Happy Independence Day!

strange places, even stranger faces

strange places, even stranger faces, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

I've been on the go all month it seems, and have arrived home this afternoon from Seattle, the last on my list of "away" adventures for awhile. LOTS of catching up to do, including sorting through 1000+ images taken since mid-month.

This weekend I visited the Woodland Park Zoo, and attended the Seattle Pride Parade. Images from both coming soon to my Flickr (and maybe here if I'm not my usual lazy blogger self.)

For now, I leave you with this little guy I saw at the parade. I saw him dozing in the sun, and thought he was adorable in his little parade ruffle.



The instant he heard my shutter, he was wide awake and looking directly into the lens.



Something tells me that this little guy is a frequent and favorite subject of a true photo enthusiast.

the royal treatment

the royal treatment, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

We are back!

Murphy had the best time of his life. He got to lay on the furniture, sleep on the bed, go in and out of the house when he pleased, pooped on the lawn, and ate more treats than meals. I think in this photo he knows it's almost over.



Sunny is, of course, always at his ease whether on the floor or in a chair, the only thing that matters to him is he has a ball.

The driving itself was our biggest concern, since Murphy gets carsick. Our doctor recommended trying Bonine, a motion sickness OTC medication that lasts 12 hours. It worked most excellently, and our trip down was uneventful.

My poor brother, I think I burned out his last road-trip bulb with my nervous passenger routine. I fully expect him to sell his car and turn in his license just so he never has to drive me anywhere again. Ha! We spent three days with our aunties in Modesto. Lest anyone think it was some kind of big family reunion, our family has a nasty habit of not speaking to each other - sometimes for good reason, sometimes not so good - so it was pretty quiet, with a few hours here, a few hours there. The aunt we stayed with has two little dogs herself, and her terrier thought Sunny was great fun, although she couldn't quite figure out growly little Murphy. No blood was drawn though, so all in all it was a success.

Weather was outstanding.

In glandular news, I finally am starting to have some energy again. It remains to be seen if it will be stable, but for now I'm just glad to have the get-up to do a little cleaning around here. This place is not tidy, to say the least. Spring cleaning, three months late, and that's not to mention the yard. *gulp*

But as things get back to normal, I'll get to it, the list is long, but I'll get to it.

Murphy's big adventure

Murphy's big adventure, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

We are on a road trip. Murphy has never gone more than an hour away from home, because he is timid and gets carsick. But we were able to get some medication that helped him not be sick, and he settled in at our destination and is having a great time. Go little guy, go!

Sunny, of course, is completely nonchalant about the whole thing.

There's no internet where we're staying, so I'm down the street borrowing bandwidth. Heh. I'm telling you, I've got the withdrawals! But we're having a nice time, and head back tomorrow morning.

I'm back!!! And leaving again. Bwahaha! See ya suckas!

Since I know you people who read here (all two of you!) are waiting with bated breath for the continuing saga of my thyroid, here's the news:

I gots da Hash. Yep, I've been diagnosed with Hasimoto's Thyroiditis. Bah. It sounds a LOT worse than it is. From everything I've read, for most people it's pretty much the same as having general run of the mill low thyroid. My doc wants me to change my diet a little though, because I also have slightly high glucose and maybe a touch of anemia. No WONDER I've been so tired and cranky.

I'm on new meds. My sense of humor is returning, even if I still huff and puff walking uphill to the bus. Note: my JUVENILE sense of humor. The sense of humor that has me singing "Willie and the Poor Boys" to the dogs, and when I get to the part that says "bring your nickel," (which I always mistakenly sing "grab your nickel..." you see where this is going...) that's right. "GRAB YOUR NIPPLE, STAMP YOUR FEET... BWAHAHAHAHA!!!" I giggled for a half an hour over that one. Then sang it again and giggled more.

Life is good again.

So the brain fog is lifting. Hopefully the energy levels will start coming back up too. I'm so pissed though, if somebody, ANYBODY, had bothered to check for this a few years ago I might have saved myself the extra 35 lbs or so I'm packing around. Grrrr... I'm convinced this is not a new health development, but one that has been lurking for years, probably all the way back to the first time I got diagnosed with possible hypothyroid over 12 years ago. The symptom picture was not quite right though, so nothing was ever done.

Enough about my damn glandular issues.

I'm SO EXCITED! I finally got a real macro lens, whoohoooo! See that first picture? at the very top? Those are allium flowers. You know the big purple globes? These:

Yeah, that freakin' rocks. Here are a couple more:

It's awesome for telephoto too:

Tomorrow morning I leave with my bro for a roadtrip. My first roadtrip of any length since I smushed my car 2 years ago. Still dealing with some PTSD from that accident and the one where the kid hit us in October. We'll see how it goes. I have medication for Murphy's anxiety and carsickness, maybe I should get some valium or something for me. Ha!

Yes, the mutts are going too. Should be interesting. We're headed down to Modesto. I have a camera bag/backpack coming from B & H, which arrived today just in time, so I'm taking the gear. 2 days on the road, 3 days of leisure time, I should have time for photos. :) Take that, thyroid, I'm shooting again. Phhhhbt!

In toy news: Danbo has a new friend. She's keen on showing Big Danbo, aka: Danbota, all about her neighborhood. First they learned about tea:

Next they learned about poppets:

"Danbo, what are they looking at?"

"I don't know, Danbota. They always do that. I think maybe they are birdwatchers."

"I don't see any birds..."

"No, but they're pretty nice to be around so I figure the imaginary birds aren't too creepy."

"Okay... what kind of imaginary birds are they?"

Well, that wraps it up for now. Be back later.

Poppet admires Lake Washington

Poppet admires Lake Washington, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

Every year, about this time, I get my own personal version of seasonal depression. I don't acclimate well to the warm weather, yet I don't really want to be working when it's so nice outside. Things have been perfect the last two weeks for outdoor excursions and lots of photography, but I've barely been doing either.

This thyroid thing is kicking my ass. Hopefully, I'm now on the right meds, and I'll start noticing a difference soon, but I'm tired. tiiiiiiiiirreeeed. *whine* I'm also kind of down and unmotivated to do much of anything. I think I need to get away.

The photo above is of one of my little getaways last year. I should do it again soon, but I can't even seem to get up the motivation to contact people, make arrangements, check the train schedule... part of the problem is that everything I plan lately seems to have a whole bunch of little snags that add up to one great big "go back to bed and hide under the covers."

Oh, and my 20th reunion is approaching. I've been contacted and haven't replied because I don't know if I want to go. I love the venue idea, but I keep looking at the RSVP list and honestly, I don't know who any of those people are! Seriously, I keep wondering what happened to my class. I guess I didn't realize just how isolated I was in High School, and how few people I talked with long enough to remember them.

Maybe it's just my bad memory. I mean, I know that I really didn't have much association outside of my church, but this is ridiculous. My graduating class had less than 250 people, I lived in the same small town all of my life. Doesn't it seem like I should at least recognize some of the names and faces?

And the odd thing is, it's affecting me more than I imagined. It's so jarring to realize that I have no connections to a time in my life when it seems like most people retain contacts and friendships that last for years. Maybe that's just my storybook perspective and most other people really don't keep in touch with school friends and people from childhood. Who knows? All I know is I need to get away and get my head back together.

bubba - UPDATE! He's home!!!

bubba, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

UPDATE: He's home! He was gone almost exactly 24 hours, the weather was gorgeous, but it just started pouring down rain, and I guess he decided fun time was over. He's hungry and covered in sap, but otherwise fine. So happy. 

My losing streak continues. Bubba has been missing since last night. He snuck out past hubby into the yard, and we didn't notice. We haven't seen him since then. Shaq is distraught. We are worried too.

win some lose some

afternoon tea, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

I broke my favorite teabowl about a week ago - completely misjudged the shelf and rammed the side of the bowl right into it. Such a strange thing. I have a new favorite though, well, one of my new favorites, pictured above, by artist Cory Lum. I'm going to (eventually) try to track down the materials for traditional japanese repair (silver veins) and try to learn to do that kind of repair. It could be interesting.

I think the smash happened because of some health issues. I was diagnosed with low thyroid. I was treated for this before, several years ago, but at that time the thyroid was secondary to something else, and eventually I didn't need the meds anymore. This time, back on the meds. The doc prescribed the one thyroid meds I have trouble with. I told her that I don't do well with that one, but she said "well, try it anyways, and if it's a problem we can review our options." Like a dummy I went ahead and took it thinking: 1) it can't be that bad in the short term, and 2) when I go back in a month, I can request that she change the meds.

Well, in the meantime, I got insomnia, muscle aches, visual issues, and oh yes, that migraine I mentioned on the 9th? It went away on that Tuesday, then came back Wednesday morning and lasted until yesterday. Fun times. After sleeping less than 2 hours on Monday night, I finally said "enough" and quit taking the med. Called my doctor, (never did get to talk directly to her, this all went through her nurse,) she said "take a 1/2 dose." I told her "no you don't understand, I am having severe adverse reactions to this medication, I have a history of severe adverse reactions to this medication. I am not taking it at all. Please prescribe something else." (There are other options - pharmaceutical options - for treating low thyroid.) She said (through her nurse,) "sorry, that's the only one I prescribe."

What the hell??? What happened to reviewing "options?" What part of "severe adverse reactions" don't you understand?

So... obviously the old meds took a few days to clear my system, so I continued to get worse for a few days after stopping the meds, culminating in a total I-can't-cope-meltdown on our anniversary.

*sigh*

I'll get it straightened out. I fired my doctor. Told the nurse to please make a note in my chart that I am terminating the relationship due to the doctor being unwilling to consider commonly prescribed alternatives in the face of severe adverse drug reactions. I wish I could sue her, or something. Unacceptable, and very bad medicine.

Today, I finally was feeling more normal, so I got outside and began the job of reclaiming our backyard from winter's messes. I know, I know, it's mid-May, and all of these tasks should have been done 2 months ago. Ha! But I got the deck all cleaned off, the deck furniture is clean, and ready for use. It's kind of overgrown and wild back there, and I want to make it more so, in a controlled kind of way, of course. It will be good for privacy.

I have other yard plans, but they are still coming together. Sometime in the next month or so, we will paint the house (or hire someone.) Starting to look decent around here. New roof, new gutters... now if we could just get our bathrooms and kitchen remodeled. It's progress, slow, but progress.

This post felt kind of rant-ish. It was cathartic. :)

all the noise just gets crushed by the song

all the noise just gets crushed by the song, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

Some songs you need to hear twice.

Happiness is...

Happiness is..., originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

cup of tea in my (current) favorite teacup -
poppet, pretending to be a kitty -
catching up (finally) on some reading.

I woke up with a migraine this morning, it was a bummer because I did have a couple of clients scheduled. I really want to just quit working Saturdays entirely. Why I haven't done so before now, I'm not sure. I only have one regular on that day, and there are 1500 therapists in this town, so it's not like I'm the only person she can see...

The meds took forever to start working, so it was nearly noon before I felt better enough to take a shower. We went to get some lunch, then to the comic book store. They were having a clearance sale, so we bought some completely unnecessary toys - about $200 worth, for less than $20 - score!

I bought a World of Warcraft toy that looks kind of like a cross between an Imperial Speeder Bike and a pterodactyl. It has a funny little gnome or something riding it. It was TWO DOLLARS! so shoot me. Ha! I wanted a big die-cast Bender (from Futurama,) but it was the only Futurama toy they didn't put on clearance. Booooo!

In other news, how's this for Suburbia - I joined a BOWLING LEAGUE. Yep, me. They'll probably have to put the rails up and give me the ball ramp so I can make it down to the pins. But, I have my OWN BALL! (and it lights up and says "bowling league-er" in great big neon letters so I can tame the pins after dark when they're less stroppy!)

Must practice. :)

Danbo and the Cider, Part II

Danbo's feelings are hurt, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

Danbo's feelings are hurt because Gumby is hogging the cider. Oh no! Gumby has fallen in! Pokey will fish him out!

Gumby gets CPR.



All is forgiven, friends again. Pokey, at last, gets his rewards.




(sometimes I can't help myself, part the second)

"you already had one, this one is for me"

"you already had one, this one is for me", originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

Danbo tells me she LOVES hard cider. But she needed a little help...

"Guys, don't drink it all. Guys? Guys..."


(Sometimes I can't help myself ;-) Ha!)

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome., originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

It rains here. A lot. This is not news to anyone. But as a reward for all of the rain, we get beautiful days, so many flowers, and so much green. This evening was one of those perfect spring evenings, when the air feels clean because of the rain earlier in the day. Everything is crisp, and you can see for miles.

We spent an hour at the Japanese Garden, I shot a few pictures, (a very few,) and just enjoyed a tiny stroll around one loop. This is one of the great things about having memberships to museums and gardens - you never feel like you have to stay forever, just to "get your money's worth."

Why I never get any work done

Why I never get any work done, originally uploaded by geekgirlunveiled.

Why yes, that is an assortment of toys on my desk. I also have a point & shoot camera on me at all times, just to make playtime a little more "productive."

What's that you say? Taxes? Oh, I still have 8 days to finish those. My bookkeeping from 2008 is almost finished. A few more birds and poppets and robots won't slow me down.

Nah, not really. I did indeed wrap up the vetting of all the receipts, and I found a few more deductions to enter - cash purchases that were overlooked. I just finished a nice bowl of matcha tea, and now I'm playing a bit.

This week, I'm actually overbooked, so I'm making up for lost time. I haven't worked a lot since mid-November, starting with the accident (we got rear-ended, it's on this blog somewhere,) which messed up my hand, then we had Snowmaggedon (December,) then the typical winter slowdown, then I got the Walrus Cold Virus (I sounded like a walrus for a week,) and now finally...

Of course, as soon as work picks up, the sun comes out. Neener neener on me, eh? I'm thinking it's just about the time I need to start planning a weekend getaway to one of my favorite cities: Seattle. In a few weeks my favorite teashop there is going to be receiving spring harvest teas, and I'm running dangerously low. ;)

Oh yes, there are poppets in today's shot. Where have those rascally creatures been hiding? Check the sidebar, they have their own digs now. It's lots of fun over there. teehee!

I leave you with just a taste of our exquisite spring weather.

File under: Things that make me happy

Bunny-cam!

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