Very brief life update...
The vast majority of my online time and energy is currently dedicated to the Kenyon union-busting nightmare. I'll be sporadic here in the meantime because like it or not (I don't!) Facebook is the necessary tool for online organizing these days. Expect me to be basically MIA for at least the next week, possibly longer.
In the meantime, any of my lovely friends out there have media connections to help spread the news about the Kenyon community's battle to fight outsourcing? If so, please contact me.
Quicky life update mostly culled from my FB posts (not pasting over all the Kenyon stuff -- too much!):
Kidlet decorated me yesterday
Amusing Kidlet last week
Goodies from the garden!
Monday:
Saw NP at new psych's office. Appt went generally well, and we sorted out a med for me.
New med! Any personal or clinical insights from the peanut gallery? http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Meds/Trileptal
Update from today (Sunday): FWIW, I picked up supplements for the vitamins it's likely to leach from my system, and have been on the Trileptal and the supplements since Monday. So far the major side effects I'm noticing are fatigue-like-woah, the expected crazy dreams, and a bit of poor balance. I'm only a week in and only up to 300mgs/day, so we'll see how it continues from here. I sure as hell hope the fatigue part tapers off; right now I'm taking this med to balance the effects of the provigil that's supposed to be helping with my pre-existing fatigue problems. At the moment I feel worse than I did without both. Not exactly what we're aiming for.
Excellent day so far, all things considered. Lots in mind to do (might as well finish getting as much use as possible from this mania before the meds kick in!). Kind of wondering if I've just exhausted everyone with the manic posting frequency here, or if FB has decided I'm too spammy to bother showing on folks' walls. If you haven't seen them, I've got one up about my new meds, an open letter to my college, and a giant kids rec about arthropods. Would love feedback on any or all if you have a chance and an interest!
Oh, I forgot to mention that between my appt this morning and work I stopped into the Obama headquarters in Shaker Square (I was switching buses, so why not?)
I think I just volunteered our place for possible democratic volunteer couchsurfers this year.
The motivator may be sucktastic, but getting back in touch with Kenyon friends most certainly does NOT suck!
Random: I blame the Garthim for my lingering discomfort with isopods (Not that I'm trying to discourage anyone from seeing the Dark Crystal! It's an all-time favorite of mine!)
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Garthim
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod
Wednesday:
Well, I'm wiped. Got up at 7, been running hard since then, except a half hour nap in a parking lot on the drive home. Facebook and Twitter presence is live for Preserve Our Kenyon Community (@KenyonCommunity), though! All pics I took at the protest are now up, along with some basic information about what's going on. Please check it out and pass the word! Each Alum has to make up their own mind on their position on the issues, but I firmly believe each alum should have that chance, and not be cut off by lack of awareness.
Also, listened to George MacDonald's The Day Boy and The Night Girl on the way down, and Pippi Longstocking on the way back up. Will post about both to Moominrecs once I have a chance, maybe next week.
Friday:
Our neighbor is moving out in just a few hours so I'm up early for some goodbye time with Coco. :(
Hate med adjustments. Nightmares again, can't think, hurting all over. Got to bus stop, waited a half hour, came back home because I could barely stand. Blarg.
Somewhat better after another 5 hours of sleep. Caught up on the meeting at Kenyon today, disgusting. Basically 'it's a done deal, fuck all y'all' Will be strategizing again tomorrow.
Positive side: being stuck at home meant I got to welcome new neighbors. They're awesome! Their dog Splash looks like we can effectively work with her on her dog aggression issues. We're already making plans to install a gate between our yards.
Also, we're taking in the neighborhood stray, Bob, that Christina had accidentally adopted (he didn't give her much choice and she's a softy). Right now he's indoors only until he can play nice with our other cats, so that's all kinds of fun. I've already bled from the experience once or twice. Hopefully once they get used to each other we'll be able to get him to come inside during the coldest parts of winter. In the past he wouldn't because he doesn't like our critters. However, he was doing well with Christina's dog and other cat, and he settled down well for us when he was housebound after his neutering a year ago, so I have hope. I say this not having yet seen whatever he's done to my bedroom while I've been gone today.
Saturday:
Introducing 3-year old Kidlet to Stomp via youtube on the tv. It's a hit, to say the least! Also, Kidlet's rhythm is better at 3 than mine has ever been. Also watched Schoolhouse Rock, Savion Glover, and a bunch of classic Muppets vids. Did some chalk drawing outside, then we painted each other with tempura paints. When he figured out about flicking paint we talked briefly about Jackson Pollack *grin*.
All in all I'm feeling really overwhelmed, honestly. Adjusting to the new med is kicking my ass, the Kenyon stuff is stressing me massively, the new cat is stressing me moderately, and I'm frustrated that I have yet to receive any response at all to my ADA accomodations requests, or any substantive response to my letter to Ombuds about my psych care last Friday.
On the other hand, I have awesome family and household and partners, and that's making a huge difference. And the stress I'm under about Kenyon is nothing compared to what the workers are suffering through right now, so I'm perfectly willing to suck it up and keep pushing on that front.
And I just ran out of time. Was going to babble about wonderful time with Kidlet and Chad, and the awesome way that relationship has been going, but no time.
In the meantime, any of my lovely friends out there have media connections to help spread the news about the Kenyon community's battle to fight outsourcing? If so, please contact me.
Quicky life update mostly culled from my FB posts (not pasting over all the Kenyon stuff -- too much!):
Kidlet decorated me yesterday
Amusing Kidlet last week
Goodies from the garden!
Monday:
Saw NP at new psych's office. Appt went generally well, and we sorted out a med for me.
New med! Any personal or clinical insights from the peanut gallery? http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Meds/Trileptal
Update from today (Sunday): FWIW, I picked up supplements for the vitamins it's likely to leach from my system, and have been on the Trileptal and the supplements since Monday. So far the major side effects I'm noticing are fatigue-like-woah, the expected crazy dreams, and a bit of poor balance. I'm only a week in and only up to 300mgs/day, so we'll see how it continues from here. I sure as hell hope the fatigue part tapers off; right now I'm taking this med to balance the effects of the provigil that's supposed to be helping with my pre-existing fatigue problems. At the moment I feel worse than I did without both. Not exactly what we're aiming for.
Excellent day so far, all things considered. Lots in mind to do (might as well finish getting as much use as possible from this mania before the meds kick in!). Kind of wondering if I've just exhausted everyone with the manic posting frequency here, or if FB has decided I'm too spammy to bother showing on folks' walls. If you haven't seen them, I've got one up about my new meds, an open letter to my college, and a giant kids rec about arthropods. Would love feedback on any or all if you have a chance and an interest!
Oh, I forgot to mention that between my appt this morning and work I stopped into the Obama headquarters in Shaker Square (I was switching buses, so why not?)
I think I just volunteered our place for possible democratic volunteer couchsurfers this year.
The motivator may be sucktastic, but getting back in touch with Kenyon friends most certainly does NOT suck!
Random: I blame the Garthim for my lingering discomfort with isopods (Not that I'm trying to discourage anyone from seeing the Dark Crystal! It's an all-time favorite of mine!)
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Garthim
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod
Wednesday:
Well, I'm wiped. Got up at 7, been running hard since then, except a half hour nap in a parking lot on the drive home. Facebook and Twitter presence is live for Preserve Our Kenyon Community (@KenyonCommunity), though! All pics I took at the protest are now up, along with some basic information about what's going on. Please check it out and pass the word! Each Alum has to make up their own mind on their position on the issues, but I firmly believe each alum should have that chance, and not be cut off by lack of awareness.
Also, listened to George MacDonald's The Day Boy and The Night Girl on the way down, and Pippi Longstocking on the way back up. Will post about both to Moominrecs once I have a chance, maybe next week.
Friday:
Our neighbor is moving out in just a few hours so I'm up early for some goodbye time with Coco. :(
Hate med adjustments. Nightmares again, can't think, hurting all over. Got to bus stop, waited a half hour, came back home because I could barely stand. Blarg.
Somewhat better after another 5 hours of sleep. Caught up on the meeting at Kenyon today, disgusting. Basically 'it's a done deal, fuck all y'all' Will be strategizing again tomorrow.
Positive side: being stuck at home meant I got to welcome new neighbors. They're awesome! Their dog Splash looks like we can effectively work with her on her dog aggression issues. We're already making plans to install a gate between our yards.
Also, we're taking in the neighborhood stray, Bob, that Christina had accidentally adopted (he didn't give her much choice and she's a softy). Right now he's indoors only until he can play nice with our other cats, so that's all kinds of fun. I've already bled from the experience once or twice. Hopefully once they get used to each other we'll be able to get him to come inside during the coldest parts of winter. In the past he wouldn't because he doesn't like our critters. However, he was doing well with Christina's dog and other cat, and he settled down well for us when he was housebound after his neutering a year ago, so I have hope. I say this not having yet seen whatever he's done to my bedroom while I've been gone today.
Saturday:
Introducing 3-year old Kidlet to Stomp via youtube on the tv. It's a hit, to say the least! Also, Kidlet's rhythm is better at 3 than mine has ever been. Also watched Schoolhouse Rock, Savion Glover, and a bunch of classic Muppets vids. Did some chalk drawing outside, then we painted each other with tempura paints. When he figured out about flicking paint we talked briefly about Jackson Pollack *grin*.
All in all I'm feeling really overwhelmed, honestly. Adjusting to the new med is kicking my ass, the Kenyon stuff is stressing me massively, the new cat is stressing me moderately, and I'm frustrated that I have yet to receive any response at all to my ADA accomodations requests, or any substantive response to my letter to Ombuds about my psych care last Friday.
On the other hand, I have awesome family and household and partners, and that's making a huge difference. And the stress I'm under about Kenyon is nothing compared to what the workers are suffering through right now, so I'm perfectly willing to suck it up and keep pushing on that front.
And I just ran out of time. Was going to babble about wonderful time with Kidlet and Chad, and the awesome way that relationship has been going, but no time.