Archive for
July, 2006
July 18th, 2006
I had my ultrasound this morning. My spleen, my kidneys, and my liver didn’t betray me, but my gallbladder…
I’ve always prided myself on being all original parts and all in one piece, except for my wisdom teeth — I had no control over that. My parents were still in co-ownership of my person at that time. 
Now, apparently I have gallstones. The tech told me that they’re caused by dairy, which doesn’t make sense to me since dairy is supposed to be one of those things nutritionists tell us we need more of. Granted, Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: acid reflux, gallstones, gallbladder surgery
July 17th, 2006
Un-fucking-believable!
The Department of State reminds American citizens that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. For the portion of your trip directly handled by the U.S. Government we will ask you to sign a promissory note and we will bill you at a later date. In a subsequent message, when we have specific details about the transporation arrangments, we will inform you about the costs you will incur. We will also work with commercial aircraft to ensure that they have adequate flights to help you
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Tags: Lebanon, Israel, U.S. Embassy, Beirut
July 17th, 2006
O.K. I couldn’t resist. I bought these Bubble Buddy bubbles at Planet Dog during one of Pugly’s play groups. They were just too intriguing. Later that afternoon, we tried them out in the front yard. It took Pugly a bit to figure out that he was supposed to be paying attention to the bubbles and that they actually tasted like something and then he was really cute pouncing about the yard trying to catch them. I only
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Tags: Happy Dog Bubble Buddy, Planet Dog, Pug, the puppy
July 17th, 2006
This Thursday, July 20th, My Wonderful Dog, an organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities, will host Maine’s Dog Fest, a nationwide film festival for dogs and their people — dogless people are welcome too. I’m told by the My Wonderful Dog representative I met during puppy play group at Planet Dog over the weekend that it’ll be kind of like a night at the drive-in with your doggies. (If it rains, the date will be moved to July 27th.)
For a list of the featured film
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Tags: Dogfest
July 17th, 2006
“Why does the Air Force need expensive new bombers? Have the people we’ve been bombing over the years been complaining?”
– George Wallace
Tags: Quote of the Day
July 17th, 2006
Just wanted to follow up from Friday. The Endoscopy went well. The doctor said I have no ulcers. Didn’t look like there was anything to be concerned about in my innerds. Basically I don’t think he saw anything that could be causing the acid reflux at the level I’ve been having it.
The drugs have made me a little loopy. My experience has been that it takes me a bit for them to get completely out of my system. I’ll be slipping up with words and forgetting what I was saying and all sorts of
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Tags: endoscopy
July 15th, 2006
“Isn’t it interesting that the same people who laugh at science fiction listen to weather forecasts and economists?”
– Kelvin Throop III
Tags: Quote of the Day
July 14th, 2006
OK Light on posting today. Going in for an endoscopy procedure this afternoon which requires fasting since midnight. Feeling a bit light-headed, migrained and ill as a result.
Plus, the whole getting a ride into work and then getting a ride there and a ride home has been a complete nightmare in itself too.
I need one of those butlers that superheroes have like Batman’s Alfred to take care of me in these times of crisis.
At the very least I need a cookie and some water.
Tags: endoscopy
July 14th, 2006
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.”
– Daniel J. Boorstin
Tags: Quote of the Day
July 14th, 2006
Well, this is just -um- icky.
White Chocolate Maggots Tin: A wacky, yucky gift idea perhaps for your fisherman friend! A ring pull tin of maggot shaped white chocolate pieces. Does not contain real maggots.
(Emphasis is mine)
You can buy them here if you really can’t resist the curiosity. (Please note, while white chocolate is my personal favorite, I hope no one thinks to send me this as a stocking stuffer or birthday gift or etc.)
Hat tip to Strange New Products.
Tags: white chocolate, maggots
July 13th, 2006
In light of my recent attendance of a friend’s second wedding, the question was asked as to whether or not she wore white. She didn’t exactly. The questioner said that was good because he didn’t think brides should wear white at their second wedding.
I commented that she’d worn white at her first wedding though she’d lived with the groom for a year before that. Apparently, he thought that was fine.
I said that I guess the days of white signifying virginity are long gone and now it just means “first wedding.”
He said that was true.
I said “Well, if I got married, my dress would be real white.”
His reply was to be loudly offended — “I did not need to know that!”
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Tags: virginity
July 13th, 2006
So, I’m sure you’re dying to know what was playing on my iPod while I was wandering around magical Edinburg or trying to sleep on the airplane over the Atlantic. What haunted my spirit as I peered at the Stone of Destiny or searched for 221b Baker Street?
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Tags: iPod, iTunes, playlist, UK, vacation, Edinburgh, music
July 13th, 2006
- My Brookstone NAP Travel Pillow which was square. It’s not even on their website anymore. I had to buy one of the neck ones to replace it.
- My palm stylus.
- My brand new earphones I bought for the trip after Pugly chewed up the last ones.
- My umbrella, which I replaced with a mini-umbrella of the UK flag.
- Two pounds — kid you not.
Tags: UK, vacation, Brookstone
July 13th, 2006
Crayon Holder
by Steve, Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Sometimes it takes several decades to come up with a simple solution. Hell, sometimes it takes an eleven year old girl to find the solution.
The Crayon Holder is a hard plastic tube just wide enough to fit a crayon into. It allows you to insert those broken crayons and actually still use them.
I remember having to tape up my pieces when they broke, and even then, the whole thing
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Tags: Crayons
July 13th, 2006
“There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have.”
– Don Herold
Tags: Quote of the Day
July 12th, 2006
Thanks to my GP’s office, I’m now persona non grata in a number of doctors offices and clinics about town. Unfortunately, they’re doctors and clinics I need to see and visit.
When I left, my GP had left instructions with her staff to set up referral appointments with a Rhematoid Physician and an Imaging Clinic — one for a consultation and one for an ultrasound. The note on the paperwork said that all appointments should be made after July 11th. (You know, because I’d be out of the country.)
So, they made them all for before July 11th.
I
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Tags: wellness, FUBAR
July 12th, 2006
Well, the first sign of any trouble occurred when I reached the Boston airport. Somewhere between the bus from Portland and security, I lost my nifty really soft travel pillow. Logan airport’s security and Lost and found were extremely unhelpful and rude and ended up giving me a long distance number to call, which I’ve since lost. Hard to believe that lost and found is a long distance phone number.
So, my first expense on the trip was at the Logan airport buying a new one at the Brookstone kiosk (and they wouldn’t give me a discount for loyalty
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Tags: UK, Brookstone, Aer Lingus, Logan Airport, fibromyalgia
July 12th, 2006
Well, I’m home. I feel changed in some way by the experience. Someone asked me to pick one thing from my trip that I liked best but I can’t really pick just one thing in England or Edinburgh that I felt was more inspiring than anything else. I think I expected when I left to be most touched by Stonehenge but I was awestruck by the simple beauty of the seemingly unmarred landscape and the ancient architecture intermingling with hints of something seventies retro but rarely anything more harshly modern.
Anyway, more on that as I finish sorting
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Tags: UK, Keen Venice H2, Crocs, Stonehenge, shoes
July 4th, 2006
Here are a few things I’ve overheard while in England:
On a tour bus:
tour guide: If you just look down the street, you’ll see a police officer standing there; that means Margaret Thatcher is at home.
young woman with child: Margaret Thatcher? Is she someone famous?
tour guide: What?!
young woman: Is she someone famous?
tour guide: She’s only the most important Prime Minister of our time!
young woman: Oh. [pause] Well, I know Tony Blair. [pause] Well, I don’t know Tony Blair. I’ve only seen him on T.V.
Remember, that woman has already spawned and is “educating” another person.
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Tags: Margaret Thatcher, American, Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Chaucer, Westminster Abbey
