Precious and Fragile Things

Miracle of miracles, I got this laptop to boot one last time. I've used my good fortune to make sure all my music files, pictures, and other important files are backed up onto my external hard drive.

I don't know what happened, but the last couple of days has seen this computer freezing up suddenly while playing City of Heroes when it ran fine just the other day. And late last night it completely crashed and at one point couldn't boot up because it said "Operating System Not Found." It's not just a hard drive failure either. It's not cooling properly (I have an external lap cooling thing for it and it works wonders, but still) and I'm thinking it's on its last legs. It's only three years old, but it's already had one hard drive replacement (October 2009) and it's given me fits since then as well. I'm honestly amazed it's lasted this long. And I know it's really stupid, but this computer has sentimental attachment. Dad had me buy it for him back in November 2007 when he was hospitalized the first time over Thanksgiving Holidays. It would have been nice to have it last at least another year or two, but I'll cry about it later.

Sooo, my Christmas present to myself is a new laptop. I was trying to hold out for a new blinged out desktop (building it myself with Sam's help), but it looks like I don't have the time for that. I need a computer and I had money set aside that I can get a pretty decent laptop that'll sustain me for a while until I'm working again (*fingers crossed for after the new year as I have some leads*) and can save up for that awesome desktop the kiddo can use too.

So. Yeah. Don't worry, kiddo's Christmas is more than covered. It's just mine that's being impacted here. (It helps he's only been asking for one thing for, like, the last year though I've planned for some other awesome things in there for him too.) But hey, a new shiny computer will be fun to play with, and fortunately all the important shit is backed up and saved so even if I don't manage to find a new one later today, my data is safe.

Ugh, and that reminds me. I haven't yet mentioned how many ways my Christmas plans have been fubar'd due to other unforeseen life events. Bleh. More later.

This cold I got from the kiddo is making it impossible to sleep. I did manage a couple of hours' worth of a nap today. I have a low-grade fever too, so that just makes me feel extra crappy.

I am hoping I can sleep tonight and sleep in tomorrow. Kiddo went to Mom's for the night earlier today, and she fears she may also be catching his cold.

I must remember to pay my phone bill tonight if I can keep my head up long enough. Right now I'm propped up in bed with my laptop. I'm trying to stay hydrated as best I can.

Um, I type words on screen? Yeah, very out of it.

More later possibly.

So, Sunday night I decided to put on a load of laundry before bed. Not really a big deal and just something I do when I'm behind in household chores (as I am woefully behind now). I'd already changed into a shirt for bed, so I wasn't wearing any long pants, and I picked up some of the kiddo's clothes from the floor and headed into my bathroom to get some other stuff. That's when I felt a very bad burning sensation in my left thigh, then as I cursed and grabbed my leg, I heard a buzzing sound coming from the shirt I'd been holding.

I threw the clothes into my bathtub and out crawled a wasp from the kiddo's long-sleeved shirt. Yes, a wasp. Indoors. In February. No, I can't quite believe my "luck" either.

Fortunately, it seems I got the stinger out really quickly and there was not even any swelling. There was some burning and a little soreness Sunday night, but since then I've felt all right. This is only the second time in my life I've been stung and the first time I've managed to get a wasp sting. That's really surprising considering how often I've stumbled upon wasps nests before, and how one time my mother managed to get stung while I somehow avoided the notice of several wasps. I suppose that's not bad for being 29 years old and growing up in the country.

Monday saw me recovering from a rough night of sleep (the wasp thing kind of freaked me out in addition to being painful), and then today I had to drive Mom to a doctor's appointment in Columbia (just a standard thing - she's healthy so no one worry). After we finished with her appointment, we went to a Wendy's to eat as there are no Wendy's near here. Right as I walked in the door, I heard a familiar voice on the radio saying, "Never gonna give you up/Never gonna say good-bye/Never gonna run around and desert you..."

I got Rick-rolled by life, y'all.

I kept my thoughts to myself and was glad Mom didn't ask why I chuckled. I really can't imagine that I could explain Rick-rolling in any way she could possibly understand. If I attempted it, she'd get it all wrong and then call my aunt to explain it to her and next thing you'd know my aunt would be talking to me about the Internet and drugs and that it's full of weirdos.

If I come across as silly, it's because I am. I'm very tired after spending three hours on the road with Mom and then taking the kiddo to speech not long after I got back. I left the house this morning at 7:30 and didn't get back until 3:40 this afternoon. That's too much time in a car. I'm still anxious and still dealing with a lot of anxiety, but I'm hanging in there and will continue to do so. I'll probably explain more later.

Yeah, I think the Rick-rolling probably sums up my day very nicely. Not a bad day by any stretch of the imagination, but a little exhausting with just a hint of absurdity thrown in to keep me on my toes.

I haven't been posting this week due to not sleeping well due to some back pain and bad dreams. In addition to the lower back pain, it seems I am starting to show symptoms of sciatica. It really shouldn't be a surprise to me given that both of my parents have had it, and my father's history of back problems probably dates back to when he was my age, or not too much older than I am. I know I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't suffering from back trouble.

Despite all this, the pain I've experienced hasn't been intolerable. In fact, I count myself lucky that I've yet to feel the need to take anything for pain. My headaches are far, far worse than this so far, but I can tell there is potential for it to get worse. I have moments where I'm sitting down that I have to stand up and let my legs stretch out when I get some horrible pains going down the back of my left leg and into my hip (which is odd since it's usually my right hip that gives me trouble), and if I'm lying down I only experience some mild hip pain that I've had since I gave birth to the kiddo. Mostly my problem is that my lower back is incredibly stiff and tight. Walking can help me, but the problem is that it has been cold (for South Carolina, that is), and the cold not only aggravates the aches, it also means I can't really walk outside comfortably.

Honestly, it's not unusual for me to experience some aches and pains during the winter. I know that once things warm up, I'll be doing better and will also be able to get around more. I'm doing little bits of stretching here and there, mostly bending over sloooooowly at the waist because it does feel good, if a little sore, to stretch out my lower back. Additionally, one thing that would help is if I could quit sleeping on my stomach. For some reason, the last couple of weeks I've been winding up on my stomach during the night, and sleeping through that even though I hate sleeping on my stomach. It really puts pressure on my lower back when I do that and I have no idea how to stop myself from doing it. Weirdness.

Okay, and that's all the sitting in this chair I can handle right now. I'm going to go do some reading in bed and watch some old episodes of M*A*S*H until I need to head to the bank and possibly the post office (if I remember to grab the things I need to mail). When I post later today, I might have news of the feline variety along with some pictures.

It's almost two o'clock in the morning. I've been trying to sleep for a while now, but then I started coughing. The cold, believe it or not, is doing much better and I was already starting to feel more energetic today, but there's still some icky stuff in my chest that keeps triggering the cough. I'll spare you all the gross details.

Anyway, I've taken something for it and waiting for it to kick in. Man, I really, really hope the kiddo doesn't come down with anything more serious than a head cold for the rest of the winter because I seriously don't think I could handle catching it.

Oh well, zombie day for me tomorrow/later today. Argh.

Dear Universe,

Thank you for once again proving me wrong. I had thought you couldn't top giving Sam Bell's Palsy a few days before his birthday, but now you've gone and given his roommate Swine Flu. Wow. Just...wow, (wo)man.

I know, I probably shouldn't have challenged you like that, though I didn't realize I was issuing you a challenge. I was honestly impressed, and now I'm fully in awe and fearful of what you might have up your theoretical sleeve next. All I know is I'm going to be on the look out for any black cat that threatens to cross my path, and I'm going to step over any crack in the sidewalk I see. It's not you...well, okay, I suppose it is you. I'm going to try very hard not to give you anymore excuses to poke at me.

Love,

Jade

P.S.: I still think the idea of Sam wearing an eye patch was a nice touch, though I know he's annoyed at the fact he can't blink his left eye.

*****

Sam's roommate goes back to the doctor in a couple of days. If he's no longer contagious (and no one else in the house is showing symptoms), I'll stay at his house this weekend. However, if the roommate is still contagious, or someone else has it, I'll be getting a hotel room. Sam's taking precautions (it helps that he has the entire upstairs to himself) and washing his hands, and I recommended disinfecting any shared surfaces before using them. Of course, if Sam gets it, there's no way I can go even with the temptation to take care of my sick boyfriend. I know my immune system sucks majorly and I'm still worried about the risk of bringing Swine Flu home to the kiddo. It all sort of hinges on what the doctor says Thursday I suppose. Damnit, I do not want to miss out on another birthday of Sam's, especially not after all the plans we've made, that and the fact it's one of those milestone birthdays.

Either way, I think I'm going to buy some immune-boosting vitamins or supplements while I'm out today.

I swear my relationship with Sam and everything that happens in it is so much more ridiculous than anything even Hollywood could imagine. WTF? Seriously, What. The. Fuck?

So, my weekend was pretty shitty. Literally. No, I assure you I am using literally appropriately.

Saturday night, I decided to take a nice, relaxing bath. You know, soak in the warm water, wash my hair, shave my legs, etc. The bath was uneventful, and about fifteen minutes before I got out, I heard the kiddo use the toilet in the other bathroom. Nothing unusual and pretty standard fare.

I pulled the plug on the bath drain and stood up to wrap my hair in a towel. By the time I grabbed my other towel to start drying off my face and upper body, I notice the water is still around my ankles, and I don't hear the sound of water draining. Hmm, I think, must be running slow is all. I shrug it off until I hear what I think sounds like running water on the other side of the house. Not a good sign.

Thinking the kiddo was unusually bad and had decided to play with the faucet on other bathtub (the one I can't use because it's cracked and needs replacing), I wrap the towel around me and go to the other end of the house to the other bathroom and what do I see? My hallway carpet is wet and the toilet is overflowing. The running water sound I heard? Yeah, that was the water draining down into the air vent on the bathroom floor near the door. Shit.

Next, my eyes go to the bathtub, which has inexplicably filled with water despite the faucet not being turned on. I tried plunging the toilet first, and it stopped overflowing. I thought the problem was solved, except I turned back to the bathtub to see water was flowing up out of the drain and into the tub; water along with sewage, that is. Again, this is the tub that has a small crack on the bottom that can't be used for much more than filling the mop bucket. Fuck. My only consolation at this point was that at least the toilet had gone down and no longer pouring water over the floor.

I used up all my (freshly laundered!) towels soaking up the water and preventing even more from going down in the vent. I called Mom to inform her of what was going on, and I asked if the kiddo could stay with her that night and could I please use her washing machine since I knew it was a bad idea for me to use my washer. She agreed, and it was still only about 8:30/9:00 on a Saturday night, so I took them both out to Huddle House to eat while my towels were being washed at her house (in hot water for obvious reasons). By that point, Mom had called a plumbing company she knew for me, and the plumber said he'd be calling me at nine the next morning.

I sent the kiddo to her house, and I came back home to bitch to Sam over the phone (have I mentioned I have a very patient and understanding boyfriend?). Oddly enough, once I'd done my bitching, the conversation was nice and helped me relax enough that I could at least get some rest so I could be up early to straighten up my living room, change out the towels in the bathroom, and clean up my master bath and bedroom since I thought he might have to go into them as well. The plumber was supposed to call at 9:00. He didn't get a chance to call me until about 10 or so, and he didn't get to my house until around 11:45.

His first suggestion, after coming inside to see the affected bathroom, was that it was possibly the septic tank. My bank account whimpered in fear. My blood pressure rose a couple of points. Fortunately for both my bank account and I, a quick check of the septic pipe leading out of my house determined the problem was contained inside the pipes in the house. My pipes were too small for his hand snake to go up in the house, so he had to use a special snake machine that ran on electricity. When going at it from the outside proved not to be working, he then had to go under my house and go at the pipes under there. After about an hour, he had managed to find the clog, cleared it, and I was once again able to have running water and working toilets.

When he came out of the house, he told me that over time some of my pipes had settled forming "bellies" where water pools instead of drains. This leads to clogs, and he said there is about twenty feet of pipe that needs to be replaced, but for now I'll be okay. He said he'd call back to schedule an appointment to replace the pipe, and that it'd actually be cheaper than my bill for the work he'd done to remove the clog. He didn't even charge me extra for coming out here on a Sunday, and I'm glad to say the bill was under two hundred dollars, which means when the pipe is replaced this adventure will still cost me only about half as much as it did when my electricity went out due to my breaker box needing to be completely replaced. (Remember that adventure back in November? Oh yeah, that also happened on a Sunday morning. My house likes to break at times when no one is working/available apparently.)

The great thing about all this is? I only have the bathtub to clear out of sewage. I'll be using bleach on the whole bathroom, but at least it's only the tub. It could be worse, and I have had worse. About four years ago, tree roots had grown to block the septic tank at the other house. That time both toilets and bathtubs backed up and sent sewage all over my floor, the tubs, and the toilets. Clean up from that was not fun to put it mildly. My master bathroom here remained un affected, and it's already clean, so today it's just a matter of mopping the floor in the other bathroom and scrubbing out the tub with bleach. Oh, and I'll be steam cleaning that section of carpet as well. All in all, this was an easy repair.

I have other stuff to report, but it's stuff I don't want posted publicly, and this entry is getting long anyway.