Ha, ha this car was called the Oakland. Just a quick post as I have to study for my economics test tomorrow. But I just wanted to say that Drew's 2nd wound has been healing more. The main tunnel is filling in with fresh tissue well. So that's good. Drew has been getting mixed reports from the plastic surgeon and her office so we don't know when the surgery will be. Big surprise! But also, the other surgeon there that is trained to do this type of surgery, Dr Young, could also do the surgery after the 1st of the year. That may be another option if Ting can't do it in December.

Ok, are we already old and married or what? We played BingoTV tonight!! Hey we could've won $28,000. I could use that for my loans. But we didn't win :( It'll be on next week ;) I will be so glad when tomorrow is over. I need to relax a little. I've been very stressed lately! I still need to buy ink for my picture printer. Then I should be able to scan more photos into the computer :) We are trying to set up another time to do our engagement photos. I think it would be really cool to do some on New Year's Eve night on Treasure Is and have fireworks in the background but I don't know if that would be possible. Anyway, have a good week.

Catwings. This is my friend Sabrina's cat, Muku. I think that's how she spells it. She's all into Fantasy books so I got her fairy wings last yr for her birthday. We put them on Muku. To funny...Totally random.

Anyway, I did my midterm rewrite and he already graded it as a B. So relieved. Now I have to finish my Calif history paper which I'm already turning in late cuz I've been sick the last few days. I don't know what I have. Hopefully not mono. I feel wiped out almost all day long. All I want to do is sleep. I think I have had a fever off and on even though my thermometer says I don't. It shouldn't be a surprise as I've been exhausted since Aug '04.

Drew went to his appt with Tr Ting today. The one who did the horrible dressing and refused to take responsibility. He felt like this was a better meeting. Apparently she's nicer with her glasses off or something. I don't buy it myself. I don't know what to do. It's his decision. I just have a bad feeling about her. I think we should shop around but I understand he wants to get it done as soon as possible. That's part of the reason to look around though. Maybe we can find someone who'll do it as soon and be better. I dunno we're all so exhausted from this.

Back to my paper. Good night...

So just to let everyone know my professor is letting me do a rewrite for my midterm. I still think it was a weirdly harsh grade. He was so stuck on one element being wrong. I'm just not used to such rigidity esp in inclass essays. We could bring in notes but when you interpret your notes one way it doesn't help anyway. I'll follow up with more later.

So Drew spoke to Dr Ting, the plastic surgeon from UCSF who caused an infection in his newer wound a few weeks ago with a poor dressing. This was yesterday. He voiced concerns over the treatment she administered and of course she denied it. She also said the other staff that treated him when he was in the hospital this last time (while she was on vacation) said he had no fever (it was over 102!) and the wound looked good (it was black!). So either she's lying about what they said (I showed them photos of the wound's progression and they said at the time they agreed with me!) or they're covering for her. This is what I was afraid of. I'm really not feeliung good about using anyone at UCSF after this. I think we should go to Stanford. I also think there is something REALLY SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH OUR HEALTHCARE!!!! People are lying and calling us crazy for negligence that we have experienced at their hands. It's atrocious! When he and his parents go next Thur I want them to bring a mini tape recorder to have hidden to capture the conversation and I want another UCSF employee present besides Ting as a witness (who they would show the photos to). I honestly think this is criminal.

It is incredibly important that we not work with theses people. I don't know what it is about plastic surgeons but they invite deception and negligence wherever they go. This is the second MAJOR problem we've had with a whole team or office of these people. This is a pattern and I'm very concerned. My gut really tells me it would be different at Stanford. I don't know why but the focus seems to be so much more on the patient there from what I've heard and read. That's just my gut but it has served me well over the years. I'll be seeing Drew parents tomorrow and maybe we can discuss this then. I'll keep everyone abreast of the situation. If I sound professional I feel more confident that people will listen so I'm trying to stay in that mindset.

Could the days get any worse?!

Got a D+ on one of my midterms! I can't believe it! Here I am a grad stu (provisional so it's almost worse). I think my head's about to explode!!!! I can't take this added stress. Oh, and it's 30% of our grade, too. Did I mention it was like 2 days after Drew was released from the hosp! But he doesn't allow make ups. I'm fuming!!! I have 4 classes this semester, by the way, and I'm doing well in all the others including my econ class which was the main one I was worried about!

I will talk to him. I already e-mailed him I'd come to his office hrs Thu. Too upset today. Of course, I haven't heard from him yet. Secondly, this isn't even a grad class yet. It's an undergrad hist class req'd for my credential, NOT for my history MA. I was accepted to the master's conditionally based on me completing a certain # of undergrad hist classes I didn't take in college. I decided to do the credential simultaneously. Thirdly, I CAN'T get a D on anything in my field. (Despite the fact he teaches this class like a Poly Sci class.) That's unacceptable and I won't be allowed to continue the program. If I can't do Xtra credit or argue it up I'll have to drop it which by now would mean late drop fees. It's only offered every 2 yrs, too. The midterm is the only grade we have in the class, so far. We have 3 components total.

I actually felt sick on test day and almost didn't go but then I realized he didn't allow make ups. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to write anything at all cuz I felt so awful when I left for class at 8AM. Great class time for an insomniac...when I got to class I felt a little better and after deliberating over the beg of the essay I felt I said good things. So I'm not just mad, I'm baffled! He even said that I got it right by the end of the essay so he's penalizing me really harshly for below optimal organization! In an in-class essay! I could honestly see a C, that's what I was afraid of as I ran out of time on the 2nd essay. Stupid thing is I could swear he said we'd just write on 1. 2 in an hr never gives ppl enough time. I know others didn't write much on that one either. And they got B's.

It's just crazy to me. It's like he gave me a D just to be a jerk. That's what ppl get when they write like 2 sentences! Or start talking about their trip to Denny's (I know someone who did that at UCSB). Anyway, I know I'm rambling but this is the equivalent of being suspended from work. This is my job right now. In fact I'm living exclusively on finan aid cuz I would literally go insane (and couldn't even) work part time w/changing Drew's dressings twice a day.

I've thought of talking to one of my other profs who like and respect me. I almost wanted to do when I was festering btwn this class and my one following. But I was afraid of the "political" ramifications. I plan to be a TA next yr. Also, I don't want to make excuses. Last yr, I HAD to get extensions on papers and they were understanding. I didn't want my welcome to wear out with that. The problem is Drew's health is continuous issue. I would LOVE for it not to be but it is. I keep up w/one prof personally (who's on sabbatical right now) and he knows that. After I talk to this jerk prof I may go to the graduate advisor (the one w/mixed feelings about my potential. Well, I think she's very optimistic about my potential but just takes issue w/my writing style). Anyway, like I said it wasn't a stellar essay I know but anyone else would've given it a B and then maybe knocked me to a C+ w/my lack of a 2nd essay.

I just don't know whether this is a reflection of the fact that I can't both take care of Drew and succeed in grad school. Am I just not capable? Am I deluding myself that I am grad stu quality in this field? At least half (3-4) my profs here have expressed I have good potential. Is it just this guy? Ok, enough stupid questions. Time for hot shower...