theatre with me?  I'm going.  I haven't been to a show in much to0 long. 
  
• Arrested Development may be the best show that ever was showed on the show shower. 
  
• Can it be that I haven't got anything else to talk about after an entire month?  How sad.  Being sick for ages, I suppose, means that you don't have a lot of exciting happenings.  Though they did give me the SPECIAL cough syrup for the Hack from Hell, so I could manufacture some exciting happenings in my own little noggin.  That stuff packs a real wallop.

I forgot the most exciting happening of all!  I FOUND A STORE IN BRATT THAT SELLS CARAMEL MCVITIES!  LIFE IS COMPLETE.

Because I have an insatiable need to be just like everyone else (and because zomgitskristin said I had to):

It's a muxtape.

It's a strange mix.  I'm not original today.

Rash enters day five.  Hooray!

Found stuck in my car door at 11 pm Friday night, as Neilian and I left Ingleside Mall in Holyoke:



Who says romance is dead? 

You have chosen poorly, Patrick Dempsey. 



Do you ever get the feeling that he's just testing all of us?

Right.  D has called (at WORK!) or IMed me nearly every day for over a week.

Enough already.  I don't feel well enough to deal with all your bullshit.  You were a shitty friend and I see no reason to expect improvement since the last time I had to cut you out of my life.

I have decided that I don't like April.  I think we should skip it, and head straight into May.

I missed library book sale last weekend.  I saw the sign, and I made a mental note to myself, "Self, library book sale is coming up soon!"

And then I forgot all about it.

I want cheap books!

It's just as well.  I need to save money to fix my car, and the five dollars I would have spent on 25 books there can buy me...like 1/25 of some car part.

Once you have been tagged you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end choose 10 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don’t forget to leave them a comment (tag, you’re it) to read your blog. You can’t tag the person who tagged you. Since you can’t tag me back, let me know when you’ve posted your blog so I can see your answers.

1.  I don't like when my foods touch each other on my plate.  I can handle salads, or pasta with things in it, but different parts of dinner may not co-mingle.  People who mix their peas or corn in with their mashed potatoes?  They are the devil.  And shepard's pie is the food of HELL.  My mom got me a divided cafeteria tray for my birthday, and it might have been the greatest gift ever.

2.  I like to alphabetize things.  I like to categorize and organize things in general.  My CDs, movies, and books are all systematically organized so I can always tell when something is missing.

3.  I lived in Southern California for a while between years of college.  It was hot there.  I am glad I don't live there anymore.

4.  I have three younger brothers.  Most people don't know this because they've only heard of or met Thomas, but I also have a brother named Leslie and a third named Morgan.  Morgan is fifteen years younger than I am.

5.  I played oboe in the high school concert band.  If that  isn't the height of coolness, I don't know what is.

6.  In college I entertained the thought of changing my major to American Sign Language.  Then I didn't.

7.  I know all the words to Wayne's World.   pandorasaqua can attest to this, because she knows them all, too!

8.  I like Skee-Lo.   You should, too.

9.  The only sport I've ever been really good at is archery.   My high school gym teacher called me "Maid Marion."  Which, as historical references go, isn't even very good, because Maid Marion  wasn't an archer. 

10.  When I eat cake, I eat the cake-y part first, and save the frosting for later.  My mum theorizes that this is part and parcel of the "no touching foods" thing, but I think it's just that the frosting is the best part.

I tag no one, because I am feeling lazy.  If you want to do it, do it!  Comment or new post, your choice.