UK B!tches Unite!

[Asila 10]

For Gemmie: (It's towards the end)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OsKk1FtOwc

Edited September 28, 2010 by Asila

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Power outage last night -- we're suffering from record heat here in LA and the drain was too much on the grid. I drove to my boyfriend's apartment last night to go have a curry (yay!) around 8pm and all our lights worked; when I got back around 11pm, my block and the surrounding blocks were eerily dark. I pulled into the driveway for my building and pressed the clicker for the gate -- duh, of course, no electricity. Had to circle around the block a few times to find a place to park the car. I stumbled through the near-pitch neighbourhood (there was some light from the moon) using my iPhone as a flashlight (more so motorists could see me). When I got into my apartment, my roommate was there, fuming mad. Of course it was also about eleventy gazillion degrees inside because the AC wasn't working. My poor little cat was really confused and stuck very, very close to mummy; he also was unbelievably thirsty. I couldn't do any of the work I planned on doing either, and my phone was dying. GREAT!

Some time at about 5am all our lights clicked on in the bedrooms, but I discovered this morning that my roommate had in his infinite wisdom flicked off all the circuit breakers for the kitchen appliances -- which meant that the fridge had been off even longer than was necessary. Grrrrrr. We've been warned this can happen again today. If it does, I am taking an Ativan and passing out for the duration.

I want to eat pho and forget about all of this.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I just wanted to add that my roommate rocks -- he just emailed me to apologise about the box. So my b!tch-rant is tempered by this.

I still want my muthaf^ckin' pho though!

[TyandAllie 17]

They're sending my MIL home today or tomorrow. BOOOOOOOOOO! No therapist, no hospital, no family consent.

Did I say I hate the health care system in this country? Cause I do. I hate it more than those people that check out their 66 items in the self-checkout isle at Walmart.

####### Gemmie, I'm sorry.

At least we are lucky enough to have one of the best VA hospitals in the country to provide Tyler's care.

[Gemmie 142]

For Gemmie: (It's towards the end)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OsKk1FtOwc

[Pooky 3,825]

Tonight ... I'm just in a sh!tty mood.

That is all.

[TyandAllie 17]

Rough night last night.

Ty's bi polar has been very well maintained by his meds, and he hadn't gone hypomanic in over a year.

Last night he did, he drank way too much beer and over drafted the bank account playing internet poker (by at least $200). I know that when he goes hypo manic, he simply can't help himself, he loses all connection to his rational brain, so there's absolutely no point being angry with him, hard though it is not to be.

Cleaning up this morning, I found two of his pills on top of the computer under some papers, it looks like he took them out of the bottle to take them and forgot, they had obviously been there for a couple of days, so that would explain it.

Thankfully the episode was short, it started at about 9.30 and he fell asleep at about 5am, if he's still hypo manic, he won't/can't sleep..the last time it happened, he was up for over 72 hours straight and blew over $600, and ended up in the hospital for a week.

Last night I had to call the police as he was getting really upset that I wouldn't drive to get him more beer, I can't drive until I get my ssn and renew my license..I told him the only way I could get him more was if he walked into the village with me, I wouldn't walk alone in the dark (unlit country roads.) We walked around the corner, and he turned back, bolted for the house and locked me out. This was when I called the police as he has been suicidal before and I was terrified for him being in the house alone.

He is not a violent man, I never fear that he will hurt me. When he is well, he is the sweetest, kindest person I have ever known and I adore him to bits, but bi polar (compounded by the PTSD mentioned earlier) is a terrible disease

He's still sleeping now, and when he wakes up he's going to be really devastated that it happened again.

Thanks for listening and letting me rant.

Edited September 29, 2010 by TyandAllie

[TyandAllie 17]

I should clarify about the getting more beer part. I did NOT want to get him more, but his psychiatrist told me last time this happened that it is probably better to get him more, even though it seems like the wrong thing to do as it contributes to keeping him placated and preventing more escalation at a time when he really is unable to behave rationally.

We have a meeting with his doc at the VA, all three of us once a month, his next appointment is not until the week after next, but we'll be talking to him later today.

Edited September 29, 2010 by TyandAllie

[Gemmie 142]

Sorry to hear of the rough night, Allie. Bipolar must be an incredibly hard thing to live with for both of you.

The positive thing is that his meds seem to work very well if this is his first 'episode' and only because he forgot to take his pill. I'm guessing he's going to need a lot of reassurance when he wakes up that you totally understand why it happened and everything is fine. I hope he doesn't feel too awful about it. He's really lucky to such have a supportive wife.

[Jewel-8 21]

I love the self checkout - people seem to forget to take their change all the time as I'm always finding money in them

When I have spent all my cash on getting my credit cards getting paid down and don't want to charge groceries at 11.9% interest, I gather up all the change in the house. Then I put it in ziploc bags and go to the store. Last time I spent $17.70 on three days of food using only nickles and dimes.

I was discreet as possible and only had a handful of change at a time while I was feeding the machine..... though it might be me behaving passive aggressively at the thought that the machines take away jobs and make the fat cats at the top even richer. Either way, dinner was delicious and I plan on doing it again.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Jewel-8

[Gemmie 142]

I'm thinking of moving back to the UK with my husband. Well actually I've been thinking of it for a long time, but I just got a rejection for the job I spent the last 2 months going for, things at home are becoming markedly worse with my suicidal MIL, and I can't bear the thought of spending another Christmas in this house. I have another interview tomorrow but I think it's only a few hours a week, which still leaves us without benefits and without enough money for an apartment. Our main concern is how to move back when there is no job or flat waiting for us in the UK... I'll keep you updated.

[Krikit 1,165]

I had the weirdest experience at a self checkout the other night. I was in a new store I'd never shopped at before and every checkout was set up to do it yourself. The scanner was the first thing you encountered and there was a conveyor belt which took everything down to the end where someone was standing there packing everything for you and explaining how to work the machine. Wouldn't it be faster if they just did it themselves and let me pack? Bizarre.

We have a meeting with his doc at the VA, all three of us once a month, his next appointment is not until the week after next, but we'll be talking to him later today.

I'm so sorry, Allie. It must be very stressful for you.

I'm thinking of moving back to the UK with my husband. Well actually I've been thinking of it for a long time, but I just got a rejection for the job I spent the last 2 months going for, things at home are becoming markedly worse with my suicidal MIL, and I can't bear the thought of spending another Christmas in this house. I have another interview tomorrow but I think it's only a few hours a week, which still leaves us without benefits and without enough money for an apartment. Our main concern is how to move back when there is no job or flat waiting for us in the UK... I'll keep you updated.

Awww, Gemmie. I was hoping so hard that you were going to get that job. I'm so sorry you are in this situation. Hopefully your interview tomorrow will lead to something more life sustaining.

[Krikit 1,165]

If it makes you feel any better, we are going through some ####### right now which is extremely stressful. I have had more than I can take from some of the situations in the US and I feel like I am at my breaking point. I told my husband last night that if his career wasn't going so well I'd be saying "Let's go."

[Nik+Heather 121]

Gemmie, I was also really hoping with you that you'd land that job. What a let down. I know it must be so stressful for you guys, but is the family dynamic there really such that your continued presence wouldn't be beneficial to his parents?

Krikit, Sorry you're feeling frustrated. I'm sure you've been told before that there are some Americans who also feel fed up with some things around here, so you're not alone. :-/

Edited September 30, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[Krikit 1,165]

Thanks Heather. I know my husband wouldn't mind moving to Canada or the UK. He's just got this career thing going on first, though. lol. I am hopeful that this year-from-hell will soon end and then we both can relax and settle down into ordinary lives.