What’s on the iPod: Good Arms vs. Bad Arms by Frightened Rabbit
Yesterday was an abbreviated day, and thankfully I thought ahead and made sure I didn’t have a ton of work to come home to. I had a biopsy of a thyroid. The actual needle part didn’t hurt – it was the lump-in-the-throat feeling for the rest of the day that was the painful part. Well, that and stepping on the scale. I’ll always feel pain with that.
But the hard part is over for now. Surgery was not just mentioned, but planned for just in case. I don’t know if there was some manufactured sunshine being blown around, but no one registers a patient for surgery “just in case” it’s needed. My lumpy thyroid appears to have a date with a surgical knife. Gulp.
I will say as he mentioned surgery, I got this look. He said, “Are you okay?” (I’d told him I was needle averse and tended to hit pavement without warning.) I was okay about the surgery, but I have this date to go fishing soon, and I’d just worked out when. There are record bass to be had and dammit, I need a vacation.
I have two articles due on the first of July and August respectively, so the plan is to get #1 done, then vacation, and come back to the interviews for #2. At least, that’s the plan unless something else comes up.
Today is a client interview for a contributed article. I have much of what’s needed on hand, so it’s going to require a little refocusing and a few key quotes. That’s probably a little more challenging than writing from scratch.
So as I ponder getting older and getting enough boat time in, tell me how you get that vacation planned out. What’s your best time? Do you pre-plan or do you take off when the schedule lets up? What’s your ideal vacation?
13 responses to “Ouch”
My ideal vacation is Maui and I like to go some time after Labor Day as prices go down and it's not so crowded. I'm not sure if I'll get there this year.
I am going to participate in my 7th 3-Day, 60-mile Walk for Breast Cancer in San Diego in November. For the other 6, I was living in San Diego so no travel issues. Now I have to pay airfare and get a hotel. I participate with my "Fight Like A Girl" team so we have to stick together. :-)Otherwise, I'd mooch staying with a friend.
So, that may prevent the trip to Maui this year.
BTW-shameless plug-I have to raise $$ to qualify to walk so if anyone wants to contribute, I have a link on my site. Also, whether you contribute or not, let me know the name of loved ones you lost to cancer or the names of the awesome survivors. I would be proud to wear their name on the Walk to honor them.
Lori, I hope the surgery (if it happens) goes well and you have a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself!
Possible surgery? Yea that's weird. I hope it goes smoothly.
My favorite vacation is a beach. Hands down. I grew up at the beach and I've been in withdrawal ever since I moved away. I love, love, love fishing… reminds me of Saturdays with my dad on the boat. Would love to see photos of the record bass you catch!
Continued prayers for you. Just to ease your mind a bit, my grandmother had a lumpy thyroid when she was in her 70s. Turned out to be just nodules. They removed part of the gland but not all, because she didn't need to be on medication for life.
Take the vacation. You deserve it.
Thyroid surgery? Yikes. Do your best to forget about it and go fishing.
The only vacation I take is my annual trip to San Diego Comic Con, aka Nerd Vegas. Otherwise I try to fit in road trip weekends here or there to new destinations. I don't like to relax, I like to explore. I'd hoped to drive up the West Coast this summer but it doesn't look like my schedule will allow it… maybe next summer.
I hope you won't need surgery, Lori. But if you do, I hope it goes smoothly.
Vacation? What's that?
When I was too little to remember, my family spent a week or so each summer at a rented lake cabin. Then from ages of about 5-9 we had two-week summer vacations – all by car, so half the trip was getting to and fro. When I was 10, it was downsized to a week at a family friend's house in Tennessee. That was the last of childhood vacations – they ended the summer my mom died.
My next vacation was in 1994. I spent 5 days in London (first plane trip ever), visiting a friend who was attending college there. Since then I've had a few short work-trips that I try to convince myself were vacations. LOL.
Seven years ago my cousin's family invite my sister and me (plus her three dogs and my one dog) to their lake house in the North Woods for a long weekend. That was relaxing, mostly because I didn't have to worry if my dog was okay.
Even if I could afford a nice trip, vacations are difficult for me to pull off. Despite the copious amounts of dog sitting I do for others, when I need a dog sitter no one's available. I'm not asking anyone to take my dog in, or stay here with her – just stop in, feed her, let her out, maybe play with her a bit a couple times a day. My dog is really nervous and anxious, and her vet said a kennel would not be a good idea – she could have a panic attack. At home, she might be a little lonesome (hah – my dog is the cat-dog – she always wants her space) but being in a familiar setting will keep her calm.
I've been through the wringer this week just trying to find someone to feed & water my dog for one night so I can go see my niece's first dance recital this weekend. See Lori, goldfish have their advantages!
I guess staycations are more my speed.
Lori, first of all, good luck with the health issues!
Second, the ideal vacation is…whatever's next! My wife and I are heading to San Diego (sans kids) in late July for a week of bareboat sailing on the SoCal coast, so we are really, really looking forward to that. (I'm bringing my fishing rod, but haven't a clue whether to expect any action.)
We generally do a weeklong summer trip every year, with a two-weeker every second or third year. We've had this one scheduled for a while, and it will be a "connectivity-free" trip, so I will contact my regular clients in the next few weeks in case they want to put anything on an accelerated timetable.
Great question, and thanks for getting me daydreaming again 🙂
Sorry to hear about the whole surgery deal. I'll be thinking of you and sending good vibes your way. Let us know if you need anything, even if it's just to vent.
Vacations are tough around here, as far as going anywhere. We have to work around what hubby's allowed to take for time off, my son's summer school times and my appts. It's just easier to plan to stay home.
The only thing we have planned this summer is to go to Walnut Grove for their Little House on the Prairie Celebration. The girl who played Nellie on the TV series awhile back is supposed to be there. We thought that would be interesting.
Chiming in again to say, as someone who's had a few biopsies over the years, the hardest part is often waiting for the results. How long did they say it would be before your results come in, Lori?
I'm hoping for good news, of course!
Lori, I will send a few positive vibes your way for good news.
I think my situation is a sad one. I haven't been on a real vacation (travel outside of the Lone Star State) in years — that I am overwhelmed with trying to figure out what I'd do if we could make a trip happen.
It's not that we won't — things have come up and we had to make sacrifices. That's all.
That's it – I'm taking up a collection to send both Meryl and Paula on a joint vacation. Or pay someone to physically drag you both out for some fun. 🙂
Thanks for the good wishes, everyone. I'm sure I'll be fine. It's just annoying. This stuff never happens in the winter when I'm bored. I'll know by Monday or Tuesday, Paula. Either way, I'm pretty much figuring on an overnight stay at the Hospital Hilton (so to speak).
Cathy, I'm coming with you on your vacation! Never been to Maui. Good luck on the walk! I'll toddle over to your site and donate. 🙂
Ashley, me too. I was at the beach last weekend. This weekend I'd LOVE it, but I have an anniversary and I don't think it's his favorite thing to do (how could it NOT be??).
Thanks, Kathy. 🙂 I appreciate the thoughts.
Wouldn't have figured you for the Nerd Vegas type, Valerie, but I think that's really cool!
Enjoy the daydreaming, Jake. I think we should all practice that often. :)) Sounds like a great trip you have planned! I know some folks around the blogosphere from San Diego. Too bad you can't meet up!
Wendy, that's just odd enough of a trip for me to want to go, too! I love the local celebrations and off-the-beaten-path things.
Thanks, Lori! You must go to Maui–love it! I have been going for 16-17 years. In my Corporate days I had so many frequent flyer miles, I flew free. Sadly, not anymore.
Fingers crossed about your surgery. Maybe if you have it, you should recover in Maui! 🙂
Our vacations are taken up by traveling to see family (it was the same when I was growing up). But we hope to be closer to family some day & then take a vacation just for us. Maybe a cruise. But I would really love to go to Europe & bum around with my camera for a bit. Especially Italy, Scotland & Ireland.
@Valerie – I wish I had bought tickets to Comic Con. Since it's local to me, I should have planned ahead. Oh well, maybe next year we'll have the $$ for it.
@Lori – you're in my thoughts. I hope everything turns out to be fine.
Thanks, becky. I'll be fine. 🙂
I want to go to Europe with you! Damn. The farthest I'll head is Ontario, I think.