Uh yeah so tip for life #217: Don't put artichoke down the garbage disposal.
Not being one that ever ate artichoke until this year, and not being one that grew up having a disposal ... I thought I would grind up the leftover leaves slowly/running lots of water, since I've noticed other people like to run lots of water/that seems to do the trick. Then, I wouldn't have stinky garbage tomorrow. Genius right? Yeah. Not so much.
The disposal's plan was to grind it all into stringy bits, adequately backing up the sink and the disposal itself. So, Geoff-the-amazing-boyfriend got to spend his evening cleaning up my error, stinking his hand in the sink and taking the plumbing apart trying to fix it.
Ack. :-(
I feel terrible. And terribly lucky to have him.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
I only had to work four hours today (YAY ME!), so I made my way to Hollywood this afternoon and saw the Kodak Theater, which is next door to a poshy posh mall (you could jump up from the Emmy's and go to BCBG and be back in your seat by the end of the commercial break) and Grumman Chinese Theater, which is super small--the one at MGM is way bigger. It was also weird that scary Mickey Mouse and half-ass Darth Vader were wandering around, but were unaffiliated with the theater. Still can't figure that one out. But at any rate, it was cool to see something LA!
But what really stuck out is what I predict will be the new IT drink--D*lush. Dude. I should have invented this place. I mean first of all their name sounds like "Delish," which I practically invented (with Amander), but the bases of the operation is you can get any drink as a SLUSH. And you know how I love all things slush/frozen. GENIUS. Plus they use "rock" in their advertising. I think it's from Japan or something. And the guy behind the counter looked like Lenny Kravitz. The end.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
When you've lost it, you've lost it
After my last doctor debacle, I called my new dentist's office to confirm I actually had an appointment for a cleaning after work today. I called the office 10 times (uhh starting to get nervous), and finally got someone to answer the phone without hanging up on me ... and SCORE! I did indeed have an appointment at the office where I made the appointment.
The bus came quickly and dropped me off right in front of the office. Well. Not so much an office as a ghetto-ghetto strip mall. The dentist was located next door to a Thai Massage place that kept its blinds closed. Yeah. One of my co-workers recommended this doc, so I crossed my fingers and persevered inside.
I signed in and the staff was pleasant enough. However, while I was waiting for 20 minutes or so, there was a child roller skating in the waiting room. skating. waiting room. round and round he went. I wanted to trip him, but was mostly concerned he was going to run over my toes. His mom just watched him go. round and round. back and forth.
I was called back to the room, and seated in the dreaded chair; sports played on the 13-inch TV in front of me. The dentist immediately sat down beside me to review the paperwork I filled out. I am more accustomed to the hygienist making the initial appearance and the dentist poking around later, but I thought that maybe this guy is nice and wants to meet new patients.
Ahhh but the surprise is on me... He is a dentist SLASH hygienist. Yep. He does his own cleanings, and the handy assistant simply sucks all possible moisture out of my mouth.
Now for those of you that have thought, like I, "WHY does the dentist get paid the big bucks to poke-poke and they are done?? Why do they even bother showing up when you don't have a cavity?" Well let me tell you ... be so very thankful you have a separate hygienist because this was the most violent, bloody teeth cleaning of my life. I literally had to close my eyes because I couldn't stand to see all the blood the assistant chick was sucking away. He even managed to make the polishing part hurt, jamming the polish firmly into my recently mutilated gums.
After he was done, he abruptly left and the assistant handed me a dixie cup of water and told me to take it to the bathroom to rinse and spit in order to get the polish off my teeth.
Huh?
Yes. I walked down the hall with 2 ounce Dixie cup in hand to the grossest gas station-esque bathroom you can imagine to spit where many had spit before me because apparently they have no silver water squirter and no sink beside the dental chair.
After paying, I hopped on the bus and immediately took some Advil for my severely enflamed gums. I thought about calling someone but realized that I didn't think I could talk without causing further pain so... I transferred to the train and took a nap and mentally crossed yet another LA doctor off my list. I really should start some sort of service where I can make some money off of my bad fortune... I could call it Lemonade Referrals (making lemonade out of lemons... get it??).
Soooo .... Anyone know a good dentist? :)
After my last doctor debacle, I called my new dentist's office to confirm I actually had an appointment for a cleaning after work today. I called the office 10 times (uhh starting to get nervous), and finally got someone to answer the phone without hanging up on me ... and SCORE! I did indeed have an appointment at the office where I made the appointment.
The bus came quickly and dropped me off right in front of the office. Well. Not so much an office as a ghetto-ghetto strip mall. The dentist was located next door to a Thai Massage place that kept its blinds closed. Yeah. One of my co-workers recommended this doc, so I crossed my fingers and persevered inside.
I signed in and the staff was pleasant enough. However, while I was waiting for 20 minutes or so, there was a child roller skating in the waiting room. skating. waiting room. round and round he went. I wanted to trip him, but was mostly concerned he was going to run over my toes. His mom just watched him go. round and round. back and forth.
I was called back to the room, and seated in the dreaded chair; sports played on the 13-inch TV in front of me. The dentist immediately sat down beside me to review the paperwork I filled out. I am more accustomed to the hygienist making the initial appearance and the dentist poking around later, but I thought that maybe this guy is nice and wants to meet new patients.
Ahhh but the surprise is on me... He is a dentist SLASH hygienist. Yep. He does his own cleanings, and the handy assistant simply sucks all possible moisture out of my mouth.
Now for those of you that have thought, like I, "WHY does the dentist get paid the big bucks to poke-poke and they are done?? Why do they even bother showing up when you don't have a cavity?" Well let me tell you ... be so very thankful you have a separate hygienist because this was the most violent, bloody teeth cleaning of my life. I literally had to close my eyes because I couldn't stand to see all the blood the assistant chick was sucking away. He even managed to make the polishing part hurt, jamming the polish firmly into my recently mutilated gums.
After he was done, he abruptly left and the assistant handed me a dixie cup of water and told me to take it to the bathroom to rinse and spit in order to get the polish off my teeth.
Huh?
Yes. I walked down the hall with 2 ounce Dixie cup in hand to the grossest gas station-esque bathroom you can imagine to spit where many had spit before me because apparently they have no silver water squirter and no sink beside the dental chair.
After paying, I hopped on the bus and immediately took some Advil for my severely enflamed gums. I thought about calling someone but realized that I didn't think I could talk without causing further pain so... I transferred to the train and took a nap and mentally crossed yet another LA doctor off my list. I really should start some sort of service where I can make some money off of my bad fortune... I could call it Lemonade Referrals (making lemonade out of lemons... get it??).
Soooo .... Anyone know a good dentist? :)
Monday, July 23, 2007
We walked down to the beach to soak up some rays this afternoon (with our SPF 30--thou shalt not commit the sin of looking like a lobster two times in one season). There's something about getting some sun, hearing the waves crash and relaxing on the sand next to the sweetest boy in all the land that just makes everything better.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
The doctor will {not} see you now
I have had drama on top of drama in trying to get set up with a doctor upon moving here. I knew it wasn't going to be easy--living 90 minutes from where you work has it's own special brand of issues. But, the very first allergy doctor I chose in a good city near-ish my office had a sign that wasn't so much in English. The office itself looked more like elementary school portables, and the receptionist was channeling the mom on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, only she topped off her red bra with a white T-shirt. classy. The real icing came when she told me my insurance apparently wasn't going to cover the visit, so it was pretty much a waste of time/money since I wasn't going to pay for testing out of pocket. The doctor's appointment finished up in time for rush hour traffic to hit, so I got to hang out in the town for 2 hours before getting home at 8 p.m. All for a non-visit.
After a month of gathering info/going between my current employer's HR and my former employer's insurance... I finally gained coverage for pre-existing conditions.
So I tried again. I made an appointment to get established with a general physician, this time in the town I live. I can get my allergy meds filled, and I can be in their system should I ever get sick. If the doctor seemed component, I could ask for suggestions on an allergy specialist.
My plan: To leave work at 2:30 to make it to my appointment by 4. This should not be a problem--it should have taken a good hour to get there. But, on this given day, public transportation was running like molasses and I showed up for my appointment almost 30 minutes late. To find out that the doctor was not even in the office that day. Yep. They scheduled me at an office in a different town and just kind of forgot to mention it.
They took me to the office manager (eh?) and she told me no one could see me. As I gulped back tears to tell her I left work at 2:30 and traveled two hours to get there, the only solution she could offer was to come back the following Saturday. She was kind, and did all she could. And I am thankful that for Try No. 3, I won't have to beg time off work. Again.
It's funny how the Chinese Water Torture of something that should be so simple can just make you feel absolutely trampled. I hate asking time off work to go to non-doctor's appointments. I hate trying to pick a doctor from an insurance list when you don't know if they are qualified or rude ... or even going to be in their office that day. It reminds me how out of control of any given situation that I am. My mom asked me if I'd been praying for patience, and if so, maybe I should stop. :)
Sometimes you just want something simple to BE simple ... I desperately need a lovely, relaxing, simple weekend. Deep breath .... and proceed.
I have had drama on top of drama in trying to get set up with a doctor upon moving here. I knew it wasn't going to be easy--living 90 minutes from where you work has it's own special brand of issues. But, the very first allergy doctor I chose in a good city near-ish my office had a sign that wasn't so much in English. The office itself looked more like elementary school portables, and the receptionist was channeling the mom on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, only she topped off her red bra with a white T-shirt. classy. The real icing came when she told me my insurance apparently wasn't going to cover the visit, so it was pretty much a waste of time/money since I wasn't going to pay for testing out of pocket. The doctor's appointment finished up in time for rush hour traffic to hit, so I got to hang out in the town for 2 hours before getting home at 8 p.m. All for a non-visit.
After a month of gathering info/going between my current employer's HR and my former employer's insurance... I finally gained coverage for pre-existing conditions.
So I tried again. I made an appointment to get established with a general physician, this time in the town I live. I can get my allergy meds filled, and I can be in their system should I ever get sick. If the doctor seemed component, I could ask for suggestions on an allergy specialist.
My plan: To leave work at 2:30 to make it to my appointment by 4. This should not be a problem--it should have taken a good hour to get there. But, on this given day, public transportation was running like molasses and I showed up for my appointment almost 30 minutes late. To find out that the doctor was not even in the office that day. Yep. They scheduled me at an office in a different town and just kind of forgot to mention it.
They took me to the office manager (eh?) and she told me no one could see me. As I gulped back tears to tell her I left work at 2:30 and traveled two hours to get there, the only solution she could offer was to come back the following Saturday. She was kind, and did all she could. And I am thankful that for Try No. 3, I won't have to beg time off work. Again.
It's funny how the Chinese Water Torture of something that should be so simple can just make you feel absolutely trampled. I hate asking time off work to go to non-doctor's appointments. I hate trying to pick a doctor from an insurance list when you don't know if they are qualified or rude ... or even going to be in their office that day. It reminds me how out of control of any given situation that I am. My mom asked me if I'd been praying for patience, and if so, maybe I should stop. :)
Sometimes you just want something simple to BE simple ... I desperately need a lovely, relaxing, simple weekend. Deep breath .... and proceed.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Imagine my surprise this morning when the Los Angeles news anchor informed me that I had just moved from one of CNN Money Best Places to Live in the U.S. A top five city in fact.
Looks like the only way I can trump the luxe life I had in Lake Mary (a super safe newer area of Orlando that had everything from a mall to a new theater to any restaurant under the sun within 10 minutes) is to move to Wisconsin. Or wicked-awesome New Hampshire. hmph.
Looks like the only way I can trump the luxe life I had in Lake Mary (a super safe newer area of Orlando that had everything from a mall to a new theater to any restaurant under the sun within 10 minutes) is to move to Wisconsin. Or wicked-awesome New Hampshire. hmph.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Just in case anyone is interested....
FS: 2 Buffalo hides, each tanned w/ hair, $700 each obo. Tea cup and registered Toy Australian Sheppard puppies. Excellent used restaurant equipment. New camper shell for a small Ranger-type pickup, used once, $150. 7,000 piece record collection, $700 (an eBay type steal). Call 673-4584 or 752-0494.
FS: 2 Buffalo hides, each tanned w/ hair, $700 each obo. Tea cup and registered Toy Australian Sheppard puppies. Excellent used restaurant equipment. New camper shell for a small Ranger-type pickup, used once, $150. 7,000 piece record collection, $700 (an eBay type steal). Call 673-4584 or 752-0494.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
To try to prevent this blog from being overtaken with stories of the drama and mystique that occurs on my daily commute, I started a new blog for all that might enjoy sharing in my misery ... err joy. :)
MetroTales.blogspot.com
MetroTales.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
My wrist
Well, I maneuvered two new busses and made it to the worker's comp doctor.
After a 2 hour wait-wait-wait, I learned I don't have carpal tunnel, so that's great. The doc said that people don't really get carpal tunnel from typing, that is a myth (really? I bet those people that had the surgery are surprised but anyways ...).
He said I am super weak and need to lift weights at the gym. However, the thing you squeeze to measure your grip was not working properly, so I'm not sure how he could properly assess this. I went ahead and asked him if that meant I could go to the gym on company time. :-) He was non-amused. :-(
He also said that I was to take a 10 second break every 10 minutes and get out of my chair to stretch. Every 50 minutes, I need to not work at the computer for 10 minutes.
Yeah ... about that ....
I'm not so sure how one goes about accomplishing anything in a day with this sort of strict break schedule, but he wants me to come back to see how I'm doing so ... I'm trying to stretch more and take my hand off the mouse when pages are loading.
It's good to know my muscles are just being isolated/that I'm not moving around enough, and I don't have permanent damage. yay! Plus, my coworkers can have cause to believe that I really am certifiable, what with all the jumping out of my chair several times per hour. Rock.
And on that note, it's time for a stretch break ...
Well, I maneuvered two new busses and made it to the worker's comp doctor.
After a 2 hour wait-wait-wait, I learned I don't have carpal tunnel, so that's great. The doc said that people don't really get carpal tunnel from typing, that is a myth (really? I bet those people that had the surgery are surprised but anyways ...).
He said I am super weak and need to lift weights at the gym. However, the thing you squeeze to measure your grip was not working properly, so I'm not sure how he could properly assess this. I went ahead and asked him if that meant I could go to the gym on company time. :-) He was non-amused. :-(
He also said that I was to take a 10 second break every 10 minutes and get out of my chair to stretch. Every 50 minutes, I need to not work at the computer for 10 minutes.
Yeah ... about that ....
I'm not so sure how one goes about accomplishing anything in a day with this sort of strict break schedule, but he wants me to come back to see how I'm doing so ... I'm trying to stretch more and take my hand off the mouse when pages are loading.
It's good to know my muscles are just being isolated/that I'm not moving around enough, and I don't have permanent damage. yay! Plus, my coworkers can have cause to believe that I really am certifiable, what with all the jumping out of my chair several times per hour. Rock.
And on that note, it's time for a stretch break ...
Sunday, July 08, 2007
For my fellow scrapbookers
My Nashville-by-way-of-California friend Jeanette just launched an amazing Scrapbook site you have to check out: www.scrapinstyletv.com. As my friend Brittany so eloquently put it--her samples make you want to throw away everything you've ever done and steal her templates. Yep, it's that rad. :)
I don't think Geoff believes I really scrapbook since I haven't managed to pull out my infinite supply of Scrapbooking Awesome since I've moved... But, I think Jeanette has inspired me. I might have to finally put his mind at ease and take over my living room with die-cuts, stickers, Xyron machines and fabulous paper in all shapes and sizes compliments of the best paper cutter ever...
My Nashville-by-way-of-California friend Jeanette just launched an amazing Scrapbook site you have to check out: www.scrapinstyletv.com. As my friend Brittany so eloquently put it--her samples make you want to throw away everything you've ever done and steal her templates. Yep, it's that rad. :)
I don't think Geoff believes I really scrapbook since I haven't managed to pull out my infinite supply of Scrapbooking Awesome since I've moved... But, I think Jeanette has inspired me. I might have to finally put his mind at ease and take over my living room with die-cuts, stickers, Xyron machines and fabulous paper in all shapes and sizes compliments of the best paper cutter ever...
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Today our Bible study group helped fix up a house that was seriously run-down. So run-down in fact that they had been fined by the city and were going to be fined again if they didn't make the mandatory repairs in a certain amount of time. And let me tell you, this was not a house in Cool Springs or Lake Mary types of neighborhood... It was really sad to see the house in such a state, and we could only wonder how those people came to that point. So, we primed and painted and laughed and drank (water) and had a great time together serving God by serving Others.
Hooray for fun California peeps that are willing to give up a Saturday to help some people out that we don't even know. You guys rock.
Hooray for fun California peeps that are willing to give up a Saturday to help some people out that we don't even know. You guys rock.
Friday, July 06, 2007
How come it is when you are having the worst of worst days, your friends live 2,573 miles away and the coffee machine decides to spray coffee at you like a sprinkler, spraying allllll down the side of your light-colored pants? To cap off the day, I'm supposed to go to the ghetto clinic to have my wrist checked for carpal tunnel (Baby's first Worker's Comp). I can hardly wait for the insanity that will no doubt befall me in that waiting room.
I guess it's just one of those rains-it-pours (coffee down the side of your pants) kind of days.
Wah.
I guess it's just one of those rains-it-pours (coffee down the side of your pants) kind of days.
Wah.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
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