Someone told me I look just like Diane Franklin. What do you think?

whine whine whine

I feel sick and I don't want to be at work today.

But in happier news: It's Cherise's birthday soon, and she is coming to Portland to hang out!!!

It's cold in here

I still have a headache. At least it is not the same headache all day, everyday. Just a new one every day. I have another appointment tomorrow, and can hopefully get some ideas on how to get this under control.

I am trying again to stop eating so much sugar, and still looking for a way to excericise that won't hurt my body. I did start getting off at an earlier bus stop at work so I have to walk up a long steep hill and across campus. It's a start, at least.

school

Things seem to be calming down here at work, which is nice. I have classes Wednesday and Thursday nights this term. Sociology of the Family and American Family History. I am excited and also wanting to hold on to this not having much to do time.

My boss is hilarious. Her newest surprise - wedding bears, in celebration of my engagement to Bobby Ham.

a bad joke

Why is Cinderalla bad at basketball?

Because she left the ball and her coach was a pumpkin.

Oh, you missed it

I am so tired. But it was so worth it. That may have been the best Reclinerland performance I have seen to date. Mike sang on key a greater majority of the time, and had more stength to his voice than I've heard before. The transition in the spie epic was the best I have heard it so far, and I really like the way they worked out the beginning of the Canada song. (Is it bad that I don't know the names of all their songs?)

The sound was much better than I have heard so far as well. It helps that the Doug Fir is new and put a lot of money into it's establishment. New + $$$$ = quality. I could finally hear Mike well, Anthony's electronic additions were loud when they needed to be and quiet when they didn't, there was enough base but not too much, and Jason wasn't dominating. I would have had the keyboard louder, but that is just me.

The first band, Point Juncture, WA was okay. Kind of annoying, dull, but... not awful. Blanket Music was good. Much more precise than the last time I heard them, which was nice. Also, everything is nicer when snuggled up next to my fiancee.

Now. For another tired work day.

Last Minute Notice - FREE Show!

Yes, I am shamelessly promoting my fiancee's band, Reclinerland.

Tonight, doors at 8, show at 9

FREE

Doug Fir

I'll be there, isn't that enough reason to show up?

this is crazy

So far this week my office has been contacted by the Oregonian 4 times, the New York Times, CNN, three rural Oregon newspapers, OPB, two San Fransisco newspapers, and one or two others I can't remember. All about Terri Schiavo.

I personally have answered 78 emails and over 20 phone calls from individuals terrified that their own health care will be dragged through fifteen years of family turf war and escalate to the point of political exploitation.

my pants smell bad this morning

The show last night was so fun and so beautiful. Pedro the Lion was fantastic as always. They played a song off of the whole ep, which is always wonderful to hear, and many other wonderful songs.

And Low. Oh my. I had never heard them before and I was amazed. The husband/wife vocalist team is astounding. They sing amazing harmonies. It was.... wow. It was incredible.

Health and wellness

I am determined to eat better. I have not been doing well that past month or so. I don't think I need to go on a diet, nothing like that, but I don't need to eat 1o pieces of chocolate, one bowl of ice cream, and two glasses of coke every day.

Today I have had one piece of chocolate and no coke so far. Lets see how I do when I get home and their is chocolate in several forms, three cartons of ice cream, one bottle of coke, and I don't know what else laying about the house.

In order to keep myself from the large basket of chocolate on the counter behind me at work, I am chewing gum. But it is vanilla ice, and I don't like vanilla flavors very much.

so much for that idea

I was supposed to have the day off today, but then I had to come to work anyway. Now I will have to go to the DMV on Saturday, wait longer to close my old bank account, which I really need to do because they take fees out of it, and wait longer to see the place we might have our reception. Bah.

Oh well, at least I get to see Low and Pedro the Lion tonight. For free. Thanks subpop, for getting us on the guest list.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love these people, and how wonderfully blessed I am to get to be part of this family. Hey guys, this is going to be my family.

work, and a movie

Things have been busy at work for me as a result of Terri Schiavo's case. People are scared that something like this will happen to them, and are looking for ways to express their end-of-life treatment wishes and have them followed. What most people need is an advanced directive, or living will, but someone in the Oregonian went and told everyone that if you really want you wishes followed in Oregon, you should get a POLST form. Being heavily involved with that form here at work, I have gotten email after email and phone call after phone call asking about the POLST, when really, all most of these people need is an advanced directive. POLST forms are medical orders signed by a physician based on what you want right now, in the condition you are in. An Advanced Directive allows you to let people know what you want in future circumstances. And every single one of these people need to hear that, and if they contact us, which they do because we are listed as the POLST contact, I have to answer them. I don't mind helping these people, but it is tiring to say the same thing over and over.

So... why I am saying it again here? I don't understand sometimes.

And on to something lighthearted. I watched "Every Which Way But Loose" last night with Bob and Adam. This was one of the most ridiculous, scattered, pointless, and hilarious movies I have ever seen. I mean, it's just..... I can't explain it. Clint Eastwood, an orangutan, a pirate and a viking in a wussy biker gang, an egocentric cop with a subjugated black partner, a man getting slapped with a fish....

It was wonderful.

My Fiancee

I love him!

I think I am evil

I'm not sure what happened here...

Cat

Playing with our kitty

RYB

Red Yellow Blue, from a Smithsonian art museum

Sweet Victory

Cherise, Alyssa, and I are victorious! Over what, I don't know... but we sure look like winners!

That's why we are getting married

This is one of my favorite pictures ever. So sweet.

thanks guys

If you think about it, if you can take the time, pray for us today.

pictures, sister, and impatient

I got our pictures from DC. There are several from the art museum that Bobby took, but what I like most are the cute cute cute pictures of him and of us. I am trying to post them, but can't get hello to work here, even though it works at work. Sigh. Oh well, I'll do it tomorrow if I must.

I got to hang out with Bryce and Janaki and Bobby after church today. It was nice.

I can't wait until I am married.

fruit fly in my manhattan

Our one year anniversary was wonderful. I got flowers at work, I got to dress up and go on a fancy date, have fabulous food and an amazing desert, and do it all with the incredible man I am going to marry. The only problem of the night was in my cocktail.

Bobby ordered me a manhattan, and after a few sips of it I was already feeling slightly buzzed and noticed a little thing floating in the bottom. My first response was to feel slightly embarassed and assume it was a peice of food. Until I looked at again. I showed the drink to Bob and told him it looked like there was a bug in my drink. He disagreed and said it was probably part of the cherry that they had on a stick. I still thought it looked like a fruit fly, but he had me convinced, so I kept sipping. An hour later, I had drank about a quarter of it and I was done. It was a tasty little drink, but being the lightweight that I am, I didn't want anymore. And Bob, being ten times my size, can drink quite a bit more. He took over, got the drink down to about half, when he took another look at the thing floating in my glass. He spooned the thing out, and yes, it was indeed a fruit fly. We drank half of a cocktail with a bug floating in the bottom.

Bobby the sweetest had flowers sent to my work for our anniversary. So pickin' cute!

today is better

Here is a breakdown of yesterday:
- Wake up for the 8th day in a row with a migraine
- Leave work for doctor appointment
- Prescription for Imitrex
- Pay almost 50 dollars for nine pills (my insurance, thankfully, payed the other 270 dollars)
- Take Imitrex, feel drunk and get a worse headache
- Take second Imitrex, get and even worse headache
- Work for the next two and a half hours with an intensified migraine, feeling drunk
- Nurse Visit right after work, get a shot (in my behind!) of super anti-inflammatory
- Study
- Take a final

Today, however, is my one year anniversary with my beloved Bobby, we are getting married in 5 months, we are both done with our terms of school, and get to go on a fancy date tonight.

Yes, today is better.

that's it

now I am irritated. I took this stupid pill of this stupid medicine and it made my head hurt worse again! It feels like my brain is trying to shove it's way out of my skull. This medicine is wicked expensive and it doesn't even work. Thankfully my insurance paid for most of the cost of the pills, otherwise I'd be even more angry. This really sucks.

side effects

One hour after taking my first Imitrex, and here are the side effects I have so far. Ears ringing (this is not listed as a side effect for this drug, but it's happening), dizziness, heaviness, weakness, and nausea.

Thankfully I am not experiencing swollen eyelids.

head examination

Dr. Donovan told me pretty much what I expected. She prescribed migraine medication for me, told me to take a B vitamin supplement, and that I need to find a way to relieve stress so that I can avoid getting the headaches. I can't run and I can't swim, and I am not sure what to try next.

If I can't avoid getting migraines, I can get migraine prevention medication prescribed, but I would rather not resort to that if I don't have to.

umm..... just so you know

I have the cutest fiancee ever.

shut out

I finally got my mp3 all loaded up with new songs. This morning I listened to some of my favorite worship songs all the way to work. It was so nice. True to my overly emotional nature, some of the songs moved me so much I cried a little, but no one seemed to notice, so I think it is okay.

I love to worship God. Even if I am just sitting on a bus. It is so wonderful.

Since Cherise is so awesome, and I just want to be like Cherise, I got a baby chicken too! Mine is named Pinky Chicken, Avenger of the... pinkies....

today is good because

There are 5 months and 5 days until I get married. 5' 5" is also my height. There has to be something profound about that.

head

I haven't posted in a while, this migraine headache of mine has kept me from doing much besides sleeping, whining, and cleaning.

It was fun to see Nick in Seattle, and it's always great to hang out with my fiancee, but aside from that I didn't enjoy the trip much. It would have been a lot of fun, I think, if it weren't for this confounded headache. (which I still have, it's just not bad enough to keep from working anymore)

motion pictures

Today I have to throw together a one page response to Dr. Stranelove, but that's alright because I really enjoyed that film. Tonight, I finally get to see a movie that I have seen before. We are watching Annie Hall. I don't remember much about the movie, but I think it will be easier to write about it having seen it more than once.

I can't decide which my favorite of term has been. I loved Bicylce Theives, not only is it an amazing movie, but that kid Bruno is too great. I really enjoyed The Seventh Seal... it was such a powerful look into the desperate spiritual condition we are in without a true relationship with the Lord, without truly knowing Him. And Dr. Strangelove, of course, was a very chilling movie, somehow made scarier because it was so funny.

Maybe I will have three favorites.

Giorno della Donna

Please accept this flower as we celebrate all women on this Italian holiday. - Torrefazione Italia.

A coffee shop gave me a flower this morning. A yellow tulip. It was so sweet and fun to go in for a cup of coffee and be given a flower as well. Normally I'm not one for women's days and things of that nature, but I'll take a cute yellow flower any day.

p.s. I did not burn down the house, and I did the eat the pizza bread, but I'm not sure I would have called it edible.

good ol' OHSU patients

The four foot mafia told me this story this morning.

Mina and Dr. Tolle were speaking in the outer office where everyone except Dr. Tolle has their desks. The door was propped open, and through that door rolled a man in a wheel chair. Without saying a word to either of my bosses, he rolled right into Dr. Tolle's inner office. Dr. Tolle asked if she could help him, and he replied, "no, I'm just coming in for a smoke break."

I'll bet this stuff is made of grapes

I was invited to two wine tastings this weekend. How weird is that? Wine tastings... our internet installer had quite a bit to say about wine tastings. Aside from the above comments, I can't remember the other things he said, but it was funny. Maybe Bob can remember... Seriously though, that guy was so funny.

Needless to say, I did not go to either wine tasting party. Not only did I want to spend some time at home with my fiancee, I don't like wine. And I'm finding I don't like parties that much either.

I think I am boring.

Wedding

We've picked a date. On August 20th, 2005 Bob Ham and I will be married.

social events!

Yesterday I was feeling sad and lonley, and wanted to hang out with people. And with very little effort, I ended up with non-stop hanging out action. Justin sent out an email announcing a show, and through a very dynamic flow chart, Adam was convinced to go with me. After an advising appointment after work Michael called and invited me to come see Michelle and her photographs at the Starbucks employee show in the Pearl. After that, I got the chocolate gelato I'd been craving all day, followed by some pizza and a great book called "Mother's Assistant" written in 1856. Adam came and we got to hear Justin try and sing after being voiceless for 5 days. Then it was home to my loving fiancee, and quickly to sleep.

I want chocolate gelato

Today I feel lonely, tired, and sad. I want to go home and go to bed.

Paging Dr. Bean

I just saw Mr. Bean at my work!

Obviously, he was not the real Mr. Bean, but he sure looked like him. It was kind of scary seeing this Bean-like man dressed as a doctor. As incompetent and strange Mr. Bean is made out to be, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near him in a medical setting.

seriously, stop calling me that

My co-worker Michelle answered the phone yesterday and was telling the person on the other line she would transfer the caller to me:
Michelle: I'm going to transfer you to Lalita now, she will be able to answer your questions.
Michelle: No, it's Lalita.
Michelle: Lalita, L-A-L-I-T-A
Michelle: Okay, I'm going to transfer you now
*Ring*
Me: POLST Program, this is Lalita
Caller: Hello Malita....

She spelled my name. Spelled my freaking name and this woman still called me Malita. *sigh*

welcome to the family

Well folks, Bob and I have added another member to our happy home. Following our first creation, What's In A Name?, we've added another blog dedicated to entertainment via the possible viloation of other people's privacy. Welcome to Overheard, a place for Bob and I to record and share the myriad of conversations we overhear throught the day. Have some funny eavesdropping moments of your own? Send Bob or I an email, and we'll get you added to the eavesdropping family.

so cute

This morning I saw one of the cutest things. There was an old, stooped, gray haired couple, shuffling hand in hand down a hallway. They were dressed almost identically, brown shoes, tan slacks with creases ironed in, and dark sweaters. (His was black, hers dark brown.) It was so cute to see them, holding each others wrinkled hands, slowly going their way together.

I can't wait until Bobby and I are a cute, wrinkly old couple that still loves to hold hands.