Kitanzi's Colloquium

I almost feel like maybe I'm not the person to spread this, since I'm not Christian, but I think it's something that bears repeating anyhow. This really verges on glurge, but... I hope so much that it's true.

http://www.danoah.com/2012/04/a-teens-brave-response-to-im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

Right, long story short(ish), I've been having stomach problems for a couple months now. Two weeks ago I had a EGD done to find out what was going on in my esophagus and stomach. Yesterday I had the follow up visit.

Diagnosis is severe acid reflux, causing considerable erosion to the esophagus, and a sliding hiatal hernia. Treatment between now and another followup visit in four weeks is a strong anti acid medication, diet modification and weight loss. Possible future treatment includes surgery, but let's hope not.

So, ideally, I am now not supposed to eat anything I might actually want to eat - that should make the weight loss easier. As far as I can tell, the ideal diet for this (which I do not expect I will follow perfectly) is bland and fat free, with minimal spice or acidic foods. I should eschew chocolate, alcohol and caffeine. I should eat small amounts, slowly, and chew it as thoroughly as any cow could dream of.

No, I'm not really happy about this, how could you tell?

Neither of these are especially uncommon conditions. Does anyone out there have a good resource for recipes, foods and suggestions that won't leave me wanting to solve the whole problem at the source by simply cutting my throat?

(swiped from RobWynne on facebook:) @JosephScrimshaw: People are losing the spirit of the Ides of March. It's not about just stabbing. It's about coming together to stab ...


Some light recreational stabbing with a little judicious eco-friendly mulching to follow, anyone? *singing softly* I've got a little list, I've got a little list...

(Edit: Hell with the Ides of March, the ideas of March can be far worse!)

TED Talks always has something new and interesting, but ACat pointed me at The Power of Introverts from Susan Cain, and it really bears sharing. Her analysis of the value of introversion and how society is shortchanging all of us by trying to force people out of it is fascinating, and I think very true. In fact, it was just the thing for me today, in the middle of my utterly introverted and very relaxing weekend home alone. :)

Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, and I strongly recommend everything she's published. HOWEVER, having said that - her newest book, Discount Armageddon, has an official release date of March 6th and yet Amazon (and now Barnes & Noble as well) started shipping it early.

Please, folks, buy it - ON MARCH 6TH. If you want the best chance of the whole series that this starts being published, if you understand that the first OFFICIAL week of sales counts hugely for a new book, if you just want to be a decent person and respect the wishes of an author who had no part in this screw up - buy it, but wait.

Seanan explains better than I can: http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/425907.html

I hope no one took the earlier meme as a demand to prove yourselves - it was surely not meant as such - but it's very gratifying to see that many people ARE still reading this, and willing to play along, after all this time. :)

I'm running a test to see who's reading my posts. So, if you read this, leave me a one-word comment about your day that starts with the third letter of your LJ/DW USERNAME. Only one word please. Then repost so I can leave a word for you, if you want.

Ok, ACat and I have a deal. I will start posting again if he does, and vice versa - and I still don't have much to say, but dammit, it's a deal. I can't guarantee it's anything worth anyone reading, which is much of what's kept me from posting, but hey - if you don't like it, feel free to unfriend me. I promise not to hold a grudge.

So.... a post a week, at least, hopefully more. May be crap, may be trivial, may be something no one but me is interested in. Here's a starter - ask me a question, any question. I will either tell the truth, or say something so outrageous it's an obvious and hopefully entertaining lie. Hell, I dunno if anyone is even reading this any more. Say something? :)

If Acat and I had a onetime revival of movie night, would anyone be interested? Would it make a difference if it was on a weekend or weekday night?

It's the Georgia Filk Convention, happening 7-9 January 2011 at the Crown Plaza Airport in Atlanta, GA.

Guest Of Honour: Seanan McGuire
Toastmaster: Matt Leger
Interfilk Guest: Howard Scrimgeour
PLUS another Super Secret Guest! (Name to be revealed 12/1 - AFTER the prices goes up!)

Come celebrate the fannish New Year with three days of fun, music, and friendship! We'll have great concerts, the annual dinner dance banquet featuring Play It With Moxie, and, of course, singing until the early hours.

Membership is only $40 through November 30, 2010. (That's tomorrow, so send in your registration today! We will announce the Super Secret Guest on Wednesday!

You can get more information about Gafilk, including online registration, at :

http://www.gafilk.org/

Hope to see you there!

(Please feel free to repost this to other appropriate communities and lists you think might be interested.)