April 8
From my brain
Contents |
2009
Me 14:46, 8 April 2009 (EDT)
Today is not going well. Last night didn't go well. Took my meds at 11pm, played the game in earnest until just after midnight. The pain still hadn't gone away. I stayed up until 1am. Pain still didn't go away. I was exhausted, and went to bed.
When I woke up this morning...it was there. Still hasn't gone away. I took meds at 11am (I think). Just took another dose. It feels like a woman with long-ass finger nails is trying to reach my spine through my stomach.
This. Hurts.
Me 14:50, 8 April 2009 (EDT)
Also, Wifey is currently haggling with HR at ThePit right now about my FMLA vs. short-term disability and wondering where my vacation is going to.
Oh, and yeah, my doctor is refusing to re-fill-out the FMLA paperwork. HR got into a snit because it wasn't a good enough explanation of what's going on. The problem? We don't know WTF is going on! His quote was, "I already filled it out once, and there is no point in doing so again."
Fucking quit arguing people and just help me in whatever area you're in!
Me 23:08, 8 April 2009 (EDT)
After 4pm / 4:30, my stomach still hadn't quit. TheBoy had an appt at his counselor, but there was no way for me to make it in that state. I went upstairs to lay down as sitting in the recliner was not working. Watched some TV again, but eventually, rolled over and passed out.
Woke up around 7pm when the family came home with a hybrid Subway and Chinese dinner (subs, crab rangoons, rice, twice-cooked pork, and spicy wings for daddy). Stomach was still hurting and I consumed food. It was sustenance, and that's it. I finished, and went back upstairs. Almost fell asleep, rolled over on my stomach, and that apparently got things moving...had to potty. Did that, pain slightly subsided...and I was now wide awake. Stupid !@#$ naps.
Wifey and I watched Sarah Connor Chronicles, and then Cupid for awhile, until she fell asleep. Now, I'm still wide awake.
In the midst of me writing this, I also got pissy with my officers. I just logged off. No sense in having bad words crossed.
2008
Me 08:40, 8 April 2008 (EDT)
I'm doing slightly better today. Had a chat with Sterling (Zejan's long-time friend and housemate) and Zej is doing OK. Some days better than others, but jail is like that I guess. As he described the details of the accusations, it follows the pattern I've known and seen first hand.
My doubt over the charges is a bit emboldened at least now.
2007
Me 15:27, 8 April 2007 (EDT)
- Christ is Risen!
- Indeed He is Risen!
The resurrection of Christ is proclaimed each year in Orthodox church every Pascha (PAS-ka; [1]) via this greeting and response. During the service, the actual announcement of the fact comes from the chorus:
- Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death. And upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
which is sung a several points during the service (and for most of the Paschal season; the period of Sundays in the 50 days following Pascha, ending with Pentecost Sunday).
A friend at the Churched phrased it pretty succinctly today: "If you really what to know what The Church is about, it's Pascha that you need to attend. The first time Father announces 'Christ is Risen!' it just does something to you." I can't help but agree.
Since becoming Orthodox, there is a real joy found on Easter Sunday. You can see it on the faces of every parishioner. I really don't think it (only) has to do with the thought of having a nice steak for dinner on Monday, enjoying copious amounts of ice cream for Easter dinner, or even the fact you don't have to wonder, "Is their olive oil in this dressing?" I think it's the experience of the the whole Lenten and Holy Week that puts it all into perspective for your life.
Lent and Holy Week aren't merely a commemoration of a past even in the Orthodox faith. Nor is it a re-enactment or some play put on. Instead it's a remembrance in ever sense of the word. For us, it's not that we're thinking back to when Christ was crucified on that Friday roughly 2000 years ago, but instead, he's being crucified at that moment.
You really end up leaving this world in all the craziness we live in and it takes you to then. Through the prayers, scripture verses, Old Testament readings/prophecies, you are there and living the times of the apostles, and feeling that sense of loss. On Holy Friday, when the priest and the rest of the clergy remove an icon of Christ from a a cross, it's The Cross. The icon is laid on a piece of linen, and placed on a bier. And a procession is made around the church much as a funeral procession would go. (Sadly, this year, due to my children apparently having a bad combination of sugar, no nap, and general insanity, I missed the procession.)
From then until Sunday morning, the church is left in near complete darkness...like a tomb. A glimmer of light comes to us during Holy Saturday morning services. On that day, the transition begins toward the resurrection as Christ's decent into Hell to free the souls of the forefathers is remembered. At that point, the darker/royal robes of the priest are traded for his bright white vestments, and laurel leaves are sprinkled throughout the church showing Christ's victory.
Orthodoxy has done weird things inside of my spirituality from when I was a kid. In the Assemblies of God church, all to often it was about what you did outside. You waived your hands in praise, you shouted "Amen!" or "Hallelujah!" or "Glory!", and the pièce de résistance was if you spoke in tongues. If you did these things, you were a good Christian, right?
Since becoming Orthodox, I can find peace in ways I couldn't before. Then, I was a sinner, and I needed to repent...but how? Now, as I pray each morning, I know that God knows that I (and everyone else) sin, and the we both know that I may sin again. The earnest in which you fight against that sin is what matters (much like the old monk who was asked what went on in the monastery, and he replied, "Well, we fall and we get up again, we fall and we get up again....").
It's what the resurrection was for: peace and redemption.
I kinda went the long way around the fence here to speak on joy. Yeah it came off preachy, but a Pascha service does that to you. I think I'm done now.
I'm gonna go downstairs and see how the ham and kielbasa is doing. :)
2005
Me 01:50, 08, April 2005 (EDT)
3rd Shift I.S. Guy for teh win!!!11
Friday is my Boss' birthday. In good spirit -- and making up for not pulling anything on April 1st -- I did up his office windows to look like we filled it with packing peanuts. The goal was to create a "pouch" out of cellophane and stuff the peanuts into it. This way, the pouch could be removed quickly and cleanly in the case of ill-temperment from management.
I made SEVERAL attempts at this feat. All but the last were a dismal failure. While I'm satisfied with the result, the last could have been slightly better had my team pitched in. Some griped about cleaning it up, others feared the wrath of those that didn't want to clean it up. The two others -- in our department, but not on our team -- gleefully chipped in money as well as offered to do the cleaning should it come down to it.
But, I digress. The final attempt was the winnar. I'm happy with it. Now as for the subject line...
I was JUST done with the room. I had ended up making it the un-quick way of having to clean it up (leaving a sign stating I'd come in on Saturday to clean), and had just filled in the door window. I proceeded to step out to see how it looked, and realized that the cleaning lady had not UNLOCKED the door, but mearly openned it. Closing the door created that loudest of loud CLICK, and thus began the worrying.
The third shift manager was not in yet (she's always late, but on Friday AM more so because of a day shift manager meeting she stays late for), so she was no source of keys to unlock the door. A second shift manager (SportyGuy if you may/may not remember) friend was contacted at home, and told of a glorious set of keys...which could not be found.
You see, my frustration in this was not that my job ws undone, but it was due to the fact that I had taken off my shirt (I always wear a t-shirt underneath, lest you retch at the thought of seeing my moobs in the office), and had also removed my boots. Additionally the lights were on, which totally ruined the affect of a feeling the whole room was filled.
So, I paged the cleaning lady (again) to no avail, and decided to seek her out. As I decended the stairs to seek her, I bumped into the 3rd Shift I.S. guy. HE HAD KEYS! Not only some keys, but the ones for the office! Shaka! His eyes opened!
So, I am to home now. I'm off tomorrow because our bishop is in town, and that's a two-edged sword. On one hand, I miss the proud ownership and adoration of my fellow employees. On the other, he can't fire me until Monday if he's pissed. :)
