Stitching Lotus

TMJ Spells Pain

Posted on January 31, 2007 by Heather

My problems with stress have finally resulted in a physical problem that isn’t going to go away. Apparenlty I have TMJ syndrome. Essentially, I’ve worn away my jaw joint because I clench my teeth when I am stressed. Likely, based on other problems I’ve had and talks with other specialists, my joints are slightly predisposed to damage, making the problem even worse.

So, the solutions are pain killers (which do not work thanks to my high tolerance), a dental appliance that helps with the grinding of teeth (which I don’t do), toughing it out (which I am), Botox injection in the joint (never!) and surgery (which I will avoid until my face is ready to fall off). Looks like a diet of soft food for me, and even less talk then I already do.

Honestly, I am completely crushed by this. I spend a year and a half going to a physiotherapist for my knees so that I would not have to live the rest of my life in pain. And today, I find out that my sinus infection is actually TMJ syndrome, which means pain. Life, sometimes, is very unfair.

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Winter Has Arrived

Posted on January 15, 2007 by Heather

After weeks and weeks of lovely (almost) Spring-like weather, winter has hit Southern Ontario hard. Yesterday we were treated to a small taste: some snow, and a chaser of freezing rain. Today we got the whole main course–ice pellets, snow, freezing rain, slush falling from the sky. Needless to say, the public transportation system was packed (and unpleasant) as nervous drivers wisely chose to leave their cars at home.

I’m glad that winter has finally started. The warm weather made the holiday season less enjoyable, I thought. And, well, I actually sort of like snow. Which is a good thing, since it just might snow all week.

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Prozac for Kitty

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Heather

Depression in humans is no laughing matter, but I couldn’t help but giggle when I read an article in the Los Angeles Times: Fido’s little helper – Los Angeles Times. Apparently, pets that suffer from separation anxiety and other problems are being prescribed anti-depressants. In truth, I’m not sure how I feel about this.

With a human, you are able to talk to them, to find out how the drug is really effecting them. (Side effects from anti-depressants can be nasty.) But, with a cat, there is no way to know if they can no longer sleep, or have a bad taste in their mouth, or if they really do feel better. It seems that the general feeling is as long as the pet’s behaviour has improved, then everything must be fine.

I love my cat dearly, and I suppose I would do my best to make sure that she was happy. I’m not sure, though, that I would give her medication that was not approved for animals. But, she is so mellow right now that I don’t think I need to worry about her breaking into the medicine cabinet looking from some stale Zoloft.

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Happy 2007!

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Heather

Yes, I’m a day late, but Happy New Year!

quanta and I spent New Year’s Eve at home, as is our tradition. We ate Chinese dumplings, fresh bread and bree while watching The Producers. We watched the ball drop in New York, and then started the new year with laughter by watching the Best of Just for Laughs.

The first evening of 2007 was a little depressing though. We went to a family potluck (not the depressing part) and then watched Million Dollar Baby. It was such a depressing movie, and not the way I would have chosen to start of the year.

Today it was back to work for me, following my resolution to only work between 9 and 5. (We will see how long that lasts.)

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. And I sincerely hope that we all have a peaceful 2007.

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Gone in 2006

Posted on December 30, 2006 by Heather

Last night, at about 10:05 pm EST, Saddam Hussein was executed in Iraq by the Iraqi justice system. So, now that the boogie man of the last 15 years is gone, will the world change for the better? Will the war in Iraq end? Are we finally safer? I can guess they answers to these questions, and that only makes my prayers for a more peaceful world even more fervent.

Rather than dwell on this death, here is a list of some of the people who made the world a better place, but passed away in 2006. (A more complete list can be found on Wikipedia: Deaths in 2006)

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Grammar on the Go

Posted on December 30, 2006 by Heather

Although I am far from the world’s best writer, I am a little bit of a grammar fiend. I get terribly annoyed by signs, especially highly polished advertisements, which have spelling or grammar errors. And I’m not alone; there is at least one organization that sends “no-no” letters to editors and writers when they spot an error. (If only I could remember who they are!)

I have a special place in my heart, though, for guerrilla grammarians. They are so passionate about proper grammar that they will correct signs with a black Sharpie and a few terse words. Take, for example, an ad I saw on the subway today. A debt refinancing company promised to help you “rejoin the have’s”. A cheeky guerrilla grammarian had taken his trusty maker and crossed out the offending possessive apostrophe, adding the comment “wrong” just in case someone misunderstood his defiant editing.

(Keep reading to see pictures.)

Continue reading →

2 Comments | Posted in The Outside World |

Proving My Point

Posted on December 17, 2006 by Heather

I’ve always believed that one shouldn’t buy a new video game console until it has been about at least a year. That way, there is plenty of time for the bugs to be worked out, and for good games to be released!

I have to admit, though, that I have been lusting after Nintendo’s new console, the Wii. (Wii jokes abound in our house, and most aren’t appropriate for this blog.) quanta, being the frugal man he is, has held off on buying it for me. And I will, sadly, admit that I am not glad that he has. Apparently the isolated reports of broken Wii wrist straps aren’t that isolated, and Nintendo will be replacing them all! Wow!

So, my purchase of a Wii will be held off a little while longer… Well, at least until the summer, when Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers comes out.