Good Xorning, 2008!

[Lady Door]

Mom went into surgery today. Hip replacement. She's 50.

Knew this was coming. It's just I was expecting it to happen next Monday, so hearing my brother say "Yeah, they're down at the hospital" when I called to chat after class was a bit of a nasty shock. The last time that happened, my grandfather had had a really serious stroke and was in critical condition at the hospital -- and had been since the day before.

They do it to protect me, knowing that finals are coming up, but ARGH.

[Taishyr]

...

maaaaan, that's so not cool.

Thoughts are with her.

[Shale]

...

maaaaan, that's so not cool.

Thoughts are with her.

What he said. Some stuff it's worth worrying about.

[superaielman]

Mom went into surgery today. Hip replacement. She's 50.

Knew this was coming. It's just I was expecting it to happen next Monday, so hearing my brother say "Yeah, they're down at the hospital" when I called to chat after class was a bit of a nasty shock. The last time that happened, my grandfather had had a really serious stroke and was in critical condition at the hospital -- and had been since the day before.

They do it to protect me, knowing that finals are coming up, but ARGH.

Hip replacement at 50? Does she have Arthritis?

[Lady Door]

Got a chance to talk to her before she went into surgery (barely - they came to take her to the OR while I was on the phone with her) and they both apologized for doing it. Blah.

Mom went into surgery today. Hip replacement. She's 50.

Knew this was coming. It's just I was expecting it to happen next Monday, so hearing my brother say "Yeah, they're down at the hospital" when I called to chat after class was a bit of a nasty shock. The last time that happened, my grandfather had had a really serious stroke and was in critical condition at the hospital -- and had been since the day before.

They do it to protect me, knowing that finals are coming up, but ARGH.

Hip replacement at 50? Does she have Arthritis?

Yeah, she has arthritis. Something that was a complication from a digestive disease she has. They figured a hip replacement was the best way to deal with that pain. I'm glad for it as my mom's been in pain since I was very little for various reasons. She hasn't had a lot of luck in the health department, and it all started with an on-the-job accident that caused a disc problem in her spine. 5+ spinal surgeries, a titanium plate and a few years spent diagnosing fibromyalgia... and then she gets this digestive thing. My poor mom.

They're going to call me tonight after it's over. Don't expect any complications, but with someone whose health is as iffy as my mom's can be, it's still something to worry about.

[superaielman]

*Nods* Hope she's okay then.

[Lady Door]

Surgery went well. The surgeon is one of the best (... aren't they all?) and he was very confident going in. When my dad asked how long it would take, the doc said, "I won't stop until it's perfect." Took 3 hours.

So she was done by 5 and now she's stuck in the hospital for a couple days with nothing but books. I would say she doesn't mind, but I know she'll be stir-crazy and itching to get out pretty quick. Going home and taking care of her will be as much patrol as care. :p

My dad apologized, by the way. Said it was his idea and since it was such a routine and easy procedure, he thought it would be better for me to focus on classes than her surgery. Not sure why he thought I wouldn't call home for two weeks, since I tend to talk to them every weekend, but there it is.

All is well, relatively speaking. 

[Taishyr]

Good. Glad to hear it.

[DomaDragoon]

I'm glad the surgery went well.

My XBox got RROD, my transportation to work is on strike, the contract I'm working on has said that if I don't get my handle time over 400 seconds by the end of the month that I'll be fired (despite being a finalist and very likely agent of the month for November), and there's the biggest snow we've had all year on the way home which doubled my travel time.

And despite that, I'll lay odds that I'm not even third on the rankings of crappy days for people.

Darn it, all of you should go out and win the lottery so I can whine and not feel hypocritical about it.

[Tide]

They do it to protect me, knowing that finals are coming up, but ARGH.

I know how you feel. A couple of years back, my mother had to get a surgery done herself; something related to breast cancer. Anyways, I had an exam that really would make or break my marks. And this was in second year I think. So my entrance into graduate studies was farther off then.

By the time they actually told me, the surgery was already done. My parents never apologized for it, but I was quite ticked off for at least 2 weeks or so. 

[Taishyr]

I'm glad the surgery went well.

My XBox got RROD, my transportation to work is on strike, the contract I'm working on has said that if I don't get my handle time over 400 seconds by the end of the month that I'll be fired (despite being a finalist and very likely agent of the month for November), and there's the biggest snow we've had all year on the way home which doubled my travel time.

And despite that, I'll lay odds that I'm not even third on the rankings of crappy days for people.

Darn it, all of you should go out and win the lottery so I can whine and not feel hypocritical about it.

Nah, that sounds worse than any of my China days.

[Yakumo]

Wait, handle time over 400 seconds?  What do you actually do?  At my job, getting handle time down is the issue.  Though my supervisor has told me that if my other stats weren't as good as they were that my handle time might actually be dangerously low. <_<

If you mean under, that's pretty rough too.  I have a handle time goal of 680 seconds, and my 'dangerously low' handle time is about 480-520 range.  Trying to drag that below 400 would require hanging up on half my calls. 

[Grefter]

Stats in call centre jobs can get fucked and die in a burning pit of burning baby skulls filled with sloth shit.

[Sierra]

Stats in call centre jobs can get fucked and die in a burning pit of burning baby skulls filled with sloth shit.

[Tide]

Hey, this reminds me of the stuff I just studied for.

In other news, after 4 years of pain, I am finally done undergrad. Fuck yes. Well assuming I pass all my courses. Then after's a month worth of rest, its back for another 8 months with graduate studies. Argh.

[superaielman]

Congrats, Tide. You picked the perfect time to enter the exciting world of accounting!

[Grefter]

Went to a game conventiony thing this afternoon after work(small as thing on history of popular video game culture pretty much.  There wasn't anything really out there or cool on display or discussed, I think the most out there thing was Pachinko machines and a Vectrex).  Went to see Yahtzee speak pretty much.  It was funny and nice to see how flat he delivers his humor.  He plays a very good straight man.  Anyway stuff he discussed was mostly concept of reviewing/critiquing and what makes a good game and stuff.  Mostly made statements I agree with.  Shocking I know.  But whatever.

There was also Storm Troopers there, which is pretty deserving of respect in this heat, couple of regular troopers, Scout Trooper, Snow Trooper and a Clone Trooper along with a Jedi and a kid dressed up as a Jawa (respect).  Was pretty cool, standard but cool.  Little brother's friend took a picture of the Jedi taking a leak.

So yeah went in and played a bunch of retro stuff after Yahtzee and Ausgamers display because some dodgey bands were on.  Had some fun there playing Pong and Space Invader amongst other stuff. After the dodgey bands were on they were doing Rock Band thing.  Took way to fucking long to setup and they had cameras placed on each of the instruments (Mic cam is normally fail, but more on this later).  It ended up being the most fucking awesome thing ever though.  Wandered around a bit and came back to some people playing Enter Sandman, with the Snow Trooper singing.  This is one of the most awesome things ever.  Close ups of a Storm Trooper helmet singing Metallica is one of the coolest things you could have.  Then to top it off, for the next song we had Snow Trooper on vocals, Clone Trooper on Lead, regular Storm Trooper on bass and Scout Trooper on drums.  Infinite win.  I can't remember what song they were playing though for the life of me.

[superaielman]

I'm getting paid to sit around and listen to music. Is this what government work is like?  Probably should study some Anatomy, but so not in the mood right now.

[metroid composite]

So...somehow my coworkers managed to talk me into joining the Christmas party in Las Vegas.  Figured I'd be bored out of my mind, since I don't drink, don't gamble, and don't do hookers.  Fortunately Vegas has lots of rainbow flashy blinky lights, and artwork for pegasuses and unicorns.  I mean, I doubt there'd be any point to staying for more than one night, but I was entertained for a few hours.

[SageAcrin]

So...somehow my coworkers managed to talk me into joining the Christmas party in Las Vegas.  Figured I'd be bored out of my mind, since I don't drink, don't gamble, and don't do hookers.  Fortunately Vegas has lots of rainbow flashy blinky lights, and artwork for pegasuses and unicorns.  I mean, I doubt there'd be any point to staying for more than one night, but I was entertained for a few hours.

This paragraph just tends to confirm that you are awesome, just so you know.

[Taishyr]

So...somehow my coworkers managed to talk me into joining the Christmas party in Las Vegas.  Figured I'd be bored out of my mind, since I don't drink, don't gamble, and don't do hookers.  Fortunately Vegas has lots of rainbow flashy blinky lights, and artwork for pegasuses and unicorns.  I mean, I doubt there'd be any point to staying for more than one night, but I was entertained for a few hours.

This paragraph just tends to confirm that you are awesome, just so you know.

It makes me think of myself except less homicidal.

So sure.

[Veryslightlymad]

No gambling?

No Hookers?!

No GAMBLING?!

[Grefter]

VSM, you really need to meet mc in person.

[Jo'ou Ranbu]

* Jo'ou Ranbu gets a new wallet from his mother.

Sweeeeeeeeeet.

[DjinnAndTonic]

Today I stumbled across a Melon-Flavored Chocolate Candy Treat (called Apollo, or "Aporo" if you want the direct katakana transliteration).

It is delicious. You all needed to know.

-DJ