To Teach or Not to Teach

Yesterday, I was having a little informal chitchat with the HR manager. She had been out of the office for the past couple of weeks and the last time we talked, I was crying on the phone about how my Grandma died. It was that kind of catching up.

Since we got to talking about my MBA, we talked about my future plans. I was pretty circumspect and non-committal in my responses (since I have been interviewing for jobs). She suggested that I get into teaching. She isn't the first person to suggest that. In fact, I have been actively avoiding the teaching profession all my life. I feel like I have been dodging the "You should teach." obstacle course all my life. Both my parents are professors and the thought of me going into teaching seems too pat and ridiculous, like teaching is genetic. I have had some informal teaching experience as a music director for a summer theater in college. I enjoyed it a lot and was able to teach "Annie Get Your Gun" and "42nd St." to a chorus of kids.

Now, with MBA in hand, I'm looking for my next career step. Whether that will be working a corporate day and teaching evening business classes, or just a straightforward 9 to 5 corporate job, is to be seen. After some late night brainstorming with my mom, I have been feeling a bit better about embracing my inner educator. Yet today I got an interview appointment for tomorrow for a regular 9 to 5 corporate job. It's pretty funny how life works, huh? Embracing one career avenue, while the current avenue picks up a bit and gets enticing.

Law & Order Sims Style

Last night after watching a SVU re-run, I realized what my Sims TV Ville neighborhood is missing. I made two households: Losvu and Losci.

To my dismay, my Sim Olivia and Elliot aren't getting along. Elliot is hitting it off with Casey. On the up side, Goren and Eames are best buds. When creating characters in the Sims, you have to design the face, pick a horoscope and pick a life goal (money, knowledge, love, family, or popularity). Since I made two households of cops, I made each characters' life goal knowledge. Dr. Huang and Casey Novak are the only non-cops. It was tough picking horoscopes for characters. Goren is a Scorpio and Mike Logan is a Gemini. For kicks, I made Maggie Wheeler a teen in the Losci household. Since Eames has had some hideous haircuts over the years, I picked the nicest one for her Sim.

In the Loscvu household, partners are room-mates. John Munch is a social butterfly who talks to everyone as much as possible. Elliot loves the pinball machine. Fin sacks out watching TV a lot. Dr. Huang is a crazy fitness buff. Their house looks like a red brick police station.

Their neighbors, the Losci household, have a white brick house. I had the idea of designing the house to look like a lighthouse. Get it? Investigators shine the light into dark places. I picked roomies based upon gender. I'm hoping that Goren will start exhibiting some OCD quirks.

Cure Worse Than Condition

I developed seasonal allergies a couple years ago. Late spring into summer is the worst season. I haven't been able to figure out which pollen I react to. It was a little ridiculous how I found out that I have allergies. For a couple months, I got really bad vertigo and heart palpitations. I wasn't too concerned until it started happening while I drove. So, I spoke to my doctor. Since I had a stroke and have a heart implant, any medical weirdness puts my doctor on defcon 3 alert level. He had me wear a holter monitor for a week.

My heart wasn't doing anything when I felt the vertigo so with that ruled out, he sent me to a ENT doctor. They ran a bunch of tests and found out that my ears were completely filled with fluid - hence the vertigo. My PCP prescribed me Allegra. The drug works but my God, the side effects are HORRIBLE!

I'd take dizziness any day over the mood swings, nausea, back pain, and general lethargy. I feel like it takes a lot of effort just to focus my eyes. Last night I couldn't fall asleep due to wheezing breaths that caught in my throat which lead to violent coughing fits. I coughed so hard, I thought I would vomit. After this week, I will only take Allegra as needed, not on a daily basis.

Tanning Alternative

I decided not to lie out this weekend but I did want some color. So I tried this out. So far, so good. It smells like carrots for the first hour and somehow taking a shower makes your skin look darker.

Memorial Day Weekend

Nothing much happened. I slept in a lot, caught up on TiVo, got back into playing The Sims, and re-read "The Golden Compass" and "The Subtle Knife". My head and sinuses have been feeling awful because the pollen lately has been wicked. In the morning, my car is basically green from the yellow pollen coating it and the blue color of my car. Allegra save me!

Since the traditional TV season has ended, and a lot of shows are coming to cable this summer, my TiVo is getting a workout! This might sound weird but back in March I cancelled my Daily Show and Colbert Report season pass. It got to a point where all the episodes were stressing me out. It was like I had nightly TV homework. I was already stressing about my MBA homework so I jettisoned the season pass. Now, since I have so much free time, I'm back baby!

The Sims have been my summer past-time for a while. Since I got a new computer, my old neighborhoods and families are gone so I can start from scratch. I debated about making a Sims me since I wind up unhealthily attached to a computer game version of me. But I caved and made a Sim me. I also made a TV Ville neighborhood. I've got Heroes and Battlestar Galactica characters living there. The Petrelli brothers are raising Claire, Hiro and Ando are living together exuding HoYay. Baltar is still a bastard in my game. He cheated on Six with D'Anna and now Six won't give him the time of day. Sadly, my game Six has more self esteem than TV Six.

"The Golden Compass" is being turned into a movie so I thought I'd re-read the series. The trailer looks fabulous and I'm pleased with the casting. Every winter, I need a fantasy epic fix (I blame Peter Jackson). As I re-read the books, I remembered that "The Golden Compass" was my least favorite of the trilogy. The first half of the book, I was distracted with trying to figure out where the hell the story is taking place. Lyra was too much of a brat for me to like her. "The Subtle Knife" has clearer settings and I really like Will. Plus, Dust is finally explained. I was up until 5AM this morning finishing "The Subtle Knife". This has been my reading ritual all my life. If I start a book, I need to finish it within 24 hours. The only way I can put the book down is due to obligations from the real world. Basically, give me a good series to read I will become a hermit.

Baby Rasputin

Summer Movies I Want to See

Lucky You
Spider-Man 3
28 Weeks Later
Shrek the Third
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Knocked Up
Ocean's Thirteen
Evan Almighty
Transformers
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Simpsons Movie
The Bourne Ultimatum
Stardust
The Invasion

If I do get to all of these movies, I will be spending about $150 this summer.

Big Weekend Plans

Actually, I have none. I'd like to sleep in a lot, take my summer clothes out of storage which will entail loads of laundry. Hopefully, I can lie out somewhere and get some sun while I do some reading Saturday.

Sunday, I would like to pick up some cat products such as bowls, litterbox, carrier, and book.

With my summer clothes out and cleaned, I can see what I need to buy. Darn it, I might need to go clothes shopping! Life is so tough.

Fun With Kid Cousins

One of my cousins, who is 8, has a pink Razr phone. Let's call her K I have another 8 year old cousin who was completely astounded by this. I'll call her H. All last week, H was like a wind up doll. Breathlessly she'd announce, "Do you know that K has a pink Rzr and she got it in first grade? But P (H's older brother who is 13) just got his first cell phone."

For fun, I'd turn to H wide eyed and ask her, "Do you know K has a cell phone?" and H would launch into the same breathless announcement. I'm an expert in using little kids as entertainment or my own slaves. I can make up a game for finding as much trash as possible. Or like last week, K & H were driving me nuts so I asked them if they could fit their fist their mouths. H could, so I told her, "Good, show your dad." I'm also good at getting kids in trouble...

Seriously, a Razr in first grade? What the hell? Very seriously, I told my cousins that I got my first cell phone when I was 22. I leave out the part where that cell phones didn't exist before then.

I'm Actually An Adult Now

I came to this realization last night as I was driving home from celebrating Mom's birthday with the family. How did this realization hit me? It happened in stages.

I shared an idea that has been marinating in my brain with my dad. He listened to it and might possibily act on it. After I told him my idea, I backed off on selling it with a bunch of self-deprecating talk, "I know I have a lot of ideas that don't appeal to you..." and "Just tell me if I'm way off base..." He shut that talk down and even built on my idea! He shut me down in a really awesome way. He told me that he respects my ideas and I have really good insights.

We ordered out for dinner and my dad asked me to call it in. That simple request has a history of pissing me off since I was a teen. But, I understand now why my dad doesn't like calling in orders (he has an accent and he is hard of hearing) and my job is calling in vendor orders. So, it made sense to me and I wasn't pissed off.

At the end of the evening, my dad asked my opinion on something. The question got my idea generator brain revving. He asked me on purpose! Because he knows I can get information and he respects my opinions. I don't know whether it was getting a Master's degree shifted the tide or Grandma's death but who cares? My parents consider me an adult now.

GPA 3.36

I Can Live With This

Your Drag Queen Name Is:

Mama Mammaries

Drag Queen Name Generator

Star Wars Factions

If you're a Star Wars fan, which faction do you belong to?

I think I am an Expanded Universalist: These fans are jazzed by "Star Wars" spinoffs and apocrypha -- the "Clone Wars" animated series (2003-2005), the various novels, comics, books, video games and TV specials. "Expanded universe," it's called by insiders. "It's so much more elaborate, the stories and substories, than what you get in the movies," Thompson says. "It really expands your imagination and brings the movies closer."

Yup, this fits. But I also hate Jar Jar and believe Han shot first. I have an entire shelf of EU books. My favorite author is Timothy Zahn. The absolute worst EU book I have read was Star Wars Crystal Star. I haven't gotten into the latest books following Han and Leia's kids though.

Happy Birthday Ma!

My mom and I both are born on the cusps of two signs. I'm a Sagittarius and Scorpio. Mom is a Gemini and Taurus. So here are her two horoscopes on her birthday:

Gemini
The events in your life are picking up speed, yet they still may not be moving fast enough for you now. You might feel like you aren't making enough progress, but reality could just be giving you some much needed breathing room. Reassess your direction and put a new plan into action, if necessary.

Taurus
You may be pulled into an unsolvable dilemma now presented by your own feelings. This isn't totally uncomfortable, yet you are aware of unexpressed emotional changes affecting your moods. Make decisions based on your most important needs, rather than self-indulgence. Let common sense be your greatest ally for the days ahead.

Since my mom taught me to read and write, you can thank her for this blog! I think the picture below is hilarious.

Tipsy Shopping

A couple weeks ago, I headed to a local CVS after Moody St. cocktails. I wound up spending $80 and asking a mechanic about loofah sponges.

I felt an urgent need to shop at CVS that evening because I had found out a woman four years my junior has been using anti-wrinkle moisturizer. Considering, I already have gray hairs, I realized that I needed to start a facial regimen stat. I don't particularly take care of my appearance and some days I just roll out of bed and head out (and it shows). The time of me coasting on my good skin and hair is over, I need upkeep and effort before I show my face to the world.

I know Oil of Olay has a long proud history in skin care for a reason. It works. So, I picked this up. I also wanted to get an easy daily wash. So, I got this. I am very pleased with the results I have gotten so far.

How did I spend the remaning $62? I spent about $30 on Bumble and Bumble conditioner. The rest was a blur. I did want to get a loofah sponge and saw a CVS employee in a blue shirt. So I asked him where were the loofah. That is when I saw his name embroidered onto the blue shirt under Something Auto Body. Oops! Tipsy...

Kittens Born!

6 kittens, 5 boys. I'm asking for one of the silver ones. Eeeh!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

I had a really good first day back to work yesterday. It's nice to be busy and distracted from Grandma's death. Tonight, I'm returning to Tae Kwon Do lessons after 3 weeks away. Hopefully, I won't be too out of shape!

Sunday night, I was making a pot of coffee for iced coffee. I was in the next room as it brewed but I did notice that there was a lot of hissing. Lo and behold, as I entered the kitchen, coffee and grinds were all over the kitchen. The carafe had a huge hole in it and the water reservoir had overflowed spilling coffee grounds everywhere. I didn't think I could make it, going 24 hours without coffee, but I was able to survive and picked up a brand new coffeemaker last night.

I don't think I got the dream job that I interviewed for since I haven't heard from the company for weeks. So, me and my shiny new MBA are still on a search. Sigh...

Me and My MBA

I received my MBA yesterday. My MBA celebration pics are in my flickr stream. My family took photos too so keep an eye out for more photos! The commencement ceremony was held under a tent since it feels like February and we're catching up on precipitation this past week. The keynote speaker was Gary Hirschberg. His speech was very inspiring plus he got in a couple awesome digs at the Bush administration. Now, I will never have homework again. My evenings will be free and I have a lot of time and opportunity to get healthy/lose weight. I was actually happy yesterday and didn't think about Grandma. For the first time in a week, I have gone a day without weeping. Man, I'm pooped.

Cocoon of Love

Here is my grandmother's obituary. This past week has been full of ups and downs. Tuesday and Friday were major weeping days for me. Wednesday and Thursday were okay because I was able to help the family by organizing and volunteering for some funeral tasks. Since I had never been to a wake, my mother prepared me for a somber and emotional evening. But what actually happened was basically a party for Grandma. One of my friends was amazed when she walked into the funeral home. It was very difficult seeing Grandma in the coffin. A couple cousins were very upset about how she didn't look like herself. I was upset initially but realized that it wasn't her. The grandma I remember isn't the body, it was the spirit and personality. In fact, I wonder if it's cathartic to have a plastic looking person in the coffin? So many people came to the wake, it was amazing. I got to meet a bunch of my mom's cousins. I have 22 cousins and my mom has around 10. Some of her cousins had babysat her so it was nice seeing that connection and support for my mom.

I think because the wake was so upbeat, it delayed a lot of feelings of loss so the funeral was very emotional. We had a bagpipe player pipe for her. Hearing that music, and seeing all 8 of her grandsons carrying her coffin completely broke me down. The church service was very nice and inclusive. I was dreading communion because at most masses I have attended, the priest doesn't even acknowledge that there are non-Catholics in existence. This priest acknowledged and offered to bless non-Catholics! So amazing and cathartic for the family. The motorcade to the graveyard was huge. You do the math, 22 grandchildren, 9 children plus assorted friends and relatives. It was impressive looking at the line of cars stopping traffic through Braintree. The burial was awful. Afterwards, we had a reception at my aunt and uncles' place. Lots of booze and yummy food. I got to catch up with cousins who I haven't seen that much, hug family and really speak from the heart.

This is why my family is so amazing. We're resilient and strong. Even if all of us feel like we're imploding from sorrow, we have at least 31 other people to lean on. Thankfully, our moods don't completely sync. If someone is feeling crumpled and weak one day, there is always someone else who has found some peace and strength to share. Friday night, my brother, his girlfriend and I stood for Grandma at Shabbat service. It helped me a lot and gave me a bit of peace and strength.

Now, when I go to sleep I feel my head in my grandmother's lap. She is humming and stroking my hair. That is the part of her that I keep with me. My second mommy who comforted me when I lost my first tooth and who told me it was wonderful that I am becoming a Jew.

She is Gone

I don't have any Grandmas now.

Grandma

This weekend my grandmother was rushed to South Shore hospital because she was having trouble breathing and was in pain. She was stabilized and put on a morphine IV. She was dying. Dying by inches. The entire family kept a bedside vigil this weekend. Her breathing started slowing down and then Sunday her face became waxen. When my family left Sunday night, her extremities were losing warmth. We thought she would pass last night but she is still hanging on even though her morphine is incredibly high. The plan is to have her wake Thursday and funeral Friday. Hopefully, she'll pass on today. I cannot express how wonderful the staff at South Shore hospital are. We crammed 19 people into my grandmother's room to say goodbye to her and the staff brought us food throughout the day. If I was a millionaire, I would endow an entire wing of that hospital and name it after my Grandma.

Lack of sleep, unhealthy food, and uncontrollable crying jags are keeping me home this entire week (as part of a bereavement leave). I have already said goodbye to Grandma last week but seeing all my aunts, uncles and cousins in so much pain was really upsetting. I had no idea I could cry myself nauseous. She was a great grandma and during most of our vigil we reminisced about her. Grandpa is hanging in there so far. Send us strength and courage to survive this week.

Edge of a Migraine

Whenever I think to myself, "Gee I feel like I'm on the edge of a migraine", that Stevie Nicks song (The Edge of 17) gets lodged in my head. When I used to have migraines, I'd slowly lose my peripheral vision and my main vision would be obscured by twinkling white blobs.

I haven't had a real migraine since my stroke but sometimes my eyes feel pre-migrainey. Like right now. I have my peripheral vision but it feels like my eyes are shutters pulsating with my heartbeat. My temples are sore too. It's probably being pooped at the end of a long workweek.

Why Today is Awesome

It's great because it's a Friday and a payday. Today went up to the awesome level because when it started getting dark outside around 10:30, I went outside because I love this kind of weather. It turns out a couple engineer co-workers were already outside marveling at the sky. So I joined them as we shared stories of our favorite storms. We actually saw a bolt of lightning and stood around bemused as other co-workers rushed out to close their windows.

Then my boss came out to smile like a little boy over the ionized air. This is why working at this company kicks ass. We can stand outside like kids and be in awe of nature's power. So, if my job search falls through, it won't be the end of the world. I don't think my company will be okay with me running out barefoot into the rain though...

Relationship Money

I was reading this article about an engaged couple who are having money anxieties and needed to blog about it. The guy is worried about his fiance's debt: $6K? My God, that is nothing compared to what most people owe either on credit cards or in student debt! He already has $100K in retirement funds and a trust fund worth $320K. Yet he constantly worries about money. I think he needs more than financial counseling, he needs therapy ASAP! He feels like a jerk? Well good news, he is a jerk.

As the article and financial counselor pointed out, this couple is doing really well in terms of finances. Yet this dope wants a pre-nup. I'm fairly flexible and responsible with my money. I have savings and a decent 401K but I do love splurging here and there. I have amassed a decent amount of student loan debt but so far my credit rating is phenomenal. I would kill for just $6K in debt and a trust fund.

Money is the currency of trust and power in relationships. If I ever get married, I can't imagine asking for an allowance from my husband. It's all about 1 joint account and two separate individual accounts. I don't want hubby calling me up asking why did I spend $3 on a latte, you know? If I receive money as a gift, I get myself a gift because that's what the money is meant for. If it's a lot of money as a gift, I usually split it in half: half to spend and half to save. People who are stingy with money, usually are stingy with love. Like you have to earn their love and their love has strings attached (as if there's a payback period). It's simply not worth the aggravation. I came into an inheritance a while ago and it's gone now. Half went to paying off my car and school. The other half went to extravagant gifts, travel, and fun. It was fun having money and took a level of anxiety away from my life. But it was just a tool for me, a way to get things done. I can't let money mean anything more to me. It's not a symbol of love or self worth. It's purely functional. If money is something more than functional, I guess you're rich.

Sweating Through The Night

Since the last couple of days have been sunny and in the 80's, my apartment has been cooking. I live on the second floor of a duplex so whatever the temp is outside, it is 10 degrees hotter in my apt. It's bearable if there is a breeze. I haven't dusted my room fans off yet so I'm depending on natural breezes this week.

Last night there was a nice southerly breeze so I parked myself on my loveseat in front of the window to watch TV in my livingroom. My bedroom was getting nothing. I developed a technique to get to sleep though: sleep on top of my feather comforter facing bedroom windows. If it gets chilly overnight, I can always pull up a corner of my comforter and wrap myself. A breeze did pick up overnight and I slept well. Today is the last of the hot weather supposedly. Tomorrow we're getting thunderstorms. Hopefully the storm won't blow in tonight and announce itself with a crack of thunder like a gunshot at 3AM.

I'm Done

I finished my last MBA course last night at 8:30pm. My group presentation went well and was pretty darn persuasive. I got back a paper I had turned in last week, B-. I wasn't clear on the assignment and didn't realize it had to be a paper, I thought the professor said that we could just answer 7 questions. So, my paper had no flow.

Part of my group presentation was using persuasion techniques to convince the audience. I volunteered to be the pathos since our topic was the importance of music education and I wouldn't be alive if it was for music education. Cool facts: music lessons/involvement increase the amount of gray matter in your brain and strengthens your corpus callosum. Studies have shown that children's brains look structurally different from just 2 years of lessons. Also, musical children do better in school (thanks to a souped up brain).

It was kind of cool to use my stroke for my last class' assignment. Considering 3.5 years ago, I was such a mess that I tried to never mention my stroke and if something happened that made me feel "special" or damaged, I was reduced to a weeping mess. Another cool aspect of last night's class is that one of my classmates helped develop the implant that I have in my heart, that saves my life every day!

Grandma Update

My grandma isn't doing well. She had bronchitis and congestive heart failure so she went back to the rehab hospital which lead to going back to the hospital. Her heart is having problems plus she isn't eating so her blood sugar is screwed up. On top of all this, her doctors suspect that her cancer has spread to her lungs. All this info came in quiet torrents at my cousin's wedding. Quiet because we didn't want to ruin my cousin's day.

I took yesterday off to spend time with Grandma. My mom had spent the night with her. It's either the medication or her body breaking down, but she is really paranoid crazy. Beyond the regular Grandma loopy. I became fascinated with her paranoid ramblings after a while because the story she is concocting in her head would make an interesting book/movie. She ate a little bit and I was able to get her to sip some cranberry juice right before I left. I'm mentally preparing to lose her this summer at the latest. Then, I will be Grandma-less.

So How Did You Spend Your Cinco de Mayo?

I spent mine in Connecticut attending my cousin's wedding. I got down to the area Friday night, May 4, and stayed at the Marriott in Cromwell. You know, the hotel right across from Liquor World. Once settled in, I made a packie run and found out that there are no CVS or Walgreens within a 10 mile radius of Cromwell. The only ATM in the area is inside a Walmart. Boonies. Chilling in my hotel room with a bottle of wine, I ordered Children of Men. I love Clive Owen.

I watched Corinna, Corinna in the morning. I don't know why, but I love that movie. Then, my brother and his girlfriend arrived. Thanks to a fire alarm in the hotel, we saw a bunch of family members and figured out who was in which room. My room was right next to my uncle's family. I still think one of my cousins pulled the alarm. We waited out the fire alarm by hitting Liquor World again. My brother explained to his girlfriend that family weddings are like the Superbowl. I agreed that we needed some pre-game beverages. My parents showed up and we hung out in my room for a bit. I had to kick everyone out to get ready.

I bought this bra contraption for my dress. It was so sturdily built, I wound up converting it to strapless and my girls survived the evening high and padded. Sarah had lent me a pair of fabulous shoes with 3 inch heels that matched my dress perfectly. They were very comfortable when I tried them on but I am a novice in walking in heels. So basically, the rest of the night was me hobbling around and finding opportunities to go shoeless. I will skip describing the drama surrounding my brother, girlfriend and mother getting lost running an errand for the bride. It's a family tradition for one of us to get lost before a wedding ceremony.

The wedding was held in Middletown and the reception was at the Pavillion on Crystal lake. The ceremony was great. Not too formal or God-heavy. The bridal party looked gorgeous. A female minister conducted the ceremony. I know I'm a cold cynical person but a woman had already started crying as people were being seated. What the hell? Maybe churches make her cry? Or she's a recent divorcee but I knew I had to avoid looking at her throughout the ceremony because she'd either drag me down in weepiness or make me hoot with laughter.

The reception was excelllent and done to the hilt. They had a hors d'oeuvre station and passed hors d'oeuvres. The bar was open all night. There was a signature bride and groom drink - which was pretty cute and yummy. I got to meet a bunch of cousins boyfriends/girlfriends. So far, I approve. But I must say there is an unfortunate tendency to date someone who has a cousin's name. It's confusion central. The DJ was really good: lively and not too obnoxious. The younger kids spent the entire evening trying to score booze. Some were more successful than others. The dinner had 3 courses and each table got a bottle of wine. Around 10pm, we left with my brother's girlfriend as the DD.

We hung out in my room and broke open our bounty from Liquor World. Sam Adam's cherry wheat is divine BTW. Somehow, my room became party central with knocks on my door every 5 minutes. Half of those knocks were from rambunctious kiddie cousins which is when I started the 5 feet and over rule to be let in. The party ended around 2:30AM.

The next morning, I got to answer aunt and uncle questions if their kid had showed up in my room. One uncle acted like he was personally insulted when I told him neither of his kids showed up. Eh, he's an immature asshole. A bit of a warning, at this particular Marriott, breakfast isn't included. You have to pay. I got ambushed by a waitress about breakfast payment then I turned to my 8 year old cousin and put the breakfast on her mom's bill. I am cheap when I'm hungover. Good times were had all around and my cousin is a very happy woman. So, hurray!

You Get What You Pay For

I have finally realized why Payless promotes the sale of Buy One, Get One half off (aka BOGO). Out of every two sets of shoes, only 1 is good.

My Payless shopping has been cursed. I try on shoes, they feel fine and look great in the store but the second I get home it's like my feet are two sizes bigger. On my latest shopping trip I bought brown and black heels. The brown heels are fine so far. The black heels are sheer torture. I didn't walk Tuesday, I hobbled. Both pairs cost me $36. It's not just the fit. It's also the workmanship of their shoes. Soles made out of corkboard and heels that get worn down easily.

Today I am wearing my $50 Mia heels and I can walk. They look kick ass. I get what I paid for from Famous Footwear. So sayonara Payless. I have a pair of size 9 heels for adoption. I'll probably pick up these babies this weekend.

Novocain Update

I had a 10:15 appointment and it took the dentist two tries to get me numb. It was smooth sailing until one spot he hit with a drill. The novocain is finally wearing off now. Since he palpated my jaw a lot, it is fairly sore. I don't know how often he inject me either.

The good news is that I will see him again in October. Hopefully, my teeth will be perfect!

I am Alive

Though I'm getting another filling this morning so I won't necessarily feel alive for a while. It has been a couple crazy days.

My Tuesday night presentation class went well and got out early. Our final class is next Tuesday where we are supposed to give a 20 minute persuasive group presentation. My group's topic is the importance of music education. I volunteered to be the pathos persuasion since I was in a couple music brain studies due to my stroke. We also came up with a presentation tagline, "Save the music, save the world." No, I didn't come up with it. Two other members did. But cool "Heroes" linkage! I got a final grade for my 1.5 intensive elective, A-. Graduation certainly looks feasible. I got half my take home final done last night.

I have developed some kind of ear infection. When I lie down, I get shooting pain down my eustachian tube. Trying a steam cure, I started to take a hot shower last night but I had no hot water. After fiddling with my furnace, I walked back upstairs determined to call my oil company. Then I spied the switch to my furnace in the off position. Problem solved and I had a gorgeous shower. The ear seems pretty clear now. You know the ear clearing technique? Plugging your nose and blowing out that pops your ear. Yesterday all I got was a squeak of air and shooting pain.

Heroes Owns Me

I love origin stories and superheroes so this show is perfect for me. I tried not to get my hopes up because sci-fi TV has typically disappointed me. This is the Monday night show that makes me talk to the TV. The number of twists the show has revealed just in the first season has been astounding. Not just twists, they answered questions in a very cool way (Lost can learn a few things). Sylar is a very effective villain but I hope the TV show doesn't fall into the Buffy trap of killing off the Big Bad at the end of the season then introducing a new Big Bad the next season. It gets tiresome.

I don't love all the Heroes equally. Peter and Claire are my favorites and I usually fast forward through Niki/DL stuff. Mr. Bennett is getting up there on the cool factor. Mohinder is one of the stupidest scientists ever but he makes nice eye candy. After last night's episode, I had to look up Milo Ventimiglia to make sure I'm not a pervert (see below). Good news he's my age! Who knew Peter turned into Neo in five years? I am SO looking forward to his showdown with Sylar!