Pain.

Pain in the arm, 
pain in the back,
pain in the head,
pain in the <3, 
pain in the a***! 

All of the above.

It started with my head.  I have been having such a horrible time with my migraines.  I was going to class with sunglasses on, taking many meds, and just hurting so bad.  So I went to my physical therapist, who IS really good. He is!  He really helps and I would DEFINITELY recommend him.  However, I think he may have inadvertently pulled a muscle REALLY bad in my upper arm and back.  It hurt when he was working on me (but it often does) but then the next day, Friday I couldn't even move my arm it hurt so bad. And it's just gotten worse. 

It hurts really bad in my tricep, and into my boob, and the outside of my scapula.  I can do nothing with it and breathing in deeper than a tiny bit of air makes me cry.  I went to the doctor, the only one open on a Saturday, and they gave me pain pills and told me to rest it a few days and get it checked out if it doesn't start to feel better.  Well, it's feeling WORSE.  But Monday is a holiday, so I will have to wait till Tuesday to see anyone.  But at that time I think I am going to get an MRI done because it doesn't feel like a strain or anything... maybe a pinched nerve.  Whatever it is, it hurts like HELL. Pardon my French.

And then there is my heart.

No, it doesn't hurt physically, but Ola, my sweet Ola... it just looks like he needs to go back to Africa.  There are huge things happening in his country right now, and he is a leader, a pioneer for the Church and representative of the downcast.  I know it sounds bizarre but truly, he has much more important things in store for him than he would with me. His people need him even more than I do.  That's what you get for falling for an amazing revolutionary. But it hurts, and I don't know that I will get to Spain before he leaves.  Our finances don't look like it.  But I think I will always love him.

For a Year and a Day...

Sounds like how long it's been since I blogged. Oh wait, that would be more like FOREVER and a day.  But really, this evening I went to a friend's handfasting.  It's mostly a Pagan ceremony and is sort of a temporary/trial marriage.  They are married for a year and a day then can decide to be married for forever then, or walk away. It was very interesting.  They lit various colors of candles in a certain order than symbolized different things (there was a member of the wedding party who served as sort of a narrator to explain what everything meant which was cool.) had a "sacred circle," drank some Martinelli's (instead of wine), and then tied their hands together, supposedly for 48 hours (but they are going to cheat because they have a baby to take care of.).

It was really interesting.  I have this thing about other religions and cultures.  I love them!  Do I love my own, too?  Of course. And more than that I believe it is true (religion. Not culture.  There is no such thing as a true culture!) so I follow it, to the best of my ability.  But I just think learning about others is so fun.

Earlier today I had another adventure.  Monday is World Turtle Day and I really wanted to get a picture or 2 the green sea turtle at Living Planet for my Examiner article.  You know the one that escaped a shark and a boat accident and lived?  She is cool!  However, my pictures weren't so awesome.  So I ended up using one of the new musk turtle they have.  Anyway, I really wanted to get the aquarium to see the turtles and everything else and write about it.  So I did!  I went to "Strut Your Mutt" in the morning for school, but having no mutt to strut, I left and went to the Aquarium. 

I love the aquarium.  I love the seahorses, the jellyfish, and the penguins.  I love petting the stingrays.  I love hearing kids ask questions.  I love the new exhibits with glow-in-the-dark scorpions and colorful geckos.  It is just a fun place to hang out.  And since I just renewed my yearly membership, I will be going back.  So, if you are bored and feel like looking at some pretty cool critters and want some company, well, I'm game.