Is Tomorrow Over, Yet?

I plan on being at the COB (College of Business) testing center when it opens at 7am tomorrow morning to take my Real Estate Valuation and Appraisal midterm exam. Immediately following the two hour, 100 question exam, I have to rush back home to give myself two fleet enemas to prep for my rectal exam at 11am.  This is the one where I'm expecting to actually be able to see what the heck is going on in my colon on the screen while the scope is inside me. Honestly, I'm not sure I want to look, but I'm sure my curiosity will get the best of me. Will the fistula be visible? Will my colorectal specialist recommend surgery? Will the rectal exam be more painful than usual?  Sometimes I wish they'd give me anesthesia, but then I remember that anesthesia is expensive and if insurance deems it un-necessary they won't cover it.

How lucky am I to have a rectal exam added to my list of midterm exams?  I'm more nervous for my rectal exam than any of the others. This week I really want to quit school because I feel completely overwhelmed.

My Medical Cocktail

First on the list of ingredients in my medical cocktail is a probiotic prescription. It's VSL#3 DS. You can get VSL#3 over the counter, but since I've got the DS (double strength) it requires a prescription. It comes it powder form and I mix it into juice twice a day to consume 900 billion live bacteria. It tastes like rubber gloves, but I've been managing to choke it down. The bacteria in my gut is messed up because my body attacks the good bacteria. This causes inflammation and Crohn's symptoms. Now that I'm on two antibiotics my gut is going through a rollercoaster of trying to sort the good and bad bacteria effectively to fight the right bacteria, so this probiotic is suppose to give it a boost. My honest opinion is that I should have been prescribed this probiotic a while ago regardless of whether I'm on antibiotics or not.

Second on the list of ingredients in my medical cocktail is an antibiotic called Flagyl (Metronidazole 500 MG). I'm taking it every eight hours, so three times a day. I used to take Flagyl about ten years ago when I was first diagnosed with Crohn's, so I have experience with it. It causes cancer in mice and rats. I'm not surprised because it seems like every drug I take causes cancer. Alcohol is forbidden while taking Flagyl and for at least three days after the last dose. Trust me, I'm not drinking anytime soon. Flagyl may affect certain lab test results.  I've been known to feel dizzy while taking Flagyl, which is another side-effect. Because of that my mom has volunteered to drive me to school this week, and I'll hitch a ride to work with my sisters. Other possible side-effects include: persistent nerve problems, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, metallic taste, nausea, stomach upset or cramping, and trouble sleeping among others. The ones that I experience most are dizziness and nausea. Especially in a moving car.

The last ingredient in my medical cocktail is another antibiotic. This one is called Ciprofloxacin HCL 750 MG. I'm taking it every twelve hours, so twice a day. This drug came with eight pages of patient information. I've also taken Ciprofloxacin before, but I've never taken it at the same time as Flagyl. The key with this one is to drink plenty of water and to avoid caffeine. This drug scares me because it's known for it's increased risk of tendon problems. As a runner that's terrifying. These risks include pain, swelling, inflammation, and possible breakage of tendons. The Achilles tendon in the back of the foot/ankle is  most often affected. This medicine may cause drowsiness, dizziness and lightheadedness. (yes, I feel like I'm experiencing brain fog. My mind isn't sharp and I'm finding it difficult to focus.) I'm supposed to avoid the sun while on this med because I'll burn more easily. Other side-effects include: diarrhea, dizziness, and nausea.

I've also been taking an Epson salt bath once a day to soak the tender area down below. Overall, my butt pain was relieved  a little today. I'm moving a little better and the pain isn't as sharp. The swelling around my anus and to my panty line has gone down tremendously. The abscess is still releasing a discharge though. I'm not sure which drug is responsible for me actually remembering my dream last night, but I quite enjoyed it. I dreamt I was jumping on the bed with Jim Parsons, the guy who plays Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory.  After jumping on the bed for what seemed like hours, we proceeded to run around a park in our PJs popping bubbles with the joy a puppy has at the sniff of a treat. Can't wait to see what tonight's dream will be.

A Nice Surprise

I don't talk much about my relationship with my twin, Leigha. Mostly because it's typically an antagonistic one. Well, her caring actions today came as a nice surprise. I'm not supposed to be driving while I'm on these two antibiotics until I see how they make me feel and since today was my first full day of being on them I didn't think I should be driving.  Leigha was kind enough to drive me to the atm, to get lunch and to the grocery store. Her generosity didn't stop there. She chose to go to the drive up atm so that I wouldn't have to get out of the car because she knows how much it hurts for me to walk.  She let me wait in the car while she went inside Chipotle to get lunch. And, she let me wait in the car at the grocery store while she went inside to get some kind of juice and fruit punch to help me down my medicine that tastes like rubber gloves. I'm thankful for my family taking care of my broken ass.

One Painful Day After Another

I woke up in a lot of pain and discomfort. It hurt to move. This morning I called my general physician's office to ask who I should see about my swollen and sore bottom. Naturally, the physician wasn't in today, but his nurse was and she recommended going to the OBGYN. I discussed this with my mom and we both had a gut feeling that wasn't the right answer, so I called my gastroenterologist's office to see what they thought. Naturally, my gastro wasn't in today either, but there was a nurse practitioner at the gastro office with an opening at 9:45am. So, I went to see him, Mike Jolly.

I don't care one way or the other about whether I have male or female doctors/nurses looking at me.  I anticipated going into the appointment that I'd have to have a rectal exam done. I should be used to those by now, right? Nope, not really. His huge finger entered my strictured rectum and he said, "I believe you have a fistula."

He explained it more once I got dressed and he came back into the room. The news: I have an anal abscess, which is an infected cavity filled with pus found near the anus or rectum. Holy fucking shit, that explains why I'm experiencing so much pain. Just by feeling around my rectum with his finger he believes a fistula is forming because of the abscess. Also a huge contributor to the PAIN!  He ordered the nurse to schedule an urgent appointment with my colorectal specialist/surgeon because be thinks I need surgery. I go to see the colorectal specialist on Tuesday... the same day as my Real Estate Appraisal mid-term, so we'll see how that goes.  Jolly also prescribed two antibiotics, both with horrible side effects. However, at this point, I'll gladly take them over what I'm experiencing currently. And, he prescribed a high potent probiotic, which seems promising and insurance actually covered it.

 

I owe a big thank you to my mom. She has been amazing. Taking care of me and going above and beyond what I deserve. I cried hard today. I'm disappointed in my body. I'm trying to fight my tendency to slip into depression during rough health patches. Not sure if it's working. I don't want this body, but I want this life. So, I chug along.  I'm grateful for the people praying for me.  I'm still miserable. I'm scared about what news Tuesday will bring. I'm afraid of needing surgery. I'm afraid my body is starting to reject Cimza.

Quite Possibly a Day From Hell

As I type this I have so much I want say, yet I'm not sure where to start.  I'm not even sure if I'm brave enough to share what I want to say. I'm fighting back tears. I've worked hard since my grandpa's death to build back control of my emotional sensitivity. I know if I begin to cry over my health it will be difficult to reign it back into control. Is it pathetic when I cry for myself?  It surprises me every time how quickly my health can do a 180 degree turn.

Today was supposed to be a big day. I have been planning for the past month on attending the career expo at UCF. However, I was up throughout the night going to the bathroom. I was running to the bathroom all morning, too. AND, my bottom between my panty line and rectum had become swollen and sore. It was uncomfortable to walk. I couldn't bring myself to attend the career expo because there's a lot of standing and walking involved. Plus, it's hard to focus on being professional and walking normally when I'm that uncomfortable.  Hire me, I have a swollen colon. I probably would have skipped class today, too. Except I had a mid-term exam in my portfolio analysis class. What's up with me having super bad health days on the exact same days of important exams? I'm not the best at planning, but even I wouldn't be ignorant enough to schedule it like that. I managed to survive the trek to class. During the exam, I was fortunate that I didn't have to poop. The exam was hard, I was distracted by my butt issues, and I just wanted to get the hell out of there. Frankly, I want to get the hell out of my body.

After I finished the exam, I drove to my parents' to have my mom look at my bum. She is amazing like that.  I hate calling the doctor on these kind of issues. I'm finally okay with doctors looking in my down under holes, but when it's on the external area of my privates that's when I feel violated. I know that doesn't make any sense... I don't understand it either. My mom gave me some stuff to put on the swollen spot and said, "Which doctor do you call for something like that?"  That's a good question. It's not in my vagina, so probably not the obgyn. It's not in my rectum, so probably not the colorectal. My gastro only looks at my bum during a colonoscopy and my general physician is always telling me he doesn't cover that area.  I may be finding out the answer soon though if the stuff she gave me doesn't help.

Oh yeah, the stomach pain is still around, but it's less noticeable with my sore butt that's agonizing me.

Dear Bowels

Dear Bowels,

Please stop this nonsense! It's only 9am and I've already had seven bowel movements this morning.  I don't think there's much left inside to come out.

Love, Lauren

If I Ignore the Pain, Will It Go Away?

Stomach pain greeted me yesterday in the late afternoon. I thought it might be gas pain, but after sounding the ass alarm (farting) the pain still wasn't relieved.  I took a few craps... Mainly just sat on the toilet in hopes the pain would somehow work itself out. It didn't. All in all, My poops were a little loose and surprisingly beautiful nonetheless. What gives? The pain was uncomfortable, yet manageable today. I put on my happy face and lied to anyone who asked how I was doing.  I know I've experienced far more agony than this. If I ignore the pain, will it go away?

I have officially started marathon training. I forget if I've started before, but now is go time! That's why I'm really trying to ignore this pain my stomach is insisting on feeling. I've created a training schedule that will get me up to 16 - 18 miles before my marathon in January, which is perfect for me. I ran about 2.5 miles today with the pain. It was difficult to start, but within a few minutes into it I was able to ignore the pain. 

This Too Shall Pass

Stress is attacking me from different angles. I'm packing up to move back in with my parents in a few weeks. I've got exams looming in the near future. I'm concerned about insurance wanting to know why I'm taking Cimzia in order for them to decide if they'll still offer coverage. (I'll blog more about that once I know more in about a month). I'm anxiously waiting for the Department of Education to complete their review so that I can apply for graduation as well as apply for my last class in the spring. I'm worried for family who might be losing their house to foreclosure soon.  Despite all of it, I'm actually in high spirits because I feel amazing! I feel strong and I feel sharp! I enjoyed a glass of wine while enduring my online class at double speed tonight. It really is the only way to make it through the class period without giving up on the lecture. While enjoying wine and listening to my lecture I drew a work of art that I named "This Too Shall Pass." It pretty much sums up my sentiments about supply chain management and insurance. Hashtag side-boob, hashtag stick figure syndrome. lol

This Too Shall Pass



5 Things I "Googled" This Week

1. "FEMA Flood Map"

I searched "FEMA Flood Map" to find and print a flood map for the property I'm appraising in my real estate class. The search led me to this website: https://msc.fema.gov/portal. a) Type address in the box that says "enter an address" and click the blue "search" button. b) Click "view" icon with magnifying glass.  c) Zoom in and find property on the map. d) click "make a FIRMette" e) Drag the pink box over the area the property is located. f) Click "create FIRMette PDF". g) Save and print the Flood Insurance Rate Map.


2.  "elevator pitches for students"

Part of preparing for the career expo is fine tuning my elevator pitch, which is a thirty second commercial of myself. I was searching for what type of things to add in my commercial. My pitch is below:

Hi, my name is Lauren Albig. I am a senior at the University of Central Florida majoring in Finance in the College of Business. I intend to graduate in May 2015. While going to school part time I also work full time in the real estate title insurance industry. I like to volunteer for non-profits in my spare time. I'm looking to join a team that can utilize my ability to be a solutions partner. A couple of my strengths are that I am a team player and I am self motivated. If it's okay with you, I'd like to give you my resume. I'd also like to discuss the available positions at your company and what you look for in future employees.


3. "economic indicators"

I was looking for the GPO's (U.S. Government Printing Office) August economic indicators. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ECONI-2014-08/pdf/ECONI-2014-08.pdf Economic Indicators are published every month and provides economic information on gross domestic product, income, employment, production, business activity, prices, money, credit, security markets, Federal finance, and international statistics. I love reading through the graphs, tables and charts that use time series data to compare benchmarks from the past years with the current quarter... for numerous sectors of the market.  I find it truly enchanting.


4. "gopro"

I've been researching the different GoPro cameras because I think it would be amazing to document my journey through the Disney marathon in January like this. The Disney marathon is the most magical experience I've ever had and I want others to witness just how spectacular it is.


5.  "visual dna"

If you want to procrastinate on other things, check this out: https://www.visualdna.com/quizzes/

Learn All The Things!

Lately, I've been overwhelmed with how many different things I want to learn. It's difficult because I'm in the middle of a rough semester that doesn't leave me much free time to learn new things outside of school. I think that's part of the reason I'm craving to learn new hobbies.

- I want to learn to draw so that I can illustrate a children's book when I write one in the future.
- I want to learn html coding and web design so that I can create my own website.
- I want to learn a new language. In fact, I just got 50% off all five levels of Rosetta Stone for Spanish. I also plan on purchasing Rosetta Stone for French before the 50%  off sale expires. Two for the price of one!!! That should help me prepare for my future international travels. After I graduate from UCF, I plan on diving in and investing time to actually learn to fluently speak a foreign language.
- I want to learn how to ballroom dance. Perhaps I'll take lessons when time permits.
- I want to learn how to play an instrument; drums, piano and guitar are at the top of my list. Especially drums, so that I can be a badass, female drummer in a superstar band. (I'd totally rock a Mohawk!)
- I want to learn how to solve a Rubik's cube.
- I want to learn how to act. In the future, I'd love to take some acting classes. It will come in handy when I move to Hollywood when I'm 70 years old to get some Betty White type rolls.

Drawing No. 2 - The Apple of My Eye

I've made a conscious decision to try to draw one new thing every week. I must say sharing my drawings has been less intimidating than sharing things I write. Perhaps because it's less personal for me. Frankly, with drawing I don't care if I'm criticized because I know I have a lot of mistakes to make in order to learn better techniques. As I look at the apple I drew I can't help but be amazed that I actually drew that.  I still haven't made it to the store to buy a pencil sharpener and a proper eraser, so I drew this with a borrowed, sharpened pencil from UCF's College of Business testing center that I swiped on Saturday after my exam. Fear not, I'll return it later this week. It just might be in exchange for a better sharpened pencil. =)

The Apple of My Eye

I Didn't Fail My First MAR 3203 Exam

MAR 3203 is my Supply Chain Management class. It's a core class for all business majors and there are around 900 students in my class. UCF only offers this class with one professor, so I had no choice but to take it with this seemingly unqualified professor who used to be an airline pilot.  According to Rate My Professor, students agree "his tests are impossible," "he's HORRIBLE at teaching," "the only C I received in my entire college career," "study and pray to alluh [I pray to my God]," "don't bother watching his lectures because they are a waste of time," and I can now confirm "he is the worst professor ever"!

I knew going into this semester that I would be spending the bulk of my study time on this class. This class has completely consumed me. I watch the lectures on double speed just to catch anything that might be valuable, but usually he just vaguely talks about what we'll be going over in the future, what he went over in the past (which is nothing other than mention what we will go over in the future), and he conducts surveys from the classroom live that eats most of the class period. I read the entire chapters we're supposed to be going over in class, and I do the online homework that I teach myself on. I just hate that I paid to learn from this guy and I'm getting zero value out of him. I worked my butt off since the beginning of the semester to teach myself the four chapters on the exam I took yesterday because I knew it was going to be "impossible."

The mean score on the exam was 112 out of 180, a measly 62%. That means well over half of the class failed the exam. When over half a class fails an exam the main reason is that the professor failed its students. It's sad that as hard as I worked I only got 150 out of 180, an 83%. I don't credit the professor at all, I taught myself 83% of the material. Normally, an 83% would irritate me, but I'm so happy I didn't fail the exam because I went into it expecting to fail. Even while taking the exam, I thought I don't know where these questions are coming from. There's no way, I'm going to make it out alive. Alive being above 70%.

Plans Dislike Me

Some things in life will never come naturally to me. For instance, planning is one of my known weaknesses. Plans really just don't like me. It seems no matter how much effort I put forth I usually fall short or encounter problems because I didn't think the whole plan all the way through. Shouldn't my academic advisor have warned me that I wouldn't get aid if I dropped below half time student status? Apparently in my focus of only taking one class in my last semester so that I can have extra time to apply for jobs, I failed to realize that I would not have the minimum credit hours necessary to get financial aid. Ugh, I feel so stupid. If I only take one class in my final semester, I won't have the credit hours to get aid and I'll have to start paying back my student loans in May 2015. Whereas if I sign up for two classes to get enough credit hours, I get financial aid (as long as they figure out the situation mentioned below) and I won't have to start paying back my student loans until November 2015. 

My other financial aid issue is that I'm currently being reviewed by the Department of Education because they think I've reached the subsidized loan limit of $23,000. In which case, I won't be eligible to receive my typical subsidized loan for the Spring. Worse case scenario, I'm hoping I'll only have to pay back a little in order to take out an unsubsidized loan for the Spring. According to my records, my current student loan amount is $19,250. I'm so frustrated! Did I really miscalculate it by that much? There is a hold on my UCF account until they review my financial aid limit to confirm that I don't owe any money yet. So, I'm unable to register for the Spring semester (the semester I'm supposed to be graduating in) at this time. I'm going in to talk to someone at the financial aid office on campus on Monday to get more information about this whole "review process".

I had planned to graduate with a total of $22,000 of student loan debt. I think I'm currently at $19,250. To date I've only gotten $1200 in grants, which is pathetic. Anyways, I can't count on grants to pay for my final semester.  If I screwed up my own student financial aid plans like this review by the DoE suggests, I fear my major in finance may be a joke. Obviously, $0 student debt would be better, but I was going to be super proud of only having $22,000 in student debt at graduation. Considering on average an undergraduate student graduates with close to $30,000 in student debt.  I'm not intimidated by my student loans because I will add the loan payments to my budget after I graduate. Plus, by paying them on time they will help me build credit. Not that I have bad credit. Heck, Wells Fargo has pre-approved me for a home loan. I laugh at that because that is intimidating to me, and yet I want to build even stronger credit.

TMI: A Happy Period

I can't place which brand this phrase belongs to, but I remember "Have a happy period" being a catch phrase, marketing campaign for a feminine product brand. Are you bloody kidding me? Should the words 'happy' and 'period' even be in the same sentence? Can you tell I'm hormonal? Why must women of a childbearing age bleed out every month? Is it really necessary for responsible women using protection, taking a pill, and/or abstaining from sex to endure this madness every month. In my experience, there is nothing happy about it other than the fact that it signifies I'm not pregnant. Okay, so I guess it's better than the alternative (being pregnant or being old), but I don't see this clown nose red blood oozing out of me as a beautiful gift of womanhood.

My first period didn't make an appearance until I was fifteen. And even then it only came around every few months. It first started right around the time I was beginning to figure out and get a handle on Crohn's after being diagnosed. I can probably count on my two hands the amount of periods I had in high school, which isn't many. The age when my sisters and friends were developing curves, starting their periods, and gaining interest in relationships, I was waiting for boobs to grow on my skeleton, wondering what it would be like to have a period (down right awful I would later learn), and being too engrossed in my bowel habits to be interested in relationships. Eventually, my boobs finally grew to an A, my period became regular after I graduated high school, and I'm still waiting for my interest in relationships to spike. I think the onset of Crohn's during my formative years stunned my sexual development to some extent... I'll save that topic for another post in the future.

Typically, my periods are three-four days long and are accompanied with back and stomach pain. I can handle cramps, but the pain I get is unbelievable most times. The hormones cause mood swings. Birth control pills didn't help the pain or mood swings for me like everyone claims they should have, so I stopped taking them. I'm convinced that my period makes my Crohn's symptoms worse. More pain and more irregular bowel movements around my period. How can my period cause both extreme diarrhea and extreme constipation, depending on the month? Plus, the whole let me bleed for three days a month and act like everything is okay has to be the biggest joke females tell themselves. Keep in mind while I'm bleeding I usually have anal leakage to deal with too, so I'm just one big, disgusting mess.  I know I don't have heavy flow compared to most, but just the fact that blood flows out of me for days in a row doesn't make me happy. It's bad enough when I have blood in my stool. Am I over-reacting? Most likely. It doesn't change the fact I want to take out my womanhood, tie my tubes... I don't care I just want to be a woman without the red hood. I would be happier without a period. Perhaps I should get pregnant. I'm sarcastic about getting pregnant because that would solve my issue for nine months only to have a different issue for eighteen years. On the other hand, I'm sure getting pregnant would make my boobs bigger. Though the trade off just isn't worth it to me.

My New Hobby

Even though I'm in the middle of taking three classes this semester, I've decided to add another subject to my plate of things to learn, drawing. Now, if you know me, you know my ability to draw consists of a smiley face, stick people, a flower, and a bird.  Well, that's about to change. I've purchased a kit that includes different kinds of pencils, a sketch pad and a book called 'The Art of Drawing.'  I had no idea there are so many different ways to hold a pencil and numerous shading techniques. Today, I drew a horse.

First, I made a grid on my sketch pad, and then I blocked out the horse. The photo to the right has an outlined head and a blocked out body. By this point I evaluated it and thought there is no way I can draw because even my blocking looks horrible, but I kept with it.

After I finished blocking, I began outlining it. That's when it really started coming together. Yeah, I drew skinny ass legs, but I was impressed with my outline. The outline looked way better than the blocking did.






Once I was done outlining, I started to shade. I used a dull No. 2 pencil because I haven't been to the store to buy a pencil sharpener and a proper eraser, so that's all I had to work with. When I need a pencil at school, I borrow one from the testing center. I am impressed with the finished horse I drew. I can't wait to improve and see how proper drawing tools enhance the techniques I'm learning.



My Trip To Sunrise

I left after work on Friday to go visit Taylor. It took me about three and a half hours to get there and it rained most of my drive down, which sucked. However, getting to see Taylor made it worth it. Wicked rain, wind, thunder and lighting accompanied me on the Turnpike, which slowed my pace. I arrived at Taylor's a little after 7:45pm. Then, Taylor, Kenny, Sean, Chelsea, and I went to P.F. Chang. Yeah, I was the fifth wheel, but I didn't mind.  I had amazing kung pao chicken. We followed P.F. Chang with Funky Buddha Brewery. The brewery was awesome because they had their own micro brews on tap, plus they had numerous tables to play games at. You sign out games from the game room like Apples to Apples, Monopoly, etc... then you sit in the well lit bar area with music at a lower volume than a typical club so that you can play the games and drink their great brews. I fell in love with their Hop Gun IPA. I've never tasted a beer like it before and it makes me want to try more local breweries around Orlando.  We closed the brewery and I'm not sure what time we got back to Taylor's place, but I know it was Saturday. I slept on their fold-out couch, which was surprisingly comfortable.

Saturday's wake up call came early because her birthday party started at 10am. By the time, we got up, got dressed, and folded up the couch bed Mrs. Conklin was knocking on the door. Slowly, people trickled in, Taylor's grandma and grandpa, Katrina, Kenny's sister's, Alisa and Emily, and CJ. It was storming, so we had to post pone the pool party. Taylor opened gifts and everyone snacked. Eventually, the storm let up enough for us to move the party to the pool only for another storm to chase us back into the apartment. We sang, ate cake, played games, and watched a movie. During this time a few people left and I went into Taylor and Kenny's room to take a nap while everyone else played another game.  By the time I woke up it was time to go to the Game Room, which is like a knock off of Dave and Buster's. Mrs. Conklin, Taylor, Kenny, Sean, Alisa, and I went to the Game Room where we raced, shot things, played guitar hero, bowled, and played air hockey.  I left in the middle of gaming because I wanted to get back home before midnight. I had a blast celebrating with Taylor, and I know it meant a lot to her that I came to celebrate with her. I love seeing her new place and where she calls home. Though I wish we would have gotten some time together without everyone else around... I'm just greedy like that I guess.

The friendship turd is now in my hands, so I get to think about how I want to enhance it this time.

Dentist, Haircut, and Dyed...Oh My!

Despite being busy this week, I found time to take extra good care of myself. I'm still feeling great. *knock on wood* I went to the dentist for the first time in four years this week. I originally stopped going because I cancelled my appointment back in 2010 in order to go on vacation and I never rescheduled. Life got busy, other medical bills piled up, and I just finally got around to going back. My insurance doesn't cover dental, so it's not the cheapest thing in the world. I don't even care that my insurance doesn't cover it because it covers my meds for Crohn's. Surprisingly, I didn't have any cavities or problems with anything else! Damn, I'm good! I saved over $1,300 by not going to the dentist for four years, and I don't have any cavities! Yeah, I feel like I won at life! I don't want to push my luck, so I'm back on the schedule for cleanings and x-rays twice a year.

To treat myself extra nicely, I got my haircut today. Okay, it was just a trim. I love the part when the lady shampoos my hair. I mean, wow. Why does it feel so damn good when someone else does it? I need someone to shower with so that they can shampoo my hair. I like that shit! Perhaps, I can cut arm holes in my shower curtain so that someone can just stick their arms through to shampoo me. I'm cracking up picturing that in my head. I'm too cheap to get my hair professionally dyed, so I went home and dyed my own hair after my haircut. It's an elegant deep bronzed brown. It seems to have covered the grays, but that will likely change in a couple weeks.

I'm packed and ready to head South after work tomorrow. I've got the Vodka and Oreos and can't wait to celebrate Taylor's birthday!

My Three Day Weekend

I can't say I enjoyed my three day, Labor day weekend. I spent most it with my head in a school book or doing online homework. Geez, how dull is that? Responsibility sucks! lol  It wouldn't have been as bad if I didn't need to get ahead for next week, too. Next weekend is going to be super busy for me and I know I won't have much free time to study. I'll be driving down to Sunrise, FL after I get off work on Friday for Taylor's birthday/house warming party that's on Saturday. I'm excited to see her and celebrate with her friends and family!  Then, I'll make my way back home Saturday night. I've got an early morning run with Brittany on Sunday. I'm feeling good about it since I've actually been training. My family is starting a new tradition the first Sunday of every month to have cheese steaks at my grandma's house in memory of my grandpa who loved cheese steaks. This Sunday we will venture to the graveside to see the finished tombstone and place flowers in the holders on either side of the stone. I already know it's going to be emotional because just thinking about it gets me choked up. I know it's going to stir up all of the emotions I felt the day I saw his casket lowered into the ground. So, this dull weekend will be followed by an emotional roller coaster next weekend. I guess I'll enjoy the dullness while it lasts.