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The wife of one of the teachers sold sugar cookie baskets for Easter. It was for a charity and she is a fabulous cook. My secret pal from work bought me a basket with 3 cookies. I am eating the first one now. The sugar cookies should be outlawed or at least renamed to butter cookies. They are soooooooo nommy nommy good! I am not crazy about sugar cookies, but I know that Mrs. Lawson is a phenomenal baker, so I gave them a try. It's going to be all I can do to not eat them all right now. Yum!
Just bored
Apr. 4th, 2009 11:43 amI am administering the ACT right now and I am bored to tears. The migraine from last night is gone and the medicine worked well. After the effects went away I slept like a baby. The best thing is that aside from being tired I don't have any of the normal after effects of a migraine. I feel pretty good actually. The tiredness may be from not getting enough sleep last night, or from getting up too early this morning, or from being bored to tears here. At least I have my iPhone and can post from it. Yay!
Posted via LiveJournal.app.
Opinion needed
Apr. 3rd, 2009 08:07 pmI've been running something around in my head and I just want to ask for some opinions out there. I have a student that I have been working with for a couple of weeks. I've actually known her for 2 years, but she has been going through a really rough time for the last month or so. She came in the office and had a total break down, crying so hard that other counselors came to see if I needed help. Now, this is a not a student that is given to crying fits. In fact, until a few months ago, I would have told you that she was a tough cookie. About a year and a half ago, her brother was killed in combat. They were very close and he was her rock and her sounding board. She seems to be lost without him and is still mourning him. Most of her "friends" tell her that she should be over it, and her mother tells her that she is just being a drama queen about it. (The mother has her own set of issues, so don't judge her too harshly.) On top of all of this, some girls in her vocational class are harassing her in class, on-line (documented and reported to the police), through texts... It has just pushed this young lady to her breaking point. So she sat in my office and cried. I just hugged her and rocked her back and forth, which is all I could think of doing. She obviously needed a good cry since everyone else tells her that she's not allowed to mourn any longer. I wanted to let her know that my office is a safe place to mourn and talk about her brother. She needed to know that she isn't broken because she still misses him. I worked with her to get her calmed down after that and we came up with a plan for after spring break on how to address the issue with these girls. She told me that she thought that she was getting on my nerves my brothering me all of the time. Here is what I want your opinion on: I am considering getting her a goofy card and sending it to her during spring break just to let her know that she can come to me whenever she needs to talk. What do you think? What would you have done if your school counselor would ahve done the same thing in the same situation?
(no subject)
Mar. 27th, 2009 11:11 pmThe new meds seem to be doing okay. Having more sleep and more water does seem to lessen the side effects. I wasn't dizzy this morning unless I turned my head quickly. I do feel tired and find myself sleeping more deeply than before. I have always been a light sleeper, but I have come home and taken naps and slept through a couple of phone calls. I also find that I feel not quite light headed and not quite disconnected but somewhere in between. The little side effects pamphlet said that mental fog is a possibility and I would say that the fog is starting to roll in, which should warn you guys who actually read my posts. I tend to ramble any way. Imagine what will happen when I am all foggy and fuzzy headed. I will just apologize now. I have caught myself doing things and wondering about them later. I had a report due today that I had to send to someone at the school admin building. I made sure to finish the report before I left work. I pack up and am driving home and thinking how glad I was that I finished that report and sent it when it dawns on me, "SHIT! I didn't e-mail it to who needed it!" With traffic, I knew that I wouldn't get home in time to e-mail it before the offices closed, so I pulled off the main road, went into the neighborhoods, pulled out my laptop, and stopped every so often to look for an open internet signal or WIFI that I could use. Fortunately, there was a club of some kind that has free internet access, so I stopped, logged on, e-mailed the report and then finished going home. I can just see that in the next couple of weeks that I am going to have to live by check off lists. Otherwise, I am going to forget something.
In other news, I was e-mailed pictures today from a former student that were from her wedding. She was so beautiful. She graduated 7 years ago, but she still keeps in contact from time to time. It was nice to get the pics.
In other news, I was e-mailed pictures today from a former student that were from her wedding. She was so beautiful. She graduated 7 years ago, but she still keeps in contact from time to time. It was nice to get the pics.
(no subject)
Mar. 26th, 2009 10:09 pmI have started taking the new medicine that the doctor prescribed for me. It has some interesting side effects, which are exacerbated by lack of sleep and dehydration. Apparently, I was suffering from lack of sleep or lack of water or both because this morning when I woke up, I was incredibly dizzy, like unable to stand up. I looked online for information and suggestions from other people who had used the same medicine. That's where I found the mantra "More sleep, more water". I did that and went into work late. For a day that started so oddly, it ended well. When I got to work, I had so many people coming to see if I was okay and how I was feeling. I had a few students come by just to tell me that they missed me and were worried about me. I had one person tell me that I looked like I had had a burden lifted off of me and that I looked better than I had in a long time. I also had one of the military recruiters tell me that he talks to a ton of students and they all tell him that I help them, even if I am not their counselor, and I usually help them even more than their own counselor. That is a little double edged in that I am glad that the students feel that I help them, but it concerns me that they don't feel that they are getting the help that they need from their own counselor. Considering everything else, I will go with being flattered right now. I'll deal with the rest of it later.
(no subject)
Mar. 25th, 2009 09:40 pmWell, today I went to the doctor about the headaches that I have been having. We sat and discussed everything for close to 45 minutes, which I thought was pretty good for headaches alone. We have a plan of attack. She has given me a medicine to take daily to help prevent the migraines. She also gave me a prescription for another medicine to take when I feel a migraine start. She gave me a few suggestions of little changes to make in my day to day routine that could help as well. I will go back to her in 3 months to follow up. If the medicines are not helping, we will start doing different tests to see if there is something else going on that is causing the headaches. I have a feeling that the medicine will work because it is the same medicine that my sister takes for her migraines. Our family is blessed with the migraine gene. I am pretty sure that my father gets them too, but he doesn't know that they are migraines. He told me tonight that he had a splitting headache right over his left eye and that it hurt to be in the light. Sounds like a migraine to me, but I don't know for sure. Oh well, he wouldn't let that stop him from doing anything anyway. I am just glad that I have something that I can do to help my own situation. At least I don't feel so helpless now.
(no subject)
Mar. 22nd, 2009 10:05 pmI adore my Dorkbutt brother. I sent him a text earlier today asking him if I had left my sunglasses there yesterday when we had lunch together. He responded " Yes you did and I have them on because I WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT so I can so I can", which is the sum total of the words that he knows to Corey Hart's song. Any questions on why I named him Dorkbutt? He has totally gotten into 80's music lately, and I think that I will make him an 80's mix. I know some songs that have to be on it because he sings the few lines that he knows on a regular basis. However, does anyone have any suggestions of your favorite 80's songs to add?
question...
Mar. 21st, 2009 09:44 pmI am hosting a spa party for a friend on Friday and we will have food and drinks. My problem is that I can't decide what kind of food and drinks to have. My question to all of you out there is : what is your favorite party food and/or drink?
If you have a fabulous recipe to share, please feel free to do that as well.
Thanks!
If you have a fabulous recipe to share, please feel free to do that as well.
Thanks!
(no subject)
Mar. 21st, 2009 11:13 amFor those of you who didn't know, I managed to trip over a filing cabinet drawer at work yesterday. It was one that I opened and was looking at when I stepped, and consequently tripped, over. I landed on my hands and knees in front of a teacher. Fortunately it was after school hours so most people had already left. It hurt, but once the adrenaline wore off, it really hurt. I took medicine and slept for a long time. This morning I feel pretty good. My right shoulder still hurts, and I have a bruise on my right hand. My left knee hurts and I am developing a bruise there. However, I expected to feel much worse today. I have a couple of little aches, like I have had a good workout, but overall, I am good. That is a relief. If I would have done some serious damage, then I would have had to report the fall on a worker's comp claim. Then my idiocy and clumsiness would be documented for all to see. I would never sue the school system for my own clumsiness, but they would have to have the paperwork of an injury that happened in the office if I suffered from something requiring medical attention. I really don't need any more reason for people at work to joke me. They already know that I am clumsy. Oh, did I mention that on the way home, I stopped to get a large tea, which I managed to spill all over my white shirt? I am quite the epitome of grace, right?
In better news, I have been trying to lose weight, and I have lost 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. That makes me feel much better. Now to go to take a very long, very hot shower. I am hoping that it will help the shoulder ache.
In better news, I have been trying to lose weight, and I have lost 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. That makes me feel much better. Now to go to take a very long, very hot shower. I am hoping that it will help the shoulder ache.
(no subject)
Mar. 18th, 2009 07:22 pmMy father is officially home and running around like a mad man. The first thing that he did was take a shower and slept in his own bed. It's the little things that make you feel better. He has been able to go to the bathroom on his own without any pain. He is walking around as much as possible to try to build up his strength. He is also trying to eat more food to keep up his strength. He lost almost 20 pounds when he was in the hospital. He is naturally skinny and didn't need to lose any weight. (Of all of the genetic traits that I could get from him, why couldn't I get his metabolism??) It seems so silly that something so simple as him being home should cause me such happiness, but it does.
My father should be able to check out of the hospital tomorrow morning. They took out the catheter this morning and he has been able to pee on his own without pain. Of course, he calls it "passing water". They are keeping him over night just to make sure that everything is okay and they will release him in the morning. He is in good spirits as always and is thrilled to be going home so he can take a shower and sleep in his own bed.
In other good news, my brother has decided to stop smoking as of April 1st. He is starting to cut down over the next two weeks. Wish him luck!
In other good news, my brother has decided to stop smoking as of April 1st. He is starting to cut down over the next two weeks. Wish him luck!
(no subject)
Mar. 16th, 2009 06:08 pmI love my mother. Here is a conversation that I just had with her:
Me: When do you want to celebrate your birthday?
Mom: I hadn't decided. Angie (my sister) asked me if I wanted to have dinner actually on my birthday, and I told her that was too soon. That's only the day after tomorrow!
Keep in mind that we have been asking her for 3 weeks when she wanted to celebrate her birthday and what she wanted as a gift. Yep, two days from now is too soon to celebrate. That is classic mom behavior. Gotta love her!
Me: When do you want to celebrate your birthday?
Mom: I hadn't decided. Angie (my sister) asked me if I wanted to have dinner actually on my birthday, and I told her that was too soon. That's only the day after tomorrow!
Keep in mind that we have been asking her for 3 weeks when she wanted to celebrate her birthday and what she wanted as a gift. Yep, two days from now is too soon to celebrate. That is classic mom behavior. Gotta love her!
Very belated but good update
Mar. 14th, 2009 01:05 amFor all of those who have been concerned for me and my father's surgery, I wanted to let you know that the surgery went well. I spoke with him yesterday and he said that he wasn't in any pain. That could have been the demerol though. His only complaint was that he was hungry and thirsty. He had to fast for 24 hours and couldn't have anything to drink for 12 hours before the surgery. When I spoke with him today, he sounded like himself. He said that he was running up and down the hallways aggravating the nurses. My step mother assures me that he is showing off for the nurses and flirting up a storm. He may be 75 years old, but he is a huge flirt. He always says that he is going to live to be 100 and then be shot by a jealous husband. He is quite harmless though. He has already started picking out which nurses are getting what kind of plants and to whom he is going to bring some cans of beans. (Last year, he canned over 100 pints of green beans from his garden.) You have to love country folk. No matter then occasion (death, birth, wedding, thank you...) they always give food. I find that I still do it a lot. An apple pie says so much more than "Thank you for your help".
Anyway, my father has to stay in the hospital for a couple of more days. The doctors want to make sure that the stitches are okay and that he doesn't get an infection. Because his prostate is right by the bladder, it is susceptible to infection, as you would expect. He has a catheter, while the stitches are healing, and they are flushing his system out by giving him lots of fluids both by IV and by drinking. He said that there is still some blood being flushed out but the doctor said that it's normal while the stitches are healing. He said that he was in no pain although he had a little pain last night after the meds wore off. With his high tolerance for pain, that means that the average person would have been doubled over crying. Maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but it's not too far from the truth.
I am sorry that it has taken a while to post, but with the stress of my father's surgery and the tension at work with people being cut for next year, I have been emotionally exhausted. Add to it the fact that my asshole neighbors upstairs think that 2:00 AM on a Thursday morning is a perfectly acceptable time to have a party where apparently there was a herd of elephants playing basketball, and I was physically exhausted as well. I came home from work yesterday and fell asleep shortly after eating dinner. I came home from work today and fell asleep before dinner. I slept through 2 phone calls, which is highly unusual for me since I am a relatively light sleeper. When I finally woke up, I was ravenous. After I ate, I felt that I had to wash dishes, which is something that I have put off several days this week. After that, I decided to check LJ and post. Now I am getting sleepy again, so I am curling up in my warm bed and wishing everyone a good night!
Anyway, my father has to stay in the hospital for a couple of more days. The doctors want to make sure that the stitches are okay and that he doesn't get an infection. Because his prostate is right by the bladder, it is susceptible to infection, as you would expect. He has a catheter, while the stitches are healing, and they are flushing his system out by giving him lots of fluids both by IV and by drinking. He said that there is still some blood being flushed out but the doctor said that it's normal while the stitches are healing. He said that he was in no pain although he had a little pain last night after the meds wore off. With his high tolerance for pain, that means that the average person would have been doubled over crying. Maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but it's not too far from the truth.
I am sorry that it has taken a while to post, but with the stress of my father's surgery and the tension at work with people being cut for next year, I have been emotionally exhausted. Add to it the fact that my asshole neighbors upstairs think that 2:00 AM on a Thursday morning is a perfectly acceptable time to have a party where apparently there was a herd of elephants playing basketball, and I was physically exhausted as well. I came home from work yesterday and fell asleep shortly after eating dinner. I came home from work today and fell asleep before dinner. I slept through 2 phone calls, which is highly unusual for me since I am a relatively light sleeper. When I finally woke up, I was ravenous. After I ate, I felt that I had to wash dishes, which is something that I have put off several days this week. After that, I decided to check LJ and post. Now I am getting sleepy again, so I am curling up in my warm bed and wishing everyone a good night!
What's Your Personality Type?
Mar. 11th, 2009 09:29 pm| You Are An ENFP |
 You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. You break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused |
(no subject)
Mar. 11th, 2009 08:13 pmMy father went in for an exploratory surgery today to find out what was going on with his prostate. It turns out that his body has grown a flap that is covering the prostate urethra. He has to have surgery tomorrow to remove the flap of skin. He will be in the hospital for 2-3 days. I wouldn't worry except that he just got out of the hospital after the knee surgery. The flap can be removed with a laser and the procedure isn't supposed to be a long one, but I still worry about him. I know that it is natural to worry, but it is still weird for me to have to worry about my father. He is usually so healthy, but this has been a bad time for him. Granted, if you talk to him, you'd never know that he was having any trouble.Anyway, if anyone out there could keep him in your thoughts and prayers, I'd appreciate it.
(no subject)
Mar. 9th, 2009 10:39 pmI ended up staying home today because I had a lovely headache. Oddly enough, I am glad that I did stay home. Today was the day that people found out about jobs that would be cut and who would still be employed next year. There were 34 people in out building alone that were affected. We are losing 3 counselors in my department. We are losing the testing specialist as well. This means that I will now have 3 times as many students to address, the department to run and testing to do. That is basically three full time jobs. I have such mixed feelings right now. I am completely freaked about the amount of work and the expectations for us next year. At the same time, I feel like I should be happy that I even still have a job since so many people are being put out of work. Over all, it's just a bad thing. I knew that this was the worst case scenario, but I hoped that it would be different. I have been debating on whether or not I want to find a new job. I know that jobs are scarce in the current economy, but I just don't know if I can do the job that they want me to do. As it is, I have worked until I have made myself sick this year. I am still debating. I suppose that if a great job came along I would at least try for it. It's funny. If you would have asked me if I would have thought about this kind of thing a couple of years ago, I would have laughed at you because I liked my job and I felt supported by the school system. I don't have that same feeling anymore. I just... I'm at a loss.
I spoke with my father tonight. He still has the catheter, and the doctor is going to do a procedure on him on Wednesday to see if he can shrink the prostate using a laser. The procedure won't require him to be put under nor will it require cutting. It will all be done in a non-invasive way. Other than that, my father is doing well. He is walking around outside the house, up and down the hill, up and down the stairs... He can shower himself all except for his back and the bottom of his feet, which my step mother cleans for him. He has gotten his appetite back and has started gaining weight. They took him off the coumadin and they will see what his blood count is to determine if he can stay off of it. My father told me that I didn't need to call him all of the time because he knows that I am busy. I told him that I have gotten used to calling him every couple of days now and as long as he doesn't mind it, I will probably continue to call him that often. He got all choked up and told me that he was blessed to have such a good daughter and that I was welcome to call whenever and however often I wanted.
On a somewhat related note, after I spoke with my father, I sent a text message to my sister to let her know about his procedure on Wednesday. She asked me if I had spoken to my other sister, Tammy. I told her no. Apparently, Tammy's daughter, Taryn, is pregnant. While she is engaged, they are not going to get married because she would lose her state benefits if she got married. I understand why they aren't getting married right now. After that, Angie told me that they didn't want Daddy to know that Taryn was pregnant because they didn't want him or my step mother to look down on Taryn for being pregnant out of wedlock. This is ironic for a couple of reasons. First of all, these are the same sisters who thought that they had a right to know about my father's surgery even if he had not wanted them to know. Um hypocritical much? Secondly, both of them ended up pregnant out of wedlock and my father never held that against them. I won't tell my father because it's not my place to tell him. They have asked me to not say anything, I will respect that. I will wait for them to say something to him. Of course, with the way that they call, or don't call for that matter, Taryn could have the baby and be pregnant with another one before they call my father. (Tammy has talked to him twice since the surgery and Angie only once.)
I spoke with my father tonight. He still has the catheter, and the doctor is going to do a procedure on him on Wednesday to see if he can shrink the prostate using a laser. The procedure won't require him to be put under nor will it require cutting. It will all be done in a non-invasive way. Other than that, my father is doing well. He is walking around outside the house, up and down the hill, up and down the stairs... He can shower himself all except for his back and the bottom of his feet, which my step mother cleans for him. He has gotten his appetite back and has started gaining weight. They took him off the coumadin and they will see what his blood count is to determine if he can stay off of it. My father told me that I didn't need to call him all of the time because he knows that I am busy. I told him that I have gotten used to calling him every couple of days now and as long as he doesn't mind it, I will probably continue to call him that often. He got all choked up and told me that he was blessed to have such a good daughter and that I was welcome to call whenever and however often I wanted.
On a somewhat related note, after I spoke with my father, I sent a text message to my sister to let her know about his procedure on Wednesday. She asked me if I had spoken to my other sister, Tammy. I told her no. Apparently, Tammy's daughter, Taryn, is pregnant. While she is engaged, they are not going to get married because she would lose her state benefits if she got married. I understand why they aren't getting married right now. After that, Angie told me that they didn't want Daddy to know that Taryn was pregnant because they didn't want him or my step mother to look down on Taryn for being pregnant out of wedlock. This is ironic for a couple of reasons. First of all, these are the same sisters who thought that they had a right to know about my father's surgery even if he had not wanted them to know. Um hypocritical much? Secondly, both of them ended up pregnant out of wedlock and my father never held that against them. I won't tell my father because it's not my place to tell him. They have asked me to not say anything, I will respect that. I will wait for them to say something to him. Of course, with the way that they call, or don't call for that matter, Taryn could have the baby and be pregnant with another one before they call my father. (Tammy has talked to him twice since the surgery and Angie only once.)
(no subject)
Mar. 5th, 2009 07:47 pmWell, today I had a good day over all. Testing started okay. I left the office in time to go to my dentist appointment. I did a little shopping after that and treated myself to really yummy food... The only bad parts of the day were hitting some traffic on my way to the dentist's office, which at 10:15 in the morning should not be happening. Then the dental hygienist kept poking and catching my gums with the instruments. She kept apologizing every time she saw me flinch, and asked me if I had sensitive teeth. Umm... No, I always flinch when someone gouges my mouth with sharp, pointy instruments. In general, I have been blessed with my father's high tolerance for pain, but this was ridiculous. My mouth throbbed for an hour afterward. That is why I treated myself to yummy food. I went to a place called Taste Unlimited. I love the food there, but it tends to be a bit pricey for every day food. However, I felt that I deserved it today. I got a portobello bistro sandwich. It had portobello mushrooms, havarti cheese, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy caeser dressing all on Italian flat bread. Nom nom! I also went to my favorite health food store (Heritage) to browse. I got sesame noodles there, which I had for my dinner. I also got cherry, almond oolong tea and regular oolong tea. You can buy it in bulk there. I also got some Oil of Oregano at the suggestion of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
waqaychay for sinus issues. They were out of the actual oil, but I did get the capsules. I took one, and my sinuses have already opened up. Unfortunately, that means that my nose has been running almost uncontrollably for a couple of hours. Oh well, I would rather have that than have it sit in my sinus cavity, causing headaches and infections. Oh, I also got Spicy Apple Ginger Chews! I love Ginger Chews, so when I saw Spicy Apple flavor, it had to come home with me. I came home and had a nap, and have been just relaxing ever since. The best news is that I am going to have lunch with my little sister from my sorority, who I haven't seen in years. She is coming to meet me tomorrow. I can't wait to see her! She lives around here, but she usually travels with her job. She happens to be home and wants to get together. I am so happy! Yay! That's about it. Oh, my father has stopped using a walker and is using a crutch right now. He is going to switch to his cane next week. He still has the catheter, but he is still in a good mood.
waqaychay for sinus issues. They were out of the actual oil, but I did get the capsules. I took one, and my sinuses have already opened up. Unfortunately, that means that my nose has been running almost uncontrollably for a couple of hours. Oh well, I would rather have that than have it sit in my sinus cavity, causing headaches and infections. Oh, I also got Spicy Apple Ginger Chews! I love Ginger Chews, so when I saw Spicy Apple flavor, it had to come home with me. I came home and had a nap, and have been just relaxing ever since. The best news is that I am going to have lunch with my little sister from my sorority, who I haven't seen in years. She is coming to meet me tomorrow. I can't wait to see her! She lives around here, but she usually travels with her job. She happens to be home and wants to get together. I am so happy! Yay! That's about it. Oh, my father has stopped using a walker and is using a crutch right now. He is going to switch to his cane next week. He still has the catheter, but he is still in a good mood. 
