Noodles and Squid

ciarrainic @ 2009-10-28T20:16:00

2009-10-29T02:17:10Z

You remember that note I posted about my leg being almost, almost healed? Well, I withdraw it and ask for tissues. It's now worse. And a new buddy has joined the old wound. Brilliant doctors are involved and doing the best that they can and can remember my chart without having to read it (scary, huh). There is a way out of this mess but I haven't found it yet. I'll let you know when I do.

random silliness

2009-09-28T16:11:26Z

I am tired and feeling a bit silly (although that may be due to the podcast that I'm is currently listening to (QN (Quirky Nomads (available for free on itunes (if you'd like to try it (it's really good (I promise (is this really a ploy to us...e as many parenthesis as I could (yeah, it is (I sure hope that I have an equal number of parenthesis (I'm pretty sure it's good))))))))))).

There are 11 pairs.

quizzie swiped from a nice lady.

2009-08-05T15:59:23Z

Cerridwen

You scored 18 Cerridwen, 7 Macha, 15 Brigid, -13 Aine, 16 Tailtiu, 11 Rhiannon and !

You should worship Cerridwen. The great Welsh Mother/Crone. Goddess of Wisdom, Knoweledge and Inspiration. Her sacred animal is the sow and she is associated with the moon, expecially the dark moon. The cauldron is her tool. She is a shapechanger and mother of poets. You can worship her at the dark moon or on Samhain/Halloween.

ciarrainic @ 2009-07-22T12:56:00

2009-07-22T19:00:28Z

I'm tired of waiting. The deadline for grad school is Oct 1 and I already have all my information in. Now I wait. Wait for them to receive my information and post it. Wait for everything to get organized so I can see if I've missed any information. Wait for the interviews (I think they'll be in October or November).

So I knit, watch movies, read, and try to learn Hebrew.

Waylaid by mallards...

2009-05-29T18:06:49Z

A couple of nights ago, I worked at Papa Murphys (I work there as a second job) and it wasn't the best of nights. (I won't go into it but I've had better nights.) When I left, I wasn't in a good mood. Now, in my apartment complex, there are 3 pairs of mallards. They have lived there and raised ducklings for as long as I have lived there. Usually if the ducklings need to cross the road, the males will stand guard while they cross. That night, 2 males and a female were standing in the road and I looked for the ducklings. So I sat and waited and waited. They never showed. I was thinking about getting out and shoeing them away, when a pedestrian shoed them away for me. It was kinda funny. Here I am, this human sitting in a car waiting, for them to move. It's one thing to stop for construction or a pedestrians in the road. But mallards? That's funny.

Oh, when I got home, I was actually a pretty good mood.

Lemon Pie

2009-05-20T21:19:58Z

My grandmother died yesterday. She didn't die of disease but of complications of growing old. Her bones and joints were going and her mind was going but her heart and lungs kept going strong until the end. I thought that I was ready for her to go but I'm still sad she's gone. I just keep reminding myself that she isn't in pain anymore and with her other loved ones again.

One of my favorite stories about her is from my dad's childhood. (First some background, he was born in 1939 and his parents divorced when he was 18 months old. My grandmother didn't remarry until my dad was 10. So she spent most of the 1940s as a single parent.) Money was tight but for special occasions, she would get my dad a comic and bake a lemon pie. My dad still loves lemon pie. I think I'll make a lemon pie this weekend. If I can find her recipe, I might use it.

Exciting news

2009-05-06T00:26:45Z

I just found out from my professor and I'm going to pass the class. This is the last class I need to graduate. Which means...that...I graduate from college. I'm going to go cry now.

ouchy...

2009-04-12T23:25:36Z

It all started in Tuesday. My skin itchs like fucking mad. I've tried lotions, Eucerin and Lubriderm (both anti-itch forms), extremely hot showers. And now someone has suggested Zantac, I have some and took it. I don't know if it will help but it's worth a try. I've tried benedryl too, it just helps me sleep. I'm not sure if the cause is the new med for my arthritis or what but it's getting damn old. Stress is definitly part of it.

I've tried reiki too, it does help me sleep. Suggestions?

News bulletin...

2009-03-25T15:59:22Z

Cuddly stuffed monkeys and two tons of teddy bears invade the Aleutian Islands....film at eleven.

Update

2009-03-10T01:53:11Z

Carrie has a staph infection in her leg, she wishes it would go and curl up in a nice hot autoclave.

That was my update on Facebook and I thought that I'd share it with you'all. The infection is in the wound, I am taking some rather badass anit-biotics...every 6 hours and I'm taking this all very seriously. So that should do something, I hope. If you want to send some good thoughts, I'm receiptive. I'm even sending some.

This is all getting damn old.

I'm gonna have some fresh bread now (I just made some).

Writer's Block: More Island Time

2009-03-03T20:44:18Z

You're packing your bag for that other desert island—the one with no electricity—what 5 books do you take with you?

Submitted By mika_uriah

View 501 Answers

1. The flora and fauna of desert islands.
2. Another book on the flora and fauna of desert islands, to cross check with the first one.
3. A book on basic boat building using simple hand made tools.
4. A book on how to build basic radio transmitters from simple hand made tools.
5. The Encyclopedia Britannica

ciarrainic @ 2009-01-17T10:55:00

2009-01-17T17:56:08Z

Sitting in a dusty resting place sits a satchel, cracked and worn by the weather. In that satchel, nestled between books of learning, sits an ancient tomb of forgotten puzzles. Inside the front cover, written in pencil with a spidery hand, now faded, is a word. That word….

lampshade.

ciarrainic @ 2009-01-15T18:45:00

2009-01-16T01:46:21Z

Lampshade!

ciarrainic @ 2008-12-18T14:38:00

2008-12-18T21:50:27Z

When all else fails, set everything on fire.

Especially if you're on an partially settled world fighting an alien whose blood is made of acid and is hellbent on trying to put its spawn in your body. Oh, and the fusion generator that your currently racing around is about to blow up. And there is a queen alien too...right next to you. But then there are those guys in suits. Set things on fire and they'll go away. Aw, just for the hell of if set the eggs on fire too. What ever you do...run like hell. Swearing can be helpful. But be careful, the queen knows how to use an elevator.

By the way, your name is Ripley.

Snow...

2008-12-09T03:18:20Z

Well, it's snowing here and has been since 10 this morning. It's supposed to taper off around midnight but we'll have to wait and see. When I left work around 3, there was 4 inches on my car. The roads were fine though. I hope the temperature doesn't drop overnight. If you live in northern Utah, you already know. If you live in northern Utah and don't know, look out a window.

It's a good thing I have this snow icon. Otherwise, I'd totally have the wrong icon.

Writer's Block: Gone but Not Forgotten

2008-12-05T00:41:07Z

Many beloved television shows are no longer with us, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, and Mystery Science Theater 3000. What defunct television show do you miss the most?

View 501 Answers

I'd answer "Max Headroom" and "Brimstone". They're not even out on DVD, which sucks.

For your Saturday morning...

2008-10-25T16:16:50Z

Keeping a deal made with greyweirdo

Leave me a comment and I will reply with why I like you. If I don't know you, I'll either make something up or tell you why I like your livejournal. You must pay for the privilege by posting a message like this one on your livejournal.

I think that last sentence is probably optional.

Howdy again

2008-10-20T21:43:06Z

I got to see my doctor again today. My leg is looking very good, the infection is almost -gone- and the mostest, bestest news ever. Starting tomorrow morning, I get to take less Prednisone! I'm currently taking 60mg, next week, that drops to 40 and the week after, 20mg. I'm so glad because the shakyness, insomnia, mood swings, fluttery feeling in my chest, and tough of mania is getting really old.

In other news, I just learned that Queen did the sound track for the 1980 version of "Flash Gordan", so now I'm watching it on Netflix instant view. It's pretty silly but I'm enjoying it.

I has diagnosis!

2008-10-16T15:49:43Z

It's called pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and according to Wikipedia, the disease was identified in 1930. It affects approximately 1 person in 100,000 in the population. Though it can affect people of any age, it mostly affects people in their 40s and 50s. I looked on several websites to find out more information, I did find that but also found some rather gross pictures. A couple of them even looked like my leg.

But overall it is doing better especially starting a antibiotic to eat at the secondary infection. The treatment for PG is immune suppressants. What's going on is that my immune system has become demented and is attacking a wound instead of healing it. So it's getting stomped on for a while until my leg can heal.

Overall I feel pretty good. Tired, I'm sure that's from all the medication I'm taking right now. Many of which I'll get to drop when my leg heals.

In other news bloodstone69 and I have started a batch of wine, merlot to be exact. It's his very first batch, so it's kinda exciting. We started it yesterday and it lookes like the yeast is active and growing. It's going to take a few months to brew and start aging before we can enjoy it but when we do, I'll tell you all about it.

There should be a subject but I can't think of one.

2008-10-03T14:17:55Z

I now know what a biopsy is or at least a punch biosy is. Sounds kinda scary but there is much local anesthetic so it wasn't too bad. But first, I'll tell you'all about the appointment. It went well. There were 2 doctors who talked back and forth of what it might be and what tests to run. Don't ask me what the possibilities were because I don't remember. But they did prescribe me some medication to see if that helps. Ointment for the wound, prednisone and an anti-reflux med to help with the prednisone. Then they did the biopsy (took some tissue from just above the wound) and sent me to the lab where ARUP took some blood. I go back to dermatology next week and I'll find
out the results of most of the tests. Then we'll go from there.

They'll figure out what's going on, it's just going to take a while. It you can't tell I'm really sick if this already. I hate being a medical mystery. It's happened before and it -did- end but took like 10 years.

What is keeping me sane? Oh, the usual, movies... yarn, I just adopted a much of tatting thread and shuttles. That will be fun. Also this weekend is the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair at Wheeler Farms is SLC this weekend. I've never been to a fiber fair before so I'm kinda excited.

I have a hole in my leg.

2008-09-21T23:30:09Z

I am alive, but then those who have seen me or my occasional comments already know that. I'm okay, just sitting here writing you and watching "Temple of Doom". Not much is going on. I need to do some reorganizing in the big closet in our apartment but that might not happen today. I also need to filter 32 quart jars of cordials sometime soon. But I'm feeling really lazy.

Now for my leg. No one knows about it and I'm tired of only my family and medical practitioners knowing whats going on, so I'll try to catch everyone up. About 10 months ago (it might be 11 now) I accidentally ripped a tiny piece of skin off my shin. Normally wounds would heal and you don't worry about them any more. But not this one. As of right now it still hasn't healed and grown much bigger. Complicating factors, I have varicose veins in that leg and high blood pressure (which is now normal because of medication). I have been going to the wound clinic and they have been fantastic. One of the aids thought the wound not healing was because of an autoimmune condition relating to my arthritis. So he asked a dermatologist to come in to look at it. She did look at it and doesn't know what the underlying condition is. So I have an appointment on the 29th (next Monday) to have a biopsy done in dermatology. She said specifically that it won't reveal the cause but they can eliminate a number of different possibilities. I'm sooooo glad that I have good insurance and access to great medical facilities staffed with people who are really good at what they are doing.

So has anyone had a biopsy before? If so, what's it like?

1943-2008

2008-09-21T04:44:23Z

Richard Wright died. I didn't know he had cancer. So almost no one has mentioned it. I learned about it from Wait, wait, don't tell me (the NPR news quiz). He did an amazing amount of work on keyboards.

For those who don't know, he was a founding member of of the Pink Floyd. For more info, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wright_(musician)

ciarrainic @ 2008-07-03T15:48:00

2008-07-03T21:56:56Z

It may not be the best in the world but it is pretty tasty and very easy to make. You also can substitute oil for the butter. When I made it, I was going to but forgot. I also skipped the part where you're suppose to roll the dough in honey then oatmeal. After the bread is baked, I was taught to spread a little shortening on the outside crust so it won't get too hard. Now I just use spray oil, much easier and I can use the spray olive oil too (it's better for your heart).

The Best Bread in the World

Yield: 2 loaves

2-2/3 c. boiling water

1 c. rolled oats, uncooked

Pour boiling water over oats. Let stand until thoroughly softened.

1 T. salt

½ c. honey

2 T. butter, melted and cooled

Add the salt, honey, and melted butter to the oats when the oats are lukewarm.

1-½ c. whole wheat flour

Add the whole wheat flour to the oat mixture and beat well.

1 T. SAF instant yeast

2 – 3 c. unbleached flour

Add the SAF instant yeast to mixture. Add unbleached flour until the dough starts to pull away from the side of the bowl.

Knead for 5 minutes.

Put dough into lightly oiled bowl, turning it to coat dough on all sides. Cover with a cloth and let it rise for one hour or until doubled. Punch down the risen bread dough and cut in half. Knead each half briefly and shape into loaves. Brush the top of each loaf with warm honey and then roll in oats to dress up the loaf. Place in greased bread pans. Cover and let rise until doubled (approximately 30 minutes). Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn the loaves onto a rack and let cool.

ciarrainic @ 2008-05-31T19:21:00

2008-06-01T01:26:32Z

I'm pretty sure I haven't mentioned this yet, but I didn't pass the GRE subject test...again. So I'll try again in the fall. The last week really hasn't been the best. It could have been worse, but (knock on wood) I'd rather it didn't.

In other news, I'm scanning my family photos which has been a lot of work so far but kinda of fun.

allthatjazmyne

2008-05-29T15:00:32Z

Some of you may know that allthatjazmyne is my cousin. Over the last 18 months, she and her body with the help of her husband, friends, doctors, and relatives have been trying to defeat her lung cancer. When she was diagnosed, she was given 6 months to live. As of Tuesday at around 5:30pm, she had made it 18 months. I knew she was dying but I wasn't ready for her to go yet. She was only a year younger than me. The last picture I have of her was taken last week, she looked like she was in her 50s. She's, that is she was only 35.

There some good things. Her quality of life was pretty good until the last little while. I don't know if that was through the grace of the Gods or her stubborness, probably both. When the cancer started to take over, the end came quickily. She had a dear, loving husband who did everything he could for her. She had friends and relatives that loved her and supported her. Her sister got to Reno to see her before she died. Her mother was down the week before.

So I raise a glass of Pepsi (she loved the stuff) and make a toast, "To Julia: we will never again read her comments on Dancing with the Stars or read stories of the foolish things her students have done. She was witty, kind, thoughtful, talented woman, a dear friend and loving cousin. She will be missed."