Ok, most of the phone numbers are from online pharmacudical companies based in Canada. I've filed complaints on each of the phone numbers that has been a fax machine. Man just came back to shave and said that he wasn't in trouble after all. So, Thank You! to whoever came to our door to get him. And thank you, Man, for hauling buns over there as quickly as he could.
Do the US a favor and spread the word: if your number is in the Do Not Call Registry and you still get unwanted calls, PLEASE file a complaint for each one that you get. I have unsolicited call rage. Grrrrrrrr.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Angry
Can I rant? Why, thank you.
[rant]
We get regular calls from a fax machine. It originates from Canada if my sources are to be believed (tons of hits on the internet regarding the same thing and phone numbers) but it channels through various US phone numbers at times. We finally got caller ID so we could track these calls and make a complaint. Our only other option would be to change our phone number. The Army doesn't like it when you do that. We would have to call several dozen different agencies, programs, offices, and companies in order to do this, and each is vitally important.
So, anyway, there is a specific format that these calls show up in: the caller ID always says [either Canada or US state] ###-###-#### (except real numbers). We get these calls at all hours of the night and day, at least 3 times a week, and always in batches of 3. It's always a fax machine.
This morning at 4:30 we get a phone call from Montana ###-###-#### and since I've gotten one from Montana before (and Florida, and Ohio, and Maine, etc) I turned off the phone and rolled over. It happened three times. Great, I thought. Now I can get back to sleep. Except a couple of minutes later our doorbell rings. Yep, someone from the Army came to summon Man for a UA (it's a company things, apparently) and since they couldn't get through on the phone, they had to come get him personally. I asked if he was supposed to be there at 0600, he said no, he was supposed to be there are 0500. At that point it was 0530. Of course the guy making the calls has a cell phone from a different part of the country, and of course he would havae his name unlisted. This is the Army, afterall.
Needless to say, I feel terrible. I'm mad at this fax machine, mad that I didn't just pick up the stinking phone, mad that he's likely going to get into trouble, mad that I lost 3 hours of sleep, mad that we will CONTINUE to get calls from a fax machine and the only thing we can do to stop it is something that could comprimise someone's ability to get ahold of us, including someone doing his duty and rousing soldiers from bed at 0dark00 for a pee test.
Stay tuned to see if I change my phone number. I'm considering it. Strongly. And if this one has a fax machine calling it, I might move to the mountains and not own a phone and drool over paper dolls for the rest of my life b/c this is driving me CRAZY.
[/rant]
[rant]
We get regular calls from a fax machine. It originates from Canada if my sources are to be believed (tons of hits on the internet regarding the same thing and phone numbers) but it channels through various US phone numbers at times. We finally got caller ID so we could track these calls and make a complaint. Our only other option would be to change our phone number. The Army doesn't like it when you do that. We would have to call several dozen different agencies, programs, offices, and companies in order to do this, and each is vitally important.
So, anyway, there is a specific format that these calls show up in: the caller ID always says [either Canada or US state] ###-###-#### (except real numbers). We get these calls at all hours of the night and day, at least 3 times a week, and always in batches of 3. It's always a fax machine.
This morning at 4:30 we get a phone call from Montana ###-###-#### and since I've gotten one from Montana before (and Florida, and Ohio, and Maine, etc) I turned off the phone and rolled over. It happened three times. Great, I thought. Now I can get back to sleep. Except a couple of minutes later our doorbell rings. Yep, someone from the Army came to summon Man for a UA (it's a company things, apparently) and since they couldn't get through on the phone, they had to come get him personally. I asked if he was supposed to be there at 0600, he said no, he was supposed to be there are 0500. At that point it was 0530. Of course the guy making the calls has a cell phone from a different part of the country, and of course he would havae his name unlisted. This is the Army, afterall.
Needless to say, I feel terrible. I'm mad at this fax machine, mad that I didn't just pick up the stinking phone, mad that he's likely going to get into trouble, mad that I lost 3 hours of sleep, mad that we will CONTINUE to get calls from a fax machine and the only thing we can do to stop it is something that could comprimise someone's ability to get ahold of us, including someone doing his duty and rousing soldiers from bed at 0dark00 for a pee test.
Stay tuned to see if I change my phone number. I'm considering it. Strongly. And if this one has a fax machine calling it, I might move to the mountains and not own a phone and drool over paper dolls for the rest of my life b/c this is driving me CRAZY.
[/rant]
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
This 'n That
Let's see, what's been up?
1. Infection has gone the way nasty infections ought to go -- gone!! Even the injuries from the tape are fading fast.
2. Garden is getting pretty mature. My cilantro is taller than Pebbles but is now going to seed. That was fast!! I havn't even used it for anything yet. Next time I'll take advantage of it while it's in its prime. The squash is still growing despite holes in the leaves. And I finally strung up the peas. Poor things, I had to detangle them a bit and drape them over the string.
3. I'd post about what I've been reading in the news, but hey, I'm not up for many discussions in these areas. It's either politics or sensitive ethical issues in medicine, or war. I'm done talking about war for right now.
4. Recent movies:
Baptists at our BBQ -- an LDS flick that was kinda funny. The chick from the LDS movie Charlie was the love interest in this one. She tries so hard to appear to be this perfect, surreal, ethereal, but essentially flawed woman who men just fall all over themselves for, but it's obvious that she's trying, which bugs me. The movie overall was cute but I was uncomfortable with the outrageous stereotypes. Not that they don't exist, but I sure don't like seeing them.
Benchwarmers -- Loved it. Kinda crude humor, but by and large it's very eccentric and geek-oriented and not too bad. I like the "stick up for the nerd" message but really loved the "forgive the bully" message. Don't watch it if you don't like gay jokes.
Talladega Nights -- I couldn't watch this one. I had to turn it off after about 30 mins due to the way over the top nastiness. It's like Adam Sandler, Will Ferrel, and Sacha Baron Cohen all got together, got drunk, and wrote a script they would have loved to see when they were in the 6th grade. And hey, in high school, I mighta laughed at it.
The Devil Wears Prada -- I actually liked this one. No overtly distasteful humor and it has a real message that helped me get through cleaning out the most embarrassing room in my house. I adore Meryl Streep's performance in this movie. I didn't even think during the movie that it looked like a hard role to play, but thinking about it afterward I was struck with how very difficult it would be to stay in that sort of character if it's essentially different from your own self.
And a couple of Barbie movies. lol Not surprisingly, Miss Princess adores Barbie movies since they include girlie stuff like ballet, fairies, and mermaids. I used to dream about that stuff myself, so I don't begrudge her the watching of these relatively short flicks.
5. Recent music: (iTunes purchases, so just one song at at time)
- Somebody by Depeche Mode. Man's "us" song. :)
- I Cry and Something Still by Felicia Sorensen. I have these songs buried somewhere in a box on a tape. These were the two I loved best besides her rendition of How Can I Keep From Singing which I have yet to acquire.
- Like an Angel Passing Through My Room by Sissel. She has the voice of an exquisite angel.
- She Walks in Beauty also by Sissel.
1. Infection has gone the way nasty infections ought to go -- gone!! Even the injuries from the tape are fading fast.
2. Garden is getting pretty mature. My cilantro is taller than Pebbles but is now going to seed. That was fast!! I havn't even used it for anything yet. Next time I'll take advantage of it while it's in its prime. The squash is still growing despite holes in the leaves. And I finally strung up the peas. Poor things, I had to detangle them a bit and drape them over the string.
3. I'd post about what I've been reading in the news, but hey, I'm not up for many discussions in these areas. It's either politics or sensitive ethical issues in medicine, or war. I'm done talking about war for right now.
4. Recent movies:
Baptists at our BBQ -- an LDS flick that was kinda funny. The chick from the LDS movie Charlie was the love interest in this one. She tries so hard to appear to be this perfect, surreal, ethereal, but essentially flawed woman who men just fall all over themselves for, but it's obvious that she's trying, which bugs me. The movie overall was cute but I was uncomfortable with the outrageous stereotypes. Not that they don't exist, but I sure don't like seeing them.
Benchwarmers -- Loved it. Kinda crude humor, but by and large it's very eccentric and geek-oriented and not too bad. I like the "stick up for the nerd" message but really loved the "forgive the bully" message. Don't watch it if you don't like gay jokes.
Talladega Nights -- I couldn't watch this one. I had to turn it off after about 30 mins due to the way over the top nastiness. It's like Adam Sandler, Will Ferrel, and Sacha Baron Cohen all got together, got drunk, and wrote a script they would have loved to see when they were in the 6th grade. And hey, in high school, I mighta laughed at it.
The Devil Wears Prada -- I actually liked this one. No overtly distasteful humor and it has a real message that helped me get through cleaning out the most embarrassing room in my house. I adore Meryl Streep's performance in this movie. I didn't even think during the movie that it looked like a hard role to play, but thinking about it afterward I was struck with how very difficult it would be to stay in that sort of character if it's essentially different from your own self.
And a couple of Barbie movies. lol Not surprisingly, Miss Princess adores Barbie movies since they include girlie stuff like ballet, fairies, and mermaids. I used to dream about that stuff myself, so I don't begrudge her the watching of these relatively short flicks.
5. Recent music: (iTunes purchases, so just one song at at time)
- Somebody by Depeche Mode. Man's "us" song. :)
- I Cry and Something Still by Felicia Sorensen. I have these songs buried somewhere in a box on a tape. These were the two I loved best besides her rendition of How Can I Keep From Singing which I have yet to acquire.
- Like an Angel Passing Through My Room by Sissel. She has the voice of an exquisite angel.
- She Walks in Beauty also by Sissel.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Well, that was painless
The kitchen took fewer than 10 mins to fix all but one cupboard. My bedroom is rearranged to receive Man's desk from the office. The office itself and the two main closets are a different bucket of worms though.
I find myself unaccountably grumpy.
We watched Serenity the other night. It was a pretty darn cool flick that actually had a bit of story line. A lot of the characters were really likable even if there were too many of them. 9 main characters are a bit much for me. There's some violence, for those who avoid that sort of thing in a movie. Those Reavers are brutal stuff. Fun to see the fighting style, though. First time I've seen ballet get medieval on some heinie*. It was nice to see a frank, mentally competent, emotionally balanced, honorable villain.
* I actually have no idea if that's how "heinie" is spelled. I just pulled that spelling from Weird Al's Amish Paradise, which I consider to be a decently credible authority on that topic.
I find myself unaccountably grumpy.
We watched Serenity the other night. It was a pretty darn cool flick that actually had a bit of story line. A lot of the characters were really likable even if there were too many of them. 9 main characters are a bit much for me. There's some violence, for those who avoid that sort of thing in a movie. Those Reavers are brutal stuff. Fun to see the fighting style, though. First time I've seen ballet get medieval on some heinie*. It was nice to see a frank, mentally competent, emotionally balanced, honorable villain.
* I actually have no idea if that's how "heinie" is spelled. I just pulled that spelling from Weird Al's Amish Paradise, which I consider to be a decently credible authority on that topic.
Division of the sexes
So, I'm thinking that Tag might need his own room. He's getting into the very bad habit of thinking that Princess will pick up his messes for him. I bet if he were to have his very own space to pick up, he would soon learn a better sort of accountability. No son of mine will be allowed to think his mother or sister can be made to clean up after him like that!
The only problem is that our third bedroom, The Office, has sort of become an elephant graveyard, a dumping ground for two desks, my craft stuff, our food storage, the exersaucer, and a mishmash of other miscellaneous piles.
Time to look on Craig's List for a bed and dresser. OR, I have a friend who has this really cool system where she takes a bunch of tubs, sorts the kids' laundry into them, and tucks them under the bed. I think it's brilliant. No dresser to take up floor space, it creates a barrier that largely keeps kid stuff from collecting as much under the beds, and it's easy to pull them out while folding laundry and stash them when done. Besides that, the PX has got those tubs for $2 a piece. Way cheaper than a dresser.
I've been feeling totally overwhelmed lately. There is so much I want to get done here to make this house more organized and simple. I've known lots of people who have way more stuff than I do, but I still have more stuff than I'm comfortable with. After more than 6 years of marriage, I still struggle with owning my own space. Well, under the kitchen sink is a great place to start. :)
The only problem is that our third bedroom, The Office, has sort of become an elephant graveyard, a dumping ground for two desks, my craft stuff, our food storage, the exersaucer, and a mishmash of other miscellaneous piles.
Time to look on Craig's List for a bed and dresser. OR, I have a friend who has this really cool system where she takes a bunch of tubs, sorts the kids' laundry into them, and tucks them under the bed. I think it's brilliant. No dresser to take up floor space, it creates a barrier that largely keeps kid stuff from collecting as much under the beds, and it's easy to pull them out while folding laundry and stash them when done. Besides that, the PX has got those tubs for $2 a piece. Way cheaper than a dresser.
I've been feeling totally overwhelmed lately. There is so much I want to get done here to make this house more organized and simple. I've known lots of people who have way more stuff than I do, but I still have more stuff than I'm comfortable with. After more than 6 years of marriage, I still struggle with owning my own space. Well, under the kitchen sink is a great place to start. :)
In the clear
I think it's safe to say that the infection is gone. I'm (of course!!!) finishing my prescribed course of antibiotics. It's a small price to pay to see this gone for good. But it's gone!!! The odds of that happening were so slim that I like to think in my little Christian heart that it was a personal miracle, just for Frodo and me. Every time I look at the scars I sigh with relief and gratitude. I get some sideways looks when I wear a short sleeved shirt but whatever. What's funny is that the worst scars are from where the cloth tape hurt me when I dressed it with gauze. LOL Dr told me to tell the OB and Frodo's pediatrician about these episodes, especially if they keep happening. Man has stopped showering in the locker rooms at work and I'm taking measures at home to see that our shower hasn't a single bloody microscopic organism calling it home. Thank you for all of the support!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I'm old(er)!!!!!!
So Miss Princess was sitting on the couch with our DVD binder in her lap, patiently waiting for me to come over and put a movie in for her. She told me that she knows a great way to take the disc out so that the shiney side doesn't get touched and I told her that I didn't want her to anyway. Then she asked if my mom let me touch disks when I was a kid. I told her "no." She said "why?" My reply: "they didn't have those when I was a kid."
Then I screamed.
My mom didn't have color tv when she was a kid and I thought that made her OOOOOOOLD.
The kids in the class I teach were born right before I got out of high school.
I'm going to be a quarter of a century old in less than a month.
I don't tease Man about being old as much as I used to.
Then I screamed.
My mom didn't have color tv when she was a kid and I thought that made her OOOOOOOLD.
The kids in the class I teach were born right before I got out of high school.
I'm going to be a quarter of a century old in less than a month.
I don't tease Man about being old as much as I used to.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Father's Day
Well, I called my dad too late in the day to catch him. :( Sorry, dad. I was thinking about you!
The morning started out pretty lazy, with Man giving himself a haircut while I got breakfast going. We had pancakes, bacon, grapes, oranges, eggs, and orange juice. The kids love these little clementine oranges we got from Costco. They can peel them themselves and they're sweet enough that even our littlest (who shouldn't be eating them) loves them, too.
We informed Tag that he was shaggy enough that he absolutely must have a trim on the sides and back, he could decide what he wanted done to the top. He said he wanted ALL of his hair gone. ALL?? Yes, ALL. So, here's an after picture:
Everyone at church was just shocked at my shorn men, but the men didn't care. Tag actually loves the excuse to wear a hat outside all the time.
When we came home, Man started doing dishes and cleaning up. I asked him why he was doing that on Father's Day and he replied "let's think about what happened on Mother's Day. You cooked and cleaned all day long and what did I do?" I told him that if it would assuage his conscience that he could do whatever he wanted, but I didn't feel that he necessarily "ought" to help out.
Together, we got everything cleaned just in time to make his dinner: bacon wrapped fillet mignon (!!), mashed potatoes, peas and mushrooms, and home made California rolls. I'm still learning how to perfectly prepare the vegetables so that the rolls are more structurally sound but for the most part they turned out pretty good. Princess requested a roll with no avocado or cucumber, and we ran out of crab, so she got a roll with just carrots and rice. She picked the carrot out and left the rest. (angry) No more custom rolls for that one. Pebbles actually ate some sushi and a bunch of the rest of her dinner so she was the only child to enjoy Man's Father's Day ice cream.
After that we put the kids in bed and watched Fantastic Four together. That was such a clunker of a movie. I mean, it was fun like a super hero movie is fun (cool powers!! beautiful people!! cool super villain!! oooo, so that's how they got their powers!!) but by and large it was a real disappointment. They explained and introduced and elaborated, then they took care of the bad guy -- quick, roll the credits! Wha-wha-what? Oh, um... that was like, an oddly boring 2 hours despite the explosions, powers, beautiful people, relationship tension, elaboration, and wow, some credits.
So happy Father's Day! Hope you didn't watch Fantastic Four, ate well, and heard from your kids. :)
The morning started out pretty lazy, with Man giving himself a haircut while I got breakfast going. We had pancakes, bacon, grapes, oranges, eggs, and orange juice. The kids love these little clementine oranges we got from Costco. They can peel them themselves and they're sweet enough that even our littlest (who shouldn't be eating them) loves them, too.
We informed Tag that he was shaggy enough that he absolutely must have a trim on the sides and back, he could decide what he wanted done to the top. He said he wanted ALL of his hair gone. ALL?? Yes, ALL. So, here's an after picture:
Everyone at church was just shocked at my shorn men, but the men didn't care. Tag actually loves the excuse to wear a hat outside all the time.
When we came home, Man started doing dishes and cleaning up. I asked him why he was doing that on Father's Day and he replied "let's think about what happened on Mother's Day. You cooked and cleaned all day long and what did I do?" I told him that if it would assuage his conscience that he could do whatever he wanted, but I didn't feel that he necessarily "ought" to help out.
Together, we got everything cleaned just in time to make his dinner: bacon wrapped fillet mignon (!!), mashed potatoes, peas and mushrooms, and home made California rolls. I'm still learning how to perfectly prepare the vegetables so that the rolls are more structurally sound but for the most part they turned out pretty good. Princess requested a roll with no avocado or cucumber, and we ran out of crab, so she got a roll with just carrots and rice. She picked the carrot out and left the rest. (angry) No more custom rolls for that one. Pebbles actually ate some sushi and a bunch of the rest of her dinner so she was the only child to enjoy Man's Father's Day ice cream.
After that we put the kids in bed and watched Fantastic Four together. That was such a clunker of a movie. I mean, it was fun like a super hero movie is fun (cool powers!! beautiful people!! cool super villain!! oooo, so that's how they got their powers!!) but by and large it was a real disappointment. They explained and introduced and elaborated, then they took care of the bad guy -- quick, roll the credits! Wha-wha-what? Oh, um... that was like, an oddly boring 2 hours despite the explosions, powers, beautiful people, relationship tension, elaboration, and wow, some credits.
So happy Father's Day! Hope you didn't watch Fantastic Four, ate well, and heard from your kids. :)
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Luau
We had a lot of fun going to a stake-wide luau last night. The evening started with the unearthing of the pork. The church we go to has a very large parking lot that they open up for large meetings. The back bit of it has a plot of dirt with nothing growing in it that was just perfect for cooking 500# of pork for over 600 people.
The Menu:
Pork
Chicken
Meatballs in some yummy sauce
Green salad
Fruit salad
Rolls
Rice
Pasta Salad
Chop Suey
A wonderful beverage of water melon and coconut.
There were people serving from the buffet lines and everyone walked away with a heaping plateful of food. There was even some food left over after the masses had their fill. I think the kids each went back to the food 4-5 times, Tag eating his fill of bread and fruit, Princess eating bits of everything. Miss Pebbles likes the same things Tag does, begging fruit off of everyone around her.
We were just wrapping up the first round of food when the dancing started. The people who preformed were from the Hawaii Polynesian Cultural Center and they did a tour of many island countries through dance, song, and greetings in their various languages. She would shout out, asking if anyone was from this or that country that they were featuring, but didn't ask if anyone was from New Zealand, which is too bad because we have a missionary from New Zealand in our Stake (it's funny to listen to him do his best American accent in testimony meeting, then half way through he sort of gives up and goes into his country's accent).
The costumes were very fun to look at. Of all the kids, Miss Pebbles most got into the spirit of things by whooping and hollering and clapping along with the rest of us. She especially like watching the fire knife dancing. The fire dancer they featured was the three time world champion fire knife dancer from Hawaii. He started with one fire knife, added another, then hooked the two together to dance with one really long one. It was kind of interesting to watch a young assistant occasionally come up on stage and tuck money into their costumes throughout some of the performances.
The older two kids were seldom to be seen as they each found a pack of friends to run around with. The parking lot was all fenced in but we still made sure we could find them every now and then, and they were always having a good time.
There were a couple of trees there that had some serious swarms of moths creating a sort of gray/yellow halo around the crowns of the trees. It was interesting to look up and see those swarms on these awesome, old, gnarly trees against a sunset sky. I wish I had my camera with me for all of this!! Oh, well.
The Menu:
Pork
Chicken
Meatballs in some yummy sauce
Green salad
Fruit salad
Rolls
Rice
Pasta Salad
Chop Suey
A wonderful beverage of water melon and coconut.
There were people serving from the buffet lines and everyone walked away with a heaping plateful of food. There was even some food left over after the masses had their fill. I think the kids each went back to the food 4-5 times, Tag eating his fill of bread and fruit, Princess eating bits of everything. Miss Pebbles likes the same things Tag does, begging fruit off of everyone around her.
We were just wrapping up the first round of food when the dancing started. The people who preformed were from the Hawaii Polynesian Cultural Center and they did a tour of many island countries through dance, song, and greetings in their various languages. She would shout out, asking if anyone was from this or that country that they were featuring, but didn't ask if anyone was from New Zealand, which is too bad because we have a missionary from New Zealand in our Stake (it's funny to listen to him do his best American accent in testimony meeting, then half way through he sort of gives up and goes into his country's accent).
The costumes were very fun to look at. Of all the kids, Miss Pebbles most got into the spirit of things by whooping and hollering and clapping along with the rest of us. She especially like watching the fire knife dancing. The fire dancer they featured was the three time world champion fire knife dancer from Hawaii. He started with one fire knife, added another, then hooked the two together to dance with one really long one. It was kind of interesting to watch a young assistant occasionally come up on stage and tuck money into their costumes throughout some of the performances.
The older two kids were seldom to be seen as they each found a pack of friends to run around with. The parking lot was all fenced in but we still made sure we could find them every now and then, and they were always having a good time.
There were a couple of trees there that had some serious swarms of moths creating a sort of gray/yellow halo around the crowns of the trees. It was interesting to look up and see those swarms on these awesome, old, gnarly trees against a sunset sky. I wish I had my camera with me for all of this!! Oh, well.
Getting better!
The infection started to drain last night, and this morning looks like it's made significant improvement. Woohoo!!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Universal laws
Just Bathed Baby Law of Mess Attraction
vs.
Just Washed Car Law of Light Drizzle Attraction
~~~~~
Kids in motion tend to stay in motion.
Kids at rest tend to stay at rest (unless you administer Sufficient Motivation, either positively or negatively charged)
A house that is a mess tends to stay a mess. A house that is clean will immediately become a house that is a mess unless you've mastered the Incredible Art of Olympic Salmon Waterfall Swimming and have a Sharp Tongue of Stinging +10, with infinite saves against Whining, Shrieking, or Negotiating.
A law I learned last night: when browning minced dehydrated onion, it neither smells nor sounds the same as fresh onion from the other room. It'll blacken before it starts to smell like it's cooking. Especially when your delightful 16 month old child just loves to spin the cool knobs on the stove and turn the heat up to high. New onions, dinner turned out fine.
vs.
Just Washed Car Law of Light Drizzle Attraction
~~~~~
Kids in motion tend to stay in motion.
Kids at rest tend to stay at rest (unless you administer Sufficient Motivation, either positively or negatively charged)
A house that is a mess tends to stay a mess. A house that is clean will immediately become a house that is a mess unless you've mastered the Incredible Art of Olympic Salmon Waterfall Swimming and have a Sharp Tongue of Stinging +10, with infinite saves against Whining, Shrieking, or Negotiating.
A law I learned last night: when browning minced dehydrated onion, it neither smells nor sounds the same as fresh onion from the other room. It'll blacken before it starts to smell like it's cooking. Especially when your delightful 16 month old child just loves to spin the cool knobs on the stove and turn the heat up to high. New onions, dinner turned out fine.
More update
The dr said that I wasn't getting any worse, and there was even slight improvement. haha. Slight. I got another shot, will get another shot again today, and I've been keeping the heat on my arm like a lifeline. I've also started loading up on folic acid just in case we need to use the other stuff. My sweet mother in law called me and told me she's sending more as soon as she can along with some good acidophilous. After loading up on all of these antibiotics, I'm sure I'll need it.
The kids are enjoying a DVD of some old Sheera cartoons. A dear friend brought over a whole stack of movies yesterday, among them Howl's Move Castle (!!), Testaments (which apparently was showing in Temple Square), Ice Age 2, and another one or two I don't recall.
Howl's Moving Castle was definitely interesting. There were tons of serious departures from the book... the only things left were most of the characters and a few of the more amusing plot moments such as Howl's despairing tantrum after Sophie cleans his bathroom. I still enjoyed it quite a bit, the story was good nonetheless, and the imagery was charming.
The kids are enjoying a DVD of some old Sheera cartoons. A dear friend brought over a whole stack of movies yesterday, among them Howl's Move Castle (!!), Testaments (which apparently was showing in Temple Square), Ice Age 2, and another one or two I don't recall.
Howl's Moving Castle was definitely interesting. There were tons of serious departures from the book... the only things left were most of the characters and a few of the more amusing plot moments such as Howl's despairing tantrum after Sophie cleans his bathroom. I still enjoyed it quite a bit, the story was good nonetheless, and the imagery was charming.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Day 2
After blessings, heat, creams, bandages, and just praying and crying my eyes out it's smaller today. Well, it's smaller in diameter but more swollen in the center. I strongly suspect she's going to have to lance it (thank heaven for anaesthetic) so I have it loosely dressed with gauze, secretly hoping it'll start to resolve on it's own without a lancing. More heat and creams and praying today. Surely another shot of antibiotic but heck, that also means another bag of peanut butter M&M's.
After doing some research, the possible effects of using Bactrim (which I'm not taking but is the stuff that works) while pregnant involves neurological tube defects since it blocks folic acid absorption and use. The work around for that is just taking tons of folic acid. The instance of congenital abnormality was 3.3%, which I keep reminding myself is a very tiny number. And now they have in-utero surgeries that can correct spina bifida before the baby even enters this world. Some children who have had it done go on to lead perfectly normal lives with perfectly normal health.
Yeah. So I'm hopeful. :)
After doing some research, the possible effects of using Bactrim (which I'm not taking but is the stuff that works) while pregnant involves neurological tube defects since it blocks folic acid absorption and use. The work around for that is just taking tons of folic acid. The instance of congenital abnormality was 3.3%, which I keep reminding myself is a very tiny number. And now they have in-utero surgeries that can correct spina bifida before the baby even enters this world. Some children who have had it done go on to lead perfectly normal lives with perfectly normal health.
Yeah. So I'm hopeful. :)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Cellulitis revisited
Yes, our fifth bout with cellulitis began yesterday morning. I got it on my arm. I called the dr that day, got an appt for Thursday, but the nurse called this morning because the dr just happened to see the phone message and told them to get me in right away. I also got a bit of a stern talking to, that in the future I should tell them that the doctor personally told me to get in that very day.
It isn't too bad so far. It's about an inch in diameter. The only problem is that now I'm pregnant. The only antibiotic that she can prescribe is the one that didn't work last time. She gave me a shot of antibiotics, an Rx for 10 days (4x/day) of another kind, and told me to come back tomorrow for another shot. And d*** does that shot hurt!! For the love of Pete and little fishes! I can barely move my arm after popping some Tylenol even though the shot was mixed with lidocaine.
She said that if we're lucky, this treatment will work. If it doesn't... we'll cross that bridge when we get there. She wouldn't even tell me what would happen if it doesn't work. I cried on the way to the Target Pharmacy. What if I do have to take an antibiotic that could hurt this baby? This is an illness that is life threatening if untreated but what about that poor little fetus that's still in its first trimester?
I was so grateful for my dear friend M today. She watched the kids and had a great big hug waiting for me when I got home. She spoke of some of the miracles she's had the privilege of experiencing and I recalled all of mine as well. I'm putting hot compresses on the infection, using heavy-duty prescription strength antibiotic ointment, and I'll be calling the home teachers as soon as Man comes home for a blessing. If you have a prayer or a thought to send this direction, I'd appreciate that, too.
It isn't too bad so far. It's about an inch in diameter. The only problem is that now I'm pregnant. The only antibiotic that she can prescribe is the one that didn't work last time. She gave me a shot of antibiotics, an Rx for 10 days (4x/day) of another kind, and told me to come back tomorrow for another shot. And d*** does that shot hurt!! For the love of Pete and little fishes! I can barely move my arm after popping some Tylenol even though the shot was mixed with lidocaine.
She said that if we're lucky, this treatment will work. If it doesn't... we'll cross that bridge when we get there. She wouldn't even tell me what would happen if it doesn't work. I cried on the way to the Target Pharmacy. What if I do have to take an antibiotic that could hurt this baby? This is an illness that is life threatening if untreated but what about that poor little fetus that's still in its first trimester?
I was so grateful for my dear friend M today. She watched the kids and had a great big hug waiting for me when I got home. She spoke of some of the miracles she's had the privilege of experiencing and I recalled all of mine as well. I'm putting hot compresses on the infection, using heavy-duty prescription strength antibiotic ointment, and I'll be calling the home teachers as soon as Man comes home for a blessing. If you have a prayer or a thought to send this direction, I'd appreciate that, too.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Prego sick much?
Morning sickness has attacked! I'm ill all the time now and food of any sort looks evil. (Mike Myers: Eee-vil, as in, the frew-its of the dev-ill) I spent today eating toas, changing diapers, reading, and dinner was frozen junk from the freezer.
On a happy note, I get my first real OB appt in early July. Some time soon after that I'll get an ultrasound. I'm not sure if I get only one, and I need to look into the epidural policy, just to make sure that these important items are made the most of.
One of my little tomato plants is already putting out some flowers. I got these nice, large tomato cages so they'd have plenty of growing space but now this little midget plant is already thinking of bearing fruit!! My dill is getting huge and my cilantro is absolutely enormous. I think my squash is dying since the leaves are full of holes, and pea plants are turning yellow. I guess that's what I get for planting them in places that don't get enough sun. I wonder if it's too late to try for the back of the house?
On a happy note, I get my first real OB appt in early July. Some time soon after that I'll get an ultrasound. I'm not sure if I get only one, and I need to look into the epidural policy, just to make sure that these important items are made the most of.
One of my little tomato plants is already putting out some flowers. I got these nice, large tomato cages so they'd have plenty of growing space but now this little midget plant is already thinking of bearing fruit!! My dill is getting huge and my cilantro is absolutely enormous. I think my squash is dying since the leaves are full of holes, and pea plants are turning yellow. I guess that's what I get for planting them in places that don't get enough sun. I wonder if it's too late to try for the back of the house?
The "mysterious" J
Sometimes when I get email from friends or relatives, I notice that an apparently random "J" would just sort of materialize in the letter. It was in the context of where a smile or similar shorthand sentiment indicating either encouragement or humor would appear. Puzzled especially after receiving a letter from a dear girlfriend today that was just riddled with them, I finally looked it up.
Apparently, when Microsoft users type an email, they can use Wingdings (a font) to put a smiley face in their messages. Anyone else who doesn't have that font gets to see a nice "J", which is what Wingdings translates into a smiley.
Weird, eh? So, if you get an email and it has "J"s all over the place and you can't figure out whether your correspondent is insane or the evil email leprechauns have attacked the message en route to your machine, err on the side of the leprechauns.
Apparently, when Microsoft users type an email, they can use Wingdings (a font) to put a smiley face in their messages. Anyone else who doesn't have that font gets to see a nice "J", which is what Wingdings translates into a smiley.
Weird, eh? So, if you get an email and it has "J"s all over the place and you can't figure out whether your correspondent is insane or the evil email leprechauns have attacked the message en route to your machine, err on the side of the leprechauns.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Speaking of twins...
Have you heard about the third sort of twin? We all know about identical (one sperm, one egg, they fertilize, split, you get two people, same gender, same DNA) and fraternal (two sperms, two eggs, they share 50% just like any other siblings, same or differnet genders), and now there are semi-identical twins (one egg, two sperm, they fertilize then split, they share mother's DNA but only have of father's DNA, one is male the other is a hermaphrodite).
There are a few variations on the above. For instance, a woman can have two sexual partners resulting in fraternal twins that are half-siblings.
There are also identical twins of different genders where one twin has a chomosomal defect which makes them technically not identical, but they were still monozygotic (or coming from one fertized egg).
Then there are the rare cases when people of mixed race have fraternal twins and one is black while the other is white. (google "black and white twins" for more pictures and their stories)
Anyone believe in "evil" twins? Or telepathic twins? Or twins that speak their own secret language? The language one actually happens. There's a lady in my ward who has id twins who had the language. They both have some speech difficulties as a result, but they have exactly the same ones.
There are a few variations on the above. For instance, a woman can have two sexual partners resulting in fraternal twins that are half-siblings.
There are also identical twins of different genders where one twin has a chomosomal defect which makes them technically not identical, but they were still monozygotic (or coming from one fertized egg).
Then there are the rare cases when people of mixed race have fraternal twins and one is black while the other is white. (google "black and white twins" for more pictures and their stories)
Anyone believe in "evil" twins? Or telepathic twins? Or twins that speak their own secret language? The language one actually happens. There's a lady in my ward who has id twins who had the language. They both have some speech difficulties as a result, but they have exactly the same ones.
How many could YOU handle at once?
I took Princess with me to church last week while we left the three more-sickies at home (Man and I could have tossed a coin, but he went by himself the previous week). I asked her while we were driving how she would feel if we had another baby.
P: I think we should have three babies.
A: What??
P: Yep, Pebbles, and then two more.
Now, I knew a lady years back who told me that her son told her she was pregnant before she knew she was, then later told her she was having two at once before she knew she was. So I know it's a bit superstitious to put any credit in the predictions of a young one in most cases, but it has me a little creeped out.
Later I asked if she wanted a boy or a girl. She said we should have one of each.
Haha. Maybe I should toss salt over my shoulder, knock on some wood, point my bed north, and go have an ultrasound.
P: I think we should have three babies.
A: What??
P: Yep, Pebbles, and then two more.
Now, I knew a lady years back who told me that her son told her she was pregnant before she knew she was, then later told her she was having two at once before she knew she was. So I know it's a bit superstitious to put any credit in the predictions of a young one in most cases, but it has me a little creeped out.
Later I asked if she wanted a boy or a girl. She said we should have one of each.
Haha. Maybe I should toss salt over my shoulder, knock on some wood, point my bed north, and go have an ultrasound.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Red.
This is kind of a heavy subject, but TGIF, dude.
How does every chain letter begin? Ah, yes. "I don't normally pass these along... but I [either know this person or have experienced this myself] so I thought I'd let you know because this is really for real." Right?
Well, let me start by saying that I don't ever pass on chain letters through email. I have no idea if this story is true. For all I know it could be a huge glurge bent on forwarding someone else's political agenda.
But this topic is personal. However long ago, whenever someone sent troops out overseas to fight and/or die for any given cause, of course I was worried, had a political opinion, and the numbers were disturbing.
But now it's personal.
I personally know and love those who make up those "numbers" who get sent out to fight and maybe die. I've posted something like this before, but how do I adequately express something like this?
My husband has chosen a career in which he might be called to die.
So I say "thank you" to all service members, including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and all others who think more of what they're doing than of their own personal safety. They do what we don't want to, so we don't have to think about it. They keep us safe, and innocent. Which is why some people feel entitled to criticize, because most of us have never seen someone die, or saved a life, or taken one. And most of us won't have to.
So, here's a chain mail. Once again I have no idea if it's true.
It goes on to describe how we should all wear red on Friday's to send a message that we support them and we won't rest until they all come home. But you know what? They signed up for this. Yes, they did. No, they didn't necessarily think of roadside bombs or having to tourniquet their buddies or themselves under fire, but if we bring every last one of them home from where ever they are, it would destroy much of the work they've done so far. Sure, wear red on Fridays, but don't discount or discredit the good that happens or that they achieve while deployed. Deployment is a reality of life for a soldier and his or her family, not a great injustice. Bringing all of them home is just as silly as always keeping a police officer or EMT home so they stay safe. Supporting them doesn't just mean bringing them all home to stay.
Also, if you wish to thank a soldier in a more personal way, there are lots of organizations that will help you find someone to send a letter to. Believe it or not, there are plenty of soldiers in harm's way who never get mail. If you google Project Any Soldier, they will have listings of people who don't get mail but would sure like to get some.
And with that I step off my soapbox.
How does every chain letter begin? Ah, yes. "I don't normally pass these along... but I [either know this person or have experienced this myself] so I thought I'd let you know because this is really for real." Right?
Well, let me start by saying that I don't ever pass on chain letters through email. I have no idea if this story is true. For all I know it could be a huge glurge bent on forwarding someone else's political agenda.
But this topic is personal. However long ago, whenever someone sent troops out overseas to fight and/or die for any given cause, of course I was worried, had a political opinion, and the numbers were disturbing.
But now it's personal.
I personally know and love those who make up those "numbers" who get sent out to fight and maybe die. I've posted something like this before, but how do I adequately express something like this?
My husband has chosen a career in which he might be called to die.
So I say "thank you" to all service members, including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and all others who think more of what they're doing than of their own personal safety. They do what we don't want to, so we don't have to think about it. They keep us safe, and innocent. Which is why some people feel entitled to criticize, because most of us have never seen someone die, or saved a life, or taken one. And most of us won't have to.
So, here's a chain mail. Once again I have no idea if it's true.
Sea of Red
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
"No," he responded.
"Heading out?" I asked.
"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."
"Going to pick him up?"
"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq, I'm taking him home to his family," he replied.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.
So here's a public Thank You to our military men and women for what you do so we can live the way we do.
It goes on to describe how we should all wear red on Friday's to send a message that we support them and we won't rest until they all come home. But you know what? They signed up for this. Yes, they did. No, they didn't necessarily think of roadside bombs or having to tourniquet their buddies or themselves under fire, but if we bring every last one of them home from where ever they are, it would destroy much of the work they've done so far. Sure, wear red on Fridays, but don't discount or discredit the good that happens or that they achieve while deployed. Deployment is a reality of life for a soldier and his or her family, not a great injustice. Bringing all of them home is just as silly as always keeping a police officer or EMT home so they stay safe. Supporting them doesn't just mean bringing them all home to stay.
Also, if you wish to thank a soldier in a more personal way, there are lots of organizations that will help you find someone to send a letter to. Believe it or not, there are plenty of soldiers in harm's way who never get mail. If you google Project Any Soldier, they will have listings of people who don't get mail but would sure like to get some.
A soldier in Iraq can't see your ribbon,
Or the flag at your front door.
But a letter they hold in their hands,
To them means so much more.
By Supporter Liam Sweeny
And with that I step off my soapbox.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
[your name] looks like...
Go ahead. Try it. Go to Google and type in [your name] looks like, pick the two you think are the most interesting, and comment or post to your blog!
Mine:
Annie looks like she's about to pop and she still has another 6 weeks to go.
Annie looks like this in 3D
If you want to try something a little different, put quote marks around your search to find only that specific phrase.
Mine:
Annie looks like she's about to pop and she still has another 6 weeks to go.
Annie looks like this in 3D
If you want to try something a little different, put quote marks around your search to find only that specific phrase.
Flakier than a snowstorm.
A long time ago I heard a man apply the above description to a woman of my acquaintance and for some reason it just tickled my funny bone to no end.
Anyway, that isn't the sort of flake I'm talking about right now. I love snowflakes and since I don't get to see any in my current location I'm going to blog about them.
Firstly, there is a recently revisited article by one Cecil Adams (linky-dink) describing in mathematical terms the probability of finding any two identicle snowflakes. He says it's possible since the number of flakes that have fallen over the course of time that this earth has been in existence exceeds the number of probable structural combinations for any given snowflake.
But how often do you think you'd find two that look exactly like each other?
I love this website (link) not only for the photographs of the flakes themselves, but the fact that they take snowflake making to a really crazy level, actually creating a machine and method to make "designer" snow flakes, adjusting simulated atmospheric conditions to create flakes with absolutely stunning results. (When looking at the designer flakes section, don't forget to use the index on the left side to see more galleries)
Some of my favorite memories of snow:
The first time I saw it when I was about 7. It looked so magical, sparkling in the street light. I couldn't even feel it hitting my skin and of course I tried to get some on my tongue but couldn't feel that either. After a few days the bushes across the street started to look like snack cakes, dark in the bottom and dusted with sugar on top.
Building an igloo at my grandparents' old house. They had this amazing hill in their backyard and we dumped a bunch of snow off of the retaining wall and then carved out a cave. I think only two people could fit in there at a time.
Seeing my first decently deep snow in Colorado. Someone told me tales of when he was a seven or eight. He would try walking on the hard surface of a nice deep snow, fall through, and not be able to see over the top of it while standing up. That would have been a cool snow to see.
My absolute favorite way to enjoy snow is to sit in a small room with a good book and good blanket, open the window, smell it, enjoy a cup of lemon tea, and listen to it as it pours on the ground and trees. I love snow... but not the cold. :)
Anyway, that isn't the sort of flake I'm talking about right now. I love snowflakes and since I don't get to see any in my current location I'm going to blog about them.
Firstly, there is a recently revisited article by one Cecil Adams (linky-dink) describing in mathematical terms the probability of finding any two identicle snowflakes. He says it's possible since the number of flakes that have fallen over the course of time that this earth has been in existence exceeds the number of probable structural combinations for any given snowflake.
But how often do you think you'd find two that look exactly like each other?
I love this website (link) not only for the photographs of the flakes themselves, but the fact that they take snowflake making to a really crazy level, actually creating a machine and method to make "designer" snow flakes, adjusting simulated atmospheric conditions to create flakes with absolutely stunning results. (When looking at the designer flakes section, don't forget to use the index on the left side to see more galleries)
Some of my favorite memories of snow:
The first time I saw it when I was about 7. It looked so magical, sparkling in the street light. I couldn't even feel it hitting my skin and of course I tried to get some on my tongue but couldn't feel that either. After a few days the bushes across the street started to look like snack cakes, dark in the bottom and dusted with sugar on top.
Building an igloo at my grandparents' old house. They had this amazing hill in their backyard and we dumped a bunch of snow off of the retaining wall and then carved out a cave. I think only two people could fit in there at a time.
Seeing my first decently deep snow in Colorado. Someone told me tales of when he was a seven or eight. He would try walking on the hard surface of a nice deep snow, fall through, and not be able to see over the top of it while standing up. That would have been a cool snow to see.
My absolute favorite way to enjoy snow is to sit in a small room with a good book and good blanket, open the window, smell it, enjoy a cup of lemon tea, and listen to it as it pours on the ground and trees. I love snow... but not the cold. :)
Writer's Block
Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah? Blah blah blah blah blah.
Blah blah blah?
Yeah, I thought so.
Blah blah blah?
Yeah, I thought so.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
The parable of the Dixie Cup
So this morning Tag was munching on animal crackers when he out of the blue asked,
"Mom, what happens when a glass cup drops on the ground?"
"It might break."
"Oh, well what happens when a paper cup drops on the ground?"
"It probably won't break."
But then I thought, but even if it doesn't break, it sure doesn't last very long, doesn't wash well, and will weaken and fall apart over a very short time. On the other hand, a glass cup can last for generations if it's very carefully handled, doesn't going through many moves, and is washed fairly carefully -- but one single traumatic event will break it forever.
Metal cups get dented and dinged, but they endure heat and cold, rouch handling and brillow pads. In the end, after a hard life, they can be refinished, polished, and continue doing their job without hardly batting an eyelash.
Last week I went to a dr's appt. My primary dr is one who also does a whole lot of cosmetic stuff (first time I've had one like this, but I've heard of it) and it was odd to sit in the waiting room in my nicer-but-still-a-t-shirt shirt, jeans, fleece jacket, with my hair back in one of those little claw clips. I wear minimal makeup and I've put on some weight since moving here, and my skin hasn't been behaving well over the past couple of months. I found myself comparing my motherly body with the young (and not nearly so young) ladies with their designer clothes, lazered legs and faces, chemical peels, manicured and pedicured digits, and tight little butts. I was kind of glad that my dr didn't have me get undressed for this particular visit.
Last night I was watching a friend's children and when she got home with her husband we chatted for a little while and somehow she got around to saying "but we're real women." And I thought about my extra weight and other insecurities (gosh, I'm freaking angsty).
And then this morning Tag asked about cups and which ones he should go for if he were in a destructive mood. I sure hope I'm a metal cup. Dinged, maybe tarnished, but by golly I get a job done. Maybe some day down the road I'll get a good polish but that won't change a thing. I'll still be what a always was, and continue doing my job without requiring royal treatment. But hey, if we're going to talk about a metal cup needing to be polished, I never turn down a massage.
"Mom, what happens when a glass cup drops on the ground?"
"It might break."
"Oh, well what happens when a paper cup drops on the ground?"
"It probably won't break."
But then I thought, but even if it doesn't break, it sure doesn't last very long, doesn't wash well, and will weaken and fall apart over a very short time. On the other hand, a glass cup can last for generations if it's very carefully handled, doesn't going through many moves, and is washed fairly carefully -- but one single traumatic event will break it forever.
Metal cups get dented and dinged, but they endure heat and cold, rouch handling and brillow pads. In the end, after a hard life, they can be refinished, polished, and continue doing their job without hardly batting an eyelash.
Last week I went to a dr's appt. My primary dr is one who also does a whole lot of cosmetic stuff (first time I've had one like this, but I've heard of it) and it was odd to sit in the waiting room in my nicer-but-still-a-t-shirt shirt, jeans, fleece jacket, with my hair back in one of those little claw clips. I wear minimal makeup and I've put on some weight since moving here, and my skin hasn't been behaving well over the past couple of months. I found myself comparing my motherly body with the young (and not nearly so young) ladies with their designer clothes, lazered legs and faces, chemical peels, manicured and pedicured digits, and tight little butts. I was kind of glad that my dr didn't have me get undressed for this particular visit.
Last night I was watching a friend's children and when she got home with her husband we chatted for a little while and somehow she got around to saying "but we're real women." And I thought about my extra weight and other insecurities (gosh, I'm freaking angsty).
And then this morning Tag asked about cups and which ones he should go for if he were in a destructive mood. I sure hope I'm a metal cup. Dinged, maybe tarnished, but by golly I get a job done. Maybe some day down the road I'll get a good polish but that won't change a thing. I'll still be what a always was, and continue doing my job without requiring royal treatment. But hey, if we're going to talk about a metal cup needing to be polished, I never turn down a massage.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Little bird and breakfast
I finally got a picture of one of those little blue birds, but it's sort of fuzzy since I was only able to get one shot before it took off.
The breakfast of champions. Fruit and yogurt smoothie, and pen ink. Yum!!
The breakfast of champions. Fruit and yogurt smoothie, and pen ink. Yum!!
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