sick :(

I am still very sick. My throat is KILLING me. I've been going to the doctor almost every day for a shot in the 'hip' and some other treatments. I found out that the stuff he sprays in my mouth and the gas that I am inhaling from a machine are both some sort of anti-inflammatory or such (or so he said). The other day he prescribed me a new type of antibiotic as that other one wasn't working. The new one is MUCH stronger than the other one, he said. Well, the inflammation is very slowly going down. The pain, however, has not changed. That might be affected by my work. I am talking almost all day, in a very upbeat way. I have to. That is my job. My job is to speak as cheerfully as I possibly can, and as much as I possibly can. For my throat to heal quickly, I probably shouldn't be talking much at all.
Eating hurts sooooo much. Especially things like oranges or kimchi. OUCH!!! But I have been eating them anyway. Really, anything I eat or drink hurts, as it hurts to swallow. It hurts to breath.
WHEN will it go away?????
TGIF!!!!!

Why Men Can Pee Standing Up

This is from yet another email that I received. Just thought I'd share it. LOL

VISA Run to Fukuoka, Japan... part III: March 12th

I slept in a little and then got ready to go to the Korean Consulate. The Consulate is very near the Fukuoka Dome (for baseball) near Toujinmachi station (6 stops from Hakata Station, where my hotel was). I was getting close and then remembered that my recruiter said in a message that I had to have 60000 Won (Korean money) for the processing fees. I thought that was a bit strange, being that it was in Japan, not Korea. I had that much in my hotel in an envelope but had forgotten to grab it so I went back. It was a waste of money to go back as they don't accept Korean money, of course. The subway trip is 250Yen each way (~US$2.11, CA$2.45).
On the way back there were a couple of guys on the train that were also heading to the consulate. Every day, there are many people going to Japan to get VISAs for Korea. As it was almost 11 by the time we got to Toujinmachi, we shared a cab to the consulate. Not a cheap method of transportation there, but it was fast enough to get us there before they shut the gates for the 1.5/2 hour lunch break. There weren't many people actually at the consulate so it was fairly quick once we were there. The guys had only arrived that morning and had not even stopped to check into the hotel yet, and were a bit tired. I think neither of them had slept the night before.We went for lunch at a little Italian restaurant near the Dome and then they headed back to Hakata Station to check into the hotel and get some rest (it seems that most people that go to Fukuoka for their VISA run end up staying in that hotel). I decided to do some more walking and sightseeing. My first stop was Ohori Park, one station from Toujinmachi. I walked, of course, as to go one stop on the train would have cost me 200Yen!!!Ohori park is quite large and is basically a huge man made lake with a park through the middle and around the edges.At one end, there are HUGE koi and other such fish. There were so many of them it would be nearly impossible to count them all. People were feeding them, so there was also a huge flock of seagulls and pigeons. They kept trying to scare the birds away, though, as the food was meant for the fish.[The birds started flying as just as I took the picture. They had been all on the water.][This might give you an idea of the size of the fish. That wasn't even one of the biggest ones!]I watched them for a while before heading along through the park that split the lake in two (the first part is a huge bridge, though, not actually park). Along the way, I was a bit confused by the signs. Fishing is allowed only in certain areas of the lake.Along the park, there are signs saying fishing/no fishing, no fishing/fishing, fishing/no fishing, etc. What difference does it make, really?
There were huge ravens all over as well as the pigeons and gulls.On a small island in the lake (not accessable), there were also some massive birds. I'm not sure what all of them were, but I know some were herons (on the ground and in the water on the left).
Once across, I tried to go to a Japanese garden that was shown on my map, but the gates were closed. The Fukuoka Art Museum was also closed, due to the fact that it was Monday (I was later told). So I headed on to the Gokoku Shrine.The Gokoku Shrine covers a very large area. Most of it is just open space. The meaning of Gokoku is something along the lines of guardian of the State. Where I was standing to take this picture is on a big tarmac. Beyond the gate is a huge grassy area with a wide gravel path leading all the way to the building. There is also a gravel path intersecting that one.ALL of the gravel is kept raked (there is a lot of it). The lines in the gravel basically followed the edges; running the entire length of the paths, for example. In this pic, I am standing on the steps of the building. There is a set of lines going around the building and then the other ones follow the edge of grassy area.
From there I went to the Fukuoka Castle Ruins and Maizuru Park.At the ruins there isn't much to see other than very high fortress like sides with gardens of different types of flowers and trees on the different levels - plum tree garden, cherry tree garden, azalea garden, iris garden, etc.Some of the trees around the place are MASSIVE!!! There is a woman standing beside the tree in the picture (front right), to give you an idea of its size.
At one of the higher levels of the Castle, (the sign for the area said the Tamon Tower courtyard), there is a very long building along the edge but I'm not sure if it is part of the original Castle or not, as it looks fairly new. Maybe it was re-built?There is only one very old looking building on the other side (the Kinen Tower).When I finally tired of walking around the ruins, I went to Tenjin Station (2 stops away) which is supposed to be a very good shopping area with underground malls and such. I wandered about for a while and then went for a walk. I decided to try to find the Yanagibashi Market. I didn't find it, but did see quite a bit of the city. By the time I got back to the hotel, I had walked for over 9 hours since the guys had left for the hotel. I was exhausted.
I took advantage of the little bathtub. Even though it was small, it was quite deep - about knee deep on me (I have long legs).
For more info on where to stay in Fukuoka, check out

surgery and chastity belts!!!!

I don't think any comment is necessary. OMG!

"Hymen Fatwa" Causes Waves in Egypt
See? Fatwas Can Be Feminist...
The Egyptian newspaper the Daily Star reports that the Grand Mufti of Egypt has issued a fatwa stating that women who lose their virginity before marriage undergoing reconstructive hymen surgery is "halal" (permissible).
"Islam never differentiates between men and women, so it is not rational for us to think that God has placed a sign to indicate the virginity of women without having a similar sign to indicate the virginity of men," El Gindy said.
"Any man who is concerned about his prospective wife’s hymen should first provide a proof that he himself is virgin," he added.
Some have argued that hymenoplasty can help protect the reputations, and in some cases the lives, of women who have been raped or have had sex outside of marriage, but repented.
...Or Just Plain Medieval
Just a few days before the "Hymen Fatwa" was released in Egypt, Abu Hassan Din Al-Hafiz, a Malaysian Islamic cleric, offered a somewhat different solution. He suggested women wear chastity belts to prevent rape. "We have even come across a number of unusual sex cases, where even senior citizens and children were not spared," said Al-Hafiz. "The best way to avert sex offenders is to wear protection." Needless to say, many Malays were shocked by Al-Hafiz's public statements. Malaysian women stopped wearing chastity belts in the 1960s.
* * *I hope this at least serves as a reminder of the incredible diversity of belief and values within "the Muslim world."
[About:World News]

Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka, Japan

Kushida shrine lies at the heart of old Hakata, the centre of the old city and is from here that the competitors in Fukuoka's most famous festival, the Yamagasa depart on their long early morning run.
Founded in 757, Kushida shrine is not only spectacular but contains a variety of items of interest. Note in particular the Eto Arrow plate with its carvings of the Chinese zodiac and the brace of anchor stones recovered from the harbour that belonged to the Mongolian invasion fleets. Note also the Yamakasa portable shrine.
There is a ginko tree in the forecourt that a 1918 monument claims is 1000 years old. The grand deity, Ohata Nushina-mikoto, is enshrined here.
But it is in mid-July that the shrine is best enjoyed - it hosts the "Oiyama" event of the Yamakasa-gion festival. Hundreds of near naked men clad only in tight loincloths and tighter buttocks vie to carry heavy wooden shrines through the streets over a set route in the fastest times. The main event commences at 4:59am.
[Kyushu.com]

[All photos taken March 11, 2007]
[If you're traveling to Fukuoka and need to find a good hotel, check out Fukuoka Hotels for a large variety of options.]

getting sicker

:(
Not only has the infection in my throat gotten worse, but it has also spread to my left ear. So now I have a severe case of tonsillitis, but also an inner ear infection. The gland on the left side of my neck is VERY swollen, and kind of reminds me of the little quail eggs that they eat here. This morning when I woke up, it was even difficult to breathe. It got only slightly better than that during the day, but I've felt dizzy and nauseaus almost all day.
I went back to the doctor and he did the same things as yesterday, and then I got an injection in my 'hip'. He says if it were a recurring problem, it would require surgery, but since it isn't, it is best to just wait for it to heal (unless it continues to worsen).
This is not fun.

One good thing that happened today: I FINALLY got my water cooler. Tomorrow I will find out the number to call to order my water, and then I'll be set with instant hot and cold water. Yay!!!!!

sick of being sick!!!

I went to the doctor today to see about my throat.

I've had a sore throat for about a week now. At one point last week, I even lost my voice. On the weekend I felt so sick. My whole body hurt. I went to a birthday party Saturday night but didn't end up staying long. By the end of the weekend the pain in my throat had changed. It felt like it was burning when I tried to swallow anything. This morning I looked down my throat in a mirror and my tonsils were HUGE and red and covered in white. Nasty!

It was an Ear Nose and Throat specialist (Otorhinolaryngologist) that I went to. When he looked at my throat he gasped. Not a good sign when the specialist is making noises like that in response to the problem. It is a very bad infection or something like that. (Looking on the net, it looks exactly like most of the pictures of tonsillitis that I have found). He didn't specifically say what it was. He did a few things, such as spraying something (some sort of bad tasting fumes) into my nose and into my throat, and scraping some of the white guck off (very painful and kept triggering my gag reflex). He also had me inhaling something for a couple of minutes.

I have yet more medication to take for the next couple of days. He only added an antibiotic, as the other things he would have prescribed, I am already pretty much taking.
If it is not getting better by Wednesday, he says I should get injections. Ugh.

happy endings (for some)

another email. It's a nasty thing to do but...

THE CURTAIN RODS
She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates, and suitcases. On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things. On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candlelight, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of Chardonnay.
When she had finished, she went into each and every room and stuffed half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of all of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.
When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days.
Then, slowly, the house began to smell. They tried everything; cleaning, mopping, and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents, carpets were steam cleaned, and air fresheners were hung everywhere!
Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days, and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting. Nothing worked. People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house. The maid quit.
Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.
A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house. Word got out, and, eventually, even the local realtors refused to return their calls. Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a newplace.
The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going. He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back. Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he
agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day. She agreed, and, within the hour, his lawyers delivered the paperwork.
A week later, the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home, including the curtain rods.

I just love a happy ending, don't you?

men and women

I've had this for a while. It was in an email that my mom forwarded to me. So true.

Tequila and Salt (from an email)

I received this email recently. I think I've seen it a few times before. (I'm not posting the parts to do with sending it to how ever many people and such.)

Tequila and Salt
This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it everyday.
You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
And always remember....when life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila and salt, and call me over!

Good friends are like stars........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway"

I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here than a whole truck load when I'm gone.