Still Spinning July 2, 2009

it’s amazing what all can go down in less than a week.  since i last posted we lost farrah fawcett and michael jackson (oh, you haven’t heard?  then you are either helen keller or as dead as MJ, because apparently this is all that’s worth talking about).  and last night we experienced our own personal tragedy in the theft of the rev’s wallet and cell phone from his gym locker.

first of all, ew.  someone dug through the rev’s gross workout clothes (he had been there for almost two hours) and his smelly sneakers to reach the bottom of his gym bag for the goods.  so nast.  then, they did it between the time he checked his phone pre-shower and the time he exited said shower.  that is pretty ballsy, i must say.

on the plus side: the rev happened to have, on a fluke, not only put his driver’s license in a separate spot but to have also recently procured cell phone insurance.  the fact that he still has his license means i do not have to drive the entire trip to KC and back on my own.  this is good.  it also proves incredibly useful in proving to banks and such that he is in fact who he says he is.

on the negative side: the thief charged $500.00 to target, and $5.00 to chick-fil-a.  of course, the rev will be reimbursed for those charges once they go through the system.  but it’s still pretty disheartening.  the rev also had his EMT and CPR licenses in his wallet – wouldn’t you think a thief might give a crap at all about robbing someone who could later pull them out of a burning building?  apparently not.  we searched every locker to make sure that the wallet with the licenses hadn’t been left behind after taking the goods, but they hadn’t.  within an hour of the theft every card had been canceled and the phone had been cut off (though not before i sent a rather, uh, rude? text message to the thief).

so now we head out for the weekend with the rev’s driver’s license and some cash to get us through.  and as the rev said while seeking comfort in her paws, “at least they didn’t steal patsy.”

patsy showing her love for her pops by lounging on his jeans

Thinking June 25, 2009

- goodBYE, willie herenton.  there aren’t many that will miss you.

- i hope the rev and i get approved on renting this house – i’ve practically already got it painted and arranged in my head.

- cigarette pants = audrey hepburn.  except like, 4 sizes or so bigger.

- when a mannequin form fell on me last night, i was ok.  when i woke up this morning and put my purse on my shoulder i was whatthefuckOW!  maybe tomorrow i’ll be back to ok?

- i need the chocolate walnut brownie dessert from firebird’s.  it makes me happy.  ok, any brownie makes me happy.  but that one’s especially big and luscious.

Still Craving June 24, 2009

i am still craving last night’s dinner, a creation i whipped up fueled by other cravings until i ended up with the masterpiece.  it was perfect on this oppressively hot summer evening – light, healthy, fresh.  here is what i made:

- 1 box whole wheat spaghetti

- 1 container fresh mozzarella pearls (they’re little, the size of peas)

- 15 leaves of lemon basil (from our garden)

- 1 package of prosciutto (the craving that started it all)

- 2 roma tomatoes (probably could’ve done three)

- 1 lime

- kosher salt

- fresh cracked black pepper

- organic arugula (i won’t tell if you don’t get organic)

- dried basil

- olive oil

- balsamic vinegar

ok well with that piecemeal list of ingredients, i cooked the pasta, gave it a cold water rinse til it chilled off, and put it into a mixing bowl.  i drizzled it with enough olive oil to coat it, and squeezed in five lime wedges.  poured in all of the (drained) fresh mozzarella, chopped up the tomatoes and added those, and made a chiffonade out of the fresh basil and added that.  then a sprinkling of kosher salt, the pepper, and a bit of dry basil, followed by a light drizzle of balsamic.  toss, toss, toss.  then, when i served it, i put it in a wide bowl, topped it with torn chunks of prosciutto (cold), and a pile of arugula (cold, uncooked).  i put on a bit more cracked pepper just to polish it off, and if you want, another squeezed lime wedge.  it. is. awesome.  so fresh and cool, peppery, salty, sweet.  best summer dinner i’ve made in a long while.

One of Those June 23, 2009

today has been one of those disjointed, overly-long, sleepy-filled days.  it’s disjointed because i went home not feeling well from work yesterday, so i had an abbreviated monday.  then this morning the rev had an appointment to get scoped to see if he has any ulcers going on, for which he had to get put under.  and me being me, I had to be the one to take an anti-anxiety pill for that operation, just from worrying over him.  i dropped him off before work, returned home to change, and went to work, anticipating picking up a groggy rev around 11:30.  instead i got a phone call at 9:45 or so, so i headed out to get him and grab a very early sandwich (10:30) as i was using my lunch break up.  he was anti-groggy, clear headed and ready to get back to his car.  got all that done, got back to work, and have been having a quiet, sleepy summer day here.  the anti-anxiety pill kicked in, making me too relaxed, drowsy, and wanting to be in bed-y.  all i can say is, thank goodness i’m not working a double today.  a nap is in my future.

Summer Baby June 19, 2009

i’m going to put forth a theory here: the month in which you are born has some effect upon which season you prefer.  i was born on august 1, and favor summer to late summer the most strongly of the seasons.  i love all seasons, really, but for some reason i like being hot, i love the sun & the light, i look best with a tan (i guess we all do, though), and i like summer activities.  my car “climate control” is usually set at 74 degrees, which i’ve found for some (*cough*the rev*cough*) is a bit on the warm side.  often when i leave my frigid office i enjoy a few airless moments in my car to reheat (maybe i’m a reptile?).  basically i’m extrapolating the fact that i was born in and like summer to mean that it works the same for everyone.  does it work that way for you?

i shall offer you a tiding of the season...fried oreos from the mid-south fair last summer!

The Apostrophe’s Degeneration From Its Appropriate Position; It’s Annoying June 18, 2009

it is UNREAL how often i see apostrophes (this symbol: ‘) misused, from everyday paperwork to major advertisements in magazines, on posters, even on billboards.  it is driving me insane, and truly causing me great concern for the intelligence levels of pretty much everyone, since all people from advertisers to promoters to owners have viewed these ads, etc. and are allowing them to be printed and posted.

these are NOT APPROPRIATE uses of an apostrophe:

- pluralizing a family’s last name: hey, i just called the anderson’s and they said to tell you what’s up.  NO.  the apostrophe creates a possessive, so i am left wondering: the anderson’s WHAT?  and who is this singular person that goes by “the anderson”?  you leave me perplexed.

- pretty much pluralizing anything else.  (the 1960’s; CD’s; etc.)  just because you are putting an S on the end of a word does not mean you must also include an apostrophe.  it is so wrong.

appropriate uses:

- to show possession, i.e. pete’s blog, yourneighborhoodreverend.wordpress.com, is languishing in the depths (not depth’s) of despair.

- and because i’m too lazy to spell out the rest, click here for a beautiful overview of the proper uses of apostrophes and why.

the thing that kills me is when people write that they add apostrophe’s to words.  what?  no!  you are KILLING me.  i am dead, death by bad grammar.  IT’S a DORK’S death, and ITS nerdiness level is humiliating.  please, head back to when grammar was appropriately taught in the 1950S and learn how to employ proper punctuation!

I Have Seen the Face of God June 17, 2009

and it is 70s green and shiny and looks like this:

well not exactly (we have a stainless bowl) but we inherited this semi-vintage kitchen aid standing mixer from the rev’s grandmother in january and, until last night, it had been languishing on a bottom shelf, screaming its potential at me but going unheard.  then, i got a birthday cake request from a friend & coworker for a pound cake.  i’ve never made one from scratch before.  but betty crocker’s recipes have never let me down and i had the supplies, so away we went.  after reading over the recipe it was clear that the standing mixer was going to be crucial to get the right consistency.  i brought it out, wiped it down and got to work.  and it was SO MUCH FUN.  i even took a video of it mixing on my cell phone (unfortunately not transferable to wordpress).  he’s back on the bottom shelf, but definitely no longer going unheard.  i have plans.

Saturday Night in Memphis – It’s Like This for Everyone June 5, 2009

this past saturday we had a rough outline of plans.  it would start with trivia at swanky’s taco shop in germantown with the rev’s brother and our friend ahern – plans included winning, which did not so much occur.  we knew that a separate group of friends were at a wedding together.  we all agreed to meet up somewhere, probably downtown, when they were through with the reception.

so we played trivia (and lost – badly) and ate some decent burrito bowls.  as we wrapped up we finally got a call that the other group was heading out.  we piled in my car and started driving downtown, with me as DD.  as the redbird’s stadium appeared on our right on union we got a call – no go on downtown, we would be meeting up with everyone in cooper-young instead.  so i grab a left turn, take another, pass the plush club (wow those are some short shorts on a big big butt…), and zoom back to midtown to cooper-young.

we decide, despite heavy amounts of hesitation and disgruntlement on the part of the rev, to spend our time waiting for the others at celtic crossing.  heading there we happen to pass one of our new favorite places in memphis: the house of mews.  the four of us stood mesmerized for way longer than we should have, watching all of the cats.  so many many cats.  we dragged ourselves away finally to celtic crossing and had a drink outside in front doing what we often do at bars – making fun of the others there.  (nice, i know.)

the night went on and it was suddenly midnight, with nary a sign of the friends we were supposed to have met somewhere about two hours previous.  after much pleading and needling i encouraged the group of us that the dish would be a fun next stop as we continued our wait, and i could not have been MORE RIGHT.  the four of us walk up to the bouncer to get our ids checked and he lets us know (apologetically) that the entire memphis roller derby team of girls was inside, and there was karaoke going on.  WHAT?? WHAT!?!  we dash inside and dupont (the rev’s little brother) immediately moves to get a song on the list and from there to attempt to dance with every roller derby girl, despite the predominance of sapphically leaning ladies.  hilarity ensues, along with ears getting licked, tricks getting whooped, glasses smashing on the floor, hips bouncing dupont around the room like a ping-pong ball, moshing, karaoke screaming, and, finally, our friends joining us to continue the insanity.

we found ourselves at the dish til after three a.m.  i am never up that late.  but we weren’t done, oh no.  we had a truly old-school house party to go to – a friend’s parents were out of town and he decided to have a party at their house (keep in mind, we’re all in the 25-year-old range).  a giggle-fueled ride back out to east memphis from cooper young later and we were there to enjoy a cold beer and wind down the night.  we didn’t stay terribly long and got back to our house (the rev, dupont, and i) at 3:45 a.m. for sandwiches and chips & salsa.

the night, it was insane.

in other news: i’m going to be off the air for the next week or more, as i will be in a cabin in a state park on the other side of the state.  as it does not come with a television, i’m assuming there will be no wi-fi.  pictures and stories to come.

Cruising May 29, 2009

patsy the cat is on her way back to the vet, after last week’s visit for throwing up and having bumps on her skin.  this was determined to be an allergic reaction for which she received a shot.  last night we found a worry spot on her stomach, with all of the hair pulled out.  here’s hoping that she’ll get a cone!

Update: pats didn’t need a cone, unfortunately.  was really looking forward to taking pictures of that.  she just needed another shot and was sent on her way.  have you ever seen a cat who likes to ride in cars so much?

Normal Has Quite a Ring To It May 28, 2009

two fridays ago i went to the doctor.  i don’t have a regular doctor in memphis yet, largely because i just got insurance on may 1 (finally – what a relief).  so i figured it was time for the always-lovely “well woman” exam and basic check up to make sure all my i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed.  after an interruption for my doctor to perform an emergency C-section (no joke), i got checked out.  to break the TMI bubble for you all: my left breast has been bothering me.  it feels weird, it is sore, and i have pain in the armpit.  my aunt had breast cancer and because my mom was adopted we have no clue what has gone on in her blood relations.  it pays to be cautious, right?  well, my doctor felt something, enough of a something to schedule me an appointment (for this morning) with a breast specialist in her same building.  

so this morning i show up at the breast clinic panicking myself into a tizzy.  the reality of all of the possibilities came thumping down on me as i saw posters for susan g. komen, a dog statue covered in breast cancer ribbons, and diagrams for what lumps can look and feel like.  i literally got dizzy from fright.  i was the youngest person in the waiting room by approximately 35 years.  the optimist in me just knew that all of the other women were thinking to themselves, “oh look at that poor young girl, to be taken from us so young, poor young thing, she has no idea what’s about to happen.”  

finally they took me back and performed your normal breast exam, except it was done in a way i’ve never had it done.  i was taught (at my ALL-WOMEN’S COLLEGE, for christssake) to use the tips of my fingers, pressing in circular motions with varying pressures, and moving all the way around the breast.  apparently, WRONG.  you’re supposed to do this flat-handed, with the pads of your fingers, and press in sweeping motions from top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left, and do so laying down with your arm above your head.  she also taught me to do this standing and looking in the mirror, because any cancerous lumps will often cause puckering and pulling that is visible.  please, ask your doctor about this and make sure you’re doing it right yourself.  as it was done, the RN said brightly, “oh!  you have a lump here, feel that?”  i think i died right then of sheer panic.  i did feel it when she showed me how, and it was the size of a quarter.  she went to get the doctor to perform an ultrasound as i continued dying of fright. 

the doctor came in, had me lay down for the ultrasound, and located the lump that the RN had felt.  she showed me the dark spot on the screen and said, “ah, this is what she felt.  this right here is just a pocket of fat.  totally normal.”  i could have cried with relief.  so many women don’t get to hear that n-word when they go to that clinic.  my aunt, my godmother, and millions of other women have had to deal with the opposite finding – i realize how lucky i am to hear what i heard today.  and as i left with my new breast exam knowledge and a pamphlet of what’s normal to find during them, i realized that i probably know dozens of women that already knew this stuff, knew the better technique to examine themselves, but because of some weird societal phobia no one talks about their boobs in public.  not even in private among either women.  and that’s bullshit.  so much could probably be prevented.  if women would just share their knowledge outside of the doctor’s office and get over their squirminess about bringing up the topic, we would become a more powerful group of people, armed with information and skills to keep us more aware of ourselves and any changes that occur.  80% of lumps found in self-exams are benign and relatively normal, but it’s the other 20% that can get us.

click here for learning how to perform a breast self examination.  my doctor used the “sweeping method.”

click here for information on benign breast lumps.