Maybe It's the Lack of Sleep

I'll apologize now if I'm a little non-existent in the blogosphere this week. I'm just not feeling it. Ever happen to any of you talented bloggers???

Maybe it's the lack of sleep. It was a busy weekend!

Friday night DH and I went on a date. Now, this is not uncommon. We go on dates a lot. Like, he calls me early in the week and asks me to go on a date. How sweet is he? We've gone on a lot of dates, and this Friday we went on the same date we originally went on right after we met. Well, along with a detour or three. And while the mexican food was still great and the drinks were still wet your whistle good, we had this wet stuff that falls from the sky....I think the rest of the country calls this "rain". It wasn't raining when we went into The Flying Saucer but it sure was when we left!

At first we were sad to be so sopping wet.

But then we realized that a little walk in the rain could be fun.

Saturday brought an early morning after a late night, cat adoptions and a field trip for Henry. He spent the weekend at DHs. They spent time bonding while I went and volunteered for Classy Cats. Classy Cats is a no-kill shelter and pretty much rocks. So if you have an extra bajillion dollars hanging around torturing you with it's presence, feel free to donate to them! Henry wiled away the hours being entranced by the cows on Minecraft and occasionally chewing on DH's feet. We also introduced him to the sun. See, my and Roomie's house is quite dark. There's not a lot of direct sun and in the summer it's super hot inside if you leave the blinds up. Couple these facts with small shallow windowsills and Henry had no idea of the sunny spots to be used.

We opened up DH's blinds and Henry sat perched staring into the backyard. He couldn't believe his eyes. And then he decided he'd love to sleep in the sun, thank you very much.

He loved it so much that he slept long after the sun went down and we were watching The Hunger Games.

This meme makes me laugh and then it get's stuck in my head and then I question my priorities in life and then I laugh again. It's a vicious cycle.

(Courtesy of http://peetatoast.tumblr.com/post/24773832896 via Pinterest)

I got sidetracked. Back to the lack of sleep. Henry typically sleeps in the laundry room, but since he was on a field trip he was allowed to sleep in the bedroom. Which meant behind my knees, on my feet, against my ribs and most sleep-depriving....in my face. I woke up to find him staring at me and purring like a mad thing. It's sweet but so loud it woke me up. Seriously? And in between all of that he managed to give me a heart attack by knocking the cup and toothbrush into the sink which of course led me to think the Martians were attacking. I'm not very logical when awoken suddenly. Last week I left the weather radio plugged in and it took years off my life when it blared a 90dB warning signal at 3am because of flash flooding. I couldn't figure out why the house alarm was suddenly SO LOUD. Again, the first thought was that we were being attacked. We're sweet girls, I don't know why I expect to be attacked by aliens.

Clearly Henry also needed some extra sleep as he spent most of Sunday sacked out in various spots.

It was another early day today. Henry went to the vet's to become a eunuch. Sigh. He was not happy about being the carrier and I was trying to not break into tears at the thought of leaving him. I actually did cry. I'm going to be a horrible mother someday...not the beat them with coat hangers kind of horrible, but the unable to be strong and brave kind of horrible. Henry looked a little like he wanted to comfort me. And he's a cat. That's just pathetic.

Clearly I needed to make some rocking S'more bars to ease my pain and suffering.

(The recipe was courtesy of www.loveintheoven.com but this picture is mine. I wouldn't want anyone to think this passes as presentable for her!)

So, showkids, if I get some sleep then maybe I'll post more than I think I will. But if I'm a little light on the posting it's because I'm snuggled under my comforter and I've beat my alarm clock into submission.

Sunday Social: Dream Job

Sunday Social!!! This week may just be my favorite topic so far.


1. What is your dream job?

     Oh, a pastry chef! Or a chef! Or a sous chef....nah, forget that. I would love to be able to make money by spending time in the kitchen. You can see some of my cookies here, here, and here. Oh, and here!

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time?

    I would bake! And I think I would still work. I love being able to help kiddos and their families. I love my job. I would be a little lost without it and I would feel incomplete! I heart ears. 

3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

    You spunky showkids, I was gonna be a STAR on Broadway! That was my longest lasting career plan. I fell in love with the stage around 6th grade, started private voice lessons in 7th grade, have an undergrad in Fine Arts and while I passed stage design I can't build you a model scene that involves stairs to save my life. I miss being on the stage at times even now. I don't sing as much as I used to. I haven't lost myself in a role in years. It's a bit sad.

4. What piece career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

     Do everything you can to avoid student loans, because the fact of the matter is we do not make enough to offset what a doctorate costs. It's a fact, no matter what student loan officers will tell you! I guess that's really just good advice for anyone. Um...audiology advice. Be committed to your patients. Be present when you are at work, despite what else is going on in your life or home. Don't half-ass it because the only people that suffer are your patients.

5. Biggest Pet Peeves either in life or in blogging or at work

    Hold on to your hats! Talking around an issue - just say it already! If you can't communicate directly then I have a really hard time knowing what the heck you have a problem with. Overflowing trash cans. People leaving common spaces dirty or not put away for the next person. Being so preoccupied with self that things aren't ready for others. Icing that doesn't come out to the color or consistency it should be. 

Although my number one pet peeve would be bass. Yes, bass as in boom boom boom. If I am in a building and you are driving past, my breastbone and ossicles (or ear bones) should not be resonating. I know that it's job security for myself because you are losing your hearing by being an idiot, but it's that vibration in my bones that drives me bonkers!

6. Biggest Fears

    Being inadequate. Not walking in the Word. Losing DH before we're old and gray and die hand in hand because anything else is unthinkable. Being too self absorbed to see the hurt around me. Not reaching out enough to those who need a hand. Getting fat - it's true, even if it's such a selfish thing...oh wait, that's a self absorbed thing...Dang. 




Next week's questions, which actually make this set my second favorite because I adore Fall:

1. What is your favorite Fall activity?

2. Do you follow a football team? if so which one and why?

3. What is something fun about Fall in your area?

4. Fav Fall outfit staples?

5. Thing you are looking forward to most about this coming Fall season?

6. Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions?

See A Professional

I spent time last week at my profession's national convention. Audiology's a pretty small world and the things that impact one of us tend to impact all of us. The direction that our leadership take us in or that we take our leadership in affects each of us. There is a constant debate about ethics and best practices and patient care and insurance and payment and test batteries.

There are a lot of misconceptions about what I do. No, I am not an ENT. Yes, I am just as important and maybe more so if you have a hearing loss. No, I don't just turn on the computer and let the test run. No, I can't write you a prescription. Yes, I had to have many years of education to do my job well. Yes, my title is Doctor. No, I do not just push a button to set your hearing aids. No, you should not put Q-Tips in your ears. Yes, I care about your kid's ears more than I probably should.

So here's my soapbox


(Credit to drownmybooks.blogspot.com for the picture)

What our profession comes down to is that we care. That's why we do what we do. We should be giving you the best possible service when you are with us. We don't know all the answers, but we'll strive to find the answer. We will fit you in for earmold impressions, tubing changes, broken battery doors, a feared change in hearing, possible ear infection, when you show up early or late for your appointment. We will sit with you while you absorb the news that your sweet child has a hearing loss that will never get better but might get worse, while you wrap your head around the fact that you don't hear as well and need some help, while you tell us that you hear just fine; everyone else is mumbling, while you take in what we're saying between the lines when your kiddo is pretending to have a hearing loss and we've given them a gracious way out of it. We will work with insurance companies, charitable organizations, our own billing departments to get you what you need at the least amount of cost possible because we know that you haven't planned to lose your hearing or for a pair of hearing aids for your child.

In return we would ask a few things. This is a relationship after all, isn't it? Please see "Us" for hearing aids and hearing tests. "Us" being the licensed audiologists who have a masters or doctorate after our name. "Us" being those that are legally obligated to have you pay because a "free" hearing test is illegal. "Us" being those that understand how hearing aids work and know how best to use the software to give you the closest approximation to normal hearing as possible. "Us" being those that explain why you may not be able to walk into an office and walk out with hearing devices that you will regret. In a nutshell, "Us" not being those who are a hearing aid dispenser. Yes, you can be a licensed audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser. But not all hearing aid dispensers are licensed audiologists. U"s" being those who will not treat you via a hearing screening on line and then sell you a hearing aid off the internet, preying on the economic crisis we are in to provide shoddy care and a poorly fit product.

If you have heart issues, you go to a cardiologist. If you have stomach issues, you go to a gastroenterologist. If you have kidney problems, you go to a nephrologist. If you have eye problems you go to the optometrist or opthamologist. You don't go see a guy who couldn't make it in med school or didn't even try, shrug your shoulders, and think "He's probably good enough".

So please, if you have hearing or balance problems, go see one of "Us". A licensed audiologist.




Thanks, Shell, for allowing me to pour my heart out

A Bunch of Nothing

There's not terribly much going on right now. That can be really nice actually - that means no crises, no surprises of the bad variety. So what follows will be a general mishmash of what's been going on, both in the world and in my head.

I made cookie dough tonight using that beauty of a mixer. There is a Little Monkey who will turn 2 this week and is having a sailing party - life preserver cookies are on the list! I'm going to make my first foray into homemade fondant - we'll see how that goes. It involves marshmallows and a microwave - marshmallows and any heat source are a bad combo in my history of baking disasters so I may have to go buy the expensive box kind. I also may end up with purple hands due to dying the fondant red and blue.

My workouts have been pretty great - the new shoes are a huge improvement! Even just switching out the pairs every day helps. I ran 4 today which is the longest I've gone in a long time. I miss my running partner...KW can we run soon? I know it's roughly a million degrees here but c'mon! The weeknight 5-7 mile treks across golf course and roadway are helping my endurance, at least that's what I tell myself. Running intervals in this heat has to increase my endurance, right?

Speaking of working out, there is the diet change to consider. I am looking at this change as a lifestyle change. I don't feel deprived of anything and my cravings for sweets has diminished drastically. I don't much want cake or candy or cookies. I do miss Italian bread and soft cheese, but I can still eat these things. Just in smaller portions. It's difficult to stick to the plan day in and day out because I feel that DH is my one supporter of this. My lunch, or "lack" of a lunch has become the subject of discussion at times at work. I just get tired of justifying what I'm ingesting because I don't feel hungry because of what I'm not eating. I really enjoy what I am choosing to eat, for all of my meals and my snacks. 

Cheat day is coming up. That's a diet cheat day, y'all. DH says it's good to have one every 3-4 weeks so the body doesn't adjust to the lower calorie diet and stop losing weight or think you're starving. Yes cheat day is still a week away but we're already making lists of what we want to eat. A brief view of cheat day? Donuts, oreos, Twisted Root for burgers, fries, fried pickles and shakes, and probably pizza. That's as far as we've made it and I already feel a little sick. Apparently I'm not supposed to work out on cheat day so I did it all wrong last month. I know that I'll still eat moderately that day, it'll just be a lot more calories than usual. Looking at our wish list is funny since a lot of people eat this way more days than not but it's a special day for us!

I've gotten DH hooked on Alias and we're into the second season. He was trying to watch them without me but I pointed out then I wouldn't know how to answer questions without giving things away. I love that he figured out who The Man was without any guidance! I'm dying to get to the end of the second season because the third season opener is AMAZING. But I can't say anything about it until we get there. Sigh....it's so hard keeping the seasons straight and waiting for him to be able to see what happens.

My heart goes out to those in Norway that lost family in the attacks this past weekend. I don't know what triggers people to act on delusions or beliefs in such a physical attack. I know that fanaticism based out of any political or faith based agenda is wrong, yet it happens. Sadly I suspect that all too often we forget this and are quick to say "Well look at his politics....all right wing nuts would do the same" or "What do you expect from a liberal?" when in fact these are the outliers of society. Just because someone is the loudest does not mean that we must pay attention to them as a society in ways that reinforces both those stereotypes and those actions.

Well, that's about everything rattling around in my head for now.

Faces of Survival

I had the chance to spend last Friday evening with DH and his family.

What were we doing you ask? Were we out at a concert or sporting event? Were we eating some great food or looking at art? Were we just relaxing and hanging out?

We were invited to spend part of our night at the Relay for Life watching courage overtake fear, life overwhelm illness and joy dance across faces that know sadness. As I watched the Survivor's Lap come closer and closer to the lens of my camera, there were so many emotions that crossed through me. Emotions that I don't have any experience with in the context of cancer flitted by: sadness, hope, joy, release, bravery, panic, heroism.

I hope that as you look at the pictures below you see these beautiful survivors as true warriors.

Running 4 Justice

Hey y'all!

On Feburary 12 I was able to be part of a movement and initiative so much larger than myself. It was a humbling and awe-inspiring morning. The Run:4Justice that I blogged about HERE was held at Meadowmere Park here in the Deep South. I headed all advice given to arrive early due to limited parking, getting there at 7:15 for a 9:00 event. It was cold here that day.  I'm talking bone chillling, finger numbing, lung aching cold. It was about 28 degrees when I got out of my car. I took to pouring hot coffee just so I could walk around holding it. But my own discomfort was forgotten as I walked along the wall that 121 Community Church had created detailing the abject poverty and abuse that surrounds young girls in the sex trade in Cambodia. The wall was heart-breaking and convicting all at once. Slowly the field by the starting line filled with runners and walkers, parents and singles, couples and canines, jogging strollers and teenagers.

I was lucky enough to find the two others I knew in this sea of participants and we all started together.  I kept a faster than normal pace with Chris for the first half of the race and then realized, once I could feel my feet again, that I just might die if I continued at such a pace for another mile and a half. I slowed down, took the time to pray as I ran. To pray that Satan would be kept so far from that place. To pray for the runners. To pray for the girls that we were symbolically running toward with freedom in our hands. To pray that the stitch that developed in my side would give up because I absolutely could not walk part of a 5K. Pride. I'm working on it.

The funny thing about being so focused on the race and why we were running it was followed after crossing the finishing line by thoughts of how I did, what my time was.  I suddenly and shamefully reverted to a "me, I, mine" mindset. Did I run a faster time than usual? Yes. Did I place pretty well, for me, in the field? Yes. Does any of that matter? No.

I didn't find out until the next morning how much money was raised for International Justice Misson to end sex slavery in Cambodia. As a reminder, the goal was 1000 runners who each raise $100. The total number of runners? One thousand three hundred and thirty some, it may have been 1338. And this is where our modern day miracle happened. The total raised was $133,000! Even though some people raised less than the $100 per person and some raised more, God was amazing enough to have not only our goal met but exceeded in His perfect planning!

To all of you who were able to donate financially, thank you. To those of you who could not donate but were prayer warriors, thank you. Most especially, for those of you who read my first post and may not agree with my faith but still gave, thank you. That is a modern day miracle and I pray that I will remember my first Run:4Justice and all the lessons learned until the end of my time here.

The Idea of Doing Good

There's something I have to get off my chest. It's a frustration and a challenge all rolled into one. Are y'all ready?

It seems that on Facebook there is a constant round robin of "Change your profile picture to XYZ if you support ABC" or "if you want to help end LMNOP". The two that leap to mind immediately is breast cancer and child abuse, which deserve to have action happen.  One of my friends reposted a link to a commentary about this practice and it put into words everything I wanted to say. Examining the absolute lack of action associated with changing a profile picture.  What does it accomplish?  I hate to say it, but nothing. There is no one out there donating to a cause for every person who takes the three seconds to change their picture. It supports our own idea that we have "helped" a cause without us having to do any work. 

Work can be a donation directly to a cause, volunteering our time, running a race, fundraising directly through an organization, even spreading the word to other people about what options are out there to help.  Sometimes we cannot give anything except the passing along of an injustice so that others are aware of what's going on. Planting the seed that someone else can foster.  But all too often we are satisfied with that or less when we can do much more.

There is an organization that exists called IJM - International Justice Misson.  You can check them out here at IJM. They have partnered with 121 Community Church in the Run4Justice which will be held next Saturday in Grapevine. The goal is to have 1000 runners/walkers raise $100 each. That equals $100,000 to be donated completely toward eradicating sex and human trafficking in Cambodia.

One hundred thousand dollars to be utilized for lawyers, criminal justice, habilitation, medical follow-up, schooling and restoration of girls, some who are as young as 6 years old.  Six years old in the sex industry. Think about that for a moment.

I've met my first fundraising goal and am shooting for more.  This money doesn't go to 121 Community Church in any part. Not one cent. There is no "overhead" cost that they need to cover. No employee paychecks to cut from it. As of last week we had raised almost $50,000 to do good. To offer little girls and wounded young women a second chance for a life that is not a constant stream of heartache and abuse. Where they have value that is not monetary and related to what a buyer wants from them.

I'm not going to ask you to change your Facebook picture. I challenge you to use the link below and donate.  Donate $1 if that's all you can afford. Donate time the day of the race in manning tables or helping organize the race. Send the link to someone else in your life who may be interested in giving back. Don't do this for me. Do it for the girls who would otherwise be locked into the sex slavery trade.

http://www.active.com/donate/run4justiceGrapevine/antoline2011