In Real Life... News, and other updates

[hypnocrown]

Man! there are so many things in this world that are soo screwed up, it's not even funny. I mean, Dam! teachers are not supposed to be on strike! Don't they feel the call? After all, aren't teachers the life blood of a country? I feel that if you are a teacher you do it for the satisfaction of showing others how to fend for themselves (not to mention other things). There are a few professions out there that I feel they should never go on strikes but, that's just me, maybe... rolleyes
Just for the record, teachers do that here in Guatemala too so... I guess most people care more for money than anything else.
I hope things go back to normal soon D.
Gee, isn't that a bit funny? I wonder if Nintendo "DS" stands for Diabolic Sun... sweatdrop  

[JastaElf]

Actually, in defense of the teachers.... most countries do not respect teachers as they deserve. They get crap for pay and lousy benefits, such that when school isn't in session they have to get another job--which is often a pain. If they ask for what they deserve and do not receive it, what other recourse do they have besides a strike?

The blame needs to be placed with the school systems and officials who want the dedication and the loyalty but don't want to pay a decent wage. Would you want to work the equivalent of 80-100 hours a week, plus be required to coach teams or theater groups, or run the science fair, AND do fund-raising activities, for only a little more than minimum wage and very little overtime pay?

I taught for a few years, then sadly returned to the private sector. I wish I could go back--but even on the University level, unless you're tenured there is little job security, long thankless hours, and lousy pay. It's a travesty, really.  

[hypnocrown]

Yer right Jasta! I guess you can never see the full picture unless you've been on both sides. I have never felt like I could be a good teacher so... Why bother? I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who deserve better payment and everything but others shouldn't even be teachers. After hearing all those things about how some use sexual favors out of their students, well... I guess this comes from watching that movie about a coal mining woman with Charlize Theron. sweatdrop  

[JastaElf]

Hi folks, just wanted to let you know why I haven't been around since Tuesday. sad On Wednesday while I was driving to work I completely blacked out at the wheel of my car. Many blessings occurred after that: I was going uphill so I wasn't going fast. I had just slowed down because a car entered traffic in front of me, so I was going reasonably slowly.

The woman whose property the car crossed after I blacked out had been just about to drive out onto the street--where I most assuredly would have hit her--but something fell off her front seat, so she stopped to pick it up. I hit a tree in her front yard, then continued on to her neighbor's yard; by then I was going sufficiently slowly that I ended up on his retaining wall, back wheels on the ground, front wheels up in the air. The next thing I knew the man was standing there asking if I was all right. I thought I had somehow come to a traffic light and was being approached by someone... *rolls eyes*

Both people were very kind; the police were abrupt until I assured them I had neither been drinking nor was asleep at the wheel because of coming off the night shift... I was transported to the hospital and over 2 days was given every cardiac and neurological test known to medicine. I just got home late last night.

Every test came back completely normal, except that I had a lowered potassium count--which they said could lead to a muscle skip and cause the heart not to send enough blood to my brain. It was all very quick and complete; I had no warning this was about to happen. I'm not allowed to drive any distance until such time as they know what happened and have some assurance it won't happen again. No charges have been filed, either--and the only mark on me is a small, non-painful lump on my head. Count me very blessed and yet totally confused...

I'm fine, and have been since I woke up. The car is banged up, though, and I am in a nasty little quandary: I need prayers first that the doctors will find out what I can do to not have this happen again. Then I need prayers of thanksgiving that no one was hurt and no other vehicles were involved. Then I need prayers because I have to have a car--and right now between towing and impound daily fees, I owe over 500 dollars (that I most assuredly do NOT have!) in order to rescue my car. And that's before we start contemplating repairs... sad

So I'm here, I'm fine, I'm confused, and anxious. But I am SO grateful to God! And the moral of the story is that when your parents tell you to take your multivitamins and eat properly every day--there's a reason for that. smile

Hugs,
Jasta  

[DM_Melkhar]

eek

I really don't know what to say to all that Jasta. I hope you're feeling a lot better anyway. I'll be praying for you. Not sure what else I can say really.  

[hypnocrown]

WOW! I read something about an accident on the myths and legends thread but I had no idea you had something like that happen. I'm usually not a praying man but, you can be sure that you'll be in my prayers Jasta.
As for me, nothing new really other than the fact that I was able to translate one of the myths I had previously posted before the refurbishing of the guild.
That and, I've been busy with the current event, he-he. sweatdrop  

[DM_Melkhar]

If anyone is on facebook, PLEASE join the Treehouse Society. A friend of mine is losing the battle to keep it as someone who happened to wander down the nearby private land saw it and decided to complain.

The local council are intending to have it removed, but there's a bit uprising to save it as it's a really good treehouse, has wildlife surrounding it and it's not doing anyone any harm. Take a look on there for more details.

The Treehouse Society.

If you aren't on facebook, join up! I'm on there and you can find me there.  

[JastaElf]

hi y'all, yeah, it was quite a wild trip. My husband drove me past the accident site on the way home from hospital -- and I was STUNNED to learn that there was half a MILE between the last place I clearly remember being, and the place where the car hit the tree and wall. I drove half a mile unconscious!! *shivers*

Thanks for all the prayers; I appreciate them very much! Now I'm going to go take a look at the Treehouse Society.  

[hypnocrown]

Treehouse society, huh? I can't right now but I'll check it out later...

WOW! eek Half a mile unconscious? That's something! I'm glad yer all right now Jasta! 3nodding  

[JastaElf]

*grins* Yeah... me too. It so easily could have gone MUCH worse...  

[hypnocrown]

Indeed! I'm glad nothing really bad happened. I guess you could say that yer guardian angel was really on alert that day. 3nodding  

[JastaElf]

Oh absolutely. Given how many things COULD have gone wrong, I'm so glad it didn't!

I stopped at the store that morning, and just found the receipt. Timestamp said 8:01, and I remember looking at my watch when I came to, because I was going to call my husband, and it was about 8:15. I was on my way to the hospital by 8:45... so it came upon me pretty fast, and during both rush hour and kindergarten bus delivery. The thought of how many people I *could* have hit and didn't just fries my brain. *shivers*

But God is good. smile  

[MsRoseLovingJo]

I am so glad to hear you had such a happy ending to what could have been so dramatic! My father had an experience like that and it was the first time we found out he had low blood sugar at times. We really had to watch that he ate regularly!  

[hypnocrown]

You and me both MsRose! Isn't it awful how some people out there don't seem to care much about who they hurt? It doesn't matter if you drive carefully, there's no way to be alert all the time and that's when accidents happen. If only more people were more responsible... rolleyes  

[JastaElf]

Thanks for the good thoughts and wishes!

Yeah, I had no idea a potassium drop could do something like this. We learn something new every day... the tech who did an ultrasound on my heart explained to me that potassium is what makes a muscle move when we send that signal from our brains, and hydrogen is what returns it to its original state--imagine throwing a punch, for instance. Out goes the fist: potassium does that. Back to your side: Hydrogen. They work in perfect harmony as long as they're balanced. Then he looked at me and said "and... your heart is... a muscle!" Point received... O.O Now if we just knew what CAUSED the potassium drop!

Watching my heart on the ultrasound screen was a surprisingly moving experience. I kept staring at it and thinking wow, that's MY heart, moving and beating... and that's MY blood... and a verse of scripture kept going through my head: "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well." (Psalm 139:14)

In any case, I am very grateful to still be here--and to not have hurt anyone. smile