a_strange_wind_blowing's Xanga

Illness update

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:19:09 GMT

Sent K to the doctor.

I'm worried about his cough. He wasn't able to go to work last night, either.

I'm achy and my head is pounding but really not any worse than yesterday.

Yes, Dan -I most likely can (and do) convince myself that I'm feeling better. I did so last night because my daughter was in a play and I didn't want to disappoint her and not show up to support her. (Then I came home and promptly went to bed... )

Well see what K's doctor says.
*crosses fingers that he isn't getting pneumonia*
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Update: The doctor did an in-office flu test and K has the flu. He called me from the office to tell me. I'll see what else the doctor had to say when he gets home.

I hope it's just my imagination...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:28:28 GMT

...but I think I'm getting sick.

Perhaps a bit flu-like...

Hard to tell, really.

I've been dizzy (horrendously so and quite suddenly) and achy. (<---more than usual) (both, really)
I've not felt right all day - sort of woozy.

K is sick.
He had chills with his illness.

Two people at work (that I'm aware of) have had the flu recently.
Wait. no - 3 people.

*sighs*

I might just be imagining things, though... (my glands are actually swollen, though and my head is achy, too)

No, I am not ignoring you...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:23:12 GMT

Just a quick reminder of my situation. I am able to post a blog from work (by using a proxy to access Xanga) but I am not able to do certain other things my proxy doesn't allow. (like post comments and send messages)

I can read your posts during the day at work, but would have to wait until I get home at night to comment (and then, I forget)

Just so you know - I am not ignoring anyone.

Perhaps I'll post more later.... (but perhaps not)

"Real" food

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:47:20 GMT

So... for just a little while, I've been attempting to eat what I call "real" foods.
No or few prepared foods
Organic, if it is something we consume a lot of (like salad greens and coffee)
100% whole grain pastas, cereals and breads.
Absolutely nothing containing high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, trans fats, etc.
Avoid over-processed items that have lost the vast majority of their nutritional value
Avoid too much sodium

You get the idea. (and no - I'm not asking for a critique of my food decisions, thankyouverymuch)

This can cause quite the problem when we go out to eat. Now I don't expect to find organic foods served at our local restaurants. I do expect to be able to find something that isn't too horribly off my diet.

For example, K took me to Red Lobster for my birthday. I scanned the menu and decided that I would get fish that was either broiled or grilled. When the waiter came back, I asked for details of how some of the food was prepared and... was stymied by his inability to just give me a yes or no response. Every response turned into a sales pitch for one item or another... I was frustrated. I ended up just going with the broiled seafood platter but completely forgot that one of the items was shrimp scampi (translation: smothered in garlicy butter or butter-like sauce) I've decided that next time, I will look at the menu online before we go out so I have an idea of what to order.

This weekend, I went to a charity masquerade ball (we go every year). The appetizers were about what you would expect: fresh vegetables and dip, cheese cubes, and some deadly-looking buffalo wings that I avoided.
Next came the dinner: Salad which was mostly a bowl of iceberg lettuce with a bit of red onion and carrots, white rolls with butter, vegetable lasagna, roast beef, grilled boneless chicken breasts in some sort of white sauce with what looked like canned mixed vegetables stirred in, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn.

Well! I took a bit of salad, but only a bit as iceberg lettuce doesn't really have much nutritional value, a bit of the vegetable lasagna and a slice of roast beef. I skipped the potatoes, gravy and corn because there was no reason to eat that stuff and the chicken would have been alright, but I figured the cream sauce was mostly fat and heaven knows what and canned vegetables may not even be called vegetables by the time they are done processing them.

The desserts looked absolutely deadly so I avoided them completely.

I guess I should have filled up on the fresh vegetables earlier in the evening.

I listened politely as folks around me went on about how good the food was. I'm sure they meant it tasted good, which is entirely possible, but it was not good for us. I could go on and on, but I won't. I'm just a bit frustrated that we have come to consume this sort of food and think that it is just fine for us. Then we wonder why we are obese and sickly.

*sighs*

I imagine I come off as a bit of a snob, but I just don't see the point in willingly eating stuff that isn't good for you!

New computer! grins

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:31:12 GMT

I have a new computer! This one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9541891&type=product&id=1218121457704
I waited to buy it until I could one with Windows 7 on it - because I just didn't want to deal with Vista.

My poor, old 11 year-old computer was just not working for us anymore. Yes, I put a lot of work into upgrading it, adding RAM and an external hard drive, but... there is nothing that is going to make that processor work harder.

But! I love my new toy! It's so fast, you wouldn't believe it! (although perhaps some of you would as you weren't playing around with a ancient one for years like I have been) It has memory that you cannot imagine!

The only issue I had with Best Buy was the salesperson. He was very good at explaining everything to us, but... at one point he made the statement, "...but, for what you'd use it for, this computer will serve your needs...." when he hadn't asked what we use a computer for. I assume that he saw a middle-aged couple and figured that we email our children and keep our financial records on our comp and that is it. *rolls her eyes* People, don't make assumptions. Just don't.

Anyhoo, today my mother is taking me out to lunch (with a lot of the family) for my birthday. (It was yesterday and no - I don't feel like announcing how old I am as it doesn't' matter)(no, it doesn't')

Have a good one, all!

Life's a bitch and then...

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:27:30 GMT

It's not looking like it's going to be a good day (or week) (or month, even).

*It's suddenly turned unseasonably cool around here. They're talking about possible snow later in the week(!). (Most likely up in the mountains, not down here in the valley, but still!) A nor'easter in October!

*I (stupidly) didn't get to bed as early as I should have Tuesday night, so yesterday was a foggy, zombie-like day for me. I thought I'd turn in early last night, but it was not to be... As I was literally saying "Goodnight" to some online friends I was chatting with, one of them told me to hold on and proceeded to give me some bad news. I didn't fall into bed until near 11:00, then (and couldn't sleep right away, of course)

*The bad news is that one of our mutual online friends is dying of cancer. (No - not a blogger. This is not anyone here on Xanga) Last night was spent crying, laughing and discussing our own experiences with cancer in our own families. Needless to say, it's going to be a bit rough for all of us to try to remain upbeat for the sake of our friend when she needs that and good "listeners" when that is what she needs.

*It's financial period close week at work and things have not been going very well. I'm so behind on my work, I wouldn't be surprised if I catch up to myself eventually. (<--small attempt at humor, there. I'm tired so it probably makes no sense at all)

So! That's what's going on!

There's some fun stuff in life, isn't there? (<--sarcasm)

Update: HA! I've found some good news! (I knew I could find some if I looked hard enough...) I don't know if any of you recall, but the St. Louis Rams are the team I root for in the NFL. Well, the team is for sale and Rush Limbaugh (*mutters*) was involved with a group who is interested in purchasing the team. (Note: I've been a fan of the Rams since the late '70s but there was no way in hell that I was going to support a team owned by Rush Limbaugh so this was a BIG issue to me.) Well, today I saw a blip that Limbaugh will not be involved with the group who is looking to purchase the team. Yay! That made my day!

Ringtones

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:44:37 GMT

I just spent the better part of the evening looking for a new ring tone... I have a rather broad range of music tastes so it wasn't like I was just looking under one category (which brings me to the point that the people who categorize the ringtones at AT&T have no idea what they are doing, but that's another issue for another day)

When I finally found one I wanted, I discovered that it was not available for my phone.
(Down With the Sickness by Disturbed, by the way... I think it seemed appropriate as I've been sick recently - and is just way cool, besides.)

So after search the "rock" selections, the "hairband", "pop", "humor", "hard rock" and countless other sections (though I noticed that there is no classical music section, nor swing music, nor opera...) I finally clicked on the Halloween season selections where I found my new ringtone: Zombie by The Cranberries. (and... yeah. Nothing to do with Halloween, you idiots at AT&T Wireless!)

What ringtone do you have on your phone?

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:10:06 GMT

Well. K had a phone interview for the 2nd job he wanted and he thought it didn't go well at all. He felt it went so poorly that he called the first place that had offered him a job and took that one.

*sighs*

Of course, you know what happens next... He'll get a call from the place he really wants to work now. (no - it hasn't happened, but I have a feeling this will happen.)

But, hey. He has a permanent job - even if it pays less than the other place and isn't as good a company to work for - a job is a job.

So... Yesterday we were at Lowe's buying more supplies for the apartment that isn't done yet and K went to pay with his credit card. It was declined.
That does not compute because we knew we only had about $80 on the thing so... WTF?

So after we left the store, he spazzes out about the cashier - as if it is her fault. (Apparently, she "made an ass out of him" somehow. I was standing right there and missed it and told him that I thought he might be mistaken so then I was "on her side". Whatever....)

Yes, K, the entire world is out to get you. It's a conspiracy. Yeah, that's right. A conspiracy involving the CIA and the aliens. Uh-huh.

Anyhoo, we call the credit card company and discover that there are charges on it from the UK!

K has never been out of the country.
He doesn't even have a passport.
Something is wrong...

Someone is illegally using his account, somehow.
Great...

I have to say that the customer service rep was real nice about it and all. They figured something must be wrong when there was that much being charged to the card out of the country - but also charges in the same time frame here in PA, so they had put it on hold until we contacted them. They will send us a form in the mail detailing the charges we say are false and such for us to check out.

Goody.

Luckily, we could just put it on the debit card, but still...

I guess these things happen but it is scary!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:50:45 GMT

My youngest daughter - up until recently - had escaped the family curse of having to wear corrective lenses to see. This changed yesterday when our eye doctor confirmed that she, too, will have to wear glasses.
But! She found a really cool pair of frames, so she is alright with it.
I looked for the frames on line to get a picture, but I can't find them right now. I'll see if I can get a picture later on.

In other news, K had an interview for a permanent job yesterday. Of course, right after he scheduled that interview, another place that he'd rather work called. So - he went to the interview yesterday and they offered him the job. He told them that he'd have to think about it because he had another possibility and... they increased his starting wage 20-cents an hour!
He still wants to see what the second place offers him - once he is able to get a hold of them! They called once and left a message, then he called back and left a message and he hadn't heard from them. He tried calling back yesterday, again, but still only got voicemail. How annoying!
But! The first place gave him a week to decide, so it could still work out. *crosses fingers*

So - things are looking up!
Have a good one, all!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:49:30 GMT

So, I looked back in my blog and realized that I must not have mentioned that my oven wasn't working. Silly me!

Oh, well - it is now, so... never mind!

In other news, um... the sun is shining!
Have a good one, all...

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O.M.G! Newsflash! John Madden is retiring!
*throws arms up and dances around the room*

What FABULOUS news!!! I no longer have to cringe when watching Sunday Night Football!

Hallelujah!!! Whoopie!!!
seriously... I am rejoicing!