Omnis, thanks for asking. Zoe is coming home today. We won't know whether the tumor was malignant or benign until later this week, and that's the news that has my stomach in knots since a malignant diagnosis means we only bought her a month or two. Anyway, I'm trying not to think about it too much.

Much ~ma to Buffistas and their loved ones who are sick or hurting right now. Feel better ~ma to all.

Continued ~ma for good news for Zoe.

I need a vacation. Seriously, I know they're teenage boys, I know they have no experience with it in reality, I KNOW it's in their nature to make judgments, but seriously, passing judgment on what people "should" do when there's a gun? SO. IRRITATING. And... you know... completely understandable. But also SHUT UP YOU IDIOT WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NERVE SHUT UP.

Ahem. Peace and calm and understanding. They're boys! Whatcha gonna do?

Stop being sick. I command it!

Well, I tried.

the city of fremont collect money for families and seniors that need help -- found out they are short. The short notice came out friday and from my neighborhood we have raised about half of what we need.

food banks are hurting everywhere -- so if you know of one - donate. $$ or food.

have we heard from Aimee yet?

beth read my mind. I was just wondering the same thing.

So, my primary-care doctor called me and said that he'd like me to get an MRI. He said I've been having too much weirdness with my back over the past 2 years, which I guess I have. He has to take care of the pre-certification, and then his office will let me know when I can get it done.

Our health insurance pays 90% of the MRI *after* we've met a $500-per-calendar-year deductible. Well, I haven't met *any* of the deductible this year, so I'm going to have to cough up $500. Which I have an emergency fund for, so it's okay, but still -- ouch.

My co-worker suggested that -- unless the pain comes back in a bad way -- I should wait until January to get the MRI, because if I get it now, with only 2 weeks left in 2008, then my $500 deductible "re-sets" at the beginning of 2009 all over again.

Good point. So unless the pain comes back as bad as it was over the weekend, or unless my doctor can come up with a convincing reason that I *must* get the MRI in the next 2 weeks, I'll do it, but I'm going to wait until January 2.

I'm at work right now, and my back still feels the same as earlier -- uncomfortable, but not PAINPAINPAIN. I'm okay sitting, which I wasn't last week, even *before* the PAINPAINPAIN. So, to me, that seems like improvement. I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on how it progresses.

I should wait until January to get the MRI, because if I get it now, with only 2 weeks left in 2008, then my $500 deductible "re-sets" at the beginning of 2009 all over again.

Besides, with it not being at emergency levels, getting something scheduled at this time of year is a crapshoot.

And yes, stick it to the Insurance Man! Wipe out that deductible early! Before Hubby got on Medicaid, we'd morbidly wonder just how early in the year we'd wipe out the deductible. Really, it was a bitch to get onto, but disability has been a godsend. It's like in D&D, where you get a modifier and get to roll on a whole different table. (the geek tag never closes). It covers his doctor copays--big ass chunk of money some months--big hunks of hospital stays, etc. etc.

Oh, and it's probably going to wipe out the student loan that's been fucking with our lives for our entire married life! Take that, Bitch of an Ex Wife!

I also realized my throat is hoarse today, and couldn't figure out why.

Duh. All the howling and wailing I was doing Saturday at the hospital. I mean, *really.* You would never think I was capable of that level of (justifiable) histrionics.