Two more weeks later!
In bedding news: the mattress cover works! No sheet slide. :P Only issue is the sheets collect Maine Coon cat fluff like a magnet. Oh well. Side sleeping with a tucked pillow is a no-go so far. Have to train myself to use it and not kick it away from me.
I continue to be entirely pleased with the acupuncture sessions. I've been noticing small changes for the good again. I think maybe you hit a plateau of sorts, then get over it and notice new things. I had that one week where I missed a session and by the second week I was a wreck. Since then things have been wonderfully calm and mellow. Its a wonderful feeling to not constantly feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest...or that you're not getting enough air. That constant feeling of forgetting something and not being able to remember what...and that its a BIG DEAL, has been mostly gone. Something can set me off, but that's how things should be. Once in a while, not constant hyper-alertness (and even that is sort of fogged over by my stupid thyroid).
Speaking of that....my blood test came back. Unfortunately, they didn't test my cholesterol or T3, but TSH indicates that I am hypothyroid, officially. Without the T3 test, I can't see if that number is better than last test. T4 was in normal ranges. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was slightly up, which means that my body is making the thyroid work harder to put out enough T3 (which is metabolism/energy). Not giving up yet...and the doc didn't say I need meds yet.
In other bodily news, my poor left middle finger is angry. The tendinitis flared up for whatever reason and I can't bend or completely straighten my finger. Its also quite swollen. Yesterday it hurt like a beast...today is better, but still swollen. I've been wearing a splint to keep myself from using it.
On the 28th, M and I headed north for the Mayhem Festival.
It was hot, sweaty and thirsty, but SO worth it. We got there when the lot opened and parked with refreshing ease. Got in line at the gate right away, and had to stand there for about an hour before the gates opened. The people around us were friendly, which was also a refreshing change. We got lucky when the VIP line formed up, it shortened our line and put us in the shade of a tree. :) Comments were made and laughs exchanged. We had our sunblock on, of course, I'm not crazy, and we both wore hats to cover our faces. I managed to escape the entire day in the sun without a burn. :) M, however, missed part of his neck and got a light burn there. Noxema took care of that easily.
I went mainly to see In This Moment and Rob Zombie. M went to see other bands as well. The first band up was 3 Inches Of Blood, from Canada. They were surprisingly good. :) Ozzfest second stage openers usually sucked. :P I skipped the next band in favor of retaining my spot with a view for In This Moment. They blasted our ears off and got a circle pit going around Maria and the sound booth. Much fun! There's a video on Youtube here:
I was on the opposite side of the guy filming. :)
After that we went over and bought CDs for signing purposes, then I got in line while M went to see another band play. Another hour in line there. The people behind us were friendly, so we amused ourselves in the sun by watching people trip over the yellow Caution tape that was marking the line for signings. Women stepped over it, men shuffled thru it and no one faceplanted, but some came close. I was feeling bitchy in the heat, so I anchored one part with my foot so it wouldn't go with them, but would catch on their shoes. One of the girls behind us said I was her hero after a guy had to grab M's arm to keep from bellyflopping on the asphalt. :P
The signing was quick, the newest band member was sort of hiding, but I got him to sign my poster. The guitarist and drummer were very sweet and excited to hear my quick exclamations about being front and center at the Mudvayne show they opened at. Maria was somewhat disappointing (but she could have just been tired...it was hot as hell)...giving me a limp handshake (either SHAKE my hand or don't....but don't half-ass it!), but thanking me kindly and passing the poster on to the rhythm guitarist. M had his pic taken with him, I settled for the signatures. :P
Later, I realized we could have bought a Rob Zombie cd and had a meet and greet with him too...but the sun was frying my brains. *sigh* STILL kicking myself.
After that we browsed some vendors, had a quick and expensive lunch, and generally waited for the main stage to open so we could sit. We made friends with a couple of tattooed guys, asking where their tats were done. Really great work...and the place is on Long island...and booked way in advance. I may check it out one day...I need my spider retouched.
We had an hour to sit and wait for the show to start. We got ourselves an italian ice both for the ice, the cold and the sugar. I was starting to feel a little odd, despite having eaten and had water. The sugar was what I needed, it helped right away.
The first two bands didn't do much for me, tho the very first one was at least entertaining. (That was 5 Finger Death Punch...and the second was Lamb of God. I asked M if it was a bad sign that during their entire set I was hearing an old church hymn, thanks to my years of catholic schooling). Rob Zombie came on third, and I was up and dancing, headbanging and singing along for the entire set. His stage show was amazing.....robots and pyrotechnics and all kinds of crazy. Vintage Zombie and well received. The crowd was insane. :) Korn went on last, with a nice stage show also. I've seen them more times than any band, and while I do like their music, I never buy tickets to see them specifically. We decided early on that we would leave before the end....and when M asked me if we could go, I said only if the next song was Freak on a Leash, or Twisted Transistor. It was Freak on a Leash. :D I scare me sometimes. LOL I got to hear the songs I like, so it was good.
We had no trouble getting out of the amphitheater or the lot. M bought some Dimebag Darrell merch and I left with a slightly too small In This Moment tshirt (which is listed as an XL...but I think it's child-size. :P) Ah well, with the weight loss (10lbs so far last I checked), maybe I can wear it next summer, LOL.
Last saturday was Dracula's Ball in Philly. M went with me again, and we took the train this time to save some money. We had lunch in the station while waiting for patsytheloomer and his friend Chaz to pick us up. We met more friends in the city at a music store where Platform One was playing. We spent some time chatting, then headed out for cheeseteaks with the band. :D That was a good time. The cheesesteaks could have been better, not worth the hour wait in line for em, but the company was awesome and the Yoohoo drink made me happy. :D After that we did a little shopping in a store nearby. Found stuff I liked for M, but their card machine was down. :( I found some shirts I liked, but of course, not made for girls with big breasts. :P Lastly, we headed to a farking amazing frozen yogurt place where you pick the flavor(s) you want from the wall units, then head to a topping buffet and add what you want. It gets weighed for 50 cents an ounce and off you go! Self-serve! I got cupcake batter yogurt topped with mini chips, crushed reese's PB cups, crushed oreos and little cookie dough bites. :D I only added a little of each, for a taste, so it's not as bad as it sounds. After that we said goodbye to most of our little group and four of us headed to the hotel to check in and get changed. Got there later than hoped and forgot my ID, so Patsy and I headed back to the hotel to retrieve it. Meh. A little line waiting and we headed in to find missamerika waiting with M for us. hughcasey was at the club too, and I saw him, but we didn't get to chat. :) We had a nice time, despite the ridiculous crowd and the unbearable heat upstairs. Thrill Kill Kult was playing, and Lords of Acid, which accounted for the crowd. We didn't dance, M doesn't usually and I didn't have anyone else to dance with. missamerika left halfway thru, but when we gave goodbye hugs, we became attached at the breasts, LOL. Don't ask. Much hilarity ensued! We got detached in short order, and she was on her way.
We spent the night in a swanky 4-star hotel that was a block from City Hall. Two 40" flat panel TVs, but only one large queen bed. :P Our fourth, Chazz, called the couch, so M and I shared the bed with patsytheloomer. Ten minutes of giggling ensued, before we managed to go to bed at 5 am, AFTER a 4 block walk to Wawa for food because we were too hungry to sleep.
Sunday found us having brunch with a friend, and then we hopped on the train and snoozed all the way home. 4 hours of sleep killed me...so I took a 4.5 hour nap when we got home, and woke up in time to watch True Blood with M.
Now...off to find some ice cream and then hit the sack. Work tomorrow.
I continue to be entirely pleased with the acupuncture sessions. I've been noticing small changes for the good again. I think maybe you hit a plateau of sorts, then get over it and notice new things. I had that one week where I missed a session and by the second week I was a wreck. Since then things have been wonderfully calm and mellow. Its a wonderful feeling to not constantly feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest...or that you're not getting enough air. That constant feeling of forgetting something and not being able to remember what...and that its a BIG DEAL, has been mostly gone. Something can set me off, but that's how things should be. Once in a while, not constant hyper-alertness (and even that is sort of fogged over by my stupid thyroid).
Speaking of that....my blood test came back. Unfortunately, they didn't test my cholesterol or T3, but TSH indicates that I am hypothyroid, officially. Without the T3 test, I can't see if that number is better than last test. T4 was in normal ranges. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was slightly up, which means that my body is making the thyroid work harder to put out enough T3 (which is metabolism/energy). Not giving up yet...and the doc didn't say I need meds yet.
In other bodily news, my poor left middle finger is angry. The tendinitis flared up for whatever reason and I can't bend or completely straighten my finger. Its also quite swollen. Yesterday it hurt like a beast...today is better, but still swollen. I've been wearing a splint to keep myself from using it.
On the 28th, M and I headed north for the Mayhem Festival.
It was hot, sweaty and thirsty, but SO worth it. We got there when the lot opened and parked with refreshing ease. Got in line at the gate right away, and had to stand there for about an hour before the gates opened. The people around us were friendly, which was also a refreshing change. We got lucky when the VIP line formed up, it shortened our line and put us in the shade of a tree. :) Comments were made and laughs exchanged. We had our sunblock on, of course, I'm not crazy, and we both wore hats to cover our faces. I managed to escape the entire day in the sun without a burn. :) M, however, missed part of his neck and got a light burn there. Noxema took care of that easily.
I went mainly to see In This Moment and Rob Zombie. M went to see other bands as well. The first band up was 3 Inches Of Blood, from Canada. They were surprisingly good. :) Ozzfest second stage openers usually sucked. :P I skipped the next band in favor of retaining my spot with a view for In This Moment. They blasted our ears off and got a circle pit going around Maria and the sound booth. Much fun! There's a video on Youtube here:
I was on the opposite side of the guy filming. :)
After that we went over and bought CDs for signing purposes, then I got in line while M went to see another band play. Another hour in line there. The people behind us were friendly, so we amused ourselves in the sun by watching people trip over the yellow Caution tape that was marking the line for signings. Women stepped over it, men shuffled thru it and no one faceplanted, but some came close. I was feeling bitchy in the heat, so I anchored one part with my foot so it wouldn't go with them, but would catch on their shoes. One of the girls behind us said I was her hero after a guy had to grab M's arm to keep from bellyflopping on the asphalt. :P
The signing was quick, the newest band member was sort of hiding, but I got him to sign my poster. The guitarist and drummer were very sweet and excited to hear my quick exclamations about being front and center at the Mudvayne show they opened at. Maria was somewhat disappointing (but she could have just been tired...it was hot as hell)...giving me a limp handshake (either SHAKE my hand or don't....but don't half-ass it!), but thanking me kindly and passing the poster on to the rhythm guitarist. M had his pic taken with him, I settled for the signatures. :P
Later, I realized we could have bought a Rob Zombie cd and had a meet and greet with him too...but the sun was frying my brains. *sigh* STILL kicking myself.
After that we browsed some vendors, had a quick and expensive lunch, and generally waited for the main stage to open so we could sit. We made friends with a couple of tattooed guys, asking where their tats were done. Really great work...and the place is on Long island...and booked way in advance. I may check it out one day...I need my spider retouched.
We had an hour to sit and wait for the show to start. We got ourselves an italian ice both for the ice, the cold and the sugar. I was starting to feel a little odd, despite having eaten and had water. The sugar was what I needed, it helped right away.
The first two bands didn't do much for me, tho the very first one was at least entertaining. (That was 5 Finger Death Punch...and the second was Lamb of God. I asked M if it was a bad sign that during their entire set I was hearing an old church hymn, thanks to my years of catholic schooling). Rob Zombie came on third, and I was up and dancing, headbanging and singing along for the entire set. His stage show was amazing.....robots and pyrotechnics and all kinds of crazy. Vintage Zombie and well received. The crowd was insane. :) Korn went on last, with a nice stage show also. I've seen them more times than any band, and while I do like their music, I never buy tickets to see them specifically. We decided early on that we would leave before the end....and when M asked me if we could go, I said only if the next song was Freak on a Leash, or Twisted Transistor. It was Freak on a Leash. :D I scare me sometimes. LOL I got to hear the songs I like, so it was good.
We had no trouble getting out of the amphitheater or the lot. M bought some Dimebag Darrell merch and I left with a slightly too small In This Moment tshirt (which is listed as an XL...but I think it's child-size. :P) Ah well, with the weight loss (10lbs so far last I checked), maybe I can wear it next summer, LOL.
Last saturday was Dracula's Ball in Philly. M went with me again, and we took the train this time to save some money. We had lunch in the station while waiting for patsytheloomer and his friend Chaz to pick us up. We met more friends in the city at a music store where Platform One was playing. We spent some time chatting, then headed out for cheeseteaks with the band. :D That was a good time. The cheesesteaks could have been better, not worth the hour wait in line for em, but the company was awesome and the Yoohoo drink made me happy. :D After that we did a little shopping in a store nearby. Found stuff I liked for M, but their card machine was down. :( I found some shirts I liked, but of course, not made for girls with big breasts. :P Lastly, we headed to a farking amazing frozen yogurt place where you pick the flavor(s) you want from the wall units, then head to a topping buffet and add what you want. It gets weighed for 50 cents an ounce and off you go! Self-serve! I got cupcake batter yogurt topped with mini chips, crushed reese's PB cups, crushed oreos and little cookie dough bites. :D I only added a little of each, for a taste, so it's not as bad as it sounds. After that we said goodbye to most of our little group and four of us headed to the hotel to check in and get changed. Got there later than hoped and forgot my ID, so Patsy and I headed back to the hotel to retrieve it. Meh. A little line waiting and we headed in to find missamerika waiting with M for us. hughcasey was at the club too, and I saw him, but we didn't get to chat. :) We had a nice time, despite the ridiculous crowd and the unbearable heat upstairs. Thrill Kill Kult was playing, and Lords of Acid, which accounted for the crowd. We didn't dance, M doesn't usually and I didn't have anyone else to dance with. missamerika left halfway thru, but when we gave goodbye hugs, we became attached at the breasts, LOL. Don't ask. Much hilarity ensued! We got detached in short order, and she was on her way.
We spent the night in a swanky 4-star hotel that was a block from City Hall. Two 40" flat panel TVs, but only one large queen bed. :P Our fourth, Chazz, called the couch, so M and I shared the bed with patsytheloomer. Ten minutes of giggling ensued, before we managed to go to bed at 5 am, AFTER a 4 block walk to Wawa for food because we were too hungry to sleep.
Sunday found us having brunch with a friend, and then we hopped on the train and snoozed all the way home. 4 hours of sleep killed me...so I took a 4.5 hour nap when we got home, and woke up in time to watch True Blood with M.
Now...off to find some ice cream and then hit the sack. Work tomorrow.