My mom found Vicks' VapoRub highly effective for treating the burn from radiation.

I used aloe vera gel and Aquaphor, which seemed to work pretty well, although I did end up with burns at the end. There is one good thing about have chemo and then radiation, which is that radiation is so much easier. The weirdest part about radiation is that people are always drawing on you with magic markers.

Happy birthday, Jessica!

Yay GC's cancer free friend! I'm so happy every time I hear that cancer has, in fact, been fucked.

Speaking of which (in a roundabout way), Shir, that is a gorgeous picture, but wow. I would never, ever, ever have had the nerve to hang something like that on my bedroom wall when I was sharing a house with either parent. You've got (dirty) courage, woman!

The weirdest part about radiation is that people are always drawing on you with magic markers.

True, true. When K-Bug had radiation therapy, that was the worst part of the whole process for her. Being drawn on.

Oh sweet Jesus. I work for a pharmaceutical publisher, yeah? We publish journals about drugs and drug-related devices, which includes vaccines.

One of my co-workers is 7 months pregnant with her first. She refuses to get vaccinated for H1N1 because -- and I quote -- "I don't want to give my baby autism. Plus, you know that vaccine hasn't been tested, and I don't want to be a guinea pig for vaccine companies."

I literally couldn't respond. Because it's not cool to tell your co-worker how completely ignorant what just came out of her mouth was.

(She is not, I should mention, an editor. Thank god.)

Look at your tagline, Steph. Maybe that will give you some comfort.

Look at your tagline, Steph. Maybe that will give you some comfort.

Ah, the wisdom of Shrift.

(I would feel bad punching pregnant!co-worker, although I would be okay with a Three Stooges-style poke to the brain.)

One of my co-workers is 7 months pregnant with her first. She refuses to get vaccinated for H1N1 because -- and I quote -- "I don't want to give my baby autism. Plus, you know that vaccine hasn't been tested, and I don't want to be a guinea pig for vaccine companies."

Head. EXPLODY.

Head. EXPLODY.

Right? I get annoyed enough at anti-vaccination people, but good god, she's confusing her anti-vaccine propaganda! H1N1 vaccine doesn't cause autism; it's the series of childhood vaccines that do! Duh.

t /sarcasm

Ah well. And now I can't for the life of me recall why I thought you did. Sorry about that.

Cause it sounds like Math?

(Do you guys know 'Jeeves & Wooster'? Very funny early 90s stuff - worth watching.)

Oh yes, quite brilliant. I have Jeeves waking me up each morning these days. (good morning, madam! The world is awaiting your rising. Shall I alert the media?)

Niggardly is a perfectly good word, which we cannot use anymore because so many people are ignorant.

I’m not ignorant (of theword’s meaning, anyway) and it still gives a knee jerk reaction. Yes, it’s a perfectly good word, but why use a word that is (or seems to be) loaded with negative connotation when there are plenty of others to suffice?

I also mourn the loss of the ability to use the word "gay" to mean what it actually fucking means.

At UVA, we sing “The Good Ol’ Song” when the football team scores (and New Year’s, and many other occasions where there’s a bunch of drunk Wahoos, like weddings) There’s a line “where all is bright and gay” and a disturbing number of people yell “not gay!” after the line. (at which I yell out “homophobic bastards”)

I get annoyed enough at anti-vaccination people, but good god, she's confusing her anti-vaccine propaganda!

And there IS a thimerisol-free version of the H1N1 vaccine available for the truly paranoid.