One thing I don't have a moment's hesitation about is that my mother knows she is mad loved and supported. the outpouring of affection and people rallying around her was literally overwhelming, in the end. We had to tell the hospital to stop letting people in (and this included people who worked for the hospital), because she couldn't work out how to limit them herself (and even refused to give us secret signals so we could throw them out) and was exhausting herself dealing with everyone in person. We also had to run the plants and flowers home because we ran out of space in her room for them...they were lined up on the floor and outside her door and were becoming a hazard.

My mother is...well, people respond really well to her. She's a draconian hard-nosed professor, who'd punch you in the face if you messed with her people, but she's also...she's she's warm-hearted and she's really nice and mad brilliant and plain mad crazy. She doesn't feel all those things all the time, but she is surrounded by people who keep reminding her. All the time. From avenues I wouldn't even have expected.

And she's pretty right-headed about dealing with things, considering. I'd be handling all this a lot worse, no doubt. I deal with my headaches badly enough. But she's my mother, and I'm protective, and I want to take all the burden off her.

And I will tell her: "Allyson says take stock of the awesome."

I wanted to share somewhere that I did not put on makeup to go to work today. I have worn makeup every day of my life since 6th grade. I have been looking at myself in the mirror once I get to work and thinking that I look terrible, and I think my makeup is wearing off from the bus ride. So today I didn't wear any, intending to put it on at work, but I forgot. And I don't think I look any different, because I think it IS wearing off from walking in the snow/rain/sweat. I only wear foundation, blush and lipstick, so perhaps the change would be more dramatic if I wore eyemakeup?

I have worn makeup every day of my life since 6th grade

Just on principle, I think a shakeup is good.

I always wonder if people are really registering a difference when I do or do not wear makeup, but I have no perspective on that front, none at all.

Today at lunch I bought a $20 pair of jeans, a pink shirt at 40% off, and got rid of a lot of cables and old remotes and my busted scanner at electronics recycling (for some reason, they charged for batteries and bulbs, and I couldn't be bothered to work out that hassle). But still, all in all, not bad for half an hour, efficiency wise.

And then I open my cheque from Geico and it's hundreds of dollars less than they told me I was getting, with no explanation. So I have to chase that down. God damn. Now I'm hesitant about cashing the cheque, just in case.

Sigh. I just got a call from my sister that my 83 year-old mom fell last night and faceplanted into the ground. She didn't lose consciousness, but she had a softball sized lump by her eye. She wouldn't go to the hospital immediately, but eventually they convinced her. (She can't remember how she fell, but claims she didn't slip or trip.)

The ER doc found nothing wrong with her head, but her BP was 200-something over 100-something. Eventually it went down to 180/110, but that's still pretty high. (My mom has chronic HBP she treats with meds.) Anyway, did they do any further tests to see if everything was okay with her heart? No. They gave her a tetanus shot and sent her home.

Also it's so frustrating how my family don't call me until well after the fact. I guess I should be thankful that's she seems okay other than the black eye, but I am just frustrated that I can't do more, and be there to boss her around.

That is frustrating, Sue.

Except, if you read the article it's attached to with the hazing allegations, it's actually preferable to me to the things this guy alleges was happening as SOP at Dartmouth.

OK, I didn't read the article, and I should know better than to say anything never happens. Matt, have you seen it done voluntarily? I would put that into a different category, I guess?

Timelies all!

Tired cat is tired.

That's scary and frustrating, Sue.

Thanks guys. I told her to ask her doctor for tests, but her memory is not good and she's as stubborn as a pike, so who knows if she will or not.

x-posted with Bitches: after twelve years, I just bought a (used) car. I can go places when I want to go places.

I'm kind of freaking out.

That's exciting, amyth! I sometimes dream of driving, but am too scared.