The Dreaded Meme is Alive And Well and Other Good Stream-of-Consciousness Stuff for a Wednesday

Oy vey. Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. You are Meme City, and you know how much I [don't] like memes. It is an endless.stream.of.annoying.crap*. I've made it so I don't see the stupid game updates, like "Sandy (or whoever) has just found THREE MAGIC EGGS in their (sic)** backyard in Farmville!"  **How much do I hate those mismatched pronouns? Sandy/their?????? FFS. 

Over and over and over again.

Also, the ads: Nurses are In Desperate Need! Teachers are in Serious Need!

Of what? I have wondered time and time again.

"We desperately need 50-year-olds to test the new iPad, a pair of Uggs, an orange Macbook (they must have mined info that my favorite color is orange). Sometimes they REALLY show how smart they are by saying, "We need 50-year-old Vermonters to test" ... blah blah. WOW!  That's ME!  I should jump right ON this! (This is a come-on to get you to sign up for some service.) The best one yet is "Free Food For Seniors! 50-year-old Vermonters, sign up to win free groceries." 

Now I'm a senior.

I repeat, oy vey! I can't deal with it! But Facebook has its good points, I have come to acknowledge. I had to search hard for them, but they're there. Perhaps. Not sure. Maybe. 

I must admit, the latest meme in there (or is this "so yesterday"?) had me a bit interested:  Go to urbandictionary.com, type your first name into the search field, and post the first result in your status.

I saw all these ones, like "a name meaning beautiful goddess," blah blah.

Or:

A bodacious beauty with full lips, luscious locks and dark mysterious eyes. Most Teresas are sensitive, caring listeners, but they also have their mischievous, fun-loving sides. A great girl that any one would be lucky to have as a friend or special someone.

Or:

In Ireland, this is a name given to someone that makes you laugh alot. "I was laughing all day because of a Victoria I know."

Mine:

Norma: A blonde moment; including, but not limited to: stating the obvious, trying to relate things that can't be related, pretending to understand when there is obviously no understanding, not understanding in general, etc..If u dont understand this its a Norma. Basically, anytime one says something stupid.

Excellent.

-------------------

As I'm typing this, I've got a raging headache. (I don't think it's related to the meme, but maybe.)

-------------------

The cleaning lady is here, and she usually incites Mr. Jefferies to too much excited barking. But this morning, I said one word to him: "Enough!" and bam. No more barking. (It's been an hour so far.) Some of you have said this, and I think you're right -- I hope I only use my power for good. (And Mr. Jefferies is one helluva dog.)

-----------------

Headache notwithstanding, I must go do some more organizing while I have someone here to help move furniture and stuff.

-----------------

Joan just sent me a notice about the indoor farmer's market upcoming at Fletcher Allen, and the part I can't get over is they even allow payroll deductions as a form of payment. Now that's progressive! Of course, it doesn't affect me, because I'm not an employee of anyone except Uncle Sam, so my "payroll deductions" would be from my own checkbook. But given the fact that I sometimes can't even get a shop in New York City to take a credit card, I think it's pretty cool.

------------------

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! Some people asked if that photo the other day was my entire stash. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA. Hell no. This is but the teeniest-tiniest appetizer. Just something to remind me that I am a knitter. Or am I? At last reckoning, I believe I have somewhere between 15 and 20 sweaters' worth, plus lots of random other stuff. At my present rate of knitting, it has definitely reached SABLE status -- Stash Amassed Beyond Life Expectancy.

-----------------

I have been allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen for 25 years, since just after Abigail's birth. I was able to take them before my pregnancy for her, but I suffered three occasions of anaphylactic shock symptoms since that time -- two from aspirin and one from ibuprofen. Not fun, and the time I figured I was closest to actual death (this is debatable, because this is a lot like being "a little pregnant," I suppose) I was in England at a hospital with no ID on me and had been dropped off there by a cab driver in the middle of the night after a shift at work. My final thought just as two nurses caught me by the elbows before I hit the floor was, "I'm in a foreign country without ID, and nobody knows who I am or who to contact when I die." Thankfully, that did not occur. The young doctor there saved my life. 

So you can imagine I have been fearful of NSAIDs since that time. 

But there was a lecture given by a cardiologist in one of Ally's classes last year during which the doctor said that aspirin allergy can be "cured." I seriously thought she was full of shit. But I kept thinking about it and thinking about it, and there really are times, especially when I'm suffering this tendinitis that seems to be plaguing me more and more often, when I sure would love to be able to take an anti-inflammatory. So one day I made sure that David was home, I told him what I was going to do, and that the car had gas in it (we live about 4 minutes' drive, maybe less, from the hospital). I took a baby aspirin.  

NO REACTION!

And I followed the protocol mentioned by above said cardiologist, and pushed the amount a little higher each day, and over time I have now taken the equivalent of two adult aspirin tablets at a time without a reaction. I've done it a few times now, so I assume I'm safe.

It has been several months now, and I've taken aspirin on and off during that time.

And so last week I really wanted to try the same thing with Advil. Long story short, I am still a little bit iffy on the Advil. I sometimes get a little red and a tiny bit of itch in my throat, and I know I still have to be very careful, but I have been taking some Advil on occasion, when I know that David is home in case I need to get medical attention fast, and it's been OK. 

So I'm kind of cautiously happy about that. The tendinitis seems like it just will not go away without an anti-inflammatory, and I'm very glad that I can now take something.

-------------

LOST's new season started last night. I'm LOST.

Comments

[gayle]

Interesting about the aspirin - I would have thought that doctor was nuts, too.

Maybe your migraines are caused by cleaning? Reason enough to put a stop to it...

[Carole]

Just do me a favor and don't take an Advil at one of our fiber-y gatherings. Mmmkay?

[margene]

I got rid of all the Farmville and such, but the urbandictionary meme was fun for a day. I was undefined. ;-D

[Joansie]

Ok, I HATE FACEBOOK. Yes, I am on Facebook. I recently unfriended some of my relatives due to their lack of judgement (or should I say class). Anyhow, I let my grandchild use my laptop and my daughter said, "Mom, what is that on the side" as my grandchild is playing a Facebook game. It was an invitation to join a lesbian dating site. NO, I do not have anything against lesbians, I have friends who are, but damn, it's hard enough for a single lady my age to get a date without making people think I have a different preference.

[jill]

If you want a good, deep belly laugh, look up Jill. Ahem.

I had not heard of SABLE before, but will now be using it regularly.

I'm totally LOST too. Have a great one, Norma!

[Pattu]

Holy Crap - I've got to go figure out how to shut of those game updates on Facebook. What a freaking bother. Off to input Patty...and yes, we're LOST too!

[Geri]

OOOH! MY almost afraid to start a facebook account. SABLE I'm not sure I'm there yet, but pretty close. The aspirin sounds similar to one they are trying for peanut allergies. Small controlled exposure over time. Sad to say I'm not LOST.

[Diane H.]

Interesting about the aspirin. Glad to see that you've survived!
Facebook - the jury is still out for 54 year olds in the Southeast!
I'll have to try "ENOUGH" with one of the dogs around here - thanks for the tip!

Oh, and thank goodness that you have SABLE and I'm not the only one... just sayin'.

[Jennifer]

So many interesting points to this post - but I'll comment on the last one. How Scary and what a PITA. I'm sorry you have to suffer your headaches and can only take something to relieve your pain with fear and trepidation.

OK - wait - I have to add another comment. I did the name game yesterday and my definition was fine. But my husbands? WOW! Check his out while I blush.

A man who is incredibly sexy, but also funny. He tends to be a girl's dream guy. He's also really good in bed. He is such a gary in bed."

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Interesting about the aspirin and ibuprofen. I just could not make it through life without ibuprofen. How did you start with little doses of ibuprofen - did you take Children's Advil?

[Joannah]

Add me to the "I Hate Facebook" list, especially Farmville. The list of things I hate seems pretty long this morning (Wednesday is trash day = get up early, load trash in car, drive 3 minutes, unload trash, hope no one notices my early morning dishevelment). It's a hard life I lead.

[Annie]

Dear Norma: You're a real Annie! (see meaning 3 below) Love, Annie
1. annie
greek name: (meaning) gorgeous, kindhearted, rebelious, gentle towards others.
The dog was walked by an Annie, that gave him delicious treats.
2. annie
An exclamation of beauty and wonder
Check out Maddie, she's a real annie.
3. annie
the coolest and baddest motherfuckin bitch alive. she is known for being fierce and independent, she will kick your ass.
That girl is an Annie.

[Lynn in VA]

Have your tried Aleve? It's a different compound entirely. But you still might want to go sit in the emergency room the first time you take it if you decide to try it.

[marianne]

lmao at Annie #3.
I've been staying away from Facebook lately, such a time suck and I don't have the time to be sucked.. er... that came out odd.
Aspirin is my 'go to', I know you'll take great care, I'm glad to hear you're able to take it now, cautiously. xox

[Teresa C]

I agree with all of it re: FB. I have done a few memes, but most of them that tell me that "92% of people won't repost this....." UGH. Count me in the majority.

Hey, I wonder if your cure will work for strawberries......

[Cheryl S.]

Ads? I don't see no stinkin' ads. Must be because I use the Adblock Plus plugin for Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Comment the Second: Have you seen the new "New Yorker" cover?

[Cookie]

I hope you're feeling better today. Yay for Mr. J! & you, of course.

Your whole stash? Oh, bless their hearts. How sweet.

What's facebook? :p

[Gillian]

I'm glad for you that Aspirin is beginning to be possible. There would be serious hardship in this house if I couldn't use aspirin or ibuprofen. It's the rare day I'm not taking one or both.

[Seanna Lea]

I have hidden all of the game announcements, because they are boring and pointless. Heck, some of the games my husband plays on FB don't even involve any interaction after an initial mouse click. I don't need FB to be bored out of my skull after all.

[Elizabeth in Brookfield]

"I said one word to him: "Enough!" and bam. No more barking."

Oh wow. I so wish that saying "Enough!" would work when Ernie is meowing his head off. What a great dog Mr. Jeffries is. I was impressed with his report yesterday.

[Charlotte]

I can't tolerate ibuprofen; it causes me to get ulcers. But I can tolerate Aleve. I don't think they have a child's dose of that, though.

Does rubbing an ointment on your painful areas help? I've had good results with Myoflex which is basically aspirin in a cream formulation. Don't know if that would be less risky for you than taking tablets.

[Judi]

Thanks for the aspirin info - do you have a link to this regime? I have been allergic to it for 20 years or more and I still really miss it.

I tried Aleve at my doctor's urging, but had to take benadryl with it.

[Birdsong]

That's good about the aspirin, in case you ever feel a heart attack coming on...as for FB, well I spend too much time on it, and hate the same crap you do about it, but love being able to be in touch with fam and friends that aren't bloggers...

[Jenn]

Interesting about the Advil. I get the same itchy feeling, but only from regular coated tablets, not from the liquid gels or generics, so I thought it was just the coating on the brand name pills.

[kmkat]

Excellent news about the NSAIDS. Hope they take care of then tendinitis and any other little aches and pains you might accumulate.

[Leslie]

I admit it, I'm hooked on Mobsters2:Vendetta on facebook. I love that stupid game and it sucks so much time I have gotten rid of farmville, farm town and mafia wars...

I am no longer allergic to insect stings and bites to the extent I was in my 20's but have recently developed a reaction to sulfites (no white or rose wine for me) and many food additives. Our bodies change constantly and sensitivities do too.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, please tell me how to adjust the facebook settings I don't have to see all the farm animals my "friends" have gotten and how many whatevers "Sue" needs to get to the next level on Mafia Wars! I have searched the help pages and tried to adjust my settings, but I don't see anything that seems to apply. How did you do it?

Full disclosure - I HATE facebook. But since so many of my friends and family post photos and other info on it, I'm a reluctant user. Really, I just feel superior since I have Ravelry to waste all my time on and all those poor non-knitters have to make do with facebook. (-;

[Julie]

Great post!