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November 19th, 2009
11:55 am - Insert witty title here.
When you forget to post and then time goes by and lots of cool things happen, you want to post a big post and then you forget again and more time and cool things happen and then updating is overwhelming and before you know it a whole month goes by.
So without further ado, a highlight! post.
* Halloween was low key and awesome. Daniel and I watched Zombieland and then checked out the fireworks Eastside.
* Went to Stow-in-the-Wold (try, just TRY to pronounce that without an English accent) for Mehron and Annabel's wedding. We flew first class RT, stayed in an inn built in 947 AD and feasted on the best locally sourced, amazing food (AND CHEESE!) ever.
* Recreated our first date last night (Polvo's + G&S Lounge = WIN) for our fourth anniversary. We celebrate monthly, and both our wedding dates and dating anniversaries. We're *that* couple.
Hmm. Other stuff has happened. I'm leaving out some of the awesome, dammit.
Healthwise, I've had more bad head/skull days than usual, which has been pretty rough and demoralizing. BUT I got a new CT Scan and Angiogram last week (and got sick from the contrast dye, btw. no fun.). My neurosurgeon said shows that the pain is not from a complication, but still post-surgical pain. He said he's had patients still showing these symptoms 12 to 15 months later, but by two years I should be back to normal.
It was supposed to be ONE year, last I heard, but whatever.
Anyway, I'm happy knowing it's nothing else, nothing bad. I just have to keep sucking it up.
* * *
Daniel's parents fly in tonight for a visit. That will be fabulous! And they're going to be here for Thanksgiving, too, which will make it extra awesome. I'm so excited for the holidays this year, moreso than I've been in years.
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October 26th, 2009
09:45 am
So I kinda OD'd a little yesterday. Not good. I woke up with a headache and instead of taking my Lortab, I reached for my Tramadol instead. Because Tramadol is better for me. Popped two of them and went to breakfast. At breakfast I start to feel seriously ill: nausea, clammy skin, pounding headache, etc. I chalk it up to the drinks I had the night before, although I didn't drink that much, I figured the tequila in the two margaritas was the culprit. Walk outside, get some air, feel better.
Then start to feel worse. Ugh. I was a zombie, an in-pain zombie. Everything I put in my mouth made me want to vom. So I stopped trying. And my head was still killing me. And since I remembered it had been six hours since my last Tramadol, I popped another one.
That's when things got significantly worse. I got the shivers, shallow breathing, I was doubling over with tummy ache and then, finally, mercifully, vomited. Everything. It was so gross.
Daniel helped me back to bed and gave me some water and said since I threw up, I could take another half-tab of Tramadol for my head when I felt my stomach was ready. This is when the light came on for me. I picked up my bottle and read the dosing: 1 tablet every eight hours.
I was following the dosing schedule for Lortab, 2 every 4-6 hours. This was a stupid, stupid mistake. I made myself this sick. I was so pissed.
Daniel and I checked a couple of Web sites to ensure a trip to the ER wasn't necessary. Thank GOD. But I couldn't sleep because I was worried I would stop breathing (CNS depression is the most common potentially fatal side effect.) and I couldn't do anything about my headache. I managed to log in a couple of hours sometime in the night, but it was fitful sleep. The worst kind.
Yeah, big fun with pharmaceuticals.
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October 16th, 2009
04:15 pm - "I've got a fever above my waist"
Killing an hour. It seems that most of the office left for the day and lots of our sister office is out for a memorial service, and I'm all caught up on everything (I can only work my Big October Assignment in small chunks before I lose the voicing) except cleaning my workspace, which I'm not in the mood to do. So, I've pulled a chair outside and I'm listening to Tori Amos on this gorgeous windy day that actually feels like Fall.
Went to the mall earlier for eye moisturizer and got a lip gloss trio FREE because Sephora loves me (the annual birthday lip gloss trio. I got mine in March and went in to buy Bronzed Beauty but they were SOLD OUT, so they tossed it in my bag as a "OH HAI! It's your NOT-BIRFDAY!" gift.) and Mac is sold out of the Most! Awesome! nail polish ever so I have to order it online.
I had initially gone to the mall to buy a new set of sheets and failed miserably at this task. But mark my words, before the work week commences on Monday, I WILL have new sheets, dammit. I can't sleep on the ones we have now because our mattress pad stretched them to death and we somehow lost one half of our backup set (the fitted half) and the jersey spare set is driving me crazy. I need well-made, strong, soft and preferably a nice shade of union gray set before I can have sweet dreams again.
(I have had discomforting dreams the last two nights, each replete with symbology that weirds me out and makes me dive into a clatter of paranoia until I can get the morning tea properly in me. I don't like it. At all.)
Aside from that, nothing new. I swear everyone at work (incl. Daniel and myself) have alternated between feeling fine, then fighting something off, then feeling fine again. It's like our immune systems are almost strong enough to not catch whatever is going around, and then they fail, but only a little. I would rather have whatever is going around and kick it in a few days than constantly feel like I'm on the brink of the flu. Meh.
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October 8th, 2009
08:23 pm - Whoops.
I accidentally (still have to retype that word every time. ACCIDENTLY is not how it's spelled, ya'll.) got a little drunk waiting for The Office tonight.
I always drink too much at weddings.
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October 5th, 2009
12:00 pm - ACL — highlights
+/-
+ John Legend (Whoa FOXY.)
+ Them Crooked Vultures (WHOA LOUD!)
+ Flogging Molly
+ Heartless Bastards (their slow stuff betrays the ROCK)
+ Fay on Saturday and Lexa on Sunday. That was definitely a highlight, I think. Good talks.
- Daniel left Friday sick
- Daniel still sick
- It rained SO HARD on Saturday all of my rain gear gave me the finger and I was soaked and cold
- The STENCH on Sunday, paired with the humidity and sun, was awful. I know that Dillo Dirt is treated so there's no bacteria from the human waste left in it, but still. Just the thought of it. I left early.
* * * * * * * *
So much happening at work, so many things percolating on the side — now that Mercury is out of retrograde, things are HAPPENING.
And I leave back to England in four weeks.
♡
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September 30th, 2009
08:12 am - Lateralization
It's officially been SIX MONTHS since they sliced my scalp, removed a piece of my skull, separated my lobes and took a tiny titanium clip to the bi-lobal aneurysm squished up against my optic nerve.
I can't wrap my head (ha!) around how much unbelievable pain I went through in the beginning stages of my recovery. How hard it was to walk the 5 steps to from my bed to the toilet. How scary and painful taking a shower was with those 27 staples all angry and raw. How worried I was about the words coming out of my mouth all wrong, words being my lifeline. I took so many pain pills and was never pain-free in the beginning and I was scared shitless that these headaches would be forever. How grateful I was that I woke up in the first place, with all of my functions still in place — able to walk, talk and remember everything. Compared to this community of survivors, coming out on the other side of this completely unscathed, I'm in the tiniest minority. My family couldn't have been more supportive. My husband was there for every step along the way. My friends... well, nothing shows true colors more than something like this. My friends have my friendship for life.
I've learned a lot about pain and a lot about dependability and a lot about the resilience of the human body and how much it relies on the human spirit.
One of these new meds is working. I've been (mostly) pain-free for 5 days. Happy half-anniversary to my brain. They say I'm halfway there. I say that finish line is in my line of sight.
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September 29th, 2009
05:30 pm - I haven't updated in twenty days.
I had a blast in England. Got to spend some quality time with my sisters-in-law (and other wonderful in-laws) and that was pretty awesome. It was such a short trip though, and while we're heading back over there in a month from now, we probably won't see the family since we're heading somewhere in the middle of the country. (Stow-on-the-Wold, to be specific.)
* * * * * *
My meds have been changed once again (so for those of you keeping score, that's allergy meds, a 24-hour anti-inflammatory, heavy non-narcotic headache pain reliever, a sleep med and permission to take the narcotic (the one I'm trying to wean off of, AGAIN), if needed). Good times.
I slept a total of two hours last night, and that's WITH sleep medicine. I called the pharmacist at my HEB, who I swear sounds like a stoned hippie drug dealer who never gives a straight answer. You can HEAR him looking up interactions in the big Drug book (hello, thanks, I have the Internet) and he literally answered my question of:
"When I looked up Trazodone and Tramadol, they showed a big interaction, but I was prescribed these to take with drug XYZ. Is that okay?"
with, "Um, uhhhh wellllllll ummmmmm uhhhhhhhhhuh I thiiiink sooo.... umm... possible CNS depression ....umm, yeah it's okay."
He added on a quick, "butcheckwithyourdoctor" at the end of it.
YOU ARE THE PHARMACIST. It's after hours! All I want to know are my chances of accidental Heath Ledgering in my sleep! (Too soon?)
I told him that his lack of confidence in his own answer made me feel uneasy taking his advice. Are they doing bong hits in the HEB? And if so, why aren't they at least offering me something sweet to nibble on?
* * * * * *
My man got sick and I fought off whatever it was he had and now the Swine has felled one coworker and that means it's only a matter of time before it gets me, too. Which, whatever, it's just a flu right? And I can stand to lose a few sick pounds.
* * * * *
ACL is this weekend and I'm going if the weather is in the eighties. Otherwise, no way. I may have been able to go to the Jazz Fest a month after the surgery, but that was with VIP treatment and heavy, heavy narcotics. Now? Not so much.
Happy thought for the day?
MERCURY IS OUT OF RETROGRADE
Hallelujah!
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September 9th, 2009
11:38 am - Big Silver Bird!
Flying out to the UK today, flying back on Monday. I have a book, a journal and my ipod all charged up.
These trips are coming at me so quickly, I can't believe how fast this year is flying by.
The whole "Oh I'm gonna stop taking meds full stop!" thing? STUPID IDEA. Turns out the reason I was feeling better in the first place WAS the meds. Chicken/egg/chicken/egg. After two days of the worst headache ever, I relented. I'm still pushing myself and being a bad ass, but I'll just be a medicated bad ass.
I don't tell you guys enough, but I love you all to pieces! Thanks for always being awesomely supportive.
♡
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September 4th, 2009
11:10 am - First week of Awesome.
I embraced the suck every single day this week and the results were pretty cool. Well, for the most part. I was grumpy a whole lot (and this is very much unlike me), because of the pain and exhaustion, but I worked a full work day every day this week and made dinners and did laundry and last night I actually went out.
That's right. I went out. Not just dinner and then straight home, as has been the usual status quo since diagnosis (we're talking 22 weeks, including wait time before operation, with the exception of the Sunflower reunion), but dinner AND the Horseshoe Lounge. Met up with Rachel and D for nom noms at Romeo's and then played shuffleboard and sang along with the jukebox for a couple of hours. I was the designated driver, of course, but I still had fun. It was a nice escape from the usual and it did wonders in making me feel closer to normal than I have in ages.
I still haven't figured out the magic recipe to kicking these pills. I'm down to half a pill everynight, since I can't get what little sleep I manage to get without it (my legs spasm and I get all anxious). I tried a 1/4 dose, but it didn't work and I tossed and clenched my jaw all night until I took the other 1/4 (and since I'm getting all this PT on my jaw right now, clenching is a giant no-no).
Since this is a long weekend, I think I might experiment with a sleeping pill instead. Maybe if I knock myself out three days in a row, it will be long enough to kick what's left of these meds out of my system. And then come Monday night, I'll give natural sleep a try and see what happens.
It's an experiment anyway.
(I need to mark the number three today. For record keeping.)
And I got to meet ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) pumabear for the first time yesterday! She came to the office with a hardback Imzadi book and a milagro of St.Therese. Total class act.
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September 1st, 2009
11:15 am - Would'st thy fortune like to see?
I had a series of mishaps on Friday, the most painful of which consisted of me slamming the back of my head into my desk as I was plugging in my laptop. I went home early and laid on the couch generally feeling sorry for myself and lost myself in thought about how it's been 20 weeks since the surgery and I'm still not back in fighting form. I've been at 85% for a couple of months now.
I pulled out my old tarot deck for a reading, something I haven't done in a VERY long time and got some really good insight into what I think may be the key to getting back to where I need to be.
Here's the spread:
The first card, the High Priestess represents me, in a place open and ready to receive inspiration and insight, like a vessel in waiting, really. But significantly, the cause for all actions. There's nothing/no one influencing me, but me.
My past and present cards (Judgment and the Magician, reversed) are indicative of stagnation and sluggishness, inability to break out and feelings of failure and inadequacy. Not moving, not going anywhere, certainly not making progress.
My future card, Death reversed, shows that much is much the same if I stay on this path, but, and this is important, of not being able to let go of something that's over. Of being stuck.
My underlying influence, the Star reversed, again, much of the same. Hopelessness, feelings of "I can't." Trying to find meaning to make change. Nothing changes, nothing progresses, everything is standing still.
Which is exactly how I feel. Hopelessly watching these weeks fly by with nothing new to offer.
So I did some thinking on it over the weekend. Watching myself and listening to my excuses for not doing some things and hearing just how many times I say, "My head hurts." out loud. (A lot.)
And from all of this, I've come to the realization that the final 15% that I've been waiting on is no longer a physical impediment, but perhaps a mental one. If I flip this script and approach every day the way I used to, maybe I will feel like I used to.
It's a big step, because as tired and OVER the whole brain surgery/recovery I am, it's become an unfortunate part of my identity. There's some very real fear involved. If I'm all the way recovered and I fail, it's not something that I can blame on anything else. I have to own up to my limits as what they are. And if I'm well for a long time and I relapse w/ have a bad run of days, then I'll feel like no one believes it because I've been well so long. These are only excuses though, and aren't worth how good it will feel to be better. I recognize that.
Yesterday I kicked ass. Today I'm on the right track to do the same. If I'm the only thing standing in the way of The Awesome, then I'm going to step right aside and let it through.
☆
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August 26th, 2009
09:26 am - Hanging tough, staying hungry ...
I'M. STILL. SICK.
For the love of God WHY am I still sick?! I came down with a terribly ill-timed stomach bug Friday that lasted all weekend and into Monday. Nothing sucks like losing an ENTIRE weekend to sick. And Sunday/Monday the other Very Painful Stomach issues started and led into Tuesday where last night my tummy looked distended, was a bowl full of cramps and was HARD, ya'll. It was like rock-hard abs, only on a bloated stomach. To combat this I have been eating pears, prunes, Bifidiuos Regularis™ (whatever the hell that means) yogurts and Milk of Magnesia. And I've got nothing to show for it. NOTHING.
I can't believe I'm talking about my bowels on the Internet. HELLO INTERNET.
I also started physical therapy for my jaw. Apparently when I was intubated (such a lovely word) my jaw misaligned ever so slightly, causing my bite to be off and all kinds of subsequent pain and tension in my jaw and neck. Know what happens when you get pain and tension in your neck and jaw? It hurts your head. That's double-compounded head pain for those keeping score.
So, I've had a couple of days with my mouth being stretched out by a really nice lady in latex gloves. It feels just as dirty and awkward as that sounds. It hurts. But the pain is the path. I've had PT two out of the last three days and it seems I've had a dramatic reduction in head pain.
OR. My stomach feeling like it's going to explode and my jaw feeling like it's been pulled like play-dough is distracting.
All of the above means I haven't been able to sleep more than a couple of furtive hours each night.
But, and this is important, I'm not down for the count. I'm still going to see Wicked tomorrow night and I'm still going to get all my ducks in a row so the rest of the year flows smoothly. I'm still fighting, dammit!!
Also, True Blood rocks.
The end.
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August 20th, 2009
10:41 am - "Like sisters, blanket friends."
Headaches. I'm so tired of headaches. I'm doing my best to heal quietly and let this pain be a catharsis and let it show me how amazing this body of mine is. But it sucks. I've been in pain for coming up on 19 weeks straight. Every. Single. Day.
This weekend was a good one. I didn't go to my parents, because my mom is ill (she thought it was a virus, but it hasn't gone away and she's going to the Dr. tomorrow) so I stayed in ATX and buckled down on my Best of Austin deadline. Which I met, but I always ALWAYS wait until the last possible minute and then freak out and in the freakout, release the Awesome.
Saw District 9 and while it was REALLY GOOD, it was almost Tarantino in its bloodiness. God bless the Alamo Drafthouse, I couldn't imagine watching a movie anywhere else. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've seen a movie outside of the Alamo in ... three years? Something like that.
The IMAX doesn't count.
Went to brunch @ Cantina Laredo to see Supa Soul Sound System do their (his) thing and met up with the neighbors for some drinks and noms. I had the noms, as drinking is really out of the picture now that I'm back on heavier doses of the meds. But MAN are their NOMS good. They make a guacamole that's pretty spectacular (though not as nom as mine) and an apple pie that will make you wet yourself. Luckily, I brought a change of pants.
I fell in love with my husband all over again this weekend. Every time I think I couldn't possibly love him more, I fall all over again. He's a good man, that one. And he's being ever-so patient listening to me freak out about the One Day when it comes to kids and then freak out about Running Out of Time and then freak out all over again about MAH FREEEEDOMS. He just kisses me and makes me tea and tells me over and over how its going to be wonderful once it happens.
What else? Had monthliversary @ Ranch 616 on Tuesday. Rachel flew back from Hawaii. We have little tiny black ants in the kitchen. Talked to Robert, who got the olive wood cross I sent him. He's trying to keep things lighthearted, but I couldn't talk long without crying so I didn't talk long. That strength of that man amazes me. I got my hair cut again, this time with Extra Rock. Shout out to AA for being so wonderful. Made an appt. for my jaw. And now I'm getting things together for September, because when it comes, the rest of the year will FLY BY.
That's a little scary, huh?
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August 17th, 2009
08:10 am - Meditating on Joy
☆
i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginably You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
e. e. cummings
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August 12th, 2009
07:42 am - There's a sea secret in me.
Things in my head haven't been hanging out in happy town lately and I don't want to write about them just yet because I'm trying to convince myself that this is a hormone-related blue since it's about that time on the calendar.
Lots happened in England, things in my brain shifted a bit. Did the venom of that wasp sting seep into my brain and make me change my mind about The Future? Probably not. My insides, however, were vastly improved by the cool breeze and dipping my feet in the North Sea tonic was A Very Necessary Treatment.
Bits of Tid
* Turns out I'm not that big of a fan of fish and chips anymore.
* English hospitals scare the shit out of me.
* We don't have to pick up and move everything, but what's really stopping us from pausing Austin and moving to London for a year?
* The heat and the allergies here are affecting my healing. I had days in Cambridge where my head felt almost normal. This means I will be praying for the Fall to may its way here quicker and staying indoors a lot.
* My friend getting the cancer treatment was given a 20% chance of survival. BEFORE ANY OF YOU THINK BAD THINGS — that's 1 in 5. Somebody has to be that one. Positive energy, please, and let's make that "one" him.
* I'm addicted to Bejeweled Blitz. It's making me procrastinate on my BOA deadlines. Which are creeping up. FAST.
* My haircut has lost its fabulous edge. I'm going back in to see the wonderful Joey (my hairy godmother!) ASAP.
* I'm close to deciding on the blog name. CLOSE.
There's breakfast waiting for me in the next room from my wonderful husband and I have an hour before I need to get in the office. Time to stretch, shower and put on a game face.
This pix was captured on the streets of Cambridge. You do this for me today and I will listen with all my ears.
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August 5th, 2009
04:18 am - "You better bring your own sun, don't you forget to ..."
I've never seen England in the summertime and it's a treat, indeed. Everyone here seems to think it's so bloody hot but I'd trade a toe to have this kind of weather back in Texas right now. Temps hovering around the upper 60s, low 70s, and a cool breeze. It rains here and there (spits, really) but even that is such a rarity in life these days that I just want to play in it.
Here's another installment in "Terry Points at Things," brought to you today by Ian and Mary's gorgeous garden.
Clearly, I need lipgloss and this photo doesn't bring it justice. I've been sitting in various gardens drinking tea (21 cuppas, thus far) and reading. I brought books but I can't stop myself from buying their newspapers and going cover to cover (I know more about cricket than any American should) and I snatched The Prophet from a bookshelf here and reread it. That's a book that grows richer and deeper with age and subsequent readings. It was soul food in typeface.
* * *
Ian should be released from hospital today. He had to stay in a day longer than expected because the site drain kept draining. My heart goes out to him so intensely right now, there's nothing that sucks worse or makes you feel more helpless than staying in a hospital bed.
Speaking of hospitals, the hospitals here scare the shit out of me. No kidding. I was all gung-ho about moving to the UK until I got a handle of what healthcare looks like in this country. Sure, it's "free" but it's the best argument for a capitalist society anyone has made to me thus far. And I assure you, for me to even SAY such a thing ... (shakes head)
* * *
Heading to London today for a meal with Mehron and Annabel at Wagamama. Favorite restaurant on the planet. Mmm ... Wagamama.
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July 29th, 2009
12:21 am - Livestrong.
A couple of weeks before I got the news about my head, I got the news that a friend was sick. He went into the hospital to check on some soreness in his testicles and was immediately admitted and quickly underwent surgery and subsequent radiation treatments. It all happened so fast that it hit everyone like whiplash.
The cancer spread to other organs but with some rough chemo and lots of prayers and fighting, he got his stats down from the millions to like, 19. The winning number is less than 5. He was so healthy and active before this hit, which my money is on for the reason he's still with us right now.
So he came back to work a couple of weeks ago and we swapped hospital stories — awkward catheter moments, insurance nightmares, out-of-pocket expenses, new leases on life, friend and family gratefulness, the numbing fear in the beginning and the blessed, sweet relief that happens on the other side and strikes so hard and so randomly it takes your breath away, and how astonished we were about how coming back to work would have such an emotional impact on us. He, more than I when I first got back, looked so healthy and strong. You wouldn't know if you saw him that this was real life.
He went in for a check up and got the news today that there are now markers in his lungs. His fight is not over yet. He's relocating for some hard-core stem cell treatment, from what I've gathered on FB and his Twitter. I don't even know if he'll come back in the office at all. I wouldn't. But I want him to so I can selfishly hug him and tell him he'll be okay.
If you knew this man, you would be in awe of him. He's an amazing guy, a fantastic writer and an awesome photographer. He married and had kids young, he's only 27 and his third is on the way. And what you'd notice most is that his heart is made of solid gold and he's got nothing but love for everyone and fierce devotion to his family.
That all this is happening to him breaks my heart. Breaks it, stomps on it, drags it across glass shards. There's a helplessness that everyone who isn't him is participating in now. We all want to help, we all want to make this better, but not one of us can do anything but pray and send positive energy. He's in the ring and we're all on the edge of our seats willing it to be okay.
That's just not enough. I don't know what else there is, but that's not enough.
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July 28th, 2009
08:20 am - Convinced she could pull back a glacier ...
I'm simultaneously fighting a headache that's putting the hurt on, sneezes that are impressing giant whoppers of pain on said headache and the urge to take some heavy duty narcotics and go back to sleep.
But instead I will take allergy medicine, some Spark, turn on music* and get my ass moving.
I fly out the day after tomorrow. I'm not at all ready. I need new glasses, new luggage, some new books for the trip and some quality time with my big sister.
* Who are we kidding. It's been All Tori, All day lately ...
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July 27th, 2009
10:54 am - Wake up, Mister Microphone ...
The Tori Amos show was AMAZING. Amazing. I wish the lizard lounge portion would have lasted longer, but as it was she made me bawl for three songs straight. Her cover of Vincent was heartbreaking. I love the Long Center, LOVE IT. Also, I think she's expecting again. Not a lick of my business but I would be thrilled from afar if that were the case.
Watched the finish of the Tour de France and LOVED IT. Never thought I'd enjoy three-weeks of back-to-back cycling, but holy hell it was awesome. Lance is such a badass. I don't give a WHAT if he's a jerk IRL, he's a bad ass. He'll be back next year for the yellow jersey, mark my words.
Date night movie night on Friday with curry and Children of the Earth. Spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with D. We didn't even leave the house once on Sunday. Didn't even step out on the patio. It was blissful and relaxing and much needed since we're off on a big jet plane in 3 days.
Random picture post: Daniel made this strawberry pavlova last weekend. It was SO good and so fattening and chock full of NOM.
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July 17th, 2009
12:03 pm - Lay off the haterade and love somebody.
I don't know how many of you have heard or are following the recent controversy over at KLBJ AM, but I haven't been this angry about something in a long time. During one of their talk shows, the subject of illegal aliens came up and stirred a conversation where the W word (an ethnic slur comparable to the N word) was thrown around not once, but THIRTY-FOUR TIMES. The DJs were suspended for two-weeks without pay, and offered a half-ass apology where it was essentially said that he (Don) was sorry we didn't get his sarcasm. 0_o
This word. I hate this word. It's so loaded with disgust that every time I hear it I can still hear it the way I heard it flung at me as a kid. Followed by, "Run for the border!" and other racially motivated insults. I don't get it. We have an African American president. It's 2009. How is this still happening? And is it me, or have we seen a rise in the Mexi-hate lately?
Well, on top of submitting a hate-speech complaint to the FCC (which I encourage you to do, as well.),* I called and wrote councilman Mike Martinez, whom I knew was one of the Hispanic leaders taking a stance on this, as well as the radio station's program managers. This is too progressive of a city to stand behind hate speech being broadcast on our airwaves. It's disgusting.
All this anger is fueling something important to me — getting off my ass and start volunteering and getting involved with the local Hispanic community. I may not speak the best Spanish, but I sure as hell can write the right people and get. shit. done.
* * *
I'm home again with a headache. This hasn't been a good week for me. And with all that's going on with Daniel's dad, I hate that I'm not at 100% right now. Hell, I'd settle for being 80%.
* * *
I got to babysit for a couple of hours last night, a hat I only wear for special friends at times of need — and baby Amsden is such a ball of JOY that it was a blast. I've never met a more mellow kid. I don't know enough about babies so I called Alicia and asked if they needed to be burped after feeding at six months old (they do). I changed a diaper and he fell asleep being rocked on my chest. It was pretty cool. Pretty scary, but pretty cool.
* * *
So much other stuff has happened, but these narcotics are kicking in and I'll have to update the rest once I wake back up.
♡
* You'll need this info for the FCC complaint, should you choose to submit a complaint (DO IT!!):
Show: Todd and Don Show
Time: 10AM
Date 7/14/09
KLBJ AM 590
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July 9th, 2009
08:12 am - Fabula - Fae - Elphaba - Elphie
In preparation for the show, I've been reading Wicked and I haven't been able to put it down, which has caused me great consternation when passing out from my newly raised dose of nerve meds. I'm halfway through and even though I know the fate of Fabula, it's breaking my heart to hear how she got from A to evil.
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It's Thursday already. I don't know how that happened. I have too much to catch up on at work and the nights are flying by. At least it's only one more day until Friday. That's a good sign, right?
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