Day 07 Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Finals
suck and I went pre-migraine today. The alarm didn’t go off.
I woke up at 8:09am and class started at 8am. I just did the best
I could; skipped breakfast and skipped the make-up. I threw on a hat
and left. The skeleton’s hip is still dislocated from the tailbone
so both legs are hanging from the right pubic bone. This means
its hard to carry. I’m not used to carrying the weight distributed
like this. I called Dr. Jerry on the way to school. He could fit
me in at 11:30am. I made it to school and parked. I didn’t even
bother paying for the ticket. I just hopped out and hustled it
to class. 
I showed up 45 minutes late. I felt awful.
After that I went to Jerry’s to get the skeleton’s arm and hip
bone put back on. He did something brilliant and replaced the
wire with leather. 
The skeleton held up well with
the copper coated steel but its more flexible with the leather.
I like how the skeleton has all these different ways of holding it together.
The biggest problem are the feet. The feet are warped. It
was hard to tell how they go back together. “Amputate the foot?”
Jerry asked. “I’d really like to keep it. Even if its not
correct. I’d like it to stay as intact as possible.” Jerry
nodded. “Okay, then duct tape.” He got some duct tape from his son,
Sam. Thanks Sam! Then the feet were duct-taped together. At this
point, I don’t care. I just want the skeleton to stay together.
It doesn’t matter how. It doesn’t even matter for how long.
It’s just going to disintegrate again. Once the feet were taped up,
I took the skeleton and left. Thanks Jerry!
I
was supposed to meet a friend for coffee at my school but I cancelled.
I felt too tired and ill. I knew that if I didn’t go and sleep,
then I would probably wind up in migraine country. I drove home
and napped for a few hours and then made dinner. I got ready to
go to a doctor’s appointment. I showed up there relatively on
time. 
I’m just glad I made it. Then I headed over school
to set up the 9-hour meditation that will take place in the Flux gallery
at PNCA tomorrow. 
A man on the street looked at me and said,
“Would you feed your boyfriend?” I laughed and then told him about
the campaign. Then he told me that his cousin helped push through the
American Disabilities Act. His cousin was even in the oval office
when the Act was signed.
I
made it to school and went to meet my friends, Laura and Nico who came
to help set the gallery space up. Thank you Laura and Nico! 
I
went to go finish up some homework and another friend came to keep me
company and to help out with some last minute errands. 
I had to go get some snacks for tomorrow at the grocery store. 
We got some snacks and some food and left to go get some brochures
for Gary, the volunteer from MSSP, who will be at the gallery tomorrow
to talk with people about MS and to collect donations.
I’m back at school now working on finals and looking really forward to just sitting for 9 hours tomorrow.
The following is information regarding the 9-hour meditation that will take place tomorrow, Thursday, December 17, 2009 from 8am–5pm.
Statement about Sitting Meditation for Endurems:
- The meditation will take place: Thursday December 17, from 8am–5pm.
- Throughout the meditation I will change the position of myself as well as the skeleton to embody an “Extended Grief Cycle” that is based on “Grief Cycle” of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
- Shock stage: Initial paralysis at hearing the bad news.
- Denial stage: Trying to avoid the inevitable.
- Anger stage: Frustrated outpouring of bottled-up emotion.
- Bargaining stage: Seeking in vain for a way out.
- Depression stage: Final realization of the inevitable.
- Testing stage: Seeking realistic solutions.
- Acceptance stage: Finally finding the way forward.
- I will be unavailable to interact with the public during this time.
- The only time I will leave the space it to use the restroom. Please respect my silence during these times.
- Please come into the gallery to look at the pictures and the website.
- Please talk to Gary, a volunteer from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland, OR Inc. about Multiple Sclerosis. He will be available from 12pm–5pm.
- Your contribution will be greatly appreciated.
- All donations will be given to the MSSP in the name of my sister, Elizabeth, who has MS.
- At 5pm, I will untie myself from the skeleton and leave it in the space.
- The exhibit will be up until January 11, 2009.
