Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Obsessed One

0 comments Posted by QueenQuill at 7:44 PM


I should change the name of this blog to “The Obsessed One”. I’m once again (or still, rather) obsessing over everything. Some of those are good, happy things, and some of them are just blah. So I guess I’ll get the blah out of the way first. I’d rather end on a happy note, when possible.

So one of my friends from UNI (the psych hospital I was in back in December) replied to an email I sent. In our correspondence Alliance House was brought up, and I was reminded that I still haven’t checked into Alliance House as it was my goal to do. Thinking about that brought up all the other goals that I made when I was in UNI that I still haven’t accomplished. I mean, some of my goals I have met, but very few compared to how many I’ve just brushed aside, or become too overwhelmed to complete. So I’m going to list my goals (the ones I remember, at least), so that I can hold myself accountable to them. Here they are:

  • · Attend Family Therapy: Okay, so this is one goal I obviously can’t complete by myself. We went to one session while I was in UNI (I was absolutely shocked that my dad and brother showed up, as they swore they’d never go to a therapist. It meant so much they did!) and we’ve been to one session since. The problem is, that even though I keep trying to get my family to go to more sessions (they agreed to going to three outside of UNI), they keep making up excuses not to go. I guess with this goal I can keep trying, but in the end it’s not just up to me to meet it. If my family won’t do it, then I’m just going to have to move on.
  • · Attend Individual Therapy: Okay so I’ve had a few appointments scheduled, but missed them all. Mostly because I was sick, which was a legitimate reason to miss the appointments. So why haven’t I been since? I don’t know. I keep making up excuses like, “I don’t have a ride there,” which is true, but I ought to find another way to get there. I just feel like such a burden on everyone anyway, that I hate asking for rides from people outside of my immediate family. If that weren’t bad enough, living in Farmington now, I know zero people here, and everyone I do know lives in Bountiful and south from there, so taking me somewhere would be a long process, and I don’t want to put people out. Then there’s public transportation. I wouldn’t mind taking the bus, but the nearest bus stop is at the bottom of a huge hill. Going down the hill wouldn’t be so bad, but going back up it would absolutely kill my back. *sigh* I just don’t know what to do. I guess the only thing I can do is keep trying, which I will. I haven’t given up (completely) just yet.
  • · Go to Alliance House / Research AH Programs: Alliance House is a non-profit agency that supplies various programs for adults that struggle with serious mental illness. They offer things like social activities, job training, job placement, help with education, housing, etc. AH has a lot of resources that could be very beneficial to me (if I ever get off my butt and get there). They offer GED and high school diploma programs for free! I never got either. Because of my back problems I missed almost all of high school. I did what they called “home-hospital” high school, but that was an absolute joke (I won’t even get into that today because I’ll just start ranting). When I was 17 I enrolled in college, and went for a few semesters, but never got a degree or anything. I was getting high school credits as well as college credits when I was in college, but like I said, I never finished either. 10 years later, and I still don’t have a complete high school or college education. It’s really embarrassing for me to admit that. I don’t know why I never just went and took the GED test. I’m sure I’d pass it first time. I guess it’s just something I’ve put a mental block up against, and I became too scared to do it. Now I’ve got this great opportunity to finish my high school education through AH, and I just can’t pass it up. It’s high time I got my high school diploma. Now I actually made the goal with one of my doctors (the one who drove me nuts), that I would have my GED (or at least take the test) by the end of January. That’s not going to happen now. Now I could just go in and take the test before the end of January, and I’d probably pass. But here’s the thing, I just read today that people who get a GED can no longer get a high school diploma afterwards. Not that it’s that big of a deal to get a GED and not a diploma, but personally I’d rather have a diploma. I know that employers here in Utah don’t much care whether you have a GED or HS diploma, but I’ve heard from friends in other states that employers in other states do see them as different, and hire accordingly. So on the chance that someday I may live in another state (that would actually be nice), I want to get my HS diploma rather than a GED. Another cool thing about the AH diploma program is that you don’t have to do it in-class. They just give you the study materials to take home, and do at your own pace, and then go back for testing. So that’s another of my goals that I must complete!
  • · Find a new spine doctor. I actually have looked into this (amazingly enough), and think I’ve found the one I’m going to go with. Previously I’ve been to the University of Utah Orthopedic Clinic (which is where I had two of my back surgeries), and they were really great. I saw Dr. Braun there, who was amazing, but a few years ago he move out-of-state, so therefore I couldn’t see him anymore. Since then I just haven’t bothered to find a new doctor. The UofU Ortho Clinic is one of the best in the country, so I figured I’d go back there. I looked up the spinal doctors currently in practice there, and decided to go with Dr. Brodke. He seems to be the best candidate, and focuses on the aspects of spinalproblems that I have.

those are just some of the things that I really need to get done. Most of it involves just making some phone calls and scheduling appointments at first. Even that is a pain though because I have to work around my family’s schedules so I can actually get places. Oh, that reminds me…something else to add to my list is to get my driver’s license reinstated. Since I haven’t had my own car (and rare access to a family members car), a couple of years ago I let my driver’s license lapse (just didn’t renew it). Now that my brother says that I can use his car if I have a license and am insured, I need to renew my license. Though then I need insurance. Argh. At one point my dad said he’d put me on his insurance and pay for it. Hopefully he’ll still go through with that.

Anyway, I should probably stop blogging, and go be productive and get things done. That’s irony for you.

Truly,

Ashley


OF THE DAY

Mood of the Day: Obsessive

Word of the Day: Erudite er·u·dite [er-yoo-dahyt, er-oo-] –adjective characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly: an erudite professor; an erudite commentary.

Quote of the Day: “Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again” ~ L. Frank Baum

Scripture of the Day: John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Song of the Day: "Blue Lips" by Regina Spektor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grHiLRgbpIY

Video of the Day: Have You Got Any Castles - An old animated short from Merrie Melodies. I remember seeing it as a child, and I loved it though it freaked me out. Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4pdbgD5Q8Q&feature=PlayList&p=3C331F7BE15A9BDD&index=12

Artist of the Day: Celso Junior - Bright, colorful graphic art. I often have his artwork as my desktop background. http://celsojunior.deviantart.com/

Website of the Day: thredUP - a clothes-swapping website. This website is just in the beta stages, but it's an interesting concept! Trade clothes you don't wear or don't want anymore for clothes from people with the same predicament! They're just doing shirts right now, and unfortunately you don't get to pick exactly which clothing item you get (they do it for you), but they're working on changing that. Anyway, it's cool to check out! http://www.thredup.com/

How-To of the Day: I love steampunk! Modifying Welding Goggles into a Steam inspired look: http://www.instructables.com/id/Modifying-Welding-Goggles-into-a-Steam-inspired-lo/

Wikipedia of the Day: The legend of the Thousand Oragami Cranes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_origami_cranes

Blog of the Day: Freebies 2 Deals - Melea, a stay-at-home mom from Utah has a hobby of finding great deals and freebies, and shares them on her blog! I've gotten so much free stuff because of her! http://www.freebies2deals.com/

Picture of the Day: Rain Princess by Leonid Afremov



 

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

Getting Ready for No Pants Subway Ride 2010 - Salt Lake City

9 comments Posted by QueenQuill at 2:07 PM

Current Mood: Anticipatory
Song of the Day: The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim (Dunno why, but I've had this song in my head all day!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmsTwQb1csc
Quote of the Day: "Trying is having the intention to fail. You have to just say ‘do it.’" - From the movie "I Love You Man"

So much going on right now! My life is in crazy-mode, but that's okay! I'm actually accomplishing some things, and that's absolutely awesome! Okay, so here's what's going on:

Tomorrow (Sunday, January 10, 2009) is the No Pants subway ride event for Improv Everywhere. Once again I'm coordinating/hosting the event in Salt Lake City. This will be the third year that Salt Lake City has participated, and the third year that I've hosted it! To read more about the event, see our Facebook event page here:


I do have some concerns about this years event, however. First of all, I'm still terribly sick with tracheal bronchitis! Blah! I was sick for last years event, but somehow managed to survive. It's not the smartest thing to do when you're sick (it's not exactly a smart thing to do when you're healthy either, lol), but boy will it be fun! I'm not looking forward to standing outside freezing to death in my skivvies, breathing in the lovely inversion air. Ah well, it's worth it for the hilarity that shall ensue!

My second concern about this years event is that it falls on a Sunday. Sunday's in Utah are notoriously quiet. That's because so many people here keep the Sabbath day holy (I usually do too, but I'm making an exception for No Pants [wow...I'm going to hell in a hand basket! lol].) So there won't be as many participants I'm sure, and there won't be as many spectators. But as I told our agents (we call the participants in Improv Everywhere/Improv SLC secret agents), think of how funny it will be if the majority of the people on the TRAX train cars aren't wearing pants! I can only imagine what the innocent bystanders will think! Their reactions are priceless, and make everything worth it!

I even went out and bought some new clothing for the event. Since I've lost 90 pounds since last years event, none of my boy-short undies (which cover more) fit anymore. So I went out and bought some new ones that do fit (black with lace trim at the bottom), as well as some nylons to wear underneath (I got some flesh-colored ones that make it look like I don't have any on - but they sure help with the cold!) I also bought some cute trouser socks, because layers help keep the cold out! Oh! I also got some super cute "smokey" eyeshadow. Really pretty grays, blacks, and whites. It'll definitely look good with what I'm wearing! I'm sure I'll be in tons of pictures, so I'll post some after the event!

So what else do I have to do? You name it, and it's on my "To Do" list. I need to finish applying for Social Security Disability (they seem to be asking for the same information over and over again, just in different formats...ugh, that's the government for you!) Then I have a gazillion doctors appointments this month (speaking of which, I need to write out some notes regarding what to ask the doctors about.) I need to finish unpacking my stuff and setting up my room as I've lived in our new house since October, and am still living mostly out of boxes! The thing that makes it difficult is that my room is tiny, and overflowing with boxes, so there's nowhere to move anything to. That, and I can't move the boxes by myself because of my back, so I have to wait until it's convienient for someone else to help me (which is rarely.) Mixed in with all of that, I may go to California to visit a friend next Wednesday. It would only be a day trip, but I've been wanting to go and see her forever! I fly free because my mom works for an airlines, so why not use that benefit? I don't use it very often (maybe once a year) because I don't have any money to do anything once I get to a destination, so what's the point?

A more short-term "to-do" is to get ahold of the media for No Pants. Usually we don't inform the media, and they show up anyway. I figure this year I'll get ahold of them first, and put in some requests for them and how they should behave to help the event go off smootly. It's always interesting to see how the media portrays this event! Here's a page with some links to some of the media coverage of No Pants 2k8:


Alright, so I just took a time out from blogging to send off letters to the media. Yay, all done with that! I can now check it off my list. I'm a bit late in doing this, but oh well, at least I got it done! It's definitely one of my resolutions to complete things, and complete them on time (though finishing anything at all is amazing for me!)

Anyway, I'm going to go lay down and get some much needed rest. While I was out I rented the movie Penelope, which I have really been looking forward to seeing. I'll let you know how it is!

Kindest Regards,
Ashley



 

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