PENSIEVE

My friend, my doctor...and apparently, a comedian

This time last week, I was in full freak out mode. In a moment of complete and utterly ridiculous melodrama, I wrote a post declaring (in between the lines) I had months...days...minutes to live.  After reading it and concerned our family might join my freak-outedness, my husband asked me to revise it.  I did.  The symptoms were numbness and burning in my hands and feet, severe swelling, and itching on my extremities; I barely noticed the latter because the former felt like mini firecrackers exploding out the ends of my fingers.  <--- not a melodramatic over-exaggeration...!

Anyways..............

On Sunday, because I don't have an internist or family doctor (don't judge me...when I moved to Tennessee EVERY confounded doctor I tried to make an appointment with was NOT taking new patients...so I've always relied on Docs in Boxes...), a friend/doctor insisted I come see him the next day.  He could see the fear in my eyes and my gargantuanly swollen hands and feet.  He couldn't see the itch.

I told him I'd come but I didn't need a physical exam and most certainly was NOT taking off any clothes or coming close to a hospital gown.  He rolled his eyes and gave me that sad, tired doctor line, "Honey, you don't have anything I haven't already seen...don't flatter yourself,"  but I held my ground. 

Okay, he didn't even come close to saying that, but I bet he was thinkin' it. 

It's important to know he was my FRIEND first, his wife is a friend, and he leads worship in our Sunday school class.   I figured if we needed to do anything "invasive", he'd refer me to one of his partners.

When I arrived for my appointment on Monday, he greeted me with a smile, introduced me to his nurse, casually motioned for me to go ahead of him to the exam room, and said he'd be in shortly.

As I walked into the room, it was clear he had "prepared" for my visit:

Nothin' breaks the ice like lu-bri-ca-shee-oooown, yes?   As the surprise wore off inside the room, I could hear him laughing outside the room.

Needless to say, I burned the gloves, gown and companion "tools" in effigy on his front lawn.

Oh, and my diagnosis?  Anemia...after testing for everything else on the planet, looks like I've just got a case of bad blood.

(Thanks to those of you who've continued to ask how I'm doing!  I like YOU best of all!!! ;) )

Cheap thrills and virgin experiences

I can't help it, I'm excited...I've been waiting weeks?  months? for this :).

Months ago, one of my favorite bloggers, Janice of 5 Minutes for Mom, asked me if I'd like to submit a post for The Sampler, a new weekly column they were going to debut.  It had to be an original essay, not posted elsewhere, and I jumped at the chance.  Slowly, but it was still a jump. 

Janice and I connected early in my blogging (maybe on my Dr. Kevorkian post???), and I've had an affection and admiration for her (and Susan) ever since.  I think they're smart at-home moms, innovative in their blog and its offerings, and they promote women, bloggers and mom-businesses like no one else!  They're all about Girl Power but without the feminazi edge :).

So...if you have time, I'd love for you to read my post THERE today...you'll never get to see it at PENSIEVE. 

"A handful of pennies smells to me like idyllic

childhood days. When I happen onto that distinct

fragrance, I’m transported to one of the happiest

memories of youth, one my own children will never know." 

PLEASE click to read more of Cents, Scents, Sense, Since ~ Pennies & Thoughts

 

Thanks, to Janice and Susan for including me as a Guest Contributor, and to Shera, A Frog In My Soup for hosting The Sampler (and offering tons of encouragement and enthusiasm to me personally and for the column in general).

Hoop Dreams ~ Friday's 40 PC #5

Sometimes...

A fresh perspective

Is all you need

To reach your goal.

 

Robert (Thoughts of a Father) asked recently, "Why FORTY or less?" and I realized I never explained the origin.  The answer?  Limericks.  Yep, limericks...I love 'em.  The humor, the wit, the rhythm...they usually bring a smile.  Soooo...with Friday's 40 PC I wanted to make sure there were enough words within the guidelines to allow for 'em.  Five weeks into this carnival, I've yet to pen one myself and I don't think I've seen one elsewhere, but if you wanna "win" for the week?  A well-written limerick should do the trick ;).

I'm looking forward to reading your perspectives for the photo above--have I mentioned that I LOVE this shot?  I took it lying on my back on our very cold, very hard concrete driveway, and the day couldn't have been more Carolina blue :).  The resultant image is very crisp, clean, and a distant view of the light above our goal.  It's just FUN and I thought your responses to the photo prompt could be all over the place--we'll see!  Be sure to visit one another to see how similarly--or how differently--we interpreted the photograph.

New to Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge?  General guidelines are here; click here for this week's challenge details. 

Super-power wishes and little boy kisses

Sometimes--but only sometimes--I wish I could freeze time.

Mostly those super-power wishes come when my babies are crossing a threshhold--first smiles and first steps, learning to read and learning to write, beginning pre-school or elementary or middle or (gasp!) high--eras begun or eras left behind...

...the milestones  that mark a life.

For a mother, they brand the heart, searing much more than impression.  The mother-child bond, impossible ever to severe completely, is stretched at each turn.  We know each move towards independence is a move away from us--as it should be.  Knowing that doesn't remove the sting of the bitter in pursuit of the sweet, though, and with each stride toward maturity, we hold collective breath, close our eyes, and push those babies a littler farther from the nest. 

My third born...second son...baby, graduated fifth grade last week. 

When younger, he was the one I was certain would return to the womb if he could; he had an insistent need to touch me and often.  I nick-named him The Kissing Bandit because he stole smooches at will, his mask, a satisfied victor's grin.  His kindergarten teachers called him "Romeo" and "Casanova" because of his genuine charm and sweetness, before he was too young to either know or care about why they chose such odd names.

Sharply contrasted to his big brother--all ego and bravado--he's unpretentious but proud of his new-found (and much older sounding) distinction as a middle schooler.  I can't help but smile to recall my post-delivery, first sight remembrance:  "He's a SMURF!" I gasped, shocked by his blue coloring.  First breath and first cry took care of that, and though he didn't score a perfect a perfect Apgar, he was perfect to me.

At 11, though he would dare admit it to himself and especially not his siblings or friends, his favorite toys don't require batteries or electrical outlets and only cost dollars, sometimes less:  little rubber bouncy balls and steely magnets.  Entertaining him in much the same way a ball of yarn might engage a kitten, these are anytime toys, easily hidden in pocket or palm, ready to pull out at boredom's invasion.

There's an easy wonder in his eyes when he's at play, unaware of the world around him.  Cloaked instead in imagination and delight in the ordinary, his countenance reveals what he's unwilling to say, mischievous eyes radiating sunbeams of delight.  I find myself wishing I could channel his thoughts.

Instinct?  Experience? tells me this will be the last year he's a Boy.  He's comfortable in his skin right now--oh, how I hope that doesn't change!  During our annual trip to the beach with family friends, he begged to play at the park, oblivious or indifferent to being the oldest there.  With an enviable abandon, he flipped and climbed and slid and conquered that playground, thrilled with is mastery of what used to be so difficult.

I look at him and watch this unaffected child who's content to build sand castles for hours, attack waves as if he's at war, and construct 1,000-piece Lego masterpieces until he gets it right.  I can't wait to see his strengths--determination, persistence, progressive thought, patience and kindness--evolve as he grows up. 

As he grows up...right before my eyes...

...because I've yet to discover just how to freeze time....

:)

Known

I loved Laura's photo for this week's "15 Words or Less" challenge--so many possibilities, but this week I offer just one :). 

Countless joys & sorrows seen

Tears, laughter ascend

Unbound by lofty beams,

Known by The Divine.

** And remember, everyone's invited to join in this week's "40-or-less Photo Challenge"...it was inspired, in part, by Laura, after all!  :)

CONGRATULATIONS Karmyn, Dave, Jammin & Buttercup!!!!

He's heeeeeeeeeeere!

Weighing in at 8 lbs, 10 oz, Baby Dreaming What Ifs arrived at 1:59 p.m. (Pacific time).  According to Grandmama, he's Big Foot.

Congratulations y'all!!!  Can't wait to see him!

xo

Looking for an easy way to polish your nails?

Check out Nicole by OPI "Nic's Sticks".

As a member of SheSpeaks.com, I had a FREE sample of a "Feeling Girly" Nic Stick when I arrived home last night.  This morning I couldn't wait to try it--nail polish in a tube?  No smell?  Easy and precise application?  NO CHANCE OF SPILLING NO MATTER WHERE I POLISH?  Sounded good to me.

Rachel and I had seen these several weeks ago and thought they were a good idea; remarkably, the next day, SheSpeaks emailed me to see if I'd be interested in trying them.  Talk about great timing...:)

The downsides?  Because I'm used to using paint pens, I tried to pump the brush end to prime the polish...after about 30 tries, it occurred to me to pump the opposite end (d u h).  Also, I'm wondering how future applications will affect the brush (will it be too stiff?).  And last, I'm wondering if darker colors will go on smoothly ("Feeling Girly" is pale pink).

The upsides?  No mess or smell at all, quick drying time, neat and easy application, GREAT for purse or overnight bag, ideal for touch ups.  I'm also thinking this would have been wonderful to have when my daughter was younger--when she wanted her finger and toe nails painted hot pink, but because she was a wiggly toddler, when I gave her a mani or pedi, polish usually got on me, her...and wherever we happened to be :/.

IF YOU'D LIKE A $1.00 OFF COUPON TO TRY A NIC STICK YOURSELF,
BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW IN COMMENTS OR VIA EMAIL,
AND  I'LL BE GLAD TO PASS ONE ALONG!

If you haven't yet joined SheSpeaks.com, be sure to follow their link.  You'll have opportunity for future product samples and they'll never spam you.

A bird's eye view...if the bird is lying on the ground on his back, dead, and then he probably wouldn't see this after all

So maybe I should've opted for the shorter title, "An ant's eye view", but since I've been away from the ol' blog, I'm trying to set titling records.  I think I won.

This week's Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge is wide open for interpretation.  All you've gotta do is come up with no more than 40 words to describe a response to the photo prompt.

Originally taken for "Project Looking Through", this picture never got posted, but I LOVED it!  It would've been fun(ny) for someone to photograph ME lying on my back underneath the goal trying to line it up "just so". 

Does it make you think of a neighborhood pick-up game?  Playing a game of H.O.R.S.E.?  Nothin' but net??  Or, perhaps your thoughts are more abstract--perspectives, triangles and circles, games people play....  You can be as literal or as figurative as you'd like; fun, creativity and an easy post are your goals (hehe, I did NOT mean to pun!).

Poem (my favorite, no matter the form...no pressure or anything!)?  Caption?  Shortshortshort story?  Click the badge above for all the details, write a post over the next few days, then come back here on Friday to link your response.

See ya then :)!

Helllllllooooooo...! ~ Wordless Wednesday

What do you "hear" this fella sayin'?
He looks like s o m e t h i n g ' s on his mind...:)

Wordless Wednesday photos
More WW pics at 5 Minutes for Moms

Reason #117 cell phones are good

Texts from my son give me unexpected smiles:

The text?  "Mom vivacious"

The picture:

It actually had a voice message, too...I'll spare you those details...:/. 

When I texted him back and told him he cracked me up, his return reply?  "That's what I was goin' for."

Man, I love this kid....!

p.s.  He's the last teenager in America who doesn't own a cell phone...if you don't have a child this age, you cannot imagine the pressure for him to have one!  I'm not sure if there's more pressure on him from friends or US from our culture!!