I have managed to make progress on my terrifying to-do list. I went in to work this morning shortly after my last post. I got home about 30+ minutes ago. What did I do all day?
graded book reports
graded science presentations
graded math warm ups and quizzes
graded homework packets
entered all grades in the computer
printed grade sheets for each student
printed missing assignment sheets for each student
gather necessary papers to complete missing assignments
gathered materials that need to be photocopied
prepared for a fun "kidney transplant" activity to be done sometime
chatted with a couple of grandmas via cell phone
watched an episode of M*A*S*H (I needed some background noise)
prepared for observation by assistant principal this week
prepared for two observations by mentor next week
I was a busy girl. I am feeling much better having gotten all this taken care of. Tomorrow we start big testing and I can start getting ready for conferences (still a couple weeks off). Now it's time to trade back rubs with the hubby.
*Hmmm. I just looked at my to-do list with the idea of crossing off the stuff that is done, but there's nothing I can cross off. I spent 7 hours at work and can't cross a damn thing off the list. Sheesh.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Blame Amy
1)Starting with your head down to your toes, what health/beauty products have you used/applied to your body so far today? [For example, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup, cologne/perfume, nail polish, etc.]
I have brushed my teeth with Scope (I hate toothpaste) and put on Suave deoderant. On my shower days, I would also have used Suave Humectant shampoo and conditioner. I never apply makeup - just the occasional lotion to soothe any dry skin and Carmex if my lips are chapped.
2. Do you have a ritual when you take a shower, such as washing your hair first or maybe even brushing your teeth in the shower? If so, what? Do you prefer baths or showers?
I like to occasionally soak in a bath, but showers are my daily routine. We have a HUGE shower with great pressure. Very important. I turn on the water to heat up and get my clothes together for the day. I get in and get my hair wet. Lather in shampoo. If the legs are fuzzy, one gets shaved now and the other after the conditioner is applied. Rinse shampoo, apply conditioner. Lather with body wash (same brand/flavor as the lotion above - Pretty in Pink from Vicki's Secret - a student gave them to me last year and I really like the smell.) Rinse body. Rinse hair. Exit. Toweling occurs in this order - face, arms, body, legs, hair. Oh, and a Q-tip afterwards is a must for the ears. I can't stand wet ears.
3. How do you get yourself up and going in the mornings? Coffee? A hot shower? Breakfast? Would you consider yourself a morning person at all? When do you usually get up?
I am a morning person and provided that I have gotten enough sleep, I don't really need anything to get up and go. My typical routine is such:
alarm, feed cats, bathroom, (shower every other day), dress, brush hair/do minimal prep, make lunch, read while eating breakfast, re-brush hair/brush teeth, pack things, kiss sleeping Mikey, head out the door. I am usually up around 6:30 and out the door around 7:30.
4. Do you normally eat breakfast? What do you usually have? Do you usually make it at home or go out for breakfast, or do you prefer not to eat breakfast?
My favorite breakfast is scrambled eggs and chili beans in a tortilla with sour cream. I have been known to grab a yogurt, a couple peices of toast, or some fruit when in a hurry. I cannot eat cereal on a school day because I am famished by 10:30 if I do. When I go out for breakfast, I order an omelet or pancakes. On rare weekends, we actually make pancakes or french toast at home. Messy.
5. What does your alarm clock sound like? A buzzer, music, or something else? Do you ever set your clock fast so that you push yourself to get ready sooner? Are you usually on time, late, or somewhere in-between?
It sounds like the Beep-Beep-Beep alarms you always hear on TV. Every time I hear that in a commercial my brain shouts "Wake Up!" and I get a shot of adrenaline. I have my bedroom clock set 10 minutes fast, which annoys the hell out of my hubby. I don't know why, because I KNOW it's 10 minutes fast and consequently allow myself to sleep 10 extra minutes. If it is something vitally important, I will be 5-10 minutes early. If not, I am usually a couple minutes late. I try to be on time, but it rarely works.
I have brushed my teeth with Scope (I hate toothpaste) and put on Suave deoderant. On my shower days, I would also have used Suave Humectant shampoo and conditioner. I never apply makeup - just the occasional lotion to soothe any dry skin and Carmex if my lips are chapped.
2. Do you have a ritual when you take a shower, such as washing your hair first or maybe even brushing your teeth in the shower? If so, what? Do you prefer baths or showers?
I like to occasionally soak in a bath, but showers are my daily routine. We have a HUGE shower with great pressure. Very important. I turn on the water to heat up and get my clothes together for the day. I get in and get my hair wet. Lather in shampoo. If the legs are fuzzy, one gets shaved now and the other after the conditioner is applied. Rinse shampoo, apply conditioner. Lather with body wash (same brand/flavor as the lotion above - Pretty in Pink from Vicki's Secret - a student gave them to me last year and I really like the smell.) Rinse body. Rinse hair. Exit. Toweling occurs in this order - face, arms, body, legs, hair. Oh, and a Q-tip afterwards is a must for the ears. I can't stand wet ears.
3. How do you get yourself up and going in the mornings? Coffee? A hot shower? Breakfast? Would you consider yourself a morning person at all? When do you usually get up?
I am a morning person and provided that I have gotten enough sleep, I don't really need anything to get up and go. My typical routine is such:
alarm, feed cats, bathroom, (shower every other day), dress, brush hair/do minimal prep, make lunch, read while eating breakfast, re-brush hair/brush teeth, pack things, kiss sleeping Mikey, head out the door. I am usually up around 6:30 and out the door around 7:30.
4. Do you normally eat breakfast? What do you usually have? Do you usually make it at home or go out for breakfast, or do you prefer not to eat breakfast?
My favorite breakfast is scrambled eggs and chili beans in a tortilla with sour cream. I have been known to grab a yogurt, a couple peices of toast, or some fruit when in a hurry. I cannot eat cereal on a school day because I am famished by 10:30 if I do. When I go out for breakfast, I order an omelet or pancakes. On rare weekends, we actually make pancakes or french toast at home. Messy.
5. What does your alarm clock sound like? A buzzer, music, or something else? Do you ever set your clock fast so that you push yourself to get ready sooner? Are you usually on time, late, or somewhere in-between?
It sounds like the Beep-Beep-Beep alarms you always hear on TV. Every time I hear that in a commercial my brain shouts "Wake Up!" and I get a shot of adrenaline. I have my bedroom clock set 10 minutes fast, which annoys the hell out of my hubby. I don't know why, because I KNOW it's 10 minutes fast and consequently allow myself to sleep 10 extra minutes. If it is something vitally important, I will be 5-10 minutes early. If not, I am usually a couple minutes late. I try to be on time, but it rarely works.
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Pity Him
This is an actual conversation that occured in my house yesterday while we were putting away dishes...
- - -
Mikey: There's no more room for glasses.
Me (looking into the cabinet): WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? That's not the way the glasses go*.
Mikey: I couldn't remember how they went because there were none in there when I started**.
Me: You couldn't remember? After 3 years of having them exactly the same, you couldn't remember?
Mikey: Nope. But they'll work this way.
Me: Yes, they will. Which is why I won't make you fix them.
- - -
And every time I have opened that cupboard since then I have had to restrain myself from rearranging them. It has been an excellent exercise in self-control. I would feel sorry for him, except that he knew exactly what he was getting into when he married me.
*Yes, there is a "way" that thing go in my kitchen. It has been carefully arranged for ease of use and clean-up.
**This is from the same man who can't wash more than ten dishes at a time because he can't manage to stack them in a way that won't eventually collapse under its own weight.
- - -
Mikey: There's no more room for glasses.
Me (looking into the cabinet): WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? That's not the way the glasses go*.
Mikey: I couldn't remember how they went because there were none in there when I started**.
Me: You couldn't remember? After 3 years of having them exactly the same, you couldn't remember?
Mikey: Nope. But they'll work this way.
Me: Yes, they will. Which is why I won't make you fix them.
- - -
And every time I have opened that cupboard since then I have had to restrain myself from rearranging them. It has been an excellent exercise in self-control. I would feel sorry for him, except that he knew exactly what he was getting into when he married me.
*Yes, there is a "way" that thing go in my kitchen. It has been carefully arranged for ease of use and clean-up.
**This is from the same man who can't wash more than ten dishes at a time because he can't manage to stack them in a way that won't eventually collapse under its own weight.
Good Morning...
I hope that you are all having a great day. I don't have anything to tell you, just wanted to wish you a happy and productive weekend full of laughter and enjoyment. Peace.
Friday, October 29, 2004
TGIF
Ways to make teaching difficult:
- have a helicopter land on school grounds, accompanied by members of the DEA and a drug sniffing dog
- have a party
- invite the cheer/dance/flag/band squads from the nearby high school to do a pep rally
- have a week of rainy/cloudy/drizzly days
- give them candy
- ask kids to sit still for a 90 minute assembly
- give them caramel apples
- attempt an art project
- get close to Halloween
How to make one day feel like a week:
- do all the above on the same day
- have a helicopter land on school grounds, accompanied by members of the DEA and a drug sniffing dog
- have a party
- invite the cheer/dance/flag/band squads from the nearby high school to do a pep rally
- have a week of rainy/cloudy/drizzly days
- give them candy
- ask kids to sit still for a 90 minute assembly
- give them caramel apples
- attempt an art project
- get close to Halloween
How to make one day feel like a week:
- do all the above on the same day
Thursday, October 28, 2004
If Only
If I were going through the bored-out-of-my-tears process of healing during the month of November I would be participating in NaNoWriMo. Not because I am a good writer or because I have any particular aspirations to author-dom, but because this morning, in the shower, I came up with the BEST idea for a sci-fi story. Seriously. Since the chances of me ever actually writing it are negligable, and since I trust you all implicitely, I will share the idea that could potentially make me a wealthy and famous author. Be sure to mention me in the credits if you steal it.
Here's the deal. It is many years in the future. Everything is pretty much the same. Life goes on...except every once in a whilea person under great duress performs a feat that is technically "impossible". Not just out of the ordinary...really, physically, scientifically impossible. A man desperate to get to a last chance interview before it is too late manages to slow the passage of time until he can get through a snarl of traffic. A woman bring her stillborn child back to life with the power of her denials. A child decides to fly away from an abusive situation, and does it...literally. Things are getting wierd.
The world's top scientists start researching and manage to pinpoint the moment in time when these impossiblities started becoming reality. After a bit more research, they learn that this is the same moment that "a devestating event" (not exactly sure what, but I suspect it has to do with WMDs) occurs. It turns out that everyone - the entire population of Earth was killed in that instant. However, following the premise of so many stories before, those inflicted with death don't realize that they are so inflicted. They go on with their daily lives as before, unaware that anything has changed. And since they all died at the same time, there was no one to notice the shift (aside from the initial feeling of queaziness and disorientation that was shrugged off so casually).
Eventually, it is postulated that what they have been taking for reality for so long (like, 50 years or something) is, in fact, nothing more than a mass hallucination. Or perhaps a figment of a collective imagination. As with any theory, there are believers and non-believers. The trouble is that the believers, suddenly accepting the facts of their own death, immediately puff out of existence. This solidifies the theory with any non-believers who were leaning on the fence and they become believers...and puff out of existence...convincing more non-believers...you get the drift.
In traditional ripple-effect form, people begin puffing out of existence more and more rapidly. Eventually, you are left with a small collective of individuals, who would of course spend many pages discussing what lies on "The Other Side". These folks are struggling to maintain even the basics of their created reality - since the small number of minds leads to a large number of inconsistencies and gaps. Eventually, they decide to give in to the reality of their own deaths, puffing out of existence (and into some unknown), at which time the Earth returns to its own reality. The story ends with a discription of a formerly war-torn, devestated planet showing the first signs of growth and re-birth.
Oh...and if you do steal it...I want a copy of the final product. Thanks.
Here's the deal. It is many years in the future. Everything is pretty much the same. Life goes on...except every once in a whilea person under great duress performs a feat that is technically "impossible". Not just out of the ordinary...really, physically, scientifically impossible. A man desperate to get to a last chance interview before it is too late manages to slow the passage of time until he can get through a snarl of traffic. A woman bring her stillborn child back to life with the power of her denials. A child decides to fly away from an abusive situation, and does it...literally. Things are getting wierd.
The world's top scientists start researching and manage to pinpoint the moment in time when these impossiblities started becoming reality. After a bit more research, they learn that this is the same moment that "a devestating event" (not exactly sure what, but I suspect it has to do with WMDs) occurs. It turns out that everyone - the entire population of Earth was killed in that instant. However, following the premise of so many stories before, those inflicted with death don't realize that they are so inflicted. They go on with their daily lives as before, unaware that anything has changed. And since they all died at the same time, there was no one to notice the shift (aside from the initial feeling of queaziness and disorientation that was shrugged off so casually).
Eventually, it is postulated that what they have been taking for reality for so long (like, 50 years or something) is, in fact, nothing more than a mass hallucination. Or perhaps a figment of a collective imagination. As with any theory, there are believers and non-believers. The trouble is that the believers, suddenly accepting the facts of their own death, immediately puff out of existence. This solidifies the theory with any non-believers who were leaning on the fence and they become believers...and puff out of existence...convincing more non-believers...you get the drift.
In traditional ripple-effect form, people begin puffing out of existence more and more rapidly. Eventually, you are left with a small collective of individuals, who would of course spend many pages discussing what lies on "The Other Side". These folks are struggling to maintain even the basics of their created reality - since the small number of minds leads to a large number of inconsistencies and gaps. Eventually, they decide to give in to the reality of their own deaths, puffing out of existence (and into some unknown), at which time the Earth returns to its own reality. The story ends with a discription of a formerly war-torn, devestated planet showing the first signs of growth and re-birth.
Oh...and if you do steal it...I want a copy of the final product. Thanks.
In Print
The Article was published today. On the front page of section B in our local paper was a whole column about my, my kidney, and my class. The kids were thrilled.
...a group of fourth graders at...
"HEY! That's us! We're in the paper!"
The article was well written and accurate. The author, John Hunneman, always takes a very humane, thoughtful approach to his stories and this was no exception. He listened carefully to what I said and brought out (what I think to be) the most important aspects of the whole situation. I was particularly happy to see that he quoted me as saying,
"One of the reasons I wanted to become a teacher was to have an effect on people's lives...Maybe this will teach my students it's important to be nice to each other and help each other. Maybe this will help them learn there is more to life than big cars and Nintendo."
I couldn't have said it better myself. Oh, wait...
BTW - I saved a copy of the article for myself and one for each household that contains a parental unit. I will either mail them to you, or (more likely given the number of things I have to do) bring them to MN with me and pass them on in person.
...a group of fourth graders at...
"HEY! That's us! We're in the paper!"
The article was well written and accurate. The author, John Hunneman, always takes a very humane, thoughtful approach to his stories and this was no exception. He listened carefully to what I said and brought out (what I think to be) the most important aspects of the whole situation. I was particularly happy to see that he quoted me as saying,
"One of the reasons I wanted to become a teacher was to have an effect on people's lives...Maybe this will teach my students it's important to be nice to each other and help each other. Maybe this will help them learn there is more to life than big cars and Nintendo."
I couldn't have said it better myself. Oh, wait...
BTW - I saved a copy of the article for myself and one for each household that contains a parental unit. I will either mail them to you, or (more likely given the number of things I have to do) bring them to MN with me and pass them on in person.
Tired. So Very Tired.
I am feeling just the tiniest bit overwhelmed by all the things I have to do before Thanksgiving...
*prepare my students for end of trimester testing
*complete report cards and parent/teacher conferences
*have 1 formal observation from my assistant principal
*have 2 observations from my BTSA mentor
*develop 3 weeks' worth of plans for a sub
*clean house and arrange for cat-sitting for the nearly 2 weeks we'll be gone
*get my oil changed and new tires put on my car
*participate in the time honored tradition of trying to get out of jury duty
*mentally prepare for the day when I give someone else a part of my very own body
I'm going to bed. Wake me when it's over. :)
*
*complete report cards and parent/teacher conferences
*
*
*develop 3 weeks' worth of plans for a sub
*clean house and arrange for cat-sitting for the nearly 2 weeks we'll be gone
*get my oil changed and new tires put on my car
*
*mentally prepare for the day when I give someone else a part of my very own body
I'm going to bed. Wake me when it's over. :)
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
A Date
The surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 29th. I have to be there for pre-surgery preparations on the Friday before. We're working on arranging travel plans and I am hustling my butt to get ready for 3 weeks of being gone. Wish us luck.
**OOPS - Thanks to Kathy for catching my not so little typo...hope no one was freaking out! :)
**OOPS - Thanks to Kathy for catching my not so little typo...hope no one was freaking out! :)
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Hell's Lawn
From an e-mail that someone I have never met got from someone I have never heard of:
"For love, you visit. You visit hell, if you have to. And if they throw you out of hell, you wait on hell’s lawn, indefinitely."
Hell, yeah. Right on.
"For love, you visit. You visit hell, if you have to. And if they throw you out of hell, you wait on hell’s lawn, indefinitely."
Hell, yeah. Right on.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Snack Attack!
Apparently hearing that I had a very low sodium level was all it took to convince my brain that I needed to eat nothing but pretzel sticks for days. Perhaps if I were to remove the Bag O' Temptation from my desk where it is easily accessible as I check my e-mail in a post-school snacking frenzy I wouldn't be close to finishing off the bag.
Fame
So, the room mom in my class has notified the local paper about my kidney donation and someone is coming during my prep tomorrow to interview me for a local interest column. Yikes. And I thought I could just do it and the only things people would care about was that I was missing school. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Family AND Friends
I finally put my finger on the peculiar feeling of dread/discomfort that accompanied learning of my cousin's death. I have been sad for the obvious reasons, but there was an odd, unrecognizable aftertaste that hung in my mind each time I thought about him - beyond my regret that I couldn't attend the funeral - more than just my dismay at not getting to know him better in past years.
As I ended a conversation with my father this afternoon, I asked him to hug the surviving sister for me. It was all I could do to say goodbye without bursting into tears, for I suddenly realized that this poor girl was mourning the loss of a brother. A BROTHER. Not someone she saw occasionally at family gatherings. Not a distant relative that she read about in holiday newsletters. The boy she grew up with, the only person to share parents and upbringing with her, is gone.
Even now, I want to cry thinking about this. I can't imagine how I would go on if one of my siblings died. I know that I see them only rarely - half a continent seperates us - and I know that I don't talk to them nearly often enough, but I think about them on a daily basis. They are an elite few who truly understand who I am and where I come from. I am so proud of each of them and so amazed that 4 people who are so completely different can be so tightly bonded. And of course, being the oldest, I feel a certain amount of responsiblity and obligation when it comes to their well-being. Losing them would be losing a charished and vital part of myself. I can only imagine a pale reflection of what Kelsey must be going through.
I am so, so sorry for her loss. And so profoundly greatful that I was able to call each and every one of my siblings today. We talked about the weather and our parents and each other and jobs and all the mundane little things that make up our lives. I wish I could say that this attention to them would remain strong. Unfortunately, it often takes a shocking loss to make us appreciate that which is with us every day. I will keep this in mind as long as I can.
As I ended a conversation with my father this afternoon, I asked him to hug the surviving sister for me. It was all I could do to say goodbye without bursting into tears, for I suddenly realized that this poor girl was mourning the loss of a brother. A BROTHER. Not someone she saw occasionally at family gatherings. Not a distant relative that she read about in holiday newsletters. The boy she grew up with, the only person to share parents and upbringing with her, is gone.
Even now, I want to cry thinking about this. I can't imagine how I would go on if one of my siblings died. I know that I see them only rarely - half a continent seperates us - and I know that I don't talk to them nearly often enough, but I think about them on a daily basis. They are an elite few who truly understand who I am and where I come from. I am so proud of each of them and so amazed that 4 people who are so completely different can be so tightly bonded. And of course, being the oldest, I feel a certain amount of responsiblity and obligation when it comes to their well-being. Losing them would be losing a charished and vital part of myself. I can only imagine a pale reflection of what Kelsey must be going through.
I am so, so sorry for her loss. And so profoundly greatful that I was able to call each and every one of my siblings today. We talked about the weather and our parents and each other and jobs and all the mundane little things that make up our lives. I wish I could say that this attention to them would remain strong. Unfortunately, it often takes a shocking loss to make us appreciate that which is with us every day. I will keep this in mind as long as I can.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Testing Day 2
Once again, I was required to fast for my first test of the day. I had to eat my final meal before 6 pm and avoid all food and water after 10 pm. This would have been bad enough, but I also had to drink a big bottle of lemon-flavored laxative. At about 1:00 am, I woke up and spent about 30 minutes in the bathroom. I will leave the rest of the details to your ample imaginations. Needless to say, this - coupled with the fasting - left me quite dehydrated. This is where the excitement comes in.
My first test was a CT scan. For those who have never experienced a CT scan, you lie down on a big table and they move the table back and forth through a big circle (looks a lot like a Stargate). They needed to inject a much larger amount of contrast solution so they could see the parts that they wanted to get images of (kidneys, ureter, bladder, etc.) so they had to insert an IV port. For some reason, the port needed to be in my right arm which is NOT my good arm for injections and draws. The veins in that arm only show themselves after I have been working out heavily. The first attempt (in my elbow pit) didn't even catch a vein - I suspect it nicked one though, because I still have a bruise there.
The nurse then decided to try my right hand, which would have been fine, except that she said, "It's harder to get these ones in because they roll." Gee, thanks. I needed to hear that shocking lack of confidence just as you were aiming a needle at me. Between the nerves and the dehydration and the minor pain and the being tensed up and not breathing the way I should, I managed to nearly pass out. I didn't faint, but I must have gotten pretty darn white, because I had the undivided attention of every nurse in the room. One was holding my feet up, one was holding a cold rag to my forehead, one was grabbing the blood pressure cuff (after I told her that my BP drops dramatically in these situations), and several others were watching and asking how I felt. It was quite embarassing. Eventually, I managed to bring my BP up high enough that they would believe me when I said I felt fine. I headed over to have my CT scan.
The IV in my hand was hurting the whole time they prepped me for the scan. When they were going to hook me up to the contrast solution I mentioned how sensitive it was, so they decided to move it to my elbow again. After yet another needle stick I was ready for the scan. It involved lots of lying on a table with my arms over my head. I had to hold my breath each time they took an image. The worst part was when they inflated the little balloons strapped to my abdomen. I think they were supposed to prevent the contrast dye from travelling too quickly, but it mostly just felt like they were jabbing straight through me. I had a hard time staying still during this part. After they got all the images they needed, I had the IV removed and headed out to the series of meetings I had scheduled.
First, I met with the hypertension nurse, who explained the results of my blood tests and my 18 hour BP eval. Next, I talked with my coordinator briefly. We talked about scheduling and she made sure I didn't have any questions. After a break of a couple hours (occupied with window shopping and feeding our faces), we went to a little educational class. They summarized all the info that everyone else had given me in the last 2 days. We got to watch a DVD of an actual kidney removal. It was facinating. Finally, I met with the nephrologist again and he gave me the final "go ahead" after looking over the results of all the tests.
There you have it. The entire two days of testing to be a kidney donor. My hope is that someone who plans to do this in the future will read this and now what to expect, because I didn't have a clue. To anyone who is worrying about these tests, I just want to tell you that it is not bad. I whine and complain about the fasting, but it was really not bad at all.
My first test was a CT scan. For those who have never experienced a CT scan, you lie down on a big table and they move the table back and forth through a big circle (looks a lot like a Stargate). They needed to inject a much larger amount of contrast solution so they could see the parts that they wanted to get images of (kidneys, ureter, bladder, etc.) so they had to insert an IV port. For some reason, the port needed to be in my right arm which is NOT my good arm for injections and draws. The veins in that arm only show themselves after I have been working out heavily. The first attempt (in my elbow pit) didn't even catch a vein - I suspect it nicked one though, because I still have a bruise there.
The nurse then decided to try my right hand, which would have been fine, except that she said, "It's harder to get these ones in because they roll." Gee, thanks. I needed to hear that shocking lack of confidence just as you were aiming a needle at me. Between the nerves and the dehydration and the minor pain and the being tensed up and not breathing the way I should, I managed to nearly pass out. I didn't faint, but I must have gotten pretty darn white, because I had the undivided attention of every nurse in the room. One was holding my feet up, one was holding a cold rag to my forehead, one was grabbing the blood pressure cuff (after I told her that my BP drops dramatically in these situations), and several others were watching and asking how I felt. It was quite embarassing. Eventually, I managed to bring my BP up high enough that they would believe me when I said I felt fine. I headed over to have my CT scan.
The IV in my hand was hurting the whole time they prepped me for the scan. When they were going to hook me up to the contrast solution I mentioned how sensitive it was, so they decided to move it to my elbow again. After yet another needle stick I was ready for the scan. It involved lots of lying on a table with my arms over my head. I had to hold my breath each time they took an image. The worst part was when they inflated the little balloons strapped to my abdomen. I think they were supposed to prevent the contrast dye from travelling too quickly, but it mostly just felt like they were jabbing straight through me. I had a hard time staying still during this part. After they got all the images they needed, I had the IV removed and headed out to the series of meetings I had scheduled.
First, I met with the hypertension nurse, who explained the results of my blood tests and my 18 hour BP eval. Next, I talked with my coordinator briefly. We talked about scheduling and she made sure I didn't have any questions. After a break of a couple hours (occupied with window shopping and feeding our faces), we went to a little educational class. They summarized all the info that everyone else had given me in the last 2 days. We got to watch a DVD of an actual kidney removal. It was facinating. Finally, I met with the nephrologist again and he gave me the final "go ahead" after looking over the results of all the tests.
There you have it. The entire two days of testing to be a kidney donor. My hope is that someone who plans to do this in the future will read this and now what to expect, because I didn't have a clue. To anyone who is worrying about these tests, I just want to tell you that it is not bad. I whine and complain about the fasting, but it was really not bad at all.
Testing Day 1
I spent Sunday night fasting (food and water) so I could be ready for my blood test first thing Monday morning. And when I say "first thing", I mean it. We were up at the clinic at 5:50 am. The Mayo clinic has a different desk for every possible test/procedure you can need. This means you have to first track down the desk in The Amazing Medical Labyrinth, and then sit in a waiting room each time you need something done. There is no multi-tasking there.
The first desk got my signature regarding insurance and sent me to the second desk where I got my schedule for the two days. There were at least 14 appointments on it. They gave me a brief (and LOUD - why have the other patients stand back for privacy reasons if you are going to shout so they all can hear anyway?) rundown of the days' events and sent me on my way.
The first appointment was a typical blood draw. I wanted to take the nurse who did it home with me so she could be my regular Vampire Lady. The one I have now is awful. I would love to get blood drawn and NOT look like I was a heroine junkie afterwards!
The second appointment was a renal function test. Of course, this was scheduled right after I have been fasting for about 12 hours, so I had to chug the water pretty hard for awhile. This was okay, since I was practically dying of thirst! They set me up in a little room, injected a small amount of contrast solution into the back of my arm and told me to wait for an hour. Not as bad as it might seem. They provided me with a nice warm blanket, my book, and a bottle of water. Mikey was there to keep me company, too. When they got back, I had to pee into a bucket and give some blood. I then waited another 45 minutes and repeated. Not so bad, except for the starving part. Luckily, I had a short break at this point and managed to grab some food from the hotel breakfast.
Next, I met with a nephrologist for my general medical exam and a surgeon for a basic discussion about the surgery. (Two different desks in two different parts of the clinic, of course.) This was followed by an ECG. This was quick and painless, although the gel pads were cold and sticky. I then headed to yet another section of the building to meet with a nurse who hooked me up to an 18 hours blood pressure monitor. Although this didn't hurt, it was annoying as all get out. The thing went off every 10 minutes and each time I was supposed to sit or stand still until it was done. It also made my arm sweaty.
My last test was a chest x-ray, taken by a very nice man who didn't really seem to know what he was doing. In fact, I had to go back a second time to redo one of the pictures. The most difficult part of this test was figuring out how to put on the paper gown, which had 3 - yes, 3 - arm holes. Being a clever girl, it only took me a minute to solve this little puzzle.
Mike and I then met with a social worker (she didn't really seem to know what she was doing either, but she was very nice as well) and answered questions about my support system (great), my work (great), the amount of pressure I was getting from people to donate (none), and whether I can afford to miss work (yes). This meeting ended at about 4:00 pm. Neither of us had eaten a decent meal all day and both of us were exhausted, so we headed back to the hotel for a nap and dinner.
So ends Day 1 of the testing adventures. Stay tuned for Day 2 - by far the more exciting day.
The first desk got my signature regarding insurance and sent me to the second desk where I got my schedule for the two days. There were at least 14 appointments on it. They gave me a brief (and LOUD - why have the other patients stand back for privacy reasons if you are going to shout so they all can hear anyway?) rundown of the days' events and sent me on my way.
The first appointment was a typical blood draw. I wanted to take the nurse who did it home with me so she could be my regular Vampire Lady. The one I have now is awful. I would love to get blood drawn and NOT look like I was a heroine junkie afterwards!
The second appointment was a renal function test. Of course, this was scheduled right after I have been fasting for about 12 hours, so I had to chug the water pretty hard for awhile. This was okay, since I was practically dying of thirst! They set me up in a little room, injected a small amount of contrast solution into the back of my arm and told me to wait for an hour. Not as bad as it might seem. They provided me with a nice warm blanket, my book, and a bottle of water. Mikey was there to keep me company, too. When they got back, I had to pee into a bucket and give some blood. I then waited another 45 minutes and repeated. Not so bad, except for the starving part. Luckily, I had a short break at this point and managed to grab some food from the hotel breakfast.
Next, I met with a nephrologist for my general medical exam and a surgeon for a basic discussion about the surgery. (Two different desks in two different parts of the clinic, of course.) This was followed by an ECG. This was quick and painless, although the gel pads were cold and sticky. I then headed to yet another section of the building to meet with a nurse who hooked me up to an 18 hours blood pressure monitor. Although this didn't hurt, it was annoying as all get out. The thing went off every 10 minutes and each time I was supposed to sit or stand still until it was done. It also made my arm sweaty.
My last test was a chest x-ray, taken by a very nice man who didn't really seem to know what he was doing. In fact, I had to go back a second time to redo one of the pictures. The most difficult part of this test was figuring out how to put on the paper gown, which had 3 - yes, 3 - arm holes. Being a clever girl, it only took me a minute to solve this little puzzle.
Mike and I then met with a social worker (she didn't really seem to know what she was doing either, but she was very nice as well) and answered questions about my support system (great), my work (great), the amount of pressure I was getting from people to donate (none), and whether I can afford to miss work (yes). This meeting ended at about 4:00 pm. Neither of us had eaten a decent meal all day and both of us were exhausted, so we headed back to the hotel for a nap and dinner.
So ends Day 1 of the testing adventures. Stay tuned for Day 2 - by far the more exciting day.
My Trip
The overall trip to MN was very enjoyable. I got to visit with my father and my step-mother, as well as my cousin (the future recipient) and her hubby. We did lots of eating out, lots of lounging around lazily, and quite a bit of watching Clerks: the Animated Series on DVD. The flights were good and the hotel room was good (even though they didn't have the hot tub working). I managed to get my hair colored like I had been planning. The non-medical stuff was all pretty typical. Just the way I like it. Stay tuned for more detail about the actual reason I was there.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Tidbits
I am 100% in agreement with this political rant from MomBrain.
I am eating pretzel sticks and root beer for dinner. And that doesn't bother me. Unless Mikey makes ravioli. Yum.
Here's the current hairdo.
This shows the color pretty well, with the obligitory beam of light.
Here's the new me.
And here are some pics of the kitties.
That's the baby on top of the door. This is his latest trick. His next trick will be figuring out how to get down. Stupid cat.
Zazzy likes to sit in my chair. She has the cutest face!
Huzzah is our big boy. Really big.
I am eating pretzel sticks and root beer for dinner. And that doesn't bother me. Unless Mikey makes ravioli. Yum.
Here's the current hairdo.
This shows the color pretty well, with the obligitory beam of light.
Here's the new me.
And here are some pics of the kitties.
That's the baby on top of the door. This is his latest trick. His next trick will be figuring out how to get down. Stupid cat.
Zazzy likes to sit in my chair. She has the cutest face!
Huzzah is our big boy. Really big.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
In Brief
I have tons to say about the testing that was recently done, but I am exhausted both physically and mentally at the moment. But I do want you to know that I have been given the official "Green Light" by the nephrologist. This means that we are now waiting for them to schedule the surgery.
Oh, and I dyed my hair red. I will post a picture as soon as I get around to taking one. Probably this weekend. :)
Oh, and I dyed my hair red. I will post a picture as soon as I get around to taking one. Probably this weekend. :)
The Big Stuff
My cousin, Kyle, died in his sleep last night. Although his life had by no means been an easy one, it still came as a shock - completely unexpected. Please send healing thoughts to his mother, father, and sister, as well as a prayer of guidance for him whereever he may be.
There are many, many thoughts running around in my head tonight, but I am incapable of gathering them into coherent sentences. I am swamped by thoughts of the past, when I knew Kyle better, the present, and the numerous dramatic things that are happening in our family, and the future, wondering if I can possibly ever be greatful enough for all that I have. I just keep coming back to this one thought...
Life is just too fucking strange.
Peace be with you, Kyle. We love you.
There are many, many thoughts running around in my head tonight, but I am incapable of gathering them into coherent sentences. I am swamped by thoughts of the past, when I knew Kyle better, the present, and the numerous dramatic things that are happening in our family, and the future, wondering if I can possibly ever be greatful enough for all that I have. I just keep coming back to this one thought...
Life is just too fucking strange.
Peace be with you, Kyle. We love you.
The Little Stuff
What a craptacular day. Maybe it is coming down off such a good day that made it seem worse, but this was not a day I want to remember for long. It all started first thing in the morning...
1. Stomach cramps nearly kept me from work. I was on my way out the door when I actually had to lie down on the floor and curl up in a ball to get through one. This has happened to me before, but not on a day when it was so vital that I go to work.
2. Something in my inner ear was thrown off by the airplane or the listening to music through headphones on the airplane or something. I have had the dizzies since we landed last night. I turn my head to look at someone and the whole room sways.
3. My class full of angels, who were very well behaved for the sub - praise all that is good, were not so angelic for me today. Their little halos were definitely tarnished, what with all the talking out of turn and wandering around the room and telling me what to do. I actually had someone say, "Do you want me to tell you how Mrs. T (the sub) got us to be quiet?". Um. NO. Who's class is this anyway?
4. My head has been throbbing off and on all day.
And that's just the little stuff.
1. Stomach cramps nearly kept me from work. I was on my way out the door when I actually had to lie down on the floor and curl up in a ball to get through one. This has happened to me before, but not on a day when it was so vital that I go to work.
2. Something in my inner ear was thrown off by the airplane or the listening to music through headphones on the airplane or something. I have had the dizzies since we landed last night. I turn my head to look at someone and the whole room sways.
3. My class full of angels, who were very well behaved for the sub - praise all that is good, were not so angelic for me today. Their little halos were definitely tarnished, what with all the talking out of turn and wandering around the room and telling me what to do. I actually had someone say, "Do you want me to tell you how Mrs. T (the sub) got us to be quiet?". Um. NO. Who's class is this anyway?
4. My head has been throbbing off and on all day.
And that's just the little stuff.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Word of Advice
Don't have an IV put in. :) I had quite an adventure with the IV they gave me for my CT scan this morning. It was embarassing. I'll tell you all the gory details later. Gotta go talk to the coordinator.
PS - My sodium level ROCKS, and my BP is great, but I need to work on my cholesterol a bit. I know more about myself than I ever have before!
PS - My sodium level ROCKS, and my BP is great, but I need to work on my cholesterol a bit. I know more about myself than I ever have before!
Monday, October 18, 2004
The Patient
but boy have I seen a lot of doctors today! This is my first day of testing and I have been running all over the mazes of halls that make up Mayo Clinic and it's affiliates. I have had an ECG, blood tests, renal function tests (where you have to pee on command), consultations, and all kinds of waiting.
The one thing I have not had time for was eating. The other thing I have not had time for is sleeping. I am hungry and tired and ready to take a nap. No such luck. I have to have a chest x-ray in about an hour and then meet with the psychologist at 3. I will be able to rest a bit until 6 pm, when I have to take a powerful laxative to get me ready for tomorrow's tests. It will be a blast. Figuratively. I hope.
I am currently looking like I have serious problems because I have a BP cuff attached to my arm and a little machine in a bag strung around my neck. It will be taking my BP every 10 minutes for the rest of the day and every 20 minutes during the night. It doesn't hurt or anything, but I have to stop what I am doing and stand still when it starts to do its thing. Sometimes this happens at inopportune times.
My cousin has been here having some bloodwork today as well, although she is on her way home now. She really isn't feeling very good lately and I know she would like to get this transplant done as soon as possible. So far everything is pointing that way. (Oops...have to pause to get my arm squeezed! ... Okay, I'm back) One of the doctors told me that I was "in perfect health, a perfect donor" and so far all the tests have come out great. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
I am keeping a more thorough journal on the lap-top (this daily journaling has become a habit, I think), and I will be sure to fill you in on more details when I have more time. For now, I want to give Mikey a chance to do some surfing before our time runs out. Ciao!
PS - You wouldn't believe the ways my name has been butchered today! :)
The one thing I have not had time for was eating. The other thing I have not had time for is sleeping. I am hungry and tired and ready to take a nap. No such luck. I have to have a chest x-ray in about an hour and then meet with the psychologist at 3. I will be able to rest a bit until 6 pm, when I have to take a powerful laxative to get me ready for tomorrow's tests. It will be a blast. Figuratively. I hope.
I am currently looking like I have serious problems because I have a BP cuff attached to my arm and a little machine in a bag strung around my neck. It will be taking my BP every 10 minutes for the rest of the day and every 20 minutes during the night. It doesn't hurt or anything, but I have to stop what I am doing and stand still when it starts to do its thing. Sometimes this happens at inopportune times.
My cousin has been here having some bloodwork today as well, although she is on her way home now. She really isn't feeling very good lately and I know she would like to get this transplant done as soon as possible. So far everything is pointing that way. (Oops...have to pause to get my arm squeezed! ... Okay, I'm back) One of the doctors told me that I was "in perfect health, a perfect donor" and so far all the tests have come out great. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
I am keeping a more thorough journal on the lap-top (this daily journaling has become a habit, I think), and I will be sure to fill you in on more details when I have more time. For now, I want to give Mikey a chance to do some surfing before our time runs out. Ciao!
PS - You wouldn't believe the ways my name has been butchered today! :)
Friday, October 15, 2004
The Good Stuff
1. I was positively wallowing in the happiness that is my classroom these days. Even when the kids are being brats, it is fun. Because they are being bratty in a friendly, funny, good-humored kind of way. They make me laugh on an hourly basis.
2. My team members were slathering me with good luck and well wishes for my testing next week. I am definitely going in high spirits.
3. I managed to get things ready for my sub. It isn't easy to plan for three days, because I do so much adapting of my schedule every day. I hope that I have left enough work to cover the time. These kiddos are always getting done faster than I expect! :)
4. My honey got me a special treat today. He says it is a Kidney Day present! :) I was completely and utterly surprised to find a copy of the 7th book of The Dark Tower series in my underwear drawer as I was packing. I didn't even know it was out yet. I now have something wonderful to read while I am flying and sitting around waiting for tests. What a wonderful guy I have. The book was accompanied by a very sweet letter that made me teary-eyed. I am one lucky girl.
2. My team members were slathering me with good luck and well wishes for my testing next week. I am definitely going in high spirits.
3. I managed to get things ready for my sub. It isn't easy to plan for three days, because I do so much adapting of my schedule every day. I hope that I have left enough work to cover the time. These kiddos are always getting done faster than I expect! :)
4. My honey got me a special treat today. He says it is a Kidney Day present! :) I was completely and utterly surprised to find a copy of the 7th book of The Dark Tower series in my underwear drawer as I was packing. I didn't even know it was out yet. I now have something wonderful to read while I am flying and sitting around waiting for tests. What a wonderful guy I have. The book was accompanied by a very sweet letter that made me teary-eyed. I am one lucky girl.
Baby, You Can Drive My Car
We have pretty much decided against getting a Hybrid car since the cost is prohibitive to us, and the benefits aren't that much improved from the Escort I already drive. I am going to save up my money and get a car that runs on Biodiesel instead. Looks very good.
My Hero.
You all know that I heart Jon Stewart. He's is a funny, funny man and I have a deep appreciation for that. Today he was on Crossfire and he chewed them up and spit them out. They were expecting him to come on being a total doofus, cracking jokes and playing nice. Instead he accused them of being political hacks and demanded that they explain why they never hold the politicians accountable for anything. He was funny, but he was also deadly serious. The Crossfire guys got very defensive (especially the little idiot in the bowtie) and asked him why HE didn't ask the hard hitting questions. His response?
"Because my show is on Comedy Central. The show that leads up to me is puppets making crank phone calls."
HA!
He spends the entire time asking, begging, and pleading them to take their jobs as journalist seriously. They wanted, and asked for, the funny Jon and he told them, "No, I won't be your monkey." and went right back to an attempt at serious discourse. Brilliant.
Anyway, you can find some discussion including several transcript links (and possibly a video link) here. Enjoy.
"Because my show is on Comedy Central. The show that leads up to me is puppets making crank phone calls."
HA!
He spends the entire time asking, begging, and pleading them to take their jobs as journalist seriously. They wanted, and asked for, the funny Jon and he told them, "No, I won't be your monkey." and went right back to an attempt at serious discourse. Brilliant.
Anyway, you can find some discussion including several transcript links (and possibly a video link) here. Enjoy.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Whoa
I have a busy day tomorrow. Not only do I have to finish writing lesson plans for the three days I am missing next week, but I also have to help set up the Fall Festival and I am supposed to work out. Given that my house is in no shape for me to leave, I think the working out is gonna have to wait.
PS - Amy, I hope you know of a hair place that will be open on Sunday, because I have been psyching myself up for a change in hair color for the last week. I have decided on Strawberry Blonde or something similar. :)
PS - Amy, I hope you know of a hair place that will be open on Sunday, because I have been psyching myself up for a change in hair color for the last week. I have decided on Strawberry Blonde or something similar. :)
So I Married a Nerd...
I was reading Mikey this post and asking him what the hell it meant. I didn't get it. But, as I suspected, he did. He also commented (previous to me reading hime the last line) that it didn't make any sense and that he probably meant an AT-ST, which made me laugh until I cried. He's such a nerd!!!
Of course, our friends who came for dinner and a game think I am a total wack-job because I didn't even have to look at the puzzle reading "K_ _ _K _" after I heard the clue "Japanese Theater". I immediately said, "Oh! Kabuki." I'm a nerd in my own right.
Of course, our friends who came for dinner and a game think I am a total wack-job because I didn't even have to look at the puzzle reading "K_ _ _K _" after I heard the clue "Japanese Theater". I immediately said, "Oh! Kabuki." I'm a nerd in my own right.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Rambles
Interesting things from today...
1. We had a great presentation at our staff development today. The guy was there talking about utilizing the "40 Developmental Assets" to improve self-esteem and motivation in schools. It was nice to see research that supports my use of class time to build relationships rather than focusing entirely on test results and standards. Unfortunately, this isn't the outlook that the district seems to take. We are informed in subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that the test scores are all that matter. I wonder how long it will take for them to decide they don't like my resistance to this teaching style.
2. As part of our staff development, we had to do one of those "run-around-and-get-signatures-from-people-because-they-can-do/say-specific-things" games. One of the signatures you needed was from someone who does volunteer work. About 7 different people specifically sought me out for this, saying things like, "Ooh! I know YOU volunteer!". That made my day.
3. I had a heartbreaking conversation with a co-worker about how the evils perpetrated on you in childhood can continue to haunt you even as an adult. Especially in your sleep. I had a wonderful childhood with very few yucky things to deal with, but I know all too well how those inner demons can creep out into your dreams. I couldn't fix her problem, but I was able to listen. I hope it helped.
1. We had a great presentation at our staff development today. The guy was there talking about utilizing the "40 Developmental Assets" to improve self-esteem and motivation in schools. It was nice to see research that supports my use of class time to build relationships rather than focusing entirely on test results and standards. Unfortunately, this isn't the outlook that the district seems to take. We are informed in subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that the test scores are all that matter. I wonder how long it will take for them to decide they don't like my resistance to this teaching style.
2. As part of our staff development, we had to do one of those "run-around-and-get-signatures-from-people-because-they-can-do/say-specific-things" games. One of the signatures you needed was from someone who does volunteer work. About 7 different people specifically sought me out for this, saying things like, "Ooh! I know YOU volunteer!". That made my day.
3. I had a heartbreaking conversation with a co-worker about how the evils perpetrated on you in childhood can continue to haunt you even as an adult. Especially in your sleep. I had a wonderful childhood with very few yucky things to deal with, but I know all too well how those inner demons can creep out into your dreams. I couldn't fix her problem, but I was able to listen. I hope it helped.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Trust
I have mentioned before that my co-workers are very good to me. They are also quite funny. You remember the Label incident. It is a real testiment to our relationships that I can be so openly myself with them. They know that I am a tree-hugging, hippy freak who can't spell or do math in my head, but can be counted on to have important papers filed away in a safe place. They know that I am spacey about some things and analy retentive about others. And they are okay with that.
It is still hard for me to accept that though. I am so used to feeling out of place, that it feels wierd to be accepted. Today, I was telling C and D about the book clubs I am going to be starting next week. As I was showing them the lists and organizers and files and folders that I have created, they kept saying "Wow, you're amazing. How do you stay so organized?" I still felt like a total geek, but at least I felt like an understood geek. I was happy to be able to share some of my ideas and ease some of the work off them.
I am realizing that it has taken me nearly 35 minutes to type this so far and I am having to fix every single word because of typos. This tells me that my brain is in "OFF" mode and I need to go to bed beroge I hurt mydlef. :) Goodnight.
It is still hard for me to accept that though. I am so used to feeling out of place, that it feels wierd to be accepted. Today, I was telling C and D about the book clubs I am going to be starting next week. As I was showing them the lists and organizers and files and folders that I have created, they kept saying "Wow, you're amazing. How do you stay so organized?" I still felt like a total geek, but at least I felt like an understood geek. I was happy to be able to share some of my ideas and ease some of the work off them.
I am realizing that it has taken me nearly 35 minutes to type this so far and I am having to fix every single word because of typos. This tells me that my brain is in "OFF" mode and I need to go to bed beroge I hurt mydlef. :) Goodnight.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Um.
Not really much to say. Just wanted to pop in and say I'm still here. Had a nice chat with my father last night. Got lots done in school today. Excited about Wednesday being a non-student day. Wanted to go out to dinner, but didn't. Worked out. Did some recording of grades. Lost three fish - two of The Beatles and one of the Presleys. I suspect naming the fish after musicians who died young wasn't such a good idea. Want to buy nearly everything in the latest Newport News catalog. Still haven't gone to Kohl's - maybe tomorrow. I think I'll ask Debbie if she wants to go with me. Left my lunch at home this morning and a handsome man brought it to me - we were smooching in my room. Shhhh...don't tell the hubby! :) Got the items I ordered from Oriental Trading Company. It was like Christmas - except I had to pay for it all...but it was on a card, so it didn't really feel like paying for it. Deck the Halls... Was wondering in the shower how long I will have to go without washing my hair after the surgery. Not that I think washing my hair would be bad...just that I have no way of washing it without getting my whole body wet or seriously contorting myself. Hoping my sis is doing okay. She's having a rough pregnancy. She just has to hold out until Nov. 6th. Keep her in your thoughts. It has been getting chilly at night. By chilly I mean around 60ish. Feels good. This house is not fit for visitors, and we have a game night scheduled on Thursday. Ugh. This weekend I crawled out from under a massive amount of paperwork for various things (appointments, classes, etc) and it feels good to not have it hanging over my head anymore. Dots are good. Time for bed. G'night, all. Stay happy. Peace.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Shopping Day!
At dinner last night, my MIL presented us with 2 Target gift cards and a store credit for Kohl's. We're gonna go spend every last cent (and then some) as soon as Mikey gets out of the shower!
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Of Course
I have received a jury summons. For November 8th. Because this whole scheduling thing was working too smoothly. I was so excited to be only missing 3 weeks of school for the kidney thing, so Fate had to throw a wrench in it all. I don't even have a problem being called. I really don't mind doing my civic duty. (I guess I am one of those who are too stupid to get out of it.) I just wish it could have been at a more convenient time. Or that I could postpone it until summer, but they only allow 90 days.
Maybe I will get lucky and it will turn out like the last time. I had to call in several times, but managed to avoid getting called in.
Maybe I will get lucky and it will turn out like the last time. I had to call in several times, but managed to avoid getting called in.
Busy Day
So far today we have:
worked out
shopped at Staples
got ice cream
vacuumed the house
mopped the floors
installed new speakers on our computers
put the old speakers back on Mikey's computer
showered
worked on a book club list for school
installed a new ink cartridge
attempted to get the laptop online
did the dishes
read blogs
researched online
received verification of both travel and hotel plans
I'm exhausted. And I still have to do dinner out with the in-laws! :) At least that will be fun.
worked out
shopped at Staples
got ice cream
vacuumed the house
mopped the floors
installed new speakers on our computers
put the old speakers back on Mikey's computer
showered
worked on a book club list for school
installed a new ink cartridge
attempted to get the laptop online
did the dishes
read blogs
researched online
received verification of both travel and hotel plans
I'm exhausted. And I still have to do dinner out with the in-laws! :) At least that will be fun.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Signs of the End
Bill O'Reilly is going to be on The Daily Show. Jon Stewart will be confronting the Devil himself. I can't wait. I hope Bill's head explodes. (figuratively, of course)
Hehehe
Did I tell you about the altercation I had with the a co-worker? I didn't think so. It is now a three part story.
Part One
This is the part where I am asking said co-worker for assistance with a problem. She very clearly does not wish to assist me, but offers to take my problem anyway. I tell her that I will figure it out and give her the paper she needs later. Something in the way I say this (I honestly don't know what) prompts her to say, "Don't you look at me that way, Young Lady" in her snippiest voice. I give her a surprised look and walk away, baffled.
Part Two
This is the part where I return to give the co-worker the paper she needs, having solved my problem on my own. I take a moment to tell her that I am sorry if I did anything to upset her before, but that I would really appreciate her not refering to me as "Young Lady", as I work very hard to present a professional, adult appearance. Since she had said, "Good girl" when I handed her the fixed problem, and accused me of talking down to her on several occasions, I have little hope that this will actually change anything. At least I let her know that I wasn't going to just sit back and take her rudeness.
Part Three
This is the part where I learn that she spent several minutes after I left (way back in Part One) complaining about me to anyone withing listening range. Hehe. I just wish I could have heard what she was complaining about, because I truly don't know what I did to set her off.
I never felt particularly close to this co-worker, but I always thought we had a decent relationship. I guess I was wrong. Or maybe she's just having problems with something else and her frustration came out at the wrong time. Whatever it is, I confronted it and I am moving on. I continue to smile and tell her good morning when I see her, but I no longer go to her for help unless absolutely necessary. (She's in a position that makes it necessary to interact with her fairly regularly.)
Part One
This is the part where I am asking said co-worker for assistance with a problem. She very clearly does not wish to assist me, but offers to take my problem anyway. I tell her that I will figure it out and give her the paper she needs later. Something in the way I say this (I honestly don't know what) prompts her to say, "Don't you look at me that way, Young Lady" in her snippiest voice. I give her a surprised look and walk away, baffled.
Part Two
This is the part where I return to give the co-worker the paper she needs, having solved my problem on my own. I take a moment to tell her that I am sorry if I did anything to upset her before, but that I would really appreciate her not refering to me as "Young Lady", as I work very hard to present a professional, adult appearance. Since she had said, "Good girl" when I handed her the fixed problem, and accused me of talking down to her on several occasions, I have little hope that this will actually change anything. At least I let her know that I wasn't going to just sit back and take her rudeness.
Part Three
This is the part where I learn that she spent several minutes after I left (way back in Part One) complaining about me to anyone withing listening range. Hehe. I just wish I could have heard what she was complaining about, because I truly don't know what I did to set her off.
I never felt particularly close to this co-worker, but I always thought we had a decent relationship. I guess I was wrong. Or maybe she's just having problems with something else and her frustration came out at the wrong time. Whatever it is, I confronted it and I am moving on. I continue to smile and tell her good morning when I see her, but I no longer go to her for help unless absolutely necessary. (She's in a position that makes it necessary to interact with her fairly regularly.)
Not Alone
Okay, so after a day of gritching about my HARD, HARD life, I am feeling better. Two things were especially helpful in turning my outlook around.
1. I managed to track down my urine collection results - they had been sent to my regular doctor despite the way I carefully made sure that both labs had the contact information for the transplant coordinator at Mayo. My regular doctor (or rather her nurse) quickly responded to my phone call and took care of the problem efficiently. I HEART MY DOCTOR AND HER NURSE.
2. Amy posted her own version of Survival VII: Medical Madness. Reading it reminded me that I have been dealing with this for a month. She's been dealing with this for 5 years and will continue to deal with it for a very long time. That's why I am going through all this in the first place. You have my undying admiration, Amy.
I don't have things so bad. Sometimes I forget that.
1. I managed to track down my urine collection results - they had been sent to my regular doctor despite the way I carefully made sure that both labs had the contact information for the transplant coordinator at Mayo. My regular doctor (or rather her nurse) quickly responded to my phone call and took care of the problem efficiently. I HEART MY DOCTOR AND HER NURSE.
2. Amy posted her own version of Survival VII: Medical Madness. Reading it reminded me that I have been dealing with this for a month. She's been dealing with this for 5 years and will continue to deal with it for a very long time. That's why I am going through all this in the first place. You have my undying admiration, Amy.
I don't have things so bad. Sometimes I forget that.
The Down Side
So, I have reached the point of utter frustration with this transplant thing. Not with the desire to do it - that is still strong. But I am completely fed up with the way it is being handled.
Of all the people involved, I am the only one who has NO FREAKIN' IDEA what is going on. I have never done this, and I can only go on the information that is given to me each step of the way. So why is everyone being so damned stingy with information? This is how every test has gone so far...
Professional #1: You need to have Test A.
Me: Okay. How do I go about doing that?
Prof. #1: Just go to your local lab.
Me: Okay.
(later, usually either rushed before or after work on a busy day)
Me: I need to have Test A.
Lab Vampire: Well, should it be Test A1 or Test A2? And do you have this very important, necessary paperwork?
Me: Um. No.
Lab Vamp: I can't do it without that information.
This means that I then have to call back to Professional #1, usually during one of my breaks at school, and leave a message, because no medical professional EVER answers the freakin' phone. Then, I wait, hoping that Prof. #1 calls back during a time when I can sneak a phone call (cell phones are not supposed to be used at our school). I eventually get the information that Prof. #1 should have realized I would need in the first place. I mean, how many transplants has she been involved in? Grr. This has happened multiple times now. And I know that it is "typical", but that doesn't make it any less irritating. Especially when followed by this interaction...
Me: Just checking to make sure you got the results for Test A1 and A2.
Prof. #1: Let's see....nope. You'll have to call and find out what happened.
WTF???? I made a conscious decision as a teen to go into education, NOT medicine. Why am I the one who has to do all this? Let's see how it turns out...
(calling the lab)
Me: Prof. #1 never got the results of Test A1 and A2.
Lab Vamp: Well, I don't actually do that. I do the blood draws and such and send them off to The Big Lab. You'll have to call there.
(calling The Big Lab)
Me: I am trying to find the results of Test A1 and A2. I need them sent to The Hospital
Big Lab Vamp: Okay. Did you include the information for sending it there?
Me: I gave it to the Lab Vamp. I don't know if she sent it on or not, but she photocopied it.
BLV: Well, if she didn't send it, you will need to get your doctor's permission.
For crying out loud. I can't even win when I actually have the information I need. So this means more phone calls, more waiting, more rushing around dealing with medical crap when I should be dealing with school things. Why is this so hard. Why can't the people who do this procedure every freakin' day act like they have a clue? All I want to do is help out. Why does that always become an ordeal? No wonder most people could give a s**t about others. It is so much easier.
There has not been a single step of this that anyone has made easy or stress-free. I knew that going through this process long distance (I am two time zones away from all others involved) would make it more complicated, but I didn't realize that I would be the only one interested in finding/sharing information. The fact I am so far away makes it all the more imperative that I get the data I need in a timely fashion. I am supposed to fly to MN in 10 days, but I can't get anyone to help me fill out paperwork, verify tests, or anything. It is too long a trip (I will be missing 3 days of school) to take if it isn't necessary. I only have 4 weeks of sick leave, and I can't afford to be wasting 3 of them.
I guess I will just be hoping that I get the phone calls I need today. Hopefully, they will say that my last test results are in and good, and help me get this paperwork filled out and sent in. I don't know what more I can do.
Of all the people involved, I am the only one who has NO FREAKIN' IDEA what is going on. I have never done this, and I can only go on the information that is given to me each step of the way. So why is everyone being so damned stingy with information? This is how every test has gone so far...
Professional #1: You need to have Test A.
Me: Okay. How do I go about doing that?
Prof. #1: Just go to your local lab.
Me: Okay.
(later, usually either rushed before or after work on a busy day)
Me: I need to have Test A.
Lab Vampire: Well, should it be Test A1 or Test A2? And do you have this very important, necessary paperwork?
Me: Um. No.
Lab Vamp: I can't do it without that information.
This means that I then have to call back to Professional #1, usually during one of my breaks at school, and leave a message, because no medical professional EVER answers the freakin' phone. Then, I wait, hoping that Prof. #1 calls back during a time when I can sneak a phone call (cell phones are not supposed to be used at our school). I eventually get the information that Prof. #1 should have realized I would need in the first place. I mean, how many transplants has she been involved in? Grr. This has happened multiple times now. And I know that it is "typical", but that doesn't make it any less irritating. Especially when followed by this interaction...
Me: Just checking to make sure you got the results for Test A1 and A2.
Prof. #1: Let's see....nope. You'll have to call and find out what happened.
WTF???? I made a conscious decision as a teen to go into education, NOT medicine. Why am I the one who has to do all this? Let's see how it turns out...
(calling the lab)
Me: Prof. #1 never got the results of Test A1 and A2.
Lab Vamp: Well, I don't actually do that. I do the blood draws and such and send them off to The Big Lab. You'll have to call there.
(calling The Big Lab)
Me: I am trying to find the results of Test A1 and A2. I need them sent to The Hospital
Big Lab Vamp: Okay. Did you include the information for sending it there?
Me: I gave it to the Lab Vamp. I don't know if she sent it on or not, but she photocopied it.
BLV: Well, if she didn't send it, you will need to get your doctor's permission.
For crying out loud. I can't even win when I actually have the information I need. So this means more phone calls, more waiting, more rushing around dealing with medical crap when I should be dealing with school things. Why is this so hard. Why can't the people who do this procedure every freakin' day act like they have a clue? All I want to do is help out. Why does that always become an ordeal? No wonder most people could give a s**t about others. It is so much easier.
There has not been a single step of this that anyone has made easy or stress-free. I knew that going through this process long distance (I am two time zones away from all others involved) would make it more complicated, but I didn't realize that I would be the only one interested in finding/sharing information. The fact I am so far away makes it all the more imperative that I get the data I need in a timely fashion. I am supposed to fly to MN in 10 days, but I can't get anyone to help me fill out paperwork, verify tests, or anything. It is too long a trip (I will be missing 3 days of school) to take if it isn't necessary. I only have 4 weeks of sick leave, and I can't afford to be wasting 3 of them.
I guess I will just be hoping that I get the phone calls I need today. Hopefully, they will say that my last test results are in and good, and help me get this paperwork filled out and sent in. I don't know what more I can do.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Useless
Things are still going very well with my class. They continue to amaze me with their citizenship, independence, and intelligence. I am starting to feel superfluous. Basically, I present them with an idea, give them a few words of advise, and then allow them to explore the concepts independently and in groups. Later, we gather together to share and analyze what we have learned. This is how learning is supposed to work, but having it happen in my public school classroom is a little unnerving! I'm too used to fighting against the numbness that students seem to have by 4th grade in this system. To have them not only interested in learning, but also capable of it...it is a dream come true! :)
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Two Challenges
Challenge, the First
Amy - Girl, you got to be READY. Cause we are gonna do the salon thing. I'm getting a trim and a loverly shade of burgendy. You?
Challenge, the Second
This one is for all of you. I am looking for a fabric guitar bag. The most important thing is that it be comfortable to carry. My current case is hell on my shoulders (Who decided that plastic made good padding for shoulder straps? Dumbass.). If I had my druthers, it would be Uber-Hippy. I'm thinking hemp or tie-dye. I'm also thinking around $50.00. If you find something that you think might fit this description, post a link.
Amy - Girl, you got to be READY. Cause we are gonna do the salon thing. I'm getting a trim and a loverly shade of burgendy. You?
Challenge, the Second
This one is for all of you. I am looking for a fabric guitar bag. The most important thing is that it be comfortable to carry. My current case is hell on my shoulders (Who decided that plastic made good padding for shoulder straps? Dumbass.). If I had my druthers, it would be Uber-Hippy. I'm thinking hemp or tie-dye. I'm also thinking around $50.00. If you find something that you think might fit this description, post a link.
Sparkly
I'm refering to my windows. I noticed yesterday that I could barely see out of the front window because of all the dirt and grime. Since I also needed to clean out the sliding door track in our room, I made it an all day cleaning event. I now have sparkly windows and a sliding door that, while it doesn't actually slide, actually opens and closes. Hoorah! Unfortunately, the hose I was using doesn't actually reach all the way around the house, so the windows in the front are still in need of attention. I believe I will go deal with them now.
PSA #134
How to Clean Your Blinds or Just Give Up Now
Yes, dear readers, I am here once again with some household tips to make your life a little easier. Why should you have to suffer when I have already learned handy tricks the hard way? So, here it is, everything you need to know about cleaning your blinds.*
1. Don't. Toss them and buy new ones. Really. It's not worth it. No, seriously. Life is too short for this kind of thing.
2. If you happen to have one of those financially aware, reality based people in your house who oppose this idea, have them try cleaning one set. Chances are they will come to their senses before they are half-way through and agree with you. Then go back to step 1.
3. If said person, for whatever reason ("I'm fine with them staying dirty."**), doesn't agree with you, I suggest hiring a maid, pawning the job off on your kids, or moving.
4. If all else fails, remember this one thing. Dry dust first. Brush that 1/4 inch layer of dust off BEFORE you indroduce anything liquid to the situation. If you forget this vital step, you will find yourself trying to wipe MUD off the blinds, which is something even I can't help you with.
* Please note that all advice is for those who clean house like me. I keep things neat on the surface and deep clean MAYBE once every couple of years. If you are one of those people who dusts regularly, this isn't the advice column for you.
** For the record, although Mikey would never allow me to just throw our blinds out and start over, he WOULD help me clean them. He would never leave me high and dry, stranded in a house with dirty blinds, no matter how little he cares.
Yes, dear readers, I am here once again with some household tips to make your life a little easier. Why should you have to suffer when I have already learned handy tricks the hard way? So, here it is, everything you need to know about cleaning your blinds.*
1. Don't. Toss them and buy new ones. Really. It's not worth it. No, seriously. Life is too short for this kind of thing.
2. If you happen to have one of those financially aware, reality based people in your house who oppose this idea, have them try cleaning one set. Chances are they will come to their senses before they are half-way through and agree with you. Then go back to step 1.
3. If said person, for whatever reason ("I'm fine with them staying dirty."**), doesn't agree with you, I suggest hiring a maid, pawning the job off on your kids, or moving.
4. If all else fails, remember this one thing. Dry dust first. Brush that 1/4 inch layer of dust off BEFORE you indroduce anything liquid to the situation. If you forget this vital step, you will find yourself trying to wipe MUD off the blinds, which is something even I can't help you with.
* Please note that all advice is for those who clean house like me. I keep things neat on the surface and deep clean MAYBE once every couple of years. If you are one of those people who dusts regularly, this isn't the advice column for you.
** For the record, although Mikey would never allow me to just throw our blinds out and start over, he WOULD help me clean them. He would never leave me high and dry, stranded in a house with dirty blinds, no matter how little he cares.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Soooooo Cute
First you must see Magical Trevor. The tricks that he does are so very clever!
Then you must visit Kenya. They have lions and tigers, but only in Kenya!
But beware. The art in these things is so cute, you might need an insulin shot. :)
Then you must visit Kenya. They have lions and tigers, but only in Kenya!
But beware. The art in these things is so cute, you might need an insulin shot. :)
Kidney Update
We are currently in a holding pattern while the labs and doctors track down the results of my urine collection from last weekend. I did my part - collecting 3000+ ml* and turning them in first thing Monday morning**. I made sure to tell the Vampire Lady who to bill and where to send the results, but it seems that something got lost in translation. I spent several phone calls following the path of my errant collection, ending in the Big Lab telling me that they would take care of it. I will be calling first thing Monday morning to make sure they aren't the Big Fat Lying Lab.
In the meantime, I have been receiving near daily mailings from the Mayo clinic, each with a different set of instructions on how to fill out, mail in, not mail in, read, ignore, and dance on each page individually. Good lord. I am going to sit down this afternoon and sort through it all, completing what I can and making notes on what I can't. It's a good thing my appointment isn't until the 18th because I need that long to make heads or tails of the hospital beauracracy.
On a happier note, I managed to avoid a major observation at school because I am going to be in Rochester being manhandled by doctors. Hooray! Plus I got to look good 'cause I was able to tell the principal that "I would love to help you out, but...". Also school related: I have made lesson plans and photocopies that pretty much take me up to my October appointment. Within the next few weeks, I will get my lessons and copies done up for my big absense as well. Thank god for superb parent volunteers!
* I'm not sure exactly how much over 3000 ml, because I ran out of room in the official container and had to collect the rest in an old quart jar.
** When the Vampire Lady proceeded to poke me in the arm and once again left a HUGE, FREAKIN' BRUISE. I swear, she is the worst sticker in all of history.
In the meantime, I have been receiving near daily mailings from the Mayo clinic, each with a different set of instructions on how to fill out, mail in, not mail in, read, ignore, and dance on each page individually. Good lord. I am going to sit down this afternoon and sort through it all, completing what I can and making notes on what I can't. It's a good thing my appointment isn't until the 18th because I need that long to make heads or tails of the hospital beauracracy.
On a happier note, I managed to avoid a major observation at school because I am going to be in Rochester being manhandled by doctors. Hooray! Plus I got to look good 'cause I was able to tell the principal that "I would love to help you out, but...". Also school related: I have made lesson plans and photocopies that pretty much take me up to my October appointment. Within the next few weeks, I will get my lessons and copies done up for my big absense as well. Thank god for superb parent volunteers!
* I'm not sure exactly how much over 3000 ml, because I ran out of room in the official container and had to collect the rest in an old quart jar.
** When the Vampire Lady proceeded to poke me in the arm and once again left a HUGE, FREAKIN' BRUISE. I swear, she is the worst sticker in all of history.
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