A Secret History

As promised, a brief analysis and summary of responses to my Ideologies and Affiliations Poll. ( Read more... )

Regarding the amusing Relationship Poll, several respondents seem to have very ambitious projections regarding my stamina in such matters! In truth, I have varying levels of intimacy with some of my lovely cuddlesome friends, but I maintain only a few more serious connections. I also feel compelled to note here that Spencer is my cat, and further, while he is quite a handsome gentleman, we have a strictly platonic relationship.

• 10:43 They may have replaced my bands w/ many sharp, pokey wires, but ha! I can now drink blueberry-pomegranate juice w/out staining my brackets. #
• 10:44 My consolations. Let me show you them. #
• 10:53 Defective Yeti on Twitter hilarity: www.defectiveyeti.com/archives/002533.html (retweet from @glueandglitter) #
• 11:54 Brain's visual system anticipates future before we actually see it (optical illusion slideshow): tinyurl.com/5sg6hs #
• 16:07 @joedecker: Mazel tov on the fasting of the hands! #
• 16:17 Tribal Croc Scarring Ritual of Papua New Guinea: tinyurl.com/43jxes (bit graphic) #
• 16:57 *grublove* #
• 19:19 Off to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods to get blendable foods to have around during recovery. Also dinner w/ @tutordennis at Pasta Pomodoro. #
• 22:10 Almost $300 worth of blendable goodness! Sure, it doesn't look appetizing now, but after a few weeks of liquid diet, it'll seem scrumptious! #
• 23:12 I've started taking screenshots of Etsy Treasuries I find that include my work: www.flickr.com/photos/nullalux/tags/treasuries/ #

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• 09:48 I have yet to stay awake to listen to the last half of my relaxation exercises CD. I guess that's a good thing? #
• 10:10 Collections of Historical Medical Artifacts (via Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sci): www.flickr.com/photos/vcutmlsca/sets/ #
• 11:32 Many happy returns of the day to angelbob (today) and launasilverbear (yesterday)! #
• 12:25 I'm finding the ArchWired Orthognathic Surgery bulletin board very helpful: tinyurl.com/5duryo #
• 14:33 “Alice in Wonderland” Croquet Tournament and Trunk Show, Sun, June 8th: eternalspringproductions.com/ (The day before my surgery!) #
• 14:34 Antisocial networking: isolatr.com/ (Retweet from @FluffTheBunny) #
• 15:10 A Mathematician's Lament: www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf (via rightkindofme) #
• 16:55 I like peas. #
• 19:08 @MizLit: Have you seen AlexCF's amazing Lycanthropy Research Kit? alexcf.com/blog/?p=85 #
• 19:55 Massachusetts has already outlawed and regulated ray and laser guns, before they exist: tinyurl.com/5qcg9w #
• 20:18 Oh, well done, Obama. This was the moment, this was the time. www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/3/20542/43784/234/528616 #
• 20:22 My new bumper sticker (as suggested by LJ's reichmarshall): "I feed on the flesh of the living—AND I VOTE" #
• 20:24 Fascinated by The Sultan's Elephant, a show by Royal de Luxe: www.thesultanselephant.com/gallery/gallery.php #
• 20:30 Flying Machines: Construction and Operation (how to build and navigate the modern airship) www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/907 #
• 01:48 I get more bling in my grill! The surgical hooks go in tomorrow morning. #

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I go under the knife a week from today. I'm getting so many packages from my list of surgery resources that I feel like it's my birthday! (Well, sort of. If my birthday present were getting my skull sawed open. Um.) Thank you to winterredwood for the Preparing for Surgery CD, which I've been listening to every evening. I'm finding it quite helpful, although I had to laugh when, at one point in the initial relaxation exercise, the narrator beseeches the listener to "notice the intelligence in your feet." shoutingboy sent a DVD about lymphatic massage, which is supposed to reduce swelling after surgery. shaix ordered some books on tape and one of the special pillows for sleeping upright. karenbynight provided the other pillow [and the shower stool!]. makellan added a mini white board, so that I can communicate right away after the surgery. My grandparents loaded up a Jamba Juice card with smoothie goodness. And, according to my Amazon list, I still have soy protein powder and the shower seat on their way. [EDIT: They've arrived! Many thanks to iterum for the protein powder. I can only assume there was no bacon flavor option.] Again, I really appreciate the support, and I'm confident that the surgery will go smoothly.

I had the pre-op appointment with my surgeon last week, and it went really well. She showed us a practice surgery on my super-cool maxillofacial models, and answered most of my burning questions. She confirmed that I'll only have to stay in the hospital for two days, if all goes as planned. On the other hand, the procedure itself will take four hours, longer than we'd thought, meaning recovery will go a bit more slowly. The bone graft will actually be synthetic (made from coral). There'll be some physical therapy afterwards, both to lengthen my jaw muscles and to prevent any intra-oral scar tissue from getting in my way. My maxillofacial surgical team seems competent, which bodes well, since my head is, you know, where I keep all my stuff.

• 12:07 Morning full of adventure, incl. going to work and rescuing a stray cat from traffic. Took said cat to vet, and she's now in my bathroom. #
• 13:00 I think @soof and jonwa literally just saved my life by bringing me a smoothie and cinnamon pretzel. I can haz blood sugar. #

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• 09:21 Dinner and shopping w/ the Boy last night. He bought a new lappy, and then we had way too much fun with my new fiber optic lamp. OOooOOoo. #
• 10:04 Steampunk Rising: www.crn.com/hardware/208400607 #
• 11:06 Steamed green bean salad with soy sauce toasted almonds. #
• 12:19 Anonymous dominant vs. non-dominant hands masturbation survey: tinyurl.com/6x64f5 #
• 12:36 The Horological Steampunk: Regarding the Pocketwatch tinyurl.com/6fe7k6 #
• 12:42 Henri the cat is filled with ennui and existential dread: tinyurl.com/53euaq #
• 14:36 Just had phone pre-op with anaesthesiologist. Eek. #
• 15:00 Phisick Antique Medical Collection: www.phisick.com/index.htm #
• 15:05 Sedlec Ossuary, a Roman Catholic Church decorated all in human bones: tinyurl.com/5b3svm #
• 18:53 Woodcraft article about hidden drawers in furniture: tinyurl.com/6r4r22 #
• 19:27 Yummy bread is being baked by @karenbynight and @tutordennis for @soof's party this weekend. #

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• 09:55 My real life is unreal. Lovely long weekend w/ lots of @shoutingboy and fan_boy time. Crepes in bed, meals w/ friends, movie outing, love. #
• 10:32 Summit fire destroys animal sanctuary, please help them rescue and rebuild: tinyurl.com/5zejkc #
• 11:07 Catching up after a weekend away from the computer. #
• 11:23 An absolutely magical short by Guilherme Marcondes of Brazil, based on a William Blake poem: youtube.com/watch?v=6LsMoUtBlDk #
• 11:59 Mmm, leftover pumpkin and bread from dinner at Afghan restaurant last night with cjsmith and @shoutingboy. #
• 12:32 A clearinghouse for bits and bobs of zoology, entomology, botany, osteology, medical, etc.: www.necromance.com/index.php #
• 16:11 If I noted yrs ago that a certain someone tends to behave like a total dick, why am I surprised by their complete dickitude year after year? #
• 16:16 Looking forward to dinner w/ @tutordennis and Uncle Chen's fishies. #
• 16:17 Afternoon brightened by lovely note from the Boy and snuggles from the Grub. #
• 20:34 Retweet from @MizLit: Fabulous childhood/fairytale horror photography *shudder* http://joshuahoffine.com/ #
• 21:10 Wishmaster Misheard Odysseus' Idealist Alchemical Revolution: tinyurl.com/6p8ex3 (very silly) #
• 22:36 Sweet visit with the fishies, yummy dinner, and craft store crawl with @tutordennis. #
• 23:39 Fred Astaire+Michael Jackson=Smooth Criminal: tinyurl.com/5w4654 (orig. still better: tinyurl.com/522ajz) #
• 23:52 Reading birthing details about angelbob and rightkindofme's new babe. Mazel tov! pics.livejournal.com/rightkindofme/gallery/0000c4gt #

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• 09:14 Not succumbing to illness. True story. #
• 09:18 @vonslatt: As you should be. ;) #
• 10:33 The future, as seen 100 yrs ago (slideshow): tinyurl.com/54q22h #
• 10:56 My Expedition Tool Kit made it into another Etsy Treasury: tinyurl.com/5fjtqq #
• 11:17 Insect Lab customizes real insects with antique watch parts and mechanical components: www.insectlabstudio.com #
• 16:12 And a Flora Specimen made it into yet another Etsy Treasury: tinyurl.com/5wmgnm #
• 16:14 Woman comes back to life after rigor mortis sets in: www.newsnet5.com/health/16363548/detail.html #
• 17:36 Packing for BayCon. Room 848. #
• 19:43 Heading south. #

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• 09:51 Attacked by heffalumps and woozles. And Grubs. #
• 10:13 The person who says a thing cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. #
• 10:14 Something is Technically Wrong: www.dieselsweeties.com/archive/2020 #
• 10:37 Lost Japanese parrot recites his name and address: tinyurl.com/yo7q8m/n/a/2008/05/21/international/i003432D11.DTL #
• 11:29 @elgecko: I always knew Red Bull was evil. But toothpaste? #
• 16:00 Browse 70 yrs of NY Times archives: timesmachine.nytimes.com/browser/ #
• 16:01 Gorgeous table lamps by artist Art Donovan: artdonovan.vox.com/ #
• 18:24 Zipped out of work a bit early and picked up Madeleine's meds from the vet. #
• 18:38 Bunnies munching on two kinds of mint from the herb garden. #
• 19:41 Listening to Russian surf music and folding laundry. Then @tutordennis is taking me out for dinner. #
• 21:06 Mmm, spicy veggie korma with set dosa and chapathi. Relishing solid food while I can. #
• 22:04 I like you. I'm just not feeling the relationship. xkcd.com/427/ #
• 22:16 The Typo Eradication Advancement League (TEAL) goes cross-county for the cause: www.jeffdeck.com/teal/about.html #
• 22:34 @LunaticSX: It's not possible to take too many boots to BayCon. #
• 23:05 @shoutingboy: Conjugations make such sweet pillow talk... #

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For various reasons, I've been giving some thought recently to how we appear in real life and in our blogs. I identify with several ideologies and affiliations not readily apparent upon meeting me or reading my blog. Due to some recent conversations regarding being visible as a member of such groups or choosing to blend in and affect change from within, I thought it might be interesting to see how people in my life perceive my views. [Brief poll malfunction; if you filled it out earlier, please do so again. Apologies!]

[Poll #1191839]

[Poll #1191840]

In addition, dangerpudding recently posted a charming poll asking readers to identify her current sweeties. I thought I'd do something similar, just for amusement. ( Relationship Meme Poll )