While listening to Spotify the other day, I had one of those classic "omigod, dozens, if not hundreds, of my early memories are linked to this Schubert piano sonata" moments. I should first explain that I spent large swathes of my childhood in the central branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library due to a … Continue reading Closing Time at the Greater Victoria Public Library (Central Branch)
Tag: epilepsy
Let’s Cut It Out: An Update
I had an appointment with my epileptologist this morning, in part a normal checkup, in part an opportunity to hear the results of November's hospital stay, when I was evaluated for epilepsy surgery. I imagine you're on the edge of your seat, so I won't keep you waiting. I'll also keep this short(ish): I've had … Continue reading Let’s Cut It Out: An Update
Happy Patron Saint of Epilepsy Day!
I interrupt your Valentine's Day festivities to inform you, on the off chance that you weren't already aware, that Saint Valentine is the patron saint of epilepsy. (OK, one of the patron saints of epilepsy.) So, using my convoluted reasoning, that basically makes today, Valentine's Day, Epilepsy Day—"Patron Saint of Epilepsy Day" is a bit … Continue reading Happy Patron Saint of Epilepsy Day!
When Body Meets Soul
My doctor called me on Friday to communicate the results of my recent bone scan. "The news isn't good," she said, somewhat dramatically, I thought, though my perception may have been affected by the fact that I picked up the phone while in the middle of an especially emotional scene in an episode of Nashville, my … Continue reading When Body Meets Soul
“Relaxing”
The day after my thesis defence was scheduled, my supervisor sent me an e-mail to tell me that my thesis defence had been scheduled (I had been cc'ed on the e-mail from my department's business officer, so I was well aware). In a message that was so nice it made me cry—OK, I'm a little … Continue reading “Relaxing”
A Little Roadblock: Chronic Pain, Mysterious Spinal Fractures, the “Joys” of Living with Epilepsy
A week or so after I was discharged from my EMU stay in November, I started experiencing pretty intense pain in my left side, especially at night, and especially with certain movements. As is my way, I decided that the best course of action, at least in the short term, was to ignore it. I've got … Continue reading A Little Roadblock: Chronic Pain, Mysterious Spinal Fractures, the “Joys” of Living with Epilepsy
That Christmas Feeling
Something weird happened between the time I started composing this blog entry and the time I'm getting around to posting it. I'll start with what I meant to finish writing a few days ago but, for lack of a better excuse, didn't, probably because I was too busy eating Tim Horton's chicken noodle soup and … Continue reading That Christmas Feeling
We Are (Now Both) Canadians!
Eight years after we met studying abroad in Germany, six and a half after he moved to Canada, my American husband is now officially my American-Canadian husband. (As of not last Monday but the Monday before, but life's been a little weird as of late, so it's taken me forever to get around to documenting … Continue reading We Are (Now Both) Canadians!
Oh Hey There, Old Friend
Well, this is it: my fourth, and final, weekend in the epilepsy monitoring unit. One of the best parts about being here has been having a medication holiday. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know that I'm really not a fan of Topamax, one of the anticonvulsants that I take. Since … Continue reading Oh Hey There, Old Friend
The Most Welcome Tonic-Clonic Seizure in the World
Just a quick note to inform you that on Saturday night, after over two weeks of waiting/lounging around the hospital eating bad food and attempting to work, I had a tonic-clonic seizure. Since I’m in the EMU for, you know, epilepsy monitoring, and since my epileptologist needs to capture a certain number of seizures in … Continue reading The Most Welcome Tonic-Clonic Seizure in the World
De Morbo Sacro: Life and/with Epilepsy 