...all in the name of Science

As I wade through my data transcribing interviews and the focus group, life is a bit, well tedious that the moment.  It takes me approximately 1 hour to transcribe 10 minutes of audio data.  I'm not going to tell you how many hours of data I need to transcribe.... just let it suffice that I need to take a break every now and again because my brains start turning into mush.

Luckily for me I had several things this week to help break up the monotony. Luckily in that it got me away from my room and computer, but it was not all fun and games.  Let's start with the not so fun, that way, like I told my focus group, we can end on a more positive note, not that any of this can really be rated on a "fun" scale.  So on Monday and Thursday I had appointments with my GP's office.  The first was to take blood samples to try and figure out what is going on with me.  My hearing is normal, but I still have the bumps/lumps on my head. It's plural because now there are more than one and the first one keeps growing.  The Dr decided that maybe he needed to take me seriously on this, and also my muscles ache like I've worked out really hard, except I haven't.  So it was off to be poked by the vampire (aka phlebotomist). I was informed that they would have the lab results back next Monday and to call if I hadn't heard anything before that point.  

Thursday I had an appointment with the Dr. for a steroid shot in my elbow.  I apparently have golf elbow.  How I managed that one I will never know.  Pretty sure typing doesn't strain the elbow in that direction.  Before the appointment the Dr called to tell me he had my lab results back.  My inflammatories are up, but not too high.  But my white and red cell counts are normal.  No sign of infection in my muscles either. And apparently I'm anemic.  He figures it has something to do with my head and that it is some kind of infection.  So when I went in for the shot, he tried to draw some of the "liquid" from the largest lump on my head.  Unfortunately the viscosity is very high and it refused to be drawn into the needle. All the attempted manage to do was give me a horrendous headache and dried blood in my hair and down the back of my cadigan...   So I'm on a two week course of antibiotics this time and if it doesn't clear it up, he will send me to a dermatologist, because he is baffled and out of ideas.  At least he didn't suggest excising it.....  How about an MRI or CAT scan? 

Tues and Fri were guinea pig days.  As in I was the guinea pig for my flatmate's research.  It entailed electrodes on my face and sound stimuli and staring on a point high on the wall.  I'm not going to explain it, if you want to know more you will have to read her dissertation. ;) This wasn't too bad.  After having to do a sleep study it was quite mild in comparison. We chatted as she hooked me up to the equipment and I was happy to know that I actually gave her good data.  Not all of her participants have, so I was glad that I was truly helpful to her.   

So I guess it was the week to be poked and prodded in furthering scientific knowledge....Maybe I should find alternate ways to break up the long hours of transcribing data..... 

In other news I got to visit with Chris and Beth slightly longer than planned.  I picked them up at the docks Thurs morning fed them breakfast (well went to Sprinkles Gelato for breakfast...hey they serve breakfast and crepes and waffles it isn't just ice cream) and put them on the train to the airport, or that's what we thought.  Be the thunderstorms we had Wednesday night with lightning strikes caused power outages and flooding.  So the trains couldn't run some of their routes and they have conductors and drivers out ill..... and on top of that France is having labor strikes and their airplane got grounded in France.  Needless to say it was an eventful trip for them to the airport, at the airport and back again to Southampton for the night so they could try again to fly out the next day.  But hey, I got one more night with them so I wasn't complaining! And they got to be here for the historic referendum voting.  But I'm not going to get into that topic.  Time with my kids more than made up for my being a lab rat most of the week! 

So here are a few sights from the week.... 

So if you can read the door this is an electric car.... 

This was a bride arriving at her wedding in style!

Could somebody British please explain to me what these signs mean on the side of buildings?  I am pretty sure it is not what runs through my head when I see them..... 

Singing in Winchester Cathedral

So one of my highlights for this year was singing in the student section of the Southampton Philharmonic Choir. For starters I was accepted into the group, infact yesterday one of the girls was surprised I wasn't British.  Which was funny because she is.  No, as far as I know I still sound very American even though the British accent is sounding very normal to me and I have to think hard to hear it anymore.  I digress....  I have my choir buddies, about 4 of us who sat together in the alto section.  We discussed our studies and everything and anything during breaks and before rehearsals.  Then there were just the other student members of the choir and we became good friends.  Side note.... I was on a bus I don't normally ride and a girl got on and waved at me and was very friendly. She sat down in front of me and started chatting away.  I was a bit confused and then she said we were in choir together - she is a soprano and sits on the other side of the room.  I guess I'm very recognizable, cuz I didn't know her.... 
The music was fun, and really hard at the same time.  We did large choir pieces and performed with an orchestra.  Not once did we sing in English..... We did works by major classical composers and things that are not overdone. The culminating concert for the year was yesterday and we sang in the Winchester Cathedral.  Google it.  It's a very historical building.  If you have never tried to sing in a Cathedral, it is tough.  The sound goes up and around and reverberates. You can't actually hear the person next to you very well, or those behind you for that matter.  You can hear the other parts ..ish, but you could swear you are the only person on yours, which makes it a little unnerving with the music we were singing.  We couldn't have done too bad, the audience seemed appreciative..... 
The orchestra for these pieces was very minial. It wasn't our full orchestra. It was like four violins, two violas, two celli, a bass, 3 trumpets (flugel horns?  no valves, longer and thinner than a normal trumpet, clear, crisp and high sound) a harpsichord, an oboe, a bassoon, and a recorder. The musicians (except for the celli and bassoon) all stood.  I guess it's a group from Cambridge and they were as much fun to watch as they were to listen to!  
Between rehearsal and the performance yesterday about 8 of us went to eat at Zizzi Italian restaurant in Winchester. I was just one of the gang.  Most of the students are 18-25ish.... and me.  The story of my life actually..... but I was very comfortable and at home with them.  The fact that 2 of them were my row buddies helped. The third row buddy had her parents in town for the concert, so she went to dinner with them.  The program outline was: Zelenka Hipocondrie a 7 Concertanti, Bach Magnificat, Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, and Handel Dixit Dominus.  The only downside of the day was that someone took our advertisement and across the front printed "vote Dixit" yeah..... 
So I can now cross off sing in a major British Cathedral on my bucket list.... ;) 

If you are ever in the area, you need to visit the Winchester Cathedral.

Our fearless conductor....

My view from the choir seats. 

  You won't be disappointed. And while you are there, stop in the middle and look up at the choir seats for the visiting choirs to perform, close your eyes and imagine me singing....   (clears throat...) 

You really missed out on this one! 

Irish luck

So I am late with the post because I was in Ireland without a computer.  It is kinda tough to write with out a way to actually do that. I figured you all would forgive me, if not, well not much I can do about that!  

I didn't take a holiday or a trip as much as I went on an adventure.  This particular adventure had a few exciting moments that were, well very unplanned.  The first rule of thumb when traveling is always leave yourself "slush" time.  Meaning always plan for at least 30 minutes of time in case of unforeseen problems. Sometimes more depending on the type of trip and how many foreseeable issue may arise to counter the unforeseeable ones as well.  If you don't believe that this is a good idea, maybe you will change your mind by the end of this blog.

My flight out of Southampton was at 6:50 am. The buses don't run early enough to the airport so I booked a train ticket.  It was due to leave the train station at 5:09 am to get me to the airport about 5:30 so I have the allotted time to check in and get through security etc and be at the gate in time to board the plane.  So I drag my luggage to the train station which is around the corner from me, collect my ticket and head to my platform.  The station was quiet and I'm thinking this should be relatively easy and painless getting to the airport.  As I round the corner to head up the stairs, a policeman came running past and down the stairs.  I walked down to the platform where there were three people.  I notice a freight train sitting on the far platform, engine idling... weird.... I get down the stairs to be told to go back up and over to platform one because there "may have been an accident". After a few minutes and watching my train and the other train I could have taken be cancelled, we were informed we needed to vacate the station, as it was being closed.  Apparently there was a guy sprawled on the tracks (on purpose) in front on the freighter.... just beyond the station. The station manager was in meltdown mode (not a good way to start the day) and so no alternatives were set up for the now stranded passengers.  4 of us decided to share a taxi to the airport (one works there, I need to catch a flight and the other two were hoping to catch trains at that station that were rerouted around Southampton Central station). That was a rather auspicious beginning. 

Flight went well, I found the airlink coach to town, however I managed to get off the bus one station too soon.  I was given directions by a guy with a map (I should have bought one from him) and set off down the road.  There was a bunch of construction and there is no such thing as a straight road.  I managed to get turned around several times, but eventually found the tram to take me to my accommodations.  I found my stop, my street and the house.  I followed the instructions to get the key and unlocked the door, to hear the familiar sound of an alarm system countdown.... uh oh..... I had no instructions for turning off an alarm...  I think it is the loudest house alarm I have ever heard in all of my life.  I couldn't reach the hostess on her phone (ironically she had to travel to the states.....) and I also couldn't find her mother's phone number incase I had a problem, which I indeed had.  I was waiting for the cops to show up and arrest me...(Did I mention it was raining as well?). The alarm had been blaring for about 5 mins or so when a car pulled up and a lady got out.  "Vicki?" yes that's me.  "Hi, I'm Joan, Melanie's mom".  She apparently was given instructions to make sure the alarm was turned off before the time of my arrival.....Oops.  She was mortified and I was laughing.   We became instant friends.   

I took a ride with her to get some paper products for a church social they were having later in the week, and then over to a nursery to buy flowers for her planters.  She then took me to her home, I met her son, and she to introduce me to her husband to get advice on the best way to get up to Malahide and other things I could do with my day.  She decided she didn't have what she needed to fix me a proper sandwich, so she took me to "The dropping Well" for lunch, after which she drove me back into Dublin and dropped me off at the train station so I could go exploring.  

Chris, Beth, and I had almost as much fun trying to find the coach to take us back to the airport yesterday.  The bus stop had been moved because of road construction, but it wasn't clear, and actually I think we were at the wrong one anyway for the bus line we needed.  After 30 mins we finally found where we were supposed to be to catch the right coach, to then have my bag flagged because of my cpap machine, which has never been a problem before...... Maybe I was having the luck of the Irish? wait.....  Or because I was in Ireland my luck worked backwards? But because we had built in time, no harm done and we were able to catch our flight.  

  "May the road rise up to meet you and may the wind be always at your back!" and " May your troubles be less and your blessings be more and may nothing but happiness come through your door." Yep, something went wrong there....but good came of it so...maybe not. 

 Amid the adventures, we saw some awesome things and had a good time.  Some pics from the trip are below. 

lunch at the dropping well- smoked salmon sandwich

all signs are in Irish (Gaelic)  and English 

everything is green here....

the place we stayed at

(lol caught myself taking the pic....)

post box... green....

street painter

Dublin castle

gardens of dublin castle... can you see the celtic knot? 

St stephen's green

Malahide castle

lunch at Google Dublin

Anyone for a friendly game of Skip-bo?

There is nothing quite like a friendly game to bring out a different side in people.  This is a phenomena I noticed  a lot in my students when I was teaching full time.  The people you least expect can often be the most competitive.  

One of the few items not deemed necessary that I brought with me here are a couple of card games, namely UNO and Skip-bo. They were small and easy to cram in a corner of my luggage.  I figured they could come in handy every now and again, and besides Skip-bo is my favorite card game.  I'm not sure why.  I think it is because it is one of the few I can actually win at.  Which is nice, since most of the time I lose at whatever game I'm playing, so this one gives me a sporting chance.  

Now that all of our assignments are in, exams are finished and we have a small breather before we hit the heavies again.... actually I have started on the heavies because I figured a head start is probably wise, so I am not panicking at the end.... we all have more leisure (the "e" is pronounced as in the word bed...) time.  I decided now would be a good time to introduce my flatmates (some of them anyway) to my favorite game.  My one flatmate's 16 year old son is on term break and "doing revisions".... Let me digress.....

 Here in the UK when you go back over previous information is isn't a review, it is a revision.  So everyone was talking about having revisions,  and saying good luck with revisions if you have them.  I'm thinking revisions of what?  essays? no.... what they mean is that they are studying for tests. Either Uni students end of term exams or for secondary students they are doing revisions for the GCE or GCSE.  These are the exams that will determine what high school they will attend or A levels (last two years of high school in US is equivalent to A levels or college here) 

So, my flatmate's son has been here all week (normally he is in a boarding school) doing revisions.  So my two partners in crime, myself and him were all in the kitchen finishing up tea (dinner) and doing the washing up (washing dishes).  I decided to grab my cards from my room and teach them how to play.  Three nights this week we have now played this game.  Hector kept trying to block people's ability to play, and hence never managed to win a game.  Yolanda would forget to play her top card, or to turn the next one over.  She was determined that it was feng shui for the place she was sitting at the table, especially since at one point I think she had every 12 in the deck in her hand, her discard piles and as the top card on her deck..and she would work up to play the 12 and then play the one in her hand or her discard and not the one on her deck (she did that at least 3 times). Meanwhile, Samar just quietly and deliberately played her cards.  When she could block someone's move, she would very slowly while staring at them place the cards down with a look of defiance in her eyes.  The same look you get when someone is outright disobeying you and daring you to do something about it. Me, I just went about what I do best, playing multiple cards in a turn and drawing 5 more cards once or twice in the same turn, which usually caused Hector great distress, or not being able to do anything at all.   You would have thought it was a high stakes poker game to watch them. 

It did however cause much laughter and release of pent up stress from the last 8 months, which was a needed relief and my hope of outcome for teaching them to play.  Hector would ask are we playing cards tonight?  Just a couple of games and then I will go back and work on my revisions.... and oh, the other unwritten rule is you must eat ice cream while playing, or the left over biscuits (cookies) and muffins from my focus group. (Well I have to have someone help me eat them).... or both. 

A few days with no stress and fun with friends should have been what the Dr ordered.  It has done wonders for my mental state and physical health.. that and walking a lot again.  

So if you ever want to see the other side of people, play a game with them.  It can be an enlightening experience, and hopefully a ton of fun too. It doesn't have to be complex and full of exotic strategies, Skip-bo actually works quite nicely.  

British BBQ

I have now officially attended my first BBQ of the summer and my first in Britain.  For those of you who think American's eat a lot of meat, you haven't seen the British.  They even beat the Texan's, and that's saying something.  

Even for normal meals here there is always meat and lots of it.  But it's not one big whatever, it's lots of different meat, but in generous portions.  For Example the traditional British breakfast is eggs, ham, bacon and possibly sausage thrown in for good measure.  I've had dinners that had turkey with a pig in a blanket (sausage wrapped in bacon).  

So for a BBQ all the stops are pulled.  Cooked on the grill we had pork steaks with the most delectable coating of seasonings.... I wish I knew exactly what...., hamburger patties, sausage, and lamb kofta (shish kabob), as well as grilled corn on the cob.  Then cooked in the oven was a spatchcocked chicken, BBQ pork spare ribs  and roasted veg.  There was potato salad, green salad, buns, cheese, crisps (chips) salsa and hummus.  For pudding (dessert) there were  marshmallows for roasting plus a marshmallow meringue stack.  -all for just for 8 people. Pretty sure we could have fed about 20.... Did I over eat?  You better believe it! 

The weather actually cooperated and it was the perfect temperature, light breeze and sunshine.  Rarity in the UK. It was a nice celebration for me for turning in all my assignments and finishing the taught part of my program.  I survived! The celebration was actually for a friend's birthday, but hey, it was fitting for all of the stress, worry and headache of the past 8 months.  I could actually just enjoy the day.  My favorite part was helping in the kitchen doing the washing up and the clean up while my friends could enjoy time with  family.  It was extremely therapeutic for me and made it so that they didn't have to face the "aftermath" when everyone left.  I think that is always the worst part about having a huge food bash.  So it gave me something productive to do that was physical which was a needed change from constantly typing at my computer.  

So now after long weeks of inactivity and too much food, it's time to get serious about exercise again.  But since we are headed into summer, that should be a little easier to accomplish and to stay on track for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  I just need less stress, more sunshine and exercise.... and a British BBQ every now and again because, well it's just fabulous food! 

It's all in my head

Life isn't always peaches and cream.  When I have bad weeks, I try to focus on the good things, keep a positive attitude, smile and choose joy.  Those closest to me give me "the look" and then force me to spill what's really up.  It is probably a good thing I have those kinds of people in my life.  They keep me in line and force me to take care of myself.  

I'm going to to step out of my 'life is always good face' and share my real week with you.  Maybe because it has been so invasive and permeates everything right now that I really don't see anything else to write, so this week you get some of the 'other side'.  

Let me start by saying I'm ok.  Things are good and on track, one more assignment to go and I'm free to work strictly on my MA project. (thesis/dissertation depending on which country you are in....) I plan on making the deadline for this last one as well.  If I didn't have enough stress in my life, my body decided that I needed it upped a notch, or maybe the stress of things is the reason for it, or it is a symbiotic relationship, I'm not really sure.  About 6 weeks ish ago, not really sure when but it has been a while, I felt a sore spot on the back of my head that felt like I had hit it on something, but I hadn't. (trust me on this) The spot didn't go away.  in fact after a while, there became a bump there.  It became extremely tender to the touch and then it started to throb.  Last Saturday not only did it throb, but my head felt like it was full of cotton and my ears started to ring.  During the family chat one of my daughters asked me point blank if I was ok.  I couldn't lie..... I was then told to call the Dr or go to ER or whatever they have over here.  I honestly had no idea what they have here... after all of my children gave me "the lecture" I decided to figure it out.

So I looked online and after hours you call 111, the non emergency number.  They ask a list of questions (some of them quite strange) and then they determine whether you should go into A&E or not (I think it stands for accident and emergency but it is basically the ER). Because at this point now my vision was semi blurred and I was a bit dizzy they told me to call a friend or a cab and go in and not take the bus.... the bus would have been faster, but whatever.  (In the meantime two of flatmates were now giving me 'the lecture' and that my health is more important than deadlines and schooling.  I suppose.... ) I finally tracked down a friend with a car and she dropped me off at the hospital and pointed me to the right door.   It took me a minute to find the registration desk, she sent me over to a group a chairs in the corner next to a room that had "triage nurse" over the door. I was informed they would call my name and determine my need.  The wall said that I was sitting in an area for people on the scale for 3-5 emergencies... in other words not dying or bleeding or unconscious.  After about a 20 min wait the door opened and I was called in. Chris, the triage nurse, asked a few questions, felt the bump on my head,  questioned why I had decided now (late Saturday night) to have it looked at... no vitals were taken, or history, just questions about why I was in.  He gave me paracetamol (aka tylenol) and ibuprofen and basically told me to go home and call my GP Monday.  It was going to be over a four hour wait (It was now 9pm) and if it had been going on that long I could probably wait for Monday, but they can't turn anyone away and I could choose to stay or go, so I went.   

Sunday I took pain killers and carried on as normal.  I had an assignment of 4000 words and 80% of my grade for a module due Thursday, so Monday I did what all Uni students do, I ignored my head and worked on the assignment.   By now my ears are pressurised, numb to the touch around them on my face and jaw with a constant "white noise".  High frequencies are gone and everything is muffled, but at the same time obnoxious noises like bells, buzzers, and loud noises and the like are intensified to the point of being almost painful.  Ward choir was interesting on Tues because I could only sort of hear the parts and the piano sounded really loud.  The high end is not only  missing but is replaced sometimes by an almost electronic kind of squeal sound, which comes and goes when I talk, so that is a bit nerve racking.  The choir has no idea that I couldn't hear them correctly, and well, I didn't bother to tell them.  What I could hear sounded ok, they sing tomorrow, so that should be fun..... 

My flatmate who is an audiologist gave me the evil eye for not calling the GP and made me promise to call Wed.  So I did.  I called as they opened and managed to snag a same day appointment.  The bump is on the outside just under the skin and seems to be filled with fluid.  He put me on a dose of antibiotics to see if it will clear it up.  (we could lacerate it....) He said it should not be causing anything internal, but hopefully this will clear it all up.  I've seen improvement for the pain on the spot and the size of the bump so hopefully it will continue to improve, but my ears haven't changed much if at all.  My ASL skills won't help a whole lot here...... Sitting in my room quietly working on my assignment isn't too bad, going out in public is entertaining because I can't hear very well, but at the same time loud sudden noises are intensified.  I keep trying to pressurise my ears, but it's not working.  If it is an ear infection wouldn't the antibiotics clear it up? I have a feeling this is going to take a while to figure out, so in the meantime I go back to ignoring it and live my life. Stepping down from the soapbox....pity party is now officially over. 

It has given me a greater appreciation for what I do have.  My hearing I have never taken for granted having worked with the deaf and hard of hearing for most of my life. I'd rather it not remain like it is currently, but if it does I will adjust.  Is it stress?  Maybe. Is it an infection? The jury is still out.  Am I crazy and it is all in my head?  I've figured I've been crazy for years and yes, it is definitely all in my head.  

Some endings, beginnings and a first

This last week was a hallmark of several things.  

For starters it is hard to believe that this was the last week of my classes.  I think this school year went faster than when I teach.  I have two major assignments still to complete, but attending classes is finished.  One of my classmates on the program summed it up nicely when she said that this was the most diverse intercultural group she has ever studied with.  My classmates were from England, Cyprus, Greece, Czech Republic, Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Caribbean, Libya, Taiwan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Latvia. I truly have friends in about every corner of the world now.  Some of them I will see off and on this summer, but for the most of them, I won't see them again. We each have taken a part of what we have learned from each other and it has become part of who we are.  We have all been changed by the experience.  It is strange to think that this part of my education journey here is finished. 

My research project was approved and I have been given the green light to start gathering my data.  (Right after I finish those two assignments.....) So that was a plus this week.  I kept being told that the ethics committee would take 2 - 4 weeks to get an answer from.  I sent my papers to my advisor on Monday, She approved the project and sent it to the committee on Tuesday. Friday I received an email that it had been approved.  Maybe it only takes that long if you wait until end of the exam term time to send it in.... I'm just grateful that it went through without any problems and that I can move forward with what I need to do.  

I was also able to get commitments from people to be participants in my study.  That was another major hurdle that I cleared rather easily. (that's saying something because when I stand next to the smallest hurdle it comes up to my waist...) So things are moving fairly nicely there for me. 

Wednesday night I took a break from my studies to go see Riverdance. First time I've been able to see one of their performances.  Yes, they are awesome to watch live! At the intermission we were discussing the storyline of the show.  One of my fellow Irish dancers summed it up "well, it's about how in about 1850 there was a potato famine in Ireland and they all moved to America."  In a nutshell, yep.  They have incredible musicians who perform with them with amazing music, including vocals.  Their precision is unreal and they are just graceful with beautiful form and technique.  Our teacher for the Uni Irish dance society is an award winning international Irish Dancer and she knows members of Riverdance, so after the show we went around to the gate and several of the dancers and the two leads came out and chatted with us.  Yep, normal British folk, down to earth who happen to be incredibly talented with their feet! It was worth the time and money to go! 

Time keeps moving and as I stop for a moment I can see how far I have come and how far I still have to go, but the progress is real.  I take the chances that I can for any "firsts" because sometimes they are also "lasts", but the memories remain and each one makes its mark on me.  Life is truly an adventure.  I am closing another chapter and it simultaneously is opening the next.  It is a never ending process of endings, beginnings and firsts, and I wouldn't change it.