Floating Leaf

I've been wanting to post an update for days, but my brain is feeling strangely disconnected, so the only way I can do it is in random bullet points. There's no method whatsoever to this madness, I'm afraid.

- My dad had another blackout episode at work. ( Read more... )

- My chiropractor offered a brilliant psychological explanation for my chronic stiff neck & upper back problem. ( Read more... )

- Note to self: when plagued with the dreaded monthly physiological inconvenience, stick to regular painkillers instead of some fancy multi-symptom menstrual pain relief. Some of that stuff (namely, Pamprin, which my sister deemed appropriate for some reason to include with my Christmas gift this time) could kill a horse. ( Read more... )

So I took my dad to see the doctor yesterday. A good gastroenterology specialist, supposedly one of Top Doctors in Chicago (as testified by a plaque in his waiting room). Dad was impressed by the professional treatment - a far cry from his regular GP, who didn't seem to have much of a clue what to do with him anymore. Anyway... the doctor thinks most of his problems (stomach pain, indigestion, even the blackouts) could be the result of a failing gall bladder. Which is not that uncommon at his age. As well as perfectly treatable. But he prescribed a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis. So there will be more appointments. I'm glad I have plenty of vacation time available this year. Of course, my sister & brother-in-law will take him to some of those appointments, too - but it wouldn't be fair for them to shoulder it all. It's a long drive for either of us - and I'm the one who gets plenty of paid time off (both my mom and sister are self-employed, so if they skip work, they lose money). I only wish I had a car that didn't threaten to fall apart any minute... but let's not tempt fate here by even mentioning that. *shuts up*

I have seen a few people on my flist do a summary of the past decade in their lives. I wasn't going to do one (I think the decade actually ends in December 2010, doesn't it?)... but what the heck. ( Here's a super-short version. )

So... here's the post I had originally meant to make today (or yesterday, since it is already tomorrow by now :).

It probably won't come as a surprise that I didn't go out to celebrate last night. It was freezing outside, I wasn't feeling social, and I had just received a Netflix DVD that I was really looking forward to watching - so I made myself comfortable in my papasan chair with the heating pad and a glass of wine (the bottle was a Christmas gift, not something I would have picked for myself - so one glass turned out to be quite enough :P), and quite pleasantly passed the final night of 2009 watching an obscure indie gay flick (Eban and Charley, should anyone care to check it out). Yes - predictable seems to be my middle name.:P

However, the film's topic is rather controversial - if fascinating - so I feel compelled to talk a little bit about it. ( Read more... )

OK... looks like the ultimate financial disaster has been postponed for the time being. It was the alternator, and it cost 'only' about $250 (plus $150 for the towing, of course, but that was technically paid by my mother, who had put some cash under the Christmas tree for me). The most optimistic scenario under the circumstances - which, of course, doesn't guarantee anything whatsoever for the future... but then, I'm not sure I have enough free brain cells left to worry about the future. The present keeps my mind busy enough, thank you very much.

So I got my car back already - which, of course, means I actually have TWO cars parked outside my apartment building right now, because my dad's car is still here too. ( Read more... )

As for the positive aspects of this holiday season... I did manage to have a lovely dinner at Cracker Barrel with akashaelfwitch, jades_tempest, taelyn_sass and Nancy (Namarie120) last Saturday. I almost didn't make it because of the car incident - but, luckily for me, Akasha's friend Paul was on his way to join the ladies just as I got back home from meeting the tow truck, and he swung by my apartment to pick me up. I admit I wouldn't have gone otherwise, because the restaurant was far out in the northern suburbs, where I've never been before, it was snowing, the roads were bad and I was still shaking with nerves after the drive back from my parents' place. So Paul was a godsend.:) It was great to catch up with everyone - especially Nancy and Taelyn, whom I only get to see once in a blue moon (they were both visiting relatives in Chicago for the holidays). ( Read more... )

Another interesting article I feel compelled to share. I'm not sure I completely agree with the author's thesis... but if it were true, it would certainly explain a lot of what's been going on throughout the history of humankind. It's very thought-provoking, at any rate.

http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/beware-the-psychopath-my-son/


I also feel compelled, for some reason, to share the very disturbing dream I had last night. ( It was extremely realistic and not dream-like at all, and it scared the crap out of me. )

I just discovered another very simple and very delicious recipe: Paprika Shrimp & Green Bean Saute. Nothing but shrimp, grean beans, white (canellini) beans, paprika, olive oil, a little red wine vinegar, lots of garlic & fresh parsley. YUM.:D

I have also accidentally discovered a fascinating essay about the English language. It's a review of a dictionary, actually, but it talks about many related topics like descriptive versus prescriptive linguistics, modern American English and its strange, disturbing variations like "corporate speak" (which is ideologically closer to totalitarian "propaganda speak" than most people realize), "political correctness", social/professional dialects and their functions etc. Very thought-provoking - at least for someone who has devoted several years of their life to studying such matters.:) And humbling, too, because it made me realize I still have a lot to learn. And amazingly funny, too. But then, I'm not objective when it comes to language geekery, and I always experience immeasurable glee when someone mocks the "dumbing down" of the English language that is going on in the US these days. So read at your own risk:

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/DFW_present_tense.html

In completely unrelated news, I had a funny Viggo dream yesterday. In which Viggo was some kind of professor/tutor, and I was his student. As in, the ONLY student in his class. *ahem* I can't tell you what the topic of the class was, because all I know is that he was sort of rambling, staring down at his desk, and I had no idea what he was talking about, because his voice was doing strange things to my insides. Obviously, I had a major crush on him (big surprise, LOL), and he was perfectly aware of it - which made him act a little skittish and avoid eye contact. Sort of like his character in Good - except he looked more like in this icon, courtesy of stormatdusk (*points to the top of the post*). It was totally endearing. The skittishness, I mean. Poor Viggo. I can only imagine him being a high school/college teacher and having to fend off crowds of enamoured girls (and boys ;). Worse than movie fans, because I you can't really run away from them.:P

As if I didn't have enough reasons to feel upset already, I read an article today that gave me another one. About evil, carcinogenic chemicals in cosmetics and other 'body care' products. There was a sizeable list of substances to be 'avoided at all costs' - and nearly every item on that list turns out to be a very commonly used ingredient in all types of products. I checked out my shampoo, conditioner, face wash, mouthwash, toner, facial cream, shower gel etc. - and they ALL contain some of the evil stuff. Granted, possible damage caused by cosmetics is not as great or immediate as that caused by harmful chemicals in food, which is actually ingested - but still, constant exposure over time can result in some of those chemicals being absorbed by the body and finding their way to the internal organs. ( Read more... )

Just a quick thank you to mellacita for the snowflake.:) It was a nice surprise. I meant to congratulate you on all the recognition you received for the SNAP challenge project... I just never got around to it. So I'm all the more surprised that you thought to send me a virtual gift. *blinks*

Also, thank you to dissonant_dream and willys_digs for the holiday cards. I really appreciate the gesture, even if it makes me feel bad in a way, because I haven't sent any cards this year and most likely won't. I have a weird relationship with holiday cards. ( Read more... )

I lost my muffler this morning on my way to work. I kid you not. I knew something was wrong with it as soon as I started the engine, because, you know, it ROARED. But I thought, oh crap, I'll just stop somewhere on my way back home tonight and have someone look at it. But then, as I was driving, I kept hearing some odd rattling & clanging sounds in addition to the roaring... and finally, lo and behold, the whole thing just FELL OFF. I clearly saw it detach itself from the car and clatter away to the curb. I probably should have stopped to pick it up - but I was kinda stunned, as well as, typically, running late for work, so yeah. I kept driving. Just another instance of my precious old pile'o'junk falling apart on me right in the middle of the road, lol. Doesn't really faze me that much anymore.;P ( Read more... )

I just got back from seeing The Road. akashaelfwitch had the brilliant idea to go to an early showing at 2:00 p.m., to avoid the typical evening crowds - so we pretty much had the auditorium to ourselves (there were maybe 5 other people there). (I had to call in sick to work yesterday anyway, since I got my period - so it made perfect sense to extend the 'sickness' for today as well.) After the movie we went to a cheap sandwich place to have a bite and do some catching up, as we hadn't seen each other in a while. The weather was perfect for the occasion - wet, dark and gloomy, that is.;) It just wouldn't do to walk out of that movie into a sunlit afternoon - it'd be totally wrong, somehow. Just as it wouldn't do to eat in a clean, expensive restaurant. I still felt kinda guilty as I dug ravenously into my cheap salad, with an image of Viggo's emaciated face imprinted firmly on my mind...

I cried, of course. ( Read more... )