Dear So and So

[Biciclista]

I love that Don has bike & trainer in his hospital room!

that's past tense. he's home now, done with chemo ... hopefully forever but who knows.

[Owlie]

Dearest Body:
The faster you adjust to the relative cold and work out this "sleep" thing, the better. I don't think we can set mileage records this month, but I'd like to ride. Next weekend, 'kay?

[badgercat]

Dear buddy,
Way to go! I knew you'd sail through your surgery when it finally happened. There's a long, long road ahead, but that's one major step in the right direction. Next stop: transplant list!

PS--the RN implied that the drugs will make you forget most of your recent time in the ICU, but I hope the dumb jokes, bad movies, and silly card games with your many visitors brought you some comfort and distraction in the moment.

also:
Dear universe,
It'd be awful and selfish of me to hope for someone else to die so that my friend can live, but would it be ok of me to hope that if someone is going to meet a tragic end anyway, they're an organ donor and a match?

[Biciclista]

also:
Dear universe,
It'd be awful and selfish of me to hope for someone else to die so that my friend can live, but would it be ok of me to hope that if someone is going to meet a tragic end anyway, they're an organ donor and a match?

nah, we're ALL going to die. Me, I'd like to be useful after i die, so don't worry, your wishing isn't going to make any more people leave the earth plane, we're all going to anyway. Just wish for more people to become organ donors!

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear buddy,
Way to go! I knew you'd sail through your surgery when it finally happened. There's a long, long road ahead, but that's one major step in the right direction. Next stop: transplant list!

PS--the RN implied that the drugs will make you forget most of your recent time in the ICU, but I hope the dumb jokes, bad movies, and silly card games with your many visitors brought you some comfort and distraction in the moment.

also:
Dear universe,
It'd be awful and selfish of me to hope for someone else to die so that my friend can live, but would it be ok of me to hope that if someone is going to meet a tragic end anyway, they're an organ donor and a match?

yay for your friend! And no, it's not selfish. I always believe that when the universe says your time is up, its up and no matter what you do to dodge it, it'll come get you anyway. So if someone has to die, at least let something good come out of it.

[badgercat]

Thanks, ladies. I was proud to check off the "organ donor" box when I applied for my first driver's license at age 16. If "my number comes up" suddenly, I want them to send my parts to as many others as possible! Recent experiences have only solidified that belief for me--this is my first direct experience with someone needing a transplant. In the mean time, I donated blood last week... I'm going to try to start doing that more regularly.

[PamNY]

Dear Occupy Wall Street,

Please stop stealing from our farmer's market vendors.

Railing against corporate greed is fine, but in reality the only businesses you are hurting are small farms and falafel street vendors.

[indysteel]

Dear Vet: You know that I generally love all the vets and techs at your practice, but I'm disappointed this time around. The two drugs you prescribed are contraindicated for one another, as they both increase serotonin uptake, leading to serotonin syndrome. Thankfully, Henry didn't react as badly as he might have, but he was still really not himself yesterday, making a bad situation seem even worse. I just wish I'd done a bit of research on my own before giving him the second drug. But isn't that what I rely on you for?

And what's with not calling to check up on us? I used to get a call after nearly every sick-kitty visit to check on our progress, but all you have been mum this time around. I know with with of the vets going on maternity leave, you're all probably having to take up some slack, but it's a noticeable drop in service. In any event, please call with his test results soon.

Thank you.

[indysteel]

Boy, I'm on a roll in this thread....

Dear In-laws:

For the love of God, please try something new for a change. I was hoping with your upcoming visit that we could perhaps do something outside your norm, i.e., outside the cheap kitsch that is Nashville, Indiana or the (God help me) packed outlet mall. I thought by suggesting an antiques mall in Indy that I wouldn't be straying too far outside your comfort zone, but I guessed wrong apparently. Yes, their website has a few pictures of Victorian pieces, but that doesn't mean that the entire mall is "too fancy." But what does it matter anyway? None of us are in the market to buy anything more than a tricket; it's just someplace to go and something to do that's slightly more interesting than mindless shopping with the masses. Live a little for Pete's sake.

Signed,

Your increasingly annoyed DIL

[azfiddle]

Badgercat- very happy for your friend and if there is anything we can do, let me know.

Mimi- hope that Don is definitely done with chemo and the future course of treatment is clear (and successful).

[PamNY]

Dear Self,

Trying out Trader Joe's prepared pizza crust dough was a good idea. You did indeed have artichokes, olives, and other good things to put on it.

Forgetting that the instructions said "lightly oil the pan" was not a good idea. Perhaps it's time for new pizza pan.

[Bethany1]

Dear Self,

For the first time since cycling you are getting somewhere! You aren't getting sicker than a dog after a ride, dying of oxygen half-way up a tiny hill, falling off a bike (well, Friday I fell over doing a wheelie in the grass w/mountain bike) going through 2 full bottles off water and you've only done a mile, and you aren't sleeping off a 2 mile ride for 3 days straight.

It's taken all summer to get this far and the past couple of days of have been wonderful.


Dear Allergies,

You showed up this summer since I've been outside and I hate you. Now that the tractors are out harvesting, you've really made my life miserable. Go away.

[Owlie]

Dear body/brain:
Please, please, please stop magically waking up at 10PM after being tired all day. I won't be able to sleep, and I was going to start an exercise regimen this week. And I wonder WHY we spend all day being tired...maybe because I have to get up at 7am? The fact that you're suddenly awake and want to do things is not helping this!

Not-dear program coordinator:
On Friday, you told us that we could turn in the papers at the end of the quarter in one batch. Today, you told us that we had to turn one in at the end of each rotation, but would give us until Friday. There's a big difference. How are we supposed to turn in our paper on the last day of the rotation if we haven't actually finished the rotation until the day we're supposed to turn it in, since we're supposed to write about what we did/saw/were shown?
While we're on the topic, please stop acting like all of this should be obvious, because it isn't. NOWHERE is this written down--I checked the handbooks and the calendar you gave us. Stop being a jerk.

Dear self:
Learn to play politics and stop being so shy. Getting through grad school in a manner favorable to your future requires it.

Not-dear professor:
ARGH.

Dear classmates:
Seriously, grow up.

[Pax]

Boy, I'm on a roll in this thread....

Dear In-laws:

For the love of God, please try something new for a change. I was hoping with your upcoming visit that we could perhaps do something outside your norm, i.e., outside the cheap kitsch that is Nashville, Indiana or the (God help me) packed outlet mall. I thought by suggesting an antiques mall in Indy that I wouldn't be straying too far outside your comfort zone, but I guessed wrong apparently. Yes, their website has a few pictures of Victorian pieces, but that doesn't mean that the entire mall is "too fancy." But what does it matter anyway? None of us are in the market to buy anything more than a tricket; it's just someplace to go and something to do that's slightly more interesting than mindless shopping with the masses. Live a little for Pete's sake.

Signed,

Your increasingly annoyed DIL

Right there with you Indy, I take my mom shopping on Sundays... Aldi and Wal Mart (with an occasional side trip to Kohls) every frigging week! I suggest doing something a bit different and get looked at like I'm suggesting she shave her head and get a tattoo. *sigh*

[Eden]

Dear Self,

Trying out Trader Joe's prepared pizza crust dough was a good idea. You did indeed have artichokes, olives, and other good things to put on it.

Forgetting that the instructions said "lightly oil the pan" was not a good idea. Perhaps it's time for new pizza pan.

forget oil - coarse corn meal works great - and it's even better if you forget the pan and use a pizza stone too.... just be prepared to set off your smoke alarm if you don't have a good exhaust fan....