Shelby Cass’s Weblog

Hello Party People.

So…Monday I woke up…with no sore throat.  Yes throat aggravation and stitches awareness, but no pain.  And this continued…all week.  Hooray!!!  Today I have a sore throat but of the allergy/am I getting sick kind and no real stitches awareness…could those buggers be gone?  Another Hooray!

So, although feeling like I am coming down with something (though my ears are involved so maybe is just allergies) on a 3 day weekend is not ideal, I have high hopes for my future.  Have a wonderful holiday weekend!  Be safe!

Dr. Li told me to let him know if my throat still hurt on Friday.  It’s 50 minutes til Friday and I’m not comfy so I wrote him an email.  I mentioned I might be a wussmonster because really, what gives?  When he looked in my throat on Monday he said it looked great.  I would think he’d have noticed and/or mentioned if it looked inflamed still.  Or maybe most people deal with this sore achey uncomfortable throat and don’t complain as much as I do.

Tonight I had a wonderful surprise.  My friend David spontaneously came over, and then I got a phone call from #1 saying she’d gone to Ikea and got stuck this side of Santa Cruz so did we want to get dinner in Palo Alto?  Yeahoo!  David and I hopped in the car(pool lane) and met her at Nola’s (New Orlean’s fare) where I realised that in New Orleans…everyone eats SHELLFISH.  hahah  I got a burger.

I also found out that when there are 3 people at the table and the place is LOUD, my throat will hurt if I want the people I am with to hear me.  But my burger was excellent…as were the beignets after that.  Of course.  When is deep fried dough smothered in powdered sugar with dipping sauces NOT good?

Tomorrow I am off to Murphy…wherever that is.  I looked on a map and I still don’t know.  I just know I should get water and gas in Stockton and not pick up any hitchhikers.  My sister is going to a wedding on Saturday afternoon so I am to play Super Aunt Shelby while she is away.  Can do.  Have a great weekend, all!  Revel in your non-sore throats.

Boy.

Today is Wednesday, August 20.  I had my UPPP minus the U over a month ago now and I’m still(?) recovering.  I guess I expected to be practicing my yodel by now.  I’m not really in pain, per se, but I am in aggravation?  Annoyance?  Ickdome?  I really really really do not like the feeling of stitches in my throat.  I am assuming that is what I am feeling.  Could be a rogue cricket escaped from the frog or gecko terrariums, but I think Dr. Li may have seen that and commented when he last peered down there on Monday.  So I’m going with stitches.  And I don’t like them.  No sir.  I don’t like it.

I wrote to Dr. Li (a doctor who does not charge me money to contact him via email?  Again, who IS this man?) and mentioned my discomfort and he replied (!!) if it still hurts, contact him on Friday.  Will do.

Haven’t contacted allergist yet…feel like I should just address one thing at a time.  Plus I just got my hospital bills.  Yoinks.  I have to say I don’t like my deductible either.  It’s right up there with stitches in throat…  (ok not really.  I’m happy I have insurance.)  I talked to a number of people who say they are allergic to shrimp too…but it’s the iodine?  Again, I’ll find out later when I go to the allergist, but at least I can still hope and dream of eating oysters in the future.

Today was my Friday at work since I’m still taking it easy on my indie contracting days.  Hope these stitches get the heck out by Sat…I get to babysit the minis (sister’s kids) and want (need) to be at 100%.  Mikey recognised my voice on the phone this morning.  “Auntie Shelby?!?!?  You coming OVER?”  No, I have to go to work.  But I will see you this weekend.  “Oh.  You have to go to work before you come OVER?”  Yes, that’s right.  Adorable…  Okay I’m outta here.  PEACE (but not literally…have you seen it yet?!?!?!)

Apologies for the haitus I took from the blog mid-recovery.  I kind of got censored…long story…and got upset and considered not writing anymore.  I am now officially over that thought.

So where were we?  Dr. Li, with hands as fine as a bee’s wing, took 5 stitches out of my throat on Monday morning before I went back to work.  I was really (REALLY) not looking forward to sharp sharp scissors in my throat, but honestly…Dr. Li is an angel in disguise as a surgeon.  I barely felt a thing, and life (in my throat) has been so much more pleasant ever since.

I worked 4 hours on Monday (translate into: I talked for 2 hours) and that was about all I could do, but every day got better and by Wednesday I was up to talking about 4 hours (that’s what I do.  I talk.), though I was very happy not to have to work on Thursday.  David came over and we cleaned a bunch - hello clean kitchen!  Then we all went to dinner at Luna’s and I found out that if I ask (*glee*), I can get flour torilla chips.  Luna’s = my new favorite Mexican restaurant if I can’t get to Juan’s.  Friday I did some reporting and billing and at 4pm met up with a couple vendors at TOWN.  Love Town.  Love it.  But I am not so sure they love me anymore.

It started out well enough.  Table out front.  Warm weather.  Pomegranate Martini (x2).  Lots of water.  An hour into the “meeting” we ordered the MUST HAVE La Brea garlic cheese bread.  Then we split a jumbo shrimp cocktail (I had 2 shrimp), I had a Grey Goose Pear Martini and then one of the guys had to go home, so I moved over to sit across from Rick and we decided to split a grilled artichoke.  Midway through the artichoke, I suddenly (I cannot explain how scary this was) felt like I was going to lose consciousness.  My ears started ringing, the world started getting dark…I managed to say to Rick “I just got a huge headrush.  I think I might pass out.”  And then…oh poor poor Rick.  And poor poor anyone EATING DINNER next to us…  I threw up.  Twice.  On the table.  No warning.  No time to move to the gutter or make a dash for the bathroom.  Just…M-blah.  Times 2.

And then I felt fine.  Okay not FINE.  But like 80% better.  And Rick escorted me to the bathroom where I had to …er…clean up…and then I went home and was fine, though tired, and EXTREMELY embarassed.  Oh I cannot tell you how mortified I was/am.  I could only imagine maybe I got a nut on accident somewhere (the only thing that has ever made me throw up before), but then Rick wrote me to say a doctor friend of his thought it was probably the shrimp.  So, back to the allergist.  Because I NEVER want to feel like that again.  EVER.  EVER.

On the throat front: I can still feel stitches in my throat (especially when I swallow) which I am quite looking forward to being GONE, but I no longer feel like I have strep.

On the weight front: I lost 8 lbs on the roto-throat adventure and have kept it off so far.  Hooray for badminton!  My new cardio sport.  We have a 2:30 badminton date so I must go get ready.

On my most recent obsession: You must see Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  And then watch it 10 more times.  And sing along!  Yeah, that’s what I do.  If you don’t want to buy it on itunes (massively awesome investment), watch it here: Hulu and THEN buy it on iTunes because you’re addicted like me.

On the brilliance of my boyfriend:  drinks

The end.

Peace.  But not literally…oh watch Dr. Horrible.

Saw Dr. Li yesterday.  This will be a boring Dr. Li entry because I was not my usual peppy self, but rather a sleep deprived grumpy scratchy throat version that no one wanted to be around, including myself.  I did manage to ask “What’s the difference between me and Toni that she feels better enough to go back to work today?”  To which he had a one word answer: Tonsils.  Okay.

To make myself feel better I have been eating 1-2 tsp of frosting a day.  Better than a cake a day, right?!?  Guh.  I tried eating stuffing but that started to pull my own stuffing out, so I had to stop.  Imagine having to stop eating stuffing after like 2 bites!!!  Torture. Pure torture.  I’ve taken to heating up cheese soup minus the extra cup of milk so it’s all goopy, then adding avocado and taco sauce.  It’s pretty num.  I also stopped at Safeway today after bringing boyfriend iced latte and taking stroll around Goose Poop Lake.  I bought deviled egg potato salad, artichoke dip, split pea soup, and creamed spinach.  Dr. Li says I can start eating real people food tomorrow but it won’t be like a nut party or anything.  Just softish real people food…so I stocked up.  Also, I’m allergic to some nuts, so that would probably never be a good thing.

This morning was nice though.  I woke up to modest kitten:

and a package arrived at the door!  I was immediately accused of online shopping since the box was from one of my favorite sites (thinkgeek.com), but I plead innocent!  Turns out, it was a GIFT for ME!!!  From my dear dear friend Nicholas.

Can you not hear it?  Let me turn it up.

Oh yeah, that’s right.

Have I mentioned how much I love my friends?  My friend Cynthia sent me a get well soon gift on itunes…Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog…OMG.  Can’t stop watching!!!  With my freeze ray I will STOP…the world.

It has been brought to my attention that there has been a dearth of photographic evidence…and so I show you some things.

First, the recovery.  And my trusty nursemaid Rira and troublemaker Mochi…

Mochi takes over the couch:

Then awesome boyfriend bought fruit section of store.  I *heart* him and I *heart* living in California.

Later on, pizza arrived at house…I did what I could to indulge…

There you have it.  Still eating with the little spoon and a straw.  Cheers to you chewers out there.

…You lie down and think “Oh YES!  A BED!  My feet are not hanging off the end of the chaise.  I could sleep on my side!”…and then the stitches say “Let us irritate your throat.  Let us make you cough.  Let us make you choke.”  And then the boyfriend says “Urmph” as he turns over away from coughing girlfriend.  And coughing girlfriend says “sorry” and goes back out to chaise where she gets figity and decides to post a blog entry.

I miss my bed.

BECAUSE THINGS IN BLENDERS SUCK

and cake does not.

And hoping I don’t crash into anyone…:)

Saw Dr. Li yesterday…I think it was yesterday Well, if today is Tuesday then I saw him yesterday. Court had to drive because I guess you’re not supposed to drive on these drugs, and when we got into the examining room, Court hopped into the examining chair and I sat in the guest chair. Dr. Li walked in and stopped short when he saw Courtland.

“Hi! I’m here for my checkup!” said Courtland.

Dr. Li’s mouth moved a little but nothing came out. Then he looked at me and said “I don’t want to get in trouble.” I don’t know what that meant, but I laughed anyhow. And he said “Courtland! We’re always talking about you! Good to see you.”

I wiggled into the plush leather seat and Dr. Li tried to see into my mouth…he should have been wearing a mask–STEENKY! But I guess he’s used to it because he didn’t even grimace. As he was leaning over, his badge caught my eye and I looked at at and started laughing. I reached out and grabbed it and said “How old were you in this picture? Like 10?”

He laughed. Then I asked if I saw pix of him as a kid would I be like “Oh! A mini!” And he laughed again and said “That would be my son. People say he’s a miniature of me.” And now my mission in life is to see his son. Stalk much? *evil laugh*

So he gave me more drugs (did I mention I love him?) and instructed me to get as much laxative in as possible…! I have lost 10 lbs and no BM so maybe after that it will be like 15 lbs!!! *snicker* He said I would be turning a corner soon and he was right. Last night was much better and today I have barely had to take anything. It’s still really weird to be aware of stitches in my throat and swallowing is still something I am voting off the island, but it’s definitely better than the day before.

Courtland just got back from the store and he bought the fruit section. XOXOXOXOX You can’t have him, he’s MINE!

Here it is…4am on Monday morning.  My dear dear laptop hath passed away RIP.  I am waiting til my next dose…which makes me feel like a junkie until I realise 1. a junkie wouldn’t wait and 2. I am in PAIN!

I wonder if Dr. Li is going to refill my prescription.  I sure hope so.  I have been good about administering but when it hurts…man it hurts.  I feel like someone split my lip open to the bone in the chin…oh wait, they did.  And my ears seem to be affected somehow by this whole thing.  I have to ask about that.  I have to plug my ears before I swallow to help prevent some of the pain.  I don’t know if it actually prevents any pain, but at least I’m distracted because my fingers are in my ears and I am trying to swallow?  Who knows.  It still hurts.  But yes, less than a few days ago.  I am, in fact, on the mend.

My friend Duncan said I am probably not getting enough protein with my 1 ensure a day, so recommended I order this stuff he says is NOT chalky…so either it’s not chalky and I get more protein, or he just inherited another container of it

On the upside…or is it downside?  I have lost about 8 lbs.  Of course the day I actually EAT something 1/2 of that will come back, but I’m still pretty happy.  Go surgery diet!

Ugh I have a feeling Dr. Li is going to make me open my mouth.  That will suck.  I really cannot move my lower lip much without horrible pain.

Okay I’m done complaining.  I will now return to my lump on the chaise lounge.  Bye bye.

PS My car Rira snores.  Should I worry?