Ok, I've been putting this off for too long already. I'm going to have to go dark until at least June. I've already had to cut out visiting this site at work as it had attracted notice; and I have an exam on May 31 that I'm not going to do justice to if I'm spending my free home-time here. I might pop in once or twice, but basically, if you see me here, feel free to tell me to go hit the books or something.

If anyone needs to get in touch about anything, the email addy in my profile is good.

I also will be going dark for at least a while. I'm involved in a very fast-moving case that will keep me too busy for a while. I was able to keep up (more or less) during the move and the fix-up-the-condo for sale, but I don't think I can anymore.

Also, with all the stresses in my life right now (move, fix-up, case, world situation, battle with my mother), I really can't be good company. I apologize for not offering sufficient sympathy or congratulations where appropriate over the last couple months.

Profile addy is good, and I'll try to check it more regularly than I do. I'll update the addy if I ever get time to set up the mailbox on my home Net service.

Tomorrow is my big day - Surgery day. I'll be off work for a little over two weeks, but I hope to poke my new nose in here early next week and give an update on my progress. Thanks everyone for all your kind words and support during the last 9-10 months of having no sense of smell and taste. Nosema vibes please!

Steph is being released from the hospital.

She met with the neurosurgeon and they're going to meet next week to discuss and schedule the surgery. For now, she is going home with pain meds.

Send her vibes, apparently they are only working so well.

She sends her love and is glad ita didn't die.

For any Bay Area Buffistae who are Pentangle fans, or just traditional UK folk music junkies, Jacqui McShee and the incredible John Renbourn will be playing the Freight in Berkeley on 29 May.

I got into CUNY.

I'm home for now. Here's the scoop: the neurosurgeon says I am a "textbook case" of herniated discs, meaning that surgery will be straightforward and easy. Since I haven't been responding to drug treatment, he feels that injecting steroids into the discs might not have any effect, OR -- at best -- will have ONLY a short-term effect.

Once the disc herniates, you can't put it back in place, apparently, and the best treatment is to trim off the floppy bits that are pressing on nerves.

He says I'm a good surgical candidate b/c I'm young and healthy. The typical patient goes home the day after surgery and can be back at work (desk job) within a week. The only downside is that, of course, I'm awfully young for back surgery, because any surgery, no matter how minimally invasive, does weaken the back.

However, there really is no option for me. So, I'm home for now, and I meet with the surgeon early next week to discuss the surgery so that I'm fully informed before I do it. The actual surgery will probably be in 2 weeks. So until then, I just keep managing my pain with drugs and just taking it easy.

But since now I have an endpoint, I'm okay with that.

So that's where I stand. Or, as the case may be, lie on my stomach.

Ahem. flea (and mr. flea) are pleased to annouce that we are having a baby. I am about 10 days behind Burrell; due Sept. 4 (which is within a week on either side of no less than 7 other birthdays in the baby's immediate family - we do September well!). "Casper" (have you ever seen a 10-week ultrasound? mr. flea thought Casper was a better nickname than "Scary Alien", which was my reaction) seems fine so far - we heard its heartbeat last week. I am very well as well, except for today's overwhelming desire to nap at work.

I would like to congratulate Nutty on holding her tongue this long - I broke the news to her as she was on her way to a Somervillian gathering, and I thought she'd die trying not to tell you all. Also of note, hers was the best reaction to the news: "How did this happen!?!" Hee.

I'm all surged and have been home since 4. Lots of pain after the surgery but I haven't had to take any of my tylenol 3's yet at home. Quite a bit of drainage so I'm wearing a lovely moustache bandage under my nose.

When I came out of the anesthesia, the doctor asked me what I was dreaming about. I said "eating Thai food"...can't WAIT though I think it will take a few days to find out if it worked.

I'm actually feeling pretty good - just a little weak and hungry. I hope my night is ok.

I likely won't be keeping up with any threads so thanks for all the nosema vibes and I'll be back soon.

I've finally gotten around to writing up my notes from seeing Jane Espenson speak last Friday at Ball State.

I'm not much of a writer, but since some folks asked me about it, I though it was best to write them all down and direct people towards it:

it's in my livejournal here