Right on, Erin.

I have to get ready to meet friends now, and I've been sitting here googling like a mad woman. So, I guess "breathe and let it go," didn't happen. Oops.

Immigration rants make me nuts, too. The far majority of what I do at work is immigration; getting people their visas, filing the necessary paperwork for living/working in the US, greencard applications, etc. It's difficult to do when you're a brilliant PhD with skills and knowledge that you can prove no US citizen has, empirically. I mean, hugely difficult.

And you'd think it wouldn't be such a gantlet, given the idea that wouldn't we rather brain-drain someone else's country for the best and brightest, the hardest working, the people who risk their lives just to be here? Most of the people bitching are citizens by fate. They didn't have to do anything to be here, they were just born, completely ignorant of what privilege they just lucked into.

I say, "go pick lettuce in California on a sunny afternoon." Be a migrant farmworker for a day. Tell me these folks aren't working their goddamned asses off so you can get a cheap Caesar at Panera while loudly bitching about speaking English and stealing jobs.

Which is also an oversimplification. I know. But my back goes straight up over it. I don't want to go all "magical immigrant," and then I reread my posts about the issue and realize that's what I sound like.

I've heard my Russian immigrants talk about their sponsors at JPL in these terms, "he saved us." And these are people who provide the DoD with needed science. Give them a fucking green card. Can you provide balls-on GPS tracking with the lowest possible noise? Do you know jack shit about whispering gallery modes? Do you want to fund science education in the US? No? Then STFU and be grateful for my immigrants.

Zen, I hate to say it, but being 48 is probably another reason they want to do the D&C first, since they're probably thinking you're perimenopausal, and the problem should be resolved in the next 5-10 years. OTOH, if a gyno doesn't have a up close and personal knowledge of living with the joys of uterine and menstrual related craziness, they don't GET that even 6 more months of it really afects your quality of life. Are you happy with your gyno? If you're not, you can remind me what city you're in, and I would be happy to call mine and she if she can knows a gyno in your area -- I wish I could ship her to you, since she is kick-ass.

I'm really sorry it is stressing you out so bad, and I'm a little concerned that they haven't talked to you about anesthesia for it.

Can you call your gyno and tell her you're really stressing about it, and need to know more details about anesthesia? If you're having a procedure done, and you're stressing so hard-core about it, she should really explain exactly what will happen and try to alleviate some of your anxiety about it.

And did she Rx the Valium? (I am SO DOWN with taking Valium before a procedure -- my doc gave my a little scrip before I had the bump taken off my arm with a local, but if they're putting you into twilight, I just wonder about interactions -- I want you to be okay!)

Cereal:

Allyson, ITA. Most people don't know how very hard and expensive it is to get a green card. My friend P was illegal for 5 years, and she's a lawyer from a comfortably well-off professional family from Peru who speaks excellent English.

The average illegal immigrant? Has not the resources to successfully go through the long, drawn-out process. To even try, most people basically get deported and have to go through channels. And it costs thousands of dollars.

So many people bleat "But they're breaking the la-a-aw!" re: immigration--as they blithely cheat on their taxes and routinely drive over the speed limit.

Erin, thank you. My previous gyno moved to another city, alas, but the woman I saw this time was really competent and compassionate. She "validated my experience" telling me that the pain I was having was too much to put up with. I don't know if I'm perimenopausal, no one's actually said that word to me yet. My periods are regular as fucking clockwork, they're just evil.

I will call and ask to talk about anesthesia - if they aren't planning any, I'll ask why not. I'm a little concerned about it now! The gyno didn't script the Valium - I told her I have it already, for anxiety, and told her I would taking some before the procedure. I will make certain about possible interactions with any other sedative or painkiller before I take anything.

Crap. I can't believe I'm being such a wimp about this. Normally the only thing that freaks me out, medically, is a blood draw.

For a D&C local anesthesia is standard, I'm pretty sure. Doctors don't like to use general unless it's absolutely necessary because the potential risks are so much higher.

Allyson, ITA. Most people don't know how very hard and expensive it is to get a green card.

It costs us about 10k in order to get a green card for one of our scientists. It makes me bananas because I keep thinking, "but the US NEEDS this human." And it's not just this person/scientist. There are people in all walks of life who add a great deal of talent and skill and shoulder-to-the-wheel to the US. It shouldn't be this hard.

Jen, congrats on the smoking thing, but this part about your sleep schedule has me laughing:

I'm thinking 11a-7a

Man, you are going to get some GOOD sleep.

Ok, so we are pretty sure someone just tried to come into our house while we were still lounging in bed. Very glad we have Kaylee. Police are coming to take a report. Didn't see anyone--just heard the little three beeps of the alarm system that means someone is opening a door and heard Kaylee start barking madly at the back door by our bedroom. We assumed it was our guest in the back house at first but then found out it wasn't and called the police to file a report. Belated adrenaline dump.