Hee, Connie, last physical I said something to my Dr about how I know stress eating is bad, but if a handful (or 2) of peanut M&M's actually do help you feel better... She wouldn't quite get on board with okaying it, but she did acknowledge that at least there's protein with the peanut M&M's. My Dr's pretty cool.

My appointment was, in fact, onerous. But the woman was very nice and helpful, unlike that prick.

So good news, erika? Or at least helpful next steps?

Yeah...the doctor was totally on board and was like "Do you want this on letterhead?" And I was like "Yes, thanks, cute pregnant doctor. That would be most excellent." She does kind of think I'm Tragic But Brave, though. Which I don't love ETA: The paperwork goes in Monday, but I'm not sure when the decision part happens. It's just weird, cause some places in my life...helpless is good. But when I'm writing or talking politics I have to be all "check me out, I'm mad competent," it's no wonder I'm practically nuts.

Good news, erika. I'm glad you have someone on your side, even if she isn't ideal, it's good that she is willing to help.

I have really bad neck pain. I also have Vicodin, a heating pad, and Animaniacs DVDs. I hope something in this combination helps.

That sounds like a magic combination, actually. Fingers crossed that it helps.

After I know he's turned his report in, I will, with either medicare or the visiting physicians' group he's with (whose logo was displayed on his jacket, bag, and car), or both

What a giant asshole. I'm glad you are, as you say, mentally healthy and able to not shoot yourself down, but also competent to kick his ass professionally. Jesus. Completely inappropriate (and doesn't tend to give confidence that he will treat your father or any other patient with care and respect, if he can't even treat not-his-patients with it).

It's just weird, cause some places in my life...helpless is good. But when I'm writing or talking politics I have to be all "check me out, I'm mad competent,"

Well, yeah. Helpless in body and needing that assistance has zip to do with competence in brain. :)

Well, the Vicodin, rather than making me silly like it usually does, seems to be making me morose, and I'm stuck in a "why don't I have a boyfriend?" loop. And it's helping the pain some, but not enough, so I took some more. (Still within the limits of how much I'm supposed to have, but more than I usually need.)

My onerous tasks, which were not terribly onerous but had to be done, we're talking to Biyi's parents about modifications to the house to make them feel more at home, and about optional excursions on the NZ cruise we're taking next month. Work was the anti-onerous Friday. My boss was very pleased with the most excellent work I've done this week; and then he cancelled a deadline I had for next week. It was for one of our marketing efforts, but it hasn't been bearing fruit, so we're pulling it. (That's ok, we've been getting results through another avenue.) Now I have more time to get something up and running properly.