cross-posted in sendmumbuatoschool.blogspot.com
A little bit ago I bought Mboya a used cell phone on eBay....well actually I'm not sure how used it was because it was still in the package, but the important thing was that is was unlocked and a quadraband, all necessary for phone use in Kenya.
When he received it he sent this heart-felt email that said(I love how he has adopted my spastic email style of all caps for emphasis!):
JAM BO ALLISON
Thank GOD its very nice to receive your email this morning, and guess what? i just got the phone yesterday, its really receiving network very clear which is my exiting to me. i really appreciate so much and its now time to get to calls and find job s without spending so much bus-fare, i cant imagine how chip (cheap) is going to cost me without travel ling around searching for a job!! You cant imagine how things will be easy for me!! thank you, thank you, thank you, so much RAFIKI YANGU.
It hit me: with the little extra money I sent him with his sister's school payments he paid the rent on his parents farm and then budgeted out 3 months worth of bus fare. Oh.My.God. We take so much for granted here. I prayed that this phone would make a difference to him, quite fervently too.
Today I received this:
HI THERE
Hope you are alright rafiki yangu !! how is your life treating you? hope you are OK ?!! well iam very much alright and the rest of the family, the good news is that just got anew job with a international project from one of east African countries that deals with road construction, they just started early this year but i just joint them in the last three weeks , its a project for three years but i really not sure how long i will be working for them, only that i will keep my fingers closed and hope they will reconsider me for sometime,wish me the best........,well my family is very happy for me,also they told me if i write to you to say BIG hollow to you especially my sister;she is really doing well with school work, last term she got grade B incompaination (combination) of all subject.and hope she can even do more better, wish her the best.
Please hope that you are alright,and keep in touch, wish the best write you soon my rafiki.
Mboya has a JOB and Mumbua has a B average (which makes me swell with pride, given her constant state of not knowing, just hoping I'd come through with the money). I am so proud of them both and I am hoping with all my heart that life will be better for the whole family now. I'm not so delusional as to think that all of their problems are gone, BUT I do know that Mboya's savings account remains and will remain, and that a small portion of my salary will still be put in each week just in case emergency money is ever needed. Right now, I'm just savoring the happy news. You CAN help another person, you CAN....and usually when you help one, you inevitably help another and another. Hell, Mumbua might be a future Nobel Peace Prize winner for all I know. I could've just saved the whole damn world ;) Imagine if everyone on this planet vowed to help one person, one single person. We'd be unstoppable.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Tidbit
Sometimes I really hate people.
A while ago, I told my coworker that I had wanted to go to South Africa since coming home from Kenya (makes no sense, but go with it), and was pleased that Jam mentioned SA as a potential honeymoon spot, either that or Australia, equally as cool. She voiced her opinion on both of those, I assure you of that.
Today we had a departmental meeting and at a table full of my coworkers and other people in my department I don't know that well, in the midst of our talk of marriage and honeymoons, my coworker jabs her thumb at me. "This one" she says "wants to go to South Africa for her honeymoon." When no one really reacts to that statement, she adds "Her boyfriend is black, she's white, how do you think THAT's gonna go over. IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!"
No one answered, and I sat up and said "It would be FINE." Awkward silence follows.
Then someone changed the subject.
Normally I let little comments about being in a biracial relationship roll right off my shoulders. Honestly. People have said sh*t to my parents that they've avoided telling me because they thought it would hurt, which is so sweet of them to do, but when they've told me, I'd surprise them by laughing, usually because the comments were laden with hypocrisy and double standard. Today though, I got really sad, like I wanted to cry sad and so so angry all at once. I'm not sure why because my coworker didn't say anything blatantly racist really....And maybe she's even a little bit right, maybe if we went to South Africa we'd raise a few eyebrows. I think more than anything I just wanted her to mind her f*cking business. I wanted to stand on a chair and scream it too. It's my life. And it's my and Jamaal's decision what we do and where we go and therefore, it's us that will face any consequences. No one else has to deal with it. Don't give me unsolicited advice and point out the fact that life may be made difficult for me because I have chosen (get that CHOSEN) to love and share my life with someone outside my race.
I think maybe that's what bothers me more than anything, that we're constantly made aware by outsiders that we're a biracial couple. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate questions from people I know who are open and want to learn more, that doesn't bother me, but it's comments like "you shouldn't go there because you're white and he's black and that might bother people" that just irritate the hell out of me. Even people I barely know saying "oh you'll have beautiful children" is really starting to piss me off. Dude, what if I don't want to have kids? What if they're busted as hell? It could happen! There are all these assumptions made too. It makes you want to bang your head against the wall sometimes. Ugh. See I don't look at Jam and say "ah, yes, there he is, my boyfriend who is black." I'm thinking that when I come through the door he's not like "oh my white girlfriend." He's Jamaal, I'm Allison, he's a guy, I'm a girl and we LIKE EACH OTHER. It's that simple. That's all. Why can't people accept it??? Oh it frustrates me. Ha maybe I should take my revenge next time and look at someone picture of their significant other or spouse who's the same race as they are and say "OH! I see you're dating/married to a white/black/asian/hispanic/other girl/ guy!" They probably wouldn't get it though.
Ok my rant is over, my eye has stopped twitching, and I no longer feel the need to cry or smack someone, no longer feeling vulnerable. Phew. *Adjusts picture of self and Jam so its more prominently displayed on desk* Ready to face the world again. Bring it on, B*TCHES!
PS Costa Rica posts are forthcoming, I promise!
A while ago, I told my coworker that I had wanted to go to South Africa since coming home from Kenya (makes no sense, but go with it), and was pleased that Jam mentioned SA as a potential honeymoon spot, either that or Australia, equally as cool. She voiced her opinion on both of those, I assure you of that.
Today we had a departmental meeting and at a table full of my coworkers and other people in my department I don't know that well, in the midst of our talk of marriage and honeymoons, my coworker jabs her thumb at me. "This one" she says "wants to go to South Africa for her honeymoon." When no one really reacts to that statement, she adds "Her boyfriend is black, she's white, how do you think THAT's gonna go over. IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!"
No one answered, and I sat up and said "It would be FINE." Awkward silence follows.
Then someone changed the subject.
Normally I let little comments about being in a biracial relationship roll right off my shoulders. Honestly. People have said sh*t to my parents that they've avoided telling me because they thought it would hurt, which is so sweet of them to do, but when they've told me, I'd surprise them by laughing, usually because the comments were laden with hypocrisy and double standard. Today though, I got really sad, like I wanted to cry sad and so so angry all at once. I'm not sure why because my coworker didn't say anything blatantly racist really....And maybe she's even a little bit right, maybe if we went to South Africa we'd raise a few eyebrows. I think more than anything I just wanted her to mind her f*cking business. I wanted to stand on a chair and scream it too. It's my life. And it's my and Jamaal's decision what we do and where we go and therefore, it's us that will face any consequences. No one else has to deal with it. Don't give me unsolicited advice and point out the fact that life may be made difficult for me because I have chosen (get that CHOSEN) to love and share my life with someone outside my race.
I think maybe that's what bothers me more than anything, that we're constantly made aware by outsiders that we're a biracial couple. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate questions from people I know who are open and want to learn more, that doesn't bother me, but it's comments like "you shouldn't go there because you're white and he's black and that might bother people" that just irritate the hell out of me. Even people I barely know saying "oh you'll have beautiful children" is really starting to piss me off. Dude, what if I don't want to have kids? What if they're busted as hell? It could happen! There are all these assumptions made too. It makes you want to bang your head against the wall sometimes. Ugh. See I don't look at Jam and say "ah, yes, there he is, my boyfriend who is black." I'm thinking that when I come through the door he's not like "oh my white girlfriend." He's Jamaal, I'm Allison, he's a guy, I'm a girl and we LIKE EACH OTHER. It's that simple. That's all. Why can't people accept it??? Oh it frustrates me. Ha maybe I should take my revenge next time and look at someone picture of their significant other or spouse who's the same race as they are and say "OH! I see you're dating/married to a white/black/asian/hispanic/other girl/ guy!" They probably wouldn't get it though.
Ok my rant is over, my eye has stopped twitching, and I no longer feel the need to cry or smack someone, no longer feeling vulnerable. Phew. *Adjusts picture of self and Jam so its more prominently displayed on desk* Ready to face the world again. Bring it on, B*TCHES!
PS Costa Rica posts are forthcoming, I promise!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Why I Work Here
If you've read this blog before, you know I work at a cancer hospital in Boston. It's not too hard to figure out, but I've left the name out for a whole lot of reasons - but that's not why I'm writing this now. In this month's hospital newsletter, there was a link to "In Their Words" which are letters about the care patients have received at the cancer hospital that they've given their permission to share with all of us employees.
There have been times when I've said outright that I've hated my job and had issues with my coworkers or boss. I've even called this hospital elitist. When it comes down to it though, I am damn proud to work at this institution. Why? Because I see the progress that is made in the battle against cancer every day. Hell yeah, I see its failures too, but there is something to be said for the fact that my study's living patients take up 3 full filing cabinet drawers and the deceased patients only take up about 1/2 a drawer. That's a pretty good thing right there. Furthermore, as elitist as they may be, the doctors here care. I just recently read a condolence letter sent out by a guy in my department to a person I know whose wife died. I almost started to cry, it was so heartfelt and sincere. That's why I come to work, because we're doing good and people care.
I am just going to post a letter I read that really sums it up great. I've anonymized it for privacy but you'll get the gist:
Booyah. It's funny because I used to fantasize about giving my 2 weeks notice. Although I'll know it'll be time to move on when I get my Master's in ConBio, it'll be with a wee bit of a heavy heart that I give my notice - I've learned so much here, I've met so many smart and kind people, and I've seen so many of my patients come here so very sick and make it through treatment to be kicking ass and taking names less than a year later. I think of them often, sometimes even when I'm jogging, and I know they and the greater parts of this institute will follow me wherever I go.....
There have been times when I've said outright that I've hated my job and had issues with my coworkers or boss. I've even called this hospital elitist. When it comes down to it though, I am damn proud to work at this institution. Why? Because I see the progress that is made in the battle against cancer every day. Hell yeah, I see its failures too, but there is something to be said for the fact that my study's living patients take up 3 full filing cabinet drawers and the deceased patients only take up about 1/2 a drawer. That's a pretty good thing right there. Furthermore, as elitist as they may be, the doctors here care. I just recently read a condolence letter sent out by a guy in my department to a person I know whose wife died. I almost started to cry, it was so heartfelt and sincere. That's why I come to work, because we're doing good and people care.
I am just going to post a letter I read that really sums it up great. I've anonymized it for privacy but you'll get the gist:
June 4, 2007
Mr. X CEO/President
Cancer Hospital, Boston, MA
Dear Mr. X,
I would like to thank you and your fine staff for the wonderful treatment afforded to my wife in her battle of breast cancer that has metastasized to her liver. I don’t quite know where to start and let me apologize to you with regards to my letter writing skills, I don’t normally do this, what being a blue-collar worker and all.
My wife, was diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer in October of 2006. Her oncologist referred her to the Cancer Hospital to Dr. W. A meeting was set up to see if my wife could possibly take part in a clinical trial. After meeting with Dr. W, Dr. T and clinical nurse M, it was determined that my wife would be able to partake in the trial. So every three weeks, we would motor down from northeastern MA, and my wife would receive her treatment. I would go with her and I am glad I did. Not only did I receive an education concerning cancer, I was also able to observe the workings of a hospital that is world renowned, and I came away with a profound sense of gratitude. The following is an attempt to describe my observations.
First and foremost, is Dr. W. You could not have anyone better to head up the department and also what a superb spokesperson to represent Cancer Hospital on a national scale. His knowledge, humor, and genuine concern for the best for my wife is so greatly appreciated. And to add to that, his wonderful working relationship he has with his staff. He has the utmost respect from the medical community and to all who came in contact with him. I know I’ll fall short in being able to express his abilities but let me say that he is the real deal. To be able to conduct himself in such a manner, to have so much on his plate and to hug my wife, well I can’t say much more than that. We are lucky to have crossed his path and I owe him a great deal for allowing me and my wife to hope.
Next is Dr. T, a fellow in Hematology/Oncology. A doctor with a smile as bright as the light of hope. Her attentiveness to my wife during her time there goes way beyond what I expected. I mean I thought I was back in the 50’s where the doctors made house calls. She would call many times to see how my wife was doing. She no doubt has a busy schedule and to take the time to call, well that speaks volumes about her. You need to keep her and with the tutelage of Dr. W, she can only serve Cancer Hospital and her patients with nothing less than excellence.
Moving along—Nurse M, RN, BSN, where do you find people like her? Warm comes to mind when I think of her, and again knowledge flows. She certainly was on top of things and made our life less chaotic, what with her scheduling expertise. She gave us her home phone number, just in case. “In case of what?” we asked. “Anything,” she says. Another case of compassion.
The list goes on and on. From H, her assigned nurse to administer the chemo. She sure was able to relax my wife and was there for her all the time. Miss A, the dietitian, who spent time going over a proper diet in one more item to fight this insidious disease. The social worker, a Miss G, who made us aware of financial matters that might be of some help to us, and she followed up. I do not know all the names of the people who made our visits there as enjoyable as they could have been, given the very reason why we were there to begin with. But from the parking lot attendants, the people on every desk we had to check in, the blood work, the x-rays, the cafeteria personnel, volunteers, library, and no doubt someone I’ve missed, represent Cancer Hospital in a caring and professional manner. I thank them all.
I would be remiss if I didn’t give a special thanks to Dr D, for it is she who started the ball rolling, and you can take all of the accolades mentioned above and apply them to her. Having her here in northeastern MA at the Local Hospital is a blessing—my wife so respects and loves her.
On behalf of my whole family, we thank you. You are to be commended for running a fine hospital. To have all those wonderful people working there filled with compassion is pretty special in a world filled with turmoil. I see a puzzle before you, you have most of the pieces in place, and I can almost see the completion. I know you will solve it, how can you not given what you have? I wish you continued success and again I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
GR
P.S. The treatments, so far, are working!!!
Booyah. It's funny because I used to fantasize about giving my 2 weeks notice. Although I'll know it'll be time to move on when I get my Master's in ConBio, it'll be with a wee bit of a heavy heart that I give my notice - I've learned so much here, I've met so many smart and kind people, and I've seen so many of my patients come here so very sick and make it through treatment to be kicking ass and taking names less than a year later. I think of them often, sometimes even when I'm jogging, and I know they and the greater parts of this institute will follow me wherever I go.....
Monday, July 09, 2007
Niblet II
Prologue: Last weekend in New York I teased Jamaal that he would be bringing a travel iron on the trip because he has an ironing neurosis. He can't NOT iron. He sat up very straight and said "No I think I can survive without ironing for a week or so." I doubted this, but was silent.
Cut to present day:
Al: Oh gosh we're soo down to the wire on this trip aren't we?? phew. I am making progress though. Vacation reminder, gotta do that.
Jam: We sure are down to the wire. Every day will mean something new. I will buy a travel iron. I'm not even going to lie now.
Al: LOL I KNEW you would buy a travel iron LOL. Well now I will worry less about bringing a linen dress if you've got the travel iron.
heh heh heh
Jam: I tried to be carefree, but you knew I would crack eventually.
Cut to present day:
Al: Oh gosh we're soo down to the wire on this trip aren't we?? phew. I am making progress though. Vacation reminder, gotta do that.
Jam: We sure are down to the wire. Every day will mean something new. I will buy a travel iron. I'm not even going to lie now.
Al: LOL I KNEW you would buy a travel iron LOL. Well now I will worry less about bringing a linen dress if you've got the travel iron.
heh heh heh
Jam: I tried to be carefree, but you knew I would crack eventually.
Niblet
This morning as I was showering at the bright and sunny hour of 5:30, I hear a knock on the door. I say "YEAH??" Cause I am sooo not a morning person, and my mother's weepy face appears. "Be as fast as possible" she says dramatically "I overSLEPT" "Ok Calm down" I said "Go to it" and exited the bathroom. My mother literally leaped into the shower. I sat on my bed for a moment in a towel and wondered why she was so upset. Then I realized that that was how people who were on time felt when they were late. See me and my father, for example, being chronically late for everything, heck we'd never cry about oversleeping. We'd wake up and say "sh*tf*ckd*amnhellpiss" think for a minute, look at the clock and say "well at least I gained that extra half hour." Poor Mom, what a rugged world it is for those always on time....!
Friday, July 06, 2007
In a week....
Jam the man and I are headed to Costa Rica. I could not be more excited about this - I've wanted to go there for a while now. When we booked this trip it seemed like we had years to plan. Ha, now we're looking at about 7 days.
This is my to do list. Finished things are in italics. They are. If you can't see that, it's because only a few things are done. Maybe I ought to shop a bit after work today....
need:
2 lens caps
58 mm lens filter
headlamp
batteries
case for first aid supplies
reservations for the limo liner
biodegradable soap in case we want to wash something
bug spray off smooth n' dry
paperbacks 2-3
travel alarm clock or timex cheap-esque watch
do I need to take?
voltage adapter? (no!!, unnecessary)
have and pack
daypack
raincoat
-raincoat to lend to Jam
binocs
field guide
first aid of some sort
leatherman
2 prs atl cargos
1 pr shorts
1 pr jeans
1 pr clamdiggers from Jcrew?
hiking boots
chaco sandals
flip flops
2 bathing suits
linen black dress
red bag (purse)
red beach towel
mag lite
GAP vouchers and dossier
small journal
birds of costa rica
smith fleece
sunglasses w/case
nalgene x 2
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
ALEVE
AAA card
To do @ home before leaving
get international calling on cell for month of july
leave detailed itinerary for parentals
leave detailed petcare instructions
vacuum/dust room
make sure Lily & Lucy & CB have food
unplug chargers, turn off surge protector
laundry put away
finish Amy's quilt
finish paper
make photo copies of: passport, travel insurance(did we get documentation of that from GAP??) Airline confirmations (as they are E-tickets)
get emergency money in traveler's check form
get cash
print GAP vouchers and dossier
refill birth control
send NH boat license documents
get hotel in EWR
register with State Department
evite for Ame and Jam
beach coverup - sew??
EE-care package
To do @work before leaving
get vacation feeder for ET
Water all plants
draw shades
move plants in front of computer to minimize sun exposure
clean desk area, take dishes home, wash silverware
finish followup
return any requested charts
finish screening to 7/01/2007
finish abstraction to 09/01/2006 (yeah right)
organize files
conference call??
Yeah. It's gonna be a crazy week.
This is my to do list. Finished things are in italics. They are. If you can't see that, it's because only a few things are done. Maybe I ought to shop a bit after work today....
need:
2 lens caps
58 mm lens filter
headlamp
batteries
case for first aid supplies
reservations for the limo liner
biodegradable soap in case we want to wash something
bug spray off smooth n' dry
paperbacks 2-3
travel alarm clock or timex cheap-esque watch
do I need to take?
voltage adapter? (no!!, unnecessary)
have and pack
daypack
raincoat
-raincoat to lend to Jam
binocs
field guide
first aid of some sort
leatherman
2 prs atl cargos
1 pr shorts
1 pr jeans
1 pr clamdiggers from Jcrew?
hiking boots
chaco sandals
flip flops
2 bathing suits
linen black dress
red bag (purse)
red beach towel
mag lite
GAP vouchers and dossier
small journal
birds of costa rica
smith fleece
sunglasses w/case
nalgene x 2
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
ALEVE
AAA card
To do @ home before leaving
get international calling on cell for month of july
leave detailed itinerary for parentals
leave detailed petcare instructions
vacuum/dust room
make sure Lily & Lucy & CB have food
unplug chargers, turn off surge protector
laundry put away
finish Amy's quilt
finish paper
make photo copies of: passport, travel insurance(did we get documentation of that from GAP??) Airline confirmations (as they are E-tickets)
get emergency money in traveler's check form
get cash
print GAP vouchers and dossier
refill birth control
send NH boat license documents
get hotel in EWR
register with State Department
evite for Ame and Jam
beach coverup - sew??
EE-care package
To do @work before leaving
get vacation feeder for ET
Water all plants
draw shades
move plants in front of computer to minimize sun exposure
clean desk area, take dishes home, wash silverware
finish followup
return any requested charts
finish screening to 7/01/2007
finish abstraction to 09/01/2006 (yeah right)
organize files
conference call??
Yeah. It's gonna be a crazy week.
Book Promotion
There aren't many books on my book list over there -----------------------------------------> that I wouldn't recommend. Sure some are light and fluffy, some fiction, some non-fiction, some intense and serious, some autobiographical, some are biological - there's really something for everyone. For inspiration, however, I highly recommend Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Ayaan was born in Somalia and lived in Kenya, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia before seeking asylum in the Netherlands, where she became a member of Parliament. Her story is nothing short of unbelievable and at times nearly inconceivable. Not only is her story an inspiration, but I believe it provides invaluable first-hand insight into the world of Islam from the perspective of a woman. It makes the fundamentalism that we're witnessing a tad bit easier to understand. I don't think I truly understand any sort of fundamentalism, and while I will never be able to claim that I understand it, Infidel made me understand maybe the framework in which Muslim children in Africa and the Middle East are raised which allows for the rise of potential fundamentalism, and why we are seeing this attitude in the very different "Western" world. Reading this book was quite the education. I highly highly recommend it.
And let's get that woman an honary Smith degree!
Ayaan was born in Somalia and lived in Kenya, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia before seeking asylum in the Netherlands, where she became a member of Parliament. Her story is nothing short of unbelievable and at times nearly inconceivable. Not only is her story an inspiration, but I believe it provides invaluable first-hand insight into the world of Islam from the perspective of a woman. It makes the fundamentalism that we're witnessing a tad bit easier to understand. I don't think I truly understand any sort of fundamentalism, and while I will never be able to claim that I understand it, Infidel made me understand maybe the framework in which Muslim children in Africa and the Middle East are raised which allows for the rise of potential fundamentalism, and why we are seeing this attitude in the very different "Western" world. Reading this book was quite the education. I highly highly recommend it.
And let's get that woman an honary Smith degree!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
A letter
Dear pheresis tech X
As YOU well know, I have been donating platelets at your center for over 2 years now. I know the screening process: fill out questionnaire, have questionnaire red, give height and weight, have temp, blood pressure, pulse and hgb read. So when I show up to do this, you don't have to use the voice you use with preschoolers, and sing-song your way through the entire process. It's annoying. Furthermore, when my iron is too low to donate, I know why. You don't have to explain that I'm not gonna die or anything. I get it. Also, when you suggest reasons why it may be low, above all things, do not look me in the eye and say "it might be women's troubles." Because I will embarrass you by looking YOU in the eye and saying "Oh like my period, because I have that RIGHT NOW, though really, it's no trouble at all." Maybe by the end of the day your face won't be so red.
See you next week when my PERIOD is over and my IRON is back to normal.
Mad love forever
AL
As YOU well know, I have been donating platelets at your center for over 2 years now. I know the screening process: fill out questionnaire, have questionnaire red, give height and weight, have temp, blood pressure, pulse and hgb read. So when I show up to do this, you don't have to use the voice you use with preschoolers, and sing-song your way through the entire process. It's annoying. Furthermore, when my iron is too low to donate, I know why. You don't have to explain that I'm not gonna die or anything. I get it. Also, when you suggest reasons why it may be low, above all things, do not look me in the eye and say "it might be women's troubles." Because I will embarrass you by looking YOU in the eye and saying "Oh like my period, because I have that RIGHT NOW, though really, it's no trouble at all." Maybe by the end of the day your face won't be so red.
See you next week when my PERIOD is over and my IRON is back to normal.
Mad love forever
AL
Monday, July 02, 2007
Right Quick
ok. so I'm writing a paper on wetlands and I need to just write a few non-wetlands sentences so I can get back in the groove.
1. I am taking a crafting hiatus. hahah before you all gasp with horror, save your breath - I will still be crafting, but only for birthdays. I hate to say it, but I've got to stop the sudden and random crafting. If you're getting married, maybe if I get more than 8 weeks notice, obviously birthdays because they don't change, and babies, if you give me months notice, because there is no excuse not to give more than a few months notice. I am sorry to say that I won't be knitting, cross stitching and sewing little "I thought of you" gifts :( But I've done a bit of reflecting in the past couple of days and realize the stress I go through to get these things done and its not cool. I'm going to be wrapping up a few things I've got to do (quilt for Amy, bday present for Alex to compensate for the fact that I can't (at least I don't think I can) make it to her birthday :( ) and then I'm gonna use up spare yarn for some leisurely projects I wanted to complete, a few scarves and things for myself and some baby socks. Then its crafting on birhdays and Christmas only, at least til grad school is done. Rach, Jam and EE I know you haven't gotten quilts from me yet......don't think this means you won't, LOL.
2. Speaking of my friend Alex (who may be reading this, "howdy!") We grew up in the same town. I moved away after the 4th grade, the year we became really tight. We tried to keep up through middle school and things but it's really tough to do that usually, and it was, cause we were damn busy (too busy probably, but you know) So recently thanks to the beauty that is the internet with MySpace and blogger and all that, we've been in contact more. Here's the thing: even though we haven't talked in a while, I for some reason feel like I could tell her anything about me and it'd be cool. Like secrets and sh*t. Not that I have any interesting secrets whatsoever...but you know. I wonder if it's because we were friends when we were young? And it's some sort of psychological development thing or emotional brain preadolescent weirdness. hahahahah now Alex is like "sh*t gotta go, Allison is freaking me the hell out" hahahhahha. Seriously though, I feel like if Alex and I EVER GET OUR SH*T TOGETHER ENOUGH TO MEET UP it would be crazy because we'd just pick up where we left off almost. Weird, but very very cool to me :)
Anyways, you can soooo tell it's 11:54 and I'm slightly delusional because I've declared a crafting hiatus and probably scared one of my oldest friends into thinking I'm gonna come up to Portland, knock on her door with my Cabbage Patch Kids slumber bag and say "let's have GIRL TIME!!!" hhhahahahahahaha Promise I won't do that to you Alex, lol, however tempting it may be!
OK, world, off to write a paper on my adventures in my back woods, also know as "Hell Swamp"
No lie.
1. I am taking a crafting hiatus. hahah before you all gasp with horror, save your breath - I will still be crafting, but only for birthdays. I hate to say it, but I've got to stop the sudden and random crafting. If you're getting married, maybe if I get more than 8 weeks notice, obviously birthdays because they don't change, and babies, if you give me months notice, because there is no excuse not to give more than a few months notice. I am sorry to say that I won't be knitting, cross stitching and sewing little "I thought of you" gifts :( But I've done a bit of reflecting in the past couple of days and realize the stress I go through to get these things done and its not cool. I'm going to be wrapping up a few things I've got to do (quilt for Amy, bday present for Alex to compensate for the fact that I can't (at least I don't think I can) make it to her birthday :( ) and then I'm gonna use up spare yarn for some leisurely projects I wanted to complete, a few scarves and things for myself and some baby socks. Then its crafting on birhdays and Christmas only, at least til grad school is done. Rach, Jam and EE I know you haven't gotten quilts from me yet......don't think this means you won't, LOL.
2. Speaking of my friend Alex (who may be reading this, "howdy!") We grew up in the same town. I moved away after the 4th grade, the year we became really tight. We tried to keep up through middle school and things but it's really tough to do that usually, and it was, cause we were damn busy (too busy probably, but you know) So recently thanks to the beauty that is the internet with MySpace and blogger and all that, we've been in contact more. Here's the thing: even though we haven't talked in a while, I for some reason feel like I could tell her anything about me and it'd be cool. Like secrets and sh*t. Not that I have any interesting secrets whatsoever...but you know. I wonder if it's because we were friends when we were young? And it's some sort of psychological development thing or emotional brain preadolescent weirdness. hahahahah now Alex is like "sh*t gotta go, Allison is freaking me the hell out" hahahhahha. Seriously though, I feel like if Alex and I EVER GET OUR SH*T TOGETHER ENOUGH TO MEET UP it would be crazy because we'd just pick up where we left off almost. Weird, but very very cool to me :)
Anyways, you can soooo tell it's 11:54 and I'm slightly delusional because I've declared a crafting hiatus and probably scared one of my oldest friends into thinking I'm gonna come up to Portland, knock on her door with my Cabbage Patch Kids slumber bag and say "let's have GIRL TIME!!!" hhhahahahahahaha Promise I won't do that to you Alex, lol, however tempting it may be!
OK, world, off to write a paper on my adventures in my back woods, also know as "Hell Swamp"
No lie.
Friday, June 29, 2007
shopping, shoulders and other shhhh
So I am a baby when I am in pain...well ok so I'm not a baby, but I definitely talk about it. Like poor Jamaal will call me and say "how are you?" and for a split second he must think that he called the wrong number and is talking to a 90 year old woman because he hears stuff like this in response: "well my sciatica is acting up and I have this heartburn that I can't get rid of and last night I got a foot cramp that is really lingering and I have a headache but I think that's cause I'm dehydrated and this post-nasal drip is KILLING MY SOUL!!" Ha. Yeah, I do that.
When it all started: I was a synchronized swimmer in college I got a nasty case of what I think was tendonitis in my shoulders and neck. This is a common competitive swimmer's injury, but synchronized swimming can be rather vigorous, and I think it was some repetitive arm movements that did me in. Combine that with having to move out of my third floor room later that year lifting things and carrying them down 3 flights of stairs and my shoulder and neck were DONE. Jesus, they hurt so frickin' bad. A month after the move I went to Kenya to study and didn't swim much at all. My arms got a break and they felt better. Given the diet and exercise regime in Kenya I was healthy and muscular, probably more so than I had ever been or have been since. Good bye tendonitis!
Recently the old injury has been flaring up. Nothing to horrible, but uncomfortable enough that I take two aleve every day except within 48 hours of platelet donations. While my right shoulder is uncomfortable, I never thought there was anything truly wrong with it aside from some discomfort until today. I went to the ladies room and in opening the door I twisted my arm in such a way it went numb for a second, then the most hideous shooting pain went down my arm then it went numb again and my fingers bent weird and froze. I shook it off and it feels ok-ish now, but the experience was daunting, especially since my grandma just had her rotator cuff done and the recovery has been long and hard. I'm hoping nothing is really wrong with my shoulder. I know if something is that surgery isn't necessarily my only or even best option, but these kinds of things usually need to be dealt with sooner or later. errrr.
Of course my shoulders could just be bearing the weight of my guilt for getting sucked in to mildly expensive accessories at a local vintage store. I "needed" a silver purse for the wedding I'm going to this weekend. Well I sure found one. It's ridiculously hawt. Then the shop owner talked me into some earrings, which unbeknown to me cost more than the damn purse. Sh*t. That totally eliminated me from being able to buy the shoes and perfume I had my heart set on (oh I have the money, I'm just not allowing myself to be ridiculous and spend it!), however the purse and earrings are PERFECT and I will be jamming my feet into a pair of fabulous albeit small silver shoes, plus to dress up the dress I found a pin belonging to my grandmother that I put at the base of the halter. I feel glamorous. Hopefully it won't be too fancy for the wedding - the dress is pretty casual. Though I can't really say I'd care if I were overdressed for the simple fact that my accessories are................vintage. Yum.
Finally I'm going to share some pics with you. The rest are on Flickr, but these are my favorites. I'm hoping this and no permanent damage situation is why my shoulder is bugging me so much!
When it all started: I was a synchronized swimmer in college I got a nasty case of what I think was tendonitis in my shoulders and neck. This is a common competitive swimmer's injury, but synchronized swimming can be rather vigorous, and I think it was some repetitive arm movements that did me in. Combine that with having to move out of my third floor room later that year lifting things and carrying them down 3 flights of stairs and my shoulder and neck were DONE. Jesus, they hurt so frickin' bad. A month after the move I went to Kenya to study and didn't swim much at all. My arms got a break and they felt better. Given the diet and exercise regime in Kenya I was healthy and muscular, probably more so than I had ever been or have been since. Good bye tendonitis!
Recently the old injury has been flaring up. Nothing to horrible, but uncomfortable enough that I take two aleve every day except within 48 hours of platelet donations. While my right shoulder is uncomfortable, I never thought there was anything truly wrong with it aside from some discomfort until today. I went to the ladies room and in opening the door I twisted my arm in such a way it went numb for a second, then the most hideous shooting pain went down my arm then it went numb again and my fingers bent weird and froze. I shook it off and it feels ok-ish now, but the experience was daunting, especially since my grandma just had her rotator cuff done and the recovery has been long and hard. I'm hoping nothing is really wrong with my shoulder. I know if something is that surgery isn't necessarily my only or even best option, but these kinds of things usually need to be dealt with sooner or later. errrr.
Of course my shoulders could just be bearing the weight of my guilt for getting sucked in to mildly expensive accessories at a local vintage store. I "needed" a silver purse for the wedding I'm going to this weekend. Well I sure found one. It's ridiculously hawt. Then the shop owner talked me into some earrings, which unbeknown to me cost more than the damn purse. Sh*t. That totally eliminated me from being able to buy the shoes and perfume I had my heart set on (oh I have the money, I'm just not allowing myself to be ridiculous and spend it!), however the purse and earrings are PERFECT and I will be jamming my feet into a pair of fabulous albeit small silver shoes, plus to dress up the dress I found a pin belonging to my grandmother that I put at the base of the halter. I feel glamorous. Hopefully it won't be too fancy for the wedding - the dress is pretty casual. Though I can't really say I'd care if I were overdressed for the simple fact that my accessories are................vintage. Yum.
Finally I'm going to share some pics with you. The rest are on Flickr, but these are my favorites. I'm hoping this and no permanent damage situation is why my shoulder is bugging me so much!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Flickr
Now for those of you who've read this blog, you know I love the Flickr community. I SWEAT flickr.com. Seriously. And no, it's not because my gorilla picture went in their book, it's for so many other reasons, like the fact that a random guy from India friended me and now I look at his pictures almost every day and they're freakin' gorgeous, or the fact that people who have photogroups like "the world of birds" troll the site looking for photographs of species that haven't been represented in their group and invite you to add your picture. Flickr rocks, and whatever it cost me to become a "pro" member was money incredibly well spent.
That being said...................the people on it are dirrrrrrrrty.
Here's the thing - for the most part, unless my photo is part of a big group, somewhere between 1-6 people look at the pictures I post there, with the occasional photo being more popular for whatever reason. Yesterday I put up crazy photos of my sister and I jumping on the dock up New Hampshire. I have to admit they were pretty cool:
And I even got a comment on one right away. I was a bit surprised though when I clicked on "popular" (it tells you your most popular shots) that this one was already on the list with 41 views. 41 views in a day?? I am not one of the "cool kids" on flickr whose photos get hundreds of views in a day, so I was shocked at 41. Then I realized that I had titled this one "Nice Underwear" because the teensiest bit of underwear is sticking out of my pants. Which means that people who typed in a search for "underwear" got this shot included in their results, and that's why 41 people clicked on it. Jesus. If I knew that was a way to boost popularity I'd name my pictures things like "naked" and "vagina" instead of what they actually are....but I think that might gain the wrong kind of popularity, LOL. Oh well.
That being said...................the people on it are dirrrrrrrrty.
Here's the thing - for the most part, unless my photo is part of a big group, somewhere between 1-6 people look at the pictures I post there, with the occasional photo being more popular for whatever reason. Yesterday I put up crazy photos of my sister and I jumping on the dock up New Hampshire. I have to admit they were pretty cool:
And I even got a comment on one right away. I was a bit surprised though when I clicked on "popular" (it tells you your most popular shots) that this one was already on the list with 41 views. 41 views in a day?? I am not one of the "cool kids" on flickr whose photos get hundreds of views in a day, so I was shocked at 41. Then I realized that I had titled this one "Nice Underwear" because the teensiest bit of underwear is sticking out of my pants. Which means that people who typed in a search for "underwear" got this shot included in their results, and that's why 41 people clicked on it. Jesus. If I knew that was a way to boost popularity I'd name my pictures things like "naked" and "vagina" instead of what they actually are....but I think that might gain the wrong kind of popularity, LOL. Oh well.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
oh COME ON now
after weeks of gut/heartwrenching posts about Rwanda, Darfur, the Congo, cancer, family drama, being grateful, preaching, bitching, whining, complaining and generally being too intense i give you a humourous sonnet of my "own pure brain" and no one leaves a comment. This is truly a tragedy. I think I might have to go cry now.
Ok I won't go cry. I'll just go study wetlands regs. But I'll think carefully before I send another poem crafted from the cockles of my heart your way. grrrr ;)
Ok I won't go cry. I'll just go study wetlands regs. But I'll think carefully before I send another poem crafted from the cockles of my heart your way. grrrr ;)
Monday, June 25, 2007
An Ode to my Vegan Cookie
O Vegan COOKIE!
You are chewy and delicious
Though not exactly nutritious
Wrapped in cellophane
You ease each hunger pain
Egg, dairy and lactose free
The satisfaction you give
Is worth the fee
Paired with a cold Coke Zero
You're my Monday snack-time hero
Made in Somerville, just up the street
Your baker I would like to meet
To thank him/her for making you
The tasty snack that will keep me going
The rest of the afternoon through.
You are chewy and delicious
Though not exactly nutritious
Wrapped in cellophane
You ease each hunger pain
Egg, dairy and lactose free
The satisfaction you give
Is worth the fee
Paired with a cold Coke Zero
You're my Monday snack-time hero
Made in Somerville, just up the street
Your baker I would like to meet
To thank him/her for making you
The tasty snack that will keep me going
The rest of the afternoon through.
Ooohhhhh poetry slam night here I come. Not really at all. But considering I am rather inept at poetry and all kinds of writing (dry biological papers excluded) I thought this was clever, LOL. Ok now back to abstracting cancer patients...boooooo
Thursday, June 21, 2007
It has been
*all pics courtesy of my sister amy_c on flickr
One hell of a week. I won't even lie! I am relieved it is Thursday and that in about 24 hours I will be leaving for this place:
Well my sister and I have been needing to get our boating license in NH for over a year now. It's something we totally kept putting off until we buckled down and decided that we'd take the test on June 23. The thing is that even though we live in MA, our boats are registered in NH, our boats spend more than 30 consecutive days in NH waters, and it appears, though no one really spells out the rules for you, that you need to take the proctored Safe Boater Education Certificate Exam in NH. We realized that Gilford is only about 30 minutes or so from the island and that we'd head up this weekend and take the exam.
On Monday, I called my grandma to make arrangements and told her I wanted to bring my kayak. She's like "helll to the no" in so many words. See, she had rotator cuff surgery and is working one-handed and absolutely positively under no circumstances can she use her bum arm. NONE. So naturally my grandpa is a bit nervous about maneuvering the boat with only one set of hands, and they felt that if I had a kayak up there holding me down, my hands would be too busy to help. I didn't feel this way and was totally disappointed that I couldn't bring my new fabulous pink boat, but whatever, you're not exactly gonna go against your grandma, and I'm an adult, I can handle the disappointment. I even vowed to Jam that I would start taking my kayak out once a week to be sure it gets use and researched good paddling spots on the South Shore. Case closed.
Tuesday my grandma calls me at work. Which means, of course, that she called my mother for the number, because she definitely doesn't have my work number. She says "you're bringing your kayak because I disappointed you by telling you couldn't" I'm sitting at my desk thinking "seriously? we're talking about an inanimate object here" I said "no no grandma, so not a big deal I don't need it" "NO" she said "You're taking it!!" Again, you can't fight with this woman. "Of course," she said "this means we'll be leaving Friday morning instead of Thursday afternoon" Bummer, I thought, I've rearranged everything to accommodate a Thursday departure. Oh well. Ok I agreed. Case closed? Maybe?
Since I knew I would be leaving Friday and would now be able to work a good part of the day on Thursday, I decided to leave work on Tuesday around 4. I figured I'd get home, go for a run, and work on a paper that had been looming over my head. As I exited the subway, I saw a baby bird lying on the cement in the stairwell. Sad, I thought. Then it moved. Ohhhh I thought, running away. I can't stand seeing helpless things suffer, and the fact that hundreds of people were tromping by made it worse. It's probably half dead I thought. I sat in my car for a second and of course, because I am soft-hearted and a sap, grabbed a roll of paper towels, the only supplies I had appropriate for transporting a baby bird, and called my sister for directions to the New England Wildlife Center. When I got to the bird I did a test: I turned it upright to see if it would fight to stand or just flop over. This is in no way scientific really, but a bird never voluntarily lies on its back, and if this baby flopped over on its back, well, it's probably too far gone for help. I righted the barely feathered eyes still closed creature and it stood and fought to move. Ok, little guy, I thought, we''ll get you some help. I looked to put it back in the nest because honestly, taking a baby bird from its nest is probably the single worst thing you can do for it. No nest in sight. It must've fallen from a nest in the rafters 8 feet above my head. Dammit. I wrapped the small body in paper towels and set off for the wildlife center.....which was closed to new admits when I got there. WHO DOES THAT??!! YOU'RE A WILDLIFE HOSPITAL. Suddenly I found myself saddled with the responsibility of a baby bird that requires food every 20 minutes. I hate to admit it, but I checked the bird all the way home to see if it was still breathing, because I knew I could do very little for it, and at the very least, if it died in my car at least it was warm and calm and on a soft bed of paper towels.
It survived to my house and I nestled it in a box from redenvelope.com with a piece of Hello Kitty flannel covering it. I jacked up my heating pad (it's really weak) and starting mashing cheerios for the thing. I also put some eggs on to boil, because I knew in a pinch that mashed yolk, high protein cereal with a little warm water fed in small bits is a good substitute food. I realized that I'd have to keep the bird alive until the hospital accepted new admits, til Thursday. I found an old syringe I used for shooting water at my teeth when I had my wisdom teeth out and cut off the skinny part so I was left with a wider syringe curved a bit like a beak. Thing went well at first. I knew that I had to get the food in a certain place - I learned this from working at Foster Parrots and learning about the baby bird bill they're trying to get passed, and how important it is to get food in the crop so the baby doesn't aspirate. I knew I was getting the food down the right place because the baby kept begging and its little crop filled. It even started to open one eye. It bit me twice and bit on the syringe, taking bits of food. Then without any warning or sign of distress, its head dropped down and it went still. Dead. I said to my sister "Oh my GOD I just killed it." Amy, who is a tough girl on the outside, but sensitive on the inside (she bought me two t-shirts from Threadless.com cause my week was going badly!) said "Allison you did not kill this bird. It was going to die anyways, unless you took it to the wildlife center, and those jerks were closed." My mother and father, when they came home and told the story, assured me that the bird was too small to leave its mother. I knew these things, but still I felt so so bad, bad enough that when Amy told me that I couldn't just throw the bird outside, I had to bury it, that I went and go the shovel.
Then I sat down to write my paper.
So I turned in my paper last night, and I have to admit, though it was written during a slightly stressful period, was kickin'. I was in a good mood all the way home, listening to a cd I burned to compensate for the busted iPod. Then I got home and had a chat from Ame and realized there's all kinds of family bullsh*t drama going down, some of which revolves around me and this stupidf*ckingkayak. First I say "FINE I WON'T BRING IT!" Then I'm like "but Grandma told me" Ultimately this leads to me getting rageful and frustrated because I don't know what to do!!! My mom is pissed at me for being upset about wanting to bring my boat, my grandma is upset because she "disappointed me" she says, though she's really just upset because her arm is busted up and she can't use it, but my mom is pissed that I "made" my grandma upset!! WTF WTF WTF I need non-family opinion. I consulted my main man, Jamaal. He graciously listened to the whole story, including major flippage and said "talk to your grandma, she's the one you need to go to." This put me at ease. Though I figured I wouldn't be able to get a straight answer from the woman, I could at least defray the drama.
Wouldn't you know it, there was divine intervention which actually eliminates the problem. I went to give platelets this morning at 7:30. A pheresis tech I really like had me - she's been setting me up for platelets for 2 years now and knows my veins and everything. So I settle in the donation lounge chair with my warm blanket at "Good Morning America" and wait to get stabbed. Well the needle KILLED when she did it. Usually I'm a soldier and sit there silently, but today I went "woooooah!" "I'm sorry I'm sorry!!" she says. We both look to the blood draw tubing, and it's empty and dry. Missed the vein. "Oh damn!" she says. She takes the needle out partway and restabs. Holy Jesus it hurt like a mofo. "You ok?" she asks. I have a pretty high pain threshold, and this was maybe like a 3 on the 1-10 pain scale, well on MY 1-10 pain scale. No biggie. The blood fills the tubing and the machine starts drawing it out and and filtering the blood. The tech says "are you in any pain??" Compared to before, not really, I think. "No nothing too bad" She turned the computer screen towards me and says "just wondering because this thing is barely drawing blood. though you did have low blood pressure this morning, 100/58" Suddenly, the machine is ready to recycle and send me back my red blood cells, sans platelets. "OH MY GOD" I say as I feel pretty much one of the worst feelings I've ever felt. My arm is burning and swelling and the needle site is a lovely iodine-covered blue purple - the needle went right through my vein, and now the blood was being sent into the great beyond in my arm. "Oh JESUS!" says the tech, untaping the tubing from my arm and removing the needle as fast as she can. She jams gauze on my arm and applies pressure, sits me up and calls another tech. He runs over to stop the machine, and gets the air out of it (you know, so I don't have an embolism!) and they restab me in the right arm instead. It feels soooo much better. I relax.
Then it dawns on me: I won't be able to lift anything heavy over my head......like a kayak
SO in one slightly dramatica moment at the blood donor center, almost all family drama is completely resolved. While I may want to bring up my kayak, I physically can't, and without my dad or even my sister there to help, I am S.O.L cause I can't lift the thing and I also can't leave it parked in the wooded lot at the marina because it will absolutely disappear. Problems completely solved. It's incredible how the world works sometimes, isn't it?
One hell of a week. I won't even lie! I am relieved it is Thursday and that in about 24 hours I will be leaving for this place:
Well my sister and I have been needing to get our boating license in NH for over a year now. It's something we totally kept putting off until we buckled down and decided that we'd take the test on June 23. The thing is that even though we live in MA, our boats are registered in NH, our boats spend more than 30 consecutive days in NH waters, and it appears, though no one really spells out the rules for you, that you need to take the proctored Safe Boater Education Certificate Exam in NH. We realized that Gilford is only about 30 minutes or so from the island and that we'd head up this weekend and take the exam.
On Monday, I called my grandma to make arrangements and told her I wanted to bring my kayak. She's like "helll to the no" in so many words. See, she had rotator cuff surgery and is working one-handed and absolutely positively under no circumstances can she use her bum arm. NONE. So naturally my grandpa is a bit nervous about maneuvering the boat with only one set of hands, and they felt that if I had a kayak up there holding me down, my hands would be too busy to help. I didn't feel this way and was totally disappointed that I couldn't bring my new fabulous pink boat, but whatever, you're not exactly gonna go against your grandma, and I'm an adult, I can handle the disappointment. I even vowed to Jam that I would start taking my kayak out once a week to be sure it gets use and researched good paddling spots on the South Shore. Case closed.
Tuesday my grandma calls me at work. Which means, of course, that she called my mother for the number, because she definitely doesn't have my work number. She says "you're bringing your kayak because I disappointed you by telling you couldn't" I'm sitting at my desk thinking "seriously? we're talking about an inanimate object here" I said "no no grandma, so not a big deal I don't need it" "NO" she said "You're taking it!!" Again, you can't fight with this woman. "Of course," she said "this means we'll be leaving Friday morning instead of Thursday afternoon" Bummer, I thought, I've rearranged everything to accommodate a Thursday departure. Oh well. Ok I agreed. Case closed? Maybe?
Since I knew I would be leaving Friday and would now be able to work a good part of the day on Thursday, I decided to leave work on Tuesday around 4. I figured I'd get home, go for a run, and work on a paper that had been looming over my head. As I exited the subway, I saw a baby bird lying on the cement in the stairwell. Sad, I thought. Then it moved. Ohhhh I thought, running away. I can't stand seeing helpless things suffer, and the fact that hundreds of people were tromping by made it worse. It's probably half dead I thought. I sat in my car for a second and of course, because I am soft-hearted and a sap, grabbed a roll of paper towels, the only supplies I had appropriate for transporting a baby bird, and called my sister for directions to the New England Wildlife Center. When I got to the bird I did a test: I turned it upright to see if it would fight to stand or just flop over. This is in no way scientific really, but a bird never voluntarily lies on its back, and if this baby flopped over on its back, well, it's probably too far gone for help. I righted the barely feathered eyes still closed creature and it stood and fought to move. Ok, little guy, I thought, we''ll get you some help. I looked to put it back in the nest because honestly, taking a baby bird from its nest is probably the single worst thing you can do for it. No nest in sight. It must've fallen from a nest in the rafters 8 feet above my head. Dammit. I wrapped the small body in paper towels and set off for the wildlife center.....which was closed to new admits when I got there. WHO DOES THAT??!! YOU'RE A WILDLIFE HOSPITAL. Suddenly I found myself saddled with the responsibility of a baby bird that requires food every 20 minutes. I hate to admit it, but I checked the bird all the way home to see if it was still breathing, because I knew I could do very little for it, and at the very least, if it died in my car at least it was warm and calm and on a soft bed of paper towels.
It survived to my house and I nestled it in a box from redenvelope.com with a piece of Hello Kitty flannel covering it. I jacked up my heating pad (it's really weak) and starting mashing cheerios for the thing. I also put some eggs on to boil, because I knew in a pinch that mashed yolk, high protein cereal with a little warm water fed in small bits is a good substitute food. I realized that I'd have to keep the bird alive until the hospital accepted new admits, til Thursday. I found an old syringe I used for shooting water at my teeth when I had my wisdom teeth out and cut off the skinny part so I was left with a wider syringe curved a bit like a beak. Thing went well at first. I knew that I had to get the food in a certain place - I learned this from working at Foster Parrots and learning about the baby bird bill they're trying to get passed, and how important it is to get food in the crop so the baby doesn't aspirate. I knew I was getting the food down the right place because the baby kept begging and its little crop filled. It even started to open one eye. It bit me twice and bit on the syringe, taking bits of food. Then without any warning or sign of distress, its head dropped down and it went still. Dead. I said to my sister "Oh my GOD I just killed it." Amy, who is a tough girl on the outside, but sensitive on the inside (she bought me two t-shirts from Threadless.com cause my week was going badly!) said "Allison you did not kill this bird. It was going to die anyways, unless you took it to the wildlife center, and those jerks were closed." My mother and father, when they came home and told the story, assured me that the bird was too small to leave its mother. I knew these things, but still I felt so so bad, bad enough that when Amy told me that I couldn't just throw the bird outside, I had to bury it, that I went and go the shovel.
Then I sat down to write my paper.So I turned in my paper last night, and I have to admit, though it was written during a slightly stressful period, was kickin'. I was in a good mood all the way home, listening to a cd I burned to compensate for the busted iPod. Then I got home and had a chat from Ame and realized there's all kinds of family bullsh*t drama going down, some of which revolves around me and this stupidf*ckingkayak. First I say "FINE I WON'T BRING IT!" Then I'm like "but Grandma told me" Ultimately this leads to me getting rageful and frustrated because I don't know what to do!!! My mom is pissed at me for being upset about wanting to bring my boat, my grandma is upset because she "disappointed me" she says, though she's really just upset because her arm is busted up and she can't use it, but my mom is pissed that I "made" my grandma upset!! WTF WTF WTF I need non-family opinion. I consulted my main man, Jamaal. He graciously listened to the whole story, including major flippage and said "talk to your grandma, she's the one you need to go to." This put me at ease. Though I figured I wouldn't be able to get a straight answer from the woman, I could at least defray the drama.
Wouldn't you know it, there was divine intervention which actually eliminates the problem. I went to give platelets this morning at 7:30. A pheresis tech I really like had me - she's been setting me up for platelets for 2 years now and knows my veins and everything. So I settle in the donation lounge chair with my warm blanket at "Good Morning America" and wait to get stabbed. Well the needle KILLED when she did it. Usually I'm a soldier and sit there silently, but today I went "woooooah!" "I'm sorry I'm sorry!!" she says. We both look to the blood draw tubing, and it's empty and dry. Missed the vein. "Oh damn!" she says. She takes the needle out partway and restabs. Holy Jesus it hurt like a mofo. "You ok?" she asks. I have a pretty high pain threshold, and this was maybe like a 3 on the 1-10 pain scale, well on MY 1-10 pain scale. No biggie. The blood fills the tubing and the machine starts drawing it out and and filtering the blood. The tech says "are you in any pain??" Compared to before, not really, I think. "No nothing too bad" She turned the computer screen towards me and says "just wondering because this thing is barely drawing blood. though you did have low blood pressure this morning, 100/58" Suddenly, the machine is ready to recycle and send me back my red blood cells, sans platelets. "OH MY GOD" I say as I feel pretty much one of the worst feelings I've ever felt. My arm is burning and swelling and the needle site is a lovely iodine-covered blue purple - the needle went right through my vein, and now the blood was being sent into the great beyond in my arm. "Oh JESUS!" says the tech, untaping the tubing from my arm and removing the needle as fast as she can. She jams gauze on my arm and applies pressure, sits me up and calls another tech. He runs over to stop the machine, and gets the air out of it (you know, so I don't have an embolism!) and they restab me in the right arm instead. It feels soooo much better. I relax.
Then it dawns on me: I won't be able to lift anything heavy over my head......like a kayak
SO in one slightly dramatica moment at the blood donor center, almost all family drama is completely resolved. While I may want to bring up my kayak, I physically can't, and without my dad or even my sister there to help, I am S.O.L cause I can't lift the thing and I also can't leave it parked in the wooded lot at the marina because it will absolutely disappear. Problems completely solved. It's incredible how the world works sometimes, isn't it?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wondering....
would it be wrong to read a novel at my desk as a means of dealing with stress?
hmm. Probably not. I think I'll go get a coke zero and that delicious blueberry pie I brought and consume those like a ravenous beast instead. That is probably more appropriate and acceptable, LOL.
hmm. Probably not. I think I'll go get a coke zero and that delicious blueberry pie I brought and consume those like a ravenous beast instead. That is probably more appropriate and acceptable, LOL.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Why My Sister is The Funniest Person I Know
We're griping back and forth about the iPod she sold me, which has died (well I think, I probably should take it to the local Apple store), and I'm bitching cause I'm like "well if I knew it was gonna die, I wouldn't have bought it off you"
To which she replies:
Oh watch out biatch. I don't sell faulty hardware.
Oh amazingness.
06/18/2007 Addendum, in regards to coworker taking expired Aleve:
It's two years. It says 05/05 and she already took it and she's freaking out because she says she's growing a brain tumor. How many cancer patients have you seen that have grown brain tumors because of taking expired Aleve?
NONE. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
To which she replies:
Oh watch out biatch. I don't sell faulty hardware.
Oh amazingness.
06/18/2007 Addendum, in regards to coworker taking expired Aleve:
It's two years. It says 05/05 and she already took it and she's freaking out because she says she's growing a brain tumor. How many cancer patients have you seen that have grown brain tumors because of taking expired Aleve?
NONE. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
Two-Faced
Peeved
- Work wouldn't let me buy the "zazzle" highlighters I so lusted after, and replaced them, without asking, with staples-brand "hype" What gives???!!
- Woman elbowed me in head during entire train ride, and would turn to glare at me, like I, sitting in my seat, was the one being extraordinarily rude!
- Boy next to me on Green Line picked his nose for 6 stops
Joyous
- Jam is coming to see me (multiply x 5 on the excited/happy scale)
- It's a beautiful day
- I just ate a hot bagel, and am about to consume an ice-cold coffee
- I am inspired to take a crochet class (must learn. must make afghans!)
- Did I mention the sun is shining for the first time in many days??!
- Farmer's market at Copley today
- Whole Foods visit to buy supplies for romantic/gourmet dinner this weekend, my first foray into "real" cooking
- Typing this in an empty office - great because there's no one here except me and ET and I don't turn the ugly flourescent lights on, I enjoy the natural light from my window
- Father's Day gift for my dad is AWESOME
- In good spirits in general
-3 peeved things + 10 joyous = 7 good things
It's gonna be a lovely day :)
- Work wouldn't let me buy the "zazzle" highlighters I so lusted after, and replaced them, without asking, with staples-brand "hype" What gives???!!
- Woman elbowed me in head during entire train ride, and would turn to glare at me, like I, sitting in my seat, was the one being extraordinarily rude!
- Boy next to me on Green Line picked his nose for 6 stops
Joyous
- Jam is coming to see me (multiply x 5 on the excited/happy scale)
- It's a beautiful day
- I just ate a hot bagel, and am about to consume an ice-cold coffee
- I am inspired to take a crochet class (must learn. must make afghans!)
- Did I mention the sun is shining for the first time in many days??!
- Farmer's market at Copley today
- Whole Foods visit to buy supplies for romantic/gourmet dinner this weekend, my first foray into "real" cooking
- Typing this in an empty office - great because there's no one here except me and ET and I don't turn the ugly flourescent lights on, I enjoy the natural light from my window
- Father's Day gift for my dad is AWESOME
- In good spirits in general
-3 peeved things + 10 joyous = 7 good things
It's gonna be a lovely day :)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
To Mr. Wizard
You made kids wonder, think, search and see.Thank you for that.
Rest in Peace.
Mad scientist love fo' ev'
-- A dorky biologist
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Second Post of the Day BECAUSE
7500 pictures were submitted for the 24 Hours of Flickr book
122 were selected
Mine was one of them
Must go FREAK OUT NOW
sorry if this is obnoxious but *squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*
also, this is not me bragging, I swear to God and baby Jesus. It's just that I never thought that one of my photos would be chosen amidst all the brilliance submitted. phew. ok. calm now.
Once again, a big shoutout to my friend the gorilla at the Bronx Zoo.
122 were selected
Mine was one of them
Must go FREAK OUT NOW
sorry if this is obnoxious but *squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*
also, this is not me bragging, I swear to God and baby Jesus. It's just that I never thought that one of my photos would be chosen amidst all the brilliance submitted. phew. ok. calm now.
Once again, a big shoutout to my friend the gorilla at the Bronx Zoo.
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