Okay, well I have an answer regarding all the weird medication reactions I've been having over the past year: Serotonin Syndrome.  I'm having a really bad case of it now, almost as bad as the one I was hospitalized for last year.  The only reason I haven't gone to the hospital is that they (a) didn't really do too much for me last time and (b) my insurance booted me out after 24 hours because my situation wasn't "life-threatening."  Ah well.  No promises on catching up on your blogs anytime soon, as I've got the Holocaust class to deal with.  Hopefully I'll be back to normal in less than a month.

So, my "leave of absence," as it were, was decidedly much longer than I intended it to be.  Mostly due to a lot of health stuff, mainly more medication reactions and trying to make up school work missed due to said reactions.  A lot has changed in the past few months.  The easiest way to do it, I suppose, would be to make a list, since certain things aren't going to be covered in absolute detail.

#1.  Broke up with Josh in March.  Things had been heading downhill for a while.  I feel that if you plan on marrying someone, you should make sure that person is felt to be respected and loved.  There were a lot of times I didn't feel respected or loved, so after more than 2 and a half years, it was time to move on.  Tough decision to make, and especially hard because I know my medical stuff is also difficult to deal with.  I made the decision not knowing if I'd meet anybody else for (possibly) years.

#2.  Ran into Joe, from my Tudor history course, after the breakup.  In the hall, at school.  Got asked out.  Started dating.  Fell in love.  And he's a Republican, can you believe it?  He's also a bit younger than me, but very mature.  He's a great guy, very driven and very intelligent (which helps make up for the Republican bit, lol).  We do get into it about politics once in a while, but the positive side is that we both bring intelligent debate to the table.  Right now he's away at ROTC training, and comes home in July for 10 days, then heads off for National Guard training.  I never pictured myself as a Military girlfriend, and it's hard when he's not even allowed phone calls.  But I care a lot about him, so I'm sticking it out!

#3.  Farrah the ferret "Crossed the Rainbow Bridge," as it were.  The insulinoma got the best of her.  She had surgery for insulinoma and adrenal disease in December '07, and that extended her life about a year.  In the winter both illnesses returned, and while the Adrenal was controlled by melatonin implants, the insulinoma got progressively worse (despite expensive meds).  It was time to put her down when her muscles couldn't function properly due to glucose not reaching them.  It was hard watching her health decline, and I knew that we were losing her.  Very sad, and very hard since this followed closely on the heels of my breakup, but we got through it.  She's our little angel puff now.

#4.  Adopted Bandit and Rascal.  This one is the most recent, we adopted these two ferret boys from the West Michigan Ferret Connection at the end of May.  They're both very sweet, and like cuddling (as where Farrah was a "pushing foot," and would push to get down).  They are a riot to watch wrestling one another!  It's very different having two ferrets versus one, but we're adjusting and all of us (including my parents) are having fun.  Pictures to come soon!

     Well, I'm not going to be an extra in that movie.  The original email said that the time we would be needed was going to be "early afternoon Thursday."  Yesterday I got an email saying that I needed to show up at 8:45 this (Thursday) morning, and oh by the way bring a crapload of outfits that look like Autumn 1995.  Um, first off, I have class in the morning.  Secondly, where the f*ck am I supposed to come up with these outfits with less than 24 hours notice?  I do have a life.  Thirdly, they aren't paying me anything, so I'm not going to miss class AND spend a ton of time trying to find a whole slew of outfits. 
     Apparently a bunch of other people canceled as well, since they sent out a notice asking people to tell their friends, post on their facebooks and myspaces, etc for people to 'apply'.  I know film schedules change and all, but don't rely on students (that you aren't going to pay) if you can't give us details further in advance.  Most of us have class, jobs, homework and lives and can't just drop everything to sit on a movie set all day (they said we wouldn't be allowed to leave "until released").  *massive eye roll*