Found on a web site today:
ME: Yeah, lately I’ve been feeling my age.
HE: Oh, you’re starting to get some aches and pains?
ME: Nah, physically I feel great. Best I’ve ever been.
HE: Then you’re starting to forget things?
ME: I’ve always forgotten things. Now is no different.
HE: Then why do you feel your age?
ME: Because I realized that in a few years, if you were to travel back in time and attend the world premiere of Back to the Future, you’d be traversing the same span of years that Marty McFly did when he visited his parents in the ‘50s.
HE: ...
ME: My ‘80s is like the ‘50s to the kids of today, see.
HE: ....
ME: ....
HE: ...maybe you should be very selective about the people you make that analogy to.
ME: I know! I don’t want to just randomly depress people.
Wisconsin Sunset
God is painting again...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
On a Different Note...
On a different note, I am still at GHC, as a temp, for over a year now. I saw the CEO the other day while I was eating my lunch, and he asked if I was coming to the employee winter party the next day. When I answered that I wasn't, he asked why. I actually felt a little dumb telling him, "Because I'm not an employee..." "Oh, yeah," was the response. What a dear man.
I am still absolutely in love with this company. The care I have received from everyone from my doctors and nurses, to the reception staff and my co-workers has been second to none. Unfortunately, I have been finding myself needing to use my health benefits more and more as of late. I'm really at a loss of how to begin this next part, as not all of you are aware of some of my health challenges. I want to be sensitive in how I approach the subject, so as to not overly concern anyone. I know this isn't like a normal post, but I thought this was important, and that some of you might want to kick my rear end if I didn't say something...
Back in 1996, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I've dealt with it for over 10 years now, and have been on a treatment that seems to work okay, with minor side effects. (Yeah, I know what some of you are thinking - explains a lot, right?) Anyway, in the last year or two, I've had more issues with the MS pop up, hence the need to see more docs. The thing that gets me is that they really listen to me here. When I say I'm having some issue, they don't just dismiss it - they discuss it. They don't rush out the door to another 5 minute appointment. They act as if I'm the only patient they have that day. Amazing.
There's also a fantastic group here through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for people with MS in their 20s and 30s. I've never gotten to meet others in the same life-stage as me with the disease. We've had a couple of gatherings at restaurants, and I've met some really neat people. And for the first time in my life, I don't feel like a disease-ridden freak. The people in this group have been funny and caring, and it's just really great to be able to say something like, "I fell off my chair today, and knocked over the orange juice - again," and the response is, "I know - doesn't that just bite?" They get it, they get me, and it feels good. Spouses are also encouraged to join the group, and so they find a camaraderie with others in the same boat. It's just a good thing all around.
One of the issues that I've been dealing with I originally thought was due to my MS, but after numerous appointments and a few tests, it looks as if I have a new "quirk". I won't go into details, but suffice to say that the docs have figured out that I've got some issues with my ovaries, and the blood test didn't come back the way we hoped. I had a rough day Tuesday, dealing with the news, as the test indicated higher than normal cancer antigens.
I really freaked out.
It isn't a diagnostic test by any stretch of the imagination, but the fact the number wasn't within "normal" range (I'm really beginning to despise that word), got me a new doc, a GYN. I didn't even have to wait for several months because I was a new patient! I got in one day after I got the blood test results. (My original doc said something about having a good "arm twister" in her office to make the call for an appointment.) After looking over my chart, my GYN said he seriously doubts it's cancer, but that we should look a little bit closer. So, I'll be having another ultrasound early next month, and laparoscopy surgery at the end of next month. I'm nervous about the surgery. It's outpatient - as far as surgery goes, it's as easy as it gets, but you get the point.
So, here's what I'm asking for: Prayer. And love. And not telling me stories/advice, based on your mother's friend's cousin... I love you my friends, and I know you have good intentions and all that, but I'm really just needing the positive right now. I'll keep you posted on the news, but as per the title, this blog will largely remain devoted to the weirdness that is Wisconsin.
Peace,
Lindsay
I am still absolutely in love with this company. The care I have received from everyone from my doctors and nurses, to the reception staff and my co-workers has been second to none. Unfortunately, I have been finding myself needing to use my health benefits more and more as of late. I'm really at a loss of how to begin this next part, as not all of you are aware of some of my health challenges. I want to be sensitive in how I approach the subject, so as to not overly concern anyone. I know this isn't like a normal post, but I thought this was important, and that some of you might want to kick my rear end if I didn't say something...
Back in 1996, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I've dealt with it for over 10 years now, and have been on a treatment that seems to work okay, with minor side effects. (Yeah, I know what some of you are thinking - explains a lot, right?) Anyway, in the last year or two, I've had more issues with the MS pop up, hence the need to see more docs. The thing that gets me is that they really listen to me here. When I say I'm having some issue, they don't just dismiss it - they discuss it. They don't rush out the door to another 5 minute appointment. They act as if I'm the only patient they have that day. Amazing.
There's also a fantastic group here through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for people with MS in their 20s and 30s. I've never gotten to meet others in the same life-stage as me with the disease. We've had a couple of gatherings at restaurants, and I've met some really neat people. And for the first time in my life, I don't feel like a disease-ridden freak. The people in this group have been funny and caring, and it's just really great to be able to say something like, "I fell off my chair today, and knocked over the orange juice - again," and the response is, "I know - doesn't that just bite?" They get it, they get me, and it feels good. Spouses are also encouraged to join the group, and so they find a camaraderie with others in the same boat. It's just a good thing all around.
One of the issues that I've been dealing with I originally thought was due to my MS, but after numerous appointments and a few tests, it looks as if I have a new "quirk". I won't go into details, but suffice to say that the docs have figured out that I've got some issues with my ovaries, and the blood test didn't come back the way we hoped. I had a rough day Tuesday, dealing with the news, as the test indicated higher than normal cancer antigens.
I really freaked out.
It isn't a diagnostic test by any stretch of the imagination, but the fact the number wasn't within "normal" range (I'm really beginning to despise that word), got me a new doc, a GYN. I didn't even have to wait for several months because I was a new patient! I got in one day after I got the blood test results. (My original doc said something about having a good "arm twister" in her office to make the call for an appointment.) After looking over my chart, my GYN said he seriously doubts it's cancer, but that we should look a little bit closer. So, I'll be having another ultrasound early next month, and laparoscopy surgery at the end of next month. I'm nervous about the surgery. It's outpatient - as far as surgery goes, it's as easy as it gets, but you get the point.
So, here's what I'm asking for: Prayer. And love. And not telling me stories/advice, based on your mother's friend's cousin... I love you my friends, and I know you have good intentions and all that, but I'm really just needing the positive right now. I'll keep you posted on the news, but as per the title, this blog will largely remain devoted to the weirdness that is Wisconsin.
Peace,
Lindsay
Winter Words
So we go from very cold (-40) to 55 degrees within just weeks. Now granted, this 55 is not "normal" for this time of year. (Has any weather actually been "normal" since we got here? I think not.) Still, it was very nice to see most of the snow disappear, and have ugly dead grass instead for a few days...
White. It's all white. The fields, the roofs, the trees, the bushes, the cars, the roads... and a lot of it isn't even snow! The salt creates a film on everything, so blacktop is whitetop, red cars are white cars... oh, but the SIDES of the road? They're black. Blacker than the blacktop was when it was new. It's snow. SNOW. Snow pushed to the sides of the road and completely covered with brake dust. Ew. And you guys (hello California...) are breathing that crud? I think I'd rather keep it in my snow.
Oh, but besides that, I've discovered that all is not white during winter. When it gets this cold for this long, you become more creative in the way you look at white. There's nothing quite like a gorgeous purple and orange sunset above blue snow, with pink spots on the ground where the streetlights shine.
We've been learning new terminology. Some of it's learned, at least. The rest we make up for sheer lack of formal description. Here's a few:
Snowdogs - not dogs, but a type of round rainbow around the sun or moon when the ice crystals are just right.
Pothole Derby - the way you test your driving ability on any given road midway through winter.
Light Pillars - what they sound like, up in the sky at night. Caused by the city lights reflecting off a particular type of ice crystals. We first thought they were the Northern Lights.
Road Snot - the crud (snow and brake dust) that gets kicked up on your car behind the tires, creating lovely lumps of, well, snot.
Kitty Litter - what you keep in your vehicle for traction when the heat of your tires on your parking space has melted and refrozen the ground, leaving you stranded.
Freezing Fog - this one can be nasty to be in, but it has the most awesome effect. When the fog is thick and heavy with humidity at low temperatures, it freezes on anything it touches. It completely covers every single branch on bushes and trees, making them absolutely white. They look painted. It's gorgeous, a winter wonderland. It doesn't last long - usually just in the morning as the day is getting started. Then the sun evaporates everything, and the sculptures go back to looking like trees and bushes again. I'd love to get photos, but it lasts for such a short time, and I'm usually on my way somewhere.
I've learned that things can melt when it's below freezing during the day. This is just wrong. I should not see water dripping off the roof when it is 17 degrees outside. Everything that I have ever known tells me that when it hits 32 degrees, water freezes. Apparently, this is the Twilight Zone, because on a sunny day, at 17 degrees, snow WILL melt (and become ice during the night to give you a fresh new ice rink for Car Hockey. See December 23 blog.)
White. It's all white. The fields, the roofs, the trees, the bushes, the cars, the roads... and a lot of it isn't even snow! The salt creates a film on everything, so blacktop is whitetop, red cars are white cars... oh, but the SIDES of the road? They're black. Blacker than the blacktop was when it was new. It's snow. SNOW. Snow pushed to the sides of the road and completely covered with brake dust. Ew. And you guys (hello California...) are breathing that crud? I think I'd rather keep it in my snow.
Oh, but besides that, I've discovered that all is not white during winter. When it gets this cold for this long, you become more creative in the way you look at white. There's nothing quite like a gorgeous purple and orange sunset above blue snow, with pink spots on the ground where the streetlights shine.
We've been learning new terminology. Some of it's learned, at least. The rest we make up for sheer lack of formal description. Here's a few:
Snowdogs - not dogs, but a type of round rainbow around the sun or moon when the ice crystals are just right.
Pothole Derby - the way you test your driving ability on any given road midway through winter.
Light Pillars - what they sound like, up in the sky at night. Caused by the city lights reflecting off a particular type of ice crystals. We first thought they were the Northern Lights.
Road Snot - the crud (snow and brake dust) that gets kicked up on your car behind the tires, creating lovely lumps of, well, snot.
Kitty Litter - what you keep in your vehicle for traction when the heat of your tires on your parking space has melted and refrozen the ground, leaving you stranded.
Freezing Fog - this one can be nasty to be in, but it has the most awesome effect. When the fog is thick and heavy with humidity at low temperatures, it freezes on anything it touches. It completely covers every single branch on bushes and trees, making them absolutely white. They look painted. It's gorgeous, a winter wonderland. It doesn't last long - usually just in the morning as the day is getting started. Then the sun evaporates everything, and the sculptures go back to looking like trees and bushes again. I'd love to get photos, but it lasts for such a short time, and I'm usually on my way somewhere.
I've learned that things can melt when it's below freezing during the day. This is just wrong. I should not see water dripping off the roof when it is 17 degrees outside. Everything that I have ever known tells me that when it hits 32 degrees, water freezes. Apparently, this is the Twilight Zone, because on a sunny day, at 17 degrees, snow WILL melt (and become ice during the night to give you a fresh new ice rink for Car Hockey. See December 23 blog.)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Goooo... Badgers!
I made my first Wisconsin snowman today!!
Wardrobe courtesy of Wes and Nancy Harmelink. Thanks, you two!
Duchesa "helped"!
Duchesa "helped"!
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