Journaling on estrip is free and easy. get started today

Last Visit 2021-12-07 08:02:03 |Start Date 2005-05-26 16:50:55 |Comments 1,827 |Entries 526 |Images 1,337 |Videos 8 |Theme |

Category: potpourri

12/05/07 05:15 - 18ºF - ID#42407

random bits

It's hard to transfer registration of a vehicle when the government thinks your dead - my life plays out like a sitcom, truly.

Although many people have told me so, I've only recently accepted the fact that I often don't give myself enough credit.

My hair is noticeably longer today - ironically 5 people asked me if I just got my haircut.

I make really amazing cookies- I think this statement counts as giving myself credit.

Veronika Decides to Die is turning out to be one of the greatest books I've ever read.
print add/read comments

Permalink: random_bits.html
Words: 92
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

11/27/07 02:14 - 37ºF - ID#42301

snow all the way from b-lo!

Listening to all of you talk of bunkering down for the winter in your warm fleece and plastic lined windows helps cool things down for me. It's still in the 90's and sunny which is playing tricks on my mind. I can hardly believe it's the END of November! If anyone is getting anything from me for Christmas I guess I'd better mail it now! Maybe it will show up on time.

Thank you (e:leetee) for sending me good ol' Buffalo snow - in a bag! I love it! I'll post a photo once I've whipped up a batch. I wonder if it will transform well enough to hold a sloppy snowball. I'd love to just peg the big cheese with one of those. Who would excpect a snowball in the desert? *evil grin*

My feet are doing better. My left foot especially. It's feeling almost normal. The right foot is much slower on the rehab. I'm trying to stay off of them as much as possible to maximize the healing power of my own body. I have a follow up visit tomorrow to see what our next plan is.


print add/read comments

Permalink: snow_all_the_way_from_b_lo_.html
Words: 191
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: photos

11/26/07 03:13 - ID#42280

crete

Just outside the city of Iraklion on the island of Crete lies the ruins of the palace of King Minos. If I recall correctly I think the foundation alone is a massive 4 acres. Then pile on about 4 stories, plus 2 or 3 basement levels...you've got yourself the setting for the legend of the Minotaur and his maze.

It was pretty rad to check off another Tomb Raider temple on my quest around the world. These are just a few shots. All of the photos are on my travel photo site. Enjoy!

image

image

image

image

image

image
print add/read comments

Permalink: crete.html
Words: 102
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: holidays

11/22/07 01:59 - 31ºF - ID#42235

thanksgiving in the desert

I held a program tonight to introduce Thanksgiving to my residents. It was a HUGE success. We even watched Christmas Vacation when our bellies were full. Only sad part is, no pumpkin pie.

I've learned my lesson. The country sells out of pumpkin puree (the 12 cans that they have) about a month before Thanksgiving. I usually make from scratch entirely, but of course, no pumpkins. The cherry and apple went over well enough. The turkey was flattened in no time! Happy Thanksgiving peeps. Miss you all.

image
my super delish vinegar crust

image
only injury of the day, i have reaaaaaally sharp knives

image
Stove Top was sold out too so I had to make stuffing from scratch

image
the turkey guarding dessert

image
I even had to make whip cream from scratch for the pies

image
carving up the turkey breast

image
mmmmmm
print add/read comments

Permalink: thanksgiving_in_the_desert.html
Words: 152
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

11/21/07 03:14 - 43ºF - ID#42226

they call me gimpy (plus update)

If you recall, I recently posted the tale of my poor tootsie. So, I have a demon claw growing on the bottom of my right foot. I got a needle stuck up in there to help heal my tendon and reduce the pain.

Today I went for my follow up visit. Blood work negative for abnormalities. This is good. X-ray on left foot, positive for demon claw, though slightly smaller than right foot. Increased amount of pain in left foot due to placing extra weight on it over the last week while hobbling due to right foot injection.

Lucky me got to take ANOTHER needle to the foot. But this time, as an experiment, he tried a different medicine. That fucker hurt twice as much as the first injection! I almost fell over when I took my first step to get out of his office.

They tried to give me crutches but I honestly don't see much point. I mean I'm on bed rest for 3 days (yah, let's see how I pull off the Thanksgiving program in my building tomorrow night when I have to cook 50% of the meal for 30 people).

Crutches. Oh the horror of rib rash. That raw tenderness on your rib cage that gets abused with every step you take. No thanks. I still have to put pressure on my right foot which still hurts anyway. Might as well go full monty and at least save the ribs :)

Let's hope this works and we don't have to go ahead with surgery.

Ciao.

Update: I've come up with a good descriptor of the pain in my left foot for the last 4 hours. You know that sensation just before you peak during a charlie horse? Yah, that's just what it feels like non-stop.
print addComment

Permalink: they_call_me_gimpy_plus_update_.html
Words: 294
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: space

11/17/07 05:27 - 35ºF - ID#42174

i saw one tonight

A meteor, part of the regular show on Earth each November. I didn't really think about it until I saw 3 more in the course of 30 minutes sitting on my patio. Space is just so fascinating.

print add/read comments

Permalink: i_saw_one_tonight.html
Words: 42
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

11/15/07 03:44 - 40ºF - ID#42146

the good, the bad, and the ugly

The good:

A proposal I wrote with two of my co-workers was accepted for the 2008 NASPA (National Association of Student Personell Administrators) conference. That's crazy. It's so competitive to get something accepted to be a presenter, we never really thought it would fly. I think the appeal is that the work we are doing over here is literally the first of it's kind in the whole world. I wonder how many people will show up for it. Presenting is not my favorite thing to do. Maybe I can do all the power point leg work and let my co-workers do the talking.

The bad:

This week was International Education Week. I was on the planning committe undertaking this task of collaboration with all 5 branch campuses and QF to have a finale event tonight. After all the work, I didn't get to go as I'm confined to my sofa with my leg propped on a pillow.

The ugly:

The reason my leg is propped on a pillow is because I have a severe foot disfunction going on. My right foot started hurting about a month ago. Just here and there, usually in the morning. I knew I had occassional bouts of pf because I have overflexible arches. However this pain got to the point I started limping. So I had it checked out today. Got examined, got blood work, got an x-ray and BAM.

There was my foot lit up on that little white box and a bizarre bone growth jutting out. It was creepy. It looks like some demonic bird claw parasite clinging to the underside of my heel. I wish I had a photo of it. Anyway, my podiatrist says I have a severe case of pf and the largest spur he's ever seen. Oh joy! To fix the problem requires surgery, however due to the size of it he is afraid the scar I'd be left with may cause just as much pain as I'm in now. Hmmm. Dilema. So in the mean time he prescribed some anti-inflamitory and then....I got an injection.

For the love of gummy bears I never thought I'd have to take a needle in the bottom of my foot! I've had needles and tubes stuck in every part of my body, and I mean every part, except the bottom of my foot. I have a strong constitution but this hurt like a mother fucker. Plus now my foot is swollen on the heel, so it kind of hurts twice as much as when I went in there. I'm supposed to lay low for 3 days and stay off my feet as much as possible.

image
print add/read comments

Permalink: the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly.html
Words: 443
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: photos

11/12/07 04:39 - 43ºF - ID#42089

quiet island of patmos

Patmos is a quiet island. The large majority of tourists here are old folks coming to visit a religous landmark. It has lovely beaches on the far side, away from the port. It's very tranquil and peaceful. Apparently the British royals, among others in the world, own some houses on this island for this very reason.

image
approaching patmos

image
climbing the mountain

image
view from the 'almost' top

image
grotto of st. john - not john the baptist, the other one

image
entrance to the grotto - after climbing 200 or so steep stairs there is a cave, which is said to be the final resting place of st. john, where he wrote the book of revelations (no photos allowed and an angry greek monk present to beat you with a stick if you try)

image
i rewarded myself with a little gelato

image
which i enjoyed at a little outdoor cafe with this beautiful pomegranate tree overhead

print add/read comments

Permalink: quiet_island_of_patmos.html
Words: 165
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: photos

11/10/07 04:47 - 36ºF - ID#42065

november nightmare

The kids loved the reverse trick-or-treat program. They wanted to have a Halloween party but couldn't get their shit together. So, they had it last night and called it November Nightmare. They had a costume contest to win an iPod. This guy won:

image
as Borat


Since everyone thought I was Alice from Wonderland when I dressed up as Dorothy, I changed up my costume a bit and went as Alice.

image
they all thought I was Dorothy
print addComment

Permalink: november_nightmare.html
Words: 80
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: photos

11/08/07 02:55 - 40ºF - ID#42047

mystical santorini


image
our pirate ship

image
the circle of islands are made from a blown out volcano

image
climbing it was tough because it was a fine layer of volcanic ash
(and it turned my socks yellow)

image
i claimed the top...'croftapalooza'

image
it was like being on a martian planet

image
plato wrote about 'atlantis' in terms of it once being the island of santorini. here you can see his description of the black, red and white cliffs that once held atlantis before it was buried in the sea during the volcanic eruption

image
we climbed back down the volcano and sailed our pirate ship to a cove where we jumped off the boat! argg.

image
we swam through the brilliant emerald water, as cold as it was, to find a sulfur hot stream,a little volcanic action hot tub :)

image
the water was blood red, which was a little creepy, but at least it didn't really smell like egg farts

image
we enjoyed a lovely sunset on the boat

image
once we got up the mountain of the mainland, we ate gyros and saddled the donkeys of doom...which we took back down the mountain, while attempting to take photos, while attempting to not fall off as they slip on the cobblestones full of donkey shit

This island is SO worth checking out!
print add/read comments

Permalink: mystical_santorini.html
Words: 236
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Search

Chatter

New Site Wide Comments

joe said to joe
Never send a man to do a grandma's job...

sina said to sina
yes thank you!
Well, since 2018 I am living in France, I have finished my second master of science,...

paul said to sina
Nice to hear from you!! Hope everything is going great....

paul said to twisted
Hello from the east coast! It took me so long to see this, it might as well have arrived in a lette...