Some things you just can't control

I woke up yesterday completely terrified. Part of my face was swollen, my mouth was shut close and convulsing, I couldn't breethe as I was choking on my own saliva. I was sleeping with my sister Annie, and my jerky movements probably woke her up as she started screaming for my brother to come over. After that, I passed out.

I woke up a minute later, very confused, with two strange men looking at me and asking questions. Annie said I was funny, everytime they asked me to do something I kept on answering 'no!' Finally, it bacame clear who they were, they were the ambulance technicians coming to take me to the hospital. Fortunately, they were both really patient and friendly, reassuring in a time of panic and confusion.

We rode the ambulance to Royal Vic Emergency, mainly because that's the hospital in Montreal with the best neurosurgeons in town. I'll avoid boring you with the details of lying down in a hospital emergency room filled with patients and with barely enough room for the orderlies to navigate the gurneys around. I had a bunch of tests done (blood, pressure, temperature, then a battery of neurologic tests), as well as a head CT scan. Nothing came back abnormal. However, since this is not the first time I have such an episode (I had one about six years ago, pretty much the same thing), now the doctors are taking the situation seriously and sending me back to Vancouver with a bunch of tests to do. They also gave me medication to help prevent any further episodes. They are not talking about epilepsy yet, only about a second seizure.

Thinking back, I'm wondering if maybe I had an episode when I was alone, but never realized it. Both documented episodes happened when someone else was around, but I sleep alone most of the time. That's what really worries me...

We came back home around 4 p.m. yesterday, after spending the better part of the day at the hospital. I was starving, I wasn't allowed to eat until they released me (in case they found something catastrophic with the CT scan and had to operate immediately). I was also exhausted, my muscles were tired and stiff, so were my neck and my jaw.

I feel better today, but we're taking it easy. My parents were initially hosting a brunch with some of my dad's family. With all the unknowns yesterday, they decided to cancel the brunch and focus on letting me rest. You can't say I don't have a supportive family!

I'm sorry this had to happen during Christmas, but I'm happy I was home and in good company. My sister and brother reacted promptly, called 911, called my parents, and took good care of me until the ambulance technicians showed up. Poor Annie, she thought I was choking on something and stuck a finger in my mouth. Needless to say, she almost lost that finger, only her quick reaction saved her from loosing a chunk to my clenched jaws.

Finally... snow!

After four days away from the computer, I thought I would at least check my Hotmail account and update my blog.

I'm in Montreal for the holidays, spending time with mom, dad, sister and brother, as well as with family members that I see only once a year. When I landed at Trudeau airport on Dec 24, it was mild in Montreal and there wasn't any snow on the ground. This was a green Christmas. Fortunately, we had some snow yesterday and it's relatively colder today. Now it feels like Christmas ;)

Tomorrow, I'm going shopping with Annie. It's a yearly tradition to stock up on nice clothes and shoes during Boxing Week. I don't think I'll go crazy with the purchases this year, I have a nice tuition bill waiting for me when I return in January. But who can resist shopping in Montreal.

Tomorrow night, I'm having drinks with some old friends from high-school. Then on the 29, Annie and I are helping dad clean the house and prepare for the brunch on Dec 30 (lots of family coming over). It's fun to spend time with the family!

Weeeeee

My suitcase is packed, my dishes and laundry are done, my place is relatively clean, I'm relatively clean, all I need now is to sleep and make it to the airport in time. I even checked in already, so no trying to convince me that a $200 voucher is going to make me take the next plane. I know the flight is going to be overbooked, I just know it ;)

I also managed to see Casino Royal today, it was a good Bond movie, less gadgets, more intensity. I think I like Daniel Craig as 007.

Another Christmas party, another lucky girl

It's Friday December 22 which means that the Christmas holidays have now officially started! Or at least my vacation has ;)

Last night was our Christmas party at work. It was held at a really great venue, a lounge called Canvas in Gastown. The lounge is also part art gallery, which makes it unconventional. The bars and food tables were split on different floors, which gave everyone an occasion to walk around, chat with colleagues, and catch up with friends. We had a lovely time. This year again, employees were encouraged to bring non-perishable food for the Vancouver Food Bank Society. Each item (can, box, etc.) would give you a coupon for the evening's draws. When we arrived at the lounge, several prizes were placed on tables, a little bit like a silent auction, with boxes for coupons in front of every prize. There were electronics, food baskets, experiences (ski package, tasting package, Canucks tickets). I placed a few coupons here and there, but there was a prize I thought would be really nice: a set of four Riedel stemless wine glasses. Guess who won the prize?

:D

The glasses are filled with chocolate-covered espresso beans, but I intend to change that really soon ;)


Riedel stemless win glass

Mark this day in your calendars

Today is the day when Charles, Lara and myself officially started our Foundation. I can't give you too many details for now, because we still have all the paperwork and registration to work on, but we have a name, we have a mission and in January, we will launch our web site and start planning our fundraising effort.

I can't wait to tell you about this, it's really something close to my heart. While we were discussing ideas and working a plan for the next few weeks, I could see that this initiative will be successful and really make a difference.

In the mean time, if you know someone who does web design and would be interested in creating a simple site template for the Foundation, we'd love to hear from you. We can't pay for this work, but we'd be more than happy to provide a link from the Foundation's site to the designer's own web site.

How exciting!

Somewhat not motivated to do my Christmas shopping

I blame the strong winds and the heavy rain. And malls. And the fact that it's pretty hard to find something original from Vancouver that you can't buy in Montreal. I've had four Christmases to exhaust options.

Yesterday, I was having dinner with my friend Craig. I hadn't seen him in six months. We walked from the restaurant to his place, he was offering to give me a lift back home. On the way there, I witnesses an insane display of Christmas lights on St-Paul's Hospital. OK, I've seen people go overboard with lights, I did use to live in Ville Emard after all, but nothing close to the massive display they have at the hospital. I'm going to drag Lara and Charles out to see this and I'll take some pictures. Simply unbelievable. While we're at it, maybe I'll also try to catch the Van Dusen Garden's Festival of Lights. I haven't seen this yearly display yet, it's supposed to be really pretty.

As long as it stops raining for an evening ;)

This better not be the way every semester ends...

It was INSANELY hard! The long days at work where I'm having a busy week and starting at 7 or 8 a.m. every day (and usually not out of the office before 6 p.m.)... The entire weekends and week nights spent on research, writing, team meetings... It all took a toll on me and today, my brain resigned. Fortunately, I had nothing planned, only grocery shopping with Lara, but even picking out what I wanted to eat required an incredible amount of effort. At least when considering the energy I have left.

But it's finally over. Until next semester ;)

Now, I'm starting a long process of recharging: a little cooking, a little gym, some time with friends, long nights of sleep... Last night, I went to bed at midnight, after submitting my last assignment and even without an alarm, woke up at 5:30, almost in a panick. It'll take a few days before my body realizes that the source of stress is gone. I still feel a little bit tense.