Today is the annual March for Immigration Rights here in Chicago. The attendees are calling for reform to legalize the “undocumented immigrants” — read: ILLEGAL ALIENS — here in the U.S. In an article in a local news station’s Web site, there’s an informal survey as to whether or not the reader supports this march, occurring every May 1st. The results say it all.

If you’ve been a regular reader for several years, then you know my stance on illegal aliens. If not, then read this post I wrote a years ago: Immigration Legislation.

By the way, MAY IS ASIAN-PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH!

Jonathan Roy, Patrick’s son. Guess he takes after his dad, eh? Read the Yahoo! article here: Ex-NHL player, Quebec coach Patrick Roy and son suspended for brawl during game. You won’t catch me doing that. I don’t think.

Unfortunately, Basil’s condition has returned. The vet isn’t even sure if it’s pancreatitis of the pancreas or simply intestinal inflammation because he has too many things going on. Now he also has hyperthyroid and will be taking medication for that. Fortunately, we’ll be giving them to him by injection so it won’t disturb his tummy since he’s still throwing up. The doctor said he shouldn’t even be throwing up once a day, and we’re not talking about hairball spit. I’m very worried but trying not to be.

It’s weird, because Hopper and Angelo were afflicted with the same thing since this all started about a week ago. And yet Hee Seop was just fine. How is it that three out of four of our cats can have the pukies? In fact, Hee Seop had his annual check-up last Saturday and was given a clean bill of health.

Anyway, Hopper and Angelo stopped spitting up food after a couple of days, but I still had to follow them around the house because of the saliva/hairball spit. Both have finally coughed up hairballs, so hopefully that’ll be it. Then again, Hopper sometimes “pukes” for attention.

That sounds kind of dirty to me.

So, hard as it is to believe (for me, anyway), Brian and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary this past Saturday. I mean, five whole years! That seems like such a long time.

As some of you know, we didn’t have a traditional wedding and not by choice (see Civil Ceremony). No planning, no guests, no *gasp* dress. We didn’t even get wedding rings until last year, though we haven’t worn them in a while because we’ve lost weight since then , but we wore them the night we celebrated! (I’ve put on weight since this recent depressive episode began, so mine fits as long as I don’t use soap or lotion; Brian rigged a rubber band to take up the slack on his. )

Dinner was at a businesspeople’s lunch place downtown, and was decent. Its advantage is that it’s across from the Lyric Opera, which is absolutely gorgeous both on the outside and even more inside. We had seats on the main floor at about the 14th row! (Last time I was there I had student tickets way up in the uppermost balcony! I could barely even read the subtitles on the screen.)

We saw Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, in subtitles. (You know: Bugs Bunny, “Figaro!” ) Though I’ve never seen it performed, it was absolutely excellent, particularly the way Nathan Gunn portrays Figaro the barber — totally cheeky. The opera takes place in the 18th century and is a romantic comedy in which the couple marries at the end, with only two witnesses and a notary, almost exactly like our wedding. In a way, it has put me on the road to acceptance of our non-traditional wedding.

OK, so like I said, part of my blog overhaul includes consolidating post categories so I can get rid of others. Does anyone know if there’s a way that I can move all of, say, the Star Wars posts into the Current Affairs/Pop Culture category at the same time? Or do I have to do it one . . . post . . . at . . . a . . . time . . . ? God, I hope not.

…my blog needs a serious overhaul. Since I first started bloggo chicago, it’s grown and evolved, just as I have. However, there are way too many categories so I’m going to need to get rid of some and combine others.

I probably won’t post as often, either, so I’m trying to figure out how to get the Sideblog set up. This also means that I probably won’t be reading blogs very much (not that I have been) because I’ve decided that I need to spend more time on my own writing. Since my Blogroll got screwed up way back when as some of you know, I’m starting it over. The blogs that I’ll add to the list will be from The Regulars; that is, the folks who have stuck by me through thick and thin and regularly comment. It’ll be on its own page.

Um, that is all. For now.

So, this is the first post of 2008 and basically it’s to tell you that I will be on hiatus for . . . oh, I don’t know. Until I get better, anyway. In short (if that’s possible for me), here’s the scoop:

I saw the PCP at the beginning of January and he said that I’m out for the rest of the (hockey) season. Of course that absolutely killed me. Both he and my pdoc agree that I need a change of scenery and climate, so I’ll be spending some time with my family in Las Vegas, which of course I’m anxious about, especially because I still can’t bring myself out of the house on my own, though I think I’ve figured out why. Guess you’ll have to wait and read about that if I blog about it.

Here’s some good news: when I saw my pdoc last week or the week before, he decided to ban ECT as treatment for me!!!! Yay!!! Woohoo!!! How cool is that?! Of course it isn’t necessarily permanent, but so what? It hasn’t been working anyway, and my forgetfulness and concentration are just absolutely A-W-F-U-L. I mean, I forget whether or not I’ve conditioned my hair while I’m in the shower (on the days that I shower, which are increasing).

Other good news: Basil’s pancreatitis of the pancreas, as Brian calls it, is nearly all healed up!!!! The vet called near the end of December and left a voice mail about Basil’s last blood test that I couldn’t really understand, but basically some sort of something that was at 500+ last time is now at 100+, which is awesome, and all the other levels that they tested have either decreased or increased, whichever is the positive result.

Anyway, ’til whenever . . .

Love and kisses,
Barb

That’s how the pdoc described me when Brian took me to see him this past Monday. The doctor put me back on Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant I’ve been on before and worked for a while, anyway. It’s supposed to help decrease my irritability and do something else, but I can’t remember what he said. He increased my Tegretol (mood stabilizer) from 600 mg to 800 mg. I’ve been on even more than that before, but he wants to take it slow. Maybe that’s what’s supposed to decrease my irritability and the Wellbutrin’s supposed to do something else? He also decided that my ECTs should be every four weeks again instead of every six weeks, which was how far apart the last two were.

Although he says this is the least functional he’s ever seen me (since I became his patient in December 1995), that this is probably my all-time low according to my chart, in December 2005 I started having trouble with depression — like, during the month of December. However, he’s very optimistic that these changes in meds will have me up and about and playing hockey in like, three weeks. Please. I haven’t done any physical activity since that last game in October — I’d have to train for about two weeks first before I even think about hitting the ice! Anyway . . .

I know I’ve been worse than I am now. According to my LiveJournal, which is where I started blogging and have yet to import the posts here (some day), I think there was a time a few years ago when I didn’t even shower for like, two weeks! Or maybe it’s that I didn’t leave the apartment for two weeks. Or both. I just don’t want to look up my December posts of the last several years. Certainly not while I’m in this frame of mind. I’d rather look ahead.

Brian will be taking me to see the PCP this Thursday regarding the period stuff. What a frickin’ pain.

Brian and I met with the Interventional Radiologist yesterday to go over my pre-surgical MRIs I had done last week and to discuss whether or not I’d be a good candidate for the uterine embolization. Well, I’m not. The doctor said that because of the small size of the fibroid (1/3″), he doesn’t believe it’s causing the emotional or the physical symptoms I’m experiencing, so now I’m back to square one. He conjectured that the emotional stuff are signs of a classical depression — tired all the time, increased appetite, and son on; but couldn’t explain the periods every two weeks, constant bloaty feeling, the length of my periods, etc.

I already have my regular appointment with the pdoc scheduled for Monday, and now I’ll be seeing the PCP in a couple of weeks to figure out what to do next. In a way I’m disappointed about this outcome because I thought it would make these awful emotional and physical feelings go away. I’m still somewhat bedridden and definitely housebound. On the other hand, I’m relieved about not having to have more surgery/medical procedures done.

Maybe I’m wrong, but if the fibroid isn’t feeding the depression, then the ECT isn’t working. These last two sessions have been six weeks apart, so maybe I’ll have to have them every four weeks again. I just don’t know. All I know is that I’m sick of feeling the way I do.

Tiger vs. Tiger
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)

*groan* Another hockey post, you say? Well, it almost feels like my swan song game post, since I won’t be playing for a while. Oh, yeah: I’m having the MRI for the uterine fibroid embolization tomorrow; if I have the energy later in the day, I’ll write more details. Or the next day, or the next day after that, or the next week, or when the whole ordeal is over with.

So if this is my hockey swan song (I know I’m being fatalistic — indulge me), it was a great one. It was Sunday, October 28, and Brian and I were pigging out on ribs and watching the Bears game. I get a call around 4:00 p.m. from a goalie friend/mentor asking if I could sub for her. That night. At 8:00 p.m. At a rink I’ve never played in. Against a team I’ve never played against. But I jumped on the chance even though I was terrified. The Inferno is a team that’s at least two levels more advanced than my own! Luckily, I know many of the team members from the Spring and Summer Mixers, so that eased some of my anxiety.

It wasn’t my best game even though we tied. My teammates that night said I did great, and I thanked them for the opportunity to play at a higher level. I didn’t see much action that night, and when I did, I, personally, think I sucked because I didn’t get much action. Thankfully, my teammates were there to pick up my slack.

Ironically, the goalie subbing for the Vikings’ own is the Blue Tigers’ goaltender! And the skater who scored their first goal against me, but whose shot I’m blocking above is on the Tigers’ White team!

Two things I learned this game: women’s hockey in the greater Chicagoland area is still barely getting off the ground, otherwise we wouldn’t all be running into each other; and not seeing much action for most of the game isn’t necessarily a good thing because your muscles start getting cold and stiffening up on you, and you also end up thinking too much instead of simply reacting.

I can’t believe this was over a month ago. This was the last time I played.

First Period: First goal was on a 2-on-1 breakaway; the shooter scored with a wrist shot, low on my stick side.

Vikings 1, Inferno 0.

Second Period: Shutout.

Vikings 1, Inferno 1.

Third Period: See first period.

Final Score: Vikings 2, Inferno 2. (Note that Brian’s stats may not match those reflected on the scoreboard, but since it’s Brian’s summary, I always go by his stats. Besides, most of the time, the scorekeeper doesn’t keep track of the players’ shots on goal, at least not on the board.)

For stats abbreviation key, see below.

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