h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've decided to start a new journal entry, although I haven't much interesting to share this weekend.

I'll get the fun stuff out of the way first: Friday night was a quiet one, K picked me up around 11:00 and we went back to his place and basically crashed straight away. Yesterday we slept in, till around 10:00, had coffee and chitchat with his roomies and a friend of theirs. Then we went for a lovely Mexican lunch, K had a haircut while I hit the thrift store down the street (got a few sweaters, but still can't find a flower pot or tea pot I like). Then we "took a nap" , then met up with five friends for the Cramps show. They were really cool!!

This morning was just get up, brush teeth, have some cereal, listen to a bit of a Bill Hicks CD, borrow a few more CDs to burn, then come back home to do grocery shopping (done) and laundry (in progress) while K bowls with his folks then helps his grandma with some more packing for her move next weekend.

Today I'm in the mood for retail therapy- I think I'll shop around on eBay for a Curious George lunch box and who knows what else. I don't want to spend *too* much money, but I nned a prize for enduring this past week at work. Other than that, I plan to make some pasta and garlic bread for dinner, maybe do some reading (currently I'm re-reading "Geek Love", then I'm going to start "Love in the Time of Cholera" or "Midnight's Children". I'm also reading a Michael Moorcock which K lent me.) or watch a movie, water my plants, and not a whole lot else.

I'm hoping that everyone's okay and has had some fun this weekend. I'd love to hear about what you all got up to- Kaz, I know you're feeling really shaken right now by some things, but I'd love to hear about your day out before the nasty stuff started. Terri, Willem, JEllen, Abbi, Vixen, Hellbound, hi to all of you as well, how's things, and what kinds of things have you been up to over the weekend?

That must have made a change, a quiet weekend!

You know how I felt after my last moot, well today was the Duck Feeding Frenzy, my friend and her child couldn't make. I knew the new woman and her curate boyfriend was coming but didn't expect anyone else. We had 3 others come, which was quite a surprise!

I have been quite stressed lately, its been like it got when I had the shop. I got to the point there that I could only get up every other day, and its been getting like that now. Helping organise the annual convention, knowing thats a full weekend Friday evening to Sunday evening. The weekend before instead of resting, I am at my parents. My grandfather died a year ago, the day before my grandmothers birthday. So gran is having a birthday party, and we have to support her, knowing what happened a year before.

Next weekend, its off to the Isle of Man, which will be peaceful, and close to nature, but still fretful as staying with Moonglums mother, who has never fully approved of me not working.

When we get back, I have 1 day off before we are going to a Zohar gig, they are a great band. The bands 'leader' is the brother of Ali G and their audiences are normally very celebrity full. We are on teh guest list, as we are trying to persuade them to play next years Convention. It all sounds fun, but I will be so nervous.

The next day we are going to a couples house who are members of teh PF. They have been in teh scene for years and years and want to retire, Moonglum will be helping them with teir computer system so we can hand it over and let them retire. They are very exacting, and a little intimidating, although they are also lovely. As both he gig and they are in London central, we have decided to get a hotel in central London, so that we are near to everything, and that way it will be a lot less stressful.

I have been asked to be the official photographer for the convention, and I don't want to do it, I am not ready for that. But they need a hand, so I will do my best.

Anyway the stress is building up, so I am stiff with stress, my back is threatening to start playing up, my IBS is quite bad and I am very anxious and often on teh verge of tears. But I got out today and we had a lovely day. They were all supportive of us, and we won't be cancelling every thing afterall, just keeping it a bit quieter!

We have also been asked to dinner by the curate and girlfriend! He came today in his full regalia, it was funny seeing how people reacted to him!

This may seem like lots of moaning but its not. I am going to cope, I know I cannot take anything else on without breaking. Its still very stressful for me the thought of seeing anyone except Moonglum. But it gets better once I am with them and relax, its the prospect more than anything.

Thank you for letting me vent here PC, my journal is not such a friendly place at the mo and I needed to say all this. Its seems like a stressful time for both of us, but if we can get through this then better things will be on their way!

Wow, that's a really hectic schedule, and a lot of pressure. You do seem to be handling it well, though. Including the family stuff.

You can vent here any time you like, Kaz. My journal should always be a friendly place for all of my friends, if it becomes anything else, I'll be upset!

It is a stressful time just now, this work situation and the continuing bronhitis is really exhausting me. But we'll get through everything, and it helps me a lot to know I've got you to help me through it and vice versa!

For your bronchitis are you doing steams? And drinking ginger tea with honey? Slice real ginger, don't bother with ginger teabags, they are not strong enough. Sage tea is good if you can get hold of it. I love ginger and honey tea with a slice of lemon at the top, so you have to drink through it. Hot steamy baths are compulsory as well!

Hiya Kaz, hope things are calming down a bit now for you. It's maybe good that we have different journal spaces at different times, the damn things go up & down like yo-yo's!

Just talked to PC on msn, she is now taking your advice & doing the nice hot bath.

As you know, i have just had a very very heavy RL betrayal scene which

*tries to stop*

anyway despite us all in general going forwards & getting on with life, sometimes setbacks happen & we feel "oh god, back on the treadmill", which is when support systems kick in.

I am lucky that i have now a very dear RL friend who is also , plus support from hootoo friends, without both aspects i doubt i could have coped with recent stuff. Can't go into details on here, it's someone elses private survivor stuff,*send all possible that it doesn't end up hurting them* but so glad "you lot" exist.

I DO realise about the agoraphobia, despite having what appears to be a great social life right now, very few people realise the efforts it takes to actually get to that stage. The other night i had to leave somewhere very suddenly, massive panic & paranoia. All i could think of to say was "sorry i have a headache".

It isn't easy., i reckon we all deserve a massive POB!

zdt

Hi Terri

I read of your problems, they sound bizarre, doesn't this person have anything better to do with their time?

Social lifes have a habit of creeping up on you and then you realise you are not having enough time to yourself and freak, it all gets too much. I generally prefer not to have a social life, about from my weekly date feeding the ducks!

Hi Kaz,

I don't think he actually intended to be so cruel, he was just playing amateur psychologist & didn't realise any of the background bit.Nonetheless, i am really suffering now.

As to social life, in general i enjoy it, but given a choice i prefer hosting things in my own place. I am Ok about going to public places so long as it's within walking distance of home, so if i get uncomfortable i am free to leave.I always check out where the exit is for a quick getaway! I get very stressed out if it's a distance away & i am dependent on somebody else driving me, HATE being in a car anyway.Basically, so long as i feel it's ME in control of the situation i am fine. But really wish i didn't have to go out whilst in this state, but no choice, essential shopping has to get done somehow, i am putting it off as long as possible. I just hope i don't bump into anyone i know, but that's unlikely in a small place like this.

Lucky ducks! I bet they spend all week looking forward to your visit!

zdt

It can get tiring bumping into people you know!

Yet its sometimes better that way then planning it, planning involves panic attacks, if I bump into someone and ask them for coffee then I get my sociable bit done without having to plan and panic!

Hi Kaz and Terri, and everyone!

Kaz, I read on your journal that you were thinking of leaving h2 to avoid causing conflict between people who are mutual friends of you and another person... I hope you won't do that, the same as you asked me not to back when I was having the same problem. The other person involved chose to leave, but that was not my doing: I certainly have better things to do with my time than worry about what someone else thinks of me (provided they try to be tactful enough not to talk crap about me to my friends, or in front of my face) or to blame myself because someone decided they really didn't care about me.

But you I care very much for, and I would love to see you stick around and share all of your insights and your fun experiences, like feeding those ducks! If you can't, I understand, and will see you on MSN or Yahoo if you start that group, and by email and stuff as well.

Terri, we're supposed to be having our chat right now but I need just a few minutes more to attend to something. I'll be on MSN presently...

PC your mutual friend was not really a friend to many of us, whereas az is. I just would rather leave than be pressurised into doing something I don't want to. We still have email and we can say a lot more on email and not have insensitive posts to deal with as well.

I posted an update, a short while ago and don't have much time now, to post again so....simply put..

to all

Ginger tea sounds nice, and Kaz I'd like you to add me to msn if you like of course, no pressure - I don't get to go on much, but it's nice to have that option and there is always the e-mail

I am much better at email for a number of reasons.
You have my email Kaz.

Yahoo has groups where there is one page but you can chose to go to that page or get an email with the post from that page anytime somebody posts. That is a nice setup. Does msn do that too?

I'm not really much better at email than at h2, but I'll certainly give it my best. And if we start a group where we can talk, too, all the better.

You're right, Kaz, that's really no comparison. That mutual "friend" I spoke of wasn't really much of a friend to me, either, to be honest. Heck, the reason that whole fiasco started was because other mutual "friends" tried to push me into a situation that would be to their, and their friend's, benefit, and not so much mine. So, I can appreciate and understand your feelings about this, even if my own selfishness makes me want to keep you here.

s all around from me, too.

I spoke with my doctor today, he thinks I've got walking pneumonia (again), and wants me to come in for a chest x-ray. I've no way of paying for that right now, though, so I'll just keep working with the ginger tea and getting lots of rest and trying not to let the work situation stress me too much, for now. As soon as I know I'll be gainfully employed indefinitely, I'll see about an x-ray. But if it *is* walking pneumonia, there's nothing anyone can do for it except let it runs it course anyway, so what's the use in an x-ray?

(And please don't anyone worry- I am getting plenty of rest and all that. Although I am seriously considering giving up the cigarettes... )

I think I'll be heading off to bed soon, speaking of rest. But hello to everyone- great to see you tonight, Vix and Abbi!- and while I won't have much online time tomorrow or Wednesday, I'll be around when I can and thinking of you all lots!!

*waves* Sorry i wasn't around at the time we said, i crashed out (eventually) but woke up just now (bloody 3am here, how utterly convenient!)

zdt

Giving up the cigs will help a lot, go for it! Not that I am biased or anything!

Hope you're feeling a bit better now PC. I've had the "walking pneumonia" syndrome often too, its miserable. I tend to agree with you about "why get the Xray" 'cos as you say, they can't do very much except go 'tut tut, look at that!' At least here we don't have to pay for stuff thank god.

take it easy, try & stay inside in the warm & get K to cosset & pamper you!!!

zdt

PC if you explain to your doctor you have no insurance he can give you the antibiotic without it. He should know from listening, fever, and long term, plus previous history enough info to do that.

It is not anything usual to be in your shoes financially.

Have him try a cheap percription amoung the antibiotics that you know works with you if possible. The penicilian family is still inexpensive.

Pnuemonia usually needs an antibiotic.

Viral things do not.
Bronchitis does not and is different.

Your chronic condition will worsen the longer you insult your immune system. It is all connected. It is better to bite the bullet early rather than pay ( financially and health wise) to prohibit worsening of the overall chronic condition you have.

The bottom line for the long term you might want to consider. With chronic conditions you can worsen and stay at that level rather than return to previous level with severe viral or infectious history.

Fibromyalgia and CFS (other chronis conditions)are very prone to coming about in a post-viral time or complication so they can also worsen conditions like that with each infection that follows.

It would pay for you to have a pnuemonia vaccine
Once you are over this round and every year afterwards.
Once you have had it twice you are much more suseptable.

Lecture from the voice of experience over

Oooer! This is one of the VERY few things i would disagree with abbi on, but if in doubt,go with abbi 'cos she is in the US & has vastly more experience than me of chronic stuff.

For ME personally, i avoid antibiotics like the plague, also any vaccine stuff; My doc reckons my immune system is so hyper sensitive that it is best left to its own devices & bunging in things like this causes it to go ballistic, which sets up such massive inflammation that in itself is usually more dangerous than the actual infection. He won't even give me penicillin, his theory is it has now been so over prescibed that just about everybody on earth has some sort of allergic reaction to it & the bugs treat it as if it were chocolate!

BUT obviously if it is affecting you to a degree that is dangerous & you don't have the luxury of being able to rest up & let your bod deal with it, you need something, even if it's "minimal intervention".

One thing that can be said for certain is that STRESS is the absolute no-no in any of this, physical, mental, emotional, our little systems are on a hair trigger & anything that stuffs up the equilibrium produces physical effects. VERY difficult to avoid of course, all you can do is try to be aware that you maybe need to be extra kind to yourself at times when life is playing the opposite game. It's NOt being a wimp, it's not being lazy, it's being sensible.

Take it easy kid, put your feet up, have that nice hot bath & watch a video. It certainly won't do any harm; AND eat SPLODGE, cures all known ills!!!!



zdt

Aparently the "walking pneumonia" isn't a viral or bacterial infection, so an antibiotic would be useless, at least according to my GP. What I have is merely a massive accumulation of postnasal drippage from my allergies, combined with some inflammation from trying to hack it all up. I usually get pleuritis from that, as well, but have been lucky so far.

I can't avoid the stress much, under the circumstances, but am trying really hard not to let a lot of petty stuff exascerbate the stress I can't avoid. And I am getting plenty of rest, crashing early when I can and sleeping in weekends. The hot baths and ginger tee seem to be helping a lot, as has this eucalyptus and camphor stuff I have to rub on my back and chest. And I'm still using the expectorant and an anti-inflammatory, as well as the bronchodilator. I have a nebulizer, and stocked up on saline and straight-up albuterol, I've been using that once or twice a day, too. And I've been a good girl and smoked as little as possible these past few days, even though it drives me nuts.

Thanks for your advice, Abbi and Terri and Kaz. I know it's nothing to mess around with- for an asthmatic, pneumonia can have serious ramifications. I certainly don't want my lungs any more permanently trashed than they already are. I really appreciate all of the caring and concern and good advice.

So, today's K's roommate J's birthday. J's girlfriend (the third roommate) is taking him for dinner and a movie before cake time, K is picking up the cake on his way to get me after his job interview this afternoon. So, tonight I'm watching a movie, having some cake, and crashing over there. And maybe I'll see about taking Terri's other advice about eating plenty of sploodge. I'm sure K will be happy to oblige, seeing as how my health's dependent on it!

I did some retail therapy yesterday (although it was used stuff and only about $20, not too crazy with my finances possibly about to take a hit): got a video of Lucio Fulci's "Zombie" (woo hoo!) and a used CD of the best of Love. And I'm still contemplating that Curious George lunch box- it would motivate me to bring lunch from home as opposed to eating out every day.