171

Incoming nerdy news!

I haven't had an annual exam since 2006, when I was still in grad school (and lab tests were like $12). I was pretty concerned about my health considering my cholesterol was borderline high (205) and my kidneys were supposedly functioning below typical norms. I got my lab test results back and everything came back normal! My cholesterol is 171!

Pretty amazing considering I must have consumed at least a few pounds of seafood and potato chips the two weeks before my blood drawing. On the other hand, I've been maintaining a relatively healthy status since I graduated from grad school. Hooray for me and my cholesterol!

February Re-Cap

Sadly, my blogging has taken the backseat for some time now. I find myself just wanting to veg and surf the internet than dwell on my thoughts or experiences...not because they've been weird or bad, but more likely out of laziness. In my periodic weak attempt to re-cap events, here goes nothing!

On Wednesday, February 4, 2009, Future Father-in-Law experienced a "mild" heart attack. That was probably the pinnacle of my 4-week long string of horrendous stress. Up until that point, I was seriously experiencing anxiety attacks, praying for God's renewal and strength constantly throughout the day, and asking "why me?" over stupid things (like the 4th flat tire in 3 months). When FMIL called Wednesday night, all my silly stressing and whining came to a screeching halt.

The following morning, H2B flew out to be with his parents. I almost bummed a ride with a co-worker on Friday to be with them, but at the last second, FMIL and H2B said perhaps it was better I stayed home to take care of a couple things and also because they had many relatives driving in from all over on Saturday and we would be visiting the following weekend as originally planned back in December.

That weekend, I was a total hermit (with the exception of constant calls from H2B, helping him make arrangements and whatnot). Bro called a few times and asked what I was doing and I said, "I keep doing the same things: eat, work-out, get on my computer, watch TV, eat, work-out, get on my computer..." He said, "you're like a hamster...so busy." Later on, H2B called and asked what I was doing and I told him the same. Then he asked, "what is the turtle doing?" "Oh, she keeps doing the same thing: sleep, move rocks, swim, bask, sleep, move rocks, swim, bask." I guess we are creatures of habit and routines.

On Sunday, February 8, at 8 AM, FFIL underwent open heart surgery for a quadruple bypass. Thankfully, all went well and he has since been recovering well. I picked H2B up after work on Monday.

On Friday, February 13, H2B again flew out. The following morning, Valentine's Day, FBIL, my bro, and I drove to Vegas. We left around 9 AM and drove straight to Caesar's Palace with one pit stop. After a minor kink in hotel registration, Bro drove me over to Future-in-Laws home, where he met them for the first time. Other relatives had already arrived so H2B and I left shortly after to run errands. When we got back, H2B and I prepared our first delicious, low-sodium, diabetic meal for the 4 of us. I thought it was actually an impressive spread. We steamed salmon, sauteed corn and zucchini, steamed vegetables, and sauteed bell peppers with ginormous shrimp (mainly for me). It was sweet to "double-date" over a home-cooked meal with his parents.

On Sunday morning, H2B and I ran more errands, rushed back to cook lunch for them, and then H2B dropped me off at Red Rock Casino's Spa. That was the highlight of my weekend and totally what I've been anticipating for months! I received a 50-minute Swedish massage that pratically put me to sleep out of pure relaxation. After 3 hours of pampering, I met H2B and we checked in to Red Rock for the night.

We had dinner reservations with Bro and FBIL for 7:30 at Sedona Restaurant and Lounge, but unfortunately, H2B had gotten seriously ill with food poisoning so he stayed back. I courageously drove myself to the restaurant (and of course got lost). Although our meal was undeniably goumet and delicious, service was soOOOoOOoo bad. Still, we enjoyed each other's company over good entrees. After, I went back to the hotel and turned in early.

On Monday, my second highlight took place. H2B and I played slots for an hour before the 4 of us met for a brunch buffet at Red Rock. I love buffets! The line was crazy long and while we were waiting, a pregnant lady in front of us fainted and fell to the floor. We helped her out (as I am an expert at fainting and recovering). In reflecting, I thought it was great how responsible it was that everyone in my party immediately took action...while everyone else standing in line just stared. The lady behind us even commented after, "how embarrassing."

We indulged in a yummy 2-for-1 brunch buffet and then gambled a little after. H2B and I made one last visit to his parents before meeting my bro and FBIL to head back to L.A. Our drive back wasn't too bad, despite crazy rain. We stopped by Yardhouse in Victoria Garden for dinner and then continued all the way home.

It was really a nice, productive mini-vacation. :)

M.A., CCC-SLP

I'm finally officially licensed as a speech-language pathologist!

I am not really going to comment about the fraud I've been committing pretending to practice as a licensed SLP. Although, I don't think anyone really knows that...I mean, even though I've been signing my name, M.A., CCC-SLP, that's not a lie -- I do have my CCC's and M.A.

Too bad when I told H2B, "I'm finally licensed!" he asked, "You got your BCBA?!" No, I'm not even close! :( One thing at a time...

25 Random Things

Once in a blue moon, I humor friends and fill out meme thingamajiggys. This one in particular is fun b/c I am such a random person. I mean, I often say, think, and do random things. So this is totally me.

25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about me:

1. “Dude” and “seriously” are my most frequently used words. “What the fuzzy?” (or the offensive version) is ranking up as of late.
2. I occasionally try to bring back old skool words and phrases like, “totally rad.” I usually fail and look like a lame-o.
3. I was almost given up for adoption at birth to a “single, rich doctor lady who really wanted a daughter.”
4. I chipped my front tooth when I was 9. My cousins had the brilliant idea of pushing Eric’s Lincoln down Virginia Ave. just “for fun.” Pre-permit Jen was steering while Nadine, Ben, and I were pushing from behind. We got to the stop sign at Monterey Rd., and law-abiding Jen jammed on the breaks…and I totally ate the trunk. A fire engine happened to drive by. We lied about the car running out of gas and having to push it home half a block away. The last I remember is me sitting in the front seat with a fireman checking my bloody, chipped tooth out.
5. I still sleep with my 26 year-old Hello Kitty.
6. I was cast as an extra for “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” Bro said, “Do it just to say you did it!” BF/H2B said, “Hell fawkin’ no you ain’t doing it!” Although it was shot in Downtown and I was still working in Downtown at that time, I passed up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
7. The first time H2B held my hand was when I was getting a tattoo by his best friend in ’01. (We weren’t dating/together at that point…unless you call that a date.)
8. I get claustrophobic in the walkways to board airplanes and in narrow store aisles that tower high above me.
9. I am paranoid about losing my keys and being locked out of home and car. If I put my keys in my purse a few seconds before I leave, I have to take them out and have them in hand before I close the locked door.
10. I was born in Belvedere (East L.A.) and found that out less than a year ago.
11. As a kid, I was terrified of being trapped in an elevator alone or with a stranger. Must’ve been a premonition. When I was 21, I was mugged in an elevator at gunpoint.
12. I am the slowest eater you will ever know. I usually take 1.5 - 2 hours at a buffet. But give me chocolate, coffee, or ice-cream, and I’ll go to town on it like it’s going outta style.
13. The word “douchebag” cracks me up every time.
14. Used to have a belly piercing (and wish I still did).
15. I can’t leave home without chapstick. I will literally turn my car around or buy a new one to get me through the day. At any given time, I have at least 3 open (currently 4).
16. The best freebie I have ever received was my turtle, Lil Focker. H2B was at a holiday party 4 years ago, and he got a DVD player while playing White Elephant but gave it up. He figured someone would take the player from him, and he had a hunch that I might want her. Little did he know that he was opening up a new obsession for me! On her first birthday, we actually threw a birthday party...b/c he didn't think she would live. (I am very adept at breaking and killing things.)
17. Chanel is my pseudonym...for those times that I just don’t want a weirdo to know my real name.
18. I moved more than 10 times before I graduated from SMHS…but attended S.M. from K – 12. The only time I was ever a real SM resident was when I was a year old.
19. I love “Nacho Libre”! It’s the best “worst” movie ever.
20. I often wonder what my kiddos with severe autism and communication disorders will say to me in Heaven. Sometimes, I swear they're looking at me like I'm seriously crazy, but they just don't have the verbal capacity to express it.
21. I usually carry my Spyderco Scorpius because of #11 and 24.
22. I really do not like any type of shopping…unless it’s at Costco. I go to Costco for “shopping” therapy and feel better even if I walk out with nothing.
23. My dream is to swim with sea turtles in Hawaii, Mexico, and/or Costa Rica.
24. Random event: a few years ago, I was on my lunch break in Downtown L.A., when a shady man rode his bike past me while asking, “how’s your pu$$y today?” My bro reminds me of that story every so often.
25. I express a lot of random thoughts at random times, but I typically verbally preface it with, “This is random but…” (...but I do not have Asperger’s Syndrome!)