vw, I hope it clears up as quickly as possible for you.

{{vw}} {{MG}}

I wish I knew what else to say right now.

Crap, MG. So very sorry for this situation. I don't think I can articulate this better than others already have, though. Peace to you and yours.

(((vw)))

Meanwhile, in mememe news, I am typing this from a Pension just off Wenceslas Square, having attended an interview in Prague yesterday. Think it went well - think they will probably offer me a job. The day before yesterday I was in London, attending an interview for a job in Bangkok. They DID offer me the job. (I rock!) If Prague don't offer me a job then it's an easy call, but as I rather think they will I'm presently trying to weigh up the pros and cons of each school and each country as a working environment. Really torn. (I mean, in a good way - this is very much a YAY kind of thing, I'm not bitching about the decision-making process.) On the whole, I'd rather go to Thailand - fantastically exotic; colourful; Buddist country (should be interesting); loads of things to see in Thailand; easy jumping-off point for travelling in other parts of Asia; THAI FOOD...all of these things make me feel "Go Thailand! Choose Thailand". Plus the school sounds really good (nobody in the Staffroom talk boards over at the TES website, which is where one gets the dirt on the dodgy schools, had anything bad to say about it - in stark contrast to my previous school in Cairo, as I know now), and I like the fact that they've abandoned SATs and have a more progressive and arts-based, brain-based-learning approach to education.

So - Yay for Thailand.

On the other hand, Prague is very cool. I've lived in the Czech Republic before for a year (about a decade ago, granted) so I think I've got a fair idea of what it would be like - essentially, much like being in the UK, but with a bit of a sheen of foreignness and lots of gorgeous architecture. Lots of arts and culture stuff. AND, although the school may not be quite as appealing, the role they're offering me is teaching upper elementary, which is my preference (whereas the Thailand job is for lower elementary, which I could do, but wouldn't love as much, I think).

And then there's the question of having a love life. Which is infinitely more likely and viable in Prague, for a number of reasons.

Hmm.

In other mememe news, I have a fantastic haircut. It's considerably shorter than initially intended, as a result of communication (and skill) issues with the lass who cut it for me. First thing I did when I got to London was go and find a hair dresser and say "Help! Fix my head!" and they did. And now I am tres chic. Will try to upload photographs by the weekend to dazzle you with the chicness of me.

Prague. Thailand. Prague. Thailand.

....

???

{{{vw}}} That sucks, sweetie. I mean, that's the kind of suck that I wish on nasty people who cut me off in traffic, not good people like you!

Go you, Fay! I love both Thailand and Prague, so I am not much help. Where would you be in Thailand? Bangkok? (Oriental city, and the city don't know what the city is getting). I knew several teachers at the International School in Bangkok when I was teaching in KL.

A love life is possible in Thailand, esp. if you are in Bangkok, which is a pretty diverse city. Food's good. Weather's nice. I am not a big fan of lower elementary myself - I did one year of second grade teaching, and that was plenty.

vw, my preliminary googling seems to indicate that mild exercise -- just plain old walking, not even vigorous walking -- will help steroid myopathy. Because myopathy is affecting your muscles, mild exercise strengthens them.

Really? That's interesting and the complete opposite of what my doctor told me to do. She said to keep the feet up as much as possible...maybe because I'm still on the steroids?

Thanks for all the hugs and kind thoughts everyone. It's been a rough couple of months, but I'm getting through. Like I told one of the project leaders at work yesterday, sometimes you just can't do anything but laugh. And that's how I'm trying to approach this situation...except for when I'm crying from the pain. Therapist asked me yesterday what skills I'm using...Radical Acceptance. Lots and lots of radical acceptance.

{{vw}} I hope the pain at least starts to be reduced with the reduction in steroids. Radical acceptance is good, it gets you through the tough spots when nothing else will. And it is only a spot, albeit a very uncomfortable one. No-pain~ma, hon!

Wow, Fay, what a choice. Decision-making~ma to you.

More punctuation for you, vw. Would you hate me for saying how relieved I am that if you had to have a serious adverse effect from those drugs, I'm glad it was something that will dissipate in a matter of months instead of years or never?

{{vw}} I'm am so sorry to hear you have another health issue to deal with. Ugh. You will surely have exceptionally healthy middle and later years. My story is that the reason I have enjoyed such wonderful good health throughout my adult years is that I was horribly unhealthy as a child. Seems only reasonable. You are overdue. I insist your body give you a break now!

{{MG}} What they all wisely said. Parenting is so hard. You have positively influenced C's life in so many ways. Sucks that we can't read the Book of Wisdom at 9 and save ourselves having to learn stuff the hard way.

Fay! How exciting. How grand to have such lovely options.

I'm buried as always. Yesterday was long. The early morning school thing, then the work thing, then the basketball thing, then the baseball thing, then the grocery shopping thing. Non stop from 6am to 10pm. I rewarded myself by getting up early so I could catch up here.

Today not so rough. I have NO sports scheduled today. It's like a vacation. I do have to do dishes though. I am out of spoons, even the tablespoons. Since I am the family gathering house because I have the most dishes and utensils that is saying quite a lot.

Fay, it doesn't sound like there's a bad option there.

Bangkok? (Oriental city, and the city don't know what the city is getting

Oh sure, earworm me first thing in the morning!

I forgot to plug the coffeemaker in. So I'm hopping on while I wait for it to brew.

Go Fay, with the interesting choices! I would want to visit you in either one!