Adventures with Dr. Lady Cutie Troublemaker

So I’m at Helios NOT looking for a job. I’m just visiting with friends and surfing and drinking coffee. No guilt, no muss, no fuss. No more feeling like I want to will people to call me back. No more trying to force reality to finally do what I want. No more wondering what’s going to happen. I don’t have all the details I need just yet, but I will know soon. What a wonderful feeling.

I called the other place where I was really trying to get a job and told them about my offer from this other place. Apparently, they had a LOT of highly qualified people apply for that, so I don’t have a decision to make. Honestly, I’m a little relieved. This would have been a REALLY difficult decision for me.

So a few more details. This is a position in a brand new group practice that is co-owned by two women who work primarily with children and families. There was a nice little waiting room with music playing. There are three offices and a playroom. The financial arrangement is good. When it’s group practice, there isn’t a salary exactly. Instead, I pay a certain percentage of what I bring in to cover the overhead (rent, billing, supplies, etc.). They have already done a lot of marketing, so I will go in with referrals already in place. Very nice. I will also get supervision from them for a while, which I like. I will be doing individual, family, and group intervention and assessment. I don’t know yet when I will start, but I imagine it will be next week. Very fancy!

For the last few years (since Memphis, now that I think about it), I have have a recurring problem with my wrist. I have assumed it was due to overuse of the computer, so I slap a wrist brace on for a few days, and it gets a tad better… a tad. I even stopped doing yoga because of it. I thought it was maybe early arthritis or tendonitis or carpal tunnel or something. Today I finally saw the hand specialist. Guess what! It’s just a ganglia cyst. I got a cortisone shot in my wrist. “How often to I have to get these?” I asked. “Just today.” In disbelief, I clarify, “And then it’s better forever?” “Should be.” !!!

How often does that happen? One shot fixes this long-term problem. That’s all I needed. Dang. Maybe western medicine DOES have something to offer me. I’m always so skeptical.

No more pictures like these:

I’ve found my mark

If you follow my Twitters, you know that Jeep has been a very, very bad girl as of late:

• Fucking cats. 06:16 AM January 09, 2008
• Seriously. Jeep is in huge trouble. Barely slept last night because she was all up in my grill whining for food, as if I hadn’t fed her … … 07:16 AM January 09, 2008
• Jeep, I swear to dog, if you keep me awake all night, you’re going to the kitten farm for bad girls. 12:52 AM January 10, 2008
• am seriously considering breaking out jeep’s kitty-prozac. yes, she has that. nervous critter is a mess lately. 01:30 AM January 10, 2008
• the only explanation is a tapeworm. sleeping on side, jeep teetering on my shoulder, meowing right into my ear. 07:23 AM January 10, 2008

Last night, I fed her much more than usual for her last meal of the day, and she was a perfect angel. I think she was just going through a REALLY hungry phase. Thank dog, because I need some damn sleep!!

Moment in Abby’s IM life. 7:30am, up to feed the cats. Online to check package status. Friend Fred pops up…

Abby: WHERE’S MY G9?! isnoop.net/tracking/index.php?t=1Z81E74W4259882789&i

Fred: THAT’S COOL isnoop.

Abby: It’d be cooler if it moved

Fred: where the FUCK is that?
it’s in some icy tundra

Abby: Nebraska, I think

Fred: it’s nowhere near any road
someone just tossed it out into a field

Abby: I KNOW!

POUT!!!

I know I use superlatives a lot, but really, my birthday weekend was pretty exceptional! Brian and Shannon had this really great party for me, and a ton of my favorite people showed up. We sat outside on the deck by the fire, played Apples to Apples (which I’ve barely played since I left Boston), played Wii (I’m a little embarrassed that I’m actually SORE from it!), and had just a generally very fine time. I love my friends. I really do. I’ve done quite well for myself. What’s even MORE fun is that friends of mine who didn’t know each other before met and seemed to like each other. That’s always been a phenomenon I’ve really loved. Anyway, a few images from the fun (first three by Katy, who was an absolute STAR with the camera):

This one by Lalitree:

More party pictures on Flickr.

There was also a great Flickr meetup on Saturday at the former Bickett Gallery. Thanks, Molly! We had such a fun time. Check out the pictures.

I’m most proud of this slightly racy one: