Happy Thanksgiving!

Each time I wait to post, I think about (and then promptly forget) so many things that I wish to say. Here goes nothing:

Work is mercifully not a concern this week. It has been incredibly busy, especially with Dr. Price closing up shop this week. Everyone was clamoring to get in like there was an exclusive dance party going on. Next week looks much the same. Gulp and yikes. In the meantime however.....

There is packing to do. Lots and lots of packing. Miserable task that it is. I don't know what I find more unpleasant about it, the packing for the move, the unpacking on the other side, or living with most everything packed in between. Hopefully using professional movers will make this easier (though painfully more expensive). We are looking forward to the new place.......er, for the most part anyway. The place is run by an organization that has been, well, not entirely forthcoming, either through accidental oversight or just lack of knowledge. Despite the one month's rent we have given for a deposit, they now want a non-refundable cleaning fee of $250 (since reduced to at least $150 because we bitched enough about it). Tia was not told about this until she picked up the lease, though they contend otherwise. The thing is, they are saying that, if we don't pay it, we will forfeit our deposit. Though we would willingly tell them to stick the condo somewhere unpleasant because of the cleaning fee, we are ina very difficult position. Legally, I dont think that they can keep it because they did not disclose certain fees.......but it is hard to know. Plus, quite frankly, they have the advantageous since they have the money already. I HATE paying pointless fees........be they a few hundred or just a few dollars.

We had a chance to get away for a few days to Bend. Since there wasn't any snow and it is too cold to go rafting, there isn't a whole lot going on in Bend that isn't going on in Portland honestly......but it was a spectacular getaway just the same, solely because of where we stayed. We spent two night at the Cricketwood Country Bed & Breakfast (http://www.cricketwood.com/). To say that I am now spoiled for all other hotels/b&b's is an understatement. The room was appointed with an overlarge satellite TV, a king sized bed, a jetted bathtub, a massage table and DVD, a DVD player (and at least 100 DVDs to choose from downstairs) and his and hers robes and slippers. The main part of the house had, gratis with your stay, a beverage refridgerator with 3 kinds of Deschutes bottled beer, 6 types of wines, and a variety of canned soda and bottled waters. There was also a tea garden with, at minimum, 40 types of tea and free popcorn and assorted snacks. The downstairs also includes a gas fireplace and fountain. Outside there is a disc golf course and a hottub that can be used 24 hours a day. But, none of that was the best part of the stay. The thing that really pushed this place over the top was the food.

Every day you start with a beverage service including most anything you could possibly want delivered to your door at a time you designate. Following that, also at a time you designate, was breakfast. You make your selections the day prior so that it will be ready for you when you come down. Homemade sweet rolls, fresh baked bread pudding with rum sauce, omeletes made to order, juice, coffee, etc. You can select as much or as little as you want. Additionally, every evening at 7, there is a cookie and beverage service........and you select how many and what type of cookies! I wish I could adequately describe how good the food was, but words honestly fail me. Go there if you need a getaway........completely and totally worth it.

In addition to the B&B we hit up a spa with some wedding gift cards and had the kind of deep tissue massage that is painful and pleasant at the same time and then relaxed with wine and a light salad and cheese plate. All in all, a much needed escape.

Good luck to those shoppers amongst my readers. Tomorrow will be a test of your fortitude.

On how I became a pill head

Those of you that know me, know that I am a fairly staunch advocate for Western Medicine. It stems from the great benefit I have received from it. In the right combination, under the right care, miraculous effects can be achieved. I was never able to do nearly the cardio I can do now......and I owe it all to medications that have, in essence, freed me to do things that someone without my impaired lung function would take for granted. But, despite my seeming dependence, I have never thought of myself as someone who NEEDED medications long term. I guess I always beleived that they were just a temporary fix.........a crutch until I learned some way to walk on my own.

Now, there is this whole cholesterol mess. No paragon of gustational virtue am I, but I am not emulating Morgan Spurlock's quest to live on fast food either. With Tia, in large part, controlling our diets, I eat a lot more fresh fruits and veggies than I have before, I eat less red meat, and I consume better fats. I also have lost weight and do cardio excercise fairly regularly. Yet, this has had only a marginal impact on my cholesterol. Like trying to empty a bathtub with a thimble. Suddenly I am faced with the decision to really commit to a lifetime of pills.....or face whatever repercussions elevated lipid levels yield (heart attack being the most severe). It makes me feel old in a way that I never truly did before.

Think I will head out for some fast food or a big can of lard...........a last meal of sorts. Bah!

Bacon chocolate

I spent the past few weeks predominantly bottled up inside of 'the clinic' and/or commuting too and from. I don't say that negatively since the hours are needed, but rather to explain my lack of blogging of late. It is hard to write when all you want to do is sleep. I have probably given better than 100 injections over the two days at the shot clinic though, so if I havent achieved proficiency at this point, it isn't going to happen.

In the past few weeks, noteworthy events were not entirely absent, though they were not abundant either. It looks like we will be moving again. This time to a place nearer to our respective jobs and far north of Wilsonville. We will be losing a little bit of space, but gaining a lot less time (and money) spent commuting. Plus, while we both like the layout of our apartment, it isn't exactly the most phenomenol place we have ever seen. Like most apartments, it has its plusses and minuses. Will miss the community gym though. Laziness is harder to achieve when you have a gym literally yards away from your residence (though still entirely possible).

New place is interesting in that they are converted apartments that they tried, unsuccessfully, to sell and then opted to rent out 50% of them. They seem to have haphazardly spent money upgrading them however. New carpet in the bedroom and hardwood and/or pergo in the remainder of the home. New granite countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. New stainless steel appliances. Conversely, you have older refaced cabinets, poor craftsmanship on the tile work (not square or grouted properly) and they left the old bathtub (complete with chip and bad caulkwork) and the old bi-fold closet doors on all closets. Plus, no disposal. Odd oversights when you are trying to sell less than 1000 square feet for nearly $190K I think. But, as a rental, nothing to really complain about too vociferously.

I got to try something that I have long wanted to: chocolate bacon. It was a candybar from Vosges that my boss brought in for us to try (http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/bacon_exotic_candy_bar/exotic_candy_bars). Hard to describe really. Not unappealing, but at the same time, quite a disorientating taste combination. It tastes exactly like it sounds......chocolate and smoked bacon. bizarre.

Tia and I also got another kitten to befriend our current little one who is working hard at overcoming her fear of, well, just about everything except for paperballs which she attacks with vehemenance. The new little guy is an orange tabby that is just about the firendliest kitten we have yet had. Will be a shame that we wont be able to foster at the new place. I really like having pets (especially kittens which are almost always upbeat).

One more week until vacation. So looking forward to it!