IBS med & bathroom log

I have been keeping a medicine/bathroom log regarding my IBS-D. If there is interest I would be willing to share that. Basically I keep track of the medicine that I am taking for my IBS as well as a bathroom log keeping track of how often and what type of stools I am producing.

If this would be of help to anyone I would be willing to share it even though it is intensely private.

Feel free to comment so I can gauge if there's interest.

A timeline of Post-Infections IBS...

Collection of posts from Tumblr & Facebook about my IBS (TMI warning), TW: Health issues

Posted on Facebook December 5, 2014

• Entering week four of the stomach bug or GI virus or universe exacting karma on me. So tired of this.

Posted on Facebook December 13, 2014

• I've decided to ask for a referral for a gastroenterologist. I can't deal with this anymore. I'm so miserable.

Posted on Facebook December 18, 2014

• Status update on my health: not celiac. One possibility down...

Posted on Tumblr December 19, 2014

Personal Rant

• So, this has nothing to with Tom Hiddleston or Benedict Cumberbatch or Sherlock or Sherlolly or Star Trek or Loki or any of the things I usually blog about so feel free to ignore, I just need to vent a bit.
• A bit of TMI to follow:
• I’ve been sick since mid November. At first I thought it was a horrible stomach bug, but I didn’t have nausea or vomiting, just… other stuff.
• It’s been over a month & it’s not gone away or gotten any better.
• I’ve had a bunch of blood work & antibiotics & seen specialists & had procedures & now I’m waiting for results. My blood work shows it’s not celiac. From what I’ve researched, I (in my complete lack of medical knowledge) think it’s ulcerative colitis or inflamed bowel syndrome/disease? I dunno. It could be something else entirely. I have to wait for results. 
• This has been one of the worst experiences of my life. And I’ve had some doozies in the past.
• I just want it to be over. I want something, anything, to fix it. I’m so tired of this. I’m so tired. I really can’t take much more of this. But I have no choice but to suffer through & carry on.

Posted on Tumblr December 22, 2014

• I’m so sick, I can’t even drink wine. I think that’s super unfair. At least if I was drunk, maybe I wouldn’t care about being so fucking sick.

Posted on Facebook December 22 2014

• People, I appreciate your asking for my wellbeing. I truly do. I love my friends & family. 
• But please, stop being surprised when I say that I'm not better. I feel horrible enough without having to explain every time about how this process is ongoing. This isn't going to get better soon. The results aren't even back from my tests & procedures. Just wish me well & send me good vibes, thoughts & prayers (please).
• I'm wicked sick. The end.
• - I don't mean to complain, well yeah I do, but I'm exhausted from being sick & super short tempered as well. So apologies for my bitchy post.

Posted on Tumblr December 24, 2015

• Trying to psych myself up to go to a family Xmas Eve get together in a couple of hours.
• Still ill.
• Just the idea of putting on a real bra & a nice shirt & jeans & boots is like way too much for me. Never mind putting on a little mascara so I look less drawn & exhausted, & well, ill.
• If I could go as I’m dressed now, with my long sleeve Patriots Super Bowl Champ (XXXVI - it’s an old, super comfy shirt) t-shirt & my yoga pants & slippers, that would be so much easier. 
• I might just do that.

Posted on Tumblr December 28. 2015

TMI - health issues & grossness. Sorry not sorry.

• Opioid medicines cause constipation. Right now, I’d give my left arm for some constipation. It’s been a month & a half of serious GI issues. No answers yet. I’m so done with this.
• If anyone has any leftover pain meds, I’d love to have them. Seriously.
• I know nothing will come of this. God knows my docs won’t give me any - & I understand why… truly, people abuse them all the time. But I just want to be constipated for a week & give my butt a break.
• Sorry for the bitching. I’m just exhausted by this illness.

Posted on Facebook January 2, 2015

• This is my life right now, (the Bleachers song) I wanna get better. I'm so tired of being ill. And it's not just being sick. It's ill. I'm ill. We use the word 'exhausted' very casually but I am literally exhausted all the time from whatever is plaguing my body.

Posted on Facebook January 15. 2015

• CAT scan today. Hope to find out what's going on with my insides. Stick a fork in me because I AM DONE.

Posted on Tumblr January 20, 2015

My Health Update

• My CT scan showed only minor inflammation. My gastroenterologist believes I have post-infectious IBS. We’re adjusting my medicine & seeing how it goes. 

Posted on Tumblr January 21, 2015

I need to vent

• Quick recap: GI issues since November. Colonoscopy: fine. Blood work: fine. Slight malabsorption indicated. Had CT scan last week, waiting on results, followup with GI doc next week. Taking pancreatic enzyme RX now & probiotics.
• The Rx gives me a headache. It’s a listed side effect. It also says dizziness which I don’t really have but sometimes I do feel light headed even when I’m sitting down.
• Almost everyday, my head aches or is all stabby stabby inside. Plus I’m still suffering, especially at night. I am so fed up with this. I need to feel better soon.
• I’m going crazy.
• My entire life is on hold. I’m on hiatus. All I do is read (which I love but lately my eyes have become itchy & watery & that makes reading less fun) & go to the bathroom.
• ETA: I almost wish (but not really, because ugh, this is already awful) I had more symptoms because then it would be easier to figure out what this is. I’ve looked up Ulcerative colitis, IBS, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance (celiac or non-celiac) & I’m like, nope, that’s not me. Like I’m not foggy headed or bloated or suffering from abdominal cramps or anything other than “intestinal distress”. Yeah I’m tired & wrung out but that’s just a result of the major symptom. My headache I’m sure is from medicine.

Posted on Facebook January 28, 2015

• Spoke with my gastroenterologist. My CT scan looked good, just some minor inflammation. He believes I have post-infectious IBS. We're adjusting my medicine & seeing how it goes.

Posted on Tumblr February 18, 2015

• Every time I speak with a doctor’s office lately about my GI issues I burst into tears & sob like crazy as soon as I’ve hung up the phone. I’m so wrung out, emotionally & physically. This whole experience is exhausting. I’ve been exhausted for three months now.
• I’m trying to see a different doctor to get a second opinion that’s more than “it *might* be post-infectious IBS” & one that will hopefully be help to if not cure this then at least make it livable. 
• I’m just so miserable lately & depression is getting harder to keep at bay.

Posted on Tumblr February 25, 2015

• Going to see a new gastroenterologist. Freaking out. Part of me hopes for a more decisive diagnosis & action plan, but the rest of me is very discouraged by all that is gone on so far. Plus I’m sliding down the slope towards depression living with this illness. My doc just upped my meds to stave it off.

Posted on Tumblr & Facebook March 9, 2015

Mini health rant Because this is my life now

• While I know it’s a good thing that my test results keep coming back normal or not showing major problems, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m incredibly ill & losing my mind due to it. I just want to get better. I hate this. I wouldn’t wish this IBS bullshit on my worst enemies.
• My endoscopy results all came back normal showing only minor chronic inflammation similar to my colonoscopy & CT scan. I don’t want to find out something is seriously wrong with me but I do want to find out what the fuck is actually wrong with me.

Posted on Facebook April 15, 2015

• Thank you health insurance system for not letting me get med I need because it's less than 30 days since last time it was filled. #bullshit

Posted on Facebook April 25, 2015

• Got a stomach bug or something. Feel like I've been run over by a car. Looks like I'm not getting any chores done today.

Posted on Tumblr April 28, 2015

Health rant (from me? I know… shocking) TMI alert

• I had a nasty stomach bug this weekend. Vomiting, mostly diarrhea - shaky, achy, the works. 
• I have NO idea what caused it. My husband & I ate all the same foods. My car was in the shop so I was housebound for 2 days prior to the onset of the illness. I ate toast, crackers, ginger ale & vitamin water all weekend. Then I added applesauce & jello towards Sunday evening. No I am not pregnant. 
• It lasted all weekend & while I was shaky & weak as a kitten Monday, it seems to have passed.
• The weird thing was that I also had a racing, pounding heart & felt like I couldn’t breathe (weight on my chest) - which I usually get during my panic attacks. 
• Could this have been a different sort of panic attack? I have no clue otherwise how I got sick. I’ve never had a panic attack like that. Ever. I’ve never gotten physically sick due to stress before. The added stressor in my life are a couple of big unexpected bills & my appt on Wednesday with my GI doc (IBS?? since November).

Posted on Tumblr June 4, 2015

• Ever since I’ve been suffering from IBS, sometimes I get really resentful when I get hungry. Like, “are you fucking kidding me? Why put food in there when it’s just going to shoot right out the other end? Am I even getting any nutrients? What is the point of this shit?!”
• I mean, I eat anyway, because I’ve never been a person that can just not eat or skip meals willy nilly - my blood sugar drops or my blood pressure drops. Shit drops & then I fall down. So I eat regularly. I just resent the need for it since I’ve been ill.

Posted on Tumblr June 27, 2015

EPIC TMI ALERT

• I’m so fucking tired of living on the goddamn toilet. How can someone have so much shit in them? I’m literally full of shit!
• Stupid fucking IBS!

Imagine. A short story I wrote back in college. Set in 1995.

Imagine

As my friend and I walked through Central Park towards Strawberry Fields, John Lennon suddenly appeared at my side. My friend was talking but his voice faded into the background when John began to speak.

“Hullo,” he said, with a little wave of his hand. 

I turned and stared at him, flabbergasted. 

There was John Lennon, circa 1964, before his self-proclaimed “fat period,” standing before me, plain as day. I tried to think of something intelligible to say, but the words that blurted out of my mouth were,
“you’re dead!”

John laughed. “Of course, I’m dead. It’s the nineties, isn’t it?”

“But… but, why are you here?” I stammered.

“I came to talk to you. I noticed you from up there,” he stated, gesturing towards the sky.

“Up there, you mean, as in Heaven? Does this mean you believe in Heaven? What about the whole ’Imagine there is no heaven’ bit?” I said, sarcastically. ‘Did someone slip a hallucinogen in my water?’ I wondered.

“Well, after you die, where you go depends on what you believe.“ John ignored my sarcasm, giving me a wry grin.

“I see,” I said. “Well. Actually, no I don’t. But that’s okay, I like surprises.” “I counted on that, I came down here as a surprise,” John laughed.

“Well, uh, thanks, but you scared the hell out of me! Are you alone, or is Jim Morrison gonna jump out at me from behind a rock?” I asked.

“No, no, it’s just me. I thought I’d pop down for a bit, see the sights, have a cigarette. The usual.” John said.

“I see,” I said, even though I really didn’t. “Do you do this often? Or it this more of a one shot deal? Will I see you again after this or do you dissolve and men in white coats come and take me away?” My voice was thick with sarcasm.

“I’m not sure. It depends on how this trip goes. But don’t worry, you’re not crazy. Can’t say discussing this with anyone would be considered healthy, but it is real, “ he paused, “I’ve never done this before, y’know. This is a first for me too.”

“Well, that’s comforting! Okay, then… why me? Do I have a sign on top of my head that I don’t know about, inviting dead people to come chat with me? I mean, did you just look down see me walking and say, ‘hey. I’ll go scare the hell out of that bird’? Did you plan this? Understand, I love that I’m actually talking to you, but, I guess I’m more than a little freaked out.” I clamped my lips shut, embarrassed by my rambling.

“And so you should be. We dead people don’t do this often. If this happened to me when I was alive, I’d think I was one a bad trip. Not that you are,” he corrected himself hastily, “but that would’ve been my reaction.”

“Whew, I’d hate to think that someone in New York would ever do something as mean as that!! I said, smiling.

John laughed. “You remind me of me.”

“What? Like, I’m dead, too?” I asked, fearing the answer.

“No, you cover your true self with quips and comebacks,” he clarified.

“Well, thank you. I appreciate the comparison.” At that point, it dawned on me that my friend, Connor, was still talking to me and that my silence may worry him and that we were still walking towards Strawberry Fields. I thought I better try to rectify the situation. “Er, John, does Connor over here,” I gestured to my friend beside me, “have any idea what’s going on?”

“Nope,” John replied, “hasn’t a clue; he’s still talking to you.”

 “Ah, what should we do? I mean, I’ll have to talk to him eventually, don’t you think? Besides, he’s a really big fan, he knows a lot about you and The Beatles, more than me, I’d say. Not that I don’t love you and your music, he just has more info rattling around his brain than me, if you can believe it,” I said hurriedly.

John leaned over. “Relax, I’m here to see you. You intrigued me and so I came down,” he whispered in my ear. 

 I shivered and Connor spoke up, “Jackie, are you cold? We’re almost at Strawberry Fields, I think.” 

I snapped out of my reverie and turned to Connor, “Connor, um, do you think I could have a minute or so to myself. I’ll meet you there. You go on ahead.”

“I don’t know, are you sure? Are you okay?” Connor asked, sounding concerned.

“I’m fine, really. Go on. I’ll be there soon.” I squeezed his arm and watched him walk away.

I sat down on a bench and put my head in my hands. “Jackie, get a grip! Next thing you know, a young Micky Dolenz will show up to serenade you,” I whispered to myself, “hey that’d be kind of cool.”

“I can arrange that, you know. Sleight of hand, really.” Startled, I looked up to see John sitting beside me.

“You know, if I were you, I’d go by the name Jack. Think about it, how many girls do you know named Jack?” John laughed over his own comment.

“Oh, Christ, you’re real,” I muttered. “First of all, don’t sneak up on me like that. Second, do not call me ‘Jack’ and third, I’d be awful worried if you were me… I just can’t believe you’re real.” I finished, with a sigh.

“Jack, I’m as real as a man who’s been dead for fifteen-odd years can be!” John chuckled at my reaction.

“You’re very cavalier about your death, aren’t you? I mean, I don’t know if I could be so blasé about it,” I turned to to look into his eyes.

John averted his gaze and spoke quietly, “well, I’ve had a long time to think about it and there’s nothing I can really do. I’d like to be with Sean and Julian and Yoko, but, I mean, I can’t. There’s nothing I can do.”

“But, wait a minute, if you’re here with me, why can’t you be with them?” I asked.

“Leaving them would be too hard. I wouldn’t want to put them through all that again. Besides, I can look in on them and they know I’m always there for them. So, in a way, I’m still here, you know?” John looked directly at me.

“That’s very admirable, I don’t know if I’d be so strong,” I replied. 

“It’s not a choice. I have to do this. I have no choice. I had no choice!” John nearly shouted.

“Relax! Look, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up this subject. I’m sorry!” I pleaded. 

John reached over and took my hand. Amazed, I looked down and stared at our intertwined fingers.

“Neat trick,” I sighed, “do other people see you or am I holding hand with the air?”

“No, no, other people see me. I just don’t look like me to them. They only see a couple holding hands. People today only see what they want to see.” John stated.

“Wow. That’s profound. No wonder why you were the voice of a generation.” I said. 

“Rubbish! I hate that phrase!” John said fervently. 

“Whoa! Calm down. I didn’t coin it. I just repeated it!” I sounded defensive, even to myself.

John grumbled under his breath before responding, “I know, it’s kind of refreshing to talk to someone your age who wasn’t around during all the madness.” 

“Yeah, you probably didn’t get much of a chance when you were alive. People my age were three when you died.” I shook my head and laughed softly at the absurdity the situation.

“Don’t I know it! It’s kind of odd if you think about it… so I try not to.” John said with a wry grin.

“Er… Let’s change the subject? I mean… This is so surreal, but since I have you here… I’d like to ask you about drugs. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want but if you do, just be honest, okay?” I asked.

“Alright, I’m known for my honesty, you know,” John smiled.

“That’s not all you’re known for,” I retorted, “anyway, I don’t really know what I want to ask you. I mean, why did you get into drugs? Wait, that’s really vague… Am I making any sense? Oh God.” I finished, a blush stained my cheeks.

“Straight to it, huh? Well, I think I understand what you’re getting at,” John replied. “Let’s see, I started smoking marijuana when Bob Dylan introduced us to it. I liked it a lot. I loved the way it made me feel. We all did, especially Paul.”

“He’s still into it, if rumors are to be believed.” I interjected.

“Yeah, I’m not surprised. It was his favorite pastime,” John declared, a fond look on his face as he thought about his former bandmate and songwriting partner.

“So, um, I read that you took pills before pot and then LSD later, is that right?” I asked.

“Right, in Hamburg, we took speed just to stay awake on stage!” John answered.

“Yeah, that toilet seat around your neck would’ve been extra heavy if you were half asleep, I suppose.” I grinned.

“Cheeky monkey!” John grinned. “So you heard about that, eh? Huh. But you’re right, those pills kept us going. God, Hamburg was hell.” He shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. “Next question.”

“Okay,” I replied, “what about your experiences with LSD? What got you into that? And why?”

John thought for a moment before he replied, “I scarcely remember the first time I did it. But it was so wild! It’s like walking around in the dark your whole life and then someone suddenly turns on the light. You’re blinded by the beauty.” A faraway look flickered across his face and I found myself lost with him in a world filled with fantastic images and psychedelic colors. I looked to the sky, and it was as if a hurricane of colors converged above the city.

“It must have been unreal,” I said, gazing at the color show in the sky. 

“Yes, for a while it was,” John replied, “I dropped acid like it was candy and wrote songs unlike any I’d written before. But sooner or later, everything changes, and what was once beautiful becomes distorted, ugly and black.”

I looked up and say the grey pallor the sky had taken, then, suddenly, as John spoke, the darkness disappeared and the crystal blue sky returned. 

“That’s when I stopped dropping LSD and began to meditate… Oh, and then I was on heroin with Yoko, but I don’t want to talk about that.”

“Wow, I wish I could say something meaningful, even something intelligent as a response, but ‘wow’ is all that comes to mind.” I said, awestruck.

“I know, it’s something that can only be experienced, but I don’t suggest it now. The drugs are different. Back in the sixties, they were pure but now they are all laced with one thing or another.” John warned, a serious look on his face. It felt like I was getting a lecture from a cool uncle.

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m not into that stuff. honest!” I splayed my hands out in front of me, in what I hoped was a gesture of sincerity. “But, damn, this is starting to sound like an interview and that’s not what I want. I just… I love talking to you and experiencing vicariously even a small part of your life. This whole thing is just so incredible. I don’t know what to think, much less say.” I said. I felt silly I was talking to a dead man. I mean, not in my mind, either, but in the middle of Central Park! Weird!

I voiced my inner musings. “John, this situation is insane! I still can’t believe I’m sitting here talking to you! I mean, really, is this happening? Am I hallucinating? Help me understand,” I pleaded.

“I’ll do my best but it’s not like I have a manual. All I know is I am really here. This is really happening. I don’t truly understand how and I definitely don’t know why … yet, here I am.” John made an expansive gesture encompassing his entire body.

I shook my head. “What can I say? This whole thing is ludicrous. Every logical bone in my body is telling me this can’t be happening. But, in my heart, I know it is.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” 

“Is that it? Then no,” I grinned.

“Har-har, you slay me,” John joked. The smile fell off my face.

“That’s not funny,” I said, quietly.

“I’m sorry, I know,” John said and quickly sobered, “but what I want to know: why are you going to Strawberry Fields? What’s your motive?”

“I don’t know. Honest. I mean, it’s probably a real tourist-y thing to do, but, I just feel drawn there. It’s as though it’s something I have to do, you know.” I said, softly.

“I’ve looked down on it quite a bit, and it amazes me how many people still go. I love to listen to to what people say when they’re there. One guy, he said I was ‘the talented Monkee’! Isn’t that a giggle?” John chuckled.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! I like The Monkees! No, correction: I love The Monkees! Don’t know them or you can go right back up, okay?” I burst out.

“I wasn’t knocking them! I just found it amusing. That’s all. I like The Monkees! They were hysterical! Calm down.” John bumped into shoulder into mine.

“I’m sorry, I’m not usually that quick to jump down someone’s throat, I’m just a little on edge right now,” I apologized.

“You didn’t really answer my question. Look deep into your soul for the answer, I want to know,” John said.

“I guess, I feel like if I go, I’ll be closer to you. I mean, this is all new for me. I wasn’t around in the sixties. I didn’t have a lasting relationship with The Beatles growing up. I wasn’t aware when you dies. I feel like I need to go, I need to say goodbye, or I’m sorry. I don’t know. You see, when I was growing up, I watched The Monkees and I knew a group called The Beatles inspired their show. I’ve loved the Monkees, forever it seems, but I’ve only loved your music for a relatively short time. So, all the emotions surrounding your years with the group, your marriage, and your death, especially, are all new to me. I need to grieve.” I took a steady breath, and looked at John.

“I understand,” John said.

“Do you? Can you? Did you know there was a documentary about The Beatles that came out a year or two after you died? It was called ‘The Compleat Beatles’. Well, at the end, they show a picture of each of you and say where you are now. Your picture was last, and they said that you were assassinated, which I knew. But, when I saw it written on the screen, I burst into tears. I cried so hard because it’s just so unfair. Why you? Why did it have to happen? I just don’t understand.” My shoulders shook with silent sobs. John reached over and put his arm around me and pulled me to him.

“I know. I know you cried, I think that’s part of the reason I was drawn down here to you. I don’t understand it either and, believe me, I know it isn’t fair. There are no words that can be said… by me… you… anyone that can ease the pain we all feel. Trust me, I know.”

“John, I wish I could stay here talking forever, but I guess there will be time for that someday. Right now, I’d like to go with Connor and visit Strawberry Fields for a while. To more, to grieve, and now, to remember. Will you join me?” I asked.

“I’d like to, but, I think it’s time for me to go back. I don’t know if I can ever do this again, but I want you to remember, I’ll always be with you,” John said, standing.

I also stood up and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you for this. Those words may sound hollow, but they come form the heart. Thank you, John,” I whispered.

“Thank you, Jackie,” John replied.

Tears filled my eyes as I turned to walk towards Strawberry Fields and Connor. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I quickly turned but there was no one there. He was gone.

As I walked down the path, I raised my eyes to the sky. “Thank you,” I whispered. 

I looked around and found Connor in the crowd. He noticed me and waved. I waved back and as I walked along, I heard John’s voice whisper: 

“Your welcome, always… Jack.”

© Diana Shelton (written in 1995 - All Rights Reserved) 

Whatever, I post erratically. Get over it. My reactions to Oscar [TM, (c) - PLEASE DON'T SUE!]

My reactions to Oscar [TM, (c) - PLEASE DON'T SUE!]

I have notes. Like a Hollywood executive, I have a few little comments that are meant to be helpful but will ultimately ruin everything. Ha, just kidding, I no power to ruin anything except maybe dinner.

First things first, I haven't seen most of these movies. I have like negative money in my bank account. Not really, but practically.

(Louis CK: You ever have negative money? That’s depressing, isn’t it? You look in your bank account and it says ‘negative $10,’ that’s how much I have now. Negative $10. That means I don’t even have no money now. I wish I did! I wish I didn’t have anything, I wish I just had nothing, but I have less than that! I don’t have none. I have not $10. {laughs} If it’s free, I can’t fucking afford it!)

So I can't afford to see these movies no matter how much I wish I could. If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride. Oh, Shakespeare, so wise. So prolific. So off the topic. Where was I? Oh right, yeah, I can't afford to go to the movies. I have to wait for them to come to cable & then be motivated to watch them. I just saw "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" & that was a nominee from last year! I've found that movies are requiring a lot more effort on my part to get excited to see it whereas TV shows (good ones, nothing involving Kardashians or random people touching spiders in the dark) I can't watch 'em fast enough! I've said it before & I'll say it again, while the prestige level isn't there yet, TV is the place to go for quality, in-depth storytelling. I wish more books became TV shows like Game of Thrones. Can you imagine if they tried to stuff those epic length books (A Song of Ice & Fire - which I can't recommend enough) in a two hour movie? <shudder> Look what they are doing with The Hobbit for Christ's sake, it's a trilogy now isn't it? & that book is not long. I love the "Lord of the Rings" movies (more than the book, it was just so WORDY & I love words! but yeesh) but this seems like it's more about making money than telling the books story. But I want to have faith in Peter Jackson & I am very excited to see Legolas again. Swoon. 

Anyway. While I haven't seen many of these movies, I have read a lot about them in Entertainment Weekly or on various entertainment websites. So I feel I'm as qualified as anyone to give my opinion.

The list below is from EW.com. My thoughts will be in italics next to the nominee. If there's nothing there, I have no opinion. Or I approve. Or I got tired of writing this blog. ;-)

Best Picture I kind of hate that they expanded this category to ten nominees from five. Five is plenty. I find it hard to believe that some of these noms couldn't have been celebrated in other categories. Like they have always done since this award show began! Also, if there are 10 noms here, why not 10 Best Director noms? I really feel like these two should go hand in hand. OH! And I thought the whole reason for the expansion was to deal with "The Dark Knight" snub, so where's "The Dark Knight Rises" nom? I thought it was a worthy successor to TDK - not its equal but still award worthy. BAH!
Amour Supposed to be amazing but uber depressing. I'll never see this.
Argo Haven't seen it, can't wait to see it, heard it's amazing & deserves to be here.
Beasts of the Southern Wild See above re: Amour.
Django Unchained I feel like this is a knee jerk nom from the Academy because it's QT's follow-up to "Inglourious Basterds" which was amazing & earned a nod for Best Pic.
Les Miserables Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh. I have no personal desire to see this at all. I have heard WILDLY inconsistent reviews of this movie. People are overwhelmed, underwhelmed & some are just plain whelmed. I guess more voters where overwhelmed than the reviewers & people who saw the movie but sadly have no say with the Academy
Life of Pi I heard this is visually stunning but there is a serious emotional disconnect.
Lincoln Haven't seen it, can't wait to see it, heard it's amazing & deserves to be here.
Silver Linings Playbook Haven't seen it, can't wait to see it, heard it's amazing & deserves to be here.
Zero Dark Thirty Haven't seen it, can't wait to see it, heard it's amazing & deserves to be here.

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook Super excited he's here, I've heard nothing but raves for his performance.
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln I think it's practically impossible for him to act in a movie & not be nominated. He does nothing for me, but I can't deny that he is universally recognized as one of the best actors working today.
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables Meh.
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master I did read he's good in this role, but he just said last week or so that this means nothing to him so why bother celebrating him? Eh. He's another one that does nothing for me. I wish his brother River was still alive. Him, I loved.
Denzel Washington, Flight I have read in many places that he is electric in this role & that the movie is good but not great. Seems that happens a lot for him. He elevates the material.

Best Actress No surprises here. Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour 
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild Really happy they nominated her even though she's so young. She was only 6 when she filmed this role. I haven't read a bad thing about her performance anywhere.
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Best Supporting Actor No real surprises here. 
Alan Arkin, Argo
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Best Supporting Actress Again, no real surprises here. 
Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director I feel my rant above about the Best Picture situation says all I have to say about this category.
Michael Haneke, Amour
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Animated Feature I'm just surprised there were five animated movies the Academy deemed worthy. Weren't there only like three films in this category last year?
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band of Misfits Never heard of it.
Wreck-It Ralph

Doctor Who Personality Quiz

You are the Sixth Doctor
Take The Doctor Who Personality Test and Horoscope today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.

You are brilliant and have no qualms about letting the world know it. Everyone thinks you are a total twat! You have no fashion sense and always look as if you got dressed in the dark closet of a street clown. You have no real friends to speak of; only a couple of people who tolerate you. You enjoy fishing and have no patience for other people. You will end up on trial for some dubious offence. You will then dissapear and slowly begin to swell.

Rant about elections

I hate election season. 

HATE HATE HATE. 

I hate that the election starts at least 18 months before ballots are drawn.

I hate how much money is wasted buying people's votes through ads or fundraisers or campaign stops. 

I hate that in this country we spend more electing a president than some countries GDP. 

I hate the way people talk about the candidate they dislike or who is against their personal beliefs. 

I hate the way some people seem to judge you based on who you do or do not vote for. 

I hate that religion is an issue in politics: "go to church but not too much, but make sure you go to church, but don't go to a temple or mosque and GOD FORBID talk about your faith other than to acknowledge you have it."

That said, I'll still vote tomorrow. 

The older I get the more uneasy I become about how I vote. When I was young, I was so sure I was voting for the right person. That certainty has faded over the years to the point where I get a creepy-crawly feeling no matter who I vote for.

Six Weeks Post-Op

I had surgery on August 30th. I'd been suffering from mysterious hip pain for months, since late last year, with no diagnosis. My doctor & I decided to scope the hip to see if he could discover what was causing the pain. Thankfully, he found a bone spur that was badly fraying & bruising my labrum (the cartilage in the hip). He shaved the spur & tidied up the labrum as best he could. Now the labrum should heal without the spur constantly beating it up. What is it about us that we need to constantly compare ourselves to others? At least I do! I don't want to, I try not to but it seems every few weeks, I read forums on the internet about hip pain/hip surgery/recovery times, etc. Some people have like no recovery time to speak of; like bam, they have the surgery & then are off the crutches & off the pain meds licketedy quick. I guess I just want to know that my progression is normal. Why can't I just take the word of my physical therapists who told me that you can't compare this type of recovery & that I'm doing fine. I guess I just get frustrated with myself. I need to accept that each individual is different & that it's OK to still feel pain in my hip & need to use a crutch when I walk outside. It's hard not to over do it or to even know if you are over doing it! I also need to actually use the crutch because it's become more of an irritant than a help but when I go without it for a long period of time, I'm MORE sore later on & I'm pretty sure my doctor's office isn't going to keep handing out painkillers! With regards to pain medication, I have a handful left of my prescription medicine & I try to deal with the pain using Aleve & Aspirin (I prefer to Aleve to Motrin because there are fewer pills to take) & only take a narcotic in the evening. I'm also continuing to use ice regularly & I go to PT three times a week. Today I told my dad I'm pretty much in the same amount of pain as I was before the surgery but now I don't mind as much because I know that this will heal & I know what is causing the pain. The not knowing was really distressing, along with the constant pain. People who don't live with constant pain don't understand how wearing it is, how it distracts you from every little thing & makes everything harder to deal with. I'm so grateful that I had the surgery & the doctor found what was wrong & was able to fix it. It's frustrating to still be in pain but I understand why it's happening & that there is an end in sight. It will heal, it will get better & I will be able to get back to being more physically active.