Brain Scans: Day 3

Well, apparently my brain is not performing as desired. (This is news?) I keep setting off alarms while awake and feeling more or less fine, but have only set off one alarm, that I remember, while asleep. I slept fitfully last night, though I did manage to make it to REM sleep. I had a dream in which the founder of the company that laid me off showed up. I have no earthly idea why, but he was there.
I slept a good portion of the day today. For some reason I was really tired. I know it’s noisy here and that I can’t sleep more than 4 hours at a shot, but I was just really groggy all this morning. One of the residents came in to see me and I know I talked to him but I don’t remember what I said. I think he’s coming back later, so I should find out.

Since you all have been so fantastic about sending me stuff, I thought I’d post it here. A photo of my helmet.

I took this:

The safety helmet of DOOM.
The safety helmet of DOOM.

last night when my new night nurse came on duty. She was highly amused by the fact that I took a photo of it and actually seemed to warm to me quite a bit. I was listening to MP4s sent to me by a friend from choir when she came in and when she found out I was singing in them she was very impressed and asked me all about them. I like her, I hope she comes back tonight.

Yesterday’s promised passel of med students never appeared, unless they snuck in while I was napping.  I managed to get through the day yesterday without 1 full neuro exam, which is both frightening and amazing.  I haven’t had one yet today either.

If you have a moment, send Geoff an email.  He’s home with a vicious head cold and he’s losing his voice.  He can’t come visit me till his fever goes down and he can’t really communicate via phone, so we’re texting and emailing.

I think that’s it for now.  If something interesting happens, other than the constant beeping and groaning of machines, I’ll post it here.

~Kelly

Single White Cat

I may be the last person on earth to see this, but as it was just posted to ICHC, I got to watch it and now I’m laughing. Which is good, as I need a laugh around here. It’s quiet time now. Anyway, here it is.


~Kelly

Brain Scans: Day 2, Part 2

I snapped this photo out the window of my room from my hospital bed.  One of the techs who was attaching my 29 (I asked) leads to my head yesterday told me that this was the only monitoring room facing this way.  Everybody else gets a view of the hospital.  It looks cool at night with all of the buildings lit, but my phone doesn’t like low light photos, so you all get sunset instead.

Sunset over Boston looking roughly north
Sunset over Boston looking roughly north

~Kelly

 

Brain Scans: Day 2

It’s morning and I am awake for the moment.  They come by to take my vitals every 4 hours, day or night, so it is impossible to get more than 4 hours of consecutive sleep here.  I get it that it’s important for them to check that stuff, but sometimes one has to wonder if it wouldn’t be more productive to let me sleep for more than 4 hours at a shot as I’m here to be checked for seizures that I get in my sleep.

The good news is that, after reminding them that I needed my morning medication this morning, I did actually get breakfast.  I’m sort of annoyed that I have to be on top of them about this stuff.  Also, the nice lunch lady who takes your order just walked in to take mine and they STILL don’t have me in the system as a vegetarian.  I don’t know who one has to kill to get a vegetarian meal around here, but I am so glad Geoff brought me food last night.  It sounds like I am getting pasta for dinner tonight with no sauce.  Seriously.

Today is med student day.  I’ve already had visits from two doctors who have promised me more visits from a passel of med students who I have seen wandering up and down the halls like ducklings.  I’m not sure how I feel about that as they’re all med students at my alma mater.  Oh well, at least I don’t have to wear hospital clothing like all the other poor suckers here.

Thanks, everyone, for all of the links and such that you’ve sent me.  Some of this stuff has been truly outstanding.

~Kelly

Brain Scans: Day 1

And so I’m here, at Boston Medical Center, and I’m finally all wired up.  The nurse/phlebotomist with the Southie accent who just put in my IV just left and my nurse is coming by at some point to get me some food.  I’m not entirely sure how many wires are GLUED to my head, but it’s north of 20.

Yes, that’s right, glued.  The technician who was attaching them referred to the gluing part as being like, “a bad day at the nail salon” and she wasn’t kidding.  I asked how they removed the glue and she said, which I suspected, acetone.  I think I may have Geoff bring a bottle back with him when I get out of here since, apparently, getting all the glue off of one’s scalp takes “several washings.”  Fun.

I supposed it would be rude of me not to tell you all about my helmet.

I’ll get a picture of it when I can, but right now, it is out of reach.  Which is ironic as I am supposed to wear it AT ALL TIMES when on my feet and out of bed.  This includes the 6 foot walk to the bathroom and also when using the shower.  Mind you, I can’t actually shower as my head can’t get wet, I can only sponge bathe, but I have to sponge bathe with the helmet on.  Seriously.

It’s a black hockey helmet.

You know, I could have sworn I had some dignity around here someplace.  I have no idea where it went.  Have you seen it?

~Kelly

FINALLY! A JOB!!!

I just got word this morning that I am being hired as an IT Security Analyst by a prominent local university.  I cannot tell you how excited I am, for all sorts of reasons.  It will be good to be employed again, and the fact that I will be in a permanent position at a university (and that it pays more than what I made at my previous job)  just makes it all the better.  Right now it looks like my first day will be in mid-March.  They will be contacting me with more information and sending me my orientation packet soon.  The university HR department is going to conduct an orientation program at some point for new employees, and obviously I will be attending that.

-Geoff

Stanford- Beati Quorum Via

Ok, I have fought with this file and with various downloads from CNET to try and edit it and convert it to MP3 and, after much swearing and fighting and whatnot, I finally got an MP3.  This is the recording Geoff made of the anthem in today’s service at church.  It will be one of the anthems in the wedding in November.  I love this piece.  The performance is excellent.  The recording is poor.  My apologies for the recording quality.  There are a couple of points in there where something bumps the mike and it gets a little loud.

~Kelly

My interview rocked!

I had my interview at Major Boston Area Music School yesterday and it went really well.  I’d be downright shocked if they don’t call me back for an interview with the higher-ups next week.  They’re looking to hire for 3/1 which would mean NO MORE COBRA PAYMENTS.  The man I interviewed with yesterday would be my boss and we got along well.  I was there for an hour and twenty minutes.  I think, based on what I observed, that they’ve narrowed it down to probably me and one other person.  But, that could be wishful thinking.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed.  As soon as I know if I’ve got the next interview I’ll post here.

~Kelly

Ok, this is just nasty.

Geoff and I have been on the hunt for the perfect purple beverage for our wedding cocktail.  We’ve come up with some good ideas so far but every time we see an interesting article online we tend to check it to see if there’s a good purple drink.  Simple purple alcoholic drinks that don’t involve muddled out of season fruit seem to be elusive.

Anyway, I noticed this little article on Boston.com and perused it thinking there might be something useful in it.  What I found was this… monstrosity.  I know I’m a vegetarian and thus more likely to think this is nasty, but Geoff agreed with me on this one.

The Abbatoir

 

Now complete with meat juice!
The Abbatoir Cocktail... coming to a slaughterhouse near you!

 

$9, The GallowsIn the mix:
¾ ounce savory mixture (veal stock, caramelized onions, and olive brine pureed and double strained)
¾ ounce Quinta do Infantado tawny port
¾ ounce Batavia Arrack
¾ ounce Lillet Blanc
Shake and strain. Garnish with lemon peel and cracked pepper.

Bar manager April Wachtel says that the veal stock is a “shocker” to many customers. “No one has a clue what it will taste like . . . the mouth feel is very lovely. You might think it will be gelatinous, but it’s not.”

Bottom line: The veal stock, onions, and olive puree makes for a sturdy, rich backbone in this savory sipper. Never mind the drink’s not-so-appetizing name, another word for slaughterhouse.

VEAL STOCK?  Oh, nasty.  NASTY.  Rest assured we won’t be serving any of this, or anything even remotely like it, in our home or at our wedding.  Just… no.

~Kelly