An evening of therapy

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law (Dan and Jackie) came down yesterday.  Jackie and I have LONG planned to get together for dinner and random fun and Dan came to play with Kevin.  Oh, it was an evening I had been looking forward to and desperately needed after so much crap that had gone around at work and in life.  It was an evening the doctor ordered and it did me a world of good.  We had retail therapy, Cheesecake Factory therapy, some more retail therapy, and then went home and had even more venting therapy.  As you can tell, it was a fairly therapeutic evening for all involved.  

While Jackie and I had a fairly involved evening, Kevin and Dan just went to a shooting range and shot a bunch of guns and bullets.  Guys are so low-maintenance when it comes to their therapy.   

Traveling Along

I love my mom.  Let me just put that out there.  She is fantastically wise and always knows what I need to hear.  It might not be what I WANT to hear, but she gives it to me, nonetheless.  I told her I was having a hard time with not being able to travel, and she reminded me of all the traveling I can do, and still have fun.  Kevin and I are flying to Utah in a couple weeks for Julie's wedding.  We'll be having adventures while there and having tons of fun with old friends.

Mom reminded me that I have family and friends up and down California and in other states, who will always be happy to see me and let me use them as a base for exploring the area.  My parents are less than two hours from the Oregon border and more than happy to let me jump north from their house.  I have options.  It might  be a few years before I can go international again, but I'll have some fun exploring my own state and country in the meantime.  Recommendations of what to see and do in California, Oregon, and beyond are welcome and appreciated.  I have a list to make!

Expired!

My passport expired.  It's done, invalid, kaput.  I can't leave the country anymore.  My life of travel is over and I'm never going anywhere ever again.

That's kind of what it feels like.  I'm going to renew it, and hopefully use it.  Soon.  (That's a hint for you, Kevin).

Apple University!

Grandma got an iPad for Christmas from my aunt and uncle, so Kevin and I went up this past weekend to show her how to work it and get everything set up for her.  Well, lets be real.  Kevin set everything up and showed her how to work it.  He was very patient with Grandma.  Grandma is getting the hang of FaceTime and loves Angry Birds.  She decided she needed a stylus because the whole touch thing wasn't working for her.  But she just kept remarking how wonderful the iPad is and what a wonderful invention it is.  She loves her new toy and is having fun with it.

It made me think, Grandma was born in 1927.  She has seen amazing inventions and progress over the last 85 years.  She went from TV not existing, never mind computers, to holding a tablet in her hand and using FaceTime to talk to her daughter and son-in-law in Hawaii.  Technology is a wondrous thing.

 Listening intently to the tutor.

 Showing Grandma how it's done.

Death of a Suitcase

The zipper pull handle broke on my suitcase this morning.  Kevin and I are at my Grandma's for the weekend, so it is ironic that the piece of luggage I have used the most has chosen to die on the last day of a weekend getaway.  I am a little sad about my luggage.  It has served me well for the last ten years. I got it for my 21st birthday, and have been traveling with it ever since.  It has traveled to eight countries and five states (multiple times per state, usually), in addition to all the random weekend jaunts I've taken with friends and family over the years.  While writing my thesis, I put all my research books and papers into this suitcase and used it whenever I went to the library for researching and writing.  So it really has lived its life and served its purpose.

Now I just need to find a replacement suitcase before I fly to Utah for Julie's wedding.  Maybe something festive and colorful to make it stand out from all the other luggage out there (easy identification!).  I hope this next piece of luggage serves me just as well and just as long.

Ahhhh...Relief!

I made my first visit to a chiropractor this week.  I slept funky the other night and woke up with some excruciating pain in my neck and shoulders.  I had pinched a nerve and my arm and fingers were numb and tingly.  It HURT!  So I asked some co-workers for medical advice (because we are all medically trained and educated) and they suggested a chiropractor.  Luckily, my stake president is a chiropractor and has an office around the corner from my workplace.  I called and got a same-day appointment, showed up, laid on a table, and the doctor twisted my neck to the left and then the right.  Great cracking ensued with each twist.  I got up and had immediate relief.  Oh, my goodness.  It was AMAZING!  

I went back two days later and the same left/right twist and crack occurred and the remaining tightness was gone.  Instantly.  Angels sang a hallelujah chorus with fireworks exploding in the background and broadway dancers springing out with a choreographed number.  It. Was. Magical.  And the best part? I was able to look over my shoulders as I drove home.  I hadn't been able to do that since I woke up with a pinched nerve.  I am a believer in chiropractors now, and see how people become addicted and dependent on them.

To Comment or Not to Comment

It has come to the point with Facebook that I have to ask myself, "do I want to comment on this status badly enough to deal with all all the notifications I will receive because of it?"  I'll be honest, most of the time it is no, simply because the person has a prolific following that will randomly comment on anything and I will get twenty notifications from Facebook telling me that so-and-so has also commented on this person's status.  I don't care!  I've said what I had to say, and if I want to follow up, I will look that person up whenever I feel like it.  Otherwise, I don't need 5,000 little red flags alerting me to the comments.  At least Facebook doesn't send the notifications to my email anymore.  I can deal with not having to delete a bunch of notification emails cluttering up my inbox.

Madie Updates

New Years weekend was spent at the Beach House with several other friends and their kids.  Among the group was the Watkins family, and with them came Madie.  Madie's new pattern of liking me has apparently continued and I didn't even have to paint her nails!  She would randomly approach me several times over the weekend and "snuggle" me.  She would ask me to take her places around the house and would sit in my lap whenever she felt like it.  I think Madie and I have turned a corner.  Of course, it helps that she is enamored of Maggie, and Maggie comes with me.  So I have an additional ace in my pocket (nail painting being one of them) with the Wonder Pup.

So there is my New Year's Goal:  keeping the Madie love train going.  It's pretty novel to see this about-face and I am going to revel in the fun while it lasts.