Even though none of the people who made me smile today will ever read this,I wanted to acknowledge them anyway.
Thanks to the doctor I worked with this morning who asked me how I was feeling and then said I was looking great.Yahoo! That made me feel wonderful. I know the doctors were worried about me when I got pancreatitis and they are always asking me how I am feeling whenever I see them. I like that!
Thanks to the driver of the florist truck who let me out of the parking lot to cross in front of him after work. I have to cross a busy main road and no one lets the cars out but this young guy waved me in. If it weren't for him,I might still be sitting there.
Thanks to the 96 year old woman who came in for an emergency visit this morning. She was just lovely and made me smile.
Every kindness makes a difference. Who was nice to you today?
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Tell me what you think
Here is the dress that we picked out for my sister's wedding in September.
I love it and it looks good on me! If the color comes out as black,click the first color on the right where it says,"click swatch to colorize". It is supposed to be brown and pink.
All I have to do is lose 60 pounds more and I will look fabulous.
What do you think of this?
I love it and it looks good on me! If the color comes out as black,click the first color on the right where it says,"click swatch to colorize". It is supposed to be brown and pink.
All I have to do is lose 60 pounds more and I will look fabulous.
What do you think of this?
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The single life is not for me.
Rich and Lillianna went to New Hampshire for the weekend to visit Rich's sister and her family. My 13 year old niece is in a play and I couldn't get the time off from work so I told them to go without me. This same niece will be coming with me,Lillianna and my sister when we go to New York on the American Girl tour so I didn't feel too badly about missing this. At least we will be together next month.
Last night I came home from work at 8:15pm to an empty house. Lillianna did not run to me as I walked in the door yelling,"MommyMommyMommyMommy.....I missed you so much!" while hugging my waist and squeezing me tight.
Rich didn't kiss me as he took my lunch box and bag with all my plastic containers from lunch and dinner and put them in the sink where he would wash them before he went to bed so that they would be clean for me in the morning.
No one asked me how my day was. No one watched me check my blood sugar.(This is a huge event in our house.Although I find it somewhat annoying,I kind of missed the attention last night.)
Usually Lillianna sleeps with me on Saturday night because she doesn't see me all day Saturday and then I leave at 6:15am Sunday which is before she wakes up. She always snuggles with me and we giggle together about goofy things. Last night,it was just me,all alone,in my bed. I set the alarm for 4:30am and reluctantly fell asleep.
This morning I woke up and was faced with a sink full of plastic containers. They hadn't been "magically" washed by my husband and I was too tired to wash them last night. Luckily I had more,so I used those instead. It's gonna be a huge mess when I get home with even more dishes!
I am all for "alone time" but this time,in between work,is not alone time,it's lonely time. Now,if I had the whole day to myself and I wasn't working,that would be fun for me!
I can't wait until my family comes home tonight. The single life is not for me!
Last night I came home from work at 8:15pm to an empty house. Lillianna did not run to me as I walked in the door yelling,"MommyMommyMommyMommy.....I missed you so much!" while hugging my waist and squeezing me tight.
Rich didn't kiss me as he took my lunch box and bag with all my plastic containers from lunch and dinner and put them in the sink where he would wash them before he went to bed so that they would be clean for me in the morning.
No one asked me how my day was. No one watched me check my blood sugar.(This is a huge event in our house.Although I find it somewhat annoying,I kind of missed the attention last night.)
Usually Lillianna sleeps with me on Saturday night because she doesn't see me all day Saturday and then I leave at 6:15am Sunday which is before she wakes up. She always snuggles with me and we giggle together about goofy things. Last night,it was just me,all alone,in my bed. I set the alarm for 4:30am and reluctantly fell asleep.
This morning I woke up and was faced with a sink full of plastic containers. They hadn't been "magically" washed by my husband and I was too tired to wash them last night. Luckily I had more,so I used those instead. It's gonna be a huge mess when I get home with even more dishes!
I am all for "alone time" but this time,in between work,is not alone time,it's lonely time. Now,if I had the whole day to myself and I wasn't working,that would be fun for me!
I can't wait until my family comes home tonight. The single life is not for me!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
When is a Danish not a Danish?
So the Muslim community is upset with Denmark for their Muhammad cartoon. I don't really have an opinion on that other than these three words: freedom of speech!
I know Americans renamed or tried to rename French fries to Freedom fries when we were pissed at France but honestly,I have always just called them fries. There are no other kind from which we need to distinguish,right? We don't have Italian fries or Israeli fries or Chinese fries,do we? So fries are just fries to me.
That being said,Danish pastry in the Muslim world has been renamed.It is now being called Roses of the Prophet Muhammad! "I'd like a Roses of the Prophet Muhammad and a large decaf please." It just doesn't have the same ring to it. If it were just one,would it be a Rose of the Prophet Muhammad or is it like the word fish: it's the singular and plural? This is very confusing to me.
When I was in Denmark in 1989 visiting my friend,Charlotte,I remember looking in the bakery window and seeing a delicious tray of Danish pastries.Curious,I asked,"What do the Danish call Danish pastries in Denmark?" She told me they were called snegle.
Knowing that I wanted to write about this and not wanting to get the word wrong,I emailed Charlotte and asked her to confirm this. Here is her response.
You have a very good memory.. Yes some are called snegle (snails) and some are called Bagerens darlige oje (the baker's bad eye)or Spandauer(just the name of the cake) and so on. But all the danish pastries are all together called wienerbrod. (I had to omit the Danish letters because blogger made a mess of them when it posted.So,if you know how to speak Danish and wonder why these words are spelled incorrectly,that's why.)
Hmm.....so the Danish don't even call Danish,Danish......hmmmmm.....that's interesting.
I used to love Danish pastries....so buttery and sweet. Damn this diabetes!......I miss those lovely breakfast treats.....*sigh*........I just lost my train of thought. What was this Muslim protest about and why am I suddenly so hungry?
I know Americans renamed or tried to rename French fries to Freedom fries when we were pissed at France but honestly,I have always just called them fries. There are no other kind from which we need to distinguish,right? We don't have Italian fries or Israeli fries or Chinese fries,do we? So fries are just fries to me.
That being said,Danish pastry in the Muslim world has been renamed.It is now being called Roses of the Prophet Muhammad! "I'd like a Roses of the Prophet Muhammad and a large decaf please." It just doesn't have the same ring to it. If it were just one,would it be a Rose of the Prophet Muhammad or is it like the word fish: it's the singular and plural? This is very confusing to me.
When I was in Denmark in 1989 visiting my friend,Charlotte,I remember looking in the bakery window and seeing a delicious tray of Danish pastries.Curious,I asked,"What do the Danish call Danish pastries in Denmark?" She told me they were called snegle.
Knowing that I wanted to write about this and not wanting to get the word wrong,I emailed Charlotte and asked her to confirm this. Here is her response.
You have a very good memory.. Yes some are called snegle (snails) and some are called Bagerens darlige oje (the baker's bad eye)or Spandauer(just the name of the cake) and so on. But all the danish pastries are all together called wienerbrod. (I had to omit the Danish letters because blogger made a mess of them when it posted.So,if you know how to speak Danish and wonder why these words are spelled incorrectly,that's why.)
Hmm.....so the Danish don't even call Danish,Danish......hmmmmm.....that's interesting.
I used to love Danish pastries....so buttery and sweet. Damn this diabetes!......I miss those lovely breakfast treats.....*sigh*........I just lost my train of thought. What was this Muslim protest about and why am I suddenly so hungry?
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Then I can't help you!
In any job I have ever had,customer service has always been a number one priority.
So,imagine my shock and surprise when I had an appointment last week at a new dermatology practice where customer service is non-existent.
When I got to the front desk,the receptionist didn't acknowledge me for quite some time. She wasn't doing anything except avoiding eye contact with me. I stood in front of her,willing her to look up at me. Eventually she did. She gave me some forms to fill out and then I sat and waited to be called.
About 15 minutes later,I was called in to the exam room. The person who escorted me in could not have been a nurse since she didn't know anything medical! As I listed my medications for her, she looked like a deer in the headlights. She didn't know how to pronounce or spell any of my meds even though I was saying them for her. "I take 500mg of Metformin in the morning and 1000mg at night," I said.
The confused girl looked up in horror and asked,"Metta what?"
She reluctantly wrote down my meds and then told me to get ready for the doctor.
Now for this next part,you have to use the voice of Mrs. Howell from Gilligan's Island and the voice of Kitty Montgomery,the mother-in-law on Dharma and Greg.
Dr.H came in and she was the most condescending and snobby woman I have ever met.
Dr.H: Why have you come here today?
Me: My doctor said I had a lot of freckles and I needed a yearly mole check. I also
have eczema and some other skin issues.
Dr.H glared at me and said nothing so I guessed she wanted more details.
Me: I have had eczema for 43 years (I pointed to the light patchy spot on both of
my arms)and they turn beet red when I am stressed.
Dr.H glared at my light spots and said nothing. I waited for a response. When I didn't get one, I looked up at her. Finally she said in her snotty voice,
"Is it there now?"
Me: Uhm....not the red blotches but you can see where they are.
Dr.H: Then I can't help you!
I sighed. She could definitely see the light patches. Gee,sorry I'm not a basket case and my arms aren't inflamed today.........I decided to address problem number two.
Me: Every morning,my face is very dry so I have to put some type of moisturizer on
it. No matter what I use,there are bright red lines going down each side of my
mouth. It looks like I put red lipstick down the side.
Dr.H: Well is it there now?
I purposely didn't use make-up so that she would see this problem. I looked in the mirror but the lines weren't there.
Me: I don't see them now.....no.....they're not there.
Dr.H: Then I can't help you!
Me: This is the most frustrating exam I had ever had!
Long glare from Dr.H.........I sighed.
Me: Well what can I do about the eczema?
Dr.H: You keep saying eczema.....eczema.....eczema is dry skin. Use any type of moisturizer and you won't have eczema!
Was she kidding me??????? When the blotches come,moisturizer inflames my skin and makes it more itchy and irritated. My fingers and hands are a dry,itchy mess. Moisturizer will make them worse.
Dr.H: I guess I will check your moles.
After her search she looked disappointed.
Dr.H: There is nothing wrong with you. Is there something you are
concerned about?
Me: There is this mole on my shoulder that has become raised in the past year.
Dr.H: Well,yes....as you become older,they fill with fat. It's not a problem unless
you want something removed.
Me: Do I need it removed?
Dr.H: No.
I told her I didn't have any more questions. She told me to get dressed.
Once I was dressed,I sat and waited for her to return. After a few minutes I figured she wasn't coming back and maybe I should just check out. As I walked down the hall,I saw her sitting in a little room writing in a chart. I asked,"Do I just check out?" She looked at me as if I just threw up on her designer shoes and said,"No. You go back in the room and you wait for me!"
I went back to the room and waited. A few minutes later,the incompetent non-medical girl came in. She gave me a sample of some moisturizer and told me to make an appointment for one year. I said I'd call. Ya right!!!!! If my skin were falling off and Dr.H was the only one who could cure me,I'd be skinless!!
After I told Rich and Lillianna this story, I decided to make this my catch phrase.
"Is it there now?.......Then I can't help you!" I have to use the snobby obnoxious voice to make it work. Lillianna just laughs.
I can laugh as I look back on it but it was really pathetic. To deny that my eczema is itchy and causes problems was ridiculous. She doesn't know me or my situation.
Have you ever had an encounter with an incompetent doctor? How did you handle it?
So,imagine my shock and surprise when I had an appointment last week at a new dermatology practice where customer service is non-existent.
When I got to the front desk,the receptionist didn't acknowledge me for quite some time. She wasn't doing anything except avoiding eye contact with me. I stood in front of her,willing her to look up at me. Eventually she did. She gave me some forms to fill out and then I sat and waited to be called.
About 15 minutes later,I was called in to the exam room. The person who escorted me in could not have been a nurse since she didn't know anything medical! As I listed my medications for her, she looked like a deer in the headlights. She didn't know how to pronounce or spell any of my meds even though I was saying them for her. "I take 500mg of Metformin in the morning and 1000mg at night," I said.
The confused girl looked up in horror and asked,"Metta what?"
She reluctantly wrote down my meds and then told me to get ready for the doctor.
Now for this next part,you have to use the voice of Mrs. Howell from Gilligan's Island and the voice of Kitty Montgomery,the mother-in-law on Dharma and Greg.
Dr.H came in and she was the most condescending and snobby woman I have ever met.
Dr.H: Why have you come here today?
Me: My doctor said I had a lot of freckles and I needed a yearly mole check. I also
have eczema and some other skin issues.
Dr.H glared at me and said nothing so I guessed she wanted more details.
Me: I have had eczema for 43 years (I pointed to the light patchy spot on both of
my arms)and they turn beet red when I am stressed.
Dr.H glared at my light spots and said nothing. I waited for a response. When I didn't get one, I looked up at her. Finally she said in her snotty voice,
"Is it there now?"
Me: Uhm....not the red blotches but you can see where they are.
Dr.H: Then I can't help you!
I sighed. She could definitely see the light patches. Gee,sorry I'm not a basket case and my arms aren't inflamed today.........I decided to address problem number two.
Me: Every morning,my face is very dry so I have to put some type of moisturizer on
it. No matter what I use,there are bright red lines going down each side of my
mouth. It looks like I put red lipstick down the side.
Dr.H: Well is it there now?
I purposely didn't use make-up so that she would see this problem. I looked in the mirror but the lines weren't there.
Me: I don't see them now.....no.....they're not there.
Dr.H: Then I can't help you!
Me: This is the most frustrating exam I had ever had!
Long glare from Dr.H.........I sighed.
Me: Well what can I do about the eczema?
Dr.H: You keep saying eczema.....eczema.....eczema is dry skin. Use any type of moisturizer and you won't have eczema!
Was she kidding me??????? When the blotches come,moisturizer inflames my skin and makes it more itchy and irritated. My fingers and hands are a dry,itchy mess. Moisturizer will make them worse.
Dr.H: I guess I will check your moles.
After her search she looked disappointed.
Dr.H: There is nothing wrong with you. Is there something you are
concerned about?
Me: There is this mole on my shoulder that has become raised in the past year.
Dr.H: Well,yes....as you become older,they fill with fat. It's not a problem unless
you want something removed.
Me: Do I need it removed?
Dr.H: No.
I told her I didn't have any more questions. She told me to get dressed.
Once I was dressed,I sat and waited for her to return. After a few minutes I figured she wasn't coming back and maybe I should just check out. As I walked down the hall,I saw her sitting in a little room writing in a chart. I asked,"Do I just check out?" She looked at me as if I just threw up on her designer shoes and said,"No. You go back in the room and you wait for me!"
I went back to the room and waited. A few minutes later,the incompetent non-medical girl came in. She gave me a sample of some moisturizer and told me to make an appointment for one year. I said I'd call. Ya right!!!!! If my skin were falling off and Dr.H was the only one who could cure me,I'd be skinless!!
After I told Rich and Lillianna this story, I decided to make this my catch phrase.
"Is it there now?.......Then I can't help you!" I have to use the snobby obnoxious voice to make it work. Lillianna just laughs.
I can laugh as I look back on it but it was really pathetic. To deny that my eczema is itchy and causes problems was ridiculous. She doesn't know me or my situation.
Have you ever had an encounter with an incompetent doctor? How did you handle it?
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Happy Birthday to me!
Today is my birthday and so far it has been wonderful.
Ok,it wasn't so great that I had to work this morning but right after work,at 12pm,I drove to Kara's work and she took me out to lunch. We went to this lovely restaurant next door to her office. She has been there a million times but this was my first time going and it was delicious!!!!
It's an Italian restaurant but of course I had to stay away from the regular Italian meals....too many carbs for me. My sugar has been high two nights in a row so I am really trying extra hard to watch my carb intake.
I ordered a mixed greens salad with grilled chicken and tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It was huge and very filling. It was so much fun to spend time with my sister. She gave me a pair of 5 pound weights which I had asked for so I can tone my arms and I also got a beautiful shirt. I thought it would be too tight but....IT FIT!!!! I am so excited to have something new that actually fits me.
I got home around 4:00pm and cleaned this messy place up. Lillianna helped me slice up 2 containers of fresh strawberries and now she is singing in the shower.We also listened to my old 45's. She can not put the needle on the record!!! It's amazing. She can use the computer,use a CD player and every other gadget in the world but the old needle on the record freaks her out.
Our friends are coming over at 7:30pm for dinner and cake. I made pasta,sauce and salad. Thank goodness for my crockpot.
This is my first birthday without a "real" cake. I got a sugar free angel food cake with fat free cool whip and strawberries. Diabetes sucks! It really does.
Tomorrow,Lillianna and I are going to Build-A-Bear so that she can build me a puppy for my birthday. She has 2 dogs,Kayleigh and Mikayla. I want my own dog. I'm naming my puppy,Chloe Natasha. I'll pick her out and Lillianna will stuff her for me. I think I will photograph the whole event.
That's all for now. I have to make the salad. It's almost dinner time!!
Ok,it wasn't so great that I had to work this morning but right after work,at 12pm,I drove to Kara's work and she took me out to lunch. We went to this lovely restaurant next door to her office. She has been there a million times but this was my first time going and it was delicious!!!!
It's an Italian restaurant but of course I had to stay away from the regular Italian meals....too many carbs for me. My sugar has been high two nights in a row so I am really trying extra hard to watch my carb intake.
I ordered a mixed greens salad with grilled chicken and tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It was huge and very filling. It was so much fun to spend time with my sister. She gave me a pair of 5 pound weights which I had asked for so I can tone my arms and I also got a beautiful shirt. I thought it would be too tight but....IT FIT!!!! I am so excited to have something new that actually fits me.
I got home around 4:00pm and cleaned this messy place up. Lillianna helped me slice up 2 containers of fresh strawberries and now she is singing in the shower.We also listened to my old 45's. She can not put the needle on the record!!! It's amazing. She can use the computer,use a CD player and every other gadget in the world but the old needle on the record freaks her out.
Our friends are coming over at 7:30pm for dinner and cake. I made pasta,sauce and salad. Thank goodness for my crockpot.
This is my first birthday without a "real" cake. I got a sugar free angel food cake with fat free cool whip and strawberries. Diabetes sucks! It really does.
Tomorrow,Lillianna and I are going to Build-A-Bear so that she can build me a puppy for my birthday. She has 2 dogs,Kayleigh and Mikayla. I want my own dog. I'm naming my puppy,Chloe Natasha. I'll pick her out and Lillianna will stuff her for me. I think I will photograph the whole event.
That's all for now. I have to make the salad. It's almost dinner time!!
Saturday, February 04, 2006
My very dry fingertips
I have had eczema my whole life and I hate it. Since I am now pricking my fingertips twice a day to check my blood sugar, the dryness has become worse.
Yesterday,Lillianna and I,went to CVS to drop off my prescriptions. I decided to ask the pharmacist what he suggested for my dried,cracked fingers. He was an Asian man who had a thick accent. He took me down an aisle and stopped. He pointed to the lowest shelf.
"I know this may seem strange but this cream is best. They use it on dry cow teats."
I did my best not to burst out in nervous laughter. I've heard of these creams before and I'm sure if they work on dry cow teats they should work on my scaly fingers,right?
Then the pharmacist looked at me,pointed at my fingers and said,"You shouldn't pick your fingers."
I sighed and said, "I didn't say I pick my fingers. I said I prick my fingers...twice a day....to check my blood sugar."
"Oh," he said."This will help you." He walked away.
This cow teat cream is called Bag Balm. They couldn't have come up with a more seductive name? I used it last night and it doesn't smell too pleasant. Lillianna gagged. For $7.99 this teat cream had better make my fingertips moist and delicious,that's all I have to say!!
Have you ever used cow teat cream?
Yesterday,Lillianna and I,went to CVS to drop off my prescriptions. I decided to ask the pharmacist what he suggested for my dried,cracked fingers. He was an Asian man who had a thick accent. He took me down an aisle and stopped. He pointed to the lowest shelf.
"I know this may seem strange but this cream is best. They use it on dry cow teats."
I did my best not to burst out in nervous laughter. I've heard of these creams before and I'm sure if they work on dry cow teats they should work on my scaly fingers,right?
Then the pharmacist looked at me,pointed at my fingers and said,"You shouldn't pick your fingers."
I sighed and said, "I didn't say I pick my fingers. I said I prick my fingers...twice a day....to check my blood sugar."
"Oh," he said."This will help you." He walked away.
This cow teat cream is called Bag Balm. They couldn't have come up with a more seductive name? I used it last night and it doesn't smell too pleasant. Lillianna gagged. For $7.99 this teat cream had better make my fingertips moist and delicious,that's all I have to say!!
Have you ever used cow teat cream?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)