Went in for my yearly Gyno exam this week and the doctor asked me if anyone was monitoring my cholesterol. I laughed and told her that I had an army of doctors looking after me. Frank too. I guess now that we are in our mid-50's, it takes a village to keep us alive. I have an allergist helping me with the myriad of plant life to which I'm allergic. I take meds and get shots. I have a dermatologist monitoring all my spots since I've been living in the south for over 10 years. Getting laser treatments for my rosacea, which appears to be linked to my allergies. I had a chiropractor working on my frozen shoulder, which I got from tripping over Shane while trying to look into a neighbor's house on one of our nightly walks.
This week I also had my first dental experience in over 20 years. My new dentist decided to do something about my fractured tooth, which other dentists have only monitored. Scared to death, I arrived at the office. Upon asking how I was doing, I started to weep. Can't stop the tear flow. Assistant puts me into a chair and gives me a tissue. Asks if I want gas. I want whatever they have to offer. Never had gas before. I get a choice of three scents, and I chose Peach. Dentist puts somthing on my gums and my lips start to feel enormous. Going to numb me now. Feel a little sting. Not bad. Frank has given me his MP3 player that he uses to work out. AC/DC and Jet. Great choices. Gas starts working. Music is loud. Drilling doesn't take long. Dentist tells me my tooth fell apart when the filling was out. Great. Can we take out the filling on the adjacent tooth? Go for it. Madonna now on the MP3 player. Dentist asks what I'm listening to and I tell him. AC/DC huh. That's a new one. I guess others listen to more soothing tunes. Get a temporary while they make the onlay for my fractured tooth. Have to return in 3 weeks and do it all over again. Great. At least now I know what to expect. Get the gas.
Going for a mammogram and bone density scan tomorrow. I will be done with medical stuff except for my frozen shoulder and laser treatments. I can't even imagine what life would be like without health insurance.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Happy Birthday to Me!
A Monday birthday is the worst, so I've been celebrating since my good friend Karen sent me a card heralding the start of my birthday month. The beginning of the month was pretty routine, agilty classes, Frank's gigs, yada yada. On Saturday, August 11, we went out for the first birthday dinner at Zoot. We haven't been out to dinner for months as we always talk ourselves out of it to stay home with our boys. Now that Shane has calmed down, we feel more free to leave them all home alone.
Click here to read about Zoot.
Zoot is in an old house off a side street down by Lake Austin. We spent quite some time trying to decide where to go and were very anxious. Going in the front door we were quite surprised to find a well-appointed restaurant. The wait staff was very knowledgeable, confident, and professional. The menu was overwhelming, so we chose the tasting menu with wines. I should have saved the menu because I can't remember any of it, but it was spectacular, except for the fish course, which had way too much saffron.
The following week, I tried a new hair salon after spending two years roaming around Austin trying to find someone who could cut my hair properly. I had a good stylist initially, but she disappeared without leaving any hint of where she went. I tried new people and progressively become blonder and blonder. I guess that's what happens when you move to Texas. I did get one good color job only to have it all razored off within an inch of my scalp. I tried showing pictures and that didn't work either. Finally, at my last stop, I got my brown hair back and a fabulous cut. This place is wonderful. No tipping! That alone is worth it. I haven't had this level of experience since I left LA.
Click here to read about Jackson-Ruiz salon.
On Friday, I finally got around to using the gift certificate at the Barton Creek Resort that my sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave me last year. Not too much of a procrastinator... What an amazing place. The massage was good and sorely needed as my shoulder is a mess from a fall I took months ago.
Click here to read about the Barton Creek Resort.
Finally, for my birthday gift, Frank took me to Hudson's on the Bend. A restaurant right around the corner and we've never been. Pulling into the parking lot, we're a bit taken aback because it's all gravel and very undone. The outside of the building looks like an old boat house, but that all changes when you cross the threshold. What a beautiful place and the food was spectacular. The tasting menu was too massive, so we chose to order a la carte. I had scallops wrapped in venison prosciutto and topped with American sturgeon caviar, and Frank had the crab cake. For our main entree, I had venison chops and Frank had bison. For dessert, we shared a chocolate torte.
Click here to read about Hudson's Bend.
Click here to read a recent review describing some of the dishes we had.
Finally, today, my boys gave me more massage certificates at the local health club. My sister-in law and brother-in-law gave me a bocce set, which will be a lot of fun out in the backyard, and my good friend Jennifer, gave me a certificate to Z'Tejas so I can have our favorite margaritas and queso to remember the fun times we had in Phoenix.
All in all, not a bad birthday. Fifty-three is a bit boring, but all my family and friends made it memorable.
Click here to read about Zoot.
Zoot is in an old house off a side street down by Lake Austin. We spent quite some time trying to decide where to go and were very anxious. Going in the front door we were quite surprised to find a well-appointed restaurant. The wait staff was very knowledgeable, confident, and professional. The menu was overwhelming, so we chose the tasting menu with wines. I should have saved the menu because I can't remember any of it, but it was spectacular, except for the fish course, which had way too much saffron.
The following week, I tried a new hair salon after spending two years roaming around Austin trying to find someone who could cut my hair properly. I had a good stylist initially, but she disappeared without leaving any hint of where she went. I tried new people and progressively become blonder and blonder. I guess that's what happens when you move to Texas. I did get one good color job only to have it all razored off within an inch of my scalp. I tried showing pictures and that didn't work either. Finally, at my last stop, I got my brown hair back and a fabulous cut. This place is wonderful. No tipping! That alone is worth it. I haven't had this level of experience since I left LA.
Click here to read about Jackson-Ruiz salon.
On Friday, I finally got around to using the gift certificate at the Barton Creek Resort that my sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave me last year. Not too much of a procrastinator... What an amazing place. The massage was good and sorely needed as my shoulder is a mess from a fall I took months ago.
Click here to read about the Barton Creek Resort.
Finally, for my birthday gift, Frank took me to Hudson's on the Bend. A restaurant right around the corner and we've never been. Pulling into the parking lot, we're a bit taken aback because it's all gravel and very undone. The outside of the building looks like an old boat house, but that all changes when you cross the threshold. What a beautiful place and the food was spectacular. The tasting menu was too massive, so we chose to order a la carte. I had scallops wrapped in venison prosciutto and topped with American sturgeon caviar, and Frank had the crab cake. For our main entree, I had venison chops and Frank had bison. For dessert, we shared a chocolate torte.
Click here to read about Hudson's Bend.
Click here to read a recent review describing some of the dishes we had.
Finally, today, my boys gave me more massage certificates at the local health club. My sister-in law and brother-in-law gave me a bocce set, which will be a lot of fun out in the backyard, and my good friend Jennifer, gave me a certificate to Z'Tejas so I can have our favorite margaritas and queso to remember the fun times we had in Phoenix.
All in all, not a bad birthday. Fifty-three is a bit boring, but all my family and friends made it memorable.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Life With Woody
We got Woody when he was 6 months old, so I don't have any puppy pictures of him. I do remember going to see the owner of the sire and she showed me a tiny puppy from the litter where we eventually got Jake. It was a tiny little thing in a giant whelping box. She didn't have any puppies available, but she said this puppy had siblings who were still available, and that's where we went for Jake.
Woody always seemed lost from the day we brought him home. We started calling him Rainman because he just didn't seem too quick on the draw. I hired a behavioralist to help me get him to go through the doggie door, and she wasn't able to help me. I finally learned that you have to get Woody barking and then he has the courage to try new things. So our house hasn't been too peaceful over the last 10 years.
Here is our sun, for Woody lights up the room.
Woody always seemed lost from the day we brought him home. We started calling him Rainman because he just didn't seem too quick on the draw. I hired a behavioralist to help me get him to go through the doggie door, and she wasn't able to help me. I finally learned that you have to get Woody barking and then he has the courage to try new things. So our house hasn't been too peaceful over the last 10 years.
Here is our sun, for Woody lights up the room.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Laser Number 2
Just got back from my second laser treatment. I felt that my skin has gotten worse since the first treatment, but Frank thinks it looks better. I share my concerns with the doctor, who then tells the technician to turn up the intensity of the laser. WHA? And this time they took pictures so they can show me that it's getting better.
I wasn't offered the stress balls this time and the tech didn't announce each pulse. It hurt a lot more this time and I just couldn't take it. Hot fire that burrows down to your bone. By the time she got to my nose, I was tearing up. It was definitely more intense this time. Now that I'm home, it's all fine. I have another appointment in a month, but if it is still worse, I may not go back. The tech gave me numbing cream to put on my face next time before I come so the pain won't be so bad.
I wasn't offered the stress balls this time and the tech didn't announce each pulse. It hurt a lot more this time and I just couldn't take it. Hot fire that burrows down to your bone. By the time she got to my nose, I was tearing up. It was definitely more intense this time. Now that I'm home, it's all fine. I have another appointment in a month, but if it is still worse, I may not go back. The tech gave me numbing cream to put on my face next time before I come so the pain won't be so bad.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Imagine
Walking the boys around the neighborhood last evening. Quiet streets. People must be watching TV or eating dinner. Clean sidewalks. Neat lawns. Pretty houses. People sitting on the porch waving. Your dogs are very pretty. Thank you.
Started to think what it would be like to see invading troops walking down the streets with assault weapons. Kicking down doors. Yelling at residents in a language they don't understand. Handcuffing the men. Imagine the fear. I can't.
Watched video from Sean Smith this weekend. Good to see things from all sides.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/seansmith/0,,2134322,00.html
Started to think what it would be like to see invading troops walking down the streets with assault weapons. Kicking down doors. Yelling at residents in a language they don't understand. Handcuffing the men. Imagine the fear. I can't.
Watched video from Sean Smith this weekend. Good to see things from all sides.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/seansmith/0,,2134322,00.html
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