Checking In

Hey folks,

I know it's been a while since I've posted -- looking at the date of the last post, it's been two months. The reason for this is a combination of not much going on and too much going on that I don't necessarily feel comfortable writing about in a blog. (And, yes, the theme song to "Corner Gas" is running through my mind.)

This will just sort of be a random collection of sometimes vague thoughts. (I think that might just be my life's legacy.)

First, I was very happy to meet MSEH from Two Moms to Canada during her Seattle stop of her West Coast tour. I know it's been said before, but I've really come to feel like our little group of bloggers (check links on the right side of this page) has become a little family of sorts. I share in the joy of your good news and in the disappointment of your bad news. Plus, all you folks just really seem like good, cool people. I appreciate this virtual community. I hope to meet you all in person some day.

Well, I guess I should continue with what's on my mind most at the moment, which is that I'm sick. I left work early on Friday not feeling well, thinking maybe I ate something that didn't agree with me. Alan and I spent several hours in the E.R. later. The good news is that it's not my appendix, nor any major organ. Also, good news is that it's not serious as long as I take the treatment seriously and follow up; I should be right as rain (where does that phrase come from and why is someone my age using it?) in a week's time. (It could very likely get serious without medical care.) The bad news is that it's a pain (figuratively and literally, although nausea is more the problem now). Luckily, I have insurance through Alan's employer, so finances are not a big issue (although we still expect to see a large -- but not heart-stopping -- bill; welcome to health care in the U.S.).

(By the way, everyone at the hospital was great about Alan being with me the whole time. No one even looked funny at us. This is a great improvement over when I took Alan to the E.R. a few years ago. Of course, they checked the "other" box for our relationship on the forms, but that's not really their fault.)

Of course, I worry about how this episode will affect our hopes/plans to immigrate. I really don't think it's something that would keep us out of Canada. I'm just hoping that it won't require more tests and such to convince them. Although as medical procedures go, CAT scans are piece o' cake, the thought of having to do it again is not pleasant. And I'm afraid that's what they (the omnipotent government physicians in Ottawa) would make me do. I guess there's nothing to be done about that except to see what happens.

I'm just finishing a plum work assignment; Wednesday is when the woman I've been filling in for gets back from maternity leave. Up to Friday, my concerns were more about what's next. Now I'm wondering if I can make it to work these last days and when I'll be up to working again. It's just a stupid little down episode in life; I know that.

There's another medical issue that's just come up for me that I just really can't write about. Again, I don't think it's anything that would keep us out of Canada, but it may cause extra questions and tests.

Recently, I celebrated one of the "big" birthdays (you know, one of the ones that end in five or zero). I'm far too vain to say exactly which one. I've been a little obsessed with the approach of this one for a few months now. I know it's stupid and that I should be incredibly grateful to live in such health, wealth, and comfort -- and I am. I feel very fortunate to have a loving and supportive life partner. But I also can't help but look at what I haven't done and feel critical of myself.

Instead of wallowing, I tried to think forward at opportunities. I didn't want anyTHING for my birthday this year, no gadgets, entertainment, or trips. I wanted to think about what I really want in life. My biggest "present" to myself is getting my body in shape. The stars aligned and I've lost a bunch of weight (more than 10%) and started a little exercise routine in addition to the three to six miles I walk every day anyway. (Having surpassed my target weight before I got sick, it's now getting ridiculous.)

Oh, some good news: For the first time in years my cholesterol and triglycerides are in the target range! This is really quite the achievement and/or luck. I have to say, the fish oil pills really do work; I highly recommend them. Alan and I take the "extra strength" pills twice a day; I pay extra for the special coating because "fish burps" would just make me sick. I'm a vegetarian and I had to set aside my aesthetics (am I using that word correctly?) to take these pills. But, damn, they really did the trick.

I've been pushing myself to be more social, which is not the easiest thing for me. (Those of you who have met me might find this hard to believe considering my motormouth. Overcompensation.) What's funny is that I'm developing relationships in Seattle when maybe in a year (or less?) we might be relocating. My sister-in-law put this spin on it and it seems to make sense: One, it's easier for me to put myself out there BECAUSE I know I might be leaving soon and Two, this could be practice for when I am in a new city and wanting to make connections.

When we first started this odyssey, which is almost two years ago, my feelings were that our roots in Seattle were still pretty shallow, despite almost a decade of being here. (And I "blame" no one but ourselves.) It's not that we don't have any friends; we do. But I didn't see myself crying when I said goodbye, as I did when we left New Orleans. The thing is, now I can; I think I'm going to need a box of tissues if/when we move. And I see myself coming back to Seattle a lot on weekends and (truly) inviting people North to see us. (Question: If we have P.R. status, will going back to the U.S. a lot -- like a couple weekends a month -- be an issue? I know about residency requirements both to maintain P.R. status and to achieve eligibility for citizenship. But will the back-and-forth cause any problems?)

I've decided, with enthusiasm, that I want to go back to teaching, which is a career that got derailed a while back. There's a certificate program in Vancouver that I'm very excited about. Upon completion, with the B.A. that I already have, I can get certified to the teaching in which I'm interested. I only want to teach adults; I don't want to work with minors. My primary area is ESL (or more politically correct, TESOL), but I also have had experience in Adult Basic Education and helping folks get their GEDs or high school diplomas as adults. I would also like to look at training, but I don't as yet have many formed ideas or information. From what I've read, Vancouver would have a lot of opportunities for me to teach.

You'll notice there's not any politics in this post. I'm just fried. You know how I feel; nothing's changed.

Digression (and now for something completely different, for you Monty Python fans): Alan and I have been listening to Paula Poundstone read her book on CD. One thing she mentions is that she's an atheist. She talked about an incident, with humor, of how a prominent religious person said, kiddingly, at a public event that they would "need to have a talk." Paula Poundstone noted that while she laughed along with the others, she couldn't help but think that no one would think that her saying that would be funny, that she needed to convince a religious person to her way of thinking. Good point.

That almost catches this blog up; there will be another post coming very soon (honestly). I hesitate to promise tomorrow because of how I'm feeling and I've had to work through a few bouts of nausea while writing this. For anyone who's made it to the end of these ramblings, thanks for reading.