Rapid catch up with good news!!

Hello dear reader. You may have missed me...or not. It has been quite some time since my last blog entry. I am a lazy cow who doesn't deserve your devotion, I know. Blah apologetic blah.

Anyway, my foot is much better. I walk without limping. I wear whatever footwear I want (within reason). I can drive my car. I can dance and hop and jump. Nuff sed.

Now for the big news.....

On Sunday night (26th November 2006) after dinner, Steve and I went for a walk. Living as we do on a small peninsula, we walked to the end of our street and ended up on the beach. We walked along the sandy shore and looked at the lights out to sea and tried to work out if they were on one of the islands in the bay or if they were on boats. It was a calm night and we both felt very much in love.

After we walked along the beach for a while we stopped again and Steve looked at me and told me he loved me and then...

asked me to marry him!!!

Naturally my answer was...

YES!!!!

So now I set about to plan my wedding.

Stay tuned for more adventures of Fifi D, the love squirrel.

Lie back and think of...

Part Two of the foot sugery saga..."The Recovery"

I arrived home on the Monday evening and wasn't feeling too bad, all things considered. Both Steve and my Mum took care of me and I was made comfortable in my new home on the couch.

For the rest of the week I moved only between the couch and my bedroom and only when necessary. Each day was the same as before...got up (with assistance from Steve), was taken to the couch, given breakfast and watched tv virtually all day until evening then off to bed.

On Thursday, following a call to the doctor, we removed the bandage and I got the first glimpse of the wound. This might sound like a weird thing to say but it was beautiful. I shouldn't have been so surprised at the neatness of the sutures because I know that my surgeon was talented in that area - that's one of the reasons I chose him.

Once the bandage was off, I made my first attempt to walk. Prior to that I had hopped on my left leg, used crutches (with extreme difficulty and discomfort) or been pushed around by Steve in my office chair. Walking was pretty awkward and painful but a distinct improvement on my previous attempts at mobility.

On Saturday I made my first journey out of the house since the operation. I took a short shopping trip with Mum. I wasn't out for very long but I was exhausted by the experience nonetheless. Oh I forgot to mention that by now I was using a walking stick. Boy, did that look odd...not to mention, it gave Steve the opportunity to call me "Grandma". Grrrr!

There's a hole in my foot, dear Liza

Since I started blogging here last year I have made a few references to the medical condition from which I suffer (i.e. Morton's Neuroma) and I had every intention of posting regular blogages (hehe) of how my condition was progressing...especially during the pre and post-operative period. Well the road to Hell is paved with stuff like that. It didn't happen. So here is the latest news in summary form...

I had lots of pain, couldn't walk comfortably, had an operation, surgeon removed nasty nerve with lumps on, surgeon sewed me up, did bugger all for a fortnight, still have difficulty walking, getting better. 'Nuff sed.

That was the abridged version. Like it?

For those who want more, here it is with a faithful representation...

As time drew closer to the operation it seemed my neuroma sensed it had only a short time to make my life a misery and it set about making the most of its last few weeks in my foot. The pain grew daily and I was able to do less and less. At the end of most days, even a simple thing such as climbing the stairs in my house was a daunting and excruciating experience. Along with the pain and inconvenience, flying in the face of common sense and logic and my own convictions, I began to fear the operation and the worst case scenarios played over and over in my head. I had no reason to be scared but I totally freaked out...all the time.

I attended the pre-admissions clinic as required by the hospital. During this appointment the nurse raised some questions about my suitability for anaesthesia due to my propensity towards dizziness, palpitations, etc and set off in a panic to find the anaesthetist to address these issues. Oh and there was no consent form and both of these issues could be quite likely to prevent the surgery from going ahead. Long story short: the anaesthetist told me I was just a fatty and that I'd be ok to be put under and I drove to another hospital to sign the consent form.

So the day of the operation arrives and all my tension and fears left me right up until I was all gowned up and sitting just adjacent to the recovery room while two nurses discussed my pre-op meds. Then all those irrational fears hit me again. This was not helped a few minutes later when the drip in my arm malfunctioned and the anaesthetist and nurse argued about whose fault it was...until the anaesthetist discovered it was an equipment malfunction which "would have been pretty serious if she [me] was in surgery".

Then they all did their jobs.

I woke in the recovery room and was only in slight pain from that point on. The rest of the afternoon passed without incident and Steve came and got me and brought me home.

Here endeth part one. I'll tell you about the recovery in the next instalment.

A Librarian's manifesto

I came upon this manifesto today and felt strongly that it should be read by as many librarians and information professionals as possible.

Please comment.

The user is not broken

I am going to print this one off and post it up for all my staff to follow:

"The most significant help you can provide your users is to add value and meaning to the information experience, wherever it happens; defend their right to read; and then get out of the way."

I scream for ice-cream!

Apparently, according to 123Greetings, yesterday was Ice-cream Day. So in order to celebrate that fact, here is my Blogthings answer to the question "What flavour ice-cream are you?"

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

My emoticon for today

Oh looky! It's a Blogthings entry!!!

Your Emoticon Is Laughing

You've got a wicked sense of humor. You're everyone's favorite IM buddy... at least today!

What Emoticon Best Represents You Right Now?

Doctor, doctor!

Well I had my appointment with my orthopedic surgeon yesterday and I am pleased to report that plans are in place for the surgical removal of my very painful Morton's Neuroma.

My surgery has been scheduled for Monday July 10th. It is only day surgery but conducted under general anaesthetic. Apparently, I should be able to walk on it in the first week but really need to take it easy for about 2 weeks. I won't be able to drive for about 6 weeks and I should be back to absolute normal in about 6 months!

I'll keep you posted if there's any more news.

How sinful am I?

Time for a new Blogthings addition.

Your Deadly Sins

Envy: 80%

Pride: 40%

Sloth: 40%

Gluttony: 20%

Greed: 20%

Wrath: 20%

Lust: 0%

Chance You'll Go to Hell: 31%

You will die at the hands of a jealous lover. How ironic.

How Sinful Are You?

Renovations

Steve and I are making plans to renovate our house and so inspired by this was I that I set about renovating my virtual space.

I hope you like the changes. I feel this look is a little more grown up but the colour choices reflect my more whimsical take on life.

More Vocab

Here's a few new words I've just stumbled on:

Lambdacism
Inability to utter the "L" sound.
....so does that mean that "loser" becomes "oozer"? ewww!

Lalorrhea
An abnormal flow of words.
...I'm sure I've had this a few times.

(both references taken from Miller, B. F. & Keane, C. B. 1972, Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine and Nursing, W. B Saunders, Philadelphia)

Catch up

For the last few years I have weighed myself down with commitments to all kinds of things, especially my commitment to my professional association and the groups that exist within it. In order to spend more quality time with loved ones and to allow myself time to rest in order to be active during my working day, I decided to take a step back from those duties and commitments and learn to relax and perhaps even take up some hobbies. One of those hobbies was this blog. So why can't I find the time to create an occasional blog post?!

Well, there are a number of things which have kept me from you, dear loyal readers. I guess the biggest time-stealer has been work. My work days are long and tiring. Don't get me wrong though - I still love my job - but when I get home at night I just want to crash out for the evening.

There are times when I do manage to turn on my computer at the end of my working day but this is invariably to play The Sims. Oh Lordy! I am SOOOO addicted to The Sims that Steve thinks I need therapy!

In other news, Steve and I are planning some renovations (on a mammoth scale) so that's taking up a lot of time and energy...but is really exciting too!

Speaking of mammoth, we saw Ice Age 2 at the cinema today. Damn good movie. If you want a good hearty clean laugh, see this movie.

Well that will have to do for now. Hopefully, I'll be a bit more frequent in my posts but I make no promises.

I'm still here

It has been a while since my last post and I guess I should offer some form of explanation. Here goes...

Work has been quite busy but I'm still loving it. Semester One has commenced with gusto and I have spent a large amount of the last few weeks issuing student cards and dealing with queries of various kinds at the front counter. My working day is much longer than I have been used to and so I end the day fairly exhausted. I usually come home, flop down on the couch with the cat and we fall asleep together by 6pm! There's the reason for my lack of blogging.

In other news, I am undergoing some tests at the moment to confirm an unusual diagnosis...unusual in the sense that the condition was diagnosed following an aromatherapy massage! To cut a long (and pretty boring) story short, I am being tested for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). It is possible that TOS is responsible for the dizziness which has plagued me for much of my life. The premise is that the muscles in the upper thorax are in a state of tension and are constricting the vascular and neurologic structures in that area and are subsequently preventing sufficient blood flow to my brain. Sounds dire, I know, but I'm quite positive that this can be easily treated by dietary supplements of magnesium together with an appropriately designed course of remedial physical therapy. So while this may appear to be a negative I'm actually quite excited by the idea that I can be free of the dizziness and other lifestyle-limiting symptoms I have suffered for years.

I'll let you know more about this as the test results become available. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers.

That's about all for now - it's well past my bedtime and I really just wanted to make a short post so you wouldn't think I was dead!

G'night friends and strangers.

Is it fatal?

As I was searching for authoritative definitions for the terms in my last post, I stumbled upon yet another new word...Onomatomania

I know a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and many medical/clinical librarians have fallen into the trap of self-diagnosis. Irrespective of that, I am convinced I have onomatomania.

Onomatomania
"Mental derangement with regard to words or names."
(1995, Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary, W.B. Saunders: Sydney)

New vocabulary

I think most librarians consider themselves to be pretty good when it comes to language skills. It would appear that we have a greater than average vocabulary and any of us even tend to play word games in our spare time. Lexicographically speaking, we can kick it with the best. So imagine my embarrassment to find that there are some words I don't know!!!

Anyway, I was telling some friends recently that I'm learning new words and how exciting that is. ( I know I'm a nerd - lay off, ok!?) So for your education, edification and enjoyment, here are the new terms I have incorporated into my vocabulary in the last fortnight...

Phytoceutical


Moxibustion
"Moxibustion is the application of heat resulting from the burning of a small bundle of tightly bound herbs, or moxa, to targeted acupoints. It is used along with acupuncture."
(Cancer.org)

Auriculotherapy
"Auriculotherapy is the stimulation of the auricle of the external ear for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other parts of the body. It is also known as ear acupuncture or auricular acupuncture when the stimulation is achieved by the insertion of acupuncture needles, whereas the term auriculotherapy often refers to electrical stimulation of the surface of ear reflex points. Specific points on the ear can also be stimulated by manual pressure, referred to as auricular acupressure or ear reflexology. Acupuncture points on the ear can also be stimulated with lasers, magnets, and ear pellets."
(Auriculotherapy.com)

Onychosis
"Disease or deformity of a nail or the nails"
(1995, Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary, W.B. Saunders: Sydney)




Stay tuned for more exciting verbal expansion!

First week over

Well my first week as a Library Manager is now over and I still really like the place!

I get to really connect with people and remember why I became a librarian. Because the library is small, I am able to get to know the collection fully and, of course, the library users. They are really nice to work with. Everyone is helpful and appreciative. It makes a change from some of the other places I have worked.

It's also really nice to get back to doing things in the library other than just being pidgeon-holed like I was in my last job. I used to do these other tasks before that last job and it's all coming back to me again. I do acquisitions, circulation, cataloguing, etc, etc. I have really missed the "all-rounder" aspect of smaller libraries. I was obviously never meant to work in a big library and I really don't regret the change back to the smaller specialist library.

Friday was quite trying as my library assistant couldn't get to work because of a train strike. So I have been on my own and it was only my 4th day! I didn't even have systems access until 10am so that made life quite difficult. I also had to process about 75 - 100 new students from the one of the affiliate colleges (and create student cards) which was a real test of my patience and theirs. But in spite of all that, I still really love my new job.

So far, so good. :-)

Countdown has begun

Tomorrow I start my new job. I haven't had a permanent job since 1999 and I must admit that I'm just a tad nervous. I just wanted to capture the last moment of unemployment.

It's late and I need to be on my best game in the morning. I start my job in 9 hours and 44 minutes.

Wish me luck!!!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go

Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been 3 weeks since my last blog. But boy, do I have some news to tell you!

As you know, I've been madly looking for work. I've updated my resume and tweaked it so many times; I've addressed countless selection criteria; I've phoned and emailed numerous job agencies and I've attended job interviews and agency information sessions...not to mention the number of skills assessments I've undergone. And for what? Stress. Heartache. Disappointment.

Upon reading earlier entries in this blog, I was contacted by two good friends regarding my jobless plight. The first contact was regarding a job that was sitting vacant which I might have been interested in. As it turned out, my skills were a little lacking in that area and I didn't want to take on a role which I wasn't suited to or capable of carrying out. I would only upset myself and reflect badly on my friend who has suggested me. My sincerest thanks to her for thinking of me though. ;-)

The second contact was from a very good friend who just up and offered me her job!!! What an offer! She was going away and needed someone to be her for a few months and that's where I was to come in. All was set for me to start next Monday barring other eventualities. Here's where the story gets good...

Late last year I saw an advertisement for a job which would suit me down to the ground. The size of the organisation was just what I wanted; the subject matter was interesting and diverse and the position itself looked pretty meaty and fun. The best part of the job ad was that they didn't have a selection criteria to be addressed...simply apply for the job the old fashioned way - a job application letter. (I miss those).

Anyway, I applied for the job and was called for interview. That was a thrill in itself. I was so chuffed that I had scored an interview that anything else was just icing on the cake. So when the day came, I toddled off to the interview. When I got there, I was given a list of questions which they were likely to ask. I read through the list and felt pretty darn confident in my abilities. There was nothing I couldn't handle. Then they called me in. I felt cool, calm and in control. I answered the questions fully and confidently and it all went rather well. There was nothing that I would have done differently. It came to an end and off I went.

As each day after the interview passed, I felt less confident and wondered why they hadn't called. But my concern was misplaced. I received a call asking me to come in to meet the staff and tour the library. I really enjoyed my visit there. The library was really nice and the staff were just lovely. They said the race for the job was between me and one other (a person I knew, actually). So then the panic set in again. When would they call? Would they pick me?

Well I'll save you the suspense... THEY PICKED ME!!!

I start on Tuesday. I'll keep you posted. Oh boy am I happy!

It would be very ungracious of me not to thank all the people who have had faith in me and supported me through the bad times I've had this past year. I especially want to thank my blog reading friends who came to my rescue with job offers - you gave me the courage to believe in myself when I had come to believe that I was useless.

I also want to thank God. I prayed I would get this job. From the moment I saw the job ad, this is what I wanted. He has answered my prayers and I am happy again for the first time in quite a while.

Thanks.

A New Year begins with sadness

2006 is underway and I am hoping the first week is not an indication of things to come for this year.

My work contract ended just prior to Christmas and now I am unemployed. I went to Centrelink yesterday to see if I was eligible for any assistance. It seems I am on my own. Well, not exactly...I am entitled to register as a jobseeker in the JobNetwork but that just means I can apply for crappy jobs that I am way too overqualified for. This morning I went through the interview process with my chosen JobNetwork agency and the guy I was interviewed by agreed with my summation of the service.

Nevertheless, I will press on and apply for any and everything I can. With 2 mortgages, Steve and I need both of us to be working.

Steve returned to work yesterday after the holiday but was off work again today due to illness. I also felt like my virus was coming back. All of that paled into insignificance when my mother rang me this evening to tell me that my grandmother had just died. She was 92 years of age and had become quite frail and senile so I suppose her passing is a mercy but I still feel saddened by it. I didn't really know my grandmother or any of my mother's family due to the restrictive nature of their religion. They are Exclusive Brethren. I won't go into detail other than to say they stole my mother's family from me and I don't know my own relations. I feel cheated by them and I cannot seem to shake my resentment. I have been trying to come to terms with this my whole life but to no avail.

Anyway, that's all for now. I will mourn my grandmother and pray for her soul's rest. Bye Grandma.

Happy Christmas and New Year!

To all of my friends, family and complete strangers to stumble onto my little blog, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and I wish you all a very Happy 2006.

Christmas for me began with Midnight Mass. I played the organ at my parish church to a congregation of about 1000. This was an extra special Mass for me as it was the first time my non-religious boyfriend has ever attended Mass. I hit a few bad notes but I did mostly ok and received a lot of compliments after Mass. I also did a vocal counterpoint solo which went down really well.

Christmas Day began with a rush as Steve and I had to do the family runaround but it wasn't so bad. First we picked up my Mum, drove to my brother Conor's house and spent some of the morning with him and his family. Then back to Mum's for Chrismas lunch which was a traditional hot meal of turkey, ham and load of vegetables, followed by Mum's famous sherry trifle.

Then Steve and I went home for a little rest and to wrap the remainder of the presents. Then off again to his Dad's for dinner. Dinner there was more Aussie in the sense that it was still turkey and ham but this time it was cold cuts served with salad.

We left his Dad's place to go home and as we drove down our street we saw the yellow flashing lights of an Energex truck. Our entire neighbourhood was in darkness. The storm which was going while we had dinner at Steve's dad's place was bringing down trees and branches on the power lines in our street. We had about 5 hours of blackout.

All in all, I enjoyed the day inspite of the rushing, the eating, the heat and the blackout!

The next thing on the agenda was our New Year's Eve Party. Steve and I were hosting our first NYE party so the pressure was on to get the house ship-shape and party ready. Unfortunately, I had just come down with a nasty virus and couldn't do as much as I needed to. So Super-Mum came to the rescue and helped Steve get the place ready. (I did put in a few days' effort before I succumbed to the lurgy though.) Our friends came over for a BBQ dinner under the house after which we took a stroll to the beach...after all, we do live on a peninsula! We took in the night view of Brisbane and then walked home to catch the fireworks on tv and toast the New Year. Then it was apple pie and ice-cream for everyone!

My cough got worse that night but I'm on the mend now. Fair dues to Steve who has nursed me back to health only to catch the damn virus off me. Now it's my turn to play nurse.

That's it for now. Happy New Year everybody!