4/7/09

So, while I'm trying to drum up some gumption to work, I thought I'd try to knock out an update since I haven't since...March...It is highly unlikely that I'll remember everything that has gone on recently, but I'll do my best to give a well-rounded depiction of the fish bowl.

Ok so first...I had a birthday...I turned 29 on April 1. I spent about a week before my birthday sort of grieving it because I knew this would be the first birthday I've ever had (ever, ever, ever) that I wasn't going to talk to my mom. (We're not speaking. At all.) I knew she wasn't going to put down her grudge to call me on my birthday; and even though I didn't want it to bother me, it bothered me. And I worried about it because I didn't want to be the jerk who received 19 great things and focuses on the 1 bad thing in the group. So I was concerned I was going to be a mopey jerk all day long. It turned out, though, that I didn't have *time* to worry about anything that day because even that whole week turned out to be super busy. My birthday was on a Wednesday. On Monday, Ted chartered me around for errands after work. On Tuesday, I went to a party with my friend, Jamie. On Wednesday, I was busy all day long at work with people wishing me happy birthday, getting presents, etc. After work on Wednesday, Jamie made me and hub a birthday supper. I was on the phone practically all week with people calling me to say happy birthday. So, it was a really ...uplifting experience.

I do have a couple of photos, but the modem at my house went down. So, I haven't been able to get online at home since last week. Apparently, they just go out because Qwest told us they "go bad" frequently. Whatever. It was under warranty; so, they sent us a new one. (The new one is prettier anyway.) I got that set up last night; so, I will be able to post photos soon.

In health news, I started methotrexate a couple of weeks ago; and I swear, it's fish speed. Once I take my dose on Monday night, I'm zooming through the rest of the week. By Saturday, though, I think it has worn off because I'm usually pretty tired on the weekends. I haven't missed a single day of work in months, though. *super flex* To some people, that may seem like a silly thing to get happy about, but I have a storied history with getting to work every day. My migraines have been cropping back up, but I do what I can. I think I have pretty much accepted that I'm going to hurt, in some capacity, every day. I just have to cope as best I can. I'm back in therapy now with a therapist who deals with patients with chronic pain so I can learn better coping skills (as opposed to "escapist" skills). So, there we go. The only thing I'm not thrilled about is that I now have to have monthly blood draws because of the methotrexate. Good thing I'm not afraid of needles.

Speaking of needles...I have to say that I'm not thrilled about the ink shops here in Davenport. I've been to two; and at both places, I wasn't treated very well. The front desk chick at one place downed on me because I wanted to get some stars...like it was too girly to get a freaking star; and at the other place, the guy wouldn't do what I asked for because "nobody here in our shop will do that unless you're at least 30 years old and work in a factory..." WTF? If I'm paying for your time, what do you care where I put my ink? Furthermore, who are you to tell me I can't put something on a certain place on my body when you're covered - head to toe - with ink all over? I got the impression from both places that because I didn't fit the mold (read: skinny blonde girl), they didn't want to give me their time. PFFT! It is unfortunate for both of their places of business because when I find an artist I like, I'm going to bring repeat business. I have a lot of ideas, and I'm prepared to keep going until I run out of them. I've been recommended to a shop in Rock Island, but I haven't gotten over there to check it out yet.

...that's all I can think of right now.

I try my best...

to look like a goob at every possible occasion...

This is my "why are you looking at me?" face. Can't you tell?

That is a Girl Scout Cookie on my forehead - shortbread, if you're wondering.

Ok - there is a story behind the random goggles. My rheumatologist told me that I need to do more stretching activity to keep my joints lubricated, or something, like yoga, walking, etc. When I mentioned that I was thinking of joining the YMCA so I could swim, she got very excited and said that was the best exercise I could do. So, I joined the YMCA today, which, of course, spawned a whole day's worth of fan-girl-ness and all the STUFF I "needed" to get started. This included these super-cute pink goggles, which I never would have donned for the camera if it weren't for Josh.

Happy birthday, Josh.

30 songs

Ok...so...I was reading a little Jennsylvania, and I thought this was a cute idea. The notion is to provide 30 random songs from your ipod; but since i don't have an ipod, you get 30 random songs from my Sansa! For joy! (And I'm totally going to number the list to keep track because I have 3+ hours left at work to get this bitch out. Woo!)

1. Sir-Mix-A-Lot / Baby Got Back. This song makes me bouncy. I think it is because I got back. :)
2. Carole King / Smackwater Jack. I actually have this on my Sansa twice - once in "full color" and once in acoustic. I can't not sing when this song comes on, loud and in full force.
3. Kajagoogoo / Too Shy. What can I say? I'm a child of the 80's. I was listening to random stuff in utero. In other random tidbits, this song has been stuck in my head all morning.
4. Sarah Maclachlan / Adia. I still never know if I've spelled the woman's name right; but when I discovered her voice, I was atwitter. This particular song helps me find a still place.
5. George Michael / Father Figure. I heart me some George Michael - even some WHAM! And I love, love, love the new Seether cover. WHAM!
6. Aerosmith / Young Lust. I have been an Aero-fan since I first knew what music was. This is one of my all-time favorites.
7. Prince & the NPG / 7. I heart me some Prince. Tiny little guy with ten-ton sex drive? BRING IT. Belly dancing girl with a sword on her head? LOVE IT. (Isn't it fortunate that I thought of this one at 7?)
8. Matchbox Twenty / 3AM. Don't care what you say. I dig the Rob Thomas.
9. No Doubt / Just A Girl. I didn't like this song when it came out (I was in high school at the time, and it was ALL the rage...I think I was trying to rebel). It has grown on me through the years, though; and now, I rock it out all loud. (In my head, though, when I'm at work.)
10. Tears for Fears / Sewings the Seeds of Love. I still love this song. Couldjabe couldjabe squeaky clean?
11. Salt n Pepa / Let's Talk About Sex. I can't hear this song without thinking about the first time I saw a condom, which was in elementary school behind the kindergarten building.
12. Cyndi Lauper / Time After Time. My husband LOVES this song. I like it more because of his affection for it. He will get all girly and sing it every single time.
13. Dixie Chicks / Landslide. I've got to say: I almost like this version better than the original. The instruments lend themselves very well to the song.
14. En Vogue / Never Gonna Get It. When I was in the sixth grade, my clique devised a dance routine to this song. It was the "it" thing to do. Of course, I cannot dance; and thus, I was the radio button pusher. Fun.
15. Marilyn Manson / Personal Jesus. I cannot hide from the fact that I am a MM fan. Beautiful People blew my mind when I was a senior in high school. And I STILL harbor the fantasy of going to a MM concert decked out in full pink regalia.
16. Wyclef Jean / Bullet in Your Bubble Goose. Seriously? South Park. That's all.
17. Beastie Boys / Brass Monkey. This is a wiggler-song. It makes me feel like wiggling. hehehehe.
18. Tom Petty / Don't Come Around Here No More. All I remember about this song from when I was younger is the video with the Alice-cake. Do you remember that? They ate the Alice!
19. Poison / Ride the Wind. I remember that in sixth grade, my music tastes started to vary drastically from those of my friends. My mom introduced me to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Segar, and Queen while my friends were listening to "I Wanna Sex You Up." Thus, my hairband tastes started pretty early.
20. Culture Club / Karma Chameleon. Karmakarmakarmakarma karma chameleonnnnnnnnnnnn.
21. Faith No More / Falling to Pieces. I love me some Faith no More. I think this is my favorite song of theirs.
22. Dexy's Midnight Runners / Come On Eileen. Too-ra-loo-rah-eh! I loved this song in high school. Still kinda gets me all dance-y.
23. Gavin DeGraw / I Don't Want to Be. I heard this on Ellen. Dug it!
24. George Clinton / Atomic Dog. Our unofficial class song, when I was a senior in high school, was Atomic Dog. I'd never heard of George Clinton before that, but I fell in lo-ove with the song. (Our high school mascot was a pointer.) A-tom-ic do-oo-og.
25. OutKast / The Way You Move. I have to admit: I like the rapper better than Andre. This is a wiggler song, too.
26. Rob Zombie / Pussy Liquor. WARNING TMI! The first time I heard this song, I almost had the big-O right at my desk. This is actually a pretty creepy song (about murderers and stuff), but I totally heart the way his voice sounds in it.
27. GNR / You Could Be Mine. This is one of the only Axl songs I like. Otherwise, he sounds whiney. I read the other day that Axl thinks Slash is a "cancer." PFFT. Slash made that band, man!
28. 311 / All Mixed Up. Another high school band. I remember when I first saw this video, and the guy had bright yellow hair! I like the mellow tone to this, though.
29. Melissa Etheridge / You Can Sleep While I Drive. ME is one of my favorite artists, and I have followed her career since my dad gave me (ahem, I stole) her first cassette. This is one of my favorite tracks of hers, and I can't ever listen to it without thinking of Storm.
30. Blackeyed Peas / Where Is the Love? I remember when the Peas didn't have a choral singer. Still, I like Fergie. I like the pinocchio rap at the end of this, too.

Jen, if you do read this, IT TOOK FOREVER. It's 5PM, I'm going home now.

Even More

More in no particular order...

Recent layout from our trip to the movies...

Epona's version of a quiet night in...

Chocolates from chicky!