I'll be back tomorrow to catch up on your blogs!
Wanna know what's sad?
Scoring the bottom floor room and getting excited on vacation being a million degrees cooler than home...only to realize its the basement with no air vents or even fans.
The little man being big enough to ride rides at the amusement part by himself.
The princess being too big to ride the little kid rides.
My dad almost getting beat up by the dude at the garbage dump.
The whole family going to bed before 10 PM.
Leaving half a bottle of wine untouched.
Clients calling Jay at 11 PM. (Thankfully he didn't answer...last night.)
Going home and getting back to the real world.
Now the countdown begins for Jay & my vacation alone in Myrtle Beach!!
June 22, 2010
June 21, 2010
A tribute to my father
Shopping for Father’s day cards is difficult.
On one end of things, I never had a “traditional” (or at least what the card companies would have you think) relationship with my dad. I never really saw him pray or read his Bible. We never picked flowers in the back yard together. He was never the kind to hug a lot.
He worked hard to support the family, changed the oil in my car, fix (then break & fix again) appliances around the house. He is a hard working man’s man, who loved us although figuring out how to show us was a challenge. He was raised by parents from a generation where men didn’t cry and they certainly didn’t say “I love you.”
Its frustrating shopping for a card when the sappy relationship is the image of a father/daughter relationship being put out there. If you’ve been a reader of mine a while, you’ll remember that I had to work around this same thing for the father/daughter dance at our wedding reception.
I teased him by having the DJ play the opening chores to “Butterfly Kisses” then there was a record scratch and then the song “Almost home” by Craig Morgan. Nothing says father/daughter bonding like a song about a homeless man that just wants to die.
However macabre, that is “our song” – I’ve made fun of him for crying at a song which obvious tries (IMHO) a little too hard to be poignant. To the point that I call him whenever I hear it, crank up the radio, and hold my cell phone to the speaker.
I want to be real. Have real memories, real moments. Not something Hallmark tells me I should feel for my dad.
I’m ashamed to admit that at times I haven’t been as proud of him as I should be. For most of my life he worked as an “Industrial Mechanic” at a car manufacturing plant, until the plant packed up and moved to another state.
He’s since held a seasonal job as a custodial type worker for one of the nearby City’s parks & rec department. He would cut grass, when needed. Mostly it was his responsibility to keep the park tables cleaned off and the bathrooms cleaned.
His current job is with a sister city’s street department. In the winter he’s constantly on call – he has a route he’s assigned to snow plow and has to go in whenever we have a big snow. Otherwise its pouring asphalt and other general street/sidewalk maintenance.
When I first started dating Jay, I was ashamed of my dad’s job, ashamed of my upbringing. I knew Jay’s previous girlfriend was the daughter of a doctor – a man who threw wine tasting parties at his house often.
The only tasting done at my house was “corn from a jar” in our basement. (If you ever meet my father, I’d suggest bracing yourself if he offers you a cherry or other fruit in a jar.)
Somehow I thought his occupation made him less important. Less significant. Less impressive.
When you get right down to it, what’s more impressive than a man that’s knocking on the door of age 60 and can still hold his own doing manual labor with younger guys?
What’s more impressive than a man who, despite his lack of education beyond high school, used what resources were available to him to always make a steady living?
I can only think of one time that our family was at risk for going hungry, losing our house. That was when my father was told by his doctor that his abdominal pain was nothing, yet less than a day later his appendix ruptured. Shattered really. This one and only time he didn’t provide was when he was so sick he was close to death, and very literally couldn’t.
That’s dedication.
That’s love.
That’s impressive.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to share these thoughts with my father. I would never let him know that I had those traitorous thoughts…was ashamed with how he put food on the table.
So this year, I’ll once again go the humorous route, and thank him for teaching me all that he has.
My father’s day card to him this year:
On the front a picture of a small girl, wrench in hand, working on her bike. To the right there is a thought bubble with (%&#%^$^$%^#) inside.
Inside it says “what can I say, I learned from the best.”
What will go unsaid: Happy Father’s day. Maybe someday I’ll be able to articulate how appreciative I am for everything you’ve done for our family.
On one end of things, I never had a “traditional” (or at least what the card companies would have you think) relationship with my dad. I never really saw him pray or read his Bible. We never picked flowers in the back yard together. He was never the kind to hug a lot.
He worked hard to support the family, changed the oil in my car, fix (then break & fix again) appliances around the house. He is a hard working man’s man, who loved us although figuring out how to show us was a challenge. He was raised by parents from a generation where men didn’t cry and they certainly didn’t say “I love you.”
Its frustrating shopping for a card when the sappy relationship is the image of a father/daughter relationship being put out there. If you’ve been a reader of mine a while, you’ll remember that I had to work around this same thing for the father/daughter dance at our wedding reception.
I teased him by having the DJ play the opening chores to “Butterfly Kisses” then there was a record scratch and then the song “Almost home” by Craig Morgan. Nothing says father/daughter bonding like a song about a homeless man that just wants to die.
However macabre, that is “our song” – I’ve made fun of him for crying at a song which obvious tries (IMHO) a little too hard to be poignant. To the point that I call him whenever I hear it, crank up the radio, and hold my cell phone to the speaker.
I want to be real. Have real memories, real moments. Not something Hallmark tells me I should feel for my dad.
I’m ashamed to admit that at times I haven’t been as proud of him as I should be. For most of my life he worked as an “Industrial Mechanic” at a car manufacturing plant, until the plant packed up and moved to another state.
He’s since held a seasonal job as a custodial type worker for one of the nearby City’s parks & rec department. He would cut grass, when needed. Mostly it was his responsibility to keep the park tables cleaned off and the bathrooms cleaned.
His current job is with a sister city’s street department. In the winter he’s constantly on call – he has a route he’s assigned to snow plow and has to go in whenever we have a big snow. Otherwise its pouring asphalt and other general street/sidewalk maintenance.
When I first started dating Jay, I was ashamed of my dad’s job, ashamed of my upbringing. I knew Jay’s previous girlfriend was the daughter of a doctor – a man who threw wine tasting parties at his house often.
The only tasting done at my house was “corn from a jar” in our basement. (If you ever meet my father, I’d suggest bracing yourself if he offers you a cherry or other fruit in a jar.)
Somehow I thought his occupation made him less important. Less significant. Less impressive.
When you get right down to it, what’s more impressive than a man that’s knocking on the door of age 60 and can still hold his own doing manual labor with younger guys?
What’s more impressive than a man who, despite his lack of education beyond high school, used what resources were available to him to always make a steady living?
I can only think of one time that our family was at risk for going hungry, losing our house. That was when my father was told by his doctor that his abdominal pain was nothing, yet less than a day later his appendix ruptured. Shattered really. This one and only time he didn’t provide was when he was so sick he was close to death, and very literally couldn’t.
That’s dedication.
That’s love.
That’s impressive.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to share these thoughts with my father. I would never let him know that I had those traitorous thoughts…was ashamed with how he put food on the table.
So this year, I’ll once again go the humorous route, and thank him for teaching me all that he has.
My father’s day card to him this year:
On the front a picture of a small girl, wrench in hand, working on her bike. To the right there is a thought bubble with (%&#%^$^$%^#) inside.
Inside it says “what can I say, I learned from the best.”
What will go unsaid: Happy Father’s day. Maybe someday I’ll be able to articulate how appreciative I am for everything you’ve done for our family.
June 18, 2010
Has the Jury reached a verdict?
Your honor, we have...
not.
We need more time to deliberate, play with a few scenarios and then we'll get back to you.
That's pretty much how my doctor's appointment went yesterday.And I'm trilled about it! Haven't been this hopeful since the initial diagnosis.
No, he didn't drug me in order to make me okay with it either...read on!
He's doing some blood work (sending it off to Mayo so we'll have the results in 3 weeks or so) but in the mean time he's ordered B12 & Iron infusions. Every other day for two weeks. They'll make me feel better in the short term, and let us know if we need to do more digging.
He used the example of a cup. Right now my hemoglobin/iron cup isn't full. These infusions will fill me back up. If there is a leak in the cup (internal bleeding) my numbers will go back down. In that case I'll have to swallow a capsule with a camera in it to take pictures of my small intestine to see if the bleeding is there.
If my numbers go up and stay up, then something along the way just knocked the cup over and the contents were spilled. No harm, no foul. No real reason to investigate further. Who really cares which of your little brats knocked over the grape juice, as long as it gets cleaned up properly?
The best part? I explained to him about my training going down hill in March/April and how I was anxious to get back at it. He told me that the guy he had just seen was a VIP in the K-town track club. "Its funny that today is my day to see athletes."
Yep - you got it. He called me an athlete. A medical professional considers me an athlete.
I mean its cool and all when you reassure me that I'm one, but you're my friends. You have to say that!!
Then when I pushed him about when I could get back to my routine he said "Its just a few weeks. I won't hurt you to take it easy for a few weeks." That statement gave me hope. This is a small blip on my training schedule. So tiny I'll look back and have to think really hard what went on. Just a few weeks I can handle. Indefinitely was intimidating.
Another thing that made me feel good was the nurse asked if I had to nap when I got home after working a full day. Knowing my levels, she thought that could be a possibility. Not only do I not nap, I come home from work, cook dinner, do dishes, and sometimes other household choresbefore collapsing in bed at 9 o'clock.
It only reaffirms what I suspected after I learned I had completed a difficult marathon (very steep inclines) while anemic.
I'm a bad @$$ motha who don't take no crap off of nobody. (Cool Runnings anyone?)
They took about 6 viles of blood doing further testing, and one of the tests is for lead poisoning. That one is a little scary.
Doc: How old is your home?
Me: It was built in the 1890s.
Doc: Anything before 1970 could have lead in it, we need to test you for lead poisoning. How long have you lived there?
Me: We moved in a month before I started having symptoms. :-O
So there you have it. The summary of my day yesterday. Or at least the interesting part.
I'm very hopeful that the infusions will have me bouncing off the walls in no time!
not.
We need more time to deliberate, play with a few scenarios and then we'll get back to you.
That's pretty much how my doctor's appointment went yesterday.And I'm trilled about it! Haven't been this hopeful since the initial diagnosis.
No, he didn't drug me in order to make me okay with it either...read on!
He's doing some blood work (sending it off to Mayo so we'll have the results in 3 weeks or so) but in the mean time he's ordered B12 & Iron infusions. Every other day for two weeks. They'll make me feel better in the short term, and let us know if we need to do more digging.
He used the example of a cup. Right now my hemoglobin/iron cup isn't full. These infusions will fill me back up. If there is a leak in the cup (internal bleeding) my numbers will go back down. In that case I'll have to swallow a capsule with a camera in it to take pictures of my small intestine to see if the bleeding is there.
If my numbers go up and stay up, then something along the way just knocked the cup over and the contents were spilled. No harm, no foul. No real reason to investigate further. Who really cares which of your little brats knocked over the grape juice, as long as it gets cleaned up properly?
The best part? I explained to him about my training going down hill in March/April and how I was anxious to get back at it. He told me that the guy he had just seen was a VIP in the K-town track club. "Its funny that today is my day to see athletes."
Yep - you got it. He called me an athlete. A medical professional considers me an athlete.
I mean its cool and all when you reassure me that I'm one, but you're my friends. You have to say that!!
Then when I pushed him about when I could get back to my routine he said "Its just a few weeks. I won't hurt you to take it easy for a few weeks." That statement gave me hope. This is a small blip on my training schedule. So tiny I'll look back and have to think really hard what went on. Just a few weeks I can handle. Indefinitely was intimidating.
Another thing that made me feel good was the nurse asked if I had to nap when I got home after working a full day. Knowing my levels, she thought that could be a possibility. Not only do I not nap, I come home from work, cook dinner, do dishes, and sometimes other household chores
It only reaffirms what I suspected after I learned I had completed a difficult marathon (very steep inclines) while anemic.
I'm a bad @$$ motha who don't take no crap off of nobody. (Cool Runnings anyone?)
They took about 6 viles of blood doing further testing, and one of the tests is for lead poisoning. That one is a little scary.
Doc: How old is your home?
Me: It was built in the 1890s.
Doc: Anything before 1970 could have lead in it, we need to test you for lead poisoning. How long have you lived there?
Me: We moved in a month before I started having symptoms. :-O
So there you have it. The summary of my day yesterday. Or at least the interesting part.
I'm very hopeful that the infusions will have me bouncing off the walls in no time!
June 17, 2010
The Big Day
Well guys the big day is here. This morning I'm seeing my hematologist to figure out where we go from here. Here, of course, being sidelined and worn down due to an insufficient amount of hemoglobin and iron in my blood.
I have to admit I'm a little anxious. What if I hit a wall? My mom, dealing with a medical issue of her own, was told earlier this week "that's just the way it is - deal with it." That's my biggest fear.
Fear and anxiety have no place in my life. As the hymn says "I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand."
Please pray for me - this visit will be a difficult one. If for no other reason than being surrounded by all the cancer patients visiting there to visit the oncologist. (Why do the two specialties have to be lumped together?)
I have to admit I'm a little anxious. What if I hit a wall? My mom, dealing with a medical issue of her own, was told earlier this week "that's just the way it is - deal with it." That's my biggest fear.
Fear and anxiety have no place in my life. As the hymn says "I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand."
Please pray for me - this visit will be a difficult one. If for no other reason than being surrounded by all the cancer patients visiting there to visit the oncologist. (Why do the two specialties have to be lumped together?)
June 16, 2010
What do you people want from me???
Just kidding...but seriously.
The past few weeks I've been at a loss for blog topics. Since I'm not weighing in any more, and I'm attempting to banish my guilt regarding food and exercise, that eliminated my typical True Confessions Tuesday & Weigh-in Wednesdays posts.
So I'm putting it back on your plate. What would you like to see more of on my blog? The adventures of Super Boo & Her Mutant JayJay?
Pictures of random things that catch my eye?
Hit me with it - tell me what to write/post.
Got questions? Bring 'em on!!
Don't make me rerun our sappy love story posts!!
The past few weeks I've been at a loss for blog topics. Since I'm not weighing in any more, and I'm attempting to banish my guilt regarding food and exercise, that eliminated my typical True Confessions Tuesday & Weigh-in Wednesdays posts.
I also feel like you get sick of reading about how frustrated/tired I am. I mean even I get sick of it! Why shouldn't you?
So I'm putting it back on your plate. What would you like to see more of on my blog? The adventures of Super Boo & Her Mutant JayJay?
Hit me with it - tell me what to write/post.
Got questions? Bring 'em on!!
Don't make me rerun our sappy love story posts!!
June 15, 2010
Another PSA give away!
Yesterday the ACS and the Shrinking Jeans girls asked everyone to "Choose you". Today the challenge is a little more difficult - Love yourself! In a swimsuit no less!!
The ladies have paired up with Lands End and will be giving away not one, not two, not three, but 8 swimsuits to lucky readers!! Check out the contest rules here.
I love that the girls are confident enough to post pictures of themselves in the Lands End suits. I'm not sure about anyone else but I get tired of stick thin models in magazines showing me the best suit for my problem areas. Especially when its quite obvious that their biggest problem is that they skipped lunch for the past week.
Instead, courtesy of the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, we're getting smokin hawt models that have worked hard for what they've got! Yesterday Lissa & Heather modeled Lands End suits. Today was Christy and Thea's turn.
I'm hoping to win this one. I've never been afraid of bikini bathing suits because I know they draw attention to my best features (pretty much anything from my waist up). Wearing a suit that doesn't have a definite waist, I tend to look like a (a very tall) 5 year old girl.
What do you do at the pool to make yourself feel at ease?
Don't have confidence issues when it comes to swimwear? Please leave me your secret in the comments!! (And before you quote it, I already know - God looks at the heart!)
The ladies have paired up with Lands End and will be giving away not one, not two, not three, but 8 swimsuits to lucky readers!! Check out the contest rules here.
I love that the girls are confident enough to post pictures of themselves in the Lands End suits. I'm not sure about anyone else but I get tired of stick thin models in magazines showing me the best suit for my problem areas. Especially when its quite obvious that their biggest problem is that they skipped lunch for the past week.
Instead, courtesy of the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, we're getting smokin hawt models that have worked hard for what they've got! Yesterday Lissa & Heather modeled Lands End suits. Today was Christy and Thea's turn.
I'm hoping to win this one. I've never been afraid of bikini bathing suits because I know they draw attention to my best features (pretty much anything from my waist up). Wearing a suit that doesn't have a definite waist, I tend to look like a (a very tall) 5 year old girl.
What do you do at the pool to make yourself feel at ease?
Don't have confidence issues when it comes to swimwear? Please leave me your secret in the comments!! (And before you quote it, I already know - God looks at the heart!)
June 14, 2010
The PSA giveaways!
This week at the Sisterhood, they are giving away lots of goodies! What I love best about these giveaways is that they also serve as a message to their readers. "Here, have something free, but be sure to love yourself in the process!"
In conjunction with the American Cancer Society's "Choose You" Campaign - the Sisterhood is giving away a gift basket including sun screen, a water bottle, a gift card to Walgreen's, and some other goodies. Anything to make us ladies realize that sometimes we have to put ourselves first - if for no other reason but so that we can stick around longer for those that rely on us.
Whether is eating right, exercising, or something as simple (but commonly overlooked) as applying sunscreen or wearing a hat in the sun - we all have things that we could do to keep ourselves healthier. And while it may seem selfish taking a few moments for yourself - think about the example your setting for others around you.
Don't you want your children to understand the importance of eating right and exercising?
I'm probably the only woman in the world that doesn't have to think about putting herself first. As the wife of a low maintenance man and the mother to none, I put myself first on a regular basis. I don't think twice about training for a triathlon, marathon, or anything else that might strike my fancy.
(I'm super excited about a "mud run" 5K in September!)
What I need to learn to do is put my health before my superficiality. Staying health (even if it means "just" walking or not competing in the triathlon per doctor's orders) is more important than burning off thatcheeseburger spinach-strawberry salad.
Another area that I'm sadly superficial in? Sunscreen.
Everyone knows that tan fat looks better than pasty white fat. But doesn't pasty white skin look better than skin that's scared from having dozens of moles removed? As of now, I'm in the single digits on the mole removal thing, but if I'm not more vigilant about sunscreen that can certainly all change!
What about you? How are you going to commit to choosing you? I promise - these are commitments that will benefit everyone around you!
In conjunction with the American Cancer Society's "Choose You" Campaign - the Sisterhood is giving away a gift basket including sun screen, a water bottle, a gift card to Walgreen's, and some other goodies. Anything to make us ladies realize that sometimes we have to put ourselves first - if for no other reason but so that we can stick around longer for those that rely on us.
Whether is eating right, exercising, or something as simple (but commonly overlooked) as applying sunscreen or wearing a hat in the sun - we all have things that we could do to keep ourselves healthier. And while it may seem selfish taking a few moments for yourself - think about the example your setting for others around you.
Don't you want your children to understand the importance of eating right and exercising?
I'm probably the only woman in the world that doesn't have to think about putting herself first. As the wife of a low maintenance man and the mother to none, I put myself first on a regular basis. I don't think twice about training for a triathlon, marathon, or anything else that might strike my fancy.
(I'm super excited about a "mud run" 5K in September!)
What I need to learn to do is put my health before my superficiality. Staying health (even if it means "just" walking or not competing in the triathlon per doctor's orders) is more important than burning off that
Another area that I'm sadly superficial in? Sunscreen.
Everyone knows that tan fat looks better than pasty white fat. But doesn't pasty white skin look better than skin that's scared from having dozens of moles removed? As of now, I'm in the single digits on the mole removal thing, but if I'm not more vigilant about sunscreen that can certainly all change!
What about you? How are you going to commit to choosing you? I promise - these are commitments that will benefit everyone around you!
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