Well, that relief was certainly short lived. I went to sleep at midnight. At two, I rolled over again and *zap*! resume shooting pain.
Fricative and argelfraster!
I really expected those really painful injections into my neck to provide relief that would last longer than forty hours. So now I'm up, after only two hour sleep, having Grape Nuts so that I can take three different types of pain relief (yes, they can all be taken together). Then I'll attempt to go back to sleep and hope desperately that I'll be able to get everything done tomorrow that I need to.
But I'm SO FRUSTRATED!!! Why is the pain BACK!?!? And WHY the BLAZES am I awake after only two hours sleep!?!?
As much FUN as I'm having, I'm ready to lead a boring, normal life now.
09 October 2009
08 October 2009
A Handful of Randomness
Thought #1-- Tuesday (either this past Tuesday or the one before it), I was on a break during my late-afternoon class (morphology) and was walking toward the restroom. My Jackie-friend had come out of the classroom a few moments after I did and was behind me some distance in the hallway. Apparently she called out, "Hey, Cripple!", but didn't want to do it too loudly, because she knew that much of the world would find such an exclamation to be offensive. It reminds me of a topic discussed in another linguistics class (I warned you, I have a linguistics reference for everything!) where we talked about social marketplaces and symbolic capital, communities of practice and indexing... basically how you show that you are part of a group and perform your identity. The fact that my Jackie-friend can call me a cripple and that I can call myself one in her presence (like the recent blog about another classmate and "cripple parking") shows the relationship we have. (Another fantastic example of this is given in Marlita Hill's speech. Check out the videos! #1 and #2)
Thought #2-- I had a ling test today (more linguistics. This is why I blog. Because my friends just can't take it anymore). It was for LING 100: English Grammar and Syntax. I went to the testing services (I get disability services on tests) and was, shall we say, rather amused by the amount of difficulty that was a part of taking this simple little test. In all, it probably took me twenty minutes max to take. But it actually took two hours. Why? Well, first, because of budget issues, they are grossly understaffed. Which means there are no students to answer phones, pass out exams, etc. So even though I was scheduled to begin at 10, it was at least five past before they began setting me up for my exam. Then they put me in the wrong room. See, the computer program I use for drawing sentence trees (yes, sentences grow on trees) was only installed on two computers. And the computer they put me on wasn't one of them. After getting on the right computer, I found that the program wasn't installed properly, since it wouldn't open. (Of course, the other computer it was supposed to be on wouldn't boot at all.) So after having the student at the desk look at it... and the secretary... and the disability services coordinator... a call was put in to the tech department. Meanwhile, I did the multiple choice and then drew the trees on my white board. (I can write on a white board a good deal longer than on paper. But it was interesting cramming all five trees on my little white board!) Then the tech dweebs came and tried to figure out why the program wasn't working. Interesting fellows. Not exactly the brightest stars in their field. Finally the program worked. I think there's a glitch in the program, though, because when you try to export the trees as images, the files don't work right. On my computer, I can just tell it to open with paint or some other image editing software and it does. Not on the DSS computer, though. (Thankfully I know how to use print screens, though, so I managed to solve that without issue.) Click click typety click and I was all done. It was rather interesting to see though: the student passing off the issue to the nearest person in authority. The secretary looking at the computer in bafflement. The DSS coordinator getting angry at the tech department for messing up. The tech dweebs for being totally unprepared and uninformed. (And for it taking two to log in, reinstall, and change a setting. Really?) And me, watching in amusement.
Thought #3-- Oh, yes, my doctor's appointment! I almost forgot. Short little appointment. My doc says I have a pinched nerve in my neck. So we're adding Aleve for a few days and hoping that the inflammation goes away and doesn't come back. If it does, I'm to call and get sent to a spinal specialist for another injection (this time more accurate than what they can do in the ER). But I can move my head today! Yay! Almost full range of motion and very little pain. (The skin is hypersensitive, but that may be due to the injections.) The doc says he thinks this is a one-time thing and that once it goes away I shouldn't have persistent trouble with it.
Thought #4-- After the doc appt, I went back to campus to talk with my professor and apologize for having to leave in the middle of her class. We had a great chat: linguistics, books, families, fieldwork... it was fabulous. I got some great book recommendations and always enjoy picking her brain. Good times.
Well, I have other thoughts floating around, but they are more complicated to put into the two-dimensional bloggosphere, so they shall wait and be mused upon some more.
Busy day tomorrow: Meeting with the advisor of my honor society, another appointment, and then with my second graders.
Thought #2-- I had a ling test today (more linguistics. This is why I blog. Because my friends just can't take it anymore). It was for LING 100: English Grammar and Syntax. I went to the testing services (I get disability services on tests) and was, shall we say, rather amused by the amount of difficulty that was a part of taking this simple little test. In all, it probably took me twenty minutes max to take. But it actually took two hours. Why? Well, first, because of budget issues, they are grossly understaffed. Which means there are no students to answer phones, pass out exams, etc. So even though I was scheduled to begin at 10, it was at least five past before they began setting me up for my exam. Then they put me in the wrong room. See, the computer program I use for drawing sentence trees (yes, sentences grow on trees) was only installed on two computers. And the computer they put me on wasn't one of them. After getting on the right computer, I found that the program wasn't installed properly, since it wouldn't open. (Of course, the other computer it was supposed to be on wouldn't boot at all.) So after having the student at the desk look at it... and the secretary... and the disability services coordinator... a call was put in to the tech department. Meanwhile, I did the multiple choice and then drew the trees on my white board. (I can write on a white board a good deal longer than on paper. But it was interesting cramming all five trees on my little white board!) Then the tech dweebs came and tried to figure out why the program wasn't working. Interesting fellows. Not exactly the brightest stars in their field. Finally the program worked. I think there's a glitch in the program, though, because when you try to export the trees as images, the files don't work right. On my computer, I can just tell it to open with paint or some other image editing software and it does. Not on the DSS computer, though. (Thankfully I know how to use print screens, though, so I managed to solve that without issue.) Click click typety click and I was all done. It was rather interesting to see though: the student passing off the issue to the nearest person in authority. The secretary looking at the computer in bafflement. The DSS coordinator getting angry at the tech department for messing up. The tech dweebs for being totally unprepared and uninformed. (And for it taking two to log in, reinstall, and change a setting. Really?) And me, watching in amusement.
Thought #3-- Oh, yes, my doctor's appointment! I almost forgot. Short little appointment. My doc says I have a pinched nerve in my neck. So we're adding Aleve for a few days and hoping that the inflammation goes away and doesn't come back. If it does, I'm to call and get sent to a spinal specialist for another injection (this time more accurate than what they can do in the ER). But I can move my head today! Yay! Almost full range of motion and very little pain. (The skin is hypersensitive, but that may be due to the injections.) The doc says he thinks this is a one-time thing and that once it goes away I shouldn't have persistent trouble with it.
Thought #4-- After the doc appt, I went back to campus to talk with my professor and apologize for having to leave in the middle of her class. We had a great chat: linguistics, books, families, fieldwork... it was fabulous. I got some great book recommendations and always enjoy picking her brain. Good times.
Well, I have other thoughts floating around, but they are more complicated to put into the two-dimensional bloggosphere, so they shall wait and be mused upon some more.
Busy day tomorrow: Meeting with the advisor of my honor society, another appointment, and then with my second graders.
07 October 2009
Another Day, Another Diagnosis
This morning started early for me--like four a.m. early. (And let me mention that I am not a morning person. I am a night owl. So four a.m. is not user friendly to me.) At four I rolled over in bed and had pain shoot through my neck and down my shoulder. And it hurt like madness. And it wouldn't go away. (And neck pain is one of those "don't mess with this" pains.) So it was off to the ER with me.
Well, after paperwork and poking and prodding, the doctor determined that I have myofascial pain (basically a massive muscle spasm that creates a tender point and can act as a trigger point sending shooting pain). His suggestion was to inject lidocaine into the muscle. And let me tell you, the injections hurt even more. But my neck was numb for several hours, and I'm able to move much more easily. But now, many hours later, the lidocaine is wearing off and even the skin over the muscle is sensitive.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow (which will require me to miss half of one of my linguistics classes, which doesn't make me happy) and we'll see what happens from that.
Well, after paperwork and poking and prodding, the doctor determined that I have myofascial pain (basically a massive muscle spasm that creates a tender point and can act as a trigger point sending shooting pain). His suggestion was to inject lidocaine into the muscle. And let me tell you, the injections hurt even more. But my neck was numb for several hours, and I'm able to move much more easily. But now, many hours later, the lidocaine is wearing off and even the skin over the muscle is sensitive.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow (which will require me to miss half of one of my linguistics classes, which doesn't make me happy) and we'll see what happens from that.
05 October 2009
World Teacher's Day
"5 October is a day to celebrate teachers and the central role they play in guiding children, youths & adults through the life-long learning process." Teachers have played a huge role in my life, for the past twenty years.
Marilee Ragland, my 2nd grade teacher-- I remember doing more art in her class than math or reading, but I loved it. We worked with clay... (I made a turtle)... we drew upside-down... made hats for Easter that had rabbit ears...
Ms. Welte, my 3rd grade teacher-- I started wanting to become a teacher because of Mrs. Welte. I remember measuring out the size of whales on the basketball court.
Kasey Jonesrebandt, my junior high choir teacher-- I loved Mrs. J! She gave me a lot of responsibility and helped me reach my potential as a leader in the classroom.
Margaret Higashida, my junior high computer science teacher-- She really let me be creative, which is something I really needed in junior high.
David Thuleen, my high school physics teacher-- His classes were so fun! We got to drop things and throw things and build things, and everything involved stick figures.
Mr. Raymond, my senior English teacher-- I really learned how to write well in this class. I owe him a lot.
Kelley Bell, my high school choir teacher-- I loved Mrs. Bell, too! Again, I was really given responsibility and so many opportunities!
And many of my professors in college:
Matthew Estes, history-- I learned to appreciate history, even if I still don't like it.
Jocelyn Ahlers, linguistics-- The professor who introduced me to my passion: linguistics! This professor continues to inspire me and has really been there for me.
Jule Gomez de Garcia, linguistics-- Another ling professor, this one has gotten me into a fieldwork project and let me adopt it as my own.
So thank you to all of these teachers and all they have done for me!
Marilee Ragland, my 2nd grade teacher-- I remember doing more art in her class than math or reading, but I loved it. We worked with clay... (I made a turtle)... we drew upside-down... made hats for Easter that had rabbit ears...
Ms. Welte, my 3rd grade teacher-- I started wanting to become a teacher because of Mrs. Welte. I remember measuring out the size of whales on the basketball court.
Kasey Jonesrebandt, my junior high choir teacher-- I loved Mrs. J! She gave me a lot of responsibility and helped me reach my potential as a leader in the classroom.
Margaret Higashida, my junior high computer science teacher-- She really let me be creative, which is something I really needed in junior high.
David Thuleen, my high school physics teacher-- His classes were so fun! We got to drop things and throw things and build things, and everything involved stick figures.
Mr. Raymond, my senior English teacher-- I really learned how to write well in this class. I owe him a lot.
Kelley Bell, my high school choir teacher-- I loved Mrs. Bell, too! Again, I was really given responsibility and so many opportunities!
And many of my professors in college:
Matthew Estes, history-- I learned to appreciate history, even if I still don't like it.
Jocelyn Ahlers, linguistics-- The professor who introduced me to my passion: linguistics! This professor continues to inspire me and has really been there for me.
Jule Gomez de Garcia, linguistics-- Another ling professor, this one has gotten me into a fieldwork project and let me adopt it as my own.
So thank you to all of these teachers and all they have done for me!
03 October 2009
Banned Books Week
Well, one of my favourite weeks of the year comes to an end today: Banned banned
I, personally, am highly opposed to censorship. To quote Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." While I personally may not like the message of some books, first of all, it's all data: Not only is there a message in the text, but there's also information to be gained about myself and why I didn't like the book. And secondly, who am I to say what another should be able to read or think?
So here is a list of banned
Lord of the Flies, William Golding
1984, George Orwell -- Anyone else see the irony of having this book on the list? Oh, yes. Let's ban books that talk about censorship and the destruction of the freedom of thought.
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
Scary Stories (Series), Alvin Schwartz.
Bridge to Terabithia , Katherine Paterson -- One of my favourite books ever. Beautiful touching story.
The Giver & other works, Lois Lowry -- Another favourite book. Fantastically written. A thought experiment about what happens if we give up our liberties.
Alice (Series), Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Great Gilly Hopkins, Katherine Paterson
The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, & others, Roald Dahl -- His works were some of my favourites when I was in elementary school, and I still love them.
A Wrinkle in Time & other works, Madeline L'Engle -- Fantastic book By a fantastic author who is greatly missed.
Blubber & Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, as well as others, Judy Blume
The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
Harry Potter (Series), J. K. Rowling -- Every time I read these I am impressed by the complexity of the plot and the genius of the work.
A Light in the Attic & other works, Shel Silverstein -- Fantastic & creative. Yes, Shel Silverstein didn't like kids, but his books were clever and witty.
The Face on the Milk Carton, Caroline B. Cooney
The Dead Zone, Stephen King
The Adventures of Tome Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, & others, Mark Twain
Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey, Margaret Peterson Haddix
The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury -- Again, anyone see the irony here? Ban a book that shows what could happen in a society where books are banned.
Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky, Peeky Spying, Barbara Park
The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West & others, I'm sure, Gregory Maguire
Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer
Canterbury Tales, Chaucer
The Arabian Nights, Sir Richard Burton
The Bible
Many works by William Shakespeare
Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Grimm Brothers
The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne Frank
Lysistrata, Aristophanes
How to Eat Fried Worms, Thomas Rockwell
The works of Lewis Carrol
02 October 2009
Limited Time Only: Pay More, Get LESS!!!
Today is Friday, but it's not just any Friday... it's Admin Furlough Friday (henceforth called AFF)! This means that all (or almost all) of the administration at Cal Furlough State San Marcos was not at work. Nor are they allowed to answer their phones or emails. The campus was dead.
Oh, except for a few dozen credential program students who showed up for a professional development seminar. It is mandatory that we attend three such seminars this semester, and as the majority of them are scheduled right on top of classes we must also attend, this was one of the few my cohort could go to.
Guess how many of us showed up? Two. Yup. Me and one other.
But it gets WAY better.
I arrived at 16:15 (for a seminar that was scheduled to start at 16:30). There were maybe ten people total in the room at 16:30, but no presenters. And the room is really warm because they don't run the air conditioner on AFF's. So we wait... and wait... and wait... until one girl mentions that she got an email telling her the room had been changed. Huh... funny... none of us got such an email. So said student goes across campus to check in the other building. Yup. Sure enough, the meeting had been moved. Now that we were all a half hour late, we trekked across campus (well, most of them trekked. I drove. Perk of "cripple parking" is parking close. Oh, and calling it "cripple parking" totally tickled my classmate).
So we get to the other building and: It's locked. Apparently they don't unlock doors on AFF. We did eventually get into the building to find out that they also don't run the lights in some buildings on AFF. So the seminar was held in the hallway. Yippie. (And it was dull as dirt, thanks for asking. I love repeating things I've already learnt or consider common sense for the fifty-thousandth time. However, I did get a few more rows knitted on both the Hufflepuff scarf I'm knitting for my smallish sister and a few on my hedgerow mitts. And my classmate was entertained by my sarcastic running commentary.)
I was rather miffed.
Well, anyway, I ought to get some homework done--I have one hour before meeting husband, smallish sister, and ballroom dancing friends for dinner. Off to do linguistics! Yay, linguistics! Something happy after such a dumb seminar.
Oh, and happy National Sarcastic Awareness Month. This is a good time to make you aware that I am sarcastic. And most of the post above is sarcastic. And I'm sorry if I'm rambling... blame my painkillers.
Oh, except for a few dozen credential program students who showed up for a professional development seminar. It is mandatory that we attend three such seminars this semester, and as the majority of them are scheduled right on top of classes we must also attend, this was one of the few my cohort could go to.
Guess how many of us showed up? Two. Yup. Me and one other.
But it gets WAY better.
I arrived at 16:15 (for a seminar that was scheduled to start at 16:30). There were maybe ten people total in the room at 16:30, but no presenters. And the room is really warm because they don't run the air conditioner on AFF's. So we wait... and wait... and wait... until one girl mentions that she got an email telling her the room had been changed. Huh... funny... none of us got such an email. So said student goes across campus to check in the other building. Yup. Sure enough, the meeting had been moved. Now that we were all a half hour late, we trekked across campus (well, most of them trekked. I drove. Perk of "cripple parking" is parking close. Oh, and calling it "cripple parking" totally tickled my classmate).
So we get to the other building and: It's locked. Apparently they don't unlock doors on AFF. We did eventually get into the building to find out that they also don't run the lights in some buildings on AFF. So the seminar was held in the hallway. Yippie. (And it was dull as dirt, thanks for asking. I love repeating things I've already learnt or consider common sense for the fifty-thousandth time. However, I did get a few more rows knitted on both the Hufflepuff scarf I'm knitting for my smallish sister and a few on my hedgerow mitts. And my classmate was entertained by my sarcastic running commentary.)
I was rather miffed.
Well, anyway, I ought to get some homework done--I have one hour before meeting husband, smallish sister, and ballroom dancing friends for dinner. Off to do linguistics! Yay, linguistics! Something happy after such a dumb seminar.
Oh, and happy National Sarcastic Awareness Month. This is a good time to make you aware that I am sarcastic. And most of the post above is sarcastic. And I'm sorry if I'm rambling... blame my painkillers.
Tradition...
'Tis customary, I suppose, to initiate a new blog with a description of why one is blogging.
So behold, here I am. I have registered to my name at this moment over a dozen blogs. So why do I need another, you ask? I'm actually consolidating. I'm joining my two presently active blogs here. So while this is actually my first post here, there will be many posts dated older than this one as I transfer them over from my other blogs.
This blog may contain anything from school to medical stuff to knitting to whatever else strikes my fancy. So here we are. Yay for us. (Oh, and happy National Sarcastic Awareness Month.)
So behold, here I am. I have registered to my name at this moment over a dozen blogs. So why do I need another, you ask? I'm actually consolidating. I'm joining my two presently active blogs here. So while this is actually my first post here, there will be many posts dated older than this one as I transfer them over from my other blogs.
This blog may contain anything from school to medical stuff to knitting to whatever else strikes my fancy. So here we are. Yay for us. (Oh, and happy National Sarcastic Awareness Month.)
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