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

Well, I've been quiet for a few weeks again. I guess I'll catch up a bit. That there's not much to report is most likely a good thing, though.

I guess I'll start off by mentioning that K and I went to a little local art gallery this past Saturday evening for a presentation about a local act called Puppet Bike. http://www.puppetbike.com/

While the thing has been around for a while now, we'd never seen it. Someone affiliated with the bike went to the same high school as K did, and posted something about the gallery thing on Facebook on Friday. K and I are big fans of puppet shows, so we had to check it out.

We didn't see a full-length pupper performance, but the puppets did perform a bit. There was a short Q&A session with the bike's owner, a perfomance art piece where the artist unraveled a VHS tape of "Top Gun" (surely one of the worst pieces of cinematic turd ever) to tunes from the movie soundtrack, then made a sculpture with the tape. That was quite entertaining. There was also live music, which we didn't check out (bands we'd never heard of, and what we could overhear didn't sound like quite our "thing").

It was a good time, for just a $5 donation per person (plus some tips for the puppets and the people serving free snacks and drinks).

Other than that, only one really significant thing has been going on of late. And, for the sake of my more sensitive readers, I'll post the sort of warning some of you have requested in the past.

Warning: the following paragraphs will be quite female-centric, and perhaps even a bit TMI

I had my regularly scheduled annual visit with my GP on February 17, and it went quite well. One of the things we discuss every year is the stupid thyroid thing. Since having treatment for cysts on my thyroid in my late twenties, I've been having trouble with my weight- it first increased significantly and has since fluctuated a bit dramatically. So, I need to lose a lot of weight. I've been on a quite low-calorie diet- not terribly hard when I don't eat meat, eggs or dairy anyway, but I don't eat a heck of a lot, and I do exercise daily, so the fact that I hadn't seen any weight loss had gotten quite frustrating.

Last year, my doctor discontinued my prescription for the birth control patch I'd been using, as a last-ditch effort to see it that would help. And it did! I've lost 22 lbs since last year. I still have at least 30 more to go, so we've decided I'll go with a progesterone-emitting IUD instead.

My GP is no longer licensed to put those in, so this Thursday I'll be going to an OB-Gyn to have that done. Apparently, it stays in for 5 years, doesn't have estrogen like what I'd been using, and as an added bonus, should stop my menstrual periods completely- which may also alleviate the cramps/zits/migraines issues as well.



End girly TMI stuff

Meanwhile, I may get my new washer/dryer soon. While we've just spent nearly $2,000 on car repairs, our tax returns just about cover that, so my bonus in April will definitely cover the washer/dryer. It would be so nice to be able to dry clothes without the awful "ticka-ticka-ticka" noise my current unit makes (thanks to a former roomate drying something with coins in the pockets).

Well... nothing else going on, really. So I'll shut up now.

Thought you'd been quiet.

I can take the girly stuff! I have no squeams.

Off to catch a plane darn sarf in a couple of minutes. Tra.

I've been busy as hell at work- not complaining, at least I have a job during all this economic mess- and just can't make time to fart around online from home lately. But I won't stay quiet permanently or anything.

Have a safe flight and hope the trip is a pleasant one.

you there's money in your dryer and you haven't taken the back off to get it?

Sounds like the medical stuff is progressing the way you want it too - although sounds a bit slow. Hope everything goes ok for you.

Yes, with the OP.

I guess I'm lucky that my thyroid causes weight loss, if at all. I'll have to have the tissue checked every now and then, because that could turn into something carcinogen, in which case it would have to be removed.

PC - good stuff all round and the is well deserved. I've been thinking about your calorie restriction and shuddering at the thought, mainly in sympathy.

Ed, the sarf is lucky to have youse...we feel all blessed.

They didn't take anything out of my thyroid, but the side effects of what they did use had a similar result. They treated it with some radioactive iodine- they use iodine because it's only absorbed by the thyroid so the radiation ends up where it's needed and nowhere else.

Unfortunately slowing down the growth of the cysts also slowed down the regular thyroid function.

Now it's back to normal, so it's good that we know what the other contributing factors were.

Basically, if I can keep up at this rate, maybe I can go back to eating two small meals a day, instead of just one, and a banana.

Ictoan, I didn't try taking the back off the dryer because I'm terrified of being electrocuted. I can't quite bring myself to pay someone else to do it, because I paid just $150 for both washer and dryer, seven years ago, and it seems silly to spend all that money to fix them rather than replace them and then donate these to someone who doesn't mind weird clacking noises.

>>I didn't try taking the back off the dryer because I'm terrified of being electrocuted.

That problem usually goes away if you unplug it first.

Anyway...I'm back from a dull day darn sarf to find we have a blocked external drain.

Welcome back.

Slow morning at the office today- usually a sign of impending doom.

Hi PC I hope all goes well at the clinic is it tomorrow or later today? I still get confused by what day it is for you compared to me. It's coming up to 1.30 am for me in England so I guess that makes it about 8.30 pm on wednesday for you? Btw, I grew up with a mother and 2 sisters so I have no problem with discussing "women's problems"

Anyway, it sounds like you're on the right track healthwise and I'm sure there'll be no trouble today/tomorrow

Thanks, van.

It's just after 5am here- we're six hours behind the UK and 7-8 behind various European countries- and my appointment is this afternoon. I just hope she finishes the whole thing and doesn't make it a continuing saga.

I figure most guys know enough about female anatomy, etc, but then again, sometimes hearing gory details from someone you know can veer into TMI territory.

Good luck!

C had hers replaced recently. It *should* be relatively hassle-free - if you don't count the loss of dignity.

(Not so nice in her case, because she has some nasty complications)

PC, 5am is the time of the day to be ...

this afternoon - even if necessary, there are more comfortable places to be in than the ob/gyn examination chair

>>there are more comfortable places to be in than the ob/gyn examination chair<<

I've never tried it, and aim to keep it that way I'll just take your word for it!

5am is about an hour after I went to bed To each their own, I suppose.

But anyway, good luck!

5am? There's no such time! Doesn't exist.

Don't avoid too much, Mala! There are good reasons to take a seat there once in a while - regular Pap smears for instance.

... and as opposed to when you're in the dentist's chair - you can voice your opinion while examined

Fingers crossed for this afternoon PC.

I personally find that a little retail therapy cheers me up after visits to the chair.

5am is when I'm usually having my coffee, on work days. I get in to the office around 6-6:30, so I'm up by 4:30.

As for the chair- it wouldn't be so bad, except I just had my annual exam and pap test done on February 17th, and two weeks in between isn't long enough. Hopefully she won't subject me to a second exam or anything- my insurance wouldn't cover another one so soon- and will just pop the ring in and be done with it.

Perhaps a little retail therapy will be in order... good idea, ismarah! I've got a little something coming from Amazon, but perhaps if there are any interesting shops around the clinic, I'll pop in and see about treating myself.

Urgh, that clinches it! If you have to go shopping afterward, I'll definitely stay away