#83 I Found an Old Friend!

I'm so excited! I have been trying to find my friend TM (I now know she is TF) for about 5-6 years. The past few weeks I've really felt like I just HAD to find her. So, I pay some online sites for her information and none of them were current. I finally found her parents phone number (yes, I did try that first, but could never get them and they didn't have an answering machine). So, tonight I called the number for about the 5th time this week and I'm SHOCKED when the phone is picked up.

"Is this B_____ M____?"
"Yes...."
"Hi, This is _____ ______, I went to high school with T and would really like to get in contact with her."
"Who did you say this was?"
"_____ _____"
"Oh, I remember that name. Here is her phone number. [insert number] I'd wait to call until the weekend since she is usually asleep around 8:30."
"Thank you SO much. I'll wait until the weekend to contact her then. How is she doing?"

We continue to talk for a few minutes and she remembers who I am...I think, then I get off the phone. She reminds me to wait until the weekend and I reassure her I will wait.

I get off the phone, look at her number and say, "I can't wait any longer! I've waiting 6 years and I'm not waiting any more." So I called and we talked for an hour. We are planning to see one another this summer when we go visit my IL's. We will meet half way since she is in the next state.

I'm so excited. It was wonderful talking to her. She has 2 sons and a husband and is still in the military. She is working on her bachelors degree and hopes to apply for OCS. I really hope we stay in contact now. It made me heart so happy to talk to her.

She was amazed at the lengths I went to in order to find her and was SO happy I did. I am too. I don't talk to people from my past very often. In all honesty, I have really kept up with anyone from my PH days (pre-hubby). Sad, really. I honestly think it's because I never let anyone get that close after a while. I held a lot of people back at arms length.

Anyway...I'm so happy that she was the first person I found. It did me a world of good to know she is well and is accomplishing so much with her life.

#49a Get Eyes Checked

Hmm...so I got my eyes checked today...kind of. I didn't walk out with a rx b/c he dx me with acute allergic conjunctivitis. Dr. Shank told me that I wouldn't be allowed to wear contacts any more because I am allergic to the proteins in the eye cleanser. I took his word for it and left with my free sample of Restasis and my rx for my steroid treatment with a follow up appt scheduled for Dec. 2. So I just sit down at the computer and do some research. Sure, I could very well be allergic to the eye cleanser, but there are any number of other causes. How did he know that was the cause when I haven't worn contacts for months and still have my eye problems? He also didn't do any tests to check for specific allergies.

According to Vision Web:

Allergic conjunctivitis results from a response to airborne pollen, dust, smoke, or environmental agents. Both eyes are usually affected and may itch, tear excessively and discharge a stringy mucous. You may also have other allergic reactions, such as a runny or itchy nose. Allergy tests can identify specific causes, and repeated injections may desensitize you to the allergens.

Topical eye drops are available to relieve symptoms, and depending on the severity, you eyecare provider or physician may also recommend oral medications such as over-the-counter or prescription decongestant-antihistamines. Eyecare products such as contact lens solutions or eye drops can cause allergic reactions as well. Discontinue use if you notice allergic conjunctivitis symptoms following the use of a particular product.

I think since contacts aren't covered in any way, shape or form by my insurance, I'm just going to get my eyes checked again at LensCrafters while I'm in Anchorage while getting my new glasses. (I should have a new rx at my follow up.) I go up on 3 Dec for some appointments for my son.

So, I think I'll use them as a second opinion while I'm there and hopefully get some new contacts. I only want to wear them every once in a while. If I can't wear them once a week like I would prefer, just for special occasions would be nice. Dr. Shank refused to even allow that and said that Lasik would be out of the question too since it tends to exaserbate eye problems. Anyone know if that is true?

So while I didn't get my rx yet, I did go...finally. I think the last time I went was back in 2005 and perhaps even 2004? I'm pretty sure it was Feb. 2005 though. I'll update after my next appointment. I am going to talk to him about what I found though.

#10 Learn to Make Sushi

Ok, so I actually did this on Sept. 6, but what can I say? I'm lazy. The only reason I am posting it now is that I'm not able to sleep.

It is really a lot of fun, making sushi, I mean. Pretty easy too actually. I was pleasantly surprised. The only thing that takes some practice is getting the rice right. It needs to have just the right amount of rice vinegar and sugar, but also cool it down to just the right temperature. Aside from that, it is really simple. Ok, layering the rice is a pain, not to mention sticky, and I HATE being sticky, but not bad.

Oh, and yup, that picture is MY roll! YAY!

#61 Photos to cd's

Ok, so they aren't really on cd's, but a computer geek friend recommended I get an external hard drive instead. So for a whopping $100 I got a 500 gig external hard drive. It's stupid easy and I've got it set up to update every night at 1 a.m. so I don't have to do anything really. It does it for me. All I have to remember is to delete the photos from the computer every once in a while to save some disk space (I'm down to less than 2% right now, so when I get home from vacation I will update and delete). What a relief too. I kept having nightmares that we got a virus and lost all of our pictures. We would then have virtually no pictures of our kids or anything really from the past 3-4 years. Yikes. No need to worry about that now though.

#65 Fence in Yard

Well, we had the inaugural run of the back (side really) yard. The dogs didn't know what to do the first few days. It took a lot longer than it should have and we spent a lot more money on it than we should have, but it's done. Sing it with me, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

What a blessing that will be come February when the man is deployed, I have two wee ones running around like maniacs and the dogs need to pee. No more pulling the Muck's on and shuffling the snow to find the leashes (that are tied to the deck). Nope, I'll be saying, "Ok, girls, go outside," opening the door and shutting it right behind them.

Ahh....the joys of a fenced in yard.

#72 Pay off all credit card debt

YAY! I just submitted our final payment for our credit card! WOOHOO!!! We do still have a credit card, but we pay that off each payday. We have it for the miles. It's fabulous!

We have been paying $300+ a month on our card to try to get it down and now that it is payed off we will take that $300 and make an extra principle payment to our car loan. Note to self, don't every buy a new car again! It depreciates in value so much. Do I love my car? Absolutely! Would I want anything else? No way. Do I like the payments? Not a chance!

We should have that payed off within a year or two. I haven't taken the time to calculate that out, but I will try to do that soon so I can figure out how much we will be saving. This makes me so happy!

#31 Dr. Zhivago

I started out this goal with 10 of these movies already watched. Here is the first one towards my goal. I've had Dr. Zhivago from Netflix since March. Yup, you read that right...March. I'm officially one of THOSE Netflixers. In my defense, I thought I lost it for a while. I take that back, I thought the kids lost it for a while. Just prior to succumbing and sending an email to Netflix to let them know so I could pay for it, I had the man look around one last time. He found it! I have no idea where he found it, but he did. I'm thrilled. I finally watched it over the past 2 days. It was a looong movie [read: over 3 hours and the dvd was double sided]. It took 2 days worth of naps, but it was watched. It was good. Not the best, but good. I didn't like it becuase like so many of the movies of today, there was infidelity involved. I don't do well with that being glamorized. Ticks me off. Maybe I'm too close to the issue - not in my own marriage, but those that I love. I'm glad I watched it though. Made me glad I'm living in a country where we aren't fighting a war on our own turf. The death and destruction were so sad.

Anyway...whoever the next Netflixer waiting on Dr. Zhivago is, you can rest easy, it will be to you soon.