CARDIOCANDYOGRAPHY HAS A NEW NAME & A NEW PLACE

BEWARE of FREE Templates

2010-04-14T05:00:00.001-05:00

HEY GIRLS!

IF YOU READ THE PREVIOUS POST, YOU KNOW WHY I HAVE MOVED.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE GOOGLE FRIEND FOLLOWER DIDN'T COME, TOO.

COME ON OVER!

http://bethany-anna.blogspot.com

BEWARE of FREE Templates

2010-04-03T14:50:00.007-05:00

Let me just say: BEWARE OF FREE TEMPLATES!!!

Apparently, some are impossible to remove even by a pro!

I am not the only one who has had this problem.

Obviously this blog is UNDER CONSTRUCTION and on the move.

I am having to create a new blog and a new URL. I will post it when it is ready because, surprise, surprise: You will have to re-follow me AGAIN!!!

Poor Ellie is working her patootie off to get it right.

Everything looks kind-of wacky right now because this happened just as she was putting in finishing touches!

But, hey, look at my cute new signature! =)

Bleep, bleep, bleepity, bleep, bleep

2010-04-01T10:24:00.002-05:00

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program for a Blogfia announcement...

Channeling Princess of Sarcasm:
One of our blog friends is going through a really hard time. Her son has been the victim of bullying. She spent the night in the ER. I am outraged and I'm sure you will be too when you see the pics of her baby with his busted up face.

Go here and show Jane some love. She is a single mother who is very involved in Autism awareness and loves all her children dearly. She does so much for others. Let's do something for her.

If you feel so inclined...post her link on your blog and send your peeps over to show her some love today too. Tell her the Blogfia sent you.

Grab the Blogfia button code and post away. Feel free to copy this post if you don't have time.

But copy only this post. If you copy my other original content I will hunt you down and give you multiple paper cuts...

Let her know that we all stand behind her in protest of bullying!!

After you go give Jane some comment love, you may return to your regularly scheduled program with the YoTweeps post below.

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Join up! Follow the instructions below.

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Alphabet-Me

2010-03-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

I snagged this from Jennifer because I will do anything to avoid housework right now.

My Post-Its for today are in the previous post.

A. AREA CODE : 251 for all of my 25 years!

B. BED SIZE: We had a king and ditched it for the queen. I would rather have space in the room than in the bed. ;)

C. CHORE YOU HATE: All of them! Being a SAHM has made me the queen of procrastination, when I was simply the lowly common procrastinator before.

D. DOG'S NAME: Still debating: we get him in 3 weeks!

E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM: I know it's cliche, but I am a disaster without coffee. My Keurig is nearly my favorite thing my house, well favorite inanimate thing. =)

F. FAVORITE COLOR: There's no way I can even come close to pinpointing a fav.

G. GOLD OR SILVER: Silver

H. HEIGHT: 5'11

I. INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: None - unless you go back to middle school, but then I would have to get with one of those Men-In-Black memory zappers so that you wouldn't remember how pathetic I was.

J. JOB: On medical leave from teaching high school English - not sure about next year yet.

K. KIDS: My sweet Finn-baby a.k.a. Chooker, Cukaburra, Foof, Foo Baby Shoo Baby…the poor kid is going to have a hell of a time learning his actual name.

L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: We live in the amazing house that my hubs built as a bachelor five years ago.

M. MOM'S NAME: Cheryl

N. NICKNAME: In high school it was B.P. or B.A.P. Some of my former students call me BP, too because my maiden name was hyphenated & looong; at work it was Cricket because of my long legs. Hubs calls me BooBoo - original right? He gives everyone else cool nicknames but me; we have had this discussion, but it's still sweet.

O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Well, none until last year. January: gall bladder removal, well that wasn't overnight; July: Finn was born; September - November: I lived in the Transplant Unit at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, plus a few overnight stays there since then.

P. PET PEEVE: obvious spelling errors; certain grammar errors - I can't help it. I'm a teacher.

Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: anything from Almost Famous or Christmas Vacation

R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?: Righty. But I right like I am left-handed with my pen leaning forward. It looks awful, but it is impossible to fix it now.

S. SIBLINGS: One bro - 21 - He got the skinny end of the stick. NO FAIR! Guys don't even care about that stuff!

T. TIME YOU WAKE UP: whenever Finn gets up, anywhere from 6:45 - 9:30

U. UNDERWEAR: colored cotton

V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE: I am pretty sure I like them all, actually.

W. WAYS/REASONS YOU ARE LATE: Getting distracted while getting ready

X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD: knee, sinus, and a million chest x-rays

Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: Hubs is the chef, but I make a mean chicken salad =)

Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE: the tigers and the otters

ALOT is MIA

2010-03-29T22:08:00.004-05:00

Very few folks actually know "a lot" is two words. I try to never correct grammar because I often slip up; maybe you will take it as a helpful tip. Sorry, I've been out of the classroom too long: The teacher in me is coming out. Maybe I will post a tip or two of common mistakes on Tuesdays. Would that be bitchy?

Porch Therapy

2010-03-28T21:44:00.003-05:00

"What happens on the porch stays on the porch," dangles on a piece of sheet hanging from the back porch. So, all the "Supah Stars" wanted know what the favorite part of our house is for this week's All About MEme Monday.

Usually my favorite part of a house is the office or workspace, but since I haven't tweaked this one to my liking yet we will go with the porch. It is definitely the most infamous part of our home and the one everyone else loves the most, too. T-Ram says that there is a "porch code" that unites all that have had accrued porch time. She's right. Folks we haven't seen in awhile always say, "I miss the porch" or "I need some porch time." We are very lucky that we do not have any neighbors on our side of the street right now. Plus, we are on a dead end street. Once I got hubs to trash the green pleather "bachelor" couch and chair, things were definitely looking up out there.

There are so many porch memories to choose from: the first being within the first few months that Zac & I were dating we were cooking out one afternoon and decided to play 100 questions - no topic off limits - whatever we wanted to know we could ask, with a little liquid courage of course. A few months later, we had his sister's wedding reception pre-party/shrimp boil back there. One of the greatest bashes ever! Two summers ago we hosted a pre-party for all of hub's old football buddies before the 10 year reunion.

Those events were just the beginning of a string of insanities and memories.

Link to my old post

I ran out and took this right before I wrote the post. A little messy from building the fence, but summer's coming and it will soon be cluttered with beach chairs, towels, and floatees!

From YoTweeps to NoQuacks

2010-03-25T09:13:00.013-05:00

In honor of #yotweeps today I am not writing too much, but but posting video evidence that spring is here. I took this video yesterday after I discovered that the biggest quacker had snuck in the back door while I went out the front door to get the mail. Yes, I had the back door open, but since when does a big nasty duck think he can come in and eat my kid's leftovers off of his exisaucer? ...hey wait...maybe I shouldn't have chased him out so fast...ha! Anyquack, I started cracking up as I chased him out, and he was rapidly running in place on the ceramic tile. They have become so domesticated that simply stomping your foot and yelling won't do; I nearly had to punt him between the double doors! Just kidding...sort off...as a whole - the flock has turned my back porch into a poopy Pollock. I first talked about this pile of poo here. Anyduckling, my anger was deterred by this sight:

*~*Attention All Tweeps*~*

Join up! Follow the instructions below.

To play along and increase your twitter twaffic, just follow the steps below!
1. Follow me on twitter . Click on my twitter Icon at the
2. Shout me a hello on twitter. #yotweeps Then I'll know you followed and I'll reciprocate.

Want more tweeps?

3. Grab the YO Tweeps Button

4.. Place it on your blog. This helps to BRAND the Exchange so that it is recognizable.
5. Put a twitter icon / link on your blog post AND on your sidebar, like I did.
6. Link that post up below.
7. Visit some other YO Tweeps linkers on the list and follow their blogs if you find their stuff fun and interesting!
8. Sign into your twitter account and follow them. Tweet them using the example below so they know you're following!

Example: @hearthunnybe #yotweeps I'm following!

9. If someone follows you, reciprocate. It's that easy.

Be sure to grab the button above and encourage your readers to grab it as well, this way we all get more people following and more people to follow!

If you don't have TweetDeck on your desktop, get it now! Do it. Now.

WARNING: Santa Spoiler

2010-03-21T20:18:00.006-05:00

There was ONE item that you wanted when you were a youth.

What was it?

You know, the one your begged and pleaded for.

The one you sold your soul for?

Show us a pic if you can and tell us a story about how you got it.

You know how this works!

Write us a post.

Come back Monday March 22nd and Link up with us !

The year was nineteen ninety-three; the holiday was Christmas; on the wish list was Mall Madness.

Oh how I wished to swipe that playful plastic. Shop those sales and grab that cash!

Did it happen?

Nope, not in 1993.

1994? No.

1995? Negative.

1996? Bingo!

I remember searching through the cedar closet for something.

There in the middle of Santa's loot, stood Mall Madness.

Mall Madness?!?!

I was so upset that I went and told my mom that I had found it.

To which she replied, "I thought you wanted Mall Madness!"

"Umm...yeah...Three years ago!"

I wasn't interested in make-believe shopping.

I was interested in shopping for real!

Well, needless to say, I didn't let collect dust.

I did get some playing time anyway.

Oh how I remember having to place those gold stickers on the electronic part when I first opened it.

I feel so bad about that now because she always works so hard getting us things that we like and want. :(

Steroids, Dust, & Kenny Chesney

2010-03-18T22:32:00.004-05:00

Today I am participating in Mama M.'s Five Question Friday for the first time. Head on over to Five Crooked Halos to read more responses to 5QF, then join in yourself!

Have you ever had a celeb sighting?

When I was a senior in high school, Kenny Chesney came into the department store where a friend and I were working as fragrance models for the weekend. He had on sunglasses, a hat, sweatshirt, and gym shorts. In other words, we didn't recognize him; even though we were going to his concert that night. Oops. He came up to the counter with his little entourage, which just looked like a group of average guys. We were telling them about the fragrance, of course they were flirting a bit: typical charmers. =) All we cared about was selling the stuff, so we flirted back then offered them some samples. When I asked about how many they needed, one of them responded, "Counting the band and crew, probably about 13." I was bent over getting the samples out of the drawer, and my friend was tapping me and nudging me with her knee whispering, "That's Kenny Chesney. That's Kenny Chesney!" Sure was and we didn't have a camera to prove it to everyone else that was going with us that night. So what do we do: literally run down to the Target and buy one - but wait! As we were leaving to do that, one of the regular saleswomen told us that she probably had what we needed. She pulled out a Tommy Hilfiger disposable camera from an old men's fragrance gift set underneath her register. When they came back through on their way out, we asked if we could get some pictures with them, and of course, they obliged. We all headed outside and took photos in front of the shrubbery - the camera didn't have a flash. By the way, Kenny came up to my shoulder: it was Bethany and her pet Kenny.

At what temperature do you keep your house?

It definitely varies. Before I was on Prednisone, I was pregnant. Interpretation: it's been quite chilly in here for about a year. My body temperature is way higher on the Prednisone than when I was preggers. Even in this 40 degree weather, it was still around 65 in here.
Funny story - well, it's funny now, barely - but it wasn't then. The first night that I moved back up to the Transplant Unit from ICU after surgery, they started the iv steroids. I had severe shakes and the hot flashes of a lifetime. I felt like I was on fire and started to panic because I couldn't breath. Enter SuperNurse! Dace had been my nurse on and off throughout my two month stay, and he was my nurse that night. He found a high-powered tabletop fan and sat it on my food table/tray and aimed it right on me. Then, he went and filled up some Ziplocs with ice and put them in the palms of my hands, and that's how I slept. Did I ever get cold? Nope. At the time, I probably would have been annoyed, but now I wish I had a picture of how "rigged-up" I looked that night. I felt like a human sacrifice. Knowing that I couldn't get up and run if I to, freaked me out as well. I know, but it's crazy the stuff you think about when you spend that much time in a bed. That would have been hilasterous: me...scooting down the hall for more ice...3 stomach tubes, 2 sets of pacing wires, a catheter box-thing (TMI, I know), and a dangling PICC line, in tow.

Do you notice dust at other peoples' homes?

Rarely, it would have to be really bad. I am the one with the dust problem: it's a daily battle that I cannot figure out, especially without any pets inside anymore.

What's the worst job you ever had?

Honestly, I can say that I have never had a bad job. The most boring had to be when I worked as a trade-out a gym three hours a week: longest three hours of my life.

What is your most sentimental possession?

Oh my, this is very difficult. I keep everything that is even slightly tied to a memory. I have several sentimental items, but probably now the most precious is the locket Zac gave me for my birthday when I was in New Orleans. Read about it here.

When Did Hubs Take Up Writing? Here's When...

2010-03-16T21:38:00.020-05:00

I was gone for a couple of hours last Thursday night. I returned home to find this taped on my bathroom mirror written on a Winn-Dixie receipt:

Folded and taped where the arrow is pointing.

I guess he was attempting to build suspense, and I admit I was a little nervous; but I never suspected:

As you can see, he remembered how much "alot" drives me crazy: it's two words, people!

So you ask how do I know he won't be mad that I put this up for the whole world to see?

I'm pretty sure that's called the "go-ahead."

Then I find this yesterday in the hall bathroom. Well, you can see where I found it...

Apparently this has been building up for awhile.

Oops...

Wordful Wednesday is for those of us that like to showcase a photo(s) but that just can’t seem keep our mouths shut about it (them). If you’d like to play along, post a photo {or more if you are so inclined} on your blog, and let the words roll.

You'll love #yotweeps!

DIRECTIONS: To play along and increase your twitter twaffic do the following:

1. Follow the first 5 Twitter Twaffic hosts listed on the linky. Netiquette and courtesy! They'll reciprocate your love on twitter!

2. MAKE A BLOG POST LIKE I am doing. Copy and Paste these directions.

3. Grab the YO Tweeps Twaffic Exchange Button pictured below. Put him in your post.

(He's so cute. Put him on your sidebar too if you're that kinda girl. Netiquette... not a hairspray ;) lol )

4. Put YOUR OWN twitter icon / link on your blog post like I did. It should directly link to your TWITTER PROFILE.

5. Now link up your post below in the linky!

6. Visit some other #YOtweeps linkers on the list.

7. Follow them if you choose and shout out to them on twitter that you are following so they can instantly follow you if they're on. (Follow their blog as well if you're interested.)

Example:

@personsname #yotweeps I'm following!

8. If someone follows you JUST reciprocate on twitter. It's that easy.

Join in the fun and grab the html code to paste the linky into your own site !

SPread the word. WE'LL BE BACK every THURSDAY TO DO THIS AGAIN! ( yes THURSDAY)

Minty Post-Its

2010-03-15T23:11:00.000-05:00

Pretty Meme Prom

2010-03-14T22:46:00.002-05:00

All About Meme Monday: Pretty or Not Prom Story

Go to Supah's Blog to read other gals who shared their "Pretty or Not Prom Story"

Rather than going into detail, rambling, and losing you, I will give you the extra short version. For my senior prom I was set up; yes, set up...by my boss. A friend came into where I was working about a month before prom and asked if I had a date yet. My boss's husband heard this and starts freaking out about how his son thinks I am cute and loooves to dance. Oh my! He immediately picks up the phone, calls him, and tells him that I don't have a date for prom yet. Umm...could I have felt more pathetic? He called back later that night, we start talking, and ended up dating for that month prior to prom. Interesting, huh? Turns out several of my friends knew him, and everywhere we went he knew folks; seriously, everywhere we went.

Needless to say prom night was a blast. I went to a private, Baptist school...14 years....ugh. You know what Baptist means: no dancing. Thank goodness our parents didn't agree. We had a large banquet, then the parents rented a venue, decorated it, and hired a D.J. It was sort of a Footloose situation; except the majority of the parents agreed with the students. =) All that the students had to do was buy a ticket for the dance just as if it were the prom. So, yes, we did get a prom...sort of.

The picture with Mom; I didn't think she would be happy about me leaving her in this one.

My dress was two separate parts. I HATED the prom look. I wasn't into glitter, neon, and crunchy up-do prom hair. I wanted something basic but different. The skirt was the bottom of a Watters & Watters bridesmaid dress that I had worn in my cousin's wedding a few months earlier, and I found the perfect v-neck lace top at a Stein Mart. My mom cinched the shoulders together to make it look more formal, and ta-da...The only downside to the fitted skirt: the back slit ripped a little higher from the dancing. ;)

I was so excited about wearing false eyelashes; I was probably batting them all night as if I was in Maybelline commercial.

Back to the date: yes he could dance; so much so that guess where his picture was the next week: the front page of our school paper...hand in the air...dancing his butt off. HE DIDN"T EVEN GO TO OUR SCHOOL, and he was the most popular guy on Monday morning! Geez.

The official prom picture

Anyway, we dated maybe a month after that, had an argument, and didn't talk for a long time. About two years later we started talking again, only as friends. We were both in serious relationships. When I got out of that relationship and began going on different dates again, he was my guru, and became one of my best friends. He was the best for guy advice; he always, always called it right! We are still very close to this day. When I had all of my health issues back in the fall, I knew that I would break down if I told him myself, so I sent him a text just so he wouldn't hear it from anyone else. He is a great friend and looking back gave me a great senior prom! Love ya babe.

Nowadays...

While I was looking for the old prom pics, these were in the same book: pictures from my senior trip to Disney World. I thought they were funny. Ah, the life of no worries past the weekend plans.

Think this was an alligator tour?

I think everyone poses on this thing; sorry, I don't the official Star Wars term.

Love me some Flik; this made my day.

Honey I shrunk the seniors!

Battle of the Book Nooks + a Self-Portrait

2010-03-08T16:22:00.005-06:00

Supah's All About MEme Monday assignment is to post a self portrait created by yourself. Since I haven't turned the camera on myself for a couple of years, I sifted through all of my iPhoto files and found this one taken on Memorial Day 2007 after finishing my student teaching, pre-married life, pre-baby Foo, pre-heart failure, and pre-transplant. Plus, Shell's post inspired me to post a "look how nice and defined things used to be" photo. ;) By the way, no I wasn't naked! I had untied the strings of my navy and white stripped sundress and plopped down on the hotel bed. As a matter of fact, I wish you could see the dress: it was perfect resort wear. I will wear it again, I will wear it again, I will wear it again... (mantra-like) It was the cutest little sundress. We were at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, about an hour's drive from where I live.

Maybe this pic will better help you understand how irate I was this day (10/24).

*~*Next Topic*~*

   As I promised a few days ago, here's how the trip to NOLA went: I got there relatively early for a change. I was so excited to chill-out, browse some blogs, order a movie, and pizza. By the way, the pizza is doctor's orders: I have a tendency not to drink enough fluids and that can make biopsies very difficult for me and the cardiologist, so by eating my more than average amount of sodium I retain water and thus making the vein in my neck easier to push the catheter through. Those of you that know about heart caths have typically heard of them going through the groin, but going through the neck is apparently much easier and you are up and out of there as soon as they are done. Anyway, back on topic, there is a hotel attached to the hospital that makes everything much easier. When I stepped up to the front desk and asked for a single room for one night, I got, "We do not have anything available for tonight." Oops. This place is NEVER booked, and I have NEVER had to have a reservation. Who wants to stay at a hotel adjoined to a hospital unless they are a patient or family? Well, apparently there was some sort of conference going on that day. I felt sort of lost there all by my lonesome. So, I dragged all my junk into the atrium and pulled out Baby Mac and hit up Expedia and Priceline for the closest hotels with the lowest rates and WiFi: yes, I had to have it. God bless technology.

   I rang the Marriott Courtyard down the road and they had plenty of "room at the inn." I ventured back out into the torrential NOLA rains, and scooted on down the river highway to the Marriott. I timed it, only six minutes down the road! My room was very neat and quaint with a little balcony over-looking the pool. Too bad it was nearly a monsoon outside. I fell back on to the bed and...hello, memory foam. This night was going to be just fine.

   I ordered a Papa John's Tuscan Cheese pizza and watched Law & Order then Couple's Retreat, and in case you were wondering the pizza was by far best of the three. Maybe it was because I had not so much as tasted a pizza in at least six months, but the movie wasn't so great either. I ♥ Vince, but this was a bomb. It was very tough to keep my eyes open.

   The next morning I went on to lab as usual, picked up a scone, and strolled on over to the cath lab, were they took me right on back. Dr. Fisher was there to biopsy rather than my regular doc, Dr. Mandras. I was good to him again. He was the cardiologist on-call in the days surrounding my transplant, so it was great to see him again since that was the last time that I saw him. This was the first time I was attempting a heart cath/biopsy without taking any anti-anxiety or pain meds ahead of time. The needle and numbing of the neck wasn't was tough as usual, but apparently I have developed a lot of scar tissue in my chest that made the introduction of the catheter extremely painful. They continued to give me something, what it was I do not know. It did not help the pain, and when I sat up to leave, I was exhausted. I was even little wobbly walking back over to meet with Moriah for my clinic check-up. After chatting with her and checking all of my numbers, I moseyed on over to the MRI building, which I didn't realize was a little walk outside then to a mobile MRI trailer building. I guess they are remodeling or something because this is a nice hospital. Anyway, it was a regular MRI so my nose nearly touched the top of the thing, and I guess that they made some adjustments for momma hips. I fell right to sleep for however long it took.

   After I emerged from the pod-thing, I went straight to the coffee shop in the Atrium to get a White Gold (compare to a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha). I called hubs and told him I fell a little "slow" and that I was just going to relax in the atrium for a little bit. He got all nervous and said that he didn't want me driving. I didn't exactly feel like it either so we agreed it would be best for me to stay another night. Luckily, my regular hotel now had rooms available, but not until 3:00 p.m. It was noon.

To kill the time until I could check in, I went to fill a prescription for an antibiotic that I had to have to treat a little splinter infection, and pick up a few snacks. On my way, I decided to stop by Border's Books. I had never been in one before. We have a couple of Books-A-Millions and a couple of Barnes & Nobles, but no Borders. I loved it. Of course, Barnes & Noble will always be my true love and I cannot stand Books-A-Million simply because it lacks that aesthetic that encourages reading. I walk into a Barnes & Noble and you just want to read. You walk in a Books-A-Million and I want de-clutter and start cleaning. I will go to Books-A-Million for little random funny gifts, i.e. magnets, pens, stationery, gift books, stickers, etc., and I will escape as quickly as I can.

Borders is the happy medium.

It has the delightful reading aesthetic, plus the large gift and knick-knack/impulsive shopper section.

Did I mention the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves? I felt like Belle!

This is a former funeral home that they have recently turned into a Borders. I couldn't ever got an actual photo to post on here because the traffic wouldn't cooperate, but here is a Google photo. The colors and exterior are the same, but of course it has a Borders banner hanging across the porch and no chain-link fence. Isn't it great?! Apparently, Borders has been doing restorative projects across the country rather than building from the ground up. Cool, huh?

Now it's your turn to VOTE

In my sidebar, directly under my profile, I have posted a poll. Let's see what true fan favorite is! You can select more than one because if you are like me, you have a favorite local, privately owned store and a favorite chain.

Ahh, the charming Page & Palette

So, needless to say I had a peaceful night's rest; I slept in, made a few routine stops, did some wishful-window-shopping and headed home to my boys.

"I Have a Paper Problem..."

2010-03-03T23:28:00.024-06:00

"I have a paper problem." This was the line I uttered to the delightful associate who asked me if I needed any help today when I entered the most enchanting little nook of stationery I have ever experienced . Scriptura is a shop completely dedicated paper, writing, and creativity: "essential paper for artful living. They have everything from pens and wrapping papers to agendas and books on etiquette. Ironically, words cannot do this place justice. Remember, you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

One of the window displays

Another darling window display + my silhouette =)

Books and journals...ahhh, so lovely

Guest, etiquette, and travel books ~ Wax seals and ribbon

Cute & practical agendas ~ Hands-down the best greeting cards

Wrapping papers, or as I like to call them - $4 art.

Adorable kids stuff

Some of the personalized examples

(They the entire back half of the store devoted

to designing and working with customers, but I

did not get a photo of it.)

I spy a shelf o' Moleskine! Plus, oh so much more.

Albums, pens, paperweights, luggage tags, and jotter notes!

Needless to say it was difficult to leave. I asked the owner for permission to feature the store on the blog today and take some pics with my phone. I love to see these independent sellers, and I want give the little boost they need to stay where they are by featuring them since stationery isn't really in the budget these days. While I was still teaching I was constantly picking up random notepads, pens, clips, notebooks, the sort of stuff with which this place was chocked-full.

I found some simple, masculine notecards that Zac wanted me to look for, so when the young lady was checking me out she commented, "You are such a self-sufficient shopper." I wanted to say, "Yes, and I will take one of everything." I have only told you about maybe one third of this amazing place. They have another location in uptown New Orleans on Magazine Street, which is the original store. She highly recommended seeing it, stating that it was a more personal and creative space. This one was located in the Lakeside Mall area in Metarie.

I asked the owner about a website since many of you are not in the New Orleans area. They have one, but simply for browsing and information, since a good bit of the merchandise is handmade from Europe. There is a section you can access here that features all of the magazines in which Scriptura has been featured, including Lucky and Travel+Leisure. If you are in the area please stop by and see these guys; you will not regret it.

A Note to Family & Friends:

I know some of you heard that I had to stay an extra day after the biopsy and MRI, but I am home and feeling well now, no problems. I will write about my trip tomorrow.

From Photo Booth to WordFUL Wednesday

2010-02-24T22:24:00.005-06:00

Here are some of leftovers from Photo Booth Saturday. I forced the poor kid to participate, and as you can see, it took a lot to get a smile out of this kiddo at 8:00 p.m. on a Friday.

Momma sacrifices a sane look for one little smirk.

Can you tell I love the 60's effect?

WordFUL Wednesday: for those of us who can post a photo and keep our mouth shut.

Stick 'Em Up!

2010-02-23T09:39:00.011-06:00

One more thing...AHHHHH - I changed my followers gadgets and somehow lost everyone who was following my blog! This didn't happen the last time I changed the colors! I don't even know what to curse!!! So, if you were following please sign-up again. Geez. I 'll figure all of this out one day.

Click~Click~Click

2010-02-19T22:57:00.012-06:00

Finn and I decided to try out the Photo Booth on my computer yesterday evening. We had been to see my mom at work and to have an early dinner with some of my buddies from school. We sat with Zac out by the now weekly bonfire, and Finn loved loved it. He doesn't get to wear his hat and mittens very often. Anyway, back to Photo Booth. I learned two things: the further back you sit the better the contrast, and I will never be able to take a series of four photos without looking possessed in at least two of them, hence I have cropped from the various series of four photos that we took and put the decent ones together as one series. Yes, there were only four thanks to the steroid-inflicted abundance of face and neck - glad I was wearing a turtleneck! =)

CLICK THE TIME AT THE END OF MY POSTS TO COMMENT OR READ OTHERS' COMMENTS. A FEW PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT THIS, THINKING THAT THEY CANNOT COMMENT.

*~*HELP*~*
MY OTHER BLOG SAYS "COMMENTS," AND THIS ONE DOESN'T. THEY USE THE SAME SYSTEM. WHO KNOWS? IF YOU KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS WITH INTENSE DEBATE LET ME KNOW!

WordFUL Wednesday: ♥

2010-02-17T19:30:00.013-06:00

Babe, ya did good!

My poor hubby goes through the ringer on birthdays, holidays, and special events because I don't like typical girly stuff outside of clothes, shoes, and handbags, which he would never dare pick out. Also, I tend to leave friends and family high and dry when it comes to figuring out what it is that I want for a gift. My previous Valentine's gifts in the past from Zac have been random pieces of jewelry; however, this is my favorite Valentine of all, believe it or not. I am not a jewelry and flowers kind of girl, so when one of his friends asked me for gift advice for his new girlfriend this weekend I promptly warned, "I am not the girl to ask."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will say this, my favorite gift EVER was actually jewelry. On my 25th birthday, I had been in the hospital for two weeks two hours from home with no clue when I would be able to return home or if I even would. My family gave me a great lil party right there in the room. Hubs gave me an silver oval locket with "Love Z" engraved on the back and b&w pics of him and Finn on the inside. I was hysterical. Click the photo above to read my mother-in-law's journal entry from that day, September 24, 2009.

Wordful Wednesday is for those of us that like to showcase a photo(s) but that just can’t seem keep our mouths shut about it (them).

And You Can Quote MEme on That!

2010-02-14T23:04:00.009-06:00

Today’s meme prompt is about your favorite quote and why. Of course, if you know me you know two things that rock my socks off: words and music. Sometimes the combination of both is almost too much for me to handle, so I just picked my most recent discovery. A lifetime of loving the written word and being an English teacher keeps me constantly discovering new favorites.

The clock of life is wound but once

and no man has the power

to tell just when the hands will stop

at late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,

to lose one's health is more.

To lose one's soul is such a loss that no one can restore.

I discovered this printed on a little yellow card in the lab Ochsner when I was having blood drawn a few months ago. The nurse told me a patient had given it to her. I felt like it was speaking to me: that quote I had been searching for since my experience.

Upon reading it, I flashed back to those first few seemingly hopeless weeks in September when I was thinking: “This is crazy. I am only 24! I have never smoked, and I only drink on special occasions. There are people who drink everyday and smoke like chimneys for longer than I have been alive that barely have a cough!” I thought, “I just want to walk through my back door, across my back porch, and through my back door.” Then I remember with almost complete certainty knowing that would never happen, that I would never go home again, never scoop Finn up again (at the time he was only six weeks old), never see the gulf again, never feel the sand again, never sit on the swing with my husband again. I remember thinking: he is going to have to raise this little boy on his own. He is going to have to answer questions about where Finn’s mom is or if Finn’s mom is coming, then worst of all knowing that Finn would never even remember me at all. Would Zac change Finn’s name to Levon? ;) -That’s what he so desperately wanted to name him - after Levon Helm of The Band.

If I have learned anything through my experience, it is to LIVE. I was already dead. I was doing things I didn’t want to do, and not saying things I wanted to say - my hubs thinks it is the pain meds that makes me “talk like a man,” but really I feel like I have lost that filter. Maybe they took it out with my heart thinking that it would prevent so much stress on my new heart. I could talk on and on about the significance of these words, but the truth is if they are going to speak to you they have already done so.

I do not want to leave this entry without honoring an angel who left us entirely too early, who truly lived life the way it was meant to be lived, who gave her all in everything she did, and loved her family with every fiber of her being and showed it every chance she got: the vivacious woman of faith and character that I strive to be. -In loving memory of a dear family friend lost three years ago.

Photobooth Saturday: Valentine's Edition

2010-02-13T10:32:00.003-06:00

A Special Valentine's Day Photobooth Saturday

The New Meme

2010-02-10T22:12:00.012-06:00

Welcome to the first carnival hosted by Cardiocandyography.com! Here’s how it works: You are going to finish the phrase “This is” by using a photo and a sentence or two. See my example from today or scroll down to my February 6th post. You can do as few or as many as you want. You can even post it as a collage. Feel free to be creative!
Remember to come back here and use the gadget below my post to post your link.
I try to make my photos from the past few days (for family and friends), but that is up to you. Have fun & remember tomorrow is FRIDAY!
Don’t forget to post the badge for this meme at the top of your post, as well.
Since this is my first hosting venture please feel free to ask questions or give me some feedback via twitter or email.
Most important of all: have fun!

By the way, there are some great gals out there with the best memes & carnivals. I have posted their buttons in my sidebar under "Carnival Queens." If you know of one I don't have posted feel free to let me know.

...what desperation at the back door looks like.

...this is buckling under pressure.

...what 6 months of no hair color on the hair I actually have left looks like: thank you Prograf.

...this is pure tug n' pull fun for Finn!

In Honor of Valentine's Day & In Case You Missed It...

2010-02-10T17:55:00.003-06:00

Post-It Note Tuesday!

2010-02-09T21:42:00.003-06:00

This is...

2010-02-06T23:29:00.003-06:00

...why thinking I could stick to a heart-healthy diet during Mardi Gras may have been stupidly optimistic:

...what you see screaming your name from a glass case in a New Orleans mall:

...why I seriously lucked out with my hubby:

...this doesn't hurt his case either:

...what makes adjusting to being a SAHM such a dream:

To Tweet or Not to Tweet

2010-02-03T22:44:00.024-06:00

Yesterday I cruised on over to NOLA for my monthly biopsy, echo, and clinic visit. Rather than staying in the hotel the night before, I decided to drive over early in the morning because I did not feel like the whole packing/unpacking deal. Well, let me tell you. I needed an industrial crane to keep my eyelids open nearly the whole two hours over.

♦ Two Reminders ♦

The morning of labs you are NPO from midnight the night before until after your labs are drawn: usually around 8:00 a.m. NPO = no food or drink (nothing per oral)
Prednisone (steroid) wires you, keeps you awake, prevents any hopes of an early bedtime - Those of you that have kept up with my CB from the beginning know of my sleeping horrors. Even though my dose has been drastically reduced, my sleeping patterns are still completely unpredictable, and I never know when I will fall asleep.

Of course I did not fall asleep until around 1:00 a.m. Monday night and I had to get up at a little after 4:00 a.m. and be on the road by 5:45 a.m. with no fuel...in my body. i.e. no coffee, no PowerBar. Plus, it was dark for the first hour of the drive. I was really nervous about falling asleep, but my hubby called to check on me a little before seven and that helped wake me up.

When I got to the lab, it was slammed! I have never seen that many people waiting for labs. I waited for 45 minutes which left me only 30 minutes to find something to eat. Typically this would not be an issue; however, Stacy (Mandras), my main cardiologist, suggested that I eat something heavy and salty the nights before biopsies because the excess water make the vein in which they insert the catheter in my neck much easier to navigate. I also have to have enough time for the anti-anxiety medication to kick in before the procedure. For some reason, my neck is especially sensitive to everything they to do to prep for the procedure. This is very unusual because needles do not bother me, and medical procedures in general do not bother me. Anyway, that is why I have to take an anti-anxiety meds on biopsy days. Immediately after lab, I ran down to Zucchini, the hospital cafe, and had some sausage, bacon, and cheese grits. It was like a little vacation from bland and doctors orders. =)

The procedure went well and even though I have been feeling some different feelings around my heart everything looked fine on the echo. I will have to wait on the biopsy results for more details if there are any, and if everything looks good then I can come down on the steroids again. Yippee!

As I was getting was getting my stuff together and chatting with the girls in the cath lab, Dr. Mandras was watching me while I was talking about my blogs and my Go Red group that I am trying to raise money through. They all told me how good I looked, how amazing it is, etc. Then Dr. Mandras looked me square in the eye and said, “I lost sleep over you...I was scared to death.” Then she began to tear up, couldn’t speak, and began wiping her eyes. She just rushed over and hugged me. This was funny because she about a whole head shorter than me; we giggled. How lucky am I to have such an amazing staff holding my heart in their hands? They are amazing from the top down: the attendings, the fellows, the nurses… I also got to see the other members of the transplant team that have worked so closely with me: Patel, Alkadri, Ventura. They are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! They are like family to me now. I never thought that I would feel so comfortable with a bunch of cardiologists. I discuss books, writing, and education with Patel, movies with Alkadri, and hair, journals, and food with Mandras. Oh, and I didn’t to leave out the P.A.s: I ♥ you, Moriah!

Upon leaving the hospital I decided to hit the quarter and enjoy the weather. Though I didn’t make it far (my boots were pinching), I soaked in every minute of it. I dipped in Peaches, the last true record store; Urban Outfitters, cannot believe I walked out empty-handed, a true sign of increasing self control; and Hard Rock for fajitas. I am usually not a big Hard Rock fan since it is typically food I can get anywhere, but it was by far the cleanest and the cool breeze just blew me right into their open doors. (I still have to be uber careful about germs.) Let me just say, those were the best fajitas that I have ever had! I do not know what they sauteed the onions and meat in, but it was divine and probably loaded with sodium. It’s ok to cheat for a day every once in a while.

After being in the hospital for three months, careful watched for two, and a few weekend stays, I have begun to relish those moments on my own. It was such an incredible feeling just strolling down the street yesterday in a hat, cute outfit, and boots - not pj’s and slippers. I could have walked for hours. Next time I will have to remember to slip some Dr. Scholl’s in those boots so that I may extend my stay.

I go back tomorrow for a neurology appointment and hitting up some antique stores and markets for some dirt cheap home decor. I am trying to warm this place up a bit; it’s coming along slowly but surely.

To tweet or not to tweet? I am thinking of joining the masses. Do you like it or is it all a bunch of hoopla?

CARDIOCANDYOGRAPHY HAS A NEW NAME & A NEW PLACE

*BEWARE of FREE Templates*

*BEWARE of FREE Templates*

Bleep, bleep, bleepity, bleep, bleep

Alphabet-Me

ALOT is MIA

Porch Therapy

From YoTweeps to NoQuacks

*WARNING: Santa Spoiler*

Steroids, Dust, & Kenny Chesney

When Did Hubs Take Up Writing? Here's When...

Minty Post-Its

Pretty Meme Prom

Battle of the Book Nooks + a Self-Portrait

"I Have a Paper Problem..."

From Photo Booth to WordFUL Wednesday

Stick 'Em Up!

*Click*~*Click*~*Click*

WordFUL Wednesday: ♥

And You Can Quote MEme on That!

Photobooth Saturday: Valentine's Edition

***The New Meme***

In Honor of Valentine's Day & In Case You Missed It...

Post-It Note Tuesday!

This is...

To Tweet or Not to Tweet

BEWARE of FREE Templates

BEWARE of FREE Templates

WARNING: Santa Spoiler

Click~Click~Click

The New Meme