Constantly reminiscing, always thinking about the things we used to do

[rachg82]

So, remember how I said I'd explain what was up with my Mom, once I knew more? Well, it looks like she's had some kind of reaction to advil, and can't take it anymore. Apparently, it's rare, but it's possible for advil to become toxic for the body, if you also take lithium or depakote. Considering this stuff, along with the thyroid mess, she could've been on a path to death, if it hadn't all been figured out (that sounds melodramatic, but it's true). Because other doctors were totally not listening to her. She's thinking of suing her old doctor, in fact. But who knows if that will ever happen. All that matters is that hopefully she'll be okay, now.

Before class, today, I tried to request the next weekend off (26th and 27th, to be exact), so we could go to the beach. But it's a Super Saturday Sale (I guess we have them once a month? Who knew? Hee), so I can't. Mom said she'd talk to Joe, though, and see if we can't reschedule. I don't know if Corinne and Lance already requested time off with their work, though. We'll see. Stupid Sears.

I got a little anxious again, before class, but it was all right. I walked into class late, though (hate doing that, even if it was just a couple minutes). People were doing a Gender Moment. Every now and then, we have to write a few paragraphs about a moment in our lives that we remember, where we (or someone around us) was sanctioned for something they did relating to their gender, and how the person reacted.

When I took the anthropology class last year, with her, I remember she did the same thing (except not with gender, necessarily, but with culture), and I hated it then because it was always right at the beginning of class. So I'd have to walk in, jump in my seat, and start hurriedly writing. Obviously, writing in public then was difficult for me to begin with (still is, but less now than then), but the added stress of doing it right away (often as soon as I stepped in), would just increase my anxiety. I admit, it was one of the reasons, I think, for why I started missing that class (even if it was in the back of my mind). I was okay with it, tonight, although I was a bit anxious feeling, just because I was nervous about finishing on time, and it was making me feel a little trembly.

The rest of class was good. We talked a lot about things that people tend to attribute to being caused by genetics, but which really could be argued are influenced by culture. That sentence doesn't sound right, but go with it. You know what I mean. Oh, and lots of talking about primates. Yes, primates. Hee. Makes sense to me, because hey, chimps are pretty damn close to us, DNA-wise. And people all the time, in the study of anthropology and such, have turned to our fellow primates to look for connections, and differences. Plus, you know how some people will point to the animal kingdom, and say something like "such and such is natural! After all, you don't see chimps doing that!" Like, homosexuality for instance. I've heard people say that exact thing, when trying to justify their bigotry. Which just cracks me up, because HELLO, there are bisexual and homosexual animals in the wild. Duh. Then they turn around and go "well, we aren't animals!" Dude, but you just used animals as your. . .you know what? Forget it.

We watched a great video about baboons, too. Can I just say how much I love our non-human primate relatives? Hee. Wuv them, even. There was this one part that broke my heart. A baby died, during a bad drought, and the mother kept carrying it around, grunting to it for comfort. Then it tried to groom it, but it was cold and stiff, so the mother had to finally relent and leave it behind. Then another female from the troop picked it up, trying to carry it too, but the tail broke off! Aww. (okay, I admit, I laughed at that part. Eeeevil. But the expression on the other baboon was hilarious. Like "D'oh! Umm, I'm just gonna leave her here, and walk slowly away now. . .nothing to see here, nope, nothing at all. . .*whistling*") The part that really got me, though, other than the mother trying to groom her dead baby (*sob*) was later on, she started trying to call to her, with this mournful grunting. SAD! I was sitting there, like "I will NOT start crying at a bunch of baboons, here in the middle of class." Hee. Came close, though!

In the middle of the video, the girl sitting by me turned to me and said "I've been there! I climbed that mountain!" I was like "I hate you." Hee.

During break, I chatted briefly with another girl from class, who was nice. Exchanged names and everything. Something funny about the short convo, though, was how she asked me if I was from here. I answered yes, and she was like "Well, it's funny, because you sound like you have some kind of an accent. I thought maybe you'd be from North Carolina, or somewhere like that." She's from Seattle originally, too, so it's not like she's just not used to how people might sound here. And see, this is like the fourth time or so that someone has asked me that. They always think it's North Carolina, too. Even stranger, my Mom says people have always asked her the same thing, and I know my Nanny and Aunt Kelly have had it happen too, because we talked about it once. Weeeeeiird. My Mom theorizes that it's just our style of talking, and how we enunciate our vowels. It's a family affair![/singing] Hee.

Even though I want to lose weight, I've actually been liking what I see in the mirror, the last couple days. It's odd too, because little things have been combining to make me look less than perfect. Like, my hair has been in a flippy mood lately. As in looking good otherwise, but just being all about flipping out on me, once I leave the house. Stupid rain. Heh, it's a damn good thing I don't live in Hawaii. The rain and humidity there would KILL my hair. And my skin's been really dry, too. So it's funny that I'm all "Hey, I look good!" Meanwhile, my nose is all flaky looking, my hair's flipping all over the place, and my thighs are jiggling. Haha.

After class, Mom totally forgot about me, thinking she was picking me up from work. Which would mean not coming for me until like 10:20, when my class got out at 9:20. Right. She remembered, though, before it got that late, but she was still over a half hour late. Smart, Mom. Heh. I was a little grumpy with her for that, but softened up when she suddenly was all "You know, Rachael, I just want you to know that I think you're such an angel. Really, you're always there, listening to me, endlessly. And you never say anything, or get mad. Well, sometimes you'll reach your limit, but even then, you're still there." Aww. Shucks.

I have to work the next couple days, but not until six tomorrow, and not until five on Saturday. Whoo! Heh.

Haha, what in the Hell? I'm watching Jenny Jones right now, and they have Saddam from South Park randomly in their mix (that they play, before commercial breaks, at least tonight anyway), all "Yeah, let's get busy!" That's hilarious, because I've been laughing about that Saddam in my head, for a good week now. It started when Mom and I were talking about the war, and whether Saddam was still alive, and she was like "Maybe he's underground, you know, like on that show. He's with Satan." Hahaha. So, ever since, when someone mentions Saddam Hussein in real life, I keep seeing the little cartoon him in my mind, all "Heyyyy, God, let's get busy!"

And now, I present you all with The Picture of the Day: April 18th)

Comments

[eternaltimtams.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad they finally worked out what's hurting your mom. Idiots.

[scorpysue.livejournal.com]

Wow. Glad the source of your mum's problems has been identified, and that the class went well. (Yes, I'm giggling about the tail snapping off, too. Evil.)

I always get asked what my accent is, and I've never lived anywhere but in this house, and my parents and their parents are/were all local. Damnit, everybody's else's accent is wrong. Mine's the correct one. Hee.

I had a similar weird moment to your Saddam one, a day or two after September the 11th -- there was some mention of George Bush on the telly (surprise), and out of nowhere, my mum starts singing the George of the Jungle theme. I couldn't stop laughing all night. I mean, that's the kind of thing I'd expect from my brother, or myself, but... my mum?

Mothers. Gotta love 'em.

[sonneta.livejournal.com]

Stupid doctors. They give me the RAGE!