Random Sunday ramblings

I'm going away tomorrow for the week and as I got my mental checklist in order earlier this week, I realized that I have a ritual when I go away. It's ALL about the organization!

My husband is attending a class to gain a new certification. This class is held at the corporate headquarters of the folks who make the equipment he programs. The campus is incredible and they encouraged him to bring me in to the classes. I think they're on testosterone overload and just want a little lady there!

Free hotel? Check! I'm there!

Free high-speed Internet? Check! So there!

Free 3 meals a day for the week? Double check! You had me at the Internet!

A few days/nights ALONE (without roommate) Okay, when do we leave!!

This trip comes just a week after my computer was reloaded and days after my laptop started new life. We won't even mention how my husband and I have been wrestling with the MP3 player.

So...earlier this week in a last ditch effort to fix the sick laptop, Mark bought some computer memory. He also picked up a memory card for his Palm Pilot, so I inherited the old one. Um...we won't discuss how the computer memory didn't work because he bought the WRONG KIND ;)

Ack! As if loading the laptop/desktop weren't enough, I have to put some selections on the MP3 player...five hours in the car each way with Mark's choice of music is just scaaary. AND I want to figure out podcasts...

Now, I have this memory card which is mocking me. I must fill it with ebook goodness ;)

Getting organized has been a huge priority in the last week and I'm pretty much over it LOL. I like routine and I want to get back to my normal daily merry go round of work and more work. I'm definitely someone who likes everything in its place and not having that has been a little bit of stress on me.

So...anyone have any ebook recommendations? This card is HUUUUGE and I have a fictionwise coupon!

I know...I know, I've been quiet again

I have a good reason though!

In the last couple of months, my computer has been more and more ill. Ms word in particular was a mess. Here's a snapshot of my work life.

Open a comment in MS Word. Save the document. Close the document. Reopen. Begin typing comment. Save. Close. Reopen. Type a few more words. Repeat.

This was just getting worse and worse and was really impacting my productivity, so late last week, Mark installed a new hard drive with only Windows on it. For the better part of the last week I've been reinstalling programs, resetting configurations, etc. It has been going smoothly but even so, it has been a sloooow process.

On the plus side, my six year old hard drive was replaced by a much bigger and three times faster one. I no longer have to wait 2-3 minutes for a program to load.

All in all, this is a huge improvement :)

It is official, I'm twisted!

Or rather...my back and spine are.

This weekend I won a free consultation and Xrays at a chriopractic clinic. I have very severe TMJ and they assured me that a consultation would determine if they could help my pain and mobility. Since I had nothing to lose, I thought I'd give them a try. In addition to my jaw issues, I have a fair bit of neck and back pain.

I had my consultation last night, and the news isn't good. My neck is a mess and my spine is misaligned. It was kind of weird seeing the Xrays and being able to see the disk compression in my neck. Fortunately, I'm in the early stages of long term problems and if we can get this sorted out, I should see some relief from back and neck pain and relief from the TMJ as well.

Its strange...I've learned to live with TMJ since first being diagnosed ten years ago. I've come to accept that I can't live a day without grinding and crunching and being unable to eat tough to chew food.

I am thrilled to be able to have some relief, but it will be almost surreal to be without it, since the pain has been a constant companion for so long.

I start treatments next Saturday and will be going 3 times a week for the next 4 months minimum.

Wish me luck ;)

Hi lurkers!

I was gently reminded this weekend that I need to post more. LOL, I didn't think many folks were even reading this blog! So...HI THERE!!!

I've been rather quiet recently. I just didn't have much to add to the storm footage posts and it seemed trivial to post about my little life problems in the face of such tragedy.

I do have some exciting news, though, and will update you just as soon as I can.

Small things

I'm not a happy flier in any case but taking 3 flights on 9/11 wasn't my idea of fun.

I flew from LA on American Airlines flight 76 the night of 9/10/2001. The very same flight attendants that I had been so impressed with that evening perished the next morning. I could see the Pentagon burning from my bedroom window...

Anyway...my flights went well despite a couple of delays and I arrived back in DC to find my husband bouncing up and down in a very endearing way, complete with a rose for me. He had missed me immensely and I'd been gone just over two days.

As we exited the terminal, a huge roar hit us and we looked up and over in shock to see motorcycles...perhaps two hundred of them...driving around the dropoff area in a loop. The riders kept coming as we loaded my luggage in the car and exited the parking lot.

Just as we were about to turn off the airport road, two police cars stopped traffic and these motorcyclists rode by one by one. A good third of them had American flags and POW flags mounted on their bikes. Each one saluted or gave the police officers a thumbs up. When the procession ended, the police (I think they were airport police) joined the last stragglers and they all roared off toward the east, in the direction of DC or the Pentagon.

I cannot tell you the rush of emotions I felt at the sights and sounds...it was an indescribable feeling of thanks and of tribute in a time where current events have brought sadness and reflection together.