One month after making my nurse practitioner appointment, I actually went. No cancelling. No reluctance. I did it. Eight years after my last lady stuff appointment, I actually went.
Several years ago, when my employer changed our medical policy options, I had to leave my doctor. It was really hard because he was a great guy, had seen the family through all sorts of minor ailments and regular exams and most importantly, where the lady stuff was concerned, I was totally comfortable with him. So when I had to change doctors, the absolute last thing I wanted to do was start the lady stuff again with someone new. And, well, I didn't.
Kris grew up. Kris became a medical assistant. Kris started bugging ME about doing what I needed to do. Fortunately, I found I had an option. Dr. Sanchez, OB-GYN, had a nurse practitioner in his office. Kris recommended her and finally, after eight years, I took care of business.
I have several things to take care of that will cover everything from bone scans, HRT topical creme, a mammogram, labs for any number of things, and a colon health check. Boy, when I do something, I do it big. It's going to take me a month to do all this stuff.
But, I'm glad I did it. It's so easy for me to ignore things; to follow the road sign that says "If it ain't broken, don't fix it." Sad thing though, often you don't know that it IS broken until it's too late. So - thanks Kris for bugging me until I listened. You are truly my best girl.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday. I've been thinking a lot about Lent this week. I feel there are two areas that I over-indulge in - lunch out and time spent on my personal computer stuff during work hours.
I also am very concern about the job drought that Quanah is so burdened with. Somehow, I think, these two areas can be overcome and so my commitment this Lent is to bring my lunch to work or go home and to work to break the habit of personal computer time at work. I will do this for Quanah's intention. It will be a big sacrifice because the habits are so ingrained.
I have also assigned a notebook to use during Lent and I will do daily readings during the Lenten season.
I also am very concern about the job drought that Quanah is so burdened with. Somehow, I think, these two areas can be overcome and so my commitment this Lent is to bring my lunch to work or go home and to work to break the habit of personal computer time at work. I will do this for Quanah's intention. It will be a big sacrifice because the habits are so ingrained.
I have also assigned a notebook to use during Lent and I will do daily readings during the Lenten season.
Disappointed Again
Quanah suffered a big set back again. He applied for a job at a local parish; a job that was tailor made for him. Deadline for applications is tomorrow. He turned his in today. He left with the knowledge that someone had already been found and the hiring was just about a done deal. But they would keep his application just in case, and yada yada yada.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT. This sort of crap has happened to Quanah more times than I can count since his move to Oregon. The job was filled but the announcement had not been pulled; the job was rewritten because they really wanted someone who was bilingual though the announcement did not mention that; or the job was cancelled; or or or. . . .
He went from excited to let down yet again. We are pissed by all this unprofessional hiring behavior, behavior that should not be happening. You place a deadline, you review all applicants AFTER the deadline; you select 3-4 for interviews and consideration; you make a choice and an offer. That's how it SHOULD be. In 14 months of searching for a job with the church, this has not happened ONCE. Clearly there is a great need for hiring and interviewing skills.
Shabby, church people. Really. Shabby.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT. This sort of crap has happened to Quanah more times than I can count since his move to Oregon. The job was filled but the announcement had not been pulled; the job was rewritten because they really wanted someone who was bilingual though the announcement did not mention that; or the job was cancelled; or or or. . . .
He went from excited to let down yet again. We are pissed by all this unprofessional hiring behavior, behavior that should not be happening. You place a deadline, you review all applicants AFTER the deadline; you select 3-4 for interviews and consideration; you make a choice and an offer. That's how it SHOULD be. In 14 months of searching for a job with the church, this has not happened ONCE. Clearly there is a great need for hiring and interviewing skills.
Shabby, church people. Really. Shabby.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
DAMN!!!!!
DAMNITDAMNITDAMNIDAMNIDAMNIT. Just spoke with my brother. He is having a lump (probably a subacious cyst) removed on Tuesday. Let's hope that's all it is. BUT . . . .
He is also having a CAT scan. Unrelated to cyst. He's been waking up in the middle of the night a lot with headaches and pain in his left eye. This scares me. David is 14 years younger than me. This should not be happening to him. He has not been feeling himself lately and this is very scary.
David is always so healthy and active. Bad. BAD!!DAMNITDAMNITDAMNIDAMNIDAMNIT.
He is also having a CAT scan. Unrelated to cyst. He's been waking up in the middle of the night a lot with headaches and pain in his left eye. This scares me. David is 14 years younger than me. This should not be happening to him. He has not been feeling himself lately and this is very scary.
David is always so healthy and active. Bad. BAD!!DAMNITDAMNITDAMNIDAMNIDAMNIT.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
What does it all mean?
I have been having more and more nightmares lately. Last night was a dozy. Don didn’t have to wake me up from this one but I still, at 11 a.m., feel like I’ve been run over by a semi.
I was so tired last night that I went to bed just after 9 p.m. That is very early for me. I couldn’t even read so I just turned in. I actually got in way more that my usual 4-5 hours but by 5:45 I was so into a nightmare that I was awake and trying to shake it off for 15-20 minutes. No luck.
Sometimes nightmares are really horrifying as much as they are crazed and mindless. Sometimes the devil is in the details, not scary but terrifying nonetheless.
Last night I was on a road trip with my friend, B. We headed north to Modesto. As I was driving, I flung a large, very thick soft cover dark green book out the driver’s window. It flew across the road and landed on the far side in a flat area. The book was my Catechism of the Catholic Church. Now THAT has got to be fraught with symbolism. A little further up the road I pulled off to the side. I carried an armload of books as I got out of the car and after looking around, dropped them into the ditch.
After I returned to the car, B and I continued north passed Hatch Rd. At some point, I drove off the road, ended up in a carnival-like courtyard in San Francisco and explored an art museum concentrating particularly on an American Indian artist. B, who loves art museums, stayed outside, not wanting to see anything of the exhibit.
From there, we took an escalator to another area to explore but by this time it was all becoming very vague. We left, found that we had lost my car, walked back up the rock and dirt road to the main road and discovered that we were in someone’s driveway. We were well and truly lost.
Quick scene change – We walked through a field and find ourselves on Crowslanding Rd. at Whitmore Ave. It is after dark and this is NOT the place you want to be after dark in Modesto. We sit at the side of a furniture store and several cantinas. YES! Cantinas. I call home for Quanah to pick us up. Q lives in Oregon but in my dream he must be visiting.
By this time, it is night; we are stranded in an undesirable area; my car is lost; my books are gone. My mind is going crazy. It’s 5:45 a.m. and I can’t stand it anymore. I get up to start my day. It’s pushing noon right now and I’m happy to say that I am finally feeling much more settled than I was six hours ago.
I was so tired last night that I went to bed just after 9 p.m. That is very early for me. I couldn’t even read so I just turned in. I actually got in way more that my usual 4-5 hours but by 5:45 I was so into a nightmare that I was awake and trying to shake it off for 15-20 minutes. No luck.
Sometimes nightmares are really horrifying as much as they are crazed and mindless. Sometimes the devil is in the details, not scary but terrifying nonetheless.
Last night I was on a road trip with my friend, B. We headed north to Modesto. As I was driving, I flung a large, very thick soft cover dark green book out the driver’s window. It flew across the road and landed on the far side in a flat area. The book was my Catechism of the Catholic Church. Now THAT has got to be fraught with symbolism. A little further up the road I pulled off to the side. I carried an armload of books as I got out of the car and after looking around, dropped them into the ditch.
After I returned to the car, B and I continued north passed Hatch Rd. At some point, I drove off the road, ended up in a carnival-like courtyard in San Francisco and explored an art museum concentrating particularly on an American Indian artist. B, who loves art museums, stayed outside, not wanting to see anything of the exhibit.
From there, we took an escalator to another area to explore but by this time it was all becoming very vague. We left, found that we had lost my car, walked back up the rock and dirt road to the main road and discovered that we were in someone’s driveway. We were well and truly lost.
Quick scene change – We walked through a field and find ourselves on Crowslanding Rd. at Whitmore Ave. It is after dark and this is NOT the place you want to be after dark in Modesto. We sit at the side of a furniture store and several cantinas. YES! Cantinas. I call home for Quanah to pick us up. Q lives in Oregon but in my dream he must be visiting.
By this time, it is night; we are stranded in an undesirable area; my car is lost; my books are gone. My mind is going crazy. It’s 5:45 a.m. and I can’t stand it anymore. I get up to start my day. It’s pushing noon right now and I’m happy to say that I am finally feeling much more settled than I was six hours ago.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
72 hours
Well. My mind was on NOTHING but Friday's fiasco all weekend. Pretty much mess me up. I felt so hard-hearted toward this man that I couldn't even go to communion. I just bent my head for a blessing.
Today is better. At 3:50, he has not come in. I half expected him to not be here because classes are behind us. The festival is behind us. Nothing to do but take a break until spring term starts next Monday.
There is a faculty retreat this coming Thursday. With any luck at all, I won't see him until then.
Today is better. At 3:50, he has not come in. I half expected him to not be here because classes are behind us. The festival is behind us. Nothing to do but take a break until spring term starts next Monday.
There is a faculty retreat this coming Thursday. With any luck at all, I won't see him until then.