( continues...) is the 7:25 train to Vermont. Leaving at a bit after noon. And, wonder of wonders, it is actually stopping at my NJ stop on the way to Vermont.

The train ride itself was fairly uneventful. Read a book, ate a veggie burger from the cafe car. (The Amtrak veggie burgers, by the way, are disgusting. The burger and bun and put in a plastic bag together and then microwaved like that. It is devoid of any moisture whatsoever. I added three packets of ketchup and one of mustard, and the bun sopped all if it up immediately.) The guy sitting next to me got a roast beef sandwich which didn't look much better. But, it was food. Not starving or anything.

Get to NJ, and my dad picks me up at the station. We've got to make a few stops on the way home, which means driving around a bit through a few different small towns. And, in contrast to DC, every single street is plowed. Even little tiny side streets. Every business owner and house owner has shoveled their sidewalks.

Finally home. Ate dinner, watched Holiday Inn, fell asleep. Just woke up again.

I shall consult the dr in the morning. assuming the dr works on monday....and i'm pretty sure his only hours are tues wed thurs, but i already called in suck tomorrow in order to pursue medical assistance. And to try out my cunning sleep plan which goes something along the lines of: dope up, sleep for 4 hours, wake up in pain, re-dope, sit on the sofa icing and reading a few chapters in a very stooopid book, then hobble back to bed and sleep for another 4 hours. I think this is a marvelous plan. Now can someone bring me bonbons and a stylish cane?

Wow, Hil, I'm glad that you got where you were going and sorry that it was such a nightmare to get there.

erin, I'm sure you know this already, but elevating or soaking in water (any temp) are helpful for swelling.

Also?

called in suck

Funny typo. You don't know how many times I would have liked to call in suck.

Off to bed with me! Night, Bitches!

Night to the sleeping Bitches. Yours Truly, ftr, is trying to wake up.

It's painful.

erin, I hope you're better.

Hil, that's quite a way to end a week. Your description of some parts really reminded my of Israeli mentality:

I forgot to factor in that I live in DC, where everybody seems surprised every year to remember that yes, we get snow.

Switch DC with Israel, snow with rain and get the reason why every year, the poorest neighborhood it Tel Aviv is flooded.

How are you doing, Burrell?

Sorry to disappear on you. Someone snatched away the computer from me and then... stuff happened.... But I'm doing OK. I get tired easily and my torso gets achey, but I'm feeling way better than I was a couple of days ago. Thanks for asking.

There is a new acid reflux medication, for which I saw a commercial this morning: [link] The rather unfortunately named Aciphex. Yeah, say that out loud a few times.

Started the day by picking up my cup of tea and throwing it all over the carpet. It's a good thing that I'm having specialist hand physiotherapy in January. It's also a good thing that I moved my laptop off that bit of the carpet a few seconds earlier.

Hil, that sounds like a horrific journey. I'm glad you got there eventually.

erin_obscure, here's wishing you less-pain~ma. And here, have my stylish cane: [link]

Wishing GC, DW, and Shane the best possible birthday today!

Good luck to Gloomcookie and DW! Shane, I hope your entry into the world goes smoothly. Your parents are awesome and can't wait to meet you!

Shane, you're gonna love it in the world! You won't believe the stuff they've got out here! Okay, the first bit with the "light" and the "cold" is a bit of a shock, but then there's Milk! I'm telling ya, kid, you'll love it.