As 2009 draws to a close, I thought that it would be fun to take a look back at what the year has been. Let's go!
January
* I celebrated the 100th post on the blog.
* We found the house that we put an offer on
February
* Drew made me a candlelight dinner for my birthday.
* We had trouble with the inspection and closing on our house.
* We were almost famous.
* Drew celebrated his birthday
* We closed on our house with only 2 days to move out of our apartment. Awesome!
March
* I finally posted some pictures of the move
* The 22nd marked 5 years since I lost my father
April
* We celebrated Easter weekend by going to not one, but two Cubs games with some friends.
* We had our housewarming party.
* Drew and I marked our 6 month anniversary.
* Our "tenants" moved in.
May
* I began the horrible journey towards the endometriosis diagnosis.
* We began doing some outside work on the house and started on the lilac bushes.
* Then, Drew dropped the ugly pine tree in our front yard.
June
* I chopped my hair.
* Rockford received a huge amount of rain and a Canadian National train derailed not too far from our house
* I absolutely lost it!
July
* Journey To Together celebrated it's 1st birthday
* Drew and I went to North Carolina to visit Drew and Jen and welcome baby Emma. We took a quick trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
August
* Drew and I had a play day with my sister
* More doctor's appointments
* No cancer!!
* Airfest 2009
September
* Drew and I spent Labor Day together at the park
* We decided that surgery was the next step.
* My mom turned 50 and we surprised her good!
October
* Drew surprised me with a new kitten for my anniversary present
* We celebrated one year of marital bliss
* I had surgery
* We actually had trick-or-treaters and went to a party at Adam and Nicole's
November
* I had a follow-up appointment at the doctor and we decided to go on birth control
* I quit the bank and revealed that I had been working a new job since September
* We went to Georgia for Thanksgiving
* Our hard drive died and we completely lost everything on our computer
December
* We had a snowfall and shoveled our driveway for the first time as homeowners
* My family's Christmas Eve party was held here
* We celebrated Christmas Day with Drew's family
* I had to go to the ER
I had forgotten about a lot of things that had happened! This was fun for me and I hope that you enjoyed looking back with me. Here's to 2010!! Let's hope that it's much better healthwise, right?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Presage / PRES-ij; pre-SEYJ / noun
1. An indication or warning of a future event; an omen.
2. A feeling or intuition of what the future holds.
3. Prophetic significance.
4. [Archaic] A prediction; a prognostication.
transitive verb:
1. To indicate or warn of beforehand; to foreshadow.
2. To have a presentiment of.
3. To predict; to foretell.
intransitive verb:
1. To make or utter a prediction.
Although the enlightenment and liberation which had been expected to come after the war had not come with victory, a presage of freedom was in the air throughout these post-war years, and it was their only historical meaning.
-- Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago
Never before, perhaps, in the history of the world, was an hour so fateful, so full of presage, as the present. Big with starting possibilities, unfolding vistas of unimagined boldness and beauty, it speaks with a very trumpet-call of eternally recreative energy to us "upon whom the ends of the world are come."
-- Clara M. Codd, Looking Forward
It [the comet] had been there for some time, said Todd, "and for the Sherpas it presaged things not going terrible well." A superstition, yes, thought Todd, but a matter of serious concern, because the people who knew the mountain best said it mattered.
-- Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt, The Climb
Earlier in the day a supply teacher I had never seen before sat down a few chairs away with the happy ostentatious sigh that invariably presages an invasion of privacy.
-- Michael Foley, Getting Used to Not Being Remarkable
Warhol, a wigged-out psychic, had presaged the whole thing.
-- Phoebe Hoban, Basquiat
1. An indication or warning of a future event; an omen.
2. A feeling or intuition of what the future holds.
3. Prophetic significance.
4. [Archaic] A prediction; a prognostication.
transitive verb:
1. To indicate or warn of beforehand; to foreshadow.
2. To have a presentiment of.
3. To predict; to foretell.
intransitive verb:
1. To make or utter a prediction.
Although the enlightenment and liberation which had been expected to come after the war had not come with victory, a presage of freedom was in the air throughout these post-war years, and it was their only historical meaning.
-- Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago
Never before, perhaps, in the history of the world, was an hour so fateful, so full of presage, as the present. Big with starting possibilities, unfolding vistas of unimagined boldness and beauty, it speaks with a very trumpet-call of eternally recreative energy to us "upon whom the ends of the world are come."
-- Clara M. Codd, Looking Forward
It [the comet] had been there for some time, said Todd, "and for the Sherpas it presaged things not going terrible well." A superstition, yes, thought Todd, but a matter of serious concern, because the people who knew the mountain best said it mattered.
-- Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt, The Climb
Earlier in the day a supply teacher I had never seen before sat down a few chairs away with the happy ostentatious sigh that invariably presages an invasion of privacy.
-- Michael Foley, Getting Used to Not Being Remarkable
Warhol, a wigged-out psychic, had presaged the whole thing.
-- Phoebe Hoban, Basquiat
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
My Worst Nightmare
It happened. It came back.
The pain, the shakes, the nausea, the vomiting. All of it.
Sunday night I got those intense stomach pains again. Of course, I got sick. And this time, the pain didn't go away. Usually it would kind of come and go in waves. After taking 1000 mg of Tylenol and still being in pain after about an hour and a half, Drew decided that we needed to go to the Emergency Room.
Once there, they started an IV and drew some blood. Then, they gave me something for the nausea and some Tramadol for the pain. They might as well not have even given me the Tramadol because it did absolutely nothing. The doctor came in and told me that my white blood cell count was extremely elevated, which is a sign on infection or inflammation. My count was at 18000 and it usually caps out at 11000 at the highest. They were a little concerned to say the least. The doctor was concerned that it could be my appendix, but wasn't fully convinced because my symptoms weren't classic to appendicitis. The doctor then decided that he wanted to do a pelvic exam. Oh joy!
They asked if I was still in pain, which I was, so they then gave me some Dilaudid. I was loopy and lightheaded before they even pulled the needle out of my IV. However, that took care of the pain.
Then came the pelvic exam. That was awful fun while trying not to pass out. Then, another ultrasound.
Nothing new was found. The doctor said that if I was a male, they could have said that what I was experiencing was appendicitis and gone from there. But since I'm a female and have a uterus and ovaries and all that good junk, they have to rule out problems there first. The doctor suggested that I go back to my OB/GYN the next day and have a follow up with her since the problems were probably associated with my endometriosis.
They prescribed me some Norco (the same stuff I took after my surgery), told me to take 2 as soon as I got them, and sent me home.
When I woke up at 7:30 Monday morning, I took 2 more Norco and went back to sleep for a little bit. I woke up again a little while later, called the doctor, and made an appointment for 1:45 that afternoon. Drew and I eventually got out of bed between 10 and 11 and I went to the couch. I was starving, so decided to snack on some graham crackers. Shortly after that, I began to vomit again. And I could not stop. The time came for us to leave for the doctor's appointment, but Drew called them and told them what was going on with me and they suggested that I just go back to the ER.
So back we went!
It took us 2 hours before we finally got put in a room. Round 2 of IV and lots of fluids and nausea medicine. After the doctor looked at my info from yesterday, he said that he wouldn't be a good doctor if he didn't do a CT scan so he could rule out my appendix. Then began the journey of drinking the nasty dye crap. It wasn't horrible. It was lemonade Crystal light, water, and the dye stuff. I couldn't taste the dye crap, but I'm not a fan of that much lemonade at one time. I don't drink that much liquid in 2 days, let alone 2 hours. I choked down about half of the container and then got frustrated because my stomach was so upset from all of the liquid. They then gave me some Reglan, which the nurse said would help with the full feeling and the nausea.
The CT scan was painless and the results came back that my appendix was fine. They sent me home again and told me to just follow up with my OB/GYN. Two nights in the ER to have absolutely no answers.
I'm frustrated that I'm having these problems again. I'm supposed to be better. My problems were supposed to be fixed after the surgery and taking the birth control. I have an appointment to see the doctor on Monday and hopefully she has some answers.
The pain, the shakes, the nausea, the vomiting. All of it.
Sunday night I got those intense stomach pains again. Of course, I got sick. And this time, the pain didn't go away. Usually it would kind of come and go in waves. After taking 1000 mg of Tylenol and still being in pain after about an hour and a half, Drew decided that we needed to go to the Emergency Room.
Once there, they started an IV and drew some blood. Then, they gave me something for the nausea and some Tramadol for the pain. They might as well not have even given me the Tramadol because it did absolutely nothing. The doctor came in and told me that my white blood cell count was extremely elevated, which is a sign on infection or inflammation. My count was at 18000 and it usually caps out at 11000 at the highest. They were a little concerned to say the least. The doctor was concerned that it could be my appendix, but wasn't fully convinced because my symptoms weren't classic to appendicitis. The doctor then decided that he wanted to do a pelvic exam. Oh joy!
They asked if I was still in pain, which I was, so they then gave me some Dilaudid. I was loopy and lightheaded before they even pulled the needle out of my IV. However, that took care of the pain.
Then came the pelvic exam. That was awful fun while trying not to pass out. Then, another ultrasound.
Nothing new was found. The doctor said that if I was a male, they could have said that what I was experiencing was appendicitis and gone from there. But since I'm a female and have a uterus and ovaries and all that good junk, they have to rule out problems there first. The doctor suggested that I go back to my OB/GYN the next day and have a follow up with her since the problems were probably associated with my endometriosis.
They prescribed me some Norco (the same stuff I took after my surgery), told me to take 2 as soon as I got them, and sent me home.
When I woke up at 7:30 Monday morning, I took 2 more Norco and went back to sleep for a little bit. I woke up again a little while later, called the doctor, and made an appointment for 1:45 that afternoon. Drew and I eventually got out of bed between 10 and 11 and I went to the couch. I was starving, so decided to snack on some graham crackers. Shortly after that, I began to vomit again. And I could not stop. The time came for us to leave for the doctor's appointment, but Drew called them and told them what was going on with me and they suggested that I just go back to the ER.
So back we went!
It took us 2 hours before we finally got put in a room. Round 2 of IV and lots of fluids and nausea medicine. After the doctor looked at my info from yesterday, he said that he wouldn't be a good doctor if he didn't do a CT scan so he could rule out my appendix. Then began the journey of drinking the nasty dye crap. It wasn't horrible. It was lemonade Crystal light, water, and the dye stuff. I couldn't taste the dye crap, but I'm not a fan of that much lemonade at one time. I don't drink that much liquid in 2 days, let alone 2 hours. I choked down about half of the container and then got frustrated because my stomach was so upset from all of the liquid. They then gave me some Reglan, which the nurse said would help with the full feeling and the nausea.
The CT scan was painless and the results came back that my appendix was fine. They sent me home again and told me to just follow up with my OB/GYN. Two nights in the ER to have absolutely no answers.
I'm frustrated that I'm having these problems again. I'm supposed to be better. My problems were supposed to be fixed after the surgery and taking the birth control. I have an appointment to see the doctor on Monday and hopefully she has some answers.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Day 2009
We spent Christmas day with Drew's parents and grandparents. Jessica and Eric are also in town and were there also.
Drew's grandpa.
Drew's grandma.
Eric had to start a little early. I think that it was barely passed noon. 
The tree at Drew's parents. We all call it her Who-ville tree. 
Drew's dad got the best present of all!
Drew's grandpa.
Drew's grandma.
Eric had to start a little early. I think that it was barely passed noon. 
The tree at Drew's parents. We all call it her Who-ville tree. 
Drew's dad got the best present of all!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve 2009
Since Drew and I bought our house earlier this year, we hosted the Christmas Eve party for my side of the family. Our house turned out to be perfect to host such a large gathering. Here we are all getting ready to open presents.
My cousin, Jenna and my sister, Rachel. Both such gorgeous girls!
My grandma and me. 
Drew had to take some pictures to show off all of the food in our newly redone kitchen and dining room.
My cousin, Austin. 
Drew got some new grilling tools. Yay!!
Ahhhh, Matt and Sheena! You're just so gosh darn cute!! 
If the attention that my mom gave to Leo is any indication of how she'll be once we have kids, that kid will never get put down, nor will it be starved for attention. 
I had such a great time playing hostess this year. I can't wait to do it again!
My cousin, Jenna and my sister, Rachel. Both such gorgeous girls!
My grandma and me. 
Drew had to take some pictures to show off all of the food in our newly redone kitchen and dining room.
My cousin, Austin. 
Drew got some new grilling tools. Yay!!
Ahhhh, Matt and Sheena! You're just so gosh darn cute!! 
If the attention that my mom gave to Leo is any indication of how she'll be once we have kids, that kid will never get put down, nor will it be starved for attention. 
I had such a great time playing hostess this year. I can't wait to do it again!Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Clinquant / KLING-kunt / adjective
1. Glittering with gold or silver; tinseled.
noun:
1. Tinsel; imitation gold leaf.
Leaves flicker celadon in the spring, viridian in summer, clinquant in fall, tallying the sovereign seasons, graying and greening to reiterate the message of snow and sun.
-- Ann Zwinger, Beyond the Aspen Grove
The room had a twelve-foot high ceiling: hanging from it, four dimly lit antique brass chandeliers cast a clinquant glow on this sunless day.
-- Sally Koslow, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel
The water, turned clinquant by the sunset, lay rather than stood.
-- William Least Heat-Moon, River-Horse: The Logbook of a Boat Across America
1. Glittering with gold or silver; tinseled.
noun:
1. Tinsel; imitation gold leaf.
Leaves flicker celadon in the spring, viridian in summer, clinquant in fall, tallying the sovereign seasons, graying and greening to reiterate the message of snow and sun.
-- Ann Zwinger, Beyond the Aspen Grove
The room had a twelve-foot high ceiling: hanging from it, four dimly lit antique brass chandeliers cast a clinquant glow on this sunless day.
-- Sally Koslow, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel
The water, turned clinquant by the sunset, lay rather than stood.
-- William Least Heat-Moon, River-Horse: The Logbook of a Boat Across America
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Hee-Woman!
If it keeps snowing . . . .
(which, let's face it, it will, because we live in northern Illinois)
and I keep shoveling the driveway . . . .
(which, let's face it, I probably will because I'm too nice)
I'm going to have some serious muscles!
(which, let's face it, it will, because we live in northern Illinois)
and I keep shoveling the driveway . . . .
(which, let's face it, I probably will because I'm too nice)
I'm going to have some serious muscles!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Doff / DOF / transitive verb
1. To take off, as an article of clothing
2. To tip or remove (one's hat).
3. To put aside; to rid oneself of.
After I finished sweeping, I grabbed my check, went to the locker room, and doffed the monkey suit, slipped into my jeans, sneakers and T-shirt and broke camp.
-- Reginald McKnight, White Boys: Stories
Any moment now and Max Linder would ride out from around the corner on a pair of white horses, fire blanks at a passing beauty, and doff his top hat to hide his face from the policeman.
-- Nina Berberova, The Book of Happiness
Benny doffed his cap grandly.
-- Thomas Maier, Dr. Spock: An American Life
And he became as a pillar of fire to superannuated peoples who had but to doff the lethargy of custom to find themselves young.
-- J. F. A. Pyre, "Byron in Our Day", The Atlantic, April 1907
1. To take off, as an article of clothing
2. To tip or remove (one's hat).
3. To put aside; to rid oneself of.
After I finished sweeping, I grabbed my check, went to the locker room, and doffed the monkey suit, slipped into my jeans, sneakers and T-shirt and broke camp.
-- Reginald McKnight, White Boys: Stories
Any moment now and Max Linder would ride out from around the corner on a pair of white horses, fire blanks at a passing beauty, and doff his top hat to hide his face from the policeman.
-- Nina Berberova, The Book of Happiness
Benny doffed his cap grandly.
-- Thomas Maier, Dr. Spock: An American Life
And he became as a pillar of fire to superannuated peoples who had but to doff the lethargy of custom to find themselves young.
-- J. F. A. Pyre, "Byron in Our Day", The Atlantic, April 1907
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
I am finally getting around to doing a recap of our trip to Georgia for Thanksgiving. We left on Tuesday around 12:30 PM once we had both skipped out of work. We drove like little bats out of hell and made the 788 mile trip in 11 hours. I have never been so happy to see an end destination in my life! We visited with Eric, Jess, and Drew (Jen had already gone to bed) for a little bit before heading to bed.
We both slept in kinda late on Wednesday. My Drew spent the day helping the other Drew do some stuff to his car. That evening, us girls went to see New Moon at the movie theater. This was a HUGE deal for me! I hadn't been to a movie theater in over 3 years. And Drew and I have never been to the movie theater together. Amazing, I know. Anyway, I broke my streak and we went to see a movie.
Thanksgiving morning is when we do the Gobble Job. It's a 5k/10k that is sponsored by Must Ministries (I think).
Lots o' people!
Drew and I are sadly out of shape. And not to mention, that walk was the first time I had done anything sorta strenuous since the surgery. And they had us trudging up some sorta steep hills! I'm proud.
Friday was some more bumming around the house. The Drew's worked on the car some more. Then, us girls went shopping. I couldn't complain.
We both slept in kinda late on Wednesday. My Drew spent the day helping the other Drew do some stuff to his car. That evening, us girls went to see New Moon at the movie theater. This was a HUGE deal for me! I hadn't been to a movie theater in over 3 years. And Drew and I have never been to the movie theater together. Amazing, I know. Anyway, I broke my streak and we went to see a movie.
Thanksgiving morning is when we do the Gobble Job. It's a 5k/10k that is sponsored by Must Ministries (I think).
Lots o' people!
Drew and I are sadly out of shape. And not to mention, that walk was the first time I had done anything sorta strenuous since the surgery. And they had us trudging up some sorta steep hills! I'm proud.
Friday was some more bumming around the house. The Drew's worked on the car some more. Then, us girls went shopping. I couldn't complain.On Saturday, Drew, Jen, and Emma went to go visit some of her family in Alabama, so Eric and Jess took us around Atlanta.
We went to Centennial Park and spent a whole bunch of time there. Of course, I wanted a picture in the fountain.
We start to try and get out and it's really nerve-wracking! You never know when those fountains are going to squirt up. So, Eric, who took the picture, walks over and points to a fountain and says, "This one didn't squirt the whole time I was taking pictures. I think it's broken." Can you guess what happened the minute that Drew went to step over it?
The CNN building is located right by the park, so we went inside for a little bit. They offer tours, but we didn't really want to do that.
It was so wonderful to be able to see friends and family for the holidays. And now, it's not too much longer until we see them again for Christmas and New Years. Yay!!!
We went to Centennial Park and spent a whole bunch of time there. Of course, I wanted a picture in the fountain.
We start to try and get out and it's really nerve-wracking! You never know when those fountains are going to squirt up. So, Eric, who took the picture, walks over and points to a fountain and says, "This one didn't squirt the whole time I was taking pictures. I think it's broken." Can you guess what happened the minute that Drew went to step over it?
The CNN building is located right by the park, so we went inside for a little bit. They offer tours, but we didn't really want to do that.
On Sunday, Drew and I left bright and early to begin our trek home. I was excited to be able to go through the mountains in the day light. Well... early morning light!
It was so wonderful to be able to see friends and family for the holidays. And now, it's not too much longer until we see them again for Christmas and New Years. Yay!!!We're Cool Homeowners!
We got our first snowfall recently, so, of course, we had to shovel the driveway for the first time as homeowners.
Aren't we so cool?
And you can even use this picture as a before picture. We're painting the kitchen and dining room! We're hosting the Christmas Eve party for my side of the family and we figured that we needed to at least paint the kitchen and dining room before everybody comes over. As of right now, the kitchen is finished and work has begun on the dining room. Here's a before of the dining room.
Aren't we so cool?And you can even use this picture as a before picture. We're painting the kitchen and dining room! We're hosting the Christmas Eve party for my side of the family and we figured that we needed to at least paint the kitchen and dining room before everybody comes over. As of right now, the kitchen is finished and work has begun on the dining room. Here's a before of the dining room.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Ratiocination / rash-ee-ah-suh-NAY-shun; rash-ee-oh- / noun
The process of logical reasoning.
For all their vaunted powers of rationcination, grand masters of chess tend to be a skittery lot.
-- "People", Time, October 26, 1987
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes proved so popular that it became a given that mystery tales should include a sleuth who investigates a murder or other crime, and by virtue of intelligence, ratiocination and perseverance solves a case that initially seemed unsolvable.
-- Maxim Jakubowski, "A beginner's guide to crime fiction", The Guardian, October 29, 1999
Anticipation Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by more than 20 years, an American physician named John Babbington Williams was scribbling stories extolling the fictional exploits of James Brampton, a New York detective with uncanny gifts of observation and ratiocination.
-- Marilyn Stasio, "Guilt's Companion", New York Times, December 26, 2008
The process of logical reasoning.
For all their vaunted powers of rationcination, grand masters of chess tend to be a skittery lot.
-- "People", Time, October 26, 1987
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes proved so popular that it became a given that mystery tales should include a sleuth who investigates a murder or other crime, and by virtue of intelligence, ratiocination and perseverance solves a case that initially seemed unsolvable.
-- Maxim Jakubowski, "A beginner's guide to crime fiction", The Guardian, October 29, 1999
Anticipation Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by more than 20 years, an American physician named John Babbington Williams was scribbling stories extolling the fictional exploits of James Brampton, a New York detective with uncanny gifts of observation and ratiocination.
-- Marilyn Stasio, "Guilt's Companion", New York Times, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
I Have An Excuse This Time
Have you wondered where I've been? I've been a little more MIA than usual. The last time I was here I told you that Drew and I were going to Georgia for Thanksgiving. While we were in Georgia, the guys decided that they would try and fix the computer.
Yeah, that didn't exactly go as planned.
They did some defraging and then suddenly we needed a password to sign onto the computer. We've never had a password. And we couldn't guess what the computer decided to magically make it either. We have a friend who is quite the computer genius and said that she would fix it as soon as we got home.
The minute we got home last Sunday I made Drew take the computer over there. She couldn't hack into it, and after having the computer for a week, realized that the hard drive was completely dead. And she couldn't get anything off of it. We lost everything on there! All of our documents and most importantly, our pictures. Words cannot express how upset I am about this.
Needless to say, we have a lot of work to get our computer back to where it was. And, we've started to paint our kitchen and dining room to get it ready for my family to come over on Christmas Eve. I'm overwhelmed!
I promise to recap our trip to Georgia, it just may take a little while. Bear with me!
Yeah, that didn't exactly go as planned.
They did some defraging and then suddenly we needed a password to sign onto the computer. We've never had a password. And we couldn't guess what the computer decided to magically make it either. We have a friend who is quite the computer genius and said that she would fix it as soon as we got home.
The minute we got home last Sunday I made Drew take the computer over there. She couldn't hack into it, and after having the computer for a week, realized that the hard drive was completely dead. And she couldn't get anything off of it. We lost everything on there! All of our documents and most importantly, our pictures. Words cannot express how upset I am about this.
Needless to say, we have a lot of work to get our computer back to where it was. And, we've started to paint our kitchen and dining room to get it ready for my family to come over on Christmas Eve. I'm overwhelmed!
I promise to recap our trip to Georgia, it just may take a little while. Bear with me!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Myrmidon / MUR-muh-don; -duhn / noun
1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question.
He risked assassination, torture or . . . retaliation, the defining signatures of Mr. Milosevic and his ultranationalist myrmidons.
-- Bruce Fein, "Follow U.S. war crimes advice?", Washington Times, May 10, 2001
I felt quie sure that the myrmidon on duty in Gadsby Row would tell you all about my visit.
-- Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison
The best hotel, and all its culinary myrmidons, were set to work to prepare the feast.
-- Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question.
He risked assassination, torture or . . . retaliation, the defining signatures of Mr. Milosevic and his ultranationalist myrmidons.
-- Bruce Fein, "Follow U.S. war crimes advice?", Washington Times, May 10, 2001
I felt quie sure that the myrmidon on duty in Gadsby Row would tell you all about my visit.
-- Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison
The best hotel, and all its culinary myrmidons, were set to work to prepare the feast.
-- Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Provender / PROV-uhn-duhr / noun
1. Dry food for domestic animals, such as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed.
2. Food or provisions.
It turns out that he and thousands of other German immigrants have been acting as pre-invasion intelligence-gatherers, ensuring that "the German Army knew almost to a bale of hay what provender lay between London and the coast."
-- Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War
Frances Trollope, Captain Marryat, Colonel Basil Hall and Charles Dickens in 1842 all commented on the way Americans wolfed down their provender as fast as possible, cramming the cornbread in their sloppy maws and, worse, doing so in grim silence, punctuated only by noise of slurps, grunts; scraping knives and hacking coughs.
-- Simon Schama, "Them and US", The Guardian, March 29, 2003
1. Dry food for domestic animals, such as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed.
2. Food or provisions.
It turns out that he and thousands of other German immigrants have been acting as pre-invasion intelligence-gatherers, ensuring that "the German Army knew almost to a bale of hay what provender lay between London and the coast."
-- Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War
Frances Trollope, Captain Marryat, Colonel Basil Hall and Charles Dickens in 1842 all commented on the way Americans wolfed down their provender as fast as possible, cramming the cornbread in their sloppy maws and, worse, doing so in grim silence, punctuated only by noise of slurps, grunts; scraping knives and hacking coughs.
-- Simon Schama, "Them and US", The Guardian, March 29, 2003
Saturday, November 21, 2009
No More Secrets
If you remember here, I told you that I had a lot going on, but I couldn't reveal anything just yet. Well, the time has come. I can spill the beans.
As you probably know, I've worked at a bank since July 2007. I have never really enjoyed my job there. I enjoyed the work, but I, in no way, enjoyed the sales aspect of it. Hated it actually! Guess what? I got a new job. I was offered the position in September and have just been working both jobs since they are both part time.
Drew and I have decided that we want to go to Georgia for Thanksgiving again this year. We went in 2007, but we weren't able to go last year because of the wedding. Once I found out that the new job gave us the day after Thanksgiving off, we decided that we simply couldn't miss it again this year.
I worked my last day at the bank yesterday. It's sad to leave, but good to move on. I was promised to go full time in December at the new job. But have recently found out that it may not happen until January now. But we knew that, right? Companies always make promises and very rarely follow through. Oh, what I wouldn't give to work for a company that actually said what they meant and meant what they said.
As you probably know, I've worked at a bank since July 2007. I have never really enjoyed my job there. I enjoyed the work, but I, in no way, enjoyed the sales aspect of it. Hated it actually! Guess what? I got a new job. I was offered the position in September and have just been working both jobs since they are both part time.
Drew and I have decided that we want to go to Georgia for Thanksgiving again this year. We went in 2007, but we weren't able to go last year because of the wedding. Once I found out that the new job gave us the day after Thanksgiving off, we decided that we simply couldn't miss it again this year.
I worked my last day at the bank yesterday. It's sad to leave, but good to move on. I was promised to go full time in December at the new job. But have recently found out that it may not happen until January now. But we knew that, right? Companies always make promises and very rarely follow through. Oh, what I wouldn't give to work for a company that actually said what they meant and meant what they said.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Exegesis / ek-suh-JEE-sis / noun
plural exegeses / -seez /
Exposition; explanation; especially, a critical explanation of a text.
It is a fiercely argued exegesis of Shakespeare's plays in the tradition of Samuel Johnson, Hazlitt and A. C. Bradley, a study that is as passionate as it is erudite.
-- Michiko Kakutani, "Vast Shakespearean Drama With All People as Players", New York Times, October 27, 1998
These are tightly argued, crisp exercises in literary and cultural exegesis which make perfectly clear the brilliant patterns of language and oftentimes strained analogic thinking of the poets.
-- review of Made in America, by Lisa M. Steinman, in the Journal of Modern Literature
No variety of love is too trivial for exegesis. No aspect of love is so ridiculous that it hasn't been exhaustively reviewed by the great thinkers, the great artists, and the great hosts of daytime talk shows.
-- P. J. O'Rourke, Eat the Rich
Their works are the subject of innumerable analyses, exegeses, seminars, and doctoral theses.
-- Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont, Fashionable Nonsense
plural exegeses / -seez /
Exposition; explanation; especially, a critical explanation of a text.
It is a fiercely argued exegesis of Shakespeare's plays in the tradition of Samuel Johnson, Hazlitt and A. C. Bradley, a study that is as passionate as it is erudite.
-- Michiko Kakutani, "Vast Shakespearean Drama With All People as Players", New York Times, October 27, 1998
These are tightly argued, crisp exercises in literary and cultural exegesis which make perfectly clear the brilliant patterns of language and oftentimes strained analogic thinking of the poets.
-- review of Made in America, by Lisa M. Steinman, in the Journal of Modern Literature
No variety of love is too trivial for exegesis. No aspect of love is so ridiculous that it hasn't been exhaustively reviewed by the great thinkers, the great artists, and the great hosts of daytime talk shows.
-- P. J. O'Rourke, Eat the Rich
Their works are the subject of innumerable analyses, exegeses, seminars, and doctoral theses.
-- Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont, Fashionable Nonsense
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Could It Really Be Over?
Last Thursday, November 5, Drew and I went back to the doctor for a follow up appointment after my surgery. I don't think that I had ever been so excited to go to the doctor. I never got the opportunity to talk to her after the surgery, so I was anxious to hear things from her and to be able to ask some of the questions that I had been having.
Dr. H showed me the pictures that she took during the surgery. Boy, were those interesting! I honestly had no idea what I was looking at, but she went through them and pointed out things to Drew and me. I basically just took her word for it. She showed me the spots where I have endometriosis. She said that I have Stage 4, which is the worse there is. She discussed with me everything that she told Drew and my mom after the surgery. We basically decided that doing continuous birth control to stop my periods would be the best decision for right now. She told me that I had to wait until the Sunday after my next period to start. Dr. H then said that I would probably have one more bad period then.
I am extremely happy to report that I am finishing up my cycle and I was not sick at all. Not even a little bit!!! This is such good news to me. That also means that I'll be taking my first birth control pill tonight.
I'm really nervous about it. The pharmacy tech said that I would probably be nauseous with it, so it would be best to take it at night so that I could sleep through it. I'm just praying that God lays his hand over and protects me. I don't want to feel sick anymore from all this stuff. I just want to feel better, normal.
I want to say a huge thank you to all of my family and friends who have called or written to see how I've been feeling. I can't express to you how much it has meant to me!
Dr. H showed me the pictures that she took during the surgery. Boy, were those interesting! I honestly had no idea what I was looking at, but she went through them and pointed out things to Drew and me. I basically just took her word for it. She showed me the spots where I have endometriosis. She said that I have Stage 4, which is the worse there is. She discussed with me everything that she told Drew and my mom after the surgery. We basically decided that doing continuous birth control to stop my periods would be the best decision for right now. She told me that I had to wait until the Sunday after my next period to start. Dr. H then said that I would probably have one more bad period then.
I am extremely happy to report that I am finishing up my cycle and I was not sick at all. Not even a little bit!!! This is such good news to me. That also means that I'll be taking my first birth control pill tonight.
I'm really nervous about it. The pharmacy tech said that I would probably be nauseous with it, so it would be best to take it at night so that I could sleep through it. I'm just praying that God lays his hand over and protects me. I don't want to feel sick anymore from all this stuff. I just want to feel better, normal.
I want to say a huge thank you to all of my family and friends who have called or written to see how I've been feeling. I can't express to you how much it has meant to me!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Forfend / for-FEND / transitive verb
also forefend
1. a. (Archaic) To prohibit; to forbid.
b. To ward off; to prevent; to avert.
2. To defend; to protect; to preserve.
The Tory leader sort of wanted to say that the government should deploy the army more rapidly, but -- heaven forfend -- he didn't want to imply that it was anybody's fault that the soldiers hadn't been deployed!
-- Simon Hoggart, "A greasy whiff dispels the stench of worthiness", Guardian, March 22, 2001
If one of us is missing, heaven forfend, then the king's forces are diminished.
-- Leon Wieseltier, Kaddish
The river of discovery will continue to flow without cessation, deepening our understanding of the world and enhancing our capacity to forfend calamity and live congenial lives.
-- John Maddox, What Remains To Be Discovered
also forefend
1. a. (Archaic) To prohibit; to forbid.
b. To ward off; to prevent; to avert.
2. To defend; to protect; to preserve.
The Tory leader sort of wanted to say that the government should deploy the army more rapidly, but -- heaven forfend -- he didn't want to imply that it was anybody's fault that the soldiers hadn't been deployed!
-- Simon Hoggart, "A greasy whiff dispels the stench of worthiness", Guardian, March 22, 2001
If one of us is missing, heaven forfend, then the king's forces are diminished.
-- Leon Wieseltier, Kaddish
The river of discovery will continue to flow without cessation, deepening our understanding of the world and enhancing our capacity to forfend calamity and live congenial lives.
-- John Maddox, What Remains To Be Discovered
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Skulduggery / skul-DUG-uh-ree / noun
also skullduggery
Devious, dishonest, or unscrupulous behavior or activity; also: an instance thereof.
And then the inquests, and the coroner's reports, and the hints of diplomatic cover-ups, and skulduggery in high places.
-- Hilary Mantel, Eight Months on Ghazzah Street
Laptop theft was the third most common electonic skulduggery, behind viruses (84 percent) and unauthorized employee use of computers and software (78 percent), according to the survery by the Computer Security Institute in San Francisco.
-- Michael Cooper, "Low Tech Joins the Fights Against High-Tech Theft", New York Times, April 23, 1998
For instance, the Federal Trade Commission already goes after some kindsof Internet skulduggery, like selling products that promise more than they deliver.
-- David Stout, "New Internet Anti-Fraud Center Announced by Attorney General", New York Times, May 9, 2000
also skullduggery
Devious, dishonest, or unscrupulous behavior or activity; also: an instance thereof.
And then the inquests, and the coroner's reports, and the hints of diplomatic cover-ups, and skulduggery in high places.
-- Hilary Mantel, Eight Months on Ghazzah Street
Laptop theft was the third most common electonic skulduggery, behind viruses (84 percent) and unauthorized employee use of computers and software (78 percent), according to the survery by the Computer Security Institute in San Francisco.
-- Michael Cooper, "Low Tech Joins the Fights Against High-Tech Theft", New York Times, April 23, 1998
For instance, the Federal Trade Commission already goes after some kindsof Internet skulduggery, like selling products that promise more than they deliver.
-- David Stout, "New Internet Anti-Fraud Center Announced by Attorney General", New York Times, May 9, 2000
Sunday, November 1, 2009
I'm Still Whole
I thought that I should probably recap surgery and let everyone know what happened.
We arrived at the hospital bright and early at 7 AM. We checked in and were given a pager. Drew and I sat and waited for about 10 minutes and then a nurse came and brought us back to hospital "cubicle". It was a 3 walled room with a curtain, a bed, and a bunch of machines. The nurse had me change into one of the stylish operating gowns and then we played the waiting game.
After about an hour, another nurse came in and hooked up my IV. It was my first time ever having an IV. Obviously, it was Drew's first time too!
After the IV got hooked up, I had to just lay around and wait. Before that, I was pacing and couldn't sit still. There must have been something in there to calm me down!
Surgery was scheduled to begin at 9 AM, but wouldn't you know it, they were running late. Dr. H came in to talk to us about what she was planning on doing. It was nothing new. Then, the anesthesiologist came and talked to me about what he would be doing. His name was Dr. Bone. I told Drew that I hoped he was hot with a name like that. He was older, which was ok by me. I'd much rather have a seasoned veteran knocking me out than some young buck fresh out of diapers.
We arrived at the hospital bright and early at 7 AM. We checked in and were given a pager. Drew and I sat and waited for about 10 minutes and then a nurse came and brought us back to hospital "cubicle". It was a 3 walled room with a curtain, a bed, and a bunch of machines. The nurse had me change into one of the stylish operating gowns and then we played the waiting game.
After about an hour, another nurse came in and hooked up my IV. It was my first time ever having an IV. Obviously, it was Drew's first time too!
After the IV got hooked up, I had to just lay around and wait. Before that, I was pacing and couldn't sit still. There must have been something in there to calm me down!
Surgery was scheduled to begin at 9 AM, but wouldn't you know it, they were running late. Dr. H came in to talk to us about what she was planning on doing. It was nothing new. Then, the anesthesiologist came and talked to me about what he would be doing. His name was Dr. Bone. I told Drew that I hoped he was hot with a name like that. He was older, which was ok by me. I'd much rather have a seasoned veteran knocking me out than some young buck fresh out of diapers. A new nurse came to get me and wheel me back to the operating room. I was actually pretty calm. Again, there must have been something in that IV! She wheeled me into the room and introduced the other two nurses that were in there. I didn't have my contacts in or my glasses on at this point, so I was blind. I saw people, but I wouldn't be able to pick them out now. The nurse wheeled my bed up right next to the operating table and had me scoot over onto it. She untied my gown and it was absolutely freezing in there!!! She starting sticking heart monitors on me that didn't help my goosebumps. The anesthesiologist put a blood pressure cuff on and I remember telling them that I was sorry that I was shaking so bad and that I was cold and nervous. Dr. Bone said that it was ok because they weren't nervous at all. Good thing Doc! Dr. H came into the room then and I felt a poking in my IV. Dr. Bone then stated that I would be going to sleep. I looked up at the lights and remember thinking that I needed to be sure to keep my eyes open because I didn't want them to think that I was asleep but not really be asleep.
The next thing I remember was waking up and asking how long I had been asleep for. I told them that I felt like I had been dreaming. Then, I started coughing. I had a breathing tube during surgery and it made me feel like I had a frog in my throat. I kept coughing and clearing my throat. So annoying! I woke up in the recovery room and immediately asked for something to drink. The nurse that was attending me brought me ice chips and kept asking every two seconds if I was nauseous. I said no and open my mouth for more ice. I could not stop coughing. I asked for a drink, but that wasn't happening apparently. After being asked about 20 times if I was nauseous and proving that I was awake and coherent, I was wheeled to the post surgery "cubicle".
A new nurse was in there and asked if I was in pain. I actually wasn't too bad, but I knew better than to wait. I said yes, and she told me that she would be bringing me an oral pain med and asked what I wanted to drink. Um..... just wheel the entire pop machine in my room please! I asked for Sierra Mist and was told that I needed to eat some crackers with the pain meds. Graham crackers were my choice. Honestly... best graham crackers ever! (Keep in mind that it was the first solid food I had had since Saturday.) Once the new nurse had me checked in, she called for my mom and Drew to come back.
Drew and my mom waited in the waiting room during surgery. They have a screen in there that told me where I was the entire time during surgery. They could see what time surgery prep started, what time surgery started, what time surgery ended, and when I left recovery.
They came back, and then we just waited for me to get discharged. We probably spent an hour and a half to two hours waiting for me to get discharged. I actually felt pretty good. Until I sat up to get dressed. The doctor had to use air to puff up my abdomen during surgery. The air has no where to go after surgery, but rise. The minute I sat up, the air rose straight to my shoulder and almost brought me to tears. It hurt.so.bad. On the drive home, the air was in my ribs and I could hardly breathe. It was not fun.
Once home, I basically just laid around. I mean, what else was I going to do. And I laid around on Wednesday and Thursday too. Friday, I finally felt like I could stand up for an extended period of time without falling over, so I decided to take a shower. Best.shower.ever!! I felt like a whole new woman. I felt good yesterday too and had a good time handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters. We even went to Adam and Nicole's for their Halloween Party.
I have two incisions, one right under my belly button and one right on my pubic bone. Neither one are very pretty right now. I do still have all of my organs!
Dr. H talked to Drew and my mom after surgery and she said that my right ovary was stuck to some tissue and other organs, so she unstuck that. She said that that was probably contributing to my pain during my period. My left tube was filled with fluid, so she drained that. She said that she doesn't think that it will ever work. I do have a large amount of endometriosis and she cleaned up some of it. Dr. H said that I'm at high risk of a tubal pregnancy, so I will have to be monitored very closely if and when I become pregnant. That is still a little ways off for Drew and I.
I have two options at this point. First is to be put on a medicine that will basically put me into menopause. Dr. H does not recommend this option because I could only be on it for a short amount of time and it wears away at bone density. I'm already small, so that's not a good choice. The second is birth control that will stop my period. It always seems to come back to the birth control doesn't it? I don't want to choose that route, but if it's going to keep me healthy and painfree until Drew and I decided to try for a baby, then so be it. We have an appointment on Thursday with Dr. H where I'm sure we will be discussing things.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween 2009
Drew and I went to Adam and Nicole's tonight for their Halloween Party. I actually felt pretty good and made it through the party. Here are pictures of some of the people who dressed up.
Amanda was a left over and Josh was a Smurf.
Stephanie and Nicole were 80's workout chicks. Steph's leotard cracked me up. It was a thong in the front and in the back. Awesome!
Dawn was Big Bird. Such a neat costume!!
Her husband, Dan, was Michael Jackson.
Jono, a guy that Drew and Adam know, was some singer guy from Judas Priest. You can't see in the picture, but he had stuffed his pants so it looked like he had a rather large member. Hilarious!!
And last, but not least, my husband. He ran to K-Mart at 4:30 and bought whatever he could find. He paired that with his FrigiWear and instant costume! 
We had trick-or-treaters at the house, so we don't have to put it up for sale. I had joked that if we didn't get any, I would be putting it on the market the next day.
Amanda was a left over and Josh was a Smurf.
Stephanie and Nicole were 80's workout chicks. Steph's leotard cracked me up. It was a thong in the front and in the back. Awesome!
Dawn was Big Bird. Such a neat costume!!
Her husband, Dan, was Michael Jackson.
Jono, a guy that Drew and Adam know, was some singer guy from Judas Priest. You can't see in the picture, but he had stuffed his pants so it looked like he had a rather large member. Hilarious!!
And last, but not least, my husband. He ran to K-Mart at 4:30 and bought whatever he could find. He paired that with his FrigiWear and instant costume! 
We had trick-or-treaters at the house, so we don't have to put it up for sale. I had joked that if we didn't get any, I would be putting it on the market the next day. Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday's Word
Conflate / Kuhn-FLAYT / transitive verb
1. To bring together; to fuse together; to join or meld.
2. To combine (as two readings of a text) into one whole.
Scott Reynolds's creepy debut feature [film] conflates the present and the past with ingenious use of flashbacks.
-- Anne Billson, "Bent beneath the weight of its own righteousness", Sunday Telegraph, March 1, 1998
Painting America as a drug-ridden society leads to bad policy -- as does the tendency in some quarters to conflate the various drug abuses into a single dreadful statistic.
-- William Raspberry, "Not a Drug-Ridden Society", Washington Post, April 21, 2000
. . .lean and mobile military units that conflate the traditional categories of police officers, commandos, emergency-relief specialists, diplomats, and, of course, intelligence officers.
-- Robert D. Kaplan, "The roles of the CIA and the military may merge", The Atlantic, February 1998
1. To bring together; to fuse together; to join or meld.
2. To combine (as two readings of a text) into one whole.
Scott Reynolds's creepy debut feature [film] conflates the present and the past with ingenious use of flashbacks.
-- Anne Billson, "Bent beneath the weight of its own righteousness", Sunday Telegraph, March 1, 1998
Painting America as a drug-ridden society leads to bad policy -- as does the tendency in some quarters to conflate the various drug abuses into a single dreadful statistic.
-- William Raspberry, "Not a Drug-Ridden Society", Washington Post, April 21, 2000
. . .lean and mobile military units that conflate the traditional categories of police officers, commandos, emergency-relief specialists, diplomats, and, of course, intelligence officers.
-- Robert D. Kaplan, "The roles of the CIA and the military may merge", The Atlantic, February 1998
Saturday, October 24, 2009
One Year Anniversary
Since Drew and I can't go to dinner tomorrow night, we decided to move our celebration up one night. We ran some errands this afternoon, picked up all of my clear liquids, and went to Red Lobster for dinner.
Drew introduced me to seafood while we were on the cruise in 2007. I feel in love with so many new items that I would never have tried if it wasn't for that cruise. One of my particular favorites is crab cakes. I absolutely love them!! When Drew and I decided that we weren't going to be going to JMK, we decided to go to Red Lobster, and that made me just as happy. Drew indulged in endless shrimp and I, of course, had crab cakes. Don't worry though, I helped him eat some shrimp! I needed to be sure to stuff myself good and full because it will be the last good meal I eat until at least Tuesday afternoon. (And as long as my stomach will let me, McDonald's chicken nuggets will be the first thing that I request.)
After dinner, we came home and popped open some champagne so that we could toast our first year of marriage.
It is so amazing to me how quickly this year has flown by. It's unreal. We've definitely had some challenges, and lots of ups and downs. But we've also had so many joys too! I am so blessed to be Drew's wife. I love him more and more everyday and I look forward to what our next years will bring us.
Happy Anniversary Drew!
Liquified
Surgery on Tuesday is barreling towards me. The doctor's office called me yesterday and told me that they want me to start a clear liquid diet starting tomorrow morning until surgery.
I am allowed to have:
I am allowed to have:- Coffee with no cream or sugar. I don't drink coffee. At all. Next option
- Soda, but it can't be diet or red.
- Jello
- Juice, not red and no pulp
- Soup broth
Sounds scrumptious, doesn't it? I was an emotional wreck yesterday after the doctor's office called. As you know, it's our anniversary tomorrow, and we had plans to go to JMK for dinner. Well, now dinner can't be done because I'm stuck on this stupid clear liquid diet. That, compiling with everything else that has been going on, and I was a mess of tears all morning.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Best.Husband.Ever!!!
As I'm sure you lovely readers know, our anniversary is coming up. I had to work at the bank until 6 tonight. I came home, walked in the living room, and greeted my husband. I then started to head back to the bedroom to do what I do every night when I get home from the bank. Put my pajamas on! I started calling for Simon because I saw him when I walked in, but then he ran away. I didn't see him in the hallway and figured he was in the bedroom. As I approached the bedroom, I heard a squeaking and wondered what Simon was doing. I flipped the light on in the bedroom and was greeted by the cutest little kitten in a cage! Drew got me a kitten for my anniversary present!!!!!
Drew got him from one of his co-workers. He is 8 weeks old today.
And he is crazy!! Watch the video that we took of him. He does more playing in the kitty litter than anything else.
Drew got him from one of his co-workers. He is 8 weeks old today.
And he is crazy!! Watch the video that we took of him. He does more playing in the kitty litter than anything else. I am totally in love with him. We haven't decided on a name yet. We're leaning towards George because it kinda sounds like orange. We're fans of naming our pets "normal" names. That way I don't feel like a loser shouting Fluffy or Nugget (Mom!) to our pet. Any suggestions?
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