Thursday, August 31, 2006

Not so itsy bitsy

Eek. (In response to Erica's post at the Librarian Avengers blog)

I thought I was doing so well! Not wanting my 2 year old daughter to be afraid of such an amazing creature, I encourage curiousity about spiders. There's a beautiful big one who has built a web near the garage this weekend. (This site is really cool - it's how spiders construct their webs!) We make sure to try to spot her whilst she hides out in the flowers. I'm not afraid of spiders. But I had a dream where the house was over run by spiders, and now I'm freaked out! I woke up, terrified that they've invaded! I can just say I'm thrilled to not be in the southwest!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

My first "very interesting" SLIS prof! *wink*

It's Professor Wayne! Thanks, Heather, for posting his webcast! Professor Wayne's SLIS 450 at UW-Madison was most everyone's first impressions about what librarianship was all about. And now, he is here, talking about Dewey. I'm listening to this webcast, remembering him talking about information systems, librarianship, the history of reading, the history of the book, all that cool stuff, in a very warm lecture hall in Science Hall in Madison.

(And she screams...I wanna get back there!)

Monday, August 28, 2006

Babies!

There's been new arrivals in the lives of some friends and family.
Kayla Nicole


6 pounds 7 ounces, 20 inches, 7:26 pm, Friday, August 25, 2006



Born to my cousin Rebecca and her boyfriend Dwight in Cleveland, Ohio








Charlie Leonard


August 22, 2006 at 9:57 AM, 6 lbs. 14 oz., 19 1/2 inches

Born to my good friend and co-worker Pam, her husband Art, and big brother Howie!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Alas, poor Pluto....

or... And then there were 8 (planets, that is)

My first impression was the use of mnemonics to remember the previous 9:
  • Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Nocturnal Purpose
  • My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas
  • My Very Easy Method-Just Set Up Nine Planets
  • Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Stay Up Nights Praying
  • Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Stay Up Nights, Period.
  • My Very Energetic Mother Just Sat Upon (the) North Pole
  • My Very Elegant Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Porcupines
  • My very educated mother just sent us nine pickles.
  • My very educated mother just served us nine peas.
  • My very excellent memory just served up nine planets.
  • Man very early made jars stand up nearly perpendicular.
(thanks, to Amanda for this list!)

Poor kids, missing out on that pizza! Can't wait to see what the new mnemonics will be!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Wednesday, already?

We've been so busy lately! Work is incredibly hectic as usual, and it feels like we're about 5 steps away from utter chaos. But it's nice to be appreciated and it's nice to keep busy.

We're helping Jodi with a rummage sale this weekend (go away, rain!), but we haven't yet begun hauling our items to the garage yet! Thankfully it's going to be held at Jodi's house. (whew!)

Joe's busy with work, finishing up a few projects, and planning the "Bachelor Party of the Year". Egads. I'm opting for the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. I really don't think I will want to know what's going to happen during the 3 day festival!

Maddy is busy growing up quickly. She's definitely behaving as a 2-going-on-3 year old, and vacillates between "I can do it" and "Mommy/Daddy, you do it!". Parenthood is NOT for the weak of heart/stomach/head/patience!

Friday, August 18, 2006

just breath....

Surgery has been scheduled. October 5th. 48 days. The waiting begins.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

The decision

The date hasn't been set yet, but we are going through with the surgery to transpose the ulna nerve being compressed by the scar tissue. It's probably going to be early October so hopefully I've healed a bit healed by the holidays. I feel pretty, well, ok. As well as I can be, I suppose.

I'm glad I can do something about the discomfort, the pain, the lack of full recovery from the original injury. I'm freaked out about the prospect of surgery. I only have been "under" twice that I remember: once in the dentist's chair getting stubborn teeth out and once only a few years ago when I had my tonsils taken out. I'm frustrated that I feel like I'm going back to square one as I recuperate from the surgery (no lifting for 6-8 weeks). Therapy won't be fun, but I've been there before in April, so I kind of know what to expect.

I'm ok. I know it's temporary and I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Worries - part 3

My friend Jodi has introduced me to Reiki. I'm not a novice to trying alternative medicine. I've studied yoga in the past and hope to in the future after my arm heals. I've had acupuncture done, which was amazing. I believe in the power of the mind and the power of meditation (though I've never seriously practiced meditation).

I've heard of Reiki, but figured it hokie. . No one could give me proof that Reiki worked. But when one is not feeling 100%, you tend to try almost anything to feel better. So I invited Jodi to show me what she knows. Last week, she practiced on me.

I'm not sure I can describe the pure bliss I enjoyed when she practiced on me. I'm not sure what happened, but whatever it was, I've been contemplating upon it since then. In my research of Reiki and Reiki practice, I have decided to attempt to live by this famous quote by Dr. Mikao Usui, the originator of Reiki as it is today. Many of you might now it.
Just for today, do not worry.
Just for today, do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to everything.

Dr. Mikao Usui
Maybe it will help me stop becoming such a chronic worrier. Couldn't hurt!

Worries - part 2

Maddy isn't feeling well. For the first time in a very long time, she has a pretty nasty productive cough. She's clingy, which she rarely is, and she's just feeling punky. *sigh* All I would like to do today is crawl into bed with her and comfort her. But alas, she doesn't have a fever, she's in a fairly decent mood despite it, and I have to save up my personal days at work for if/when I have surgery. They never taught me how to handle these feelings in parenting school.

Worries - part 1

Everytime I hear about some sort of airplane disaster, my very first thought is "Where is Dad?!". No different this morning. Especially this morning.

As my sisters and I were growing up, my father traveled internationally for business. I got used to figuring out the planet Earth by following my father's travels around the globe. When the PanAm flight was bombed in Lockerbie , Scotland, we were living in Skipton. My father flew often between England and the US.

I keep forgetting that though my father travels, he doesn't travel internationally much anymore. But I'll always worry.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Diagnosis

In regards to my elbow...I have nerve compression/entrapment of the ulna nerve at the elbow. It's probably scar tissue from the fracture in February.

Option 1: Wait and see if it gets better.
Option 2: Surgically decompress the nerve and possibly move the nerve to another place. (link is really a good link to UCLA's Neurosurgery Center).

Neither sounds fun. I've been pretty good about limiting the activities. I use the mouse at my computer with my left hand again. I conduct the band with my left hand (that was weird). I rinse dishes, weed, drive, hold the phone to my ear, etc. with my left hand. I still do all the fun nerve glides. I'm not overdoing it, but I'm definitely not exercising it. But rest alone MIGHT help.

But surgery might work. It would release it from the scar tissue, and the re-routing of the nerve to inside the forearm would decrease the tension. It would mean possible time off. It would mean trying to figure out a good time for surgery. It would mean going back to square one. But it also MIGHT help.

So there you have it. I asked my ortho-surgeon what he would do. He said he didn't know. Great. Joe and I meet with him on the 14th to discuss details, options, etc.

Bottomline, I just want to be feel healthy again. I want to play cello again. I want to be able to not wince when Maddy wants me to hold her. I want to be able to not have to gauge my activities, hoping that I have enough strength to make it through the day.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

9/11 : The NORAD tapes

With yet another anniversary of 9/11 around the corner, I continue to be astounded by the horror of that day. We were way out of harms way, in Ashland WI, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, and yet I watched CNN with terror that WWIII were starting. I couldn't read all of this feature in Vanity Fair. com without feeling the horror or crying a bit for innocence lost, but I link this because it is well written and thought-provoking. I wonder if we are any wiser, any smarter, any more ready to deal with such a threat today. Somehow, I doubt it.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Our HOT Weekend



The three pirates! ARGHHH














Feeding the ducks!









The Tall Ships came to Green Bay!

Phew

I'm exhausted! Bullets of possible reasons why:
  • It's 86 outside.
  • It FEELS like 96 outside already.
  • It's already 78 in my office, where I'm currently housing the printer, and there is NO ventilation cuz they are fixing the air ducts. (reminder to self....find a fan!)
  • I'm still recuperating from the whirlwind that was our weekend with Haddy and William who came up to Green Bay to visit whilst Mom and Dad had a weekend in Chicago.
  • I slept like crap cuz my "sweet little kitty" D'Argo decided that I needed to wake up to watch the birds with him. GRRRR
Thankfully we installed a new furnace and AC in March, so the house is a wonderful relief; the Jetta's AC was fixed, so Joe doesn't melt on his way to work; and we have not only our neighborhood pool to cool off in after work, but we have our little cute pool to cool off in!