When that Southern anthem sings it will lay her burdens down...

First things first: Iron and Wine is always good. Always always always.

Second things second: Thank you for all of your prayers, energies, and good wishes! I'm feeling much much much better!

And third things, here, appropriately third: Don't forget that I love you.

And all the styrofoam began to melt away!

Hey. I know I just texted a bunch of you, but here's an lj update.

Thursday afternoon a spot on the left side of my nose began to swell up pretty badly (a cyst, I figured). Friday evening my throat became a little sore and the swelling hadn't gone down. Saturday I woke up and the lymphnodes on the right were swollen. I checked my temperature that afternoon and it was at 100 or so. By that evening it was 102 and the swelling in both places was increasing. Dad took me to Med Plus yesterday (still 102 temp, with ibuprophen every 4 hours). The doctor said the swelling on my face was causing the temperature and sore throat; apparently I have a staph infection. So, I got a shot in my face, then he lanced the swelling. I had blood drawn from my right arm and got a shot on the left side of my rear end. Last night my temperature got up to about 104 and I had chills and couldn't get warm to save my life. When I woke up my throat was throbbing but my temp was down. It's back up to about a 100 right now, so that's not too bad.

It's not as terrible as it sounds; I just don't have the energy to dress this post up with funny asides and light-hearted adjectives. I've been staying at my parents for some TLC. I should be better

So, if an old friend I know drops by to say hello, would I still see suspicion in your eyes?

I stood under the water for a good 45 minutes
Until my hair was matted down my back
And my pretty white breasts were an angry mottled pink.
And still
I cannot
get
warm.

Won't you help a brother out?

I had my first day of work Sunday, and it was fantastic! I'm working for Scope 10, which has several group homes in the area. I'll be working primarily at a house with three women; Nick works at a house right down the street and comes to visit! We watched 16 Candles, went bowling, and spent an hour coloring... talk about a good day!!!

Ohhhh, k. Wednesday Jeff, Jonathan, and I watched the Leo Awards; they were pretty okay. Hey, free shirt! Thursday night O'Brian, Christian, Kevin, and I met Meaghan and Tammy in Tuscumbia to watched some short films; they were really impressive. It was a good event. I decided to spend the night at my parents' house on impulse, which was nice. They've replaced the shower doors in the big bathroom with a curtain though, which is super lame. That afternoon I think I shot pool with Graham and then went home. Saturday we headed back to Sheffield again because Jeff had work and Graham and I went back to DPs, where Tammy and Lindsay came to shoot for a while. I picked up Jeff at some point, who joined us. Later Tammy and Lindsay left and then Mom got there, then Jeff and I went to pick up Meagan and Moonie and bring them back to the bar, and then Dad met us, and BAM! The most of the Mullen Family was hustling at the pool hall. It was a lot of fun (but we missed you, Lindsey).

Speaking of Lindsey! She's totally going to Guatamala for her Spring Break. wa-POW!

Anyway... Sunday, worked 10-6, Monday, worked 6-10, today had med class from 9-12 and school from 12:30-3:15. The rest of the week... looks like orientation tomorrow from 8-4, CPR re-cert. and class Thursday, med class, work, and poetry slam Friday, work and Eve Ensler Saturday.

I was supposed to hang out with Little Jessica today, but she forgot and went to a friend's house. Hopefully the weather will be pretty Sunday and we can hang out at the park. Hey, we got a little snow this week... I wish we'd get a really really big snow. I'm also ready for summer. Oh, and they finally fixed out carpet this afternoon. Woo!

Here is a poem. It is a work in progress.

I was going to make you dinner.
I was going to make you dinner because I know you had a long day, and because you're tired, and because I love you.
I was going to make you dinner... but I didn't.
I didn't make you dinner because I remembered that it's the 21st century, and women don't belong in kitchen.
Never mind the fact that I like to cook.
I didn't make you dinner because then you might expect me to make you dinner tomorrow, and I might not want to make dinner tomorrow.
I didn't make you dinner because I couldn't figure out whether it was what I wanted to do for you or what society wanted me to want to do for you.
I wanted to make you dinner, but I didn't.
So I thought maybe we could go out to eat.
But we can't.
I thought maybe we could go out to eat, but then I remember I'm a little short on cash right now.
And I know you would buy me dinner, but then I would feel like I owe you something.
And I know you wouldn't expect anything, but I would feel like I owed you something, and it wouldn't be a coincidence when I felt like going down on you later.
Never mind the fact that I like giving you head almost as much as I like to cook.
And never mind the fact that I might have been in mood anyway.
The point is, men are traditionally the bread winners, and if I let you buy me dinner, I'm re-enforcing that role.
And the point is, women are traditionally responsible for dinner, and if I cook you dinner, I'm re-enforcing that role.
And the point is...

I guess we're both gonna starve before I figure out how to be the domestic feminine goddess I really want to be.

You give me something I need- now tell me I've got something for you...

It comes as a recent realization that good days are as emotionally draining as bad days, just in a different way. As I write that, I realize that it should be common sense, and I suppose, Reader, it's old hat to you, but it's taking me some time to wrap my head around it.

This weekend was draining in both good and bad ways. Jeff and I overslept Friday; he was supposed to be at the pool at 6:45ish, but we rolled in around 7:30. Ouch. I dropped him off and went to pick up Bosco and head to the vet. Our little man is now a boy; he also still has a dislocated hip, and he may have to have the same surgery Bo had. Damn. I left Bosco at the vet and picked up Mickey D's breakfast for Jeff and I and went back to the pool until he got off and we went home. That evening he had work again, so I took him and spent some time with Meagan at the house; she went out and Tammy came over and we headed to DPs, but my parents were leaving. Fastforward: I picked up Jeff and we met Graham, Tammy, Nick, and Meaghan at Sheffield Billiards. Shooting was a lot of fun- I'm even getting better, thanks to the tutalage of my dear brother! That doesn't mean I'm "good" or even "decent," mind you... just better. ;)

Meaghan and Nick spent the night; we stayed up for a while playing card games before hitting the sack. In the morning we were all fired up for a killer breakfast. We were in the middle of making pancakes, eggs, and waffles when I discovered that our storage closet downstairs was flooded. This was only the first of our flood discoveries; turns out they were replacing a water heater in the apt next to ours, which then burst and flooded it and the two neighboring units. Sooo, this means our carpet was completely soaked for half of the living room and both closets were in standing water. All our stuff is on the back porch now; we have to bring it in today because there are supposed to be storms tomorrow.

Now, as miserable as that sounds, Saturday was actually a really nice day. As the maintanence people did their version of cleaning, we finished cooking and headed to the back yard. O'Brian came over and Jeff woke up and the six of us ate breakfast on blankets in the sunshine. Afterwards we broke out the trivial pursuit and Jonathan came to play for a while. Soon the sun shifted and we found ourselves in hte shadows, so we decided to uproot and drive to Diebert Park, where we ate Girl Scout cookies and continued the game before dispersing. Jeff and I headed to Sheffield, he to work and I to DPs to shoot pool with Graham. Loni was there with her boyfriend, so I talked to her for a while. I really like her a lot, so that was nice. I also talked to Melina Bolden, who was there with her boyfriend as well. Melina and I probably talked more Saturday night than we did the entire time we were in high school. I always remember her being really sweet, and she still is.

I know you're dying to here about yesterday, and trust me, I want to tell you, but my fingers are tired and I need a shower. Later, gator!