Quick Ukiah Visit

Greetings! So we just got back from our weekend in Humboldt, and man! Do I have some stories to tell! I'm going to have to start with a short one though because I'm on the verge of getting a cold, and I really need to get to bed soon. (Sleep is my best medicine).

On Sunday night we headed to Ukiah late afternoon to spend the night with The Steinbucks. Adam and Rebekkah made us a GREAT stir fry with a peanut sauce. It was SO good. I really love stir fries and try to make them often, but his was so much better than anyone I've ever made.

We just hung out for the night and I helped Re clean out her closet... well sort of. She had already done most of the work. I just helped her with the things she was on the fence with. I did make out with a super cute pair of shoes and some Old Navy sweaters.

We also went through two huge garbage bags full of baby clothes that she was going to donate. I took all her unisex items for Stephanie, and all of her pink items for Marijke (my hairdresser who just had a girl). Some of the stuff is SO cute and never worn. I can't wait to give it all to them.

Here is Syd at breakfast the next morning lookin' super cute! I love her long hair.

After breakfast I gave her a small belated birthday gift which included some chap stick. Here she is in action.

After that we took a walk around their property since it was such a nice day. Here is Syd showing us how she uses her hoe.

Before we leave we always have to get the following shots. I'm hoping to upload all the photos we have of each other over the last 2 years to see how much Syd has grown. Hopefully I will do that soon!

Here is Syd and John with her friend Cobra.

Easter, Pups, & Family

Hey all! I am here! Sorry for the lack of posts! I've been busy with a few freelance projects this week, which means it takes away from my bloggin time. I know... it's so sad... but can I really afford to turn away a few bucks? No way José!

We had a mellow Easter weekend which was nice. Molly came up from LA to drop of her dogs for two months, as she is currently working on a movie called Forgetting Sarah Marshall in Hawaii. As you can see it's still in the early stages as most characters have yet to be casted.

Having Bonnie and Clyde here has been quite an adjustment. I am just very thankful that John has had pet dogs before... unlike me who has NEVER had a pet dog. The first day was VERY tough. Everything was new to us and to the pups. Day 2 went WAY better, and now I'm happy to say that day 3 has gone just as well. It seems that Bonnie and Clyde have not had much training and don't really know who the alpha dogs are. John has already been working his magic and they actually stay when told. We worked a little bit on sitting tonight too. Clyde definitely picked it up quicker than Bonnie, but I think it was because he wanted the treat.

We also watched our first episode of The Dog Whisper ASAP as we became instant dog owners. Let me tell you that Cesar Milan is AMAZING! I totally love that show! I'm making John tape all the episodes. We did learn a few tricks from him which work, however I'm even more excited to try them on my parents dogs. Namely Pearl who totally runs wild. (Don't be alarmed parents... everything I learned is from Cesar and he is an experto!)

We do have to decide by Thursday if we are going to keep the dogs for the two months or take them w/ us up to Humboldt to John's parents. I'm ok either way, but I"m leaving the decision up to John since they are his sister's pups (and since he's doing the majority of the work).

over and died!!!!! John thought that since the bag was tied that it So far there have not been any major mishaps, and the dog are really well behaved for the most part. However John left me a nasty treat when I came home tonight. I opened the garbage to throw away our junk mail, only to be GASSED out by a doggie bag in the trash!!! I about keeled wouldn't stink!! I was so nauseous after smelling that!! However I can't be too hard on the dude, because who says I wouldn't have done it myself?

I'm sure I will have more dog tales soon, but I need to wrap this up, as I'm getting tired!

The weekend of our birthday party we headed over to Bakersfield on Sunday night. There we met up with a bunch of John's family to celebrate the March birthdays. The photo below is of the older kids.

John's mom Allison, Aunt Phyllis, Uncle John, Gramp's wife Mary, Gramp, and Auntie Jane (another fellow groundhog).

Here are the grand kids:

Molly, John, Mary, Gramp, Phyllis' kids Scott and Lindsay, and Jane's daughter Val.

These were not all the grand kids, but the ones who were able to make it. I hope we get to have more family get togethers, as life is not getting any shorter!

Side of Fries Please...

Today I met up with the ear, throat, and neck specialist… and as I predicted, he wants me to get a biopsy! I swear! What do we need doctors for? The reasons I need to get a biopsy is because of the size (of the nodule) and that it’s solid. I guess they do the biopsy w/ an ultra sound to make sure they get the needle in the correct spot. Pretty cool eh? He said it shouldn’t hurt much more than giving blood…unless they have to move the needle around to get it in the right spot. I think I may need to take one of John’s Valiums that he got for his teeth! He also said that normally he doesn’t recommend his patients to get the radioactive test until after the biopsy, so he didn’t even care to see those results. He was really nice and friendly. Probably one of the best doctors I’ve met and I was only there for about 15 minutes.

He said the results can be inconclusive, show cancer or not show cancer. Then he said that he has seen biopsy results state one thing and then be wrong. He also said there were many options to take if the results come back inconclusive, so I asked them what they were. He said you can get another biopsy, or just watch it by getting ultra sound check ups every 9 months (to make sure it’s not growing.) But that was all he told me since we weren’t at that stage yet. I could care less if we weren't at that stage yet… my eager brain was just waiting to soak up new info!

I think he expected me to be more worried, but I told him that I’m not since I don’t have any symptoms. He also said that thyroid and skin cancers are the two most desirable cancers to have. I told him how my doctor said he’s never lost a thyroid patient and he said that’s the same for him… knock on wood… then he knocked on the door! Then his assistant Gay came to the door and asked if he needed anything and he said “Yes I’d like a cheese burger, fries, and a new thyroid for the lady.” Gay replied, “Right away doctor." And the doctor said, “Thank you Mrs. Focker.”

My Lovely Lady Lump

A few weeks ago I went to the doctor and he noticed a nice big lump on my thyroid. He asked me what it was, and I was like 'uhhhh isn't that your job?' He then asked me if I had any of the following symptoms, which would mean I had an overactive thyroid… tiredness, weight loss, increased heart rate, heat intolerance, sweating, irritability, anxiety, muscle weakness, etc. I told him no, but that I was very interested in the weight loss side affect.

He then asked me if I had any of the symptoms of an under active thyroid… fatigue, weakness, lethargy, weight gain, depression, memory problems, constipation, dry skin, intolerance to cold, coarse and thinning hair, brittle nails, or a yellowish tint to the skin. I told him ‘No’ once again.

He told me to get some blood tests and then come back a few days later. He never told me anything reassuring, like 'oh it's probably nothing,' or 'don't worry about it,' so of course I worried! Well the worrying stopped once I did some research on webmd.com. That site is the best! I had never found the exact information I was looking for so quickly!

Since I don’t have any symptoms I self diagnosed myself with a thyroid nodule.

Sorry this photo is blurry, but the only way to get a photo of it was to take it w/o the flash.

Here is an image of a thyroid in case you were wondering.

The site stated that you can get various tests done to make sure it wasn’t cancerous. It also said that 5% of nodules are cancerous. The one positive thing my doctor did tell me was that thyroid cancer is rare in people my age, and that he’s never had a thyroid cancer patient die! Well that is good news! I could careless if I had cancer as long as I don’t die! (Does that sound like I’m being sarcastic? Because I’m not).

I was SO scared to get my blood drawn! I had never done it before, and w/ a few bad experiences w/ IVs I was not looking forward to it. The nurse was really nice and after she was done I felt like such a wuss! It was nothing and it didn’t even hurt!

So I headed back to the Dr. a few days later. He said that all my thyroid levels are normal (duh) and that I have low cholesterol! That was a total highlight! I have known I needed to get it tested, but I was scared of getting my blood drawn…now I need to get John to check his. You know now going over the 30 hill we need to be conscious of these things!

Next he suggested that I get an ultrasound, to find out if the nodule is solid or liquid. Result = solid. However the technician was not able to tell me what that means, since she wasn’t a doctor. I knew I still had more tests to come, so I didn’t worry. I was very interested in seeing the images from the ultrasound, and the technician was nice enough to print out a photo for me! It’s now proudly hanging on our fridge!

Below is the image. I have been kind enough to label the important areas so you know what you are looking at. (I’m sure my parents are so proud they put me through school for graphic design. I mean this totally shows off my skills!)

Here is the image w/o the labeling.

So after the ultrasound I was scheduled to get a radioactive iodine uptake test to evaluate the thyroid function.

I had to first go in and take a radioactive pill, (which I could not touch, but yet it’s safe enough to digest), and then go back in the afternoon to get photos taken. The technician explained to me that the thyroid takes in the radiation (Iodine) a which allows it to appear when the machine takes photos of it. Thanks to webmd.com I learned that w/ this test they are looking to see if the nodule is hot or cold. Hot means that they thyroid is working and there is normal activity. Cold means there is less activity, which isn’t ideal.

After the photos were taken, I asked to see them, and let me tell you that the ultrasound photos were way more interesting! See below:

This looks like a blurred UFO photo from the National Enquirer! I wonder if I could submit it for a little extra cashola!

Since the technician could tell I wasn’t that impressed he also showed me a scan of a normal thyroid. That helped me see that the nodule was not taking in the iodine 100%, which means it’s cold. (Self-diagnosis of course since the technician was not allowed to tell me anything).

When will I find out what all this means you ask? Well on Thursday afternoon I have another appointment to see a throat, ear and nose specialist. FINALLY! I think because the nodule is cold they will probably do a biopsy. We will see though. I have no symptoms though so I’m not worried.

John thought I should wait to write about this until I see the specialist, but regardless of what he tells me, I wasn’t not going to write about it! I mean it’s my lovely lady lump!

Plant Life

So I don't have a ton of time to write right now, as I must go watch the Amazing Race. However I didn't want to leave you hangin' on this Monday morning! Our weekend wasn't too eventful, so I have decided to just post a few photos for you.
this photo is of some flowers that recently bloomed. I received a bunch of bulbs from Rebekkah's baby shower 2 years ago and they are still going strong! We originally planted them in the mini yard we had at our condo, but then had to dig them up and replant them when we moved. Another orange one just bloomed and another one looks close.

I am sad to report that our succulents in our terrariums were not doing well. We had about 3 die, I think due to lack of sunlight. When we first went to the nursery they didn't have the type of plants we were looking for, but decided to get succulents instead. I'm so sad that they are no longer indoor plants...however I do hope they make it outside!

The survivors

Can you tell they were just planted?

One more set!

As some of you know, at my work there’s a contest going at my work, for those who want to lose weight. It was created after Christmas time where we all ate like pigs and felt like lardos. The contest covers a 9 month span and who ever loses the most fat/gains the most muscle will win a $300 shopping spree! Talk about a great motivation! Each month a trainer from a local gym comes and measures our fat. After my first measurement in February I was told the following: Starting Body Fat %: 30.4% Recommended Bodyfat %: 26% February came and went and I really didn’t change anything in my workout routine. With the death of my grandma and getting sick I really wasn’t motivated to mix it up. I decided to get measured anyway, (despite the fact that there wouldn’t be a change); so that way at the end I would have all 9 measurements. In March, my second measurement was as follows:

Body Fat % Muscle Mass Fat Mass 2/9/07 30.4 113.9 49.7 3/2/07 26.2 118.8 42.2 Difference -4.2 +4.9 -7.5

WHAT THE HECK? I already reached my goal of 26% body fat in one month by not doing anything different? This was too good to be true! And it was… I contacted the trainer and asked her to double-check her measurements because there was no way I lost 7 lbs of fat and gained 5 of muscle. She double checked and sent me the following data:

Body Fat % Muscle Mass Fat Mass 2/9/07 30.4 113.4 49.5 3/2/07 29.7 113.1 47.8 Difference -.7 -.3 -1.7

Oh this looks much more practical (even though I was hoping that she didn’t mess up). Wouldn’t that have been sweet to lose weight just by thinking about it? In my dreams right? Well I am very curious to see what the measurements will be for this next month. This past month John and I have been working out to Billy Blank’s (Tae-bo dude) Basic Training. Let me tell you that it is totally kicking our butts! If I don’t see a change it is going to make it harder and harder for me to deal w/ Billy at 6am! Or worse his side kick Shelley, who has no body fat, and thinks the workout is the best thing since sliced bread!** I’ve also been walking during my lunch breaks w/ my co-worker Jen, who is also in the competition. I’m really not planning on seeing any physical changes until 2-3 months, but I’m hoping the measurements will show that I’ve been doing something different! Even though I have a very good record for winning contests at my job, don’t be surprised if I don’t win this one… I have the feeling that the sweets are not aligned in my favor. **Note: After viewing the video for the past 4 weeks there are some facial expressions and comments that drive John and I crazy… or make us laugh. Like when we do squats and the short lady squats lower and it looks like she’s a little kid. Or when Billy goes over to Shelly to use her as an example of how to do these abs twists. She instantly starts doing the move 5 times faster since she knows she’s on camera and wants to impress. Let me tell you that before we figured out what she did it totally threw us off! Or when she does her stomach crunches with the look on her face that says “I have the best abs in the universe and you all can eat it.” However I should cut her some slack since she does have a 6 pack **Note: I also found out that Maggie actually takes classes at Billy’s Gym and has taken classes from Shelly! I couldn’t believe that one! I mean I guess it makes sense, but I was totally impressed!

Margars and Paparazzi

Two weekends ago John and I celebrated our 30^th birthdays together! It definitely made the first hill much easier to go over.

On Friday night John’s college friend Scotty came down from S.F. We got to go to one of our favorite restaurants in town Novo. Right when we went out onto the patio John Spots James Cromwell. Most of you may know him from Babe, Six Feet Under or 24. (You know John made me put that in). San Luis had also been hosting their film festival for the past week and he was the honorary actor for this year. (Last year it was Morgan Freeman).

It was so funny though, because at first John could not remember his name! First he just started listing everything he was in… then he called him something ‘Cromwell.’ So then I said ‘George’ being that Six Feet Under was the last thing I saw him in! It wasn’t until later John remembered it was James. I was kind of bummed I didn’t have my camera. I would have been tempted to bug him for a photo if I had it. But do you know he now has a pony tail?? EWWWW!! Maybe it was best I didn’t have my camera!

The next morning John, Scotty, Dave, and one of John’s co-workers went and played golf. They showed up around noon and then we all headed downtown to go to Firestone. Was there any question? Not when John’s college buddies are in town. They are OBESSED with that place! When they came down last year we went there both Saturday AND Sunday! Ok… I should cut them a little slack, because I’m sure I would want to go there if I moved away. Nory, Jessie and Molly all met up with us there so they could get their fix too. (Well Molly was a newbie, but she soon understood the frenzy).

After that we came back to the house and John made some mojitos that were supposed to be for the evening… however I think they were all gone by the time we went to dinner! I guess the party did start a bit early since there were already party peeps there.

Next we headed to John and mines favorite Mexican restaurant, Vallartas, for dinner. It was so good! John was so excited because he was finally able to order the 60 oz. margarita! There was some fierce competition going on as Scotty and Dave both got one too.

Here is John showing off his and Scotty's... does Scotty look a little intimidated?

About a half hour into the party I started to get a bit worried as my surprise for John had not arrived! (No it wasn’t a stripper.) Then low and behold he showed!

John’s reaction

I had coordinated w/ John’s good friend John Farnham (who lives in NYC and was the best man in our wedding) to come to the party!!! I was SO excited! John was just stunned. He couldn’t believe that Farn was here!! What was great is that I managed not to tell ANYONE he was coming (which totally killed me), so the other peeps that knew him were shocked too! Molly was so excited she could barely sit in her chair! I was just amazed that he was able to fit it in his schedule, because a few days before he was in Hong Kong! It really worked out perfectly though.

Part way through the dinner Molly got a hold of my camera and gave a whole new meaning of the word paparazzi! She was a total wild woman and we were all seeing flashes everywhere! She then got inspired to sneak up behind all the women and get cleavage shots! I think I was able to block the first few, but then she got me. Don’t worry ladies, those shots will not make it into the ofoto album, but I may have to send the photos to you in an email. Some of you will be impressed at how good your cleavage can look!

Here are some of my favorite paparazzi shots:

Jen, Sam and I.
I'm not sure what is going on in this photo, but it looks like it was funny!

Stephanie and Farn

Two crazy people

Here is Hans giving Molly a shot of his cleavage! As you can tell Steph is more than trilled!

After dinner we headed back to the casa where I prepared the chocolate fondue fountain and Hans was nice enough to make us his awesome lemon drops!

Ellie, Steph and Sherrie diggin' in!

If the fountain wasn’t enough, we even had a cake! It was courtesy of my the company I work for. (It was part of the birthday package I won at our holiday party). It looked great, but tasted 10 times better than it looked! Can you believe it? Unfortunately some peeps left before we cut it, sorry suckas! But it actually worked out better that way because John and I ate it everyday for the following week! It was SO good… although every time I ate it I felt a little sick. It was either that or the huge amounts of left over food from Vallartas that my stomach was fighting with. This past week was a total detox!

At one point all of the dudes disappeared to the backyard to smoke two stogies. John and Scotty bought them the night before, but got a little distracted by Hustle and Flow, (you know it’s hard out here for a pimp…) , and didn't get to smoke them.

The paparazzi was at it again and got a few priceless shots:

We also got some really nice gifts. The paparazzi’s back up, Amy, got some sweet shots as well.

Here we are with our gifts from Molly. I am examining my new cute scrapbook supplies while John can already taste the curry he’s going to make w/ the new sauces.

Another good photo is of me opening my gift from Sarah. She got me a t-shirt from this one blog that we both read, Dooce. (She’s one of the original bloggers that got fired for what she wrote on her blog). It just totally cracked me up because it was something that I would like, but would never buy for myself!

We just hung out for the rest of the night and soon we were hitting the hay. We had an awesome breakfast the next morning (thanks to Molly). She brought up a ton of Noah’s bagels AND Krispie Kreme doughnuts! Heavvvvvvvvvvven! After we ate and did a quick clean up most people headed back home, but at 1:30 John and I headed to Bakersfield. Why you ask? Well stay tuned… that entry is in the future.

Overall, it was definitely one of my best birthdays, and I’m sure John would say the same. I must give a huge THANKS to everyone for coming and especially for those who traveled to SLO. It was really special to have everyone there. I just finished touching up the photos last night, so hopefully I will get them uploaded soon. There are some really funny ones! Stay tuned…