6.27.2006

What to Do If Someone Has a Seizure

I felt like I should post this for any epileptic(someone who has seizures regularly) or just in case someone just happens to have one around you. So please read this folks...especially if ya know me personally!!!

Tonic-Clonic seizures (This is what I, Javafoofoo, have. I hear I scared the living Bejesus out of people when I have one...)

The person loses consciousness, the body stiffens, then falls to the ground. This is followed by jerking movements. A blue tinge around the mouth is likely. This is due to irregular breathing. Loss of bladder and/or bowel control may occur. After a minute or two the jerking movements should stop and consciousness may slowly return.

DO...

Protect the person from injury - (remove harmful objects from nearby)
Cushion their head
Look for an epilepsy identity card or identity jewellery
Aid breathing by gently placing them in the recovery position once the seizure has finished


Be calmly reassuring
Stay with the person until recovery is complete

DON'T...

Restrain the person
Put anything in the person’s mouth (very impostrant people; you can break our teeth!)
Try to move the person unless they are in danger
Give the person anything to eat or drink until they are fully recovered
Attempt to bring them round

Call for an ambulance if...

You know it is the person’s first seizure
The seizure continues for more than five minutes
One tonic-clonic seizure follows another without the person regaining consciousness between seizures
The person is injured during the seizure
You believe the person needs urgent medical attention

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seizures involving altered consciousness or behaviour

Simple partial seizures
Twitching, numbness, sweating, dizziness or nausea; disturbances to hearing, vision, smell or taste; a strong sense of deja vu.

Complex partial seizures
Plucking at clothes, smacking lips, swallowing repeatedly or wandering around. The person is not aware of their surroundings or of what they are doing.

Atonic seizures
Sudden loss of muscle control causing the person to fall to the ground. Recovery is quick.

Myoclonic seizures
Brief forceful jerks which can affect the whole body or just part of it. The jerking could be severe enough to make the person fall.

Absence seizures
The person may appear to be daydreaming or switching off. They are momentarily unconscious and totally unaware of what is happening around them.

DO...

Guide the person from danger
Look for an epilepsy identity card or identity jewellery
Stay with the person until recovery is complete
Be calmly reassuring
Explain anything that they may have missed

DON'T...

Restrain the person
Act in a way that could frighten them, such as making abrupt movements or shouting at them
Assume the person is aware of what is happening, or what has happened
Give the person anything to eat or drink until they are fully recovered
Attempt to bring them round

Call for an ambulance if...

You know it is the person's first seizure
The seizure continues for more than five minutes
One seizure follows another without the person regaining consciousness between them
The person is injured during the seizure
You believe the person needs urgent medical attention

6.26.2006

Copycat

Stole...I mean copies from Satcey's Blog

A survey from myspace. Forgive the stranger questions (and only answer yes to 4 and 5 if you're my husband), and consider that this was probably penned by a teenager. Just answer in my comments. Do it.

1. Who are you?
2. Are we friends?
3. When and how did we meet?
4. Do you have a crush on me?
5. Would you kiss me?
6. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
7. Describe me in one word.
8. What was your first impression?
9. Do you still think that way about me now?
10. What reminds you of me?
11. If you could give me anything what would it be?
12. How well do you know me?
13. When's the last time you saw me?
14. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
15. Are you going to put this on your blog and see what I say about you?

*Sigh*

I don't feel like I am being tested or anything, but I am currently debating my future, which was something I was 90% sure of.

I had another seizure.
Yesterday morning.
I am okay...My lip's not...Oh, the tongue, too.

It took me 13 years of seizures to finally have the skill to "feel" a seizure coming. Yesterday was the first day ever that I immediately thought "ohmygod, I think I'm going to have a seizure. Oh pleasegodpleasegodpleasegod, don't let that be." Apparently I was so sure it was "time" that I called a replacement for work, simplifying the incident with a "I don't feel good." Good call on my behalf.

The following half hour was a memory slide-show of throwing up almost anywhere possible in my room, while trying to make what was left in my stomach get into a proper vessel (e.g., not my bedsheets.) I was semi-successful. Great imagery, huh? :D

I called my mom up who was returning from church with dad to pass on the "joyous news."

*Sigh* I'm not too sure about my future plans to move to Brandon. Would it be wise to move away from family and most friends to live by myself (Nova doesn't count; He wouldn't be too helpful) in a town I am only semi-knowledgeable on?

And then there's school. I'm paranoid that my Doctor will suggest keeping away from the wheel of the car. The only reason I feel fine about driving is because I felt this one come on. I want to graduate in December. I'm already sacrificing work hours to succeed in this. Plus, I got a grant, a GRANT (AKA, free money) for school. I have to go full-time to qualify for it.

You see, I live about a 20-30 minute drive away from my school. As of now, and with the coming fall, I have classes that are Monday through Thursday. I don't know anyone to car pool with. See my dilemma?

Well, if I look on the good side of this (heh, "good") I know have the power of seizure deductibility, I'm okay from yesterday, and I started hanging out with a friend I was on the fringes with.

Add this to the list of current annoyances.

Oh, and thanks Dave and Satcey for y'all words of encouragement. XOXO to y'all!

6.23.2006

In a Procrastinating State of Mind

No matter what I do, I can't get myself to stop doing (insert brainless time wasting task here) and start on a research project that is due this coming Monday. It's not like it is anything hard. It's just that I've been in this perpetual rut that I can't get out of.

Though it's not just this project, it's been almost everything in my life. I can't start up on anything. Ever since Katrina, I can't seem to get things rolling like I was able to do before the storm. I'm not wallowing in my misery or anything like that, because, well, there's nothing in my life to be miserable about. Instead, there are annoyances. My current list of annoyances are:

1. My job. I'm no longer in a job that offers me the luxury of moving onto a better place. (IOW, promotions) Why, you ask? Well, there ain't nowhere to go. I no longer have the 3 weeks paid vacation I use to get (and I sooooooo sorely miss) and even more irritating, I barely pull off 30 hours, which is 10 below my pre-Kat average. And then there's the boss...The only reason I'm sticking around is because I desperately need the insurance.

2. The restaurant I work at has great food. This is bad because I gained over 5 pounds since working there. *sigh* I was doing soooo good before I started. DAMN YOUR INCREDIBLY TASTY CRAWFISH PASTA!!!!

3. The restaurant I work at has great food. This is bad because I do have to pay for the stuff. (DUH!!) Finances aren't what they use to be kids. Neither has Angie's will power.*sigh*

4. I've been soooo freaking lazy that it's not even funny. Actually, it kinda is . Join in! HAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!!

5. My social life is non-existent, and I'm not just talking about dating. There's a reason I get so freaking excited to go visit my favorite family in good ol' Miss-suh-sip-ee: It's because there's a guaranteed social event going down. I rarely see what friends I do have left floating (no pun intended) in this city. That all has to do with new work schedules. *sigh* growing up sucks What's even sadder is that the few rare oppurtunities that have sprung up in the past, I ducked out of! Lordlordlordlordlord!!

6. Let me start the blame game: It all started with the stress from Katrina that has now been carried over with the existence of it almost everywhere I go...Okay, so it's mainly at work. What the heck am I talking about? Smoking. Yep, smoking. It's claim another addict in me. I'm wanting to quit (I would say trying, but I've been so unsuccessful at that, I'm not even going to call it "trying".)

7. My color theory teacher talks down to ya. She's verrry condescending. Do teachers not no how frustrated it makes a student feel when they answer your question with a look that screams "ARE YOU STUPID??!!"

It's like my whole past year is simply wasted time. I no longer live for the present, but instead for the future (which is not exactly how I prefer to live.) My pep talks consist of " well, you'll only be doing this for (insert number here) more months, and that'll be it", but gosh, that's getting so tiring.

How does one get out of this? It's not depression (if that's what ya thinking) becasue I had it before; I remember what it felt like. All I need is to get a fire going under me, but, well, it's not been a happening.

I can't help but wonder if I'm rolling along the edges of a downward spiral, just barely out of reach of it's gravity.

Any suggestions? (and please, PLEASE, don't suggest triple fudge ice-cream or anything of that sort! Need I remind you annoyance #2?)

Sweeeeeeeet!!!!



Freakin finally!!

6.18.2006

One hecka long meme

I found this on myspace. And I'm not gonna tag any specific people out there to do this...just the usual suspects! (Y'all know who you are!)

Learn 55 things about your friends, and let them learn 55 things about you! Nothing special will happen if you do, and nothing bad will happen if you dont, but maybe you'll get to know someone better, and they'll care to learn something about you.

And I tag the usual suspects on this one, guys (and gals!)

1)How old do you wish you were?
22

2) Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Visiting some great friends in Los Angeles, a little distraught over not being able to take my flight home that day. (And actually never did!)

3) What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Curse it and pull out some more money for a different vending machine.

4) Do you consider yourself kind?
Most of the time.

5) If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
My lower back or my hand.

6) If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Japanese

7) Do you know your neighbors?
Yep. Well, sorta.

8) What do you consider a vacation?
Anything that consist of being outside the Southeastern Louisiana area.

9) Do you follow your horoscope?
Follow it? No. Read it? Yes.

10) Would you move for the person you loved?
If it's moving into his multi-millionaire mansion outin the tropics, why yes!

11) Are you touchy feely?
Not one bit.

12) Do you believe that opposites attract?
Yep, though is it always good....?

13) Dream job?
Host on a travel show. (Can you beat getting paid to travel and eat around the world? Hell no!!)

14) Favorite channel(s)?
food, travel, scifi, cartoon, vh1, and spike (when CSI is on)

15) Favorite place to go on weekends?
I haven't had a non-working weekend in so long that I have no idea where to begin.

16) Showers or Baths?
Showers.

17) Do you paint your nails?
Only for special occasions.

18) Do you trust people easily?
Not anymore.

19) What are your phobias?


20) Do you want kids?
Eventually...

21) Do you keep a handwritten journal?
Yes, but I don't write in it as much as I used to.


22) Where would you rather be right now?
Outside of Jackson Mississippi, with runner-up going to NYC

23) Who makes you feel warm and fuzzy?
Coffee with a shot of whiskey.

24) Heavy or light sleeper?
Medium.

25) Are you paranoid?
Nope.

26) Are you impatient?
Only when I'm moody.

27) If today was your last day on earth, how would you feel?
Cheated. There's just so much that I haven't crossed off on my to-do list.

28) How do you feel about interracial couples?
Love it.

29) Have you been burned by love?
Yep.

30) Whats your favorite pick up line?
"Hi."

31) What's your main ringtone on your mobile?
Uh, I really don't know. It's not like I have a recognizable song on it. I guess it's sort of like an old rotary phone's ring.

32) What were you doing at midnight last night?
Fast Asleep.

33) What did the last text on your cellphone say?
Let me see...LOL (I'll give 10000 points to the reader that identifies the sender of this message) "By that you mean the best superhero movie ever, i assume.:) I agree with your optimism, but opening day will tell the tale."

34) Whose bed did you sleep in last night?
Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine

35) What color shirt are you wearing?
Turquoise tank top.

36) Most recent movie you watched?
Dawn of the Dead (the original)

37) Name three things you have on you at all times?
id bracelet (medica alert, y'all)
clothes
eyeglasses

38.) What color are your bed sheets?
Red and peach. (matching bedsheets are for wimps!!) (Not like there's anything wrong with that.)

39) How much cash do you have on you right now?
Um, about $30

40) What is your favorite part of the chicken?
Cooked: wings
Alive: They's got purty feathers.

41) What's your favorite town/city?
New Orleans

42) I can't wait till:
I GRADUATE!!! and move!

43) What did you have for dinner last night?
99¢ pepperonni microwavable pizza. Yummmm.

44) How tall are you barefoot?
A staturing 5'2"

45) Do you own a gun?
Heck no! I might accidentally shoot a hole in my roof!!

46) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee

47) What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
A good shower and a gorgeous smile.

48) Where do you think you'll be in 10 yrs?
Ten years??!!! I don't even know where I'll be in 10 months!!

49) Last thing you ate?
Meatless Lasagana...mmmm, sooo good

50) What songs do you sing in the shower?
Whatever songs I want to....though mainly the ones I remember.

51) Last thing that made you laugh?
Due to short term memory, I have not one clue. I think it was something I found funny...

52) Worst injury you've ever had?
Try chewing on your tongue for about 3 minutes while having a seizure. That bites! (Pun not intended...ok, maybe it is.)

53) Does someone have a crush on you?
Yep.

54) What's your favorite candy?
hershey's special dark

55) What song do you want played at your funeral?
Foo Fighters: DOA
Only took a second to say goodbye
Been a pleasure, but the pleasure's been mine all mine

6.16.2006

Never Blame the Customer: Part II

Thank you to everyone who took part of Part I of this posting.

It was easy, wasn't it? Now comes the explanation, though first, another quiz:
What is the title of the following book?

If you're answer was "Einsteins's Theory of "why the sun is yellow"", I'm sorry, but you are incorrect. The answer I was looking for was "Bloom's Reveiws: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Maybe it was just me, but I never saw an inkling of this version on the page in which I was looking into. (For those of you who haven't put 2 and 2 together yet, the book was purchased by me.) I even went back to the site and checked through all available sources to confirm the book. Please, I welcome you to go back to the previous post and do the same through the link that was provided.

Needless to say, I was quite shocked to receive the book that you saw up above.

I did like any customer would do, I wrote to the seller about this, simply asking about a return/credit due to this. When I heard back from the seller, he pretty much said...oh heck, let me show ya:

As you may noticed we shipped you exactly what you have ordered.Perhaps youdid not researched this item prior ordering. But I don't think that returning this order will make any economical sense because this order was obtained from our distributor and anytime we return something to them they charge us up to 40% restocking, handling, and
other penalties.
Because we asked them for even larger than our normal discount of 30% of alist price (you purchased this book @ 39% discount from list price and we passed this entire discount to you ) Plus we got charged additional 1.00 PER BOOK BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE PACKAGE.
Not to mention that half.com charged you 3.49 per book but paid us only 2.20 but we paid our distributor 2.70 per book to ship your order.
I think you are better off just using this book as intended because we
did not know that this is not the book you wanted to order. Keep in mind we
are small company with 2 employee including myself and can't afford to
loose money on transactions which was resulted in customer error.
I hope you understand
Thank you for your understanding


My favorite part was when he blamed the mistake for my lack of "research". The icing on the cake is when he said it doesn't economically make sense for him to return the book, saying it's okay for me to lose money.

Again, I welcome you to check back on the page for any signs of the book he ended up sending me. Through my further research, the only thing that stated it was "Bloom's" would have been the ISBN number. Now maybe this is just me, but I don't think one would have to confirm a purchase through checking an ISBN number, especially when all signs point the other way.

I can't even verbalize how pissed off it makes me when someone in a business has horrible customer service. I've been in the customer service positions for over 7 years and not once did I blame a customer for a mistake, even if it was their fault.

Luckily, I had an epiphany, in which I realized that no matter what I say, this guy will be right. I may have used what power I had in giving him a negative reveiw on Half.com, but I honestly don't think he will give a shit. Like I give a damn that there's only 2 people running his "company"? Is that his lame ass excuse for screwing up? Yea, he sent me what I ordered, but he sold the book under false information. I didn't show y'all, but he begun his email with a link to HIS website with the product that was ordered. HEL-LOOOO!! I didn't order it from there, dipshit!

That's the whole kit and caboodle, thanks for listening, and letting me vent. I hope you found this entertaining, along with informative. Maybe this guy screwed up because he didn't double check where his books are being listed, but that's no excuse for horrible customer service. Please help me in boycotting this guy: bookswap

Again, I restate, I know that I was probably one of those rare mess-ups, but it doesn't give any excuse for blaming me.

DOWN WITH BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

6.15.2006

Never Blame the Customer: Part I

Okay, y'all, humor me.

If you can, please visit the following link: Half.com

Now, take a good look at it. Tell me what I bought. Yep, it's that easy. Yep, I am going somewhere with this, but for now, bare with me.

I'll let you know what this is all leading to, soon. Well, as soon as, you know, you humor me!!

6.08.2006

More Childhood loves

Coming to a theatre near you is adaptations of two books I loved as a kid!

How to Eat Fried Worms and Charlotte's Web.

I wonder how true Charlotte's Web will be?

Either way, the look to be good, and I can't wait till they hit the theatres!

6.06.2006

Side Note

I positively LOVE Adult Swim. How can one not be estatic over the return over a much childhood joy.

The Secret word of the day: SCH-WEEEEET!!

By the by, YAY BABY ACE!!! WOO-HOO!!

Major grats to the new parents on the block! I soooo can't wait to see my "nephew" in person!!