Hi there, it’s been about one month after surgery. I have been back at work for a week and a half. The liquid diet is definitely taking its toll, and I am on power-save mode. Luckily, that’s been okay at work. We don’t have any major deadlines that require overtime or anything, so I have been slowly getting back into gear. Aside from low energy, I am feeling pretty good. My face hurts now and then, but not to the point of being unbearable. At night, if my jaw feels clenched and uncomfortable, I take a little pain medicine, so I can fall asleep. I have read on some forums that some experience pain below the ears, and I haven’t had that. *phew* Still feeling numbness in the lower left lip + chin in that area.

Total weight loss has been around seven pounds. My clothing is loose, and I refuse to buy anything tighter because I can only assume that I will gain it all back as soon as the chompers are working. One more week until I may possibility be free of the splint/bands. Not free completely because they will replace them with removeable bands, but that opens a lot of doors in terms of what I can consume! *fingers crossed that I hear good news next week* It’s hard to smile when you’ve got a splint and bands in place. I’m hoping all the smiling and laughing is good exercise for the jaw because I’m doing a lot of it these days. My friends are hilarious, what can I say?

In the meantime, I have gone on select outings. As seen in the last entry, a Gaga-themed party. Also the birthdays of a few friends, along with a soup party this past weekend. It was hosted at the new house since we didn’t really have another venue. RV and Keane moved the couch in, so there was seating for all. It was a good time, and I can see the house being a great spot to host gatherings in the future. The kitchen needs some work though, so I have to get on that soon.

The parents are back from vacation, so RV is relieved of food duty for the time being. One more week, so excited!

I visited the oral surgeon this week, and I’m on the right track. I’m scheduled to have the bands replaced with removable bands in three weeks. THREE WEEKS! That’s a lot longer than I expected, but at the same time, it’s not without good reason. I have to be patient with the healing of the jaw. These things can’t be rushed. I’m off of the prescribed mouth rinse and most of my medications. The only one left is the antibiotics that I’m finishing up. I don’t hurt enough for me to take the pain medication regularly, so that’s good. I’m hoping these three weeks pass by quickly because five weeks is a long time to run on liquids. I’m getting hungrier by the day!

In terms of eating out, I really can’t. Even what I would normally consider to be liquid isn’t enough for me to drink out in public. Last night, we went to a Thai place for dinner. I’d already eaten, so it was more for RV. We ordered two dishes, so that he would have something for lunch the next day. So as not to appear suspicious, I filled up my plate, and when nobody was looking, we’d swap. So silly!

Oh, and thank goodness for health insurance! I received my itemized statement today. When I saw the total, ZOMG. Anyone want to take a guess on how much it was? I was in the operating room for seven hours, and anesthesia cost about 1/3 of the operating room.

I thought this photo might be amusing to some. It was taken five days post-surgery. As you can see, SWOLLEN.

For the first week or so, I was eating from these giant syringes from the hospital. Basically, I was so swollen that I couldn’t really suck liquids through my teeth, so I had to put the food into syringes and just squirt them into the back of my mouth. It was a very tedious process, and eating a meal took way longer than it was worth.

And of course, here’s a photo of what it means to be “banded shut.” The orthodontist put in some hooks before surgery, so that once everything was in place, the surgeon and his team could simply wrap rubberbands in the appropriate places to keep my jaw from moving.

I soon upgraded to spoons that were not so big that I’d get soup all over my face, but they were small enough to push the liquids right into my mouth. Then, I started eating out of certain small cups that wouldn’t allow liquids to dribble down my face. Finally, bowls were included in the list of drinkable dishes. I could finally say goodbye to the syringe diet and consume mass quantities of soup and blended rice porridge.

Thank goodness! I think so far I’ve lost 5 pounds max. I’ve regained some of it too. Sorry for the quality of the photos! We took everything with the iPhone. And for those wondering, straws are impossible with the splint in. :( I’ll have to save the bendy straws for when there’s more room in my mouth.

RV and I celebrated New Year’s Eve sitting across from each other at the couch, watching a rerun episode of David Letterman. Nothing too exciting, but after 31.5 hours at the hospital, it was probably the best way to spend the evening. Every hour that you’re in the hospital, they check your vitals, so I didn’t get much sleep. The sodium IV solution also kept me hydrated enough to want to use the restroom almost every hour. It’s tough to recover at the hospital, but having to not worry about what meds to take makes it worth it.

So how’d it all go down?

At 6:30am, RV brought me to the hospital. I was in the pre-op area for quite some time, changed into a gown and hooked up to the IV. At around 8:30 [as scheduled], I was brought into the operating room. Seven hours later, I was in the recovery area, which looked like the pre-op area. I remember coming to and seeing the family and RV. Apparently, I’d been given steroids, so I wasn’t at the top of my swollen goodness. My nostrils were just ridiculously huge because of the tube they had to stick down there. I’m so glad I was not awake for that!

Around 7:00 or 8:00, I was brought up to the room that I’d end up spending the night in. It wasn’t the most comfy of nights, but at least it’s over now. I remember throwing up blood once, and every time I got up to use the restroom, my nose would start bleeding. It wasn’t as bad as some of the other patients the nurse had seen for similar surgeries, so I can be thankful for that. From what the resident says, I’m also less swollen and more healed up than other patients. *phew*

I am also ever so thankful to have RV in my life. Excluding actual surgery time, he was there at the hospital with me the entire time. He slept on the uncomfy fold-out, and he made sure I was attended to. He kept me entertained, even when I was really frustrated that I couldn’t communicate [thank goodness for dry erase boards!]. I was discharged after lunch around 2:00, and the first night home was super uncomfortable. My face would go to and from being severely swollen. Breathing was difficult throughout the night. I was super congested. Still am!

I’m hoping that the next few days will ease up. It’s not like I can go back and undo everything. Eating will be an arduous task until the bands come off. I can’t even feel half of my lips, so eating without a syringe leads to me losing over half the meal in my lap. I’m sticking to the syringe for now. It’s slow, so tough. My appetite’s already back, so that makes it extra tough.

So far, I’m describing myself as: A Wallace and Gromit character with bruises and a dirty face…

Hope everyone’s having a great new year!

Inspired by a friend’s 2009 recap post, I looked at my calendar and previous blog posts to jog the memory. I was going to include photos to spruce the entry up a bit, but nah, you’ll just have to read through all this blah-blah-blah to find out the news I’ve been withholding… Please ignore the fact that I switch from present to past to present and back again…

January
We rang in the new year with a party at RV’s and then a party at our friend Matt’s place. It was the start of another “busy season” at work, and I would be racking up the hours. Keane and I decide to get a family plan together, so we purchase our iPhones. I also decide to refurnish my room with a loft bed, so that I’d have more space. Months later, it just gave me more room to expand my mess. :p I also flew a kite for the first time after many attempts in the month.

February
Even though it was the shortest month, it was filled with a lot of activities. I attended three Yelp-sponsored events: Burn the Floor, Tru Spa, Project One. RV and I celebrated Valentine’s at the Top of the Mark, and I was inspired by the wetness outside to purchase rain boots. I didn’t receive them until the following month, but I have no idea where they are NOW. My room is a black hole.

March
Sunny days began, so I took advantage of weekends when I could. It was still “busy season” at work, and while it was busy now, we knew it wouldn’t last. I started talking to recruiters in March to explore possible opportunities for someone with my experience. I didn’t seriously start my search though until April after the lay-off.

April
Mid-April seems to be the turning point of 2009 for me. I was laid off from a job that I had gone into right out of school. For four years and nine months, that was really all I knew. So I continue talking to recruiters and started looking online for both jobs and a new apartment for RV. His lease would be up in June. We head down to LA for a weekend for an “alter ego” birthday party, as well as Korean taco truck chasing and the Death Museum.

May
RV signed a new apartment lease, and we began moving his stuff over. It’s much smaller, but the location is nicer, and he’s living alone. It’s more convenient for the two of us in that sense, and since it’s centrally located, we can hang out with friends more easily. During the month, I interview with various companies, and it’s a frustrating process. It seems that the companies look to hire someone with a little less or a little more experience than me, but never the right amount. When Keane mentions wanting to take a quick trip to Fort Bragg and Fort Ross [both places neither of us have visited], I jump on it. It turns into an amazing weekend.

June
Still unemployed. By this time, my severance has run out. To keep my head above water, I kept my calendar full. I planned RV’s surprise party, which thanks to friends, was a success. He was definitely scared – hah. I also put together a birthday party at a local wine bar. Later in the month, we took a weekend trip up to Fort Bragg where we went crabbing and fishing. This was sort of where his obsession with fishing started…

July
I helped plan a benefit for the SF Food Bank called Pig Eat Fest, and it is successful! Meanwhile, I’ve been going to my orthodontist and dentist regularly. My teeth are ready for scheduling surgery, but the hospital isn’t ready to schedule anything for me. Figuring out COBRA puts my head in knots, but I finally figure it out. RV and I decide to go to Burning Man this year, but we want to take RV’s dad’s RV. To do so, I join him on a road trip to Oregon in this RV, and it turns out to be a very frustrating week. RV’s father is not an easy man to coexist with. Somehow, I survive the week…

August
We began preparing for Burning Man. I also learned about the All You Can Jet in August, and because it’s a difficult offer to resist, I buy a pass. Of course, the month couldn’t end without a hitch, so I find out that my house in Portland has caught on fire. Luckily, the damages aren’t too bad, but still, I have to deal with an incompetent insurance agent and all that fun stuff.

September
Burning Man! It’s awesome and fun, and I want to go next year. Of course, right before the week, I’m called in for a last-minute interview. It went well, so I had follow-up interviews… All this went down while I’m getting ready for Burning Man, and as I head out for the first stretch of my All You Can Jet travel. I end up only going to one place because I’m offered a position with the company. It’s on a temp-to-perm contract. Meanwhile, my surgery was scheduled for early October, so I go to my surgery pre-op. I then find out that someone messed up, and my surgery has to be moved due to scheduling conflicts. Not happy.

October
Birthday month! I’m at the new job, getting used to it all. I attended a Kylie Minogue concert because a friend had extra tickets; we were in the very last row, which worked out because we ended up dancing the whole time anyway. As usual, I am frustrated with the oral surgeon’s office. I’m given a December date, which is fine, but they decide to try for a November surgery date, only to find out later that it won’t be possible either. So back to December! We spent Halloween resting up because I over partied the night before. Oops. It’s also in this month that a former coworker of mine asks for a place to stay. Since I live at home with my parents, I ask a friend from high school who agrees… Little did we know, getting her out would be an ordeal.

November
I spent Thanksgiving at RV’s mom’s. Fun parties all month long led up to it, including a Festizishow and a post-Thanksgiving meal with friends. CPA exam on the last day of the month, which I didn’t pass [Found out today - Ugh]. Plus, I started volunteering at the SPCA. The year has not been an easy one, but I am ever so thankful for all that I’ve got.

December
Unusually cold temperatures, so we’re all keeping warm. I’m a fan of the holiday parties with warm and tasty alcoholic beverages. I decide to ask for advice on the blog regarding the former coworker who won’t get her shit together and move out of my friend’s place. I passed the responses on to him, and I think she’s finally out of his place!

As for other news, I’m in the process of closing on a house that I bid on earlier in the month. There was little mention of it before because I didn’t want to jinx it. You heard it here first. I’m buying a house! There’s so much involved though – financial documents, insurance, appraisals, blah blah blah!

I also have surgery coming up in a week and a half. During the early Christmas party at RV’s mom’s place, she gifted me with a care package of Ensure and bendy straws. LOL.

Fingers are crossed that this will ALL go down smoothly. It looks like I’m going into 2010 head first. Or perhaps face first. Hopefully, I will have a new house AND a job that I can call permanent to go with it. This temporary status just isn’t enough!

I have another week of work, and then it’s mandatory vacation. Of course, since I’m still on contract, it won’t be a paid holiday. Oh well!

We don’t really do anything at our house like put up a tree or line the windows with holiday lights because we are too lazy to take it all down. The parents aren’t into gift exchanges, so we aren’t really either. To get into the spirit of things, I’ve been doing a lot of celebrating/gathering/decorating elsewhere.

Several nights ago, RV and I went over to his mother’s place to put up decorations and trim the tree. She’s having an early Christmas party because she’ll be out of town on the actual day. RV will be at his dad’s, so I’ll take every opportunity to get a peek at any presents he’s giving me. We’ll be opening gifts on Sunday!

Last night, a bunch of us gathered at Keane’s [the place I helped to decorate last week] place to wrap presents and gift each other with “not useful to ourselves, but useful to others” presents. Most of us are not of the gift-giving variety [except to maybe significant others and siblings], so it was our little way of gathering and stacking a ton of presents under the tree regardless of whether the presents were for ourselves or just regifting of old items. Add some small bites, cider+rum, some good wine, and a movie or two, and you’ve got a fantastic night with friends and gift wrap!

I also got to open up one of my gifts [apparently there are a few more!], which is the namesake of this entry. RV got me purple pens. What is the significance of purple pens?

I’m a fan of surprises, but I am not the most patient person, so if you tell me you are giving me something, I will do all that I can to squeeze that information out of you. A month or so ago, the sister bought a present for me. I kept asking her over and over about the present, and she finally gave in and told me that she had bought purple pens. That was her default answer, even though the present was not actually a purple pen.

So purple pens last night – hilarious. And it appears that I’ll never be able to get RV or the sister to open up their lips when it comes to presents! *shake fist*

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Ahhh!”
- Kerouac

Here are two sets of photos that make me smile when I’ve been staring at the computer screen for way too long at work. They were taken at a friend’s birthday party just last weekend. There was a photo booth with a remote set up, so you could take as many pictures as you wanted. We opted for a few shots before the party got crowded and a few shots as we were on our way out.

I even went so far as to print these on the newly purchased printer. The quality was acceptable, but I’ll have to figure out how to make use of photo paper that’s 8.5″ x 11″. Most frames max out at 8″ x 10″! We’ll probably end up buying some 4″ x 6″ photo paper to reduce the cutting necessary.

RV has started a blog. He’s always wanted to about this particular subject, but he never got to doing it until he realized just how easy it would be. In terms of the tools used, everything’s easy with Wordpress. There are plugins for just about anything, and if not, you can make your own. I’m not so skilled, but the option is there.

http://www.thegermaphobe.net

It’s called “The Germaphobe Blog.” It’s pretty hilarious, but also informational! If you’re a germaphobe or even have experiences where you’re just grossed out by the thought of germs, well it’s quite the read. He only started it up in the last week or two. So far, there’s survival tips on public restrooms and handling money. There will be survival tips, product reviews, stories about personal experiences with being a germaphobe too! There are plans for having guest bloggers as well, so if you’re against the germs, feel free to get in contact to contribute.

If I haven’t already blasted you enough with tweets about it, please check it out. I am biased. I help edit the blog, but that’s just so everyone else out there doesn’t know how poorly his sentences are structured. I kid! :) He’s awesome. The blog is awesome.

Please leave comments. It will encourage him to write more. Thanks!

Originally, RV and I were planning on leaving Los Angeles on Monday. But after walking around a bit on Friday and hearing about a particularly good deal at one of the restaurants nearby, we decided “What the hey, we’ll stay another day as long as it’s okay!” And of course, being as awesome as they are, Jen and Alex let us stay another night. We remained out of their hair most of the time, so that probably helped. Aside from the evening plans, we didn’t really have much of anything else on the agenda. Wandering around, looking for food and just taking it all in before finding ourselves back in SF? Found random spots to take pictures…

Somewhere along the way, we came across the Museum of Death [Watch out - it's a MySpace page!]. And to take words from my Yelp review: Wow. Just wow. We were wandering down Hollywood on our way to a Thai place down the street, and this unusual spot caught my eye.

On the outside, it doesn’t look like much. There are several signs around the building that say “Museum of Death.” Entrance is $15, and it is NOT for the faint of heart. The aim of the museum’s founders, married couple J.D. Healy and Cathee Shultz, is that visitors to the museum leave grateful to be alive. And after a bit of time inside the museum, you really do feel good to be alive… and wonder what is WRONG with all the psycho-serial-killers!

It was rather gruesome, and I was feeling faint at some parts. Just had to remember to breathe. It was pretty amazing though, just how extensive the collections were. Definitely a very random place to wander into when you didn’t really have much planned for the day.

After the Museum of Death, we wandered around West Hollywood a bit before heading back to the apartment to join Jen and Alex for dinner at Citizen Smith. Half off all food on Mondays, and it’s totally worth the discounted price! Large platters of Mac ‘n Cheese for $5. The other entrees are normally priced high, but at half off and for the taste, there’s no reason not to swing by. We also ordered a burger and a meal-sized salad. They cover their sweet potato fries in sugar and cinnamon and call them “churro fries.” Tasty!

To end the evening, we hopped over to Space 1520 for the last in the series of Monday night outdoor movies for Bill Murray month – Groundhog Day! It got a little chilly, but it was definitely not as windy as SF.

Good times. Wondering when my next trip to LA will be. Perhaps August? Maybe sooner?