The Girls: Part Six

(Consider this post a place holder until The Dol gets me her promised, and much anticipated, post on breast feeding. The Dol is a perfectionist and she is taking her commitment quite seriously, despite my frequent calls cajoling her to just slam something together.)

Okay, today is Wednesday. Surgery is on Friday, earlier than I believe is kind, or even humane, but there it is. I've got less than 48 hours, less if you count the Thursday appointment to get my markings. I wonder if the doctor will use a special surgical grade pen to draw on me or if he'll be drawing on me with a Sharpie? I'd prefer it not be a Sharpie. That would remind me too much of how I passed the time in tenth grade history class and I'd rather not feel like someone from my sophomore year is performing my surgery.

Please, Hank, let it be a special surgical pen.

I don't know if I ever explained Hank to you people. Let's assume I didn't. Have you ever heard anyone say "Jesus H. Christ" or "Jesus Henry Christ", well, Hank is short for Henry and faster, and maybe less offensive, than typing Sweet Baby Jesus, every time I want to invoke the favor of a diety.

There you go.

I'm telling you all of my secrets now because I might die on Friday. Seriously. I might die, Dol, and then how bad would you feel about not getting me your post? You would feel terrible, that's how bad you would feel, and I would haunt your dreams like the paper boy in Better Off Dead demanding "Dude, I want my two dollars" um, I mean "I want my two posts!"

How am I spending my last days, you might wonder. Probably you don't wonder but you are obligated to humor me because did I mention I could die on Friday? I could die today, too, in let's say maybe a freak boating accident involving too much beer and an elephant. Mr. Poppins has been so kind to point this out every time he feels I am leaning toward the melodramatic. But if I died on Friday it would be my own fault and it would be so much more embarrassing because dying in a boob-related accident always is.

Or so I've been told.

Okay, nobody told me that but it seems obvious. What the heck was I talking about? Oh, the way I'm spending my last days.

I have to admit, I've done more productive things with my time. Last night I watched Johnny Depp sing in Sweeney Todd. Horror movies as musicals, well, they're not as scary as you might think. Actually, they're exactly as scary as you might think, which is to say not scary. Seriously. No one told me this was a musical. It was a little horrifying at first, but once I got over the shock, I was mostly annoyed and kept having to fast forward through songs about a not-that-interesting girl named Johanna.

I'm also reading the second book in the Twilight series. I link to the movie trailer (yes, there's a movie and yes, I'm going) because it so much better evokes the crazy tension of the book than the cover. Although I allow that the cover is hot. Anyway, I'm going to do a review of this book but Bookgirl, who found the book almost simultaneously on her own, is doing one too and The Dol wants to talk about it once she reads it, so maybe we can have more of a round-table discussion and I'm holding out for that. Diosa, Model, are you guys up for it? How about you Liz? Equipoise, J, e?fp, Nat, Razzler, and Curls? Anyone?

I've also read the Gemma Doyle series, which might also become a movie (I've linked to a fan trailer, which is not a real movie trailer but gives the general idea, for the same reasons as above, and yes, if there is a movie, I'll be seeing the movie). Review also to follow.

Reading these two series has reminded me how much I love fiction, especially young adult fiction, and has given me a more refined direction for my own book, which I am indeed still working on. I've got some major changes to make but rather than undo what I've already done, these changes will build on what I have and I'm very excited about the work to come. Right now I'm in the thinking, thinking, thinking phase of the changes but I'm on the verge of the writing, writing, writing phase.

What does any of this have to do with The Girls? Well, nothing and everything, which is what most of the physical and symbolic always comes down to once I've thought about it for long enough.

If that's not enough of a reason for this post, then just chalk it up to nervous pre-surgery babbling.

Comments

[Diosa]

Polly - You're totally entitled to the nervous jitters, but you're not going to die on Friday. I know with surgery there's always that risk, regardless how small. But you're a healthy young woman and the chances of you dying on Friday are about as likely as a freak boating accident involving an elephant.

[Equipoise]

First of all, you are not going to die on Friday. Why? Because now you've got me all excited about a Twilight series round table discussion. I literally finished all three of those books in two weekends. In fact, as we speak, I am staring at "The Host"- Stephenie Meyer's newest novel- that I'm already halfway through.
Also, you can't die because I find you so damn entertaining...and where would I find people with helpful posts about breastfeeding?
All kidding aside, I hope everything goes very well and look forward to hearing from you afterward. I will be thinking calming thoughts for you!

[Liz]

Ok, I haven't read this post, or the Dol's yet - I'm going to do that tonight so I can give them my full attention, but what I need to know RIGHT NOW is: How long is this surgery going to put you out of blogging commission? I mean, at what point should I start to worry?

I hope all goes well, Polly, best of luck.

[The Model]

Yyou probably won't read this until you're back at home safe and sound, so I'll just say I'm glad everything went great and you didn't die!

Now about the Twilight series, you said "tension"... How much tension are we talking about here? I refuse to pay money to be stressed out, which is why I don't watch horror/thriller/suspense movies. Is it going to stress me out?

[Polly Poppins]

Model, romantic tension.

[Value wIT]

Surgery? What have I missed? How are you? It's been a long time, but what's happening?

Wishing you well.

[J]

A few thoughts..

1. Good wishes for today. Do we get before and afters? I ask simply in the name of research. Once we decide that we're 100%, totally, completely, absolutely done with kids (which dh *says* has but you don't see him chopping any little tubies do ya?) I need one. I won't even tell you what letter of the alphabet I am because its too horrifying.

2. Watched the trailer. Can't say its my type, but perhaps I'll give it a shot. Looks like it has a bit of the Highlander immortality thing going but maybe with a twist. Eh, can't be much worse than the Nick Hornby book that I'm desperately want to like but 4 weeks in keep putting down in favor of other reads.

3. I wanted to make a book recommendation, non-fiction, for all your readers. Schuyler's Monster is a wonderful read, well written, gripping, heartwrenching and yet uplifting all at the same time. Its' written by Rob (schuylersmonsterblog.com) who I've been reading since, oh lord, maybe 1997 or 98 and while I already knew the story, I still couldn't put it down, read it all in a day while housework and kids piled up around me.

And on that note, today my peanuts graduated from Kindergarten so I have a celebration dinner to cook :)

Best wishes for a speedy and well drugged recovery!

[Liz]

Ok, I'm in for the Twilight series. can I have a week or so to catch up before the discussion starts?

I'm goint to the libraries site right now to reserve it....

Polly - I'm glad your well (I am assuming you are, anyway) but mostly I'm glad they didn't use a sharpie.

[Diosa]

Congratulations, Polly! I've been meaning to call, but my timing is bad. Like now, phoning you at 6:17 AM doesn't seem very nice.

[Catholic Bibliophagist]

I hope you are recovering well. Remember, pain medicine is your friend.

[Polly Poppins]

Thank you all. The drugs have been fabulous. Except for the constipation side effect, which was way worse than my usual brand of constipation. I know how you love it when I share this way, so I'll just add that it was the very worst constipation I've ever experienced, even counting that time in RI with Bookgirl.