All manner of things, funny and nervewracking

Nervewracking: Just today after work I was chatting with my Mom, and she mentioned she hadn't been feeling quite the thing, with certain particular symptoms. In my wannabe doctor mind, two things click immediately: one relatively minor, and one not minor at all. I blithely suggest to her the minor thing and urged her to go to the doctor's really quickly, telling her, "Boy, that stuff can get right out of hand and it can last for weeks, you don't want to have that when we go to Disney! And don't forget, you can't go to the Dr. this weekend, because we have the kids over this weekend. You should really go now." So she did. And I sat around the house for a few hours stressing a few years off my own life.

Quick, in-house tests showed it was the minor thing. (*thanks Brigid* [for yesterday was Imbolc.] BTW, happy Imbolc, my Pagan friends.)

Speaking of thoughts on diagnostics, I almost forgot what happened a few weeks ago. A friend of mine at work had a very sudden, very bizarre and seemingly random sensory thing. I don't want to say just what it was because I don't like to give up my friends' medical secrets. But it had everyone stumped. The vets didn't know. Her own doctor didn't know. Her blood tests all came back perfectly normal. But in my head, it was ringing a rusty, almost forgotten bell. I knew that I knew what it was. About a week later, I was procrastinating doing some novel-related research in my medical books and I said to myself, "You know you're on the right track, just keep looking." And I turned to the section on toxicity and there it was, right in front of my face. It ends up that she was having a reaction to an ingredient that's common in a few medicated things, and she had been taking and/or using a few things with this chemical, and Robert's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt. I called her up at home and said, "Dude, I found it."

Just call me House MD. ^_^

Today at work we had a blast. Why? I have no idea. I came in usual time, in my usual mood ("I'm tired and surly and I hate mornings, but bitchy moods are contagious and so I'm going to be nice to everyone if it kills me.") Usually Casse is much the same way and it actually takes us about an hour to warm up and start goofing off. Today I went in and Casse was all over it. "Hey, hooker! Whaddup, beeotch!"

We were made further joyful by our boss, who gave each of us some cash for having looked after an ex-employee's 18 animals for about a month. Yay. I butt heads with him sometimes, but I will never, ever deny that he is generous in that respect. We danced around the kitchen with cash in our pockets and then ordered breakfast. I wanted to call the deli first to ask if they served chocolate chip pancakes (I worked very hard in Kung Fu last night and felt I deserved it,) and I asked Casse the number. As she was reciting it to me, she also happened to be reading the menu, and she told me the number was, "647 egg." Instead, you know, of 6478. This cracked up everyone in the vicinity.

They did serve chocolate chip pancakes, and I got a bunch of them. We were eating breakfast in the lounge, and I was asking Casse for some tips on my new cell phone. (I've had a cell phone for years but have only used it rarely and just to make a call or two in emergencies. This new cell phone is neat and I want to get a lot out of it.) I was trying to tell her that I would like to download a Final Fantasy ringtone. But at the same time, Nancy came in and asked Jenn if she could help her with cutting a cat's nails. What came out of my mouth istead was, "I need to download some ringnails." This got us started all over again.

(Tangentially: I know I'm always pissing up a rope when it's late at night and I have to work the next day, but sometimes I realize how good I have it. I work with good friends, can pretty much take a vacation anytime, and we can take breaks and have breakfast in the lounge on Thursdays. Fridays are a whole 'nother story. If it's not too busy, we'll all put in an order for lunch and actually get to eat lunch together. Around 1:15 or so everyone ends up in the lunchroom (which is actually the dining room of the vet who used to own the house,) sitting around a big, wooden table, sorting out who ordered what and what thing the stupid deli forgot this time, and then we sit for an hour and eat and just chat. On a mellow day, this includes everyone: kennel, techs, vets, and reception.)

After breakfast we went back to work and I scrubbed the floor and walls of surgery while listening to a CD I had made. Then, Lao Shir Karen (that's my Kung Fu teacher,) came in with her cat for vaccs, and I went up front and chatted with her while she waited.

Towards the end of the day, Casse and I took Jimmy (our orphaned white shepard) out for a long walk and romp in the snow. Jenn B. soon came by and joined in the romping, which somehow ended up with Jimmy circling us with the leash and tying us together with Jenn behind me. O_o (Jenn: "Damn good thing I don't have a penis!")

Tomorrow's Friday, which should be even more fun.

Speaking of mirth, there's a play called Mirth that's going to run out here in May. It might end up in NYC at the Fringe festival. Last summer, one of the writers (whom I know from the maritime Pirate days,) called me up and offered me the lead role. Basically they'd had me in mind for it the entire time. I turned it down because it's a musical, and the lead role is mostly singing. Last night she emailed again, saying that they still wanted me for the lead. (And the role is so juicy, too, something I'd just about die to be in.) It kills me, guts me to turn it down. But it would be worse to go there and attempt to sing. I watch American Idol, yo. I know just what I'd look and sound like up there. (And before anyone jumps on me for turning it down, let me say this: I was forced into singing in front of an audience a few years ago at a Pirate show. I had no problem singing with a group of girls in our burlesque-ish "Wenches On Benches" act, but on this day we had to do a cheesy-ass "uplifting and inspirational" song--I can't tell you how hokey it was--and only one other singer turned up. It was her and me, and it was a disaster. My voice didn't work at all and I just left the other singer on her own. I now know my limitations.) But that doesn't stop me from feeling crummy for having to turn it down.

Not to mention that rehearsals would probably be on Monday and Wednesday nights, and, well, I just paid a significant amount of money to be somewhere else on Monday and Wednesday nights.

I begged her to keep me in mind for any non-singing roles, though. But then, I'd be the wild bird rehabbing, Hula dancing, Kung Fu practising actress chick who also has a job and is writing a novel and loves to travel, and I'm just not sure where I'd fit that. I am the laziest cow, I really need days and days of downtime. :)

Ah well. Everything turned out okay at the Dr. for my Mom and tomorrow's Friday and I get to see the kids over the weekend. And in two weeks time, off to Florida! For Disneyworld and a Hula seminar. SuhWeet.

All manner of things, funny and nervewracking

Nervewracking: Just today after work I was chatting with my Mom, and she mentioned she hadn't been feeling quite the thing, with certain particular symptoms. In my wannabe doctor mind, two things click immediately: one relatively minor, and one not minor at all. I blithely suggest to her the minor thing and urged her to go to the doctor's really quickly, telling her, "Boy, that stuff can get right out of hand and it can last for weeks, you don't want to have that when we go to Disney! And don't forget, you can't go to the Dr. this weekend, because we have the kids over this weekend. You should really go now." So she did. And I sat around the house for a few hours stressing a few years off my own life.

Quick, in-house tests showed it was the minor thing. (*thanks Brigid* [for yesterday was Imbolc.] BTW, happy Imbolc, my Pagan friends.)

Speaking of thoughts on diagnostics, I almost forgot what happened a few weeks ago. A friend of mine at work had a very sudden, very bizarre and seemingly random sensory thing. I don't want to say just what it was because I don't like to give up my friends' medical secrets. But it had everyone stumped. The vets didn't know. Her own doctor didn't know. Her blood tests all came back perfectly normal. But in my head, it was ringing a rusty, almost forgotten bell. I knew that I knew what it was. About a week later, I was procrastinating doing some novel-related research in my medical books and I said to myself, "You know you're on the right track, just keep looking." And I turned to the section on toxicity and there it was, right in front of my face. It ends up that she was having a reaction to an ingredient that's common in a few medicated things, and she had been taking and/or using a few things with this chemical, and Robert's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt. I called her up at home and said, "Dude, I found it."

Just call me House MD. ^_^

Today at work we had a blast. Why? I have no idea. I came in usual time, in my usual mood ("I'm tired and surly and I hate mornings, but bitchy moods are contagious and so I'm going to be nice to everyone if it kills me.") Usually Casse is much the same way and it actually takes us about an hour to warm up and start goofing off. Today I went in and Casse was all over it. "Hey, hooker! Whaddup, beeotch!"

We were made further joyful by our boss, who gave each of us some cash for having looked after an ex-employee's 18 animals for about a month. Yay. I butt heads with him sometimes, but I will never, ever deny that he is generous in that respect. We danced around the kitchen with cash in our pockets and then ordered breakfast. I wanted to call the deli first to ask if they served chocolate chip pancakes (I worked very hard in Kung Fu last night and felt I deserved it,) and I asked Casse the number. As she was reciting it to me, she also happened to be reading the menu, and she told me the number was, "647 egg." Instead, you know, of 6478. This cracked up everyone in the vicinity.

They did serve chocolate chip pancakes, and I got a bunch of them. We were eating breakfast in the lounge, and I was asking Casse for some tips on my new cell phone. (I've had a cell phone for years but have only used it rarely and just to make a call or two in emergencies. This new cell phone is neat and I want to get a lot out of it.) I was trying to tell her that I would like to download a Final Fantasy ringtone. But at the same time, Nancy came in and asked Jenn if she could help her with cutting a cat's nails. What came out of my mouth istead was, "I need to download some ringnails." This got us started all over again.

(Tangentially: I know I'm always pissing up a rope when it's late at night and I have to work the next day, but sometimes I realize how good I have it. I work with good friends, can pretty much take a vacation anytime, and we can take breaks and have breakfast in the lounge on Thursdays. Fridays are a whole 'nother story. If it's not too busy, we'll all put in an order for lunch and actually get to eat lunch together. Around 1:15 or so everyone ends up in the lunchroom (which is actually the dining room of the vet who used to own the house,) sitting around a big, wooden table, sorting out who ordered what and what thing the stupid deli forgot this time, and then we sit for an hour and eat and just chat. On a mellow day, this includes everyone: kennel, techs, vets, and reception.)

After breakfast we went back to work and I scrubbed the floor and walls of surgery while listening to a CD I had made. Then, Lao Shir Karen (that's my Kung Fu teacher,) came in with her cat for vaccs, and I went up front and chatted with her while she waited.

Towards the end of the day, Casse and I took Jimmy (our orphaned white shepard) out for a long walk and romp in the snow. Jenn B. soon came by and joined in the romping, which somehow ended up with Jimmy circling us with the leash and tying us together with Jenn behind me. O_o (Jenn: "Damn good thing I don't have a penis!")

Tomorrow's Friday, which should be even more fun.

Speaking of mirth, there's a play called Mirth that's going to run out here in May. It might end up in NYC at the Fringe festival. Last summer, one of the writers (whom I know from the maritime Pirate days,) called me up and offered me the lead role. Basically they'd had me in mind for it the entire time. I turned it down because it's a musical, and the lead role is mostly singing. Last night she emailed again, saying that they still wanted me for the lead. (And the role is so juicy, too, something I'd just about die to be in.) It kills me, guts me to turn it down. But it would be worse to go there and attempt to sing. I watch American Idol, yo. I know just what I'd look and sound like up there. (And before anyone jumps on me for turning it down, let me say this: I was forced into singing in front of an audience a few years ago at a Pirate show. I had no problem singing with a group of girls in our burlesque-ish "Wenches On Benches" act, but on this day we had to do a cheesy-ass "uplifting and inspirational" song--I can't tell you how hokey it was--and only one other singer turned up. It was her and me, and it was a disaster. My voice didn't work at all and I just left the other singer on her own. I now know my limitations.) But that doesn't stop me from feeling crummy for having to turn it down.

Not to mention that rehearsals would probably be on Monday and Wednesday nights, and, well, I just paid a significant amount of money to be somewhere else on Monday and Wednesday nights.

I begged her to keep me in mind for any non-singing roles, though. But then, I'd be the wild bird rehabbing, Hula dancing, Kung Fu practising actress chick who also has a job and is writing a novel and loves to travel, and I'm just not sure where I'd fit that. I am the laziest cow, I really need days and days of downtime. :)

Ah well. Everything turned out okay at the Dr. for my Mom and tomorrow's Friday and I get to see the kids over the weekend. And in two weeks time, off to Florida! For Disneyworld and a Hula seminar. SuhWeet.