Pain in the Back

For the last week my lower right back has been killing me. I had though it was just a muscle ache and that it would go away, but 8 days later it has only gotten worse. It was so bad this morning that once i got out of bed (took about an hour) I decided to skip an important day of work and see a doctor.

I went online to schedule an appointment, and was quite pleased that I could see someone at 10 am. So after a hot shower I walked over to the health center and met Registered Nurse Blount. First off, though, I had a women take my blood pressure and height and weight. She absolutely refused to believe I was 4'10, she kept saying she didn't believe it. Why would I lie about such a thing? Anyway, the R.N. diagnosed my with a slipped disc and sent me over to the nearby hospital for x-rays and gave me a list of physiatrsits to see.

This was my first time going to a hospital alone, and I just don't care for it. It took me a bit to navigate the halls and then finally I found radiology. After a wait, I was given two robes (front and back) and lead to a table to lie on for the x-rays. The whole contraption looked and smelled like it was from the 70s. The technician was new, so she had an older woman working with her who kept telling her everything she was doing wrong, and made me feel like I had to be extra helpful through the pain to make her look good. First I had to lie flat on my back, which is pretty painful, but not at all awkward. I was a little nervous because this is my first x-ray without any of that metal-jacket protection and I made her promise I wouldn't have crazy three-armed children in 10 years because of this. Then they made me pose the way angelic children sleep on television; on my side with knees bent at a 45 degree angle, hands in prayer position just next to my head. It was killer and I had to keep it for 20 minutes because somehow I wasn't alligned right and they had to take the x-ray a dozen times (truly). Everytime they took the x-ray it made a lot of noise and I felt as though I could feel it going through me (though I'm sure it was all in my head) but it was really nerve racking as I thought of all my radiated organs. They also never spoke to me except to tell me not to breather (it made me move too much) so that I began to feel like a lump of moldable clay as they kept poking me into the required postions. I got off the table in more pain than ever.

I then headed over to the pharmacy. I dropped of the prescription and went for lunch, and then came back an hour later. There was all sorts of confusion, and I ended up sitting in a chair for an hour waiting for them to fill it/ realize they had filled it/ call my name. I ended up next to a skinny blond woman who told me her very interesting life story. The thing was that her story involved the US intelligence agancy and Kuwait and airplanes, so she had to tell it in a whisper because she isn't sure if she's still being watched (her home was recently burglarized by men in suits). I have no idea what she said half the time, but the rest of it was entertaining and it helped the time pass.

The codeine has now officially kicked in. And I feel tired and ill. putting my head down for awhile.

Shira's Shower

This weekend was the long awaited, much labored over, wedding shower/ bachelorette party extravaganza!

It all began on Thursday when my parents came in. My Daddio, Shira, Mike and I met for dinner down by work while my mom rested up in the hotel. The next step was Mike getting kicked out of the apartment for the weekend and Shira's friends slowly arriving Friday. I had the pleasure of lunch with my parents while the girls figured out sleeping arrangements for the night. That night, we ordered in Chinese and played trivial pursuit.

Saturday morning marked the Wedding Shower. This was put together mainly by Shira's third-cousin Amy (I don't really consider people I've only met since I was 20 family, but Shira and her are very close). She had chosen Shira's favorite little restaurants, Alice's Tea Cup, which caters to groups of women and celebrations. She had also put together the theme of "America's Next Top Bridal Shower" with posters from the model show with Shira's head added, purples and silver balloons (the wedding colors) and tons of little goodies. It was complete with Tyra-Mail (wittily written by myself) which directed Shira to have each of her guests introduce themselves and how they met her as well as answer a series of fashion related questions. Our gifts feel into 3 categories; tea cups, practical, and funny accessories. Shira was covered in purple sunglasses, boas and more in no time, but by far the best of the funny gifts was Bedazzled tool belt filled with inside-joke memorabilia from Ashleigh and Leigh (two friends from OSU). There was a ridiculous amount of delicious food; scones (including Mexican chocolate, my favorite!), finger sandwiches, and desserts. And of course, tons of tea. It was really beautifully done and just the way Shira would have wanted it.

Friends, Family, and Cockroaches

I got back into town from Chicago Sunday night and headed right back to my room. While I was starving, so I then met up with Anmol and went over to the tiny, noisy but delicious Max SOHA. We had a really nice time, but when we wanted to leave it was puring out, and we were both umbrella-less. We ran to the Max Cafe (same owner) down the street and took refuge in hot chocolates and chais there across from a small group of "Jews Against the Occupation." After a few hours we had no choice but to run back to I-House (well, we did have the option of getting a taxi, but Anmol shot that down) in the torrents of rain. It was a nice little walk.

After work on Monday, I had more exciting dinner plans! Shira and Mike and I went down to the Village to spend the evening with my Uncle Mitch and Karl. Mitch and Karl actually met at Columbia gradschool while Karl was at SIPA and Mitch was taking writing. While we were at home, I watched our oldest home video, the Thanksgiving of '85 which was the first time Karl met the family. It's so crazy that they were 23-ish, and in gradschool, and now I'm at that point in my life. It turns out Karl spent his first year at I-House, but he didn't remember HR (could there have been a time pre-HR???). For dinner we went to The Pink Teacup, good Southern food that Mitch and Karl have been going to since grad school. It was immense amounts of good food. Then we went down the street to Magnolia Bakery, which I personally think is over hyped, but when in New York... I skipped the cupcakes in favor of raspberry marzipan cheesecake, ridiculously delicious.

I was ready for a nice evening at home, catching up via email and the phone with friends, when...
A HUGE GIANORMOUS DISGUSTING COCKROACH WALKED ACROSS MY DESK. It took a lot of courage, but I eventually got to a shoe and slammed down on it, and the roach raised its huge shoulders, shrugged off my weapon, and ran behind the desk. It was time to reach out for help, and I called Anmol, but it took a lot of convincing to get him to come over and even then he pleaded pacifist (damn those vegetarians) and said he could only coax the roach out of my room. He eventually showed up and did catch the roach, and threw him out the window (how is that not killing the roach?). I then made him check every drawer and cabinet and help take out my trash. SO very gross. I will now be asking the dorm to fumigate. I had thought I left roaches behind the summer I worked at Hand in Hand in Israel (that was a rough summer) and now I'm more convinced than ever that I do not want to stay in New York. (Pictured: cockroach, this is only half the size of the original)

Work and a Wedding Shower

Oh summertime, when the living is easy.

I've started my first paid internship! The pay isn't fantastic, but when you're used to working for free (or virtually free since 25 shekelim a day pretty much adds up to a fallafel and soda) it's really nice. I bought myself a month public transportation pass and got my special Empire ID so that I can do my work at the Empire State building from 9:30-5:30, 5 days a week. So far, most of the work has been pretty much "busy work" but by reading the papers I've had to copy I'm getting to know the office pretty well. The office is pretty diverse, and I'm enjoying getting to know everyone. The other night we celebrated one of the women who is leaving by going out for really bad mojitos and burritos, and I bonded a bit with the admin workers. The education team that I work on seems nice enough, and I've begun doing some research that will hopefully be incorporated into their trainings and curricula. The most straining part has been figuring out office-appropriate clothing, specifically the shoes are killing me. Damn the dress code, I'm wearing flip-flops!

Other exciting news is that I got a new shower curtain! My old one, from I-House, was plain gross and it brought me down having to look at it every morning. Now I awake to be showered surrounded by large blue and green flowers. I'm pretty happy. I've also bought a semi-scandalous dress which I wore out with two Israeli guys and Anmol to the Meat Packing district. as scandalous as I thought I was, it was nothing compared to the genuinely incredible clothing the women were wearing to party in that area. We ended up just chilling at the Brass Monkey, and although it wasn't the greatest fun ever, it was a very NY experience.

This weekend I came back to Chicago for my sister Shira's wedding shower. It was really sweet. My mom's four best friends threw it; Patty, Cathi, Laura and Nancy. It was held at a country club and was attended by my grandma, Mike's mom, and a lot of women who love my mother and adore her kids. The food was delicious and the gifts were very pretty. Mostly it was silverware and dishes, and we all screamed when my Grandma's present was opened and it was negligee (with a robe she pointed out)! It was so nice to spend a weekend at home with my family, especially my Daddio and Asher who I hardly ever see, and my grandparents. I forced Mike and Shira to watch my favorite home video, the one where Shira explains that she didn't bit me she hit me to my father (I was 2) and that when my father praises her on sharing with me she responds "Well, I didn't really want to." Oh that sass and honesty will forever live on!