everquest for dexamethasone

I've had terrible aphthmous ulceres, aka canker sores in my mouth.  They are stress induced.  I had one so big in the back of my mouth I didn't even want to speak.


Look how pissed off this thing is!!!!
 

Then, in Montreal, I noticed a second one forming!

On this one /\ /\ /\ /\ you can even see how enlarged my tonsil is.

When I arrived back in the states, Dr. S gave me a prescription for Dexamethasone Elixer. It's a steroid.  I went to three different Walgreen's before finding one that had it in stock.  I have to gargle 15mL four times a day and then swallow it for three days, then gargle 10mL four times per day and swallow it for three days,  then gargle 10mL four times daily and swallow every other time for three days, then gargle 10mL four times daily and spit out each time until the ulcers are gone.

If they return, I'm going to quit my job, because it is the source of my stress.  That was compacted with the stress of the international flights and my fear of missing a connecting flight as well as the end of the semester/finals, plus getting into hygiene school in the fall.    

disgruntled office girl

Tonight at the end of the work day, I wanted to spit nails.  I was so angry that I let and took a walk around the parking lot.  My blood pressure was so high I could feel my pulse in my face.

Unsolicited, a co-worked told me that another co-worker was talking about me behind my back.  I was told that when I was out last week on my vacation, there was some implant piece that could not be found, and Heather said that I was purposely hiding it from her, and that kind of sneaky behavior was just like me.

When I heard this, I was was angry because it is untrue.  I only have the best intentions of the office in mind and am not sabotaging anyone.  I was also angry, because the girl who told me this was said about me didn't stick up for me/stand up for Heather.

I went to see my mom at work.  She told me to forget about it; everyone at work knows me/knows that I am not sneaky/a saboteur.  I talked to my dad about it.  He wants me to confront Heather.  "Hey.  I heard you talk about me behind my back.  And you accused me of being sneaky and hiding things from you.  That's not true, and I don't want to hear any more that you are saying untrue things about me or I will go to our boss."  I don't think that is going to happen, though.  I will probably drop the c-word or get really riled up and punch her in her big mouth.

Montreal

Jason and I went to Montreal for Pouzza Fest.  All I can say is, this shit is the new shit!

Montreal was badass!  I was super anxious all week about making our connecting flights, but there were no delays.

On the way there, we rode a little regional service plane (one seat on one side of the aisle, two seats on the other side) and even that plane was less than half full.

Once we got to Montreal, it only took like 15 minutes to get through customs.  There was a line for Canadian nationals, in which not one single person was standing, and then a line for visitors.

There is a flat rate of $35 for a cab ride into the city, and Jason wanted to spring for that instead of take the bus, which was $12 and an hour long ride.  The cab driver was very polite.  He was African.  We saw a fair number of Africans, most likely from countries where French is spoken, so they already knew the language.

The ride into the city was uneventful, which is fine.  The weather was rainy.

Once we got into the city and found our hotel, we were very early.  We decided to walk around until we could check in.  Luckily, we each only had a backpack, so it wasn't like we were lugging around huge suitcases.  We got turned around a few times, but did make it to registration and picked up our wristbands, maps/schedules, and Jason's t-shirt.

There were like 14 pizza joints within a block of our hotel, but I ended up finding all the Lebanese dudes and ate falafal everyday.  Jason's favorite meal was Dirty Dog's.  They did have a veg dog as well as a dedicated fryer, but I wanted to try a veg place next door.  Back to the dogs, they were all named after different celebrities.  Jason was interested in several, but ended up choosing The Ron Swanson, which was a Bavarian beer brat topped with grilled onions, bacon, steak tips, and a fried egg.  Waling around the city was awesome, there were so many people out and about/lots of foot traffic as well as people on bicycles.  There were even protected bike lanes.  We saw lots of street art/murals, lots of big ornate churches.  Also, in Montreal, there were pay phones. Everywhere.  Hundreds of them.  We even saw a man talking on one!  We did a chance to watch Canadian television, too!  There were two channels in English, and both features severly outdated syndicated programming.  Our favorite was a show called "Beachcombers" that was about a group of teens.  We also watched a re-run of "The Young Riders!"  HA!

One thing I did notice about the Canadian programming, though, was that native characters were included as well.  There was a native girl on the Beachcombers show, and we watched several other documentary/news shows that featured native tribes exclusively.  It was just such a stark contrast to American programming.

Ok, on the music, the main reason we were here.  On Friday, we posted up a Katacombs first and new finds include Wasted Potential and Barrel Proof.  Jason made some friends.  We blew the budget.  We ended the night at Foufs for a few bands, but both of us were pretty intoxicated.  We left before The Hold Steady because we are wieners.  We did see a guy wearing a Cardinals baseball hat.  We told him we were from STL, and he informed us, in a French accent, that he knew nothing of this, and only bought the hat because every morning when he was in university, there was a cardinal pecking on his window.  HA!  Also, Barrel Proof was pretty badass, and they were a French-speaking band.  It was kind of blowing my mind to see hard core rock guys with tattoos and face piercings just shredding onstage, then speaking in French in between songs.

On Saturday we didn't go as hard in the paint for the shows.  We went to Foufs only and saw Night Birds, CJ Ramone, 7 Seconds, and Chixdiggit.  Shit was tight as hell.  7 Seconds was probably the set of the weekend for me.  Kevin Seconds still gets after it.  Jason and I were freaking the fuck out, bouncing around and singing yelling along.  We saw the cardinal-hat guy there with his friend and he told us that he was happy that we were so happy!

On Sunday, we started off a Chaos for Hold Tight!  The place was pretty cool, and the bathroom was gangster and fuck - no doors. Hi!  After Hold Tight, we went to get food then posted up at Katacombs, which was a tiny club, because we wanted to be sure to see The Lillingtons.  Our friend Dave was on tour with them selling merch, and it was nice to see him and catch up.  Other bands we saw on Sunday that totally ruled were Hashed Up and Brutal Youth.  Dude dove off the balcony.  Lillingtons played very late, I stayed for five songs then jetted.  There was a line two blocks long to get in when I left.  Oh, I saw a guy at the show wearing a denim vest with a "Painted Wolves: Vegan Pack" back patch.  It made we want to have a vegan pack to be part of, but that is not going to happen, at least not in STL.

Jason is already excited to go back, and I am, too!  Montreal was great, this fest was great, and I recommend it!

Crossroads v 5-2k14

Just finished my sociology final tonight.  When I handed in my test and the accompanying four pages of essay question responses, my instructor asked me what my plan was.  I told him I was going to start dental hygiene in the fall.  He said, "From what I've seen in this class, I have to ask, 'Why not be the doctor?'"

I, of course, was flattered by this compliment.  I get so frustrated with all the choices whenever I'm at a crossroads, such as the end of a semester.  Should I continue on the same path?  Or change course?

I think the only honest answer is that I am going to be a student for life. Always learning, always improving, and always moving ahead.

wheels

Went out on Ex-Girlfriend today.  Gorgeous blue sky and perfect air temps.  I saw two indigo buntings.  Tonight is a wrestling event, and I'm using my new camera.  I'm excited!