Latest Project!

I had a new crochet project recently! In addition to the shawls, I made a couple dishcloths for myself and they are wonderful.

The idea had never occurred to me until I was reading a label or something about the cotton yarn I was using for a shawl. It said something like "Your #1 cotton yarn for dishcloths, ..." So I taught myself a new stitch to make them strong and with less gaps between the stitches, and voila: cloths! I really wanted to give it a shot because I don't know about you, but a lot of my dish cloths aren't as absorbent or good at wiping things up as I'd like them to be. My ones from Target and my cheapy microfiber ones just smear water and anything on my counters rather than doing a good job of soaking it up and wiping it up like a paper towel might.

But these do not have that issue! They wipe up like a charm and also hold a lot of water—when Jarrod wrung one out yesterday... yeah, that was a lot of water in that little thing! The only thing I haven't tried yet is washing it in the washing machine. I haven't decided if I'd put it in the dryer or just lay flat to dry. I'd probably just lay it flat, it is 100% cotton after all.

You can use them as wash cloths for your face, they're quite soft, or dish cloths in the kitchen. Right now, I've got mine in the kitchen. If anyone else is interested, I'd love to make some for you! They're super easy and take little time. The yarn comes in a LOT of colors and mixes (like the blue/purple/navy one) so anyways, seriously, if you're intrigued like I was, send me an email or comment here!

Friday Fast Five

Happy Friday everyone!

1. Today I get to do one of my favorite things: Photoshop paint colors into a room! I'm thinking of doing something a bit different on the ceiling colors, but I want to Photoshop it in first to see how it'll look. Maybe I'll post the final image once I'm done.
2. I finished choosing my paint colors. Jarrod's relieved, I'm excited.
3. Jarrod is cleaning up the basement now. It's super dusty, and he's vacuuming it all up. I think we've been able to contain most of the dust downstairs, but our house smells like drywall mud. I think it's affected me a little bit, I have a bit more of a cough this morning. But it's not too terrible.
4. Pippa Middleton and her brother James came through our town on Wednesday, in that bike race I've been talking about. It was pretty cool, because she is on an 8-person team, and only one person has to be riding at a time. So there was a 1 in 8 shot it would be her, and it actually was! A local TV station's story made it onto USAToday's page (probably because they're both owned by Gannett), and it's a pretty decent piece. You can check it out here.
5. We watched Gravity this week, and it was much better than I expected. And I wasn't expecting much, every preview I saw made it look so boring! I rented it because of the special effects and technical stuff; they won many Oscars for those categories, and I kept hearing about how they revolutionized the film industry with the way they filmed the movie... or something like that. Anyways, technically it was very, very impressive. I have no idea how they shot the thing, because they are weightless the entire time. But the story wasn't that bad; like I said, much more interesting than I expected, even though it's only two actors (George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.)

Meeting People from All Over the World

Today I worked the time station with my dad for the Race Across America (RAAM). I didn't know what to expect or what I'd be doing, really. What it turned out to be was a bit of standing/sitting around, talking to the other people there while waiting for crews and riders to arrive. Then when we got to do our 'job', our 'job' consisted of basically being a CSR: get them water, Gatorade, soda, snacks, direct them where they need to go, etc. It was fun, and I'm sure I'll try to do it again next year because the people you encounter are what make it interesting. I've always admired and been fascinated with people who just up and take a cross country tour, or backpack across Europe, always thought it would be so cool to see the normality and beauty of a place like that. Recently, we had a monk walk through town on his Peace Walk. He started on the west coast, I believe, and is making his way across the country. Just walking, all day, hoping to show the world that it's really not that bad. I think that's awesome and I applaud the beautiful people who have the ability and guts to do these kinds of things.

Today I talked to and met people from Germany, Italy, Croatia, Australia, and Great Britain. How cool is that? And we weren't that busy, most of the people doing RAAM will be coming through on Wednesday and Thursday. Surprisingly, the people from Britain were the hardest to understand. I think it's because they talk so quickly, and even though it's English, it's heavy with an accent, and therefore hard to catch everything they say. The other Europeans spoke slower, trying to form their thoughts in English so they could communicate what they needed to. Basically, I found myself saying "ya" (or "ja") a lot.

So a quick rundown of how this works so my further stories will make sense: There is the cyclist, riding the race, and his crew. All of these people are in need of food, water, a shower, a break, sleep, or just to stand up for a while. Most of what we dealt with today were crew members.

There were two Germans there for a long time, and they were part of a guy's own media crew. One of them was walking around with his camera for a while, snapping photos here and there, and I asked him if he wanted to take my photo. He did, and I was able to use a tiny bit of my German from high school (even if it was only "Ich bin Jamie") but still, it made him chuckle and smile. He said "You speak Deutsch?" I said "A little, two years of classes in high school."

The Croatia team made me laugh the most; the crew pulled in, we greeted them, asking what they need. He said "No... no water, we haf food... we need... uh... ice cream!" Paradise is just within walking distance, so we pointed it out. "No, no... rider he is... very... delicate tastes... we need... this." And at "this" he pulled out a wrapper from a Blue Bunny Double Chocolate ice cream bar. Ha! So we pointed him to Schnucks, the grocery store, where he would surely find those.

Even though only two actual riders stopped by while I was there, it was neat. The first rider was from Great Britain, and he had a green mohawk. He had multiple tattoos full of maps and writing of his various races he's done before. This is him in the photo from the Facebook page. 

The other guy was Croatian and he seemed so happy to be there. Most time stations are a whole bunch of nothing, a gas station on the side of the road maybe. So coming by the one we have here, full of people, food, drinks, and a pool, is a welcome relief. Go world!

Duck on the dashboard of the crew van.
Love it.

Friday Fast Five

Five quick things for Friday!

1. I had my port flushed yesterday. I almost forgot about it because... well, usually by now I'd have been in the hospital again and wouldn't need it—so it's a good problem to have! I get it flushed about every 2-3 months (the past two times have been three-month spans, that's about as long as I care to stretch it.) And it went great! My 12-year-old port is holding strong. Bonus: It didn't hurt either, the lady must have not hit any of the scar tissue that's there. So woo hoo!
2. Two days ago, my mom and I went to the outlet mall for the first time (the good one) and it is pretty nice. I got some clothes from Loft with some birthday money, got birthday presents for my nephew from the Disney Store, and bought myself a snack. Loft is my favorite clothing store (with Kohls in a close second) because they have a great petites section; finding clothes that is petite AND young is wonderful. Their sizing is also very consistent, something that many stores lack. The Disney Store was a pleasant surprise, I thought they closed all those! Maybe they closed in the malls, and just made more "outlet" stores. Anyways, our nephew loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I wanted to check it out. Then I got a snack from Wetzel's Pretzels. I love soft pretzels, always have, and these were some of the worst I've ever had. Save yourself the money ('cause they aren't cheap) and don't buy any if you go to the outlet. They had absolutely zero flavor, nothing even close to Auntie Anne's. I'm eating some of my leftovers right now, and even after adding some cheese to dip in, they still don't taste that good. I was almost on the verge of demanding a refund, I was so disappointed. 
3. I watched Frozen this week and it was fantastic. I really liked Olaf, he was perfectly performed and written. He was cute and hilarious, but not in the typical over-the-top kind of way. Plus, who couldn't love a snowman who likes warm hugs and the "idea" of summer? I can see why girls AND boys are loving this movie, it has something for everyone including adults—it's kind of like the Aladdin of my day. It was a refreshing throwback to the princess movies of old; it was pure, classic Disney. Not Pixar, but Disney. The animation was beautiful too. When she's building her ice castle? Wow, it was incredible.
4. Our priest is having his final mass this weekend, and while I'm sad he is leaving, I'm really looking forward to the next priest. I don't know why, but I am just feeling good about the change.
5. My dad and I are going to work the local time station for the Race Across America next week for a few hours. RAAM is a cross-country, 3000-mile race that brings cyclists from all over the world traveling the country through towns just like mine. Some ride solo, some in teams, but they all start in southern California and bike all the way to Maryland. These are not pros, like the Tour de France, but just ordinary people who love cycling. I have no idea how you would train for something like this, but the race happens every year. I'm kind of excited. The Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton is riding in it, though I doubt I'll check in her time because she is riding with a team, and the teams aren't expected at our station during the time slot I signed up for. I'm kind of excited for it! A lot of these teams ride for charity, I wish I had a great CF shirt I could wear to promote conversation about CFF too.

No TV

For a while now, Jarrod and I have bounced around the idea of "cutting the cord" and getting rid of our TV service (maybe I've written about it on here too, I can't remember.)

I already have Netflix, so I'm already paying for that one, and if we added Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime, all three of those services would be half the price (or even less) of what we are paying annually for satellite TV. We would want a Roku to stream it all with, because the apps on the TV suck and even the BluRay player can be iffy sometimes—who knew we could have SO many options yet all of them suck?

Being methodical like I am, plus I love making lists, I made a list of all of the TV shows that we tend to watch and then looked to see if they would be available online or through one of those services. In almost all cases, the answer is yes. Mad Men is the one show that is not available online, and that's an AMC thing (if Halt and Catch Fire turns out to be good, we will have the same issue there.) But I think the episodes are released for purchase the following day and again, that would still be cheaper than what we pay now.

Fortunately for us, we don't follow many shows. Mad Men, Breaking Bad when it was on, Halt(...), maybe The Americans, and I like to watch Frontline and NOVA on PBS. Jarrod prefers to watch movies over TV shows, so that's easy.

Thursday the drywall guys started working on our basement, and Jarrod had to move all of his equipment downstairs so they could drywall around it. So Thursday was an interesting day of no TV and no internet. Luckily, my parents lent me their internet during my workday so I could still work here from home.

After they were done drywalling that area, Jarrod hooked up the internet and some sound that evening. But no TV yet. Not because he couldn't, but because I said it wasn't imperative that he did.

So this is officially day 3 of no TV and I gotta say... it's not that bad. I find myself occasionally getting bored, but then I usually find something else to do. Something much more productive too, I might add. We've hooked up my old N64 and have been playing that a bit, we've been watching stuff on Netflix, or just listening to music.

One benefit I didn't think about or foresee: The TV is not annoying me. I can't get annoyed over stupid, irksome TV commercials, or roll my eyes at the latest dumb reality show, or get upset because out of the HUNDREDS of channels we have I can't find anything I want to watch.

It's feeling a little less complicated, being without the TV.

Now, if we ever do truly cut the cord, we won't be completely TV-free. I still want an antenna for the local channels, mostly for news and weather. And yes, I will miss my DVR. But then again, I'd be able to pull up a lot of things that I'd want to watch anyways, so it won't really be all that different.

So we'll see. We might end our satellite TV sooner than we thought.

Six

Today... Aaaagghhh! It's six months, HALF A YEAR, since I've been in the hospital! Six months since I've needed any sort of antibiotics. 

Anyways, woo hoo!

Evaluation, Checkup, and Working Out

It's been a while since I wrote anything, and I actually have a lot to catch you up on. For the past two weeks, I've done a lot of tests, seen a lot of doctors and nurses, and gotten a lot of good news. So we'll start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...

Three weeks ago, we went for my evaluation for lung transplant. I didn't tell many people, didn't tell my workplace the reason I had to have so many tests done, and realized after-the-fact that there were some people who I thought knew about it, but didn't.

It was four days of tests and meetings. I was planning to write about the whole thing, but I'll spare you the details unless you really want to know (I'm perfectly fine sharing, it's just a long story.) In short, I had 10 different tests, was stuck with a needle 7 different times, and met with 4 different people. My poor veins, they are still recovering and I still have bruises; it sucks having shit for veins. I was also radioactive for a couple days, which is something cool I'd like to slip in. I had to go to nuclear medicine both days for tests that involved inhaling or injection of a radioactive isotope. So they give you the isotope, then a machine takes pictures of you and the gamma rays you emit. Pretty cool. What this and some of the other tests showed is that my heart is in tip top shape for transplant!

Tuesday was the big day we met with the doctor where we got some wonderful news. He said I don't need a transplant now—which is awesome, though I already knew that one. I am way too healthy and can do way too much to need this right now. You might be thinking: Wait, I thought you're pretty sick, why would they make you wait, how are you "too healthy"? Well my friends, the decision to have a transplant can be a tricky one and there is no set formula. You don't want to do it too soon because you are literally trading one set of problems for another, and post-transplant your biggest enemy becomes organ rejection. So they don't want to give you that risk any sooner than needed. I may write more some other time about all that goes into it, but for now we can leave it at that.

He said to keep up the good work and truly felt the exercise and extra vest treatments are really helping. I know that working from home is helping too: I'm not around sick people very often, and getting out of that old building has done wonders for me. We don't have to repeat all these shenanigans again until it is much closer to the time of needing transplant. He said many people hold steady where I am, and it may be years until we need to do this again. But at this time (drum roll please...!) he sees no major reason why I would not be able to receive new lungs when the time comes. When he told me that, I fought back tears of joy.

I realize a lot can change between now and whenever this might happen, but it is a relief to hear I have a shot at a second chance. Now I know what I wanted to know: that if I need it, and provided all my other organs hold up well, I will be a great candidate for transplant.

Then two Tuesdays ago, I went for a regular checkup with my doctor in Columbia. I got lunch at Shakespeare's Pizza, which is a huge perk of having your doctor in Columbia haha. They had nothing but congratulations and praise and good news to give me as well! My weight is up, plus my lung numbers are even BETTER than they were 3 months ago (and remember, that's 3 more months out of the hospital... what is happening to me?!), plus she cleared me to join a gym, plus plus plus! It was spectacular.

I also finished up Pulmonary Rehab that Monday, and could continue on with that at the hospital or move on to a gym. I advocated for the gym because I know I have a lot more potential in me than the nurses at rehab acknowledged. I felt like they were holding me back, and kept telling me that I couldn't do things. I think I will be able to build up a lot more strength in a gym than with an arm bike. So last week, I officially joined the gym Jarrod has been going to, and I think it's going to be good for me.

As one of my best friends told me "Could you imagine a year ago, when you were at Barnes, that you'd be doing this well?" I'd never thought of it that way, but that is so true. I never imagined I could be 5-months post-hospital stay and feel BETTER than I was when I came out of the hospital. Usually, the day you leave the hospital is the best day ever; not just because you're going home, but because the meds have taken care of things and you feel at your best point. Then it's all downhill from there, honestly.

But apparently it's not! It's more like a plain right now, a nice boring Kansas-like plain!

Sun Protection Factor

Yesterday Jarrod and I went to the STL Air Show in Chesterfield. Jarrod had volunteered to work at the STEM expo for his company, and he also wanted to see the Blue Angels. We also wanted to go because the Air Show hasn't happened for a few years, and who knows how much longer the Blue Angels will be flying.

I met up with Jarrod after he checked in with the volunteer table and we grabbed a spot on the field to watch the air show. And it was great! They had three stunt pilots doing tricks and aerobatics that were quite impressive, and all some historical planes and helicopters used in wartime. Then the Blue Angels did their routine, which is even more impressive simply because of the aircraft. 

I saw many kids around us that were covering their ears or wearing the big earmuffs things (which were too big for their little heads, they looked funny :) and it reminded me of when I was scared of fireworks. I don't know why kids get scared of loud noises, but I was definitely one of them. I remember one time we were on vacation and went to see some fireworks. We kept walking closer and closer, I think my dad was hoping I'd face my fears. Nope, I didn't. I hated it, started crying, and we ended up leaving. Anyways, back to the air show...

It was a beautiful day with just a little breeze and thin clouds in the sky. I would say that I did okay, for it being my first air show. I put on sunscreen, brought more along, and we brought a chair. However, I forgot a hat. And since I forgot a hat I had to put my hand up on my forehead to block the sun off of my eyes.

Sunscreen has improved a lot over time. I am extremely pale and normal ol' SPF 30 does not cut it for me. I need 50, minimum. I've had SPF 110, but that was way too thick and almost like smearing on toothpaste. Right now I have this SPF 70 stuff that is amazing. But it works so well that the areas that you don't put it on look really burnt and you have the splotchiest, stupidest looking sunburns ever. Instead of getting an overall pink, like if it was SPF 30, your sunscreened skin is untouched.

Yesterday, I apparently did not put sunscreen on a patch of my lower leg, a spot on my left bicep about the size of a half-dollar, my left wrist (so I will be rockin' a watch tan quite early this season), and forgot to put it on my right hand... you know, the one I was putting over my face that was directly under the sun! 

My poor hand. It takes a direct hit of hot water under the shower head, it hurts to grip something really tightly, plus I'm right handed. I am lathering on the aloe vera or lotion almost every time I wash my hands (since the soap has alcohol which is drying enough) hoping that this will heal quickly!

Prayer Shawls

Our church started a prayer shawl ministry about two months ago and they have already handed out shawls which have brought comfort to their recipients. I enjoy crocheting, but I can only crochet myself so many throw blankets before they're overtaking the house. I'm sure Jarrod would argue we already have too many, between the ones I've made, received, and bought. So this is the perfect way to crochet for a purpose.

Anyways, I finished my first one! It is a simple stitch pattern that I made up thinking Oh this might look good. I think it creates a nice look. I need to drop it off at the rectory, and while I'm there I want to talk with them more about the ministry to find out who is heading this operation because I have some ideas about making the shawls just a little bit more special when they're given out.

I have another shawl I've been working on, have started a new one, and have plenty of yarn for many more.

It's a simple combination of 1 chain, 1 double, and so on.

Celebrate!

I didn't know if I'd get to say this again but...

CELEBRATE WITH ME! It's the 26th yet again, and it has now been officially 5 months since I've needed any antibiotics or been in the hospital! I think I've gotten my allergies under control now too, which is a relief.

Watch out folks, I might just make it to six months and at that point I don't know what I'll do!