Must Buy This Week!

After buying the first season DVDs for this series and getting completely HOOKED, I am so psyched that the second season came out on DVD on Tuesday. We will be making a purchase when Jim gets paid tomorrow. This is an awesome crime drama with well-written, intelligent scripts and interesting, human characters that are well-acted. I especially love the leading lady, Kyra Sedgwick (FYI: her husband is Kevin Bacon). However, this series is NOT for the faint-of-heart. It can be quite graphic so be warned.

Beautiful Roses!

One of the graduate students that I have worked with for the past 5 years successfully defended her dissertation on Tuesday. Today, she brought me these beautiful roses to say thank you for all the help I had given her during her time in the department and for always greeting her and everyone else with a smile and with respect. I am so touched...

Yum-O! Indian Food...

So, Tania, Sheila and I are heading to downtown Corvallis at noon to have lunch at Evergreen - the one and only Indian restaurant in town. I LOVE Indian food. I could seriously eat it every single day. At lunch they have a buffet for $7.95 which offers a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and on Wednesday, they have my FAVORITE dish - Spinach Saag - which is basically Indian creamed spinach. To Die For! And of course the bread (Nan) is spectacular... Dang I am making myself hungry. LOL!

7 "Unusual" Things About Me

I've seen a number of my friends do posts of Seven Unusual Things about themselves... Although I haven't been tagged by anyone, I thought I would see what I can come up with... Ready?

1. When I go to the movies, I must and can only, enter the theater from the right entrance. I have had this "phobia" for as long as I can remember although I don't know why. BTW if there is only one entrance, I'm fine but if there are 2, I am heading through the right one.
2. I am terrified of clowns. They are evil. Except for Rodeo Clowns. Go figure.
3. I used to have Burt Bacharach's private phone number. (My friend Karen was nanny to his son at one point...)
4. I hate green bell peppers. Gag me!
5. My major in college was Theater Arts. What was I thinking? LOL
6. I'm one of 10 children and my youngest sibling and I are 24-years apart in age.
7. At least 5 of my personal friends are published authors - meaning you can find their books in Borders, Barnes and Noble and on Amazon.com.
   

Not too terribly unusual ... I am tagging (which means I want you to post 7 Unusual Things in your blog/journal) the following mom, brandi, byron, tania and jeni

Update on Jim's Headaches

Jim's had fewer headaches since seeing the FNP last week. She did rule out any neurological damage or cause for the headaches - Thank the Goddess!!! We were both so relieved. She thinks he is having migraines. He is now keeping a headache log - noting the duration of the headache, what preceded the headache, food he has eaten, etc. She also suggested we lay in a supply of Excedrin Migraine plus she gave him a prescription for Zolig.

My Paper Journal

Here are some pages from my current paper journal. It is from Rag and Bone Bindery in Rhode Island - My FAVORITE place to buy blank journals - and is 4.5" x 6" in size. I actually haven't liked this size as much as I thought I would... I prefer and will return to their Medium sized journals which are 7"x9" in size.

As you can see, my journal includes everything: photos, pen & ink drawings, stickers, rub ons, brads, paint, paint and more paint, etc. and by the time I finish one it is literally bulging from all the goodies I have included in the pages. I don't have too many more pages to finish and then this little guy will be completed and it will join the other 5 or 6 I have filled in the last few years, on a shelf in my art studio.

Jim's Turn at the Doctor's Office

Jim had an appointment with the FNP (Family Nurse Practicioner) at 11:00 this morning. Jim never goes to the doctor... but, for the last couple of weeks he has been having headaches almost daily which is not normal... In fact, in the almost 13 years we have been together, I don't remember him ever having a headache before. When he asked me to make him an appointment, I knew he was worried.... I'm guessing he may need new glasses... That's what I hope any ways. But to be honest, I am worried. He is my rock. My best friend. My soulmate.

Must think positively... but, prayers are being uttered this morning...

Katie Graduates June 2nd

After having a fun 10-minute telephone conversation with Katie-Bug yesterday afternoon, I was thrilled to receive her graduation announcement in yesterday's mail. Graduation is in Hermiston OR on Saturday, June 2nd at 10:30 am. Jim and I are going to check our schedules (and pocketbook given the price of fuel these days) to see if we can make it over to support her and her Dad.

Boy, howdy she looks like her mom....

Sick of Being Sick

I have been struggling with chronic IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) for the past couple of years and for the last few months it has really been debilitating. In fact, I am on FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) protection which means if I am sick and out of sick leave, I can be absent from work and my job and benefits are protected. This is truly a blessing to us... because although my paycheck suffers (big time... I normally take home $1900 per month and for April I took home $537. Gulp!) my job is safe and my benefits are still provided. However, it is very stressful to be sick - Take last week, I was out for 4 days... Yikes.

The hardest part is that stress and anxiety exacerbate the condition - so, it wasn't pleasant to come in to work this morning and have one of my co-workers give me the silent treatment. Apparently, she thinks I get sick just to make her life hard... Which is hurtful to me because I try so hard to be a team player and to leave work on my desk with thorough and complete notes or instructions... Oh well, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger... Right?

Date Night!

I have a date with Jim tonight after work. We are going to have dinner at a little pub (Calapooia Brew Pub) located down on Water and Hill Streets in Albany. They are supposed to have the BEST hamburgers in town. Yum! Doesn't a big, juicy, bacon-cheeseburger sound good?

Speaking of Jim, he just called a couple minutes ago - just to "say hi" (I Love That!). He said that Amador's Alley in Independence went out of business and has been replaced by a new Mexican restaurant called Tequila Cantina. He and the gang from Custom Trailerwerks (where he works), were their very FIRST customers. He said the food and prices were great. I can't wait to check it out for myself... I do love Mexican food.

Prayers, Good Thoughts, Meditations....

My dear friend Sheila's 10-year-old granddaughter - Morgan Johnson - will be having very serious surgery on Tuesday, May 8th 2007 at the Children's Primary Hospital in Salt Lake City. The surgery is to remove a tumor and will take approximately 8 hours. If you think of it, would you please send up a prayer, good thought, meditation on her behalf? Thanks.

Current Artwork? None...

I realize it's been much too long since I have created any artwork. I miss it. My goal for May is to do some much needed organizing and cleaning of my studio and then to create THREE pieces of art.

To remind myself that I am in fact an artist, I am posting some of my work here.

Oh Yay! It's Mammogram Day!

Since having uterine cancer in 2001 - I'm now cancer-free BTW - I have also been very good about getting my annual mammogram. However, that doesn't mean I enjoy them...LOL! If you try calling me today at 4:00 pm PDT, you will know why I am not answering my cell phone!

Just a reminder to all you gals out there in blogland - take care of your health; do your monthly breast self-exams and if the time is right or it's recommended by your doctor, get your mammograms!