Breakfast with Santa

When I was a kid, every year my dad lined up with tens of other hard-core parents on a predetermined morning sometime in November. The mission? Get tickets for a beloved event: the Breakfast with Santa that took place on the top floor of the downtown Eaton's in Victoria, British Columbia. For much of my … Continue reading Breakfast with Santa →

Early Christmasing for Fun and Sanity

For the last several years, I haven't even tried to stop myself from being that overly enthusiastic Christmas celebrator you probably try to ignore until December. My husband was a little wary when I announced a few Sundays ago that seeing as Halloween had passed, the holiday season had officially begun. "It's November 1," he … Continue reading Early Christmasing for Fun and Sanity →

Preparing to Hibernate

I’ve been taking advantage of the last nice days of fall, and of my raging metabolism, which has turned me into a sweaty monster who prefers much-lower temperatures than I’m generally able to stand, by spending as much time as I possibly can outside, most of it (socially distanced from other customers) on the patio … Continue reading Preparing to Hibernate →

Pretty Much the Best

It’s been just over a week since I came home, and I’m happy to report that I’m still here and that it’s still pretty much the best (and that I took down the stray Christmas decorations that my husband had left up since last year). Though I was feeling pretty darn good about leaving the … Continue reading Pretty Much the Best →

And Now, Home(!)

Today something I’d started to think would never happen at long last did (happen, that is). Call it a September miracle, call it the cumulation of over nine months of intensive medical treatment, call it what you want. All that matters is that I’m home. Not that I was excited to leave or anything. I’ve … Continue reading And Now, Home(!) →

Oh Hey There, It’s Me in the Neuro Ward

As I’m sure you’re aware, last Monday—my transfer day—has come and gone. I didn’t back out at the last minute; I was in near-constant freak-out mode; I experienced a weird ambulance ride with a nurse (one of my favourites), me on a stretcher because it’s policy even though I’m mobile and could’ve made the journey … Continue reading Oh Hey There, It’s Me in the Neuro Ward →

A Silvery Dilantinish Lining

I’ve been feeling so much better since that episode of status epilepticus. As I’ve had time to recover from the seizure itself, my Dilantin level has gradually come down, though it’s not yet at an ideal place (more on that in a moment). Best of all, and somewhat paradoxically, I’ve been having way fewer seizures … Continue reading A Silvery Dilantinish Lining →

A Terrible Week

Well, readers, this has been quite the week. Let me start with the positive: I’m starting to feel significantly better, and I’m not dead. (I guess those two things are connected.) Oh, and I don’t remember most of Monday and Tuesday, which is probably good. Yep, I’m being pretty dramatic. I feel like I deserve … Continue reading A Terrible Week →

This Post Is about a (Minor) Ketocal Explosion

I’m working on a normal-length post about something more important than what I’m about to document, but since an ... inspiring(?) event has transpired in the meantime, I find myself spontaneously moved to write. I mean, how could I not inform you that a Ketocal explosion recently took place in my hospital room? “Explosion” is, … Continue reading This Post Is about a (Minor) Ketocal Explosion →

Novelty T-Shirts and Why I Love Them

A great/possibly the best thing about being confined to a hospital unit (for seven months, as of yesterday 😐) is feeling justified in wearing whatever the h-e-double-hockey-sticks I so desire. As it turns out, what I so desire, at least 90% of the time, are sweatpants paired with a novelty T-shirt. I’m well aware that … Continue reading Novelty T-Shirts and Why I Love Them →