Needles in Soft Haystacks

Well, not real haystacks.

Yesterday was an adventure. And by “adventure”, I mean “roller coaster”. I hate roller coasters. I prefer to keep my feet on the ground and enjoy the scenery rather than have my life flash by in a blur. But every so often one has to get on to prove to oneself that the roller coaster is not the boss of you!

Anyway, I had another mammogram done, as well as an ultrasound. I want to stress that everyone in the Radiology Department was beyond awesome. That doesn’t mean the mammogram was gentle, by any means. To add insult to injury, she had to retake it because she didn’t get enough on the squishy plates. Talk about an ego killer. Once she was done, I went back out to wait for the ultrasound. I felt relief because how bad can the ultrasound be, right? They place a bit of gel in the questionable area and swipe a transducer across to get an image. Piece of cake, right? WRONG!! It turns out it wasn’t just one nodule, but several, and as the technician swiped the transducer across it pushed against a tender area causing a rather large amount of discomfort. To make things worse, she kept missing it, because the cysts kept moving, so she had to dig juuuuust a little more each time to get a good view.

Owie….

Not my actual ultrasound, but a good representation.

Now, imagine about 20 of them. Two of them were proving to be difficult, so the radiologists decided to drain the fluid in each one. And you may ask, just how is this done?

By inserting a syringe and withdrawing the fluid!!

Normally, this is were most people would totally wig out. And I came close, but when push comes to shove, you do what you must, right? So, I sat there as they explained the procedure, and told me how they would apply a local anesthetic so that I wouldn’t feel the needles (one for each cyst). That sounds good so far. Anyway, I laid flat on my back so that he could see the outline of the cysts better, and that’s when he noticed the bruise on the left haystack.

Doc: Wow, what happened here?

Me: Uh… long story.

Hubby: *snickers*

Me: A dog bit it, ok??

Doc: (laughing) This sure isn’t boring.

By now I was just itching to get this over with and done, but of course it’s never simple. I thought the local anesthetic was topical. Noooooooooooo…. it is injected. So there I am, on my side, arm way up over my head and falling asleep, scapula digging into the hard pillow used to prop me on my side, and the resident telling me to stay as still as possible and that I will “just feel a pinch”.

It’s a damn good thing he was a gorgeous redhead because I wanted to kill him on the spot. I was holding Hubby’s hand, clenching it actually, whimpering as quietly as I could, when I started to feel like my arm was ballooning. It was just like being at the dentist’s, only instead of drooling all over my arm just went totally limp. Thank you, Lord, for good drugs. As I watched the ultrasound, I see a needle being inserted into the area, and the resident wiggling it ever closer to the cyst. And what happens? The cyst decides to play coy, and move around!! GAH!!!! So he wiggles some more, into an area that is not completely anesthesized. Um, OY!! But as a good patient, I stay very still, and finally see him prick the cyst and withdraw the fluid. The second cyst was less problematic, but had to be wiggled into place. It was a very weird feeling having one’s haystack be moved around like that. But all good things come to an end.

Now it was time to go over recovery instructions. I figured it would be relatively simple stuff, watching for infection, keeping the swelling down, etc. I was taking it all in, until the nurse said I can only take acetaminophen for pain.

Excuse me??

I don’t get 12,000 mg ibuprofen?? No Vicodin?? NOTHING??? Acetaminophen just doesn’t work for me. I asked her why only that, and her reply was to prevent more bruising and bleeding in the area. To which I almost said, “That’s what Band-Aids™ are for, right??” But I was a good patient, and did as I was told. As I thought, acetaminophen did nothing for the pain, but the cold packs did. Unfortunately I couldn’t sleep with those, so I was a bit uncomfortable, but at least it beats the alternative.

So, in answer to y’all’s question, yes. I do have matching bruises now 😉

I’m Not a Hand Model, Either

But I was inspired by my interwebby friends Laura and Nicole. Besides, it is a small vanity to have, one with which I can live. So, I decided to be a hand model for today, showing off Ladies and Magenta-Men by O.P.I. What can I say? I liked the name, and the color is a very bright magenta, to which my iPhone 3 GS camera doesn’t do justice.

Well, you know I was going to hold a knife. A gun would not have been clichè enough 😉

The Cake is a Lie

Sorry for not posting any dribble yesterday. I was running errands with Hubby, and by the time we arrived at home, it was time to play Taxi for the kidlets, and figure out what to make for dinner, which was a feeble attempt at Salisbury steak. Live, and learn.

Anyway, yesterday Hubby and I decided to have a sit-down lunch instead of drive-thru fare. My thrifty side was feeling a wee bit guilty, but it was his idea, and who am I to stop him from being happy, right? RIGHT?? It also gives us a chance to talk and not feel rushed about anything, so that was nice. And then it was time for dessert.

I do love Tiramisu, almost as much as I love Crème Brulee. The name translates to “pick me up”, which might be a reference to the caffeine in the espresso coffee and the cocoa powder.

But it was all a lie!!!

Looking at the picture I could feel the happiness radiating from it. “Go ahead and get some,” my Aggie Devil said. “It’s just one tiny, itty bitty dessert…” she kept whispering. And I was ctlhoisse* to getting it. But the Aggie Angel showed up. “Don’t do it. It’s a lie! The cake will make you feel good at first, and then you’ll want more, and more, until you can no longer fit in your clothes!!”

I hate it when she’s logical. In the end I skipped it, knowing I didn’t need it and being full as I was would have made me feel even worse, physically at least. I can find balance between need and want.

I just have to remember to order dessert first next time 😉

* “this close” jumbled up to emphasize just how close I really was to ordering it!!

Sweet Swilling

As some of y’all know, last Saturday I attended the 9th Annual Wein and Saengerfest. It was fun to be out and about drinking legally in the streets. Anyway, the talk of the fest is always the Sangria made by Dry Comal Creek Vineyards™.

In a word, SUPERB!!!

Why? Because not only did it taste heavenly, it is super cheap, super easy, and super fast to make! TOTAL WIN!!

Texas Style Sangria

• 1 6oz can of frozen orange juice concentrate, plus one can of water
• 1 6oz can of frozen limeade concentrate, plus one can of water
• 1 liter of grapefruit soda
• 1 bottle Dry Comal Creek Foot Pressed Red Wine™

Blend limeade and orange juice concentrates with water. Add the wine, stirring well, then add the grapefruit soda, and stir well again. Freeze until slushy, or serve over ice if you are impatient, like me. Garnish with orange slices, or pass on the fruit if your impatient, like me 😉

Cross-posted at H&B.

Cleaning Binge

I’m on it!

Lately I have had the urge to clean up the stacks of stuff we have around the house. Maybe it was The Queen’s dictate of doing five things a day, or Hubby losing track of stuff, but it has gotten under my skin. And things are looking much better around here.

Now, a lot of the stuff is his, that has been collected while he’s been away. But we also have boxes of books and papers that need their place. This weekend sounds like a fine time to organize that on some shelves in the garage.

Sigh… 😉

Soul Soothing

My taste in music is very catholic. Not as in the religion, but varied. I am a big fan of Big Band and Jazz, Rockabilly, Classic Rock, Technopop, Disco (Shut it!), and even Country music. Took me a while, but I have learned to appreciate it.

I draw the line at “Screamo” and Grunge and Rap, though.

Anyway, as I was driving back home from dropping off Son at school, I switched to the classic rock station. Ordinarily, I don’t pay much attention to it. I just let it slide over me and that’s about it. Sometimes though, one song comes on and gives me a slight chill as it permeates my consciousness.

I heard Michael Anthony at the keyboards and my heart started to fly.

Now, I can’t abide Sammy Hagar. I just…his voice gets on my nerves. But I can’t think of anyone else doing it justice.

Hope y’all find your inspiration to fly today!! 🙂

All That Glitters

Last week, I discovered that Lolita,  wine glass designer extraordinaire, has her own blog!!

And then I discovered she had designed a new glass!!

Courtesy of Designs by Lolita

The Heart of Gold wine glass!! And y’all can bet a bottle of wine I will be christening it this weekend. And since I still have Peeps™ left over, it’s going to be a very, very nice weekend. At least for me 😉

Because More of a Good Thing Is a Good Thing

You know the feeling when you find a pair of shoes that are comfortable, or jeans that fit you so well that you wish you had more in every color??

Yeah, I get that feeling, too. I just take it further sometimes. Last year I found really comfortable sweat pants, so what did I do? I bought five pairs, two in the same color. That was either because I forgot I owned them in that color already, or because I was a little over zealous. This applies to lipstick and nail polish, as well. There have been a few times when I have found a beautiful shade of rose only to find out it was a limited edition nail color. This last week I found the perfect summer pink and bought three bottles of it.

This past month I was at the Soma™ store, and found a really nice dress. It was on sale, but they had a medium, which was too big (WHOO HOO!!!!) and an extra small, which fit rather clingy. Clingy can be good, but I tend to avoid it. I like more “flowy” dresses for two reasons: 1) I can move more freely, and 2) well….let’s just say I prefer no one else to know my sizes in everything. Sadly, there was no size small, so I thought my search for the dress was over. Until I went online.

Model not included, especially since she is wearing an extra small.

THEY HAD IT IN MY SIZE!!!! And that’s not all. They had two other solid colors!! So of course I have to get those, too!! It’s one thing to have two pairs of black sweat pants, and quite another to have two dresses in the same print. Just not done, right? And since I am so short, the dress comes down past my knees, which makes it perfect.

Of course, this means now I have to go find the perfect pair of shoes. More than likely three pairs, in different colors 😉

A Trick and a Treat

I know, I know… wrong day, wrong month, wrong season. But this isn’t about Halloween.

I saw this photo today on a social site, and as my tummy was growling, I was reading the comments on it.

First of all, ZOMGYUMMY!!!! But secondly, just how is it done?

Well, most of my foodie friends have figured it out. But not the commenters at the photo. They kept asking if one presses the uncooked bacon in a muffin pan and bake. Close, but using this is much simpler:

Invert the custard cup upside down, and wrap the bacon around it. Then bake until done, and you have a beautiful little bacon bowl. You can do this with pie crust and phyllo pastry, too. And it makes you look like some big time gourmet!

Can this Sith cook, or can’t she??

Postal Fail

I send packages all the time, and usually don’t pay attention to the flat rate Priority Mail™ boxes that are commonly used. I just fill, tape, address, and mail. We all do! So imagine my surprise when Son pointed this out:

You don’t see it yet, do you? Well, neither did I at first, and I’m a fanatical Sith when it comes to spelling and grammar.

That’s right: “Express” has TWO “S”s. (I maybe be a spelling Sith, but I’m not sure how to write the plural of one letter. STOP JUDGING ME!!!) And before you think it’s the French word for it, no it’s supposed to be in English. The French boxes have the circumflex accent ( ˆ ) above the second letter “E”.

Now, I won’t rush to judgment and condemn the entire US Postal Service for this. They probably contract out for such items. But it grates on my nerves that they can’t spell check, or at least decide on ONE spelling for that word. Seriously, pick English or French!

Just not Esperanto 😀