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Getting Old(er)

Soon after Pirate was born, it was determined that I have a bleeding disorder after several surgeries. It was also sometime after Pirate's birth that I started displaying symptoms of rosacea. I also remember having heel spurs around that time, which I have again now. As I mentioned a week or two ago, I had kidney stones. Last night I started having intense foot pain which resulted in a Urgent Care visit today and a diagnosis of gout. Now, I don't mean to bring anyone down by sharing this information...but, seriously people, I am not even 32! How many issues do most 31 year old women have? I blame my parents, of course, as most of these things are hereditary and am sad that my kids will most likely have very similar issues. However, I have two sisters...*they* don't have these problems! (At least I am the most fun to be around and the family favorite!)

NYC Fun

You Belong in the Upper East Side

You're an aspiring blue blood, and you want the best of New York high society. And while some may think you're conservative, you still appreciate good art and culture.

Where Should Your Inner New Yorker Live?

Nothing

I have nothing much to report. The Chillow works pretty well, although it is definitely a little strange. Plus, I have very thick hair, so it's sometimes difficult to feel the coolness through all of that. The weather really hasn't been that warm since I bought it...of course!

This is quite annoying; I certainly hope that the council member/pastor can keep his jobs separate!

What's up with all of you?

As Seen on TV

So, I ordered a Chillow on Monday - I can't tell you how excited I am about it. I can't stand summer. At all. I hate the heat. I don't think I was like this when I was younger, but somewhere around my mid to late 20s I started to despise it. When I forwarded the Chillow link to Paco the other day, he asked why I hadn't ordered it yet. The best part of this entire story is that it ALREADY CAME! Actually, it came yesterday, not quite 24 hours after I ordered it - and I didn't pay for expedited shipping. Now, I am sure there are many of you laughing at me right now. But, if this stupid thing will keep me cool, I am all for it. Anyway, after a work happy hour (okay, hours), I came home and Paco helped me follow the Chillow directions. Sadly, it takes 2 hours to activate and by that time I will probably be in bed; you will all need to wait for the Chillow update.

I am too distracted right now to talk about it, but remind me to tell you what my MD said!

Restaurant Fun

We wanted to go to Pizza Plant for dinner to celebrate Paco's birthday but there was an hour wait. (I tried to call ahead since there was going to be a big group, but they do not take reservations or do any type of call ahead seating.) So, we ended up at Smokey Bones and had a great time. The pulled pork was out of this world. Paco had all-you-can-eat ribs, which he assured me were worth the over-stuffed feeling afterward. While I am sure there are those from the south who would say that this restaurant does not serve "real" barbecue, I have to say that all of us found it to be quite delicious and am certain that we will go back another time.

In other restaurant news, I was thrilled to find out that The Melting Pot is coming to my neck of the woods - what can be better than fondue? And, if that isn't enough, we are also getting a Bonefish Grill! (This is particularly exciting since we don't have many great fish places around here.) We are also getting The Cheesecake Factory and some other places that I have not heard of.

I think that I am going to be gaining some weight!

Brief Points

1. I am feeling better, although I believe I am facing many MD appointments and tests.

2. Happy Birthday, Paco!

Pain and Sickness

Kidney stones and Lortab. I have nothing else to say!

Fair Food

I don't know if fairs, carnivals and festivals are as big a deal in other parts of the country as they are here. It seems like we could spend every weekend of the summer riding rides, petting animals, and eating fantastic (greasy) food. This past weekend a co-worker and I took Princess and TBell to a corn festival about 40 minutes away. What I found most interesting about this experience is that there was very little corn! There was, however, tacos, pierogies, cabbage with noodles, cream puffs, eclairs, pizza, corn dogs, ice cream, ice cream dots, frozen bananas (which I sadly did not have), fudge, sangria slushies, chicken wings, chicken BBQ, and I think many things that I am forgetting. Perhaps most importantly, there was fried Twinkies, fried Oreos, fried Snickers, and fried peanut butter cups. My co-worker and I split an order of the fried peanut butter cup, shown below. It was super rich and is the reason I didn't have the chocolate covered frozen banana as I had planned. The chocolate melted right underneath the fried batter with the peanut butter slightly keeping it's form...it was downright sinful!

The Geek Inside of Me

Paco ordered me a gift with vendor points he accumulated at work and I have been waiting months for it to arrive. Happily, when I finally arrived home yesterday at 9pm (after Vacation Bible School drop off and pick up and endless errands), my USB coffee warmer was waiting for me. Mine is silver with a mirror as coaster part. And, even better for my silliness, the cord glows an electric blue color at the plug. Oh, I really am a geek!

The List

As promised, here is my list of lifelong goals. The items are in no particular order...

1. Take the LSATs
2. Apply to and (possibly) attend law school
3. Run a 5k - preferably the breast cancer awareness one to honor my mother, a breast cancer survivor
4. Actually create and follow a budget
5. Buy a house
6. Can with Paco's grandma
7. Make potato salad like my grandmother

What's on your list?