...to not wear pretty dresses. Y wrote that on her blog the other day and I thought, "That should have been my New Year's resolution!" It relates to more than just appearance and health. For me, it's about doing the things I really want to do, even if I don't think I have the money. It's about making the right choices for how I choose to spend my time and valuing the things and people I love. It's about being the best me that can be. Life is too short to not wear pretty dresses. Yes, it means all of that and more.
I am really fortunate to have had all of last week off. I crafted, I did my taxes, I paid some bills. Most importantly, I rested. I slept a TON. I still feel exhausted, but the point is that I took care of myself and I often forget to do that. I began acupuncture treatment the week before last for my hormonal imbalance and my (seemingly chronic) fatigue. I can't say it's helped, but I'm willing to go through all 11 treatments (at a cost of $220 out of pocket) to see if it has any effect. I went to the doctor's again to have bloodwork done and see if I could blame my exhaustion on anemia or poor kidney function. No dice. It's frustrating to get "a clean bill of health" when you can FEEL that that isn't the case.
In other, better news....I'm planning some adventures and renewing my commitment to running. As soon as I get myself back "in the running", I'm going to sign up for a 5K to really inspire me to keep it up. On the adventure end, coming up: My expedition to Nova Scotia in April, Whitewater Rafting the Klickitat (also in April), Ziplining in Whistler in June, Nicaragua or Morocco in July, and NYC in August. Todd and I are aspiring to go on an expedition to Costa Rica in the fall and I will be spending Christmas in either Germany or Brazil, depending on where the family is going to be, so that's something I can also look forward to. I'd love to fit Vegas and Arizona in in March, but it's difficult to see that happening. There isn't much time to make that happen financially. I'm okay with that, though. I obviously have plenty of other reasons to "wear pretty dresses" throughout the year!
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Green dreams
I'm 10 pounds down! Now I just need to let that surprise German Chocolate Cake I got last weekend be the last for a while. We already finished it!
There are so many places I want to travel right now. We have a week off in 2 weeks--well, I do--not Josh. I want to go to either the Oregon Coast or Vegas, but I know we'll just stay here. No money to be doing even such low-budget things. Our neighbor friends just got back from Belize and I am left salivating over the photos of white beaches and an aquamarine ocean. I want to stay in a grass hut!
I keep thinking about how I wish Josh made more money. That's horrible, isn't it? I just think you should either work for passion or money. Both would be ideal, of course. As much as Josh wants to do what he does because he works for himself, I know he also believes it's the only thing he can do. I wish I could spark something to change his mindset. If he was truly
passionate, I could accept our being poor much better than I do. Of course, I'll also continue to support him regardless. I'm good at that part of the job. A girl can still dream though, can't she? It would be nice....
There are so many places I want to travel right now. We have a week off in 2 weeks--well, I do--not Josh. I want to go to either the Oregon Coast or Vegas, but I know we'll just stay here. No money to be doing even such low-budget things. Our neighbor friends just got back from Belize and I am left salivating over the photos of white beaches and an aquamarine ocean. I want to stay in a grass hut!
I keep thinking about how I wish Josh made more money. That's horrible, isn't it? I just think you should either work for passion or money. Both would be ideal, of course. As much as Josh wants to do what he does because he works for himself, I know he also believes it's the only thing he can do. I wish I could spark something to change his mindset. If he was truly
passionate, I could accept our being poor much better than I do. Of course, I'll also continue to support him regardless. I'm good at that part of the job. A girl can still dream though, can't she? It would be nice....
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Aloha
Remember how I said Josh and I were going to Brazil this summer? I was wrong. Josh did not get his butt in gear and get his visa in time. :( It was also really anxiety-inducing for him because of how much the plane ticket and visa were going to be. So, we changed our plans and put Brazil on hold.
We're going to Hawaii instead! We'll be there from Aug.9-14. Not super long, but I'm really looking forward to the break. And Josh has never been, so it will be fun to see him light up at all the beauty. I am feverishly looking for lodging in Kailua, which is away from the hubub of Waikiki. There are no hotels in Kailua, so we have to either stay at a B&B, which is like staying in some stranger's house (always tiring) or in someone's guest house (which is nearly the same, but not). I naturally want the guest house option, but many of those have already been spoken for. Seems like the ones that haven't are a teensy bit out of our price range..... Well, it will all work out in the end.
I can't wait to get my medical concerns worked out so I can actually get excited about this trip! As of now, I feel like I might never stop bleeding and never be able to walk or run or bend pain-free. Last night I cried in Josh's arms about it. I didn't mean to. He was holding me and I was talking to him about how I am so tired of feeling this way and in the midst of my words, I was surprised to be interrupted with forceful sobs. He was concerned and held me tight. He asked me what I was feeling and I told him I was just so miserable being like this and how I don't want him to think of me as such a weak, pathetic person. He assured me that he doesn't think that at all. He just wants for me the same thing as I do. He wants me to not be in pain or be so affected in this way. It felt so good to cry in his arms. I have been holding a lot of this inside of me. I have never, ever been good at resting. I am a very active person and sitting around makes me feel shamefully lazy. But for the last month, I have been doing a lot of just sitting around and sleeping in. And I feel horrible about myself as a result. I have not accomplished much of anything, though I've been trying to "live life as usual". When you feel like your insides are separating, tearing, getting stabbed on a continual basis...well, you don't feel like life is "usual" so living it as such is difficult.
I finally made an appointment with another doctor, since mine seems to be just waiting out my pain. I made an appointment with a specialist who is a gynecologist dealing with "problem issues". When I called and the receptionist told me this, she said, "The Dr. won't see you for just any issue. She can only accept new patients for extreme problems." I said, "I have Ammenorhea and I have been bleeding for nearly a month with extreme pain and possible cyst ruptures." She said, "Allright, can you come in tomorrow?" Haha. I guess I qualify! I'm glad she'll be able to get me in so soon. I'll be going in at 1:30. I am hopeful she can just tell me how I can stop hurting and feeling so tired. Even if she can't stop the bleeding (though that's likely why I'm so tired). I can handle that part, though I should have stock in O.B. at this rate. Then, of course, I hope she can help fix everything else. But first, the pain.
We're going to Hawaii instead! We'll be there from Aug.9-14. Not super long, but I'm really looking forward to the break. And Josh has never been, so it will be fun to see him light up at all the beauty. I am feverishly looking for lodging in Kailua, which is away from the hubub of Waikiki. There are no hotels in Kailua, so we have to either stay at a B&B, which is like staying in some stranger's house (always tiring) or in someone's guest house (which is nearly the same, but not). I naturally want the guest house option, but many of those have already been spoken for. Seems like the ones that haven't are a teensy bit out of our price range..... Well, it will all work out in the end.
I can't wait to get my medical concerns worked out so I can actually get excited about this trip! As of now, I feel like I might never stop bleeding and never be able to walk or run or bend pain-free. Last night I cried in Josh's arms about it. I didn't mean to. He was holding me and I was talking to him about how I am so tired of feeling this way and in the midst of my words, I was surprised to be interrupted with forceful sobs. He was concerned and held me tight. He asked me what I was feeling and I told him I was just so miserable being like this and how I don't want him to think of me as such a weak, pathetic person. He assured me that he doesn't think that at all. He just wants for me the same thing as I do. He wants me to not be in pain or be so affected in this way. It felt so good to cry in his arms. I have been holding a lot of this inside of me. I have never, ever been good at resting. I am a very active person and sitting around makes me feel shamefully lazy. But for the last month, I have been doing a lot of just sitting around and sleeping in. And I feel horrible about myself as a result. I have not accomplished much of anything, though I've been trying to "live life as usual". When you feel like your insides are separating, tearing, getting stabbed on a continual basis...well, you don't feel like life is "usual" so living it as such is difficult.
I finally made an appointment with another doctor, since mine seems to be just waiting out my pain. I made an appointment with a specialist who is a gynecologist dealing with "problem issues". When I called and the receptionist told me this, she said, "The Dr. won't see you for just any issue. She can only accept new patients for extreme problems." I said, "I have Ammenorhea and I have been bleeding for nearly a month with extreme pain and possible cyst ruptures." She said, "Allright, can you come in tomorrow?" Haha. I guess I qualify! I'm glad she'll be able to get me in so soon. I'll be going in at 1:30. I am hopeful she can just tell me how I can stop hurting and feeling so tired. Even if she can't stop the bleeding (though that's likely why I'm so tired). I can handle that part, though I should have stock in O.B. at this rate. Then, of course, I hope she can help fix everything else. But first, the pain.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
mish mash
I just got back from visiting with Kat up in Padilla Bay. It was so peaceful and beautiful. She is renting a great little place on a tree farm right on the water. When she told me it was a farm, I expected it to look like farmland. I guess tree farms are different, though. It just looks like lush, forested property. The main house is large and modern and the whole front is windows overlooking the bay. There are lots of little garden plots in front of the house as well as a greenhouse, but other than that, it doesn't look any different than any other waterfront property. It's really quiet up there and it reminds me of being at the lake in Indiana, except there are islands out in the "lake" and the "lake" is really the ocean and mountains surround it...but OTHERWISE it's totally the same. ;) Last night, we went to the nearest town, roughly 7 minutes away, called Edison. It has 2 bakeries, 2 restaurant/bars, 2 art galleries, a clothing boutique, and a liquor store attached to someone's house. Very small, very quaint, very...limited. It was fun for a night, but I don't think I could live there long-term. It was trivia night at the saloon we were visiting, so we played. With only one round to go, we were in second place. The final round was the music round, requiring us to name the artists of 10 songs played. We BOMBED that round. So much so, we ended up in LAST place. It was really hard. The artists I can recall were Kenny Loggins, the Ting Tings, Winger, Dionne Warwick and Hank Williams, Jr. FAIL.
I am still bleeding, 3 weeks later. The pain has minimized, but I am still exhausted all the time. I don't know why my body is acting this way.
I am going to start a GI diet blog, with recipes that I try. I got a new book to help me out:
It's filled with yummy-sounding recipes, so I hope it helps me feel less miserable about having to comply with this new lifestyle.
Last Monday, Todd left for Peru to do research in the Amazon and on Saturday Nikki leaves for Nepal to implement the goals of her non-profit. I am anxious to hear the stories when they return, but after Kat told me she is going to Pulau next month, I was left with Travel envy of the greatest kind. I want to be rich enough to go on adventures every day, every month, every year. And have a house to come home to. And a car that I love. And paid off student loans. Am I asking for too much?
I am still bleeding, 3 weeks later. The pain has minimized, but I am still exhausted all the time. I don't know why my body is acting this way.
I am going to start a GI diet blog, with recipes that I try. I got a new book to help me out:
It's filled with yummy-sounding recipes, so I hope it helps me feel less miserable about having to comply with this new lifestyle.
Last Monday, Todd left for Peru to do research in the Amazon and on Saturday Nikki leaves for Nepal to implement the goals of her non-profit. I am anxious to hear the stories when they return, but after Kat told me she is going to Pulau next month, I was left with Travel envy of the greatest kind. I want to be rich enough to go on adventures every day, every month, every year. And have a house to come home to. And a car that I love. And paid off student loans. Am I asking for too much?
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sleep, or lack thereof
34 days left of school!
Oh I slept so horribly last night! One thing I have been lacking these days is good sleep. It's hard for me to go to bed while things are still happening around me, and Josh does not turn in early, so I have accepted the fact that I'm only going to get about 6 or 7 hours of sleep a night. For some that might seem adequate, but I think my job might just wear me out more than other jobs would. Or, it could just be that I need more sleep than the average person. I read a long time ago that every person needs their own amount of sleep each night--some might need 6 while others have to have 10 to function properly. It also said that people can't do anything to change this about themselves. Sometimes it changes with age, but everyone has their own needs regardless. That saddened me at the time because even then I felt like I was never rested enough, yet I hated to sleep. I'm still not a big fan. There's just too much to do and not enough hours in the day!
The weather yesterday was really amazing and of course I was in school all day. When I got home, I planned to grab Lulu and head down to Green Lake for some fun in the sun. I was just unmotivated when I got home, though. I was truly exhausted. Today, wouldn't you know, is overcast, although still fairly warm. I had planned to hike with Sharonne, but she ended up having to work. It's all for the best, really, because I am still pretty exhausted after a miserable night's sleep. My dreams kept waking me up, too. First, I dreamt I was driving on Hwy 2 to Oregon (which is not a way to get to Oregon whatsoever) and was driving right next to a charter bus that my friend Sharon was sitting on. She and her husband are taking a trip around the world starting next week and somehow this charter bus on Hwy 2 (to Oregon) was part of this trip of theirs. I was all happy I got to be on the first leg of it in a way. :) I know why I dreamt that. I am soooo jealous of her plans for the next year. Seriously. They will be gone for more than a year just traveling! They'll do a bunch of cities in the US, then fly to Europe, then go to Morocco and Egypt, then to Israel. In the winter they will be back in the US to visit family in Florida and go to her brother's wedding, then go to countries in Africa and to Australia. After that, New Zealand and then back home to San Francisco. They are not hitting some of the places I really want to go to like Iceland and Japan and India and South American countries, but they got the rest of them covered! Very inspirational. They have both saved much more money than I could with my expense to income ratio, and way more than Josh could with being still early in the stage of starting/running his business, so it isn't a feasible adventure for us. But it's a nice thought! I would settle for a trip to my parents' place in Brazil or one of the places I've never been like Iceland or Australia. Actually, I would even settle for Vegas. Nothing exotic necessary.
I also dreamt about a guy breaking in to our house and me being too tired to run from him. I hate running dreams. I never have proper use of my legs. It's anxiety-inducing.
I am going to talk to the naturopath about my poor sleep habits when I see her later this month. I have a lot of hormone issues I've been trying to figure out for nearly 10 years to no avail. I've seen people and done extensive tests, but no one has ever been able to really help. I believe more in the ability of naturopaths to diagnose and treat me from the inside out so I am hopeful she'll address my concerns with success. I'm more motivated to try this now because I want to know if I'll be able to have a baby in the future. At this point, I'm fairly certain I can't. So I need to find out what, if anything, can change in my life to help alter that before I'm too old to do anything about it.
Tonight Josh and I are going to Chris's for a crockpot dinner party. I never use mine, even though I was so motivated to get one and try it out. They are awarding a prize to the best recipe, so I feel like I have to do something good. I don't care about winning and don't believe I will be able to compete with some of the people attending, but I also don't want to be embarassed by making something inedible! I found a chocolate PB cake online that I can make. Even if it's horrible, it's still chocolate, so that should sway opinions of it, right?! We shall see....
Oh I slept so horribly last night! One thing I have been lacking these days is good sleep. It's hard for me to go to bed while things are still happening around me, and Josh does not turn in early, so I have accepted the fact that I'm only going to get about 6 or 7 hours of sleep a night. For some that might seem adequate, but I think my job might just wear me out more than other jobs would. Or, it could just be that I need more sleep than the average person. I read a long time ago that every person needs their own amount of sleep each night--some might need 6 while others have to have 10 to function properly. It also said that people can't do anything to change this about themselves. Sometimes it changes with age, but everyone has their own needs regardless. That saddened me at the time because even then I felt like I was never rested enough, yet I hated to sleep. I'm still not a big fan. There's just too much to do and not enough hours in the day!
The weather yesterday was really amazing and of course I was in school all day. When I got home, I planned to grab Lulu and head down to Green Lake for some fun in the sun. I was just unmotivated when I got home, though. I was truly exhausted. Today, wouldn't you know, is overcast, although still fairly warm. I had planned to hike with Sharonne, but she ended up having to work. It's all for the best, really, because I am still pretty exhausted after a miserable night's sleep. My dreams kept waking me up, too. First, I dreamt I was driving on Hwy 2 to Oregon (which is not a way to get to Oregon whatsoever) and was driving right next to a charter bus that my friend Sharon was sitting on. She and her husband are taking a trip around the world starting next week and somehow this charter bus on Hwy 2 (to Oregon) was part of this trip of theirs. I was all happy I got to be on the first leg of it in a way. :) I know why I dreamt that. I am soooo jealous of her plans for the next year. Seriously. They will be gone for more than a year just traveling! They'll do a bunch of cities in the US, then fly to Europe, then go to Morocco and Egypt, then to Israel. In the winter they will be back in the US to visit family in Florida and go to her brother's wedding, then go to countries in Africa and to Australia. After that, New Zealand and then back home to San Francisco. They are not hitting some of the places I really want to go to like Iceland and Japan and India and South American countries, but they got the rest of them covered! Very inspirational. They have both saved much more money than I could with my expense to income ratio, and way more than Josh could with being still early in the stage of starting/running his business, so it isn't a feasible adventure for us. But it's a nice thought! I would settle for a trip to my parents' place in Brazil or one of the places I've never been like Iceland or Australia. Actually, I would even settle for Vegas. Nothing exotic necessary.
I also dreamt about a guy breaking in to our house and me being too tired to run from him. I hate running dreams. I never have proper use of my legs. It's anxiety-inducing.
I am going to talk to the naturopath about my poor sleep habits when I see her later this month. I have a lot of hormone issues I've been trying to figure out for nearly 10 years to no avail. I've seen people and done extensive tests, but no one has ever been able to really help. I believe more in the ability of naturopaths to diagnose and treat me from the inside out so I am hopeful she'll address my concerns with success. I'm more motivated to try this now because I want to know if I'll be able to have a baby in the future. At this point, I'm fairly certain I can't. So I need to find out what, if anything, can change in my life to help alter that before I'm too old to do anything about it.
Tonight Josh and I are going to Chris's for a crockpot dinner party. I never use mine, even though I was so motivated to get one and try it out. They are awarding a prize to the best recipe, so I feel like I have to do something good. I don't care about winning and don't believe I will be able to compete with some of the people attending, but I also don't want to be embarassed by making something inedible! I found a chocolate PB cake online that I can make. Even if it's horrible, it's still chocolate, so that should sway opinions of it, right?! We shall see....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)