And She's BACK!

Since it HAS been such a long time, I'll just provide a quick update on the ongoings of my life for the past year....and then we'll get down to business and onto the juicier topics from here on out.

So here's what's happened over the past year:
- Found out why I've been feeling so sick for the past year and a half
- The big brother finally graduated
- Decided to quit laying low and live a little
- Allowed my great friend to talk me into the world of online dating

Stay tuned for more details! :)

it's been a rough week - lots of shoulder pain.. lots of ice packs... and too much fear to even dabble in taking a couple painkillers

i think it's because the weather's changing... i hope it goes back to normal soon... i can't take this being cold crap.. i can't wear too many layers because then my shoulder can't deal with being too warm, and then if i don't wear enough layers, i get too cold...

i saw a shooting star the other night. it was beautiful. i should have wished for better weather instead of what i wished for... but if i wished for comes true, i wouldn't take it back for the world either...

one can only hope that some superstitions play out...

I need to rant a little, rave a little...

but really, I don't have anything to say

It's just been a rough day

I didn't get nauseous today! Not even once!

So happy :) :) :)

endoscopy and colonoscopy today - no idea what to expect. going to wear my pj's to the procedures though.

the flushing part was last night - didn't/couldn't drink all the liquid stuff they gave me. think i was in the bathroom most of the night. haven't eaten since noon yesterday - not allowed to until after 4:30ish tonight. tired... hungry... gonna try to get some more sleep before my ride gets here.

something funny

Before I recount the incident that happened today, I have to backflash so you can appreciate the humor in this.

My big brother's best friend's last name is Youngers. For the sake of his privacy, I'm just going to call him "John" Youngers. Anyway, growing up, my brother would always refer to him as Youngers when he spoke about his best friend. One day, my dad said, "Why is his last name Youngers? He's only going to get older. His name should technically be John Older." So for many years now, my dad and I have referred to my brother's best friend as Older.

Anyway, on my way out from work tonight, I was saying goodnight to some co-workers in passing...

"G'night, Seifert."
"G'night, Vone."

"G,night, Z."
"G.night, Young Lady."
And then without a second thought, in popped to my head - "goodnight, Old Man."

Thank goodness I didn't say it out loud! The guy isn't old at all!

nervous.... dr's appt tomorrow...

today's dr appt

Went back in to see my doctor today - following up from my last appt.

Apparently, acid isn't necessarily the cause of whatever's going on inside me because the meds didn't help me like they were supposed to. He also told me that the results from the tests I took a month ago show that my liver functions are slightly elevated, whatever that means. I have to go in tomorrow for an ultrasound on that part of my body. And I guess I have to go in for a GI consult sometime later- no clue what that means either.

I'm not allowed to eat or drink anything from the time I wake up until the time I have my test done tomorrow... I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings.

At least it isn't invasive... yet.

Perspective

I got this message in an email today... Another one that I enjoyed enough to want to share. :)

* * *

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would beconsidered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered:"I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.

"The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Pass this on to family, friends and acquaintances and help themrefresh their perspective and appreciation. "Life is too short and friends are too few."

* * *

Hope that you got something out of this. :)

the music - it's back

After a series of events that happened over the past few months, I feel the music again. It's back, and it's pulsing.

I thought it disappeared.

I'm so glad... so glad.

The Two Wolves

I got this in an email the other day. I rather enjoyed it.

* * *

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all..

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'

The grand son thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'

The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'

Blessed

Naomi came to visit me this weekend – the first time she’s been on “my turf”. We had a fantastic time this weekend. I got her a couple presents – an orchid and some nice sunglasses, and boy was I squirming with excitement to give them to her. It took all I had to not tell her, so I avoided calling her all week until the night before she came to town and am proud to say that I didn’t mention the gifts at all. When she got here, I gave her a grandiose tour of my place, and then of course, I broke out the presents. I was delighted that she loved them all. :)

We hopped on over to the World Food Festival (had to go for a work thing.), tried different foods, people watched (oh the things we saw and the comments we made… hehehe), shopped for the perfect orchid pot and a dress for my upcoming gala, painted like crazy, and talked about all kinds of things until the wee hours of dawn.

Woke up, made great breakfast, broke out my new tea set, went to church, came home and showed her a bunch of pictures...

Played piano (she played the song I wrote that I taught her… so proud of her).

Then it was time for her to go home. She promised that she’d come back and visit again.

I’ve known her since third grade, and needless to say, she’s stuck around ever since then – my best friend.

Knowing how life takes its course and how people come and go, I’m amazed at the number of people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made, and how much they care. Despite the things I’ve been going through lately and the things I’ve been through in the past, I think I’m quite possibly the luckiest girl ever. I’ve got the greatest family and friends in my life – I’m truly blessed and for that I am truly grateful.

I have a bandaid on my arm from where they took my blood today.

It makes me look like a badass...

hehehe

if miracles exist...

I would wish that both my stomach and shoulder areas would get better at the same time.

So I could sleep through an entire night.

I wonder if that's asking for too much?

random thoughts

I've been thinking a lot about getting eye surgery lately. A big part of me doesn't want to rely on contact lenses and glasses to see anymore. I wonder what it would be like to see clearly without them... I've been dependent on them for so long that I wonder if it'd feel wierd to not have to go through the process of putting them in every morning and removing them at night.

On another note, I got the coolest tea set when I went to Minneapolis this past weekend. I haven't broken it out and used it yet. I think I'll break it out when my best friend comes to visit me this weekend.

Can you believe it? My best friend's coming to visit me. She's really coming. I'm so glad.

I love my townhouse.

On a clear, perfect night, I can lay on my couch, and I've got the best view of a moonlit night.

It's 3:30 a.m.

My stomach and back hurts.

My shoulder burns.

Yippidy-do.

I need to get up in 2.5 hrs anyway...

I can't wait to see Hasan and OJ again. It's been 2 - 3 years now.

moving day

Some fat, black guy tried to hit on me yesterday while I was moving, tired, and cranky... not to mention, I probably looked like hell froze over at the time. Here's how it happened:

"Excuse me, Miss."

"Yes?" Why would anyone stop me if they didn't have a good reason to?

"What's your name?"

"Vone."

"Are you married?" whaaaaaat? is he serious????

"Yes." Lie #1

"How many years you been married?"

"Five." Showed him five fingers. FIVE. Get the picture, punk. Anyway, Lie #2.

He does a double take like he couldn't believe it. I start walking away.

He yells, grinning simultaneously, "Are you happy?"

I glance over my shoulder, "Yeah!" Semi-lie: I'm happy, just not married.

Got back to my apartment. Decided to take a break so I wouldn't have to run into him again.

Anyway, I was so proud of myself for actually lying that I texted some of my friends about it.

Stupid man.

Home inspection went well for the most part. Although we couldn't get the light fixture in the living room to work, so there might be some wiring issues to address. Also, while we were there, we couldn't get any hot water, so tomorrow I'll find out if the water heater is in working order or not.

Anyway, super tired. Time for bed.

(Just thinking... I might really have my own place soon.... and I can do it all how I want to do it... schematically, warm and cool colors, pictures, plants... excited... :)