Voyage of a Valkyrie

A taste of color

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:07:11 -0600

Orange and gold and red and brown and dirt
The ground is littered
Fragile branches sit empty and silent in the chill yet bright air
Sunshine brings bursts of brilliant red into focus
Small berries sit left behind

Autumn speaks in small ways
and in what is not present, rather than what is

It is not an easy beautiful

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Regret

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:05:41 -0600

Last night it crashed into me in a horribly surreal and yet emphatic and fatal way how much I wish I had kept at least my CPR training up to date, let alone the awesome combat lifesaver skills I had in the Army Reserves.

The halloween party was a blast and we were all finally climbing into bed around 430am, the silence descending on the single apartment over the bar, when suddenly there were shouts outside on the street. A taxi had hit a young woman walking through the cross walk. It was a 4-way stop-sign intersection.

I felt completely helpless. Even if I were out there I couldn't perform any kind of lifesaving because I wasn't re-certified for any of it this year.

I don't think that girl is ok. All I could do was lay in my borrowed inflatable bed and listen to the group of strangers, men that either saw it happen, were nearby and responded in someway by directing traffic, calling the ambulance, trying to help her. It was uplifting to listen to their voices doing what they can, and heartbreaking because it just took so long for the emergency crew to get there. And as I lay there I went through my head what I could possibly do out there, if I were certified. Breathing? Chest compressions? Treat for shock?

The horror of it, on a night where we make light of horror, will stick with me for a very long time. Can I get combat lifesaver training without being in the military? Hmm...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Odessy of the ill

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:52:56 -0500

Maybe you've noticed that the U.S. is kind of FLU CRAZY right about now? Maybe paranoid would be a better word. I work in a school, an elementary school, which is pretty near to ground zero for the paranoid flu circus. And I became sick this week.

Oh the joy. /sarcasm

Sunday I woke up with a backache that turned into all over body aches and a probably very high fever around 3pm.

Monday I woke up feeling tired but fine, no fever. So I went to work. By lunch, the fever was back. So I went home, and stayed there the next day too!

So far, aches and fever are my only symptoms. No coughing, no throat pain, no sniffles, nothing.

Wednesday I feel fine again and return to work since it had been 24hours since my last fever. But that day my sinuses went under fire. I had to resort to sudafed in an attempt to breathe at night while I slept and let me tell you Sudafed does funny things to me.

Today it's Friday. No sudafed necessary, though whatever was in my sinuses definitely sank to my lungs and makes itself known every once in a great while. I don't think I'm taking very deep breaths, but I feel almost fine!

That doesn't sound like the regular flu to me, in fact to me it sounds mostly like a cold. But then my previous post was sent out via email earlier today. So I'm left confused. What kind of illness did I have?!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Cold? Flu? H1N1?

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:37:49 -0500

*DIFFERENCES BETWEEN* *COLD,* *SEASONAL FLU* & *H1N1SYMPTOMS***

*SYMPTOM*	*COLD*	*SEASONAL FLU*	*H1N1*
*FEVER*	Fever is rare* with a cold.*	Fever is common* with the seasonal flu.*	*Fever is usually present* with H1N1 in up to 80% of all flue cases. A temperature of 101°
*COUGHING*	A hacking,productive* (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold.*	A dry and hacking cough is often present with the seasonal flu.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with H1N1 (sometimes referred to as dry cough).*
*ACHES*	*Slight* body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	*Moderate* body aches are common with the seasonal flu.	*Severe* aches and pains are common with H1N1.*
*STUFFY NOSE*	Stuffy nose is commonly presentwith a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	A runny nose is commonly presentwith the seasonal flu.	Stuffy nose is not* commonly present with H1N1.*
*CHILLS*	Chills areuncommon with a cold.	Chills are mild to moderate* with the seasonal flu.*	60% of people who have H1N1 experience chills.
*TIREDNESS*	Tiredness is fairlymild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate* and more likely referred to as a lack of energy with the seasonal flu.*	Tiredness is moderate to severewith H1N1.*
*SNEEZING*	Sneezing is commonly presentwith a cold	Sneezing is common present* with the seasonal flu.*	Sneezing is not* common with H1N1.*
*SUDDEN SYMPTOMS*	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	Symptons tend to develop over afew days and include flushed face, loss of appetite, dizziness and/or vomiting/nausea. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual. Diarrhea is common.	H1N1 has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. H1N1 hits hard and includes sudden symptoms likehigh fever, aches and pains. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual. Diarrhea is common.
*HEADACHE*	A headache is fairlyuncommon with a cold.	A headache is fairly common* with the seasonal flu.*	A headache is very common with H1N1 and present in 80% of cases.*
*SORE THROAT*	Sore throat is commonly presentwith a cold.	Sore throat is commonly presentwith the seasonal flu.	Sore throat is not* commonly present with H1N1.*
*CHEST DISCOMFORT*	Chest discomfort ismild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is moderate* with the seasonal flu.* *If it turns severe seek medical attention immediately!*	Chest discomfort is often severewith H1N1.

*PREVENTION TIPS:*
*cough & sneeze into your elbow
*wash hands with soap and warm water for a minimum of 15 -20 seconds. Sing your abc's or happy birthday to you
*use hand sanitizer when soap & water are not available
*avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth without washing or using hand sanitizer first

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Fallen

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:39:20 -0500

What does the young squirrel think when the colored leaves that sheltered his home are today gone, littering the

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Fallen

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:49:00 -0500

What does the young squirrel think when the colored leaves that sheltered his home are today gone, littering the

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Who are you dying to see in concert?

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:20:52 -0500

Who are you dying to see in concert?

I want to see Seether or Chevelle. I'm dying to see no-one though!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Not dead!

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:39:19 -0500

I do live, and I even log onto vox and check some stuff out. But I've felt... lackluster lately and had very little drive to put thoughts to word and get them out there in text.

Apologies for all the twitter spam in all of your neighborhoods. I'll try to fix it. Obviously I do dabble on twitter and tumblr now too. Links coming soon.

Send to a friend

Twitdates

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:01:27 -0500

Drink like youre good with money. I laughed. #
Your romantic fantasies can motivate you now, making the diffe... More for Libra bit.ly/15xn9X #
twitpic.com/hg5vh - Why some warcraft guys are single.. #
Link: Upcoming HBO Show Now Casting Tattooed Hipsters, Indie Rockers, and ‘Lower East Side Hispanic Types’ --... tumblr.com/x6f32u8kx #
"Curiously, 9/11 disabused me of many notions I’d had about conspiracies over the years (JFK, CIA, UFOs,..." tumblr.com/x6f32u92c #
"What I do think and feel, however, is that if we want to honor the innocent people who lost their lives..." tumblr.com/x6f32uag1 #
Photo: r3d: tumblr.com/x6f32ualj #
so true RT @etherjammer: A year in retrospective, boiled down: the easy, immediately-attractive choice is always, ALWAYS the wrong choice. #
nooooo... @drugfreeyth has UI stuff up.... /is tempted by the prettiness is.gd/3c1eT #
I love this idea! RT @Earthyman: Seeding a prairie. bit.ly/19e9iX #
twitpic.com/hgel3 - Feels like christmas #
twitpic.com/hgpkx - One tomatoe? Or 3in1? #
listening to "Azam Ali - In This Divide" ♫ blip.fm/~d9c1k #
Link: listening to "Azam Ali - In This Divide" tumblr.com/x6f32w6y5 #
dear AVGtoolbar, please stop sucking. I would use your "safe search" if you weren't tied to yahoo and gave me option for google. GTFO #
This American Life had my dying of laughter today. I love mocking reality tv. fourfour.typepad.com is win, totally. <3 #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

Send to a friend

Twitdates

nobody@vox.com(Roxy) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:02:17 -0500

Omg too many twitter texts #
Just passed a burger king with "free fingerprinting" signage. Seriously..? #
Photo: I find this strangely fascinating. All she needs is fake fangs. (via thepulpgirls) tumblr.com/x6f3202kr #
I'm watching / listening to They Might Be Giants. I believe I will be blipping soon. #
RT @StarfruitCafe: We are having an event on DePaul Campus tomorrow!!! We are going to be sampling our smoothies from 3-6pm! Stop by!! #
Video: Science teachers should love this, right? linuxchic: tumblr.com/x6f32083x #
Photo: leftunderbooks: Very nice! tumblr.com/x6f3209tg #
Wow there are some really hysterical and creative stuff out there on the Wilson vs. Obama stuff #
Photo: Magical thinking here. unburyingthelead: tumblr.com/x6f320cav #
also, abortion should be covered - unburyingthelead: Yes, pandering on this issue and so much more. I hate... tumblr.com/x6f320oxl #
Link: "I will not accept the status quo as a solution." - leftunderbook s: tumblr.com/x6f320pn5 #
My feets are loving the massage-thingy. LOVING #
RT @personified @SharonHayes: If you need to say you are hot, sexy or -insert adjective- in your bio, you probably aren't #imjustsayin #
The Wilson stuff from the obama speech last night makes me laugh. Next we'll imprison and beat him. No shoes were involved! #
"all the little plebians" lyrics = win. @ziboo ♫ blip.fm/~d6148 #
Link: listening to "Seether - Simplest Mistake" - “all the little plebians” lyrics = win. @ziboo tumblr.com/x6f321q8g #
This. Paladins. /facepalm RT @plutokiss: img310.imageshack.us/img310/2584/paladins0gf.jpg #
I'll miss it? suck. RT @BrokeHipster: The Pabst Blue Ribbon Brawl - Rock N Wresting, Free, starts in less than 2 hours! su.pr/1FQDyT #
RT @cityprovisions: PLEASE "shine a light" on City Provisions! We need 50 votes by Sunday--but will gladly take more! ow.ly/oY7W #
joining @recessionistas and @brokehipster RT @banoonoo: Follow Friday @thriftista Deals that let you enjoy Chica go and afford your rent! #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

Send to a friend