Let Me Say This About That!

2009-03-11T20:33:00.001-05:00

Since many of you have mentioned that you enjoy my "entertaining" posts, I'm reposting this and hope it brightens your day!

I write this to enlighten others as to how bad they may or may not feel they have it. I've questioned this myself and realize that I have it good. Except for the week I'm writing about now. It's undoubtedly one I'd like to NEVER experience again.

On Monday, I prepared for my annually required colonoscopy. Now for those of you who haven't had one, the test itself is a breeze. And VITAL. Truly. You're sedated and don't remember anything about it. That's why they ask for someone to bring you so they can drive you home.

However: and this is the biggie: the preparation for the test IS a pain. It goes without saying WHERE that pain is which becomes ignited only moments after drinking a couple of bottles of "colorless stuff". And then?  Stand clear--preferably as close to the bathroom as you can.

So, after the routine sputtering, spitting and sitting (on the throne) I'm happy to say, I had very favorable results!! Yeah, it was all worth it--like all the others I've had over the past 15 years. Even the clear broth and jello diet for the entire day before seems like a vague memory.

Relieved and happily resting in a fuzzy, mattress-attached state the entire next day, I suddenly remember (with the normal sense of being under-whelmed) that the following day, I would be dutifully journey downtown for my annual "female" exam. Again, not a particularly pleasant task but nonetheless, necessary and somewhat routine, once you're there and properly "stirruped". (I'll discuss those wispy, paper "gowns" at a later date).

Upon completion, I confidently felt my week was on its way to becoming quite delightful! Receiving passing marks on tests that covered both ends of me, it was clear: a reward was in order!  So, I had my hair colored on Thursday and felt somewhat normal again--even a little bit feminine! (Of course for $100 and 90 minutes, I should feel like Julia Roberts but that's another story). After all, it's all about the highlights.

Annnyyyway, just as I was blazing towards the weekend, a seemingly healthy tooth began to ache. It seemed to be taking on a life of its own and that life began wanting its 15 minutes of fame-- and now, it was countdown time. It hurt like nobody's business.

Except it was. It was MY business because as the day progressed, I realized I was certainly dentist bound (complete with all the tools necessary for what would certainly be my first ever, highly dreaded root canal).

Eeking out a desperate message at 11:30PM, I could barely wait for their return phone call in the morning. And so it was, finishing up the stellar week I'd been having, I was again in a doctor's chair. The fact that my dentist is very hunky and that his chair can make its own pilates-like moves, I suddenly felt anxious as I waited for any and all drugs they could give me.

Yes, I'll take nitrous. And yes, I'd love anything else....but wait, no--no one had driven me so I was limited to just the gas! This wasn't good! No, not good at all. (I suddenly flash back to the day when I learned that yes, indeed, during childbirth a woman's epidural could, albeit rarely, WEAR OFF early leaving her with no choice but going "au naturel"). WHAT?!!?   I quickly considered asking for a shot of tequilla, but then remembered his office didn't include a bar of any sort. And so I began inhaling that gas so hard that I'm sure the windows rattle.

After several shots of novacaine (novacaine is my friend, indeed!) and waiting for said novacaine to take effect, the procedure ensued. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt! I didn't feel any pressure!  Since this was my first root canal, I envisioned my dentist hoisting himself on the arm of the chair and ripping that ruinous root from my skull. It wasn't quite like that. Ahh sweet relief, there was no pain whatsoever! And, compared to getting a filling, there wasn't any of that drilling and the horrible, searing,  melted enamel smell. Needless to say, I was pleased.

Until the novacaine wore off. And sadly, it did. And as it wore off, my face swelled up. No, not with pride that I had survived my first major dental surgery, but with pain that certainly must compare with childbirth.

In my pitiful state of recovery, I managed to take a self-portrait so that my friends and family could see what I would look like if I ever landed on America's Most Wanted. I looked like a cross between Gary Busey's arrest photo and Angelina Jolie's lips.

So, I hope that YOUR week is going well. I do not plan on having another one like this ever again.

On a serious note, many people live their lives in constant pain. Daily, debilitating pain. They cannot walk, dress themselves, see nor expect to live perhaps more than a few months. So I am especially grateful. I'm grateful to have health insurance regardless of our nation's ailing health plan. I'm grateful that all the research conducted in labs across the world have benefited me in treating my Crohn's disease. I appreciate and love my family and friends who kindly check in on me and love me through all my health challenges.

Most of all, I'm glad someone out there found a way to numb my mouth while enduring a root canal.

I think I'll have a sugar cookie!!

2009-02-12T19:16:00.000-06:00

Welcome to another February and thus another Valentine's Day. Whether you are with an intimate friend or are sans sweetie, you can show the people you come into contact with your friendly side and at least "put some love" out there.

I've been told recently that people can have a major impact on someone else's life with just a smile or kind word. And let's face it, sometimes that's all we can muster up throughout our stressed-filled day.

Have a good Valentine's Day!!

You Gotta Have Friends

2008-03-18T20:51:00.000-05:00

Well girls, let's face it: we're just better at bonding with one another than our beloved male counterparts.

We can strike up a conversation with a complete stranger on the elevator, checkout line or even at the dreaded OB-GYN's office. We're rarely at a loss for words which then, in turn, makes our spouses/boyfriends/significant others crazy.

They get by on as few as 3 words when relaying a message to us leaving us desperate for details. That's why we HAVE to have friends. GIRL friends-girls that we can laugh with, cry with and even spat with. True friends always make up. Plus, there's a good chance there's food involved or, at the very least, chocolate and/or coffee.

I have 3 friends that have been meeting once a month now for 6 years. The funny thing is, although we used to work together, each of our lives now are so very different. But still, we manage to catch up on the details of these lives one person at a time. The fact that we've managed to meet at a different restaurant each time is inconsequential. It just keeps it interesting.

One of us is a mommy, two have never been and the other one married into a family of 4, count them 4 boys (two sets of identical twins in their mid to late teens) YIKES!! One is a pharmaceutical rep who travels consistently, the other is an administrative guru whose husband travels every week and the one with the boys? She wishes she could travel MORE!

Nonetheless, we bond. I encourage you to bond with your friends, too. It does take work, it does take juggling your schedule but down the road when you're at a low spot, it's those friends who can pick you back up and tell you, "hey, you look great, what are you doing?"

Reconnect. Share yourself-the benefits far outweight the challenges.

The girls of Lipstick Jungle-my FAVE new show!

2008-03-07T13:33:00.000-06:00

The ladies of NBC's new hit, Lipstick Jungle, always look fab-u-loso because of, well ok, expensive clothes, makeup and hair people, but besides that? Their jewelry ROCKS!

Of course, it doesn't hurt that they're gorgeous AND successful, but hey, they pay the price for much of it.

I've found that looking good can be accomplished with just a few basics: a current hair cut (and color almost always), makeup that's appropriate for the task at hand and jewelry of some kind, even if it's just a pair of earrings if you're on the go.

Let's face it: looking good means feeling good. Well, at least, better. As women, unfair as it is, we're expected to always have everything together. Many times, we forget that our image need to look together, too.

A new bauble can add a quick, inexpensive touch to your look. And why shouldn't you look good? You work hard but probably don't play often enough so why not allow yourself some fun.

Call me and let's see if I can help you add a little fun to your look.

Why let those cougars on Lipstick Jungle get all the attention?

February's getting pretty boring!

2008-02-20T14:47:00.000-06:00

Tired of the winter blah, blah, blahs?? Me, too.

Of course, spring is coming so there IS hope. But for now, how do we survive the post-President's Day and Valentine's Day month?

Throw on some new bauble. Try some new earrings. Better yet, email me with your idea, tell me how much (or little) you'd like to spend and I'll whip something up for you.

It's no problem, that's what I do. My customers tell me that there's a little spring in their step after a new piece of jewelry comes their way. And let's face it, it's a calorie-free way to feel better. (I'm not suggesting you give up chocolate, because that'd be silly). But hey, if you catch a glimpse of yourself at work looking fresh because you're sporting a new necklace (when your instincts say "I just want to go home and bury myself under the covers!!"), that would be ok, wouldn't it??

No, it can't solve the world's problems, it won't help you choose which candidate will be best for the country but it might take your mind off your problems for a few hours.

Let me hear from you. See if I can put a little "spring" in YOUR February.