1. I'm having an MRI tomorrow for a pituitary tumor, and honestly, I'm hoping they find something because I've been so sick for a year and been to various doctors every week for a year now and I just want an answer for what is wrong and a solution. I have a consult with a very good endocrinologist after that so I'm in good hands but I'm nervous as hell. I need hugs and whuffles plz.

2. The bf is "on the market" right now which is grad school speak for looking for a job, except it's unlike any job search I've ever seen before in its scope and commitment. Personal relations...ahem...have suffered. I am being modest in my expectations as far as personal relations go but holding up.

3. It's all shit right now. I'm just holding on for better days which will surely come.

Rooting for you twiggy!

1. Closing today for my refinanced mortgage. It's been a bit of a ride dealing with very poor communication from the bank (I was literally told, "Uhhhmm, sometimes we don't get our emails for a few days"), but hopefully it's all been for the best.

2. With falseness aforethought, calling in sick today (closing and subsequent celebration) and more importantly tomorrow -- tomorrow is a "staff retreat" thing where, among other things, participants are supposed to sign up for sports/games activities to promote that dreadful phrase, team building. I don't feel I should have to take gym class anymore, especially given the pittance that I make and no raise for 5 years, so I'm not going.

3. Staying up late for the rest of the week watching opera.

1. Drama at work. They canned my manager yesterday and assigned us all to report to the west-coast manager. That means that I've now had five managers within the last two years. And my job is pretty much the same. I feel bad about a 50+ year old woman being fired but everyone in the team hated her, I've never seen anyone make so many enemies so quickly. I feel so much less stress now not having to deal with her.

2. Big construction stuff happening at home. We're having the porch rebuilt which doesn't sound like that big a deal but the porch is forty feet long and we're trying our best to build the new one to look like it was built in 1865 so there are a ton of details to deal with. This is involving carpenters, roofers, electricians, plumbers, the heating guy (to move the some vents), a landscaper and a brick mason. Oh and money, lots of that.

3. 10K in three weeks and I'm still battling my loss of red blood cells with iron and vitamin C and working out but it's been difficult to get moving.

1. I have my review at work this afternoon. The rest of the status update is pending whether or not I still have a job at the end of the day.

Hugs and whuffles to you, Twiggy. Everything is happening at once, isn't it? It will pass and it will get better.

1. Bolting after work to Nashville (a three hour drive) to go see my favoritest musician in the world, Corb Lund, who is opening tonight at Mercy Lounge. He's from Alberta, Canada, so this is about as close as he's gonna get.

2. Tomorrow on my way back from Nashville, I'm stopping by the BMW Motorcycles shop in Chattanooga to look at a used Gas Gas 280 Pro (permalink). If you haven't seen motorcycle trials, watch this. I'm just learning to ride trials so I'm nowhere near as good as the guys in the video. I have a vintage trials bike now but a modern bike is lighter, more powerful and has better brakes.

3. I'll be covering the shop alone on Friday and Saturday because Mr. Ant is providing motorcycle service for a cameraman at the CEO Challenge at Blackberry Farm. They're paying decent money and it's a chance to do something different and fun (and to see the wealthy and powerful all sweaty and muddy.)

On preview, jeesh, Eid. I'm pulling for you.

Eid, given your travel difficulties and your expressed desire to find another job, I don't know if it'd be a blessing or a curse to wish you luck.

I wish everyone good luck!

1. Gymness, so much gym.

2. Editing, words and video.

3. I can't tell if I'm breaking out or having a werid reaction to tea tree oil. My life is so hard.

I would like to leave this job on my own terms. Also, rent.

It's been a hard year (and a half, but the review is only for the past year), and I've made a lot of improvements in my life. Just hoping they show in my work environment.

*sigh* Wish I didn't have to wait until the end of the day. AGONY.

*whine*

We can distract you with palindromes!

Lisa Bonet Ate No Basil.

*whuffles twiggy*
*good thoughts either way for Eideteker*

1. Not sure if I mentioned it on here, but I did finally clear the East! So now I'm waiting for my next assignment for the South. I got myself a pretty moonstone ring to celebrate.

2. This week is the start of the crazy weekends for me. This Sunday, I'm going to Delmarva Pagan Pride, next weekend is camping at Fall Frolic, and the weekend after that is my brother's wedding in the Bahamas. I need to seriously start packing, especially for the camping trip because we have to fit 4 people and all our gear into my dad's Subaru. I don't want to drive my mom's Equinox if I can avoid it because that thing is fucking huge and miserable to actually drive. I've also picked up another bellydance class on Fridays (taught by a friend of mine and they're local!) and have been coerced into going to zumba afterwards.

3. Been spending too much money lately. The moonstone ring was quite expensive, plus I ordered a longer chain (the proper length) for my pentacle, and I just dropped some cash on Amazon for a damned air mattress (since I have decided that after being cranky at FOV for sleeping with my sleeping bag and just the sleeping mat that I require a bit more cushion between myself and the ground) and a case for the cheap djembe I picked up at Homegoods since I plan to bring that camping as well.

Whuffles and hugs, a million times over, for both Twiggy and Eide.

And YOU.

Hugs for everyone, esp Twiggy and Eid!!

1. I'm supposed to have read Caitlin Moran's book for book group on Thursday, but despite the epic Metafilter thread about how she is awesome, I cannot stand her writing and am bogged down in her chapter on body hair.

2. Going to Pittsburgh this weekend for a wedding and for Rosh Hashanah, not really excited about either, but looking forward to seeing the bride and one other high school friend. Everyone else there from high school can go suck an egg. It's just gonna be me and my mom for services, my dad will be in Florida b/c his dad is in the hospital (lung cancer surgery recovery not going great).

3. Traveling is always more than you expect. I was just doing the rough math: 200 for airfare, 30 for airport parking, 80 for airport shuttle, and 60 for catsitting. And I get to do it all again in a couple months for Thanksgiving. :)

Hugs to twiggy and eid.

1. Firming up my LA and Canada trips.
2. Going to hermitosis' screening of Go Ask Alice tonight.
3.Wishing I were still on the Cape.

Congrats, sperose! (And do you have a link for explaining the work you're doing with the directions? It sounds interesting.)

Good luck, twiggy and Eideteker.

1. I unexpectedly joined a gym yesterday, which is nice. I am mainly excited about the giant whirlpool, which is in a pretty room off the locker room with big windows (with frosted glass) and the gym has a free service with fluffy, big towels and everything is SO CLEAN, so just the prospect of being able to finish up a workout with a nice spa experience is (I know from experience) generally enough to motivate me to get to the gym. Which is something that both emotionally and physically I've been needing to do. So, huzzah!

2. My volunteering at the animal shelter is going well, but I have learned that I MUST STAY OUT OF THE KITTEN ROOM. Kittens are crack, man. I have a cat that hates other cats, I am more or less homeless (living with my father, but not in my own space), I do not need another cat. Must avoid the adorable, adorable kittens.

3. Unlike the Whelk, it seems, my rosacea/acne/I don't know what has been clearing up in the last week since I have started using tea tree oil. It's never been really bad (my aesthetician called it "pre-rosacea"), but my father also definitely has it and has never treated it and it's prompted me to see if I can get mine a bit more under control.

Oh, and condolences, Senyar.

WHUFFLES FOR ALL

1. Very happy but predictably incredibly sleep-deprived as have newborn attached to breast at all times.

2. Typing one handed as have newborn attached to breast at all times.

3. Nothing much else going on, except trying to get enough to eat. Simple things like finding the time to make a sammich v. difficult with newborn attached to breast at all times.

Step on no pets.

Hope you will not be homeless for long, occhiblu!

1. I want to visit Las Vegas and Death Valley again. Maybe I'll go alone this time. Traveling alone is a different, but intoxicating, experience.

2. All week long I crave, obsess, and think about nothing else but when I will next have some down time, when I can finally lie on my couch and knit. It occupies all my thoughts, and I divebomb that couch when it's finally time. But within 10 minutes of actually lying there I'm bored, wondering what my next activity is going to be. Doesn't make any sense. Must analyze this problem some more.

3. Have a fever blister on my lip. Wouldn't mind except that it takes forever to heal (every time I injure myself, either a cut or a sprain or just about anything, it takes forever to heal).

YAY NEWBORNS!!

Senyar, I'm so sorry. Even when it's not a shock, it's still a shock, isn't it?

Twiggy, I'm wishing you good luck on your testing. It's frustrating and scary to have an undiagnosed mystery illness; here's hoping they track it down and have an excellent plan to get you well!

Eideteker, here's good thoughts for your review! You'll wow 'em. When have you not?

1. I. Am. Sleepy. At some point in the cold dim light of dawn, the noises from the parking garage next to our bedroom window went from "disruptive" to "someone's rolling a metal tub of scrap iron down the ramps and lost control of it on the straight-away OH THE HUMANITY." I vaguely recall that I turned over in my sleep and dream-murmured to The Fella, "Now they're just fuckin' with us, right?" [BRB.] Yes, he confirms that this happened. And that they are.

2. I. Am. Writing. I'd forgotten how intoxicating it can be when it's going well, how the story and characters and texture all come spilling in together and build something bigger than you knew you were building. It's alchemy. (That was, like, three different metaphors/similes in two sentences. Oh, what the heck. If Shakespeare can get away with "take arms against a sea of troubles"...)

3. Some filmmaker friends invited me to their studio-warming just a block away tomorrow night. (I'm already chilling the champagne!) My friends R & E are invited, too, so I suggested we meet at my place for cocktails and a snack first, then walk over. Now I just have to clean up this place a bit for company --- no small task since we emptied our closets for the carpenters and electricians, and then we just kinda... left everything sitting around in piles. Oops.

Sending whuffles out in a wide radius; take 'em if you need 'em, folks. Also, it sounds like occhiblu has kitten whuffles aplenty to share.

Doesn't make any sense. Must analyze this problem some more.

A missing element, like an extraneous sensory stimulus such as music or a slow simmering pot of soup?

1. My back issues are getting a bit better - I'm on a nerve medicine to reduce the pain and I can drive and function properly now since it's not a narcotic AND I don't just want to lay around moaning because of the intense pain. WOO! However, I'm still kinda mad at my new orthopedic guy who was all optimistic about fixing me in my first visit, and then all, "I can't help you right now because you've been on too many narcotics for too long. See me in three to six months" on my second visit - like I hadn't told him everything I've been through in the past year or so. Way to listen, a-hole.

2. One of our mice is sick. Dingle has (had?) an upper respiratory infection, and a lump in her throat that looked like at wattle. The vet took a sample to make sure it wasn't an abscess that needed to be drained and thought it was just a swollen lymph node. But now she has three more lumps - two on her shoulders and one more by her throat. They're growing fast - she's gained about 10 grams in a week. I'm fearing cancer and that we'll have to put her down. I love my Dingle baby!

3. Work has been nuts since a co-worker for whom my boss and I are backups took off at the busiest time of the month for her position. I did none of my own work last week, so I'm feeling super behind. Although I understand the need/want to take your vacation time whenever, I wish she would be more considerate of her deadlines when she plans time off. Especially since her position is an essential function so her work can't really wait while she's off for a week and a half.

1. Today I am making a very slow-cooked beef stew. The bones for stock are roasting now.
2. Waiting for FedEx to deliver a package.
3. I seem to have developed a new instance of chronic angina of the type that is far more bothersome than it is worrisome. This is probably related to last December's cardiac event, and I was somewhat expecting it to appear as I increase the exertion levels of my gym workouts. If so, this is a milepost toward corollarizing new cardiac vessels. Kind of a weird instance of 'no pain, no gain'.

Good luck, twiggy! Good thoughts, Eideteker. Tell Dover I said hi, sperose (it's my birthplace :o).

1. I took off work today for my birthday as usual. I wish I could have taken off the entire week.

2. Tired due to maternity clothes shopping. I really don't need them yet but I was hoping to find some stuff on sale. Bleh, it was worse than trying to go regular clothes shopping. Bless Macy's for having decently cheap petite pants in stock.

3. I told my close friends (that didn't know) and my relatives Monday night that I'm pregnant. It was rather fun to surprise them.

Congratulations and happy birthday, bluesapphires!

A missing element, like an extraneous sensory stimulus such as music or a slow simmering pot of soup?

No, because what I crave is the complete lack of stimulation, hence lying on the couch doing nothing.

Still have a job, for now. I'm on written warning, which is delightful. Still paying for the mistakes of That Guy I Was. $company, like honeybadger, don't care that I'm a different person, and all healthy now and junk. (Though, to her credit, my boss stuck her neck out for me A-GAIN. She is really awesome and I will be happy when I stop disappointing her.)

Hooray, oversharing in a public place!

That's a real headscratcher then.

Senyar, I am so sorry for your loss.

((((((((((((twiggy and Eid)))))))))

Sperose, I love my Equinox. Lots of leg room (even in the back seat), and not as big/bulky as my former minivan or some SUVs. And gets great gas mileage on trips. Maybe you don't like it for city driving?

Specklet, my firstborn was the same way. Attached to me all. the. time. You have my sympathies, but don't worrry, it doesn't last forever.

Youngergirl, I am sorry for your sick mouse. Mice are great pets.

1. I tried to clean my laminate floor the other day with an all natural recipe. It left a film that I have twice tried to clean. Finally mopped today with just water, and I hope it'll stay clean! Shoulda just stuck with my Swiffer.

2. Had a day off today, and blew it by doing nothing (other than cleaning the floor again, see above). Kinda felt bad, so I made a run to the grocery store, but still feeling lazy.

3. Otherwise...fingers crossed...life is good.

1. Purchased marmoleum online and will have a guy install it in both bathrooms. Rather excited. This is the color I chose.
2. Kind of losing steam at work, despite LOVING my job. We had our CEO say that our emergency plan was to go down to 4 employees if we lost government funding, which is scary. I am NOT one of the 4. Please vote Obama.
3. Looking forward to some more work travel to the Bay area (Palo Alto first and then San Francisco) in October. Yay!

Whuffles to those in need. I could use some myself, just because I NEED contact, and Specklet whuffles are the best!

1. I've been temping for a divorce attorney and working on all the legal motions makes me wonder if anyone, really, is ever ready to be married when they decide to get married. And considering the divorce rate percentage in this country, and knowing that many of those cases are acrimonious like the ones I've been working on... it's enough to make you wonder about getting married at all. Also, why more people don't go in for prenuptial agreements. It just makes sense!

2. I recently received proof that my five years of therapy have actually done me some good in that I was able to head off a huge fight with my boyfriend by being frank about how hurt and disappointed I was about a financial decision. And then, I used those same communication skills to help my parents patch things up after they had a fight about a financial decision. (My sister helped more, though, by pointing out how penny-and-pound-foolish one of them was being.)

3. It's getting colder, and that means that I'll be procrastinating on "turning" my wardrobe again in the next few months. Or that I need to buy a cardigan to wear over my summer tops. I think I'll go for the latter.

Hugs to all who need 'em!

*Kitten whuffles to Stewie*

*Additional kitten whuffles to everyone going through a divorce*

whuffles and hugs to all who need them! And those who don't!

1. Well, my mother's visit is about half way through. It's about as dismal as expected. I could rant for a long time, but it'll just rile me up and make me more angry, so I'll just say that her passivity is incredibly draining. Sigh.

2. 11 sleeps until I run a half marathon! Holy crap!

3. *killed* my short run this morning with 8.40 minute miles. First time ever it felt really good to push myself (instead of vomit-inducing).

(yes, I know that it's not super fast mileage, but it is for me!)

ok, on the plus side, the night ended like this

Occhiblu--There's nothing really on the internet about it (at least, as specific as it is to my group), but the general idea is that we go through the directions (East, South, West, North) and our sponsor coordinates with someone who gives us a task (or a couple of tasks, depending) for each direction. Part of the process is to basically immerse yourself in that particular element for the time you are working on it. The assignments can be something like writing a paper (as I did for East) and I've heard that they can even be as strange as visiting a forge. But the general idea is that you have to learn more about each element and work within it and figure out where your weak points are (and strong points too). Luckily, I'm going through with 2 of my sisters, so we get to commiserate about our assignments. :) (And drool over the super hot dude who is going to be giving us our South assignments. Which is fire and passion. Mmmmm.) Part of the process is that we are supposed to be kept in the dark about some things, which is driving me batty (and is alas, a weak point for me).

Will do, Bluesapphires! I've never been to Dover proper, but have glanced by it on my way through Delaware before.

Senyar, it's mostly because the Equinox is huge. I get the leg room thing (which is part of the reason why my father picked it out since we are a relatively tall family) but I'm used to driving my little sporty Civic coupe. Even the Subaru feels monstrous to me. Plus, I highly dislike cars that can't corner worth a damn. It is roomy though, I will give it that.

Stew, I was *just* thinking about how I whuffled you when you were in town!

Thanks, sperose. I look forward to updates from the south! ;-)

A day late:

1. Just got back from Mum's earlier today. Tut was good, but semi-disappointing: no funeral masks. Too delicate to travel. But I saw some cool pieces. Need to get the photos out of the camera and up somewhere.

2. Mum is staying for a few days. Has a request to visit a dollar store for a few things. She's easy to please, thank the gods.

3. The mister continues to improve heart-wise. We're both quite thankful for that.

Hugs! Whuffles! Luck! To Everyone!

Two days late:

First, ♥ ♥ ♥ and (*・_・)ノ⌒*`*`* to everyone that needs them.

1. This is the first day I've felt really human, between both of my knees deciding to go out EVERY DAMN DAY THIS WEEK and my car going tits up during a rainstorm last week.

2. We've been getting rain finally YAY, but yeah, a flash flood took out my starter and engine. The good news is that the mechanic found an engine, and the better news is that insurance is covering it all. Finally an ROI on that stuff. I'll get the car back some time next week.

3. Bored bored bored at work. Underutilized and really only able to do interesting things about once a month. Or I just say "fuck it" and work on what I think is interesting. So far haven't gotten in trouble for that. *crosses fingers*

I'm visiting relatives in Germany. Speaking rural German all night after driving 105 MPH on the German highway to get here.