B!TC# IT OUT!

[Miyu]

So that eye that's been hurting for a few days? Woke up today to find it (the eyelid, not the eyeball) puffy, swollen and painful, and a little red. Took an allergy pill for the first time in Poseidon-knows-how-long, because after a quick search of the intarwebs, it doesn't look like an infection or injury (plus I have that cold sore, which indicates that my immune system took a hit). If it looks any worse than it does now, I'll go to the hospital - I like my eyes! They're my best feature!



I loathe FB, the only thing I really use it for is keeping in contact with friends/family/etc. Twitter/Tumblr is my current combo for both business and fun when it comes to social media. When I get a smartphone, I'll get on the Instagramz and anything else I'm behind the times on, LOL!

[PearlieMae]

When your immune system is down like that (I know just how you feel, btw), strangely enough, all I have to do is eat a grapefruit a day for a couple of days and I bounce right back. True!

[Miyu]

Hmm, we've been eating cuties (tiny oranges) and starfruits, but maybe I should start adding grapefruit to our list as well...

[shimmygoddess]

a stye perhaps? My son gets them all the time. He had one last week, then got a cold, then another stye. LOL We always wet a washcloth, zap it in the microwave a couple seconds and put it on the sore eye for about 5 min. Reheat and repeat several times a day

So that eye that's been hurting for a few days? Woke up today to find it (the eyelid, not the eyeball) puffy, swollen and painful, and a little red. Took an allergy pill for the first time in Poseidon-knows-how-long, because after a quick search of the intarwebs, it doesn't look like an infection or injury (plus I have that cold sore, which indicates that my immune system took a hit). If it looks any worse than it does now, I'll go to the hospital - I like my eyes! They're my best feature!



I loathe FB, the only thing I really use it for is keeping in contact with friends/family/etc. Twitter/Tumblr is my current combo for both business and fun when it comes to social media. When I get a smartphone, I'll get on the Instagramz and anything else I'm behind the times on, LOL!

[Miyu]

After doing a quick google search, that looks like it could be the culprit! I've kind of been playing with fire by using makeup I shouldn't be (It's completely not-natural, and I'm sensitive to all sorts of silly chemicals - plus, it's old makeup, but it's all I have, and I have to wear makeup for my work). I don't use the microwave, so I'll go heat up some water now and see if that helps at all! Thanks for the info!

[deepblue]

The last time I had a sty, I took a goldenseal teabag to it, steeped but not dripping, warm but not hot, and used it as a compress over my eye. It was gone the next day. I hope you get that thing gone, I hate stys!

And yes, old makeup is a petri dish. Natural or not.

[Miyu]

Heck, natural makeup is even more of a petri dish! Every time I apply makeup, I have to weigh the pros and cons of each kind... do I want something I know I'm not allergic to, but requires more careful prep so as to keep it sanitary; or do I want something (more) hygienic and quick, but that I'm probably allergic to? It's just so frustrating because makeup - even the cheap stuff - is so expensive when you're broke!

I've got a few pages of instructions saved for making "kajal/kohl" (eyeliner) out of burnt almonds or their soot... I may have to try that if I can't pick up some eyeliner and mascara in the next couple of days!

[shimmygoddess]

yes, teabags are good too...good luck. Hope you feel better.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Miyu- if you want when I get my new batch of makeup stuff I'll get a spare bottle of sterilizer for you. It will help keep bacteria out of the makeup and off your brushes. And I know it sucks, but try to wash your brushes every time you apply makeup. You'd be surprised by how much icky stuff gets on them when we apply makeup, even after washing our faces.

And update time- Called into work last night, and I'm glad I did. I never would have made it through my full shift. My roommate was more than happy to cover my shift (we work together), it got her out of 3 hours of her other job that she hates.

Just crashed for a few hours. Finally picked up my Rx this morning. Forced some food in me so I could take the painkillers they gave me after I took the antibiotics. Ice packs weren't really helping much, so for S&G's I decided to try a heating pad. Woke up with far more mobility in my jaw than using the ice packs. My cheek is far less swollen, and the main swollen spot isn't as stiff/hard as it was (felt like I had half a golf ball in my cheek by my jaw.

Also picked up some antiseptic/antibacterial mouth wash that I started using after every time I eat. Seems to be working really well, and I haven't had to cut it with water like most mouth washes. It doesn't have the burning that most mouth washes I've tried do.

So, yay. Hopefully I'll be able to open my mouth wide enough for the dentist Thursday so they can do the x-rays without having to force my mouth open. And hopefully I'll be able to handle my shift Thursday. Hate missing work, but can't be helped

[Miyu]

Moriticia - yeppers, I ALWAYS clean my brushes inbetween uses, it's one of the reasons I don't usually wear makeup - I'm too lazy to want to wash my brush I'd like to get a spare set or two of basic brushes, just so I don't have to wash my one set every day, LOL! It would be totally awesome if I could try some of that sterilizer stuff, I do try really hard to keep my makeups clean... but 4-year-old eyeliner is probably not a great idea >.<

I'm glad the mouthwash seems to be helping you! I really hope you feel better soon I WANNA GO SWIMMING WITH YOU, WOMAN! LOL

[Morticia Mermaid]

Yeah. We'll see about getting you some new stuff I need to get some new stuff soon too, need to replace my own eyeliners and mascara.

Well figure something out! Haven't been able to go for a swim in forever >.<

[Anahita]

Heck, natural makeup is even more of a petri dish! Every time I apply makeup, I have to weigh the pros and cons of each kind... do I want something I know I'm not allergic to, but requires more careful prep so as to keep it sanitary; or do I want something (more) hygienic and quick, but that I'm probably allergic to? It's just so frustrating because makeup - even the cheap stuff - is so expensive when you're broke!

I've got a few pages of instructions saved for making "kajal/kohl" (eyeliner) out of burnt almonds or their soot... I may have to try that if I can't pick up some eyeliner and mascara in the next couple of days!

Refrigerate your makeup when you make it out of natural stuff. It'll keep the bacteria from flourishing, and keep the ingredients from spoiling. All my kohl, white-water, rouge, perfumes, pomades and pornatums, etc., get refrigerated, because if not they will go rancid or grow god knows what. And make it in small batches, too. That way if it goes bad, you don't feel obliged to try and use it anyways.

[Raayvhen]

About spare makeup brushes, real techniques is an awesome brand and relatively cheap. Just saying.

Sent by Jellyfish

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Styes are the worst. I actually have a scar on my eyelid from a really bad one. I used to get them continuously. The tea bag as a compress really helps.

As for makeup, I really like the e.l.f brand. I use their mineral stuff because it's way less expensive than some of the other stuff I will be upgrading to eventually. Their brushes are pretty decent too, and at $1-$3 each, cheap enough to use for a while and then replace. Also, I wash my brushes all the time, and NEVER share makeup, especially eye makeup. For theater makeup, we'd rub a cotton swab with Listerine on it over the pots of greasepaint to clean them. Best to replace your stuff every few months, although I have some things I've kept longer because I keep it so clean.

[Miyu]

The only makeup I keep for very long is generally eye palettes - Morticia gave me a HUGE palette, with really nice colours and textures, and I know she kept it clean before I got it, so I intend to hang onto that for some time. That's a really neat trick about the theatre greasepaint! I don't ever share makeup, except in certain instances (such as Morticia's doing my makeup, she's a makeup artist, and I know how strict she is about keeping her things clean).

I'm pretty certain I know the culprits (eyeliner and mascara), and they're getting replaced ASAP. I did find a new brand of makeup that I adore, it's a natural brand, and they make things like lash tint - when I can afford it, I'll get those, but for now, I'm planning on sticking with E.L.F. because it just keeps getting recommended to me by everyone! I stuck those Real Techniques brushes in my wishlist ass well, they look really nice for the price!

[deepblue]

If I vent about my daughter's medical situation, it's just that. A vent. I'm not asking for advice. If her surgeon, a foremost expert in pediatric orthopedics at one of the top children's hospitals in the country (he teaches other surgeons in the field), approves of her diet, her schooling, and everything else, than that is all that matters to me. Her doctor in Portland when we lived there for two years, also a top in the field and the head of ortho at Shriner's hospital also approved, that is what matters. Being told 'don't forget to do this and that' or, especially, someone indicating they think she isn't getting proper nutrition, is EXTREMELY frustrating and makes me livid. When I'm venting, I'm really just saying, "I'm really quite tired." My daughter is the single most important thing in my life. The way I feed her and school her is a reflection of that. I do what I know is best for her and if anyone thinks what I am doing is not, then they don't know me at all.

Also, it makes me want to say, "I WILL CUT YOU." And I'm not even a violent person. But oh. Oh the STFU.

[Mermaid Lilium]

So this is part rant, part emotional sentimentality so you're forewarned :P

Still trying to force myself to finish up the divorce paperwork and seriously regretting not getting a solicitor in to do it all for me *sigh*

I've also started an xmas temp job at the body shop, mostly weekend work and feck-all hours but better than nothing, will at least help cover my costs from merfest a little.

so bearing that in mind, saturday morning saw doug (my ex-husband) finally move out into his own place. Yeahhh he's been in our house until then. As you can imagine it was a fairly emotional thing and I spent the morning before work after he'd gone, bursting into tears on and off. But pulled myself together and got through my shift at work. Then as I was waiting for my tram home I turned on my phone and picked up a missed call from Doug. So I called him back to find out what was up, especially as things had gotten fairly amicable between us in the end. And because I worried about his mental stability with moving out etc... so to cut a long story short the phonecall was him telling me that he thinks his best friend Rachel likes him and he's going to see where it goes. Rachel being the friend I spent the last two years being paranoid about because I worried stuff was going on with her or at least that they liked each other. Apparently it's a 'recent' thing in the last fortnight, and that 'nothing has happened' uhuh.... about 4 months ago I predicted that when the divorce was coming through that Rachel would for some reason break up with her long-term boyfriend Pete (who doug had gotten to be close friends with) and would suddenly turn her attentions on doug. aaaand that's exactly what's happened. I'm 90% sure she had some hand in ending our marriage. She saw what she wanted and she got it. And I now loathe her with an intensity which is very hard to bring out in me. I'm usually too forgiving, too trusting, non-violent and I hate confrontation (phobia of it infact). Even just thinking about her brings out a very dark part of my brain lets put it that way. I just really hope I never see her. I really don't want to. And I know her and her twin sister (who doug was also close friends with) as I used to work with them both for a year.

I've replied to doug's fb msgs he'd sent me before he called me, and told him how angry I am, that i'd be more than happy for him to find someone else but just not Rachel or her sister. Told him to warn her not to contact me and told him that I do think stuff probably happened between them. And that basically he's either oblivious or the asshole of the century. And that either way I now hate Rachel with a passion.

I know that our relationship is over and that this shouldn't all matter to me anymore but it hurts SO FUCKING MUCH. And the idea that he was betraying me AGAIN all that time? It's like I've had my heart broken all over again.. I mean he chose to tell me when I would be coming home and in a public space. I barely got home and locked the front door before I broke down into tears and had a panic attack.

I've tried to block it out and move on the last couple of days despite feeling ill with a sore throat/cold thing but a bit yesterday and especially today... I think it's made my depression flare up again :'( Like I'm breaking apart. I just got out the shower a bit ago and spent most of the time when I was in the shower crying and battling thoughts about harming myself or taking my own life. :''(

And here comes the sentimental part... The thing that stopped me and gave me the will to keep fighting and keep going? Looking forward to NCMerfest and getting to meet so many of you wonderful people <3 No jokes. Once again this amazing community and my dreams attached to it, have literally saved my life.

Feb 2013 when I last dicovered doug had been cheating on me (on my bday weekend) I had a mental breakdown. I'd discovered this community only weeks later and I immersed myself in the dream of it and you amazing people and it gave me purpose and kept me moving one foot infront of the other until I finally overcame my crippling social anxiety that the breakdown had triggered, and eventualy when I also won my battle with my depression. You guys have been there through all that, through the BS with mum's ex and then the whole BS from doug and the eventual breakdown of my marriage. You're my lifeline. And I can't even express or explain what you all mean to me and how much I love you all for your endless love and support <3

I know I'm probably going to struggle again for a little bit, but I know that I'll make it through with you guys there to help me xx

[Miyu]

Even though your relationship may be over, little things can still hurt... I'm sorry things happened like that, it's really shitty when it does. I'm glad at least that this community helped you get through such an emotionally draining time.

SUPER-SAD STORYTIME, don't read if you're easily emotionally traumatized (I'll keep it short)

My ex, whom I am still attempting to get divorced from, is now having a baby. To recap, since most people don't know this about me - I had a baby, fathered by this man, and because my body is not the perfect specimen of human physical form, I gave birth to this baby too early, and after almost a month in the hospital, the baby (Caleb) passed on to join his namesake in heaven. So yes, I am upset, and hurt, and jealous... even though I DON'T EVEN WANT A BABY, I am 100% done with baby-making and am biding my time until the doctors will let me schedule an appointment to carve out my baby-making parts. I really do not want to birth another baby AT ALL, never ever... But still I am upset about his having a baby. Emotions are crazy like that.

I'm just glad things are amicable between the two of us and, while we may not quite be friends, we're compassionate towards each other, and I think he knows it's a sensitive topic to me still.

[Mermaid Lilium]

Even though your relationship may be over, little things can still hurt... I'm sorry things happened like that, it's really shitty when it does. I'm glad at least that this community helped you get through such an emotionally draining time.

SUPER-SAD STORYTIME, don't read if you're easily emotionally traumatized (I'll keep it short)

My ex, whom I am still attempting to get divorced from, is now having a baby. To recap, since most people don't know this about me - I had a baby, fathered by this man, and because my body is not the perfect specimen of human physical form, I gave birth to this baby too early, and after almost a month in the hospital, the baby (Caleb) passed on to join his namesake in heaven. So yes, I am upset, and hurt, and jealous... even though I DON'T EVEN WANT A BABY, I am 100% done with baby-making and am biding my time until the doctors will let me schedule an appointment to carve out my baby-making parts. I really do not want to birth another baby AT ALL, never ever... But still I am upset about his having a baby. Emotions are crazy like that.

I'm just glad things are amicable between the two of us and, while we may not quite be friends, we're compassionate towards each other, and I think he knows it's a sensitive topic to me still.

*mer-hugs for both of us*

[Seatan]

I have been letting my students use my personal ipad and they looked up something dirty on it and MY internet usage was temporarily blocked. Aka it looks like I did the dirty search on the school system. Darn it!!!!