gotta love this.

cough due to cold

I spent my Friday afternoon at the doctor's office. You see, I've had this tremendously awful cough/nose/face thing for about three weeks (seriously, it makes my face hurt), and I just can't seem to get over it. Apparently, though, so does the rest of San Angelo. Good thing I had a book with me.**

All I wanted was a shot and some killer cough medicine. If you're a friend of mine, you know the kind of cough medicine I'm talking about. The kind that not only suppresses the annoying cough, but it also knocks you out cold? Yep, that's the one. Sweet, glorious relief...

I got what I wanted, but it wasn't until I waited for three hours to get it.

Now, here's the real reason for this post. What in the heck are those doctors doing back there that takes three hours?! I say there were a lot of people in that waiting room, but I counted. I counted! There were only 8 other coughing, sniffling, groaning patients ahead of me! Once you get back there in your little room where you have to sit on the uncomfortable paper covered table-bed thing and sit for 20 more minutes, the doctor comes in, asks a couple questions, writes a prescription, and sends you out. This takes not 10 minutes. 10. Maybe 5! Even though it's absolutely necessary as I can't keep Brian up another night with the coughing, it's really rather annoying.

I imagine, in my sick stupor, that the doctors and nurses are playing some kind of game, messing with our heads, waiting to see which patient will crack first - room 1, 2, or 3. I won't cave. I need my cough medicine.

To my friends that work in these places, to my doctor friends - what is going on back there? Don't say paperwork. What's the secret?

**The book I finished in the waiting room, The Lovely Bones, was phenomenal. I might be the last person to actually read it, but if you are behind even me, you should pick it up. It's sad and touching and lovely.

Snow Day!!

I couldn't resist playing in the snow. 

Celebrate!

The teacher part of me doesn't care for the holiday much at all. Valentine's week (for 8th graders) is all about the drama - boys bring gifts for girls, girls bring gifts for girls, boys breaking up with girls, girls breaking up with girls, tears, sugar, balloons, tears... Teaching is difficult. Textbook learning takes a back seat to life's lessons in love.

The newlywed part of me is a little nervous about Valentine's Day. Does it have to be the perfect love day with my perfect new husband? I always ruin things like this. I'll get all worked up and end up in tears myself because dinner wasn't good or the gift didn't go over well. Our first Valentine's date was Pizza Hut and an Office marathon. That was delightful! Oh, Jim and Pam... What a great love story, yes?

My feelings about Valentine's Day change often. In the past, I wanted to boycott the holiday all together. I don't do Valentine's Day, I would claim. How dare those people try to make money by telling us we have to buy chocolate and flowers. I don't even like chocolate, and flowers die! That's really not true, though. I do like chocolate (70% cacao, please) and flowers are lovely (keep vases for art projects!). At this point in my life, I'm glad someone said, "Let's remind our loved ones that they are just that." It's important to remember to celebrate love. After all, it does make the world go round.

saturday silliness

this cracks me up.

warning: foul language.

http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/


enjoy!

the target consumer

I'm the reason why companies make pretty packaging for a half-as-good product so they can sell it for twice as much. I admit it. I'm a sucker for pretty packages. I know this about myself, and yet I still gravitate toward the mouthwash in the pretty bottle over the time-tested, dentist-approved scope or listerine or whatever.

I'll buy this soap...

before I buy this soap...

This makes shopping trips hard for me. Shopping damages my soul. I have to consciously avoid pretty packages to get a better deal (and perhaps a better product). I'd feel terrible about buying more expensive things because of the packaging, but I feel a small amount of soul-damage when I leave the store with lifeless soap and boring shampoo.

So, here I am product makers of the world! Try me, test me, torture my soul with your lovely things. I will not "buy in" to your scams!



Well, if it's really pretty...

boot camp, blankets, and blogs

I have a tendency to make unattainable goals for myself (case in point - the time I thought I would be the best teacher in the world). I'm inclined to think that my most recent goals are no exception, but that's no way to start a new year. Maybe if I just pretend the whole internet is keeping tabs on what I actually accomplish...

Brian and I are starting Boot Camp in February. I hate to have that "I'm going to get back in shape" new year's resolution, but why not? Ever since the bum kidney surgery in August, I've had a hard time getting myself back to the gym. If I'm ever going to show off the battle scar, though, I need to get swimsuit ready! Boot Camp is a 6 week group excercise class, and what's so appealing about it is that it changes every time you go - some days it's running on the river, and some days it's Body Pump at the gym. I've even seen pictures of people crawling through sand on their elbows! Eek! I called about the class to see if men do it (for Brian's sake...I don't want him to be miserable), and I was told, "the guys always throw up first." *immediately signs up* He's gonna love me no matter what, right?

Another thing I'm working on is this crazy awesome blanket. Here's a picture of the front side:

If you're wondering why it doesn't look quite finished it's because I haven't decided what I'm going to do with the edges yet, so I'm taking a break from it for a while (read: she can't work on it any more until she gets paid).

I took all of my old t-shirts, cut the cool stuff off, and sewed them together. Just think about how awesome it must feel to wrap yourself up in all of your favorite old t-shirts! I've had the idea for a while, and once the drawers of my dresser could no longer close, I decided to get started. Don't you think it's awesome, too? Don't you want me to make one for you? :)

Finally (and most importantly), I'm doing some pretty neat things at work. I'm excited about what's in store.

Coda's new year's resolution? Being adorable for another year.