Last week was the start of the process of better health for me. You see, when I was younger I had a number of bad sunburns in the summer. My parents did a good job of keeping me well blocked when I was a kid (except when our luggage got lost), but I haven't always been the best at the same task as a teenager and now as an adult. All this to say that I've had some suspicious moles pop up or change over the past number of years. So with seven moles removed in five years (two of them pre-cancerous), I should be the poster child for annual skin check-ups. Sadly, it had been about two years since I last went in for an appointment and I was overdue.
So last week I made an appointment for a full body check (yeah, always a joy...) and the doctor found two moles that she decided to biopsy. One was so small I didn't even know I had it (way to go doc!) and the other was one that had actually be biopsied before but the pigment grew back (sad). This brings us up to yesterday and my appointment to have them removed.
Thankfully I was cool as a cucumber before the appointment -- I have a tendency to get anxious with these things. But when I got into the operating room they had mixed my charts up with someone else! To their credit, it was with another patient named Heather (different last name) getting a very similar prodecure done. So everything is going fine: they give me a few shots of numbing stuff, remove the super small mole, get started on the second, larger one. Then I begin to feel a little light-headed. And hot. And clammy. And I had to say something. They were great -- flipped me over, gave me a cold washcloth and bottle of water, and let me rest. A few minutes later I'm feeling much better and ready to finish this thing. Not sure what happened (I probably wasn't breathing), but I'm feeling better.
Now it's all about keeping the areas clean, being careful with the stitches and taking a break from the gym for a few days. Next week the story continues...stiches removed Wednesday - yay!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A fresh start with a fresh month
I've realized I'm not a great blogger. I love reading other people's but have a truly difficult time keeping my own current. So in an effort to bring you up to speed - the highlights from the last four months:
- Marianne moved out.
- Marianne moved back in. (To clarify, she house sat for two weeks and went on vacation for one week.)
- I organized a family conference. Yes, a family conference. I was single at the time. I'm still single.
- I went back to Fargo for Thanksgiving and introduced my parents to Macy's after Thanksgiving Day sale. They thanked me.
- The Gospel According to Scrooge performances went well. I made a return performance as Angel #2.
- Marianne successfully planned a surprise birthday party for me. It got snowed out. Twice.
- Five lightbulbs burned out in the apartment.
- I began teaching Marianne all things snow, including driving, snow shoveling and the joy of children's playground equipment in the snow. (Check out the video below.)
- I enjoyed a l-o-n-g vacation in Vermont over Christmas and New Years. Thanks Continental Airlines!
- My aunt said, "2008 wasn't great, but 2009 will be fine." I didn't believe her when I came home from Vermont to find a tree branch had shattered my back car windshield.
- Got the window fixed and test drove the new 2009 M6. It's nice!
- I hosted my first small group at the apartment. We had fun!
- Marianne moved out.
- Marianne moved back in. (To clarify, she house sat for two weeks and went on vacation for one week.)
- I organized a family conference. Yes, a family conference. I was single at the time. I'm still single.
- I went back to Fargo for Thanksgiving and introduced my parents to Macy's after Thanksgiving Day sale. They thanked me.
- The Gospel According to Scrooge performances went well. I made a return performance as Angel #2.
- Marianne successfully planned a surprise birthday party for me. It got snowed out. Twice.
- Five lightbulbs burned out in the apartment.
- I began teaching Marianne all things snow, including driving, snow shoveling and the joy of children's playground equipment in the snow. (Check out the video below.)
- I enjoyed a l-o-n-g vacation in Vermont over Christmas and New Years. Thanks Continental Airlines!
- My aunt said, "2008 wasn't great, but 2009 will be fine." I didn't believe her when I came home from Vermont to find a tree branch had shattered my back car windshield.
- Got the window fixed and test drove the new 2009 M6. It's nice!
- I got a great deal on a flight and rental car in Connecticut. Seriously, who can beat $189 roundtrip with taxes?!?!
- I hosted my first small group at the apartment. We had fun!
- A new rug for the living room was delivered today!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Gas prices
Thought my dad would get a kick out of me posting this...an email I received from him today. :-)
"Update from this weekend today I bought gas for work at $2.99 then on the way home another station is lower$2.92 at the flying J Love you lots have a good week DAD"
Too bad the last time I bought gas here it was $3.69...granted that was on September 28. I love not driving much!
"Update from this weekend today I bought gas for work at $2.99 then on the way home another station is lower$2.92 at the flying J Love you lots have a good week DAD"
Too bad the last time I bought gas here it was $3.69...granted that was on September 28. I love not driving much!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Poo Poo Point
Yes! I finally climbed Poo Poo Point! Check out the two pictures here and come back later for more from my regular camera. What a view!
Proof I was up there!
Proof I was up there!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
response...
Thought this was interesting...received an email response to an online form I submitted to Washington Senator Patty Murray about oil prices:
Dear Ms. Retzlaff: Thank you for writing me about speculation in the energy market. It is good to hear from you on this important issue.
As you know, high oil prices are having a severe impact on families, businesses, and our entire economy. The price of crude oil has jumped from approximately $60 per barrel in early 2007 to more than $140 per barrel in July 2008, and prices remain highly volatile. This volatility and the increase in price have had a detrimental effect on many aspects of our economy, particularly impacting small businesses as well as on American families trying to budget their expenses.
Questions have been raised regarding whether excessive speculation by investors in commodity markets is contributing to the price volatility of oil. The federal government, through the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is responsible for oversight of commodities trading markets to prevent manipulation and excessive speculation from occurring. In the past few years, there has been a massive increase in the amount of trading activity that takes place on the energy futures markets. However, annual funding to support the CFTC's has not kept pace with the increased market activity that it monitors. In addition, CFTC's regulatory structure has not evolved and has become outdated in comparison to the growing complexity of today's global futures market. These deficiencies are hindering the government's ability to conduct oversight over market activity and properly regulate trading.
As a result, I have coauthored legislation with the Senate Democratic leadership to provide the CFTC with new authority and resources to curb excessive speculation. This bill, S. 3268, the Stop Excessive Speculation Act of 2008, would help the CFTC address its current challenges by strengthening its access to information on oil market trading, increasing its staff and resources, and closing existing loopholes that have been used to avoid regulation and transparency. In addition, S. 3268 would create working groups to investigate the markets and effects of speculation. These new regulations would greatly enhance the ability of the federal government to monitor energy market trading and stop illegal activity that could be inflating oil prices.
Enhancing government oversight of futures markets is key to ensure trading is adequately regulated. However, we must continue to develop a comprehensive energy plan that will decrease our dependence on foreign fossil fuels and allow for the transition into using clean, alternative forms of energy. Diversification of our energy supply is imperative to decreasing our dependence on oil and to averting future energy crises. As the 110th Congress continues I will work with my colleagues to pass legislation that will increase regulation over market speculation, further alternative energy development, and increase our energy independence. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, and please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in Issaquah.
Dear Ms. Retzlaff: Thank you for writing me about speculation in the energy market. It is good to hear from you on this important issue.
As you know, high oil prices are having a severe impact on families, businesses, and our entire economy. The price of crude oil has jumped from approximately $60 per barrel in early 2007 to more than $140 per barrel in July 2008, and prices remain highly volatile. This volatility and the increase in price have had a detrimental effect on many aspects of our economy, particularly impacting small businesses as well as on American families trying to budget their expenses.
Questions have been raised regarding whether excessive speculation by investors in commodity markets is contributing to the price volatility of oil. The federal government, through the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is responsible for oversight of commodities trading markets to prevent manipulation and excessive speculation from occurring. In the past few years, there has been a massive increase in the amount of trading activity that takes place on the energy futures markets. However, annual funding to support the CFTC's has not kept pace with the increased market activity that it monitors. In addition, CFTC's regulatory structure has not evolved and has become outdated in comparison to the growing complexity of today's global futures market. These deficiencies are hindering the government's ability to conduct oversight over market activity and properly regulate trading.
As a result, I have coauthored legislation with the Senate Democratic leadership to provide the CFTC with new authority and resources to curb excessive speculation. This bill, S. 3268, the Stop Excessive Speculation Act of 2008, would help the CFTC address its current challenges by strengthening its access to information on oil market trading, increasing its staff and resources, and closing existing loopholes that have been used to avoid regulation and transparency. In addition, S. 3268 would create working groups to investigate the markets and effects of speculation. These new regulations would greatly enhance the ability of the federal government to monitor energy market trading and stop illegal activity that could be inflating oil prices.
Enhancing government oversight of futures markets is key to ensure trading is adequately regulated. However, we must continue to develop a comprehensive energy plan that will decrease our dependence on foreign fossil fuels and allow for the transition into using clean, alternative forms of energy. Diversification of our energy supply is imperative to decreasing our dependence on oil and to averting future energy crises. As the 110th Congress continues I will work with my colleagues to pass legislation that will increase regulation over market speculation, further alternative energy development, and increase our energy independence. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, and please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in Issaquah.
the latest in pictures
It's officially summer in the Northwest (or at least it was up until this week when the weather turned cooler again), which means spending time outdoors on our new - to us - Adirondak chairs, hiking and planting herbs and flowers. You can see pictures here. Check out the pretty "new" blue chairs and amazing stone work on our patio. Who would have thought that such a little thing like staining some old chairs and thus making them really usable, would be such a lure to get me outside and reading more?! The only catch in the whole process was the mama racoon that came to visit midway through the painting. 
You can see it in the middle of the picture near the white fence. And in case you're wondering...yes, I ran into the house shreaking. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm chicken.
Speaking of "wildlife" in the neighborhood, our upstairs neighbors spotted a mama bear and her cubs (four of them!) in our front yard Monday night. After screaming "BEARS!" and running inside, she saw them run around the corner of the house and down the stairs to my apartment. When did I sign up to live in the woods? :)
Otherwise, it's been a great past couple of weeks with frequent visits into Seattle to visit friends, working out at the gym, enjoying the sun and summer. Work is going well and I'm still enjoying it almost every day. Everyone has those off days; I'm not alone, right? But really, I knew from the time I gave my life to Christ I wanted to work in ministry but never imagined I'd be working at a church. It's a fantastic adventure and I feel fulfilled knowing what I do makes a difference in the Kingdom.
That's about it from here. I miss you all and wish I could see you more often. Sending lots of love!
You can see it in the middle of the picture near the white fence. And in case you're wondering...yes, I ran into the house shreaking. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm chicken.Speaking of "wildlife" in the neighborhood, our upstairs neighbors spotted a mama bear and her cubs (four of them!) in our front yard Monday night. After screaming "BEARS!" and running inside, she saw them run around the corner of the house and down the stairs to my apartment. When did I sign up to live in the woods? :)
Otherwise, it's been a great past couple of weeks with frequent visits into Seattle to visit friends, working out at the gym, enjoying the sun and summer. Work is going well and I'm still enjoying it almost every day. Everyone has those off days; I'm not alone, right? But really, I knew from the time I gave my life to Christ I wanted to work in ministry but never imagined I'd be working at a church. It's a fantastic adventure and I feel fulfilled knowing what I do makes a difference in the Kingdom.That's about it from here. I miss you all and wish I could see you more often. Sending lots of love!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
couldn't sleep
I woke up about half an hour ago because I couldn't sleep -- actually I woke up thinking about this organizational chart I've worked on all week and remembered that there was one more thing that needed to be changed before we could roll with it this weekend. And yes, I tried to just go back to sleep, thinking I'd do it in the morning. No luck. Geez...
At any rate, after I did everything I needed I still wasn't tired and decided to check my email. There was an interesting letter from United and Northwest to all of their customers, as well as to Jet Blue, Continental, US Air, Southwest, Alaska, among many others. It seems that they are just as fed up with the escalating oil prices as we consumers are and decided to take some action. They've created a site, www.stopoilspeculationnow.com, which empowers you to plug in your zip code and send an email to your Congressmen asking them to do something. I thought it was great timing, seeing as my parents and I were looking at flights for Christmas (with the prices you have to plan that far ahead) and the norm from Seattle to Fargo was $700+. By comparison, last year it was less than $400.
We've all noticed the difference at the pumps. Let's stop sitting back and complaining and start acting!
At any rate, after I did everything I needed I still wasn't tired and decided to check my email. There was an interesting letter from United and Northwest to all of their customers, as well as to Jet Blue, Continental, US Air, Southwest, Alaska, among many others. It seems that they are just as fed up with the escalating oil prices as we consumers are and decided to take some action. They've created a site, www.stopoilspeculationnow.com, which empowers you to plug in your zip code and send an email to your Congressmen asking them to do something. I thought it was great timing, seeing as my parents and I were looking at flights for Christmas (with the prices you have to plan that far ahead) and the norm from Seattle to Fargo was $700+. By comparison, last year it was less than $400.
We've all noticed the difference at the pumps. Let's stop sitting back and complaining and start acting!
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