Open Thread for Personal Stuff: March 2014 Flying Cat Edition

The traffic is LA heinous, the rents/cost of living is skyrocketing, and let’s talk about heat. Do you like the feeling that you’re residing in Satan’s taint? If so, COME ON DOWN. If you want to pay hundreds of dollars a month in the summer to keep your ass from broiling alive, book that Y’all Haul.

You will need car because public transpo ain’t shit, and there’s hardly sidewalks outside downtown. Make sure you get the best car insurance you can, then pray the mofo who hits–it will happen–has it the first place.

That is a perfect description of the area and exactly why I left. I’m actually closer to Portland now, though I’m still in California – prefer it in every way imaginable. It’s not perfect (public transport is only slightly less awful) but the air’s cleaner, the food’s better, and so are the people.

I’m glad February is over now, myself. Not for the usual reasons (like Valentine’s Day making me feel lonelier than usual) but something more heart-breaking: one of the two cats I adopted some months back died. She wasn’t a very healthy (even had her tested and…nothing came up, it was weird) and I did my best to take care of her. Part of me knew she wasn’t going to live long, but she was a real sweetheart and made for good company. Curling up next to me when playing games or holding her while I was watching something at my computer, she was also really friendly with my neighbors. I didn’t have her as long as I have my previous pets – but I already miss her a lot. Even though she made messes on the carpet constantly and kept scratching up my legs to try jumping on me. The night before, she was just acting under the weather – which wasn’t unusual – and found her stiff the next morning right next to my door.

Her sister, who is the complete opposite in terms of health, is also lonely without a playmate around and is spending more time outside. I’m thinking of adopting another cat – but I’m not sure if she’ll like that (though she’s friendly with my neighbor’s polydactyl orange tabby – I call him “Mr. Hemingway”). She’s at least more receptive as far as cuddling goes, which she hasn’t been in the past.

I love you Nick, and you know if there’s anything you need,just ask, you know where to find me. I will grab a hug from Cloudiah’s bottomless barrel for myself, just because staying semisober is harder than expected.

saintnick, I’m so sorry your kitty died. Adding to the hugs, and I’d say yes, get another as companion for her sister.

Ally – seconding LBT: the dirtbag’s saying “I’m always going to do this, I’m going to pursue you all even if I manage to give myself an unlikely extra forty years to do it in, so you’d better all obey me in every thought and action if you want to minimise the beatings and mind games … even though that obedience won’t make a jot of difference.”

It’s just another of his threats. Fuck him. Stick to talking to the family who do care about you, Ally. The ones who don’t have demonstrated themselves unfit to be your relatives. They’re just acting as barriers between you and the chance to be who you are and have family-by-choice, aka friends.

From below: It’s just that I can’t even FIND Greek yogurt these days that’s not low-fat or no-fat.

you will need 1 large strainer & some coffee filters. put strainer over a bowl, put coffee filter in strainer. fill with regular yoghurt. put coffee filter on top. drain a few hours for “greek-style”, or longer for a thicker, almost “cream cheese spread”. great on bagels

amandajane

they’ve switched me from oxycodone to hydrocodone, and nothing, nada, zero, zip, zilch, I am in constant pain.

Have you been able to consult a specialist anaesthetist? Anaesthetists who consult with patients directly for pain management are much less common than those who deal primarily with surgeons and ICU facilities but they are around and they can be very good. If it’s that bad there should be procedures available to block (some of) the nerves as well as or instead of other drugs/procedures to numb and/or paralyse the area. It might mean a long period of immobility but you need something. I know feet and ankles are notoriously bad for this sort of thing but sports medicine specialists and pain management clinics have some experience in this area.

LBT
You might get a benefit of the kind some people talk about with grief. It never goes away, but the serious episodes of deep distress get further and further apart as time goes on. So you might not be able to get a steady reduction of such feelings and problems, but you could find the gaps between episodes get longer as you accumulate more time in a better environment.

But it will take months rather than weeks for you to notice such a change. So you can have some sliver of hope even while the problems are overwhelming you.

Big barrels o’ hugs – noncontact as needed – for both of you.

I broke my front tooth again. So now it’s dental work to get it replaced. Until then, I have a smile straight out of a cartoon.

But on the other hand, I have a job and I’m studying stuff and have a second, part time job so I can work with that and afford it.

They updated the danish conversion scale for International Baccalaureate graduates to be more in keeping with the rest of the world, and my grade point average jumped up a truly hilarious amount (not that gpa’s matter as such for anyhting but an admissions standpoint, but this really is the kind of jump that is almost stupid, and just further makes me laugh at the idea of a standardized testing metrics)

So I’ve been thinking about applying / studying medicine and moving into psycotherapy further down the line. Or anything. Anything. I can pick damn near any subject at uni and not worry about getting in and I have no clue what to actually pick, or if I should at all, because why not just get a job and… argh.

The update didn’t fix my odd math grade, so I’m taking an exam sometime in June.

I am no longer sick with the flu, thus finishing my Annual VIral Update! After going blind in one eye, losing 7 kgs of body weight and no longer having a fever that meant I could boil eggs on my forehead, I’m now healthy-ish. If it all keeps as it normally does, I won’t have to worry about getting sick for another 10 months. Hurrah!

On the other hand I lost fucking 7 kgs of body weight christ I have no physical material and the slightest breeze can make me kind of gently hove and float in the air, like some wind tossed thing.

After a pause of four years I wrote a short story the other day.
It is difficult to put into words just how nice it feels to do something like that again.

Good fortune to anyone who needs it 🙂

I’m not awake yet, so everyone I’m not directly replying to please make use of the fish tank next to the barrel of hugs, if you have rings or other clean shiny things puff will be happy to play with you!

Nova — blarg, monitored communication is ass, but you’re out now, and the furry ones are settling in, and you got a job! Good luck getting back on your feet!

LBT — I know I do it, and pecunium’s said service members do too — when you DON’T have to deal with the stress anymore is when the lack of it hits you as a weird thing. I’m not sure I can really explain it pre-coffee, but being able to collapse and not have the world end may be behind your current collapse, as illogical as that sounds.

So, interesting new development.

Looks like RooshV got into a physical altercation in Poland and will be charged with assault:

http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-33378.html

That is a thread kept up by his friends on his personal forum.

Looks like being a douche and a misogynist catches up with you…

Welp, hubby is now trying to solve my problems with meat. (And wipe that look off your face, perverts.) In the past, devouring flesh of the innocent would sometimes beat a collapse, and now it’s lasted long enough that apparently he’s turning to the old trick.

I really am not cut out to be a vegetarian. 🙁

Good to hear your husband’s well again, Robert, and that the drawing’s firing. 🙂

Yay! Got an appointment yet?

Unfortunately it’s rather difficult to schedule appointments while under the influence but I’ll try to do so tonight when I’m sober!