Body Parts, Medicine, Politics & Art Projects

Steff and I were watching Mike Duffy Live the other day, which happen to be Day 2 of the Canadian election campaign, and heard a progressing story that had her yelling in frustration. I personally found it funny.

They had just finished interviewing Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party.

She is causing quite a stir because she has been left out of the official debates. Boo hoo. But it is a big deal, and a very serious issue concerning the streamlining of Canadian politics away from the commoners.

After this hot topic had been concluded, another began. That's right folks, apparently Stephane Dion has difficulty speaking english because he has a hearing problem. This is an even BIGGER issue concerning the Canadian populace for this election. Can this be true? Let's consult medical experts. How does the public feel about this? Is it any different from Chretien's partial deafness? Does this make Dion a less worthy politician? (My opinion: no it doesn't, but his policy on Afghanistan does) Bottom line: the Canadian media is more interested in whether or not Dion can hear than whether he is good. Interesting, no?

Speaking of random body parts, my thumb and toe have still not healed properly. I went to the university health centre today to get the thumb checked out (it has proven problematic to be taking extensive notes in class without pain). The doctor prescribed me topical ibuprofen which is normally used for arthritis, and I have been ordered to get X-rays at one of the local hospitals. This is the same hospital where I was incarcerated for having a kidney stone. This was also the same doctor who misdiagnosed my kidney stone AND gave me the wrong dose of antibiotic.

Speaking of my kidneys, I may have discovered what has caused my two episodes of stonage. This is a very important mental note, so it shall be bolded:

DO NOT TAKE CALCIUM BASED ANTACIDS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THEY MAKE YOUR KIDNEYS WONKY. THAT'S W-O-N-K-Y, NOT W-O-N-K-A. THERE IS NO LAND OF MAGIC AND CHOCOLATE WHEN YOU HAVE KIDNEY STONES.

So to help with my acid reflux problem, I've been prescribed Prevacid, 30mg daily, for 100 days to "clear up the problem." It won't help. I've tried this solution before (after an especially nasty bout of stomach flu which led to chest pains), and it was anything but helpful once the pills were done. Basically, my stubbornness about acid indigestion and subsequent refusal to see a doctor regarding it led to consumption of a product which caused my kidney stones. Ain't life grand?

Between my wonky brain chemistry, unpleasant kidneys, and damaged phalanges, you'd think I'd be on top of the world. I mean, what else could possibly happen to my body that I couldn't handle?

Ahhhhhhhh irony, you have been missing from my life.

I'm doing a major art project for my Pi Lam boys. Mike and I started this endeavour in early summer, and now it's nearing completion. It is the fraternity crest, with a twist. We got a large piece of wood (roughly 4 feet by 3.5 feet), carved the wood around the crest so that it's raised from the background, did some dremel detailing, painted the colours, and I'm now in the final artistic stage: filling the area around the crest, which had been leveled down, with mirror pieces to create a mosaic. It looks really cool. I'm using tile grout to hold the pieces of mirror onto the wood. Suffice to say it's a messy process. I worked on it tonight, getting grout all over my hands. I tried to scrape some of it off, but it had hardened to such an extent that a chunk of my index finger went with the grout I peeled off. Not a large chunk, mind you, but enough that I notice it when that finger touches the keyboard.

Now all I need is someone to walk into my house unannounced (which has already been done), wearing steel toed boots (also done), and kick me in the ass (date pending).