In which the medical system here does not cause me headaches

So I've been getting these headaches (I've probably told you about them) that I was calling "Half-Migraines" because they were kind of half the pain of a regular migraine only twice the duration (thus essentially working out to be the full amount of pain once you carry the ones).

Except they're not migraines.

The neurologist tells me that they're caused by some kind of problem with my spine alignment/muscle tension/stress (which is all contained neatly in one single German word which I have forgotten now).  Anyway rather than just writing me a prescription for pain relievers and sending me on my way, I got a prescription for pain relievers AND a prescription for a series of massages and a special class to strengthen my back and improve my posture.  Massages and posture class that my insurance will completely pay for.

Granted, I pay for my own insurance as a freelancer, so it's still kind of me paying for these things.  But it's me paying for massages that the system says that I should get to have without feeling like I'm splurging on myself.

Between this and the fact that my doctor is just the nicest lady possible (references available upon request), I'm feeling pretty good about the health care here today.  Of course, that nice lady also said it's been too long (as in not ever since I've lived in Vienna) since I've had regular blood word done, and that I should probably do that as part of a general physical.  So unless there's a new way of drawing blood without using any needles, I might be changing my tune sometime next week.

In which tragedy strikes the Oscars

And no, I'm not just talking about James Franco's "hosting".

My friend S.B. couldn't go watch the Oscar broadcast with me at three in the morning.  It seems that she couldn't get the morning off of work Monday (we wouldn't be finished until about 5:30, remember).  Everyone else I asked had similar commitments Monday morning that they couldn't reschedule for such a Crazy Project.

Now, I didn't mind watching by myself.  But it's a little hard to get out of the house after midnight (in below freezing temperatures) all by yourself.  So my motivation kind of fizzled.

And I stayed home.  And slept through the Oscars.

I didn’t feel too good about it.  But I’m feeling better about it now that the reviews of the show are coming in.  I wasn’t sure exactly what they were going for picking Hathaway and Franco in the first place, but it seems like I sure didn’t miss much.

I still did pretty good on my picks, anyway.  I got 15 out of the 24 right, which is exactly the same score as Roger Ebert.  And that’s a man who knows movies.

But I’m promising myself, that I’ll plan for more back-up for next year.  So book someone good for next year, Academy.  ‘Cause I’ll be watching.