Sindie's Blog

Monday, December 19, 2005

Today was a good day. :)

I don't imagine work will be busy this week, plus it will be short, since I'm not working on Friday. Then I'll be off until Jan. 3! Definitely something to look forward to.The weekend was good, too. We had Erik's dad, his dad's girlfriend, and my sister-in-law (Beth) over on Friday evening for cake for Erik's dad's birthday. Saturday was spent lounging around and doing a lot of reading since I was still nursing a cold. We went to a Christmas party at a house of one of the couples at our church that evening. It's nice to have established our own sense of belonging to a church this past year. We had a nice time. Sunday was more reading and then going to see the late matinee of Narnia.

Good movie. The girl who played Lucy was cute. Visually very stunning, and the Ice Queen (Jadis) gave me the shivers. She looked truly evil. It was so obvious to be the parallels to the Bible, what with Aslan's sacrifice on the Stone Table and all. I've read the entire series, but it's hard to remember everything. It makes me want to go back and read them again. Lewis was a genius, just like Tolkien and Rowling in the way that he created a world world.

I felt much better as Sunday progressed and am pretty much back to normal today. Work was light, and my boss gave me two books for Christmas: Moby Dick and Ivanhoe. I've read the first couple pages of each and love the way they are written. The quality of writing in a book has become just as important to be this past year as the plot and characters. Reading Jane Eyre has given me a really high standard by which I judge writing. That book is the best book I have ever read and the most beautifully-written. How something can be so incredibly poetic and full of uncommonly used words and yet flow so naturally is beyond me. Not much the writing-style itself, but the characters, Jane and Mr. Rochester, are absolutely amazingly real to me. A truly romantic story if I've ever read one!

Speaking of reading, wow, have I outdid myself this year in the department! I can't even begin to count the number of books that I've picked up this past year. I plan to continue to do that next year and so on and so forth.

We got seven Christmas cards in the mail today, which made me very pleased! I'm anxiously awaiting that wondrous day of Christ's birth. Alleluia! Amen!

posted by Sindie 7:43 PM

Monday, December 12, 2005

It's been a while since I really sat down and wrote anything worthwhile in here. I've been pretty busy lately. :)

I have been working on getting my poetry anthology together for this year, as I like to give them out as gifts. I have also done a lot of scrapbooking while watching old Christmas home videos. The oldest one is from 1989, and I can't believe that was 16 years ago! I was just a little girl of 10 and was quite childish in them, but it's neat to see those old memories played out before my eyes. What is especially endearing is seeing my grandma opening presents with us on Christmas morning. It has been eleven years since she spent Christmas with us. My dear grandma passed away in April 1995, but her memory lives on. Also, every Christmas morning, I would hold my kitty, Cally, and would open her presents with her. As many of you know, she died this past July. I got teary-eyed while watching both my grandma and Cally, as I know they will not be there this Christmas, but I do believe that pets, like people, go to heaven. Christmas would not be Christmas if we didn't stop to reflect on the past and even feel a little sad over those loved ones we have lost.

I am reading Cornelia Funke's newest book, Inkspell, right now, which is the sequel to Inkheart and part of a trilogy. It's quite good. I would highly recommend anything by Funke to others. She's German, so only a few of her books are translated into English.

I desperately need to write more for my Harry Potter story, as it's been nearly a month since I updated. Busy, busy, busy with other stuff, though!

This weekend Erik and I went to a Cav's game (basketball) on Friday night, to my brother's for dinner and then to a Christmas production at a church on Saturday night, and out to lunch with another couple from church after service on Sunday. I had two hours of choir practice on Saturday morning, as the choir was singing our "celebration" for the season both services on Sunday, which meant getting to church at 7:45 on Sunday morning! It was a lot of fun, though. I really love singing, and I have improved my range since starting choir. I can reach the high A above the staff now.

Well, today was back to work, though. :p I have a busy day. Our lab is going out for lunch tomorrow, and the departmental party is Wednesday, so that means less time to work and more to do today. I'm definitely looking forward to being off in a week and a half. I'm taking off from Dec. 23-Jan. 2.It's been snowing a lot here, which I love. In fact, it's snowing right now. I just love Christmas so much! I wish I felt this good the rest of the year! Merry Christmas!

posted by Sindie 8:38 PM

Monday, October 03, 2005

A Little Update on My Life

I have to admit that I needed a break from most of my online activities. I was spending way too much time sitting in front of a computer every day, and because of it, I felt I was neglecting real life.

However, I did just spent most of this evening on the computer updating a site for some friends who host an apple butter festival yearly. The site is http://www.geocities.com/applebutterfestival.

That was one of the things I did over the weekend, which was fun as always. On Saturday, I hosted another candly party at my house, which was really enjoyable. I spent the earlier part of the day cleaning the house and baking two pumpkin spice cakes. Everyone told me how good the cake was, and between the candle party and the apple butter festival, it got all eaten!

I have never claimed to be a great baker, but with practice, I will improve. Baking is something I would like to do more of. I actually baked the weekend before last as well, making peanut butter cookies and blueberry muffins. With the holidays just around the corner, I'm getting more in the mood to bake.

I also have taken some time lately to watch some Felicity episodes on my DVD collection. I loved Felicity when it was on TV a few years back, and it's nice watching and reminiscing about those days. I was in college when Felicity was in college.

I worked on some Christmas cards this past week as well. Crafting is so much fun. I am making a lot of my cards this year, thinking it will be more personal. I'm working with stamps and construction paper and have made twenty so far.

I've also done a lot of reading. I finished Jane Eyre a few days ago and LOVED it so much! That is one of the most beautifully-written and beautiful stories plot-wise and character-wise I have ever read! I'm about halfway through David Copperfield and Pride and Prejudice right now. I've put aside Great Expectations for the time-being, as reading too many books at once tends to confuse me. :p Reading more "real" stories means reading less Harry Potter fanfiction, but that's okay.

Listening to CDs on my drives to and from work about "How to Understand Great Music." Good stuff. Right now it's comparing classical music to baroque music.

I have been extremely lazy where writing is concerned, and I swear that will be my next big project to tackle: working on my fic. Please be patient with me just a little while longer, 'kay?

As for the "feelings" aspect of my life, I think I have just needed to try to "stop and smell the roses," so to speak. I tend to try to do too much at one time and just wind up making myself miserable in the process, wondering why I can't do everything I set out to do. Well, I'm not Wonder Woman. Far from it, in fact.

On top of all this, I still work full time, and with only 24 hours in the day and requiring at least seven hours of sleep every night, I fear I have little time to spare for "everything" and everyone. I'm just going to take life one day and a time and try to stop getting so easily upset over the little things.

posted by Sindie 9:01 PM

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

The good is that I had a nice weekend and today is our two year anniversary. It was really nice having an extra day off work. Erik and I celebrated our anniversary a little early and went out on Saturday night. We went on a dinner/dance cruise on one of the boats that runs on Lake Erie, which was really fun. On Sunday, we went out on my father-in-law's boat and went tubing. The weather was gorgeous.

Yesterday, we had my parents over for lunch, and they brought over a hole digger. We're putting in a fence for privacy along the one side of the outdoor patio area. We didn't invite them over to put them to work, but my dad promised his neighbor (who he borrowed the digger from) that he would have it back to him that night. So, needless to say, Erik and Dad began digging holes, and Mom and I went up to Home Depot and got the posts. We also got an arbor (arch) and assembled it and got it in the ground. By the end of the week, we hope to have it done. Erik is taking off all week to work outside on that and on cutting down some pine trees and bushes in our yard. I'll be taking off on Thursday and Friday, so a two day work week is really nice.

The bad is that my throat was scratchy last week, and it didn't bother me on Saturday, so I thought it was going away, but I was wrong. On Sunday, I started getting congested, and yesterday, I was sneezing some and had more congestion. Today didn't start off too badly, all things considered with returning to work, but now I'm feeling rather miserable. My tonsils are irritated, and my nose is all plugged up. Stupid cold.

Is it just me, or do I seem to get sick more often than most people? Maybe I just complain more than average. The weather is absolutely gorgeous outside, and being sick really stinks, because that means I can't enjoy the weather like I should. I think being at work tends to increase my misery when I'm not feeling 100%.

It also annoyed me greatly that someone had used my bench space over the weekend at work and left a mess. Someone also removed some pipets from my drawer and left them out, when I have specifically left a sign above my drawers that say not to remove anything without my permission. I am very particular in how I want things kept at work, and I despise sloppiness in the lab. There are too many messy people, and they are so damn inconsiderate of others when they leave messes for others to clean up. I wish those idiots were all fired.

posted by Sindie 12:33 PM

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Why does it always take a disaster for people to realize what's truly important?

*sigh*

I've been watching the news the past couple of nights, seeing those devastating scenes of destruction in New Orleans and elsewhere in the south, unable to find words to express how horrible it is. Of course those people have been in my prayers and will continue to be, and I hope to donate some money to the relief efforts as well, but an entire city under water... that's just unbelievable.

The gas prices have gone up as a result, now over $3.00 near where I live. To hear people complaining about gas prices is understandable, especially since it does impact the cost of everything else, but in a way, I think that the fact our economy is doing so poorly should really make people rethink what's truly important.

Here are these people in the south who have nothing, have lost everything, some their lives, and those of us who still have homes, car, food, etc. should be happy and feel blessed, despite the costs of those things. Americans are far too materialistic to begin with, and I personally think we need to be humbled into spending less money on things we don't need and spending more time with those we love.

Erik and I are seriously considering carpooling to work. We both have fairly long drives to work and back everyday, and Erik's work in basically on the way to mine. Yes, it's a bit of a sacrifice to make, not being able to go to work when I want, as I would have to get up earlier and take Erik to work and pick him up, but it would save tremendously on gas. I don't need to spend money on Starbucks coffee every day at work. I got out the coffeemaker at home, bought some coffee for two dollars at Walmart yesterday, and make some today. That two dollars is enough to last me a couple of weeks, versus spending three dollars per day, resulting in thirty dollars in two weeks!

No more going to the salon to get my hair dyed. I actually have been doing it myself lately, and I intend to keep doing that. Spending $100 every two to three months on my hair is insane. Even little things like buying shaving gel and facial wipes is unnecessary. I can use the shower scrub I have for those things.

It will be important for everyone to cut back, and maybe less people will be going out to eat every day, spending money on clothes they don't need, etc. It's time for Americans to re-evaluate what's really important.

posted by Sindie 11:31 AM

Monday, August 29, 2005

I feel like I owe my friends an apology. Too often lately I feel I have taken friendships for granted, taken things the wrong way, and not been true to myself or to others. While it's not always easy to confront people with my thoughts and feelings, I realize that open communication is vital and important if the friendship is to stay alive.

Let me just say that I am truly blessed to have the friendships that I do and the ones I've had in the past that, for whatever reason, may not exist now. I see something worthwhile in everyone, and Lord knows we all have our faults and that no one is perfect, especially me. I guess the best we can do is try and be there for each other as much as possible.

What doesn't break us, makes us stronger.

posted by Sindie 5:35 PM

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

A couple of weeks ago, I went to urgent care and saw a doctor about the white patch that was in my mouth, located on the soft palate, right in front of my right tonsil. The doctor prescribed 10 days of ammoxicillin, thinking that it was just a bacteria infection that would clear up. It didn't. I've been off the antibiotics for five days now, and the spot still looks the same. It hasn't changed.

So, I saw a general practicioner today about it. She said it didn't look like it was anything bacterial. She thought it was a discoloration due to a pigmentation change in the skin, like a mole on the epidermal skin. Just to take the right precautions, though, she referred me to a specialist (ENT: ear, nose, throat/mouth doctor), who I'll be seeing in three weeks. In the meantime, I'm left wondering just what the hell is wrong with me.

I feel fine despite the presence of the white patch, but it's a little scratchy from time to time. I was reading up online about possibilities, and the most likely one is something called leukoplakia, which is simply described as white patches anywhere in the mouth, but the thing is, it usually occurs in older men, which I most definitely am not. It also said that one of the causes for leukoplakia can be the EBV (Epstein-Barr virus). The fact that I had mono in 1997 (caused by EBV) and hepatitis last year (also possibly caused by EBV), I'm wondering if that's what this is. Once someone gets EBV, it never leaves the body.

I'm wondering if I somehow caused the irritation by having aggressively rubbed my tongue on the roof of my mouth during alleries three weeks ago, thus upsetting the flora of my mouth and causing the infection. The worst case scenario, of course, is oral cancer, which I hope to God I don't have. It doesn't hurt, and it hasn't changed in size or color. It's not bleeding, nor have I had any trouble eating, chewing, swollening, talking, or breathing. Plus, I'm young and a non-smoker, so chances of it being oral cancer are almost zero... but you never know.

I'm just worried (rightfully so, I'd say). When I talked to people at work about it, I try to keep calm and cool, but inside, a part of me tends to think the worst. I get to thinking, "What if I die from this? Then what would you all say? Would you feel guilty for telling me it's nothing or no big deal or not being more concerned about me?"

I'm sorry - I know I must sound crazy, but something isn't right with me. I sometimes wonder why I had to get mono and hepatitis when I'm generally a healthy person. Geez, I'm young, I take good care of myself - I'm not supposed to be getting strange illnesses!!

posted by Sindie 1:44 PM

Monday, March 14, 2005

Fleeting Life

My mom told me yesterday that the doctor called (who my dad had seen earlier in the week for a check up), but wouldn't give the results from his bloodwork over the phone. My dad has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He's been overweight for the past several years and doesn't exercise or watch what he eats. He's going to be 61 in May. Needless to say, I'm worried about him.

I guess he's supposed to call his doctor today and find out what the results were from his bloodwork. I hope to God it's nothing serious. His own father died at 72 (from colon cancer, though), and that's only 11 years older than my dad is now!

I worry about aging... It's still so unbelievable to think that my parents are quickly moving into being the "old generation" and not the "middle generation." I'm no longer in the "young" generation. I was so used to being considered a part of the "young generation" my whole life, and then, suddenly, in the blink of an eye, I'm in my mid-twenties (certainly not old, I know, but not exactly so young, either... at least not relatively speaking), and I'm left wondering where the time has gone...It has been nearly 10 years since both of my grandmas died. I still remember it like it was yesterday. On March 22, 1995, my parental grandmother died, and my maternal grandmother went into the hospital. My father and brother headed down to Kentucky for the funeral, while my mother and I stayed here to be with her mother. I wasn't really that close to my grandma from Kentucky, but the poor woman had been suffering from cancer from over a year. It spread to all her vital organs... Meanwhile, my maternal grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer. In Sept. 1994, she had had a sarcoma removed from her leg. Some of the cancerous cells wound up getting into her bloodstream and planted themselves into her lungs. On April 8, only two weeks later, she died.

I now wonder just how many more years until my parents die. It's not something I like to ponder, but it does cross my mind quite often. Working in a hospital, I see disease and death all around me, even if it's not face-to-face. I work in cancer research, hoping that one day all the hard work we put into the research will pay off, and finally there might be a cure for this monster called cancer.

All this makes me realize just how precious life really is... and how fleeting. Sometimes I think we all get too wrapped up in the day-to-day activities and the monotony of going to work, paying the bills, cleaning the house, doing this duty, doing that obligation... and then sometimes we sadly wind up neglecting those things and those individuals in our lives who truly matter. For everyone I love, please know that I do love you, even though I may not say it much or show it often enough...

posted by Sindie 12:00 PM

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Being sick makes me appreciate being healthy a lot more. Isn't that how life is, though? Something has to be taken away from us for us to appreciate it... truly. I have spent the past five days nursing a very bad cold. It has not been fun, to say the very least. I spent the weekend resting and didn't go out of the house. I wound up leaving work early yesterday. I'm doing well enough today, but it's still not 100%. In the course of these days, I've eaten very little. Last I weighed myself two days ago, I had lost about 7 lbs. And I am underweight to begin with. At 5 ft., 9 in. and 128 lbs, I may be getting at a point where that's unhealthy. Of course in high school I weighed about 10 lbs less, but I was very, very skinny back then.

posted by Sindie 12:25 PM