At my drama school about 80% of the women in choir (It was a required course.) were altos. It was really weird. I think there were 5 of us that were true sopranos. And I don't have a strong voice or much range either. I always preferred the alto parts.

So, when I first skimmed, I read altos as altoids and I kept thinking, "What do these people have against curiously strong mints?

Shit. I need a break.

Today I took Grace to two different doc appointments at UCLA, which took ~4 hours and included a blood draw (YIKES) and a chest xray. What surprises me is what good spirits she was in until the blood draw, which we did last. At the last pedes appointment, she got a shot (woe!) and had her ears lavaged out (so cool). Today, she keeps telling me that the doctors tickled her when they checked her glands at her neck. True, and I hope that's her big takeaway.

We're also changing her breathing treatments from nebulizer (which is effective like crazy) to inhalers, which is faster but less effective. I think this is the intervening weaning step.

AND she wore her speaking valve all medical time before the blood draw (why increase the volume for that?) and was great about it. Not panicking, and just really happy. We're bribing her with screen time to get it to work.

I still can't believe how mellow she was after spending all day at the doctor's office. Such a great kid!

She was pretty mellow. She slept for half the car-ride home. Then she was pissed that I woke her to go to the bathroom and then CVS, which I get.

I'm trying to figure out her med situation better. I'm so tired I can barely see. Perhaps this not the best time to do this?

Yeah, if you've got what you need for tonight dealt with, then try the improvements tomorrow. You had a big day, even if Grace was a trooper. Get some rest.

So the hide glue stuff seemed to go pretty well. I'll leave it tonight, and nothing will get stressed until Wednesday at least.

I also finished the mechanical side of the electronics, as far as getting them mounted (too close to the neck, oops, will have to notch that out). I'm trying to decide if any of the rest of the electronics work can be done ahead of the assembly, but I don't think so.

Sleep. Sleep is goodness.

I've been fighting with Devi for her to just go the fuck to sleep. It's partly age, partly a likely tumor. I'm not doing anything invasive to figure out which, the end is the same. I'm just watching for when Devi is uncomfortable. So far, she's got signs all isn't right but she's still engaged in things that piss her off. So, onward.

I made a pot of rice of the kind you brown and simmer tonight, and threw in a chopped onion and chopped orange bell pepper. Kind of bland, but it's healthy and I got 3 meals worth of food without having to brave the rain outside.

Yeah, if you've got what you need for tonight dealt with, then try the improvements tomorrow. You had a big day, even if Grace was a trooper. Get some rest.

This. I'm sorry it was such a rough day and wish you rest tonight.

So that job I thought I was up for? Doesn't exist. The Head at the nearby school apparently hired a new teacher for next year already without informing or consulting the English department. The friend who got me to apply in the first place feels awful, considering I spent hours on resume and such and got three people to write me letters of rec on short notice.

I'm feeling like I've been on a roller coaster. I hate roller coasters. Ah well.

Oh, Pix, that's awful. I'm really sorry.

Thanks. I don't know for sure what would have happened, of course, but I'd just let myself start thinking about a world where I didn't have to spend ten plus hours a week in my car and where I'd be making at least $10K more than I am currently. I'm trying to be philosophical about it and convince myself that I didn't really want to leave--and you know I had mixed feelings--but it was so exciting and out of the blue, and now it's just...flat. And my current admin knows I was ready to think about leaving, which is never a comfortable place to be.

Blah.