Okay, I've heard about these again, from curvature now, and I just want to rant about it:

STOP THE SWINE FLU PARTIES!

It appears some people out there believe exposing themselves and their children to someone with the swine flu at this stage in the game will lead to their acquiring a mild version of the flu.

It'd be lovely if that were true, but it ISN'T.

You have no idea how an individual is going to respond to the flu virus once exposed to it, even in its current form. And the "current" form is subject to mutation as it passes along.

People with underlying conditions such as COPD, asthma, and heart conditions have gotten a more severe version of the flu. Completely healthy people have ALSO gotten a more severe version of the flu. People from BOTH groups HAVE DIED.

So seriously: STOP THE SWINE FLU PARTIES.

I think now is the time to seriously consider spending some more time at home, in A/C (or in NZ and other places -- in front of a fireplace) and play some WoW or other networked video games, take up telecommuting more, shame your coughing coworker and/or manager into going home asafp, make sure you have direct deposit set up, and have groceries delivered to your door.

Okay, maaaaybe that's a little unreasonable... Except for someone like me, who might consider it.

Failing that, wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face unless you just washed your hands, keep to yourself on public transit, eat a healthy diet, and get adequate sleep every night.

Influenza is not something to mess with in general, whether it is Swine Flu or the garden-variety seasonal one.

/rant off

Current Location: Santa Clara, CA

How are things shaking?

You okay down there?

I'm concerned either the swine flu or the quakes are going to prove troubling.

Current Location: Santa Clara, CA

It's been a few days since I last posted to LJ, and I've got a backlog of entries to write.

That said, I need to say a few time-sensitive items here:

1) I'm at iceblink's and we are having internet connectivity issues. They've gone through 3 modems in 6 months here, 2 of which were swapped out in the past 3 weeks. Still, internet access has been erratic and down for hours at a time.

If I don't seem to be chatty or responding to your email right away, there's a reason. =( Sorry. We are looking into the problem, or rather Comcast is supposed to -- and maybe the solution is switching from Comcast to something else.

2) I have emailed and tried to chat with the following people while I'm in South Bay. I'm only down here through as early as late Saturday afternoon, so if you want to hang out, NOW is the time to contact me:

Edit/update: 11:40 am
p3aches contacted kokoro43, something is in the works
gypsyjack and deliciousdee ditto
stef_tm coffee on Saturday morning

If I don't respond to email or chat (use YIM, NOT AIM - my AIM account is defunct) -- please call my cellphone or send an SMS/text msg through the livejournal interface: http://www.livejournal.com/tools/textmessage.bml?user=hopeforyou

Thank you!

Tags: contact, friends, psa, social
Current Location: Santa Clara, CA

Yes, I am planning on going with mikz. Am beginning to make saffron rice with chick peas right now... And should be at the PPP between 8-9 pm.

Anyone else going?

Tags: ppp, social
Current Location: Concord, CA

Yes, I am hoping to make it, even if only for a short visit.

Is anyone in particular interested in talking with me?

Tags: hopeful, social
Current Location: Concord, CA

Back from hospital. Had tests, was given pain meds, and was told to consult my GI doc.

I already have an appointment lined up for the 22nd.

I'm not exactly up for writing much at the moment... Just know that I'm in a bit less pain, but no-one knows what's wrong this round.

No-one got arrested, deported, etc.

Tags: blah
Current Location: Concord, CA

I didn't sleep last night because I was pretty uncomfortable, and I haven't even been able to nap today.

What is it now? Oh, it's not the tooth now. That has been a major pain in the mouth, for sure.

No, between last night and today I have been having steadily increasing abdominal pain and I'm not liking it one bit.

Dammit.

Off to urgent care in a while, in hopes of avoiding the hospital -- but I might go there for tests, anyway.

Current Location: Concord, CA

starry_sigh has written about it here, in her journal -- you might find it interesting to read.

She'll be back in mid-August, and pure_agnostic will be back on August 1.

And me?

I'm staying here.

I have a consultation with an oral surgeon in Lafayette on Thursday morning at 9:15 am.

This is, by the way, one of a number of reasons I am depressed... instead of travelling the world, I am staying here, am unemployed, in pain, and seeing an oral surgeon.

I count my blessings, really, even though I am depressed: I have a nice place to live and I have access to dental and medical care... Andc I'm still around to see another day.

Tags: plans, pure_agnostic, starry_sigh, travel
Current Location: Concord, CA

[cross-posted]

Can someone please refer me to a good oral surgeon in the SF Bay Area?

I'm tired of being in pain and want an oral surgeon to look at me, not another dentist.

Thanks in advance!

Tags: dental, ouch, surgery
Current Location: Concord, CA

• A follow-up appointment with a doctor concerning my ER visit to figure out why my left arm and shoulder were in severe pain with numbness and tingling (heart work-up was done; nothing odd there).


• For the intermittent pain of the above to stop and my arm to feel normal.


• The hole between my jaw and sinus to heal up without need for surgery. Dentist followup: July 20.


• To be able to eat more foods that require chewing without it causing mouth pain.


• To get more work done today and tomorrow.


• To shower and take a walk outside.


• To make it to the pool party in several days.


• To stay with iceblink the 12th-19th.


• To see other friends in South Bay during that time.


• To keep my spirits up... sometimes this is hard.


• To get some body work done... I am behind on my massage schedule.


• To get more restful sleep, rather than the weird-ass nightmare-filled sleep I've been having.

Current Location: Concord, CA

...but I am getting damned tired of Linepithema humile crawling on every surface of this house.

They may be planning on world domination, but does that mean they need to work on colonising my arms, my legs, my nostrils, and my butt crack?

Sheesh.

Boundaries. Please.

Current Location: Concord, CA

I was going to go to the Choirloft if I could get a ride -- but since that didn't happen and I didn't want to do the jarring experience that is BART -- I ended up staying at home.

I'm pretty low energy today, and was kinda hoping to get out -- but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

It's okay. I got to chat with rickybuchanan for over an hour, and it was good to talk to her on Skype. I got some cuddling in. I finally ate some gluten-free pizza, albeit tenderly -- my mouth is still hurting from all the poking around in it.

I am currently playing iPod Scrabble with starry_sigh while pure_agnostic and M are out watching fireworks with other people in cohousing... Odd, because usually I am very eager to go out and watch fireworks on the 4th here, but today I am totally not into it and just hear the various displays booming around me outside.

I guess I am just so tired out I have little motivation, and I've been in a fair bit of pain for the past 2 weeks.

Hopefully I'll be able to do some online work and listen to music when I'm not sleeping. That's where it's at for me... At least it would be peaceful and uneventful, even if it's not as much fun as what I'd prefer to be doing.

Tags: plans
Current Location: Concord, CA

Is anyone heading to the Choirloft this afternoon who can give me a ride there?

Please let me know in comments -- thanks!

Tags: choirloft, request, ride
Current Location: Concord, CA

Unemployment

I had a phone interview with the state unemployment office this morning.

They were late in calling me -- but at least they called. Some people have never had their scheduled eligibility interview and have gone through a lot of hoops trying to get a new one.

I get the impression from a number of online sources that the California EDD (Employment Development Department -- which may be UI or UC office in other US states) is totally and utterly swamped in the past couple months, and service has been spotty...

Some people were scheduled for interviews and didn't get them, some people have missing claim forms and/or cheques, and just about everyone can't get anyone on the phone.

The only advice I've been given (and followed) is to fill out your initial claim online and totally skip the phone. That, and put their number on speed dial, and start calling at 7:58 am. But so far, I've been able to handle everything I need to with them online.

How did the interview go? It seemed to go okay, and the interviewer indicated it sounded like I met eligibility requirements for receiving unemployment. Now they have to call my previous employer and interview them to confirm my eligibility from that angle.

In about 7-10 days I will receive a cheque or a denial of my claim. Let's hope for the former and no hassles; no need for an appeal... I'm not really sure what to expect due to the current state of the lacking state budget.

Projects

Despite being unemployed, I am sorta-kinda employed part-time, working from home.

I have technical writing and re-writing to do on a mobile phone UI, and do that for a few hours a week so far. I'm hoping to do more now and that most of my dental surgery weirdness is over... if not, I'll work around it the best I can.

I am also doing pro-bono (translation: not for pay) work on a Drupal web site, and now have to learn about new modules I've never used before. I don't yet know if I will have to tweak any of the PHP, but at this point, I hope not... I'm tired and my brain probably won't wrap around it at the moment.

Home life

The garden is mostly doing well. I'm still concerned something is trying to kill off the Echinacea, but otherwise everything else seems to be doing fine.

pure_agnostic and starry_sigh are going a little crazy between current work-related obligations and preparing for a trip to China. They'll be taking off on July 8, and while they're away, mikz will be staying with me most of the time.

Other than that, things are quiet around cohousing... Well, except when the kids are screaming and running around, playing flutaphone or violin, and playing games in general. At least most of the time, they're making *happy* sounds and that makes me smile, too.

Dental disgust

My mouth is still healing. It hurts less today, and I hope the trend continues.

Tomorrow morning at 9:30 am I have a follow-up appointment with my original dentist.

I am seriously hoping I won't need MORE surgery on my mouth. I probably won't know until tomorrow morning at the earliest.

*sigh*

Social life

There isn't much of one since I hit the dentist chair. I did get to join part of the Bi Pride BBQ at Dolores Park last Thursday and most of the Bi Film Festival at the Roxie as well -- but that is the only social event I have attended since I went to a bday party in South Bay two weeks ago.

I did not make it to Pride because the dry socket I've been dealing with has hurt too much, and I've been advised not to physically exert myself. Not even swimming. No cleaning or hiking. Just be mellow.

I am hoping to make it to the PPP this month. We'll see, though.

That's all, folks... More posts as I am able...

Current Location: Concord, CA

Dear Universe:

Please give me a life that has been gentler than the one I've been living.

Thank you,

me

Current Location: Concord, CA