12-pagers

Apparently 12-page papers is what we do here in school this semester. Between now and a month from now when the semester ends, I have four 12-page papers due. YEAH BABY!

October Update

It has been so long since I've been here. Only those halfway around the world seem to notice, but that's ok. Life has been crazy busy. And it has actually been one of those rare times where it's been a really really good crazy busy. Not a stressed out and overwhelmed and "I hate my life" crazy busy, but a intriguing, challenging, "I am so blessed to get to do all this and learn all this" crazy busy. I am enjoying my classes a ton this semester, so much more than I was envisioning. I'm enjoying doing some research, learning about the research and testing side of psychology, and find myself newly awakened to all sorts of things I'm really enjoying.

My actual clinical experiences are also going well. My clients are challenging and enjoyable and I am especially challenged and motivated by my practicum site where I work in a residential addictions facility. There is just so much to learn and so little time. And in all of this, I really feel like God has been all-so-present. I have been challenged as I think about grace and mercy, forgiveness and acceptance, culture and class. It's a lot, but I'm loving it and trying to soak in it as the questions fly. The questions will probably get less time in the next month: I've got several books to read and three 12-page papers to write. The fun never stops!

Joy is enjoying teaching 2nd great immensly. And honestly, I think she's an awesome teacher, a Master Teacher in learning. She has so many creative ideas, thinks about individualizing her lesson plans for each student, and has even made some suggestions that are being incorporated into the entire 2nd grade literacy section. I'm ridiculously proud of her. We've been enjoying our fall together, have gone on some nice walks and light our autumn-spice candle every night as we settle in for some schoolwork. It's funny...a great date for us is to simply go to Barnes and Noble and read and get some coffee. We have busy things we need to do for school, but we make it as enjoyable as we can. Plus, we have The Office and Law and Order (Olivia comes back next week on SVU!), so what more do we need?

Joy and I also had a great Homecoming weekend at Taylor University this month. Lots of fun, food, and fellowship. My three favorite things in the world.

Also, in regards to my last update, I should probably let you all know that a week after my credit card limit was mysteriously raised to $25,000, it was just as mysteriously and quickly taken away. I should've bought my new car while I could.

Money, Money

I'm not sure what happened over the weekend, but when I logged onto my bank account on Monday, I discovered that my credit card limit had been raised from $5,000 to $25,000. In other words, come on over and we'll go on a spree. Or perhaps the thief of Joy's debit card raised the limit and plans on stealing this card too. Then they're going on a spree. Oh no. I suppose I'll just have to reach the limit before they do. Mwah ha ha.

Gasoline and Italian Food

This past weekend, Joy and I discovered something quite nice: Joy's debit card had been stolen and was making purchases. I noticed a few days prior that there were some purchases at gas stations, but I just didn't think much about it. Looking back, if I had looked closely, I would have seen that there had been about $150 worth of gas, which, as high as prices may be, is still a lot more than it takes to fill the Jetta. Anyway, I didn't look closely, and then two days later I was online at our account again (doing what Joy and I call a "drive-by," where we drive by Panera in order to have internet access) and noticed that someone had been to Go Roma and spent $33.10. Well, I was dang sure that I hadn't had any chicken marsala any time recently, and I was pretty sure Joy hadn't either. So I asked her, and indeed, that is when we realized that Joy's debit card was missing and being used.

All in all, we don't think it should be a big deal. We've already talked to our bank (who shall remain anonymous, just in case others out there have pertinent account information) and we should get reimbursed for everything. The total amount charged was about $275, all of it gasoline and the one Italian meal.

We did call the police to report it and we were immediately told to call 9-1-1. This was when Joy started freaking out. Yes, freaking. She kept going on about how she's never called 9-1-1, she just couldn't call 9-1-1, etc., etc. It really was amusing. Well she pressed the buttons, hung up before she hit send, and then tried again. This time she allowed herself to make the call, and Joy's first words to the operator were, "This is not an emergency." Well, Joy explained why we were calling and the operator then confirmed our address (also undisclosed at this moment to the general public) and said she was sending over a police officer. You better believe Joy freaked out this time. I did a little bit too. We ran around the apartment cleaning up, trying to put away baskets of clean clothes, making the bed (I said we had to make the bed just in case there was a routine check under the bed for bodies), and I even changed out of the old t-shirt I was wearing to a respectable polo. Appearance is everything, right?

The officer came and got the information, wrote a report, and pretty much said it wasn't worth their leg-work to try to catch the culprits. We figured as much, but we were bummed, because let's just say, we had worked out some pretty dang good plans and strategies and even had a wall of suspects made. We are so Law & Order. Perhaps our favorite part of our entire time with the cop was when he said, "So, how do you like living here?" (For those of you who don't know, our apartment area is...well...just a little sketchy.) Joy and I both kinda laughed, rolled our eyes, and said that it was fine. Then the cop said, "Yeah, whenever I meet normal people living here I wonder what they must think." We took that as a compliment.

So it could be the world is out to get us. In two weeks we've taken on both TB and banking fraud. But we are not down. Oh no. If anything, we are ready for battle. Well, I should say that we'll be ready for battle just as soon as they refund our money and we're ready to open up.

TB and Me: An Update

I must thank all of those who have been concerned for my health. Basically, that's my mom (she has to worry about me), Joy's mom (she has to because if I go, then her daughter will be a widow), and Mrs. Wightman (who is pretty much my other mom). So yeah, it seems only moms worry about my health. Others seem to just laugh at me and threaten to un-invite me to events and weekends and such. I guess I can't blame them. But for those of you who need an update, here it is.

If you'll remember, I went to have my chest X-ray. Well, I have since found out that not only was it unnecessary for the woman to have me take off my shirt to do the x-ray, but apparently they don't normal rub oil on your chest beforehand either. Oh well. I went in to see the doctor and she said my x-ray was completely normal. (I thought she might say something about my great usage of lung space after years of singing in the Chorale, but she didn't...) She said I am not contagious and do not need to worry. As a preventative measure, I will be on medication that I will take every day for nine months. So far, I've remembered for six straight days. I am sorry, but I don't know the name of the medication. My mom asked me, but I still don't know. Call for details. Also, since I was cleared, I was finally able to start my practicum, which is definitely a good thing. Also very good is the fact that there is a TB clinic nearby so all of my medication and everything will be completely free. Yeah, take that, all of you people who freaked out when I lived for 6 months will no health insurance! (Mrs. Wightman, I probably shouldn't mention that those months without insurance were while I was living at your house, should I?)

TB and Me

It's been a while since I've been here. School started last week and it quickly jumped into full force. Six classes, working part-time at the agency, and I was also scheduled to start my practicum last week. You may notice I said "scheduled." That's right...I haven't actually started yet. You see, before I could begin, I had to have a TB test. Well, I got the little shot on my arm, and then I got a little red bump and rash. They said it was negative but that I should have another one a week later. I had the test on Friday and went back on Monday to have it read. Just a red bump this time. And yep...it was positive. It was confirmed that Stephen had tuberculosis.

Now, it's actually not nearly as scary as you might think. There is a different between latent TB and the TB disease, and thankfully, I have the former and not the latter. If I had actual TB disease, I'd be sick and coughing up blood and such, and none of that is happening. According to a variety of sources, lots and lots of people have the TB virus, but it just stays there quietly, one day planning an attack. Well, not this time, because I'm on the attack now.

I found out on Monday that I had the virus. Joy and I found a TB clinic nearby where I could get the next step done: a chest x-ray. I went on Tuesday for the x-ray, and the nurse even had me take off my shirt. I guess I thought if an x-ray could go through bones and body, why not a shirt, but nonetheless, I found myself standing there sans shirt. Actually, I do have a theory that you don't actually have to take off your shirt for the x-ray but the nurse just said that to me because she wanted to see my chest, but that theory is still up for debate. Joy thinks I'm a fool.

The next step is for me to go next Thursday to talk with the doctor and go over my x-ray. If all goes as they say it should, the x-ray will confirm that I have the infection and not the disease. I'll then start taking medication, which I'll have to take for nine months to a year. Crazy.

Several people have asked similar questions, so I'll cover those now:

1. Does Joy or anyone else who's been around you need tested? No. As long as it's just the infection, there is no need to be tested since you can only get the infection from someone who has the disease.
2. Where did you get TB? I have no idea. Nepal? TB is only transmitted through the air, so at some point I must have been around someone for a decent amount of time who had the disease. You'd think I would know if anyone around me had TB or was coughing blood, but apparently not. I figured a few of you would try to say that I got it from eating those strangers' dessert in Seattle, but that's just not possible, so don't even try it.
3. Are you scared? Not really. At this point, I just keep laughing. It seems so weird and surreal and like it's from the 17th century. And really, there is very good medication and as far as we know at this point, I'll be just fine.

There are benefits to finding out you have TB. First of all, I am not allowed to start my practicum until I am on medication. Sure, I was supposed to start two weeks ago and now won't start for two more weeks, but hey, at least it gives me more time during my week. The best benefit is that Joy is taking very good care of me. I lay on the couch, start to moan and cough and ask her to make me some tea, massage my back, do my homework. Okay, the truth is that it never works, but we still laugh and then she gets back to wondering what life was like before TB. It'll never be the same again.

Star Struck

Last Saturday I went with my dear friend Loralee to Ravinia, the outdoor venue for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Now, this was not just an average symphony concert, because Renee Fleming was there to sing with the orchestra. To most people, the mention of Renee Fleming in concert probably doesn't do too much because there's a good chance they just don't know who she is. But for classical singers, Renee Fleming is pretty much the top. Ms. Fleming is arguably the world's greatest soprano and most famous opera singer. Needless to say, Loralee and I were thrilled with jubilation as we sat in our seats, and left at intermission with joy and glee. The glee had only begun, however, because at intermission they announced that Ms. Fleming had agreed to do a CD signing following the concert. Loralee and I knew there was really no other choice: we had to meet Renee.

Neither of us had any of her CD's with us, so we went to the Borders tent and each got a CD. We then realized that neither of us had a camera either. I know...a disaster! I had thought about bringing my camera, but Joy and I are facing camera troubles these days and neither of our cameras are working. Loralee just plain forgot, so I'll give her the blame for this one. I then ran over to the gift shop to buy a disposable camera, and of course they only sell cameras with no flash. Why on earth an outdoor music festival that has concerts that go well into the evening wouldn't sell cameras with a flash is beyond me, but they don't. I now pass the blame on to the Ravinia gift shop. Regardless, I bought this cheap-yet-expensive disposable camera, hoping for the best. Indeed, the best was yet to come.

The second half of the program was amazing. There is something found in music that hits a place where words just don't go, and I love that. Renee nailed some big arias, milking them for all they were worth. After the last piece, I lept to my feet with the rest of the audience, and we cheered and cheered. We then sat through FOUR (yes, four) encore pieces, which I actually think were the highlight of the concert for me. After the third encore, a lot of the crowd began to leave, so you better believe Loralee and I made ourselves up to some pretty good seats. In short, it was a glorious evening.

After talking to some other friends who were at the concert, Loralee and I went to the line for the signing, which at this point was quite long. We waited for half an hour before Renee even came out and then waited another hour before it was our turn. I distinctly remember asking Loralee if she was nervous, and she said she was; after all, Renee Fleming is her hero. I said I wasn't nervous and even reminded Loralee that just because Renee was a famous opera singer, she was still just another human. Yeah, I should have kept that in mind later. As we approached and saw our turn getting closer, we debated on if I should even as for a picture. No one else was doing it, and security people kept telling the line to make it quick, to not talk, to just move along.

All of a sudden, before I even had time to realize it was happening, I found that Loralee and I were standing in front of the soprano. Here is what our conversation looked like:

LORALEE: Hello.
RENEE (looking up and seeing Loralee): Wow, you look like Annette Bening.
Stephen is thinking, "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness."
LORALEE: Well thank you.
RENEE: Has anyone ever told you that before?
Stephen is thinking, "Think of something to say, think of something to say, think of something to say."
LORALEE: No, but people have actually told me that I looked like you.
RENEE: Oh really? That's means I look like Annette Bening!
Stephen is thinking, "Say something you fool, you fool, you fool."
LORALEE: We are both music students and we really loved your concert.
RENEE: Thank you.
Stephen is thinking, "Why is this happening? I am a distaster! You fool, say something!"
STEPHEN (finally!): I don't suppose there's any way we could get a picture is there?
RENEE: Of course, just arrange it so I don't have to stop signing.
LORALEE (we're getting pretty excited at this point): Oh, we are efficient!!!
STEPHEN: Efficiency is what we do! Stephen then immediately thinks, "What on earth was that? Could you even say anything more stupid than that?! Efficiency is what we do?!?! You gotta be kidding me!"
I then turned to have the security guard take the picture, and without saying a word, he shook his head no. He wasn't helping our efficiency I had so stupidly proclaimed. So I handed the lady behind us the camera and as we ran around the table something possibly worse came out of my mouth:
STEPHEN: When our friends find out about this, they're gonna kill us!
Of course I didn't say they might be jealous or not be able to believe it. Nope, they're gonna KILL US. Why oh why oh why?!

We then smiled for the camera, and we all know that with a disosable camera with no flash, there's probably not even a picture there. Loralee and I thanked Renee and then ran off, laughing uncontrollably. I couldn't believe the way I had acted. I mean, I've even met Ryan Seacrest before and acted fine then! I honestly could not get words to come out of my mouth, and then when they did, let's be honest, they left much to be desired. I was in fact 100 percent star struck, and I think I still am a little bit. It was so worth it and who knows, maybe I'll even survive. That is as long as I can hide long enough from my friends who are apparently after me.