Make It Happen

Another round of infusions imminent

Well, we (Doc and I) can’t get my hematocrit up above a 10, nor my ferritin up anywhere near normal, so it’s time for more iron infusions.

I’ll be starting the series next Friday. I hate the process but I love the outcome – I just feel so much better when my iron levels are closer to normal ranges.

She doesn’t think I’ll have to do a full 18 week series of 3x a week this time; her guess is that 2 months of weekly sessions (4 hours per session) will probably get it done.

It’s annoying, how it just gradually erodes… it’s been tracking down .6 points on a quarterly basis. The infusions I got during surgery last fall helped, but weren’t enough to get me above the bare minimum for “normal” – and now they’re gone.

I couldn’t tolerate the prescription iron supplement, and of course, we’ve learned that for me, diet only slows the erosion – it can’t replace what isn’t there.

So, it’s back to the infusion series. I’m really looking forward to not being constantly cold and exhausted (see me trying to be positive about this?!).

I need to go stock up on some books to read while I sit in the chair…

Walk of No Shame

I can't believe I'm posting about a commercial - but this was so funny I about choked.

Watch the video.  Then read the lyrics.

Apart from the humor, I have to say it did provoke a moment's thought.  Why SHOULD it be called a Walk of Shame?  Why isn't it a Walk of Pride?  Is there some shame in staying out all night?  Are we still so primitive we think the night is evil, home is the only safe haven and staying out makes you shameworthy?  Why can't we be proud we had an adventure?

Good for the ad agency, for the clever idea and deft execution.  I'd love it if somehow, someday, people looked at this and didn't "get it" - because it was no longer culturally relevant at all.

Well, we all have our little fantasies, I guess.

STOP - did you watch the video?  it's not half as funny to just read the lyrics.

LYRICS  for Walk Of No Shame (extended, uncut version)

Guy 1: When you wake up in the morning in an unfamiliar place

Guy 2: And you can't remember where or when, let alone her face

Girl 1: Cannot find your shoe and your hair smells like a bar

Guy 3: But you kinda feel excited cause you got really far

Girl 2: Ugh!

Guy 2: Last night I was sure that I was with a ten

Guy 4: Then this morning when I saw those kankles I had to think again
Oh I will not be ashamed

(Girl 3: Be ashamed)

Guy 3: To walk the crowded streets alone

Guy 2: In yesterday's outfit and cologne

Girl 3: Oh how I'll push through the day

(Vendor: Through the day)

In my tiny ruffled mini skirt and some guys extra large T-shirt

All: Oh I will not be ashamed.

Guy 4: I went to a theme party not planning to stay long

Guy 5: In the morning I found myself still dressed in a thong

Guy 6: I see my professor walking by and I'm feeling like a freak
I wonder what he'll think when I take his daughter out next week.

All: Oh we will not be ashamed
Be ashamed

Girl 4: I'm feeling like a greasy mess

Girl 5: Still rockin' out my bridesmaid dress

All: And how we'll push through the day
As we walk that bright and crowded plank
Called the walk of shame
Oh we will not be ashamed

Guy 5 : I try to learn my lesson
Girl 1: Time and time again
Guy 5: But tomorrow when the clock strikes two I'm back in love again...back in love again

Speaking up, because silence means tacit approval.

I read some great pointers about voicing one's perspective / grassrooms activism on Noodlefood today.  With those thoughts in mind, I went ahead & registered to post comments on the GOP Platform 2008 website.  Here's a cross post of my quick entry:

Health Care : Health care reform

July 17 - 11:24 AM

Personal responsibility and accountability are - or should be - core values to every American. This means each person must be responsible for obtaining and paying for their health care. We are not a socialist country; taxing productive Americans to pay for those who refuse to be responsible for themselves is a short road to financial and moral ruin. We must NOT implement socialized medicine, or we will exacerbate the "entitlement mentality" already damaging our country. We must not impose government restrictions on medical providers, or we will drive away any real innovation.

I'm not all that articulate about it, but then, I figure anyone reading it probably isn't going to wade through a huge wall of text, either, so Short Sweet and To The Point ...

Fun quiz: Which Chess Piece Are You?

This was fun - and I even largely agree with the description!

Your result for Which Chess Piece Are You? ...  The King's Knight

Congrats! Only 5-7% of the population score this!

The King’s Knight is spontaneous and active. They get great satisfaction from acting on impulse. This usually means thrill and risk can be quite exciting. If they are stifled by rules, they may end up feeling ‘dead’ inside. They look for the ‘tick’ behind the clock without the need for verbal cues. Oddly enough, this Knight deeply respects and admires anyone who can best them.

The King's Knight is a 'do-er', naturally impatient with discussion. They seek to live in the moment and are great improvisers. Because of this they are quite capable at bringing ideas or concepts to fruition. They often prefer practical organizational issues. Because they seek to make things happen, they may act too quickly with the appearance of not thinking things through.

They are the best at manipulating others. This usually means that they can convince others to a like-minded position and thus the King would love to have this Knight by their side. They are concrete with their form and speech and are seen as smooth operators. They could be seen as self-promoters and great salesmen of ideas. They are gifted at earning trust. But they are also gifted at applying common sense to any issue. They will maintain acute awareness of factual information during discussions and will guide tangents back on course. The King's Knight is outgoing, charming and fun. They know the 'who's who' and where the socially sophisticated reside and play. They are action oriented and deplore unnecessary diplomacy. They want life to be simple, but realize it isn't.

Funny

This was hilarious... I especially liked #9: Injecting malicious code into open port.

The dial going to 11 was possibly the greatest touch of all.

HT to FARK

Green Chile Pork & Rice Casserole

Good, relatively cheap & easy work-night dinner:

1 large jar Ortega mild green taco sauce
1 16 oz can mild chopped green chiles

2 lbs. frozen boneless pork (whatever is on sale; I used loin)

1 cup white rice
1 small onion, chopped
ground cumin; ground coriander; seasoned salt; fresh ground black pepper; butter
2 cups grated cheese (I used Kraft’s Mexican 4 cheese blend)

Before leaving for work, mix 1 tsp. each coriander & cumin; rub it over the frozen hunk of pork. Drop into a crock pot, & pour the green taco sauce over it. Set to cook on low for 8 hours.

Upon arriving home, remove pork & chop into small pieces. Set aside. Drain off fat; reserve sauce. Heat oven to 350 degrees (F).

In a saucepan, melt 1 tbsp butter and saute the onion. Once it softens (about 1 minute), add 1 tbsp cumin and 1 tsp. coriander. Stir & cook until fragrant, about another minute. Add the dry rice; stir & cook another 2 minutes over medium low heat. Add 2 cups water; cover & cook 20 minutes.

Spray a 9×9 glass casserole with non-stick spray. Add 2/3 of the cooked rice to the bottom; spreading it evenly. Grind on some black pepper. Add a layer of cheese (about 2/3 of the package).

Combine reserved sauce with the can of green chiles; stir the chopped pork back into the sauce. Add 1 tsp. seasoned salt (I use Lawry’s).

Top the rice with the pork & sauce. Spread evenly. Grind on a little more pepper. Add the remaining rice; again spreading evenly. Top with remaining cheese & bake until center temperature hits 170 (about 30 minutes).

I like that this is relatively easy, cheap, tasty and works for a “work-night” meal.

Work grumpiness

I'd love to be able to get through a discussion with my boss without him raising his voice or sounding annoyed these days.

I understand he's inordinately stressed; I realize it's not personal because it happens regardless of who is in the meeting and the recipient of the "tone" varies each time.  But it still makes me dread any interactions - which is pretty counter-productive in a work environment.

I like what I do.  I produce ongoing effective results, which is more than most of my co-workers can claim.  But the angst this is causing really spoils my attempts at a positive attitude; and makes me think that if there's going to be grumpiness regardless - why bother to give my best?