I made a decision a while ago to go off my anti anxiety and anti depressant. I spoke with my doctor about this – as is EXACTLY as you are supposed to do. So, we came up with a plan.

I made it off the Lexapro fine. I really don’t notice much of a difference in how I am feeling. But, I will say, that I wasn’t on it for that long, so that might be expected. Once I was successfully off that, I waited about a week (according to the plan) and began to taper off my Effexor. Week one was fine, week two was even okay. I am in week 3, otherwise known as the week in which I take zero crazy meds. Holy Cow people, I am a WRECK.

#1. I sweat profusely. I know night sweats are a withdrawal symptom. That is not when I sweat profusely. It’s everytime except that time. Today I made the GIANT mistake of wearing a wool turtleneck to work and I spent half my day scratching the skin off my sweating neck.

#2. I am so dizzy. I have decided that I should not be driving, especially considering my car is currently experiencing an ‘Airbag Fault,’ which according to the service advisor at VW only means that my airbags are FAULTY. So, if in my dizziness, I veer off the road, there will be no airbag deployage.

#3. There is not enough food in the world right now for me to eat. I am too ashamed to tell you what I consumed for dinner. I have also gained weight. To wit: this morning as I was buckling my beloved Dansko Mary Janes, the button popped right off my favorite JCrew cords. Hmmph!

#4. I will cry at the drop of a hat. If have a THICK SKIN people. Very thick. I have been balling my eyes out. My skin right now, thin, very thin. See #3 and the corduroy incident this morning. So, be nice.

So, hopefully this will all go away soon. Cause, I do not like it. I do not like it one bit.

Now, on to more important things. American Idol. There is a girl on television right now, singing Disco Inferno and I fear that her breasts may fall out. Also, what’s this about her “confidentiality.” I think I need me some of that. OH NO, she’s singing another song. A question for you, why do you think these people think that singing just one more song will do the trick? Cause the second song is usually worse.

One more thing – this guy Sean, he looks like that American Taliban kid. OH MY HECK, the American Taliban got through. I can’t wait for his makeover. Oh, also, I love him, he just did the Mary Katherine Gallagher. How bad can he be?

Please tell me you’ve been watching “You’re The One That I Want” on NBC – where they are casting Grease on Broadway?

I LOVE IT!!

- Playing Cars for Xbox 360 at my age is not only pathetic, but it makes your hand hurt TONS. So what if you get to hear the voice of Owen Wilson in the game. Also, it’s way hard to find all 20 of Lizzie’s lost postcards. Maybe she shouldn’t be so careless. Or, maybe she should start a collection of things that can’t blow away.
- My hometown now has a bible college, and it was closed due to the inclement weather today.
-There are far too many clicks required to find out if my garbage will be collected as scheduled tomorrow a.m. (Waste Management, I am talking to you – I think a site redesign is in order)
- Classes at the local Phlebotemy School are also canceled. (Side note – I sent Zane this text message: Your phlebotomy class is canceled tonight, I just don’t know how you are going to graduate on time if they keep doing this to you. He did not find this funny in the least. I find it hilarious).
- It’s always a good idea to have a backup supply of pepperjack cheese.
- Doris Day movies are my very favorite ever. I watched both Lover Come Back and Please Don’t Eat the Daisies
-Although I claim to hate the sensationalist Portland News Media (hey, I went to the UofO on Journalism Scholarship people!), I actually watched them all day. Nothing’s funnier than watching some idiot’s car slam into 20 others right in front of the Multnomah Athletic Club (for those of you non-Portlanders, that means EXPENSIVE cars).
-Things cooked in a Mary Engelbreit Crock Pot taste better than things cooked in a plain crock pot. I promise!

And, lastly, even with snow covering it, the blackberry vines coming out the ivy wall in my yard still drive me freaking ape-shit. This makes sense to none of you, but you ever find me rocking back and forth holding my head and chanting, “blackberry vines,” please know – you cannot kill them, and not even snow makes them look pretty.

Finally! It’s been freezing butt cold here for days and days, and, just today, we got a decent amount of snow.

I am home today, as I live up on a hill and it’s way too scary for me to go out. So, I am cuddled up on the couch watching all the “WINTER STORM 2007″ coverage on Portland’s sensationalist news.

On a completely other note, you all know that Zane works for the company that I used to, right? Well, tonight was supposed to be their holiday party. I woke up to find our official holiday party name tags on the dresser. Zane’s was correct, mine says, “Riannen.” UM, I worked there, shouldn’t they know how to spell my damn name? I do have my name tag from last year’s party with my name correctly spelled, but that is beside the point. I was going to boycott, but now it doesn’t matter, as the party has been cancelled, because of “WINTER STORM 2007.”

That is all for now, photos later, I am going to brew another cup of coffee.

P.S. my toesies are cold, if you were wondering.

I owe a Holidays Part Two post, but, sorry, it’s just not in me tonight. I am loving working again, but I am not loving trying to get back onto a decent schedule. My goal for tomorrow is to get up at 6:25 (which is way earlier than I need to be up to get ready, etc.) and, even though I don’t have to start getting ready right away, I want to be up and OUT of bed. At least to watch the news, read, or something. Which reminds me, I cannot read the paper, because I have not received it since Sunday. Damn Oregonian delivery boy (person). So, the news it is.

You’ll never know what tomorrow is! It’s Zane’s and my 1 year anniversary of the day we met! Love that. Unfortunately, he’s traveling, and won’t be home until Saturday. But, when he does get home on Saturday, we’re going to have a loverly dinner and then go see Kathy Griffin. I love Kathy Griffin with all my heart, and to prove it to you, I just want you to know that I purchased these damn tickets in June. SEVEN MONTHS I HAVE HAD THESE TICKETS So, as you can imagine, I am super excited about that.

Let’s see… Oh, I got 3 damn Mary Engelbreit Puzzles for Christmas (I am a nerd, you don’t have to remind me). This is in addition to the one I already got for my birthday. Let’s chat about this: these puzzles are effing hard. Are you familiar with her artwork? It’s COLORFUL and BUSY. These two variables equal a difficult puzzle. Anyway, still fun, because I enjoy doing puzzles.

Okay, on an ending note. I just think it’s very important to know that my friend Carrisa is the best internet friend ever. I received YUMMY cookies in the mail from her today. I love her, love her, love her and that was such a fun surprise to find in the mail. Thanks Carrisa!