|
Post by Spaced Out Looney on May 21, 2010 7:58:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Spaced Out Looney on May 21, 2010 8:33:27 GMT -5
I am in Memphis. Up until yesterday "drive to Memphis" was NOT on my calendar for the day. But, amazingly there was nothing else specific on the calendar for the day: no tutoring, no workmen coming in, no appointments, no looming church events or even a particularly high stack of paperwork. Not that I couldn't have found useful things to do, but Jim had to speak from 1-2:30 in Memphis and he hates to drive, plus loses about 7 hours of productivity. So I'm chauffeur for a day, while he makes phone calls and does reading and writing on the computer. Also it gives us some time together. He was in San Antonio M-T and leaves early tomorrow for Fort Myers, FL -- doesn't get back until 11:50 pm on Saturday night. So I"m in the business center at a Holiday Inn on the campus of University of Memphis. Came thru some thunderstorms on the way down. Looks like it might be worse on the way home. ==== In other "news" I'm being sent for some kind of scan to check on my 3 remaining parathyroid glands (1 was removed in 2005 after going wonky). Parathyroid glands have nothing to do with the thyroid, but produce a hormone (ParaThyroid Hormone = PTH) that regulates the body's absorption of calcium. Well, I"m dumping calcium into both my blood and urine so they are going to scan the parathyroid glands. Possibly (likely?) surgery again. But leaving it unchecked can lead to severe osteoporosis and possible kidney failure. I may be jumping the gun, we'll see what the scan says, but the endocrinologist is setting up an appt with the endocrine surgeon so I know what he thinks. And, once again, I am grateful for the bizarre series of events that led to a guy with an Ed Psych degree coming to work for Vanderbilt for 30 years. The question I need to ask someone is: what causes (multiple) parathyroid glands to go wonky and what can be done to prevent further wonkiness? Simply removing all of the remaining 3 is not a good option because apparently regulating PTH in order to regulate calcium uptake is a very tricky job and not always entirely satisfactory. Way worse that just substituting synthroid for a removed thyroid. Here endth the medical lesson for the day. [Hey Liz -- do the D.O.'s have any treatments or recommendations for this kind of thing?] hmm, spellcheck allows "wonky" but not "wonkiness" and wants to replace "endth" with "end-th" -- speaking of wonky. There probably is something that can be done. We haven't learned the specifically about the viscera yet, but I think the principle is basically the same as anything else. Since everything is connected, there could be a number of reasons why your parathyroids are going wonky. If I were there, I would screen your neck and chest for somatic dysfunctions, then correct them and see if that fixes the problem. But it's kind of hard to do that without being able to touch you.
|
|
|
Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on May 21, 2010 8:57:30 GMT -5
I remember when I was little and we lived in Northern VA, we would often drive up to see my grandmother in PA (about a 3 hr drive). There was this ice cream place along the way that we would stop if James and I were good, but really it had more to do with what kind of mood my mom was in than our behavior (not that we understood that at the time). But we never knew when we had been good enough for ice cream and of course we could never ask or ice cream would be right out. And my mom always makes a HUGE production whenever we're at a restaurant and the waiter asks us if we want dessert about how FULL we are and COULDN'T POSSIBLY eat anything else. Like, a simple, polite "no thank you" would have sufficed. And the hiding of food (candy bars and the like) that both James and I have done in the past, and my mom possibly still does. I remember many tears at the dinner table. The one place where there should have been peace and togetherness. Oh well, we survived and although all that informs who we are today, it doesn't define us. We are in control of that. (Thanks, Joss.) Tears at the dinnertable. Oh, yeah. My dad was always thin, and didn't understand why my mom and I had trouble with our weight. Of course, yelling at me and constantly telling me how fat, stupid and useless I was really helped. The sad thing is, I've seen photos of my mom when I was a baby, and one of her when she was a "fat" teenager, and she was pretty, and not fat at all. I'm also discouraged this morning because the pretty ring I ordered as my special commemorative piece of cronehood jewelry came yesterday, and my hands are too puffy to wear it. I ordered the size I normally wear, it's the right size, but I'm just too fat to get it all the way on. I really need to lose some weight - five pounds would probably get the ring on - but I've really been having trouble with food these last few months.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on May 21, 2010 9:30:27 GMT -5
I remember many tears at the dinner table. The one place where there should have been peace and togetherness. Oh well, we survived and although all that informs who we are today, it doesn't define us. We are in control of that. (Thanks, Joss.) Tears at the dinnertable. Oh, yeah. My dad was always thin, and didn't understand why my mom and I had trouble with our weight. Of course, yelling at me and constantly telling me how fat, stupid and useless I was really helped. The sad thing is, I've seen photos of my mom when I was a baby, and one of her when she was a "fat" teenager, and she was pretty, and not fat at all. I'm also discouraged this morning because the pretty ring I ordered as my special commemorative piece of cronehood jewelry came yesterday, and my hands are too puffy to wear it. I ordered the size I normally wear, it's the right size, but I'm just too fat to get it all the way on. I really need to lose some weight - five pounds would probably get the ring on - but I've really been having trouble with food these last few months. I hate it when that happens - disappointing, but don't be too hard on yourself. Many of us, definitely including me, have had many ups and downs in the battle to stay healthy. "Getting to wear a pretty ring" can be a source of motivation and non-food reward. I am not a believer in the "it won't work unless your motives are pure" weight-loss philosophy. I say, grab your motivation where you can get it, to get started. It's hard enough to get started, without having to wait until you've reached some particular level of grace and enlightenment. Now, in the long run, yeah, you have to get to a place where you are doing it mostly for yourself and your health. But in the meantime, hey, take your motivation where you can get it - though again, don't be too hard on yourself if you are simply dealing with too many other stressors right now to add another.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on May 21, 2010 9:34:38 GMT -5
Good morning, S'cubies! TGIF, TGIF, TGIF!! Things are so nutty here at work, it makes for a long week. Though fun has been had, also. Looks like foundation work will begin on my house the first week of June. I'll be moving in with a friend for a few weeks, so S'cubie time may be different, not sure. I am still many months away from the renovations being done and being able to accept foster children, but it's all starting to feel more real and . . . somehow, more unbelievable at the same time. How is that? Mostly, I am looking forward to being able to start foster parenting. The way things are at work right now, I wish I could retire today and just devote myself to the foster parenting. But I can't.
|
|
|
Post by Michelle on May 21, 2010 11:41:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Michelle on May 21, 2010 11:41:37 GMT -5
Ah, here it is! I do like the back, in particular - blue and orange is a favorite combo of mine. I seem to recall doing some batik many years ago, but don't remember a lot about the process itself. Also? Today seems to be a day when everyone is snapping at each other a bit. Did I miss some traumatic event or something that is making everyone all hinky? Or is it just normal "I'm pissed at life" crankiness that afflicts us all at times? We need more Lola. It's the only cure. Word 3
|
|
|
Post by Michelle on May 21, 2010 11:42:26 GMT -5
Saw this on Twitter: The Morgan Spurlock + Joss Whedon SDCC doc has a title -"Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope" - Filming ends at SDCC '10. So Joss really will be there this year. Oh my god, Lola. We might actually meet Joss. OMG. What if you are on the elevator with Joss and Lola and her foam latte with whipped cream! ?!! OMG! Will you carry a letter with you from me to Joss? And say how great I am when you hand it to him? Can you two be trusted to behave in the ladylike manner that will properly represent the S'cubies? OMG, OMG, OMG. My brain is just on fire with so many different thoughts . . . .
|
|
|
Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on May 21, 2010 11:46:50 GMT -5
Slept in.
Well, for values of "slept in" which include awakening at 5:30 to find the sun up and my husband not abed, plus, for the win, no it wasn't, Ruby demanding to be let out at 5:45 and then again just as I started to fall asleep again some time well after six. So I am not a happy camper by any stretch of the imagination, and now the cat is demanding unknown things of me in a very loud voice.
Julia, also, not suddenly sunny and seventy again, although it is supposed to peak above 50 this afternoon.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on May 21, 2010 11:49:12 GMT -5
Has everybody been to Google today? If you hit "Insert Coin," you can play Pacman, just like the good old days.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on May 21, 2010 11:50:20 GMT -5
Michelle has beat me to the punch, here. Ah, well - I'd best get back to playing 'fore lunchtime is over . . .
|
|
|
Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on May 21, 2010 12:58:33 GMT -5
Ran errands. Was partially successful. Am tired. At least I can rely on the Elder Daughter to take care of laundry while I'm gone. I didn't have my little wee cell phone with me today because I gave it to the Younger Daughter so she can call me and tell me if/when/where she needs picked up after school. The leader of her group project was supposed to call last night to tell us where they're meeting after school so someone can retrieve Younger Daughter when they're done working on the project, but the little twit never called. So I gave YD a brief primer on how to turn the phone on, call home, and shut it off, and asked her to PLEASE tell me if she'll be home on the bus or not. Not having the phone was actually oddly freeing; I couldn't call home to check for emergencies and nobody could call me either. Kind of like why I quit wearing a wristwatch. Oh well, back to the usefuls mines...
|
|
|
Post by S'ewing S'cubie on May 21, 2010 13:00:56 GMT -5
Sent nice email to Nashville Friend thanking for hospitality. Friend sent nice note back thanking for flood cleanup help. Says he'll call Sunday. Am pleased.
|
|
|
Post by Rachael on May 21, 2010 14:00:30 GMT -5
Slept in. Well, for values of "slept in" which include awakening at 5:30 to find the sun up and my husband not abed, plus, for the win, no it wasn't, Ruby demanding to be let out at 5:45 and then again just as I started to fall asleep again some time well after six. So I am not a happy camper by any stretch of the imagination, and now the cat is demanding unknown things of me in a very loud voice. Julia, also, not suddenly sunny and seventy again, although it is supposed to peak above 50 this afternoon. For me, "slept in" means I get up, as usual, to feed the baby at 6, but then I go back to bed and she sleeps past 7. Which happens, usually, once per weekend. And yet it feels wonderful. Our standards, they adapt to our situation, yeah?
|
|
|
Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on May 21, 2010 15:18:59 GMT -5
Slept in. Well, for values of "slept in" which include awakening at 5:30 to find the sun up and my husband not abed, plus, for the win, no it wasn't, Ruby demanding to be let out at 5:45 and then again just as I started to fall asleep again some time well after six. So I am not a happy camper by any stretch of the imagination, and now the cat is demanding unknown things of me in a very loud voice. Julia, also, not suddenly sunny and seventy again, although it is supposed to peak above 50 this afternoon. For me, "slept in" means I get up, as usual, to feed the baby at 6, but then I go back to bed and she sleeps past 7. Which happens, usually, once per weekend. And yet it feels wonderful. Our standards, they adapt to our situation, yeah? Oh, yeah, although I fear I'll never adapt to my husband's unique tke on time. Having to get repeatedly up in the morning is intrinsic to living with geriatric patients, be they canine or human. Julia, v. cranky today, though, as I also ad trouble sleeping list night viz 40 minutes of hard digging clearing drains.
|
|