DRR... DRR... DRR...

A few more hours...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:32:15 GMT

In six hours I'll be in the Section 8 orientation meeting. I know it will be both intimidating and tedious. All my nerve-endings are jangling. I've been getting lots of needed kitty-snuggles.

I'm trying to just take lots of deep breaths and concentrate on the coolness ahead.

Tomorrow is a big day

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:43:13 GMT

In the morning is the Section 8 meeting, which is intimidating the hell out of me but will probably just be tedious. doombuggie is taking me and going in with me, for which I am as always profoundly grateful. The notice I got said it could take up to three hours. Good lord.

But after that bit of terrifying officialness/i>, we are going to hit a drivethru for lunch and head up to Dallas to fetch rehd_fawx for a visit! There will be hookah-smoking and kitty-cuddling and Cosmos-watching. Frank will be visited, and Hoover's. It is very, very good to have something awesome to look forward to. It should make the meeting easier to have something great waiting right after.

Well, I was TRYING to relax until the Section 8 meeting...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:48:25 GMT

...but I got another thick-ass form from the SSA to fill out for my SSDI review.

*shudder*

doombuggie is going to help me out with it tomorrow. I don't know what I'd do without you, bro. *hug*

Wow...

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:26:31 GMT

Tired as hell. I think I have a cold. doombuggie stopped by to take me to get my meds and even a quick run through Walgreens to pick up a few days' food (yay soup on sale!) wore me out, wtf, I'd been pretty much sleeping all day.

Well, gonna rest so I can do a little picking up for rehd_fawx's visit and steeling myself for the Section 8 meeting.

Bah.

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:20:08 GMT

Weather Underground says there's about a 30% chance of rain today and tomorrow. Which is enough of a chance for me to not want to walk to/from bus stops and wait for buses. Oh well, I have a couple more days' worth of meds, and the check will still be in my wallet to deposit. So I can sleep more. Lovely, lovely sleep, snuggled with kitties, listening my way throught the Sick and Wrong archives during bouts of wakefulness. If I feel ambitious I might clean out the fridge. My back's not bothering me and I'm oddly calm (but I'm not going to question that!). Pest control has been and gone, and Hecate has settled down from the affront of a strange person coming a whole three or four feet into the apartment.

Does anyone know what SAS charges for their shoes these days? It doesn't say on their website.

The HELL?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:18:27 GMT

It's like 4 am and there was someone pounding on my door a few minutes ago. I am now holding a dagger. I suppose sleep is out of the question.

Less unsettlingly, sithwitch13 turned me on to the Sick and Wrong podcast. As the name would suggest, it's, well, sick and wrong. They read out a couple warped and disturbing news stories and vote on which one is sickest. It's that wrong kind of funny. I was listening and snuggling Anya and was laughing so hard she crawled off of me because I was shaking that much.

Got plans for today. Gotta go to Walgreens to pick up my meds, and my grandparents send me a check so I need to stop at the bank. I'm really tempted to stop at Toy Joy and get that First Amendment totebag.

Molly just puked, ugh. Not somethinng I wanted to deal with.

The past couple of days

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:42:21 GMT

Yesterday was back to MHMR, to try and get my meds adjusted. Only once more, Dr. Lodwick wasn't in. So no changes could be made to my meds. But Nurse Cheryl is very nice and listens well. She was glad to see that doombuggie was helping me, and was dismayed when we related the difficulties with Nurse Madalyn. One thing that amused me that she said was "Why would anyone be mean to you? You're so nice!" That amused me. Anyway, she set up an appointment with Dr. Lodwich for me on January 8th. 8:30 in the morning, augh. If Lodwick's not there I'm going to cry.

Today was better. I met sithwitch13 in person! We shared half a bowl of yummy al-Waha orange and cream shisha. So relaxing to smoke and chat! Molly and Anya came out to claim the admiration they consider their due, and were duly admired. We discussed possibilities for dinner, and decided on Hoover's. We split one of their massive chicken fried steak and did our best to devour a piece of yummy coconut cream pie (we managed about half between us). I'm still hella stuffed! Then we paid a visit to Toy Joy. I pretty much only go there when I'm showing someone around Austin these days, so there is always lots of new stuff. I struggled mightily and was just barely able to resist buying some sorely tempting things. I'm still not sure I shouldn't have bought that First Amendment totebag. It was a fun outing and I enjoyed it greatly.

Got plans for tomorrow to meet up with doombuggie, to pick up my meds, hit Epoch, and smoke some shisha. It should be fun.

Let them come!

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:04:27 GMT

Spot-cleaning done. Litterboxes changed out. Firing up a bowl of al-Waha Bounty, when that is done I will tuck the hookah away. Then there will be possibly a brownie and more sleep.

Nnrghh.

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:25:08 GMT

Had fun with doombuggie and J. last night. Got to try Starbuzz Blue Mist, which I'd heard a lot of good things about, and it was reasonably tasty. Plus smoking from doombuggie's Khalil Mamoon is always a pleasure; a KM is on my "next year in Jerusalem" list. Oh, and I got six two-liters of ginger beer.

After I got home, not so good. I had a bout of dysphoric hypomania, and my back was killing me and only stopped hurting if I lay very still. Hello insomnia, my old friend! I laid listening to i-Doser sleepytiems files for two hours. Nothing but lying there fretting. Took some Benadryl and Valium. Nope. I got a few hours in between six and ten.

Then this morning I had to make a very intimidating and important phone call. Scary as hell and rattling, but mission achieved. Tonight I have to change out the litterboxes and do a few more last-minute things before tomorrow's inspection. And hopefully that will go smoothly and I can finally relax for a day or two.

rehd_fawx is watching CORALINE for the first time and squeeing hard. It's a perfect movie for her and I am glad it is making her happy. I need to watch it again.

And things progress.

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:15:29 GMT

I wrote the formal complaint email and sent it off to the ombudsman. I should ("should" being the operative word, I'm sure) hear back by Wednesday morning. Thank you so much, everyone who offered your support and cheered doombuggie on! I had him read over my letter before I sent it, and specifically asked that all corresspondence be CC'ed to him.

Inspection on Tuesday. I need to empty out the litterboxes. That'll wipe my back out for a day or two, but it needs to be done.

Got plans with doombuggie tonight. Gonna snag his friend J., gonna hit Fiesta so I can grab some ginger beer and see if this year's Christmas aisle is worthy of taking rehd_fawx to when she visits (if it's not, I'll probably snag her some Jaffa cakes and stuff so she'll still have some imported goodies. Then it's back to doombuggie's to fire up the hookahs. Since he already knows his Christmas present is a tin of Starbuzz Kiwi Strawberry, I might as well give it to him now. He has a bunch of flavors I haven't triedyet that sound good, and I have that Bounty flavor.

Uhhhhgh, I had to take some Benadryl and now I am wiped out. Goodbye for a few hours, world.

OH SNAP!

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:19:09 GMT

Or, an account of doombuggie's vast awesomeness.

On my last visit to MHMR, I signed a form allowing doombuggie access to my information there. There are times when he can describe my symptoms better that I can, and times when he has a better grasp on what's up with my meds. And there are times when I really need a friend to advocate for me.

Yesterday was one of those times.

I had an appointment with a nurse I hadn't seen before. I introduced doombuggie (by his legal name) as my advocate, and confimed that I'd signed a consent form. She did not look happy about me having an advocate present. There were only two chairs, and I was going to cede the empty chair to doombuggie, because the chilly weather can't have been kind to his fibromyalgia. That was when the nurse snapped "Which one of you is the patient?". Now, neither of us has an gender-ambiguous name or appearance, and I'd already introduced him as my advocate, so clearly she wasn't in any doubt, but merely harassing us. Anyway, she insisted I take the chair, and when I tried described my symptoms, she kept interrupting me and contradicting me, especially when I tried to describe my sleep patterns.

Then she started giving me a hard time for coming in to see her and not my regular doctor's nurse, and for coming in on a day when my regular doctor wasn't in. Now, this isn't something I have any control over; the appointment clerk sets up the appointment and you take what they give you. She wouldn't refill my meds, I'd have to come back to see the other nurse on a day my doctor was in. I was shaking badly at that point, and doombuggie just let loose. Said her behavior was uncalled for, she was rude and unprofessional, her actions were making my symptoms worse... I admit I fled down the hall at that point, partly because I was wigging out, and partly because I was trying not to burst out laughing from all the awesome, so I might have missed a bit of the closing kickassery. But honestly, I think they heard it in the waiting room; doombuggie's voice carries.

So we made the new appointment (it's on the 11th), and talked about writing up a formal complaint (I intend to). And when I got home I took a meganap, and the kitties snuggled around me.

Ah, doombuggie, why you gotta be so awesome?

I've been awake for too long

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:12:27 GMT

They're doing inspections next week, so I spent more than I should have to get cleaners in. So that was me having to be awake from around noon to around two. But it doesn't stop there, because I am expecting a Hookah-Shisha.com package from UPS, and the only way I can be sure of getting a UPS delivery without a hitch is by having the door open. Thankfully, the screen door latch is fixed! But UPS is yet to arrive, although the tracking info says all is well.

Did I mention that it's raining and chilly? 43 may not be cold in New England in December, but it is in Texas. And the rainy, especially, makes me stiff and sore.

I've got semi-plans with doombuggie, but if UPS doesn't show soon they won't be able to happen :( I'm miserably cold and stiff anyway. I just want to be warm.

Ok, what?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:01:06 GMT

My grandmother sent me this "cutesy" email forward about how awesome dogs are and how aloof and uncaring cats are.

I sent her pictures of her great-grand-kitties.

I have an upset tummy and a slightly whiny back. Oh, for a bottle of ginger beer and a gentle backrub! I might have to use my Hitachi Magic Wand for its officially intended purpose.

Yeah, it's the winter of my discontent all right.

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:45:34 GMT

More stress today; had to call to switch my Medicare Part D insurance plan to one where I wouldn't have to pay a premium. Enrolled over the phone. My hands were shaking the whole time. I almost dropped the phone.

Tomorrow I need to get ahold of Molly Maid so I don't have to worry about my place being a sty for the inspection on the 8th. Why the hell they are doing inspections now is anyone's guess. I just hope it's not the 3rd, because if it is I'll have to reschedule my MHMR appointment.

But I am valiumed up now and sleep will be soo.

And here I thought I'd have a couple of weeks to relax

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:56:24 GMT

In the mail (I only check my mail every couple of days, I checked it last night) I got 1) a notice of an inspection on the 8th and 2) paperwork to fill out because Social Security is reviewing my Disability.

It's too damn much. Why the hell are they doing inspections NOW? And I know they do periodic reviews of SSDI cases, but god, the TIMING!

Oh look, it's a holiday tradition.

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:06:18 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving, USAians. Happy Thursday, rest of the world.

Stuff

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:34:47 GMT

Okay, important thing first. There's a bill to outlaw mail order sales of tobacco in the US. Cigars will be the only exemption. This effects me personally, of course, because I buy my shisha mailorder as much for variety as for price. I know it's only an online petition, but would some of you consider signing this? I'm sure many if not most of you are nonsmokers, but I see it as a personal freedom issue.

Went out with doombuggie last night. He convinced me to check out this new bar downtown. Too loud for my comfort level, but not as bad as most clubs, and it wasn't even remotely crowded so that wasn't so bad, and we didn't stay very long. After that he took me to HEB so I could make a much-needed grocery run. It wasn't pleasant; it was late enough that the restockers were out, clogging up the aisles, but close enough to Thanksgiving that it was still crowded, even at 11. I was so glad to get out of there! We dropped my stuff off and went to Epoch, because doombuggie had plans to meet up with a friend and Epoch's cool anyway. I mostly just zoned out while they talked. doombuggie was concerned about me looking like I was falling asleep in my seat! I was fine, though, just sort of inert. Conked pretty hard when I got home, though. It was a pretty good night.

Had a good experience with complex maintenance. The latch on my screen door has been sticking and last night I pretty much had to break out, so this morning I called maintenance (which is dispatched from a central office, you don't call the complex you're in). Guy showed up this afternoon; I'd met him briefly once or twice. Friendly, polite, competent. We chatted a little while he fixed the latch and he complimented my skull pajamas. No unneeded stress, and my screen door is fixed.

I found out that Hoover's (a restaurant here that I like, good food, decent prices, and mammoth portions) is open on Thanksgiving with a special menu. Sounds really good and, being Hoover's, not prohibitively expensive (and boy would I have leftovers!). But going alone to a restaurant alone on Thanksgiving seems even more depressing than staying home alone. If rehd_fawx was here I'd totally take her; one of their Thanksgiving feasts would be plenty for both of us! It's pretty easy to imagine, really.

Well, maybe I'll go there for Christmas Day, that's not really a personal holiday for me.

And I have sorta plans. I got fixings for a special lunch; mesquite-smoked turkey breast, guacamole, and rye bread for a sandwich, a bottle of melon ramune, some flan for dessert. And doombuggie says he will be bringing me a plate. I don't know what would be worse, though, if my mom calls or if she doesn't. I'll be dosing up on Valium, that's for sure. There's a sick irony in that.

PSA

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:05:33 GMT

3 free MP3 dowloads from Amazon.com.

That's any three songs, not just from a limited list, but it's only for a few days.

Because "it goes without saying" isn't a good enough reason not to say it

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:20:15 GMT

You're awesome, waywardoctagon. You kick ass in so many ways, and getting into the Company series is only a recent way. It was so much fun being able to finally "Yes! Yes! Totally yes!" with someone over all the Lewis/Joseph-Aziraphale/Crowley parallels, and to snicker atLewis's RPF obsession and probably Twilight fannishness.

I'm looking massively forward to squeeing with you over some of the later stuff. Oh god, Latif in "The Young Master"! Labienus in general in Children of the Company! Much other coolness that I can't even mention yet!

We must recruit more *casts thoughtful gaze at zarla*

Hunh.

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:03:04 GMT

One big-ass portion of noodles, meat, and Chinese broccoli at a Thai place = four meals for me. Dinner last night, breakfast today, and dinner today, with enough remaining for either breakfast or lunch tomorrow. goddessgoddess, thank T. again for me, would you? And what was the name of that place? It was yummy.

Thinking of plugging iDoser and drifting off with some aural opium. The annual Coast to Coast JFK special is on tonight, but the prefeed is some bullshit about intelligent design.

Local Radio Fail

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:20:34 GMT

How could I forget about KGSR?

It's weird to listen to a local station streaming.

Cat rang bell. I ate food.

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:39:27 GMT

Lovely afternoon/evening with goddessgoddess, T., and S. (who turned out to be a cute longhaired fellow in a fetching paisley skirt). We went to Clay Pit for lunch (dodging all the burnt orange turnout on our way downtown); it turned out they have a lunch buffet on Saturdays as well as during the week. That turned out pretty well, they had saag paneer, lamb korma, and vegetable pakora. Stuffed!

After that goddessgoddess made her desire for warbat known, so we went to Sarah's. They're always fun to browse; T. got some rose syrup, goddessgoddess got eight warbat, and I caved and got a packet of honeydew shisha and a little vanilla sugar (which was really cheap!). The lady behind the counter was once more super friendly and chatty, joking about how I got goddessgoddess addicted to warbat and how I should eat more. If I hadn't been so massively stuffed I might have snagged a falafel or two, they're so good there!

Went back to T.'s for lazy-afternooning. There was checking of emails, Facebook, and the like, and it was learned that I cannot use a nipple mouse. There was sharing of warbat. There was cozy napping and the watching of TV, some current shows I didn't recognize, and the first three episodes of Coupling; I had forgotten how deeply I love that show. And how awesome Susan was in the beginning before she got all domesticated.

Eventually dinnertime rolled around. Dinner was chosen with remarkable ease, and we went to a Thai place. I had a Thai iced coffee, which I haven't had in years. S. had one too.Tasty, tasty drinks, those. My entree was a pork and noodle dish, peppery without being actually spicy, that I ate maybe a third of. Yay leftovers! There was also a dessert of some sort that I tried a bite of. Very sweet and sticky. After, Planet K was investigated, and another pipe shop, with discussion of further explorations, but I realized that I was dead on my feet and regretfully said my goodnights.

So now I am doing my night-time catching up, getting loved on by Molly, and discussing the awesomeness that is Discworld with waywardoctagon before collapsing into sleep. With a very full belly.

Turtles!

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:48:06 GMT

Little baby A'Tuins, you guys!

It's Saturday, right?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:51:10 GMT

I just finished Unseen Academicals. I love Pepe so very hard.

I have lunch plans with goddessgoddess, T., and their friend S. This is probably a good thing, as my food intake the past few days has consisted of a can of not at all good soup. A meal I can chew would be nice.

Am wearing The Bra That Fits. At present there is only one. I have taken steps to remedy this. It is a front-hook. It kind of has to be. There are eight rows of hooks. Also wearing The Jeans That Fit, courtesy of hcolleen, and a not bad tshirt courtesy of some thrift shop somewhere. Smelly of the day as yet to be decided. I'm thinking Hungry Ghost Moon.

Just sort of blankish

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:54 GMT

Thankfully I am not tempted by BPAL's Naughty or Nice Inquisition. There are a few scents that sound nice but most don't appeal.

It's rainy and I'm stiff and kind of queasy. more sleep is called for.