me to a T - Tracey Odachowski

Today it is Michelob’s Pumpkin Spice Ale. I had to try one. And my review???

…

…

…

…

…it tastes like beer. Nothing special. But I’m not a big beer fan anyway. Chris likes it, and he is picky, so it must be good.

Yep - that’s right. It took me an entire week to write the thoughTs from last week. But I’m doing it now!!!

Last week’s challenge - Outside My Window

When I look outside the windows of our home, it usually isn’t very inspiring. Grass, fences, other houses, a few trees that weren’t knocked over during Isabel, the street. A far cry from where I grew up. What will my children think when they look? Do they get inspired by the things that are so different from what I looked at as a child? Will they get scared just as I did?

Growing up in my little blue and pink room, I had one window. I remember that it always made me mad that TJ had two windows AND a bigger closet. I’m the girl - I wanted the bigger closet! Of course, here we are, 29 and 32, and he still has a bigger closet than me - and WAY more clothes. But that’s beside the point. I had my little window, with light pink priscilla curtains. And when I looked out that window, all I saw was the abundant trees behind our house. So thick. So fun to go hiking through. They were great as long as the sun was up.

But when night fell, I would lie in bed and look out that same window. And the trees that were so fun during the day did strange things at night. They became animals, monsters, fairies, anything. Fairies were rare though. Usually those darn tree animals just scared me. I distinctly remember my heart racing on several occasions. I also remember arguing with myself in my head, knowing they were just trees, but seeing something far worse than that. And the sounds of all of the real animals outside didn’t help my head convince my heart any.

When I go home, I still sleep in that room, with the same window. The priscilla curtains are gone, and they have been replaced with a green blind. I can’t see the trees any more. In fact, I prefer the darkness that the blinds provide. It’s safer that way.

That’s what I saw as a kid. Do my children see scary things, too? Is that why I always keep the shades closed in their rooms at night???

Ahh, my pumpkin stash is growing (almost as fast as I’m making it dwindle. ) My latest additions that have already mysteriously disappeared (I’m not the only culprit in the family!): Pumpkin Bread from Amanda that was FAB, pumpkin roll (pumpkin bread w/ cream cheese) and pumpkin cake from the pumpkin patch. Not to mention the great granola that Karen sent - thanks!!! Latest additions that are still around: Pumpkin Butter from the patch, and Pumpkin Spice coffee from Kerry that is DIVINE! What a wonderful surprise on my doorstep this afternoon!

And, of course, there are the pumpkins that we picked up on Gabe’s class field trip yesterday that went from this:

to THIS:

Need a close up???

Hehe - are they so stinkin cute??? Those were the templates that Gabe decided he wanted - a boy for him and a girl for Emily. I’m not complaining - at least it isn’t those awful TRIANGLES that he wanted at first. UGH! Total lack of creativity there! So, my doorstep is officially glowing for the next two weeks.

…NIGN!!!! BENIGN!! BENIGN!!! I proved them right! No cancer! So we just check it via xray every 6 months and hope it stays that way. Yippeee!

And here’s what I wrote for it yesterday (10/11)while waiting during my Bone Scan…

They told me that it probably isn’t cancer. The edges are clean, not jagged. It is contained within the marrow, near the proximal edge of my femur. A little achy, but nothing to write home about. They told me it should be fine.

Yet, here I sit in the hospital library alone. Radiation in my veins. I have one more hour to wait until I find out whether what They Told Me is true. What will the scan show?

I’ve been pretty optimistic since I found out in August. I relied on what they told me. But, admittedly, this morning has been hard. I’ve stared at white, brown, and black linoleum, carpet, cobblestone, and grass until I finally realized that, all morning, I’ve been staring at the ground. Which means my head was down. Not very optimisitic.

Twice I picked my head up and I noticed to very different things.

The first time was just after I left nuclear medicine. In the hallway, I decided to look up and saw the sign for oncology. Of all departments I had to see, did it have to be that one? So, my head dropped right back down, and for the first time since August, a tear came to my eye.

By the time I raised my head again, I had made it outside. I walked across wet grass and sat on a cobblestone wall next to the bay. When I looked up I saw my dark footprints in the grass. I laughed. I had walked one really crooked line to get to that wall. So typical me. I’ve never been one to go the easy, straight path. Both physically and psychologically, I don’t think my legs could take me on a straight path if they tried.

So, I sat there, my footprints in front of me, snapping pictures. And thinking to myself that I need to be optimistic again. That I may not take the easy way, but all of the curves in my life still get me to the exact place that I’m intended.

They told me it doesn’t look cancerous. And with one hour left, I’m determined to prove them RIGHT.

Do you see it? Huh? It’s a good picture of me? Really? That never happens! Better keep this one around for a while. By the way - the handwritten font above is the elusive CK Odie font. hehe

Hope you like the new banner.

Oh!!! And a HUGE congratulations goes out to Liz and Randy - they welcomed their first daughter, Miriam, into the world Friday morning. I’m so excited for you! Can’t wait to meet her!

I’m taking my challenge. What I was thinking on the way home from the physical therapist today, in order of how I thought it:

-Is that his foot on the dash?
-When will this construction end?
-Better slow down - cop.
-I love Jack Johnson. Is this song on my CD?
-Look at that traffic. When will VDOT finish?
-{music} La Da Da Da DA DA{music}
-Good. Cop is turning. Maybe everyone will drive normal now.
-That Darn Alexix - she has me thinking about using my turn signal!
-I wonder when dad will get here tonihgt.
-Gotta clean.
-Gotta go to the PO
-Hmm - this new Santana song is pretty cool!
-How many Starbucks do we HAVE within 2 miles?…5!
-7-11s? - 3!
-Dave Matthews Crash - reminds me of giving birth to Gabe.
-Gotta get Gabe’s prescriptions today.
-Maybe I’ll come back to Target while Chris and Em are sleeping.
-Why are gas prices so varied at different stations? 2.91…2.99…3.09 Doesn’t make any sense.
-The rain isn’t making the van any cleaner.
-I miss singing. Gotta find some karaoke.
-I’m sad that I’m too old and (according to Simon), too fat for American Idol.
-The leaves are starting to change.
-So glad we sent Gabe to private school.
-We need to treat the fence.
-Will we move again someday.
-We need to paint the trim.
-Turn off the wipers and lights.
-I could kill Chris for making caffeinated coffee this morning and not telling me. Grr.

Isn’t it crazy how much your mind can wander in 10 miles?

Another quickie post, but this was just too darn funny not to document:

Gabe: Hey Daddy, guess what??

Daddy: What?

Gabe: Today I went to TARBUCKS and got a cookie!

Hmmm - he’s more right than he knows!!!

Well, I’ll go ahead and post my personal challenge, and hopefully, one day this week, I’ll remember to write down what I was thinking…

OOPS! I forgot to post the weekly thoughTs last week! So, since I already made it into a page, I’ll post the page now: