March 31, 2006
Slow Poke
I still don't have a date for my FNA. Apparently there's been some hold up at the Worcester Medical Center preventing it from being scheduled. Did I mention that I have to have it done there? A procedure that should take only a little more time than a blood draw and I have to drive all of the way to Worcester to get it done. *sigh*
I wish that were the only problem. My insurance changes in just two weeks, so I would really, really need to get it done and evaluated before then. It's going to be bad enough catching my new doctor up on all of these problems and tests without the extra hassle of coordinating a test schedule by my old doctor with my old insurance company. I just want to know what the damned lump is and move on.
Posted by criminal at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
Five on Friday for March 31, 2006
- 1. Who is your favorite Major League Baseball team? How about your favorite player?
- My husband has taught me to love the Red Sox. And even though he doesn't play for the home team anymore, Kevin Millar is still my favorite player. I suppose I'll have to pick a new favorite soon.
- 2. Describe your first trip to see a baseball game.
- April 13, 2003 Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles, 2-0. Sadly, I can't remember much more than that. My second game was much more memorable.
- 3. Do you plan to watch their season/home opener?
- No. By the time I get home from work it will probably be over. I'll have to make sure we Tivo it.
- 4. Who do you think will be in the World Series this year?
- Cardinals & Blue Jays
- 5. What is your favorite baseball-related movie?
- I have to agree with Cathy, I think A League of Their Own is my favorite, although The Sandlot is a close second.
Posted by criminal at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2006
Choose Your Beer
Jon is finally able to talk about the project that has driven him to drink. In a good way. He's been absolutely giddy about work since he was given the opportunity to be a part of the specialty brewing group that's behind the creation of a regional craft beer. The work part still has its rough days, but he seems to be more excited about beer now that he's playing more of a role in it.
Unfortunately you won't be able to vote on his beers at www.originalbeers.com unless you're a New Englander... but you can take a look at them if you know a New England zip code, like 01851. And because New Englanders aren't the only ones that like beer, there's a specialty brewing group in Ohio too. Personally, I can't wait to taste the stuff.
Posted by criminal at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2006
Spring is in the Air
And so are the bugs. Every morning I drive into a swarm of them at a particular intersection near my office. As I wait for a green light, they bash their stupid green guts all over my windshield. Sometimes I think not having them around is the best part of winter. While I'm happy that the sun has started warming things up around here, I find myself inexplicably bothered by all the annoying little bugs that want to enjoy it too.
Posted by criminal at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2006
Cutting My Losses
A few weeks ago I decided to build myself a new work table. The whole thing was disasterous. I sanded, I drilled, I fastened, I painted, and I cried. Even after a couple coats of paint the table base looked like crap and was no where near square or level. So I cut my losses and went back to the original plan. The table is now fully finished and functioning. And perhaps more importantly, I learned a few valuable lessons:
- Sedans are not designed to transport lumber or building materials.
- Home Depot's cutting services are highly suspect, even if you mark everything yourself.
- 3.6v screwdrivers are not good cordless drills.
- Cheap 2x4s will always look like cheap 2x4s.
- Second guesses are no better than your first instinct.
- Carpet is not an appropriate construction surface.
- Kitty footprints easily mar a pristine painted surface.
Posted by criminal at 02:56 PM | Comments (1)
March 24, 2006
Five on Friday for March 24, 2006
My First Time - I've been (trying) to do the Friday Five for four years now. To honor that, I propose we answer the first Friday Five I ever did from March 22, 2002:
- 1. What is your favorite time of year?
- Fall
- 2. What is it about your favorite season that, well, make it your favorite season?
- The crisp, cool air and colorful scenery. And the food. Fall food is the best.
- 3. What is your least favorite time of year?
- Late summer. I hate the heat and humidity of August and early September. It seems to have all of the heat and none of the sparkle of the earlier months.
- 4. Do you do anything to celebrate or recognize the changing of the seasons?
- I try to take a moment to reflect during the solstice and equinox, but often the days pass me by before I even realize they're coming.
- 5. What's your favorite thing to do outside?
- Although walking is nice, I can see more when I sit still.
Posted by criminal at 09:29 AM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2006
In More Positive News
I went to Avenue with Gillian at lunch today and bought a new pair of pants. The same pair I'm wearing today, but two sizes smaller.
Two sizes.
You read that correctly. I bought the first pair in a size 22 this past December. They were roomy then, but now they're just falling off. Even my retro stretch belts won't keep them up anymore. I got fed up and decided to get them one size smaller. Except they didn't have any 20 Talls in stock today. On a whim I tried an 18. They're like totally different pants! They actually fit and make my butt look like a booty instead of a blob inside an ill-fitting sack. Score!
This is what losing 20 pounds feels like.
Posted by criminal at 04:48 PM | Comments (4)
Poke Poke Poke
The scan results are finally in.
My thyroid nodule is part solid and part fluid. And it's cold too. My next step is an ultra-sound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy to determine whether it's benign or not. The endocrinologist's office is setting it up at Lowell General. I should know my test date within a week and hopefully have the test even sooner.
Posted by criminal at 03:59 PM | Comments (1)
March 22, 2006
Still Waiting
I left a message with my endocrinologist this morning requesting they call me back to discuss my scan results. I got a call back, but only someone asking me where I had the scan done. When I responded Lowell General, they wanted the phone number there. I hadn't the foggiest since the office calling me set up the appointment. I did mention that the paperwork didn't arrive in time for my scan and had to be faxed over at the last minute. I can't imagine why they can't just look at the notes in my file to figure these things out. In any case, she said she would try to get in touch with Lowell General and have the results faxed over. I guess now I just have to wait some more.
Posted by criminal at 10:10 AM | Comments (1)
March 20, 2006
It's All Greek to Me
Jon and I just made the best dinner I've had in a while: Rachel Ray's Chicken Greek-a-Tikka Salad with Parsley-Feta Pesto.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Maybe it was just my hunger talking, but the whole thing was superb. You coat a couple pounds of chicken in plain yogurt, coriander, cumin, oregano, and grill seasoning before grilling. Or in our case, sauteing. You toss that into a romaine salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and red onions drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. The whole thing gets topped with a simple pesto made with parsley, feta, walnuts, garlic, and olive oil. To quote Rachel Ray, it was totally Yum-O. Give a try some night when you're looking for something light but full of flavor.
Posted by criminal at 08:21 PM | Comments (0)
Rebel or Yankee
According to the Rebel-Yankee Test I'm "35% Dixie. You are definitely a Yankee."
I would like to note that most of my answers came up as "common throughout the Great Lakes" or the entire country, which means I'm more of a Midwesterner than a Yankee. Too bad the test only measures which side of the Mason-Dixon line you belong on, instead of which general region you're from.
Posted by criminal at 09:18 AM | Comments (0)
March 17, 2006
Five on Friday for March 17, 2006
- 1. Are you Irish?
- I think so. My paternal grandmother has hinted at it and never fails to remind me that one of her sisters had red hair whenever she sees mine dyed red. Even so, it's probably not enough to make a big deal over.
- 2. Are you by any chance wearing green today?
- I am. A bright kelly green even.
- 3. What kinds of special things do you do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
- I usually try to wear green and I used to try to pinch people who weren't, but I've given that up. Jon has a tradition of making corned beef and cabbage so I'll be joining him in that now that we're married. The crock pot is already on so that it will be ready when we get home.
- 4. Do you believe in luck? How about fate?
- I don't really believe in either, although I do wish people good luck. It's a nice idea, but really, luck is just how you look at the things that happen to you. Ditto for fate. I will admit to liking the phrase "dumb luck" because I think all luck is dumb.
- 5. What would you do if you found a pot of gold?
- Pinch myself. Then take a picture or twelve to document it. Only then would I spend the crap out of it.
Posted by criminal at 11:03 AM | Comments (4)
March 16, 2006
Whale of a Flop
I need these flip flops in the worst way. They're such a crisp navy color, with hints of green (which is quickly becoming my new color obsession) and sweet little whales that remind me of raincoats and cold puddles. I'm practically salivating over the things they're so cute. Unfortunately the Old Navy site is sold out in my size. Gillian and I are planning to make a run to Old Navy tomorrow at lunch. I hope my St. Patrick's Day luck hold up long enough for me to score those adorable whaley flops.
Posted by criminal at 04:30 PM | Comments (3)
Waiting...
This has to be the hardest part. Waiting for the tests wasn't easy, but it was a cake-walk compared to waiting for the test results. I had my scan on Tuesday afternoon but I haven't heard anything from the endocrinologist yet. Since I don't know how the hospital is sending the results, I don't know how soon I'll be contacted. Worst case scenario, the nurse practioner asked me to call if I hadn't heard from their office more than a week after the scan. If this enlarged thyroid doesn't kill me waiting to learn it's fate may.
Posted by criminal at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2006
Overflow
- Scrapbooking is more fun than I thought. At the Scrap-Away Retreat this weekend, we each got half of a big, round table to spread out on, plus a banquet table on the side for punches and die-cut machines. I was able to make 17 pages and 6 section title pages. I probably would've had another 3 if I hadn't run out of cardstock.
- I enjoy social scrapbooking. Even though I'm relatively quiet and keep to myself, I like hearing other people talking while I work. They help me pace myself and keep me from getting completely lost in what I'm doing. And of course I dig helping people come up with new solutions to their scrapbooking dilemmas.
- Despite my wonderful experience, I'm still not a big fan of Creative Memories. I don't agree with the scrapping style they encourage and am frustrated by their strap-hinge albums and non-standard paper sizes. They do make good tools, a few of which I bought, so they're at least doing some things right.
- I <3 rub-ons! They're so magical. I don't know why I never tried them before.
- Wearing flip-flops all weekend was liberating. My toes have really missed the fresh air. As much as I love winter, I can't wait for sandal season to start.
- I feel an urge to scrapbook Amy's adorable daughter. I'm jealous that I don't have such cute things to design around. My cats can be cute, but there's a limit to how many pages I could do about them before considering myself a nutcase.
- Dunkin' Donuts coffee is pretty good, at least when served with cream and faux sugar. I am starting to see why so many people are addicted to it, but I still prefer tea.
- Getting dressed without electricity is a pain in the butt. It's especially difficult if you're averse to folding laundry and often resort to a last-minute fluff in the dryer or a quick run with the iron to look presentable. Half of our power died this morning around 6:45 a.m. The rest went about 30 minutes later. Luckily, the half that stayed on past 7 included my alarm clock. I may have been a wrinkly mess when I came to work, but I wasn't late.
Posted by criminal at 10:00 AM | Comments (1)
March 10, 2006
I'd Rather...
I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
[Emma Goldman]
Posted by criminal at 03:24 PM | Comments (0)
Five on Friday for March 10, 2006
Scent-sory Overload - Thanks for these sweet-smelling questions should be directed to the always scent-sational Amy Marr.
- 1. Do you wear perfume or cologne?
- Mostly I wear Bath and Body Works' Warm Vanilla Sugar perfume. But depending on the season I'll layer one of their body sprays on top of it, like Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin in the fall, Cherry Blossom in the spring, and Coconut Lime Verbena in summer. I can't wait to check out their new Japanese Cherry Blossom, White Cherry Blossom, and Pear Blossom fragrances at lunch today.
- 2. What brand or kind of soap do you use?
- Whatever bodywash Jon buys? I'm not very picky about my body wash since I find the scent disappears after a half hour. As long as it moisturizes a little bit and smells good, I'm happy.
- 3. Do you use anything to scent your home (candles, potpourri, scented oils, etc.)?
- I have Air Wick scented oil warmers (with nightlights!) in my kitchen and bathrooms. I haven't unpacked my glade plugins for the living room and bedrooms yet, but they'll turn up eventually. I have a collection of scented candles I rarely burn because of my mischevious cats and an electric tart warmer that's much more kitty friendly.
- 4. What's your favorite scent on a member of the gender to which you're attracted?
- I like clean, crisp scents on men as well as some woodier notes. Jon wears Cool Water, which I love on him. I like hugging him even more when I get to snuggle in close to that scent.
- 5. Have you ever tried aromatherapy? If so, describe your experience; if not, do you think it works?
- Can't say I have, beyond trying the aromatherapy collection at BBW, but I think it would be interesting to try. Our sense of smell has deep roots in our memory and it would be pretty easy to manipulate our feelings by triggering certain memories with scents.
Posted by criminal at 10:30 AM | Comments (1)
March 09, 2006
WPI In the News
Something tells me that the The Administration won't be very happy about this blurb that appeared in this week's WoMag...
Posted by criminal at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2006
Fat Cat(s)
Thanks to the fancy digital scale Jon bought this weekend I can now safely say that I have two fat cats. Silly weighs a wopping 12 pounds while Tia is just 11.6 pounds. Those numbers were a little surprising since Tia feels heavier so much heavier than Silly when I pick her up. Silly has been taller for at least a few months now, and is really starting to fill out. She has chubby cheeks and a big, solid belly thanks to her voracious appetite. Despite being fed four times a day and eating most of Tia's share, she still cries for more in between. I'd like to put down an automatic feeder, but I'm afraid I'd have a couple 20 pound cats in no time.
Posted by criminal at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
We Are Gods
Love is the only bow on life's dark cloud.
It is the Morning and the Evening Star.
It shines upon the cradle of the babe,
and sheds its radiance upon the quiet tomb.
It is the mother of Art,
inspirer of poet, patriot, and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart, builder of every home,
kindler of every fire on every hearth.
It was the first to dream of immortality.
It fills the world with melody,
for Music is the voice of Love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter,
that changes worthless things to joy,
and makes right royal kings and queens of common clay.
It is the perfume of the wondrous flower -- the heart
and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon,
we are less than beasts;
but with it, earth is heaven
and we are gods.
[Robert G. Ingersoll]
Posted by criminal at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
Back to Normal
I feel ten times better now that I have a fresh supply of SSRIs flowing through my veins. I took a pill around 7 p.m. last night and by the time I went to bed my withdrawal symptoms were starting to disappear. And I slept like a log. Sweet, blissful, uninterupted sleep. I hadn't realized how much Lexapro helped me to sleep until this weekend when I tossed and turned my way through several miserable nights. Things are starting to feel normal again, although my head is still a bit cloudy. By this weekend this should be totally back to normal. At least as normal as they get for me.
Posted by criminal at 10:07 AM | Comments (0)
Lady Luck
I'm a winner!
A couple weeks ago I went to a scrapbooking demonstration at the A.C. Moore in Nashua. They were giving away free stuff, showcasing new products, and running mini workshops. Since Amy had bugged me about it, I decided I should go, albeit 15 minutes before they packed everything up. I had just enough time to make one cute little card and drop my name into a raffle before heading off to do my shopping.
I forgot all about it until I got a call from them this morning. I was one of the lucky winners in the drawing. And what, may you ask, did I win? A $100 gift card. $100 worth of pure, unadulterated crafting goodness. Things are definately looking up.
Posted by criminal at 09:56 AM | Comments (2)
March 06, 2006
Scanning Progress
On a more positive note, I just got a call from the endocrinologist's office. My thyroid scans are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday at Lowell General Hospital.
Posted by criminal at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)
Conspiring Against Me
A couple weeks ago I decided I had to do something about the lack of work space in our spare room. I measured and drew and planned and measured until I had everything decided. I would build a table using a door, some existing shelving units, and a couple table legs. John suggested I buy a folding table, but I scoffed at the suggestion.
I started tearing the room apart, rearranging the furniture to better suit my needs. And then I changed my mind. When moving the shelving units I saw how flimsy they were and decided that my table needed four legs. Off to the Internet I went, in search of drawings and photos of tables made of doors. I found plans and wrote them down, calculating how to cut the 2x4s for maximum economy. Then I changed the height of the legs, and how the leg braces were attached.
On my way home from book club on Saturday I stopped at the Home Depot in Shrewsbury and bought everything I thought I'd need, including a 36x80 inch hollow core door. It wasn't until I saw the door hanging out the back of my car that I realized what a poor plan I'd made. Not wanting to drive 40 miles with my trunk ajar, I returned the door. Jon came with me to Nashua afterwards where I picked up a new door, an under cabinet light, wood screws, and pegs. I started sanding that night, only to discover that I couldn't find any of my sanding blocks. So I ran to the Walmart across the street for more sanding blocks and finished up most of it before heading to bed.
Sunday morning I finished sanding and started measuring to drill my holes. It was easy-peasy until I got to the legs. There was no way my dinky drill bit was going to make it through the 3.5-inch width of a 2x4. So I moved onto the leg braces, which I bought the pegs for, only to find that my little drill wouldn't fit the bit big enough for the pegs.
So while I was out making my last trip for scrapbooking supplies before next weekend's retreat, Jon bought me a long drill bit and borrowed Steve's larger drill. Problem solved. Until the batteries in Steve's drill died. I was able to swap things around, but it delayed things a bit. When I was finally able to put things together, I discovered that the 3" bolts listed on the original supply list were too short. The 6" bolts were still plenty long enough and the table is now up and relatively sturdy. It's just as well, since I came home with half the number of nuts I intended to buy.
While struggling through all of these set-backs last night the hose on the washer came unhooked and dumped several gallons of water onto our floor (and our neighbor's ceiling). And, as if things couldn't get worse, my can of spray primer was defective. No matter how many times I cleaned the nozzle it leaked paint more paint than it sprayed. By the time I went to bed last night I was ready to torch the table. I know it will be nice when it's done, but it just seems to be conspiring against me.
Posted by criminal at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)
I Shouldn’t Be Here
I should be at home in bed. After a restless night and what felt like a ridiculously long weekend, I am completely out of sorts. My prescription ran out late last week and, due to my stupidly optimistic reasoning, I didn't call my doctor because there was a chance I could find the paper prescription she wrote me two months ago. I've gone a day or two before, but never really experienced any withdrawal symptoms. Now I know they show up when approaching three missed doses.
I've been feeling increasingly dizzy and disconnected since Saturday night. Today I've added vertigo, a short attention span, and poor short term memory to the list. I know I need to pick up a few things at the hardware store, but I can remember more than one of them. Jon wanted something there too, but that's even more of a lost cause. Fortunately some of my memory is functional; I remembered to call my doctor and request a refill this morning. Barring any major problems, I'll be picking up the prescription after work and feeling better by the time I go to bed.
Posted by criminal at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2006
Dungeons and Dragons Fun
I Am A: Neutral Good Half-Elf Ranger Druid
Alignment:
Neutral Good characters believe in the power of good above all else. They will work to make the world a better place, and will do whatever is necessary to bring that about, whether it goes for or against whatever is considered 'normal'.
Race:
Half-Elves are a cross between a human and an elf. They are smaller, like their elven ancestors, but have a much shorter lifespan. They are sometimes looked down upon as half-breeds, but this is rare. They have both the curious drive of humans and the patience of elves.
Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.
Secondary Class:
Druids are a special variety of Cleric who serves the Earth, and can call upon the power in the earth to accomplish their goals. They tend to be somewhat fanatical about defending natural settings.
Deity:
Mielikki is the Neutral Good goddess of the forest and autumn. She is also known as the Lady of the Forest, and is the Patron of Rangers. Her followers are devoted to nature, and believe in the positive and outreaching elements of it. They use light armor, and a variety of weapons suitable for hunting, which they are quite skilled at. Mielikki's symbol is a unicorn head.
Find out What D&D Character Are You? courtesy ofNeppyMan
Posted by criminal at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)
May the Snark Be With You
I'm in a terribly snarky mood today, and working in support is providing me with ample fodder. I think I should start putting a dime in my piggy bank every time a publisher asks why we're not selling more advertising for their amazing Web site. And a quarter for every time I visit said site and find it to be outdated or unprofessional-looking. I probably wouldn't have any spending money, but I certainly would have a large savings account.
Posted by criminal at 03:27 PM | Comments (0)
Pull This Thread
My sweaters are biting the dust left and right. I used to have a huge pile of them, but it seems to shrink every week. They're either starting to unravel or have mysteriously procured stains. Yesterday I had to toss one of my favorites because it was stained and unravelling.
*sigh*
The whole thing is starting to put a real kink in my morning routine. I used to be able to just grab a turtleneck sweater off the shelf at random, select a coordinating pair of pants from that short stack and go. Now I have to pray that any one of my sweaters will work with the one or two pair of clean pants and inspect it for tears and stains. I would say it's time to buy more sweaters, but everyone seems to have ditched them in favor of capris and tank tops.
Posted by criminal at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2006
Surprising Less Evil Than I Thought
You Are 56% Evil
You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.
Posted by criminal at 12:01 PM | Comments (1)