The tech support problem dates back to long before the industrial revolution, when primitive tribesmen beat out a rhythm on drums to communicate:

This fire help. Me Groog

Me Lorto. Help. Fire not work.

You have flint and stone?

Ugh

You hit them together?

Ugh

What happen?

Fire not work

(sigh) Make spark?

No spark, no fire, me confused. Fire work yesterday.

*sigh* You change rock?

I change nothing

You sure?

Me make one change. Stone hot so me soak in stream so stone not burn Lorto hand. Small change, shouldn’t keep Lorto from make fire.

*Grabs club and goes to Lorto’s cave*

*WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*

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Apparently, this method of tech support eliminates all of the user’s issues and provides stress relief to the techie at the same time…

Me & Aunt Flo
Yesterday I had my quarterly depression management appointment with my “regular” doctor. Although, trying to figure out this amenorrhea thing, I’ve seen my GYN more in the last couple of months than I see my general practitioner.

Anyway, he decided that since I’ve gained nearly 30 pounds (28 to be exact) since I started seeing him in August 2006, he should screen my cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Why, oh, why didn’t my GYN think to screen blood sugar? She’s also an OB for cryin’ out loud! You’d think that she would at least suggest the possibility of sugar issues in an overweight obese (my BMI is 34, yikes!) patient who’s gained nearly 30 pounds in 8-9 months without the benefit of growing a baby within….

So, Monday morning I get to head over to the hospital lab half-starved (10 hour fast!) for blood work. I won’t know the results until August 29 when I go in for my next depression management appointment unless I call the office and set up an appointment to discuss lab results. I may do just that.

I’ve been doing some research on the side as well, and it looks like my anti-depressant may be the culprit of my Aunt Flo’s disappearance. Not a problem right now…we’re not looking to conceive until after we move and get settled. And after I lose at least 75 pounds. Yeah. I’ve got to lose–doctor’s orders now–75-85 pounds before I’m allowed to start trying for another baby. *sigh* I should have a good start this summer with our house renovations. (We close MONDAY, June 4!)

Delbert

Delbert saw the dentist again today and had the other naggy tooth removed. They were able to get him in earlier than his scheduled appointments in July, so he doesn’t have to deal with tooth pain now. He still has two appointments left for restoration of three teeth and placement of two space maintainers. Fun. Thankfully, the road work on VT 78 is almost done and we’re able to travel faster and smoother over Lake Champlain to get him to the peds dentist.

He’s much happier now that his teeth don’t hurt. Poor baby. He hadn’t said anything about tooth pain (the worst kind IMO) before a couple of days before his first dental visit. Lord knows he’s had problems for a while. I hate to think how long he’s been hurting without complaining, but complaining just isn’t like him. If he tells you something hurts, then it HAS to be a bad hurt.

Sierra

It looks like Sierra is most likely diabetic, so I won’t be adopting any of Kari’s kittens this summer after all. She’s been drinking a LOT more water than usual and leaving puddles in the litter box. I hope Del’s wrong on this and she’s not diabetic but just overheated. She’s used to A/C when the weather gets hot and all we have for cool air is open windows and electric fans.

We’re going to change Sierra’s diet and keep her on a strict schedule for feedings. I’m also going to have to check her blood sugar (nice to know it can be done with the equipment I already have!) like I checked mine during my last pregnancy. We’re going to try Innova EVO, at a friend’s suggestion, for feeding because of its high protein and low carb content.

Oh, and Sierra is going to get really well acquainted with her harness and leash, whether she likes it or not. We’re going to start going on regular walks to help get more exercise in her day. I’m hoping she’ll eventually start looking forward to them…but she’s old (13 years) and set in her ways, so it’ll be an interesting experience at least.

Before taking Sierra to the vet, I’m going to check her blood sugar and keep a diary just like I did for my doctor. This should tell us if she really is having sugar issues or if the heat is just getting to her. I sincerely hope it’s just the heat, but in any case, kittens are going to be on hold for at least a year.

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That’s it for medical updates. The rest of the crew is fine; William has his ADHD maintenance appointment after school is out for the summer and William and Tracey have their dental checks while they’re staying with my mom in July. I already checked with her, and she doesn’t have any problem taking them to their appointment. It helps us because the kids can’t go to the peds dentist Delbert and Sami see; their dental insurance won’t pay out there. Besides, William and Tracey are already established at the dentist in Huntsville, so since we’ll be there anyway…

I’m tired and have to go cook dinner now. Watch for a fun Foodie Friday post coming! Pics of making “cookie cutters,” as Sami put it, along with the recipe we used, with our modifications added.

Ok. My MIL has some raw rhubarb on the table in a cup of water…there for anyone who wants to eat it. I’ve never had it raw (love it with strawberries in a pie), so I cut off about 3 smallish bites.

First bite was very sour. We’re talking mouth puckering, eyes watering, slammed against the counter sour. Ok. That went down fine, so we’ll try the second bite.

That’s when I tasted a hint of bitterness on the outside. Combined with the sour inside, my eyes started leaking, my mouth salivating horrendously, and my stomach did a little flip. Um…not sure I want the rest now that I’m a bit queasy, but I tell my kids to eat what they take, so I bucked up and ate the last bite.

At this point, I’m tasting extreme sour with a stronger bitter flavor and I nearly puked. I had to forcefully swallow the last bite. No sooner than I had swallowed, I went racing for my toothbrush. I couldn’t get that taste out of my mouth fast enough! That was undoubtedly the foulest thing I’d put in my mouth for as long as I can remember.

When I headed to bed after scrubbing my mouth well, I started laughing. Del asked what was so funny–mind you he had his laughs at my expense as I was eating the foul plant–and I started laughing harder as I related my taste experience with him. I ended up laughing so hard that I was snorting and grunting like a pig while burying my face in Del’s back and the mattress. All of this, of course, confused our 4-yr-old son who asked why I was laughing so hard. I quickly sobered up when I choked on my own spit…
I about lost my composure again when relating the story to my 16-yr-old SIL. She found it funny as did my MIL. Gotta love family. They love a good laugh at someone else’s expense.

There are no pictures to go with it yet, but I have a new pattern written out on my patterns site.

It’s a beginner level knit and crochet combo pattern using LionBrand Fancy Fur and Suede. I like funky scarves from time to time, and this definitely fits the bill for funky!
Get out your big knitting needles and crochet hooks (size 13/9 mm on both) and have fun making the Fanciful Suede-Trimmed Scarf.

I’ll get pictures added and any errata found once I’m home and can use Firefox. I’m having to use LYNX, a text-only browser, right now, so I can’t do my pictures or my standard patterns page.

Just a quick note: I will be adding .txt files for all my patterns to make printing easier. For now, enjoy the Patterns by CCC and watch for the announcement regarding printer friendly patterns.

Remember The Fallen

Remember those who gave their lives
So you and I might enjoy
The freedoms and rights we have.

Remember those who died in the field.
They gave as much as anyone could,
And yet, they did not yield.

Remember the ones who wore the pride
Of military service and uniform;
Remember the ones who died.

Remember the fallen:
The ones who didn’t make it home;
Remember the ones who died.

~~Melissa Hart

© 2007 Cat’s Cradle Creations

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Memorial Day isn’t about grilling steaks, burgers and hot dogs. It isn’t about family reunions and fireworks. It’s not about the neighborhood pool opening for the summer.

Over the years, so many people have forgotten the true meaning of Memorial Day in the United States. It’s about remembering the fallen war heroes. Not the veterans of those wars, but the fallen. Veterans have our own day in November.

Remember and honor the lives of those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who left their homes, friends and families behind to fight a war that wasn’t ours. Remember those who served our country and died in wars past and present. Remember those whose goodbyes to family and friends were their last. Remember those who were willing to give all they had and came home in a body bag.

Please remember the servicemen and women who gave their lives so you wouldn’t have to give up the freedoms you enjoy.

Remember The Fallen
World War I	World War II
Korea	Vietnam
Iraq	Persian Gulf

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All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

Billy Ray Cyrus & Cindy Cyrus from Some Gave All

Yet more Blogthings quizzes. Interesting tidbits of information to be found here….the results are amazingly accurate.

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are passionate, romantic, and emotional.You put love first in your life, even though you have often been disappointed by it.You expect to be swept of your feet, and you never expect infatuation to die out.Underneath it all, you are scared that you aren’t lovable.Your insecurity has ruined many relationships, as you are unable to see the love that’s really there. You are secretly afraid of being alone. Confronting your insecurities is incredibly painful.

I think this one is really deep and deserved to be placed at the top. Honestly, I never really thought about what part of me no one else sees, but there you have it. I’m secretly afraid of being alone. Go figure.

Weird Al Shares Your Taste in Music

See his whole playlist here (iTunes required)

This one just rocks out loud. I think it’s hilarious that Weird Al shares my taste in music. He’s one of my faves along with Ray Stevens and They Might Be Giants!

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