Hi, all. How's tricks? Shitty for most, sounds like, and for which I am profoundly sorry.

Sending all best thoughts for: La Tep's cranky back; Maria's cranky Republicans; ita's cranky head; and poor Pix and Drew's sweet doggie.

The wind is blowing so hard that a draft through my window just caused books to fall over. No shit. It scared the cats.

Hydrocodone makes me itch. But it's better than the period pain. Itch itch itch. Also, my gyno mentioned the H word the other day. (Hysterectomy, FWIW.) I don't know what to think.

I have to get Xmas presents soon. So far, I've gotten my mom some sachets, and my dad some swanky tea from W&S (Tower of London, which is really good, and he loves, but cracks me up -- they should decorate the (really pretty) tin with flightless ravens and insouciant beheaded aristos, IMHO. )

Also, Fay and Emily, you suck! I've gotten two pressies as a tteacher and both were coffee cups. Which yay, presents, but I am jealous.

I got my Xmas bonus from my new job yesterday, which was a $20 QT card. Hey, it's a full tank of gas. I'll take it.

I got my first full paycheck yesterday at my new job that pays me 10K less than my teaching job. I shall be eating a lot of soup and calling my student loan lenders to laugh in their faces.

Argh. I'm waiting for my doctor to call me back, but there's a strong-to-definite possibility that I'm going to have to go to the hospital today.

I can't stand, or walk, or sit (like, on the toilet -- sorry for the imagery) without excruciating, searing, unbearable pain. Lying down is okay but not great, and some lying-down positions are also unbearable.

The drugs are really doing nothing.

I cannot fucking BELIEVE this is happening again. And oh, I'm fully embracing the irony.

Hello all.

I'm having a crappy day so far. My hip and back hurt. Yesterday it was my ankle, I think I was favoring my ankle and that messed up my hip. I need new ahtheltic shoes and possibly have someone look at my hips and legs again since one is shorter.

I feel like doing nothing and there's a long list of stuff to do and I'm not in the Xmas mood.

I haven't been sleeping and today, well the past few days, it's just really really hitting me that Christmas is not going to be the same. It's just really hitting me hard, that I'm never ever going to see my cousin again.

Hey, hospitals have morphine pumps, Tep! And you still have HOPE, right? Just not, um, mobility?

Ok, morphine. I hope you get it fixed quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Oh, askye, honey. I'ma feel for you. Holidays suck for depression. That's why Halloween is my fave -- you don't have to worry about money, and there's no happyhappyjoyjoy pressure -- you're just asked to be slutty or comedic, or both.

Hey, hospitals have morphine pumps, Tep! And you still have HOPE, right? Just not, um, mobility?

Hospitals have morphine and I have a cell phone, as some of you may remember from my drug-and-dials lo these 5+ years ago.

Man, I had to miss a party last night that I was really looking forward to, and unless a miracle occurs, a party *tonight* that is going to be big and a LOT of fun.

Damn it damn it damn it.

Put tinsel on the pump, give it a flogger and sneak out! Good times.

Oh, shit, Tep, that sounds excruciating. I'm vibing for any decent resolution that's possible; you've been hit with a truly unjust share of emotional and physical ills lately, and it's time for some good thing to break your way.

And askye.

And double, triple long past time for ita.

God, how desperately I want fixing-everything-for-everyone superpowers. Or at least a universal medical professional inspirational cluestick.

Oh, shit, Tep, that sounds excruciating. I'm vibing for any decent resolution that's possible; you've been hit with a truly unjust share of emotional and physical ills lately, and it's time for some good thing to break your way.

During one of my panic attacks (a couple of weeks ago, pre-back-pain), I was weeping and apologizing to The Boy for my weepiness, and he told me that I don't cry *nearly* as often as other women.

Now, I'm not sure how wide of a sample he's basing that on, but I generally think he's right; I tend to cry only when I'm frustrated or my heart is broken.

The pain I'm having right now is so bad that all I can do is weep uncontrollably; between yesterday and today, I think I've had about 10 full-on (fully deserved) crying jags.

I asked The Boy this morning if all my back-pain-related crying was making up for my general lack of crying. (He said no, that I still had a huge deficit to make up.)

I'm so angry with myself, because I think this was all caused by my stupid idea of running at the gym 2 weeks ago. I just keep thinking, if only I could go back and NOT run, if only I could take it back, if only I could go back to that point in time and just walk around the track, or ride the bike, or even go home.

I know we have to live with the consequences of our choices, whether they're bad or good, but oh my god. I can't believe I deserve *this* kind of pain just for running.

Oh, I *love* that transcript. HAHAHAHAH. And I love Rahm. Love.

Do feel very bad for Teppy though. :(

Damn, Teppy. That just sucks.