Dear Doctor(s) at Kaiser,

Diagnosis: Bilateral Ankle Tendonitis

So I was told I would be receiving:
1-A visit to Podiatry
2-Treatment at Physical Therapy
3-Ankle braces

Now...when I thought about ankle braces I thought of something black, spandex-y and trim, yet strong. I was somewhat okay about this:


But then you went and got me this, notice how it extends WAY past the ankle:



Can we talk about this? Especially the part in which you mentioned I had to wear *both* of these at the same time. Not easy.

I'm definitely okay with the Motrin and Vicodin you prescribed earlier. And really I just wanted some time off work. Instead you gave me these hideous shoes. I can't even bring myself to include the photo of the post-operative shoe you put me in to use with the splint because my "cute" shoes were unable to accommodate it(the white appartus). I left your facility last night in tears--I came for help and you put me in ugly shoes. That's cruelty.

It's enough to make me want to take more Vicodin. How else am I going to cope?

Be Happy. Now. 12/15/06

Be Happy. Now.

Tuesday-12/12/06:
1-Dinner out at Red Lobster for the Phil's birthday.
2-Bella Boo pointing at the cartoon lobster on her kid's menu and whispering to me, "I want that!"
3-Meds from the doctor. Good meds.
4-Coffee. More Coffee.
5-Phil sharing the birthday money love.

Wednesday-12/13/06:
1-Taking good meds.
2-Sleep.
3-Sympathy from others.
4-Seeing kids and Phil at lunch.
5-Smoking with Dave at break time.

Thursday-12/14/06:
1-Coffee
2-Short day at work
3-Sleep.
4-Starting my newest project: http://authenticwealthexperiment.blogspot.com
5- Solid sleep. Good dinner.

Friday-12/15/06
1-Coffee.
2-A Slow Day At Work = Time to Catch Up on School Work
3-Seeing the kiddos and Phil at lunch.
4-Ankle tendonitis getting a bit better.
5-Napping on couch and kids not bothering me.

My Project: Be Happy. Now. 12/11/06

Be Happy. Now.
1-Bella Boo singing "Dinkle, dinkle wittle star."
2-Funny morning show
3-Rockin' parking spots at Starbucks (both times today) and at Barnes and Noble
4-New coffee drink. Yum. Made special upon request.
5-New York Times---need I say more?

Today *is* my birthday!

Nearly every year I forget to check the horoscope that says, "If today is your birthday..." Well, this year I checked it online. I got a handful printed out and I figured this would be a good experiment to see who is a genius in astrology and could stand for a bit more practice.

Here they are:

1) From Holiday Mathis at Delaware Online:
If today is your birthday: It's a year of revelations. You're trusted with information and taught skills that will allow you to excel. A transportation upgrade comes this month. Stop resisting love, and let yourself be take care of in January. Cancer and Libra people adore you.

2) From Kim Allen Daily at LovePsychic.Com
Happy Birthday Sagittarius: You couldn't receive a better birthday gift than having Jupiter, the planet of wealth, prosperity and luck enter your sign on Thanksgiving Day! Take this as an indication of massive good fortune! With Saturn already acting as a helper with your career issues and getting you job rewards. Now, comes Jupiter bearing all sorts of wonderful surprises and the biggest will be the urge to expand! [ed. note: define "expand" please] Jupiter is the icing on the cake! Oh boy! Expect to expand your mind and spirit! [ed. note: Oh..much better...I can handle my mind and spirit expanding.] The need to better yourself through education is strong. You will also seek a closer relationship with your inner self and the One Most High [ed. note: I'm guessing she means God, as I've got a lot of friendships with those who could be deemed "most high."] Pluto the planet of transformation is there to make sure you remember the things you've learned about yourself over the past nine years. [ed. note: how weird is is that she just picked "9 years" out of the air like that? I didn't put in my birth year. I'm 29 today and I've learned *a lot* in the last 9 years!] Any blessings you obtain now will be met with maturity and appreciation! [ed. note: That's an affirmative!] Love is a given! You'll meet so many new people you won't know what to do! Pace yourself and have a great time!

3) From Courant.com, Sydney Omarr Horoscope:
If today is your birthday: The excitement of testing out new ideas and learning to be resourceful could be a major theme. Many cherished goals and ideas that were once paramount to your happiness get tossed between now and February. But in February, as well as June and September, you can successfully launch new plans or find ways to make huge improvements in the direction of your life. This might mean an exciting opportunity is offered out of the blue or a new addition to the family becomes a focal point [ed. note: He's talking about a dog or cat right?!] One thing is sure - whatever turns up in your life during those times will benefit you in some way.


4) From PsychicChat.Com:
Your Birthday Forecast - December 5 - Your spirit guide is the Eagle, which will lend yhou the authentic power to take a leap of faith and soar towards a long held dream this year. If you practice the art of moving with your intuition, a whole new level of psychic ability will emerge. To heal emotional wounds from the past, you'll have to reexamine some heavy events and get honest about your personal motives. Wear blue and indigo to enhance your intellectual understanding and gain an edge in all communications. When others make you uneasy, simply focus on what you can do to change the situation instead of avoiding or confronting them. Make your family and other loved ones your top priority to cultivate the emotional stability so essential to your sense of well-being. You'll visit a wonderful new place, and may even be tempted to move there! Your lucky months are December and September. Your lucky numbers are 6, 8, 19, 21 and 37.

5) From DailyHoroscopes.Com:
If today is your birthday: Melodramas are not necessary around you because you just let them fly right over your head. You know how to weed through the important matters and that puts you in a position of power. Lecturing and teaching may be something you might consider for future employment--full or part time. You are resourceful and can guide others as well as yourself. You are fond of wealth and tend to find ways to add to your estate. Today is one of those days of planning and searching for ways to help other as well as yourself. Allow yourself some time of relaxation. Perhaps a bookstore or library this afternoon will add to your enjoyment. You may be happily involved with friends this afternoon. Good surprises happen--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

So there I have it. I'll see which ones were the most accurate in the days to follow and post back with the results.

Lifefull

I had really believed that I coined that term...that beautiful phrase, "Lifefull." Until I Googled it and had my reality checked. How about, "Lifeful." Awww....no, probably not. Well, maybe.

I am writing a persuasive essay for my Effective Writing class and the topic I chose was Science and Happiness. In researching it, I came across two poetically useful and well, lifefull blogs.

The first one is The Happiness Project. In particular I find her Gretchen Commandments so very good. I don't hold the same commandments for myself. But I will be adding my own version to the right-hand side of the screen soon. I also like the column in which she lists the theories on happiness that she rejects. Refreshing and it helps that I hold the same opinion of those theories.

The second one is 37 Days. If it is your first visit, click on the link in the upper left hand corner, "First Time Here?" as it will explain the idea behind it.

Now, I don't choke up easily as I take two very good medications that keep me from getting down with emotions and anxiety and such. But reading--the background of her blog, the idea behind it, her process with it--made my eyes well up and my nose start to sting in anticipation of a mucus onslaught. In addition, she is a writer. A dreamweaver of words. The type of writing that takes you so fast that you don't even realize that you left reading a few exits ago and are now feeling the words. Musical. Vibrant. And as I said, lifefull.

Enjoy.
Lifefully,
Jen