So, you know, I've been having this feeling that the universe really ought to cut the two people at Chez Grabien a dram of slack?

It did just that.

Results from my MRI: First MRI (June 2002) showed 8 distinct lesions on three sections of the brain. Second MRI (September 2002) showed 11 distinct lesions.

December 2003, after one year of Avonex?

One lesion. Period.

I like this stuff.

Now, income would be good.

Some ~ma would be appreciated at around 11:30 AM PST Thursday. I'm meeting with a director down at South Coast Rep to see if we click for the next show. I guess they liked me so much on the children's show I designed that they want to use me on the next show. This one is a main season show, and it's a LORT contract, so it's a big deal.

Also, my Dad is not having surgery on Friday now. He saw his cardiologist and the doc wants him to have a stress test and take a closer look at his high blood pressure before the surgery, so the operation on his leg is being postponed for a few weeks.

Work~ma request for 9:30 am CST and 11:00 am CST. I have an interview and my annual review scheduled on the same day as my opening an hour and a half away. Joy.

To: Anonymous Benefactor

THANK YOU!!!

Going fairly to completely dark next week because I'll be taking some time off to get a breather before I have to start on a major assignment.

I hope to drop in here and there, but nothing's certain for now.

I'm really really late in this BUT I finally have my pictures up from my trip to San Francisco and the time I spent at the beach this summer (well only the pictures that were on the digital camera).

You can find the photo albums here .

Edit--also two pictures from my dance recital where I did the tango.

Okay, so here's how it was.

Sometime back a piece I was finding myself feeling poorly. I wasn't sure of what was happening, but in my lucid moments I attempted to function. Even managed a couple of job interviews in January but nothing much came of that.

Now, 'long about three weeks ago I started feeling a swelling in my left leg. I paid what was little attention to it, beyond keeping it elevated, I believed it to be a bit of the old water retention and that usually went away.

A week later it was getting worse, and turning a bit red. Infection, I thought. Best be getting to a doctor-type. I made my calls and on Wednesday the 4th I paid my respects to Doc Embury at the local Alliance Allina clinic.

Well Doc Embury took one look at my leg and admitted his first impulse was to put me in the hospital forthwith. My woeful tale of a slow growth convinced him otherwise, so he sent me off to get bloodwork and stuffed a prescription for three meds in my hand. he asked where I worked, I said I was job hunting. Not for the next couple of days you aren't." He stated. I believed him. He's very straightforward, Doc Embury is. "Come back in two days, if it's not better, you're going in the hospital."

I go to get the blood sucked out of me. However, my experience there may have been a foreshadowing. It took 3 tech and five holes in my arms and hands to draw a good sample. I have deep, elusive veins. I then proceeded to Wal-Mart to spend $150 on prescriptions. I miss health insurance.

A couple of hours after I got home, Doc Embury his own self did call me up and tell me to be extra vigilant. Not only was my white blood cell count at a whopping 15 (8-10 is normal), but my blood glucose level was through the roof at 478 (Normal is 80-120). I might have Diabetes, says the doc, which explains the infection. More tests Friday, he says.

Friday arrives and it's worse. not only is the area the color of a boiled lobster, but two wounds have appeared and are indeed seeping.

"Into the hospital." Stated Dr. Embury. Less than an hour later, I had my own private room with IV drips of saline and antibiotics. My leg was raised and more blood was taken. Three to five days was the prognosis and it would likely be towards the latter.

So there I was in the hospital, no insurance, no cash, but being fed three diabetic squares a day and having my glucose checked before each one. Then proceeded the diabetic schooling and occasional crappy green TV watching.

I won't go into the levels of pain, but I graduated to Percocet quickly. Time trudged on, and maybe I'll recount more about the actual stay later. Luckily the first night I called my lady friend and she passed on the news to my online friends.

I received a few calls from friends and family. Even a couple of cards made their way to me by my last day. Thanks to everyone!

On Wednesday morning, the doctor came by and looked at the greatly reduced wound and decided I could handle the rest of the process at home. I will be seeing him again on Friday the 20th to see if I'm still healing.

So now I'm home, the leg still hurts, it's still draining, but I'm on the downside of the bubble. The only lasting result is my newly diagnosed Diabetes. I'm dealing with the implications of that and the testing as I go. Doc Embury has me on a one-a-day diabetes pill for now, I may have to go on the syringe, but that's to be decided in a couple of weeks, I guess.

The diet won't be too bad. The scheduled eating? A bit more so.

The one good thing is that I applied for county medical assistance the Wednesday this all started. If I'm eligible, a lot of expense will be covered. Crossing my fingers.

Well, that's it for now, I hope to be getting better right soon.

t Daniel tips his hat.

any bone-healing~ma that could be sent my way would be appreciated. tomorrow afternoon i find out if i need surgery to fix my broken wrist.

I hate to be asking for more ~ma, but I'm going in for my medical and other assistance interview tomorrow afternoon. I just need to take all the private financial information I've closely guarded about my life and hand it over to a government employee.

Also, I just got a call from my mother. My aunt Iola, whose long time boyfriend just died a couple of days ago has herself suffered a stroke.

"Leave my family alone for few days~ma" appreciated.

Oh, and reciprocal handma for Tommyrot.

no surgery for me! thanks for the bone-healing~ma, or more accurately, the anti-bone-fragment-shifting~ma. so, more ~ma for daniel. having big medical bills and no insurance is something that happened to me once.

Oh, and reciprocal handma for Tommyrot.

Is it just me, or does 'reciprocal handma' sound a lot like 'reciprocal handjob'?