The List

Ugh, I'm doing it again. The other day someone told me there is an expression in Italian about working on a task that you're always trying to accomplish but just never seems to get done, it translates into "Building a Cathedral". That's how I feel about pretty much everything, there's just always more to do, I'm always building my cathedral. I'm still hopeful that I will eventually achieve a system, some real organization and find time to consistently and meaningfully update.

In the meantime, and old stand-by cop-out. My list. I met with my counselor today, I told her how bad I have been at accomplishing anything lately and we discussed how the first thing on my list, needs to be writing my list. Counseling costs a lot of money, it only costs me a $10 co-pay, but I got a full bill once and they charge over $200 for that hour I spend talking. So I figure if it costs that much I need to make sure I'm really following through. So, my list.

I love making lists, I have a good system too. According to this really awesome planner I had a long time ago, it was developed by Benjamin Franklin, I'm sure it was just a marketing gimmick, but either way it's simple and wonderful. You free-form write out everything you need to do, then you go through the list and rank the importance of the tasks A-D. So, without further ado:

A. Clean my room

A. Laundry, lots and lots of laundry

A. Organize my desk area

A+ Make a spray bottle of disinfectant - take it and towel into car

A. Transfer credit debt onto new Discover Card

B. Buy new laptop

B. Christmas presents

A+ Email Cultural Survival about volunteering

A. Put holiday events into planner

B+ Take care of doctors bills

A. Get prescriptions filled!

A+ Prep for tomorrow (art project, folders, plan, gift for emanuel, ingredients for dinner, other shopping)

A. Mosaics for kids

A. Card and stickers for adam

B+ Find out about Argenziano holiday party

A. E-mail about Toddler Book

A+ Figure out if I have time to pick up freecycle stuff tomorrow

Okay, so that's four A+s...I'm going to accomplish those four things tonight! I can do it! And I can already check off one list item - Make The List : CHECK!!!

Curriculum Blog

I just published a monster post on my curriculum Blog. It was very personal so i figure it kind of fits here too. Enjoy: Saying Goodbye.

Albums from our past....

I've been meaning to write this post for a while, so here goes. Let's post about the albums that remind us of the past. Like junior high, high school, college, etc.

What are the albums that remind you of junior high?

This is easy for me, as it was when I truly starting getting into music and listening to artists other than what my parents were listening to.

1. Oasis -- What's the Story Morning Glory. I can remember the first time I heard Champagne Supernova on the radio. They've been my favorite band ever since and it was announced today that Noel just quit Oasis. I'm bummed.

2. No Doubt -- Tragic Kingdom. They're still playing songs from this album on the radio. And I love me some OC bands.

3. Green Day -- Dookie. I used to sit and watch MTV all day waiting for the Basket Case video to play. Fantastic.

4. Weezer -- Blue. It's still one of my favorite albums ever. Love it.

Ladies, what are yours??

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

...turn and face the strange.

Ok, ok, so it's been a looong time, way too long. I got into one of those, "there are so many other things that I should be doing that I'm not" funks. And yes, too much time on facebook, that thing is such a time suck!

Anyway, I have some posts of substance that have been rattling around in my head for a while, but I figure after such a great lapse I should do some sort of an update, "look how much has been going on, aren't I excused for my inactivity?" sort of post.

So this summer I have decided to go for a new record, how many things can I change about my life in one season.

Yesterday I realized that these are the only major changes I have NOT made this summer:

1) I am not moving out of the state/country

2) I am not having a baby

3) I am not starting school

Things I HAVE changed, or that have changed, this summer -- with explanations to follow.

1) After two years together and almost a year living together, Rachel and I broke up.

2) I cut all of the hair off of one side of my head, and half of it off of the other.

3) I started seeing a counselor.

4) I am hoping to receive an offer for a new job in the coming days.

5) I am moving across the river to Somerville with a very good friend.

6) I will become a step mother for a very cute puppy who lives in my new apartment.

I know 6 things doesn't sound like that much, but to me it seems like a lot. And aside from my hair and the counseling, all of these things are manifesting themselves in really huge ways in the next 2 weeks.

1) I don't really feel like sharing too much about this on a public forum. It was really hard, and heartbreaking, but the right thing for both of us. We broke up in early June and have been living together since. This was my first real long term relationship (I had made it a year before but she had been cheating on me the whole time and we kept "breaking up" but not being able to make it stick). Rachel is the first girlfriend? partner? I ever lived with. So consequently it's my first major break-up and period of adjustment.

It seems like there are a few ways the immediate post-breakup period can go. One of the two can immediately move out and rely on their friends while they figure out what to do. The couple can live together in a strained and steely silence that occasionally explodes into anger or violence. Or they can continue living together in a fashion very similar to before but somehow different, not friends yet, but also no longer a couple.

Rachel and I fell into the last category. We still love each other, I don't think a lack of love is what drove our breakup. So we've continued with most of the same love and affection we've always had but with changes, sometimes strained. Thankfully we live in a 2.5 bedroom house so Rachel was able to move into her office where, conveniently, a futon was already located. I don't think I can process this anymore. We're only living together for one more week, well two, but I'll be in Mexico for one of them. It's going to be very hard to leave, it's going to feel like we're breaking up all over again. But this limbo period can't keep going, the strain would eventually become too much. I'm hopeful for our future friendship.

Apparently I did have a bit to say about that.

2) I always do this, I'm such a ritualistic person. Breakup ----> cut hair. This being my biggest relationship I went for a drastic cut. For years I had been obsessing about Sara's cut from Cycle 6 of ANTM. She hated the cut, but I thought it was awesome. You can kind of see it in this picture:

It's super short on the sides but long on the top. I had been thinking that maybe this was my time to go for it, but I forgot the photo so I figured, maybe next time. But when I was waiting in the salon I found a very similar cut in one of the books and figured I would go for it. My stylist (who I love and trust) decided to use it as a jumping off point but go asymmetrical with it instead. I was really nervous about how different it was at first, but I've had it for a couple months now and I have totally adjusted and love it!

3) I realized that with my awesome health insurance, counseling was only a $10 co-payment away. I love it, I'm going to run the risk of sounding too much like a Dar song if I keep going, so I guess I should just quote it instead: "And when I talk about therapy, I know what people think, that it only makes you selfish and in love with your shrink. But oh how I loved everybody else when I finally got to talk so much about myself." I started going to discuss my relationship with Rachel, and that has continued to be a topic, but there's a lot more to talk about too. I have a ridiculous urge to put a smiley face here.

4) I don't like to be too public about people or jobs I'm interested in. The less people that know, the less you have to feel the pain when you're asked how it's going and you have to let them know {insert name here} wasn't as interested in you as you thought. But I am constantly shooting myself in the foot on this point -- every time it happens I vow that next time I'm going to keep my mouth shut. But then I get so hopeful, and so excited, and I can't contain it. So, running the risk that this may blow up in my face (when the 5 people who read this blog and don't already know ask me):

I have gone on two interviews for a position as a Developmental Specialist -- home visiting children 1 to 3. I think it would be a perfect job for me and I am really excited at the prospect. They seem to be genuinely interested in hiring me and are only waiting to hear back from the Department of Public Health to see if I qualify as an "education person". The government red tape pisses me off sometimes. It doesn't matter to them that I have been working in education for over 5 years, all they care about is if I took enough education courses in college -- as if that is where my real qualifications are coming from! Anyway, I'm really hopeful that I'll hear back soon (but in the meantime don't ask me about it).

5) I had been hoping to find a place to move into for mid-July, then August 1st, then August 15th. But I was really lazy about it. Despite the fact that I had to get up at 6 in the morning in order to make the hour and change commute to Somerville, I just kept dragging my feet. I couldn't figure out why I could not get myself to really look for a place. Now I know, it was the fates (or, yes mom, my guardian angle) working to make things fit correctly into place.

Two weeks ago, I found out from the one place I had actually seen that they went with someone else. Then I went to see another place. I walked around, noting the low basement ceiling, the pipes, the small windows opening to courtyards, the bedroom converted into a living room. I felt like I was in a college dorm, a quirky and kind of cool college dorm, but still. I started negotiating with myself -- Melanie, you've waited too long, I don't know if you can afford to be picky, you NEED to move by September 1st and we're getting close... I left, and on my way home I noticed I had missed a call from a good friend.

She let me know, 1) that she had been diagnosed with MS, 2) that her wedding (a little more than a month away) was off and 3) if I would like to move in with her. It is possible that she is experiencing more changes than me right now, just maybe! It all came together, this is the right place for me to be, and the right time. Yes Mom, it had to have been God, or fate, or interconnections -- some sort of energy flow between everything. And then, to top it all off, earlier this week Rachel confirmed that she found a new roommate to move in September 1st -- perfect.

6) This just occurred to me yesterday when I was talking to a friend about all these changes, I said, well, I'm not having a baby, or getting a dog, but then I realized. Yes, my friend is the proud momma of a Boston Terrier. I'm looking forward to having a puppy in my life, especially now that he is not a puppy anymore and has calmed down a lot.

Ok! That was a lot. Am I forgiven? I think we need to make a pact. Each of us need to pledge to do at least one short post per month -- then we'll have at least four posts in a month. I know I led us into our current demise but I am going to try really hard. Are you with me??

Where are my friends???

I miss my friends.

Where The F*!@&* Have I Been?

Hi Hi my sweet friends! Sorry to be MIA for so long. Sometimes I let my work life consume me. BUT I am back (still working)!!! I should update you on life.


Work has been SO hectic these past two months. Our company is in the process of changing designs and time is of the essence since we are going into battle with another company. I have undertaken another project that involves a new packaging design and since we are a medical device company, sterility is a HUGH issue; I have 3 awesome engineers on it. I have 4 reviews to write in the next month or my bonus weens away for the days I am late. Regular production issues are on the rise and I spend 50% of my day in meetings. So that's it in a nutshell--workwise.

I completed my La Jolla Half Marathon with a personal best time of 2hr and 03min on one of the most grueling hills (400ft/mile climb). I am signing up to be in the lottery for the NYC Marathon (anybody interested to run or cheer?). I can do some awesome yoga poses now.

I am going on a cruise this weekend to Mexico (but not to Mexico, since H1N1 is a concern). We are going to Ensenada, but looping back and porting in Catalina. Since more than half the group are engineers, we devised a plan to sneek hard liquor on the boat (apparently, wine is the only alcohol you can bring).

I need to plan a trip to SF to see Ninja and AMDG, can you advice me of a weekend that I can buy a plane ticket for...puhleeease?

I need to write a story of how I met AMDG.

I need to do a lot of stuff.

MMMK--late!

Actually, It Was "Just Dance."

Do you have a public library near you?

Do you suggest any other place where I could study that is within a 3 mile radius of your abode, but preferably not 3 miles westward because the review courses are 3 miles northeastward?

Do you really really want to go to the beach on Sundays because I really want to, also?

Will you be there to welcome me when I arrive in The Bay Area and your place of residence on Sunday, May something, sometime in the eventide, but not this Sunday but next Sunday?

Would you say that your hot water gets shut off in the mornings between 7 and 9: not to your knowledge, never, rarely, occasionally, often, or frequently; at the beginning of your Day 3 of No Sleep-No Shower Challenge?

Do you concur in my suspicion that there are spiders in this office biting me, or do you suspect me of hallucinating?

Aaaaand this one is for YOU ¡!

If you need a break....

Lady Gaga performed Poker Face on Ellen yesterday and it was fantastic. You Tube it -- it's definitely worth watching.

Oral Examinations

Today marks the start of two weeks of midterms exams in the school of pharmacy. Compared to previous quarters of school, we actually have a 'light' schedule consisting of only 5 exams. However, this quarter also marks the beginning of the Therapeutics courses, in which we actually learn pharmacy. A lot of what we have learned up until this point has been the basic sciences behind pharmacy: pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, physiology, etc etc. In therapeutics, we start recommeding drugs, make dosing changes based on kidney and liver function, identify drug-drug interactions and adverse reactions that are from drug therapy. It's pretty cool. It's also really really hard, but it's the reason you come to pharmacy school.

Anyway, therapeutics exams consist of a written portion and an oral portion. For the oral part of the exam, we show up and are given a case, we have 30 minutes to try and figure out what's going on, and then we have 15 minutes to present it to a faculty member along with proper patient counseling, which may or may not be related to the case (example, inhaler use, how to self-inject insulin, etc). Needless to say, this has gotten my classmates in a tizzy. People are literally freaking out over the oral exam and therapeutics in general. I admit, it's a lot of information and there's a little fear of the unknown (like oh god, please let them ask me something I know or don't let me forget all of the drug dosages I just crammed). But I think this happens before all exams. It could go badly, or it could get well, depending on what they ask, right? Riiiight.

Now, my class isn't unique in freaking out. All second year pharmacy students at my school tend to freak out a little this time of year. However, in previous years a girl did pass out during the oral exam and had to be taken to the hospital (she hyperventilated), and it generally consumes everyone. It's impossible to have a normal conversation with people right now. You say "hey, what's up?" which I think is a totally benign converation starter. Invariably, I get the response "OMG therapeutics is killing me!" "I am so stressed out/far behind" " I am really nervous for the oral exam" blah blah blah. It's actually driving me crazy. Not the class or preparation for the oral exam, but my classmates, my colleagues, my peers, are literally driving me UP THE WALL!!!

How does a Ninja deal with the stress you might add? Well I have been downloading a lot of music lately, I have been most diligent about keeping up with my celebrity gossip, last night I watched two movies, and I am writing a blog post 1.5 hours before my first midterm (NOT therapeutics). For me, exams are like a game. You prepare, you train, and then your professor throws you either a wicked curveball or a big fat change-up. You either totally whiff it or you hit it out of the park. It's not a reflection of who you are, but it's usually a reflection of your training. And sometimes you just have an off day. So I don't typically let exams freak me out. I mean come on, what do you think you do as a pharmacist all day? You make drug recommendations, verbally, to a medical team. So really, the oral exam is perfect preparation for our future careers. We should be THANKING them for this opportunity, not freaking out!

I could on about this all day, but I will stop here. It's time to stretch and warm up for Pharmaceutical Chemistry!

The Good Word

Tell me what it is with you! No posts? No news? No thoughts?

This past weekend was GLO-RI-OUS. And I made lamb. That's a good story. I'll trade one o' my stories for three others.

Linds - Do you still want me in your home in The Bay Area on May the 17th? I might take a week to chill out, though, so I might be there by the following Sunday Sunday Sunday. It's snowing again in Denver. Want to head out here for a weekend getaway? What are you doing this weekend instead?

Leilani - Question, Why do you never give me a chance to respond to your gmail chats? I'm usually in class, or late to work, or half asleep when I'm gmail, so you have to give me a second. What are you doing instead of giving me a second?

Melanie - I still haven't read that article I sent you a week ago. I'm back in bed so maybe you can call me and summarize it to me and I can fall asleep and dream of a similarities and differences. What are you doing now instead of sleeping?

Please answer your respective questions, and feel free to answer other unspecified matters, and please elaborate. I suggest to use where-what-when-why-how as a guide.

Boston, Massachusetts!

Before there was Lindsay in Denver there was Priscilla in Boston.

Lindsay enjoyed a blizzard in the mountains; I enjoyed sunny skies and three pleasant days.

Fresh off the plane my darling Melanie picks me up and masterfully negotiates through the patchy Boston traffic all the way home. Let me tell you how exciting it was to be in a three-story house: very. Can’t tell you why. I only got as far as the second floor, but it was great. AND! on my very own bed in my very own guest bedroom was what? Was “Eres muy especial,” the pillow with arms. What a promising start. Then I left my wallet on the driveway. Then I met Becka, FINALLY! The woman has a flight to catch to the other end of the country the next morning and is not-so-sidelined with a bad cold, but she still rallies and looks like one million dollars and hangs out. What a lady. Then we picked up my wallet, then we picked up Rachel! Yay, Rachel!
[I don’t tell a good story, I don’t and I know and there’s nothing that any of us can do about it.]
Can’t remember the name of the restaurant we went to [terrible] but they had beets and I had Sam Adams like any good tourist on her first night out in Boston Mass. Ah, then across the street to Queereoke.
Alright, I live in the Rocky Mountains. That’s high-altitude. I can run forever, walk for longer than that, dance my pantalones off, yet I get to Boston and I.am.winded. And everybody in there was, more or less, rocking the house. Nicki, I’m talking about you. And in Laguna at Main Street bar (or is it just called “Bounce” now?) and after several cocktails, I can hold my own. Um, not so in Boston. Maybe it was stage fright. It’s likely. I’m so bashful. But Melanie and her rad voice and pretty face saved me and the rest of the queereoke-ers from myself. And then Melanie put the o! in queereoke by performing a moving rendition of “Baby Got Back.” Rachel was beaming. I was awed. Everyone celebrated. It was wonderful.
Onward, Friday! Melanie gives me a map to get to Harvard Square while she was at work. I walked there just fine. I checked my e-mail at the law school. I walked back. The walk there took me about 20 minutes, maybe; the walk back took about 3 hours. I suppose that I took for granted the linear streets of Denver and D.C. In any case, it was a nice way to see things. I met a lot of people. Did you know that they have crossing guards for adults? Frankie was the nicest. He understood that I don’t like when people say “Priscilla? Like Priscilla Presley?” if I tell them my name. Thanks, Frank!
Then, warm tea, very necessary. Then, awesome dinner at a piano bar. As we’re waiting for a table, some guy just standing there exchanges a few pleasantries with us, then asks if we’re from here. I’m about ready to pour out our common life story, Melanie’s and mine, when Melanie just says, “No, California,” and I don’t know if it was the tone, which was still nice, or the mere absence of possible continuity, but the guy backed off immediately! I think we even got an “Enjoy your night.” Lesson learned. Awed, two-for-two.
Listen, then we go to this other bar. I meet Anastasia and her fiancée. The conversation naturally turns to tequila. Next thing I know, I’m doing Cristal body shots with very friendly strangers, Melanie’s grabbing onto one flaxen-haired suh-lut after another, and three of the Spice Girls, I kid you not, walk in and start dancing with Anastasia on the bar! It was a very memorable evening, and I use “memorable” about as loosely as…well…
the next morning I wake up with a rash on my stomach. And that’s the story. I despise lies. So the yarn before about citrus oils and prolonged exposure to the early afternoon sun is nothing more than a fairytale. And now I am free.
Sometime on Saturday, I’m going to say afternoon, Melanie and I find ourselves walking around a big tree park. I enjoyed it very much. I like huge trees because you can really access the wind that way, the noise and the feeling. Nice walk. Very good lunch at this place next to the Samuel Adams brewery! Big thanks to Melanie for causing us to snag a primo spot at the bar for the tasting part of the tour. She was telling me under her breath where I need to stand, stay at the back, ok, just stay right here in the back…and then we turned right around and were the first in line for the bar. Most people sat at big tables of about 10 people. We sat at the bar with 4 people. One pitcher per each such group. Subsequently feeling fine, Melanie and I take a nice walk around the town and get on the mofo green line. I make it about 5 stops out of 9 before I advise Melanie of the immediacy of the need to get the f out of there. Sweet, kind Melanie hangs out in some bar, drinking by herself, with a bunch of annoying chumps doing some kind of an annoying themed bar crawl while I get sick for a little while. We missed the museum, which both of us really wanted to see, and actually which my mom was also very sad that we didn’t manage to get to. But we walked some more, saw the big dig area, looks good, Boston! and made it to the North End where we enjoyed a slice of Europe, even to the point of, as Melanie pointed out, charging us for water.
OK, now we get to Two Women and This Dude. Melanie, you can tell this story if you want. For all you fans, it involves a tiger, a zebra, and Jiminy Cricket. And zoology.
After Melanie and I cycled around Boston the whole day, Rachel saved us from more possible physical ravages of unkindly metro trains and comes out to pick us up and we three watch “Flight of the Conchords.” It was a rerun for me because Melanie played it out for me earlier in the day while we were walking around. As always, I liked Melanie’s version best.
And so Sunday arrived, and we went to mass at this little convent, and there were all these kids, so many kinds, so much motion, and as the mass went on it seemed as if all the kids belonged to all of the adults. And we never saw the nuns, but we knew they were there. Then breaking bread over a super good breakfast with super good company, Rachel and Melanie and Anastasia and her fiancée. Afterwards I got to see some of Melanie’s and Rachel’s neighborhood which has some really cute and likely really addictive shops. Melanie got something from a cheese shop, Rachel got a doorknob, I got a sandwich and carrots.
Sad, then the airport. I’ve blocked it out. When I came to, I was still at the airport because my flight was delayed, delayed, canceled! But my quick-thinking mother had already called me with the info for alternate flights and alternate connections—and let me tell you, if you’re trying to get on another flight and another connection, you must know the flight number, the time it leaves, and the time it lands; otherwise, the United people will feign ignorance. Next to lies I despise that, disingenuousness.
Spring breeeeeeak!
And Melanie and I still have “Poker Face,” and I will check out the Watercourse restaurant per Rachels’ recommendation, and now I’m waiting waiting waiting for Mel and Rachem to come on out to the Rockies, for Leilani and I to have another Great American Pia and Leilani Festival, and for Lindsay to stop pretending that she hates the snow.
Fin.

Denver!

Hi friends.


My spring break was last week and I visited AMDG in Denver, Colorado. When I told people I was going to Denver, invariably I was asked a) was it going to snow or b) would I be snowboarding or skiing. My answers to above were "I hope not" and "hell no."


I think this attitude must have cursed me because it dumped a foot of snow on my first full day in Denver. I have never seen snow like that in my life. I mean, it really did snow allllll day. And let me be very clear about something: I hate snow. It's cold and wet--what is so cool about that? Maybe I shouldn't have gone to Denver, but I wanted to visit AMDG and when else was I going to get a chance to visit the Rockies considering my aversion for all things wintery?


The upside to the snow was that AMDG's law school classes were canceled that day so we had all day to try and avoid the snow. I really wanted to go to the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art for a Damien Hirst exhibit, so we set out after breakfast despite the blizzard. We decided to take public transportation, which would have worked out nicely if we didn't have to transfer from light rail to bus. By the time we got off the bus and were only like 2-3 blocks from the Museum, we were so cold that I made AMDG take me home. I think the conversation went like this:

Ninja: I'm cold, can we go home?
AMDG: We're only like 3 blocks from the Museum.
Ninja: I know, but I can't feel my feet. Can we just go?
AMDG: No, we're almost there.
Ninja: TAKE ME HOME RIGHT NOW OR I'M GOING TO DIE!!!
AMDG: Ok, let's go.

When we got back to AMDG's apartment we were greeted by the nice little suprise of snow inside the house. I guess that's what happens when there's a blizzard outside and you leave your windows open. Haha. I have pictures, it was amazing. Although not quite as amazing as AMDG cleaning it up and clearing off the balcony the next day while I watched. Heeheee.

Friday arrived with no more snow (horray!) and I managed to make it to Starbucks on foot. As AMDG found, I am incredibly unpleasant when uncaffeinated and so I will go to great lengths to obtain caffeine. And food, especially Jalapeno Cheetos, which are AMAZING and you must try. I introduced them to AMDG and some of her friends, and they are quite the delicious snack. Not too cheesy, not too spicy. Perfect.

Friday was also the Sangria Showdown. I will only say that AMDG was robbed. Sangria should not be so sweet that your mouth puckers. But the party was fun regardless, and now I know how to make quiche and a super-yummy secret desert that I can't share with you over the internet because it's a secret. All I will say is that Nutella + Marshmellows = sunshine and rainbows for your mouth.

We had big plans for Saturday, but considering we spent most of the morning watching Celine Dion in concert, we got kind of a late start. We did make it to the Coors brewery however, after eating some tasty burgers at Elway's, the restaurant owned by John Elway. AMDG tried to convince me to ask our waiter who John Elway was, but the waiter was French and I chickened out. I should have done it, but I'm lame. Sorry AMDG, next time.

Sunday was my last day in Denver and it was BEAUTIFUL. We went to Boulder, cruised around listening to the Beach Boys with the windows down (my favorite thing to do), and walked around a park. We ate icecream in the sunshine and it was awesome. Probably the best time all weekend.

Now I am back in rainy SF, getting my butt kicked in school and it's only the second week. I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for a great vacation, AMDG, and I can't wait for you to come stay with me this spring!

Love Ninja

Whan that Aprile

Yes yes and yes. It's one of those afternoons when you're falling asleep inside the CLASSROOM AT 26 YEARS OF AGE and all is right with the world. It would be peaceful if there wasn't so much of a mess to complete in a very short amount of time. Leilani, have we ever met? I wonder if we did. I cannot remember. If only I had a blog-posted story to which to refer when I warmly reminisce about our earliest times together. School's out fortoday. Ciao.

Day 31

1. Posted my questions for Ninja (see below)2. Posted criagslist and facebook ads for softball players, I'm the team rep.

3. Emailed update to Coach and other Rep.

4. Rescheduled appointment with Dermatologist.

5. Emailed people interested in babysitting service.

6. Cleaned for the arrival of Kathy and Patricia.

7. Got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the kitchen floor, a la Cinderella.

8. Took example Food and Fun binder to office and explained how it should be changed.

9. Forgot to return Watchmen....

10. Didn't have a task.... 

Questions for My Pharmacist

Okay ninja, I've decided you're my personal pharmacist since I know nothing about drugs and you know everything.

Question 1: I started on a new allergy medication.  I used to take AllerClear -- 10 mg of Loratadine, of course I used to take two -- don't know why, so 20 mg.  I told my doctor it wasn't working well and said I thought I needed a new prescription.   She said it was very difficult to approve allergy medication prescriptions these days and that instead I should try Zyrtec first.

So I started on Zyrtec-D a couple of days ago -- 5 mg of Cetirizine and 120 mg of Pseudoephedrine HCI.  I haven't noticed a change in my symptoms (starting to think maybe I need a prescription nose spray again) but I have noticed something else.  The last two days I took the pill around 8 pm, it's a 12 hour extended release tablet, and both times I've woken up in the middle of the night.  The first night I woke up and had trouble falling asleep, then last night I fell right back asleep but I woke up around 5 times.  Then in the mornings I've felt both gittery and foggy.  Do you think it's related?  I'm going to start taking the pill in the morning instead, see if that helps.

Question 2: I have a dental appointment on Monday.  Ever since my ASD repair in '99 I've had to take antibiotics before the appointment -- something about being susceptible to infections. For the first few years I took it seriously, but then it just became a pain.  After my three year appointment my cardiologist told me the device was healed over and that my heart size had reduced to the smallest it would ever get -- the upper reaches of "normal".  It's been almost 10 years since the procedure, I'm normal now, right?  At least I don't need the antibiotic anymore, right?  They dental office called me yesterday inquiring, I told them it had been 9 years and I only needed the antibiotics during the first 5, but I might have made that up.  What do you think?

Two Days

I'm tired, I may not remember all....

Wednesday:

1. Finally called car insurance company to find out if I really owe them money, yes, I do, now what to do about it...

2. Another load of laundry.

3. E-contested my parking ticket.

4. Wrote to my supervisors about my interest in greater responsibility -- in other words, I need a promotion.

5. Posted babysitting ad on Craigslist, now to just respond to the interested parties.

6. Posted old TV on Freecycle.

7. RSVP'd for Harvard Prevention Research Center community partners meeting.

8. Bought new allergy meds.

Today:

1. Last load of laundry -- phew!

2. Bought gardening bags -- it's that time of year again, Rachel's very excited.

3. Updated Curriculum Blog: A Focus on Reading.

4. Cut, pulled and hacked at dead plants.

5. Filled out Food and Fun proposal (after 5+ months of running club).

6. Wrote to friends about joining Rachel and me at the MOS, our library ticket is valid for up to four people.

New tasks???  I won't officially be done with the previous task until the 14th when my museum ticket is valid.

Mappy to the Rescue

I really do think Mappy is helping my productivity.

1. Load of laundry, put away clean clothes.

2. Called Fenway Health back.

3. Put away dishes.

4. Dumped out and rinsed compost bucket.

5. Made appointment with Fenway Health.

6. Worked-out with Rachel!!!

7. Sent bio and picture for Anastasia and Kelly's wedding website. 

8. Returned and checked out Library books.

9. Next step on task: Went to Library to obtain Science Museum ticket.  

The last task was more difficult than expected because the woman was rude to me.  She took out the MoS calendar and started spitting out dates the tickets were available and then acted put-out when I asked her if I could see the calendar myself because I was having a hard time keeping track of all the dates she was giving me.  I don't understand.  Do people treat her badly?  Is that why she took it out on me?  But I was being pleasant, why spit in the face of the nice people?  Are you trying to get them to be rude to you too?  Maybe she thought I wasn't deserving of the free tickets?  Meh.

Day 27

I started using Mappy as a reward when I complete tasks.  I get to play one game every time I accomplish something. This has made me more productive, I think, you be the judge:

1. Left a message with Fenway Health.

2. Called Faulkner for allergist, then called another line to register, then called back to make an appointment with the allergist.

3. Load of laundry.

4. Put away clean clothes.

5. E-mailed Bekka and Rosanna about Food and Fun.

6.  I'm stretching Lindsay's recent task into multiple tasks.  Yesterday I did online research to find out how to obtain a Museum of Science pass from the Library for FREE.  A phenomenon that my mentee recently alerted me to. If you live in the Boston area, you should definitely check out that link, I don't know why I never tried it before.

The Weekend

Friday:

1. Cleaned for our new weekend guests.

2.  Did two loads of laundry, with the help of Jessica -- one of our guests.

3. Bought eggs.

Saturday:

1. Nursed a hangover.

2.  Took a walk.

3. Girlyman show -- wonderful!

Sunday:

1.  Looked up Fenway Health number

2.   mmmmmm aren't lazy Sunday's wonderful?

23

1. Two more mosaics.

2. A little prep for today.

3. Talked with co-worker about "promotion" -- looking good.

4. Wrote to Crystal about wedding rehearsal

5. Talked with Nomi about High Scope book and possible resources for school-aged out of school time.

Hmm...I thought I accomplished more than that yesterday.  I don't count things I accomplished during work hours, because I'm being paid to do that.... maybe that's why I feel like I did more.

Any new tasks?

Day 22, I Think

1. Returned books to library.

2. Bought bread.

3. Picked up prizes for homework store.

4. Cemented one mosaic - made by my kids.

5. Made tea list.  Listed all loose-leaf and bagged teas we have available.

6. Experimented with Mom's Mac 'n' Cheese some more -- too thick this time.

7. Cleaned, took out trash and recycling, put away dishes, etc.

8. Watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -- excellent suggestion!

For today???

Rashes, rashes

The oils from citrus fruits can enhance the effect of the sun on your skin; that is, result in a major sun burn that will take “a couple of months to go away;” i.e. “here’s some Hydrocortisone cream.”

This means that you may wake up one morning, days after basking yourself in the southern Californie sun, with an unchanging, non-irritating rash on your stomach. This is because, while you were locked out of your parents’ house one warm afternoon, you decided to take off most of your clothes and take in as much of the glorious, glorious light and warmth mmm of the sun as you were able. Well, hey, why not enjoy a delicious lemon while you wait, since there’s a tree right next to you. And no, don’t get up while you peel it, give in to the effects of the refreshing beer(s) with which you’ve been whiling the time and stay down, peeling said lemon(s) riiiiight over your belly. And a few days after you discover this rash, classic of classics, you’ll go to your university’s student health center to see about this strange rash that you got over spring break…

The point is that now I’m watching “The Enforcer,” a riveting cinematic account of a district attorney contending against sudden drastic odds in order to deliver justice to a rampaging, homicidal crime boss, and The Boston Story will, will! thereafter ensue. Anecdotes will include the amazing tiger-zebra chronicle, a magical man named Samuel Adams, the f-ing green line, and and and too many more to name, including reveling in the bodacious Melanie & Rachel abode and fiiiiiiinally meeting such well-loved names as Becka and Anastasia, soooo: to be continued because here's lookin' at Smiley right now (must get the most out of my Netflix money).

Over halfway there...

1. Worked out with Rachel, it was like pulling teeth but she got me to do it!

2. Balanced finances. (note, make sure not to spend much during this 2 week period)

3. Wrote Shabori back about summer job.

4. Resisted buying "snack" while shopping for Food and Fun at Market Basket -- working on saying goodbye to my winter belly.

5. Applied second coat of paint to toes.

6. Just checked and none of the Harry Potters are on Netflix instant view.  I may have to rent it unless I can find another on-line site to watch it on.  And no worries, I always enjoy a good Harry Potter viewing.

AMDG and More

Thursday:

1. Finished cleaning for AMDG's arrival.  

2. Finished organizing old papers.

3. Picked AMDG up at airport.

4. Took my guest to Doyle's and The Midway - Queeraoke.

Friday:

1. Printed map for P (AMDG) and sent her off in the direction of Harvard Square.

2. Returned to Harvard Square with P, went to Dado for tea and mochi.

3. Went to Jacob Wirth for dinner, could hear the piano bar but the seating area was full :(

4. Went to the Tam to meet up with friends, had a shot....woooo

Saturday:

1. Went on walk through Arboretum and Metro-West Corridor to Sam Adam's Brewery.

2. Enjoyed lunch at Ula. 

3. Went on Sam Adam's Brewery tour and enjoyed beer.  Bought P a souvenir. 

4.  Went of tour of North End, enjoyed a gelato and cheese cake.

Sunday:

1. Mini-tour of Rosi Village: Solera, Boston Cheese Cellar, and Fornax (pictured).

2. Said goodbye to AMDG :(, took her to airport.

3. Went to Deep Banana Blackout show - amazing!  - great workout! 

Monday:

1. Went grocery shopping.

2. Contemplated applying for job and decided I'm under-qualified.

3. Had consultation appointment with tattoo artist.  Made appointment to get my tattoo touched up before wedding.

4. Applied first coat of hot, hot, hot pink nail polish while listening to Beach Boys - perfect activity for a frigid spring day.

Poppin'

1. Continued to clean for AMDG's arrival.  TODAY!

2. Went for ingredients and baked traditional soda bread in prep for class activity.

3. Made Bibimbop for dinner -- took me forever.

4. Rachel found, and I enjoyed, Pop Rocks (picture coming).  She found a three pack, tropical, strawberry, and watermelon, I choose watermelon -- it was awesome, a little party in my mouth.

On the docket for today: Pink toenails and The Beach Boys.