Six Word Saturday

Go away, Santa. It's too soon!

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" ></a>

Where's Cate?

I haven't been blogging much lately and while I don't really feel like I owe an explanation (it's MY blog!), I'm going to give one. Mostly because I need to reflect a bit.

The week before Thanksgiving, we were all wrapped up in Joe's possible job offer. Which he ended up turning down.

The week of Thanksgiving, Joe had an emergency appendectomy.

The week after Thanksgiving, Joe was still recuperating and we were slowly returning to normal.

Last week, I got a nasty stomach virus, which put me in the hospital with dehydration, and then afterwards I was (and still sorta am) dealing with the remnants of the stomach virus.

Which brings us to this week.

I'm still having some virus-related issues and I'm exhausted.

I'm completely behind on my holiday plans, which involved making a lot of gifts because that's more thoughtful than placing Amazon orders off wish lists. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just that it's not what I wanted to do this year. Only, since I lost the better part of 4 weeks, I'm running out of time. So last night we went shopping at Ten Thousand Villages and took care of most of the gifts we needed to buy. It seemed like a great compromise between buying plastic crap and just making charitable donations in our families' names since they are selfish bitches who want presents, dammit will not get a gift and we've supported fair trade and people in developing countries.

But mostly what I'm dealing with right now is a ridiculous amount of anxiety relating to medical bills. I'm glad we have access to healthcare. I'm glad we have insurance. I'm glad Joe and I are both recovering from our unrelated ailments. I'm glad he's made smart financial decisions that mean we'll be able to set up a payment plan and be okay. Still, realizing how much we might end up owing with both of us being sick within 2 weeks of each other is causing a big huge mental funk. Add to that the usual depression I feel around the holidays and my mind is a bit of a mess.

So where's Cate? I'm here, but I'm struggling. I'm getting through each day the only way I know how - a mix of working furiously through my to-do lists and hiding under the blankets. I haven't been blogging. I didn't visit any 6WS posts this week. I'm having trouble finding the joy of the season.

That's where Cate is right now. On the edge but hanging on with all her might. And talking about herself in the third person.

Why did I share this? It's not that I want a million comments full of pats on the head and sympathy. I just want to serve as a gentle reminder that there are people out there right now who are fighting. Depression this time of year - between the weather, lack of daylight, and holiday expectations - is a big deal. If you're suffering from it, know you are not alone and we WILL get through it. If you're fortunate enough to not be suffering a down time, you can do two things for me: be grateful for your blessings and be kind to those around you because we may not all be feeling so blessed.

National Coming Out Day

Today, October 11, is Columbus Day (whatever) and Canadian Thanksgiving (yay neighbors to the north). But more importantly to me, today is also National Coming Out Day. For more information, check out the Human Rights Campaign site.

I'm not going to write a long post on this. I'm not a member of the LGBT community - except as a supporter. Personally, I'm straight. Always have been (with the exception of an odd dream here and there). But this is another one of those issues where I'm free to be straight - and everyone else should be free to be who they are. Without legal discrimination. Without judgement. Without sneers or bullying or violence. Without shame or depression.

My philosophy on life is very much "live and let live". I tend to be a bit conservative in how I conduct myself but that's my choice. And as long as how you are conducting yourself does not endanger or harm another person, I don't feel entitled to much of an opinion except to support your right to live your life. Freely. Happily. Safely.

So, today, I just want to support those who struggle with inequality in this area. Maybe some day, there won't be a need for a special day because being LGBT won't be "special" - it will be a non-issue.

Pre-Coffee

The list of tasks I should not perform before coffee is growing ridiculously long.

• tweet
• edit webpages
• send email
• answer the phone
• write blog posts
• comment on blog posts
• interact with humans
• place my lunch in the work fridge

Wait, what? What's up with that last one?

Friday morning, I grabbed my lunch out of my bag (a frozen dinner and a shredded mozzarella stick) and started to head for the work refrigerator in our break area. At the time, my boss and three (male) coworkers were there, grabbing their morning coffee.

I was halfway down the hall before I realized that that was NOT a shredded mozzarella stick I was carrying on top of my frozen lunch. It was a tampon.

I'm all for feminine hygiene products being discreet but I really shouldn't be able to confuse them with a cheese stick! What moron (was it a dude?) decided light yellow was an appropriate color for the cover of such a thing?

Lucky for me, I caught my error in time to go back to my desk and correct the situation. But can you just imagine, ladies, sitting at your desk when your coworker opens the work fridge to grab his lunch and there's a tampon in there? I'm the only chick in the office so it's not like I can dodge the blame.

Now, someone get me some coffee.

Hazards of Warm Weather

Even though it's not quite summer yet, warmer weather is here. This seems like a good time to review some of the dangers associated with the season.

First, there's swimming. Always swim with a friend. And if you see someone drowning...



A lot of people take advantage of the warmer weather to take a vacation. If that vacation involves children and a roadtrip, it's wise to pack some entertainment. Perhaps their favorite music?



(I love how they immediately go into meltdown mode.)

Warmer weather also means wearing shorts, tank tops, and other clothing with less coverage. For those of us with pasty skin, we might feel we look better with a bit of a tan. Whether you obtain color from the sun, a tanning booth, or spray tanning, remember that a little goes a long way:


And finally, there's summer footwear. Some prefer to go barefoot but strappy sandals and flip-flops are also popular choices. Just beware of the dangers that may ensue if you combine flip-flops with another popular summer activity - cold beverages:

>

Flip-flops really are tricky, even under the best of circumstances!

I hope that as you prepare for your summer fun, you will keep these things in mind. I'd hate to read your blog in the next few months and find that you've fallen victim to one of these warm weather afflictions.

Happy Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. I wanted to do something special but it kind of snuck up on me. Last year, I organized a bit of a blog hop and gave away a blog header/button. This year, notsomuch.

I'm sure you've already read a dozen posts that are more informative than anything I'd write here. If you haven't, this post by Lora at fever is a good one. Full of tips and tricks while not being all boring and snoozey.

So instead of reading a long post from me today, take a few minutes to recycle a plastic bottle, think before you print, hug a tree, or read a label. Because a whole bunch of small things can add up to make a big difference.

First Fursday: Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month

Rusty here! Tonya's napping so I actually have a shot at posting for the first time in a couple of months. On this First Fursday, since my humans are away on a much-needed vacation, I wanted to take an opportunity to share with you about a cause near to my heart.

April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month.

I think it's important to use my fame here on long-haired human's blog to raise awareness about animal cruelty. My humans are very good to me - regular vet check-ups, special medical attention when needed, food, water, shelter, and lots of love.

But not all kitties have it so easy. Remember when I told you how sad I was for Duncan? Some would argue that even though he was fed regularly, the lack of proper care and being forced to live outside all winter was abusive.

Some people hit their pets. Some just ignore them because they're too much trouble. Some don't provide trips to the doctor or training to keep them out of trouble. Some abandon them for whatever reason, like I was abandoned. It makes me very sad in my purr-parts. Even Tonya was the result of a teen-kitty pregnancy resulting from abandoned cats that had not been spayed or neutered.

Because this is also important to my humans, they have decided to donate $1 for every comment left on this post between now and when they return home from their trip on April 10, up to $250. They will make their donation through PetSmart Charities due to their 4-star Charity Navigator rating. 89¢ of every dollar goes to animal welfare agencies that need funding. If you'd like to make a donation of your own, be sure to check out their site. On a side note, my humans first met me at a PetSmart adopt-a-thon.

I know today is April Fools Day but cruelty to animals is no joke, people. Please be good to your fur freaks and consider supporting your local shelters and humane societies as they help take care of the other animals.

Clarification about "Travelling"

In yesterday's post, I wrote this:

Also during my research, I ended up doing a lot of reading about hamsters.

The presence of low-level light at night also accelerates recovery rate in both east- and west-travelling hamsters of all ages by 50%; this is thought to be related to simulation of moonlight.

The problem is, I am neither an east- nor west-travelling hamster. And no, Mo, I am also not a north- or south-travelling hamster. Because I knew someone would ask and it would probably be him.

SomeMonkey My editor pointed out after I published that it should be "traveling" as opposed to "travelling". One L vs two.

I agree with her. Travel, traveling, traveled. I run into the same issue at work with cancel, canceling, canceled. My instinct at the time was to type traveling. According to Merriam-Webster, both are equally acceptable. Thank you, Merriam and your little friend Webster, for being absolutely no help.

Apparently this is yet another British English vs American English issue according to WordReference.com (and every other source I found):

In American English, the rule is that a single final consonant preceded by a single vowel in a two-syllable word is doubled only if the stress falls on the second syllable - hence, "traveled," "marveled," and "canceled" but "forbidden," "deferred," and "referred." There is at least one exception: "kidnaped" can be spelled "kidnapped" because "kidnaped" looks as though the "a" should be pronounced long.

So, to test the theory, I asked my Scottish pal Chixor. She chose "travelled". And then she asked if this was a test to see if she was allowed to retain her UK passport since she's going home in May. Yes, you passed.

Say "type traveling" three times fast. Sounds kinda like "time traveling" and now Joe wants to know why I'm zipping around messing up the time-space continuum.

Anyways, I just thought it was important to bring this matter to your attention. Just think, if I didn't have a blog, I wouldn't have a platform from which to speak. Now, I just have to hope my blog doesn't get cancelled canceled.

Stay Off the Roads

Maybe I'm a wimp, but when the governor, Dept of Transportation, and weather folks all tell me to stay off the roads because the conditions are dangerous, I tend to think that means I should, oh, I dunno, stay off the roads.

This means not running out because I'm bored. Not heading out to the gym just because I can't run in the snow (assuming the gym is even open). Not attending a play or sports event. And not going to work since I'm not emergency staff and can do my job completely from home thanks to the wonders of technology.

It really infuriates me to see people out on the roads in these conditions when they don't need to be. I don't care if you're on a moped or in your big stupid truck. There's no reason to be out, especially when it's icy.

And that goes double for the places still holding events, thus prompting people to be out on the roads. We lost $50 in tickets because there was no way we were going out Saturday night and the venue chose to hold the event and offer no refund/exchange options. Our church (I use the term our loosely here) held services this morning for anyone who was able to attend. As a result, some chick bitched out one of our priests on Facebook this morning because her husband was running the sound system and felt obligated to go out even though he felt it unsafe since services hadn't been canceled. I blame that partly on the church and partly on the guy for not using his own judgment to opt out.

Anyways, I guess what this all boils down to is that I enjoyed my weekend of being snowed in. I accomplished a lot but I also put some things off, figuring I'd also have all day Monday to clean the house and prepare some things for work. And now it's after 5pm Sunday as I write this and rather than continue to work on things, I'm now spazzing about the fact that I have to be on the road for work tomorrow when all of the powers that be except the boss who controls the City budget say travel will be unsafe.

Unless I opt out. Because unlike the church guy, I have the ability to make my own decisions. And while my bosses all think they're more powerful than Jesus the Savior Jesus the lawn guy God, they're sadly mistaken.

Bah-Humbug

I'm not really a Scrooge but other than a bit of gift shopping, I'm generally anti-seeing and anti-hearing anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Preferably December 1st but with Thanksgiving falling so early this year, I'm willing to give a bit of a pass to that last weekend.

This means the last couple of weeks have been rough for me. All of the stores have their Christmas decorations and candies out, Falalalablah ringing through the speakers.

Still, I've had to start thinking about shopping. Joe and I have some, umm, interesting family dynamics to deal with plus everything has to be shipped. This means we have to consider not only what the cranky greedy demanding difficult-to-buy-for family members would enjoy as a gift but we also have to consider budget and ease of shipping.

A further challenge? We're attempting to have a green Christmas. I'm tired of buying plastic crap or stupid trinkets. I'm also anti-gift cards (because then they still go buy plastic crap and stupid trinkets). We're making a commitment to buying environmentally-friendly gifts. Local vendors. Sustainable products. Minimal packaging.

(I should probably let Joe know we've decided to do this - see what happens when he goes away for a week?)

What started me thinking about this is a new blog by Ryan Ashley Scott of Optimistic Cynicism fame. The new blog is called A Free Christmas. Her goal?

"Cut out the entire cost of Christmas gift purchases, but still be able to give (new - not used) gifts to our regular people."

So far, she's detailed who she has to buy for and the usual budget. She's selling off junk they don't need or use for cash to buy gifts. Taking advantage of giveaways. Rigging Entering sweepstakes.

The best part is that she's sharing all of the information in the blog so you can do the same. Regardless of our financial situations this holiday season, it's always smart to spend less money out-of-pocket.

What does this have to do with my green Christmas?  Check out this post: "The Story of Stuff".  We all have so much stuff. I'm in the mood to decrease it, not add to it. And if you don't know what to do with all the money you save in the process, you could always send it to me.

Beautiful Sunday Advice

I don't know about where you are, but here in my undisclosed location, the weather is fantastic today. While I have a few inside things to take care of, I'm also planning on taking the camera for a walk to the lake and spending as much time as possible doing necessary computer work from the back porch.

But a note of caution when you're out enjoying this lovely weather.

If you are trying to turn left onto a busy street with poor visibility and no stop signs, be careful what you say when a big truck pulls up on your right, making it impossible to see around him.

Because your windows are open.

And he can hear you.

Not that it makes him any less of what you muttered quietly under your breath blurted out rather loudly. Just, you know, he can hear you. And will remind you about those open windows.

Just a little hypothetical situation advice from your pal Cate.

You're welcome.

Blog Action Day 2009

Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

The theme this year is Climate Change.

Climate change affects us all and it threatens more than the environment. It threatens to cause famine, flooding, war, and millions of refugees.

Given the urgency of the issue of climate change and the upcoming international climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December, we think the blogosphere has the unique opportunity to mobilize millions of people around expressing support for finding a sustainable solution to the climate crisis.

I struggled with what to write about today. I'm not a scientist. Nobody's ever going to give me a Nobel Prize for anything (except I'm also not George Bush so I guess if it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for me). I don't have anything shockingly original or world-changing to say. So what could I say that's even on target?

And then I saw it. Some moron rocket scientist on Facebook groaning about how global warming is a total farce because it was snowing last weekend in St. Louis. When someone replied and said that "it's not global warming - it's climate change", the buffoon misinformed neurosurgeon replied that climate change is just the politically correct term because everyone has caught on to global warming being a ruse.

No, climate change is NOT the politically correct term. It's the term we use now because industrial engineers such as yourself are too stupid to understand that GLOBAL warming means the globe is warming, which results in some bizarre weather in your LOCAL area. Your narcissistic self can't understand that global warming is not all about you! It's not St. Louis Warming. So since you're too dense to realize that yes, global warming may result in excessive heat for some and snow for others, we refer to it as climate change so as not to confuse your simple brain.

Ignorance makes me nuts. Just because you don't understand, just because you don't want to make changes, don't show your ignorance by proclaiming it doesn't exist. I don't understand electricity but I don't refuse to pay the bill because I deny its existence. I don't understand gravity but I don't glue my stapler to my desk because I doubt it's occurring. I've never seen the Easter bunny but I'm not gonna argue. And you know me, my reaction to my "friend" on Facebook was a strong desire to punch him in the face.

I'm sure this isn't at all what the Blog Action Day people were after. I'll probably be banned from BAD10. It won't be the first time I've been banned for life.

P.S. If this green stuff isn't your kind of thing, go on over to my pal Sass's blog for "Things I Want Thursday". I didn't participate this week because of BAD09 but I plan to play along next week. So many things I want... But for today, the only thing I want is for you to go see Sass. And also, maybe a mocha.

11/28/09: I had to turn off comments on this post because spammers kept replying to it. Only THIS post. Very annoying.

Breastseses

Today, I'd like to talk about breasts. Specifically, my breasts. In fact, I can narrow it down even more than that - we're going to talk about my left breast.

When I was just the tender age of 26 (doesn't that seem so long ago?), I faithfully shaved my legs and hauled in for my annual physical. AKA The Yearly Poke and Grope. I do this every 12 months like a good girl because I haven't figured out any other way to get a doctor to prescribe my birth control pills care about my health.

That particular year, I had gone to general practitioner (GP) because I feel she gives a more complete exam and I have a real love/hate relationship with my gynecologist's office. All was well until the GP asked if I had noticed the small lump in my left breast. Umm, no. She wanted to know if I was doing my monthly self-exams, which I kinda do or don't but I don't know what I'm looking for really. Once she helped me feel the lump, it was very obvious to me. As shocked as I was to have a lump in my breast, nothing could've prepared me for what the doctor said next.

"Just ignore it."

Wait, what? Ignore it?

"Yeah, you're young. Chances are it's nothing. Just ignore it."

This, the official medical advice of my doctor.

Joe and I talked and the more I thought about it, the more that didn't sit well with me. Plus, I'm like a kid that doesn't notice I'm hurt until you point out that little scrape on my knee and then OMG I AM IN PAIN, HELP, I CAN THINK OF NOTHING ELSE!!!

This is getting long so I'm gonna give you the Reader's Digest Condensed version. I scheduled an appointment with the ob/gyn for a second opinion. He felt it was probably nothing but unfortunately he had seen too many people with small lumps at my age ignore them until things had advanced and there was nothing he could do. An ultrasound indicated that it was probably a benign cyst. The doctor left it up to me if I wanted to have it removed at that point or if I wanted to just monitor it closely.

I think I only lasted about 6 months constantly poking at that lump and thinking about it before I called and scheduled the surgery. It was the only way to be 100% certain that there was truly nothing to be concerned about. And when I saw the surgeon, she was concerned enough that she said she wanted to do a needle aspiration that day unless I scheduled the surgery before leaving the office.

The surgery itself wasn't a big deal. It didn't take long and I was lucky with the location of the lump - it was small and near the surface. Scarring was minimal and not somewhere visible to anyone but the husband. Recovery wasn't too bad. And after all of that, it turned out to be nothing. But for my peace of mind, it was necessary to follow through.

So as we enter October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I just wanted to add my reminder to the many others you'll be seeing. It's important to not only to have regular exams but to trust your instincts.

And that concludes today's discussion about my left breast.

A few corrections at the office

Acid reflUx, not acid reflEx. My reflex right now? Punch you in the face.

It's scape goat, not escape goat. You blame it, not run away on it.

Nutrition vs attrition: Nutrition involves the nourishment we receive from our food. Attrition is when we don't backfill a position once someone is fired or resigns/retires/dies. If we're losing employees due to nutrition, we're going to see a big increase in our insurance premiums.

Thank you for your patients. Patience is what we want people to have when it takes awhile for us to fix their printer. Patients are what we want to have if we are employed as doctors.

Also, please be on the lookout for gruntled employees. And next time you screw up, you are going to be reprimanned. No, not reprimanded. Reprimanned.

My job may not always carry a heavy workload but I like to think my salary reflects a decent amount of hazard pay.

First Fursday: Debating Healthcare

It's that time again. First Fursday. I thought I'd keep the topic light and fluffy (like Tonya!) and weigh-in on the popular topic of healthcare. Not necessarily the plan proposed by that nice guy with the big ears but more about the real topics - healthcare for felines.

Back in my days on the streets, before I moved in with these humans, I met a lot of other cats in da 'hood and then in the shelter. I went a long time without proper healthcare. I had a lot of itchies and sores from my allergies and also bugs in my ears.

Since I've lived with my humans, they've taken excellent care of me. Maybe I'm even spoiled a bit. Regular vet visits, occasional "emergency" trips, pills, shots, booty probes. Yeah, I could do without that last one. But I realize not all kitties have access to this kind of care.

Take for example Duncan. He lived with long-haired human's mother and about ten other cats. Tonya met him once but I've never been on that long car ride to the North. She said overall, those were skanky kitties with lots of diseases and creepy crawlies. They don't receive proper care. In fact, the only time they go to the vet is when they're very sick. They don't even go to be spayed or neutered which makes Bob Barker cry. (Also, how rude is it that he's Bob BARKer and not Bob MEOWer. So discriminatory.)

Anyways, Duncan got in a fight outside with some skanky barn cat. This was back in March and he was in rough shape but eventually he seemed better. Last week, he was in another fight. Finally they took him to the vet because he couldn't walk. The vet had to operate and found a lot of infection. Even though they gave him lots of kitty antibiotics, the infection had spread too much and Duncan went to the big litter box in the sky.

If Duncan had received proper healthcare, he'd still be eating his Meow Mix. Even if they had just taken him in March when he first was hurt, he would've been alright.

I wish people wouldn't take home kitties if they didn't plan to care for us properly. It makes me very sad. Unfortunately, Duncan isn't the first pet to face the same fate in that house. I'm so very glad I found a home here with my humans.

So scratch your furry friends under the chin, have our appropriate parts snipped, and keep us safe, warm and loved. Otherwise, Tonya will eat your face.



P.S. Sorry this isn't as light-hearted as other posts by the kitties. Rusty's long-haired human is pretty disgusted with her mother right now and this was the best he could do.

New blogging philosophy

After much soul searching and many sleepless nights, I've reached a decision about the future of this blog.

I'm ceasing operations immediately.

bwahahahaha

Step away from that ledge; it was a lie. All of it. A damn dirty lie.

No, but what I am going to start doing is replying to your fantasticeriffic comments via email. Because I really appreciate your responses to my profound words of wisdom sometimes partially intelligible babbles.

However, this means is that some of you need to do me an itty bitty favor. When your comments are emailed to me, some of you don't have your email addresses included. I type out a brilliant, funny, world-changing response only to realize it's being sent to noreply-comment@blogger.com. This makes Cate cry. And you know what happens when you make Cate cry, right? If you don't know, ask around. It's not pretty.

I'm not going to bother writing out the "how to fix it" myself because I'm lazy other people have already done a much better job according to my BFF Google. Go see the lovely tutorial at GoodNCrazy. There are other how-tos there that I'll check out soon. Maybe you should too. Or not. Up to you.

But please do consider updating your profile. From now on, if you comment on this blog and don't at least receive a quick "hi" in return, assume it's you, not me. And if you don't for some reason wish to enable your email address even though I've promised not to stalk you at least not anymore, I'll try not to take it personally. While I'm rocking back and forth in the corner chewing on 8-tracks and humming the theme to MacGyver.

Sorry to those of you who are already complying and making me a happy girl. No punches in the face for you. Instead Tonya has agreed to reward you with all the cat hair you can eat!

It's your lucky day. For reals.

Feedburner can bite me and so can Monday

It's Monday and I've got nothing.

Which is just as well because apparently my posts aren't showing up in your feeds anyways. Even though I haven't changed anything. It's like Feedburner hates me so much it's now eating my feeds even though I don't use them anymore.

For those of you NOT receiving my feeds who actually wish to receive them, could you make sure you're subscribed to http://www.showmyface.com/feeds/posts/default (good!) and not http://feeds2.feedburner.com/showmyface (bad!)? Or maybe resubscribe and that will take care of it?

I have no idea. All I know is that Feedburner is a punk. And beyond that, I have nothing to say this morning.

National Headache Awareness Week

me: Did you know next week is National Headache Awareness Week?
Joe: Oh believe me, I'm very aware of headaches.
me: Think it's a coincidence that we're going on vacation with my family during that time?

June 7-13 is National Headache Awareness Week. I'm posting about it a bit early mostly due to the impending doom family vacation that commences tomorrow.

The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:

• to gain recognition of headache pain as a real and legitimate condition,
• to encourage sufferers to see a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment, and
• to let sufferers know that there are new treatments available.

As anyone that follows my blog knows, I am a migraine sufferer. I can remember experiencing "bad headaches" as far back as 4th grade. However, it wasn't until my junior year of college that I was officially diagnosed. Over the past ten years, we've managed to decrease frequency from 15+ headaches per month down to one or two. I'm usually able to manage the pain myself using a combination of migraine-specific medications (Relpax though doctor gave me a trial of Treximet for next time), vicodin, ice packs, and dark rooms. If that doesn't do it, I take a trip to the doctor for some injections. Current preventative care really only consists of some hormone manipulation due to migraines being worse around my girly time.

And as anyone who follows my Twitter knows, Joe has recently been diagnosed with cluster headaches. This last week has been terrifying for me. He rarely suffers from headaches and those are usually mild and short-lived. He recently began experiencing excrutiating headaches that lasted for 1-3 hours every night. Due to the sudden onset and severity, he saw a doctor last Friday and had a head CT on Tuesday. I've never been so relieved to hear my husband referred to as "normal" and "unremarkable". The doctor ruled out anything more serious than the clusters and now we begin the search for effective pain treatment. In the meantime, it seems that this cluster may be over so we're hoping for a long remission period.

So as they say in the UK, MIND YOUR HEAD! Any sudden headaches or pain that's out of the ordinary for you should be closely monitored. Follow-up with a doctor and take care of yourselves. For more information on headaches, check out the National Headache Foundation.