My mind has been a blur lately, racing with a bunch of random things, so it’s been hard to sit down and write any semblance of sense here. Comic Vine has a featured article — I think it’s weekly, but don’t quote me on that — called “Off My Mind,” and I thought that would be a fitting type of post as there are tons of things I’d like to get off my mind. Continue reading
Well, after almost three days of being off the grid, we got power back a few hours ago. I honestly feel kind of guilty, since we were managing just fine, and on the news tonight they showed all of the damage and further safety issues throughout the state. We could have had it so much worse, and yet now we have power and it’s almost like nothing happened here, while much of the state is at risk for flooding, is still off the grid, and suffered a lot of property damage.
Still, I also feel like we’re very lucky, and I’m very grateful. We spent the last few days cooking on the gas stove in our apartment. We lost a lot of food, but managed to save some of it, too. Last night, Mike, Lauren, and I walked around the corner to Mary’s house and played games by candlelight with Sandy, Mary, and Taylore. We had a lot of fun.
Saturday night, before Irene hit, we had everything ready; Mom and Dad had stocked up on water, batteries, and non-perishable food, I got Squirt’s cat carrier ready, I packed a bag of clothes just in case we had to evacuate, and we all tried to sleep without much luck. By the time Irene hit, though, it was only a tropical storm — which still does a lot of damage, but less than a hurricane, so Connecticut was fairly lucky, relatively speaking. I’m glad we didn’t have to evacuate or go into the cellar, because Biz Noni — my great-grandmother — would have had to go outside in it, and the thought of that really bothered me.
We also faced the possibility of looting and home invasions. Like Dad said, people get desperate and you just never know, so he loaded up the shotgun and we all, I think, slept with one eye open. It was a little unnerving, in the middle of a completely pitch black neighborhood that isn’t all that safe to begin with. Still, we didn’t have any major problems, and I’m more grateful than I could ever possibly express.
Unfortunately, we’re kind of back to reality, and my reality right now is my car, affectionately known as Ellie. It shit the bed a couple of days before the storm; poor Mike was driving by himself, and it literally died in the middle of the road. Right now it’s up in the BJ’s parking lot, and we have no idea what’s wrong with it. For the last few weeks, it’s been smelling like burning rubber after driving it for a while, but there wasn’t any smoking or anything wrong that I could see, so we don’t even know yet if it’s the same problem. Dad’s going to look at it tomorrow, now that we’re out of the “dark” and my sister Lauren is moved back into her dorm.
So yeah, it’s been an exciting week. I can definitely say I’ve never had this exciting of a birthday. Luckily, we had cake on Saturday, so at least I got my ice cream cake before we lost power Sunday, on my actual birthday. I think that would have added insult to injury, as shallow as that might sound. My mom and dad got me the Lungs album by Florence + the Machine, and I can’t stop listening to it. It’s really, really good. I’m pretty obsessed with it, and can already tell it’s going to be one of the CDs I will have owned for years and have come close to wearing out.
Today, the 31st, is Mike’s and my five-year anniversary. He had some super secret, big plans for my birthday and our anniversary, but because of the car it’s going to be a while. We’re still going out to dinner I think, because he said Mom and Dad told him he could borrow Mom’s car to take me out to dinner. As crazy as this might sound, I think a quiet night out will be more than enough of a gift in my eyes, after the week we all had.
If you’re on the East Coast, how are you faring after Miss Irene came to visit? I hope you’re safe.
I’m digitally homesick. I miss blogging at elizawhat.com. At first, I liked Diary of a Sicky as a title, but I really miss my digital home. But for the time being, this is what I’ve got¹. In case you were wondering why I haven’t been writing so much, this is why. Every time I sit down to write, I just stare at the screen. Maybe it’s writers’ block, but I’d rather blame it on digital homesickness.
Anyway, because it’s been a while and because I’m lazy, here’s what’s been going on — in bullets!
I guess that’s it. You guys already know about Brian and how much I miss Popi.
What’s going on in your world?
¹elizawhat.com and all of my other sites are still live, even though I canceled my hosting weeks ago. It must be a glitch on Host Gator’s end. I can’t wait until I can buy a new hosting package. I’ve decided that I’m going to pay three years in advance. I’ve also decided to redesign most of my sites. Wheee!
This morning I had an appointment for my third B12 shot.
When I got out to my car, unlocked the door and opened it, I was greeted by two friendly bees. They were sitting on my window, just daring me to do something about it. The first thing I thought, of course, was that there might be a nest somewhere in my car. I stood watching them, willing them with my ESP to leave. They, of course, didn’t.
So I did what any self-respecting tough girl would do: called my dad and made him take care of it. One of the bees flew away, and then my dad came out and killed the other one. I figure, why get my hands dirty when my evil henchman is perfectly capable?
He then inspected the car and, finding no nest, sent me on my way. “Just, you know, if you see any more while you’re driving, don’t crash or anything. Just pull over and get out.”
Me, the sissy who squeals and hides when anything buggy and winged comes within a three foot radius of my face? Pull over? Right.
So I went to the doctor’s office, fifteen minutes late, for my third B12 shot. Pam asked if I was feeling any different and since I don’t she said I didn’t have to get another one. I figured for the hell of it I would, but she doesn’t think it’ll make a difference at this point. I told her about last Monday and how my legs hurt so bad I could barely walk, and she said she still really thinks it’s Lyme Disease. She asked if I would mind getting more blood work done. Since I have already been needled a bazillion times, I figure I am a pro at it and one more won’t kill me. I have to wait two weeks since she’s also going to check my B12 levels again and we did three B12 injections over the last three weeks. (She said that the injections would make my levels skyrocket and they wouldn’t get an accurate reading.) I’m supposed to go pick up that B12 oral vitamin prescription, but my bank account isn’t going to have any of that. I guess we’ll see what I’ve got left over after I do my tires this morning. (I’m getting new ones, an alignment, and struts and whatever else goes down there.)
Walking out of the doctor’s office I wanted to cry, and only because these appointments always leave me feeling drained and hopeless. As much as I like Pam and as hard as she is trying, it still doesn’t change the fact that I am getting nowhere. Though I do feel a little more hopeful, I’m kind of wary. Still, the fact that she added an official looking diagnosis to my blood work requisition form kind of gives me a lift: fatigue, myalgia, vitamin deficiency.
Well, I’m off to go see the new tire wizard. They’re buy three, get one free, so keep your fingers crossed that each tire isn’t like a bazillion dollars or something.
PS: I know I absolutely rock at blogging lately, because I can tell by all of the comments I’ve been getting. If I haven’t killed you with all of my boring-ness lately, maybe you could leave a comment and let me know you’re still alive. 
This? Is my new car. The side that’s showing? Is the side that is not dented. 
No worries; I wasn’t the one who drove while the denting occurred. It was a package deal. But for $400? You can’t beat it.
P-freaking-ESS: It can also go on the highway. Without me worrying that it’s going to fall apart.
P-double-freaking-ESS: I started writing about my chronic pain, from the beginning to what’s going on now, over at Scars Can Speak. Please read it and comment there if you’re interested. I hope it can help someone, or maybe help me find people going through similar things.
