Friday, October 28, 2005

mid-afternoon

Idiot of the Day - “Scooter” Libby

Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, was indicted today by a grand jury on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury in the CIA leak probe. The indictments are the first in a nearly two-year investigation into the public unmasking of an undercover CIA operative.

May this just be the very beginning of the indictments.  I want someone standing trial for treason, for outing a CIA agent.

mid-afternoon

Dr. Outlaw And The Case Of The Very Very Boring Waiting Room

I was just too exhausted yesterday to tell you the story of really what didn’t happen.  I thought I was scheduled for a steroid injection in my spine.  I was all prepared - I smelled pretty and I had pretty, yet not slutty, underwear on.  Instead, we sat in the horrid waiting room with generally a skanky group of people for almost two hours before we saw the doctor.  For that, we got up at 6:45 am.  C’mon people, let’s have some common sense - don’t make people get up early if you’re just going to make them sit in uncomfortable chairs when they’re already in pain.  Serious bonus points for the surgeon I see on November 8th - he has four zero gravity chairs in his waiting room.  They cost $1400-1700 each, and they’re really comfortable.  He also has vending machines with snacks and drinks, and a flat screen tv, I believe.  His office told us that he’s often an hour behind, so to be prepared for that.  Hey, we’ll be sitting in zero gravity chairs with snacks & beverages, he can take his time.

Hmmm, I got distracted.  Back to Dr. Outlaw’s office - I got in to see him.  He did all of the same tests as the surgeon I saw on the previous day.  Yes, it hurts to try to touch my toes (sad, I used to be able to put my palms on the ground); yes, my left leg is weaker and my reflexes aren’t as good.  Yes, my bladder is not happy.  Yes, we KNOW that.  So, can I have the shot now, can I, can I, can I?  No, he still needs to get authorization.  Gah, all that…for nothing.  I like the doctor though, so at least I wasn’t mad at him.  But after two days of doctors testing what I already know is wrong with me, I’m now in more pain than I was a few days ago.  Good thing my chiro was back from his vacation today to attempt to alleviate some of the problems.

I think I said something about the Skelaxin I was prescribed, which my insurance didn’t cover because there isn’t a generic.  Anyway, $98 down the drain.  It doesn’t do anything for me.  I also started a Medrol Dosepak yesterday.  I especially enjoyed reading about the possible side-effects:  “Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression to frank psychotic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids. ”  Let’s just say if that happens, look for some mighty entertaining blog entries.

The main thing I keep hearing from every doctor is similar to this, “Oh, you have this, this, this and this.  Okay.  Let me take a look at the MRI.  OH, that’s BIG.”  Apparently, I either have a high pain tolerance or extreme whining alleviates some of the pain I’m supposed to have.  That, or the chiropractor has helped, not to mention that constant ice-pak sitting.  Oh yeah, and remember when I said that surgery was probably up to me.  Three out of three surgeons surveyed so far agree, it’s only a matter of time.  So…not so much up to me.  On November 8th, I get the fourth and final opinion.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

evening

Back In Black…And White And A Little Grey

Ugh, the day lasted forEVER. We first went and picked up my MRI and my x-rays, then we went to the first consult. Very nice office, with four (yes, FOUR) big leather anti-gravity chairs in the waiting room. Also, commendations from all over the world on the walls. And vending machines in the waiting room too. Bonus points for him. Although, I haven’t met him yet (real appt is 11/8), so we’ll see.

Then, we had to kill time before the next appointment, so we went to PetsMart to buy Cricket a new Comfort Zone refill. She hasn’t been happy about me leaving so often. Then, off to Borders.

I had to be at the second doctor’s appointment at 3p, even though my appointment was at 3:30p. I, uh, signed three pieces of paper. The doctor saw me at like 4:30. Mudpuppy read a whole book while we were in that office.

So, for now—his opinion of the herniation is like all of the other doctors, “Blah, blah, blah, blah…oh, that’s big.” I’m starting off with a prescription for Medrol (steroids) for five days and Skelaxin. Tomorrow morning, I get an injection in my back from the doctor with the coolest name to wield a needle - Dr. Outlaw. But, ugh, it’s at 9am. After that, I’m to schedule a complete physical - bloodwork, chest x-ray and EKG—because, I’m tentatively scheduled for surgery on 11/15…our anniversary. Wheee. Anyway, that’s just for his timeline purposes if the other methods don’t help the bladder and weak leg. Also, we have tickets to see Liz Phair on the 17th, so I’m not having surgery on the 15th. The week after, if necessary.

Where it stands: I work with the conservative methods and see how it goes. I talk to the other surgeon on 11/8. I go back to this surgeon on 11/9, as we told him I already had the appointment with the other surgeon.

I do like the surgeon. He looks really dorky (and white) on their website, but in person he seems like a friendly jock-type. And he’s black, has a nice handshake and dresses casually. He isn’t super-doctory, yet was able to answer all of our questions, and he listens. When he prescribed Flexeril, we nixed that because it turns me into a sleep zombie for 24 hours…and it doesn’t help me. So, Leigh-Ann suggested Skelaxin, which is one I haven’t tried yet, and he went off and wrote the prescription for that.  Anyway, they so need to update his picture on their website, it doesn’t do him justice.  Oh, and for the exam, I got the most awesome disposable shorts.  They’ll be perfect for my hockey Halloween costume, as they look just like the super big shorts the guys wear, which, when they don’t have their jerseys on, look pretty silly.

Surgery sounds like a probability, but not an absolute…and it’s up to me.

Here’s a pretty picture of my MRI.

 

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

mid-afternoon

A Brief Respite From Jobs and/or Injuries

Or maybe not so brief.  We’re making a foray out to The Orleans Arena for the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers opening night game.  We thought we might not be able to go because of my various problems, but we’re leaving early, we’re taking meds with us…and we’re looking forward to the in-person hockey atmosphere.  Our seats aren’t as good as they usually are, so we’ll see what it’s like in the cheap seats.  If it’s good, it’s cheap seats for the rest of the season, not that we see that many games anyway.  Oh, and by cheap seats, we mean CHEAP by any stardard - practically free by NHL standards.

It’ll be nice to go out and if I end up in pain, well, at least I’m seeing two different surgeons tomorrow.

Whoo hooo, the Wranglers finally win one when we’re in attendance.  They lost every single game that we went to last year.  Of course, they sucked last year, so that might’ve been part of the problem too.  They were great the year before, their first year.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

late evening

Jobs I’ve Had…And Probably Quit

Per Nancy’s request, an entry about my kind of weird job history.

May as well start at the very beginning.  I started babysitting when I was 11, for the infant across the street.  It’s a bit freaky to think that infant is now 30.  I did a lot of babysitting in my teens and early twenties.  From kids across the street, to spending a week with an NBC ad exec’s kids while he and his wife went to the Olympics.  Their kids were great and all I had to do was make sure they got up for school, then I could go to work afterwards.  I made great money that week.  I think they paid me like $500.  Or maybe it was $300.  Anyway, it didn’t matter - they had nice kids, a great house and they lived closer than I did to my work.

My first real job was when I was 16.  I worked part-time at The May Co. for the holidays.  The first department I was in was women’s sportswear or something.  Anyway, it was a department where all of the women were on commission (except me), so they were like sharks looking for sales.  It was fine with me, I stepped back and let them deal with all the sales stuff.  I was happy tidying up and refolding clothes.  Then, I was moved to bed linens, which was the HUGEST pain in the ass.  Not because of what I had to sell, but because none of the items were marked for scanning - they all had to be looked up in a binder in order to figure out prices.  Horrid, just horrid.  Not to mention the sexual harassment from the creepy guy who worked with me.  I was young and didn’t realize what a scumbag he was until years later.  No biggie, he didn’t get away with anything, but as an adult, I’d make sure he suffered for his behavior.  So, that job, it lasted for just the holiday season.  Thankfully, my parents let me leave it.  Because, well, blech.

My next job was working for Robinson’s department store; ironically, The May Co. and Robinson’s merged later to become Robinson’s-May.  A sad thing for the higher class store that was Robinson’s, because alas, the new store operates more on The May Co. level.  I worked for the whole holiday season in Infants, Toddlers and Toys.  I loved all the cute little outfits.  Unfortunately, when the holiday season was over, they didn’t have room for me there, so I ended up being a floater.  Being a floater is the most tedious department store job ever.  Every day it’s being in a new department and having no idea what your products are.  I lasted a year, to the exact day.  I couldn’t take it anymore.  At least my mom got to take advantage of my most excellent discount, so it was probably worth it for her.

My next job was one of my absolute favorites - I worked at my brothers’ tanning salon.  It was a great atmosphere.  All the customers were happy and it was like being a bartender, except for having to clean off the sweaty beds.  Blech.  But, we had interesting customers;  Cory Everson (six time Ms. Olympia), who I thought would be scary, but she was super nice;  an astronaut’s ex-wife and her tv producer new husband; a girl I ended up dating for a few years (which was a mistake); the NBC ad exec and his wife; and, a bunch of really nice…and lots of times, cute, people.  Oh yeah, and a guy I went to elementary school with, but I didn’t realize it was him because one of the other employees wrote his name down as “Bots”, although his name was Bob.  Close, Kellie, close.  Wait, just remembered one more person who occasionally hung out at the salon, Shiri Appleby.  She didn’t tan, she lived in the neighborhood and just stopped by every so often to chat.  She was a really sweet and smart little kid.  I think at that time she was doing Afterschool Specials.

My next job was child care at the Calabasas Athletic Club.  The hours were good (12-4), the kids were mostly good, and the best part was that in general, I only had each kid for about an hour while their moms worked out.  The management of the place was a mess.  One of the owners was having an affair with one of the trainers and there was weird tension on the workout floor, but fortunately my childcare room was upstairs.  Except for school holidays, when I was swamped with big and little kids, it was mostly babies and toddlers, which are my favorite.  That job was mostly fun, especially because one of the moms brought her daughter in early to work out, then she left her with me the rest of the day so she could go to work and I took her home after I was done.  She was the cutest baby - really chubby, red hair and big blue eyes.  One of my favorite kids ever.  I was so sad when her family decided to move back to Vermont, so I didn’t get to see her grow up.  Her mom kept in touch for a while, but I imagine after time, she didn’t have much to say to her kid’s babysitter.  A couple of months ago I finally remember their last name and I know her dad’s email address, but I’m debating about whether or not to write.  I kind of just want to see what she looks like.  At least I know she grew up and went to a good school.  She’s enrolled at Penn State.  The internet, it’s an amazing thing.  Then again, I haven’t been able to find my friends from high school because they haven’t signed up for Classmates.com and I don’t know their married names.  How come most of the people at Classmates.com are the people I don’t want to find again?  Sure, some of them were friendly acquaintances, but none of them were my closest friends.  Oh yeah, back to the gym - they were so poorly run that one Sunday I received a phone call telling me not to come in the next day because they’d gone out of business.  Well, it was eleven months of a fun job.  Little Brian, my two year old super athlete and Jamie, the cute baby, made it worthwhile.  I still have some pictures somewhere of some of the kids.  The other pictures were on a bulletin board at the gym, never to be seen again.

to be continued later today…stay tuned for my employment at Jacoby & Meyers (the first personal injury lawyers allowed to advertise, which is why you now see PI lawyers’ everywhere)