Botox: Part II

Well, my last post about this mentioned that I had a consultation with a cosmetic dentist to get more information and assess my condition.

Long story short...I ended up doing it that appointment. I've had a few people ask about my experience, as they have headache issues as well, so I'm more than happy to divulge my encounter and the effects.

Here's how it went down.
I met with the dentist and we just talked for a while about the history of my headaches, what I've tried in the past, etc. This was really important to me. Any doctor that reads my reason for being there on the chart and immediately prescribes medication...I tend to steer away from. Anyway, after we talked, he felt around my jaws, head, neck and shoulders...pulling, pushing, stretching. It wasn't comfortable by any means, but again, he was doing a thorough assessment of my condition. After all of that, he explained that he suggested doing injections in my jaw muscles, temporal muscles, and neck muscles. It was really was up to me as to what I wanted to spend and/or felt comfortable doing. He also recommended that I start getting massages regularly. I'm still trying to figure out a way to get insurance to pay for that ; )

I'm fairly "scientific method"-minded, so I went ahead and had him inject Botox into my jaw muscles alone. Reason being, if TMJ is really the primary source of my headaches, then this should take care of it. If not, I need to look at something else.

He mixed the solution and used a very tiny needle and injected the solution into two places on both sides. Quite painless.


Effects.
It takes about 2-5 days for the medicine to "engage", and it's been a little over a week now for me. I suppose I thought it would feel numb, but it's not numb, I just can't activate that very back part of the jaw muscle...you know, the part that sticks out when you clench your jaws really hard? I did notice that both sides are not even, as my right side will stick out a little when I clench, but I still can't clench with the amount of pressure that I could prior...and no, you can't see a difference unless I really bite down...and I don't go around gritting my teeth.

As for my headaches, I've had a few small ones, but they seem to go away quite quickly or with just a couple of Tylenol.

Like I mentioned earlier, one of my goals was to isolate the clenching habit as a factor so that I could observe other behaviors, habits, etc. that might contribute to my headaches. The worst headache I've had the last week, I realized that I was dehydrated. As soon as I was able to re-hydrate...it got better. I have also been concentrating on my posture (which I completely suck at) and how much sugar and caffeine I'm consuming. I've been doing better on the caffeine...not so well on the sugar. It's Christmas for crying out loud!!

Another odd habit I've noticed...is holding my breath. I know that sounds weird, and it is weird. I ran up the stairst in our house the other night and I noticed that I felt pressure in my head...then I realized that I had held my breath as I ran up the stairs. I'm pretty sure your brain needs more oxygen, not less. I should probably take up yoga and get into that breathing thing.

Anyhow, this is my experience thus far. I can't speak to migraines or other types of headaches as they're all so different depending on the person, but if nothing else, it's made me more aware of other factors. I wish it were an isolated cause and this were a cure-all, but I'm nearly certain it's not. But, if it can give me a little relief and allow me to suffer a little less, then I'm all for it!*



*Side note, I'm not a weenie and my headaches aren't just a nussaince. Okay, sometimes they are just a nussaince, but there are more times than not that they inhibit my ability to be productive at work, be nice(r) to my husband, and enjoy life in general. In other words, if I could get away with them just being annoying, I would. This is an extreme step for me and it should be for anyone. Feel free to take my account into consideration, and I welcome anyone to ask questions, but please do your own homework before deciding to have this procedure.

Weekend Update

So, I mentioned in my last post some things I wanted to do over the weekend. Some I accomplished...some I did not. It was a good weekend either way.

Friday, we had our company Christmas luncheon, which I enjoyed much more as a luncheon rather than a more formal dinner. It was much more relaxed and fun. Afterwards, I ran around and did a little Christmas shopping, but not much...traffic was absurd! That afternoon, Kyle called me to ask if we had plans for that evening that he was unaware of {good boy} and said he'd been invited to go to a hockey game. So we went! I'm not that huge of a hockey fan because, well, I don't understand most of it. But like baseball, it's a lot more fun to watch in person than on TV. The best part, was that I got to know some of Kyle's co-workers and their wives. Very cool people. It was nice to hang out with like-minded people socialize for a bit. I forgot how much I missed that kind of stuff. This is a bad picture, but it's the only one I took.

Saturday, I began doing some holiday baking. I made fruit cakes, marshmallows, ginger snap cookies, and red velvet whoopie pies. The only thing I had made before were the ginger snap cookies...the rest were total experiments. The thing about me and cooking/baking is that I'm pretty good at it...but I make HUGE messes. I ran the dishwasher no less than five times over the weekend. As you can see from the picture below, our rent house doesn't have a lot of counter space...so I used every surface available, even bar stools. 

I'm not going to use this whole post to write out the recipes I used and such, but I've linked each goodie to it's respective recipe above. The only one I really changed up was the ginger snap cookie recipe. I liked Alton Brown's recipe in terms of spice mixture and such, but he used metric measurements for everything...and I'm just not a metric kind of gal. So, I used the spice mix from Alton's recipe, and the recipe for the actual cookie from the link above the picture. I was also pretty impressed with myself that I made the marshmallows without a candy thermometer. They aren't perfect, but pretty darn good for not having something to gauge it by.

The other thing I learned is that in Houston, you don't necessarily need to store baked goods in an airtight container for them to retain moisture. The air is so humid already, my ginger snaps were softer the next day. No worse for the wear, though. I just don't know if I'll ever be able to make merigues.

There wasn't enough football on TV to keep Kyle entertained, so he went shopping/people watching. My other sidekick did this. I guess he thinks he's a cat.

Every now and then during the night, he'll growl and bark in his sleep, but this was a first during the day. He did it long enough that I was able to catch it on video.

So, earlier I said something about making fruitcake...I'm sure some of you went blecgh! This one is a little different than those green candied cherry things (cherries are not supposed to be green!). It's a recipe I found on Alton Brown's website...so I thought I'd give it a try. It starts with soaking six different kinds of dried fruit in rum overnight. Not a bad way to start a cake, right?! The next day you cook the rum-soaked fruit in sugar and apple juice until it's almost caramel-y. Then you mix in the flour and eggs, pour, and bake. Here's the interesting thing, and what makes it super yummy. After the cake has cooled, you wrap it in cheese cloth and spritz or baste it in brandy...for TWO WEEKS.

I started this a little late, so my cakes won't get the full two-weeks of brandy basting in, but I'm sure they'll still be good. I couldn't find a normal spray bottle for the brandy, so I bought a little travel sized hair spray bottle. I'm so innovative.

So, after all of that taste-testing...I'm surprised I'm not diabetic. It was a lot of sugar, but it was well worth it. I packed most of it up this morning and brought it to my co-workers as a Christmas treat. 

Not So Merry Christmas

I love Christmas time.

I enjoy the Fall leading up to Thanksgiving evening when Christmas lights start coming on. I love all of the holiday themed desserts and drinks that become available. I love seeing the decorations pop up around the city/town. It makes me happy to hear Christmas music being played...well, pretty much everywhere. I love how churches really focus on the meaning of Christmas...how God loved us so much that He sent Jesus.

This Christmas, however, isn't quite as "merry" as some in years past.

Although Kyle and I love Houston and are really enjoying exploring the city...the fact remains that we're still newbies, and haven't really formed a lot of friendships outside of work. So, we won't be going to any Christmas parties (work doesn't count...so awkward) or friends' houses just to hang out and drink hot chocolate. No Christmas shopping with my Mom or friends. And, let's face it...it's 75 degrees. It doesn't even feel like Christmas.

I never put a lot of stock in Christmas cards, but this year, the people that have actually taken the time to get our new address and send us a card...it means a lot. (It also says something about our landlord who is getting still getting Christmas cards at our rent house...they haven't lived in that house in four years.) By the way, that's not meant to be a guilt trip...just how I feel.

To top it all off, my family won't all be together this year. I should mention that very few of our Christmas's were ever "normal". Our family is somewhat scattered, so Christmas was a little different every year growing up, but it was always fun. This year, our family is, um, going through some reconstruction. I'm not blaming anyone or pointing fingers...it's just the reality of the situation, and this is part of it. But as a really good friend just reminded me...we may not all be together, but all of the love is still there and I have a lot to be thankful for. I needed to hear that...because she's right.

I did take another friend's advice, though. We were talking about the doldrums of being in limbo moving/living-wise, and she told me to make sure and decorate for the holidays. It helps give you a sense of normalcy. So I did. I didn't get everything out simply because I either don't know where it is, or I can't get to it, but I decorated a small tree, put out our stockings...that sort of thing. It helps a little.

I think I'm going to make Kyle go with me this weekend to go drive around looking at Christmas lights, and perhaps attempt navigating a mall. I'm also going to do some holiday baking this coming weekend. I love to bake and make things for people, so that's what I'm going to do. Plus, the folks at work will eat almost anything...whether it's good or not. The thought of being in our new house this time next year also helps keep my mood afloat. I can't wait to decorate it for Christmas...inside and out. And having double convection ovens to make Christmas treats with...it makes me giddy!

For this year, though...I'm going to (figuratively) tuck Kyle under one arm and Gus, my dog, under the other and trudge through like I know how.

The Root of It

I can't quite recall what the whole conversation was about, but over the weekend (a while back) Kyle and my Dad were discussing someone and one of them commented..."well maybe she dyes her hair brown" (I'm guessing they saw a brunette Erin Andrews look-a-like on ESPN)...and I quipped back. "NO ONE dyes their hair brown". They laughed. And then I remembered...except me.


It's true though. You see a lot of girls/women who have either blond hair or highlights...I'd guess 98% of it is unnatural. I don't know too many natural platinum blonds that have decided to go chestnut for the Fall...do you?


I, on the other hand, don't dye mine by choice. Sure, over the years I've had highlights from really blond to crazy rocker red...but my base hair color has always been brown...okay, since the age of 5 it has been brown. (I was a blondie as a wee one) When I was 21, I was in the process of getting my hair highlighted when my stylist gasped. I immediately thought she had used the wrong color or something. But no...she parted my hair and pulled up a singular hair from my scalp and said "Sara! What is this?!". I looked really closely...gray. I had a gray hair. I said, "well, that's what I'm here for...cover that puppy up!". So I've been coloring it religiously ever since.


Come to find out, my Mother started "graying" in her early twenties...so I guess it's genetic.


Good thing my husband doesn't need to go to a stylist for his haircuts...I need all of the salon budget I can get! As you can see from the pic below, it is more than time to go again. No, those aren't just two-day old, greasy hairs you see...those are silver. No longer gray...but silver. Shiny, gleaming, silver.

I have an appointment this evening to get my color done. I can't lie, I'm nervous. I went to the same amazing gal in Tulsa for four years. I don't really like the thought of someone else touching my hair...but it must be done. Surely they can't screw up brown hair dye...can they?!

Weekend Update

So, I thought it was interesting timing that after my little post on Botox that I woke up with a migraine on Thursday morning. That four-day tension headache finally manifested into the feeling of an ice pick going through my left eye, and that was after being woken up at 2:30 a.m. with nausea. Fun times. 

I spoke with a friend in medical school and she just kept telling me...GO GET A MASSAGE! I didn't have time this weekend, but I will try to work that in this coming week...I know she's right. In the meantime, I do have an appointment for a consultation with a cosmetic dentist who treats TMJ with Botox. I'm not committing to anything yet, but I want to have all of the information before I make a decision either way.

So this weekend, my Dad came down for a visit. We enjoy just hanging out and drinking large sums of coffee, but being new to a city that offers so much, I want to take advantage of every opportunity to go do and see things. I had heard a lot about Houston's museums, so I checked out what exhibits were going on. I found that The Houston Museum of Natural Science has an exhibit about the Civil War. With my Dad being from Mississippi, I thought he would find it interesting too...so we went!

All three of us enjoyed the exhibit, as it focused a lot less on the battles and chronological things that most history books covered, and more on the human side of the war. At one point, a black gentleman and I were both reading a section about why women couldn't serve in the Army, and why black men who served wouldn't be issued a firearm. My how far we've come. The exhibit had a lot of artifacts, but the most incredible was the original 13th Amendment with Abraham Lincoln's signature. For a week in March, they are going to have the original Emancipation Proclamation. What an opportunity to see documents that had such a distinct impact on our nation. I can't wait to go back and take my Mother and brother-in-law...they're both Jr. High history teachers; they'll love it!

Trivia: Did you know that the Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. was once the site of the Freedman Village (housing for liberated slaves), and was also once known as Arlington Estate...owned by Robert E. Lee? I highly doubt any of that was coincidence. 

The other highlight of my weekend was my dessert at dinner Saturday night. Normally when I go to a nice restaurant, I order the creme brulee...I don't know why, I just do. This time, however, something jumped out at me off of the menu...Rocky Road Bread Pudding. I'm a huge bread pudding fan, but typically if they skew too far away from the traditional New Orleans variety, I steer clear. But this one had me curious...and I was not disappointed. They brought me a huge piece of custardy bread pudding with semi-sweet chocolate chunks sprinkled throughout out, a caramel sauce with walnuts drizzled on top, and topped with a piece of homemade marshmallow the size of the bread pudding portion. It was freakin' amazing. The best part...I couldn't eat it all and I got to take it home ; )

So that was my weekend, nurtured mind and happy stomach. 

Botulism...

NO, I'm not talking about getting food from the dented can bin. I'm talking about Botox.

I'm seriously considering getting it, and I'd love to have some input...personal experiences and/or medical knowledge.

I'm not trying to erase the two lines in between my eyebrows that form when I get intense...I'm just trying to make my head quit hurting! I have had tension/cluster headaches off and on since I was 17. Mostly on. I've gone through allergy treatments, chiropractic adjustments, muscle relaxers, bite guards, quit chewing/biting into foods that are hard or extra chewy, etc. We've pretty much narrowed it down to the fact that I clench the ever-loving heck out of my back teeth when I'm stressed and in my sleep, a.k.a - TMJ. I seriously think I could go toe-to-toe with a German Sheppard in a game of tug-o-war. So, I wake up with my jaws hurting and my temples throbbing, and if it's bad enough, it migrates down the back of my head, neck and shoulders. 

Most of the time, a few (four) Advil do the trick, but there are some days that require a heating pad (relax muscles), Lortab, and sleep to alleviate my pain. So, I've started looking into alternatives, for several reasons. One, is that I'm just sick of all of the medicine (it can't be good for my liver and kidneys) and having to remember to take my bite guard everywhere. The second part is sort of preemptive. Not today, not tomorrow, but at some point in time, I would like to have kids. The problem is, they have to incubate for a while...inside of me...the one taking all of the pain meds. I hear there's a chance that could screw a baby up. So, before I have to give up my pain meds and the majority of my caffeine intake, I need to find a way to fix this. Otherwise, my boss might fire me and Kyle, well, he wouldn't divorce me, but he'd probably move upstairs and I wouldn't see him 'til it was time to go to the hospital...where they're going to give me pain meds.

I've read several articles, medical and otherwise, and watched a segment on the daytime show "Doctors" where they explained using Botox for TMJ. Basically, the Botox is injected into the jaw muscles, preventing them from engaging like it normally would. You can still chew and such, you just can't bite down with the same degree of pressure as before. The cosmetic surgeon said that a lot of his patients only need 3-4 treatments (each treatment lasts about 3 months) because their body got out of the habit of clenching...it kind of retrained itself. This is what I'm hoping for. Plus, another result I didn't think about, is that the jaw muscle atrophies a little and shrinks a bit. People like me have built up such strong jaw muscles that the jaw structure is kind of overly defined.

The only drawback I can see right now is the fact that insurance doesn't pay for TMJ related diagnostic tests or treatments. (That's fine, they can continue to pay for my medicine, doctor's appointments, and my crowns after I crack my teeth) So, guess I'll be asking for people to donate to my Botox fund for my birthday. Being headache free might just be the best birthday present I could ask for!

Playing Catch Up

So, I did the Thankful thing in November...and although it provided a little insight, the project kind of took away from blogging about everyday life. Here's a little catch-up.

Kyle and I are liking Houston a lot more than we thought we ever would. In reality, I think in the past we just wanted to hate it so we'd never move, but now that we've made the move...I'm glad we were wrong. Yes, the traffic sucks. Big time. But it's just something you get used to and learn to work around.

The area we moved to, and are building a house in, is one of the fastest growing in America, so new things are going up every month. It's exciting to see everything going in.

Work is going well for us both. I've started working on more of the finance side of operations (versus engineering), which I really like. I have yet to figure out if I'm really smart enough to be doing this kind of work, or if I just have them all fooled. I guess we'll find out next year when we see if our projections were correct or not. Kyle has once again found his groove and is starting to make waves of his own. This is his third time starting over in a new sales territory. Each time he has been a nervous, worried wreck, but he always comes out on top. He constantly impresses me by succeeding where others have had difficulty.

It's funny, when we talk about our jobs, we laugh about the fact that if we ever had to switch (hypothetically), we'd want to die. I am not enough of a "people-person" to do his job, and he can't sit still long enough to do mine. I have to say, though, that I am jealous of his job in one respect. What he gets to eat. In OK, he had a lot of BBQ restaurants and mom & pop places, which were great, but nothing special. In the territory he has now...he comes home telling me about this $80 sushi roll he got to try at lunch, made from scratch gumbo, brick oven pizza, wagyu beef, and so on... He still tells me that he likes my cooking though. (smart man)

We went a couple of weekends ago and finished picking out all of the materials and such for the house we're building. They're estimating that it will start around Christmas and be finished in late April. I'm so excited! I will say that having the house to look forward to is making renting a lot less...um, undesirable. The house we're renting isn't bad, but it definitely needs some work. The thing that irritates me the most, and it just seems to come with renting, is that the dishwasher is terrible! We can't fill it very full, and then there is still film on everything. It's gross, but I just keep telling myself...five more months.

I finally put up some Christmas decorations last night. I didn't get out the big Christmas tree. One, I'm not sure it would fit, Two, it was at the back, bottom of our storage pile...and it just wasn't worth it to me. So, I pulled out my little four-foot topiary tree meant for the front porch, and put ornaments on it and draped some leftover tulle around the bottom for a tree skirt. Doesn't look bad if I say so myself!

I've gone into Starbucks a couple of times lately and observed students with their books and binders and laptop spread out on a table. I get nauseous and feel a wave of anxiety flood my body. I had a dream not long ago that a classmate was reminding me to ask our professor about a question our group had. I woke up sweaty. I'm not 100% sure how I got through all of that, but I did. I'm happy I did it. But man am I glad to be finished!!

I've been meaning to get the new iPhone, just haven't done it yet. Then last night, I managed to drop my 3-year old iPhone in my baked potato soup...guess I'll be heading to the Apple store on my lunch break.

And last but not least, my Alma Mater won the Big XII (actually eleven) championship on Saturday night. It was a fantastic win and a wonderful way to end the regular season. I was sad to see Sunday night that we didn't get the bid to the national championship game, but I'd rather win against Stanford than lose to LSU. It's not that I don't have faith in my team, I just know how good LSU is, and with Les Miles as the coach, it would just be salt in the wound if we lost. Go Pokes!

Midweek Randoms

So, as the title suggests, these are all random things that actually happen...or happen in my head.

- I see the promos for the movie War Horse and it looks incredible. Beautiful horse, great story, incredible theatrics, etc. The thing is, however, that I refuse to watch movies about animals...even most animated ones. I have an incredible soft-spot for animals. (Well, I should say most mammals, actually. I don't give a flip about snakes or most reptiles in general) Anyway, I just know that there's going to be some climactic part of the movie that will bring me to tears, and I hate crying. For an example, I watched the Lion King for the first time in sixth grade at church camp...I bawled like a baby. So, as amazing as the movie trailers look, that's a movie I won't be going to see.

- [Vent Warning] I see things on Pinterest (a.k.a.-crack for women) and FB about "Live with no regrets, they're only lessons learned"...or something along those lines. I have an issue with that. That statement is what we tell ourselves to make us feel better about something that wasn't the right thing to do. Why do we need to feel better? Truth of it is, most of us know the lesson before we do something wrong...which is why it's called regret! It's not a bad feeling to have, it just means we have a moral compass...and it doesn't mean you have to live with the feeling either. Ask for forgiveness and move on. We all make mistakes.

- I wish my husband liked coffee. What's wrong with him?

- I watched the Victoria Secret Fashion Show last night. Every year I'm amazed at the themes and garments they create...what an incredible team that must be! Of course, you can't look at the models without going...dang it, why did I eat that last Oreo?! Something to keep in mind: the camera angle is from the base of the runway making the girls look eight inches taller than they actually are; some have airbrushed tans; most of them are genetically gifted but they also work their a%$es off (literally) and eat really strictly; their thighs jiggle too. : )

- I like problem solving, especially in spreadsheet form. What happened to me? This is the girl who, at one time, wanted to be a zookeeper because I didn't want to be stuck in an office. I suppose running queries in SAP beats scooping elephant poop.

That's all.
Happy Wednesday!

Thankful...28

I'm thankful for our modern conveniences...electricity, indoor plumbing, wi-fi. 


We could life without it, but it is so much easier with.

Thankful...27

I'm thankful for memories.


It would be sad if I couldn't remember how something felt, smelled, looked, sounded, tasted. Sometimes memories can make the present a little sad, but it's still a part of who I am...so I'm thankful for the wonderful and the haunting. 

Thankful...26

I'm thankful for the backspace/delete  button. 


My husband has decided to edit my open blog posts and speak about his large man-parts. 


I suppose I'm also thankful that he's not technologically savvy enough to figure out how to open posts and edit them. 

Thankful...25

I know I spoke about grocery stores in Houston, but in spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for food.

We live in a country where we have access to all types of food. And refrigeration and freezers help us do even more. Even people on the tightest budget have access to food. We're extremely fortunate to have what a lot of others on earth do not.

I like trying different types of food and using new products, so I seem to pick up something new every time I go. Sometimes it's successful, sometimes not. 

Being closer to the south, I like that there's a big section of Cajun and creole food. I'm normally not a mix person, but I know my limits. With this jambalaya mix, it's just the rice and the seasonings...I'll still add fresh tomatoes, onion, green bell pepper, shrimp and pork sausage. 

I came across this jar of Biscoff Spread and new instantly I'd like it. I love the Biscoff cookies I get on planes. They have a caramel, hazelnut flavor to me and they're sweet but not overly sweet...and this spread is like a peanut-butter consistency made from the cookies themselves. It's a great alternative for people like Kyle who are allergic to peanuts. I ate some tonight with an apple for dessert. Delicious!

Thankful...23

I'm thankful for my company's IT department. They get me out of a lot of jams when I do stupid stuff. I'm sure they laugh at me and play rock/paper/scissors to see who has to handle my ordeal, but I appreciate them none the less.

Thankful...22

I'm thankful to be in the city we're in. There are a lot of other major metropolitan areas that we could work, and not that Houston is a beautiful oasis, but it's a really neat city.

The grocery stores carry really good, fresh produce and seafood; two of my favorites. Speaking of grocery stores...Houston has a Central Market and soon to get a Trader Joe's. Both make me rather happy. I've found that most people that have been here a while don't want to drive that far to go to things like that, but I haven't been disenchanted yet.

I like how much of a melting pot this city is. It has Texas flavor and all, but there are so many people of different ethnicities and nationalities. Which brings me back to grocery stores...there are a ton of ethnic grocery stores, and I think they're all fascinating. I've learned that people who live here are either from here, or they move here for work. (No one moves to Houston 'cause they think it sounds fun.) Both backgrounds make for very interesting stories. 

I appreciate that the city has a lot to offer entertainment-wise. Some of the best museums in the U.S., huge zoo, professional ball teams, music galore...not to mention that we're not far away from Galveston, San Antonia, New Orleans, etc.

I always said I would never move to Houston...but now that I'm here, I'm glad we did!

Thankful...21

Today was one of those days that wasn't bad, but it wasn't necessarily good. Just kind of blah.


But that doesn't mean I'm not thankful for it, though. I'm thankful for every day I get. Every day is a new start, a chance to try again. 

Thankful...20

I'm thankful for books; really any type of writing.

I, admitedly, don't read a whole lot, but I do enjoy it. I appreciate writers who can transport me to an unimagined place and time, writers who can teach me about something I'm unfamiliar with, and writers that can help me gain a new perspective.

Thankful...19

I'll explain a little more in a later post...but I'm thankful for my dis-proportionally small feet. For my height, and genes (my grandmother wears size 11 narrow), I should wear and 9 1/2+ shoe, but instead I wear a 7 1/2 - 8. I'm usually able to find shoes I like in my size, and my spaghetti-like limbs don't look as, well, spaghetti-like as they would if I had to wear bigger shoes.


I do, however, blame my smaller feet for my lack of coordination. Call it a cop-out if you must, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

The Plight of a Tall Woman

I get comments from time to time about my height. At this point in my life, most people see it as attractive or an asset, but that hasn't always been the case. 

I never considered myself as cute or attractive growing up...I was too nerdy and awkward. As I got taller, though, I realized that I was going to stick out whether I liked it or not. I could either embrace it and learn how to carry myself with grace, or I could continue to be awkward and just tack on a side of gangly. 

What inspired this post is that I ran across a Pinterest pin from "tall girl problems" on tumblr. Most of the posts on the site are humorous and make light of the idiosyncrasies that only tall girls would understand. It was fun. It was like I found an underground club of my people. (I just flashed back to Whitney Houston getting off of the plane in Israel yelling "my land! my people!" referring to herself as being Jewish). Sorry. ... What made me sad, though, were the posts from teenage girls that really disliked themselves because of their height. I wish I could e-mail each and every one of them to tell them how to embrace it. Maybe I will.

These are some topics that always have had, and always will have, an affect on my (and other tall girls) life. Never thought about them, did you?

Bath tubs:

Something is always out of the water...legs, knees, upper body. Something is always left out in the cold. In the house we're building, it comes with a "big" tub, but to be honest, I'm really not sure that it's big enough. 

Clothes:

This one is obvious. I can rarely, if ever, go into a normal store and buy a pair of pants off of the shelf. And of course extra long lengths ordered from the internet usually cost a bit more. And shirts never come with extra long sleeves. I have to buy men's pajama bottoms. Those long, elegant clothes the models wear...they never show up on a rack anywhere! Oh, and you can't fully dry much of anything

Transportation:

Every train, bus and coach seating on an airplane assumes everyone is 5' 5".

Heels:

I never thought it was odd for me to wear tall heels (I mean, I'm already taller than everyone else...what's 4 more inches?) until I was browsing through some shoes at a department store one day, and the clerk saw me picking up several shoes. He said, "oh, are you looking at the heel height because your self-conscious about being tall?". I said, "no, I was looking to see how over-priced your shoes are". 

Group pictures:

Always in the back...but always with the boys. I took the good with the bad ; )

5’ 2” friends:

Why are all of my friends below average height? I figured out in high school that I had poor posture because I was always slouching over to talk to my midget friends. 

"Do you play basketball/volleyball?":

The automatic question. Technically, yes, I played basketball in fifth grade...does that count? The thing is, you have to have coordination to play sports and that was a skill I was just not blessed with. I joked that I was going to get a t-shirt made that said "No, I don't play basketball. Yes, this is my natural eye color."

Growing pains:

I always thought my legs hurt at night because of riding horses so much...turns out they were actually growing pains. I still get them from time to time.

Umbrella holding:

The chosen one for umbrella holding. Plus side, I stay completely dry when everyone else has some part get damp.

Obvious/obnoxious comments:

People just say things they shouldn't. I know they mean it in jest, but seriously. I can brush a lot of things off of my shoulder, but there are a lot of girls that can't.

Having to limbo to rinse my hair in shower:

Most shower heads hit me smack in the middle of the back of my head, so I have to do this limbo move to wet my hair. This was most evident at the old dorms at OSU where the shower heads were set for women in the 60's who didn't wash their hair every day...they hit me between my shoulder blades. My quads got pretty strong that year. 

Office chairs:

None of them fit me. Ever. I've deduced that they're all made for short, overweight men. 

Reaching:

I can reach the untouched produce at the back/top of the bins at the grocery store. I don't have to ask for help to reach things at all, unless I'm wearing a short skirt ; )

Exercising:

I can't lift the same amount of weight as a shorter female. Think about it...the arc of my bicep curl is much larger than a shorter woman's, so it takes more effort on my part to lift the same weight. Squats...my butt has a lot further distance to reach the same target (like a bench or weight ball) than that of someone shorter. Bogus, I tell you!

Asian countries:

I got asked to take pictures with people a lot in China...especially at the World's Fair. I think a lot of the fair go-ers were people from rural areas that had never seen a tall, white girl with blue eyes. I'd like to hear (the translated version) of them going through their vacation photos with friends and family members. I think it would go something like, "oh, this mutant American girl"

Men:

Why do really tall men always end up with tiny women?? Seriously, things are tough as it is and you petites take the only thing that can make us feel small and feminine?! My husband is taller than me flat footed, but I still didn't get to wear the shoes I wanted to for my wedding because I would have been significantly taller. 

So, the next time you see a tall teenage girl that you can tell feels a little un-pretty or doesn't quite fit into her group of friends...pay her a complement, tell her to hold her back up straight and smile. Tall is pretty too.

Thankful...18

I'm thankful for my job. At a time when so many people have lost theirs or are stuck in a place they don't want to be, I feel very fortunate. I enjoy the work I do, I'm taken care of (salary, insurance, etc...), and I've been given a lot of opportunities to learn where I might not have at other companies.

Thanful...17

As I'm going through my insurance enrollment for my employer, I'm actually really thankful for my good health. Sure, I've had a few weird things happen...defunct gall bladder, bad knees even though I didn't really play sports, TMJ induced headaches, etc... But I rarely ever get sick, I've never had a life-threatening illness or injury, and I'm not really allergic to anything.

Yes, I know I'm totally jinxing myself. Guess I better up my life insurance while I'm at it.

Thankful...16

Today, I'm thankful for music.

Pandora gets me through most work days, and various stations on the radio (yes, I still listen to the radio) provide background noise for my American Idol wannabe vocals. It's not pretty, but keeps me sane...and awake.

Today is an Incubus and Weezer kind of day.

In case you were needing a new song in your head...
"Some day somebody's gonna make you wanna turn around and say goodbye-ye..." -Wilson Phillips

You're welcome.

Thankful...15

Grace: mercy; clemency; pardon

I have an e-mail subscription to Max Lucado's daily inspirations, and today's, in particular, made me think a little more than some.*

I'm thankful for all of the grace I am afforded. From my boss when I screw up a report, from friends when I say or do something out of line, and from the people on the tollway that let me in instead of passing me. But none of these come close to comparing to the grace given to me by God.

As I've gotten older, my thoughts, perceptions and understanding about my faith has evolved...as I think it probably should. And as a natural problem solver, I've always put grace into this category of "to tackle later", because I couldn't wrap my head around it and it quite honestly frustrated the heck out of me. So, I just decided to accept it as fact and work on the "whats" and "hows" at a later date.

I guess today is the later date.

God extends grace to us, and really only asks us to accept it. Why is it so hard, sometimes, to just accept something? Perhaps, it's just that we live in a world where everything is earned...whether by wealth, talent, status, or hard work...we (I) feel the need to justify everything. I can't justify grace. I can't earn it. I've done nothing to deserve it. God bestowed favor on me so that I could have eternal life simply because I accept it from Him. There's not an ... x+y=z ...type formula. There are no "whats" and "hows". It just is.

I suppose what I've learned through this isn't necessarily what grace is, but what God is. He's that adoptive parent (in the article I referenced above) that says, you're going to screw up, you're going to have ups and downs, and yes, I'm going to get frustrated with you...but I love you regardless. Just keep coming back to me, and one day, I'll bring you home.

* "I know a lot of people have different views than I, but that is fine, and I hope you have enough decency to give me what I give you, respect about my beliefs. " - (my friend, Sacha)

Grrr...

I haven't written a lot about it yet, but I absolutely love working in the kitchen. That's actually the part I'm most excited about in our house that we're building. The counter space, the storage, the big sink...and best of all DOUBLE OVENS!

I like to think that I'm pretty adept when it comes to kitchen utensils and gadgets. I love knife work...chopping and slicing away. Some people knit, I disect fruits and veggies. I'm like a crack fiend in William Sonoma...I know I'd hardly ever use a lot of it, but wouldn't it be fun to have!


Because a regular knife just won't do!

 But there has always been one tool that has been my nemesis...the grater.

  

It never fails, I always end up shredding part of a knuckle or the tip of a finger off, at which point I mumble expletives under my breath. Give me the sharpest chef's knife, a potato peeler, or even a mandolin and I'm fine. But that blasted grater gets me every time!

Last night I was grating some orange zest for the cranberry relish I made for our Thanksgiving potluck at work. I hope they appreciate the pain I went through. (I also hope part of my thumb didn't end up in the relish)



I have to say, I'm appreciatve of the low quality
picture my iPhone took...my hands look smooth
and hydrated, and my nails don't look like the
bent, cracked mess that they are!



Thankful...24

I'm thankful for the crafty, artsy, and creative and the people who interpret and develop it. It's not that I don't like crafty things, or just don't have a knack for it...I just quite simply don't make the time for it.

(My husband has banned me from using the phrase "I don't have time"...and he's right, that's not an excuse. We all have the same amount of time, it's just that we choose differently what we do with it.)

So, I'm very happy to call my friends who are photographers, professional or those who should be. I have a couple of gals that are pretty stinkin' good with knitting needles...I've put in a request. I have a cousin and mother-in-law that are excellent artists...hello Pottery Barn recreation! But that's just the start...there are bakers and cooks, ladies that can re-create things out of a magazine (or should I say, Pinterest), and not to mention the fashionistas that help me put outfits together.

Thankful...13 & 14

This is a two-in-one "thankful"...you'll see why in a bit.

I'm thankful for the opportunities that have been given to me, and my husband. It never fails that about the time I'm to the end of my rope or see a door closing, I turn around and a mammoth garage door is standing wide open. I think God understands my thick-headedness and knows a standard door will not suffice. Ever since I finished college, it seems like these stepping stones have just appeared in front of me, guiding me along a wonderful path. Don't get me wrong, there have definitely been some trying and stressful times, but the stepping stone has always been big enough to hold me and whatever else comes along.

Our latest stepping stone has been in the from of housing. Housing you say? Yes, housing. We decided to rent for our first six months in Houston to get a feel for the city and what our job demands would be. We realized, though, that because of some other circumstances, we would have a very short time frame in which to buy a house. This is hopefully the house that we will be in for a long time and some day have children in, so it was important to both of us to find the right house. Hoping that right house would be available when we were was a scarry thought.

Fast forward a little bit...and we're building a house! We found out we could build what we wanted in the time frame we're looking at, and know that the end result will be the house we want. No compromises, no remodeling. I know, we're crazy, but it really seems like the right thing to do. That and, it's a long story, but working with this particular builder, it won't be that awful. It's a builder in a large planned community, so I'm limited as to the options which is good and bad. Bad in that I can't go pick the exact carpet I want, but good in that I don't have to look at 3,000 carpet samples and be torn between 5 that all look exactly the same. If everything goes right, they'll break ground right before Christmas!

This leads me to my #14 thankful...Pinterest. Although I am limited as to some of the material options and such, I can still influence the over all look of the house. If any of you follow me on Pinterest, you've probably noticed the abundance of house related things I've been pinning. Luckily for us (and our budget), the house and the higher end upgrades lend themself to a more mediterranean and/or French Country look...which is not really my style. So, yea me...I like the cheaper stuff for a change!! But Pinterest has really helped me see from a broad perspective the direction I'm drawn to and visualize how things might look. According to Sproost (take the quiz and see what you are!) I'm mostly French Eclectic, a little Traditional Country, and a little Rustic Revival (not to be confused with French Country...totally not the same). Tufted, velvet sofa with a cow-hide rug? Don't mind if I do.

On that note, if anyone has any tips or definite do's and don'ts...I'm totally open! I am more than willing to learn where others went right and wrong.

Thankful...12

(my weekend "thankfuls" will always be late...because I'm enjoying me weekend)

I'm thankful for the ability travel. We have so many means of transporation that we are afforded the ability to go and see and do things we might no otherwise have. It also gives me a sense of freedom. I like the feeling of discovery when I come across something I've never seen or done before. I can go see my family and feel warm and cozy, or go to a big city (or different country) and relish in the anonymity. My only problem is...I want to see it all.

Thankful...11

I'm thankful for the Asian ladies that make my eyebrows and nails look good. I've learned that the details do matter, and these ladies know how to remedy any disaster I seem to cook up. Over plucked? "I fix that. In two months you have bootiful eyebrow." Used my hands as tools (pop-tab puller, screwdriver, heat tester, toothpick)? "Lady, what you do? Pick dawk culuh...shellac."

So to these ladies...thank you for helping me to appear as if I were a lady too.

Thankful...9 & 10

I know, I'm a slacker.

First, I'm thankful for the men and women who serve in our military. No, I don't always agree with the circumstances under which they serve, but that's not their decision. They made the decision to serve and protect our country in whatever manner they are asked. Our country is not perfect, but we enjoy a lot of freedoms that others do not because of the work and selflessness of these men and women.

............................

Second, and on a bit of a lighter note, I'm thankful for laughter. Life and people can get too serious sometimes, and what I need is a little humor to bring me back to reality. So, at work when I need a little laugh...I hate to say it, but I'm semi-addicted to http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ and http://damnyouautocorrect.com/. Now, you might be saying, but that's awful to laugh at other people. Well, my take on it is...if I were 300 lbs. and wore hoochie shorts and a bikini top to the grocery store...I would be looking for attention. And honestly, gluing 300 nativity scenes on your car screams "look at me". The other site can get a little vulgar, but it's still pretty hilarious.

Thankful...8

I originally had something else planned for today, but then during the middle of lunch, a massive rain storm moved in and it reminded me how thankful I am for nature. For a place that is so terribly humid, Houston has been very dry (to which my hair says "thank you"). I don't understand it, I don't make the rules, I just know I'm appreciative of the much needed rain.

Now, to those I left back in Oklahoma, this gratitude probably doesn't resonate so well. And after Snowmageddon, tornado season, the Mojave desert that moved in for a couple of months and now three earthquakes with a tornado warning thrown in the middle...I completely understand your desire to swat the back of my head...but just hear me out.



(This isn't my parent's pond...but it's the closest Google had to offer)

 Growing up, when I needed time and space to myself, I would always go down to the bank of our pond...usually with a couple of dogs and cats in tow. It was usually quiet and peaceful. I'd watch the water ripple and the animals and insects stir. It gave a me a place to be still myself. What I usually came away with was the gentle reminder that it's not all about me...regardless of what I would like to think. I am an integral part of it all, but it doesn't revolve around me. In that same way, the thunderstorms don't care that I just washed my car, and the earthquakes aren't concerned with the foundation of my house...it's just nature doing what it needs to do. Unless, of course, you believe the end of times are closer than they appear...then yeah, you should probably be freaking out a little (or excited to go to heaven...which ever category you fall into). 

All that said, I still don't get why we need mosquitos. Bats have other things they can eat. Maybe the makers of Benadryl cream make a huge donation to mission funds or something...who knows. Hopefully I'll find out one day.

Thankful...7

Today is an obvious one...I'm thankful for my family.

Of course I'm thankful for my immediate family. I grew up in a typical household...mom and dad, two kids (me and the older brother), and a dog (okay 2-3 dogs, 4 cats, 5 horses, a herd of cattle, a few pigs, a rabbit, and a goat...oh, and a few ducks in my bathtub for an afternoon). I wasn't kidding about the country thing.

As I've grown, though, I've learned that my family consists of much more than just those with whom I share blood. I have several people that could easily be surrogate parents if need be. I have friends and co-workers that are like brothers and sisters. The past few years we were in Tulsa, I had the privelege of being part of an awesome group at church that became one of the biggest supports in my life. I would not have come through the other side of school and some other difficult times as well as I did without them. And then of course I married into a spectacular family that welcomed me immediately as if I had been with them all along.

Although most of us are born into a pre-set family, I've come to embrace and thank the good Lord that we get to add to that family...or even create our own from scratch if need be. As we go through life and come across different experiences, people seem to arrive on our path for a reason...and for that, I am thankful.

Thankful...6

Today is Sunday, the Sabbath...the day of rest. 

I'm so thankful for a day of rest. I know most of us have so much going on in our lives that we view the weekend as days just to catch up on things we couldn't get done during the week...or perhaps get ahead for the upcoming week. But God used six days to create the universe...and then he took a day just to chill out. What makes us think we don't need to do the same? 

Believe me, I do it all the time. I put off doing my laundry or tackling a particular project because I know I have Saturday and/or Sunday to do them. But I have found that the Sundays I go to church and then just do very little the rest of the day...the better Monday I have. I guess it's a total mind, body, and soul recharging. 


And then there are days like today, when I wake up with a headache that feels like the right quarter of my head is going to melt off, and I can sit here with my coffee and Advil and not have to worry about going anywhere or doing anything. I even get to watch church on my laptop. (Nod to my thankfulness of technology)

I think Gus is thankful for his day of rest too. 

Thankful...5

Now, I love my husband, but I'm very thankful for my "me time" when he's gone...like this weekend. I can eat whatever and whenever I want (not that he dictates what I eat, there are just things I like that he doesn't), I can watch whatever I want on TV (so basically anything on Bravo!) and I can do whatever I want because my schedule doesn't revolve around college and pro football (although I am currently watching the OSU vs. K-State game). And probably the most important of all...I get the whole bed to myself! These stringy arms and legs are free to roam without any obstruction...it's fabulous!

Thankful...4

Technology

I had planned on doing a post about how much I appreciate technology, but of course as soon as I do, it bites me in the rear. I sat down at my laptop and after resetting the modem because of some other issues, AT&T wants me to re-register to use their services...and of course all of my account info is in a folder at my office.

[this is where I'd insert the pic from Office Space of the three friends beating the crap out of the fax machine]

However, I still have my iPhone, so I'm thankful for that.

Thankful...1,2, and 3

So, I've had a few friends start 30-day "thankful" facebook statuses or blog posts telling about things they're thankful for for the month of November. I do think it is kind of cheesy, but really, with all of the crap going on in the world, it's nice to hear what people appreciate and respect.

I'm a few days behind, so I'm going to do a 3 in 1. (Numerical order has no bearing on rank of thankfullness)

1. My Husband

There are lots of great qualities about Kyle, but all in all, he's just the perfect partner for me. He puts me, his family, and God first in his life. He likes to go shopping and can tell me what does and does not go together, although, sometimes we disagree and I wear what I want anyway ; )  He's overly analytical about everything, which takes the pressure off of me to figure everything out. He constantly makes me laugh...sometimes the timing is not always appropriate, but I know I have tendency to be too serious, so he helps me let go.



2. My Dog

I had a separate post started about my/our dog, but this is just as appropriate. We got Gus the week before Thanksgiving last year. He has since been a constant source of love, laughter, and joy. Side note: he's a lot more energetic and expressive than these photos show...it's just so hard to capture him "in the moment".



I got this elephant for him to snuggle
with since he was used to having his
litter-mates...he still has it and still
snuggles with it.



3. Coffee

I know, this sounds lame, but to those of you who are coffee-lovers like me...you get me. It's both livening and relaxing at the same time. I like that it's served in the morning with breakfast, afternoon with pie, and in the evenings with dessert. It can be a necessity (2 a.m. cram session) or a treat (Pumpkin Spice Latte!!!!). I like that it encourages intimate gatherings...family in the kitchen, friends at a cafe, or co-workers in the break room. All in all, it's a great little beverage that makes me a happier gal.