Cue Topamax.

Dun dun dun. I’ve heard horror stories about this medication. I’m talking run screaming in fear horror stories. The side effects are pure hell, I’m told, which should tell you how suck-ass these migraines are that I’m willing to try this medication anyway. Some of them include weight loss (which is the only BONUS by the way – wanna bet I’ll the the lucky one not to get that particular side effect?), brain fogginess, word loss (they call it (dope-a-max), tingling hands and feet, sleepiness, and a whole host of other fun stuff. I’m on day five of my initial 25mg dose, and so far I’ve noticed zero change. I’ve had one minor headache in that time, but that was easily cured by Excedrin Migraine, my good friend. I still have to increase the dosage by 25mg a week up to 100mg so I’m sure maybe when I step it up is when the side effects will kick in?

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m a little bit skeered.

What else am I up to? I’m starting back on the Curly Girl program for my hair. I kind of doubt anyone knows what that is, so the short version is, it’s a way to care for your curly hair that involves “no-poo,” and yes, that means you don’t use shampoo. You “co-wash” with conditioner, and use products that have no silocones and some other ingredients that are terrible for curly hair. I’m going to chronicle the changes in my hair via my blog for anyone who is interested.

Back with more on both subjects in a bit!

This particular book is about a young girl, Susan (age 14), who lives a bit secluded from the rest of her friends, because her family lives on property that has been in her father’s family for generations. It is a large property with an extensive garden, which becomes key to the story. Further complicating her seclusion, her brother, Gary (age 16), has recently become wheelchair-bound, although no one in her family will tell her what is wrong with him. She suspects that he is dying.

Since he has become so restricted, Susan is now expected to do her sisterly duty of pushing him around the grounds of the property, which means venturing into the gardens, which have always made her uncomfortable. Gary has become particularly fascinated with the pond on the property, where her grandfather’s sister reportedly drowned as a small child. Almost immediately, strange things begin happening at and around the pond. Exotic flowes have been popping up in the pond and around the outhouse which are not native to the area. She knows something is up but no one seems to be taking her seriously.

Sleator writes in Susan’s voice, narrating the story as a fourteen year old girl would do.  I think this makes it particularly appealing to the younger crowd.

While I won’t go into major detail about the storyline, so as to not spoil it for you, I will say that the direction it takes is nowhere near what I expected to happen, which is a good thing…I love it when a book surprises me!  It’s a twisty-turny, quick read from beginning to end, and the ending is just as big of a twist as the rest of the book.  I would definitely recommend it for a good, quick, thrilling read.

Well, he doesn’t, and he isn’t. He was born somewhere around 3/1, which makes him almost 4 months old. He is a Great Pyrenees, which, if you know what that means, it means big-ass dog. He weighed 29 pounds at 3 ½ months, and will keep growing until he reaches his full size of 110-130 pounds. Yep, as much as a small woman. He’s gonna be a big boy. He’s amazingly sweet, and gentle and lovable, and I am completely and totally smitten with him. I spend lots of time just snuggling up with him and rubbing his soft fur. It’s funny, I’ve never been a huge dog lover, but he has won me over completely…there’s just something special about him.

He has a congenital eye deformation that occurred while he was still developing in utero. His lens and cornea didn’t properly separate, and so his eyes look cloudy, that way a dog with cataracts does. They are not cataracts, though, and he can see, albeit his vision is probably pretty cloudy. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this. The bright side is, it will not get worse. He does well, and if it weren’t for the appearance of his eyes, we would never know he had a problem.

I’m in love with a dog, and I’m not afraid to admit it.

Oh, and yes, this blog is pretty blank right now.  As I get time I’ll pretty it up a bit for you.  No need to thank me.