More on how to screw BP while they try to screw the Great Lakes

Some of BP's "products" to boycott: Amoco, Castrol, ARCO stations, ARAL stations (if you're in Germany, Luxembourg or the Czech Republic), and ampm convenience stores.

Did I mention they're evil? From an article in the
Chicago Tribune
"State and federal regulators, though, agreed last month with the London-based company that there isn't enough room at the 1,400-acre site to upgrade the refinery's water treatment plant.

The company will now be allowed to dump an average of 1,584 pounds of ammonia and 4,925 pounds of sludge into Lake Michigan every day. The additional sludge is the maximum allowed under federal guidelines.

Company officials insisted they did everything they could to keep more pollution out of the lake."

Ya know, I don't have enough room on my property to upgrade my septic system... Oh, thanks DEQ, I'd love to just dump it in that lake over there - it's cheaper than moving or *gasp* buying more property!

FU BP!

So if you haven't heard, BP has applied for and gotten (FU DEQ too!) the right to dump toxic waste (ammonia and mercury) into Lake Michigan.
Give BP the finger, and sign the petition please.
Kthxbai!

FAIL

So I had vestibular testing round two today. I took Antivert before I went, but I still didn't make it through. The first test we did was torture chair! Have you seen the Myth Busters episode where they try out different motion sickness remedies? It was like that, only I got swung around in both directions. Ew. I amazingly held down my very early morning breakfast during the test.
Second test was a redo of the cold water in the ear test. I made it through the left ear, but felt sooo on the verge of losing breakfast that I stopped them. I was like no way, not again! So I sat there in front of a bucket ("Get me a bucket! I'm 'onna throw up!"), mopping my head with a washcloth, denying that I'll ever do that shit again. The techs said they think they have enough, even though I failed to complete the entire water test (there were still 3 more to do! no wai!).
So I went up to the cafe to settle my stomach with a baked potato (how I wish for saltines that are GF!). My dr. appt was at 1, so I went down there to check in and read before they called me in. This was an OTO doc. Little did I know that more torture awaited!
They put me through several tests in the OTO's office, which promptly made me sit clenching my stomach and holding my head (kthxdie). The doc comes in later and is like "I don't think you have an inner-ear issue. I think it's migraines. They sometimes don't produce headaches, but the visual cue-caused motion sickness etc. is a symptom." So I'm getting an MRI next week to rule out a tumor on my left inner-ear (apparently my left ear hearing isn't as good as my right). If I don't have a tumor (it's not a tuma!), then I'll do the fun trial and error on migraine meds, until I find one that's "right for me". UGH. At least we can cut out the gluten-containing ones... if my doc isn't stupid :P Oh noes! I's in troubles!

I saw a Dog today...

So my husband wakes me up this morning, tells me he has a surprise. It's time-sensitive, so we have to get going. It'll take about 1.5 hours to get there, so lets go already!
I cannot guess why we would be going to Taylor, of all places. He won't say. As we arrive, he says "Borders - that's what we're looking for." Ok, so who's at Borders? It's Dog the Bounty Hunter! And his wife Beth! Awesum!
See my Flickr page for some blurry shots! Woohoo!
It was pretty sweet... We now have two copies of a book that he probably didn't write himself, but signed by him. He didn't have time to take photos with all the fans - they had a plane to catch. I hope they at least got everyones just-purchased copy of his book signed at least!
Just wish Leland was there - he's hawt!

Golden Compass Daemons...

Great books, can't wait for the movie...

hmmm

hmmm, originally uploaded by sushigooddog.

Umm yeah that's my desk.. and the red Swingline too... and Chewbacca mug... OMG what a mess. And no, I didn't take this picture either!

DUDE!

dude-nsfw, originally uploaded by Myshra.

LMMFAO!

Oh and check out Dooce's dog Chuck in some lingerie!

joined a gym...

... worked out today... woohoo! ow!

"Patience ain't my fortitude"

That quote is from Rahm Emanuel, congressman from Illinois (not my congressman, but he's still representing our country!). Why?
I heard this quote today on NPR on the drive home. It's at 1:51 on the track found here (after a brief commercial from our sponsors).
Dorks all know that patience has nothing to do with fortitude... that's all constitution, baby! (Saving throw vs. idiots! Oh wait, that's a will save...)
I talk like a lolcat for fun - but if I'm being interviewed by NPR, for one thing I won't use "ain't" (twice even). Especially if I'm a congressperson! Things like this burn me - when someone "learned" uses the term "irregardless" - aaaarrrgggghh! Drives me bonkers!

Oh, and btw, here's a list of redundant expressions from wikipedia to drive you nuts!

Hair: the long and short of it

Before

After
Holy gods it's short! OMG Look at the crap on that counter! I spy PSP box!

OMG Hacks!

Star Wars Galaxies, cleaning, Ikea and Ann Arbor Art Fair are eating my life right now.
But this is what I get to look forward to for the fair ->
Woohoo!

waaaaaaaa....

I'm sitting on my in-laws front porch, enjoying the mountain views, cooler temps and tremendous lack of mosquitos... boy is it gonna be hard to go back home tomorrow!
One thing that'll get me back to Michigan - gluten. The only source for gluten-free foods down here is the internet. Though I was assured that WalMart (the only "grocery" store down here) has a great selection of gluten-free stuff, this one had very little, if any. It would be the usual reading every label... The "health food stores" have no food, only vitamins. The closest Whole Foods is hours away... as is the closest book store (another reason to go back home!). But the views! The lack of mosquitos! I couldn't even sit on my porch at home - going from the front door to my car door is like a gauntlet full of mosquitos rather than axes. Here, I just have to worry about the ticks - but not on the porch! It makes me cry every time we have to go back home...
I've decided to start a Flickr account with some of the photos I've taken (some more to be taken as soon as I'm off this laptop! On the porch! Wireless internet in the middle of the mountains and I can't even get voicemail at my house let alone cable internet!). Got some good street signs that have just baffled me for years lol and cows and mountains and this beautiful porch. Have I mentioned how much I love this porch???
Anyway, I've gotta get my camera - hubby and his dad are using the metal detector in the front yard and tearing it up LOL!

On vacation...

Yeehaw!

still feeling like crap...

It's been 3 days now since my icky vestibular nightmare. I still feel like shit. Motion-sick kind of shit, not glutined kind of shit. And we're hitting the road tonight. For a road trip. In a moving car. Uck. Can't wait to ride on those windy hilly Virginia backroads! Weeeee!

The Bane Of My Existence

I wouldn't wish vestibular testing on my worst enemy. Now, apparently, most people don't have the reaction I did, but still. After nearly every test, I felt too nauseated and dizzy to continue right away. Then the worst test of all...
They run cold water into your ears (and suck it out too) for about a minute. When it stops, it feels like you're moving - ew. You're supposed to just lay there and stare straight ahead while they record your eye movements. The left ear was a bit of nausea and dizzyness. But the right ear! OMG. It was terrible vertigo, and I got sick...
The worst part ever is that I got sick too quickly - they didn't get a good recording of my eye movements. I have to do it again. I have to do both ears again! ACK! I told her that I couldn't do it today, not after throwing up the nothing I was told to have to eat. Ugh.
So I have to do the water in the ear tests (cold, and then the warm which we didn't get to), and then the super fun sitting in a turning chair. I'll bring my own barf bag with me next time...
She told me about a drug I can have my doc prescribe so that my response next time won't be as bad. I want to not have to do it ever ever ever again. Ever. And then take an elevator up a floor, walk across a hallway, then take an escalator down so that I can take another elevator up to my car.
I got home about 12:30. I slept until 4, ate some ricey goodness, then slept until 2:30am. I hope I can get back to sleep so I can go to work tomorrow! Oh boy!
So anyway, my next appointment for torture aka vestibular testing isn't until August. So I have a few months until I throw up again - good times.

My brain is a blankness

I not home right now. Please to be leaving a message ok thanks. http://icanhascheezburger.com.
I'm in class, waiting for it to begin. Brain is empty, to be filled by AS400 and iSeries fun times.
Ok, thx bye

"Hey...

... I didn't know Wolverine was in this movie!"
"Yeah, Hugh Jackman, he's on the cover."
"Oh, I didn't recognize him without his sideburns."

Pancake goblin says...

YES!
I tried a gluten-free pancake mix this morning (Gluten-Free Pantry's Brown Rice Waffle and Pancake (and Soda Bread) Mix by Glutino). As my husband is stuffing almost half of a pancake into his mouth he says, "I don't like them at all." Then he finishes the other two... So yeah, he likes 'em :D They're not bad! Almost like a real pancake! Especially with peanut butter and syrup on 'em...

Oh and I found out that I can't use Pam spray... grain alcohols in the ingredients... I cleared out my cupboard and will take in the various flours and mixes into work onTuesday...

Coffee update: I had a cup yesterday! No tummy ache! WOOT! It was, however, medium roast, not the extra bold of my usual... I'll work slowly toward that, but I don't want to be back to the 6 to 8 cups a day like I was... PG Tips tea = the best :D

Have a lovely holiday weekend - I'll be finishing up two projects due on Thursday, as well as other homework on top of that...

And the winner is....

(*drum roll*) - Celiac disease! No Ulcer! Still waiting on the vestibular testing...

So, because my symptoms are not typical for Celiac (hardly any really), I am a potential case study for my gastroenterologist - his "Celiac Buddy" as he put it. I'll journal about my symptoms and how they have changed, maybe do a recorded interview for the med students at UofM, send resources that I find to him. The first question out of everyone's mouth so far - "Are they paying you???" We haven't really talked about this - I'd be happy to interview or whatever to further understanding about Celiac; otherwise we need to talk.

2 weeks and counting for the vestibular testing...

Outback = AOK

So I went to dinner with friends at Outback Steakhouse because they have a *gasp* Gluten Free Menu! It tells you what to ask to have left off, and just asking for the menu signals the staff. It was pretty darn good!
It was a nice change from homework and paying bills, which is what I'm doing now...

Now you're getting it!

I'm getting used to this whole "gluten-free" thing - a lot of good products on the market (eating a delish rice-crust personal pizza right now). Then they throw in the wrench - ulcer! That's why I've been having a hard time drinking my morning coffee! I can't even drink coffee now! What next, chocolate? Cheese?

An important point, and enough whining
I'm finding out that Celiac disease is genetic. Symptoms include headaches, diarrhea, anemia, gas, fatigue, depression, osteoporosis. If you have any of these and don't know why, but have a family member with either Celiac or another auto-immune disease, I urge you to get a blood test. If the blood test is positive, then you'll get the EGD, but it might make your life a whole lot easier! I've had headaches for freakin EVER, and this might just be why! And now's a great time to find out, because there are tons of gluten-free items on the market - including a gluten-free beer by Anheuser-Busch, and this delicious rice-crust pizza I just finished. There's some bad crap out there too...

Rotton bananas?

So after waiting in the waiting room for over 30 mins(which was nicely equipped with some 'puters and the internets), I finally got called back. I get my little blue socks (woot! free socks!), and change into the gown.
Then the fun begins! As they're asking me questions ('Do you have diabetes? Do you have any dentures or a partials? Do you have any autoimmune diseases (to which I answered 'Not that I know of yet!')?'), they're poking me with the IV needle. My veins are uncooperative (I haven't had water for 2.5 - 3 hours at that point - duh!), and after some fishing around, they finally get one in my hand. Then the freakin cold sticky pads to monitor my vitals (why they have to be so cold???).
I wait for a few, crackin jokes with my hubby, when they come to get me. Say bye to hubby, then I get wheeled in the bed to the procedure room - talk about motion sickness! Ugh!
Once in the procedure room they hook me up to the machines and I wait a little longer (it's after 4 by now - my appt was at 2:30...). The doc comes in and gives me the rundown of what's gonna happen (I'd done my reading so I knew - no surprises for this girl!).
So the anesthetist (sp?) gives me some pink stuff to swallow, then adds the anesthesia to the IV (weeee!). Just before I'm out they spray the junk in my mouth to stop the gag reflex. The doc said it tastes a bit like rotten bananas. I didn't really get that flavor - more like dirty sweat socks dipped in cough syrup... something close to that. Anyway, I remember saying how gross it was, then I woke up in the "recovery room". Sweet! Love that...
A nurse comes in and asks what I'd like to drink - they've got ginger ale, I'll take it!
So I got pictures of my intestines if anyone wants to see! LOL
The doc was pretty sure I have Celiac - I'll get the results when I see my gastroenterologist next week.
Hubby took me to dinner (wasn't allowed to cook - even microwave!), so we went to Whole Foods. He loves the pizza, I got a "Chicken Fun" bowl (rice noodles, fo shizzle). After eating, we got some of my fave stuff from Whole Foods Gluten Free bakery, then went to the bookstore. I was a little light on my feet, but I was ok. But by the time we got home, I was straight to bed. Actually, I slept a good portion of the way home (granted, it's a 45 minute drive). So that's why I'm up now. I was hungry and have had a monster headache since before the EGD...

So I guess I'll take some Tylenol and get back to bed. I have to work tomorrow!

mmm yummy tube in my throat

In about 14 hours I'll be swallowing a delicious "endoscope". Yum! When I'm conscious enough to type I'll publish what i can remember :P Hopefully it will consist of "stuck IV in arm, woke up in my own bed. The end"... somehow, I doubt it - especially if it's anything like my experience getting my wisdom teeth pulled. Gotta save that story for later - bed time so I can eat before 8:30am!

Here we go...

So for my first post I'll just give the lowdown on my medical issues as of late:
Arthritis, TMJ.
Dizzyness, nausea, headaches etc. for past 3 years running - can go for weeks without it, but then months with it.
Suspected Meniere's Disease (vestibular (inner ear) disorder) - incurable but some treatments may help; need to find my "trigger"; Testing June 6. If inconclusive, MRI to rule out brain tumor near inner ear.
Suspected Celiac Disease (wheat, oat, barley and rye cannot be digested) - incurable but can control symptoms and ill-effects by not eating wheat, oat, barley or rye (gluten); blood test came back "slight" positive, upper endoscopy with biopsy to confirm - May 14.
Gallbladder ultrasound May 17.
Uterine Polyp - pelvic ultrasound showed; re-test Aug - Oct to check on it.

Feel like hell right now - need to lay down! Nothing so far helps nausea/dizzyness: prilosec, tums, pepto, ginger (lots of ginger!), ginger ale, sprite or 7-up, Zofran, Sea-Bands... Sleep might help for a bit...