Superbad

So tonight B and I went to see Superbad. For me it was my second time, as I saw it with my brother when B was in Iowa. I love Michael Cera (I still can't believe Arrested Development was canceled after three seasons) but watching the movie for a second time was a bit much. B enjoyed it though and the cop scenes are hilarious, so it's all good.

Tomorrow will be interesting as we are having a homeowners association meeting. I'm expecting it to be horrible. I'm the treasurer so I can't skip it. It's been a bit messy these last few weeks as the secretary, who was someone I considered a friend, resigned. Without telling me; I had to find out from another neighbor. He's acting like a 4-year-old over something that is, in reality, not a major issue. For an eight-house neighborhood (and only six of the houses are currently occupied), there is a lot of dissent and childish behavior going on around here. It's getting to the point where B and I are taking day trips on weekends just so we don't have to be here since even if we are locked up in our house it doesn't stop people from stopping by or calling just so they can complain about the other neighbors or Board members.

It sucks I have two days in a row where I have to attend meetings I'm not looking forward to. Tomorrow is the Board meeting, Monday is a staff meeting which we have 2 times (or less) per year. If anyone can think of a good excuse I could use to get out of both let me know.

On a good note the local Fox station is airing the Bears vs. Chargers game. Go BEARS!!!

Catching Up - Part 2

This past week was pretty packed, tiring yet fun. I decided to make two things this week - chewy chocolate caramel bars for my brother's roommate (and one of his best friends) Chris, since he helped us with our cell phone plan earlier this year and that is what he requested as payment, and also a birthday cake for my mom. Thursday after work I went shopping for the supplies I would need, then I headed home to start baking. Managed to get the bars completed and in the freezer, and since I had time I decided to at least bake the cake. I used a fairly new recipe I found that uses white cake mix as a base but also adds butter, milk, vanilla and eggs. I decided to go the fancy route and bake 2-8" round cakes. They turned out great. As it was after 9pm I cleaned up and called it a night.

Friday I got out of work early, did a bit more shopping, came home and started working on finishing the cake. I had found a strawberry filling recipe, which I did...and it turned out like a jello. Not what I was going for. So I decided to go with my own concoction, which consisted of cool whip, vanilla pudding (just the powder/box stuff) and pureed strawberries. Yum! Much better than the stupid recipe. Once I had the filling I started to work on a quick buttercream frosting, which I've used before from the Food Network. Made two batches, grabbed a quick bite of dinner and then began the frosting process. I'm not the best cake decorator as I rarely make cakes and hardly ever decorate anything, but I do enjoy since I find it creative. I think it turned out pretty well. I didn't know what I was going to do, just started at the base and worked up. Finished around 9:30pm, spent another half hour cleaning up, then crashed on the couch. The important lesson I learned that evening was that I can not handle standing on my feet/legs for that long. I really suffered from nerve pain that evening, and I would say I still haven't recovered.

Saturday (Mom's birthday) we took the cake, gift and other birthday accessories to my mom and dad's house, where we met up with the parents and my brother who is back in town for the weekend. We piled in parent's Camry...or should I say crammed in as there is not enough space for five adults to sit comfortably...and off we went for a slightly less than two hour drive to Port Clinton. Port Clinton is about 15 minutes west of Sandusky, and most of the city is surrounded by Lake Erie. We managed to hit the 11am Jet Express and off we went to Put-In-Bay, a fairly large island located on Lake Erie. Since no one except me had been to the island before I thought it would be a fun day, especially since the weather was going to be perfect - high 70's and sunny.

Put-In-Bay (PIB) has something for everyone. About 450 people live on the island year round, but they have a lot of hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, attractions and parks for visitors. Since it was a Saturday during Labor Day weekend there were a lot of people but it was not overwhelming. Most of the people were at the bars watching the OSU game, or sitting on their boats listening to the game on the radio.

We first stopped to pick up a rental golf cart, which is the transportation option of choice in PIB. We drove through the downtown area and finally picked a place to eat. Nothing fancy, just simple bar and sandwich fare. We all ordered burgers and fries, enjoyed the view out the window at the Lake and the friendliness of the restaurant staff. Once we were done we decided to walk around downtown and hit some of the stores in an effort to find my brother some more comfortable shoes. After 30 minutes the shoes were found, we returned to the golf cart and decided to start seeing some of PIB's attractions.

First we hit Perry's Memorial, which is a big tower that provides a great view of not only the island but of Lake Erie, the other islands and Ohio coastline. I did go up in May and the view was wonderful, even on a not so bright day. We went inside, went up the initial steps that led to an elevator, but found the line too long. We decided to go back to the cart and find something else to do.

We drove around the perimeter of PIB and saw beautiful houses, trees, and more great views of the Lake and surrounding islands. Finally we came across a beach where we took a short walk, dipped our feet in the warm water and enjoyed the cliffs, waves and smell of barbecue from the beach.

After drive around almost the entire perimeter of PIB we finally came upon Heineman's Winery and Crystal Cave. They were giving tours of the winery and cave for $6/piece so we decided to do it. This was an interesting decision considering neither of my parents drink (I had never seen my mom have a sip of alcohol and my dad gave up beer decades ago), and my mom is incredibly claustrophobic.

We go through the winery tour, which is pretty lame mostly because B and I have been to a lot of wineries in California where the process is a lot more detailed and interesting. That took about 20 minutes. Then we got in a line for the cave, which all we knew was that it was down 42 steep steps and is the world's largest geode. My mom, to my complete surprise, decided to go down into the cave.

Now this was a monumental moment. My mom has gotten off of planes before takeoff because she felt too enclosed in, and now she wanted to go into a potentially very small cave filled with crystals. About 30 of us went down the stairs single file to the geode site. The guide, who sounded Russian, asked us to all cram in this small "room", where the walls and ceiling was nothing but geodes. We were crammed in shoulder to shoulder, the air was hot and you could not feel a single, even slight, breeze. My brother and I looked at each other in panic, waiting for my mom to eventually crack, start shoving people out of the way and working her way back up the stairs. It was honestly the worst case scenario; the cave was horrifically small and smothering. My mom was the farthest away from the stairway out, next to a wall filled with geodes that were dripping water.

So the guide goes on about how the geode got there, how there were other parts that were deemed unsafe for patrons (they could cave in at any time), and finally at the end of her long speech she actually says "Now, we should all probably leave room before I get claustrophobia attack." Yes, that is what she actually said. People start filing out of the room, we make sure my mom is the first of the family to go up the stairs...and she makes it. No attack. We were so proud, and I know she was too. That was a really big thing for her.

Part of the wine tour was that we each got a chip for a free sample of wine or grape juice, so we went to the bar area and got our drinks. Mom and Dad had grape juice, the rest of us tried different wines. Mind you, I was stilled pretty shocked about the whole cave thing, but then that monumental event was topped when my mom asked for a sip of my brother's wine. I kid you not. She took a sip. Then she asked if she could taste mine. She takes another sip. She goes back for a third sip from my brother's glass. I about keeled over. Though I didn't get a picture of her drinking the wine, I had everyone crowd around the table afterwards so I could get a picture to remember that big event by.


We decided we had some time to spare so we headed across the street to play some competitive mini-golf. It was a nice course, though we only managed to get in nine holes before we had to hoof it to the cart, drive back to town and hit the JetExpress back to Port Clinton.

Once we arrived back on the main shore we crammed back into the car and back to Cleveland. I had made reservations at a highly recommended restaurant called Carrie Cerino's, an Italian establishment. The place was huge and ornate, and we were seated in a private booth where we could easily talk and share moments from the day. The food was amazing and I think everyone enjoyed it.

We went back to the parent's house to open gifts. It was after 9pm and we were starting to drag a bit. Mom loved her basket. Then after gifts/cards were opened I presented her with the cake, which she liked. We sang "Happy Birthday", she blew out the candles. We served up cake and ice cream, both which tasted pretty good if I do say so myself. By the time we were through we were all stuffed and exhausted. B and I called it a night, packed up the car and drove home.

Looking back, it was one of the most enjoyable birthday "days" I've ever been through. Everyone was in good spirits, we saw and did a lot of new things and we really just enjoyed each other. Even B thanked me when we got home for a great day. I think that says it all.

Lately I've been wishing that I was back living in northern Illinois, but days like Saturday make me glad that I'm here. It's a good reminder that Illinois will still be there in 2-3 years, and for now I need to enjoy the time I am here and take advantage of it.

Catching Up - Part 1

Today is one of those great days where you wake up, it's a Monday, you're getting paid to be at work yet you don't have to show up. I love days like these.

It's been a busy past couple of weeks. Work always consumes a great deal of my time, but on top of that I had to deal with home association issues and preparations for my mom's birthday two days ago. These last two weeks I've spent traveling quite a bit around the area so that was fun. Last weekend B and I went to Pittsburgh on Saturday, where we hit The Waterfront for lunch and IKEA for some good deals. On Sunday we went south through "Amish Country" in Ohio, though I did not see a single Amish community. We headed to Longaberger Basket Company and I'll be honest, that was a pretty terrifying place.

I'm not really into baskets, crafts, etc., so that's the first problem. I went there because my mom loves baskets and I wanted to get her a basket since they are "the basket" to have, so I've heard. B and I arrive on their factory site, which is nestled between hills and trees...really in the middle of nowhere. The factory looked like a typical factory building, but then we got to the Longaberger Homestead. We walk into the Welcome Center, which has a modern, perfectly spotless design yet just doesn't belong because you're in the middle of nowhere. It's too nice, too perfect, too clean and too quiet. And it's just too big for the surrounding area. The staff get you right away, telling you about The Homestead area, which includes a huge building with 16 shops, a large barn with more shopping, a Victorian house that is a "tea house", a small ice cream parlor building and a two story building which has a large restaurant.

After we leave the welcome center we enter this courtyard where you get the full view of The Homestead. A ton of landscaping, all perfect. Huge buildings in perfect shape and design. There were only a few small groups of people walking around the grounds, slowly, not talking. It was eerily quiet, I can not stress that enough. You get this feeling you're being watched by cameras and that any minute someone will throw a bag on your head, grab you, brainwash you and before you know it you are now a Longaberger employee working in the factory or at one of The Homestead shops.

We hit the big building with the 16 stores inside, which was basically one big store with 16 different sections. Some stuff was reasonably priced, but most of it was outrageous. I found a Christmas gift for my mom, B bought some tea and we also decided to purchase some soup mix. As it turns out very few baskets were for sale in this huge building; they were all in the factory building in their outlet store. B suggested we go to the factory but I wanted to see the Crawford Barn. I don't know why. So we walk toward the barn, and right before you get to the barn there is a huge sign saying that any video collected on the property can be utilized for Longaberger promotions. I KNEW I was being taped! So we head to the barn where a family was heading in right before us. The man held the door open for me so I had to walk through.

B and I got through the door and our eyes were attacked by country merchandise. And I'm talking deep southern country merchandise. I took one look, turned back towards the door where there was a rack of big rhinestone-studded cowboy belts. Yup, that was it. We left the building laughing hysterically, with B reminding me that I was the one who wanted to go to the barn. I'm glad we did because it was just too funny.

We do a quick walk around the rest of the property but at this point neither of us want to try out one of the other buildings. We came across this big "basket" of apples" and I think that was it for us, we wanted to get out. They had a shuttle that would take you to the factory outlet store (so they claimed - I think it was part of the brainwashing plan), but instead we got in the car and just drove there. Not a big deal, and much safer. We go in the main door; to the right is a make your own basket store where a lone saleswoman stood waiting for her next victim. I mean, customer. To the left was another welcome center with two employees talking and waiting to welcome us there, I assume. I avoided contact and went immediately towards the stairs leading to a second floor. I assumed that was where the outlet store was. I was wrong. It was one big concrete "plank" that went from one end of the factory to the other, where you could see all of the equipment. No one was working and most of the plant was dark, since it was a Sunday.

We decided to do the long walk, as at the very end you could see a store of some kind. Maybe that was where the baskets were. After all, this is a basket company. They should be selling them everywhere, right? We are walking along and see this huge, Sam's Club like area that appears to the factory outlet, which is on the floor below us. We went in the wrong entrance. Oh well, we keep walking. Along the path are reading boards regarding the history of Longaberger and their baskets. We get to the very middle of the building and all of a sudden there is an employee with a piece of equipment, ready to show people how a basket is made. Note that Brad and I are, at the time, the only ones there. He says hello, and his eyes try to get me to stay there and watch him showcase his basket-making talents. I move on, because I'm just not that compassionate. Unless he's going to let me buy the basket when he's done I'm not interested.

We get to the end of the plank and reach the store. Which only has a few very small baskets for $80+. Ugh, what a waste. We now head back across the plank, past the basket-making guy, down the stairs, past the other employees who have nothing to do, out the door. We walk around the side of the building and find a very small, not very well marked door for their factory outlet. Finally.

The interesting thing about the factory store is that they were set up for mass shoppers. There were at least 30 registers, there was rope in place for "line control", and there were hundreds of carts in the entry way. During the time we were there I would say there were less than 20 people in the store. So it was weird. I walk around and to my disappointment, there are still very few baskets. And the baskets they do have are the ones that did not sell well or the ones they call "Second QualitE" - meaning they are reduced in price because they do not meet Longaberger's high standards. I finally found a "lower quality" basket for my mom that I think she'll like, even if it's not perfect. The price is a lot more affordable than the other baskets I had seen up until that point, so I took it. We went to one of the five registers open and checked out. Honestly, is that place really that packed at any point in time during the year? They hardly even had anything to purchase other than a few baskets, a ton of basket protectors and basket linings. That whole place was just messed up.

We finally got back to the car and drove home. Safe, wonderful home. It was a good day...we drove down some really cool back roads, saw new sites and towns and managed to survive our time at Longaberger and even got a gift for my mom. Plus I got to spend the day with B so to me it was a good day.

I'll write more later on what we did this weekend for Mom's birthday. And it will have pictures!

Florida

The Florida trip is going well. I'm in the northern/central part of the state so it's extremely hot and muggy. Despite the lack of direction/data from the client my Finance presentation went very well; it's always a good feeling when members come up and thank you, telling you that you did a great job and that it was very informative. It's a really great group of people up here and I'm glad I got to come.

My travel partners have actually been very great to be with. They are much better outside of the office than in. Hmm. I was upgraded to a "VIP" room at the hotel because they gave away my king-sized bed, which meant a comfy robe, free bottled water and free access to the lounge drink/food. I do think my boss was a little miffed about it at first, but I made sure to invite her and my co-worker up to the lounge after our meetings for free drinks. Everyone was happy.

I'm looking forward to going home and seeing B; it's been almost six days since I've seen him. And let's face it, the only time a Florida trip is enjoyable is when you can spend most of the day in the water cooling off. Yes, it will be good to be back home.

Flying Free

I found out from my brother this evening that he was accepted to Ohio University in Athens. I am absolutely thrilled for him and very proud of him. He has struggled (as I did) finding his path in life and I think he's finally figured out his true direction and calling. It will be his first experience away from the family (I don't count Kent because it was less than an hour from home), and I'm really happy for him. He will have ups and downs, good days and bad, but I have 100% faith in him that he will succeed in making his dreams come true. Though it's not like I see him every week or anything, I will miss knowing that I can't just hop in the car, drive 10 minutes and see him. He is always welcome to crash at our house anytime and I can't wait to go down there to see him in his new environment.

It's a big step, younger brother. But you're up for the challenge and you'll do just fine. Remember, home is always here for you and so am I.

Left Behind

The husband left this morning for Adair, Iowa to see his mom. His sister and her twins are coming, too. It sucks I can't be there, but it just didn't work out. Instead I'm stuck at work. I should be working but I just find myself thinking of B. and of Iowa. I think the photo represents the town pretty well. Brad will be crossing that bridge around 5:45-6:00pm or so.

Is it a sign?

Dunder Mifflin now has an official web site for all of your paper needs.

The best part? The NYSE name for Dunder Mifflin is actually the name of the company I work for. Is it a sign? I think so!!! It's all coming together now....

No wonder I find it so darn easy to relate to that show.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Looking Back (Last Week)

• The County Fair was awesome. It was great seeing all of the farm animals, and more importantly it was great to see so many little kids in the 4H program. Maybe the small farmer isn't becoming a rarity after all. The best part was that I rode on the Scrambler and during the ride I noticed most of my low back/right leg pain go away. So, I have a plan. If the acupuncture doesn't work I will officially become a carni-groupie and follow the Scrambler everywhere it goes. I will ride it once a day to help promote less pain, and then during my down time I will play Slingo and try to earn some of that daily/weekly/monthly jackpot money in order to support my new carni-groupie lifestyle.
  
• Speaking of Slingo, is there a more mindless game out there? I remember playing Slingo 10 years ago when it was on AOL. It was a great game to have in the background at 3am while I was IMing various friends across the country. Well, I have rekindled my love of Slingo. I was doing really well on the game at first, but I think maybe I was doing too well because now my most recent scores have been half of what they once were. Or maybe I'm over thinking it?
• Had a good afternoon with B. and my brother yesterday. Went out for lunch, got a birthday gift for my grandma B. and also an anniversary card as it's grandma B. and her husband's anniversary. We met up with the rest of the Ohio family in the evening for dinner at Brio. Food was good, company was decent. It's a bit weird to be celebrating an anniversary for your grandmother and husband #4, not even knowing how long they had been married (21 years) or where they were even married (Reno). Obviously they have been together a long time and always seem happy together, but it's just not your typical family situation.
  
• I think I've found a new medicine to help me sleep at night - Unisom. Not bad stuff. So far the only bad effect is that I had a hard time waking up this morning. I still don't feel awake, and that's after a Diet Mt. Dew. This wouldn't fly during the work week.
  

Looking Forward (This Week)

• Work is going to consume my time this week. I have a bunch of marketing initiatives I'm in charge of that need to happen, plus I have a big financial presentation to prepare for a Florida client. I'm most nervous about the financial presentation because I'm still waiting on data, and I'm actually going down there next Sunday evening so I can present it on Monday morning to their Finance committee for approval. I hate these last minute things. Luckily I feel pretty comfortable with presenting, so it shouldn't be that bad. I just hate doing financials in a rush as you're more likely to make mistakes.
• B. is leaving for Iowa on Thursday morning, and will not be back until Sunday evening. I'm glad he's going so he can spend time with his mom, plus his sister and her twins which are coming from Texas. Unfortunately I have to leave for Florida before he will be back, which means I won't see him until Tuesday evening. As always I'll really miss the guy.
  

Acupuncture

So today I went to an acupuncturist.

Now I would be the first person to admit that I have been skeptical about acupuncture for years. I've heard of people who go in weekly for treatments, if not multiple times within a week and swear by it. As it's not something covered by most insurance it's mostly a cash business. It just comes across as something that could easily be a scam by a non-talented doc to make some money.

Over two months ago a nurse practitioner at a pain clinic was telling me about an acupuncturist in the area that she had known for years and even trained under at one point. She said he was a miracle worker. And I, who have been looking for some miracle of pain relief for years, was at the point where I would try anything. Besides, if I'm going to try something why not go to the best?

I tried to set up a time back in June but was put on a waiting list. In July I finally got a call to schedule my appointment, which was today. During that time I've seen myself free-fall into a never ending pit of constant agony, where no pain killer or activity would even produce a noticeable improvement. So as you can imagine I have literally been counting down the days.

So I'm back home. The verdict? I'm impressed but not a true believer yet. The doctor was a gentle, soft spoken Chinese man. He spoke pretty much the whole time and had a great sense of humor. He was always moving. After I explained where the pain was and my history he started with my "pulse points." Magnets that looked like a band aid with little metal grooves in the center were going on and off various points of my hands. He'd place a magnet, feel the pulse again, adjust and check the pulse again. I was so busy just observing the process that when he asked me if I felt any leg pain, it was then that I realized that I had no leg pain. None. I've had leg pain every day of my life since July 2005 but as I was sitting there in the office my leg felt painless. It felt like my leg was on a floating cloud.

Once the leg pain was taken care of the focus was on the back pain, which today was focused more in the middle of my spine. I can't say that I felt a lot of improvement on the back pain during the visit. Finally it came to the point where the needles were used: one in my right elbow, one in my left forearm, one in my right ankle, one in the left side of my neck and a final one in my right ear. You could barely feel them. I'm fine with needles as long as I don't look at them. They stayed in about five minutes. The needles were removed and the magnets were taped over with a real band aid to keep them on. I have eight magnets taped to my hands at the moment, which I am to leave on until morning.

So what is this process all about? Well, my doc says it's about reprogramming my body's energy. The various areas have lost their natural programming throughout the course of time, especially given the surgeries, procedures, etc. It's not mean to cure anything. It's to realign the energetic properties in the body and hopefully get things working with me and not against me.

Do I believe in acupuncture? I'm not about to go out there telling anyone else to try it. It's been three hours since the appointment and the leg pain is back a little. However, it's still a lot better than it's been. The doc told me that I would still have bad days but they should be less frequent. I'm going back in a month, at which time the doc will see how my body has responded to this reprogramming. Adjustments will need to be made, but the goal is to bring me closer to a point where I have pain that's manageable and not unbearable or driving me out of my mind.

I'm not sure if this is the long term solution I've been praying for, but I'll take it. It's certainly better than the few remaining options I have left out there. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.

To go or not to go

Thank goodness it's Friday and I officially have less than seven days until my acupuncture appointment. Though most of weekend I plan to spend getting my spine in a better place, our neighbors/friends did extend an invitation to us for the Medina County Fair on Saturday and we should probably let them know whether we are going.

I have not been to a County Fair since, well, middle school. Or maybe it was ninth grade, my memory is a bit fuzzy. I'm a little hesitant to spend a bunch of money or my limited physical energy on a Fair, yet there's something drawing me to it.

I think it's because to me a Fair is a big event that typically honors the farmer. And coming from a farm family, I have a great deal of respect for those small farmers gamble away almost everything to grow food and raise livestock just so the rest of us have something to eat.

The County Fair is a tradition that gathers family and friends in celebration. It's the only place where you can smell the combination of livestock waste and fried foods in the air. The only place where you can hear pigs snorting and kids yelling with glee on rides. It's a happy, fun place. And yes, you unfortunately you can't avoid hearing the continuous country songs, but it's a small price to pay.

Now I just need to talk B. into it....

Shocked

I really just don't know what to say.

This is just astounding. As a former Twin Cities resident for six years, I'm really in shock that the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River just collapsed. Here's hoping our family and friends are all ok; I'm saying a prayer for all of them.

By my calculations

There were over 400,000 people who saw "I Know Who Killed Me" this weekend.

Why???

The State of Health Care

There is a huge problem with medical care in this country.

I've been dealing with spine issues since I was 16; that's 15 years. I had an artificial disc replacement in 2005, which gave me about two months of wonderful, glorious relief. After 16 months of doctors not listening to me, I finally found one who did...who realized from a 13 month old CT scan that I had two fractures at the L5 level caused by the artificial disc. By the time they did a second CT scan that number increased to three fractures. I had a second surgery in February 2007 to fuse the L5 vertebrae, but not the entire L5/S1 level.

Since the surgery I have actually gotten worse. I've seen my spine surgeon twice and two pain management docs; I've had two epidural injections, tried four anti-inflammatory medications and also some weird device thingy that pulses electric frequencies through your body. Nothing helped. The pain is now at levels that I'm having a very difficult time tolerating, and I'm about crawling out of my skin.

What it comes down to is that I have basically been discarded in the medical system. Docs are great when they know what is wrong with you, but the moment you have something a bit complex you are pushed to the side of the road. You set up an appointment. You arrive and sit in an uncomfortable chair for 60-90 minutes before the doc finally comes in. At that point the clock starts running - you have two minutes, if you're lucky. You try to give him the key points but the doc, in the interest of time, keeps interrupting you and comes to his own conclusion of what you are trying to say. You leave with nothing. No answers, no solutions. No "Here's what we should do to find out why you are experiencing pain unlike anything you've experienced in your life." Absolutely nothing but several hours spent away from work that you now have to make up.

People say that Cleveland has some of the best healthcare in the country. Sure, I suppose that is true if it is regarding heart or cancer care. Those things you can diagnose with a scan or a test. I'm glad I do not have problems in either of those areas, but I do sometimes wish I did. Then I would have answers. I would have solutions, even if it wasn't positive. I'd rather have something than "nothing".

I received a survey from The Cleveland Clinic this week regarding their Spine care. Based on the survey, it appears they are looking into block scheduling their patients. Basically, you would arrive for a 10am appointment along with other people with "similar issues." A qualified medical professional then meets with you all at once and you discuss your problem and treatment options. The survey even asks what you prefer more - waiting less than 5 days for an appointment in a group setting or waiting more than 15 days for a one-on-one appointment.

Is this what medical care is coming to? Group appointments? Can anyone say HIPPA violation? How about the part where I would be grouped with others like me - huh? Who else out there had Lyme for four years, followed up by 15 years of back issues that include an artificial disc and then a partial fusion? My guess is there are less than five people on this planet with that type of history.

I know that my medical history is unique and challenging. But why is it so darn difficult to find one doctor out there who takes a look at the big picture? It's not all the fault of the physicians. The medical system is extremely messed up and complicated. I actually work in the healthcare industry, so I see it first hand. Docs are working long hours with less pay. Fewer docs are going into the field. Medical care is at the highest demand ever. Hospitals are having a difficult time staying afloat, so they put all of their resources into the high-paying specialties - heart, cancer and orthopedics. But the thing with orthopedics is that in order to make money you have to have the surgical volume. The medical side of orthopedics doesn't put more money in the docs pocket. So, they look for people they can cut. And if they can't cut them they push them to pain management.

Even the pain management people feel the pinch. They need to do procedures such as injections to make their dollars. If all they have is a patient who needs medications they could care less. It's not going to put food on their table.

So where does this leave me? Alone and on my own. I have an appointment with an acupuncturist who is claimed to be a "miracle worker," so hopefully he'll perform a miracle for me. If that doesn't work then what will I do? Who knows. Maybe I'll go back to the crazy pain mgmt lady in Medina who wanted to pump me full of drugs and run all of these tests (so she could make her money off of me). Maybe that's what it's come to.

I know this is probably the lack of sleep and frustration of constant pain talking, but I just feel like all my future holds at this point is a life of pain. I don't want to be that person who is on disability, unable to work and on pain meds to get through a day. Yet I sometimes wonder if that is my future no matter how hard I fight it. Like "Lost" - if it's going to happen, it will happen. You might be able to avoid it through various methods, but in the end Charlie will still end up dead.

Help Me

Tomorrow one of my bosses is back from Hawaii. It's been two glorious weeks since we've had to deal with him and tomorrow that all ends.

I don't know why this idiot irks me so much. Maybe it's the non-stop lying, trying to make himself perfect and brilliant in the eyes of others. Maybe it's because he's spent the last nine months going on and on about his foot, most of it completely made up. This is a guy who has a good family, a great job (he's a partner), yet it's not good enough. He's one of those people who has not progressed beyond a six year old level. He's insecure, self-absorbed and selfish. He cannot admit a mistake or simply not knowing something. He's not that smart, yet has somehow managed to be successful in his career by surrounding himself with smart people. He has no concern about others unless it can benefit him in some way. He has to constantly look for validation and approval, and everyone around him gives it to him. He's "too important" to be spending time working on projects, yet has no skills to do other things such as bring in business or run the business. This leads to him having nothing to do, which leads to lies about how he has some emergency making it necessary for him to come in late and leave early. He is completely unproductive and causes people to be less productive through constant interruptions that can only be described as "look at me and how great I am!" talks.

It's no wonder I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. Maybe there's a chance his foot exploded from all of the "cliff diving" (his words) and won't be returning?

S-Day

Last night I took B., my brother and parents to The Simpson's movie. I thought it would be good for it to be a family event. The theater was a sell out and the movie was great. They definitely took it a step further on the big screen when it comes to language and nudity, and also the graphics were pretty cool. Characters had shadows and you got a better feel of the Springfield landscape. Cool stuff. Is it dorky that I already want to see it again?

On another good note, B. came out of his procedure ok yesterday. I knew he would, but still glad it is over. There should only be one person per household who's dealing with health issues, and I'm definitely that person in this family.

The Ultimate Simpson's Episode (the last of 5)

It's hard to choose a favorite episode, but here is my best attempt.

The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson - Episode 179, Season 9

The first time I saw this episode I was in love. And I realized how much I missed it since after 9/11 I have only seen it aired once. Lucky for me, B. gave me the Season 9 DVD set for my birthday a few months ago so I can now enjoy it when I please.

The premise is just what the title states - it's Homer against New York City. You have to love the set-up: Barney is chosen the designated driver at Moe's, on a night where Barney was chosen as the Duff winner of a big party thrown by Duff Man and his side-kick women. Barney, going crazy after having to remain sober, takes Homer's car and drives off, not to be seen for months. Finally Barney appears with a huge hangover and has no idea where Homer's car is. Lucky for Homer, the City of New York sends him a letter telling him his car is parked in Manhattan - which you later find is actually between World Trade Center buildings One and Two.

As it turns out, Homer had been in the NYC once before and had a horrible experience. But, they have to retrieve their car so the family hops aboard a bus to NYC. While Homer is put in charge of retrieving the car the rest of the family takes in the sights and sounds of NYC, which lends itself to an hilarious back-and-forth storyline showing how the day progressed for both sides. No surprise that Marge and the kids had a wonderful, culture-filled day while Homer struggles to retrieve his car through a series of failed attempts.

Unlike some of the other Simpson episodes where they travel outside of Springfield, they actually do not make fun of the city too much; they focus more on the people and some of the more popular stereotypes. And the biggest sign of a great Simpson's always means a lot of memorable quotes.

"Yeah, all right. Listen up, guys. The Springfield Police have told me that ninety one percent of all traffic accidents are causes by you six guys" -- Moe, talking to his barflies

"Now remember, criminals prey on small town folk like us. So if anybody asks, we're sophisticated millionaires from the Ozarks." --Homer talking to his family once they arrive in NYC

"Hey, immigrants! Beat it! Country's full!" -- Bart, shouting from the Statue of Liberty

"Send it to Jesus, uh, care of the Pentagon." -- A bum gives his address to Lisa, asking her to write him

Homer: Now what do you have to wash that awful taste out of my mouth?
Vendor: Mountain Dew or crab juice.
Homer: Blecch! Ew! Sheesh! I'll take a crab juice...

Lisa: [gasps] Mom, are those rabbits dead?
Marge: No, no, Lisa they're just sleeping, upside down... and inside out...

Bart: When I grow up, I want to be in the Betty Ford Center.
Marge: You better start saving now. It's very expensive.
Lisa: [shushes Marge] They're strapping down Liza Minelli.

4 of 5 Favorite Simpson Episodes

This week has been the week of dr. appts. I've had two, B. had one and tomorrow he is having a minor procedure done at noon. And since my appointments did not go well, I have one of my top five Simpson episodes on my mind - the one where Homer is faced with a grim fact that he might not be alive in 24 hours. This is a great, classic Simpsons.

"One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish" - Episode 24, Season 2

It starts with the Simpson family branching out and trying something new for dinner at the persistence of Lisa. So, they head to a Japanese restaurant where Homer asks for the Fugu. Of course, the problem with this slimy fish called a "fugu" is that there is only a small part of the fish that is edible; the rest is poisonous. If not cut properly, the individual eating the fish will die.

With the head chef being too busy to cook it himself (his hands were already busy with Mrs. K.), his assistant cuts the slimy fish and serves it to Homer. Once the head chef finds out what happened, Homer is instantly rushed to the hospital, where it is assumed he will die from the (presumed) incorrectly cut fugu.

This leaves Homer contemplating his own life and ambitions for his final remaining day on earth. A few of my favorite parts:

1. The five stages of death - denial, anger, fear, bargaining and acceptance. When Dr. Hibert explains these stages to Homer he goes through them all in a matter of seconds.

2. Homer's list of things to do before he dies:

Dumb Things
I Gotta Do Today

1. Make list [this one was crossed out]
2. Eat a hearty breakfast
3. Make videotape for Maggie
4. Have man-to-man with Bart
5. Listen to Lisa play her sax
6. Make funeral arrangement
7. Make peace with Dad
8. Beer with the boys at the bar
9. Tell off boss
10. Go hang gliding
11. Plant a tree
12. A final dinner with my beloved family
[after consulting with Marge]
13. Be intamit [sic] with Marge
14. Watch the sunrise

3. After Homer makes it through the night and realizes he will live after all

(Homer) I'm alive! From this day forward, I vow to live life to its fullest!

(Next scene) Homer is planted on the couch, munching on pork rinds, and watching bowling on tv. The credits go up silently over Homer's TV-watching.

3 of 5 Favorite Simpson Episodes

I have to dedicate at least one of my favorite episodes to a well known voice master on The Simpson's, Phil Hartman. Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure were his two most notable characters, along with a few other minor ones along the way ranging from a cable guy, the monorail guy and Bill Clinton. For this selection I'll focus on one of Phil's biggest roles - the time when Troy McClure marries Selma Bouvier.

"A Fish Called Selma" - Episode 147, Season 7
This episode was so fantastic that I keep thinking it's older than what it is. It was a great throwback to the original Simpson years when the writing was at its best.

Now to quote some of the more memorable lines....

5. (Lisa) Dad, what's a muppet? (Homer) Well, it's not quite a mop, and it's not quite a puppet....

4. Oh, Homer, that's just an urban legend. People don't do that type of thing with fish!

3. (Troy McClure) That's right boys, Troy's back from the gutter, and he's brought someone with him!

2. Oh princess faire, wilst thou grant me thine dainty hoof in marriage? (not only does McClure say this to Miss Piggy in a movie role, but also says the same line while proposing to Selma)

1. My good looks paid for that pool, and my talent filled it with water. Hi, I'm Troy McClure, your future uncle.

2 of 5 Favorite Simpson Episodes

I'm realizing that choosing the top 5 Simpson's episodes is darn near impossible. Especially because I want to be fair and try to not choose just the Homer or Bart-centric episodes. Like many others I know, it definitely took me a while to warm up to the Lisa and Marge characters, but even they have had their moments. So tonight I'm going with one of my more favorite Marge/family episodes. Sure, there's still a ton of Homer in it, but it would not be funny without him.

"The Joy of Sect" - Episode 191, Season 9
I've seen this episode more times than I can count and it's never lost its "funny." When Homer is brainwashed into joining a new "religion" - the Movementarians - it' s up to Marge and her ever unwavering faith to get Homer and the kids back on God's side. What you have to love about this episode is that almost every "religion" out there is somehow made fun of in the course of this episode. No one is perfect, and let's face it, all religions have flaws. But come on, who could possibly resist being able to hop on a space ship to Blisstonia in exchange for all of your belongings and 10 trillion years of labor?

No quotes tonight as my back pain is pretty bad today, but I will leave you with my favorite repetitive chant. And believe it or not, B. and I have actually found quite a few appropriate occasions to use this as well in normal, everyday life. You just have to love The Simpson's.

The Leader is good. The Leader is great. We surrender our will. As of this date.

1 of 5 Favorite Simpson's Episode's

Like many people in this world, I can barely contain my excitement over the soon-to-be-released Simpson's film. I admit, the first episode I ever saw in its entirety was the 1993 Treehouse of Horror IV episode, but it was from that moment on that I was hooked. I made it a habit of taping every episode on VHS tapes, to the point where I actually had each tape labeled with a number and a small binder with references as to what episodes were on what tape. I believe at one point I actually had 32 tapes. Thank goodness they finally started coming out on DVD.

Though the episodes are not what they once were, B. and I still have it as part of our Sunday evening ritual. Through the course of a day it's amazing how many times you can utilize a good Simpson's quote...after all, one of the things that makes this show so amazing is how relateable it really is. Think about it.

So, in anticipation of the Simpson's film debut, I'm going to share my top five favorite episodes this week. No particular order.

King-Size Homer, Episode, #135, Season 7
This is one of those episodes that has me laughing in tears every time I see it. From the moment you see Homer hiding in the bathroom stalls to avoid five minutes of calisthenics to the point where they are hosing him off in the hole, it is one laugh after another. Some of my favorite lines:

1. To start, press any key. I don't see any "Any" key. I see "esc", "ca-tar-l" and "pig-up." Phew. All this computer hacking is making me thirsty. I think I'll just order a Tab. (he then presses the "tab" key and holds an empty glass next to the disk drive, waiting for his drink to come out) Oops, no time for that now. The computer is starting.

2. Here's your lemonade and here's your beer.

3. I don't want to look like a freak. I'll just go with the moo-moo.

4. Remember, if the paper turns clear, it's your window to weight gain.

5. Um, towel-rack.

6. Um, I've been meaning to ask you, but did you put on a little weight this week?

7. Hmmm, that's probably better it didn't hit me.

8. I don't know, fish sandwich...are you sure?

9. You ate all the tarragon and you drank all the soy sauce.

10. It says non-toxic.....

Advice

A couple of weeks ago I was in San Diego for about 36 hours for business and took my boss to Fidel's in Carlsbad. B and I went there in 2000 and thought it was some of the best Mexican food we've had. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed this time. So if you're in the area, I'd try out one of the other Mexican restaurants instead.

Another word of advice - avoid red-eye flights. Completely worthless. The only good thing was that my boss was able to get me upgraded to first class, so at least I got to spend four hours in a more comfortable seat, even though I had two screaming kids behind me that kept me up the whole flight. I luckily got the day off work after my red-eye, but all I did was sleep and lounge around like a lazy-person because I had absolutely no energy. Not to mention I didn't even know where I was or what day it was. Very messed up.

Wow, it's July already?

I can't believe it's July. July 8, to be exact. Where has the time gone? I've once again been neglecting my blog. I think I'm running out of creativity. I have been writing a lot for work lately and typically when I have free time it is then the last thing I feel like doing.

So here's what's on my mind lately:

5. My grandmother from California and her husband are arriving here in Akron today. And it's not just for a visit, they are actually moving here. Their furniture is here, the place is set...about 15 minutes from our house, and about 5 minutes from my parents. I have never been close to this grandmother, mostly because she spent most of her life showing off for others and caring less that she had a family. Now things are changing, she's older, and I just don't know how I feel about the situation. For now I'm going to assume I'll see her no more than I did when she lived in California. On the other hand, maybe I should be a better person, give her a chance, and try and spend some time with her. It wouldn't kill me to know more about this side of the family. I still find myself being very skeptical, though.

4. I got a voice mail from my good friend Moe, who's been MIA since February. He's been going through a lot of changes, which included moving, new cell phone, e-mail, etc., so he basically became "missing." Now he's back, and at least I have his cell. He's a good guy, and I've now known him for almost 12 years. That's a long time for someone who moves about every 1-2 years. I'm looking forward to catching up with him.

3. We bought paint yesterday, which should cover the rest of the house. I'm not going to do the painting myself though, as I completely suck at it. (Yes, I admit my faults) So, I'm going to have Mom come by in a week or two. She enjoys that stuff and has a talent for it. I'm the best at picking out colors, she's the best at applying the paint on walls. It's a good balance. If I could have a job where all I do is pick out colors all day for various things, I'd be happy.

2. Christmas. Why I am thinking about that already? Because typically we go to Iowa (east side) for my mom's side Christmas Eve bash, which takes some planning because you have to have the air ticket, rental car, hotel room, etc. And this year we decided we are not doing that, but instead doing something with B's side. Now we need to determine whether we will spend it with his mom in Iowa (west side) or his sister's in Dallas. Once again, there will be air, car and hotel involved, so if we don't plan now we'll end up with either no airplane/car/hotel or we'll have to pay a fortune. Ugh, it's really too early for this.

1. Cancun. That is our vacation destination for late May 2008. It has been decided, and now we just need to decide where. B and I have not had a real get-away vacation since 2001, so it's about time. We're looking at a week vacation, preferably an all-inclusive resort that doesn't allow kids. Sorry, but I don't feel like dealing with kids on my vacation. All I want to do is be outside on the beach by/in the Caribbean water. Drink margaritas, eat some good cuisine, see some good sights and just R-E-L-A-X with my B. A week without connectivity to the outside world will do me good. I need to reset.

Day 4/Day 5

Well, yesterday was my last evening in NYC. I didn't do too much. Walked to Times Square, hit D&B for some take out. I watched the military people in the streets, as there were a LOT of them due to Fleet Week. Everyone was going out of their way to make them feel at home, offering to take pictures of them and thanking them for their service it was really cool. I took a few final pics of T.S., but then my batteries decided to die. Oh well, wasn't worth the money to buy new ones when I have a bunch at home. I took a few lower quality pics on the camera and called it an evening.

The best part of the evening was when I was walking back to the hotel. I was talking to B on the cell and I come across a limo and taxi driver arguing in the street. "You're a freakin' moron" caught my attention. Before I knew it they were in each others faces, shouting insults with true New Yorker accents. I don't know why, but if you just listened to what they were saying it sounded like something out of a television show or movie. It was so stereotypical. I felt like my trip was complete.

Once I got back to the hotel Lost had started, so I managed to stay awake two more hours to watch the finale. I'll admit, I knew what was going to happen because I know where to find the good spoilers. Spoilers help me decide whether it's worth my time to watch a show or not. However, I still thought the show was pretty good. Of course there are more questions - why does Jack want to go back to the island, who is the boat off the coast that Naomi is with, how did Locke get out of the pit, and was Walt a manifestation of Jacob and/or the smoke monster? Charlie's death was pretty cool, though I think I'm the only one (besides my brother) out there that actually didn't mind the character and am sad to see him go.

Oh yeah, and I guess Jordin won A.I. My mom is happy, though she was a Melinda fan.

This morning I partially attended the last day of the Conference. During the break I went up to my old boss and thanked him for allowing me to attend. He looked horrible and did not looked thrilled that I had chosen to speak with him. It's a shame things have to end this way, but in the end he made his own bed. I'm sure he was relieved to see me leave; I know I was relieved that I no longer had to see him every day. Had he been more approachable it would have been nice to have a conversation with him and offer him some friendly advice, but he had to be a jerk. Life goes on.

On the way back to my hotel I stopped by Grand Central Station and did a quick walk through to an ATM. Once again, another very cool building, but not enough time to explore. Went back to the hotel, finished packing, grabbed a taxi and headed to La Guardia. For the next couple hours I'll spend my time relaxing in the Club with a glass of wine watching the planes come in/take off.

If I leave out the Conference, I really enjoyed my time here these last 4-1/2 days. NYC, even in the short amount of time I was here, is an awesome city. Being a Chicago girl I feel like a bit of a traitor when I say that I actually think NYC is now first on my list of favorite cities. Don't get me wrong, I'll always be a die-hard Bears and Cubs fan, and I'll always love Chicago and think of it as home, but NYC is unlike anywhere else. It's funny, because prior to coming here you hear about the crime, homeless, how dirty and smelly the city is, how rude the people are, etc. And honestly, I didn't see that. Granted, Bryant Park did have a foul stench to it, but everywhere I went people were nice, streets were clean, no one asked me for money, and people were very friendly. There was plenty to see and do, great food and a great atmosphere. Honestly, it was an amazing experience. And for anyone that has not been here, I suggest you add it to your list of places to visit.

Day 3

Today was an experience.

After another uncomfortable Conference session, I decided to change into some comfortable clothes, hop on the subway and head to the WTC site. It was worth the trip.

I spent almost four hours exploring the area, and once again there was something new around every corner. The first thing I came upon after arriving was the WTC site. Words can not describe what my senses took in. Though I am very familiar with large cities and particularly skyscrapers, the footprint where the towers stood is enormous. A big hole still remains in the earth, filled with concrete, crains and even some emergency vehicles. Even after almost six years, many of the buildings around the site are still being rebuilt.


The one thing that will forever stick in my mind was the silence. NYC is not known for being quiet, but in this place where thousands of people died there was this silence that filled the area. Even as you walked to/through the financial towers, it was just quiet. People were there, but no one spoke. It was very somber and heavy. I went into a few of the financial towers to the west of the WTC, and they were very beautiful in design. It's amazing that they remained standing.

Being there really helped put things into perspective. Everyone saw 9/11 through the television, but this really brought it to life. I couldn't help but relive the day and feel the grief of the people who were there or who lost a loved one that day. To think about where we were as a country back then and where we are now is frustrating...we have definitely strayed off course.

I found myself at the Hudson River shore and started walking south through Battery Park. It was amazing, because I went from the WTC to this absolutely beautiful park. I have never enjoyed a park as thoroughly as I did this one. There was a slight breeze, the sun was out in full force and it was just perfect. I completely lost sight of the fact that I was still in the city. It was a quiet, peaceful paradise. From the shoreline I could see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Several places along the path I would come across a structure that you could climb up on for a better view. I didn't want the journey to end. I thought about my aunt, uncle and cousin who lived in Battery Park until about a year or so before 9/11. I can see why they still to this day reminisce and talk about how much they would like to go back.

I soon got to a point where I realized I should probably head back towards the financial district, so I changed course. I walked through a maze of narrow streets and came across St. Pauls Church, built in 1776. Once again, I was familiar with the structure but it was even more detailed and beautiful in person. I went inside, looked around and then made my way to the adjacent graveyard. Amazingly enough, none of the headstones, hundreds of years old, were destroyed from when the tower's clasped. It seemed so implausible.







I continued my way down Exchange Street until I reached Wall Street. The first building I noticed was Federal Hall, the scene of George Washington's inauguration as President. It had similar features to the White House and Capital buildings in D.C. Diagonally across the street was the New York Stock Exchange. I was immediately surprised at how old and small the building was. It looks so much larger in photos. On the front of the building was the American flag, which definitely made an impression. The streets were narrow and laid out to where you knew they had been designed in the 1700's where most people rode by horse or walked by foot.

I left Wall Street and headed back towards the WTC. I stopped by the WTC memorial museum, which had some wonderful stories, footage and personal items. One of the items was a stuffed WTC rabbit, which had been found in a fireman's arms. The rabbit was damaged but mostly in tact. A quote next to it stated "If this can survive, why couldn't everyone else?" Other articles included a WTC Windows of the World menu, personal belongings, and a fireman's coat and hat; the coat had been ripped right down the back, off of the fireman. When I left the museum, the road was filled with firetrucks; up the street were police cars lined up in the road. Sirens were going, and for a moment I had to stop and wonder what the hell was going on. I'm still not sure, but it looked more like a gathering than an emergency. Down the street a ways was a marathon, so maybe that had something to do with it?

I walked along the east and north sides of the WTC site and back towards Battery Park, where my aunt and uncle lived. Their building was a couple blocks away from the Towers and was heavily damaged. I came across another part of the park where there were families and kids playing various sports, swinging, playing tennis and spending time together. It's a great thing when you can live in a city of this size and still have this type of place available for people to go, relax, and enjoy the nice weather.

By this time the nerve pain was really kicking in so I reluctantly walked to the nearest subway station. My last sight was of the Empire State Building, standing tall and proud.

Today was a great day, yet it was an emotional one. To see such beauty and a place where such a horrible tragedy occurred...it's conflicting. I'm glad I had the time to visit that part of town; it made my trip complete.

As for the rest of the evening, I stopped by a chinese restaurant for take out (it was delicious!) and took it back to the room. Spent a few hours working, since I have to earn my keep. Tomorrow is my last full day in NYC, and I'm not sure what I'll do. The back/leg pain will probably restrain me to staying within the area. I've seen more than I thought I would, and I really want to do the full, true-blue NYC stay with B sometime soon. I have found NYC to be my kind of town!

Day 2

Today was a weird day. Not as good as yesterday. But ok.

First of all, I had to go to day 1 of a conference. There I ran into my former boss; it was not pleasant. As I stated in an earlier post, I can't say why I am at this conference, but the fact he is there has something to do with it. He cornered me in the hallway during the first break and at first tried to be nice on a personal level (asking about my back surgery) and then asked the question I have been waiting to hear for the last couple of weeks - "What are you doing here?" He of course flexed his muscle, tried some intimidation tactics, and then the session continued. What a jerk. I must say it was difficult to listen to him at times during the 6.5 hour session. And I have three days more of this...

On the good side, I did go out and explore some more today. I had work to do so I took my laptop to the Rock and sat outside and worked. Then went back to the hotel, dropped off the computer and went back into the theater district looking for a place to eat. Nothing sounded great (my appetite has diminished lately, probably due to this new anti-inflammatory medicine I am on), so I just ended up stopping by a small pizza joint and picked up a slice of pizza for $2.50. Took the pizza and walked about a block and came across a beautiful area between two buildings. It was peaceful, calm, and the pizza was amazing. We're talking Cossetta's (St. Paul, MN) amazing. I wished B was here, as I know he would have appreciated it.

So, afterwards I walked back to the hotel and continued on about eight blocks and found another big shopping area. But by then my feet, which had spent all day in dress shoes, were screaming in pain so I limped back to the hotel, had a drink at the bar and came back to the room to complete some work and hit the sack. Tomorrow I think I will go to Ground Zero, so I want to rest up. Hardly had any sleep last night (too stressed thinking about what I would face today from my old boss), so I'm due.

A few random items:

1. I had my first NYC celebrity sighting. 6:45am, Kennan Thompson of SNL, smoking a cigarette by Grand Central Station.

2. Though traffic is not as bad here as I imagined it would be, you still couldn't pay me to drive a car through this city.

3. Times Square/Theatre District reminds me of...The Wisconsin Dells. I'm talking the bright lights and billboards of almost a circus-like quality competing for your brain's attention. The only difference is that here it is cool, and in WI it looks like one big nightmare/joke of a town that wants to make me drive far away as fast as I can.

Enough procrastinating, I have to get to work. Have a good one.

NYC: Day 1

Today was great. Spent about four hours walking the streets of Midtown and exploring. The sights:

• Rockefeller Center/NBC Today studio
  
• M&M and Hershey store
• Times Square
• Central Park (though just the outskirts)
• Apple store (near C.P.)
• Bryant Park
• Trump Tower
• Fox News studios (Trace Gallagher was on air)
• Broadway
• A ton of stores, restaurants and hotels

Not bad for four hours. Unfortunately by the time I got back to the hotel I was exhausted...and didn't realize there were no food options near the hotel. Ended up going to the closest open place...which was Chipotle. Ugh. Tomorrow I'm going somewhere that is authentic to NYC!

Cool shot of the day:

Destination: New York City (via LaGuardia)

Well, today is the day. I'm about 2.5 hours away from being in the Big Apple. Have spent the last 30 minutes in the Club catching up on work stuff. Of course, it would take me about an extra two full days on-stop work to catch up on everything.

I'm not sure what is in store for today. The forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms, so I guess I'll have to access the situation once I'm there. I was hoping to go to the WTC site. B thinks I should visit the Midtown Apple store. Wonder if there is time for both?

Yesterday was crazy; last minute shopping, lunch with the family (post-birthday celebrating) and then an Indians game, which we lost. B, my brother and I went, along with a co-worker and her husband. Maybe I was just exhausted, maybe it was because I didn't get to sit next to B and A during the game, but it just wasn't as fun as it typically is. It was a beautiful night, though, and perfect weather for a game.

I'm a bit bummed to be going somewhere cool without B, especially knowing that when I come back he'll be in Iowa. It's been a long time since we've been apart more than a week. Oh well, it will be nice to work some on the house and bond with the fish, who I have been seriously neglecting lately. This morning I didn't even recognize the little one...he's grown a bit. I guess I'm just in my own, pain-filled world these days.

See you in New York.

The Office Finale

Tonight is the season finale for "The Office." 8pm EDT/7pm CDT. If you can't watch, then be sure to set your Tivo's or VCR's to record.

So what are my predictions? Honestly, I don't have any at this point. Too many directions for the show to go. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy!

Good Day...and Week....

In regards to yesterday...it was a good day.

Hardly anyone in the office, though the phone kept ringing with requests from our clients and consultants on the road. My day was filled with birthday well-wishers and e-cards. I came home to a loving B. who had not only taken off work early, but ended up cooking me a fantastic dinner. The family came by briefly (unfortunately in the middle of dinner) to drop off gifts and cake. Opened cards and a few gifts with B; this year the gifts rocked - "The Simpson's Season 9" with my FAVORITE episode called "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" AND a new iPod. Best. Birthday. Ever. Ok, maybe not best, but it was up there. I like those simple days.

Not only was it my birthday, but the anniversary of B's and my engagement - six years. I always tease him that if I had said no or if our marriage ever fails he will have forever ruined my birthday. :-) However, I did said yes and we're still married after five years so it's all good.

So what lies ahead? A pretty busy week, actually. Lots to do to prepare for my NYC trip. Several work-related deadlines to meet. Need to squeeze in time for a Haircut and possibly highlights or a color (I like changing things up from time to time), along with a little clothes shopping. Post-birthday dinner with the family on Saturday afternoon, then an Indians vs. Reds game with co-workers Saturday night at The Jake. Then it's off to the airport Sunday morning.

Bye-Bye 30

Tonight is my last night being 30. Tomorrow...hello 31. Even though if you want to get really technical, I won't officially turn 31 until 12:17am on May 16 (since I was born at 9:17pm on May 15 in CA, and which means EDT it would have been May 16, and since I live in EDT now...).

I won't really miss being 30. I'll be honest, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I somehow had it in my head that it would be this big turning point. And, mostly due to this whole back issue, I ended up being in a holding pattern for most of it. I've come to conclude there is no use waiting; chances are I probably will not see much more improvement than what I have seen any time soon.

So, for those of you who have been through your 31st year, do you have any suggestions? Words of advice?

Bye-bye, 30. I'll always remember you...not for anything great or monumental, but because you were my first age that started with a "3" and had another number behind it.

Entertainment-Related Thoughts

• If you are not watching "The Office", you have one more episode before summer hiatus. If you love smart comedy with a truly talented cast, you must tune in. Last Thursday's "Beach Games" was pretty darn brilliant. "Hi, my name is Andrew Bernard, and I was with a company called Dunder Mifflin...." And to top it off, it's definitely renewed for next season so you don't have to worry about falling in love with it and then have it go off the air.
  
• If you like Jason Bateman and/or Zach Braff, then be sure to go to your local movie theater this weekend and watch "The Ex." I haven't even seen any promos for it on tv this week, but it is out in theaters. I am even planning on seeing it, though I rarely step foot in a movie theater any more.
  
• Saw "The Queen" on Tuesday, and it was pretty cool. Great acting, solid drama. I can see why Helen Mirren won an Oscar for the role.
• Sudoku is not as dumb as it may appear at first. Yes, it can be challenging at times, but it is my new replacement for crossword puzzles.
• "Lost" is back to being great again.
• Who is watching A.I this year? B and I sort of are, but it sucks a lot more compared to last year. I kind of want Blake to win, though he's not the best singer. He has, however, been the only entertaining person on the show.

Return from my MIA status

Hello blog world. Long time, no see/write. It's amazing what a difference a month can make.

First of all, I must acknowledge that two years ago yesterday I had artificial disc replacement surgery. Now, this is a not a topic I plan to talk about too much on this blog (I have another one dedicated for that), but since it significantly effects my life on a daily basis I thought it would be appropriate to mention it today. This was the surgery that was going to give me a more normal life, and instead it just made things worse. Worse enough where I had a second surgery to repair fractures caused by the artificial disc in February, and I'm still struggling with constant and severe nerve pain. It easily makes me feel more like 80 than 30. It's hard to realize that two years ago you were sitting in a hospital bed, crippled with pain yet so optimistic about the future...all for nothing.

Speaking of 30, I can technically only say that for a few more days. My birthday is sometime this upcoming week...not sure what day. Remember when you were a kid and you would count down to your birthday? Well, this year I'm hoping the day just passes with little acknowledgment. Yes, part of that is a small part of depression I feel from the whole "the pain is not better" scenario, I'm sure. What goals should I set for my 31st year? Suggestions are welcome.

Work has changed quite a bit over the last month. After I met with my boss and told her I had one foot out the door, almost overnight the owners panicked and made sure they changed things for me. That doesn't mean I don't have frustrating days/situations, but it has improved. I'm being treated with more respect, and finally got a second title and a little more pay, all without me even asking. In return I'm back to working hard and putting in extra hours, which makes for long days. I've also stopped my job search for now, though it's mostly due to my poor health. I do not want to start a new job dealing with the issues I'm dealing with.

Another work bonus has been additional travel. The bad - not client related, but instead related to potential litigation which I can't discuss here. The good - I get to travel on my own; I spent a day in D.C. a couple of weeks ago; and the week of the 20th, for the first time, I will be going to NYC for 4-1/2 days. Midtown. Considering I have never been to NYC AND it's been my number one "wish trip" since we moved to Ohio, I am thrilled. Yes, it sucks I won't have time to do much sightseeing and B. can't join me. But to go to New York all expenses paid, even under not-so-great circumstances, is pretty cool. I will definitely be bringing the camera.

Have a good Mother's Day weekend, everyone.

Welcome to Knoxville

Hello from Knoxville, Tennessee. I'm sitting at a Starbucks outside of downtown, enjoying the sun and plugging away on my computer.

So how did I end up here? Well, don't panic - I'm not moving down south for good. I'm merely here on a one day work related trip, in which I happen to be the only one here from my company. It's actually quite refreshing to be out of the office, in a new place (where it's warm), and yet get paid for it. Unfortunately, in about three hours I have to earn my pay by giving a 30 minute presentation to a hospital regarding some number crunching work I did for them. I was here two years ago, but with another co-worker, so it's familiar yet different. It's nice to have the down time, yet I'd rather get the presentation over with.

As you fly into Knoxville, you start to see how spread out the city is. Everywhere there are contrasts - fancy golf courses next to run-down residential homes, with mansions on the other side of that. There are quarries, a river, hills, and overall it's quite a nice town. They have a beautiful baseball park in the downtown area along the river, and I can imagine it being a nice place to see a game.

The airport is not bad, either. There is stone around the entrance to every gate, and there are stones and waterfalls between the ticketing counter and security station, making you feel like yo are some place other than Knoxville. The people are friendly, and near every airport window is a rocking chair, which usually has an older person sitting in it, rocking away.

It's days like today where I like my job, because this is a nice opportunity. However, it's the other three hundred and some days out of the year where I feel like I have no opportunities, and that's where the disatisfaction comes in. I'm really on the fence - do I stay or go - but I've currently laid the path for both routes and I know I will somehow find the appropriate one to take when the time comes. I just need to be patient.

Also on a good note, the back continues to improve. Saw an x-ray of my spine for the first time since the surgery on Thursday, and it's pretty, well, daunting. There's a LOT of hardware in there right now. It makes me feel like I'm slowly morphing into a machine or something. But, everything looks really great and the leg pain is diminishing a little each day, so that's something to be happy about.

I'm off to get a bit to eat and then head to the hospital; I hate being late.

Spring

For those of you who live in the U.S. where the winter season produces snow, congrats on making it to the first official day of Spring 2007. There is something about this time of year that always makes me feel more energetic and gets my brain going at full steam thinking about all of the things I want to do now that it's warmer. And of course this year is just that much worse since I've been recovering from back surgery for the last month and have been itching to get back into a normal routine.

So what ambitions do I have for this Spring?

• Clean up/reorganize the garage
• Clean the front entry of our house
• Take out some existing plants and put in some new ones (With approval from our Architectual Review Committee, of course. Luckily B is one of three members.)
• Make a run to IKEA in Pittsburgh - take either my brother and his girlfriend, or maybe our friends across the street. Make it into a fun outing.
• Work with my mom to paint the upstairs rooms in our house.
• Start playing the piano again.
• Continue looking for a new job.
• Go to D.C. to visit B's family and see a few sites.
• Get through the healing process from the surgery so by the time Summer hits I'll be feeling great!

What is everyone else planning for their Spring?

Just give her the record contract

Ok, so I watch American Idol. I have almost every year, actually. It's one of my guilty pleasures, and I do enjoy it - especially when there is someone with actual talent on the show.

So, after watching the contestants I think A.I. should just hand the title to her. She has the whole package. Go Melinda!

Recovering

I'm still at home, recovering from surgery. On a plus side though, it is March. And tomorrow is B's and my 5th year anniversary. Though we always talked about going back to MN for an extended weekend (that's where we were married), since I'm homebound that is obviously out of the question. I'm still going to try and make it as special a day as possible, though.

With the exception of being allergic to the steri-strips and bandage tape, I'm doing very, very well. My docs office is avoiding me today, which is unfortunate because I want to get clearance from them to start working from home next week. Though I have an office/desk job, my bosses need a note of permission from my doc. They are under the impression I'm some renegade person who doesn't follow orders when it comes to my health. Which is a hoot, because I have never been more compliant in my life as I have been at this job.