Hump Day Happenings

[lunabee34]

1. Yesterday, Emma and I left the house at 8:15 for her 9:15 appointment. We didn't get there until about 12:20 because a tractor trailer caught fire on the interstate, and they closed all lanes of traffic, and we were trapped for a few hours with no way to get off. Fortunately, the neuro allowed us to come on in; some docs would cancel your appointment and charge you for the privilege to boot.

2. I am even madder at that pediatric rheumatologist today. Protip for everyone: I just recently realized that Lapcorp now has a website; you can create a login even if you don't have an old bill or statement laying around (they ask you questions about cars you have owned to prove it's you; it's very Big Brother), and you can add your dependents, and then it populates all the labs you've ever had with Lapcorp. So I've got PDFs of labs going back to like 2011 which is really useful, and I've also got all the kids' labs. So I went and looked at the labs done three years ago on Emma. Contrary to Scully, I am not a medical doctor, so I get that maybe I am missing something, but that doc didn't even do an ANA test, didn't even test her for RA antibodies. She did like a pretty comprehensive metabolic and CBC and the general bloodwork everybody should be getting pretty regularly from their doc and she did do this sedimentation rate thing that is associated with RA, but that's it. WTF? She didn't even do the one thing she was so concerned about right? I mean, I kept at it. Next stop was the pediatric neuro. But I was really discouraged, and after the neuro, I pretty much did give up on pursuing anything else for awhile. I keep turning over in my mind how differently the last three years could have gone if this woman had done her damn job. Why is my neurologist running a more comprehensive autoimmune intake than someone who treats autoimmune disorders? If every single rheumatologist and endocrinologist made every new patient take the same battery of labs that he does, so many people's lives would be different. I just. *primal scream*

3. One of Fiona's teachers is a former student. Fortunately she assures me that she had a good experience in my class. LOL Nothing to make you feel old like watching your students grow up and enter the work force. I haven't had the experience of teaching the children of students yet; I'm sure that's coming though. (Or mom's experience of being nursed by a former student; she said they would get so so nervous when they realized their former professor was their patient, but she got Best Care. LOL My dad also gets Best Care at the Cancer Center and etc because so many nurses in the area are mom's former students.)

4.

The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love this book so much. The prose is beautiful. I love the shifting perspectives, the way Le Guin interweaves the narratives of the colonizers and the colonized, the way that even the most sympathetic of the yumens cannot be free of the corruption of imperialism (and indeed is unaware of some facets of that corruption).

Such a poignant and heartrending ending. Excellent read.



View all my reviews

5. Maybe I'll finish my classes today, and maybe I won't. Maybe I will save it for a mad scramble next week. I'll go get a coin and John Sheppard it up.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

ALL THE HUGS

[lunabee34]

*clings*

[chelseagirl]

Just, wow.

Also, I need to reread that LeGuin.

[lunabee34]

I feel like my life is turning into one of those horribly melodramatic yet somehow boring Lifetime movies. LOL

The LeGuin is really good. It's in conversation with Heart of Darkness. (Oh whoops; I just saw the re in front of that read, so you know that already LOL)

[chelseagirl]

Honestly? I read the LeGuin in high school and I didn't read Heart of Darkness 'til college, so I did not know that. I will definitely be looking for it, though.

[gloss]

That was the first LeGuin I ever read, in a uni honors class about utopias. I love it so much.

I'm so angry on your and E's behalf!

edit I don't know why I specified "honors" class; that context would have been necessary if I'd been talking about the other classes (ours was the only one structured to include fiction) but otherwise that's just weird pointless bragging. UGH SORRY

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Thank you. Your indignation is much appreciated.

Also, don't beat yourself up, friendo! This is an honors classes appreciation zone. As an honors alum with honors children, that did not seem like pointless bragging to me but just a data point. *hugs* If I had a magic wand, I would bestow on you the ability to extend to yourself the grace you extend to everyone else. <3

[spikedluv]

1. That is a long time sitting in traffic! I'm glad they still let you come in.

2. *boggles* I cannot understand it, either! It sure seems like she should've run those tests if that's specifically what she was worried about. *head desk*

3. That is pretty cool.

5. I love the idea that you're going to John Sheppard it up. *g*

[lunabee34]

John Sheppard verdict: no work was done. LOL

I did go to a Teams meeting for our unit, though, so not entirely workless day.

:)

[amejisuto]

I'm glad you were able to get Emma in to see the doctor! Sounds as if the wreck was a bad one! I'm glad you finally got her to a doctor that listened and gave her some tests. Sheesh.

[lunabee34]

It doesn't seem like anyone was hurt in the wreck which is awesome (well, except me and my bladder LOL; I had to pee like that whole time).

*hugs*

[amejisuto]

Man, that had to suck. And it's not like there were any bushes you could hide behind with all that traffic. Glad y'all got through it okay!

[lunabee34]

Girl, I am not gonna lie. I totally contemplated trying to pee in my Yeti cup. Thank God it did not come to that. LOL

[amejisuto]

I got your postcard! It's lovely! Thank you so much! <3

[lunabee34]

Yay!

I always worry about postcards because you can't put on a return address.

[amejisuto]

I know what you mean. I reused an envelope and had to tape on the address and stuff. I hope the hell it got where it was going!

[umadoshi]

a tractor trailer caught fire on the interstate

O_O

I'm so glad the neurologist is both helpful and reasonable.

[lunabee34]

Me too.

It is a tall order these days to find both in a doc.

*hugs*

[torachan]

Glad you were still able to get in and see the doctor!

[lunabee34]

Me too! I was so afraid I was going to have sat on the road for hours for nothing; that would have been Very Upsetting.

*hugs*

[wendelah1]

I'm sorry your daughter didn't get the care she should have.

I loved The Word for World Is Forest. I don't know why it took me so long to appreciate Ursula K. Le Guin.

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Thank you.

She is so so good.

[zulu]

The Word for World is Forest is so beautiful. Right from the title. I love the description on page 35 of the forest, the first time we see it from Selver's POV. I always make my first-years really stop and savour it. (Well, I make them stop--sometimes they savour--sometimes I feel I am the only one savouring.)

Having the Hainish come in at the end is lovely too, because Selver has been so hurt, so changed, so traumatized that we wouldn't see it from a human's or even another Athshean's POV. It has to be someone outside who can acknowledge it. And his trauma stands in for his culture's trauma and shows how irreparable everything is...just like Dump Island can't be reclaimed. Arrrrgh it's so sad! This apparent triumph is actually a cry of despair.

ANYWAY somebody stop me. :)

[lunabee34]

No no! Don't stop.

I am enjoying your thoughts about it.

I love the linguistic reveal of what being a god means. That's such an excellent moment.

[china_shop]

Yesterday, Emma and I left the house at 8:15 for her 9:15 appointment. We didn't get there until about 12:20 because a tractor trailer caught fire on the interstate, and they closed all lanes of traffic, and we were trapped for a few hours with no way to get off.

Oh my goodness, that is TOO LONG to be stuck in your car!! /o\

Blessing on the neuro for understanding and seeing you!

*hugs to you and Emma*

[lunabee34]

Thank you thank you.

And yes, a thousand blessings on him. I told Josh that if he never does another thing for me ever I will be forever grateful for him figuring shit out for Emma.

[timespirt]

Maybe you should find a new Rheumatologist? I know that probably isn't very easy but if the person can't be bothered to do the job right then she shouldn't be doing it at all. I have had bad experiences with that kind of doctor so I don't like them at all.

"HUGS"

[lunabee34]

Oh no. We won't be going back to that rheumatologist at all. We couldn't even if I wanted to which I emphatically do not. She's a pediatric one, and Emma has aged out of her practice.

[timespirt]

Better off with the helpful neurologist.