Looking over some of my past entries, I realized that I am definitely not skilled with the “short and sweet.”

Anyway. My appointment with the podiatrist went well yesterday. If you couldn’t tell by my title, I learned some new words yesterday. I was nervous because people told me I’d either love him or hate him. Thankfully, he’s really cool. My primary physician sent my X-rays over last week in preparation of this appointment, so the podiatrist didn’t need to do any. Final diagnosis: very small stress fracture, severe plantar fasciitis, and heel spur syndrome. I don’t need to have the bone scan unless the treatment plan he gave me doesn’t work. I thought for sure he’d give me one of those walking cast things, but apparently I don’t need it because the bone is healing itself and the site is too small for a cast to do anything. So the plan is, do the stretches they gave me three times a day, get a better pair of shoes for work, keep taking the ketoprofen and don’t do any heavy walking for about a month. Which means that John is going to have to walk Leo on his own for a while. Which in turn means I will have a very hyper and unhappy dog on my hands because John is lazy. Several trips a week to the dog park will help, as long as the heat isn’t too bad and there are actually people there. Leo will get his exercise and I don’t have to walk too much. He’ll get his exercise one or another, even if I have to hire a dog walker for a while.

So my vacation starts this Friday, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready for some time off. We head up to Dublin for the Irish Festival next Friday for a weekend of beer, food, music, beer, more food and did I mention beer? Heh. I was concerned because Coffman Park is huge and we do alot of walking on that trip every year, but there are tons of places to sit so I’ll just have to take it easy. I’m also going to try to get as many pictures as possible, because I’m seriously lacking in photographic memories and I’d like to start using my scrapbooking supplies. Can’t do that without pictures, though! Well it’s almost 10am and I should be cleaning and doing some other stuff before work. Happy Wednesday! 

You’ll have to pardon my inability to focus on one topic tonight… my foot is really bothering me today and I’m kind of spaced out on painkillers and anti-inflammatories that are not supposed to make you loopy. Uh huh. Right. *edited* I decided that since I went on and on about these two things, I’d cut it off there and save the other stuff for another entry. Like tomorrow, when I’m not about to pass out from the pain.

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OK, so despite my usual “we can’t afford it” speech, John talked me into seeing the midnight showing of The Dark Knight on Friday. Oh, how I loved this movie. I’m not a huge Batman fan, although I did like the first two. Clooney was okay, but don’t even get me started on Val Kilmer. Anyway. We went, I loved it, and I would actually pay to see it again. I thought it was fabulous and I can’t stop talking about it. I really haven’t been this hyped up over a movie in a long, long time. And Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker? Amazing. Anyway, while checking my email and news online today, and I saw a headline about how parents will be upset because Dark Knight is too dark. I read the story, followed a link to another, then another, etc. By the time I was done, I learned that some people are actually trying to get groups together because it’s too dark and inappropriate for kids and Oh My God, The Movies are going to hell in a handbasket and *gasp* everybody boycott The Movies!

What the hell? Seriously, you couldn’t tell by the previews alone that this movie was probably not for young children? It’s not a straight take of the comic book, with the pow! and bam! and all that. It’s dark, complex, layered. Dude, it’s Christian Bale in a tight black suit. Wait, that’s not where I was going with that. 

So this got me thinking about how people are up in arms over everything these days. It’s like, if there’s not something to bitch about, we just can’t be happy. You know those people, right? The ones you stay away from, because Hello, Debbie Downer. I feel that we, as a society, are becoming that way. Back to this specific instance, though… just use some common sense. You saw the previews on tv (and if not, have you been living under a rock in the bat cave?). There are plenty of other movies out that you can take your kid to see. I don’t think it’s necessary to boycott (seriously?!) a freaking movie because you don’t feel that you can take your 10 year old to see it. Am I out of line on this? I mean, I know I don’t have a kid, but good God. Do we really have to make a deal out of everything?

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Touching on the notion that we need something to bitch about to be happy, but first the good part…

Extreme Makeover - Home Edition. If you didn’t know, last week the show came to Ohio after choosing a family from West Chester, which is about ten minutes south of here. A good friend that I work with is friends of that family and had the inside scoop all week, so it was really neat to get updates on what was going on behind the scenes. If you watch EMHE, you know how it goes… the family is nominated by family members and friends to have their story chosen. They surprise them, send them on a vacation and build them a new home in 7 days (actually, I learned that they really only have FOUR days to build. It adds up to 7 with the filming and multiple takes, travelling, etc.) The story is really touching - as they all are and I admit I cry just about every week - and I wish I could’ve volunteered but I had to work the days that my company was scheduled to be there. I also had to work the day of the reveal so I couldn’t go to that. I can’t wait to see it this Fall! (special section on our local news site & Akers Angels, the family that was chosen)

OK, so what’s the bad part? With just about the nastiest tone ever, I’ve heard several people saying things like “well good for them, but I could use a new house too”. Or “those lucky bastards”. Or my personal favorite… “what makes them any more deserving than anyone else?”.

Woah. Why can’t anyone just be happy for someone else anymore??? When did it become okay to be that ugly and insensitive? When did we all become so jaded and bitter? I don’t know why this surprised me so much, but it did. I mean, I can kind of see the concern of the house being in perfectly good condition and how it was a shame to tear it down, but I know for a fact now that every salvagable part of the home to be torn down is donated to that particular community so that others can benefit from it. That’s something at least, isn’t it?

Here’s the thing. You have to be nominated and chosen. There are tons and tons of people in need of a new home, but they can’t do them all. They’re a tv show, they’re not God (or whatever you subsribe to, if anything). This bitter, jaded, jealous and cynical attitude blows me away. Sure, I felt a little pang of wow they’re so lucky when I heard about it. But I didn’t make snarky comments about how I think I’m more deserving. Gah, I’m giving myself a headache talking about this. Bottom line (mine tonight, anyway): stupid people need to shut up and get over themselves.

Well I’m going to take another ketoprofen and get over it, because I need some sleep. Podiatrist tomorrow @ 3:45PM. Hopefully, he’ll be able to figure out more about what’s wrong and what to do about it. ‘Night…

Some random things that have either caught my attention today, or that I’ve been thinking about…

- Target is branching out, with two stores opening in October in Alaska. The stores will have heated sidewalks that melt snow. How cool is that? The design concept is really cool, too. I’ve always wondered why were weren’t opening stores outside the continental U.S. yet. Perhaps a store in Hawaii will be next? I can hope.

- Extreme Makeover - Home Edition. I thought this show rocked before, but now I’m even more convinced. They just wrapped filming this week in West Chester, Ohio which is ten minutes down the road from me. A woman I work with knows the family that was chosen and gave us updates every day on what was going on, and I can’t wait to see the full episode in the Fall. The father thought they were just remodeling his home, he had no idea they would be getting a completely new home, so his reaction alone will be worth watching. It’s really cool to see what goes into the show. Channel 9 News has a special section up on their site about it, you should check it out if you’re into the show. 

- Has anyone heard of this site? Dial A Human supposedly gives you direct phone numbers to many different companies and instructions for how to connect to a live person without going through entire menus of the annoying recorded lady. Haven’t tried it, not sure if I believe it. Are there humans working at any company these days?

- At the beginning of the year, John and I set a date for October 24th of next year for the wedding. Two different dates have come and gone for various reasons. If we can’t get our asses in gear to save money, this date will be the third. Part of me wants to get married at a court house and just have a huge reception later. Another part of me knows that I will forever feel robbed of “my day” if we don’t do the whole wedding and reception thing, etc. Going back and forth, not quite sure what to do. Unfortunately, we won’t be getting any help from family. Also feeling a little bitter about that, although I know I shouldn’t. So yeah, money is the big factor here. Will take a lot of creative money planning, I think. God I hate money stress.

I had something else to talk about, but I can’t remember what. Must not have been important. Didn’t do much today. I took Leo to the dog park, which was a joke because it’s so hot that no one else was there. There were only two dogs, but then again I went around two which isn’t a popular time anyway. He misses his friends, the poor guy. Maybe we’ll get a break in the heat so I can take him back. Just looked at the extended forecast. No breaks in the heat any time soon. Oh well. Plans for tonight? Doing laundry as I type this, going to clean the kitchen, and when John gets home from work, we’re going to see Dark Knight. Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint. But with Christian Bale, how could it? Yum.

Original entry title, no? Coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, sorry. Foot is feeling better today. Haven’t had the bone scan yet, appointment with podiatrist is Tuesday. Plan to accessorize my boot/cast thingie if he puts me in one. Oh yeah, my foot will have bling. Three-day weekend for me, woo! Here’s a little Friday 5 to get my fingers typing this morning. Have a good weekend!

Friday 5 for July 18 : Bad Food

1. What was the last meal that caused you to be ill?
>That would be Buffalo Wings & Rings. Every Tuesday is 25 cent wing night at several wing places around here, and we always get together with a couple that we’re friends with to eat every week. I don’t know if the food was bad, or if I’m just burnt out on wings but man, I was sick the entire next day.

2. Are there any places you never dine anymore because of a bad experience hours after the meal?
>Yes, Chili’s and Boston Market - and after two tries each. Both involved much throwing up and general ickiness. Not a nice thing to think about at 9am, but I can’t and won’t go to either place, ever again.

3. What’s your prescription for dealing with a food-caused illness?
>Depends on how bad it is. Usually, crackers and ginger ale when I can stand to put something in my stomach again. Then it’s mashed potatoes when I’m ready for something more. Actually, that’s how I deal with any illness where I feel sick to my stomach. Works well for me.

4. When friends tell you about coming down with food-caused illnesses, do you avoid the places they name, or do you figure it’s a dice-roll wherever you go?
>Unless their situation was really horrifying and I’ve heard similar stories from other people, I’ll most likely continue to go those places. I figure you never really know what you’re going to get anywhere.

5. After numerous citations, a very, very popular restaurant that you’re quite fond of is shut down by the health department until it can get everything up to code. When the health department gives the restaurant the o.k. to reopen, do you go?
>This has happened, and yes I went back (it was a coffee shop). I’m inclined to say yes I would, because if I like the place and they’re given the OK, I’ll probably go back.

Little bit of a backstory…

About a year ago, I started having trouble with my feet. It was really just your typical, retail-manager-on-my-feet-all-day kind of trouble. I chalked it up to working on concrete floors for 12 years, being a little overweight, etc. I noticed that when I got up in the morning, it would hurt like hell to take that first step out of bed. When I took a break at work, or sat for any period of time, the first step up would be horrible. I stumbled around like I was ninety (and continue to do so). I let it go, as I’m prone to do. About three months ago, my right foot started hurting much more than the left. I noticed a deep, sometimes burning pain in my heel that eventually moved to the middle of my foot, as well as the outside. People started telling me I had heel spurs, or plantar faciitis. I kept telling myself yeah I’ll go to the doctor. You know how that goes.

Fast forward to three weeks ago. I got off work one night and my feet were just screaming. When I got home I begged John to rub them for me, and he did like always (aww, I know). When he squeezed the middle of my right foot, I literally came up off the couch and yelled like someone just threw hot water on me. He told me if I didn’t call the doctor he would never let me go to Starbucks again (and still, I put it off). I finally had enough over the weekend, after limping around for two days at work on the closing shift, and called a podiatrist yesterday. Well, actually, I called THREE podiatrists yesterday. The earliest someone could get me in is ten days from now. So I made the appointment, but went to work today and couldn’t take it anymore. I knew my family doctor could get me in right away so I called her, and sure enough, they got me in at 1:30 (which meant I got to leave work early yay!). She felt my foot, did the “does this hurt? how about now?” thing, and said I most likely have plantar faciitis but to be sure it’s not something more she sent me down the hall for an X-ray.

So yeah, guess who has a stress fracture? Damn it Jim! Oh yeah, there was also this nasty pointy thing on the X-ray that is supposedly a heel spur. Anyway, she gave me medrol and orudis (both an anti-imflammatory) and some stretches to do, and also ordered a bone scan. Yay! She told me to keep the appt with the podiatrist and he might give me one of the boots to wear depending on what he finds. Good Lord. I wonder how long I’ve been walking around with this? I didn’t fall or injure my foot that I can remember. My dumb ass probably stepped off a ladder wrong or walked off a step wrong and didn’t even notice it. Who knows. All I know is, ice is my friend and my feet are really chilly. Brrrr.

Oh yeah, and today is my 13 year anniversary at The Job. Woohoo. 

Since I’ve been using Twitter, I haven’t posted here much lately. Funny how that happens. Not much is new, really. After some of my flowers died, I braved it and bought some more and planted those. We’ll see how that pans out. I’m giving serious thought to hiring a landscaper next year, and just starting from scratch. Then again, I would like to do something that I can be proud of and be able to say yeah, I did that! Also, we really need to start saving up for the wedding. That seems like such an impossible thing to do sometimes. Eh.

So I have one more night… I close tonight, and then I’m off until Monday! I need this three day weekend, I really do. We decided that since we have a house now, we’re having a cookout. Twelve or so people will be coming tomorrow around six to tear up my house celebrate the 4th with us. Our community park is having a festival and fireworks Friday night, that I hope will be visible from our backyard. Not sure what we’re making yet, besides the usual burgers and dogs. Gotta make up the menu tonight and go to the store early tomorrow morning after the dog park. Yeah, I’m getting smart about this. Take him for a walk, to the dog park, or both, and tire him out so I can get things done around here. Otherwise, he’s following me everywhere and at my feet. Which, ok I admit, is cute. Ha! So that’s that. Hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday!