A Girl's Life

It's a sleep study night. That means I will be up for quite some time. Too tired to actually work (as the sleep tech is responsible for the actual running of the sleep study- I am here to consent the patient into the study, to help wire the patient to the PSG, and to be here in case of an emergency- yes, I know this makes no sense. Very tired. Not really writing proper sentences either. Oh well.) I figured I may as well blog.

Random blog musing follow.


XX bearers, hail the woman's Holy Trinity.


Evidence supporting the theory that God is a woman- or at least is merciful towards the sex who has at least one "Rr. Jekyll/Ms. Hyde" day per month. You just stick one of these magical things on the belly and have sweet, sweet relief all day long.

If you add a few of these nifty fast-acting pain relievers





and lots of chocolate, even a day that starts out in the greatest of agony can turn itself around. As the Catholics add candles and incense and myrrh to their ceremonies worshipping their Trinity, I suggest adding footrubs, Vitamin B, and as much tea and/or Gatorade as you can handle.

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I wrote in my earlier post that we'd gotten in touch with an old friend earlier this month. Said friend, now baptized with the blog name Jake, now lives in Texas. I am fortunate to have a handful of old friends- people I've know since we were all in our teens, like K, Tattoo Artist, Dr. Foot, and the Best Friend. For a while, a bunch of us from my rural PA hometown ended up clear across the state, living in a house in Pittsburgh: me, Drella, Dr. Foot, and Jake. The Best Friend and my then-boyfriend, the Neuroscientist, joined us. Good times. I run into the Neuroscientist on occassion, as somehow he ended up in Baltimore, and the rest of stay in touch, but we all lost track of Jake once he moved out of Pittsburgh and out west.

A few weeks ago, the Tattoo Artist ran into Jake. Jake was back in town, and it turns out that his little sister is tight with the Tattoo Artist's fiance. The little sister was showing Jake pics of a few get-togethers, and Jake recognized the Tattoo Artist (they were best friends in high school). Small towns do have their advantages. Jake's back in Texas now, but we had his cell phone number and were able to get in contact.

It was so good to talk to Jake, even though I haven't seen or spoken to him in nearly a decade. There is something about people who you've known since childhood, some bond that gets forged that is difficult to break.

I was delighted to get a real, honest-to-god letter in the mail this week, from Jake! I'm sorry to have missed out on all this time, but I am so glad that he's lived so much and so well. It can be such a bittersweet thing to leave, then return, home. Check it out:

"When I lived in [hometown] I wanted nothing more than to leave, get away, see the country. Well, I've seen it. I've been through the deserts at midnight and the mountains at noon. I've played in both oceans, and tossed beer cans out the window at 11 states (of the 34 I've driven through) and British Columbia. I've driven Semi's, ridden horses, had drinks in tour busses, shot stop signs, and raised a beautiful honor-roll student. I've partied hard in Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Fran, San Deigo, Vancouver BC, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

"And every time I come home, I cry, because it's more beautiful, and feels better, than anywhere else in America."

Now, currently I live in a biggish city, near a seriously metropolitan city, and a lot in that letter must seem quite naive and foolish to many city-grown people. But when you grow up in the working class in small town USA, in the middle of nowhere with few opportunities, the dream of getting out and really getting to play can be all-encompassing. I am so glad that Jake, too, was able to get out and play.

Plus, he's right. The place where we grew up is beautiful, and has a wonderful feel to it, although having the best friends ever really adds to that.

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Maz is a trip. Conversation of note from last weekend's trip to the beach follows (permission to blog, sir, yes sir! Thank you sir!)

The Scene: Maz driving, I laze in the front seat enjoying the sun. Car cuts in front of Maz.

Maz: YOU MUST DIE!!!! [points finger at car now in front of us, reminiscent of Family Guy's Evil Monkey] DIE!!!!

Jennetic: That's a little harsh, don'tcha think? He's just another idiot driver.

Maz: When I am Emperor, all idiot drivers will have their heads on a stake.

Jennetic: Ick.

Maz: Yes. Lots of heads on stakes. No stupid people will be permitted to exist. I will be like Hitler, only better.

Jennetic: Better?!?!?!?

Maz. Better. Hitler was too nice. His scope of vision was too small.

Nice to know I'm dating a visionary, yes? [Note: obviously, this is JOKE. Although I do think Maz would love to be Emperor- who wouldn't?- I don't think heads on stakes is actually part of the plan.]

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Alright, I am out of things to blog. Still, two posts in 12 hours ain't so bad. Practice practice practice.

12 Days

Day 1: Road trip! The BF and I headed to Philly to pick up Drella from the airport and head northwards to the Parental Homestead. It was Dad's birthday. We got him a few DVDs and a card for each one. The best card read: "You're not dead? Why aren't you dead yet?" Since my dad has survived, so far, one horrific car accident, losing a limb to diabetes, and cancer, this was a pretty brutal Birthday card. Luckily he's tough, and he dishes it out just as much as he gets it. The evening is perfected by the arrival of Dr. Foot and his lovely wife.

Day 2: Party for my dad. The neighbors and some relatives join in the fun, as well as the Tattoo Artist and his 3 year old adorable soon-to-be-stepdaughter. Later on we went to see the Tattoo Arist and his fiancee (and the still adorable 3 year old) at their home. They make a beautiful, happy family. They are such a good fit!

Day 3: Mum opens a bottle of chilled wine at 2 pm. We all imbibe. It is a glorious, lazy, hazy day. We get to hear from an old friend and old Pittsburgh housemate, currently living in Texas. He'd been lost to us for about 8 years but now am found- brilliant!

Day 4: Holiday. Drella goes back to Pittsburgh. I drop the BF off in Baltimore and go to see Maz. Lovely.

Days 5 & 6: Work. Work???? What is this? I have gotten used to sleeping in and lazing about. Go figures this Responsbility thing has to come in and ruin it. Luckily, it's only temporary.

Day 7: Civic duty calls. It is my third attempt at Jury Duty this year. The first time, I forgot about it. I lost the notice and didn't put it on a calendar. I got a nasty notice threatening fines and/or jail time. Oops. I overslept on Jury Day #2, and just missed getting in by 15 minutes. Third time really was a charm. I sat in the courthouse all day. Thank god for wireless internet and my ability to fall asleep just about anywhere.

Days 8-10: Beach. Lovely lovely beach. In Maz's fun, fast little car with the top down.

Days 11-12: Work. This work thing again? Ick. Gotta pay the bills, though. Whatever.

Of note: days 1-4 and 8-10 were without the internet. Maybe the addiction is slowly being broken.

Of greater note: I have lost what little ability I had to write a decent blog post. Practice practice practice, I guess.