The Joy of Gardening

I made myself dinner tonight.  This is quite an achievement for me, actually.  Nothing particularly elaborate - some canned button mushrooms sauteed in garlic, white wine, red pepper, fresh flat-leaf parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and butter served over rice.  Tasty. Especially exciting, though, was that the fresh parsley came from our indoor garden window-box-esque thing!  It was ridiculously exciting and satisfying to me to go pick some parsley, rinse it in the sink, and use it.  I was sufficiently enthusiastic about it to make Tom laugh.  :)

As I'm still awake (20 hours of sleep will do that), I decided I wanted some tea.  I picked up some ginger tea Friday night, along with a beautiful Asian-inspired infuser mug with lid.  It has a dragon on it (I lurve dragons).  It was $5.  I felt craptastic and shopping is therapy.  Therefore, mug.  :)

Anywho, I made my ginger tea and went and grabbed some fresh mint leaves to add in.  Ginger + mint + honey = delicious.  I wish I had thought of this in the depths of winter - warm and warming beverages without caffeine are always welcome!  I think I may try some iced ginger tea when/if summer arrives too.  Maybe ginger, lime, and honey.  Ginger supposedly has some anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being good for grumpy tummies, so maybe I'll see some side benefit on the pain and thyroiditis front too.

Ferret van Winkle

I slept for a good 20 hours straight, so probably no posts of great substance today. Well, I did wake up for a few brief moments, but not long enough for actual function.  My hips and knees are killing me, probably because I sleep on my side(s).  So much for re-setting my sleep schedule. Oreo was overjoyed to see me.  I suspect Tom was torturing him again.

Well, at least I didn't stuffocate*

I have an ongoing battle with my CPAP.  It has a built-in humidifier, which is awesome. My problem is getting the setting on the humidifier just right - too little and my nose dries out and I get a headache, too much and water settles in the hose and makes this horrific thunking noise when I breathe, which usually wakes me up.

I recently went up a size in nasal pillows (I swear to Jebus, my nostrils got stretched by the smaller ones) to get a better seal.  So, I figured I would go up a setting on the humidifier because my nose had been dry the past few mornings.  About 5 AM the scary thunking started and woke me up.  So, I turned off the airflow (because it can be a bit loud and annoying if the mask isn't in place) and fumbled around to drain the little bit of water that causes the problem, dropped the humidifier setting back down, put the mask and headgear back on and went back to sleep.

Only I forgot to turn the airflow back on.  Which I didn't notice until several hours later when Tom was getting ready for work.  I only noticed because I said something to Oreo (probably to tell him to quit chewing on himself) and didn't have the weird gasping sound and choking sensation I usually get if I try to talk when the airflow is on.  

I'm guessing this has something to do with why I'm especially tired today.  

*Yes, "stuffocate" - I like made-up ,little-kid-like neologisms.

Decoupage box

I decided some time ago that I wanted to play with decoupage. I bought a multi-pack of small bottles of Mod Podge, a blank pencil box, some small sponge brushes, and some pretty origami paper. And they sat. For months. I decided last week, though, that the box would be perfect to hold the towels I printed. The Mod Podge multi-pack included some intended just for paper, so I went to town. I did have a few bubbles and wrinkles and I think, in retrospect, that I would have liked a glossy finish (I could have just put on a second coat of regular Mod Podge), but otherwise I think it turned out fairly well.




I have some very old books with beautiful type-face that my husband salvaged for me, including some in the old ornate German type. I think coloring the pages with some watercolor and then using them as papers could work out nicely.

Long Day

I had a rather long day today, but not much to report really. I'm on day 3 of "Elvis-pelvis" which made walking the mile to visit my husband a bit more of a challenge than usual.
I broke down and rode one of the electric cart/scooter things for the first time ever at Target this evening. It really helped today - very handy little things.

Richard Dawkins as a puppy

Seriously, it's rabid (pun intended) atheist Dawkins as a puppy. Only the puppy is far cuter, nicer, and probably has better historiographic, anthropolological, and sociological research skills. Meme this, buddy!

The finished printed towels

I posted a few days ago about my very first print blocks.  I managed to get some pretty nice photos of the finished printed towels as well.  I think they turned out really well.  I'm going to spend the next week or so working on some more designs for kitchen and table linens (napkins, place mats, dish towels, table runners, etc.).  I'm still undecided about whether it would be better and/or more economical to make objects from scratch using cotton, linen, or cotton-linen blends or if using ready-made things is a better idea.  Anyone with info on where to find ready-made items for reasonable (cheap) prices, do let me know.

Product: NASA Apollo 11 Manual

Product: NASA Apollo 11 Manual

Tom shared this with me via Oh!Gizmo

Of course, now I want it.

I have no idea how to feel AKA the neurology follow-up

Today was my neurology follow-up.  If you've been following along, you'll remember that at my last appointment they ordered genetic tests and that when I contacted them for the results, I was told that they were "held."  When I asked what "held" meant, I was told that we would discuss that at my appointment.  So, to summarize, I spent the better part of the past month freaking the hell out.

Turns out "held" actually meant "we decided to cancel the test for now."  After we pointed out that I had been, you know, FREAKING THE HELL OUT the past month wondering about this and how simple it would have been to say "oh, we decided to put that test on hold for now" we did get something resembling an apology.  

So, there are no genetic test results because there was no genetic test.  They decided they wanted to narrow things down a bit more and follow-up a few more leads before ordering an expensive test that could result in major problems for me in the future in relation to future medical insurers.  

Also, my doctors appear to have grown souls or something in the past 6 weeks.  I seriously almost asked if they were pod people.  We were treated like adults with semi-functional brains this time.  My questions were actually, gasp, answered.  There was a genuine dialogue - helped by my tossing medical jargon around.  (Why, yes, I do like words, I collect them.)  They asked both of us how we felt and were coping with this crap.  The resident who sees me promised me that he will do everything he can to get to the bottom of this and that he'll be consulting with his colleagues as much as possible.  He also told me he'll have more time starting in July to do a bit more research.  While I do wish they had been this on top of things months ago, it's nice that it's happening now.  

So, in summary, they get another chance.  As Tom commented - it seems as though they get a little better every time we go in.  Maybe by the end of all this they'll be super-awesome doctors.

On another front, the thyroid tests I had rheumatology run last week had come back.  My thyroid is acting up again.  My TSH levels are up - that means that my thyroid is getting a message to make more thyroid hormone because my body thinks I don't have enough.  I also appear to have some thyroid antibody action going on - which may well explain the elevated TSH - the antibodies could be eating my thyroid hormone thinking they're invaders.  (They're all like "pew pew pew" and then my thyroid hormones are all like "I can't shake him!  He's right on my tail! Arrrghgh!")

Thus, I will be seeing an endocrinologist.  I've wanted to see one for a year, but my GP didn't think it was really necessary.  Sigh.  All of the hypothyroid stuff could be causing or exacerbating my neurological and movement symptoms.  So, until that's clarified, we're waiting on doing a muscle biopsy to see why my thigh muscles are wasting or melting or whatever the hell it is they're doing.  My gut says something else is going on besides just the thyroid stuff, but we'll see.

Anyway, in summary - we don't really know jack.  Still.  I still can't work.  I still feel like crap.  I still seem to be getting worse.  

I do know that the next person who tells me "you're too young for disability" is going to get smacked with my cane.  I don't want to go on disability, but I also can't stay unemployed indefinitely.  I need the help that disability programs can provide to either start up a home business or get hooked up with home-based jobs and I need a bit of help in the meantime.  I worked from the age of 15 onward.  I paid my taxes.  I'm not asking for a free damn handout. Unfortunately, the process of applying is stalled for now as I don't think I'm likely to be approved without a better diagnosis then "hmm, dunno, that's weird."  Not to mention that Social Security has "lost" record of my employment history between 2004 and 2006, thus technically rendering me ineligible for benefits.  So I also have to find our tax returns for those years.  

Hopefully we're getting closer.

I Pity the Fool! Mr. T - needle felted

I Pity the Fool! Mr. T - needle felted
Originally uploaded by feltalive

One of the most awesome pop culture inspired art/craft pieces I've seen lately.
This reminds me that I have all the A-Team seasons waiting in my Roku queue...

Print Blocks!

I've been wanting to try print or stamp block carving for quite some time.  Last weekend I bought the basic materials - carving block, tools, and some fabric paints.  This past week was spent looking for Egyptologically inspired designs I liked and getting it ready to transfer. I chose a garden pool scene that features very typically ancient Egyptian perspective and a sema-tawy.  Sema-tawy literally means "united are the two lands" and is a common decorative motif on the sides of royal thrones.  It unites the heraldic plants (the lily and the papyrus) of Upper and Lower Egypt around the hieroglyph for "unity."  As the prints are to be a gift for my parents 30th anniversary, I thought the unity motif would be fitting.  Plus I've always loved it both for its visual appeal and because I have always enjoyed the way ancient Egyptian artists combined symbolic motifs, art, and writing.

I decided to go with the acetone transfer technique.  Essentially, you take a printout from a laser printer or photocopier, lay it face down on your block and rub some acetone on it.  The toner is transferred to your block and you just carve away.

Unfortunately,  my laser printer at home is not conducive to this method.  Fortunately, Tom volunteered to get copies elsewhere and it eventually worked beautifully.  

Yesterday evening was thus spent in front of the TV with my lap desk while I carved away.  I found it amazingly fun and managed not to injure myself or any innocent bystanders.

Today I worked on pulling prints to two flour-sack cotton towels.  I did the garden pool print at the center and the sema-tawy motif in each corner and centered just above each hem alternating in red, yellow, and blue.  I couldn't get a good photo of the full towel this evening.  I will try to do so tomorrow before everything goes into the mail, but no guarantees.

Here are two of the sema-tawy prints:

The first garden pool print:

And the second garden pool scene:

For both types of print, I slathered on the various colors of paint as quickly and evenly as possible, then very, very lightly misted with water and put it face-down on the fabric and applied very light, even pressure.  After lifting the block I went in and filled in color or made a few corrections by hand.

My back is killing me at this point and it took me most of the day to do all this, but I really like the results.  Next up I think I'm going to try some smaller stamps and a few other motifs.  

Dalek

In addition to watching Star Trek, I've been watching the new Doctor Who on the Roku.  I'm ashamed to admit that I'd never seen Doctor Who before - I'll have to catch up on the older seasons at some point.

Today we watched the episode Dalek.  At one point the Dalek in the episode downloads the entire internet.  All I can think is that we should probably be grateful that the Dalek just killed some people, started to mutate courtesy of Rose, and then decided to self-destruct.  I mean, what if it had taken a second look at what it had downloaded and discovered /b/ on 4chan?  Then we'd have a Dalek running around demanding tentacle porn (which, for a Dalek, probably isn't all that weird, considering), finding and creating horrible and disgusting photos, and wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and standing outside of Scientology centers.  Actually, that last one would be awesome.

Picnic Dinner

Today I didn't get to sleep until 9AM and slept until about 4.  Yay, stress-induced sleep problems. 

We got sandwiches and went out with a friend to enjoy the sunset and the lakefront for dinner and I worked on some crocheting.  

Oddly, I'm still really sleepy.  Still haven't gotten around to lino block yet.  Really need to do that if I'm going to get the present ready for my parents' anniversary.

Trek

Trek
Originally uploaded by downtownmonsters

These nifty little polymer clay Star Trek dudes are awesome. Gorn, Bones, Kirk, Spock, and Orion Slave Girl. Very fun. Downtownmonsters has them available for sale on etsy if you're interested.

Urine, Fingernail-Filled 'Witch Bottle' Found: Discovery News

Urine, Fingernail-Filled 'Witch Bottle' Found: Discovery News

Also apparently contained belly-button lint.  This ranks up there with finding a latrine for "gross things to find" during excavation.

Bit late "today"

I slept through most of the day (again) and then caught up in crafty stuff before posting for Thursday.  

I've been having fun decoupaging a pencil box to hold a gift for my parents.  And I've just finished (for now) a very mediocre, if not outright bad watercolor.  Playing with paints was fun, though.  

I still haven't gotten around to deciding on my linoleum stamp designs.  So, that's being put-off until tomorrow.

I'm still being bedeviled by headaches and backaches, despite getting plenty of sleep.  At least today's headache didn't start until I'd been up for a little while.  

Today's episode of Star Trek was "The Conscience of the King" (actually, I watched The Menagerie too, but didn't notice anything snark worthy)

Notable details:

• Lenore Karidian's fur (fake) minidress when she comes aboard to beg for a ride.  I can't find a photo, which seriously upsets me.
• "All this power, throbbing and surging, yet under control."  Wow, that was really damn subtle, there, Lenore.
• Riley shouldn't have been sent down to engineering to protect him.  He totally deserved some pain and possible death after his stupid-ass shenanigans in The Naked Time. Especially the singing.  Lenore's attempt at murder was totally deserved.  
• Dude, phaser overload - why not just leave?  Also, are the captain's quarters really open to anyone?  Or is it just anyone of the female persuasion?  Or are we supposed to infer that Lenore spent the night and popped the phaser in the light box while Kirk was freshening up?
• Are there no dental or DNA records in the 23rd Century?  Kodos/Karidian and the body burned beyond recognition?  Dental records were used in forensics in the 1960s.  Surely a sci-fi writer could have extrapolated the idea of DNA identification.  
• Lenore has a serious case of the bat-shit crazies.  
• According to the Memory Alpha entry for this episode, Matt Groening named Kang and Kodos after Star Trek characters - Kang come from the episode Day of the Dove.

Yawn

I woke up early today and couldn't get back to sleep.  Lack of sleep = more pain, so I moved between couch and bed most of the day.  Then fell asleep without my CPAP which led to a killer headache. Ibuprofen is making my stomach hurt.  However, Tom is making me brownies.  Oreo is curled up next to me.  Hopefully brownie and milk will make my tummy feel better.

Trying to decide if watching TV will make me feel better or worse...

Slow Day

I had a rheumatology appointment today.  No news, really.  They tried to access my genetic test results (all part of the same medical center) and couldn't - there was simply a note saying it was "held" and "Dr. (name changed to protect the inconsiderate) will call."  We're not sure if that means he's supposed to call the lab or call me or what.  The rheumatologists think that's weird too.  

I'm so tired of this.  And I've had it so ingrained in me over a lifetime that I'm the one who is unreasonable (even when I'm not) that second-guessing myself is taking a lot out of me. Combine that with the authority society tends to vest in doctors and this is even less fun.

I also regret not having asserted myself from the start.  I thought if I was polite (meek) and quiet and tried not to be a "problem" or "bother" anyone that everything would be fine. Clearly, that isn't necessarily the case.

I hope these sorts of posts will at least help other people who are in situations similar to mine or help them avoid these sorts of situations all together.

Dragon Conga Line

dragon conga line
Originally uploaded by LT81

These little guys are adorable. I have a huge love of dragons, especially nice dragons and these guys look nice. Plus, one of them is purple. I have eye-searingly purple yarn sitting around in my stash waiting to be made into a dragon but I keep getting side-tracked. So, I will admire LT81's for the time being.

More lessons from Star Trek

So, I'm sitting on the couch trying to teach myself to knit (again).  It's going pretty well - I'm doing a long-tail cast-on courtesy of this video.  I decided I wanted background TV - this requires something relatively familiar that I can process but also sort of ignore.  So, I chose Star Trek for the simple reasons that a)  I've seen every episode dozens of times; b) it will annoy be payback for someone constantly mocking my Trekkie-ness.*

I chose the episode Miri, which is among the ones I like best.  Aside from the "ooh, Earth-like planet" = we ran out of production money, lesson, there are a few others to be noted from this one.

1. Are we sure that at the beginning, when they first get down to the planet and get attacked by the "creature" shrieking "mine, mine!" that they didn't actually find one of the few remaining academics left on the planet?  Seriously - unkempt white hair, raggedy clothing, unwashed, demanding, clingy, irrational.  Yeah.
2. Kirk and Miri tread a weird line of pedophilia and gerontophilia. I mean, she's 13, but also 313.   Or, possibly, I've just spent far too much time on the internet.  Even he acknowledges it at the end of the episode when he's all like "I never get involved with older women."
3. As I've mentioned before, the remastering really highlights the terrible makeup.  I'm guessing that it was probably at least partially necessary for decent appearance on average 1960s-era television sets.  I need to test this theory by viewing color shows of the same vintage.  Any suggestions? 
4. Shatner giving Miri the "you're becoming a woman" talk is seriously awkward.  Thank the deity of your choice we were spared "Soon...there...will....be...blood-coming-from-your-girl-parts..."
5. What the hell is up with Yeoman Rand's hair?     Like, does she spend hours every morning doing that basket-weave thing in the front of her beehive, or do they have super-special hair-weaving (literally) technology in the 23rd Century?  And if so, is it really standard equipment on a starship?  And isn't that style somehow a violation of OSHA or something?  I can think of numerous reasons why that style is a bad idea:

- random alien creatures could fly into it and be   killed

- it could become a nest for alien creatures

- it presents a large target for weapons fire

- it may frighten other sentient beings (it sure as   hell frightens me)

- there is no way that would fit under a space helmet unless they make special "big hair" ones

- it's hideous

Also, among the best quotes from this episode:

• Back on the ship, I always tried to get you to look at my legs... - Rand.  (Dude, in the mini-dress uniform how the hell could he NOT look at your legs or your underwear?)
• No more blah, blah, blah! - Kirk.  (Totally need this one next time I go to a lecture)
• Bonk!  Bonk on the head! - the children.  (Indeed, children.  Indeed.)

*Yes, "trekkie"  and get off my damn lawn.

- image courtesy of Wikipedia