Blogging Again, Elsewhere

Come see my new blog. Over there.

Taking Pictures of My Boobs

Yesterday's big excitement: breast MRI! Because of family history and a recent mammogram that showed "increased density"--something doctors have started noting as a potential early indicator of possible cancer (note the tentativeness there)--I now have a specialist and some more pretty pictures of my breasts. Here are lessons I'd like to share from yesterday's experience:
1. The sounds emitted during an MRI are reminiscent of a performance art piece.
2. Even though I'm not at all claustrophobic, I couldn't help getting a bit anxious during the whole thing, and began to wonder if my more-rapid-than-usual breathing was going to mess up the process.
3. In particular, I kept waiting for the contrast dye to hit my bloodstream, and never felt it. Which made me wonder if I'd lost all sense of time, since the MRI guy said it was gonna happen in the next minute or so.
4. They should post a clock on the wall so that we can actually tell how much time has passed.
5. Lying face down on a flat surface and letting one's boobs dangle through the holes provided is really pretty funny.
6. Make sure your arm is really really comfortable before it all starts. I didn't pick the best position, so it was getting challenging to hold it there by the end.
7. Just because everyone else on the street is parking on both sides doesn't mean you have carte blanche to ignore the opposite-side-of-the-street parking rules (see Parking Citation).
8. While I understand the rigorous security at hospital entrances, it's kind of a pain when you're only going in for a short test. Case in point: the three elderly volunteers took 10 minutes to issue my fiancee a visitor's pass so that she could accompany me. They seemed like lovely ladies, but their computer skills weren't quite up to speed.

As for the results: stay tuned.

Vacation Highlights!

Thanks to a tip from one of my favorite aunts, we stopped at Snow Goose Produce in the Skagit Valley to enjoy ice cream--and yes, that's one scoop!

To Hyphenate, Or Not To Hyphenate: That Is The Question!

Should I? I really like the idea, but then I've never had to live with a hyphenated name. Does anyone know anyone who's done it?

Rock On!

Okay, so we were all settled on saving Big Bucks by creating our own iPod playlist for the reception. No troubles, right? I mean, Ms. C has a massive collection of CDs, including pretty much all the Chicago and Earth, Wind, and Fire and Motown and Michael Jackson and...well, you get the idea. We're on it. (Okay, it's not all 70s...there's a bit of 50s & 60s, as well as more recent stuff. Anyway.)

Then: we went to a concert in B'ville and see this excellent Chicago tribute band called Chicago Transit, who also performs lots of Motown-style-stuff under the name Powerhouse, and suddenly the fiancee's thinking, "Hey, wouldn't that be amazing?" And I reply, "Um...eight-piece band? Budget? And will they fit in the barn we're thinking of for the reception?"

Her plan, budget-wise: cut the food. Put out some bowls of potato chips. Okay, she's kidding. But something would have to give, and it's not like I planned on spending much on a dress.

But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So, we tracked down the band (not easy, let me tell you), and the next step will be for Ms. C to call them and find out a) this is so far outside of our budget options we can just forget about it, or II) maybe not.

Wedding Colors

Now, don't laugh: this is an important question! So much depends on this decision. C. is leaning toward pink, of late, and while I like that, we're tentatively planning on Fall 2010 for the reception, so I'm thinking a pale pink needs a richer tone to go with it. Would burgundy be too obvious? What about brown? 

Keep in mind the site in the running right now for the reception is the loft of a big barn that houses a winery's retail and tasting area. Cool, huh?

And am I using this discussion to avoid working on my online class? Moi? Nev-er!

Ah, That New Car Smell

If you look closely, I'm not smiling--but that's just because I was worrying about whether the camera was working! In fact, driving this baby is loads of fun. It's a brand new 2009 Subaru Impreza, five-speed, no fancy technology, and the prettiest shade of blue ever. (I did have the dealership install a remote starter for me, but it had to be done by an independent shop, so I have to go see them to show me how to use it. Because in zero-degree North Country weather, I want that baby warmed up, thankyouverymuch!)

Now, to find my Whitman sticker for the back window...

Wedding Stuff Continued

Okay, so now that I have the beautiful car purchased (and making progress learning how to back into my parking spot...sigh...), back to the other fun stuff: wedding! Plans! Dreams! Oh, and realities--usually of the budget sort. 

1. The NY State Senate continues to behave in an especially boorish fashion, so no progress on getting the gay marriage bill passed. So, we're still up in the air on the actual nuptials location. 

2. The rings arrived! We're wearing them--why not? I've never worn so much bling in my life, and you all know how I am with shiny objects. (I warn students that my strict rules on talking/texting/whatevering during class have more to do with my own distractibility than anything else.) Pretty pretty pretty. (I tried unsuccessfully to take a photo, so you'll just have to wait 'til you see me in person.)

3. During a break from working on an online syllabus this afternoon, I stopped in to Macy's and tried on a couple of dresses, just to get an idea of necklines and such, and to feed my daydreaming. So far, I've settled on inexpensive, v-neck or halter, empire waist, and full skirt for happy dancing. And that's enough on that for a while--I mean, it's a year away. Face it: I love avoiding my work, and this feeds my avoidance. 

4. I bought a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings, and I'm not allowed to buy any more wedding magazines. They say the same thing over and over again. And the featured weddings in Martha are, of course, fabulous *and* crafty. I am not crafting a paper bouquet. I don't think I'll even have a bouquet, for that matter. Nor am I rubber stamping and calligraphing place cards. Ain't happening.