Night owl

Yooooooooooo. Just got home from a crew shift at the theatre. I was supposed to be on camera, but I ended up suggestionizing and camerafying solo because there was a no-show. It was fun! I hadn't seen a main stage show in a good bit. Hoorah!

I performed on Thursday night and was in some fun scenes - Buzzer Talk Show, Spanish-Dubbed Soap Opera, Sit Stand Lean Oscar, ABC Buzzer Beatnik Poetry, and Musical Styles (Reggae, Blues, Country, Rap). I have an official new favorite game of all time: ABC Buzzer Beatnik Poetry. Oh man! That junk is crazy-fun! My mom came to the show (per usual!) and so did two friends (JM and SLW). Baller!

Well, I've been staying up way too late since this whole hospitalization thing. I gradually stay up later and later and sleep later and later. I've pretty much lost all structure to my days, but I'm going to fix it ASAP. I guess this proves that, when I have it my way, I'm a bit of a night owl. I've always thought that I was a cross between a morning person and a night owl, but someone who slumps in the afternoons. I think I prefer being up late versus going to bed early. See? I wouldn't be having this debate with myself at 1:21 a.m. if I wasn't a night owl.

I don't really feel like saying anything else. I could try to recap the entire week, but it runs together. I went to the doctor and it went pretty well, but I need to see the eye doctor and the neurologist. Umm, my roommate and I went to Willy's on Thursday for lunch, but I think I need it again tomorrow (which is now 'today').

Honestly, I just can't believe October is ending. It feels like it just started... Happy Halloween! I don't like Halloween.

Dinosaurs are my favorite

I have no idea why I am up late looking at dinosaurs online. I am thinking of purchasing a dinosaur t-shirt. Can you tell that maybe I've been removed from the real world for too long?

Well, I had a productive weekend! I ran four miles last night and four again tonight. I haven't done strenuous exercise in a while, so I am definitely feeling it. The fact that I don't believe in stretching also contributes to that, but I don't mind it; it's a constant reminder that I did something worthwhile. I might need to take tomorrow off of exercising if I'm walking like this...

Today my mom came out to see me and we ran some errands. I got a new pair of skinny jeans and some boots. We also got air in my tires and washed my car! Then we went to Starbucks and I got a vanilla latte. It felt like I hadn't been in forever!

Yesterday a longtime friend (SW) came to see me and we went out to lunch. We had such a great time catching up with each other and talking about all sorts of things. It's funny how I can still have so much in common with someone I met 15(ish) years ago. I loved our visit!

I guess I better try to make myself go to sleep.

Leavin' on a MARTA train

Well, I'm getting ready to venture out into the real world for my post-op appointment. I have made the decision to ride MARTA. IT'SMARTA. I was already considering this anyway since I don't feel like driving/parking/paying a fortune, but my decision was confirmed when I was visited last night by what I deem to be the start of a...

MIGRAINE.

It started much like it did the night before the migraine at the hospital. There were holes throughout my vision and it got to where I literally could not read anything. There were also flashes of light - almost like waves. I decided to go to sleep because it was disconcerting to look around when I couldn't see anything clearly. Even with my eyes closed, though, there was a ton of activity. This morning I woke up with a headache, so I took two Excedrin Migraines. I hope the medicine slapped that thing around.

Last night I went to the improv show! I figured that it was the best way to make my post-surgery/hospitalization public debut. My roommate and I went and had so much fun! It was an awesome show. It was the perfect mix of personalities, games, senses of humor, etc. Thank you to my fellow apprenti for making it more-than-worth the journey out of the house!

I don't have much else to say. I've exercised and written a lot this week, so I feel pretty productive. I'm looking forward to the weekend (even though this entire week has been like a weekend)!

Y'all wanna see my bruise???

How redneck is that title?! Anyway, the nurse came by to change my PICC line dressing, and look at that craziness! Perhaps if the nurses saw this, they would understand why I said I was in pain. I am honestly fascinated by this bruise... Let me take another moment of silence to reflect on it.

Today was a really great day. I got up to do my early IV, and then I went back to sleep for a few more hours. I got up and did my breathing treatments, and then my brother and Turk arrived here. We watched Major League, which I really enjoyed. About halfway through the movie, the nurse came by, so it held things up a bit. I really loved the company, and the movie was funny, too! Kevin brought me several movies, so I'll probably watch another one tomorrow.

After the boys left, I decided to go for a walk. It was way too nice to walk on the treadmill, so I walked around in my complex for a while. On my walk, my friend (JM) texted when I was right outside her condo, so we visited for a while. After my walk, my uncle came by with Coldstone (raspberry sorbet with gummy bears). Then the roomie and I hung out for a bit, so I had a great day. Plus, I think the Yankees are about to lose!

Well, I guess I'm about to sign off for the night. I'm going to write for a little while before I go to sleep. Good night, world!

Vrooooom. Vroooooom.

First and foremost, sorry for the delay. I don't actually think that people care that much, but I do realize that this is how most people have been keeping up with the hospitalization/surgery, so I figured I ought to break the silence.

Well, I got out of the hospital on Friday at around noon. I was having mixed feelings about it, as I usually do when I'm leaving the hospital. I don't exactly know what causes me to feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster when I'm hospitalized. In a way, the hospital setting is relieving because you get a free pass to feel however you want to feel. At the same time, though, I've noticed that the hospital breeds pity parties, which isn't something that interests me. Anyway, I said all of that to say that the last few days have carried with them many ups and downs - fluctuations that seemed acceptable in the hospital, but are a little harder to carry back into real life.

When we left the hospital, my mom and I went to a few different pharmacies trying to get a handle on the prescriptions that I needed. By the time we got home, I was wiped out and took a nap while my amazing mom went to the grocery store to get me some things. My IV medications got delivered Friday evening and the nurse came by to make sure I had everything under control. I wasn't quite feeling up to being alone, so my mom spent the night with me. We slept on the couches and I was very thankful to have her company.

I sat around a lot on Saturday. We got up and my mom headed back to her house. I took my plethora of medications. Then I sat outside writing for a little bit. I was in a very 'deep' mood, and that has continued into today. Then I took another nap (I'm good at that lately) and my mom came back and took me to my parents' house. It was good to spend one more night with company. My mom and I made a quick stop by my grandmother's house on the way here this afternoon.

I had some visitors today. Two friends from the theatre stopped by (LG and EG), and it was good to talk creative with them. We talked about creative endeavors, but we also talked about life, so I was in hog heaven. PLUS, they brought me some queso from Willy's. AWESOME! Anyway, I really enjoyed their company; it got my creative juices flowing. Another friend (JM) also stopped by for a bit, and I continued my philosophical discussions with her. It's days like today when I remember how fortunate I am to know such caring people.

Tomorrow will be my first would-be-workday at home. I think my brother plans to come by WITH HIS DOG!, so that will be fun. I'm hoping this post-hospital funk has almost passed.

Surgerification

Hello all.

I have been surgerized. I am feeling surprisingly well! I remember feeling much, much worse when I got the surgery back in 2007. I have no idea what could be causing the difference, but I'll take it! Hooray for being well-navigated on the road to recovery.

Today was kind of a blur, as one might imagine. I got picked up from my hospital room at about 9:45 a.m. to head the building for surgery. The wheelchair ride was pretty fun. It's interesting to watch people look at you as they try to figure out what's wrong. I got to the surgery clinic, signed some paperwork, and headed into the OR (on foot, which I found amusing). They gave me some sedatives, but I honestly have no idea when they actually even started with the anesthesia.

When I woke up from surgery, I had no idea what time it was, I felt surprisingly good, and I was chatting with a nice nurse named Anna. I didn't stay down in recovery for very long because I was doing so well already. My transporter came to get me again and took me on a stretcher back to my room. I vaguely remember announcing "kill or be killed" throughout the gurney journey (you like that?).

After I got back to my room, I wanted to eat. SHOCK! My mom went and got me some chocolate frozen yogurt, so that was nice; my throat was a little irritated from the tube they had down it during surgery. I closed my eyes and rested some, but I don't think I ever actually fell asleep. I had a baked potato and a little bit of chicken for dinner, followed up with some cherry-flavored Italian ice. Yum! I've been snacking all night - I'm not sure what's causing this crazy appetite. Cabin fever, perhaps?

Word on the street is that I'm headed home on IVs tomorrow. I'm excited about that because I've been wanting to write, but the hospital has been quite distracting. For example, someone is waxing the floors right now and it's 12:23 a.m. Speaking of, I wonder where the nurse is with my midnight IV...

Thank you to everyone for sending me well wishes for my surgery. They seem to have worked because this is unbelievably easy (knock on wood)!

Mi migraine

To give a quick update since I've fallen off the planet...

I got placed in a room yesterday afternoon, got a PICC line, started on IV antibiotics, etc. I also spent the evening watching the Braves LOSE, but at least I did it with two good friends. My arm was in a lot of pain from the PICC line, so laughing was traumatizing, but I still had a great time. As sad as I am that the Braves are out of the playoffs, we'd been hanging by a thread for far too long. Now I can look forward to 2011 with optimism and a new manager - Fredi Gonzalez.

Did I get to mention yet how much fun I had on Sunday night? Despite the Braves' loss, I was so happy to be a Braves fan. Turner Field was out of control, and I wish it could be like that all the time. We were tomahawk chopping left and right, and I just couldn't have asked for a more memorable evening. Yes, I could have asked for a win, but oh well...

Today was not a very good day. I woke up with the worst headache I've ever had. Unfortunately it wasn't going away, either. I thought it might have been from one of the IV antibiotics I had just finished, but the headache stuck around. I took a Percocet and it didn't help. I then took Tylenol and that didn't really help. Finally, around lunchtime, they started giving me legitimate migraine medicine, and it knocked me out for most of the afternoon/evening. I guess I officially experienced a migraine. Thankfully the pain is very dull right now. I wonder if it was caused by the antibiotics or what...

I've been lucky to have some visitors, and have several folks coming by tomorrow. Today I got some steak nachos from Willy's. AWESOME!

Good night to all...

In the year of 1492

Hello from Admissions at the hospital! I can't wait until the day that I get to the hospital and they're actually ready for me. That would be a lot of fun. Honestly, I've gotten into rooms more quickly when I've come in on a whim versus when planned several days in advance. What's up with that?

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!

I'll write more later. I'm distracted.

Wiffle ball

Hello!

Well, today started out a bit differently than usual. I did sleep in until about 10:00 a.m. Anyway, shortly after I woke up, my friend (PM) from a previous workplace texted me to ask if I could play on his wiffle ball team. They were short some girls and he knew that I lived nearby the field -- and he and I were on the same kickball team once, so he knows I like sports. It sounded intriguing, so I threw on some clothes and made it to the field shortly after the game started.

My first at-bat was a total embarrassment, but I felt pretty solid after that. The first time I hit the ball and started to run, I immediately felt pain in my left hip flexor ... primarily because I didn't stretch, didn't warm-up, and haven't sprinted in quite some time. Then, the second time, I got on base and had major pain in my right hip flexor -- like thought-I-was-gonna-have-to-leave-the-game bad. I ended up scoring that inning and, thankfully, it was the end of the game. I have been in pain ever since, but only on the right side. It mainly hurts when I walk and when I lift my leg for any reason, such as going up the stairs, repositioning myself on the bed/couch. I honestly think that a wiffle ball injury is more humiliating than my infamous cornhole injury. We'll see how it feels in the morning. Oh, it also hurts when I laugh or cough. LAUGH 'TIL YOU COUGH! Needless to say, the wiffle ball incident impeded my exercise goal, but at least I did something active.

The rest of the day has been pretty relaxing. I came home, worked on some mass emails, then watched some college football with my roommate. My friend (JM) and I went out to eat at MiMi's Cafe, and I got meatballs and ravioli. It was good!

Tomorrow is a big day for me! Not only is it my last day before the hospitalization, but I am going to my parents' house for a cookout and then the BRAVES GAME! I am really, really looking forward to it all, which is why I'm getting an early night's sleep.

I've got my Braves pajama shirt on. GO TEAM!

Loving the view from cloud 9

Oh man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Braves just made me so proud! When we were down 4-1 going into the 7th, I've got to admit I was getting a little concerned. Then, WAM BAM, THANK YOU MA'AM to tie it up in the 8th. It took 11 innings, but the Braves and Giants are now tied 1-1 in the 5-game series. Whew! I wish I could articulate how excited I am right now. It's funny because I'm so wound up that I don't even feel tired! It's so similar (yet different) from last night.

So, the Braves lost a very uneventful 1-0 game last night (Thursday...it's Friday in my mind right now). I mean, I think there were seven total hits between both teams and it was basically a pitchers' duel, although Lincecomb definitely outpitched Lowe. Anyway, I was just perturbed because of the umpire's botched call that kept a runner on base -- that particular runner being the only player who scored in the entire game. I literally was up in the night having a conniption fit over it. When I woke up this morning, it was the first thing that crossed my mind. Now, though, that junk is chump change. CHUMP CHANGE! AHH!

SUNDAY CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH! I am exerting so much energy right now.

Well, yesterday (Thursday) was a really great day, despite the game. I received a comment on my blog that made my entire day, if not my whole week. It's incredible that something simple can make a big difference to someone. I find myself feeling so inspired this week. It's odd to imagine the 'woe is me' person I was on Monday when I feel so invincible now.

This morning I saw my cousin (BH) before her appointment with the CF doctor. We went to IHOP and I had a really great breakfast. PANCAKES! I was feeling so appreciative that I left a gigantic tip. Now, I know it's not really generosity if you feel like you need attention for it, but I am trying to illustrate that happiness/positivity really does have a snowball effect.

What else? My sinuses are causing pain in places I've never had it before, such as directly behind my eyeballs and in my cheekbones. I can truly say that I am looking forward to my surgery. RELIEF IS ON THE WAY!

Gosh, I need to chill out. It is 2:00 a.m. I'm going to try to get to sleep, I guess. Tomorrow's gonna be an alarm-free day. Oh, and I think I'll exercise.

LET'S! GO! BRAVES!

How things change again...

I am in totaaaaaaaally different spirits than I was on Monday, so get excited, y'all!

First, to give you an update, the rodent has been eRATicated. Last night when I got home from work I noticed a fly. Now, I remember doing a double-take, thinking that I'd never seen a fly in my house in two years. The fly was dying on the floor, so I went to the library and to Publix. Well, that's not why I went those places, but anyway... After my errands, I walked back in and saw a few more flies buzz by. At this point, with my malfunctioning nose, I decided (in my mind) that I smelled something. My roommate was not here to borrow her sense of smell, so I called my uncle. He came over, looked under the dishwasher (where I'd convinced myself the smell was), and said, "Your suspicions are confirmed." He then extracted the carcass. THIS IS A RAT-FREE ENVIRONMENT. Ugh, the weight of the dead rat in a grocery bag made me nauseous.

Speaking of nauseous, the Phillies pitched a no-hitter tonight. I'm hopeful that they've now blown their wad too early and will completely flop. Rather than smack-talking, I should probably just say that I'm way excited to watch the Braves tomorrow. My boss has even given me permission to wear Braves attire to work, so it's gonna be a great day! GO TEAM!

I've totally digested and accepted the hospital news, so that's just chump change to me at this point. Do y'all know what chump change is? I've always used that saying, especially with my family. I Googled it and there were results, so I guess I'm not crazy.

I know I sound totally soapboxish, but it's amazing what can happen when you spend your time on positive things. I had a related email conversation with a friend (SW) today, and it really is incredible the difference it can make. :-)

How things change...

Well, today went much differently than expected. That sentence sounds weird, but I'm out of it. Anyway, I went into work super early (7ish) because I wanted to get home early so that I could see a friend who is (was) leaving the state tomorrow. When I got to work I was very focused, knowing that I have a lot to accomplish this week before I take off for surgery. I emailed the staff about my upcoming leave and started cranking things out.

Out of nowhere I started getting a call from an unknown number. I could tell it was an Emory number, so I answered, thinking it probably had to do with surgery talk or something. To my surprise, it was one of the CF doctors. I still assumed she was calling to verify that all systems were go, but she was instead informing me that some tests from my doctor's appointment (on September 2) showed that I had developed a bacteria in my lungs. As you can imagine, I was very shocked - not only because that appointment was so long ago, but also because this information was nowhere to be found last week.

After an emotionally exhausting day, the new plan consists of me getting admitted to the hospital next Monday to start IVs, with surgery being postponed until next Thursday. As tough as today has been, I am feeling at peace with what is going to happen. Needless to say, I was too much of an emotional wreck to tack on the goodbye, so that has been postponed until tomorrow.

In positive news, THE BRAVES ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS. I am going to the game on Sunday! The doctor tried to get me to come into the hospital on Friday, but I negotiated my way out of it. When I was emailing the surgeon's assistant to explain my unrelenting need to get the date changed, I was like, "To be completely honest, I am a die-hard Braves fan." She was very sweet and encouraging - one of the highlights of my day. My friend (ES) gave me some Braves SillyBandz today! I have on a tomahawk right now.

I am running on low emotional fuel right now, so I'm going to go to sleep. Although I never would have imagined it earlier in the day, I'm starting to see the positive...

Thank you for any thoughts of healing and happiness that you can send my way.

P.S. No word from the rat.

I'll rat you out

First things first, yes, it's early, but I'm about to go out of town. I am a horrible packer.

Anyway, I was in the show last night and it was fun. I had EIGHT friends/family members there, so I was super-excited about that! ES was the emcee, and I played Emo School (I was a teacher), Phones (off-stage), Sounds Like A Song/Rap, Buzzer Game Show, and Oscar Musical. Since I probably won't get to be in a show until the last week in October (or maybe early November), I was glad to send it out with a bang. BANG! It was also my friend's (BA) first show, and he did awesome!

Well, a rat has been the focal point of my life for the last two days. Uggh... Shudder. When I woke up on Wednesday morning and walked down the stairs, I noticed an unwanted creature in the hallway, right near the crawlspace closet. I tried to trap him in the closet with a towel, thinking someone could help me extract him. However, he moved the towel, and the next time I saw him was when I hurdled him in the kitchen. I was literally on-edge all day, and I still don't feel comfortable sitting here. Atlanta Pest Control came yesterday and set up a few sticky traps (in addition to my real trap with peanut butter), but the critter hasn't taken the bait yet. There's one trap I haven't checked yet. I will do that right now while you wait in suspense.......NOPE. Rats!

I am excited for the weekend. It's gonna be good to get out of town and have some escaping-reality time.

Love you all.