Weekend update

Turns out I’m not great at keeping up with the blog.  Every day, I think, “Nothing remarkable to blog about today.”  But isn’t that the great thing about blogging…doesn’t have to be remarkable.  JUST DO IT!  Much to my dismay, C participated in the age-old tradition – trick or treat – on Saturday night.  I have mixed feelings on Halloween in general (well, mostly negative, I guess) and was reluctant to ‘do’ anything Halloween-related. I’m continuing to do research and look at some Biblical resources given to me by a friend.  Things may change in coming years.

We enjoyed some crisp fall weather today while B was at the Bengals game.  C even did okay at Sunday school today – drop-offs have been strained the past couple weeks.  She is starting to get geared up for her birthday, because she realizes is closer to becoming a big kid!

Good to see people raising their kids right these days!

The big event of the weekend was the skull session before Saturday’s game.  If you’ve been on campus on game-day, you know it’s an adventure of epic proportions.  Add 3-year old to the mix, and let the fun begin.  TBDBITL was hosting a high-school band, as well as the Michigan State band, which was absolutely fantastic.  MSU fans were quick to point out our commonalities: “Don’t worry, we hate Michigan, too.” The entrance of the band is a heart-pounding, tear-jerking moment.  Really.  C enjoyed every minute of it, complete with singing along to “Carmen, Ohio.”  We called Grandpa M when they started the chimes, so he could hear it.  Nothing like that moment.  Nothing.

C was disappointed that Brutus didn’t come into the skull session, so we stopped by RV-land on the way back to the car (we had a 40-minute walk each way) and posed for a picture with an inflatable Brutus.  She seemed satisfied with that, although she became a bit timid once we got a closer look at Brutus.

I’m gonna need a break after this!

It’s Friday night, the end of another hectic work week.  Now, the beginning of a relaxing exhausting weekend.  Tonight, I hosted a “Premier” jewelry party – poorly attended, though lots of fun.  It gave me an excuse to get some goodies from Dorothy Lane Market to share with everyone.  I figured the fact that I had skipped dinner gave me a pretty good excuse to eat a whole lemon bar and part of a Killer Brownie.

C went to a high school football game with her dad.  They are beginning a habit of Friday night dates! Last weekend, the daddy-daughter dance at church; this weekend, a date at Gold Star Grill and high-school football.  Truly, the best of both worlds.  They got home about 9:30pm (very late for her), but she was thrilled about her night (mostly about the lollipop and M&M’s she got to eat at the football game) and was anxious to tell me about all of it.  Her birthday is a month from today.  I am having a hard time picturing myself as the mom of a 3-year old. 

Tomorrow, more exhausting plans!  We are going to attempt to attend the skull session prior to the Buckeyes game.  B & his dad are going to go to the game, and Mimi and I will come home.  I think C will do ok, but I’m afraid she’ll get tired and start to act like a beast.  It could go either way. I anticipate her being absolutely enraptured with the band, though.  Wait ’til she finds out we get to sing “Carmen, Ohio” at the end!

Oh, and before I forget…a ‘virtual’ acquaintance of mine has a fantastic online shop, Beaded Things, and she is running a special on her customized baby spoons.  They really are the gift for the baby who has everything – personalized, unique, and beautiful.  Enter code “bogo” at check-out to get the special offer of buy one, get one!  She’s gotten lots of good press on her products, and these really do make lovely gifts.  She’s also contributing some of the fruits of her labor to the Komen for the Cure Foundation.  She’s walked in the 3-Day several times if I recall correctly.  So if you’re looking for more than just another blanket for the next baby gift, go meet Becki & Jen over at Beaded Things.

Great was the company!

It’s that time again…Messiah rehearsals began this evening.  I sang in 2001, 2002, and 2003 but was derailed by the Big Event of 11/19/2004, and haven’t been able to join them since.  For those of you who aren’t local, there’s a community chorus that gathers every October and sings Handel’s Messiah after only 7 rehearsals.  It’s pretty cool.  I’m not sure how many of those in attendance were newbies tonight, but it is such a great thing to hear that music again.  I remember the first year I came, I sang about every 5th note. I know the music quite well at this point and can get more into the expression of the music and the depth of the verse.  It is no small thing.  If you’re local, come hear us on December 1st or 2nd at Sulphur Grove United Methodist Church.  You will be blessed.

Our weather is supposed to break tomorrow (finally).  I think the past 4 days have topped 90 – ugh.  Hopefully tonight will be the last air-conditioned night, and we can move on to the crisp fall nights and cool mornings.  Fall is my favorite time of year, without a doubt.

A discovery

So I’m supposed to be drinking 80-100ounces of water.  A day.  “That’s close to a gallon!,” you exclaim.  Yes, I realize that, but my urologist promised me that this will fend off any future attacks of the dreaded stones.  So, for now, I comply.  Or at least make an attempt. 

The primary problem with this prevention strategy is, I hate water.  It has no taste, it has no caffeine, it has nothing for me.  I have spent considerable time investigating all of the flavored waters on the market, but I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t scream “ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER” to my taste buds.  Secondly, I don’t want to further enrage the granola squad in light of the recent environmental outcry relating to bottled water.   

Enter – Metro Mint.  Ingredients: PURIFIED WATER, MINT.  Chill Factor: -6º extra cool.  According to the good people at Soma Beverage Company, “Metromint is mintwater, pure and simple.  The all natural combination of pure water and real spearmint relieves your thirst, soothes your body, and revives your soul.” (Hey folks, it’s only a bottle of water – that’s a mighty stiff claim you’re making!)  A big swig of Metromint really just reminds you of watered-down Scope.  But it’s do-able, and it has no artificial sweeteners, and hence, no nasty aftertaste.  Ten cents per ounce, though, is probably going to be cost-prohibitive as I strive for my goal of becoming a heavy drinker in the coming weeks.

I have all kinds of brilliant things to say

when I’m in my car.  My drive-time is my thinking time, my praying time, my focused time, my time of distraction (especially when I miss my exit – this happens more often than it should), thinking about the day ahead, or thinking about the day behind.  Maybe I’m the only person in the country who is thankful for a 38-minute commute.  When I was working closer to home, I frankly missed it!  My biggest problem these days is my car thing for my iPod broke, so I’m without my favorite tunes.  If I get out the door at the right time, I can drop C off at the sitter’s about 7:55am and be back in the car at 8am for Turning Point. In spite of the horrific, um, jingle that they sing, David Jeremiah absolutely hits the nail on the head, every single morning.  This week he’s been talking about prayer and some basic principles for Christian living.  I could listen to every message 10 times and get something new out of it.  I could still do without the post-show sign-off, though.  (Fellow central Ohio CDR-Radio listeners know what I’m talking about!)

About 4-5 hours of my 8-hour workday today was spent wrangling with an insurance company and specialty pharmacy over a patient’s meds.  As my buddy Joy would say, “Hey Humana – up yours.”  This patient has been through a horrid heartbreak and now needs our services.  She is in the health care field, even, and she was driven to the point of hysterical tears last night by trying to figure it out.  I don’t know how the general consumer would have any hope of navigating this particular situation.  Things like this are part of what is wrong with our health care!  Fortunately, I documented every minute of every call, and have all 12 people’s names that I spoke with in the course of the past 3 weeks.  I’m torn between writing a formal letter of complaint and asking Michael Moore to come harass them for his next documentary.

So, I haven’t said much about work here, to this point.  Other medical bloggers (some famously) have been busted by readers for violating HIPAA and the like.  As soon as I figure out how to navigate blogging in general, I will post the requisite disclaimer.  But the truth is, my work is a huge part of my life, it’s my calling, and there will be times that I’ll probably process it here.  So be ready!  I’ll spare any gory details for those of you who don’t enjoy tales of the speculum and the magic wand.