Over the last couple weeks, I’ve spent far too much time checking the clock. The pills haven’t been working very effectively. I’ve had to take lots of supplementary pain killers to get through the day. This, as we say in the vernacular, sucks.

I’m still worrying about the mental effects of going on the Oxycontin. It seems as if I can’t concentrate as well – having huge problems sitting down and writing a review from start to finish, although I finally seem to have broken the block and am finishing one up today. That it has taken a week to write it is pretty sad. But at least I’m there…almost. It’s not possible to tell whether the challenge to concentration is from increased pain, aging or the pills. Or all of the above. Or and and b but not c…since it all started about the same time. Post LCC I went on new pain meds because it was clear I needed to either increase the Vicodin or find a new one.

It’s mostly the weather. It’s been NASTY here. Not like where you are, I’m sure – I’m aware that 1 day with an inch or so of snow is pretty lame-o when compared to single digit temperatures, torrential rains, blinding snow, all of the above, but for me, it’s been just NASTY. When you take Oxycontin and three hours later you have a backache so bad you start wondering if you really did take it (I’ve started writing down when I swallow a pill so I don’t mess up.) And headaches too. Not daily but enough to diminish me. I’ve already blown off going to a memorial event today for a friend because I was afraid I’d be in too much pain and it would complicate things.


Thank the gods I’m easily distracted. There’s been skating on television (thanks the gods we can get Canadian tv – Canadian championships yay) US Nationals are televised this weekend. Distraction, distraction!!! Hurray! That along with two BRAND NEW episodes of “Orangutan Island” last night will make the weekend work – we’re expecting snowish type shit tonight/tomorrow.
Europeans were to say the least, interesting to read about. Men’s winner, from the Czech Republic. Others from Switzerland and France. Where are the Russian men, you may ask, if you cared and weren’t up all the recent stuff. It’s one of THOSE years. Women? Italy Hungary and Finland had winners. Finland had 3 in the top ten – so there. Huh? (side note. I’m in email conversation with a Finn about a game that had a problem and I wrote to customer service and have ended up having a lovely time talking to this person. It’s so much fun throwing darts on the internet isn’t it? Anyone know enough about Finland to be able to tell me if I’m talking to a man or woman? It does NOT matter at all, but I don’t know from Finnish names. Do you?) (AWEsome English of course.)

I love the current year in skating. I love how things aren’t set in stone any more, and that no one has a lock on things. That a Turkish woman came in 11th. That with the new scoring system, you have to wonder just how BAD were the Greek pair skaters that their final total was 72.07. The winners, Germany’s Savchenko and Szolkowy (go look, they’re fascinating) ended up with 202.39 points, just to compare. That the ice dancers from France who were leading lost by something like one and a half points to come in second. (yeah, it’s a new system. No more 6.0 perfects scores.) (and so far, SO far, I’ve avoided my annual scream.)

We have acquired Seasons 1 and 3 of ”West Wing” and 2 is on its way. If I can figure out the DVD player (I have, sadly, yet to actually put a DVD in and use the remote, that’s been Stu’s job) I can watch my favorite show OR sneak in a guilty pleasure or two. Having just acquired “Center Stage” and having “Bring it On” in the pile, VERY reassuring. A copy of “Silverado” as well as the Were-Rabbits is somewhere around. I’m set.)

I’m not getting a lot of reading done. It’s not all that much an issue of concentration, but tolerance. I think. When I feel like shit, I think my tolerance for “okay” goes down. Lots of “okay” books but not a lot of patience to read on. Right now reading a Reed Farrel Coleman that just seems to have an outlandish plot. And I have an itchy feeling it’s not going to result in a happy ending for me.

And I’m happy to report, having two squishies in the house has really helped. Currently one is on the bed, the other by my chair in the living room where I’ll settle in an hour to watch skating. It’s GOOD to have two squishes so you don’t have to get up and go GET one. Squishies GOOD. Squishies RULE.