Until recently, I thought the only thing that could make a mark on a diamond was another diamond, but, as it turns out, this is not the case at all: diamonds can be chipped or scratched if they are hit "just right," and it would seem that I did just that at some point after getting my ring checked last April. In September I noticed a mark on the stone, but I dismissed it because I was certain that a diamond could only be marked by another diamond, and I certainly don't have many of those lying around. When I took my ring in to the jewelers to get it checked out a couple of weeks ago, I pointed the mark out, and they told me it was a scratch. Then they pointed out a chip in the stone that I hadn't noticed before. The end result is that they're sending it up to their headquarters to get the stone replaced (if they can't match the stone's color, clarity, etc., exactly, I will supposedly get a better one), and I am without my ring for somewhere between two to four weeks. They did let us use the microscope to see the number that was engraved on my diamond before packaging it up, though. That was pretty interesting, although it's hard to imagine symbols being put on a spot that's so tiny I didn't even realize was a flat surface until the jeweler showed it to me. Anywho, for the next few weeks, my finger is bare, and I hate it. My hand feels weird without my ring.
October 2007 Archives
And yet it does. Who knew? I also did not know that, in addition to being used to see shit inside your body, ultrasounds are also used for therapeutical purposes as well. I started physical therapy last week for my TMJ problems, and it is not quite what I expected. The massage part is great until my therapist amps up the pressure, then it moves from feeling good to "holyfuckingshit, I will cry if this does not stop NOW!" After what feels like an eternity of fighting off tears, the pressure starts loosening up whatever muscle is being targeted, and I start feeling some relief. Then she puts a finger in my mouth to do some fishhook move that hurts even worse, but also feels good after the pain recedes. After all the poking and prodding and pain is over, an aide comes in to start using the ultrasound machine on my jaw and neck, and, let me tell you, THAT is an uncomfortable feeling. Not the ultrasound itself, but the cool anti-inflammatory cream + the cold cold ultrasound gel is ick x 1000. As the initial burst of cold wears off, the ultrasound wand starts to heat up and feel good, which usually happens right before it's time to switch sides. Once we've gotten all that out of the way, we move on to the exercises, which mainly consist of stretches and jaw movements to expand my range of motion. So far the most uncomfortable one is the stretch where I have to open my mouth, put the knuckles of my middle and index fingers between my teeth, and hold that for thirty seconds. It starts feeling uncomfortable after five seconds; after ten it starts hurting. Most people without TMJ problems can do that comfortably with three fingers/knuckles, but I can't even imagine how that would feel. I'm doing this twice a week for the next few weeks, and then we'll re-evaluate and see how I'm doing at that point.
This is my favorite type of horror movie. I consider this every bit as good as Skeleton Key, and I think that was one of the best horror movies I've seen so far. The build-up in this was excellent - by the time the creepy stuff started happening, I was ready to jump out of my skin.
***SPOILERS***
I just got an e-mail about my bat water bottle - they've run out of stock and won't be making any more at this time. I'm so disappointed.
I came home Tuesday night to find those flowers waiting for me. My sister had stopped by after work and left them on the doorstep as a pleasant surprise. It was a thoughtful, sweet gesture and a much-welcomed bright spot in my day.
I love Halloween. While I really like the history, superstitions, and candy, a good chunk of my Halloween love is because this is the time of year for bat merchandise. Behold my newest treasured purchases:
A bat water bottle! How awesome is that? Srsly, it doesn't get much better.
Until we add in a bat storage container! Then it becomes awesome x 1000. Bring on the bats!
Things I have been meaning to write about but lack the motivation to do so (read: am lazy):
- physical therapy for my TMJ problems
- the dogs' training and how much I <3 their trainer
- school stuff
- the! sky! is! falling!
- fall, or the lack thereof
- 30 Days of Night
- my ring (diamonds are not forever)
Mike is a HUGE fan of the 30 Days of Night comic books, written by Steve Niles, and he was thrilled when he found out it was being made into a movie. We went to see it on Saturday with Maddy and D, but unlike Mike and D, neither Maddy or I had read any of the comic books beforehand.
*** SPOILERS ***
I have to talk to a group of supervisors in a meeting today and update them on a new program our division is implementing. I am EXTREMELY nervous about this. Upset-stomach nervous. I am not comfortable with public speaking, even if it's just talking to my co-workers in a formal setting; simply put, I don't have the confidence to be able to do that easily. And it doesn't help that the new program is a fairly controversial one. I have 2.75 hours to positive-think myself into a windfall of self-confidence.
more funny pictures
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more funny pictures
more funny pictures
more funny pictures
more funny pictures
Jordan got a clean bill of health at his follow-up appointment Monday, and, in spite of the feedbag of treats I brought with us, he still does not think much of going to the vet's office. He had to be coaxed into taking treats from the vet and the ladies in the front office. Let me repeat that: Jordan, my little scavenger boy, had to be talked into taking treats. It wasn't all bad though. There was no poking or prodding or needles this time - all he had to do was give them a urine sample to check and we were done.
Dear deodorant,
WTF? Your only function is to keep my armpits from smelling like the asscrack of hell. Do your damn job.
love,
Kate
If you have to give one of your dogs an antibiotic twice a day for ten days, it would behoove you to not throw away the package with the remainder of his pills after day six, particularly if you're not keen on the idea of rummaging through the trash (this idea is even less appealing after your husband has dumped a heap of chicken-wing bones in there with a container of ranch dressing).
I saw Better Than Ezra with Karinne and her husband in 2000 when they came to the Warner Theater in DC with The Calling. The Calling was the reason I wanted to go to the show, but after seeing BTE play I was a fan. The energy was contagious, the crowd was very into them, and the music was extremely catchy. The only disappointment was that they played a lot of songs from Closer, their new album at the time, so I had to wait until it was released to be able to hear those songs again. "Porcelain," "Misunderstood," and "Good" are my favorite BTE songs, but until yesterday I didn't realize that "Good" is on one of the albums I have (Deluxe and Closer). While I may have known that at one point, for at least the past four years I have been under the impression it was on an album I didn't have. I finally figured it out last night when I tried to find out the name of the album it was on, and, boy, do I feel stupid.
Poor little Jordan. He has a bladder infection of some sort (one that involves lots of bacteria and blood in his urine), and has to be on antibiotics for the next ten days, after which I need to bring him back to the vet for a re-check. And if he doesn't officially hate going to the vet yet, he will soon. The vet had to check his bladder during the exam yesterday, and the second she was through he climbed up my arm and onto my shoulder and then tried to climb on top of my head. He had to have an x-ray after I peeled him off of me so they could make sure he didn't have any kidney stones. When they brought him back to me the vet told me that he'd peed on the x-ray table. (If the way he smelled was any indication, he probably expressed his anal glands too.) Jordan wanted nothing to do with anyone there after that, and he kept trying to head for the door while I was waiting to check out. The dogs' trainer (they have a trainer now, but that is not a story for today) was there during part of our visit (not because of Jordan's appointment - she was going to give me a spray to use when I work with the dogs on their separation anxiety, and it was more convenient for her to meet me at the vet's office) said that I need to bring a small bag of treats when I take any of the dogs to the vet so they won't associate it only with getting poked and prodded. Maybe that will help make his follow-up visit a little better for everyone.
Things are not good here this week, so I don't have much to say right now. I'm cold and heartsick. My stomach's upset, and both it and my heart feel like they have anchors on them. At any given moment I am seconds away from bursting into tears or throwing up. I'm glad it's overcast today - the dark skies are far more fitting for me than a sunny day would be.
I had my appointment with the ENT doctor ysterday. I had my first-ever hearing test and passed with flying colors, so at least my hearing is okay. I also had a tympanogram to check the pressure in my ears. The results were normal, which means there's no fluid in my ears and no blockage that will lead to fluid buildup. The doctor checked my throat, ears, and nose and determined that everything looks fine, although he did find red dachshund hairs in both of my ears (thank you, Maddy and/or Max), which he removed with a microscope and some long tweezers - not a painful experience, but definitely an uncomfortable one. He thinks my problems are primarily due to TMJ problems, so he's referring me for physical therapy to work on that.
