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11/10/2006
Thanks, Wisconsin. And: bad news.
You know how sometimes when a week ends and even though you’re an atheist, you think, “Thank Christ that is over.”
Yeah. That was pretty much this week.
Monday started off bright and early with a negative pregnancy test (I know – my own damn fault). Went to work and immediately was confronted with the knowledge that I had seriously fucked something up the week before, leading to berating from a bitchy patron. Then came the news that my grandma (my only living grandparent) was in congestive heart failure and needed to have a pacemaker put in. At 85 years old, without any real health problems besides arthritis, this was a surprise.
Tuesday was remarkably better. Grandma had her pacemaker put in and everything went really well. I may or may not have told you that I’m currently doing an internship in document conservation through a local museum. I found it deliciously coincidental that I was working on mending and encapsulating (creating an envelope out of Mylar plastic for protection) this campaign poster on election day:
Tuesday night after voting, I was pleased to curl up in bed and watch the election returns. Things certainly did seem to be going well for the Dems. But I had a headache by then, so I didn’t stay up too late.
Wednesday I woke up to that headache squeezing my head in a vise and demanding that I stay home, which I did. I missed class that night as well. I also got my period, which was fun. Though I was proud to see that the Democrats had taken the House and Senate, I was beyond disgusted with the State of Wisconsin for two reasons:
1. Voting to advise the state leadership to instate the death penalty in Wisconsin.
2. Voting to outlaw recognition of gay marriage or any type of gay civil union in the state.
Really. I couldn’t believe how absolutely backwards we were.
There are ways in which I’m very proud of my adopted home state – or at least the district I’m in, which includes liberal Madison. My district put Russ Feingold in the U.S. Senate – one of the most vocal opponents to the Bush administration, and the only U.S. Senator who voted against Bush’s Patriot Act. My district also elected Tammy Baldwin to the House of Representatives – the first non-incumbent openly gay person elected to Congress. Too bad her partner can’t receive benefits in the State of Wisconsin.
The rest of Wisconsin, however, made decisions that all of us will have to live with.
On Wednesday I also found out that my grandma was in terrible pain from a blood clot in her leg, and they had to do surgery. The surgery did not go well – it took twice as long as it should have taken – and the doctors informed my family that grandma didn’t have long left.
Thursday my headache seemed to be even worse, so I stayed in bed and took a Vicodin, which gave me some seriously fucked up dreams but finally made me feel better. I dragged myself to work that afternoon only to receive a call from my sister at 6:15 telling me that Grandma had just died. The funeral’s on Sunday. And my grandma never had great-grandchildren, and my children will never know her.
Thank Christ this week is over.
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I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother and AF. What a fucked up week. I will be thinking of you this weekend, and I hope next week is better.
Posted by: squarepeg | 11/10/2006
Oh my God, I am so sorry to hear about your Grandma. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
As for the election results, it's depressing to realize that Dane county was the only county that voted with a majority "no" on the marriage and civil unions ban. What also sucks is that it isn't only gay civil unions, it affects anyone (straight or gay) who is in a partnership of any kind and isn't married. Good thing Levi and I didn't decide to live in sin in the state of WI.
In some uplifting news with regards to politics, our homestate of MN sent the first Muslim to Congress.
Again, I am so so sorry about your Grandma. I truly am.
Posted by: Natalie | 11/10/2006
Molly, I'm so sorry about your grandmother and the failed cycle. I say you spend a lot of time in bed this weekend, or get really drunk.
I'm sorry we live in a back-ass-wards state, too. At least we get to live in the good part of it.
Posted by: EJW | 11/10/2006
"Shit. This is the worst week in the history of the world."
I couldn't have said it any better.
I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandmother, especially since you said she was in overall good health. My sympathies to your families.
Posted by: DD | 11/10/2006
Dear Molly, I am so sorry. That is terribly sad news.
Thinking of you and your whole family.
Posted by: Kath | 11/10/2006
Oh no, Molly. I am so sorry, about all of it.
I am thinking of you.
Posted by: Menita | 11/10/2006
Oh Molly. What an awful week, and what awful news. I am so sorry.
Posted by: Alexa | 11/10/2006
I'm so sorry for your loss. All of them.
Posted by: Donna | 11/10/2006
Yeah, I hate the world for giving my lovely Molly such a shitty week.
When my grandpa died the fact that he didn't have any great-grandchildren really bothered me. He would have been fantastic with Piper, and she would have adored him as I did.
My condolences.
Posted by: MsPrufrock | 11/10/2006
I'm so sorry about your grandmother.
I was so proud that the very first election I ever voted in put Clinton in the White House and Feingold in the Senate. Haven't voted in WI in over a decade but am embarrassed by proxy.
Posted by: electriclady | 11/10/2006
I'm so sorry Molly. :(
Posted by: Jenn | 11/10/2006
Oh Molly, how awful. I'm so sorry about your grandmother and your BFN and Wisconsin disappointing you so terribly. You are right, what a horrid week and thank god its over.
Posted by: Leggy | 11/10/2006
Oh no. Molly, I'm so sorry about your grandmother. I still miss mine terribly, it makes me teary to hear about grandmas passing away. Thinking of you and your family.
Posted by: Mary Scarlet | 11/10/2006
I'm so very sorry about your grandmother.
Posted by: mm | 11/10/2006
I'm very sorry to hear about your loss, Molly.
Posted by: thalia your other stalker | 11/11/2006
Aw Molly, I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. It's been over 20 years since mine passed and I still mourn and wish.
Posted by: T | 11/11/2006
Molly, I'm so sorry about your grandma and about the cycle. Thinking of you and sending you a stiff drink via the internet.
Posted by: lindy | 11/11/2006
I'm so sorry about your grandmother, it's worse when it's such a complete surprise, so much harder to cope with at first.
I'm also sorry about the failed cycle. You're right this was a shitty, shitty week.
Posted by: Krista | 11/11/2006
So sorry to hear about your crappy week and the loss of your grandmother.
Posted by: Jennifer | 11/12/2006
Oh honey, I'm so sorry to hear about your grandma. What a total shitstorm of a week! I hope that you got a chance to chill out and relax before having to deal with another Monday morning.
Posted by: rockmamainwaiting | 11/13/2006
Hey, stranger...
Sorry about your helluva week.
Living in a state (and therefore surrounded by people) who think it's cool and groovy to kill people but become enraged at the thought of a gay couple doing the dishes together or sharing insurance benefits could make anybody need a Vicodin.
Hang in there.
Posted by: Gerah | 11/14/2006
I am so sorry, Molly. I'm thinking of you.
Posted by: Anna H. | 11/15/2006
I'm so sorry about your grandmother's passing.
Regarding your disappointment with Wisconsin: At least you don't live in Tennessee like me.
Posted by: erinberry | 11/20/2006