...And back again

Today was just insane. Seriously. We barely made our flight due to limited seats (a guy got irate and cussed out a flight attendant so we were both able to make it on...classy!) and returned home at noon. I grabbed my school bag and left immediately, Tokyo drifting into an available parking space to arrive at school just in time to take my 1pm psych test. *phew!* Tonight was also our first tech rehearsal for the show, so I stayed after, rehearsed, and came home. The girls were very excited to see us back, especially considering we had brought them candy from Nevada. Specifically Unicorn Pops. Bri stuck that on her head exactly as Leigha said, "Whoa, they're called Unicorn Pops!" Funny how some things need no explanation.

What happens in Vegas?

We visited my dad at the hospital today. Got to see his head unwrapped, too. Looks like he's going to have a pretty cool question-mark shaped scar on the side of his head. I still say they should have thrown in the Harry Potter lightning bolt for good measure. Jason and I had to leave today, however, so we left for the airport. Twice, actually. Flying home on Sundays is rough. We finally got a flight into Vegas but due to the late hour of the flight (that ended up also taking a delay...groan) we didn't end up getting there until eleven, so we booked a room at the Stratosphere in order to make the 7am flight bearable. We were going to do some Vegas-ey things while we were there, but because it ended up being so late the only thing we managed to do was ride the elevator up the tower, check out a gift shop, and go to bed at a reasonable-ish hour.

Hurry, hurry, hurry, before I go insane!

Today was the surgery. As they were taking my dad back, I gave him a hug. The place where the doctor had signed his initials (so they could be sure of which side the tumor was on) happened to brush my cheek and it transferred. I decided to leave it on my face the whole time. The waiting room was like a big party, everyone talking and laughing, and Janina and I colored a big poster for my mom's library. Finally, finally they came back and told us they got it. A tumor the size of a freaking orange. Wowza. By the time he came out of recovery (only an hour and a half or so) he was already cracking jokes, even if he wasn't completely lucid. By any stretch of the imagination. I took some pics of him, but promised him I wouldn't post them anywhere, so here's a lovely picture of me with ink on my face. I am so very, very relieved.

Flight for life

Today we left the girls with Sheila while we flew out to Reno, just barely making it on. Seriously, they closed the boarding process five minutes early so Jason and I could have the last two seats. We went from KC to Denver, Denver to Reno, Reno to sleep. My parents booked us a room at Circus Circus, which is across the street from the hospital. Tomorrow's the surgery. There are no words.

Must Go Faster.

In an effort to get my mind off things, and score extra credit in the process, I went to see the musical HONK! tonight at Baker University with some friends from school. One of our professors directed the show that is the musical adaptation of The Ugly Duckling. It was so very very cute! I wish I had brought the girls with me. We are trying to make arrangements to get out to Nevada and see my family but it's not looking at all good. Every time we check the number of seats available on the flight we want it gets progressively worse...and they were all bad to begin with. One way or another they operate on Saturday morning at 9am. Let's hope we can get out tomorrow.

Unmerry unmerry real birthday to me

Today was my 29th birthday. I came to school to find that Austin had procured a balloon shaped like a potato for me. I decided it would be a good idea to have everyone in the theater department sign it for me. We had a blast trying to see who could outdo each other with well-wishes and elaborate pictoral additions to his grinning face. At one point he even walked hand in hand down the hallway with Macey and Carley. I had a great time....until I got a call from my mom. "Are you sitting? You should be sitting." My dad has been complaining of bad headaches recently. Today he went to work and wasn't doing so well so his boss asked if he wanted to go to the emergency room, and my dad said that yes, he would. They went to the hospital (calling my mom on the way) and got an MRI done. Turns out he has a large brain tumor. Yeah. I got the call at 4:30, called Jason, then sat down on the floor of the hallway for a bit. The next time I looked up it was 6 and I hadn't even noticed. I'm in shock and honestly don't know what to do right now. You win again, sucky birthdays.

Sick Cat Face

Beautiful sunset this evening. I had a pretty decent day, too. Won my volleyball games, even with an incredibly sore left ring finger. That was pretty cool, although a REAL athlete gets injured DURING the game. *pssht* I opened a door is what I did. Oh, and speaking of which, we sent my ring to the jeweler and they're backlogged with Valentine's day crap so it's going to be a few weeks. Hello, I think an eleven year old ring is way more urgent than a 'happy two months since I worked up the courage to start thinking about maybe asking you to coffee' bracelet! Aw well. At least by then the bruising will be gone.