Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Personal Thought for the Day #4
Me thinks that registration for the Seattle Danskin Triathlon this year may NOT be worth the effort after two hours wasted attempting to sign up on line. I could have finished the race in less time than it's taking me to register.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Happy 92nd Birthday
My Dad turned 92 on February 8, 2009.
I am honored to have sat at the table with him accompanied by my husband and my son (and by my daughter long distance from Florence by cell connection). We had ice cream cake while he drank a Heineken.
Dad, you rock!
My post from last year on this special day tells more of your story.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Personal Thought for the Day #3
I saw 24 patients in the hospital today; it took me 12 hours to finish my work. When I got in the car to drive home, the tears blinded me; for them and for me.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Personal Thought for the Day #2
I know it is 4:30 AM when I hear the Seattle Times and the New York Times papers hit the concrete slab of the ramp leading to the P.J. Family Home. I don't even need to look at the clock anymore.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Personal Thought for the Day # 1
All who say with sincerity, "I never want to be a burden to my family [when I get old]", need acknowledge that success is predicated on a plan, a meticulous and thoughtful plan.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The List of 99 Meme
I found this meme this past weekend as I was surfing the net wasting time. Unfortunately, I'm unable to give credit where credit is due as I cut and pasted before taking note of the web site. That won't keep me from posting the rules of play and the challenge. These are "sillies" and I'm offering it up today because if I don't lighten up and play a bit, I'll find myself ranting, raving, and cursing the fates. And, we wouldn't want that.
So, here's what this meme is about: A List of 99 possible things one might have done (so far) in ones' life. Gee, just 99? Anyway, here's what you do: Copy and paste the 99 items below into your blog and then boldface the things you've done. Add an explanation if you like. Kind of fun to see what you have and haven't done on this list of 99.
1. Started your own blog (hello)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (me bad...)
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (does a large hill count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (and never will; don't need to as I done it in my dreams)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (blogging...ha!)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (oh yes indeed, several times)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (no, but I've been to the base of the SoL and looked up!)
18. Grown your own vegetables (tomatoes)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (there she hangs in the Louvre in Paris)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (too dangerous for my tastes)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (are you insane?/never)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (no but did a sprint triathlon once)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (do parents count as ancestors?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (does HTML count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (does rappelling down a 30 foot natural rock face count? I did it once and concluded it wasn't my thing.)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (twice: 1970 and 2008)
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (Vegas 1984...no more details outta me!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (no, but I was on NBC in 1962; "Play Your Hunch")
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (no, but I've eaten boxes and boxes)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (once in college and then turned around and went sledding right afterward...)
65. Gone sky diving (and never will; have begged my children to hold off any desire they may have until I'm dead)
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (not yet but this one is on my list)
67 Bounced a check (girl, please....)
68. Flown in a helicopter (as a medical intern, flying out as part of a team picking up sick patients from other emergency rooms)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (not knowingly)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (maybe a toe bone; maybe)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person (flew over on a clear day and from 30,000 feet it was stunning)
80. Published a book (I wish)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the paper (the Cornell Daily Sun back in 1975)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (get outta here...)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (maybe)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (how famous do they have to be?/doubt it)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (two!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (and a yellow jacket and an asp which were worse)
Go for it.....
So, here's what this meme is about: A List of 99 possible things one might have done (so far) in ones' life. Gee, just 99? Anyway, here's what you do: Copy and paste the 99 items below into your blog and then boldface the things you've done. Add an explanation if you like. Kind of fun to see what you have and haven't done on this list of 99.
1. Started your own blog (hello)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (me bad...)
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (does a large hill count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (and never will; don't need to as I done it in my dreams)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (blogging...ha!)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (oh yes indeed, several times)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (no, but I've been to the base of the SoL and looked up!)
18. Grown your own vegetables (tomatoes)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (there she hangs in the Louvre in Paris)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (too dangerous for my tastes)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (are you insane?/never)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (no but did a sprint triathlon once)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (do parents count as ancestors?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (does HTML count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (does rappelling down a 30 foot natural rock face count? I did it once and concluded it wasn't my thing.)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (twice: 1970 and 2008)
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (Vegas 1984...no more details outta me!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (no, but I was on NBC in 1962; "Play Your Hunch")
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (no, but I've eaten boxes and boxes)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (once in college and then turned around and went sledding right afterward...)
65. Gone sky diving (and never will; have begged my children to hold off any desire they may have until I'm dead)
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (not yet but this one is on my list)
67 Bounced a check (girl, please....)
68. Flown in a helicopter (as a medical intern, flying out as part of a team picking up sick patients from other emergency rooms)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (not knowingly)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (maybe a toe bone; maybe)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person (flew over on a clear day and from 30,000 feet it was stunning)
80. Published a book (I wish)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the paper (the Cornell Daily Sun back in 1975)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (get outta here...)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (maybe)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (how famous do they have to be?/doubt it)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (two!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (and a yellow jacket and an asp which were worse)
Go for it.....
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Sweetest Sleep
Sometimes when you can't ever seem to get it.......and then, when you do, it is that much sweeter.
I'm talking about sleep, ya'll.
My last post was about sleep, Shakespeare, and stress. That sleep (or lack thereof) plays such a prominent role in my life is no surprise to me. I struggle to get consistent rest, chalk up a sleep deficit easily, and know deeply that lack of good sleep makes my days so much harder. The last week spent overnight-ing with Mom five of the last seven nights only added to the deficit already in place. This sleep thing of mine has been going on for years, sometimes worse, occasionally better. I'm learning that the causes are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle; multiple and therefore as we say in medical lingo, multi-factorial.
I've been watching Oprah lately; she's had numerous guests on the show discussing disordered sleep, particularly for women in their 40's and beyond. Hormonal (thyroid, estrogen, progesterone) issues are obvious causes for restless nights. Some gurus of sleep issues in the "mature woman" tout the magic of "bio-identical" hormones for those of us in peri-menopause, menopause and beyond; formulas individually mixed at a compounding pharmacy. For many women, these trans dermal formulas have worked wonders. I'm still skeptical though, having been indoctrinated in the "western medicine" model complete with FDA warnings about any sort of estrogen replacement when our own supply dwindles. A scare with a funky breast biopsy in 2004 has me spooked. So, for me, estrogens in any form will not likely find a place in my repertoire for healthy sleep.
Hormones (or lack thereof) are but one piece of the puzzle. I believe that other pieces include genetics, how we handle stress (saving it up to be dealt with at night is my pattern), medications, and ignoring the rules of "sleep hygiene" (using the bed only for its two intended purposes). I tend to make the bed my home office (look at me right now, writing this post from my bed!). I also watch TV from the bed, talk on the phone from the bed (work and non-work calls), read and answer emails from the bed, and eat meals in bed. Is it any wonder the BED is not what the BED was meant to be in my life?
I digress....
Last night I had one of the best nights in recent memory. Like a stone dropped in a deep well, I was sleepy (rather than tired) when I turned out the light at 10 PM. I slept until 8:30 AM and never awakened once during those hours. Amazing. Every once in a blue moon, I lasso the prize.
I'm talking about sleep, ya'll.
My last post was about sleep, Shakespeare, and stress. That sleep (or lack thereof) plays such a prominent role in my life is no surprise to me. I struggle to get consistent rest, chalk up a sleep deficit easily, and know deeply that lack of good sleep makes my days so much harder. The last week spent overnight-ing with Mom five of the last seven nights only added to the deficit already in place. This sleep thing of mine has been going on for years, sometimes worse, occasionally better. I'm learning that the causes are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle; multiple and therefore as we say in medical lingo, multi-factorial.
I've been watching Oprah lately; she's had numerous guests on the show discussing disordered sleep, particularly for women in their 40's and beyond. Hormonal (thyroid, estrogen, progesterone) issues are obvious causes for restless nights. Some gurus of sleep issues in the "mature woman" tout the magic of "bio-identical" hormones for those of us in peri-menopause, menopause and beyond; formulas individually mixed at a compounding pharmacy. For many women, these trans dermal formulas have worked wonders. I'm still skeptical though, having been indoctrinated in the "western medicine" model complete with FDA warnings about any sort of estrogen replacement when our own supply dwindles. A scare with a funky breast biopsy in 2004 has me spooked. So, for me, estrogens in any form will not likely find a place in my repertoire for healthy sleep.
Hormones (or lack thereof) are but one piece of the puzzle. I believe that other pieces include genetics, how we handle stress (saving it up to be dealt with at night is my pattern), medications, and ignoring the rules of "sleep hygiene" (using the bed only for its two intended purposes). I tend to make the bed my home office (look at me right now, writing this post from my bed!). I also watch TV from the bed, talk on the phone from the bed (work and non-work calls), read and answer emails from the bed, and eat meals in bed. Is it any wonder the BED is not what the BED was meant to be in my life?
I digress....
Last night I had one of the best nights in recent memory. Like a stone dropped in a deep well, I was sleepy (rather than tired) when I turned out the light at 10 PM. I slept until 8:30 AM and never awakened once during those hours. Amazing. Every once in a blue moon, I lasso the prize.
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