So.
The world laughs at my pain and comes full circle to deliver bad thing #3: computer issues.
I laugh back and decide to bite the bullet and install a linux-based OS--Kubuntu. Why that over Ubuntu? Gut feeling. And it looked prettier.
Trent's taken well to it thus far. I still have to convert all my files and customize the interface how I want it. Probably with pretty pictures of warm things to get me through the cold month or so to go.
However, the world (read: magti and consumerism) laughs back at me for trying to have free love, a free spirit, and a free OS. Magti's modem's drivers don't work with linux-based OSes. Boo.
And I'm still trying to figure this one out. If anyone has any clue how to make it work, throw me a lifeline! kplzthxbai.
Tuesday, February 16
Sunday, February 14
Top 10 Ways to Occupy Oneself During Medical Leave.
10. Sleep.
Although this is difficult with a gash on back of your head and lovely bruises on both elbows and your gluteus growingevermoremaximusingeorgicus.
9. Read.
This improves your morale when you think, "Wow, Vanya Denisovich was thankful at the end of HIS day, and I haven't frozen my butt in Siberia slathering mortar on concrete blocks for 6 oz. of bread lately."
Also may build your desire to go to India after service (sans the joining-the-Indian-mafia bit).
8. Eat.
Compounding on last reason. However, remember to tell the hostess that you don't like meat (lest you get meat and noodle soup and chicken sticks for lunch), and don't try to go out for dinner with visiting PCVs, as this is a stern no-no.
7. Catch up with people back home.
Lots of get wells for you guys who are concurrently recovering from surgeries and various ailments. And it's sweet to hear you're doing things like learning knitting and working at book publishing companies and having senior recitals and jazz. Also, BIG thanks to Kayleigh for my new theme song.
6. Waste time on the Interwebs.
The final frontier knows no bounds.
5. Listen to some new music.
Kyle would approve, and Steven Flaherty would be proud. (?)
4. Resolve to demand dance lessons.
Time to take a stand against the winter blues and that gluteous growingevermoremaximus.
3. Take warm showers.
Neck down or full body, enjoy it while it lasts. Also the sit down toilet, now only seconds away from your bed! Also central heat, when it doesn't go out for some unknown reason.
2. Reassure Akhalsopelians.
I'm okay; I'll be back Tuesday; yes, I'm taking medicine; I'd love to go walking with you when I get back; and thanks for the wish to find big and nice love in life.
1. Thank those who are that big and nice love.
Chemebi. You know who you are. Happy Valentine's Day, guys.
Although this is difficult with a gash on back of your head and lovely bruises on both elbows and your gluteus growingevermoremaximusingeorgicus.
9. Read.
This improves your morale when you think, "Wow, Vanya Denisovich was thankful at the end of HIS day, and I haven't frozen my butt in Siberia slathering mortar on concrete blocks for 6 oz. of bread lately."
Also may build your desire to go to India after service (sans the joining-the-Indian-mafia bit).
8. Eat.
Compounding on last reason. However, remember to tell the hostess that you don't like meat (lest you get meat and noodle soup and chicken sticks for lunch), and don't try to go out for dinner with visiting PCVs, as this is a stern no-no.
7. Catch up with people back home.
Lots of get wells for you guys who are concurrently recovering from surgeries and various ailments. And it's sweet to hear you're doing things like learning knitting and working at book publishing companies and having senior recitals and jazz. Also, BIG thanks to Kayleigh for my new theme song.
6. Waste time on the Interwebs.
The final frontier knows no bounds.
5. Listen to some new music.
Kyle would approve, and Steven Flaherty would be proud. (?)
4. Resolve to demand dance lessons.
Time to take a stand against the winter blues and that gluteous growingevermoremaximus.
3. Take warm showers.
Neck down or full body, enjoy it while it lasts. Also the sit down toilet, now only seconds away from your bed! Also central heat, when it doesn't go out for some unknown reason.
2. Reassure Akhalsopelians.
I'm okay; I'll be back Tuesday; yes, I'm taking medicine; I'd love to go walking with you when I get back; and thanks for the wish to find big and nice love in life.
1. Thank those who are that big and nice love.
Chemebi. You know who you are. Happy Valentine's Day, guys.
Saturday, February 13
To do without.
Just because, post's composition lack of action words for point. Possible.
And lots of down time.
Wednesday, after ice without footing and head WITH bottom stair, anti-azeri-not-knowing-georgian ambulance driver's 30 minute tea at the homestead with my head and blood all over the couch, much time.
Time in ambulance half reading A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, half kartuglish with other doctor in ambulance (Gurian, war experience, English so-so, coworker/friends in Haiti relief).
Finally Tbilisi, swanky hospital, and CT scan. No amnesia, no loss of consciousness, no brain damage (maybe). Head cleaninPAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!!!
Educated doctor: "Shes name Salome." (The nice night nurse.) (And doctor's name...? : / ) Buttload of food. Butt pain + elbow pain + head pain + drugs = sort-of-sleep + not-quite-coherent conversation with sister
Thursday:
Hospital Ritz's check-out. Hostel Nika's check-in. More checkups. House arrest. Surprise!! Visitors! Online conversations with sister, G9, and G10-to-be.
Friday:
Still house arrest. The Office catch-up. "Sunday best" Paula, minus shower. Phone interview for FLEX program-- ise ra. Blegh for phones. But with 11 other friend applicants, nonplussed. Rest of day: online nonsense, talkin' with Kyle-i, Georgian lasagna, shower from neck down.
Summary:
Visits from non-medical personnel: 3
Phone calls/texts from Akhalsopelians about my health: 6
Comfortable sleeping positions: 0
Time from village to Tbilisi: with blood on your head, longer than necessary
Future plans: 2 books, 3 Office episodes, James Bond movie, chocolate, showers (multiple, hot).
Demands for dance lessons.
Reclamation of thwarted plans to visit neighbor/friends.
T-shirt-- front: "Life is like Eurasia." back: "Your mom is like Eurasia."
Grad school for linguistics?
Recent brushes with death and realization that my life < aprovechado : 1
And lots of down time.
Wednesday, after ice without footing and head WITH bottom stair, anti-azeri-not-knowing-georgian ambulance driver's 30 minute tea at the homestead with my head and blood all over the couch, much time.
Time in ambulance half reading A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, half kartuglish with other doctor in ambulance (Gurian, war experience, English so-so, coworker/friends in Haiti relief).
Finally Tbilisi, swanky hospital, and CT scan. No amnesia, no loss of consciousness, no brain damage (maybe). Head cleaninPAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!!!
Educated doctor: "Shes name Salome." (The nice night nurse.) (And doctor's name...? : / ) Buttload of food. Butt pain + elbow pain + head pain + drugs = sort-of-sleep + not-quite-coherent conversation with sister
Thursday:
Hospital Ritz's check-out. Hostel Nika's check-in. More checkups. House arrest. Surprise!! Visitors! Online conversations with sister, G9, and G10-to-be.
Friday:
Still house arrest. The Office catch-up. "Sunday best" Paula, minus shower. Phone interview for FLEX program-- ise ra. Blegh for phones. But with 11 other friend applicants, nonplussed. Rest of day: online nonsense, talkin' with Kyle-i, Georgian lasagna, shower from neck down.
Summary:
Visits from non-medical personnel: 3
Phone calls/texts from Akhalsopelians about my health: 6
Comfortable sleeping positions: 0
Time from village to Tbilisi: with blood on your head, longer than necessary
Future plans: 2 books, 3 Office episodes, James Bond movie, chocolate, showers (multiple, hot).
Demands for dance lessons.
Reclamation of thwarted plans to visit neighbor/friends.
T-shirt-- front: "Life is like Eurasia." back: "Your mom is like Eurasia."
Grad school for linguistics?
Recent brushes with death and realization that my life < aprovechado : 1
Friday, February 5
Minetrebi, babo.
I'll keep this short. I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone that I've neglected to thank lately.
Thank you for everyone who's sent me mail: Mary, Clare, Holly, Kurt, Jen, Kerrie, Kayleigh, Lisa, and the people from Trinity who gave me b-day cards, too.
Thank you especially for the people who sent me things in boxes like marshmallows, new headphones that hopefully won't break in a week, and that handy-dandy flosser thing--Jen, Kurt, Mary and the Ehlerses, the ladies at church, and my family. Every month, sometimes multiple times, I'm reminded there's people back in the land of plenty and peanut butter that love me and support what I'm doing here even though I often relate more with the freshly plucked chicken sitting in the fridge.
Thank you to all the people supporting me through this past week or so since I found out my grandma passed away. I need all of you more than ever now, even though I feel like I've been quite self-concerned and not as giving/productive as I could be. It's gonna take a while to heal, a while longer than I thought at first. The stares are getting to me more, the lack of work ethic is getting to me more, the lack of planning is getting to me... even though my situation is MILES better than most volunteers.
So, yes. Thanks to everyone. Dzalian didi madloba. Muchas gracias. I love and miss you all.
Thank you for everyone who's sent me mail: Mary, Clare, Holly, Kurt, Jen, Kerrie, Kayleigh, Lisa, and the people from Trinity who gave me b-day cards, too.
Thank you especially for the people who sent me things in boxes like marshmallows, new headphones that hopefully won't break in a week, and that handy-dandy flosser thing--Jen, Kurt, Mary and the Ehlerses, the ladies at church, and my family. Every month, sometimes multiple times, I'm reminded there's people back in the land of plenty and peanut butter that love me and support what I'm doing here even though I often relate more with the freshly plucked chicken sitting in the fridge.
Thank you to all the people supporting me through this past week or so since I found out my grandma passed away. I need all of you more than ever now, even though I feel like I've been quite self-concerned and not as giving/productive as I could be. It's gonna take a while to heal, a while longer than I thought at first. The stares are getting to me more, the lack of work ethic is getting to me more, the lack of planning is getting to me... even though my situation is MILES better than most volunteers.
So, yes. Thanks to everyone. Dzalian didi madloba. Muchas gracias. I love and miss you all.
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