Celebrating Twenty-Six Years of Life

Twenty-six cool /unique things that I have experienced thus far in life that I hope to share with my grandchildren someday:

1. I was born in Chicago, grew up in Montana, and went to college in Oklahoma!
2. My dad cut my hair until I was in high school. I often had sideburns and/or a mullet.
3. I wore saddle shoes in elementary school. The pink ones were my favorite.
4. I was selected to represent my school in a district-wide honor choir from 4th to 6th grade. I was also a member of two different church singing groups: “Sunbeams” and “Ring it Out.” Funny thing is, I don’t sing well at all.
5. Summer before 6th grade I flew to Chicago by myself to visit my grandparents. While staying with one of my grandparents, I got very scared (they live in a bad part of town and I heard yelling and what I thought was gunshots) and so I wrote out my will just in case I didn’t make it home alive. If I remember correctly, I chose Michelle to inherit the boombox.
6. I can play the clarinet. I cannot, however, tune my clarinet without an electronic tuner. I was always first chair which meant I tuned my instrument with the electronic tuner and then the rest of the band tuned their instruments to my C. Thus, I never trained my ear.
7. I won the geography bee in 8th grade. The winning question: What is the longest country? Chile, duh!
8. I played on the school volleyball team 7th – 10th grade. I was the setter.
9. I am the oldest of seven children. My youngest brother was born when I was a freshman in high school.
10. I pole-vaulted in high school. I wasn’t very good, but it was an exhilarating experience!
11. In 11th grade I went on a music trip to Seattle. We saw the Seattle Symphony, went on a dinner cruise, saw Phantom of the Opera, and shopped downtown.
12. I’ve been to Disney World. Typhoon Lagoon was my favorite!
13. I worked at Fuddruckers my senior year of high school and NEVER got sick of the food.
14. I was a queen candidate for the Sweetheart dance and thus had to parade around the gym at an assembly. I didn’t win.
15. I received my diploma 6th out of 411 students.
16. I attended Oklahoma Christian University from 2001-2005 and then 2006-2007…five years total. I earned two bachelor’s degrees.
17. I ate sushi for the first time in Japan. It was disgusting. The cook (chef?) watched me gag and then proceeded to fry me up some chicken. I was embarassed.
18. I’ve jumped out of a plane. Solo. It was A+mazing.
19. I received Presidential honors the first two semesters I was in college. It was my very first time to earn straight A’s. Thank you Montana for preparing me so well for college! Note: the classes did become much more challenging as the years went on, but I still managed to graduated with honors.
20. I hung out in the land down under for four weeks one summer.
21. I fell in love my senior year of college. I learned how to love someone unconditionally as well as how to mend a broken heart.
22. I was a bridesmaid in three different weddings in less than a year’s time.
23. I played indoor soccer at Hat Trick for 2 ½ years.
24. After I graduated from college, I moved 5 times in one year's time. The last move I made was into the Appleway house. I lived there almost two years (forever long!), with FIVE other girls no less (not recommended).
25. I saw the Broadway show “Wicked.”
26. I got a pedicure at V-Nails every month for 8 months straight with my BFF. Say that 5 times fast.
27. I’ve been to Alaska. It is breathtaking.
28. I’ve backpacked a section of the Appalachian Trail. (Ask me what my trail name is.) 8 days without chocolate and 14 days without a shower!
29. I visited the great state of Michigan and had a FANTASTIC tour guide who took me to all the must-see attractions – Herron Household, Sand Dunes, Mackinac Island, Cedar Point, Lavonia DQ, Tigers game.
30. I’ve been whitewater rafting on the Yellowstone River.

Okay, okay. I realize there are more than 26 cool/unique things listed. But, I just couldn’t narrow it down. I guess you could say that I’m beyond my years in the cool/unique factor! Or that's what I like to tell myself anyway. :)

Cauterization

I get nosebleeds. I get nosebleeds a LOT, especially in the winter. I mean, I’m talking at LEAST once a day. And it is always in the left nostril.

I’m not sure when exactly the blood vessel was damaged. I’m thinking it might date back to 1985-86, when I was 3-ish. It was a stormy night. I remember being on my parents’ bed with a box of Alaphabets. My mom was in the bathroom doctoring up a wound my sister had just received. And maybe I was happy to have a bit of freedom from mom, or it is quite possible that I was trying to provide some comic relief (storms are scary, sister was bleeding, etc..). I don’t really know, but whatever the reason, I stuck two of the “bets” up my nose. And I stuck them up far, which naturally caused my nose to bleed profusely. And my nose hasn't been the same since. (Well, if this is indeed when the damage occurred.)

So, as you can see, I’ve been living with this condition for quite some time. And I was happy to “deal,” until recently. The nosebleeds have just become a lot more frequent and inconvenient. I mean, I get them when I’m up in front of a class teaching, when I’m riding my bicycle home from work, when I’m running on the treadmill, when the heat kicks on, when I wash my face, when I’m nervous, and the list goes on and on! So, I finally had enough! And I made an appointment with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

And today was the BIG day. Yep, that’s right, today was the big nose procedure day. And let me tell you, I was not looking forward to it. My dad got his nose cauterized many moons ago and, of course, gave me all the gory details. He said the numbing of the nose was the worst part. And he also mentioned having to wear a metal bracelet to “ground” him so he wouldn’t get electrocuted. Yikes!

Thankfully, the technique has changed quite a bit over the years. I did not have to wear a metal bracelet and there was no deadening of the nerves via a 6-inch needle. Rather, the doctor used a long wooden stick that looked like a match. Basically, the blood vessel was burned with chemicals as opposed to a blow torch or electric shock. It was still a very uncomfortable procedure and I certainly hope I never have to do it again. But my nose should be as good as new in 3-4 weeks! Fantastic!

Oh, and I guess I should also mention that I got a bit lightheaded while he was packing my nose. It was a little embarrassing but he assured me it is normal. :)

I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone

You know you are blind as a bat when…

Your optometrist tells you that he couldn’t order a certain brand of contacts because they don’t make them in your prescription.

Or when…

Your optometrist tells you that he is happy with your new prescription, and reminds you that with your old prescription the farthest down you could read down on the chart was line 4. (Sadly, I'm not joking).



It's great to be able to see again!

Appointment Abuse

November 6 - Eye Appointment with Dr. Felstet
November 13 - Hair Appointment
November 17 - Eye Appointment (follow-up) with Dr. Felstet
November 23 - Pedicure Appointment
November 24 - Nose Appointment with Dr. Pelczar
November 25 - Dentist Appointment with Dr. Wood

The reason for the abuse: I am a "real" person again. This basically means that I have a full time job with health benefits, two luxuries I haven't enjoyed for quite some time now. And the body is especially thankful for the MUCH needed tune up.

Seeing Double