It's Greg's and my 3rd anniversary today. :) I got him a video ipod, some super soft socks and a wallet (because he put his through the wash). He got me the "His Dark Materials" book series by Philip Pullman, the first Postsecret book, and the new Weird Al album which isn't out yet so I have to wait. Sadly I have to work today until 6:30PM but after that we'll be able to hang out.

I also have a paper to write by 6:00PM on Monday, but that's what the last minute is for. ;)

-Cailin

Greg's cholecystectomy went fine, and it sounds to me like it was a good thing we decided to go ahead and do it. According to the surgeon the gall-bladder was very scarred, and instead of being happy a squishy it was tough and rubbery. Ew. They said this was definitely an indicator of problems in the past so it's good to have it out. Right now Greg is recovering in the hospital, he's in pain but the meds help - if all goes as planned he'll be recovering tomorrow at his mom's house (she's home all day unlike me and can take care of him).

So to re-cap:
gall-bladder - hard, gross, and out.
Greg - tender, in good spirits, out tomorrow.
Cailin - exhausted, but relieved.

-Cailin

Well, despite how it may seem to most of you, I’ve started writing again. Nothing big, just a fan fiction story I left in a gutter somewhere maybe three years ago. Pathetic, I know. But, now I’m working on it again but I feel less of the ‘fanness’ I once had. Which probably means I’ll have to watch LOTR a few more times to get the “itch” back. That’s really all anyone needs, right? To get that spark back? Anyhow, that’s what I’m working on at the moment.

Yesterday I went shopping with the wife of Greg’s co-worker Kalen* (we’ve met before at various social functions), I’m not sure if we’ll ever be “peer friends” because of the age gap, but I think we’ll be friends of some other sort, not sure what to call it though. She’s an interesting gal, doesn’t mind being lost or going way out of the way because of it. It’s refreshing to not be obsessed with ‘following the map exactly’. We saw a lot of the Napa wine country and it was beautiful.

School is in a week, and I’m simultaneously anticipating and dreading it. I know it means a break for the tedium and uselessness I feel, but at the same time it also means that time will be filled with work work work. I guess life seldom provides something for nothing, right? I plan to approach it with a fresh outlook, and hopefully get done with the Psych major applications the second it’s available. I’m not sure what to write in a declaration, but I think it says what to write on the application. I just don’t want to wait that long before writing it. Maybe I’ll start now!

Sometimes I wonder though, if I’m really fit to help other people with their problems. Everyone’s experiences are so unique, it’s hard to say “yes, I can analyze you and give you some sort of therapy to help you”. How can anyone do that? Well, it’s something you learn to do as a therapist, I’d wager. It’s not something that comes naturally to any person, though I feel sometimes we have inclinations towards those abilities. Good times. Also, in regards to school, it will be nice to have a reason to get up early in the morning, I don’t like sleeping in, despite how it looks.

I guess that makes up for a couple weeks of hiatus.

Until next time.

-Cailin

* - not sure how it's spelled but it sounds exactly like my name. :P

jeal·ous - adj. 3. Having to do with or arising from feelings of envy, apprehension, or bitterness

A couple of my friends, Sean and Dan, are in China right now. I just read an update email by them and I am, as you might imagine, envious. I want to be in China, too! Well, it's more like I want to be on vacation. Instead... I'm going to school. Dumb ol' school, never giving me a break, always answering to the man...

Anyway, I just went out with Greg to see History of Violence. If you like brutal, very real movies, this is for you. I would say it has a lot of the same elements as does Pulp Fiction, if you've ever seen it. History of Violence is incredibly well written and directed - I highly recommend it, though it is definitely NOT for everyone. It definitely earned its R rating. :)

That is all.

-Cailin

One of the most frustrating parts about having a significant other is the dividing up of holiday visits! We (Greg and I) have set up a plan to alternate Thanksgiving and Christmas (where one year we go to my folks for Thanksgiving and his for Christmas, and vice versa the next year). Now, this is all well and good, except my parents don't seem to understand/accept this arrangement. Poor things. They are fixed on me coming for Thanksgiving this year when I'm 90% sure I did that last year. It's hard to remember, sometimes. They have all sorts of great arguments (and I do want to go) but I think it's Greg's turn to spend Thanksgiving with his family.

The tricky thing is, I can't recall if we visted my parents on Thanksgiving last year or simply around that time for a makeshift one. I'll have to check before talking with Greg about it. :) Hopefully nothing will be amiss, but you never know...

-Cailin

P.s. Also, I really, really, really don't want to go to my classes today. I don't have an excuse not to go but... aw come on! *pout*

:D!! I made Greg breakfast in bed with blueberry muffins (I baked them) and toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs with orange juice. I feel so happy and satisfied. I gave him his gifts and he was very very happy (three great shirts and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks). He was adorably emotional, I'm so glad he enjoyed them. Anyway, off I go to enjoy the rest of our special day.

-Cailin

It is as it usually is in such a place as this... uneventful but mostly peaceful with a manic air that can only be described as gaming fever. With this note aside I must say that I will be leaving said environment in favor of visiting my parents for a little while, just before Summer break ends and I must cut off all contact with the outside world to work and adjust to school once more. My brother Andy will be visiting as well, so it will be nice to get to see him again (though we don't have much in common and the conversations are relatively chatty and one-dimensional). I am still furious with his wife due to the last time we spoke - and I don't think I'll be able to hang around her much. She just burns my bacon.

I will, however, enjoy the pool! My parents recently scrapped the old one (which had rusted through over the last winter), and have replacted it with a sleek rectangular vessel holding several gallons of pure summer entertainment. I'll miss Greg, of course, but he has other obligations and can't put aside that much time for travel. Second Registrations starts on Monday the 8th, so I might have to re-work my classes from my parent's computer. No big deal, but I would like to use my own. :/

In other news, I am thorougly enjoying the audio book of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the voice actor is superb - he does voices for every character and it's loads of fun just listening to it in an idle moment. The romantic side of me (and I say romantic meaning the philosophic mentality) can't help but yearn for the world I 'read' about. Magic is just so neat and it would be lovely to have that kind of fanciful element to keep this boring sort of world from killing me in drudgery. *Smile* But.. reading about it does enough for me most of the time, I suppose.

-Cailin

Alright so, update on the life that is mine - Greg and I are working on a project. For the last week we've been visiting craft stores and hardware stores looking for parts to make a game. You see, Greg has a 'game night' with some of his old co-worker buddies and his dad and they all play different board/card games for 4-5 hours at a time. There was one game they were interested in playing, but it is now out of print and there are none available for purchase. Their solution? Make one.

So... after printing out the cards and making the board, we had to cut (by hand) eighty 1"X1"X1/2" blocks for game pieces. It was a lot of work. I got to sand down all the edges when Greg was done cutting them with the miter saw. That is a lot of work folks... lemme tell you. And we haven't even stained/painted them yet. We might not because the game is due tomorrow evening.

:) Still, I must say that I enjoy working on projects with Greg, even if I'm not going to play the game.
Also, I still have to get my act together and re-work my Fall '05 classes before August begins. I'm such a procrastinator.

Speaking of school...
I MADE THE DEAN'S LIST!
*cough*

:DD

-Cailin

When nothing much happens, there's nothing much to say sometimes. While I find the boredom relaxing at times, most of the time it drives me crazy. I am not easily occupied by things, as I become bored quite quickly with small diversions. Greg on the other hand, can do the same thing for 10 hours and not get tired of it, I'm jealous. I can't sit for that long, and I'm suprised any human being can.

I think I should just get to reading more of my books on the list. I finished one (which made me happy), but I can't read for more than a couple hours at a time so I'll need something else to fill the time as well. *sigh* I miss my friends... they're all far away and busy with no time to see poor lonely Cailin. (/pity mongering) I just wish we could hang out for no reason, like we did in Highschool, or College. I don't have that kind of relationship with anyone anymore, they're all far too far away for that sort of thing, and I'm too shy to try to make contact with people in this community.

Ah well, it's not really something I can do much about at the moment. Onward I go.

-Cailin

Today I am going to go see Les Miserables as a guest of Greg's brother Dan who got tickets to see said musical as a birth-day present. I'm very pleased, Greg and their Mom will be attending the play as well, I think it will be a lot of fun. Last time I saw it was in High School Choir, when we went to see it as a class trip. Ah, I miss field trips.

Anyhow, now that you're all jealous allow me to soothe you with this, my body is VERY unhappy with my decision to excersize yesterday, and as a result is aching when I do pretty-much everthing and anything. I feel so old, as if my body is ridden with arthitis of the everything. It makes me appriciate the health that I take for granted, many people live with seemingly unbearable pain every day of their lives... I'm lucky to not have to deal with illness so severe.

( On a more serious note: )
-Cailin

I suppose I owe at least one post with non-generated content. One of my friends' search for a lady-friend has reminded me once more how lucky it is that Greg and I found eachother in the vastness that is the world wide web. The odds really seem against such things - I've always fancied myself as 'lucky'.

Anyhow, not having a job is really boring, even though I get to stay home all day with my Gweggers. He has something to occupy him all day long while I need more varied stimulation. I can't just sit in front of a computer all day long, try as I might. It's also tricky when you have zero disposable income.

Maybe I'll draw some more, or keep an eye on my oil painting... I dunno. I aughta do something constructive, like reading/studying/enriching my mind.

Bah.

I probably won't but it's fun to dilude one's self.

-Cailin

Well, I'm back from my Tues-Fri stay at Stanislaus camping grounds. I had a great time and I plan to post some pictures on "the site" later, when I have like - the gumption to do so.

There are many good things about being far away from a house or home, a sort of relaxing calm that settles over you in the quieter moments, disturbed only by the occasional pop and hiss of the fire which warms your legs to the point of unbearable discomfort if not tended to. Of course, there are annoyances too, such as having to take off your shoes every time you have to climb into the tent, and the seemingly endless swarm of mosquitos. I really hate mosquitos, and I vow that I shall never live in an area where I must put up with the little beasts.

But focusing more on the good parts of the trip, hanging out with Greg and the Parents was %100 enjoyable, and the scenery was beautiful. We were very close to a rushing river that was deadly, so we couldn't swim in it (it was freezing cold water, anyway) but it was quite possibly the most beautiful river I have ever seen. Very powerful and graceful at the same time. We didn't really do all that much at the camp site, but I think that just relaxing was enough for all of us. It's nice to get away, but it's also nice to get back.

Ah, it was a good time - despite the mosquitos.

-Cailin

A couple good things to say today: I checked in on my Art History grades (our teacher posts them seperately from the SSU website), and I got a B+ on my final giving me an A- total. I'm still miffed that I only got 95% credit in class participation but hey, you can't win them all. I'm thrilled about the final grade - got above the mean and median grades! W00T.

Also, Greg and I are going to see Dave Attel in Santa Rosa on Friday - I'm a fan of his comedy, crude though it may be sometimes. The thing is, I've never been to a comedy show before, so this is going to be really exciting!! :)

Anyway, I should be getting to bed. I have work tomorrow. I wish boss Mike would work out a set schedule for me, so I don't have to wonder every week how many days I'll be working. It makes it very hard to make plans. I just have to bring it up with him sometime, since he mentioned that a set schedule works better for the company as well. Anyway enough rambling. I'm off.

-Cailin

Well, I usually make it to bed at this hour, but at the moment I'm working on the essay layouts for History of Art. Talk about waiting until the last minute. That is my mantra, it seems. Thank goodness it works out! Anyhow, as per Greg's advice I'm going to put this to bed and start in on it fresh in the morning (my test is at 11am). Think kind thoughts at this time. ;) It will certainly be nice to have it all over with and not have to worry about anything due in my classes. Other than that all I have to say is goodnight.

-Cailin

Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong.

My Gweggers isn't here. :( He is far away in L.A. at E3 now (as I mentioned would happen in my previous post). I am so horribly lonely I can hardly stand it. It must be the 'first night' sort of thing... but still I'm all alone in a place where Greg should be and he's not. *sigh* I miss him so.

-Cailin

Greg is going to E3 without me this year, I decided not to go because I've got some important classes that I can't really afford to miss like I could last year. I'm going to miss him a lot. I think I'm going to quit oboe lessons for now, mostly because the oboe teacher wants me to pay for lessons up front now (since I missed a few lessons due to illness). I feel bad about it but I think in the end it's the right decision.

I have this habit of putting off finding out things if I feel it's going to be bad news, especially with grades and assignments being passed back. We got a bunch of papers back a few weeks ago in history class and I refused to look at them until last night, fearing bad news. With Greg's encouragement (basically telling me how silly it was to ignore bad things) I finally looked at all the assignments... all A's and one B. I was really really happy, not to mention relieved.

I still have to write a philosophy paper by Thursday. Blah.

-Cailin

I really don't have much to say, right now. But, I'm sitting at the computer and have nothing to do, as well. Greg is in bed sleeping (of course, he was up until 4am), last night Sean and Dan came over and played WoW and.. I think Raven Shield. I kinda fell asleep in the recliner.

Yesterday was lovely, Greg actually took me out for sandwhiches which we ate in the park. It made me really happy, just spending time with him like that. I know he doesn't really like being outdoors all the time so it meant something extra special to me. Anyway, that's all I can think of but if anything noteworthy occurs today I'll post it.

Ciao,
Cailin

...until you sleep in a chair by the side of their hospital bed.

I really don't feel like writing the whole story down, so I'll make quick points. Any more information is available upon request.

1. Greg is in the hospital recovering from an apendectimy (removal of the appendix)
2. Greg is fine, and should be able to come home tomorrow sometime. (Thursday)
3. It should take about a week or two for him to fully recover.
4. No, the appendix did not burst, and yes, it was on the way to doing so.

I'm so very tired... I've been in the hospital since 2:00 Tuesday afternoon.

In other news, this last weeked was fantastic. I went to Greg's (overloadut's) last LAN party at the apartment and had a blast! I actually played, and had a great time. (Nevermind the fact that I had my behind handed to me on a plate time after time after time...) It was fun just to play, and I actually killed some people a couple'a times in Raven Shield! It was fun, and I really want to try it again sometime. Greg kicks my butt every time, but it's fun while it lasts. (I don't particularly like him sneaking up behind me and shooting my guy point blank in the head, however. He claims he just accidentally walks in on me, but I have my suspicions.) He's damn good. Hehe. I love lanning. That was almost a 48 hour LAN, now that I think about it... cool. That is all.

-Cailin