Happy Spring Break

Happy Spring break to all my blog friends! I don't plan on writing on the blog for the next week... my plan is to play with my kids and stay away from the computer. I've spent way too much time in front of this screen... it can't be good for me, but it's so stinking fun.

Maybe we'll go to the beach with the dog...

bis spater,
ch

Can I have a personal shopper please?

I need new clothes.

I hate to shop.

I don't trust myself to purchase well over the internet (catalogue.) So, I try and reinvent my old clothes... I don't think I'm very good at it, darn. Part of why I don't like to go shopping is because there really isn't a place in town that is affordable clothing for a professional woman who prefers to look casual. There's Zooeys, but I can't afford to go there...wish I could. Sibling Revelry is fun if you can find something in your size that's also on sale : ) I love to go to Peak Sports, that's really where my heart is...but, alas, the cool stuff is always so expensive. Second Glance is a second hand clothing store and they are very nice. I've had a bit of success there, but you need to be a good shopper and return frequently. Like I said, I'm not a good shopper.

Part of why I don't enjoy shopping for clothes is the trying on part... I don't like to be in a small room worrying that I'll step on a pin, or worst of all... I look in the mirror and it turns out I'm not as much of a goddess as I think I am. Reality is sometimes a bummer.

My ultimate clothes buying experience would be to have a personal shopper. One who understands that I love my shoes and they need to be unique, or I have failed to be true to myself. This personal shopper would go hit the stores with a perfect understanding of my taste (not a mini-skirt to be seen) and drop the clothes off at my home. I would try them on at my leisure and leave the ones I don't want in the "don't want, please return" container. I would have no responsibility in returning the clothes... that would be my shoppers job.

One thing I do like shopping for...make that two. Two things I like shopping for are glasses and cars.

I need to wear glasses all of the time. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else if I didn't provide them with a nice view. My theory: If I have to wear them... (and I have to, I can't wear contacts) they will be art.

As for my car buying fetish... it's a power thing. I love cutting a deal. It's great fun for me to see someone try and show me what a great deal I'm getting... fools, they have no idea who they're dealing with.

Hey, it's time to say good night...good night.

ch

Ouch! There's a chicken in my knee...

It's just about 10:30 and I just got in from the gym. I've been going rather infrequently lately and I need to get into a better habit while my knee can still move.

As a child I loved to play softball. Although, my eyesight has never been the greatest, so playing outfield was out of the question. I've never been truly quick on my feet, so infield was out too. I was the mighty catcher. I loved playing catcher more than any other position and I was good at it. I would heckle the batters, tell them jokes, or just talk about my day. It really rattled some and didn't make a difference to others...good times. I digress...

What I'm trying to say is that I spent much of my youth squatting. I guess I've used up my squatting quota, because there's not a lot of squatting going on now. My knee aches. It aches especially bad after I've gone to sleep.

I went to my doctor, who gave me a cortisone shot. He was gentle and I felt no pain. The cortisone masked the pain for about a month and then the pain came back with vengeance. My doctor gave me a referral to see a specialist. He took x-rays and told me that I have a little arthritis. I'm thinking, if this is a little arthritis I don't want to have the full experience. Honestly, I think something else is going on in my knee and I haven't been able to explain in the right words to the doctor.

So the doctor tells me that I can have this shot, a silver bullet if you will, that's made from the comb juice of a rooster. He explained that it was very expensive and that he would need to make certain that my insurance would cover it before he even ordered the chicken juice...fair enough. I waited and after approval, I scheduled the necessary 5 appointments (5 shots of chicken in my knee.)

Going into the office, I was excited knowing that these shots will most likely take away much of my pain. The cortisone didn't hurt and my doctor was gentle...

Here's my experience with DR. X at the Corvallis Clinic...

I show up early to my appointment to fill out the necessary paperwork, but the doctor is running a bit behind... it will be just a moment.
I'm called back into the examining room. I wore shorts, because I thought that would be easier. I was asked to remove my shorts and put on paper shorts...O.K. whatever.
Doctor X comes into the room, obviously feeling rushed. Picks up the needle that has the "numbing potion" in it, finds the spot in my knee and lets loose. I mean he shot that stuff in my knee so quickly that it felt like electricity was going through my leg. A better description might be "like chewing on aluminum foil with a mouth full of fillings" only in my knee. Does this make sense? The guy takes his thumb and rubs where he gave me the shot. I lay on the table crying. The nurse was very kind and said that he was in a hurry. The doctor and I exchanged only a few words and he was gone. I'm not going there to make any friends, but I would like a little compassion when I'm in pain. I also think I should not have to pay for his tardiness.

Now, one shot is done...4 more to go. For the entire week I'm counting down the days until the next time I have to go in...like one would count down to falling off a cliff.

Shot number 2... I go in, the nurse sees me and comes over. She tells me to tell Dr. X to put the "potion" in slower this time. I'm thinking...yea right. The last thing I want to do is tell this guy that I didn't like how he gave me my last shot and could he please do it differently this time. It's amazingly scary knowing that someone will be doing something to your body that will either hurt, or wont, depending on what mood the doc is in.

I did ask him if he wouldn't mind going any slower this time. He seemed a little disgusted with me, but went slower and it didn't hurt. O.K. there we go... all will be fine. 3 shots to go...

The last 3 were much like the first. I went and took my medicine, but I can never go back to him.

My knee is hurting now... I guess that's why I told my story.

Does anyone know of a good knee doctor in Corvallis?

ch

Where did the day go?

It was a beautiful day here in Corvallis. People were out working in their yards, families were bicycling together and general beautifulness (I might just be making this word up...) was abound.

I played catch with my son this evening and my hands are still stinging. My daughter had a lesson earlier and while she is learning, I sit in the car listening to podcasts and solve sudko puzzles... this may be one of my favorite alone time things to do : )

My husband and I ran a few errands and now the sun has gone... I could do with a little more daylight. On the upside, we get a little bit more everyday and Spring is just around the corner!

Oh, I also discovered that deer eat tulips. I walked around our yard this morning to find the tulips had been eaten and the bulbs were dug out of the ground (though, those were left intact.) Apparently, deer do not care for the taste of daffodils... or, maybe they'll be back tonight for a treat.

Not much to write about today, so that's kind of nice... a dull happy day.

ch

Hello Corvallis Gazette Times, are you there?

In today's Gazette Times there is yet another article about the founders of the PEARL (People Energizing a Republican Left) Project.

I am pleased the GT are covering Pat and Irma. They are very nice people trying to make a difference... Good for them, we need more!

Hey GT! We have someone else trying to make a difference and the Gazette Times has in no way taken it upon themselves to report some other rather exciting news in our community.

Michael Smith is running for president. His goal is to obtain the 5000 signatures it requires to get on the Republican primary ticket. He is a self-described fiscal conservative/ social liberatarian.

I am working with Michael on his campaign because I am tired of having to explain why I am a republican, when everyone who knows me is absolutly shocked to find this tid-bit out. I believe in state rights, I believe in smaller government and I believe adults can think for themselves. I am not religious. I am happy to be alive.

It has become a personal embarrassement to say I am a republican, because with that statement I have found that a majority of people will make assumptions about my beliefs and my life style.

I believe everyone should have a chance to succeed. I belive there is nothing wrong with gay marraige... gay marrage in no way dimminishes my own marraige...why would it?

In closing...

Come on Gazette Times! Know what's happening in your community... please.

Michael Smith is not doing this as a lark. He is an extremely valuable asset to our communtiy and you are simply not aware. How can this be acceptable?

Thanks to the Corvallist for covering his announcent for candidacy and also for her published interview with Michael.

Corvallist, have you considered starting up your own paper?

ch

I'm new to this...duh.

I thought about changing the look of my blog, because I see so many creative blog templates... I thought, hey, why not me? In a surge of creative impulse, I messed around too much and blew my blog away. I am starting from the beginning...new template, same name. I will try not to make that same mistake again...at least not without making a copy first!
The thing I'm trying to learn how to do, is to change the design at the top of the blog.
Another question I had is how does one assign an icon to their blog for orblogs? I'm just a blank sheet of paper...not that that's a bad thing : )

Take care and have a happy St. Paddy's day,

ch