One of my friends is visiting Turkey now. She's black. Apparently black people are rare in Turkey, because some Turkish people came up to her and asked if they could take their picture with her. She posted about this on facebook, and a few of her friends said that the same thing had happened to them in a few other countries.

Oddly enough, I've been to Maputo.

That's not odd at all.

I'm so glad I didn't take up my sister's offer to visit Turkey next week. Ha!

In Russia I was a constant centre of attention, attracting crowds of schoolkids and pointing adults, as well as one excitable man who "really loved niggers!" He was there with his camera for the Negroes too.

Best 7AM call ever. The MRI machine at Santa Monica was down so I got my 9AM appointment switched with a 7:45 Westwood one, where I met a nice Jamaican young man named Mark Antony (that's his first name) and was able to stage a minor sit in to get my prescription refilled at my migraine doctor's office.

Despite me having told him to his face a week ago, he didn't write it until I showed up. 1 email, 2 phone calls, and no one did shit.

Your migraine doctor sucks, ita. But I'm glad you got the prescription!

Wow ita, you are all TCB this morning.

Happy anniversary Sparky! And happy b-day to JZ and to Hec! (Yes it's a day early, but I may be offline all or most of tomorrow.)

I need to go clear out a mouse nest from my sister's apartment. I cannot put into words how grossed out I am by this. Spent yesterday with my brother, which was a good thing but it is oddly draining and exhausting. He needs people near him, but he is just hard to be near. Lots of anger, and even though he wasn't mad at me at all, it's just hard to be around and absorb all that anger and sadness. Today my cousin is coming by the apartment to pick up some stuff, and tomorrow I am hosting as many of my sister's friends do the same. It feels like a mini memorial for her, and I'm trying to gird my loins so I can be emotionally present for it.

Ugh, sorry for the over sharing.

Your migraine doctor sucks, ita.

Yes he does

Oh, Burrell, that sounds like a lot! Several separate exhausting things all in one weekend of suck.

Relatedly, I have got to clear out my spare room this weekend, and I think most of the stuff in there is still my grandmother's. I will be relieved/disappointed if it turns out to be mostly my crap! I should not have that much crap. But we shall see.

I'm glad you can tell us this stuff, Burrell. It's hard workk, being there for other grieving people, as well as the obviously hard work of being the one who has to clean out mouse nests, etc.

Your doctor's, ita. Jeesh. Glad for the early MRI, at least!

Nothing else gets accomplished today, probably.

Burrell, that's a heavy job.

Happy anniversary Sparky! Happy birthdays to JZ and Hec and JZ's dad.

I can't believe I was on my way home before I'd have been sliding into the original MRI. I don't know if this speeds up the epidural (it takes a while for the steroids to kick in in the mornings, so I had to have Mark Anthony take out my earrings), but I sure would like it.

I have been assuming it's outpatient.

Fuck, it better be outpatient.

Relatedly, I have got to clear out my spare room this weekend, and I think most of the stuff in there is still my grandmother's.

I hope it's all stuff that's easy to sort and throw out or donate. Sentimental items can be tricky.

I am pretty sure the epidural is outpatient, ita. My cousin's wife has had several, so I can ask her. She's coming up with Bob this afternoon, which I take as a sign that's she's feeling well these days as the 2 hour drive can be hard if her back is in pain.