And now for another exciting update regarding my medical condition(s). Can you stand it? Well, prepare to be disappointed. I know I was. There was no CAT Scan (which is for the best, really, since I realized this morning that I have no idea how to get my captive bead ring earrings out - they’ve been in since ‘97 and I’d need a pliers, and some help). Turns out my family doc and this neurologist had different ideas regarding next steps. But the neurologist is the specialist so hey, I guess I’ll trust him. For the moment. Even though it means I’ll be taking anti-seizure meds for the next month, and then going back in for another damned follow-up appointment…with the possibility of an MRI, depending on how effective the drugs are. Guess I’ll have to get my earrings out before then, just in case.

Lately I’ve been feeling simultaneously overwhelmed

and disconnected, for a number of reasons. First and foremost…my body has betrayed me, with this mammoth migraine I haven’t been able to shake. It’s been waxing and waning for the last six weeks or so (mostly waxing) but never completely dissipating. So this afternoon my stubborness takes a break, and I’ll be seeing a neurologist for the first time. I believe I’ll even be having a CAT Scan. Oh joy.

In other news…I signed up for yet another web service. Now I can waste my time at upcoming.org too. But it reminded me to buy tickets to the upcoming Andrew Bird show, led me to discover that The Arcade Fire show has been sold out for a while now (blast and damn), and made me thankful that a friend bought our Decemberists tickets, even if he may not be able to go to the show after all.

The party wasn’t perfect. The day was too hot. And I misplaced that extra package of water balloons. And I should have put out more finger foods for the picky kids. And a few guests who RSVPd didn’t end up showing. And I forgot to bring the soy ice cream out with the cake, but wound up leaving it on the kitchen counter overnight instead…so when I walked in this morning it was just a melted soupy mess. But still. Friends came, good food was eaten, and fun was had. And the little man scored some serious swag, as usual. Today we rest.

I was just going to lie down for a little while. You know, rest my eyes for a spell before heading to the party. But that’s how it happens every time. When the ladies called to check in on me the husband told them I was already sound asleep. It wasn’t even 9pm. So there went my Friday night. Saturday I managed to get the little man to the Walker Art Center’s family day. But we arrived late, and didn’t stick around for too long. Sunday morning we did make it to Anodyne, to meet up with the ladies at 8:30am, so two out of three (plans coming together) ain’t bad. The rest of the weekend was rather quiet. The guys played the GameCube entirely too much while I devoured any books that came near me (it’s the most effective way to ignore my To Do list, and the World at Large, and to ignore the guilt of ignoring both, and it also helps keep the migraines at bay). Friday afternoon I started reading Reflex, the sequel to Jumper, and finished it Saturday morning. Then it was on to Sean Stewart’s Perfect Circle, which I quite enjoyed (I’ve liked his other books as well). Next up was Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s A Fistful Of Sky. Soon I’ll need to pick upThe Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse, which was recommended to me, by someone whose opinion I trust. But I’d pick it up just for the title alone. Apparently some fans of Jasper Fforde are fond of it, and I certainly am a Fforde fan. Also another fantastic title, this non-fiction selection, Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants, looks like it’s up my alley. But for now, it’s the start of another work week and school week, with assorted errands, tasks and chores heaped on top of the daily grind. Yay.
Plus: A roundup of some music-related Katrina relief efforts.

On this, the first day of September, there is too much to report.

• First off, waferbaby is back, and I am glad of it…even if it is a bittersweet sort of return.
• Another fine episode of Making Fiends (#19) is up, and you can Get a Grudge (Vendetta’s large fiend-hamster, on a t-shirt) while you’re over there.
• In a few days, long-time friend and sometimes collaborator Cathy Camper is on the move, to Portland. I hope all goes well, especially with driving the cats cross country.
• The little man’s main kindergarten teacher is on the move too, unfortunately. Their schoolyear just started in July…but today was her last day. There’s a long story behind it, one that I’m not privy to, but I wish her the best. And can’t help but hope for a replacement nearly as good as she was, at least. Sigh.
• Lately I’ve read about “The Two Body Problem” in more than one place. Naturally I think in terms of Science Fiction, so this sounds much more sinister than it really is…maybe I’ll spin it into a short story.
• There’s a Children’s Book Festival coming up that looks pretty neat, even if it is in the ‘burbs. Sadly it’s the same day as the little man’s 6th birthday party. This is a dilemma that the Two Body Problem could, theoretically, solve. Hmmm.
• Yesterday I listened to Kaia’s song Off for the first time in years, and it evoked memories and feelings of a very specific window of time. Also went on a bit of a Nina Simone bender (the iPod currently has 49 of her songs on it), and that’s bound to make anyone moody.
• I get my daily dose of reality every evening, when I turn NPR on while making dinner. The news is never good. Yesterday I was horrified by disasters, both human-made (the bridge stampede in Baghdad) and natural (the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina). And I can’t wrap my head around either.

Bonus: I wish this event had happened when I was actually in San Francisco: Neil Gaiman, in conversation with Michael Chabon. Two of my very favorite authors. Oh well.