herself is happy

just some things

noreply@blogger.com (♡~:nanners:~♡) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Went to the mailbox today, hoping somehow for something fun. Saw a letter addressed from Arroyo Grande Community hospital. I thought, "oh geez, i hope it's not another bill". what else would it be? a thank you note?

"Dear Mrs. Dale,

Thank you for paying in full for the strep throat testing you took months and months ago. You put if off for a bit, but we just wanted to say we appreciated your payment!"

Or:

Hey, we are a hospital! If you ever have an emergency or something, come see us!"

Of course it would be a bill.

I got my nose re-pierced several weeks ago. My old piercing had closed up almost all the way due to my lack of keeping a stud or ring in it. Silly jobs that make you take them out! It's your fault!

Anyway, Billy was kind of enough to let me splurge on the cost. I followed all of the normal cleaning instructions, as I of course was not interested in being the host of a nasal infection, ewl! But after about six weeks, a little bump begin to grow right on my nose, exactly on top of the newly pierced hole. It didn't hurt, and I was like, what, am I getting a zit, right specifically there? So I ignored it, for a few days, until it become tender and didn't seem as though it was a zit. I wanted to call my piercer, Jeremiah (who knows why I remember his name, maybe it was the funky afro he had that helped his name lodge in my memory?).

However, as I am working graveyard shift these days, I couldn't seem to remember about it until about 11pm at night, and of course they were closed. So, I called upon my trusty google to inform myself. Apparently, this is pretty common as I came across pages and pages, simply by searching "bump on my new nose piercing". I, of course was somewhat pleased that I wasn't the only one, but also a bit frightful. Would this be a lifelong nose piercing bump? Would I have to get some special sort of treatment to have it removed? How much longer would I need to refrain from telling everyone I came in contact with that appeared to notice this odd "bubble" that it was due to my piercing and I am sure it would go away soon? Or answer the question, "um, Did you always have that mole there?" . That one is kind of funny, "um, yes! I have always had it, and thought I would cutify said mole, with a piercing, so as to bring MORE attention to the my mole!".

Ok, so apparently, thru my research, this was either an allergic reaction to the annoying little nose "screw" bedazzled with a twinkly pretend diamond (i prefer a ring, but he suggested to start of with the screw till it had healed completely), or a keloid.

Keloid: A keloid is a type of scar with mainly type I and some type III collagen which results in an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and can vary from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color. A keloid scar is benign, non-contagious, and usually accompanied by severe itchiness, sharp pains, and changes in texture. In severe cases, it can affect movement of skin. They can occur at the site of a piercing and even from something as simple as a pimple or scratch.

sigh. Great! It has a name! Hello happy little shiny nodule named Keloid!

Now, that aside, interestingly enough:

Intentional keloids

The Olmec of Mexico in pre-Columbian times used keloid scarification as a means of decoration. In the modern era, women of the Nubia-Kush in Sudan are intentionally scarified with facial keloids as a means of decoration. The Nuer and Nuba use lip plugs, keloid tattoos along the forehead, keloid tattoos along the chin and above the lip, and cornrows. As a part of a ritual, the people of Papua, New Guinea cut their skin and insert clay or ash into the wounds so as to develop permanent bumps (known as keloids or weals). This painful ritual honors members of their tribe who are celebrated for their courage and endurance.

Maybe I'm just ahead of the game? Maybe keloids will be popular soon after the world sees mine, and realizes this is something that should be included on the list at local tattoo shops:

Lip
Hood
Labret
Madonna
Cheek
Keloid

But I digress, by a lot. So, I tried what my sources via google suggested...sea salts, in water as warm as you can stand, then applied to nose, two or three times a day for 20 minutes each time. To be honest, I really only did it once a day, because, well, because I just am that way. Every day I pondered my little nodule in the mirror. It is smaller? Sure, well at least a little, maybe just shaped differently now? Every time I asked Billy if he thought it looked smaller, he got real close, squinched up his eyes, and said, "sure, ya...i mean i think?"

Sigh. So, I finally made it back to the shop in SLO where I had gotten it done. As I walked in, I noticed my hips and thighs bubbling out from either side of me, in the mirrored window thingy. It was kind of like one of those mirrors, you know, like the mirrors at the fun houses. But not as bizarro...but then I realized as I got closer, that this was not a funny type of a mirror. My hips and thighs, simply do protrude that much. Ha! Of course I mentally added jogging, or at least walking, maybe even just starving a bit, to my "to do" list.

Once inside, I was greeted by an ink covered gentleman, with a huge septum piercing hanging from his nose, very much like a bull, with the little black ball slightly askew to the right. (i had an almost irresistible urge, to center the ball for him, but thought just because it was protruding so dramatically from his face, did not mean all whom he came in contact with, were allowed to touch it. Similar to pregnancy: Hello strangers! Just because I have a huge belly, possibly containing a baby elephant, does not constitute touches and belly rubs and such from you! Thanks!)

Anyway, he informed me as soon as he saw it that this was indeed very common, and a keloid. Just a drop or two of tea tree oil a day, and it would vanish. Hopefully. In a week or two. EWL! I was hoping he would have some miracle overnight treatment. Then the story went on. If that didn't work in two weeks, it was suggested that I create some sort of aspirin paste, and apply that nightly. For one to two weeks. I am under the assumption that if it STILL does not go away after all of this, that I should consult a doctor. Anyhow, I am on day three or something of tea tree oil, and the shape has definitely changed. However, I am not sure the size has. It is more of an oval now, than a circle. Is this an improvement? I honestly haven't a clue. But there is nothing like the strong scent of tea tree oil dripping directly into your nose! Whew!

ok, so ya. those are some things that have occurred lately, that seem humorous to me. Also, my husband is currently writing a song, about coffee beans, and the need for caffeine. It is sounding hilarious already, and I am excited about him mixing his insanely delightful humor, with his unique style of music.

kthanksbye

15 Minutes Today

noreply@blogger.com (♡~:nanners:~♡) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:07:00 +0000

So I had just finished a delicious burrito at "Cabo San Luis". I had spent my time telling the children to talk in inside voices, to not fall out of their chairs and to "LOOK LOOK LOOK!!" at the beautiful fish that were darting around strangely in the huge saltwater tank. Some of the little iridescent fishies were even kissing! Well it was either that or they were trying to eat each other's faces? Hard to say. We didn't want to scare the children of course, so we carried on with a story about how they must be getting married.

We left the restaurant and were stopped at a light at Foothill and Santa Rosa.
I saw three youngish (college aged?) kids waiting to cross the street. All three had funky skateboards. One of the three was a girl. I was completely fascinated with her. Was she actually going to skate across the busy intersection when the little "WALK" sign started blipping at her? Or was she going to continue toeing at that there board until it was go time, and then pick that baby up and carry it across?
And then it happened. She skated across safely without a hitch!! Of course I have seen millions of girls skate. Well I mean, not millions, maybe more like tens of...well maybe 10 in real live person? But whatever, it was really about me.

I couldn't help but think back to my younger days in which I totally worshipped the skateboard and all that dared to brave it. Well I mean the skate boys were a big draw, but I was truly impressed by any who could master maneuvering on one, and the tricks?! Oh my gosh, I spent so many hours/days/months/years sitting/standing around watching boys skate. Practicing the same tricks over and over and over. And then BAM! they would land it! I was like the cheerleader! yay!! and then they would spend some time mastering it, and then on to the next. Frequently, I was encouraged to try to skate. Every time I got the balls enough to do so, the stupid board would fly out from under me like a rocket. Of course I landed on me arse, hard. Every time. So I took to the whole ollie on the grass thing. I did alright with that, but I couldn't get out of the grass!!!!!!! So sad, my dreams of becoming a true skate betty were so dead.

Back to the intersection.

All the while the girls are in the back of the van, sort of mumbling to themselves and each other. All I know is that they were pretty quiet and self entertained long enough that I had been able to finish a single thought!

So I say out loud to Billy, "I am still amazed by people who can skate", with a little bit of sadness in my voice of course.
His response was "skating isn't worth it".
My defense mechanism went off! C'mon now, I didn't sit around all those years watching boys skate for nothing! Right? Whatever.
He went on to say that all the pain and breaking of bones and whatnot aren't worth it.
I begged to differ pointing out that ice hockey and snowboarding (both of which he was very involved in at one point) cause the same type of pain and breaking of bones! Practically. You have to learn how to ice skate, and in the meanwhile, fall on the hard ice! And snowboarding, remember when Renee broke her tailbone snowboarding? HELLO!? Right when we were both getting all worked up to defend our feelings on the matter..

...it's as if their radar goes off. There little cute brains are saying, "um, mom and dad are talking. they are trying to have a conversation, we must not allow this to happen. make it stop. make it stop now"

Chloe and Ava both starting "MOM!"ing me at the exact same time. I say Ava got ahead by a millisecond so she gets to go first. She wants to know if we can watch the Hermie movie when we get home. I say no because we no longer have the Hermie move because we already returned it. She puts on a big phat whiney squeally voice while stating "NOOOOOOOO I saw it, it's at home!" I say no it's not there, we already returned it. She heaves her chubby little arms across her chest with a "hmph" and with her three year old going on four magic hides that beautiful cherub-like face with a gnarly grimace. Chloe is of course "mom!"ing me during this whole conversation. But in a soft "mom"...like don't forget you are talking to me next kind of "mom". I sigh and glance at her. She immediately begins questioning, "did you say somebody broke something doing something?" I'm like what? Oh yes, Renee and her snowboarding incident. Did she hear that? How did she even hear that? Chloe is always very interested in, EVERYTHING. Like mother like daughter. No wonder my parents were always like, "can you just stop? stop talking. stop asking questions. stop." I don't want to snuff out the poor child's spirit in the way mine was. So I go on to explain that somebody did break something one time, but it was a long time ago and she is ok now. "But what happened? Did you say snowboarding? And who was the person?" I can't give her too many details, because then she will hyper focus and of course, more and more questions will spill out of that curious little brain. I can just sense that she is trying to formulate her next series of questions. Then I realize that another sound has been occurring this whole time. It's the third child, Fiona. Since the beginning she has had to really work to be heard over the other two. Apparently she has determined that repetition and a monotone voice will get her places. It's kind of like slowly realizing you have a dull headache. You slowly realize that Fiona is repeating something...and suddenly the sound comes in clear..."cow"..."cow"..."cow"..."cow"...."Did you see a cow Fiona?"..."YES!"
And then that's it, she stops!

Billy and I look at each other. Maybe we can finish this conversation? I'm sure he has been preparing all of his responses while calmly driving and staring at the road ahead. I've spent my time wrenching around in my seat in odd ways in order to make eye contact with all of the little people in the vehicle. I try to get my mind back on track. And then it starts.
"1 2 3 AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Occasionally the girls actually work together. One of the three, most likely the ringleader Chloe has gotten them all to chant to three, and then let out their highest pitched screams. They keep time well, doing it over and over again. I look at Billy and sigh. He sees me out of the corner of his eye and smiles. On the next round, when it gets to scream time, he lets a big one rip. A high pitched scream that is. This sends the girls into a fit of giggles and excitement! It's really the best if we can just be nutty kids like them and not boring adults trying to talk about boring stuff. To each other. And not to them. So he does it several more times with them. They laugh hysterically every time. So I get over myself and my stupid skateboard defense strategies. On the next round I let my best cheesy horror flick scream fly. Now this truly stuns them. For like a second. Then the verification, "was that you mom!?!??!" My response is " 1! 2! 3! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH". Blood curdling I tell you. I tell Billy how we could set up our own haunted house this year for the trick-or-treaters. He smiles and then sets out on MAN yells instead of screams. But decides to go back to the screams.

My ears are ringing and my throat hurts like hell. But amazingly I am smiling! And heck, it actually felt like a stress reliever! Maybe I can use that technique next time those dumb creditors call, "Hello Mrs. Dale (fake sincerity) We are calling to inform you, that you are late on giving all your money away to us. again." and I can just say "123 AHHHHHHHH". that would be fun. Or how about when dude zooms in front of me into the parking spot that I was waiting so patiently for while grandma and grandma loaded up the trunk, got in, situated themselves for ten minutes and then finally took off. I could just get out and go up to dudes window. knock on it...maybe he'd roll it down, ...whatever, you get it.

15 minutes. this was 15 minutes of my life today. You didn't even get to hear about me getting a cup of coffee for the road, and spilling it three times (between children handling, dog handling, and myself handling) before I even got to the car. Or how I got the pleasure of meeting President Eric today. Or how cute and nice and talented Jeff and Coral (sp?) are. Or about how Tucker the wonder pup escaped out of the front yard and startled an older neighbor because he is a puppy. whom is crazy. and whom also has an "e-collar" on because he just got snipped. Or how I saw Jackie and she said something about her husband Dave having dreams about me? Or how Sheila and Mary are now siamese twins in which I will call Shary.
and so many more things. it was a pretty fun day.

(i just curtsied a little)