Cancer update

My partner and I went to visit her sister today. We had talked to her over the phone yesterday about what was going on with her whole situation. Luckily, what we were told, wasn’t all that true. What I mean by this, is my partner’s mum kind of took this “lump” scenario and blew it out of porportion. Yes, my sister in law has a lump, yes she’s had some scans, but no, the doctor doesn’t seem to think it’s life threatening. The reason why the doctor said to have the biopsy, was just to find out what’s going on. Evidently, in her scans, the lumps are commonly known to have fluid in them. But the one that my sister in law has, seems to have some hard substance in it. So the biopsy is just to figure out what the heck is going on.

But my sister in law doesn’t seem like she’s worried, and that’s a relief to the both of us. One thing the doctor told her, was that it would be a good idea if she quit smoking. My partner and I both thought “fantastic idea.” My sister in law and her husband have been smoking for 25+ years, and they’ve both tried to quit, but it never was able to stick. But maybe with the help of the doctor, she’ll be able to quit smoking. And if maybe both her and her husband do it together, they’ll both be able to beat the smoking issue. I really hope they do, because it’s not only bad for their health, but it’s bad for their son’s health, for having to inhale it..not to mention, it’s a pretty nasty habit to have. But then again, that’s just my humble opinion. But I’m glad to know that this cancer scare doesn’t seem to be as bad as we thought. So crossing my fingers, that it stays that way.

-current mood-MY LIPS ARE CHAPPED, so I feel chapped.

Cancer

Yesterday, my partner found out that her sister might have thyroid cancer. This sister has had a lump on the side of her neck, near her ear I think, that has been bothering her for quite some time. Just last week, her husband finally took her in to get some tests and scans done. This sister, has always been afraid to go the doctor, and always delayed going at all opportunities. My partner kept telling her that she couldn’t put it off…that she NEEDED to go see about it. She’s had thyroid problems before, and I believe she’s had to take medication for it. But this time, it seems to be something different.

The doctors don’t know for sure if she has cancer. But she is supposed to go in for a biopsy the beginning of February. I asked why, considering that there may be a possibility of cancer, wouldn’t it be logical to get the biospy done ASAP. My partner said that the doctor they referred the sister to, is going on holidays and won’t be back till February. I would think that they would find another doctor to refer her to, to get the biopsy done. Wouldn’t one think, that they’d want to do the biopsy to find out what the problem is? I guess they found a black spot on the scans or something. But cancer is serious, and to catch it as soon as possible and have the treatment ASAP, I would think that would be top priority. I know there are more doctors than the one going on vacation, so they should bloody well refer her to someone else.

I’m a bit worried, and so is my partner. There isn’t a lot we can do right now, but just hope and pray that everything will be okay. For me personally, I haven’t known anyone who was affected by cancer. There are probably relatives I “know” that have died of cancer, but no one immediate in my family, has been affected by cancer, and/or died of it. My partner’s uncle had prostate cancer, and skin cancer as well. So she’d be pretty worried I’m sure. It’s hard for me, because I don’t know how to console my partner. I don’t know what to say, and I know if I say something wrong…she may just bark at me. I don’t want to cause any friction between us, but I just wish I knew what to say and/or do. Maybe just space will be beneficial. My partner is the sort of person that needs her space, and when she’s ready to talk, she’ll come to me. Might be safer to do just that.

-current mood-WORRIED

Hiding online

A couple nights ago, when my partner came home, she got on MSN. She appeared offline, and noticed that her sister was online. A little background history here….my partner hardly EVER talks to her sister online. She talks to her other sister quite often, but never this one sister. And in truth, I find it funny that my partner talks to her sisters online, than usually over the phone. And we all live in the same suburb. Guess it’s cheaper, maybe?

Anyhooo, when ever my partner would get on any form of instant messaging program, this one sister would always put my partner on ignore or be invisible to her. When my partner used to tell me this, I’d just say “yeh okay..” and not really believe her. But since living with my partner, and actually seeing it happen, I know very well, that she does infact have my partner invisible. So my partner waited about 5 minutes of “appearing offline” and then she changed her status. Probably within 5 seconds, her sister went offline. My partner sent her sister an email saying how funny she thought it was, that, once again, when ever she comes online, the sister decides to go offline. My partner, in the past would get really upset about this, and not understand why her sister would do this. Now that time has passed, she just finds it funny. There will be times, where my partner will say “oh I saw you online last night and I messaged you, but you didn’t reply…” And my partner’s sister will say “ahh yeh, I must have left the computer on….” She has an excuse every time my partner brings up the topic.

The way I see it, why does the sister have to be like this? If she doesn’t want to talk to my partner, just don’t reply to the message, like she will do at times. I honestly can’t understand why this sister feels like she has to put my partner on invisible or just blatently ignore her. Is that rude, or am I just being too sensitive? It’s not like they talk every day as it is, but why does the sister have to do this every time she sees my partner get online?

For me, I don’t put people on ignore or invisible. Well, I have in the past. If someone is utterly annoying me, I very well will put them on ignore. But if I’m not in the mood to chat, I usually won’t come online. Sometimes there are moments where I want to chat with certain people, and devote my time and attention to them. If this is the case, I’ll let others who contact me, know that I’m busy. Some people get peeved off if I’m talking to more than one person. But I too, have friends online. And I think it’s okay to talk to more than one person at a time. I try to be courteous and respectful online, and I expect the same in return.

-current mood-JUST OK..enough said.

Early morning disruption

My partner works the late shift. She works for 5:30pn-2:00am. Sometimes she works later, other times she comes home at her normal time of 2:30. We don’t get to bed till at least 3-4am. Being that I wasn’t working, I would stay up to wait for her. This of course will soon change, once I have my permanent job. Plus, my partner is planning on going back to dayshift, so that we can be able to see each other.

This morning, at around 7:30am, my partner was suddenly woken up by sound of trucks at the next door neighbor’s house. I think the people next door are putting in a swimming pool. Don’t know, but they have been working since 7:30 this morning. Any sort of noise like that, my partner isn’t able to sleep. So she’s been up literally since 7:30, with only 3 hours of sleep. She even went into the lounge and slept on the couch..hoping that it’d drown out the noise. But no avail, she still didn’t get any sleep. I woke up myself at around 9:30 and heard the noise. I always use earplugs when I go to bed, because I have to usually have it completely silent. Sometimes soothing music helps, but for the most part, I have to have complete silence in order to get to sleep. But with the earplugs, I didn’t hear the trucks coming and going till later.

My partner is at work now, and she’s bloody tired. I feel bad for her. Lucky for me, my sleep at present isn’t really necessary. I can afford to not sleep during the morning, because that just means I can sleep later on in the afternoon. Or at least go to bed early. My partner made the suggestion, that she wished she had known this was going to happen, that way she could have found another place to sleep. But it’s not really the neighbor’s job to let others know they are going to be working, is it? Most people work during the day, so being a shift worker, it kind of makes things more complicated. I just hope that the trucks don’t come back tomorrow. She’s not going to be a happy camper, my partner, if she gets woken up tomorrow. Might be a good idea to find out just how long it’s going to take, for the neighbors to finish what they’re doing.

I used to remember, when my partner and I were still living apart, and she was working on nightshift, how she’d tell me stories of people building in the neighborhood. How the construction people would be up at the crack of dawn, hammering away. And there was nothing my partner could do. She still can’t do anything. Earplugs won’t work for her. So instead, she’ll be losing a lot of sleep, and I of course, will have to hear the blunt of it. I so can’t wait till she goes back to dayshift. I wish it were sooner than later. But I guess, for the time being, we just have to hope there won’t be too much noise that will keep my partner up at all hours.

-current mood-IRRITATED at the neighbors

UK to allow civil unions

Today is the day, where British gay couples are able to register for civil unions. Under this new Act, gay couples will have the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples, which also include immigration rights. Once couples register, they have to wait 15 days before they can hold a ceremony. It is expected that like 500 couples will be registering for this civil union. How amazing is this? At once of the registeries, they are going to raise the rainbow flag, to show the diversity that is now enforced. I remember reading in one newspaper, that they were removing a couple of pictures from the registry, because it might have offended some gay couples who wanted to register there.

I think it’s great that the UK has done this. I know people are going to be up in arms, but from the reception I have been reading, it seems like there always is one in the bunch huh? But this hopefully will pave way for even more equality between gay and lesbian individuals and couples. I know the UK is pretty progressive, but this will open the doors to so many more people. I wonder if the people who want to register, have to be UK citizens or residents, in order to have the ceremony? I believe in Canada, the two parties don’t have to be Canadian residents or citzens. I know that most likely, the civil union will only be recognized in the UK, but it’s something that UK residents will be able to look forward to.

I don’t know if Australia will ever get their butts moving and enact something along these lines. I know in Tasmania you can apply for civil unions, but I don’t think you can anywhere else in Australia. I know in New Zealand you can. I know the current prime minister doesn’t approve of gay marriage, but what about something to the equivalent. I’m not going to go on my spheel about gay marriages just yet. I think we’ll save that for another rainy day. But it would be nice to have some sort of security, knowing that if something were to happen to us, or our partner, we wouldn’t be left high and dry. I know with superannuation, your partner, or sibling can be appointed to receive your money if something should happen to you. And this includes same sex partners.

So if my partner and I ever go to the UK for a long holiday, maybe, just maybe we’ll pop in to the registry and register to have a civil union. My stars DID say that an exchanging of rings or some sort of commitment ceremony is supposed to happen in 2006/2007. Maybe, just maybe it’ll come true.

-current mood-RELAXED

Holiday work

So on Wednesday, I went and emailed my resume to the place where I worked last Christmas. My mum in law rang the hiring peeps there and told them about me and my situation. I got a call today, to say that I could start working. I just needed to get my TFN and bank details all set up and all that jazzy stuff. The job is only working retail, but it will hopefully keep a bit of an income coming in, until I find something more permanent for me. I told them I was interested in a casual holiday position, just because I didn’t want to commit myself long term. But if they ask, I’ll tell them, that it’s for the holidays, but will work longer until I find something else, b/c I have another job prospect. But they don’t have to worry about me going through the induction again or any sort of training, which I think helped.

I started worrying because I didn’t know how I was going to get to and from work. Because I don’t have a car right now, and work is about 30 minutes away…the idea of bus, that’d take forever and a day to get to work. But lucky for me, my mum in law’s boyfriend has a 2nd car that she’ll use. And I will be able to use her car. This is just temporary because I think we’re planning on buying me a car within the next few weeks or so. Just something that will get me to and from work…then once I’m able to start working, and have established some work history here in Australia, I’ll probably take out a loan for a better car. We more than likely will put this car under my partner’s name, even though we have some money set aside to pay for it. We’ll see what happens though. I don’t want a hunk of junk, but I do want something reliable. But hey, I get to start working, even if it’s not a “real” job yet. Okay, not a “real” job but a job that’s going to be a long term one.

I just hope to be able to keep up with emails and friends…and of course my blog. I will certainly do my best to keep up. But please, if it takes me awhile to get back to you all, don’t be alarmed. I’m now a working woman .

-current mood-SWEATY, it's hot outside.

Painting

Today, my partner and I went to her mum’s old place to help her paint. She’s re-modeling the kitchen, and has been doing a few renovations to her house because she’s going to put it on the market after Christmas. We were out late last night, and didn’t end up making it to her place till about 12:30. But when we got there, some of the painting had already been started. My partner’s sister came to help out, and had started putting the first coat of paint on. Well, the undercoat.

Without fail, no matter how careful I am, I always seem to get paint on myself. How is that possible?? It seems like even though I’m extremely careful, I still manage to find a way to get paint on myself. Lucky I was only doing the corners and edges, that I wasn’t “full hog” into the paint. The paint was also water based, so it was very easy to get off. But I hate getting paint on my clothes, and I always feel dirty after I’m finished painting. I don’t think there has ever been a time, where I haven’t gotten paint on myself. Regardless of how big or small the project is, paint is always to be found somewhere on my body.

The kitchen ended up turning out great, so I guess the bit of paint on myself was well worth it. Plus, I didn’t get as much paint on myself as some of the other people helping had. Hmm wonder if that means I didn’t work as hard. Ahhh, that’s alright, we still got the job done. My partner and I are both pretty buggered tonight though.

-current mood-BLOODY TIRED