This guy gets it

In writing this blog, I've tried not to touch on anything too political or controversial (okay, coming out of the broom closet as a witch-in-training isn't all that controversial to me, but others might not agree. ;-) mainly because I figure there's enough bloggers doing that stuff. I just wanted my little corner of the blogosphere to be a little more mellow.

But just for today, I'm swerving off that road for a very short detour. Yesterday, I read the transcript of Sen. Obama's speech about his pastor. And the thought that keeps coming to mind is, "This guy gets it." He does. He really gets the harm that racism does in this country, and what it's like to see that racism in friends and family we know and love. Whatever happens in this election, he will have my admiration for having the cojones to actually come out and stare the 900 pound gorilla in the face.

I don't know if he'll win the election, but the courage I saw in his words makes me think he wouldn't be a bad president. It takes a brave man to say, "He's my friend," even when that friend is a flaming arsehole at times...and especially when you think of how much more politically expedient it would have been for him to have completely cut ties with his pastor.

Integrity. In a politician, no less. Who'd have thunk? :)

Doctor, Doctor...parte the thirde :)

(And hopefully, the last.) I have antibiotics now. And I feel loads better---I was able to sleep last night without a fever and I finally feel like I might be over the worst of whatever this is. Maybe. I hope. :)

But whatever happens, I've decided that as soon as my kidney issue(s) are done with, I'm done with this doctor. Nothing against his actual practice of medicine---it certainly seems like he knows what he's doing medically. But his bedside manner...um, no. I don't have to have him as my primary care doctor (he's a specialist) so with any luck, our time together is almost over.

In other news, it's just Roisin and I tonight. Rob went off to do some guy stuff with some friends of his, which is fine. It leaves Roisin and I with some mom-daughter time and it gives Rob a break. So, no worries here.

If anyone's reading this, have a good night. :)

Doctor, doctor...parte the seconde :)

Doc called back yesterday. After listening to my symptoms, he's decided to call in a prescription for antibiotics. If that doesn't work, I have to go back for further tests.

Of course, the antibiotic prescription wasn't called in yesterday. So I have to rattle his cage this morning, because I really don't want to spend my weekend feeling like crap (again.) So there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Maybe. I hope.

Doctor, doctor...can't you see I'm burning, burning?

The saga continues.

I don't have a UTI. I went to the doc on Monday and had his lab run a test. Nope, that's not my problem. But since I'm still having fevers at night, it's anyone's guess as to what really is going on. This isn't exactly normal post-op stuff, even for my strange system. So I've got a call in to my Doc. Haven't heard anything yet, though with my luck, he didn't listen to his nurse and called me at work instead of at home like I asked (hey, I was home sick yesterday.)

I'm back to work today, regardless. I don't have a reason to stay home---I'm not running a fever this moment, and I feel okay (not great, but okay.) So here's hoping I feel great for the next ten hours or so.

We all come from the goddess

Well, I don't suppose this is really a shock to anyone who knows me (outside of work, where discussion on religion and politics is das verboten, particularly if you're not a conservative Christian Republican :)) but I've been researching and studying the pagan path for the last few months, and in sympathy with the pagan viewpoint for years longer.

What does this mean? Well, in addition to all my other hats---wife, mother, daughter, friend---I can soon add "witch" to the mix. And I'm comfortable with that. I don't cast spells (yet.) I don't know what I'm doing, still being new to things, and I suspect it'll be several more months before I feel comfortable casting. But I find great comfort in acknowledging the presence of a goddess as well as a god, in honoring the earth and nature as our mother. (Why else call her "Mother Nature," eh?)

So here's what I believe. We each have a duty to deal kindly and fairly with each other, to the extent that it's possible. (Some people are just hell-bent on being impossible, after all.) We each have a right to our own beliefs, or lack thereof. And we all receive back what we send, so be careful what you do or ask for, because karma is a bitch who loves to strike when you're not expecting it. And she'll always find a way to get you---if not now, then later. And if there is a hell, we create in in this life, by our own actions.

So that's me. Wife, mother, daughter, friend and witch in training. :)

Blessed be. ) O (

Bring Me Solo and a Cookie :)

This website makes me smile when I need it the most. Enjoy! :)

Why "How are you?" is a loaded question :)

On Wednesday, I had lithotripsy done on my left kidney to remove the 3cm boulder that has lodged itself there. Basically, it's a use of targeted sonar to break the stones up so the fragments pass easily. And if it was happening to anyone else but me, I'd probably find the whole thing fascinating.

But....

Well, as it turns out, I'm really not the best patient. I mean, I tried. Honest. I like nurses and doctors, generally. But I freaked out the OR staff when I went horizontal unexpectedly (they were going to give me an epidural so I wouldn't have my usual post-op vomit reaction to anesthetic.) One minute, the very nice anesthesiologist was feeling around in my spine and I was hugging my pillow and the next, I was lying on the gurney with five or six faces staring down at me looking concerned.

I don't know what set that off, to be honest---I've had two epidurals in my life (once while I was pregnant with Roisin and once during my labor with her) and I didn't have any where near the same reaction. So I feel obscurely guilty for being a difficult patient.

And oh, yeah, I had my usual post-op reaction to the anesthetic. But I can't blame the docs. They tried.

What's made my week even more fun is this: I've gotten an infection of some sort---fever, chills, you name it, I've probably had it in the last four days. So I'm going in to my doctor tomorrow to make sure this doesn't become something more serious.

I've probably lost five pounds since Wednesday. As a diet method, I don't recommend it. :)

The rest of my family is hanging in...mostly. Roisin is teething and has not been her usual (mostly) angelic self the last couple of days (though she was fine last night.) Rob's been looking distinctly frazzled---not that I particularly blame him there. It's tough running a house and looking after a toddler by yourself and I certainly wasn't able to be any help.

So, here's hoping that things clear up. Being sick sucks.