Yay, middle of the night working!

The first hour went unremarkably, the second hour was spent on a conference call fixing stuff, well within schedule, and the third hour seems to have been unremarkable. I am able to watch Running Scared inbetween, and it looks like we'll be done at 3:15 or so, and I'm off to the ER!

Please please let this happen!

Happy birthday, ladies---t, Pix, and Maria! Much celebrations for you.

Happy Birthday, Maria and Pix!

ita, I hope the ER visit goes smoothly.

Happy Birthday Pix! Happy Birthday Maria!

"You really enjoy being social with other people, but you don't naturally tend to choose to be around others. You'll choose your own company and then start to miss being around other humans."

I have to say, I really relate to that. I am fine on my own, and sometimes I feel put out by social invitations. But I do really love hanging out with people and feel much happier when I do. For me, there's often social anxiety that isn't really outwardly noticeable that keeps me from avoiding invites at times, or reaching out when I want more company.

I spent yesterday watching series one of Downton Abbey feeling slightly headachy and very blah. I suspect it's the height (or depth) of the Winter Blues.

Happy birthday, Pix and Maria!

In "this is cool" news, I bring you the yellow pitcher plant. This is a pitcher plant from the American South. Like other pitcher plants, it lures insects with a patch that secretes nectar. Insects that try to take advantage of it find themselves on the slippery sides of a water-filled pitcher; those that lose their footing will drown in a mixture of water and digestive juices, there to be dissolved and devoured by the plant.

All pitcher plants are pretty cool (and here I'll also mention Nepenthes rajah of Borneo, which grows pitchers that can hold over 3 litres of water and 2 litres of digestive fluid, and traps not only insects but also small vertebrates). However, I'm singling out the yellow pitcher plant because it isn't satisfied with just offering nectar. It exudes a narcotic along with it. It's basically inviting insects over for dinner, then drugging them before drowning them and eating the corpses. Ok, that sounds not so much cool as creepy and disturbing. But in a plant it's pretty cool.

Finally, their scientific name is Sarracenia flava. Oh, and apparently that flava is the heady smell of cat urine. I figure any insect going for a taste of this probably deserves everything it gets.

In conclusion, happy birthday!

Trying not to cry in front of the doctors. Apparently the reduced dosage is 100% guaranteed to fix my pain. It's my perception of pain that is off. It's also guaranteed that no emergency room doctor will push 4mg of dilaudid.

I'm in pain, not stupid. But I really don't understand why they pretend to be reasoning with me when it's so much bullshit. They are words. In a dictionary. They have meanings. "We don't really care if your head hurts" makes more sense at this point.

Oh, ita, I'm so sorry. That's just so wrong. They should be following your treatment plan in the first place, but giving you bullshit like that when they don't is literally adding insult to injury.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, y'all! I had a lowly day at a "Wine Stroll".

Oh, ita,I'm so very sorry. Your treatment plan should involve adequate treatment!

oh ita. I wish I could hit those doctors in the nads for you.

happy birthdays to all!!

ita that just sucks!

There appears to be a snowpocalypse here andI have no coffe creamer or wine. I am on a bus going to the theatre, but both those things involve walking for a couple of miles and no one inRochester shoveles sidewalks.

Happy Birthday Pix!

Happy Birthday Maria!

Happy Belated Birthday, -t!

I unthinkingly fastened my belt to the 5th notch this morning, which I think means my waist is down to 36". At least the flu seems to be leaving me with a parting gift that's actually worth something!