the week that wasn't (lyn)

Haven’t been out since Saturday, except to pick up some food.  Otherwise, have spent the week:

• Watching mindless TV
• Slow reading Once We Were Brothers by Ronald Balson, a book I’m loving
• Catching up on fairly recent, but still unread, issues of People, Entertainment Weekly and New York Magazine
• Re-discovering ginger ale
• Drinking tea, not coffee
• Playing lots of Words With Friends
• Helping a college-bound student with a scholarship essay
• Missing a screening, a doctor's appointment, and a friend's birthday dinner
• Spending only on food
• Talking to Erik at Apple for 110 minutes to resolve a small computer glitch that prevented jpeg’s and pdf’s from displaying in Mail (really, fascinating stuff)
• Following Kate’s stay “in hospital” minute by minute, and learning more about hyperemesis gravidarum than I'll ever need to know

I'd say it's time to get out.

minor relapse (lyn)

I thought I was getting better but today I’m worse than yesterday.  Scratchy throat.  Zero energy.  A little achy.  Blah blah blah.

I have been showering and I did wash my hair on Monday, but that's been about it.  No blow drying.  Hair is hanging where it lands.  No make up.  Just some moisturizer.  No fitting clothes.  Only sweats,  

A friend stops by.  I tell her I am going over to Agata to pick up a few things, and add, "Do I look okay?"  She says, “Put on your dark glasses.” 

I guess I look okay as long as no one recognizes me.  Glad I’m not famous.  Though I guess if I were, someone besides me would be going to Agata.

woman troubles (m)

I once walked into a room where my mother and aunts had been talking.  The conversation stopped dead in its tracks.  I had overheard something about "poor Clare.".\

Me: What's wrong with Clare?
Them: Woman Troubles

Clare, as it turned out, had breast cancer. 

This scenario would play out multiple times over the years.  Aunt Y had "woman troubles." She had a hysterectomy.  My mother had "woman troubles."  One of the last things my father said to me was "make sure she keeps getting her check-ups for down there."  She had uterine cancer which was detected early only because I remembered what he said and persuaded her to make an appointment for her annual Pap Smear.

I've been having "woman troubles" of my own. 

Last Friday, I had a uterine and vaginal ultrasound.  The results were "abnormal but not worrisome."

I am waiting for an appointment with my gynecologist to see where we go from here.

So, if you are having woman troubles of your own, get checked.  Now.

recovery (lyn)

So Saturday I feel a little queasy.  I go to bed and wake up sick.  The weak, nauseous, throwing up kind of sick.  I stay in bed all day.  Robyn generously comes over with chicken soup and ginger ale.  I drink ginger ale and nothing else.  I sleep about 20 hours.  I wake up this morning feeling much better, just weak from not eating.  I get on the scale. 126, 1.2 less than Saturday.  Almost worth it.

drama buying ice-cream (lyn)

I love Amazon Local and Groupon.  Aside from a dreadful manicure I got recently, most of the values I’ve gotten have been great.  Especially when I buy from vendors I know.

Last June, I bought 12 coupons for Sedutto — the great local ice cream store around the corner.  $5 per coupon for $10 of ice-cream.  Sedutto ‘s is a tiny place that is always packed, regardless of temperature.

The terms are on the coupon; today it expires.  Specifically, the coupon reads:

The amount paid for the voucher expires five years from the purchase date.  The remaining promotional value of the voucher above what you paid for it will expire on December 1, 2012.

I go to use one of my remaining coupons.   The following conversation ensues.

Rich, the manager: This coupon is only worth $5 today.

Me:  No it isn't.  Look. It says right on the coupon that it expires tomorrow.  Tomorrow it’s worth $5, but today it’s worth 10.

Rich:  That’s what I thought too, but I called Amazon and they said it expires today.

Me:  Well they’re wrong.

Meanwhile, another guy comes in, also with a coupon, and he is told the same thing.  And then a third person comes up to the counter, and also joins in the argument.  She too, points out the expiration date is December 1, today, not tomorrow.

Rich does not handle stress well.  He is adamant.  “That’s what Amazon told me.  If you have a problem with it, call Amazon!”

The argument continues.  I say, “It’s not worth losing good customers over $5.”  Rich gets nasty.  “We don’t need customers like you.  You are being cheap.  You had six months to use the coupon.”  “That’s irrelevant," I say.

So this other guy and I decide to call Amazon.  We are waiting to be put on hold when Rich has a change of heart.  “Forget it.  You guys are right.  I’ll give you the $10 worth of ice cream.”  And then he apologizes.  And then I feel really bad too.  Rich seems like a nice guy who was overly stressed and then used poor judgment.

By the time I leave, everyone is smiling.  Conflict resolved.

what was I thinking? (lyn)

I vote in the British Academy Awards.  I feel it’s an honor, and I take the role seriously.  At the end of the year, I try to see as many screenings as possible of award-worthy films.  If I wanted, I could see a different movie every night.  This week, that was my plan:  I schedule seven movies for seven days. But then I end up skipping three —and these are three movies I actually want to see. Four a week must be my limit.

Today, I am actually on my way to see the new Brad Pitt film, Killing Them Softly.  I feel a little queasy.  I pass a Starbucks and end up going in, ordering hot tea, sitting in a comfy leather chair, and playing Words With Friends.  I never make it to the movie.