Australia

Well, I did it. I made the reservations. We made reservations for our trip to Vanuatu several months ago but the rest of the plan is to go to Australia - since we are so "close." We will fly from Port Vila to Brisbane, Australia. We have hotel reservations and a car reserved. Now I'm nervous. They drive on the left side of the road there. I don't like driving outside my comfort zone. DH says he's not going to drive. Hopefully DD will drive. Oh my we are in for a treat.

Barack Obama

It was announced yesterday that Barack Obama is coming to Michigan - to Grand Rapids!!! Only a short drive away. I'm taking the afternoon off work tomorrow to go to Grand Rapids to wait in line to hear him speak. My son and husband will probably go with me. I find this kind of humorous since both of the men in my life have been die-hard republicans in the past. It's amazing how a candidate like Mr. Obama can change them. Mrs. Clinton wouldn't have the same effect on them - I am sure.

Dirty Feet

When DD graduated from college, we bought her a nifty little camera. It cost at least twice as much as my nifty little camera because she wanted a durable camera that would withstand the moisture and dirt of her new "home" land. I have to admit we have received a fair share of pictures in the year since she has been gone but because of her living conditions (no electricity/no internet) pictures have been pretty sparse lately. This week she is visiting the main island and land of computers & electricity. She sent three pictures to me. This is one of the pictures. If you look closely at her dirty feet, you will notice a huge blood blister on her big toe - right foot. I am so glad we spent so much money on this nifty camera so we could have a picture of a blood blister on her dirty big toe.

All in all DD is doing fine - sounds a little homesick and really wants letters. She has e-mailed me a long list of things she wants me to bring when we visit this summer. With weight limits on luggage I am not sure what I will be wearing on vacation. Maybe I'll layer all my clothes on me and waddle onto the plane.

Colonoscopy

Apparently a gift to oneself when turning 50 is a colonoscopy. Although I passed the magic birthday several years ago, my gift arrived today. Today was a piece of cake. Lay in a bed with my stomach grumbling watching nurses drink coffee and deliver muffins to patients who have completed their test. Then a short ride around the nursing station to room on the other side where a doctor I have never met mumbles a few words to me. I'm told by his assistant to roll over on my left side and soon a mild drug is administered causing me to fall asleep. I wake up back where I started and I get my muffin and something to drink. Hmm, I think I got something to drink, I don't remember.

Yesterday on the other hand was really crappy. It started at 10 am when I had to drink a bottle of magnezium stuff which instantly made me feel nauseous and crampy. Between 2 and 6 pm I had to drink two liters of a foul smelling liquid which I could flavor with my choice of lemon-lime, cherry, orange or something else. Stupid me, I chose Cherry. Gross, Gross, Gross. I made it half way through the 2 liters by 5:30 and had to chug the rest. Every time I drank a glass of the crud it was another trip to the bathroom. The goal was the stuff coming out of me had to be clear. By 6:30 I had reached the goal. During the day I could have clear liquids which I consumed chicken broth, coffee and diet coke - all considered clear even though you can't see through them.

Anyway, today was easy compared to yesterday and I'm glad it's past. DD, Stephanie summed it up perfectly saying "Aren't you glad it's only once every ten years and not every six months like the dentist!"

As a person who believes in constantly learning new things, I signed up for several courses through virtual university. One course is learning Print Shop Pro. I have begun lesson one

This is the doodle I made using techinques taught in Lesson 1. Looks like something a kindergartener would do. Do you think the boys would mind if I posted this on the refrigerator?

This is not fun...

I woke up last Saturday morning with a horrible pain in the small of my back. I spent the day sitting on the heating pad trying to get some relief. Sunday I had a little relief but the back still hurt. Same thing Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. Had a lot of trouble shelving books on the bottom shelves. Even more trouble getting up and down but the pain was tolerable - until today. Normally independent, I learned to ask students to pick things up for me. Had a lot of difficulty shelving books. Really doesn't help to have an over abundance of books to shelve and no offers to help.

Anyway, the pain got so severe this afternoon I placed a call to the doctor. Her advice: no bending, lifting, stretching or twisting. Also, apply ice to the area at least once an hour.

Ice - not heat... I should have known better

No bending, lifting, stretching or twisting - that is my job: pick up book off rack, turn (aka twist) toward shelves, bend over to shelve on bottom shelves, turn toward rack and repeat. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday. If I make it through the day at work tomorrow I will have the weekend to recuperate. I would take the day off tomorrow but the work will still be there next week - only worse.

I haven't worked out at all this week. I missed Zumba, aqua fit and working out on the treadmill, recumbent bikes and cybex machines. At least I knew the right thing to do on this count.

Lasagne Dinner

Worked out at the Y most of the afternoon then came home in time to pop the lasagne in the oven. Dinner tonight was two pieces of lasagne, salad (with non fat dressing), delicious asparagus, garlic bread, and milk. For desert, strawberry cheesecake. Guess this all cancelled out the exercise.

Parent teacher conferences this week. Don't know if I'll be eating right but I have a delicious salad for lunch tomorrow. Will cut up some turkey and cheese for some added protein.

Casserole Swap

I'm part of this really awesome cooking forum on-line. It all started with a search for a recipe. Then, I started visiting the various forum sites. Last month, I participated in the ABC "B" Swap which I posted some pictures of. I didn't have my camera home when my B swap package arrived but there was some really cool stuff in it, including: a souvenier hockey stick (my swap partner is from British Columbia, a "bag" for my toiletries when traveling or going to the gym, an awesome butterfly magnet and butterfly windchimes, a bubble/bobble fishy pen (really cool)... all in all some really nifty fun stuff.

This month, I'm participating in three swaps (I think I'm addicted!) The swap themes are:

1) Spring/Easter

2) Casserole Dishes

3) Garden/Spring

Today I went to the post office and mailed the box of goodies to my Spring/Easter partner and the first of two boxes to my casserole dish partner. Later, when I got home the postman visted and left me a box of goodies from my casserole partner. It is really strange because she included some extras in my box. The extras were all items I have looked at recently at the store but have been too "cheap" to buy them. What's really strange is I was planning on shopping this weekend and would probably have picked them up because I thought it over ....... My swap partner is a stranger who has only met me in this forum and e-mailed back & forth a couple of times but it seems like she really knows me.

Just in case she is reading this, I won't tell what is on the cutting table and sewing machine in my craft room but will post pictures here after I finish them and she receives them. But, for now, here is a pictures of the goodies she sent me.

I will post pictures later this month after I receive my spring swap package and garden package. If all goes well, my garden swap package should go out in the mail tomorrow or early next week. I just need to buy tape to seal the box.

Back on Track

Well, I think I'm back on track - trying to shake away the winter blues. Spent most of Saturday with a friend and a whole host of strangers at the Women's Expo. Then off we went to the mall and a yummy lunch an Panera Bread. Next stop was Barnes & Nobles where I found John Lescroart has released a new and Linda Fairstein's new book will be released this week. As much as I would like to buy the books, curl up and read them now, I'm hoping the books will be released in paperback in time for vacation this summer. They would be perfect reads on the plane and while lounging in the South Pacific.

Today was spent with Jill & Jessica at the Y. We started on the treadmill (Jessica on Eliptical machine). After walk ~ 1/2 hour on the treadmill we moved to the stationary bikes. Next step was various Cybex machines - the abs should hurt tomorrow! Jessica left for work and Jill and I finished our land exercises then went downstairs to tread water for 50 minutes, sat in the hottub and sauna. Lunch/dinner at Subway and wandered around Wal-Mart. Tomorrow is Zumba and I'm looking forward to it!

Hopefully will bring packages for swap partners to the post office. One box contains a beautiful casserole dish, the other box is full of spring gifts. Tomorrow, partners should be posted for the garden swap and I've already done most of the shopping for this swap. Soon a new swap will be posted - right up my alley - bookmark/magnet swap - and the cool thing is, I already have started shopping for this one too! The "B" swap was so much fun, I think I'm addicted!

March.....

Well, March has arrived and hopefully spring will arrive soon, too. As I write this post, the sun is trying to peek through the clouds, shine through the window and on my face. (sorry Tresa, I think there should have been another comma in that sentence). Anyway, in honor of the coming of spring, I have signed up for not one, not two, but three (3) swaps on recipezaar.com. I may be crazy to sign up for three swaps in one month after just completing my first swap in February. Oh well, it is fun, almost like celebrating Christmas in March, buying gifts (and receiving) for three different soon to be friends on Zaar. I should probably go take a shower so I can go shopping to find my treasures. The swaps are garden, Easter/Spring, and casserole dish. The hardest one is also the easiest. I need to find a pretty and functional casserole dish to send to my partner. Actually, I can't purchase the dish until I have been assigned and zmailed a partner to find what her (his?) preference is: round, square, big, small, indifferent.....