Lovin Sue

I work with a darling woman named Suzanne, who learned just this week that there is a new cupcake place near our office, Hello Cupcake. She heard it was, well, divine, so she's been plotting to go some time this week. Suzanne is an over achiever who works many extra hours, so I'm always amused when something tears her away from her work.

It's approximately 10:30am here. I just received a phone call at my desk.

Sue: Hi there! Listen, somehow I ended up at Hello Cupcake this morning. Can I pick you up anything?
Me: [knowing she's supposed to be, you know, working] Gee, I wonder how you ended up all the way over there....
Sue: I know, totally weird. Anyway, I'm getting one. What do you want? The flavors are.....

Love her.

Update: she claims she actually Was out for a work task, and this was a convenient stop. Of course! BTW, I'm eating a root beer float cupcake right now. Wow.

Gross, as promised

Here are my wasp sting pictures. One of my calf where you can see where the stinger went in (and the hard, infected area around it)....

... one picture of the nasty puss bubbles up close....

... and one of the rash I developed only this past Thursday. After a week of antibiotics and nausea, I had an allergic reaction - red all over! You only get to see my neck, though. Lucky.

It got redder the next day, but I didn't have the energy to keep taking pictures. My lesson learned: never, EVER let a hospital staffer boss you around. If you're worried about something and you want to talk to your doctor or nurse, you do it. The jackass who answers the phone can't tell you what to do. Example below.

Me: I'd like to speak with Dr. Evans in the ER, please.

Lady: Certainly, I'll connect you to that office.

Dude: [bored] Hello, this is Jackass in the ER.

Me: [super-polite] Hi, my name is Annie. I was in the ER last week and saw Dr. Evans. Today I had a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics she prescribed, and I'd like to talk to her about calling a different prescription into a pharmacy.

Jackass: You just want her to call it in?

Me: Yep, that's it!

Jackass: No, she can't just call in a prescription for you. You'll have to come back into the ER.

Me: But I'm on a road trip in Ohio - I can't come to Philadelphia today.

Jackass: That's what you have to do.

Me: I'm sorry. The pharmacist told me that she could just call in a new prescription.

Jackass: Well, pharmacists aren't physicians, are they?

[This is where I should have said, Are you a physician? Didn't think so. Why don't you shut your piehole and find me someone who knows what they're talking about. Instead....]

Me: [sob] So you're telling me I need to drive around until I can find an emergency room?

Jackass: Yes.

Me: Thank you. Goodbye. [click. sob sob sob]

At this point the rash is spreading quickly and totally freaking me out. I take a few minutes to wallow, and then convince myself that this is completely unacceptable. So I call back, talk to a lovely woman, and am soon connected with my doctor, who calls in a new prescription within minutes. Totally simple.

I'm not a vengeful person, but I hope this guy ..... *sigh* never mind. I'm healed!

Sideburns and Stress

Moving into stress mode now. The headaches and sleeplessness that come with them, as well. I'm keeping Staci at a distance (emotionally, at least) because she's been kind of hostile. But this weekend I'm driving to Ohio again to take some stuff! It's Emils' last weekend at the house. She'll be at Smith next week. We're all sickeningly proud.

Dad saw Grandma G last weekend, and it seemed to freak him out. She's in worse shape than he expected. (He totally digs her, even though he's not married to her daughter anymore.) So of course his freak out caused me to freak out a little. If I get there in early October and it's too late.... I just can't. So Mom agreed to keep me posted, which I'm sure she would have done anyway, and if I need to spend the money on another ticket, so be it.

I was driving home yesterday, feeling grouchy, when I saw a tall, lean man walking up the sidewalk in the opposite direction. Sadly, I could only watch him for a few seconds. He had reddish hair, a tan/light brown suit, sporty sunglasses, sideburns that almost reached his chin, and a ridiculous walk. He took extremely long strides, even for a tallie, and with each stride, swung his arms all the way up to shoulder level. It was silly and wonderful and put a big smile on my face. With strange rangers like this walking about, why should I waste my time thinking about the assholes in my life? I already waste enough time dealing with them in person.

I promise the gross leg pictures are forthcoming. They'll have to wait until after this weekend, though. Look at you! Getting excited!

Let's Talk

I am moving to Italy. In mere weeks. (7) In five weeks I leave work, then leave my future former home a few days later. Forevah. It's been a really good place to me, and the price was kick-a$$, but the ups and downs with Staci were killing me. Gah. It's times like that in which I wish I were more dude-like. They're so much calmer in those dramatic episodes. (Not all stay calm, but a lot of them.) Somehow they stay removed enough to remain unflustered. I usually maintain that balance with most acquaintances and strangers. But when a close friend bullies me, I'm defenseless at the start of the battle. No preparation, no offense tactics, no clue. Pummeled, eyes puffy from the fight.

So I work to focus on other things. The year ahead of me is full of exciting unknowns. I will never again live in my current party house. I will soon live amid a totally foreign culture and language. And I will master it! I will make new friends, and have a fabulous excuse for not having time to write to the high-maintenance ones back in the states. I will learn about myself. I will eat much pasta. I will laugh. I will explore.

There is so much to do before I leave, but I'm starting to get the itch to go.

Stay tuned for graphic pictures of my wasp sting. Coming up!

Whirlwind life

Everything is happening so quickly! We're interviewing for my replacement. Kim found us english-teaching jobs in Genova, and maybe a place to live. And the HR Manager can get us codici fiscali, which are like social security numbers in Italy. (A BIG load off my mind.)

Today we bought our tickets to fly to Rome on October 8. I need to find time to work on my ESL certification course. Italian class is on Mondays and Wednesdays, Rotaract on Tuesdays, conferences last weekend, this weekend..... whoa!

Mom and I had a nice change of pace. She was really guilting me and making me feel manipulated last weekend. "I hope you grandmother is still here when you come to visit in October.... You know she's probably going to die while you're in Italy." And, "I just hope that I've been half the mother that she was to me." pause pause pause.

After much fuming, cursing, drinking, and advice-seeking, I realized that she's nervous about me leaving and insecure in general in this traumatic situation. So I internally forgave her, and we've since been better. She's being nice, I'm being nice... it's all very nice.

It's all happening. It's all really happening.