I’d been using the 2.0 version of the More Smilies Plugin, and apparently, it updated to a 2.1 version. I thought I downloaded it and uploaded it via FTP correctly, but it doesn’t even appear on my Plugins page. As a result, there are no smilies to be had, and all the old ones now look weird, like this: (b) for the beer stein one, or (c) for the coffee cup. Please bear with me as I try to get this shit fixed. I don’t even know why I bother.
edit, Tue., 1/30/07: looks like my rockin’ host, WebbleYou, got this working for me again–yay!!!!! I (l) WebbleYou!
Just a quick update on how Barb’s doing with her new “patch”: the EMSAM, which is an MAOI. In one sentence: no change. On the positive side, that means no side effects (such as hypertensive distress because of increased blood pressure); on the negative side, that also means no improvement.
Of course, this is not exactly surprising, as it usually takes at least a couple of weeks for anti-depressants to build up enough in the body to achieve efficacy, and often only after an adjustment in dosage. (In this case, we’re really hoping not to have to increase the dose, as then Barb would have to adhere to some dietary restrictions that are not an issue at her current level.)
The biggest problem Barb’s been dealing with lately has been hypersomnia, which we don’t think is related to the EMSAM (as it predates it); instead, we think that maybe her Tegretol levels are too high, and so she has reduced her dosage by 25%.
Penalty Shot (Click on the images to enlarge — they’re sequential.)
Guest Post by the bloggohusband.
Well, Barb and the Tigers had another game this past week, this time against the Michiana Sting (from South Bend) and, though the Tigers played fairly well, they were defeated 5 - 0. The big news in the game was that Barb, for the first time as a goalie, had to face a penalty shot. As illustrated in the pictures above, the Sting’s #24 was awarded a penalty shot because one of Barb’s teammates dove on the puck (a no-no) just as Barb was about to cover it.
Since Barb had never faced a penalty shot before (where the opponent skates in unopposed and gets to take a “free shot” on the goalie), she was quite nervous about it — especially because her team’s former coach was in the stands watching (long, drawn-out story). She did a very good job, moving with the shooter (see picture #2 above) as she approached the crease — coming out to meet the skater, being on balance and well-positioned, etc. However, #24 (the Sting’s best player, who scored four of the five goals in the game) placed her shot well–high, glove side — and scored. Barb was very disappointed with this outcome, as she had hoped to be the “hero” for her team (like in the movies) and make the big save. But, as her teammates pointed out, endings like that usually only happen in the movies, and even then, it’s usually the shooter (not the goalie) who’s the hero.
Overall, though, Barb played well, as evidenced by her stats to the left, as did her team: the Sting are a “blue” level squad — one level above the Tigers — and had previously beaten the Tigers’ “blue” team 5 - 2. So, holding Michiana to only five goals and only 23 shots, was nice work by Barb and the entire team.
One other nice, “small world” moment that came out of the game was that the opposing team’s coach actually recognized Barb from her club-level career as Ohio State’s goalie. It turns out that he had previously coached at Lake Superior State, against whom Barb’s Ohio State team had played (and lost to — badly — worse than any of the losses the Orange Tigers suffered this season). So, Barb really appreciated hearing from him that she had gotten better — especially since she hasn’t played goalie (or hockey at all, for that matter) between then (2001) and now.
Also, just like the Lake Superior State team in 2001, the Sting were a good team to play against — talented and good sports. The Tigers will play them again in a couple of weeks, in South Bend, and — other than the drive — we’re looking forward to the game.
Big win for da Bears! I wonder what they’ll have them do this year? I was 16 when “The Super Bowl Shuffle” came out and yeah, I actually owned this record. Not CD–those didn’t exist back then, kids. The record. This song was on the radio fucking constantly. You could not get away from it–and now I’m not letting any of you get away from it!
edit, 1/23/07: looks like YouTube took this video off their site, or something.
My pdoc is, indeed, the Godfather of Psychiatry in the Chicago area. He’s managed to pull some strings to find a bed for me at his hospital, even though we don’t have insurance. In the past, he and I agreed that if I had to be inpatient, I’d go to the Death Star Hospital (where he has some admitting privileges) because his own is too much like Cuckoo’s Nest, but not nearly as bad as the state hospitals.
No, I’m not being hospitalized–only if I need to be once I start taking the EMSAM on Monday. It would be for observation, not because I’m a danger to myself or others. I mean, this is a new medication, not just for me but in general. I’m a bit scared to be on it because even though at low doses it doesn’t have the usual dietary restrictions, you still can’t take OTC decongestants, drink tap beer, and all sorts of other stuff that I probably don’t consume anyway, except for Benadryl. The pdoc said I should be scared. Great. Sounds a little like Yoda to me, except that Luke said he wasn’t afraid and Yoda said he would be. OK, now I’m mixing up my movie metaphors.
Some readers have expressed a concern that my pdoc’s office might run out of samples, but I’ve been assured that they have tons and tons of this stuff. Besides, the job interviews have been coming in for Brian, we finally got our COBRA papers, and a family member has offered to help pay for that if necessary (yes, it’ll probably be necessary).
My mood has lifted some, but my energy is still absolutely zapped. I don’t know how I made it to, let alone through, my game last night, which was very exciting, but I’ll leave that as a cliffhanger. It’ll force me to blog again as soon as the pictures are developed.
All I want to do is go back to bed, but I’m forcing myself to get in the shower as soon as I hit “Publish.” Then we’re going to Borders to get The Human Stain by Philip Roth, which is Februrary’s book/movie of the month for the Book/Movie Club, and I’m determined to finally make it to a meeting. Tonight we’re going to play SWRPG with our gaming group, which we haven’t in months, and tomorrow afternoon we’re checking out the first meeting of a local Peer-Support Group for people with mood disorders.
“Cause I ain’t goin out like a spineless jellyfish
Some say life is a bitch
Ask that punk who dug his own ditch” –Cypress Hill, “Hand on the Pump” copyright 1991
We got a call from my pdoc’s office on Monday to say they received a shipment of EMSAM samples. They scheduled me for an appointment on Tuesday (free of charge!) and gave me several boxes. Unfortunately, you have to be completely off of trazodone for seven days, so I can’t start using these until Monday. If we had insurance, or at least COBRA (for which we have yet to receive the information), the pdoc would have me in the hospital under observation so I could start this stuff sooner.
I hadn’t showered or changed clothes since Saturday morning, and I went to a hockey clinic (as a forward) Saturday night and played Sunday night. Pretty gross, huh? Well, that’s typical of depression. I’m now clean and showered, but it took all of my energy just to do that.
Anyway, thought I’d let you all know. Time to eat a late lunch.
The SSA sent forms to both Brian and me to fill out. WTF? Luckily, my CM mostly filled out mine for me and had me do the rest. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, and then he faxed them where they needed to go, so they’d get there faster.
(Click on the images to enlarge–they’re sequential, sort of.)
I was baffled by the score, because the last time we played this team on November 20th, the final score was 8 - 1. I was like, wow, they’ve really improved. Then I heard that our skaters were told to “be nice.” Also, the real score should have been 5 - 2, but it bounced in and out of the net so fast that the ref missed it. I think they had some other players out there who weren’t there before, but whatever. We’re wearing lights because not everyone on our team brought their dark jerseys.
Anyway, according to Brian’s notes, the first goal they scored passed across the crease. I was in good position for the first skater but had no defensive help on the second skater (the shooter). I made a good dive to try to stop the shot, but just couldn’t make it.
On the second goal, I faced a breakaway and stopped the first shot, as well as the first rebound, but they scored on the second rebound. I was down on the ice so there wasn’t much I could do. Still, my teammates told me that I played a great game, so I tried not to beat myself up over it and need to trust in what they tell me.
Normally I write these game posts one or two days after they happen, but as most of you know, it’s been so hard for me to do just about anything, let alone upload the pictures and then blog about the game. We’ll be scrimmaging against them again tonight.
I saw the pdoc today. He said that most of my depression is, as I suspected, situational. However, he agreed that not being able to/wanting to leave the house, drive myself places, etc. is again, as I suspected, heading towards clinical. He mentioned how last spring/summer he and the shock doc discussed having me on maintenance ECT (once a month), but right now I have no insurance. And even if I had insurance, I’m not sure I’m ready to go through that again.
Although my memory has improved, there are stupid little things that I have to ask Brian (or anyone else) every single day, like, “How do you wash the wooly socks again? In warms or colds?” Nearly every day I have to ask this. As I sit here and write this, I think they go in colds, but I’m not even 90% positive.
The next thing to try is EMSAM, the MAOI patch that has no dietary restrictions like traditional MAOI meds. The problem is, it’s new and doesn’t come in a generic form, and I’m sure it’s expensive.
My next appointment is in three weeks. I’m hoping things will have improved by then. Oh, I didn’t make it to the gym on Monday or Tuesday, or to rat hockey on Tuesday, but I did go to the gym last night, and I’m about to take a nap so I can make it to hockey practice tonight.
Overall, though, Barb played well, as evidenced by her stats to the left, as did her team: the Sting are a “blue” level squad — one level above the Tigers — and had previously beaten the Tigers’ “blue” team 5 - 2. So, holding Michiana to only five goals and only 23 shots, was nice work by Barb and the entire team.
Anyway, according to 
