vw! Good morning! (this is a quick wave-n-hello, for I must depart for work, alas)

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Cindy, I'm so sorry you're still not feeling well. That's so frustrating and anxiety-producing!

What are you going to do, today?

I'm going back to school today, so I need to do some work getting ready for that this morning, then I've got school in the afternoon. Then I have to pick up mom's car from the shop and get it back to her. It'll be a kind of busy day, but not as busy as yesterday. I also want to do some writing about the hospitalization and kind of try to process that. There's a lot of judgment in my head right now about having to be hospitalized. I mean, I know it was the right/best decision, but I'm still frustrated with myself.

Hi, Anne! Have a good day at work!

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morning all!

It's starting to feel like spring outside ... which means we're due for another snowstorm/cold spell!

vw, glad to have you back - glad you're taking care of yourself. And think how happy Toto will be to see you.

Jilli, it is possible to trim your own hair - I did it a few times when I had long hair. I'd trim off a more or less equal amount from the ends, brush it out, check it out in the mirror (with my back to a wall-mounted mirror, using a hand mirror to check on the evenness), note where it was uneven, and then trim a little more. The trick seemed to be doing a little bit at a time. It also helped that with my hair that length it was wavy/frizzy and being even wasn't that much of an issue, so it might not work as well as you. Some things are better left to professionals.

meara, did you see that a new round of ANTM is starting tonight? looking forward to it.

And I'm thinking of getting a tattoo ... my first. Once I lose some more weight. Any recommendations for DC-area places?

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Hi morning shift! Nice to see your font vw.

Not enough sleep. Idiots were breaking into cars last night. Normally this is a very quiet place. Only had my car messed with now twice in over 20 years. But woke up to car alarm at 2am. My car wasn't locked so they just dumped the glove compartment stuff out. Next door neighbor had her window broken. They hit a bunch of places. When the police got 2 calls from my area in about a minute they sent 9 cars and basically sealed us off. Brought dogs and everything. Caught the guys.

But an hour or so chatting with neighbors and the excitement made it tough to go back to sleep. Ugh.

Funny thing was that the cops thought they had trashed my van but I had to say I couldn't tell because of the kid trashing. My car had been perfect and clean, the van, not so much. They took prints from my car because it had been washed the day before.

Yeah, coffee.

ear ~ma Cindy!

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Laura! so good to see you!

Cindy, good luck with the ear. Ear problems are such a pain in every way.

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Morning Toddson!

Laura, how freaky! I can imagine it was very difficult to get back to sleep!

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Todd, I got mine at Fatty's in DuPont Circle - clean and professional, and no problem with using my own design.

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Oh Laura, I'm sorry about the car. Stupid thieves. I hope they're caught.

There's a lot of judgment in my head right now about having to be hospitalized. I mean, I know it was the right/best decision, but I'm still frustrated with myself.

I'm sorry you're having to deal with the judgment. I wish there was a way to shut that section of the brain up. I know your rational bits know you did the right thing, and that you have an illness, and you did what you had to do to care for yourself.

I hope today goes well with school and all your errands. Will Toto come home with you, tonight?

Cindy, good luck with the ear. Ear problems are such a pain in every way.

Thanks, Toddson. I haven't really had pain (well, transient pain, but nothing to speak of). But my ears have been full for about 2 and a half weeks, now, and whatever sinus issues are causing this won't submit to either my prescription nasal spray or antibiotics (I'm on my second course). Last night, the kids asked when I'm going to get better, and I said, "Never."

But shame on you for enabling Ms. Jilli with the self hair trimming. She wears it pretty straight from any photos I've ever seen of her.

Don't do it, Jilli. If you do, Plei may well teach the Ticky Box to say, "I told you so," every time she sees you.

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Well, I put in all kinds of warnings - it IS best to go to someone who can actually see what they're doing and is trained (I'm all thumbs with my hair, which is why I keep it short these days), but if she can't stand it another minute it's possible.

Cindy, have you tried heat on your ear? sometimes lying with the ear on a heating pad will help.

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I'm sorry you're having to deal with the judgment. I wish there was a way to shut that section of the brain up. I know your rational bits know you did the right thing, and that you have an illness, and you did what you had to do to care for yourself.

Yeah, it's a pain, but it'll get better. My hospital shrink told me yesterday that even though I've had a few good nights of sleep, I'm still trying to catch up, so I need to understand that.

Huh. It's weird. Yesterday in one of the groups we were talking about wellness...what it is...the difference with recovery. I said I don't believe there is such a thing as recovery for mental illness--you get as well as you can and make adjustments in how you live your life. I just turned on the tv and there were interviews on The Today Show about recovery from eating disorders. Weird. Worlds colliding.

Last night, the kids asked when I'm going to get better, and I said, "Never."

{{{Cindy}}} You guys have had such a rough couple of months!

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