What I Learned While Away on Training

1. Hotel valets are short. All of them on the morning shift, anyways. 2. Scary Spice has disturbingly large boobs, and disconcertingly, they don't really move. 3. I want to look as good as Jane Seymour when I'm 56. 4. Sleep masks are your friend. 5. Being able to sign things to your room and realize that someone else is paying is relaxing. 6. There is something to be said for not living in the GTA: less construction, less people, less traffic...but no good Greek food! 7. Having the whole bed to yourself is sometimes nice. 8. Not having to share a bathroom counter is awesome. 9. When you're running late, the breakfast buffet will run out of yogourt and those hot cinamon buns you've become addicted to. 10 I missed my husband more than I thought I would. There was some fantabulous geometry too, but that's for work.

Sarah Has Swapped Spit with Her Husband

I'm hoping I wasn't like this when I was single. So this morning, J went to Horton's to pick up breakfast for himself. With his current meds, he needs to eat regularly to take the pills. Seeing as we ran out of milk yesterday and totally forgot about it until last night when neither of us were dressed to leave the house, he walked over to the hospital to pick something up. I was up when he got back, and he realized that he hadn't asked me what I wanted - so he took my order and walked back to Horoton's to get me a decaf double double and a muffin (All together now: "Awwwww...") That's my boy: he's sweet. So I changed my Facebook status to "Sarah is thinking she has a great husband." Cause he is. And I got Horton's without having to leave the house. So one of my single friends from university sent me a message this afternoon on Facebook asking me if I could stop bragging about my husband and rubbing it in the face of my still unmarried friends. Um...I'm sorry? Seeing as the last few status statements have been things like "Sarah is exhausted", or "Sarah is looking for someone to buy her Brooks & Dunn tickets", I don't think I've been bragging. Meh - I don't think I want to change what I think, or how I say it. I'm not even sure I'm looking for validation. I just hope she was kidding without emoticons.

Argh...

I've started posts a bunch of times, and nothing has seemed right. I'm going free flow this morning, and we'll see what happens. Work is annoying. Apparantly, I'm back on the road trip trail, but I once again have a full teaching load. And they're only getting me a supply teacher for the mornings I'm gone. So, my piano guys and a grade 12 learning skills class aren't getting classes when I'm gone. Talk about credit intergrity. But you know what, I don't have to sign off on the credits, so what do I care? It's just the idea. I want to be one or the other, which isn't going to happen either. I'm pretty sure that's a conspiracy to make me nuts. But in exciting news, I'm off for training this week from Sunday night to Wednesday night (probably - the agenda keeps changing). That's 3 nights at the Crown Plaza in a king bed by myself. It's been hot here recently. I'm looking forward to the space, and the lack of space heater in my bed with me. Speaking of J, he's feeling much better. He's not done the antibiotics yet, but he's up and moving. He's also back at work, which thrills me to no end. He was home convalescing after the hospital, and it took me a while to figure out why I was so pissed at him when I came home from work every night. I mean, it wasn't a case that he felt like doing anything. It was just that I realized that in the summer when i was home and he was at work, the laundry got done, the bills got paid, the house got maintained, and the meals got made. With his being home and my working, I was still doing everything from the summer PLUS teaching. I was not in a good space for a bit. But he's back at work, and he's started making the bed every morning. It's not much, but it's a start. The dining room table is still covered with stuff. I've given up. It is a project that may never be done, despite the despairing of J and the cleaning lady. I could pack everything up now and ship it to Goodwill and we wouldn't miss any of it. As generous as our friends and family were, I can't do that; but it's tempting.

On Being Off Work and Healthy on a Tuesday

The exciting news is, J was released from hospital today. He's now home, and is currently cursing the things that he's dropping in the shower. It's nice to have him back, even though I now need to pick up after myself and go to bed on time. It's all worth it to have my sweetie back. My parents stopped by and had lunch with us today. They're off to England and France for 5 weeks with my uncle and his wife. The joys of being retired. But it was nice to actually be able to see them and talk to them before they go. The original plan was that we'd see them after the U of M game Saturday night, so this wasn't bad. My mother even managed to look past the large basket of unfolded underwear that is currently gracing our living room floor. I hope they have a good trip - and that they send me lots of postcards. I went to the grocery store this afternoon. J was going to take a nap, and we were running out of staples, so I went and spent a pile of money on everything that we'd run out of. I have come to the conclusion that I need to grocery shop on a weekday more often. Especially if I can shop while I'm at work. There was no one in front of me at the butcher counter. And I didn't have to take a number at the deli counter. There was one woman in front of me paying at the cash register. This work thing - it keeps getting in the way of the rest of my life. But the best part of today was coming home from shopping, going upstairs, and crawling up on the bed with J. He held me tight and told me he'd missed me. I tell J all the time that I belong in his bed; but he belongs in mine too.

A Meme for All Seasons

I stole this from kapgar. Anything else I post would be more hospital tedium, and one of us going through that is enough. I didn't leave the hospital last night in a rage or a flurry of tears, so we're getting somewhere. Let's get on with the questions, shall we? 1. While driving down the street, looking for an address, do you turn the radio down? I've never noticed, so I would say no. I do have the same habit as my father of reading random signs out loud while walking or driving, so I'll say house numbers out loud while I'm looking. 2. If you could hug one person right now, who would it be? J. I believe we'll later get to why that ain't gonna happen anytime soon, and why there was a flurry of tears mentioned above. 3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? At one point, a ballerina. Oddly enough, my parents talked me out of dance classes. Then I wanted to be a secretary. Now, I want to be WonderWoman. 4. What is your favorite kind of weather? Winter. Pretty snow on the outside, a fire and hot chocolate with Bailey's on the inside. 5. If a turtle doesn't have a shell is he homeless or naked? He's no longer a turtle, so neither. 6. If you could travel anywhere in the world without cost being a deciding factor where would it be? I would love to see more of the Middle East and northern Africa. It's not really cost as much as safety. I found the Moorish history part of Spain facinating. 7. Are you a homebody or a social butterfly? Homebody. I like going out, but I pine for solitude when I do. 8. Beer, wine or liquor? Liquor and a little wine. To quote Garrison Keillor, "Beer tastes like something died in it." 9. If your partner was unable to have sex due to illness or injury, would you stay with them? Yes. However, when I mentioned to J the other night that I was sorry his bed wasn't bigger because I could use some time close to him, his response was, "I really don't want anyone touching me right now. Especially you because I wouldn't enjoy it." In one light, I understand. But I was crushed and weepy for the rest of the night. 10. Do you drink milk? No. Tetra packs of whole milk in France cured me from drinking the stuff if it hasn't been heated with chocolate added to it. 11. Do you prefer apple or orange juice? Orange. I always think apple looks like a urine sample in a glass, and then I can't drink it. 12. What's the most you've ever won on a scratchie? $10. Lucky, I am not. 13. Do you own any fish? No. 14. Who is jealous of you? My guess is no one, but then it's always the one you least expect. I'm going to say Paris Hilton, because I don't get quoted in Hallmark cards and have to spend my time suing. 15 . How many messages are in your inbox/outbox on your cell phone? None. My Canadian cell is 10 years old and doesn't have text capabilities. 16. When's the last time you sent a text? I do not text. I phone, I email, or I send up smoke signals. 17. Do you believe there is only one "right" religion? Eeeeee. I believe there's only one God, and that there's only one way to get to Him. However, religion is human and dogmatic. Do I go to church? Yes. I'm just not sure any one Christian church has it right. 18. What's your favorite planet, besides this one? Mars. I love Marvin. 19. Do you vote for city-related issues? We don't get to do that here. 20. Have you ever been to the Vatican? Yes. I was 6. I'm not sure I appreciated it. 21. Do you do anything for a bad sunburn? Cold compresses and shea butter lotion. 22. Has anyone ever asked you to marry them? J. Once was enough. 23. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? Yes, when I was in Las Vegas. I went on a tour that took us to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by 4x4. We had lunch beside the Colorado River, then drove back up and went hiking at the rim. We came back through the Joshua Tree forest. I would highly recommend it, but it isn't offered anymore. 24. Have you ever had to run for your life? Thankfully no. I don't really run. 25. Ever been to a family reunion? No. Neither side of the family is big on that sort of thing. 26. Can you play golf? I have never tried. 27. Do you prepare soup in the microwave or on the stove? I make a pot of soup every Sunday. That's always stovetop, seeing as it's homemade. Reheating the soup at work is in the microwave. 28. If your lover cheated on you and profusely apologized, would you accept them back into your life? I'm not planning to test this out, but probably. 29. Do you eat crabs? I don't eat shellfish. The vomiting afterwards, while festive, is just something I'm not into. 30. Are you the kind of person who will search the entire room for the remote? Silly question. I can't change TV channels without it, seeing as we have satellite. 31. Is it all about YOU? It should be. 32. Pretend you are a really good cook: what meal would you make? I am a really good cook. With time, I'd like to perfect French pastries, but I don't have the time. 33. Are you in debt? Of course. Mortgage and a bit of credit card. 34. If you could have a one way plane ticket to anywhere right now, where would you go? France. 35. How often do you do laundry?? Every Sunday. Currently, that schedule is in a total schmozzle, but I'm working at getting back on track. Stupid summer vacation coming to an end.

Update

First of all, thanks to everyone I've heard from! We're both getting there. The good news is, J is feeling better because he's getting whiny. I was ready to leave before I made it out the door tonight. He was in the midst of a list of all the things I should do for him before I get back no later than 12:30 tomorrow. Yep, he's on the mend. So, the short version of the past few days is this: he was admitted on Monday, and got a hospital bed (as opposed to an ER holding room space) Tuesday morning. He's on the paediatric floor, which just makes me giggle. J, not so much. Tuesday, his stomach was horribly distended - nothing was coming up or going down, gas wise. It was sitting and bloating. I walked in Wednesday to J in bed with a tube in his nose, and this dark, dark brown stuff collecting in a basin from the tube. He'd been throwing up, and now was being pumped out, nonstop. But less distended. We heard from the surgeon Wednesday night. They think that the antibiotic cocktail of before wasn't quite right, and so the bacteria continued on. His small intestine had also shut down, and the doctor figured he was there for another week. Today, he's much better: sitting up more, talking (or whining) more, and dreaming about cold drinks. It's been funny to watch him suck on ice chips, swallow, and then watch the tube bubble the water back out his nose. So the latest is that he should be out Tuesday or Wednesday, probably, barring no further complications. I'm looking forward to getting a little of my life back, and having a husband to keep me warm in bed again; once the heat wave passes.

Miles to Go Before I Sleep...

It is 4 AM and I haven't been to sleep since Saturday night yet. I'm still a little keyed up, and so think that perhaps writing will help me sleep and not think about everything that's happened. Hopefully. We'll see. J is back in hospital, once again experiencing the Ontario health system. He called me from work this afternoon to tell me that he was in a "little pain", but to bring him some Maalox at 6 when work ended and he'd be fine. He limped out to the car at 6 and kind of groaned his way in. Not wanting to go to the ER on a Sunday night during a long weekend, I brought him home. He watched Michigan Replay and decided to go upstairs to lie on the bed. He finally asked me to call 911 at 7:30 when he was shaking from pain and was pretty sure that he had to see a doctor and knew that he couldn't walk to the hospital or fold himself up to get in the car. So the paramedics came and he left on a stretcher. I ate dinner, packed up a few things based on what I learned the last time I stayed up all night in the ER and went over to the hospital about 8:15. He was on a stretcher in the hall of the ER near the doors where the ambulances pull in. They drew blood at 8:30. At 11:00, they took vitals and told us that there were 8 patients still ahead of us, and at midnight there would only be 1 doctor working instead of 3. J saw the doctor at 1:10. He was promised pain medication. At 2:30 they took him for X-rays. He came back, and was actually upgraded to a partition of a room with curtains. I set him up for the night and promised to stay until the doctor came back. At 3:30, he asked the nurse if he would ever get the promised pain meds. I wanted to know when the doctor was coming back. J got his Demerol. I was given a blank stare and a shrug. J was pretty out of it. I'd taken his CPAP machine and ear plugs, and between those and the Demerol he'll sleep. I just feel guilty for leaving before the doctor came back. But I'm so tired. And the chair was freakishly uncomfortable - even with my feet propped up on J's bed. It's a funny thing walking on the streets at 4 AM by yourself. I didn't see one single person after I left the hospital (we live 2 blocks away. I refuse to pay for parking or a cab). No car, nothing. I crossed against the light and came into the house to discover that I hadn't turned off the computer in my haste to leave. So now that I've written, I'm hoping that my mind will be eased somewhat before I sleep the sleep of the dead. I'd better hurry. J wanted me to leave his cell phone and I complied. The last time we did this 3 weeks ago, he was up and phoning by 8:30. I really don't want to hear from him in 4ish hours.

Ouch

So, college football started this past weekend. While I realize this isn't of great interest to many of my readers, it's the main subject of conversation around here from now until the end of November...or really the beginning of January when the bowl games are over. J's family are all University of Michigan fans. Huge ones. They have season's tickets huge. They all go all season huge. J and I have taken over the majority of his parents tickets. They just aren't up to going anymore. The season started this weekend. It was a gorgeous day. I bought a new Michigan hat. The tailgating was such fun. I got my wedding rings back, soldered together. All good. We'll just skip the game. Someday my husband will stop crying and screaming for Lloyd Carr's blood.