Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Good Kind of Silence

I just realized this is the worst possible time to take a mini-break from posting, what with that last entry about Lily. (Oops.) So this is me, popping my virtual head in with a few quick updates:


- Lily's home! She's restless and extremely affronted by the last few days' treatment, but since we can't really snuggle with her for a while (residual radiation) maybe that's best?

The clinic reported that while most cats just chill out and sleep for the two days, Lily stood by the door to her kennel and stared at the worker on duty. The whole. Time.  :(  No doubt she was trying to use those hyno-eyes to convince the lady to let her out. Heh.

Here's Lily looking dopey: 


She was mid-blink here, but since she won't stop wandering around and trying to play with everything, it's the best I've gotten so far.

Fingers crossed she's back to her happy old self soon.


- As for me, I've been extremely busy over here with all kinds of important activities, like, uh...



Let's see if I manage to make it through the whole game this time. (Last time I chickened out in the apartment building where the lights keep going out. O.O) Gotta give props to BioShock, too; for an 8-year-old game, these graphics totally stand up. (By which I mean "are utterly terrifying.")


- I've also been writing a little for a new project, which is always tough as a blogger, since I'm used to sharing everything I write RIGHT NOW.

It's nice, though, trying to flex some creative muscles I haven't used in a while.


- I'm still gluten-free, which is still easy if we eat at home (John made me spaghetti with garlic bread, all gluten-free!), and still totally sucky if we try to eat out.


- I also have a sleep apnea machine now. It sucks all the time.  >.<


- In happier news, I'm neck-deep in a new craft tutorial for you guys, which will be going up soon. (Woot!) I'm excited for you guys to see it; just have to finish taking photos and do the write-up.


- And finally, STAR WARS DANCE MONTAGE:


Because dancing Vader will always be the best Vader. 

:D
 

50 comments:

  1. There are apps to help find gluten-free friendly restaurants, like Find Me Gluten Free. As for chains, we eat a lot of Red Robin, Chipotle, and Rubios.

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    1. Find Me Gluten Free is AWESOME. You might find some local places (like, say, GF bakeries) you'd never have known about otherwise. And I second Red Robin and Chipotle. Oh, and a tip that helps me, because I get antsy in loud places: see if you can eat on the patio. For us, it's a lot quieter, and calmer, and being in Arizona, we can sit out there year round.

      Oh, and if you have a Whole Foods or a Trader Joes, both places have GF cupcakes. Whole Food's are frozen and giant; TJ's are smaller and not-frozen.

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    2. Ah, yes! I downloaded Find Me GF after someone recommended on my last post, and it helped us find at least one amaaaazing GF restaurant so far. (Cooper's Hawk, for you locals.) So that helps. But I still miss my McD's hamburgers. :D

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  2. I have cpap machine for sleep apnoea. While i sometimes hate it for being generally annoying (and symbolic of my failure of a body), actually feeling rested when i wake up (plus avoiding heart disease etc) is totally worth it - a bit of time and adjustment and it gets better. Clearly you need to come to edinburgh, scotland to go out for food - pretty gluten free friendly!

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    1. http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-Apnea-Forum.html kept me sane while getting used to it - lots of info and support.

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    2. Thank you so much for this! My husband is going for a sleep study this coming weekend and based on his sleeping patterns we are pretty much guaranteed he'll need a CPAP machine.

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    3. I second the recommendation for Edinburgh, Scotland - come and stay at my place :) Avoid August like the plague though, it gets *horrendously* busy.

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    4. My dad and my grandmother have been on CPAP machines for several years now. It took my grandmother a long time to get used to having something on her face while sleeping, but it has helped both of them tremendously with sleep quality and quantity. My dad has very severe sleep apnea, my grandmother has less severe sleep apnea. Now it's just anxiety that gives my dad problems with sleep.

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  3. I ADORE that video. Almost as much as I adore the derpy derpy look on Lily's sweet face. ;-)

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  4. Yay for Lily being home! I hope the radiation fixed her thyroid condition, and she's back to her usual snuggling self soon!

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  5. Raglan Road at Downtown Disney has awesome GF fish and chips.

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  6. Glad to hear your furbaby is home! I hope she continues doing well.

    It's funny, I'm currently replaying the first Bioshock. It's a good time, though the controls are kind of clunky sometimes(for xbox 360 anyway). Keep trucking through! The story is so great. :)

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  7. I'm so excited to hear that Lily came through alright! Here's to her being back to her normal self soon!

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  8. Sleep apnea machines are rough. I had to try one out before a sleep study once and it freaked me out. Good luck. I hope it starts to suck less soon. Yay for Lily being home!

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  9. I kept checking in and hoping for a Lily update! Glad you are reunited.

    You'll find your go-to GF spots, I bet. I hope you start getting more comfortable with the cpap machine--that can't be easy.

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  10. I use a CPAP too -- DEFINITELY took some getting used to, but now I looove it. Actually breathing while I sleep is very yes worth it.

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  11. so glad to hear that lily is doing well! thanks for updating us!

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  12. Took me a second to figure out who this "John Yates" was --- so used to seeing his handle "John the hubby of jen" or "j-thoj" that it threw me for a loop. LOL!

    My husband is the same re Bioshock and several other horror-genre games - he watches horror movies ALL the time and yet when it comes to playing the game, he gets creeped out of his skin.

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  13. Glad to hear that Lily is home and doing well! Here's to her quickly getting back on her feet.

    I'm the same in Bioshock - my friend insisted on sitting and forcing me through part of the first section, which included me whining 'Nooo I don't wanna walk into the fog to the teddy bear!' and her wheedling 'Just doooo itttt!' which of course ended with a jump scare and me screaming out loud, but also nailing the splicer with my shotgun. Kind of proud of my reflexes!

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  14. Yay! Lily's home!! That's a little heartbreaking that she just stood and stared the whole time instead of snoozing and chilling. Poor girl. Well, she's home now, and she'll settle down soon and get comfy again. How is she reacting to her carrier now? I imagine she must be giving it a wide berth and throwing it angry eyes.

    What's this new secret writing project?! How long does it have to remain a secret? ARGH! I'm dying! You're such a tease to even mention it!

    Looking forward to the new craft tutorial. Harry Potter chess set? Hmmm? Hmmm?

    Yay for getting the sleep apnea machine. I hope you'll get used to it soon and that it'll bring you some relief.

    Yay for maintaining the gluten-free diet. Still dairy-free, too? Have you noticed any difference in how you feel? Hope there is at least some improvement.

    Thanks for the updates! Glad you and your sweet Lily are reunited!

    KW

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    1. Would you believe Lily still loves the carrier?? The first hour she would loop through the house, always returning to the carrier to stick her head in, as if making sure it was still there, before going off again. Madness.

      Tough to say on the secret Secret; it's more just something I'm exploring, no set plans yet. Does that help? :D

      Still *mostly* dairy-free, but that's almost impossible when we eat out - and I notice I don't feel too great after I cheat, sadly. (Sad, because I reeeallly miss milk.)

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  15. Good news about Lily! And that's too funny about her staring at the clinic worker the whole time. Probably expressing her displeasure that her superpowers were not yet evident.

    Can't wait to see both the next craft project and to learn more about this super-secret writing thing :) Also very glad you're doing well, CPAP machine notwithstanding.

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  16. So glad that Lilly is back home! So excited to hear of all the great stuff in the works!! Thanks for the update because I was definitely one of those people wondering what the blue blazes was up down there... :) Blessings to you all, human and feline.

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  17. I'm so glad Lily is home! Can't wait for more updates.

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  18. Yeah - you got your girl back! If she were my cat she would have forgotten all about the vet visit after about 10 minutes back home in familiar surroundings. Excited to hear about the upcoming things! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date and posting a Lilly picture.
    Maureen S

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  19. Welcome home, Lily! Your humans are so happy to have you back where you belong. And I'll tell you a secret--so is half the internet. ;-)

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  20. I'm so glad Lily is home. And I must disagree with you on her look. It her pi$$ed off, I WILL get even with you for this look. I get it from Savannah whenever she has to go to the vet!
    And BTW, after I went and bought animal diapers, she decided to pee only in her litter box. The anti-inflamatory seems to be helping and we have stopped the pain meds per the vets orders unless she looks/acts like she needs them. She is eating like a horse and since she lost over 2 lbs (closer to 3) in just 7 months, basically if she even LOOKS at the food dish, momma's over there puttin' food in it!

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  21. So glad that Lilly is back home! So excited to hear of all the great stuff in the works!! Thanks for the update because I was definitely one of those people wondering what the blue blazes was up down there... :) Blessings to you all, human and feline.

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  22. Have you tried spaghetti squash to replace pasta? It's very yummy, and the squash seeds are fabulous when roasted!

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    1. Not yet, but I'd like to! I've never been a huge pasta fan, so more veggies sounds great to me. (That said, the GF pasta John used was awesome; couldn't tell the difference!)

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  23. Thanks for the update! I've been checking in to see how Lily and you are doing.
    CPAPs are awful wonderful things. Hang in there. It will be rough for the first few months, but it's worth it in the end. If you stick with it, it really will get better. Also, you might try some aroma therapy to see if that helps. We get our stuff from pur-sleep.com; you might give it a shot.

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  24. What a beauty! My orange tabby Bubbles (named by my husband, I can take no credit for that) is sitting behind me and keeps meowing at the photos of Lily. I think he has a kitty crush. Glad to hear the humans and fur-babies of the Yates household are all doing well!

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  25. Lily is looking good! I'm sure she will be back to normal happy self by the weekend. Even though the CPAP sucks (actually it 'blows' all the time :D ), hopefully you are feeling rested! My husband has one and it has helped him a ton. Glad you are doing better!

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  26. Um...Jen, I hate to tell you this, but if your CPAP machine sucks there is something seriously wrong with it - they are supposed to blow!

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  27. Glad to hear Lily's home. I think some cats just know how to make you feel awful, one of mine burrows under her blanket whenever we take her anywhere. The cattery had to remove it from her last year because they were worried about her being under it in the really hot weather.

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  28. Glad to hear Lily is home! Yay!!!!! In regards to the sleep apnea machine, they are awesome, my dad said he felt 20 years younger after using it the first night. Science is moving in a good direction tho with them. Check out what this company is working on. They're so tiny and disposable!!
    https://www.facebook.com/airingCPAP?fref=ts

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  29. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Lilly is HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

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  30. So glad to hear that the baby is home safe and behaving appropriately cat like (any trip to the vet/boarding resulted in days of pissy kitty from my baby, too). She'll be back to snuggly soon, but hopefully not until she's no longer glowing in the dark. :-)

    I've worn a CPAP for about six years now - it is amazing. Some suggestions? Get a buckwheat pillow - it's great if you sleep in any position other than flat on your back normally, and makes it easier to not have the mask shift around too much. Unless you have to have a full face mask per your doctor, try a chinstrap (if you open your mouth in your sleep - I don't) and a nasal mask/nasal pillows. Much more comfortable, and much less weight and less claustrophobic. Also, get a fan in your room - I have HUGE claustrophobia, but with the air blowing in my face from the fan + the CPAP blowing in my nose, it doesn't feel like I'm cooped up, but if I have to sleep without a fan I have to have the room icy or I can't sleep.

    CPAP.com has a great selection of masks (I'm using a "Lady Zest" mask, which sounds hysterical but is super comfortable) and they frequently have both good sales and free returns. I don't work for them or anything, but have been a customer for years. Good luck!

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  31. Thank you for posting that video, even though it made me cry despite being a really upbeat fun video. To me, it's about going out there without worrying about looking like a fool, taking the chance, focusing on being in the present instead of the past, and just having fun. (Yes, I know that's a lot to read into a song and a video about Star Wars characters dancing, but the spirit works in mysterious ways.) I've now listened to it 3 times today and am about to hit play again.

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  32. Thank you for the update on your furbaby. So glad to hear that Miss Lily is home, the Yates house is happy again! She will settle down into her routine of ruling her house again very soon. Going gluten-free is tough but doable. You might also want to look into the Paleo diet - it also eliminates grains and dairy. Hang in there with the cpap machine, it will help you in the long run. Just think of it as your personal Darth Vader mask..... Try these websites for some gluten free restaurants in your area. They were the favorites of a friend of mine who lives in Winter Park.
    http://www.findmeglutenfree.com/us/fl/orlando http://orlandotouristinformationbureau.com/restaurants/gluten-free.htm
    https://www.pinterest.com/CeliacInOrlando/orlando-gluten-free-restaurants/
    P.S. - Thanks for sharing the video. Watching Darth Vader dance was great but I liked the dancing Wookie the best!
    All the best to you, John, Lily and Tonks!

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  33. I played Infinite through recently because of you. I haven’t played a first person shooter since Wolfenstein. I haven’t played Bioshock I or II yet, but I think if you can get through the asylum in that you can get through anything. I played it through a second time just a couple of days ago and it still freaked me out. I hate those Boys of Silence and that wheelchair with just the head in it that wheels across the room in front of you. My heart was pounding so hard even though I knew it was coming. Sorry if this posts twice by the way, but I wanted to thank you for the update on Lily and share my love of Infinite.

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  34. I see your dancing storm troopers and raise you this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4SSFftYa0Q. Star Wars ballet done in France. It's just as terrible and hilarious as it sounds.

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  35. I'm glad Lily's home and doing well! And thanks for posting that video-- I've been in a crappy mood all day while sitting around waiting to see if my baby decides he actually wants to be born today or not, and I really needed that laugh!

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  36. Glad to hear Lily is home. How is Tonks doing with her back?
    Can't wait for the "secret project" and new craft project.
    Good luck with the CPap.

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  37. My whole family doesn't do well on CPAP machines. The nose mask blocks our breathing and the nose and mouth mask causes a panic attack in my claustrophobic sister. She tried, but it was a no go.
    Though they don't advertise it, certain pizza joints (hi Mountain Mike's and I <3 my Pizza ) will make pizza with gluten-free crust. You will have to avoid most Asian food thanks to soy sauce and a few other gluten ingredients, though Thai food seems to be the most gluten free. My sister has celiac disease and she really recommends those restaurants.

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  38. Have you tried almond milk? That's the only "milk" I think tastes milk-like. I have been gluten/dairy free for about 3 years. Makes a huge difference when I "cheat", even the next few days. I travel quite a bit, and sometimes I just want to pull put my hair when eating out. Even more fun: my hubby is a carnivore/pastawhore (never touching veggies/fruit/fish), my girls are vegans, and my with my food "issues", makes going out to eat SO MUCH FUN! :) Good thing I love them all.

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  39. So glad Lily is recovering! XXOOO

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  40. So glad to hear Lily is doing well and home already! Our poor by had to stay aura teemed in our bathroom for another 2 weeks after he came home because we had a 2 month old baby in the house. :(. We went in throughout the day in scrubs and rubber gloves to give him love, it was so sad, but he's good as new now! Btw - also GF and dairy free here too, I feel your pain, the adjustment is the hardest part and after a while you get the hang of it and it's second nature. Ethnic food is usually a good bet when eating out - Mexican, Ethiopian, Thai, Greek (and the Find Me GF app is a life saver). And since you're in Otown, Disney is AWESOME with food allergies We just don't eat out as much and have a few solid favorite places we can go and cook much more (and better than we ever did). If you're in St Pete visiting your brother I have some excellent GF places to share! :)

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  42. Glad to hear Lily is on the mend. Yep, GF and mostly DF here too, plus preservatives and sulfurs too. We pretty much don't eat out. Steak and salad with no dressing or steamed veg is a good go if you do have to eat out, but you still have to watch marinades and seasonings. I do a bloody good steak at home (and for much less money!) so we don't bother much unless it's for a family do where the socialising aspect makes it worthwhile. Loved the star wars dancing! A real brightener on a bit of a down day!

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