I've been quiet lately

And to be blunt, that's because my family is going through a hard time right now.

A really hard time.

I've enjoyed blogging here on Dreamwidth and Livejournal, and I do appreciate the opportunity for honesty that blogging has given me. But my family has problems that aren't just my problems. I have to be mindful that I have the right to tell my own story, but they have the right to tell theirs. And my life lately has been all but consumed by difficulties that aren't mine to reveal.

It's hard, sometimes, the reticience that Elinor Dashwood must cultivate. If it were just me, I would be more open, more honest.

I miss being honest. I miss it a lot.

I will try to make more of an effort to talk about other things at least, so that I don't recede into remoteness and get lost entirely.

Prayers, lit candles, and good thoughts, if they are your sort of thing, would be very welcome.

Update on college stuff

Fiona is about out of her mind with stress, between the requirements of the International Baccalaureate degree and the college application process.

She's applying to Macalaster, St. Olaf, Beloit, St. Kate's, Reed, Lawrence University, U of MN twin cities, U of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Carleton, Augsburg, and perhaps Luther and Wartburg. Yes, that may be excessive, but it's a numbers game: we're casting the net wide, with the hopes that somebody will come up with a decent financial aid package for her. Because we're really gonna need it.

After much angst, she's finished her extended essay on the Woman Warrior in medievalist fantasy fiction, an IB requirement. Preliminary quick report is that her advisor, supposedly, is happy with it, which is a real relief. She is frantically trying to catch up on her (dreadfully overdue) homework and online physical education before the semester closes. She is also as sick as a dog. This does not help. The online gym is a particular worry. This is ridiculous: she has a black belt second degree and is obviously in top physical condition. But she has been falling behind on doing online gym, what with all the other work. If she does not finish it, she does not graduate.

We have to do taxes and fill out the FAFSA. Problem: you really have to do your taxes before filling out the FAFSA. The FAFSA is due February 1, and a number of these colleges require further financial information by February 15. But the IRS has announced that their software coding probably won't allow people who itemize to file their taxes before mid February. So I guess we'll have to estimate. I'll be going to a financial aid meeting at the school this week, where we'll hopefully learn a little more about it.

Playing catchup: elisem

I'm behind on reading my friends list/reading page and so just became aware today that elisem suffered a small stroke several days ago. Fortunately, she acted fast, and her prognosis is really good:

I told somebody something was wrong within thirty seconds of onset of weird visual effects in one eye. We had called paramedics within 2 minutes, as soon as I reported tingling and numbness on one side of my body (the same side as the eye with the weird light show). They arrived in minutes, and I was at Lutheran Hospital in about half an hour, got examined and CT-scanned, and approximately one hour after the stroke happened, I was given TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) to break up the clot and prevent any further damage from it or other clots in my system.

...

If you want to do me a favor, post information about stroke symptoms and about NOT WAITING on your blog or LJ. There's a very limited time within which TPA can be administered, and every minute counts.

I already know the symptoms of stroke. Do you?

Watch for these signs and symptoms if you think you or someone else may be having a stroke. Note when signs and symptoms begin, because the length of time they have been present may guide treatment decisions.

Trouble with walking. You may stumble or experience sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.

Trouble with speaking and understanding. You may experience confusion. You may slur your words or be unable to find the right words to explain what is happening to you (aphasia). Try to repeat a simple sentence. If you can't, you may be having a stroke.

Paralysis or numbness on one side of your body or face. You may develop sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of your body. Try to raise both your arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke. Similarly, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile.

Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes. You may suddenly have blurred or blackened vision, or you may see double.

Headache. A sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate you're having a stroke.

When to see a doctor:

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Every minute counts. Don't wait to see if symptoms go away. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. To maximize the effectiveness of evaluation and treatment, it's best that you get to the emergency room within 60 minutes of your first symptoms.