See you soon!

Check out this site dedicated to posting our photos from our Mediterranean cruise! http://countingcountries.blogspot.com/

Count Down is On!

We leave for our much-anticipated cruise on Friday! We are so thrilled! It has taken a lot of planning, especially with all of our medications and supplies. We had to make sure we had enough medication for the two weeks we'll be gone plus at least another week after that. It gets even more complicated because some medication needs refrigeration. I guess it can be compared to taking a baby - so much to take!

I have had a list for about a month but it seems that every time I cross something off, I remember something else that we need to do or purchase. At this point, I guess if we haven't thought about it, hopefully it won't matter much.

Friday was a nice day at work for me. All the hiring stuff is complete and I was actually able to spend some time reorganizing my office, shredding papers, etc. My friends and family know that this type of thing really makes me happy.

Also on Friday, I had a DEXA body scan. The University has this scanning machine which breaks down the body into regions and identifies the lean muscle and fat in your body. I was interested in getting a baseline and see how I can improve over the coming 6-9 months. I felt a little nervous about getting this scan but I always say, knowing is half the battle. I also had a bone density scan which showed that I am well within normal range.

I did join a "Tour America" walking challenge sponsored by the University. I will get a pedometer and track my progress. I am excited about the challenge. I have lost a total of 5 pounds and have been working out 4-5/week. My eating habits have not changed much but the exercise has really helped PLUS I feel great! I am definitely at the point where I look forward to working out in the evenings. I love that feeling!!

My class has come to an end

I have really enjoyed my Photoshop class. I have learned a lot. The above is a photo I had to restore. Don't look that close (Linda still looks a bit mangled), but I think it is better than the originally distressed photo. I am the little one - looking scared (as usual).

For my final project (due today), I had to create a 2-page website in Photoshop. It was so fun! I created a website called "Counting Countries." Adam and I have been comparing numbers of countries visited for many years so that is where the idea stemmed. I had a world map and pushpin icons to denote the countries in which I had visited. You selected the pushin and it would take you to the corresponding page about that country. I also super-imposed my face on an image I found on the internet. I will have to post that sometime. A lot of the cool stuff I learned came from just playing around in the program.

The class added to my already busy schedule, but I must say that I will miss it. I highly recommend for all my 30-something friends to take a college class for the heck of it! I guess you can either accept or deny the challenge - it is all up to you! :)

A civilized morning

Anytime we, as a family, were doing something like reading by the fire or eating a meal at a table with a tablecloth, my father would say, "this is just too civilized." I woke up this beautiful Saturday morning at 6:45. That is pretty early for a Saturday but I knew I wouldn't get back to sleep - in fact, I didn't want to go back to sleep. I am looking for that "civilized" morning.

Trav is still sleeping so I am downstairs with my hot apple cider and my computer. I've got the iTunes playing and I've got the newspaper in hand. Ahhh...the sweet life!

Trav brought yesterday's USA Today home and shared an article about the "Waiter Rule". The byline reads "rudeness to service workers reveals a lot about character." I think this is so true! I have been thinking about this because we have been in the process of hiring for 4 Administrator-level positions. I have often asked the receptionists what they think, because you can certainly gain a valuable perspective from someone who may be seen in a subordinate role. I remember fairly recently when I told our Director that someone was rude to the receptionist, he said, "well that does it for me", indicating that the decision was easily made to rule that individual out of the running.

The article also states that this whole response to service workers is a result of how people were raised. I like what Steve Odland of Office Depot said. "People with situational values have situational ethics, and those are people to be avoided."

I guess that is all the profundity from me this morning. I hope you all enjoy your Saturday - make it a civilized one.

What a bummer!!!

Ahh, how I love doctor appointments. I just love spending an hour in the waiting room before being seen. I really enjoy writing and re-writing my insurance information and all the details of my health history (which sadly is quite lengthy) especially having to re-do paperwork for doctors in the same clinic (no sharing of information). I am happy when I get to miss work (okay, that one may not be so sarcastic).

I had 2 appointments today - mostly to prepare for my big Mediterranean cruise. I saw the Orthopedic doc who specializes in feet. I have plantar fasctitis and needed another steroid injection in the arch of my left foot. My appointment in Provo was at 8:20 but didn't leave there until 9:50. I ran to my 10:00 appointment in Orem and was there until 12:30. This one was the Orthopedic doc specializing in the back. I have had chronic coccytis for 2 years! Yes, you read that right...2 YEARS!! I won't go into to many gory details but I did get a cortisone shot in the "you know where." Let's just say that I had to go to my "happy place" when I got this shot.

Prior to the shot, I had the fun experience of getting an x-ray. Without many details, I'd have to say that those stupid hospital gowns just don't stay shut. That poor technician...Again, I had to go to my "happy place" and just realize that healthcare professionals have seen it all! (Does anyone need me to spell out the details???)

So, that is my "bummer" of a morning. The rest of the day was a piece of cake!

Loving Spring in Utah

I just got home from a RS Birthday Dinner. I've got to get started on my final project for my Photoshop class so I don't have much time. I just wanted to say that I LOVE living in Utah, especially at this time of year. One of my friends at work and I walked around campus this afternoon. It was so beautiful! I love all the blossoming trees, the tulips and the snow-capped mountains. I love it!

Staying afloat

My sweet sister Robyn emailed me to see if I was okay because I hadn't blogged for a while. So, here goes another update (I will try to do better).

Last week was crazy busy. I don't think my work calendar has ever been so booked. I had Maria's book club on Wednesday night. It was held at Nancy's home in Hobble Creek so I didn't get home until late. We had such a fun evening. We discussed "All Over But the Shoutin" by Rick Bragg. It was a memoir about his difficult upbringing, his undying love for his mother as well as his insights regarding the many stories he had covered (writer for the NY Times). I was particularly intrigued by his take on the uprising in Haiti, the Susan Smith case as well as his first-hand account of the LA Riots. I would highly recommend this book!

Jill, Michelle, Jenn and I met at Jana's on Thursday to help her paint her loft. It was fun gabbing and working together.

I came home from work on Friday evening completely exhausted. I was so grateful for a "do nothing" day at home. We took care of our chores and I finished "The Known World" for book club on Tuesday. We went to see "Take the Lead", starring Antonio Banderas. It was my choice and Trav wasn't all that thrilled about my choice but he liked it alright (6 out of 10).

Sunday brought a bit of a scare for me. I was at church and was feeling just fine. At the beginning of the 3rd hour, I got really dizzy and was lucky to find a seat. I had this terrible wave of nausea. I had our Primary President run and get Travis and he took me home. I had just bought a blood pressure cuff so when I got home, I took my BP and it was pretty high. I then got a bad migraine the rest of the evening but was relieved a bit when I finally threw up (sorry if that is too icky). We debated whether or not to go to the hospital, but ultimately decided to wait and see my doctor on today.

So, I saw a nurse practitioner this morning. My sweet mom came to AF and picked me up because she didn't want me driving. The EKG was clear (whew!) but my BP was still really high so they put me back on BP medication. They also gave me phenigrine for the nausea. That basically knocked me out for the rest of the day. I am still feeling dizzy but better. The nurse was pretty sure that the high BP was causing the frequent migraines so here is to hoping that helps!

I'll go back to work tomorrow but hopefully this week won't be so hectic. To all my RBC chicks, no worries about Tuesday night. I am still planning (and looking forward) to having you all over. Thanks for your calls and concern.