Inspiration and Awe

Amazing pictures of our planet and our humanity. In love with every shot! Go to the link below for more!!


http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/11/national_geographics_internati.html

RileyGate-A Satire of ClimateGate

RileyGate

Stunning New Allegations Against Middle School Teacher and Soccer Mom

The "We Love Oil-Drill, Baby, Drill Press" has come across some disturbing information about a woman who has been given the charge of teaching our children and perhaps, more disturbingly, she has procreated and is raising two children of her own. An anonymous source from Bumscrew, Egypt has reportedly hacked into her various e-mail accounts and discovered that she is far from the intelligent, loving, moral and ethical community leader that many once thought.

This anonymous source has leaked this information just in time for Mrs. Riley's employee review that would result in her receiving her longevity pay. "Thank the good Lord above," a parent said on agreement that her name not be used, "we could've been rewarding this monster. We have now saved our children and hers from a certain fate of hedonism and sin of the likes that have never been seen before."

What is in these e-mails that has raised everyone's cockles? The anonymous hacker said that out of hundreds of e-mails that span several years, he was able to pull out certain sentences, data, and review her contact lists and was able to come to the following conclusion that is given in part below.

"Mrs. Riley has many idols that she worships before God. There are numerous correspondences with entities such as Amazon, Target, and Discovery Store-especially worrisome given all the obvious falsified science given on the site as well as the promotion of scientific inquiry in our impressionable young. Mrs. Riley also apparently has a drug problem as she receives several drug deals from someone who is only known by the initials CVS. This CVS person is constantly promising her better deals on drugs. It is obvious from these communications that her addiction to Children's Tylenol is out of control. Mrs. Riley should also be reported to the proper authorities concerning the safety of her own children. One glaring e-mail that showed her total neglect for her own children asked of her own mother, 'can you get the kids today?' She can't even be responsible enough to pick up her own children. Shameful. Disgraceful. Furthermore, it was uncovered in these e-mails that she recently sent her four year old daughter to school with no socks! Oh, the humanity! It is further concerning that in her personal e-mails with colleagues and friends that she is associated with several people who support liberals. This may be the most disturbing of all. She is shamelessly corresponding with socialists, marxists, and leninists. She agrees with these radical left wingers that our healthcare system is in desperate need of repair and is in full support of Obama becoming a dictator of our beloved country. Also discovered in these e-mails were videos that mocked our most sacred holiday, the birth of our Savior, Christmas. In these videos, friends' faces were spliced onto the bodies of elves who dance and sing various Christmas songs in a most provocative way. Finally, it should be noted that in her Spam folder, we found many links to many pornographic sites of which the perversity of each one is unspeakable. By accepting these e-mails into her Spam folder, it is obvious she supports the lifestyles of these perverts. In addition, e-mails from Mrs. Riley's professional account, were obtained by the hacker from Bumscrew. These e-mails are known to contain confidential information about students including such things as their possible Special Needs, grades, and home addresses. According to the anonymous source, this isn't illegal because if it can be hacked, it's free for anyone to read and altered. Some of these e-mails were between Mrs. Riley and her substitute teacher, a former German teacher obviously placed in her classroom to indoctrinate the children in the ideals of Nazi Germany, discussed how best to assign points on a particular assignment with statements such as should each question be two points each or three points each? These two educators were playing fast and loose with some serious numbers. One distraught parent, who only agreed to give a statement if granted anonymity, had the following to say about her child, 'Now I don't know if the grade is a 98 or a 97. How are we supposed to live like this? Please, parents, open your eyes to this hoax of a teacher and remove her from the classroom.' This parent then dissolved into tears unable to be comforted and who can blame them when such shocking discussions are uncovered between her and her peers."

Repeated attempts to access the full texts of these e-mails have gone unanswered. This reporter's anonymous source will only say that their anonymous source is credible. The public is in an uproar and demanding her immediate firing and subsequent jailing in the strictest security prison where she will receive the punishment she deserves from her fellow prisoners. They feel her punishment should be to the fullest extent of the law for such ludicrous communications and intellectual discussions even suggesting that life without parole may be too light of a sentence.

When the anonymous source gets back in contact with this reporter's anonymous source, the story will be updated as quickly as possible.

Family Outing!

Yesterday I made it out! Out with Tim and the kids! Went to eat at the lovely and awesome Bagelry and then headed across the street to a little Christmas Festival on the square type thing. The kids got to see Santa. They got their faces painted, made crafts, and we all went on a carriage ride around town. I was fairly steady throughout the whole thing which ended up being a few hours long. The weather was beautiful and the kids had a blast. I was really tired this morning but I'm not dizzy like after my last little adventure. Hopefully, that's a sign of progress. My ear is still making this popping/cracking noise. The tube is no longer clogged-found that out when the hydrogen peroxide I put in it ran down my throat...so lovely. But hey, that's good news. Should mean when I go back to the doc that he won't have to do much roto-rootering around in there. This week brings Thanksgiving and lots of activity. Should be interesting to see how it all goes.

In the meantime, I'm accepting the little victory of spending some time with the kids and trying to be positive.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

I ventured out into the world on my own yesterday to test the waters post-surgery as my doctor wanted. Yesterday was Day 8. I went to pick up the kids from school (such a treat!), and then stopped by my school to try and get a handle on what's been going on in my classroom and what needs to be done. I ended up being there for almost 2 hours with a constant barrage of people talking to me, updating me with information, and also my kids were running around with some of their little friends having a blast but being very noisy. My brain was definitely on overload. We left and then I find out Tim isn't going to be home for 2 more hours. I decided to stop and grab food for the kids because one, I'm not a great cook, and two, our stove caught on fire a couple days ago and all we have for now is a microwave. That's a whole other story-new stove arrives tomorrow. During all of this I felt okay. Moving slowly but getting by. Today it seems I am paying for it. I have been very dizzy and off-balance and nauseous all day. Pretty much like I felt pre-surgery. I also have this popping in my ear that feels like my eardrum is trying to adjust itself. It's kind of a bummer but I know I can't expect to be healed all at once.

So that's the update. I feel like I'm back to square one. Hopefully it has nothing to do with not being able to use my Meniett. I'll try for a restful evening and a good night's sleep and see if that helps. The incision is healing very well. No longer bruised and the swelling is almost gone!

The Reasons I Keep on Keepin' On

Really, is there anything better?
Love you both and Love your Love more than anything else in the universe!

Checkin' in with the doc

Had my follow up appointment today. I must admit to tiring of the trip back and forth to Winston. But if it has to be done, so be it. Good news is I'm healing well despite the fact it looks like somebody sucker punched me behind my ear. Only problem is my eardrum tube is clogged with dried blood. Mmmmm, so nice to visualize I know. Dr. May pulled out a large chunk of something while I was there but couldn't get this clot out without pulling out the whole tube. And for those of you fortunate enough not to have experienced that, it hurts like hell. I know because a year or so ago, he had to pull it out and replace it and he did it without any numbing medicine. Holy moly...is the nicest way I can put that. So I now have to try putting drops of hydrogen peroxide in several times a day and see if it will help soften the clot and get it to come out. While all of that may be annoying, it's definitely tolerable. What scares me is that the machine I use called the Meniett which has kept me vertigo free for 4 years is useless right now. I can't use it for a couple more weeks. I've never been so long without it and I have no idea how I'm going to react. On the one hand, the wonderful new shunt should help out a great deal. On the other, any other time my Meniett has not worked properly (usually due to the tube coming out of my ear), I have had a bad vertigo attack. I'm scared. True vertigo is the worst feeling on Earth. I would endure almost anything else to avoid an attack, including yanking tubes out of my ear without pain medication! Even childbirth with no epidural-yes, I've done that too!! Not by choice mind you. Let's just say, my cervix is all business when it comes to babies.
Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts. That's what my doctor kept telling me. He's absolutely right. I'll get there, maybe...having a lot of trouble reaching that point today.
Nevertheless that's the status report. This is now 6 days post-op. I go back to work on Nov. 30 and back to the doc on Dec. 1. I am to slowly increase my activity between now and then so we have an idea if work is even a possibility. I am worn out from today-trip to Winston, a lovely stop at Barnes and Noble-2 new books, yay!, stop at Lowe's to buy a new stove to replace the one that caught on fire the other day-yes, on fire and not from food, and then to pick up the kids from school. I shall spend the rest of the evening putting drops in my ear and trying not to worry.

Do you know how hard it is to see behind your own ear?

Ear as of 11/16. 5-days post-op. Pretty, eh? Feeling pretty good today. Feeling more stable. Still oozing stuff out of my ear.

Wow, I'm so sexy right now...

Recovering, Recuperating, Hopefully Rejuvenating...

Alas, it came down to surgery to try and chase the dizzies away. Had it done this past Wednesday 11/11. Hopefully a little luck will go with that. I wanted to take a minute and document my recovery for future reference...
FYI-the surgery is called endolymphatic sac shunt revision and takes place in the inner ear. To get there, they make an incision behind your ear, drill out some bone, and do what they need to do.
Day 1-Surgery-Doctor is reassuring. I'm scared but it's over before I know it and they wheel me off to a place called "Day Surgery" where I spent the night. Dr. May said the surgery was one of the best that he's been able to do. The old shunt was covered with scar tissue, which was expected, he was able to remove it all, shave some bone to create some more room and give me a new shunt. Felt pretty good that night at the hospital. Had a massive "ear muff " type bandage that wrapped around my head. It wasn't comfortable. Note to self and others...if you wear glasses, you won't be able to with this bandage on. Bring contacts or an old pair of glasses and remove whichever side you need. That's what Tim did for me. Couldn't sleep well that night. Not because of pain. Just general adrenaline and constant interruptions from nursing staff who by the way are very stingy with the pain meds. One Darvocet every 6 hours? Thank God I wasn't in that much pain.

Day 2-Dr. May comes in at 6am! Making his rounds before a full day at the office. Removes the bandage...what a relief. Wound is healing very well. Ear is draining like crazy. Have to keep a cotton ball in it until I see him again. A couple hours later, I'm on the way home! Pick up my kids which makes me smile and fall into my bed for a glorious nap. Having some pain, unsteady, constant oozing out of my ear. Lovely.

Day 3-Tim goes back to work. Grandparents take turns coming over and watching the kids. I am exhausted. My eyes are so heavy that I can't keep them open. Pain is still bearable and I can walk around some. By the end of the afternoon though, I feel a strange pressure in my head and noises are bothering me. Dizziness is coming in waves. Fall asleep early but wake up at 3am and can't get back to sleep. Oh and I managed an awkward shower today-so awesome!

Day 4-Saturday! Tim takes the kids hiking. I sleep all morning hoping that this is the last time I miss a family outing because of my stupid ear. Having mini-spins and dizzies. Unsteady and weak. Realize I'm not eating and probably should. Nothing sounds good. The only food I want is from a place that isn't open. Anesthesia always dulls my appetite. Ear is still oozing.

Day 5-Sunday! Everybody home all day. I'm still tired but feeling a little more energy. Decide to get up, shower, and go to lunch with the family. But by the time I get dressed, I get hit with major dizziness and nausea and have to get back in bed. Pulled a small, bloody glob out of my ear. Wondering if it has been stopping up my tube and not allowing the ear drops to get in. Pain is a little worse today. Also noticing more soreness around the incision. Guess the nerves are waking back up and wondering what the heck happened. Also, feeling depressed and I don't know why. My kids are going back to school tomorrow and it almost makes me cry. Hormonal? Anesthesia? Seems like I've read people can feel like this after surgery. Have also read that the nerves for anxiety run alongside the hearing and balance nerves. If that's true, maybe they were somehow affected. No work until after Thanksgiving. I am somewhat relieved to not have to worry about that but know that it's gonna get old real quick.

That's where I am now. Will update as time goes on. Please let this surgery work.