Migraine, Grampa, and Hollywood douchery

[wordinista]

It looks like my Wednesday is going to start out with a migraine. AWESOME.  I am taking measures to cut it off before it progresses, but that hardly ever works so mostly I'm sitting here until I finish my tea.

Mom took Gramps to the neurologist yesterday, and the news is... not so good.  His MRI showed significant shrinkage in the frontal lobes since his last MRI, which was a year ago August.  The neurologist has since diagnosed him with mid-stage fronto-temporal dementia, which, apparently, is the worst kind of dementia to be diagnosed with.  It doesn't affect memory quite as much as other types of dementia, but rather affecting personality and behavior.  It's progressive, and most patients, after initial diagnosis, have about a 2 year life expectancy.  The neurologist thinks he's had this since last August.  Mom is... understandably upset.  I don't think I've really let it sink in yet.  I sort of don't want to.

I almost didn't go to agility last night, because this news had left us... kind of out of sorts, but in the end I went and had a really good time.  I talked with my agility instructor, Vickie, a breast cancer survivor (who, this time last year, was bald).  She gave me a hug and talked a bit.  "Don't feel guilty for doing the things you like to do," she said.  I told her it wasn't so much guilt that made me almost skip class, but my concern that my head wouldn't be in the game, so to speak.   But... the funny thing is, I've sort of reached a point with agility where when I'm on the course and running obstacles with Darwin, I almost go to a very zen place.  (Well, this happens when we're running WELL. Not when I'm screwing up and giving miscues.)  And even though last night I was a little distracted, and definitely screwed up and gave miscues, I still left class feeling very centered.

In other news, I would like very much to rant about this Roman Polanski BS until the cows come home, because I am thoroughly OUTRAGED at how many people seem to have turned into rape apologists overnight, and am doubly outraged at the media for using what I personally believe is misleading language regarding his crime.  "Having sex with a teenager/minor" conjures a completely different picture than and is NOT the same thing as "drugging and anally raping an adolescent."  And what the shit, do Hollywood A-listers actually believe they are above the law?  HE DRUGGED AND SODOMIZED A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD, GUYS.  LIVING THE HIGH LIFE SKIPPING AROUND EUROPE FOR THIRTY ONE YEARS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE "PUNISHMENT."  HE HAS NOT PAID ANY SORT OF DEBT TO SOCIETY.  COME ON, PEOPLE.  HE IS NOT SOME SORT OF TRAGIC HERO.  HE IS A RAPIST.  SAY IT WITH ME NOW: RAY-PIST.

So, hopefully someone on my f-list will compose a lengthy and vitriolic rant about the subject, because that's about all I can muster -- this headache is looking like I'm going to be out of commission for the rest of the morning.

Comments

[katmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I hope your migraine goes away with little damage left. ♥ And augh, I'm sorry about your granddad. I'll keep him and your family in my thoughts.

And thirdly, this article (http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/09/28/polanski_arrest/) is a fantastic of summation of why apologists are idiots.

[darkfrog24.livejournal.com]

I'm with the instructor on this one. Keep up the regular activities. Get your zen on. Your grandfather being sick is important, but it is not the only thing going on in your life and you should be allowed to think that way.

Crud and a half, people are trying to make it sound like the kid consented? Just because she says the memory doesn't bother her anymore or whatever doesn't mean that she consented!

[ankoku-jin.livejournal.com]

There's not much I can add to the well wishes of others, except my own well wishes. *hugs* Better to do the things you love and let your mind process events in its own than sit around waiting for it to hit you. :(

As for Polanski... I haven't the energy to rant at length as I would like to, but for me it boils down to the fact that this man got away with drugging and raping a child because he's white, talented, famous and rich. Yes, I'm sure he was in a bad space because of the Tate murder. Yes, he made some great films in his time on the run. Yes, he's in his 70s now. None of that changes the fact that he needs to face justice for what he did to that girl.

[everstar3.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey. I'm sorry. *hugs* I'm thinking of you, and your mom. And your granpa.

♥♥♥♥♥

[tatertott.livejournal.com]

Migraines are the suck, that's for sure.

Listen to your agility instructor - I'm sure she has a plethora of advice to give you, since she's probably been in the deepest darkest places because of cancer. She sounds like a very awesome role model.

The only thing I'll say about the whole Polanski thing is that his victim has come out against having everything rehashed - she essentially feels she been violated repeatedly over the years because the story won't die. Now, does that mean I sympathize with Polanski? No, I wholeheartedly feel he needs to serve his time. I just wish it could happen in a way that didn't victimize the victim all over again.

[rya-kelley.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry to hear about your grandpa. That's a rough diagnosis for the patient and the family.