The New Floodgates of the Mind

It’s insane that I’m still up at this hour. I don’t honestly remember the last time I was up until 2am. I’ve usually been WAY too tired in order to do so. Granted, I got up at 10am today, but I did go to bed at midnight last night. Normally, I should have zonked out around the same time.

Either the coffee I made myself tonight was really good/strong, or those B12 supplements are giving me more energy than I thought… (I have noticed I haven’t been as tired in the mornings as I was before I started taking them)

At any rate, the reason I was up so late was that after 2 episodes of Babylon 5’s 2nd season, I decided to watch Mr. Destiny. I just really, really enjoy that movie (hence the reason I picked it up on DVD even though I have it on video). Simplistic, perhaps, but lots of actors I like: James Belushi, Michael Caine, Linda Hamilton, Rene Russo, even Jon Lovitz 🙂 Fun, good-feeling, happy-ending movie 🙂

Every now and again you just need to watch something like that in order to lift your spirits 🙂

Phew. Break time.

I dropped Chantale off at a friend’s place for 2:30pm as there was a scheduled/ surprise Bridal Shower for her 🙂 We woke up nice and leisurely this morning and eventually made our way to the shopping mall as we wanted to go to the Roots outlet. From there, we drove to our friend Debbie’s house. It was supposed to be her “annual” BBQ but I knew it wasn’t going to be 🙂 Chantale was obviously surprised and I left her there, blushing crimson, and headed back home.

I vacuumed the two floors, washed the tub, fixed one of our windows which wasn’t opening properly, and run (so far) 3 loads of laundy. Since I’m pretty tired (and sweating!) I figured I’d take a break before tackling the dishes. phew. Of course, now seeing the clock makes me wonder about that! Sheesh! I need a break, too!!!

Last night we went out on a movie date 🙂 We went to the Kirkland Coliseum and saw The Pirates of the Caribbean. It was a really good movie but I must say I’m somewhat shocked that (a) it was a Disney movie, and (b) it was rated G. General Admission? Nope. I would not take children to see this movie. I could easily imagine James and Melyssa freaking out over all the violence and skeletons.

After that thoroughly enjoyable movie, Chantale was quite taken with Johnny Depp. As I knew she would be. He’s quite the handsome cad after all 🙂 So suave and debonnair that he can still mesmorize the female audience even with a mouth full of gold-capped teeth and in serious need of a bath! Sheesh 🙂

From there, we headed out to Second Cup to unwind with some java and just spend some time chatting. Very enjoyable evening, I must say… 🙂 I have, however, come to the full realization that I very much dislike Second Cup’s coffee. Their frozen stuff is great, but their regular drip… yuck. Ah well. Luckily there are plenty of other choices available 🙂

Ok, this might come out sounding all gloomy, but I’m nowhere near as gloomy as I was last night.

Basically, I finally got to see a dermatologist yesterday in regards to that rash/ discoloration happening on my neck. He diagnosed it as Vitiligo. Some info can be found at National Vitiligo Society or at the National Vitiligo Foundation.

Basically, my immune system believes my skin pigmentation to be evil and is thus attacking them. Causing my skin to discolor. He gave me a topical cream twice a day to try for a few months to see if it will help and to check with my doctor to verify my thyroid. At the same time, I’m starting to take B12 supplements. As a hereditary disease, I don’t know anyone else who has it. But, my dad has a thyroid problem and my mom has diabetes, both of which are related to this. It can spread or it can stay like this and regress. No one knows for sure. Gotta love that. And for once it’s not something related to aging!

So, yeah, the news was a little hard to swallow as I’m fed up of having my body do shit like this. Almost from the beginning of when things started changing for me it seems something new would strike once I got used to it. For example: I started losing my eyesight and got glasses. I was pissed but figured it just happens. Once I accepted the fact that I had to wear glasses, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur. I accept that and things continue.

I’m much better this morning but was feeling like total crap last night. It’s kind of difficult to look in the mirror and see yourself staring back with a patch of white on your neck. I can easily imagine how much more difficult something like this is for a black person. … I just have to say that I’m so grateful for Chantale. She held and comforted me all through the night, reminding me who it is she loves and why. I guess I have to be glad my inside is so much nicer than my outside… (small smile)

So, that’s the news.

Here’s a few questions out of curiosity for all you LJers:

Do you have any friends or family members whom you know read your Journal? If so, do you:
– find yourselves sometimes holding back on what you write?
– get flak from them because of what you’ve written?
– have a small set of “rules” by them of what you’re allowed to write?

For myself, outside of those who have me listed as a “friend” whom I hope read :), I know Chantale checks in as often as possible and that I have at least 3 friends whom I know of who check in periodically. (if there are others reading, it would be nice of you to let me know! Replies in ‘anonymous’ mode are possible ya know! 🙂 ). I know when Chantale was in Australia/ New Zealand in January that her parents would look in on me via LJ to see how I was holding up. But, I don’t believe they’re reading any more 🙂

There are times I hold back on what I want to write about because of not being sure who’s reading. If I ever really needed to express it, though, I could simply write a private entry 🙂

I can’t say I’ve gotten flak from the stuff I’ve put up (although I have been smacked a couple of times for entries in which I’ve stated skipping lunch or supper — I know now to simply omit that information… 🙂 )

And, finally, no. I don’t have a small set of rules which govern what I can and can’t write about. I follow my own internal guidelines for that 🙂

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have signed a deal with New Line to resume their roles as the world’s most famous pot smokers. “The world is ripe and ready for a new Cheech & Chong movie, especially considering they have a whole new generation of fans out there,” said New Line senior VP production Kent Alterman. Said Tommy Chong, “It feels so good. When you’ve been together with someone as long as we were together, there’s a oneness that can’t be broken.” No word on the story yet except that Cheech and Chong will smoke a lot of weed.
Source: Reuters

Oh man… 🙂

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in other news… i fell asleep on the train again this morning. i’ve just been so wiped this week that i’ve barely been able to read 3 pages of anything before needing to stop and rest my eyes. i don’t know why i feel so weary. at least when i woke up this morning i was in a much better mood than i’ve been so far this week…

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moving along… i’m finally going to see the dermatologist today. i can’t wait for this. the rash has been burning all weekend and i can definitely use some relief…

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need coffee. but feel sick to stomache. wonderful way to start a morning…

it’s been a weird couple of days. for some reason, i’ve woken up yesterday and today feeling really “bleah”. and, as far as i can tell, it has nothing to do with the weather. i guess i’ve just fallen into a blue funk. it kinda hits me late at night and doesn’t let up until the following mid-day… *sigh*

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in other news, we worked out the details with the photographer last night. so, we’re set in that regards! yippee! 🙂

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in other, other news, i recently discovered a used bookstore nearby: “anthologies” (i think it’s a perfect name for a store). it has WAY too many good books there. on my first visit last week, i walked out with 3 books (an early beatles biography, the third part of the dark tower series by stephen king, and Pandora by Anne Rice). yesterday, i walked out with 4 books when i only went in to show the store to a friend of mine. 🙂

so, after many years, i’m reading the 2nd book in the Riverworld series (The Fabulous RiverBoat) by Philip Jose Farmer. Sometimes hard to believe it’s over 30 years old already…

I just received the first draft of the Wedding Ceremony Liturgy…

Suddenly, my empty tummy is now filled with butterflies!! 🙂

Oooooo!

Hiya. Just a bit of news on the Work Front:

1- Although not chosen for this year’s batch of Commercials, I have been selected to be in a Corporate Video to be used in training later on this year. Very cool. I hope I get an advanced copy of it 🙂

2- I received confirmation from LOMA about having officially passed the 290 course. Because of passing both the 280 and the 290, a special certificate is being sent (should arrive end of August). Standard Life will then send it out to be laminated. In the Fall (sometime in November) there will be a dinner/evening planned and the president of the company will be presenting these laminated certificates to all who’ve passed the courses. Very cool 🙂

Home News:

Last night Chantale and I went car-window-shopping. Ideas ideas… 🙂

Wedding News:

Tonight, our photographer is coming to the house to go over our plans and selections. Ideas ideas… 🙂

Right Now:

I’m hungry. Want food. Still 45 minutes to go before being able to leave… and 2 hours before supper. oy.

Is the day almost over? Have I really sat through close to 200 emails catching up with what’s been going on at work? oy. want to go home.

By the way, James finished reading “Goblet of Fire” in 5 days. This kid is hot 🙂 He’s also quite ready to start on the 5th book but will have to wait until next week 🙂

I know I had more to say, but my brain is somewhat fried right now. Thinking too much about too many items, and dreaming of the upcoming Honeymoon… 🙂

Well the week is over and it’s pretty much all a blur. I had a good time with the kids but it also feels like there wasn’t ENOUGH time… I guess I’m selfish that way. I want them around ALL the time… *sigh*

I can see it’s rough on them, though. Melyssa seems really torn between what she wants and what she needs. She started crying again at supper time tonight because she didn’t want to go back to her mother’s. James… well, James can hardly wait for the day he can stay here all the time.

Whether all this is a phase for both of them or not, the truth of the matter is that this is the way it is now and as such, it is the emotions we’re dealing with.

They’re enjoying the week on/ week off of the summer, and James has already started wishing for spending MORE time here next summer. Who knows. Maybe by then I’ll have been able to find a way to get them to stay with us for 5 weeks in the summer instead of 4… (which, you have to admit, is not a bad thing since I was able to raise it to 4 from just 2 last year 🙂 ).

Yes, in case you can’t tell, I truly love my kids and wish they could be here with us always.

…moving along before the tears come…

*ahem*.

So, Friday night my Best Man, James, and myself headed to Classy at Fairview to get ourselves measured and orders placed for our Tuxes. Watch out, hot stuff 🙂

Today, Chantale went with her mom for her fitting and afterwards we met up at Fairview and managed to get a really nice dress for Melyssa!! What a bargain! We had gone looking for patterns as my Mom had offered to make her a dress, but we couldn’t find anything we liked. How much easier was it to get something off the rack at an amazing sale! 🙂

Now, I finished off the edits for the Beatles MS and mailed it off to Alan. After typing this up, Chantale and I will probably relax and enjoy another episode of Babylon 5 🙂 Ya gotta love DVDs 🙂