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Wednesday November 12 2003
@11:37am |
Public transportation
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mood |
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 angry |
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Today I tried to get on the bus with the twins, Craig and Hannah. I didn't even attempt to take the twin stroller along, that would be attempting the impossible. So I am trying to get on the bus with two 4-year-old kids (Well, Hannah is 5) and two car seats for the twins. I got troded upon, yelled at, beaten with bags and the kids were bruised several places during a short ride to the station. Never again. I wonder what perents in Budapest do? I try to imagine getting on to trams 4 or 6 with twins! Those are always jam packed. I rather walk several stops than get on those trams.
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Tuesday November 11 2003
@01:27pm |
Phones. MS
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music |
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The water running |
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I have to say that I hate telephones. We have a phone only because we need it for ADSL. I have a cell phone, which I hardly ever use. And I am getting sick of the phone commercials on TV. There are three mobile phone providers in Hungary: Pannon GSM, Vodafone and Westel. Westel is owned by Matáv, Hungary's major regular phone company. Vodafone was having all these creative and funny commercials and their growth has been amazing. However, once you read the contracts for their services you can find out that the wonderful offers were not as wonderful as they first seemed. So about a week ago I saw Westel's new commercial that is a parody of this summer's Vodafone commercials. What annoys me is that we are in a country with a population of approximately 10 million, with about 7.5 million active cell phones in use. This is also a country where 11 years ago phones were still rare. I remember that when we wanted to call my aunts or uncles in Dunbaújváros and Budapest when I was younger we had to call their neighbors who went to get my aunt. And now... everyone has a phone. And that is one reason why I am dreading going back to work. I might get assigned to some random school where 25 minutes from each 45-minute-long lesson is spent by convincing kids to put their phones away.
Onto other things. Yesterday I got an MS support group newsletter. After my clash with the leader of the group I was attending last Christmas I was surprized they actually though to invite me to the Advent activities.... Well, I should have thought that they had a good reason for it... I got a call from the (new) leader this morning--no wonder I hate phones--that they need help with fundraising and organizing the Christmas dinner. So if anyone wants to support us.... Well, look for a local MS group and ask what you can do. I have this one under control. But menu ideas and activity ideas are welcome. We are going to have two crafts nights and then a sale for St. Nicholas' Day, so I think we should get some money from there.
And now I am going to get into the bathtub. Thank you,  thursday_next for the inspiration!
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Sunday November 9 2003
@08:08pm |
Mom and mission calls
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My mom and brother Tyler got here around 4 p.m. They spent the last few days at my auntie's house in Dunaújváros.( Explanation about my mom )
She brought me a box of stuff I left at my aunt's the last time we visited there about three years ago. In the boy, amond other things, was my tiger, the identical twin of Derek's Trap. We got these two tigers as a gift from someone for our Christening when we were 4 days old. Derek and his Trap practically never parted. Me and Mr. Tiger were good friends but not nearly as close as my twin and his tiger. It was a very nice moment when I found Mr. Tiger. A lot of nice memories came back.
My other little brother Taylor called mom here. He received his mission call! He is going to Brazil, Porto Allegre! He is reporting to the MTC in Brazil the day after his 19th birthday: Last week of January.
OK, I am ready to watch some Leathal Weapon 4 and then the X-Files. I adore Jet Li!
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Sunday November 9 2003
@08:31am |
'morning!
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mood |
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 contemplative |
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It is Sunday morning--finally. 7:30, which means I got up too early again. So this will be brief as I plan to go back to sleep ASAP. I just changed the twins and got some giggles form Justin. Those two little ones are growing so fast! Justin has rounded out oretty nice, Matthew is trying to catch up. They can both roll over and they just recently started "reading".
I am just skimming through Index.hu for my daily news intake. I am reading some funny things, like Microsoft forgetting to pay the bills to keep the www.hotmail.co.uk domain. Well, the thing is that whoever registered it right after it was deleted is trying to give it back, but no one seems to be in charge. Now if this was the first time! But the same happened with the Passport site 4 years ago if I remember correctly! So it, once again, tells me about the incompetency of Microsoft..... Tux the Linux is calling my name!
I am still not a LOTTO bilionaire. Darn. Of course I never played, so no wonder. But it has been quite a long time since someone won the big prize. it is at HUF 4,600 million, which is quite an impressive some for locals. It would be for me as well. (1 Euro/U.S. dollar is about 240 HUF I think.)
Mom and Tyler are coming over today. They will be spending 3 days with us before returning to the United States.
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Monday November 3 2003
@04:14pm |
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Jim had to have his residency permit renewed.... He has been in Hungary for three years at this point! Now he got a long term permit, he is a legal resident of the Republic of Hungary. How neat! I am happy about that. Makes our lives a lot easier. I got citizenship after my father, so I never really had any problems, and I am enjoying the fact that I am eligible for all kinds of financial aid. I am actually making use of that.
I will have to go to class tomorrow. I haven't been for weeks. I just cannot wait to talk to my professors about some issues I have been having. But I do hope that things can be worked out and I don't have to reapply. I would not be able to prepare for the test fast enough. I have no idea how I could get my math skills ready for Grad School exams. I mean I really don't need Math for what I am studying now--well, at least not on the level Grad School Entrance Exams require.
Today I was feeding Matthew and Justin at the same time. Can you picture me with two bottles andtwo babies at the same time? Well, Matthew is picky like his dad, and he refuses to eat certain things. He does not really like formula, so I was giving him the pumpkin dish by Kecskeméti. It has a bright orange color. Soon my white University of Economics tee shirt was displaying Halloween colors.
I cnaged my mind. I don't want children yet.
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Saturday November 1 2003
@11:49pm |
Did I mention....
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that family kitten Clorox posted her favorite recipe? Go, check it out!
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Saturday November 1 2003
@09:58am |
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Well, as you can all guess with 3 sick kids at home and one in a hospital 25 miles away, we didn't go to any of the parties we were invited to. Not that I am really supposed to go to places like that. Luckily trick or treating is not a tradition here, so kids did not miss out on much. They all went to bed early, and we got a special Halloween treat from Matthew who was finally willing to eat some formula and then he fell asleep and slept through the night.
After tucking the kids in Jim and I had a nicer dinner he whipped up in no time and then we watched Poltergeist-The Legacy episodes. Just cuddling, and being nostalgic and having giggles about last year...... The Halloween Party we went to....
Today is All Saints' Day, yet another national holiday when stores are closed and so are post offices. I am about to leave to see Craig this morning. He has been doing a lot better, but his test results came back causing worry.
Derek had his transplant yesterday. He is doing more or less ok, he is really passed out now. He is composed for a few minutes at a time and then falls into pieces again. Kevin said Derek has been sleeping better. Now that is good news. He was laughing hard when Kevin told him he wanted to have marrow on toast.
As I am typing I am trying to fix breakfast for Hannah and Jim, plan out a route to Győr and then to see Derek (well, Kevin really), trying to estimate how long the border will take and figure out where the nearest 24-hour store is. I need to buy milk before leaving to see Craig.
Everyone enjoy your weekend!
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Wednesday October 29 2003
@02:08pm |
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Yesterday was Chocolate Day according to thespian15. Today I am on my 5th cup of hot chocolate.
I just got home a little while ago from the Children's Hospital. I had to take Craig to the E.R. last night with a stubborn high fever and he was admitted. It turned out that he has pneumonia. I guess he got some long term immune supressants after the implant surgery, so his body would not reject the implant, and that might be part of the problem. I stayed with the kid as long as I could, but my doctor told me to try to keep away from the kids as long as they are sick. So I am back to waering a mask and washing my hands 6 times an hour. Or at least it feels like I am washing my hands that often. Now Mom O'Brien is staying here, helping with the twins and Hannah and Jim went to the hospital to entertain Craig.
The twins... they are still sick. Runny noses, tear filled eyes... Their first time being sick. Matthew refuses to eat anything and he keeps crying. Mom says he is a typical man!
Derek... he is doing progressively worse with each day. Now he is having full body radiation and that drains him from whatever energy he has left. I will see him later today or tomorrow. I can't wait!
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Tuesday October 28 2003
@09:56am |
Morning
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mood |
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 sick |
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I woke up with a sore throat and a nice, deep, hoarse bass voice. I sound a tad like Louis Armstrong now, so if it wasn't hurting so bad I'd be singing "Wonderful World". To compensate I am listening to Gershwin in between wiping runny noses. Mostly it is the twins' soft little button noses that I keep wiping as Hannah and Craig can blow their noses--well, sometimes they need a little help, but generally they are big kids now. They are now comfortably tucked into bed in the livingroom, with lots of fluids and some cartoons on TV. Craig already is running a fever, so I called the pediatrician, he will come over to check on our little lot soon.
Craig had a very hard night. He had a nightmare and the only thing comforting him was Kevin calling and talking to him. He slept with me after that.
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Monday October 27 2003
@10:17pm |
Yawn
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mood |
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 sleepy |
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I am sleepy. It is almost ten p.m. so I expect Kevin to call Jim at work around now. I just finished studying and I am happy to report that all is quiet here. All four kids are asleep, hopefully the night will pass without accidents.
It is really weird not having my own bed. Now Craig sleeps in Kevin and Derek's bed and he cried himself to sleep today. He misses his daddies. Note to self: Make Belgian Waffles Deluxe Daniel Style for brakfast to cheer the kid a bit.
Since Craig sleeps in the master bedroom Hannah sleeps in his room and Jim and I sleep on a mattress on the living area upstairs. It is quite comfortable and rather warm. Nice place.
I just heard from Jim who just spoke to Kevin. Derek is still staying rather composed 10% of the time--he is completely out the rest of the time. Kevin is having a nutritional crisis, so tomorrow I am cutting class and going grocery shopping with Jim and the twins and then take it to Kevin.
I think this entry is even more eandom than my standard. I am heading to bed. Yawn. 'Night.
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Monday September 22 2003
@11:37am |
Spouse free
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Jim and Kevin FINALLLLLLLY took off for an afternoon away. So it is Derek and me this afternoon. Guess what we will do? You are right, we will be reading Harry Potter 5. Darn, I need to re-read the previous books. Who was the Defense Against Dark Arts Professor in the third book? I can't remember.
It was worth the long wait to get this book! All three copies of the second shipment by Amazon made it safe and sound, though the people at the post office must hate us. I also kno wof several other copies still in the mail. At least I don't have to think about what to give as presents to people!
Two thoughts: I like the American cover of the book better than the British one, though I'd love it if spelling and titles were not changed.
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Saturday September 20 2003
@01:04pm |
Yay!!!
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Guess who is sleeping downstairs?
DEREK! Yay, yay, my brother is home, HOME! I am soooo very happy, so very very very happy! I just went downstairs to see him, he was awake as well, so it was GOOD. I so missed my twin.
Unfortunately he is still not feeling any better. He is still feeling ill. He is still depressed and passive. But he is home and at least he smiles every once in a while. I know that the smile is only for us.
Other than that. Life sucks. My next disability check is not till the first. I am broke and I want to buy Jim some chocolate. And I'd need new jeans as well, my old ones are falling off me. Or I just need to gain weight, but alas, that costs money as well!
OK, so Derek and I played a bit with the journals. When I finish this he will make me type an LJ entry. Hm, I better finish now and come back when he is done.
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Thursday September 18 2003
@01:24pm |
Getting ready
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Oh well, it seems that we will have to postpone the Big Day if I want Derek to be part of it. He just had some bleeding on his brain that is making him even more ill. He is still coming home on Saturday, so I'll get to spend some time with him. I understand that he is not feeling well and he doesn't really want to see anyone or talk to anyone or do anything now, but I hope I can help Kevin with Derek's care.
Other than that, only a few weeks left of the Masked Dan. When I hit 100 days I am throwing the masks away.... Well, some of them.
I went to class yesterday. Yay for me! It was the most insanely boring class ever. So I guess I'll skip it till exams. Oh well, I bought the text book and I have a library card, so I can do the studying part. The sleeping in class part is not worth the time and money to get to the city.
OK, so Derek has handed me a lot of papers the last time I was there. He has the menu, the cost, the guest list, the rooms and everything planned out perfectly. I cannot belive how much work he has put into this while being so sick. I am really spoiled I have to say.
Oh, www.greatestjournal.com allows users 1,000 icons.
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Wednesday September 17 2003
@06:44pm |
Prayers please
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Please everyone to whom this applies... pray for my sweet ceadsearc (aka vitriolic) as he is going through some extremely rough times.
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Sunday September 14 2003
@01:06pm |
Good Morning... Er, afternoon!
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mood |
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 loved |
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music |
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Viva+ |
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I just got back from a fairly brief visit with my beloved twin. I took his twin sons to see him. Honestly... He doesn't look too well today. We were the surgical mask twins today. It was fun. He had so much fun with the boys!
I have been thinking how much my illness(es) have changed my life! It started with MS that is slowing me down. But then came cancer, and everything changed. I think my life has become better. I mean with all the pain and sickness I learned a lot of things about myself and about who my real friends are. It is amazing to know that people who don't have to support me are here with me, helping me with this fight. I think I am learning to set my priorities straight. A few years ago it was drugs, girls and parties in this order. Now it is family, work, studies. I love my man, I love the new family I was blessed with. And I love what I am studying!
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Saturday September 13 2003
@12:32pm |
It has been over a week
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mood |
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 complacent |
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I have been home for over a week! How great is that?
I have been sleeping well for the last week or so. Actually I have been sleeping a lot and trying to exercise as well. Not running, no, not yet, but I use the bicycle and rowing machine we have downstairs. I feel like I am building back some of that body I used to have. It feels good to work out. It feels good to be home and I start to feel kind of normal now.
First consultation is October 1st for my new classes. I am excited about that. I have all the text books, and I am trying to study as much as I can, while I am being housewife, cooking for Jim, Hannah and Craig. Craig spends a lot of time over here with Hannah, which is very good for both children. And for me. They are so happy, such wonderful little ones, they make me laugh and make me get involved in their little games, like building a LEGO castle for the Barbies.
We have the date.
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Monday September 8 2003
@01:26pm |
Now I really believe I am home
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music |
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A movie about the Montgomery Bus Boicott on HBO |
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This morning I woke up to Hannah and Craig (my stepdaughter and my nephew) bringing us breakfast. Breakfast in bed: cereal well soaked and chocolate milk. What a great feeling it is.
I am realizing that I really don't want anyone from Utah to come to our commitment ceremony. I want Derek there though.
Okay, I am too tired to write now.
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Friday September 5 2003
@10:32pm |
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I can't stay logged in. Friends only entries don't show (sorry, Thursday, for not commenting). I don't get my comments. What is going on?
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Friday September 5 2003
@08:42pm |
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And oh, yes, Derek's surgery went well.
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