Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ambrosia and Advice

The most beautiful ambrosia on a cold, rainy, early morning in late March is the hot coffee I hold in my hand. OK - so I guess I'm not holding it right this second, because I can't do that and type, too - but you get the picture.

****

Today is my sister, HB's, birthday - so I wanted to take a minute to wish her a happy happy, wonderful wonderful and hope that she has the best birthday ever. And to give her a little bit of sisterly advice: Don't let anyone stress you out, beat you down, or otherwise dampen what should be a joyful day. Rise above it, smile, and know you are loved by so many.

I love you, sweet sister.

TTFN

JMS

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Is it? Isn't it?

Well, that's for them to find out, 'cause we certainly don't know.

What we originally thought might be Hashimoto's Disease, may not be. So we're back to the drawing board - and the drawing board looks like an appointment with the Endocrinologist on April 7.

Yay.

I hope he sticks another needle, or five, in my neck.

However, as much as I'm looking forward to going through this...again...I am looking forward to finally finding out the true answer to the problem.

I won't go into detail as to why it may not be Hashimoto's Disease - but suffice it to say that there was a "failure to communicate" - and not on my part.

'Nuff said.

TTFN JMS

Monday, March 28, 2011

It really was strange. And it was SO REAL!

I had a very strange dream last night:

We (whoever "we" were) were at this big fancy hotel somewhere in a city I didn't know. But there were cobblestone streets out front. No main front doors, but somehow we were inside this hotel. I tried to leave, and had to go to this counter, where one would think the front door should be - but it was this massive glass display case-type counter in a "frame" around two teeny tiny Alice-in-Wonderland-esque doors.

I asked the guy behind the counter how to get out and he pushed some button which opened a trap door at the base of this glass cabinet and said, "Through here."

I thought he was joking, but he was dead serious.

So I hauled my butt (and for whatever reason, I was in this long broomstick hippie-type skirt) through this little trap door and behind the counter. There were other people back there suddenly, also trying to get out. Lots of pushing and shoving ensued - but eventually the little Alice-in-Wonderland doors opened and we all were able to squeeze through onto the cobblestone street.

Just as I got outside, and stood up long enough to consider brushing myself off - I noticed a large white Volvo station wagon careening around the corner to my left with a bunch of people I didn't know inside of it. They looked like there were taking the car for a joy-ride! The top of the wagon had been cut off, so it became a very odd-looking convertible.

It suddenly occurred to me that that Volvo was my husband's car! Those people were stealing my husband's car!!! I saw the Princess sticker that our daughter had stuck on the back of the seat and the car seats thrown in the back of the wagon, which only served to reinforce my original thought. Yep. They were stealing my husband's car!

Uh uh. No way. Not gonna happen.

Immediately I was like a ninja (it was pretty cool, actually!) and I leaped into the moving car and started hauling these guys out of the car and tossing them out on the street one-by-one. Finally I came to the driver, who swung the car sharply left and off the road, where we came to a stop. I think he was hoping he'd throw me off, but I was Spider man! I was Superman! (Well...woman, but you get the picture.) I held on and threatened to pop his head off if he didn't exit the car immediately, which he did.

So there I am, standing next to the semi-crashed, newly convertible-ized, great white beast of a Volvo, watching all these guys I didn't know try to peel themselves off the pavement after being tossed bodily from a moving vehicle - wondering how all this had happened? Suddenly, hubby is next to me wondering the same thing.

That's about all I remember.... It really was strange. And it was SO REAL! I'll have to remember to tell hubby about it!

TTFN

JMS

Friday, March 25, 2011

A Long Drive

I followed Bumblebee almost all the way to work today. I wonder what he's in town for? ***** I had about 25 minutes of "Me" time this morning - and it was great! I had the radio on while I was driving to work: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Goo Goo Dolls - just to name a few. It was a good thing...and I feel mostly ready to face the day. It's amazing how several minutes, a long drive, and a few really excellent songs is so good for the soul. TTFN JMS

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Something's a-brewin'

It's Wednesday - and it's unusually quiet at my office. Aside from the "white noise" that comes from the ceiling, I don't even hear any phones ringing! The usually verbose and volume-challenged manager who sits on the other side of my cube wall is so quiet I hardly knew he was even in the office today! :-) I hear occasional typing. Occasional conversations. But everything seems muffled. Am I getting an ear infection that is making the sounds of the world around me fade away? It feels like something is brewing - and I don't mean the storms outside my window. TTFN JMS

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Hire Me!

OK - so even though I'm not actively looking for a job - I would very much like to work in the town in which I live. Please, those of you who know me and know where I live, if you want to hire me in an Executive and/or Administrative Assistant capacity, please please please let me know! I'll send you my full resume to peruse at your leisure. But in the meantime - here's a tidbit: Summary of Qualifications & Related Skills Over ten years of experience in the administrative field * Extensive customer service and client relations experience * Proven track-record of time-management, meeting deadlines and completing projects * Proficient in many standard computer applications including MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Publisher, MS Access as well as a working knowledge of other applications such as SharePoint, FS Pro (Formatting Solutions, Information Mapping Software), and iGreenTree Hiring Manager * Ability to win in a team-driven or self-driven environment * Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills * Typing speed up to 90 wpm So...do you want me yet? TTFN JMS

Monday, March 21, 2011

Auntie Jen

Guess what? Today is Monday. Oh - wait! That's not news, is it? **** Actually I have absolutely nothing new and interesting to report. Nope - that's not really true, either. Wow - am I off my game today or what? My little sister is pregnant!!!!!! I was so excited about my younger brother and his wife when they found out they were pregnant, and then when my new, sweet, niece came this past December - just bliss. And now my little sister!? I'm going to be an Auntie again! How awesome is that? She and her hubby are pretty much beside themselves right now! And so am I. Now I just have to wait until they found out what gender the new little one is - so I can begin baby blanket making in earnest! TTFN JMS

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind blow at your back,
May the sun shine warmly on your face;
May the rain fall softly on your field;
And until we meet again,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen

Monday, March 14, 2011

A whole lot of nuthin'

I just realized that this post will be my 560th post! Woo hoo! Par-tay! Or...not. I have absolutely nothing fabulous to say.................................................. Truly, I have been sitting here since the above overabundance of little dots all in a row, for about 5 minutes now. My mind is blank. Well, more accurately, there are things I want to say but can't say - especially in "public." So to err on the side of caution, I wont's say anything. What is that saying? "If you can't say nothin' nice, don't say nothin' at all?" (I'm quoting Thumper, not Mom.) Except it isn't that I can't say nothin' nice - it's just that I can't say nothin', you know? So, I guess that's my totally useless 560th post. TTFN JMS

Thursday, March 10, 2011

CrochetCrochetCrochetCrochet (obsession? me? never!)

I've found a new love and it's called Crochet. I like to crochet every day. (Oh, my head...nothing like bad poetry first thing in the morning, eh?) But it's true. I'm stitching just to stitch and loving every minute of it. My friend MG turned me on to Ravelry.com and I've also found some new blogs that I'm going to get obsessed with, too! If you're a crocheter, you need to check out Scotty's Place & Would You Like Yarn With That? If you're a knitter (which I'm not, yet - but if MG will teach me I'll gladly learn) you might want to check out Hugs For Your Head and KnitGeekery. (Of course, there's always For the Love of Chester - but that one has nothing whatsoever to do with crocheting or knitting - it's just a guilty pleasure! I ♥ me some Chester. :-) ) So if you want to visit me on Ravelry.com you can go to http://www.ravelry.com/people/jshell73 and see all the fabulous things I've created! LOL! I'm joking, people - joke! OK? Really the things I make are not fabulous - but I sure have fun with them! Right now I'm working on a blanket for (well...I really shouldn't say who it's for because she may be reading this!) - birthday in April. I have plenty of time. It's so soft and I really love the way it's turning out. I just finished a little shamrock "fashion" scarf thing that was just fun. I just finished a little purse that was a pain in the rear, but still fun. Oh - and I still have my Etsy site - which is http://jshell73.etsy.com. So you can always visit me there, too! I'm just full of web-presence today, aren't I? So I guess I need to quit while I'm ahead. TTFN JMS

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Monday, March 07, 2011

Prince Medley, Kiddo Update, Diagnosis

The most random assortment of things are going through my head right now - the most prominent of them is a 1980's Prince song medley. I'm really not sure where it came from, but it's there and it's actually making me bounce a little in my chair! I have a Dove Chocolate wrapper stuck with a pink magnet to the overhead cabinet of my desk at work that says, "Dance to music, even if it is only in your head." That seems to be a common occurrence with me. I have music with me always, but I'm usually the only one who can hear it, and I'm not listening to my iPod! **** Kiddo seems to be feeling better. He got antibiotics (FINALLY) on Friday and within 24 hours his fever was gone. KAPUT! Thank goodness. By Sunday afternoon he was his usually sweet, goofy self again...and then some. Then last night he had some pretty strong ear pain; it made him cry. So...my official I'm-not-a-doctor-but-I-play-one-on-TV (or, I'm-a-mom-so-don't-tell-me-there's-nothing-wrong-with-my-child) diagnosis is that he had an ear infection. He had a couple days of antibiotics and POP! Whatever was going on in his ear finally "broke" and that's what caused him pain. He was fine again within 2 or 3 hours, but he had a rough night. He did go to school today and his teacher emailed me to say he was having a great day. This is good news, because he was out all last week. **** Speaking of doctors and health issues, there is a health thing my doctor and I are investigating. The short version is that she believes I have Hashimoto's Disease. The longer version is that this is the result of testing done over the last couple of years and I haven't actually gotten the chance to talk to her about this diagnosis yet. The "diagnosis" came to me in an off-hand sentence in a recent letter from her regarding my blood work. So while it's news to me, it's not really surprising. I have done some research and have almost all the symptoms as well as an abnormally-shaped thyroid with nodules that they're keeping an eye on. NO CANCER!!! OK? Really. (OH, and btw, my recent mammogram was completely clear! Yay! So those of you who know my family history should be relieved to hear that.) So while we're still in the early stages of discovery, it seems that we're on the right track and this "disease" can be treated with medication. I'll keep you all posted! TTFN JMS

Friday, March 04, 2011

Sick Kiddo

Kiddo has been sick since Sunday. This makes 5 days now. Yesterday we thought he was getting better because his temperature was hovering around normal. Not so much. He coughed (that deep, scary, bronchial cough) practically all night and then woke up with a 101.6 fever...again. It's gotten as high as 102.6. He's been to the doctor twice. He'll be going a 3rd time this morning, most likely. Per the doc, it's not strep, flu, walking pneumonia, mono or any of the other terrible things kids get. Doc says its "that virus" that everyone has been getting and it usually runs its course in 4 days. Day 5, still going strong. I hate hate hate that he's so sick! It's awful to see my normally active, verbal and goofy child be still, silent and serious. He's pale. He has purple under his eyes that make it look like someone punched him. He's bored to tears because he misses school. Little Bit (who's not so little anymore) seems stuffy and runny - but otherwise fine. I guess this is the battle we all (as parents) fight now and again. But it sure isn't fun; for us or our kids. TTFN JMS

Thursday, March 03, 2011

A Letter to McDonald's

Dear McDonald's on the Turnpike in Oak Ridge: I am done with you. 1) You always forget the straws. And the 12 that I asked for the last time I had to go all the way through the drive through again to get one, are gone. 2) That little 6" concrete bumper...thing...you have by your drive-through lane that is supposed to deter drivers from swinging in from the Administration Drive entrance? It doesn't work. You don't seem to understand how frustrating it is to follow the rules and drive all the way around the restaurant to get to the drive-through - like one is supposed to - only to have been cheated out of your place in line by two drivers who think it's OK to take the "shortcut." Can't you put out tack strips? I'd just once like to see one of those sneaky drivers bust all four of their tires at once...just from coming in the wrong way. It would make me feel better. 3) You have GOT to get friendlier people in your drive-through window. At least someone who knows how to use the words, "Please," and "Thank you." One tries to be polite to the order-board speaker-voices, but the order-board speaker-voices are not polite back. It's upsetting and it's rude. 4) I'm not supposed to eat your stuff anyway - so really I only get coffee and/or diet coke when I come through there. This is just an opportunity to vent. You do have really good coffee, though! (I felt it was necessary to end this rant on a positive note.) Sincerely, JMS