warning: I'm talking about my bloody vomit

Just a quick recap of my wisdom teeth extraction:

Arrived at the oral surgeon at 8:30, I was in the chair at 8:45. They put an IV in and obviously it was the sedation anesthesia, because that is the last thing I remember. (thank goodness)

I woke up feeling fuzzy and nauseous. They brought Larry back to me and I told him I thought I was going to be sick. He went to find a nurse since the doctor was already doing another surgery. She brought me a little bucket, and on the way out of the building, I vomited. Lots of blood. Yuck.

It did not get much better from there. The anesthesia did not agree with me. Larry called the doctor and the doctor said, "no more monkeys jumping on the bed" "I will call in some anti-nausea medicine." (Actually, they said, "well, she might be spitting some blood. That is normal." He told them, "she is not spitting blood. She is vomiting. Like (insert retching sound effect.)" That did the trick and fortunately the medicine worked.

I got home and looked like this:


I have chubby cheeks all the time, but they were reeeeealllly chubby after the surgery. I was swollen like a chipmunk.

I ate broth, applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, pudding, and jello for about 4 days straight. I finally graduated to mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I am on day 11 and still chewing only with my front teeth and using the warm salt water rinse just because I'm paranoid.

A few days in, the small bruise turned into a ginormous, disgusting, spreading mess all over my right cheek and neck. A few sympathy photos:


Today is day 11 and I still have bruises - they spread all the way down my neck:


Larry took very good care of me and I appreciate it. You don't realize how much you use a straw until you aren't supposed to use one. He had to yank it out of my glass on several occasions.

I guess I should have listened to the dentist 13 years and gotten them out when I was young and could have bounced back faster. Oh well. They're gone now!!!

judge if you must

Your judgmental words will not stop me from having fun at the New Kids on the Block/ Backstreet Boys concert on Sunday.

I don't even mind broadcasting my attendance over the internet - that's just who I am.

I hope the rest of you have a weekend that is full of as many "WOOOO!"s as mine will be.

(credit)

E

E is for e-mail.

I remember signing up for my first email account during college - I'm guessing it was 1998ish? I used the name "chaquita77" because my best friend in high school used to call me "chaquita." I still have that email address but hardly ever check it anymore because it is so spammed. However, I got curious about the first email that was in that inbox. Apparently I used to be *much* better at cleaning out my inbox, because the very first one is from 1999 - and it is something I forwarded to myself to keep! I used to have this printed out in my little office at my college job and then again in my first classroom. I don't know who the original author was - I remember coming across it on some website and loving it. As I re-read it, I realize that I still love it.

I'm actually glad that I stopped deleting emails - I just spent about an hour reading emails from 10-11 years ago and remembering the details like they were yesterday. The boy drama (I had lots), the plans being made, where my friends were, who they were... if you collect your emails like I do, you should go back and read them. It almost* made me wistful of being in my early 20s. *ALMOST.

But anyway, without any further adieu, here is the first email that currently exists from my first email account. Sent to me by myself on Thursday, July 22, 1999:

The Important Things

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

Most importantly, if you love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. And learn a lesson in life each day that you live! Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday. Was it worth it?

questions for you

I still don't get twitter. I want to follow Bakerella because she just had her kidney transplant, but I just don't understand how it works. What are all the hash marks for?

I finally googled what "SMH" means. I've seen people use it and I couldn't figure it out. If you don't already know, it means "shaking my head." How can I coin my own acronym? How do they start? I would like for everyone to start using "IHNW." That stands for "I have no words." It could be used for things that are either ridiculously cute or just plain ridiculous. It could catch on, don't you think?

The Boston hockey team that just won the Stanley Cup has a GIANT on their team. Well, I don't know if he is an actual giant, but he looks like one. Speaking of hockey, why are Canadian teams in our league?*

I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow. I've put it off for 13 years and finally decided it was time. I'm really not looking forward to it so say your prayers that I have an easy recovery. (although is it shallow to say that I'm hoping I'll lose a few pounds?) Any suggestions for my liquid diet? I already nixed any smoothies that have strawberries in them because I don't want the seeds to get stuck in my sockets.

Thank you and good day.

*Is there also a Canadian NBA team? Do I just not have any idea about how our professional sports work?

D

D is for deodorant.

A friend of mine told me about this deodorant that her sister made. She describes her sister as a "yippie." (A yuppie that does hippie things like make her own deodorant.) She made me a batch and I've been using it for 2 weeks and I LOVE it. I'll admit - I'm not usually one to put forth the time, energy or money to make my own stuff - I've kind of become spoiled to my convenience items. But this stuff is SO easy and SO awesome that I am sold. Maybe this is TMI, but I hardly sweat anymore... and if I do (like when I was laying by the pool), I still smell good. The only thing that it did not survive was a dip in the pool - but my normal Dove deodorant doesn't survive that either! Here is the recipe:

1 Tbsp corn starch
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 Tbsp coconut oil
optional: a few drops scented essential oil (we used Jasmine)

That's it! You just mix it together and then apply it every morning! It is kind of a thick paste that dries clear. (unless you put too much on. But even then, you can just rub it in better.)

I ran out of it this weekend and had to use my store-bought deodorant and it gave me a rash!

I also found this awesome coconut deodorant powder at Lush the day Sarah took me on errands while my surprise party was being set up. So basically, I smell like a tropical paradise. Just sayin'.

C

C is for concussion.

I don't think I actually have a concussion, but I do have a large, tender bump on the right side of my forehead.

I threw a baby shower today for a coworker. Here I am in the cute apron Sarah gave me for graduation (and the amazing, enormous 4 layer chocolate cream cake...)


Since I was dragging all the dining room chairs into the living room for extra seating, I decided they could use a nice cleaning. So I dusted all the nooks and crannies... and as I was dusting, I banged my head really hard against the corner of the table.

Here is an upclose shot of my head - I don't know if you can see the bump, but it's there:

This is why I don't dust.

B

B is for Balderdash.

When I was really young, my family and I would sit around and play "The Dictionary Game." We would pass around this giant blue dictionary that came with our encyclopedia set and pick a word. You read the word out loud and each person has to write down a definition. As the "word picker," you write down the actual definition. All definitions are read out loud and all players vote on which definition they think is the correct one. (You may think that was dorky, but my parents are 5 for 5 on children with college degrees, so perhaps it worked!)

As we grew older, a game company created this into a board game: "Balderdash." (For the record, our favorite version is actually "Beyond Balderdash.")

They went through and found all the best words. It has become somewhat of a family tradition to play it anytime the family is gathered. Each time, I am amazed at the creativity and intelligence of all the players. It is difficult to choose the correct answer. The game deliberately uses obscure words... one of the most memorable from one of our game sessions is the word "shittah."

Now, you can be a party pooper and look it up, or you can pretend you're playing Balderdash.

Is the definition of "shittah":

- fibrous innards of bamboo plant
- part of large weaving loom
- knotted Arabic tree
- fancy British toilet (I'm pretty sure somebody gave an answer like that)
- the thorax of a bumblebee





If you guessed a knotted Arabic tree, you are correct.

A

My sister posted a video of my 18 month old nephew singing his ABCs and it was pretty stinking cute. If you are her facebook friend, you should go watch it. It got me thinking about the ABCs.

A is for arthritis.

When I was 5, I had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. All I remember about it is that my right ankle would get really puffy and swollen and I would have to go to the hospital and get a bunch of fluid extracted through a giant needle. I have a really bad memory, but I remember the size of that needle. ((shudder))

At the time, I was playing soccer. I have no idea how we afforded it or why I was playing, but my mom says I wanted to play because I liked the uniform. I remember that it was a blue shirt and tall socks. I think I had to stop playing (aka: standing around on the field picking dandelions) because of the ankle issues. I don't recall being very upset about it.

And then, all of a sudden, one day it was just gone. Weird, right?

I guess I should look it up and see if that means I'm going to get really bad arthritis when I'm older, but to be honest, I really don't want to know.

just another manic monday

1. I'm in an organizational mood. I tackled the closet on Saturday. Next is either the front hall closet or the laundry room.... not sure which I'm brave enough to start yet.

2. I somehow volunteered to be the sole hostess for a co-worker's baby shower. (As in, I willingly said, "Would you like me to throw you a shower?") Since there are quite a few people coming and the cake is going to be slightly more $$$ than I thought it was going to be, I'm thinking about making cds as the favor. Is that lame? Sample baby girl playlist: (put your taste in music aside.... this is for women aged 16 to 80 and the mother primarily listens to country)

1. Daughters – John Mayer
2. Sweet Child of Mine – GNR
3. Isn’t she lovely – Stevie Wonder
4. This One’s For the Girls - Martina McBride
5. Tiny Dancer – Elton John
6. Baby Love – Supremes
7. Forever Young – Alphaville
8. I hope you dance - Leann Womack
9. Wild World – Cat Stevens
10. Always be my Baby – Mariah Carey
11. My Wish – Rascal Flatts
12. My Girl – The Temptations
13. My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
14. You are so Beautiful – Joe Cocker
15. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) – Dixie Chicks

Other ideas for songs? I was going to title it "Keep Calm and Rock on" with a rocking horse. I kind of stole that from a picture I saw on flickr:


(And if I was decorating a nursery, I would totally buy this on canvas and put it up.)

If this is super lame, please help me think of an inexpensive favor for 40+ people. If it is just sorta lame, then I'll probably go with it - seeing as how the shower is on Sunday and I really need to get things prepared.

3. I saw an ex-boyfriend comment to somebody on facebook: "Your to sweet." I could live with "Your too sweet." or even better, "You're to sweet." But to mess them both up? Ugh. (Emphasis on the "ex.")

4. Squirrels destroyed $80 worth of chaise lounge cushions last week and recently started chewing on my outdoor tablecloths. I swear they are just doing it to mess with me. One looked at me the other day and hissed - no lie. I will show them. Not sure how yet, but I will.

...and the tree was happy

Day #4 on the list (that was intended to take a month but will probably take me a year to get through) is "a favorite book."

I'm going with "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.


To me, this book takes on different meanings at different stages of life.

When I was little, I just liked the story and the pictures.

As I got a little older, it reminded me of my parents... giving and giving and giving. Not always happy with our decisions, but supportive nonetheless.

Now, I even see a theological thread to it - we never think what we have is enough and so we constantly want for more... convinced it will make us happy. God sits around patiently, providing for us, until we finally come full circle and realize he is all we really needed in the first place.

But honestly, I think the book is open for interpretation - if you haven't read it, go get it. And read it to your kids.

5 things

I've really been enjoying this whole "not being in school anymore" thing. I also really enjoyed my graduation party. I feel like I should document at least a little more of it before I move onto the actual graduation trip.

So, some other assorted pictures and nuggets of information:

1. Sarah was an excellent person to keep me busy. Not only did she not let on even one tiny hint while we were gallivanting around town, she also had me "try on" some of her favorite lipgloss before we pulled into the driveway. I really like lipgloss, so I didn't think it was odd. I thought she just wanted me to try it.... but she wanted me to have shiny lips for all the pictures that were about to be taken!

2. The night before the party, I decided to do all my hand/delicate wash. I had clothes "laying flat to dry" and hanging up all over the place. Larry asked me on Saturday morning if we could put it away now, and I got all sassy and told him to put up a door if he didn't like looking into the laundry room. (I did finally huff and puff and move it to a back bedroom.)

3. The little wrappers with my face on them that were on the miniature candy bars made excellent rings:

4. Josh says that when you get your Masters, you are supposed to get punched in the nose. I think we did an excellent job at posing for this picture.

5. No graduation party (or any party for that matter) is complete without sitting around with guitars and song.