It's days like this that I wonder exactly what in the h*ll I was thinking when scheduling classes and work. Was I really tired? Feeling masochistic? Under the influence of government mind control? Something...
Regardless, I'm probably going to just keel over and die sometime soon.
Professor: "Ms. Carlson, could you please demonstrate shoulder adductio----"
Kate: *thud*
Professor: O_O ...
(insert witty title here)

I'm taking 18 credits, plus 16 hours of work, per week. If you add class time to work time, I'm working 36 hours, and am expected to do another ~15 hours of studying/homework per week. So a 50 hour work week, roughly. Did I mention all my classes start at 9am or earlier, and that on four school days I work until midnight? I make our school's version of McFlurries/Blizzards, so I'm covered in ice cream, and need to shower and do some work before bed. So very little sleep, on top of it.

FML

But, on a positive note, I finally got a diagnosis on my right thigh and lower back (both have been bothering me for a while with nerve-type pain). Apparently, my butt isn't strong enough, and my Iliotibeal band (the muscle that runs from just below your knee, up the outer side of the thigh to the pelvis and lower back) has been forced to compensate. So, the IT band basically got worn out and pissy (for which I find myself feeling surprisingly sympathetic), so it decided to have a b**ch fit. This made the nerves upset, and now everything in my leg and lower back has gone a bit haywire. Fortunately, 3 hours of physical therapy per week will help whip my leg (and a$$) back into shape. Did I mention that I have to do an hour of exercises at home every day, as well? I'm already terminally uncoordinated, so I'm living in fear of one of the exercises, which involves doing a sideways crab-walk with a pilates band tied around my ankles.

So I guess in summary, if work or school doesn't kill me, my physical therapist will, so at least I won't be suffering much longer.
I jest, I jest; but it really is getting to be very stressful. I don't have time to do photography anymore, and there's barely any time to even sketch, but hopefully soon I'll be able to scrounge up some free time to relax.

AH! I also have a new apartment! My first one! I share it with my best friend, Sing (we're like sisters, it works out really well). It's awesome, especially since we have a washer and dryer. Since last August I've officially lost and kept off 40 pounds. I've also split from my boyfriend, permanently this time, and I feel really good about it. It was stressful at the time, but I actually didn't stay upset much longer than 1-2 hours. I really don't have the time to waste on being depressed, anyway. Regardless, since I'm not upset, it was probably time for a change, so now I'm single again! Sing (the roommate) gave me a card when she got home later that night that made my day. It said, "Dear Kate, Happy Break-Up! Now you can start sleeping with someone who has a job! Sincerely, Sing <3", and had a cupcake painted on it.

It has seriously made my entire month. Thanks, sis.

Anyhow, that's how I've been doing. Sorry that it's ranty, but I really needed to get it off my chest.
Hope anyone that reads this is doing well! Drop me a line (or comment) if you feel so inclined; I'd like to know how you guys are doing too!

Love, Kate

Got back from the 'con last night. It was so fun to be there! This was my first time cosplaying at the Kumoricon, and I think it went pretty well for my first time making a costume. I went as Luigi, and my boyfriend went as Mario. I made our hats from scratch, so I feel pretty accomplished. (Hats are hard!!! O.O )

Anyhow, to all of you that I saw there, I hope you had fun! I have to really do a good job at work now though, since I spent quite a bit on souvenirs... Oh well, it only comes once a year!

My biggest find was a 4" stuffed chocobo in a moogle costume. It's ADORABLE. I may post a pic later, if anyone wants to see it.

~Kate

Yumyumyum. I really want a burrito, but it doesn't look like I'm going to get one until tomorrow at lunch, soonest. It sounds sooooooo good right now.

Have been busy with work, and trying to figure out cosplay outfits for myself and my boyfriend to wear at the Kumoricon. Anyone else going?

I'm thinking I'll be Link from Ocarina of Time, or Yuna from FFX/X-2. I haven't decided yet. I'm going for two days, so maybe both...? Joe wants to be Squall from FFVIII. It's gonna be fun!

The eye is doing better, though it still acts up towards the end of the night. Bleh. I want to go see the movie Bruno, also. Has anyone seen it? It looks funny to me, but... commercials can be misleading XD


Kate

Ended up going to the doctor about it. She didn't know what was causing the disturbance in my good eye, causing it to lose so much visual acuity. She asked me to see my eye doctor. I said okay, I'll get an appointment in a week or two probably.... (it's hard to get appointments at the opthamologist's).
She said, "I don't think you understand. I don't want you seen any later than tomorrow."


And mentally, I was like... "f*ck."
It could be serious.

Saw the optho. He told me I needed a refraction (the test where they determine your correction needed for your eyes, the one with all the lenses. "which is better? 1....or 2....?" blar blar blar.)

I curiously asked the tech what my correction was in my good eye, knowing that before it had been a puny .5 prescription, while my bad eye had been 1.25.
Nurse: "...well, I determined from the test that the best correction for that eye at the moment is...1.0..... but I couldn't actually get you to 20/20...."

And mentally, I was like... "motherf**king SH*T!!!!!!"
Something was really wrong. The eye was seeing blurry in close and distant objects, and anything emitting light had a halo around it, as if I had water or something opaque in my eye.

After an exam, the doctor told me it was either Kerititis, a build of of Keratin (protein) from my contacts, or an acute viral infection that would soon jump to my other eye. At least, those were the two likely culprits. Thankfully, the treatment is the same for both. Steroids, directly in the eye.

Now I get to put this milky crap in my eyes four times a day. Bleah. Also, I have to go back to the doc's in a week to check in, and I haven't seen any improvement after 3 days...
It's sucky, and scary, and I hate it. My fam is notorious for having genetic eye problems, so I try to take care of my eyes, but...

I guess I've failed.
Oh well. At least I got hours at work this week.

Hope everyone's doing okay. Happy summer!


Kate

Contrary to popular belief, I was not hit by a bus or abducted by aliens, or murdered by psychotic fangirls at Kinokuniya's. I am back, and am trying to make up for my stagnant gallery by uploading a few good, recent shots. For any of you that I was doing work for back in the fall, I'm sorry that it never got done. I ended up back in the hospital (again. Freaking-A!!) for.... kidney stones! Wheeeeee!

...

Well, maybe not. But at least I'm having fewer medical problems. I've now had 3 major surgeries, a few smaller ER procedures, probably about a hundred doctor's visits, and a few ER trips. And some scars too, so at least I'm badass.
All the bedrest made me gain weight, and it seemed that as my weight increased, so did my problems, so I've focused really hard for the last three terms, and have managed to still do decently in school, lose 35 pounds, and not have any more hospitalizations.
It's been a long road, but I'm back in commission, and have free time again. My latest fun thing was a battle with bronchitis brought on by a summer cold that I caught during finals week in June. It was exacerbated by my allergies and asthma. I had no voice, and couldn't swallow anything other than liquids. They put me on a burst of Prednisone (a corticosteroid). Pred makes you have insomnia, mood swings, and also makes you incredibly energetic (read: hyper). I was on it for ten days. However, it also produces miracles. I had my voice back and was no longer in pain 30 minutes after I took the first dose .
As I learned today, though, miracle drugs do have terrible consequences. I may have lost some of my visual acuity in each of my eyes, mostly the left. I now have an urgent appointment with my eye doctor to confirm exactly what the problem is. Oh, well. Nothing that a new lens prescription won't fix .

I hope everyone's healthier than I have been; let me know how things have been going!


Kate