I am home from work today because I feel like a truck ran over me.  I think my father gave me some horrible mutated version of his illness (he had/has a cold, I am thinking this is some kind of sinus/respiratory infection...).  Yesterday I had to leave work at lunch for a business meeting and dinner at Lamont-Dougherty Observatory right around the NY/NJ border (in Rockland county, a bit north of NYC).  Interesting talk about the usual geology stuff and then we had a cash bar, dinner, and after dinner lecture at this nice restaurant right along the banks of the Hudson River.  I started feeling a bit icky on the way up to the meeting, but just one of those annoying things where it seems like allergies are bugging you.  I think I had a bit too much to drink the whole time (and yes, 2 large glasses of wine is too much for me...don't laugh) but dinner was good.

Got home at around 10:45pm, had to take some vitamin C stuff in case I was really coming down with something.  My dad started giving me a hard time due to a stupid little misunderstanding on his part. I was still feeling a bit woozy from the drinks so I did not want to deal with it... asked him why it was such a big deal, and to please leave me alone because I felt sick.  He lost it, grabbed me and called me a few choice nasty things, and in my state all I could say was "How could you say that? How dare you" and started crying.  My mom woke up and heard the commotion, yelled at my dad for the things he said and asked if we could just move on and go to sleep. 

Which I tried to do... but I had a horrible pounding headache that would not let up, so had to take some painkillers.  I really did not sleep very much at all because of the weird scratchy/sore throat and the headache.  Plus I felt very warm... though I wasn't sure if it was due to our weird weather (it's back in the 70s again).  I could not go to work this morning.  My dad apologized to me for losing his temper and everything, which I'm glad for.  I guess he didn't understand how ill I felt last night... but that whole thing is done and over with. 

So today I am left with a sinus headache, sore/scratchy throat, earache, and a bit of a wheezing cough that my rescue inhaler doesn't seem to be helping.  Luckily I have no temperature but I hope whatever infection this is doesn't turn into bronchitis or worse.  I'm sitting here with a cup of warm tea (even though as I said it's in the 70s outside again...ugh).  I'll give it another day and if I don't feel any better or I get worse I'll call my doctor.

On the up side my arm is feeling fine.

*sigh*

Raining nonstop here today.  The roads were pretty bad coming home from work and yet people still drove recklessly and were tailgating me.

I'm not in such a good mood... my dad's cousin just called, the one whose mother-in-law was hit by a car outside her apartment building.  She suffered multiple injuries and was in poor health as it is, and they had to induce a coma.  They just told me she's dying.  Dad's cousin will be coming up here from Florida at some point soon.  I didn't hear the whole story because I'm upstairs staying out of my parents' hair.  As silly as that sounds (I guess it must for an almost-30-year-old), it's because I was yelled at for chuckling at something on TV while my mom was on the phone with the cousin in another room, which I had no idea about.  Someone had turned on the TV so I went in and sat down.  Dad happened to be in there reading the paper.  Someone said something funny on whatever program this was (I don't even remember anymore to tell the truth) and I chuckled... not guffawed or cackled really loud, chuckled *quietly*.  My dad gets very irate and tells me "Will you please stop it.  They don't want to hear this while they're talking since her mom is dying. Hearing laughter in the background is not a good thing." 

Um... excuse me? First of all as I said I had no idea what was going on, didn't even know my mom was on the phone.  Second, she was in another room and I was being quiet so I doubt very much that either of them could have heard me.  Third, I am so amazed that anyone would think I was making light of something so serious, which is partly what he was implying.  I know that something as grave and upsetting as a relative dying is a serious matter and no one wants to hear laughter, but - and I don't know how many times I can repeat this - I was QUIET... and it was due to something totally different.

It's times like this where I really wish I could afford to live on my own.  I really hate Long Island and the way they make it so hard for young people to live here.  It does make me sad to say this because I've always had such a good relationship with my parents but I don't appreciate having people overreact to something so minor and jumping down my throat.

Anyway sorry about that everyone, I just needed to vent.  I must sound like a teenager griping about how unfair her parents are and how unfairly she's treated.  It's almost embarrassing.  But I really don't want anyone implying that I'm making light of something so serious, or acting like I was cackling my head off as loudly as possible, because that's not what I was doing in the least.

After almost 30 years there are times when I still don't get my parents... *sigh*

Just got back a few hours ago from my mini-trip to Massachusetts. Had a very nice time. It was great seeing family and friends again, most of whom I hadn't seen in 5 years. Sadly a lot has changed since the last time I was there, but I still had a nice time. My arm was feeling pretty good, except a bit sore last night probably due to the change in the weather (it went from being a bit humid and warm the first day we were there, to very dry and quite chilly yesterday morning). But other than that it was nice to get away for the weekend and visit.

I do have a few pics to share... the first is a partial view of Good Harbor beach from our hotel in Gloucester, and the other two were taken down at Bearskin Neck in Rockport. I didn't get to take many pics since the memory card I had was on the fritz, so I'm glad I was able to get a few.



Unfortunately we got a call last night from my dad's cousin.  Her hubby's mom was hit by a car outside her apartment building and is in critical (but stable) condition.  Apparently she was in the big driveway in back of the building and some girl was flooring the gas to get up the driveway and didn't see her, and struck her.  From what I've heard she (dad's cousin's hubby's mom) has a broken arm and some internal injuries.  I don't know too much else but I'm hoping and praying she'll be okay.  She's 83 and not in the best shape anyway.

Well, have the new office just about totally set up now.  I was exhausted helping move a great deal of our equipment and furniture to the new building yesterday, then finished it up today.  We still have a few more odds and ends to take care of, but I'd say everything's about 90% done.

Almost had a scare last night with my mom.  She was downstairs and said she didn't feel well, stomach problems mostly.  We found her lying on the floor in the hallway.  She said she felt very weak and was afraid she'd faint.  Really scared the heck out of me.  She'd been on her feet most of the day, it was pretty humid out and she didn't have much to drink, especially water.  I had no idea.  I'd had lunch with her in the afternoon and she seemed fine then, although she was hungry and had a lot of things to eat, some of which I guess didn't agree with her. 

She was sick pretty much the whole night, from around 10:30pm to 5am and ended up pretty dehydrated.  I was worried so I didn't go in to help with the office until the afternoon (which by that time they didn't really need much help).  She slept until around 10am and still felt weak, but after a while she got up and started eating.  I made a run to get her some crackers and Gatorade. 

She seems better now, although she feels stupid for not watching what she ate and for not drinking much during the day yesterday.   It's not the first time she's done something like this and I've told her in the past not to eat something if she knows it doesn't agree with her.  I just wish she'd listen to me because I worry about her.  She's 61, has borderline high blood pressure and acid reflux (which she takes meds for), and her dad - my grandfather - had heart disease and only lived to be 52.  Although I will say for my mom that she always sees a doctor (which is something he never did).

I just wish she'd be more careful.  I've had problems like this myself - not this bad, but I have the same acid reflux disease and some food allergies - and I've become really careful in what I eat.  I don't want her to keep learning the hard way.

This afternoon I attended a bridal shower for my cousin's (not the one who is in the hospital) fiancee. They had it at the Seventh Street Cafe in Garden City ...nice little place. My mom and grandmother were also invited so we all went together. The food was really good, although some things can be said about the service (which I'll get to later). Some of the games they played were so silly, though I guess that's the usual for things like showers. One was called "Toilet Paper Bride," where we had to divide up into teams and one person was selected to be a "model." The rest of the team had 10 minutes to create a "wedding gown" made of toilet paper on the model. The bride-to-be had to judge which "gown" was the best.

I guess you can imagine just who was selected to be my team's "model" (I am SO going to get my mother back for that one). It was a riot though and I was a giggling mess at one point (think it had to do with the 4 glasses of champagne punch I had... yes, like Daniel alcohol goes straight to my head, LOL). But everyone was giggling (and not all at me) so I didn't feel bad. Our team didn't win though, mostly because when they started they almost wrapped me up like a mummy and whenever I tried to walk, part of my "dress" would get torn or fall on the floor.

They also played Bridal Bingo, where each of the squares listed common items you'd receive at a shower. As she was opening her gifts, they'd call out what it was so we could check our cards. Again I didn't win, but I didn't expect to as one of the spaces I had was "car." But it was fun.

All in all, it was a great time. As for the service being something to be desired, the waitresses and waiters were all courteous and stuff, but a guy who worked there (I couldn't tell if he was the manager or not...but he wore a nice shirt, pants and tie, so...) was pretty rude. The restaurant has several rooms, some of which are down on a lower level. The restrooms are also located down there, although there was a handicap access one on our level, but it was just one toilet inside, not stalls like downstairs (and there was always a line for it). At one point, they closed off the bathroom downstairs for some reason (looked like they were just cleaning it up). Much later, before we were going to leave, I went down there because I figured they were done. The door was open and there was nothing blocking it, so I thought I could use it. The aforementioned guy suddenly calls out to me and says "Um, Ma'am, I would appreciate it if you would use the restroom upstairs. This one is closed." Really? Doesn't look like it to me. I was surprised at his rude, annoyed tone of voice so I just said "I'm sorry, I figured it was open since the door was open and the cleaning equipment from before was gone." He nearly cuts me off, annoyed again and says "No it is still closed, one of the toilets overflowed so we are waiting for someone to come in and fix it. So I would appreciate it if you would use the one upstairs!" The guy was acting like he wanted to argue with me when all I did was apologize and explain why I'd come down there. I guess it's not worth it to explain myself to people. I should have said "I thought it was open, there's no need to be so rude," but I only think of these things after the fact. *snort* Well, it wasn't such a big deal and didn't ruin the day for me or anything.

I was going to work on fanfiction today, but I'm a bit exhausted now (plus my feet hurt...it's been quite a while since I wore heels...ugh...). Will have to see if I can make time during the week for it. I hope everyone had a good weekend. :) Can't believe it's almost over already...