For the same reason I decided a dinner of balsamic on greens and a ginger-soy tuna steak was the only thing I wanted when vinegar always makes my jaw muscles tweak and I already had a tweaking muscle. Humans are strange.

And now I literally have a KNOT at the corner of my jaw. It is kind of freaking me out. Going to apply some heat, then ice.

Humans are strange.

I was at a festival of world cultures in my town today. Or Festival of World Cultures, depending on how you look at it, I guess. 100,000 people, apparently, which is a lot where I'm from. Lots of good acts, much dancing, but I couldn't get into my local. Which is less fun. Went to a friend's new place for wine instead. We could still hear music from the main stage, which was nice. I should probably got to bed now.

Edited because I may be slightly tipsy.

I tried to nap. It should have happened. It didn't.

It's a sad day when you're too tired to sleep.

Oh, fuck me. According to the Weather Channel, the three-hour drive from New Orleans to Jackson could take 24 hours.

That's just fear-mongering, right? Even the Weather Channel needs ratings?

I-55 is supposed to be 4 lanes north-bound all the way to Brookhaven MS already. Did the Weather Channel factor that in?

Oh, fuck me. According to the Weather Channel, the three-hour drive from New Orleans to Jackson could take 24 hours.

That's just fear-mongering, right? Even the Weather Channel needs ratings?

More that they fear-monger and create a panic. And they're only talking about interstates; I'm willing to bet the sideroads and alternate routes will be fine.

Case in point: Co-worker went to son's wedding last year in New Orleans. Hurricane bears down, they evacuate city, wedding moved to Baton Rouge. Co-worker told, "Don't use I-10, it'll be way too crowded. Bet you'll get there faster on US 90." Co-worker uses 90 and is in Baton Rouge and has no problems with traffic.

I'm willing to bet it'll be the same situation this time around, too.

Did the Weather Channel factor that in?

Supposedly. Apparently they made it to Baton Rouge in good time, so I'm hoping they beat the craziness.

Co-worker uses 90 and is in Baton Rouge and has no problems with traffic.

Yeah, and my dad is pretty familiar with highways and has an excellent sense of direction. I'm just freaking out about it because I need something to freak out about, and the traffic is the closest target.

Seahawks sure are playing like Seachickens right now. The only thing they're doing well is punting.

It's going to be a looooooong winter for sports in Seattle.

Dana, I hope your folks are ok.

sarameg, your lightbulb story totally cracked me up! I do this kind of thing all the time!

It drives me crazy. I live alone, I know I'm responsible for everything that happens in my apartment, but I lose track of stuff so easily. I can lose the remote between the computer and the kitchen 2 or 3 times every weekend.

Oh, Dana. Does it help if we just keep repeating that your parents will be ok, so you can continue to freak out, but be reassured? Honestly, as weird as that sounds, that sometimes works for me. I really hope this storm does some freak weakening. I can't imagine NO taking a direct hit. It just isn't pleasent.

After repeated use of the heating pad, I've figured out the pain and swelling isn't a muscle but a fucking gland of some sort just below my ear. So this appears to be some atypical ear infection. That went from nothing to ouch over the course of an hour at 4 today. Or it's something else, like some brain eating infection. Fuck. I guess I will have to track down a doctor monday if it doesn't chill out. I'm hoping it's just reacting to an exposure and will go away on its own.

It's so very localized (none of my other glands/nodes are doing ANYTHING and my ears are fine) it's very strange. I even took some antihistimines because it freaked me out that it blew up so fast (I do not have the square jawline of Geena Davis. And then suddenly I do! On one side of my face) and they've had only the effect of making me lightheaded.

I've actually got some suspicions it is related to hormonal shit, but jeezus. Couldn't it pick something less alarming?

The human body is STUPID.