come join the youth and beauty brigade

Well, I came up with an interim solution, until I can find the guide to usher me out of my existential maelstrom. REBOUNDING!

It's a small world after all.

I love the small world of the internet. Today I happened to read an internet listserve message of a listserve I happened to find through another listserve, through a course that I found out about through . . . god, the world of coincidence is paved with other coincidences. And there I found that my old friend Sarah, whom I'd lost touch with, is writing for the blog of the Arete Youth Foundation in Bulgaria now. Now all I have to do is put fingers to keys and I'll be back in touch with her. :)

Otherwise, today wasn't such a spectacular day. I was doing a little stretching to try to ease the pain in my neck, which has given me pain fairly consistently for about a year now. (It goes back to a rainy day in the fall last year when a speeding car rammed an SUV into me after I had to stop suddenly in response to congestion ahead, and the impact of the fender-bender brought an immediate headache and then, a few months later, excruciating and puzzling neck pain.)

So, anyway, there I was, doing a forward bend in the grad lounge while chatting with a couple friends in the department about the vagaries and stresses of academic performance evaluation, when -- what is happening? I was there, all the way on the floor, and I had the sense: I shouldn't be sleeping here now. One friend said: "Did you do that on purpose?" And I had to ask: "Do what?"

When I realized I'd fainted, I tried to gather more information: how long had I been out? What had happened? I was confused and a bit upset. So, I spent the rest of the afternoon in the university health center instead of at home grading papers and writing, where I'd planned to be. A kind, dear friend walked me over to ensure I didn't fall over on my way there.

I went, prescription in hand, to the Kroger pharmacy after my UHS excitement (I lay under a white blanket in a quiet, private, white room for a couple hours, reading celebrity gossip rags and National Geographic, listening to Glenn Gould play the Goldberg variations on my iPod while waiting for the doctor to arrive), only to be told that my health coverage had been cancelled effective 12/31. I was offered the option of buying the drugs for over 100 dollars a pop, and I was less than enthusiastic about this option, so I'll have to wait until Monday when the benefits office opens and I can ask WHY THE ^&*()_ isn't my health insurance card active?

Last night, after a glorious reading from Gary Snyder, a lovely visit with Katie & John, who met up with me at Rackham auditorium to hear the fabulous reading, and a happy, serendipitous visit with my other friend John, who happened to be on his way back to write an abstract after an evening visit to the gym, I arrived to my truck only to discover that I had left my lights on when I moved from one lot to another between administering an exam and going to union contract bargaining, so I had to call AAA to get a jump start.

Thank goodness for weekends. I don't think I could face the world tomorrow if I tried. And tonight, I am hiding away in the comfort of the cottage, eating mac & cheese, internet chatting with friends, and watching Lost and Battlestar Galactica: Razor from the lazy softness of the couch and my own bed, contemplating baking hermit cookies and instead lazily licking sticky, thick blackstrap molasses straight from the spoon.

Cheap prescription drugs

I was meandering through Kroger last night and noticed an advertisement that they now have $4 generic prescriptions at their pharmacy. And I just thought, huh, that would save some serious cash. I think that's even cheaper than the mail-away option offered through Walgreens. Not to mention, I would have more flexible hours and a more convenient location to pick up my prescriptions.

Just a friendly reminder

. . . coming from somebody with chronic neck and back pain, since that MF in a sports car rear-ended the SUV behind me into my car over a year ago now . . .

Be ergo!

And thanks to Laura, I've discovered New Zealand physiotherapist Robin McKenzie's short little book Treat Your Own Neck, which I'll hopefully be getting by inter-library loan shortly. People have lots of positive things to say about her book Treat Your Own Back, so I'm hopeful about the results.

But I think it may also be time to go back to physical therapy again. I just wish there were affordable acupuncture here, and/or that it were covered by our medical insurance.

Oh, God. . .

can't sleep can't sleep can't sleep. ugh. got an important meeting in the morning . . . need to prepare for it . . . but wanted to sleep first . . . can't sleep can't sleep can't sleep

. . .


Might as well look at my tarot reading from the other day. I discovered an online spot where you can get free readings on the Rider-Waite deck. This is a Celtic Cross spread. Typically, you enter the practice of a reading with a question in mind. In case you think I'm some crazy California hippie girl all of a sudden, since I'm talking about tarot, I should probably explain that I don't take tarot to be a source of literal psychic reading of the future, but rather a beneficial analytic tool for thinking metaphorically about one's life and journey in a broader sense. That said, though, I don't dismiss its mysticism entirely. I have to say, this reading resonated in quite compelling ways with what I was wondering about.

The Significator The Significator represents you and your current state of being.
	The King of Wands Passionate, a spry body and mind, honesty and friendliness.
The Crossing Card The Crossing Card denotes that which opposes or influences you.
	Seven of Cups Deception, an overactive imagination, and the illusion of success. Strengths are not consolidated to work as one.
The Foundation card The Foundation card addresses the origin of your question.
	Five of Pentacles Poverty and unemployment are possible. Possessions may be lost. A troubled soul is likely.
The Recent Past The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
	The Hanged Man Reversed The card of false prophecy and time wasted. The reversed Hanged Man represents a preoccupation with the worldly and wasted energy.
The Crown The Crown addresses issues that are significant in the present or may come to pass in the future. This card foretells future events which you may or may not occur, depending upon how you respond to the present situation.
	The Six of Wands Reversed Success may be delayed. Be wary of accomplished enemies.
The Future The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
	Knight of Cups Reversed Scrutinize all ventures and deals carefully. Lies, laziness and underhandedness are possible.
Emotions Emotions card signifies the current state of your emotional self.
	Nine of Cups Reversed Unfulfilled wishes, bad health and deprivation are possible.
External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
	Eight of Pentacles Reversed Possible failure. Vanity and underhandedness must be watched for. Skills may be misused.
Hopes and Desires Hopes and Desires stands for the hopes and desires you have for the outcome of your question.
	Seven of Swords Plans may fail. Distrust and dishonesty are possible. Success will not be complete.
The Outcome The Outcome the ultimate outcome your question. Remember the future is not predetermined. Interpret this card in the context of the entire reading and as an indicator of the path you are currently on, but not bound to. reading.
	The Lovers The drawing of two forces together, choices, temptations. The fight between the sacred and the secular. Accord of the inner and worldly self.