Clearly You CAN Make This Up!

I discussed earlier, the Jessica Fletcher worthy mystery which unfolded yesterday regarding a young dying girl with Cystic Fibrosis, who it transpires doesn't in fact have CF at all. Now I really should have pointed out that there is no concrete proof either way and although it is plainly obvious what opinion I am of (as by my clearly bias writing), everybody should remain innocent until proven guilty.

I feel it important to echo others' thoughts on the matter however. Whether it turns out this 'Gina/Pepe' is real or a fake she needs some real help. If it's true and there really is indeed a poor girl struggling for life like she said then I really hope that she can find strength to get better soon.

And if she's a fake? I really hope that she can find the strength to change her character and outlook on life so that she can contribute something positive to the world in her life.

And if she's a fake (again)? .....I'd be reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllly worried about a little thing called karma.....

You Can't Make This Up

"Munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric disorder in which those affected fake disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention or sympathy to themselves." (Wikipedia, 2008)

I've heard about this illness and read about it a little bit too. But I've never seen first hand someone who suffers from it. And technically, today I wasn't witness to it in person, but in one of the most bizarre cases I've ever heard of, I read about it on the internet.

The story begins with Gina, or 'Pepe' as she was known, a young girl in her mid twenties who has Cystic Fibrosis. Her condition, so bad, so dire she really, desperately needed a lung transplant, and yesterday. She was on and off a ventilator like a yoyo, she suffered every kind of man eating painful manifestation of the disease - from constant lung collapses to chronic bleeding. Her lungs were 'calicified' they were that bad. And really on the brink of death, a donor set of lungs came for her. Her surgery and subsequent recovery were as difficult as life beforehand, again suffering every possible complication that could arise. Last week, things were just not good, she was told her new lungs (now functioning at 24%) were useless and she needed a second lung transplant. She had had a high temperature for about 6 months, high carbon dioxide levels in her blood for longer. It was just not good. And yet she fought. And fought. And fought. Until tonight.

...When her blog was shut down. Every spec of evidence of her existance poofed into thin air. And then it became clear that the whole thing was the figiment of one's (or twos') imagination. The whole thing about as real as a tooth fairy with one leg.

Now a bit of backround: Gina or 'Pepe' was a friend of Paul's. Paul himself has CF and had a lung transplant last year. He emailed me a few times for advice about recovery and I received his group emails about his progress. He also read this blog. So when 'Friends of Pepe' started, on the blog list (as in a list of people's blogs) was yours truely. I don't really mind that sort of thing as as much as it's sometimes weird having strangers reading your blog, it's what helps to educate people about CF, Diabetes, Transplants etc.

Paul last year wanted to buy 'poor Pepe' a Nintendo Wii and sent an email around requesting money. I didn't give any because...I'm selfish really....plus I didn't know the girl personally...actually nor him come to think of it.

But anyway, they've scarpered. Now I believe Paul really does have CF, and has had a transplant, but Pepe doesn't exist. There is a girl involved but she does not have CF.

I guess that everyone has their cross to carry, but when I consider what I've had in my life (medically speaking) I'd chose that hand of cards anyday over having a disease that makes me WANT to be ill. Of course they may just be down trodden fraudsters either.

Incredible.

Random Spottings

Tonight I had the third of my birthday celebration dinners. For once I arrived early and had the pleasure of watching an unfortunate old woman use an escalator, clearly something she was not used to doing. She stood up nice and tall like she had a rod in her back, and gripped the railing tightly. She even had her eyes open wide, focusing straight ahead for effect.

I imagine for her it must have seemed like a rollarcoaster. Poor old woman. And then when her daughter went on to the next escalator coming down, the poor old woman was left stranded at the top crying out for help, not knowing how to get on board. Luckily the daughter seemed nice and cried back to her to 'stay where you are, I'm commmmmminnnnnnnnnnnng!' I honestly don't believe she needed to be so forceful in her shouting (ie, no need to deafen me as well!), 'cas that old lady was going nowhere.

I hope I don't ever get like that when I'm old. Because if people figure out I can't use an escalator they'll know exactly how to abandon me. And they may very well want to.

The Glass is Always Half....

...falling over! No seriously.

I began working full-time back in May but I never told my employers anything about my health status. I thought it would be easy to hide the daily pill popping, drug injecting etc. And to be honest, it was. But two things happened. I decided to go on multiple holidays (the most recent lasted two weeks), and my extremely generous employers let me do this. Of course, this meant I felt a bit guilty and so really try to give 100% all the time. And to cut a long story somewhat short, do not pull sickies or take any other days off. I work 9-5 and do over-time (unpaid I think...but I'm not grown up enough to work out what I'm being paid...) all to get the job done.

So seeing as I need blood tests every 6 weeks and review on average every 1-3 months (and that's just my set routine, which doesn't include any appointments for other scans etc going on) it was a tricky thing to work out how to do it. But masterful me, I came up with the idea of telling my employers I was going away a day earlier than I actually was, thus using these extra 'travel' days for my appointments.

I had it all figured out. Brilliantly. And then I began to get sick about a week ago whilst in Boston. Nothing bad, just....the start of a grumble in my chest. And it seems I've lost about 6 kilos since March (About a stone). So today being my 'travel' day, my clinic were pretty accomodating to get my bloods done but it seems the lung function lab now operate a strict 'Tuesday Only' opening slot for us clinic peoples. (Which seems ridiculous to me, so I shall sit back and complain about that to myself for a few weeks.)

Anyway, this didn't bother me, I just needed my bloods done. But then the doctor saw me, prescribed me an antibiotic and told me I *MUST* have my lung functions done in the next two weeks. I begged for September, but nope.

Considering I have been given the opportunity to travel across eastern Europe with friends for two weeks, having holidayed in America for two, been to France for one, all in this summer, I think my glass is most definately overfull and spilling over. And perhaps the teeeeeeensy price for this to pay is a few antibiotics and a few appointments here and there, and honestly, as hassle-y as it is to jumble around my schedule, and tell a few porkies I'll take it.

See....I'm not quite sure what I was trying to say or what the point really is. I'm like that, there's never a point!! I think perhaps I'm in one of my 'thinky' modes and remember back to the time where I wasn't off IVs for more than 2 weeks, tied to oxygen and simply couldn't plan anything.

Of course, I still can't plan anything, but that's for a different reason...I'm just too indesicive now. I think.

?

Random

I went to the pub last night and saw a person with CF, on oxygen, tables away from me. In hindsight, I don't know why I wasn't totally freaked out thinking 'OMG, infection control, I don't know what bugs HE has, I hope he doesn't cough' as I'm a little bit paranoid sometimes. And not much of a 'cf' mixer at the best of times. But I wasn't.

I walked past him and I heard that familiar voice, where the end of the sentences are really forced out like the person is winded or something. Interestingly, what he said when I walked by was 'I always wear shorts in the hospital'.

Random.

2 Down, 3 to go...

Today was my second exam. This is the one I LITERALLY didn't study for. It had two components to it: Photoshop and Illustrator. I know my way around Photoshop a bit. I'm able to 'shop' photos to make them funny and can do useless stuff with it like that. However, it's a bit like going to a friend and being able to say a few sentences in Japanese, it's impressive, but once you go to Japan it's not much at all!

Anyway I needed to get 14% in the exam in order to pass the year, so fingers crossed I got that much but who knows? It didn't go as well as yesterday so when I was leaving I was trying to put it to the back of mind and concentrate on planning my study for tomorrow's exam. I got into my car and turned the engine on, still feeling a bit blah. "You're A Superstar" came on. Not many (I don't know if any?) people will understand the significance that song holds, but it's pretty big. Especially considering I haven't heard it at all since I heard it that day in December. I sat and listened to it, and smiled. Then I drove off and felt quite a bit better about the exam, about my day and about myself :)

And After

I see I haven't posted a photo of me here in ages. Well I'm sorry if you have just got your screens and monitors repaired because I feel bad and decided to post one up. It's me, the morning after the night before, when I should have been studying but changed my mind. And *yes* I AM doing my make-up differently these days- thanks for noticing!! :D

Busy Lizzy...

...that's what I'd call myself if my name was Elizabeth, but it's not. But I've been busy all the same!

I had our college's formal ball on Wednesday night which was great fun! I've seen some pictures this morning (because my camera died on me that night so I am relying on others who happen to be terribly slowwwww!) and amazingly I actually look a healthy weight! I ALWAYS manage to see a too skinny me in formal pictures but these ones I look healthy in- whooo. Although saying that, the dress that I wore managed to drop my lung function down to about 50%: I could barely get it closed and when I did, I could barely breathe. It took a bit of getting used to but I did it- no pain, no gain and weight gain=pain!

The next night we decided to go to the local (my college's local) because we're supposed to be studying and I am the queen of procrastination. I only meant to spend an hour there but ended up leaving at closing time. Boooo.

Yesterday, having officially finished college and being a mere 3 days away from exams I saw this as a perfect distraction free opportunity to get my head in the books. Instead it went into a cushion as I fell asleep on the couch.

Not to worry, after dinner I cracked open the book and started writing essays. I used to be great at revision but it's been three years since I left school and so my new method is just to write essays, highlight them and learn them. This way I'm repeating the knowledge when I go to write it, when I go to highlight it and when I go to learn it. I may change my tactic for next year...

So today I've slept in until lunch time and EILEEN is insisting we go out to town tonight. Normally I'd say no, what with middle of the night being my prime study hours, but my legs are looking fantastic from the formal ball and it would be a shame to waste them. Like, d'uh!

Oh well, be young, be foolish, but be happy!

Normal

Well I'm never normal but anyway. Today I missed my morning class...again! I think falling out of a routine has really messed me up. Oh well.

I have a feeling tonight that my 'sore tummy' is returning. I hope not because tomorrow I plan to get up and make my early, early class.

Then I finally made it down to Dundrum to do some shopping at last today. We have our formal ball on Wednesday night so I needed to get a few things for that, which, whoohooo, I did. I also looked at nice bikinis too because the summer is itchingly close. I held off however as I wasn't sure which colour would go best on me.

Then this evening I signed up for the Women's Mini Marathon. For some reason, this year the 10k seems a LOT longer than last year. Not good. And I also realised upon signing up, that I put my first name where my surname should be and my surname where my first name should be.

So now the emails are coming in, "Thanks Fitz for signing up!!" and "Greetings Miss Rosemary".

I am definitely not normal.

Clinic-y Winic-y *wince* part 2 !!!

At 2.15pm I went into the xray room and lay on a bed and everyone looked at my Second Belly Button. The doctor kept asking me questions but then kept cutting me off whenever I answered with a 'ok, ok, yeah, yeah, that's fine'. But he wasn't listening to my ANSWERS! So the questions got repeated again like 3 minutes later. Things like:

"Did they give you stitches when they removed this tube?"
"No. But I had it put in when I was-"
"-'ok, ok, yeah, yeah, that's fine"

3 minutes later

"So did you just have this put in for your transplant?"
"No, I had it put in when I was like 5 for night-"
"-'ok, ok, yeah, yeah, that's fine"

3 more minutes later

"So did you just use it when you were sick yeah?"
"No, I i had it put in when I was 5 for night feeding and when-"
""-'ok, ok, yeah, yeah, that's fine"

And so it went on. Bah. So I had layers upon layers of sheets put over me each with a little square hole cut out so they could still see Second Belly Button.

The procedure was to put a little catheter (kind of like a piece of tubing) into the hole and put dye in and watch on the screen and see where the dye travels to. The pain of the catheter was honestly, horrible. It wasn't a sting, it wasn't an ache, it was just dreadfully uncomfortable. I think only people who have/had tubes know what it's like, but I found it just horrible. I *didn't* cry though (!!!) but very dramatically shouted "Ow, ow, owwwwwww, owww, oh I HATE this feeling, oh it's awful, oh, ow, ow". I think I might have scared the doctor though, which quite frankly I didn't really mind doing. Maybe he's not a fan of drama?

Then the dye went in and we watched the screen and took photos. I didn't take the photos obviously, but the machine did. Honestly, I couldn't really see what was going on. I think I could see my stomach though, and obviously the dye. He had me roll from left to right and then it was over. It took 15minutes at most. He said there was a small something, something, something but he doesn't know what will be done about it and he didn't want to "cloud my thoughts with his ideas" (a bit fancy for someone who doesn't like drama!) so my clinic will tell me. Basically I take that to mean there's something but it's not serious and they mightn't treat it I guess.

So little Mickey continues to perform his party piece uninvited.

Then they gave me a chicken sandwich and water to apologise. Honestly, I'd have preferred my €10 parking paid for, but never mind. I then found out I lost my parking ticket anyway but Frank (the car park man who needs a name) just calculated the times and charged me.

Then I came home, napped soundly, EILEEN woke me, barged into my house with Noon and Mermaid (names obviously slightly changed there because I feel like it), sat, kidnapped me, we went and had food, then we dropped Mermaid back to her apartment, where I accidentally set off an alarm when leaving... and ran. I hope the alarm didn't cause too much hassle. Ooops. And while wanting to cry, I just laughed. In a very evil manner.....

Etterly Betterly

That title is nonsense too. Bah.

Today I decided to skip my morning lectures again. I had a nice lunch and went in for my afternoon Statistics lecture which is a bit like getting two hours of study done and I was awake and fed enough to pay attention.

My tummy feels better than yesterday. I've cut out fattening my food up a bit, which means no butter which honestly makes me want to cry. I love nothing better than BUTTER!! But alas I can wait.

Unfortunately the crankniess of being sick, while subsiding quite a bit still sees me being a bit childish today. This afternoon for example, it was roasting hot. Driving home was very balmy and nice but it made Delilah (the car) go stuffy and then the window open made her too breezy. I'm never satisifed. Anyway, the road where I live is often used as a rat-run and it drives me bananas!! So a nice big car was behind me, with a nice preemed suit driving it rather impatiently - On my tail like nobody's business. So basically I dropped my speed back until I registered 15mph. And he continued to sit on my tail the whole time!! So then I stopped and let other cars come past us where the road narrows very, very slightly. And then I continued, nice and slowly to my house. And then I stuck on my indicator, and very carefully and slowly turned up my driveway. At which point he zoomed off on.

I always get sooooo impatient being stuck behing slooooooowww drivers so I hope that he felt the same. But I didn't feel better about myself actually. Poor fella, my antics weren't evenr worth it.

Oh well, tomorrow I'll be taking the very spooky 46a to the hospital for a review. I would drive but it's Patrick Hilary's (former president from the seventies(?)) funeral in the pro catherdral and with some roads being closed I'll only get lost. The users of the roads should count themselves very, very lucky!!

But then again, patience is a virtue!*










*I don't know what that actually means but I do know it's something witty and clever and I hear it a lot...

Bumdiddily

I couldn't think of a title and so to be childish I wrote that. It makes me smile because to the best of my knowledge it's not a word, hardee, har, har. Yes, I'm going to get a life soon. Or some fresh air...

I still have a sore tummy at the moment and as I mentioned before this sort of issue rarely causes me problems (thankfully!) but when it does even an orchestra of violins can't make me feel better. Winding other people up, annoying other people, acting like a bratty child and pushing other peoples' buttons seems to help some what. Thank God I've got dimples or I wouldn't easily be forgiven!

Basically:

Diabetics (as in REAL diabetics, not me) don't have insulin so they can't take sugar without help. My body can't digest fat at all. And as fat is in everything (that I eat anyway) I need to take medication in the form of tablets to correct this problem, similar to the way diabetics take insulin or tablets when they eat. It's all about the balance. And for a long, long time the 'balance' has always been pretty good for me.

Until last week. And I felt incredibly ill. And snappy, oh gosh, like a CRAB! I suspected that bad heartburn/reflux was making me burn the tablets before they could work, and on my Dad's birthday (Friday; By the way Happy Birthday!) I looked pregnant it was that bad. So I had reflux and looked pregnant and I didn't even get a baby at the end of it all. So I was busy lashing back anti-acids (?) and the old Omeprazoles (things that make you produce LESS acid) and I felt better.

And then on Saturday I improved. Greatly. I didn't feel sore or sick. Until Sunday and we're back to square one. So if I tell you I have a 'sore tummy' that's what I mean.

But last night, at like 2am I went to bed with my hot water bottle and I turned on the TV and the film "Same Time, Next Year" came on. I saw it when I was in New York a few years ago and I NEVER watch films that I haven't seen before (work that one out) but this time I did and it was really nice to watch it again. Kind of like when you're homesick and something reminds you of home and you feel better, except this reminded me of a holiday. I guess I think I need a holiday. And the crazy thing was it's made in the seventies and we all know nothing good was made back then. Except for The Sting, Carrie, Grease, Sesame Street and The Brady Bunch (but not the movie).

No Longer So Bumless

Today I went to college. I decided last night that I would so I did. I woke up nice and early and had ample time for breakfast, work on the laptop and general shamoozing around while I waited for my Mom to bring my car back from the garage. Delilah is still as bitterly battered in her rear end as ever but *this* garage managed to fix her 'tailgate' (or boot) so she now locks. And that annoying "Warning: Tailgate Open: Check Tailgate" ridiculous picture alarm on my screen has gone. So I'm happy.


I had an exam this morning, which was optional for me, which always feels nice going into and then I had to work on my 1minute animation which had to be handed in today. You'd think that 1 minute wouldn't take that long but it took me over 5 hours to make. And it was so short to begin with, I had to scrap my 'story' and just add bits on to make it last 60 seconds. Then when I had a plot that might work, I knew it would go on for too long and so I had to cut it short again. Grief, I'm terrible at timing. So the story is terrible. But I'll give you a run through before you click the little 'play' triangle.

You can pretty much guess what the story (and moral thereof) was SUPPOSED to be from the opening title and subsequent few frames. But that *story* lasted 7 or 14 seconds I think?

So then I decided to add a new character but try to keep it within the morally based tale and make it nice and friendly and blah, blah. Only once I figured out how to make them talk by using text beside their bodies (which is a LOT harder than you think) I realised that this was a clever way to clock up some seconds.

And before I knew it I had 6 seconds left so I decided to wrap it up pretty quickly. Hence the weird ending which I actually find funny as it just doesn't match the start. Oh well, never mind, Practice Makes Perfect!!!:

EDIT: Best let this one load up (takes a while) otherwise you don't get the full effect!! Just click play and then pause and it should load up. AND DO NOT be tempted to watch it until it has ALL loaded up, as in don't be clicking when you've got half of it ready. Ya hear? AND it seems I went 11 seconds over, whooops!

EDIT-EDIT: There's no audio. After five hours I couldn't be bothered. The last frame should say "fin"...

Being a Bum

I've had a sore tummy all week. This isn't the 'other belly button' thing, this is a separate issue which rarely causes me any trouble. But whenever I don't feel great I get snappy and whenever I'm in that kind of mood, I'm best kept away from the general public. There was this one time I was driving at a reasonable speed in a car park when a child darted out in front of me. I stopped and nothing had happened, as I'd seen the idiot running around like a fool before he sprung out in front of my car. His mother then (and only then, AFTER he threw himself in front of a moving car in a busy car park) turned around and took him and looked at me disapprovingly and said 'Be careful...'. In hindsight, she was probably more worried for her silly boy who is just asking for trouble as opposed to being annoyed with me, BUTTTTTTT, my window was down and I was having a snappy day so I replied 'Why don't you watch your child????' in THEEE. SNAPPIEST. RUDEST. CAN'T-BE-DEALING-WITH-RIFF-RAFF. TONE. EVER. Eeeek.

ANYWAY, I decided last night that I wouldn't go to college this morning. Despite this, I woke up with PLENTY of time but because I'd made my decision last night, I had to stick to my guns. I rolled over for more sleep but I kept waking up again (my conscience maybe?). FINALLY the time reached 10am, meaning I was officially late at which point I decided 'well I'm late now, no point in rushing' so I rolled over and went back to sleep again. Now that's stubbornness.

So then I decided I'd go in for my 1pm lecture. But alas, didn't happen. I did however manage to achieve the following tasks to make up for my........poor show today:

• Had a shower
• Had a nap
• Didn't dry my hair (ugh) but straightened it later
• Broke both my laptops
• Fixed the home computer
• Figured out how to unbreak both laptops
• Watched Neighbours
• Watched some of Home & Away
• Had dinner
• Watched Big Brother USA
• *Memory Lapse*
• Ate microwave popcorn with self added butter (just to bump that cholesterol number up)

And that kind of brings me to now. I'm going to go talk to myself in the mirror. I'm joking, I'm not, but that would be pretty funny if someone actually caught me doing that.

PS: HI to 'Charm'!!!! Hope you're lucky! (couldn't resist, I do apologise...)

Leaking!

Well despite my 'ok' scan yesterday which showed everything was fine yet left the question open as to what was causing my occasional 'leaks', I leaked again today with some blood too. Sorry to be graphic.

This all stems from the fact that I was tube fed for 17 years, 15 of those were directly into my tummy. Since I no longer require such feeding, the plug was pulled out leaving a nice little hole where it was. It actually looks not too bad at all, and looks more like a belly button than my belly button. When it's not reminding me what I ate for lunch. Sorry to be graphic!

And today I became the Chairmanperson of our Skiing Society in college. There was no vote and I didn't even put myself forward, in fact I didn't even know the position needed filling. The treasurer just told me that I was it for next year. I told her I'd actually prefer to be the treasurer as I'd get all the moneeyyysssssss be a good responsible figure for our treasury!!! But she shot that idea down. I wonder did she see the €€€ signs in my eyes?

Anyway I can't ski that well but I can chair meetings so whoop. I think next year is probably the year to admit to the fact that I'm a diabetic and have had a lung transplant to the society. I chickened out this year because I was afraid it might result in me needing special insurance, having to fill out forms, admit to things and yawn, yawn.

So this year, with me in charge I can do what I like! I'll just come clean to me and nobody needs to know! Changes need to happen though, starting with a name change I think....something along the lines of 'Rosie's Club'....yeah...and upping of fees...yeah....whoooo!

Hum-diddly

My scan was fine, more needed to figure out the problem, but anything majorly wrong was at least ruled out. So the party piece continues for the moment.

My scan was scheduled for 2pm and I didn't have until 2.15pm. Fifteen minutes late isn't bad in all fairness but why should I wait?? Anyways I did.

The radiographer asked me why I carried around a sharps box (bright yellow container of used needles)with me all the time. I was actually carrying it around with me so I could drop it into the clinic for disposal. Who just carries around a box full of needles with them??? I was going to say so that I could shake it in peoples' faces to get attention and spray the needles at them if needs be. But I didn't.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

My Cold is Gone

And now the title has devoid (right word?) me of a blog entry! D'oh.

I have my scan tomorrow. It doesn't say I have to fast but I think I would have to. But they didn't say either way so, humdiddly.

Interestingly, on my trip through being ever so nosey blogsville I read one (CF related) from a parent's perspective. I'm (obviously) not a parent so I can only pontificate from my own experience, but I was slightly taken aback about the material treatment given to the child with CF. Sadly I fear that treating (figuratively and literally) a child simply because they have a condition such as CF simply does not prepare them for the real world, and can sometimes mould them into a spoilt person.

When I was younger I would regularly get chest infections requiring a couple of weeks spent in hospital. Up until I was nine, this would often be a torturous experience (which I honestly feel created my phobia of cannulas) as veins were poked daily, much to my "WHY ARE YOU HURTING ME???-ness". Since CF is a genetic condition, it means I inherited the bad genes from my parents. I have never blamed them for that as it wasn't like they were having a bad day and decided 'oh here, have some CF'.

I can't actually remember being given gifts from my parents aside from hugs, toiletries or new pyjamas because of this. Most days we'd walk to the hospital shop and get a lolly or a packet of Frosties. Oh except one time I BEGGED them to get me a beanie babies cat when I was in hospital, but that was it. And I clearly remember my Mum saying that was a once off!! But why should they?

Fair enough nobody else in my class in school would have had to deal with all that, but we all have stuff to deal with. Does the child who is, shall we say 'one sandwich short of a picnic' get treats from their parents because let's face it, they're never going to be able to run a multi-million euro company? Or how about the child who's less than 5"5 who won't ever be allowed to be an air hostess (thanks Mum and Dad by the way!!)? Do they get treated specially?

Maybe it's guilt, I'm not sure. And how one decides to raise their childer is completely and entirely up to them, but I think that being treated with expensive material items isn't necessary. It's just re-enforcing some sort of 'not-right' behaviour.

I'll edit this post when I figure out what I'm trying to say.

PS: Oh and hello and big waves to Alice!!!!

PPS: Doubtful, but if the person whose blog I am referring to (well who sparked this post) happens to be reading this, please don't get offended or huffy. I am merely writing MY opinion on MY blog after reading yours!

PPPS: B.A.S. & D. it's not you! :P

The End of TBWW

This week was Tracksuit Bottom Wearing Week. I usually wear jeans or other but at the start of this week I had a sore (and preggers looking) tummy which is unusual for me, so I opted for the comfy option...for the entire week. Trinny & Susannah say that when you don't feel like making an effort, that's the very time to make a special effort. Remind me to pull their book out of the bin before Monday.

I have to have a scan done on Monday on my 'second belly button' as there's a question mark over whether it's actually 1000000% shut. So I'll make Monday a TBW day too.

On other fronts my exams are starting in just three weeks. I HATE exams. I freak and stress and panic and give myself hypos (sugar= TOO low) from time to time. Luckily I found out that I've already passed 2 of the five classes already through my assingments I handed in over the year. I'll find out if I've managed to pass a third on Tuesday. Both lecturers suggested that I should attempt their papers anyway just for experience. I told them I'd think about it but I might be busy that day. (Which EILEEN calls a bad attidude - um priorities!)

And I got some sort of cold yesterday.

In other news, EILEEN got some sort of killer cold yesterday too. *shakes fist*

Well if I'm honest, I already had mine before I went stalking her so she shant (word?) be blamed THIS time. And tip: if you BEGIN to get the sniffles, do numerous sinus rinses, it's seemed to keep the blocked nose element of this cold away from me thank goodness!

Good Friday Again!

I'm still on Easter break, but decided to go to college on Friday anyway. Knowing someone in the know who also knows someone in the know I got to know to someone who knows. I had my camera but no memory card (ugh) but I got my hands on someone elses and got photos. Mr Tommy Tiernan, Whoop:

Baddier Thursday...

Well so much for the 'okay -despite crash- car'. My prediction for what will go wrong next: Driving on road, feel a shift, four wheels separate and roll off in separate directions and steering wheel will come away in my hands. Tsk the hassle of it all!

A heap of other stuff this morning made for a sobering day. It's funny, sometimes we rely on the compasses life gave us so much, despite the fact that they never came with a guarantee that said 'life is predictable'. You make certain assumptions about yourself and about others and then, WHACK BAM, life intervenes. You think "wow, never saw that one coming in a million years, ever". And then you consider that other peoples' lives, as happy and content as the look, as care free as they seem all have problems too. And although you can never know what goes on in somebody else's mind, you hope that, for a time at least, they were genuinely as happy as what the world looking in saw.