Goals

I am trying to think of my Goals for this coming year...
Some are the same as last year...

1. Pack my lunch
2. Go to the Gym more

I am trying to phrase the next two so that I can get a clearer picture of them.

The first is to be more social. I can be almost perfectly happy at home.. but we are not meant to be alone... so I need to work on that.

and the second is to deveolp professionally.. I think I will do this by exploring some opportunities in ToastMasters.

But here is to a good 2009.

weird.. but nice

This time of year for the past couple years.. i have had my thyroid testing stuff done.. but we are taking the year off.. it is nice but weird to not have to go through it. I still had the stupid anti bodies last year.. but they only went up a little bit.. and my TG (which is pointless to measure since I still have the stupid anti bodies) is still nil. All and all, going the whole cancer stuff really taught me how to let go, because I have no control over any thing.

And going through all the gall bladder (i hate the name 'gall bladder', it makes it sound gross to me), bile leaking, pancreaticis stuff really taught me to value health and wellness. When I see people complain about life and stuff it makes me want to shake them.. as they have no idea how precious life really is, and how close we are all to death. Sorry for the morbid thoughts.. but after you go through major illness so close together, you think about that stuff.

And being sick, turned me into a person that worries about being sick again... When my neck is stiff.. is the lymph node we are watching getting bigger? Or when side hurts, is my bile duct leaking, or is scar tissue growing? Sigh... I am usually really good about not thinking about it.. except for when the above mentioned spots still hurts.
I asked one doc why it still hurt.. he said that those areas were traumatized.. and just not quite the same.. so some pain is normal. Granted.. the pain level is a 1000 times better since they diagnosed the bile salt diarrhea... (gross, it truly grosses me out) but every once in a while, feels like some one is stabbing me. Granted, this is usually after I do some heavy lift or stretching.. so i try and limit those movements.

want to remember

Tonight.

It is halloween, and neighbors were out on the streets talking like friends and kids were running around getting candy. I could hear the Decatur High School football match going on up the street. And I saw people standing in line at 8 o clock at night waiting to vote. Really, waiting to see people wait one one hand is great. That people are so passionate about voting that they were standing in line at 8 pm on Halloween. and the people at the end have over an hour to go.

The 3 Day

I just finished my 2nd 3 Day as the Camp Logistics Crew Captain.. and let me say. It was the hardest 4 Days of work. Between the rain,the wind and the relo and having less people... it was difficult. I could see it in my peoples eyes that they were frustrated by the lack of information that I had to give them. Which trust me, was frustating to me too.
I was as postive as I could be, and I am proud to say, I got a couple emails from my members that they would crew again.. maby not camp logistics but still crew. And if people are willing to come back and crew again, I say I did my job. as I am not joking when I say it is the most difficult crew to be on. It is so difficult because our job involves so many differnent tasks.. and well, the Komen tells me very little. I think I almost pass out on Saturday due to lack of sleep, no down time, and really bad food. We brought pizza in to camp for Dinner, and I swear, that pizza saved my life.
What I did to keep up my spirits on such a hard event was that I would cheer up walkers by walking up and down the line there were waiting in for hours and made people laugh by having smiling contest or telling them I would hug them and that I had not showered in a couple days. On Saturday at my lowest point, due to lack of sleep and food and just so exhausted I was in tears, a couple walkers stopped me and thanked me for for cheering them up on Friday, and gave me hugs just when I needed it.

All and all, it was a fun time, if you rethink your idea of fun. :) Cannot wait for next year, but I might try and do a different crew. Camp Logistics is truly very very difficult.

Now accepting hugs

I have turned a page in my life.. I now like hugs. I canme to the realization that people hug to say hi, or to try and make you feel better, and by being all standoffish I was rejecting their help or love. And why would I want to do that? I need all the love and help I can get.

Now.. this does not mean that I will not some time react strongly when people come in for the blind side hug. Those will probably still freak me out. But more because I dont see them coming and it is like some one is attacking you... and well... that freaks me out.

So hug away.

New Goals

As I seem to be wrapping up some current goings on (The 3 Day, and Small Group).. I am looking towards what goals I should make for my self next on the social and networking endovors. I need to set goals for my self in the areana, because given the choice, I will sit on my couch and read a book and be perfectly happy. Well, maby not perfectly happy.. but some what happy.
Right now I am thinking maby tennis, which seems to be huge in Atlanta.. and I can play.. maby I will look for some lessons. I need to contact my friend Grayson about how one finds a team.
Maby for church... there is a class that is offered in the winter that is a very heavy duty study of the bible.. not really a bible study.. but a scholarly study of the Bible for the puprose of learning some in depths stuff.

But knowing me.. these are not set in stone.. just some ideas that I am playing with.

Sad

I usually claim that I am not a huge fan of breakfast..

but then why is one the saddest parts of my day when I finish my coffee and yogurt?

Shock

As I sit here and watch the Cowboys and the Browns.. I am in shock that it is fall... Where did the summer go? All and All it was a pretty good summer..

I have enjoyed the training walks I did for the 3 Day. Merida was awsome. The baby showers for MMH and Peanut were alot of fun (as was the shopping for the presents) I have given three toast master speaches, and attended one ToastMaster contest (which I did horrible at.. but it was a great learning experence. I got a promotion. All and all pretty good.

This fall I have 2 3 Days to look forward too, church stuff and work stuff, and the holidays.

Half of me want to start planning for the winter.. but the other half of me is like.. slow down and enjoy what you are doing now.

Cooking

Ok.. I have been lazy the past 2 months.. and buzy.. but now that I know all my food is fresh.. (my frig broke, so threw out alot of food) so my renewed pledge is to cook dinner at home at least 4 days a week. Lets see how long it last..

And I cannot wait to go to Richmond!

how do you say no?

I must look nice.. as this is the second time this has happen to me.. and the second time I said yes.

Today I was at a Gas station up here near work.. and a guy in an old car with his wife and 3 little girls all in car seats was asking for Gas money so that he could drive home to Richmond VA. I saw about 4 people turn him down, and then he caught my eye. And my normal retort of I have no cash does not work at a Gas Station.. because he was like.. you can use your credit card.

So I said yes.. because I am too nice.. and when he asked how much, I let him fill up his tank.. which was about 57 dollars. Sigh. He was very thankful, and so was his wife.. and he had his 3 little girls all in cars seats all wave and say thanks. He offered to take my email address so he could mail the cash once he got home.. but I told him not to worry about it. I just wish I could claim it as a tax deductible donation. :)

Now I am nice.. but not stupid. I am a bit weary of scams. I had fear that he could some how clone my card or something. So I did not 'charge' the gas on my debit card.. but my credit card. So if he does some how clone it..A. He will not get much money as my credit limit is not that high. :) and B. And it will be much easier for me to freeze that account and not worry about life as I rarely use it.

But how do you say no a family in need when you have the means to help?

thank you

I needed to buy a ticket to VA for the 3 Day.. and tickets into Richmond have been averaging around 230$. But I was emulating JS, who impressively.. (in my head) is patient enough to wait for a airline sale. I am not usually. I normally just get the ticket at the regular price in fear that it will go up to a price that I cannot afford.
And my patience was rewarded.. there is a airline sale.. and I am saving 50 dollars on my ticket! So thank you JS was modeling that.. I have always been impressed with your ability to do that.

one my 13 TV

I need a new TV.. My big TV broke... and so I have been watching the olympics on my 13 inch TV that I bought my Sopmore year of college. I remember when I bought it.. it was a out of the box special at some now out of buisness electronic store.. it was like 70 bucks.. and my father told me that I should take it back because they had 'taken me for a ride'. Now 10 years later the only reason it is about to be defunt is because of the change to a digital signal..

but it has been soo much fun watching Micheal Phelps win 8 gold medals.. especially the 100 fly. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/sports/olympics/16phelps.html?ex=1376625600&en=0d2dff51d042a6b5&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Motion

I think that I have always gotten motion sick... as the stories go.. I was never pleasant on long car drives. And it seems to be getting worse. I used to be able to tolerate a little bit of reading and not looking outside, or being in the back seat for a little bit. Now if I am not in the front or driving.. I feel miserable.. i break out into a cold sweat, I start to get nauseated, I feel all weak, and I get a headache.. I hope it does not get worse.

I like my Mom

I called my Mom this afternoon to tell her about the oh so cute onesie I got for MMH and MTH's new addition.. otherwise known as my nephew! And we ended up having a 5 min. conversation about how we could not believe that we had both lived so long with out knowing the joy and necessity of a Pedicure.. :)

A couple weeks ago when MTH and I went out with BPH and EH and I told B that I spoke to our mother just about daily... he was in shock.. He had thought that EH was loony for talking and seeing her mom as much as she does.. and then he found out I did the same with our mother.

I guess daughters just have different relationships with the mothers then sons.

Because I am not busy enough

And my boss highly recommend I work on my communication style, I joined the ToastMasters Club at work couple months ago. And because I don't know how to say No, I am currently serving as the club's secretary. Sigh.. but it will look good on my resume.

So far I have given two of the 1o speeches I need to do to achieve the Competent Communicator level. My first speech, The Ice Breaker was named.. Three Things.. which if I say so my self was a pretty good speech.. I had people laughing and I won the best speech of the day award.. there were 2 other speakers that day. My second speech, Organize your speech was the project.. and my speech was named, vacations... and I don't think I did nearly as well.. as I did not prepare as well.. and I felt very rushed at the end. .. but I also had people laughing and pretty good audience participation. And I was very surprised to also win the best speech of the day award. There was only one other speaker and I thought he did a much better job.. and that he was much better prepared then me.

So far my feed back has been that I am pretty funny.. and I appear relaxed.. and I amazed that I am not using as many filler words like umm or like.. or so...

I am going to sign up for my next speech, and it is going to be call... Fighter.. Hopefully I can take some of the humor out.. because I need to work on not using humor. (This is my own goal.. not a toastmaster push.. I tend to use humor my communication style.. and humor is not always the best communication style for the work place, and I need to work on my work place communication.)

but it is fun.. and they are right when they say that the first is the hardest.. I was not that nervous at all this afternoon.

I was right all along

If you have known me for any length of time.. you know that I get car sick.. I have always gotten car sick .. and per Dr Gupta.. I have been doing the right things all along to make car trips bearable.

"The treatments are fairly simple. Always look outside and into the distance preferably. Use antihistamines to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Ginger and soda can both help settle things down. Simply opening up the window and getting fresh air can help as well. Always sit in the front seat if you can. Even better, drive the car. That will be your best shot at eliminating a mismatch altogether." Granted I don't take an antihistamine.. but those either make me drowsy or feel like I am on speed.

And I have always been jealous of people that could read in the car.

Though I did feel guilty when I hogged the front seat in Merida.. but the team was very nice and let me in the front seat often. If it were a short trip or at night I tried to encourage others to take the front..

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/

Sunburn

Sigh..

So I went up to Lake Lanier this weekend..

and the water is very low..

I guess the corps of engineer let those fish have too much water down stream.

And me in a brilliant move.. got a sunburn so bad that I blistered.. not as bad as the burns I got from canoeing or the blisters BPH got on his back at the pool party in Orchard Park when he was in the 6th grade. But still painful.. luckly only a little patch of blisters..that is spread across the tops of my arms and my cleavage area... makes shirts a bit painful.

Which Star Trek Charcter are you?

Good.. because The Next Generation was always my favorite.




Your results:
You are Jean-Luc Picard

Jean-Luc Picard		70%
Chekov		65%
Deanna Troi		65%
Will Riker		60%
An Expendable Character (Redshirt)		60%
Beverly Crusher		40%
Mr. Scott		35%
Geordi LaForge		35%
James T. Kirk (Captain)		30%
Spock		30%
Data		25%
Worf		20%
Uhura		15%
Mr. Sulu		15%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)		0%

A lover of Shakespeare and other
fine literature. You have a decisive mind
and a firm hand in dealing with others.

Sad

I found this blog a while ago when I was blogging around...

I checked it again this past weekend.. the blogger.. a mother of 6, age 37 died of inflammatory breast cancer. She has some pretty good lessons about life.. and death.

http://punkrockmommy.org/blog


It reminds me to not sweat the small stuff.. and to try and to simply live in day in wonder of being here.

July 4th

JS and I went up to our friend's Christie's cabin for July 4th.. and it was very interesting. Christie's cabin is on a very nice mountain about a 10 min drive from Blue Ridge GA.. so it is very nice.

I have been up here a couple times.. and usually we just hang out at the cabin.. since Christie does have a very nice house.. and we dont really meet the other people that live up here.

This July 4th.. we went out and meet the natives.


There are two types of people on this mountain.. people with money that have bought second homes.. (christie falls in to this category.. )and people that are from this area and have money. (rednecks with money).

In the afternoon we went to a bar b que up the road.. and it was cute.. calm.. good food.. and ok singer.. and relaxing. The mix at this party were people with money that have bought second homes.

Around 7 that night we went to the redneck party. The music was better.. and the food was OK.. but my god.. the people were sloppy drunk. They were all super nice.... and the view for the fire works was great. The best visual of the night was the 18 year old pregenat girl drinking wine and beer.. and no one was batting an eye over it. But we had a fun time.... We had a perfect view of the fireworks that were going on at Lake Blue Ridge about 10 miles away. It was a very interesting way to spend the day. But most important part of the day.. relaxing..

I worked hard for this accent

What American accent do you have?

Your Result: The West

Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.

North Central

Boston

The Midland

The South

Philadelphia

The Inland North

The Northeast

http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have">What American accent do you have?
http://www.gotoquiz.com/

why why why!?

Why am I not no smart?

I believe the doctors when they say I have to take the synthroid to do what my thyroid did before it tried to kill me. I am anal about taking it. I count the little pills like they are gold. I used to stay awake and think how long could I survive if I could no longer get my hands on them. I have never forgotten a pill in over 3 years.

But why do I not believe doctors when they tell me that I need to take welchol daily to not sprint to the Water closet screaming GET OUT OF MY WAY like a bat out of hell! I cannot count how many days I forget to take it. And then I sit at work and think.. I am DUMB and then have to skip lunch so that I can go to my afternoon meetings. Tomorrow a big pile is coming to work with me. Hopefully I will remember to take it. Daily. (and yes.. i have the pill reminders and i have my phone set to remind me.. but i still forget... probably because I have to take it with food..)

Change

I am still trying hard to cling to some vacation mojo. I am trying very hard to remember the sense of peace and well being I felt the entire time I was in Mexico.

I had a truly fabulous trip.. and I am currently combing the globalX site to figure out where to go next summer. I think I want to go either back to Latin America or Spain... So I will have an excuse to learn Spanish.

The one long lasting change may be in what I eat. I am giving some serious consideration radically changing my diet and drop almost all meat. We ate so much meat while that I felt puffy and bloated and my ankles got swollen. I have not had any meat since last Sunday.. and I have not missed it. and I got a book on vegetarian eating. I think it might the change I need. Lunch and breakfasts have been easy.. but I am still struggling on what to eat for dinner. Hopefully this book will help. And next week my friend Jennifer is going to give me a DVD to borrow that should help. But I know that I am going to need to figure out quickly how to get some protein besides in Peanut butter.

¡Estoy en Mérida!

To any one that may read my musing of a short bus rider blog.. I am in Merida Mexico this week with a group from my church.. you can check out our trip blog at http://meridaconnections.blogspot.com/.. but here a couple pictures that I did not post there.

It has been a great trip so far.. I don't have a sunburn because it has rained alot.. (which is fine by me as when it is raining I cannot get a sunburn..) and my tummy felt a bit wonky yesterday after some Muy authenic tacos that were made by some Mayan women. We stopped off at a farmacia and I got some more tummy medicine.. and today I feel much better. Today and yesterday we really had a chance to see the city and learn the history.. tommorrow, Wednesday and Thursday we work.

TMI

Warning.. the below post is a TMI.. A post with Too much Information..
If you have a weak stomach.. or you just don't want to know one of the more gross facts about me.. stop reading now!





Ok.. you were warned.


I have a pretty weak stomach.. not meaning i cannot stand to look at gross things.. but bugs do give me the hibby gibbies (spelling), but meaning my stomach and the rest of the digestive tract does not deal with change well.

Before I had my gall bladder removed it was a tad bit wonky.. but after the gall bladder and all that came along with that... it is officially broken. I have a condition called Bile Salt D.. (http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/bilesaltDiarrhea.html) (sorry I know it is gross.. but trying living with it daily). Luckily it is pretty easy to control.. (after it was diagnosed that is and it took about a year for them to diagnose it.. imagine having D every day for a year.. it actually inflamed my internal organs.. which was pretty painful.) I take one little welchol a day... (which is actually a medicine used to control cholesterol) and I am normally fine.. Normal, being as long as I do not introduce any new and exotic foods.

So I am really afraid of how my system will react to days upon days of new and exotic foods and stress in Mexico. Mexico which is known to cause havoc on 'normal' digestive tracks. I may just have to pull a Charlotte and eat pudding all week long.

I have tried to warn the people I am traveling with.. but how in polite conversation mention the fact that you suffer from a condition that can cause chronic and life long D?

So, please pray for me.. and my digestive track next week.. and pray I dont become an expert at saying ?Hay bano? or ?Donde esta el bano?

Finally

I am having a cleaning day today... and I finally dropped off the clothes I set aside for the goodwill.. and I made up 2 more bag.. for a total of 11 bags full of clothes I no longer wear.

All and All a good day.

And I am mostly ready for Mexico. I need to get some new shampoo and some batteries and pack. I hope this week at work goes quickly.

lunatic

That is what I am , and I need a vacation.

Good thing I have one in 2 weeks!

yay!

I am starting to get excited about my trip to Merida. I have never been out side of the country.. save Cananda.. but that does not really count because I grew up 2o miles from the border..

I am really excited about seeing the some Cenotes and going to Chichen-Itza. I am also excited the oppotunity to meet the people of Shalom church.. But I dont have any neat picutures of them.

Hopefully the next couple of weeks go fast.

Very Proud

JS and I did a relay for Life on Friday with on a team that a former co workers wife heads up. It is always a good event and this year it was even better. Last year there was a woman on the team who had stage 4 Melanoma. She had been diagnosed with cancer when pregnant and it was a small miracle that the baby was born fine, because that cancer can spread between mother and fetus. Last year's relay her baby was only a year and doctors where just treating her so that she could spend more time with her son, and they really thought there was no hope.. this year she is in complete remission. Miracles do happen! But she is still often in my prayers as melanoma is a tricky cancer.. and come back very aggressively.

But the main reason i am proud is that JS signed up for the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). Even though it required her to give four vials of blood and she hates giving blood. So Bravo JS. I will admit, though that I am a tad jealous.. I wish is could be in long term cancer study too. Stupid thyroid cancer. Or I guess if I look at it.. i am in my own little micro cancer study.. Lets hope I never report a postive finding again.

Shock

I am in Shock that it is almost Memorial Day. Time is flying this year! In less then a month I am going to Merida, and I need to really kick my training for the 3 day up a bit. I have been going to the gym.. but I really need pound some pavement so to speak.

But I am read for Merida.. but not ready for the heat. The normal highs are going to be in the 100s.. and I am a bit worried about that. But we got our itinerary.. and it looks like we will have time to relax by the pool daily.

But the one good thing is that there seems to be some drama with the 3 day volunteer staff member that is supposed to be coordinating the Atlanta crew.. which I am kinda glad about as I will not have to start doing any crew stuff until after Mexico.

Sigh

So I had a physical on Friday and my doctor gently scolded me about my weight.. she wants me to lose at least 15 pound in the next 3 months... and I already have an appointment to follow up then. Sigh. Oh well. I know I need to. So tomorrow I am going to Weight-watchers.. and I am restarting my morning gym workouts, as I just have no time at night.
But I really do like my doctors office.. during my physical I had about 35 minutes of face time with the Doctor and I had a full physical, an EKG and a chest X Ray. All said I was there for about 2 hours.. and only during the last half in hour was I waiting a bit. But I was just waiting for a hepatitis A vaccine.
Wish me luck!

What Weekends are made for

Bowling and having pizza- Check
Sleeping in late- Check
Going for long walks - Check
Watching Movies - Check
Drinking beer and watching baseball - Check
Vegging out on Sunday Nights.

I think i had a good weekend.

why

Why would you do this to an innocent child?

packing lunches

I have been pretty good about packing my lunch recently... currently I am using my George Foreman Grill and making chicken and veggies.. and I am really like making my lunch every night. Half of me wants to get some napkins and write notes to my self and tell my self to have a great afternoon..
maby I will just drop some napkins off at my Mom's so she can write me some notes.. because I dont think I will be as fun to see notes from my self telling my self to have a great day.

Need to get organized

I was reviewing my goals.. and I realized that I am going to need to carve some time out for working out. And I am afraid this means that I am going to have to get up early to work out.. :(. I am not too excited about that.. but I have barely worked out the past couple weeks. So i just reset my alarm clock.. lets see if I actually get up.

Things I learned Yesterday

Do not attempt to put on a new steering wheel cover while driving.

Luckly I figured out that this was pretty stupid before I learned it by the need to spend money to fix things that I hit.

sigh

I like most .. dislike confrontation.. and I had to do it twice today. One to try and diffuse a situation.. the other to try and nip a situation in the bud. Both were horrible.. I kinda feel like it will have, in the short term at least, a more negative reaction then positive, but in the long term.. They was the right thing to do, but difficult.
Sigh
Luckily it is a beautiful day out.. and I am about to go for a walk.. hopefully I feel better later.

Tagged

MMH was nice enough to tag me.. and luckily for me.. my middle name is short. :)

The Rules

1. Post the rules before you give your answers.
2. List one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name.
3.At the end of your blog post, tag one person (or blogger of another species) for each letter of your middle name. Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged.

Ann

A.. Awesome! Simply obvious!
N...A bit of a nit picker.. according to my boss.. at times I can get too lost in the details... which part of my job to be in the details.. so I am trying to recognizable that.
N...Not too neat. I really should clean more. I cleaned today.. so i guess that was a start.

And I will have to update my links..

I have a couple friends that read this.. but they don't have blogs, they have facebooks accounts.. *(yes, MTH.. people who are not kids play on facebook!)

Cable

So it has been about a week and a half with out cable.. and so far I am not missing it. I subscribed to netflix.. so I still have TV to watch.. but it is just more intentional. But sadly I have not started to clean more with my new found time.. mostly because I have been busy on the weekends.. and i hate cleaning afterwork. So hopefully this weekend I will have some time to spring clean. But the good news is.. we had our annual reviews at work.. and I got a pretty good merit raise.. and I am getting a promotion in the next month which will come with a raise as well.. so all that money I can put away in to my nice always growing saving account. yay.

Cats and Water

What is it with Cats and bathrooms? I took bath tonight because it was just too cold out to go for a walk... and the entire time I was in the bath MacBeth stood on her hind legs and looked into the tub and meowed at me and kept looking like she was going to jump in the tube. I think she was either thinking.. Mom! Get out of the scary water! or Mom, what is that strange substance you are sitting in, and can I play too? I am always a tad scared that she is going to jump into the tub.. which would really be not fun.

Terrified

I did something terrifying today. I cancelled my cable. I originally called to downgrade to a cheaper options.. I was paying 65 dollars a month. The next option was 52 dollars .. which I viewed as not enough different. And then the next option was 19 dollars.. and that was too basic. It was going to just be local channels but cable clear. So I just cancelled it. I am currently enjoying my last couple hours of clear TV..

I did not cancel it for a purely economic reason. The cable bill never stress my budget, even with gas prices as they are. Truth be told.. The money I spent on cable will probably just be spent on books and netflix.
But I took a look at my goals and non of them include sitting in front of my TV killing hours at a time watching documentaries. So I called and cancelled. Right now I want to call them back and say I lied and to not turn it off.. But I will not..
My friend Alan who is also free from a cable bill says that the first couple weeks are tough.. but then you get used to it.. so keep in your prayers these next couple weeks.

The good news is that I will probably work out more and my apartment will be very clean.

Weather

The storms down here scare me. In NY you rarely have massive loud thunderstorms. So the storms that came through on Friday and Saturday were scary. The only reason I don't freak out is this mantra that I tell me self. "I have health Insurance if I get hit by a tree. I have car insurance if my car gets hit by a tree, and I have rental insurance if my apartment gets hit by a tree." I think if I did not have one of those 3 that I would stress out about having to pay for the potential damage.

On Sunday on the way home from church I drove through Cabbage town to take some pictures. But pictures really don't do the damage justice. But the part that is amazing to me is how localized it is. You can see where the path goes through Oakland Cemetery and where it smacks into the The Cotton Mill lofts and where it curves onto some streets in Cabbagetown. The part that is amazing about the storm is that no one was hurt. There was probably 30 thousand plus people that were in the middle of that storm and there was only 1 major injury. Thank God that the basketball game went into overtime so that all those people were that were at the SEC games were inside.

This is a picture of the Oakland Cemetery . They had a guard.. (who was not doing a very good job as I got in, and then he yelled at me to get out. Part of me want to snap back and say .. Get off your phone and do you job.)

A cemetery is actually a good place for a tornado to strike.. as well.. no one lives there..

The Cotton Mill lofts were also hit hard. It looks like half of the roof is gone. In person it made me gasp. It is amazing that no one was killed.

It is kinda shocking to me that there was that much damage a couple miles from where I live.

Busy

I feel like I have been very busy the past couple of weeks. Which is good.. but it has made me ultra lazy about turning on my computer when I get home.
Last week I had meeting every day after work.. and this past week I had meeting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
I like the things I am in meeting planning for.. The one that is close to putting me over the edge are the meetings I have to plan the trip I am taking with some people from Church to Merida. I am overly excited about the trip.. but we have over 10 meetings before we go in June. I am more then happy to attend the meetings.. but I am missing my trivia night. :(.

Today I did a good job of doing nothing in prep for a busy Sunday.. MacBeth was happy that I was home today and last night.. when it starts to thunder she snuggles right up to me. But when on band of storms came through she was outside.. I dont think she was too happy.

Speaking of the storms.. I got some pictures of the damage in Cabbagetown.. it was amazing. I am going to post them tomorrow.

Walking

I decided to do the breast cancer 3 day again.... so I have started my walking back up. Today I went for about a 6 miles walk.. It was a good day for a walk.. sunny and about 70. And my Ipod is fully loaded.. and this year I have a computer.. so I can make different play-lists. Last time I trained I had the Ipod..but no computer..so I had about 250 songs that I listened to a lot. So far I am enjoying the walking.. Hopefully by this summer I will regularly walking 10 plus miles on Saturdays. I do not plan on training quite as hard this year. The last time I walked I think I was almost over prepared. It was almost easy. This time I am going to go slower and enjoy the view a bit more. And heck.. maby even get swept. Last time I walked I was always with in the first 150 walkers back to camp.... But I was walking to prove that I was not sick any more.. this time I want to enjoy all that the walk has to offer.

Goals

I have been pretty good with some of my goals..

I have been working out or walking 4 days a week. I am in love with two classes at the gym.. Saturday morning step and Friday night hip hop. The hip hop class is hysterical. I cannot not dance.. but I spend an hour and a half pretending I can. Great fun.
I have been wearing more eye make up... (more is just a little bit.. because I was not wearing any to begin with. )
Reading the bible is become more a a habit.. I am currently rereading the new testament. Normally I read the old testament.. so this is a bit a change for me.
The one thing I am doing horrible with is packing my lunch.. example.. I am currently out for lunch and I just had the worst chicken sandwich that cost me 6 dollars and I can not finish it. If I had packed my lunch I probably would of sent 3 dollars on a equally yucky frozen meal.. but at least it would of been cheaper.. I must remember food is to cease hunger.

I removed saying 'sons of bitches' because I only say it now when I am really annoyed. IE when some one is messing around with TVO during the super bowl.

My Favorite Valentines Day

I have been single more times then not on Valentines day.. so my favorite Valentines day has nothing to do with a romantic evening.

A good couple Valentines ago when I was living with JS and James my gay God Son in Candler Park we were all hanging out waiting for JS boyfriend to pick her up for dinner. And then James the GGS opened up his book of the month package. And hysterically enough his bonus book happened to be the 'Joy Of Sex'. The 'Joy of Sex' is a classic book written similarly to the 'Joy Of Cooking' and it was first published in the early 7o's. It is complete with a florid style of writing and soft charcoal pictures.
We all sat around the kitchen table and laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes and side stitches. James the GGS let me keep the 'Joy Of Sex' as he said he did not have much use for it. I still have it in my book shelf, and makes me smile when I see it.
I am going to have to shot James and email.. I have not spoken to him in a couple months.. I wish he still lived in the ATL. But on the other hand.. it is probably good that he moved back home. His last couple months in the ATL were very very messing and he ended up homeless.

work

This is a picture of what I have at work to keep me smiling.

I really not a huge fan of Care bears.. but I really wanted the green one.. and so I got the blues and the yellow while trying for the green one. They are from a sticker machine at a Mexican Resturant. The nice thing about being an adult, is that I did not have to ask any one else for the quarter.. I just had to reach in to my purse. Handy.

Lovely Day

I love Saturdays. Work is far enough away. And I no longer work a second job.

Today started out by finding a Starbucks card in purse I have not used for ever, and it had money on it! So free coffee! And then I went to my favorite step class, and then I took a nap and then I had lunch with my parents and then I walked around Decatur with some friends.
Topped off by having a late afternoon beer at The Brick Store Pub. It was lovely.

I think I will top off the day by making some cookies..

And even better, I have enough on the Starbucks card for coffee tomorrow.

Unfortunately.. tomorrow wont be as lovely.. as I need to clean some.. :(

Work

I like my job. I am an analyst, and I pretty much analyzes anything they put in front of me and I build reports and automate reports. I work for a pretty big company that laid off hundreds of people last week. Luckily no one on my team was laid off.

That being said.. I just wrote a 3 paragraph venting about a co worker.. and then I deleted them. I realize that I need to concentrate on what I like about about work, and not waste time venting about things I cannot control. Amen

Voting

Next week is Super Tuesday, and I am excited about voting! I love voting. I remember my mom taking MTH and I to vote for the school budget after we turned 18. And since then, I have tried to vote in every election.. I will admit, I miss a couple here and now.. but I vote about 80 percent of the time.
I don't know who I am voting for this coming Tuesday..every time I think I deciede.. I flip.

The one thing I can say for sure, is that I tend to be very middle of the road.. and people on either side of the spectrum annoy me.

One person that annoys me more then most is Ann Coulter. Her rants are just obscene to me..
and I read this in CNN today.. "Coulter took aim at McCain's positions — particularly his fervent anti-torture stance "
I want to go to her. No crap McCain is against he was a POW for 5.5 years and was tortured!
I pointed this out to my co worker today.. and he did not know that about McCain..he was impressed. (with McCain.. not with me :))
McCain will be the first to admit that he is not perfect..and he does not hold any punches. To bad he lost 8 years ago to the current monkey in office.. I think he is too old now..

Healthcare

I was driving home today listening to NPR.. (i love listening to NPR, I wish I could get it on my work computer, but alas, the place of work would rather have me listening to my ipod) and they were reporting on what our great Governor here in Georgia wants to do help health care.
His plan was to invest more in to Health Savings plans with High deductibles. He thinks this will help people take better care of them selves and therefor reduce the amount of monies spent on health care.
I am sure that having Health Savings plans would reduce the over all costs off health care not because people take better care of them selves, but because they would go to the doctors less! or just not deal with issues until the issues are acute.
Because taking 'better care of your self' will get rid of all your health issues.. Because you know.. eating more salmon.. and exercising daily would of stop the thyroid cancer and gallstones before the age of 30? Or maybe just genetics...

I am all for people taking more responsibility for them selves and their health.. but to say that people taking better care of them selves will solve the health care issues is BS

Church

The church I go to is a pretty important part of my life. I volunteer in a couple different areas.. Wamba (the preschool/day care environment while services are going on) I am a small group leader, and I am trying to go on a trip to Mexico with the church late spring. I go to Buckhead Church. It is a non denomination christian church that strives to create relevant environments that really speak to people who view them selves as 'non church people'.

Right my my favorite place is Wamba land. I am a lead teacher in the Babies room. Essentially, I wrangle babies for an hour. Some of the other Wamba land people tell me they like the kids older because they have more personality. But you have the same babies for a couple weeks, they get to know you, and when they see you they smile, and when they are tired the snuggle into your shoulders. And they are too sweet. It is that sweetness that makes the stinky diapers and the babies that don't stop crying seem less big.

If you happen to read this, check them out.
buckheadchurch.org.

2 failures

I have been in a cooking mood recently. I am trying to eat better, and watch my salt in take, and not eat out so much.

On Sunday, I made stew, and it is great, if I say so my self. And it made enough to have for lunch all week. So my lunch this week is stew and a bag of carrots. Very yummy.

But my 2 failures have come on chocolate cookies. Last night, I started to make the cookies and I realized I did not have enough brown sugar, so I just substitute white sugar. And that made the cookies strangely not coherent. They just ell apart.

And tonight, I attempt to make chocolate cookies again... But tonight, I used you can't believe its not butter, and trust me, I can believe it is not butter. The cookies turned out fluffy and bland.

I guess this means that God does not want me eating cookies right now.

Cleaning

Yesterday I did some major cleaning. I scrubbed and reorganized everything for about 7 hours. The main reason it took so long was that I reorganized all my clothes and I bagged 9 bags full of clothes that I need to donate.

Here is the pile before I started.

6 hours later I had this.

Now I just have to go to the Good Will and donate the piles. Unfortunately, I wont have time to do this until this weekend, so I will have to put up the the garage bags piled up in the corner all week. :(

two more years

I like to donate blood yearly. I have O+, which they love to get. I am a universal donor. Everyone can have O+. But O+ can only have O+. Donating blood makes me feels like I am helping other people with a minimum effort. One time I even did apheresis (donated platelets and plasma and they give you back the red blood cells)

Before the past couple years, the only year I went with out giving blood was the year I got the tattoo. And as soon as that year was over, I gave blood.

Then I got stupid thyroid Cancer, and I have been on a 5 year waiting period. Which if you think about it, it is silly. Thyroid Cancer is slow growing, and it had already spread to my lymph nodes, so I probably had it for years before they found it. And all those years I donated blood, and no one had a problem with it. Maybe they are waiting for any potential issues from the radiation? And if my blood is not good, how come I am not sick? Any ways , just a vent as today is the 3rd anniversary of finding out about it.

And that is a fun story in it self. It took 2 weeks for the pathology to come back. Before surgery, the doctor had told me that it would take about a week. But evidently he told me and my parents that it could take up to 2 weeks if it had to be sent to a specialist and I guess he thought that it would need to go to a specialist. I think this was told when I was a bit high from the anesthesia, as I don't remember. So by the time the the pathology came back I was back at work, and in the full swing of things at work. But I had my phone with me at all times, as no one wants to find out via voice mail that you have cancer.
And I remember that I had a whole plan on when the doctors office would call. I forget the exact timeline I though they would follow. And of course they did not follow my timeline. It was close to 4 in the afternoon, and in my mind the doctor's office would not call that late, so I thought I was safe for the day. And I was actually on a conference training call that I was leading. And then my phone rang and I saw that it was my doctor's office. And well, they told me it was cancerous. Well, she use the word malignant, not Cancer. And I remember, it honestly felt like my blood flowed backwards when she told me. Even though I had been trying to get ready to hear that statement for 2 months, it was still a shock. If I am ever diagnosed with cancer again, it will be a shock again.
I cannot imagine what the clients that I was training thought. As I got back on the phone and basically bye, Roy will finish training. I was on IM with Roy (a coworker) and said that I had an emergency and I would talk with him later.) I actually meet the clients later that year, and they commented on my lovely scar (back then it was very visible) and I was like, yeah.. that scar is why the website took a couple extra months to roll out.. sorry.

Don't hit the grave!

We have had snow here twice this week.. which is unusual for Atlanta.. so I took some pictures that you will only see in Decatur.

That is a palm tree covered in snow. Now, there are not that many palm trees in Atlanta area. My street has about 6. But we are kinda at the bottom of a hill and it is kinda protected down here I guess. The legend is that the guy that built the original house on the street was a really interested in unique plants. And palm trees in Atlanta are unique.

The other unique site I saw was people sledding in the cemetery. I tell people all the time that people use the cemetery as a park and the below pictures will prove that. It was pretty weird to see it live, it is not every day you see people frolicking amongst the graves. I heard on mom yell out, Don't hit the grave!

For being a such a snowy day, I have not been home much.. I went to the gym for a step class at 8:30 and then to Kroger where I participated in the Atlanta tradition of running to the grocery store when snow starts to fall. I then went out to lunch with my parents and JK who was in town to see my parents house finished. We got all caught up with his upcoming move to Norway.

And then when I got home, I ran into a neighbor who told me about the sledding, and I had to check that out. So now I am home, and I am really going to enjoy making stew and cleaning , and bundling up for a cold night. And church was cancelled, so I can sleep in late tomorrow. YAY!

Killing Time

I am meeting some friends at Trivia tonight, up by work. And since I live so far from where I work, I am killing time at the Smyrna public library. My original plan was just to go to Target or Barnes and Noble to kill time.. but if i went to a store, I would spend money... and I am trying to be better about random shopping. Only shopping with a purpose for me for now on. :)

So I am here at the library killing time. And my I say, this is a nice library! Back before I took the plunge and got my self a home PC I would have to go the library to check my email as work blocks places like hotmail, and yahoo mail and Gmail.. (annoying.. but a good business idea.) And at the library by home I would have to sign a waiting list and wait with the rest of the non computer owning rift raft.. and trust me.. there was some in that line. I would wait up to 45 mins during prime time to log in and see that I got 2 new emails.. not a very efficient use of my time.. but I did feel like I was a member of a select library Internet using society.

Then one day, I realized I could get my emails on my phone! and what a glorious day that was! No longer did I live in wonder about what people were emailing me. But responding to emails was a bit hard on the phone as i am not proficient on the 9 digit text writing. My emails looked like something e.e. cummings would write. All lower case

(example)

anyone lived in a pretty how town begins
anyone lived in a pretty how town

(with up so floating many bells down)

spring summer autumn winter

he sang his didn't he danced his did
Women and men

(both little and small)

cared for anyone not at all

they sowed their isn't they reaped their same

sun moon stars rain

(why is it that most people remember ee cummings from school? I don't remember the styling of any other poet I studied.. not that I studied many.

So every once in a while I would have to go the library, because I needed to actually write a coherent sentence back, and the only time I could go with out waiting in line was Saturday morning. So I would get out of bed and go to the library at 9 AM.. and log in and have my 30 mins of Internet time and ask my self the question.. why am I too cheap to buy a computer?

That question go to loud for me.. and now I love my computer! This weekend I think I am going to buy a new digital camera, so I can enjoy it even more.

why did I wait so long?

Computer Hat

I am a headache person. Meaning, I get lots of headaches. I am much better at controlling them now, compared to say, high school. But I still get my fair share. A former co worker bought me a big bottle of ibuprofen once, just so I would stop asking her for extra pills.

My current headache causer is the glare from my screen at work. Where my computer is now, it is especially bad because I get the light and the glare from outside, but only from the glare from my screen. It kills my eyes. By the end of the week, I have to sit there with my eyes closed.

So I have made a 'hat' for my computer.

The place of work could solve this issue by spending 30 dollars on a anti glare screen, or by giving me a screen that was made in this century. But no.

So, I wanted to show you all that may read this, a picture of my monitor hat.

Saturday afternoon walk

I live next door to a cemetery. It is a real cemetery.. what one would call a Victorian-style cemetery like Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. My cemetery is not nearly as cool as Oakland, but it is still a good example of cemeteries used to be. It is actually not that creepy to live next door to a cemetery. Only once did I hear some strange noises coming from the cemetery, and I think it was just a cat fight. (at least that is what I tell my self now, but the night of the 'cat fight' I was in bed thinking, I will not look out the window, I will not look the window. The "cats" were making the eeriest sounds that sounded human) Usually it is is just very quiet, which is good.

It actually borders a park a park on one side and there is a path from the parking lot of the park to the cemetery. There are always people walking, running or biking around the cemetery, you just need to make sure you watch out for funerals, as it is an active cemetery.

My one favorite factoid that I learned from the cemetery is that Dorkus is a real name. You have to look real close as the head stone is dated 1944, but her name is Dorcus. If you ever want to find a unique name, go to a cemetery.

Walking around a cemetery has confirmed on fact for me. That I want to be cremated when I die many many many decades from now. The main reason for this is that it is lonely in a cemetery. Most graves are not visited, they just sit there in memory of past lives. And it is not an active memory, it is just a stone with your name on it. I want to live in the memories of my family and friends as a funny story or a good memory, not a rock. So cremate me please.

Sorry for the dark turn there, but leak bile for a couple days, and you too will have a firm plan for what comes next.

Stories

People have told me that I have a funny way of telling stories. My party cube mates think I am the funniest person every, so I am going to see if I can make any of them fun on paper, so to speak.

The stories I am working on writing about include:

Being in Fires
Riding the Short Bus
Being attacked by the Crazy Homeless man
Cancer


Now, the above list, when I write them down, does not seem funny at all. But I always have people laughing when I tell them. Once I asked why my being attacked by a crazy homeless man made him laughed, he said it was due to my tone and body language. So I have no idea if it will translate. But I want to give it a try.

Picky Eater

I thought that MacBeth was getting sick.. She was barely touching her food, and was getting skinny. Then I realized that she is just a picky eater. She will take a couple bits of dry food and then just meow until I sit down. I guess she figures that I wont feed her when I am sitting down. The only time she eats more then a couple bits is when I give her wet food. Silly cat. Tonight she is going to be a bit hungry, because I forgot to go the store.

The gym

So I had a choice tonight.. the gym or clean. All day long I told my self I would go to the gym.. then at 4 today I started thinking I should clean.. and then I left work and the gym won. But now I am procrastinating at home.. Even though I did resist the urge to get food on the way home and I had a delicious lean cuisine pizza and carrots for dinner. So I guess I will get off this computer, because I have responded all emails and sent out all my bills.. and I am really doing nothing but writing here..
So cleaning, here I come.

resolutions

Technically, I made my goals before the start of the new year..but since it was so close and people asked me if I had made any resolutions, I have been telling them my goals.. So I am trying to keep myself honest about how I am doing. So here is my update.

I am doing much better about not saying 'Sons of Bitches'. I was saying that phrase far to often.. Now the only time I say it is when I tell people what my resolutions are.

I did go the gym 4 times last week.. and that was good.. but I skipped today.. But I have decided that I will start counting the week on Sunday, so even skipping today, I got to my 4 times a week goal. And I was proud of that, because on Wednesday I did not not feel well at all. My stomach was all wonky.

Clean more often. I could be doing better. But I hate cleaning when I get home.

Do my daily bible study. Horrible. I need to catch up on that tommorrow.

Next week the one I need to work on the most in the daily bible study thing I bought.

A Condition

My Mom's friend called the other day to see if I could call her niece that had the same 'condition' that I had. And when she called back to say thanks for me talking to her niece, she referred to my 'thyroid condition' again. I wanted to shout.. I did not have a condition. That sounds like I had a cold or the flu or something. I had cancer.. it has a name, and I understand that it is a scarier thing to say. Trust me when I say, it is scarier to have it..
This is probably the time of year that I think the most about thyroid cancer, as I had the surgeries in Jan 05.

Happy New Years!

So last night I went out with L and N and Ls neighbors to Loca Luna. I enjoy Local Luna.. they have great music, and tapas are always fun.
But going out on New Years reinforced the fact that I am not a huge fan of going out on New Years Eve. There was a 30 dollar cover and that got me a couple sips of Champagne.. or more then likely bubbly wine. It was pretty crowded.. which was fine. We got a table about 11:30.. .But dude.. it was chilly in there. Loca Luna is much better is the summer.. because it tries to have like a outdoor feeling.. which is fun when it is 80 degrees outside.. but not so much when it is when it is 30 degrees outside. But they have great food. My only gripe of the evening was it took forever to get the bill.. and L's friends had gone to listen to music to and had not left money for the bill.. and for a while I sat there talking with N and L which was great fun. But then they had to go to the bathroom and L offered to leave her credit card, but the I encourgaged her not too. and they came back for the bill..
The one part of the evening that kinda annoyed me was that L's friends never came back.. and I wanted to get up and watch listen to the music and dance.. so when the bill came I got up and went to go find every one.. which probably came off as a bit angery.. but i was annoyed.. it was cold and i was getting bored.. and I was a bit tired because I worked that morning.
All and all, it was fun to go out for New Years for a change, but I am a bit jealous of K who spent the night at home with her dog reading Harry Potter.