ManiPedi

After weeks and weeks of saying that I was going to do it, I finally did, I got a manicure and a pedicure! I am almost looking like a female again! Whoo hoo!

The oddest thing though, the salon wouldn't allow you to tip on the credit card, check or anything, ONLY by cash. Apparently this policy went into effect on April 15th. Wondering if this is some way to get around reporting tips? I mean come on, like servers really do it 100%?? I won't be going back there because of it, what a pain in the you know what for someone who really doesn't carry cash to have to go and get cash when this is a spur of the moment thing! And I was clearly a new client and they didn't tell me until I went to pay. They had some tiny handwritten signs up, but they were apparently behind things, like fans! Not a good customer building policy! Oh well.

Domestic Diva...

That is me! I have been on quite the little cooking spree! Whoo hoo. Tonight we had some friends over and I roasted 2 chickens, the recipe is called, Orange Coriander Chicken. It took almost a couple hours, but wasn't really labor intensive. And I made a fancy artichoke vinagrette salad and fruit tarts for dessert. Ok, I cheated on that a bit, bought the tart filling and shells. But I washed, cut and laid out the fruit on them! And I made HOMEMADE whipped cream with a touch of Gran Marnier! And we used the dining room table, and matching plates, and even coffee cups with coasters and a cream and sugar holder thingy with dessert! I feel so grown-up, better enjoy it while it lasts!

Van Halen

OK, so most of you that read this (that would be 2 of you I think) know already that I got to interpret for Van Halen! This was on May 5th. It was a last minute thing, so there was NO prep time so it wasn't the best job that I had ever done by any stretch of the imagination. However, I was able to bring mom and Jose, for free. Park in VIP, and see the concert for free. On top of all of that, I worked with another interpreter, Susan, who was a GREAT team interpreter. I would work with her again in a hot minute! She has been in the biz for MUCH longer and she never lorded it over me or anything, was just super nice and friendly, not to mention a great interpreter!

So back to the concert. Unfortunately, we weren't near the stage, we were sat directly in front of the Deaf consumer 2/3 of the way back, but on the first row of bleacher seats. No way to meet the band, but it was still fun. They put on a good show!

OH MY GOD!

I think that I just had one of the most exciting days ever! In addition to my previous post where I got to interpret a rally for Michelle Obama, I got free passes to an event for the DNC here in NC tonight. So I dragged my mom to it. The passes that we had entitled us to sit in the bleachers. Down by where the speakers would be were all of these fancy pants white table clothed tables. Turns out that it was a $225 a plate dinner down there.

So long story less long, mom starts chatting with a woman who sat near us (I was at the concession stand, Dorton Arena, please staff your concessions better at events like these!) and the woman ended up going to ask if we could sit at one of the empty tables down there. Apparently this was instigated by my mom who said "If my daughter were here she would ask if we could sit down there." So the woman said she would. And she did. AND we got to sit down there! We had a FREE 3 course meals including filet mignon! And we got to hear the Gubernatorial candidates, US Senate candidates for NC, AND Hillary and Obama! And we were right there, all for free, all due to a trickle down effect from my interpreting assignment earlier that day, a last minute thing, and all built on just being open and talking to people!
Life can be pretty exciting sometimes!!! Whoo hoo! I am still so wired, I might not sleep tonight!

ROCK ON!

Well, in contrast to the last day that I posted, I had an awesome few days, culminating in one amazing experience! First off, after the bad incident that I had last Monday, on both Wednesday and Thursday I had the Deaf client that I was working with each time, without any egging on by yours truly, go to the agency where they have their appointments and SPECIFICALLY request me, by name! Yay! Ha, talk about an ego boost when you need it the most! So, that plus some more thinking and I am over the situation the other day, and I have to say that that is the quickest I have gotten over something, EVER!

Then today, I had a whole day of nothingness ahead of me when I got a call asking if I was free for a job, long story short, I took it and it was to interpret at a Rally for Michelle Obama! How awesome is that!? And I must say that I have been planning on voting for Clinton but I might just change that vote. We shall see, going to another event tonight, I will reserve judgement 'til then!

ROCK ON!

Bad day

Today was my first really bad experience since I have returned to the interpreting world. A client was already upset and mentioning a lawyer when I didn't understand a word, granted a basic word, but one I haven't used or seen in a while, and I had a freaking brain freeze. So then the client asked if I was certified and claimed that the communication wasn't good in the situation and was definitely going to get a lawyer. I know that I did a good job, everyone needs a bit of a nudge on a word here or there, this client was just pissed and took it out on me as well as who they were really mad at, but I still feel like crap on toast. Blech, and it is pouring out.

Snow Alert

Heading to Boston this weekend for Northeastern University's 11th Annual ASL Festival! Whoo hoo! Taking one of my best friend's, and my boss! Have almost every minute accounted for and will be more tired coming home than I am now, but it will be a blast! And they say it might snow while we are there, hot dog!

Dad

Whoo hoo! Dad is coming home tomorrow! He is a 'miracle', that is what the hospital staff is telling him, he went from seemingly fine one day, to having a heart attack and double bypass the next, to progressing slower than average, to beating the time in the hospital, or at least catching up to the projected average time! And he still has his sense of sarcastic humor! Great stuff. :)

Easter Miracle

Well, it is a good day in the world of news in relation to Dad! We went in for the first visit allowed (10am) and while we were there his doctor showed up and told us that as soon as we left they were taking the balloon out. They also said (yippee!) that when the bleeding is done from that (usually in a few hours) they will take out the breathing tube!!!! This is the best news that we could have gotten at this point and we are thrilled! Finally he will be able to communicate! This is just the beginning of a long and arduous road, but being able to communicate is a huge barrier for him right now.

As well as the good news, he was even more alert and himself than last night. He doesn't like to try to write in an attempt to communicate, for various reasons, but he does like to draw letters in the air to tell us what he wants to tell us. This can be difficult to understand as we may all recall from our games as a child with this. Especially since he thinks in cursive. But he is getting his point across. Today he was trying to get something across, and when I couldn't understand it he took my hand (which is great, he is more mobile today!) and laid it on the pillow on his stomach, and smacked it! Then he proceeded to draw his letters in my hand. That worked well!

Also, when I made a comment about his new leg stocking (something having to do with holding the veins in place since they had to take part of a vein from his leg to do the bypass) he made the universal 'whoopee' sign of circling his finger in the air. He also attempted to strike a pose! It was very heartening stuff and we couldn't be happier about this progress!

We are hoping to find his breathing tube out by 2 but if not then I expect it to be gone by the 5 o'clock visit! Yay.

Dad

On Thursday March 20th my father had emergency double bypass surgery. He had a heart attack at some point, but they are not sure when exactly. Apparently a migraine saved his life. Who knew one could be grateful for a migraine!

He had had the migraine for about a week off and on at which point he finally went to the doctor. They gave him some Immitrex for it and then detected an arrhythmia. They took an EKG and referred him to a cardiologist with the recommendation of being seen within the next week. They went ahead and sent the EKG along to the cardiologist who told him to get in to see him immediately. He went. They called an ambulance and sent him to the hospital right away for a cardiac catheter at which point they let me know that I should come to Wilmington.

By the time I got there, a few hours later, thinking that I am just going to sit around while they do this test on him, I was notified that he was already in surgery for a possible triple or quadruple bypass. It turned out that it should have been a triple but one of the areas that was blocked was where the heart attack occurred and was atrophied so they couldn't bypass it.

It is now Saturday and he is doing ok. Not great, but he is making progress. There was a blip with his blood pressure this morning, but they got it stabilized. They were hoping to have the breathing tube out yesterday but his vitals aren't yet strong enough to do that. We are hoping very hard that it is done by Monday (although tomorrow would be better!). It would mean that his vitals are very good and that he can communicate effectively.

When visiting him today he was lucid and aware when we were there (although we are told due to the medications that he won't really remember these days) and was able to interact in a manner with us. The GREAT news is that he still has his sense of humor. When he was told that a family friend, a straight male no less, asked what his favorite flowers are so that he could send him some, I noticed his hand moving and realized that he was giving the finger in response! I asked him if he was in fact giving the guy the finger and he nodded a clear yes! So this is all good news. His color is great and the nurses say that his lab work is coming back looking right on target, so we have every reason to believe that he will make a full recovery (albeit a slow one).

I am scared because this is the first real sign that I have had to deal with that my father is in fact mortal, and I don't like it one bit. I think that if I lose him (and I don't expect that to be any time soon!), I will fall apart, because he is my best friend. And yes I realize that I said if and not when, I am not even ready to deal with the difference yet!