On Friday I had my usual 3pm call with my parents. I love getting to talk to them every week. It makes them seem not so far away. It amuses me to see the contrast between them; my Mom likes talking about day-to-day life and my Dad and I discuss our favourite South Park episodes. My Mom gave me the gift of Simon & Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas and my Dad gave me Metallica and Jethro Tull. They are so different, but they compliment each other and work hard at their relationship. They’re excellent roll models and they rock.

Anyway, while I was talking to my Mom I told her that I had access to a WG mailing list and a forum, but I preferred the mailing list because people tended to be more careful with their spelling and grammar – and they spoke in actual sentences! The forum was full of half-thoughts and text speak [txt spk - gag].

I went on to wax lyrical about the good ol’ days of the internet. I’ve been using this beast for 12.5 years, I started out with a 14.4kbsp modem. Back then there were very few graphics, no videos, no sound files [MP3s hadn't been invented yet!] so the text had to be clear and relevant. I said it had been like watching a close friend take to alcohol, “I love you but I can’t stay and watch you destroy yourself.”

I went on in the same vein for a while, my whit was razor sharp and I had my Mom in stitches. I had forgotten how much I love making people laugh. I managed it again later, we were talking about favourite Disney movies* and we agreed that the unnecessary sequels suck and I said something about ‘Cinderella 2: The Shoening’ and Weasel-listening-in cracked up.

Part of the problem is that I haven’t been having a lot of fun as of late and for a while laughing [or even talking] brought on a coughing fit. Sarcasm and irony have long been favourite language tools and I missed them – I hadn’t even realised they’d gone. It amazes me what this illness takes.

* I wanted to buy Beauty and the Beast but it isn’t in Disney’s current release cycle so I … acquired it by other means. I normally don’t acquire things like that, but it makes me mad that Disney won’t let their whole catalogue be available all the time. It is just another way for them to take more money and screw us over.

I’m a little scared to say this but… I think I’m feeling a tiny, small bit better. I can sing a little, not very well because I still can’t breathe properly, and my vocal cords are out of practice. I’m not so tired. I can do more before I have to stop. Today hasn’t been amazing [my hips, wrists and hands are acting up] but it isn’t unbearable and I can still do more than I could before. I’m scared to be hopeful.

Which is a great topic I can bring to the counsellor when I see them.

Incidentally, I adore semi-colons and I’m forever indebted to Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss for finally teaching me how to use them.