Sterility takes time

Do you how long it takes to disinfect four buildings, including two dormitories? Me neither, but it must be a pretty long time. Kids went home last night and aren't coming back until Sunday night. Staff has to be back for previously scheduled professional development Friday. It's like a mini-fall break! Sweet.

Happy staph day

No error in the title. A student at school was diagnosed with a staph infection (there's been an outbreak in our area) so they sent the kids home tonight and are disinfecting everything tomorrow. Can't even get onto campus tomorrow. Don't have to tell me twice.

In the loop

Just a quick update and then back to grading...

I got my MRI results on Friday and it turns out that I have a herniated disc in my lower back. I have to get lumbar xrays and go see a neurologist about the next course of action. The options include physical therapy, steroid injections and/or surgery. Unfortunately, that appointment isn't for another two weeks so, for now, the course of action seems to involve a lot of bed rest, a little time with the heating pad and a refill on my pain medication. But I am feeling better; I was at work Tues-Fri and while I was exhausted come Friday, it was important to go back. I imagine the next few weeks will be awfully rough, but I'm hopeful things will be better soon. We'll just have to wait and see I suppose.

Other than that, not a whole lot is going on here. The weekend has been incredibly relaxing and fun; a lot of time lounging around, reading, laughing and watching tv. And this morning there were pancakes (yum!). Having fun plans, going out on the weekend, etc is always nice, but there is something special (and good) about doing nothing for two whole days. Hope you're enjoying yours as well.

on the mend

First, I must wish my friend Chris a belated happy birthday. Chris, I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating last weekend and I wish you only the best this upcoming year. You're an intelligent, thoughtful and considerate person who deserves to see his dreams realized. Happy birthday, Chris!

Also, let me wish Stephanie a happy birthday a little early. It sounds like things are going really well for you and I hope that continues (and then some) in this next year. Have a great time celebrating! Happy birthday, Steph - you're a true girl genius!

The title refers to me. A week ago I left work early because of back pain. By that night, Brian was calling an ambulance to get me to an emergency room because I couldn't stand without nearly passing out from the pain. I spent over twelve hours in the ER (Brian was with me for nine of them, G-d bless him) and was finally admitted for bed rest, heavy medicating and IV antibiotics. The diagnosis? An infection the doctors thought was gone, wasn't and in a completely separate event, my lower back was in full rebellion. It was awful. I was discharged on Sunday and have spent the whole week on bed rest. Things are a little better today and I'm hoping I can be back at work on Monday. It's going to be a low key weekend though, that's for sure.

Brian has been amazing through all of this. He was at the hospital all of the time, even though he was exhausted, he talked with doctors and nurses when I couldn't and he has taken wonderful care of me now that I'm home. When I say bed rest I mean nearly no movement at all. I really had to depend on him (way more than I would be comfortable with) and he never stopped being right there for me. I am an exceptionally blessed woman. Note: this photo is from when my folks came to visit and we took them to Mount Vernon. I know it's mean to tease you with a photo where you can't see his face, but it's the only one I got approval to share (and he still might not like that I'm posting it here, but I love this photo, so it'll be okay).

Also going on this week is that my uncle passed away last week and his funeral is today. I was supposed to fly home Wednesday night, but bed rest also equals no flying. It's been hard enough being stuck in bed, but doubly hard knowing what my family's going through and not being able to be there. Still, the closure is important and much needed for everyone and we were blessed to have nearly a whole extra year with him. It's important to keep all that in mind.

That's probably all for now. Typing puts my hands in an awkward position so I think I'm going to give it (and myself) a rest. Happy weekend, all!

Never ceases to amaze...

How can a president who approved of last week's additional $42.3 billion request for the war effort (bringing the total 2008 budget to $190 billion) turn around this week and veto a $30 billion children's health care initiative, saying it is too expensive?! And don't give me some spiel about long term versus short term spending and entitlements - I know all of that.

Bush says the health insurance iniative passed by Congress would amount to socialized medicine and that people would take advantage of the government program even if they could afford private coverage. (Never mind the quality of socialized medicine and how unattractive of an option that could be for most people.) How about we worry less about the miniscule number of people who might abuse the system and more about the 6 million children who could benefit from this program? The Bush administration has also said that this act strays too far from its intended mission of helping the poor. What? Because it also helps lower middle class families whose children are un- or under-insured? Yeah, better not stray that far. How about we see its intent as providing nearly 6 million children in this country with health insurance? Could be a neat way to look at things.

I know that, all things considered, I am more socialist than most, but really...this is just ridiculous. We are funneling hundreds of billions of dollars into what is essentially a money pit of our own making and we can't find the money to care for our own citizens? (Also, the money for this program would come from an increased cigarette tax, thank you very much.) I continue to worry about the state of our nation's priorities. I pray I'm not the only one.

quickly...a list

1. My parents had a great time in town this weekend. We ate lots of good food, walked at least a thousand miles and laughed tons. Brian was awesome and spent the whole weekend with us (including five hours at Mount Vernon). My parents, of course, think he is great and were glad to finally meet him. I have some photos that I'll work on adding to my Facebook album and more specific stories, if you're interested, but overall things went well and it was wonderful to spend so much time with them.
2. Sunday night Brian and I went to the VH1 Hip Hop Honors tour - MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane and the Roots. Maybe the best show I have ever seen. Maybe not. Either way, it was so much fun. Seriously. One of the few shows where I didn't space out and start thinking about other things, even if I didn't hone the tunnel vision that Brian has mastered so well (for instance, I couldn't help but notice the woman filming promos for VH1 during the show).
3. Left work early yesterday. Sick again. Went to the doctor, got the same advice as before and I'll get a full report from the tests they ran on Wednesday. So we'll see. I got home from the doctor at 3:40p and slept from 4:30-5:30 and then passed out again at 10p. I didn't even notice that Brian came to bed. Feeling more rested, but still out of sorts a bit this morning. It's doubly irritating b/c I feel badly, but I look fine so no one has any sympathy for me. Not that I need sympathy, but you understand my point...I think.

That's all for this morning. I have to go get ready for teaching now. Have a good one!

"That sounds like a bad horror movie..."

The title references my coworker (and classroom-mate) Bill's reaction to my description of last night. I told him my story when he commented that I looked particularly exhausted and asked if my eyes were swollen. He was right on both counts.

Last night I slept at my apartment - the one on which I pay rent - and I went to bed around 11p. It had been a pretty easy night, but it's been a long couple of days at work so I was asleep by 11:05p at the latest. About an hour later I woke up and had no idea what was going on. Once I was fully awake, I realized every part of my body that was outside of my bedsheet was itchy. Seriously, I was clawing at my arms, my face and my neck as I woke up, but I didn't realize it right away. I stumbled out of bed and down to the bathroom where I found five welts - one on each arm, one below my left browbone, one above my right eye and one in the center of my neck. Given the size and scope of the reaction I knew they were spider bites. Awesome.

It took me two hours to get back to sleep, in part because I was waiting for the Benadryl to kick in and in part because I was paranoid about being bitten again. So around 2:30 in the morning I finally succumbed to exhaustion, but when the alarm went off at 6:30 I hopped out of bed, only too glad to get away from that place. This morning the swelling has gone down somewhat (can't see the bite on my left arm and the one on my neck looks like a normal bite), although my eyelids are still pretty swollen and there is a large red pathc surrounding the bite on my right arm. I'm pretty well doped up on Benadryl and plan to stay this way all day. I'm hoping the toxins work their way out sometime soon.

Anyway, thought I would share. Happy hump day, kids!