Youth Life Excellence

So many stories, these photos tell.

Nature

Yellow Birds and Yellow Flowers

A yellow finch has been hanging around in my backyard. It is looking for sunflower seeds. I have a bird feeder back there but it is empty. I haven’t filled it in about a month. It is on my garage. I placed it there so that the birds would poop on Stray Cat neighbor’s car. She deserved it. When she got rid of the stray cat’s living in her garage I stopped filling the feeder and planted the seeds along the patch of dirt near the fence that separated our back yards. The sunflowers have bloomed but no seeds as yet. Despite this, every day I see that yellow finch inspecting the sunflowers. This morning I finally filled the feeder for it. I want it to keep coming around. It is a lovely sight to see such a pretty bird in my yard. This blog has some lovely pictures of finches and sunflowers Basset Knitter. I guess that I am not the only one who has yellow finches and sunflowers.

During those times of quiet contemplation looking at the wonders of nature, I find myself reflecting on the silliness of our modern lives.

I was thinking today about the last time I visited my allergist office. The doctor really unnerved me that day. The room is like any other patient room with the bed thingy, a sink, cabinets, computer, desk and chair. He sits at the chair and types almost everything that I say. In between keystrokes he pauses to pump the antibacterial gel into his hand. He does this several times in the span of ten minutes. Keep in mind, he is my allergist. He doesn’t really touch me.

I meet with the nurse first who inputs general updated information into the computer. After he examines me, he washes his hands and sits at the desk. At the desk he only touches the computer keys. Even so, he methodically pumps the bottle and massages his hands with the gel while talking to me.

Finally, I asked him if his hands were finally free from bacteria. He laughed and then pumped another dollop into his palm. The doctor rubbed his hands together and said, “I do this all of the time.” I asked him to stop doing it in front of me. I mentioned that I do not like the smell of most of those antibacterial gels and I find them to be misleading. He seemed shocked and moved his praying hands towards me like some yoga gesture. I backed up as if HE had cooties.
It is just not natural to sanitize one's hands that often.

Next time I visit him, I will suggest that he keep alcohol pads near the keyboard and just clean it before he uses it and I will stay clear of his nurses. I wonder if he uses the gel after he types in his PIN at that ATM or the grocery store? Those keys must be full of people germs. I will ask him next visit.

Going Against My Nature

A friend is having another birthday. Last year, I convinced myself that I would knit for her a wrap that she could wear on fancy evenings. Too bad that I could not convince the WIP that it was a wrap. I am really a hooker and sometimes these knitted projects hurt my feelings when they go wrong.

I remember finishing it up while visiting friends. I held it up and the 11 year old daughter asks, “ What is it?” I said a wrap. Then she said, “What kind of wrap.” I turned the garment around to figure out what had her so confused. The wrap was not rectangular in shape as would be expected. It was more…. Trapezoid.

I frogged it to the point where I had lost its shape and started again. The finished product resembled a warped rectangle. I completely frogged it and made it too wide. While it maintained its shape, I could not imagine it functioning as anything other than a blanket.

I ripped it again and began a mobius shawl. I am crossing my fingers that it works. At least with the mobius I can’t tell if it isn’t a rectangle. And it has been an entire year, actually longer that this project has been a work in progress. I jsut want it completed and out of my house her birthday or not.

Because of this adventure, I have found that sometimes it is better to just change a knitted project into a crochet project.

If it is Not One Thing.....

I had some news. In the last two weeks I have met with two of my doctors.

First, my GP was alarmed at the amount of weight that I have gained since the last time I met with her. She sent me for a glucose test since diabetes runs in my family and I have been experiencing symptoms that led her to order the test. This week, I met with my sleep disorder specialist. He was equally alarmed at my wieght gain. He said that it is "highly unusual" for someone to gain weight while on the sleep therapy drug.

There goes those phrases that doctor's use -- those codes. I have been thinking about this phrase for several days. "Highly unusual" Me thinks that itnis code for 'something is seriously wrong.' Everyone else lost weight while taking this drug. Then he says that if I have pre-diabetes I must immediately come off the drug. I went to the Net for some insight. Found a few strings that discussed the relationship of certain sleep medications that cause diabetes, pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis. Of course.....

My Line Sister used to say all of the time. "If it is not One Thing it is Ten!

So you are probably wondering, well how much weight have you gained. Hmmm.... I started tracking my weight in April because I thought I was going crazy. I have gained 18 pounds from March 15 to June 15. More than twenty since last year when I started the medicine. The sleep doctor told me to lose weight. Like I haven't noticed....

Like I can reasonably fit my clothes or my SHOES. I mean seriously. Is he joking? Losing weight is always on my mind.

So, I call Steelcurtain, with whom I have been having friendly conversations lately and I asked him to help me lose weight. He told me to stop drinking. What the Dish Network Service....

Yes, I believe that having Dish Network Service is like living in Hell. A Hell where everything is my error. It could be that my phone line is outdated. So I have AT&T come out and upgrade the 1950 era lines. Or it could be that there is something wrong with the line.

So, I install a brand new line dedicated to the receiver. Or it could be that my DSL filter is not working.

So, I purchase new ones from Radio Shack and the salesperson suggests that nothing will make the Dish receiver work better.

Or (this is the best one yet - heard it last week) it could be that I picked up the phone after the Dish Receiver attempted to call the Dish system and heard the announcement that you hear when you call a bad number. You know... "check the number and try again..."

Now, have you EVER heard of a time where if the extension was picked up the phone connection was interrupted or otherwise not connected? Neither have I. But Dish Network has trained all of its Indian representatives to suggest that everything that could possibly or remotely be your fault, is the reason why the Dish receiver will not order PPV movies or anything else. AND you have to pay the $2 fee to order a PPV over the phone. And if you want a tech to come out and verify that the stupid foreign made receiver is INDEED calling the wrong number, YOU must pay $55.00. Because the warranty has elapsed. AND if it is broken, you must pay for the S&H fee to receive a new one. I HATE CALL CENTERS.

But I am off topic...And losing my vodka induced feelings of euphoria. I begged Steelcurtain to take the vodka and rum in my house. He refused -- actually suggested that I have willpower. As I draft this blog entry, completely blitzed on Vodka and Dr. Pepper.......

Not to mention the neighbor that works as a bartender and turned me onto this great rum with a hint of vanilla that is $10 cheaper than Captain Morgan (which I despise) and so smooth that I forgot what it is named..... I decided to scoff at his suggestion that I stop drinking... Perhaps, when the bottle is empty....... Besides a friend is turning 30 tomorrow. I wonder "What was he thinking."

Well, I am going to have to do a few things differently.

First, I joined this site.

My Member name is Ibrizzy (I know, I forgot the "F") Since I have already been working out and watching what I eat - I am not sure what else can be done.