Ribs

It's weird- I feel like I've told everyone about my ribs over and over again but people still keep sounding shocked or confused so I probably have just been complaining to Nate a lot. Here goes...

I cracked a rib or pulled a large wrap around muscle or injured the cartilage in my ribs etc. They're not quite sure because honestly it doesn't matter so they haven't bothered to x-ray or anything (which I'm not sure I'd do being pregnant anyway). I did this by coughing. Yes seriously, coughing.

Well I had talked to my OB/GYN about it and he said there wasn't much they could do even if it was cracked so to take some very mild cough medicine that wouldn't hurt the baby, some tylenol for pain and to let my ribs have a chance to heal themselves. I really did try. In fact, I thought things were starting to get better until I was laying on my side in bed Sunday morning and coughed really hard. There was an intense pain, and a slipping feeling and then a whole day of being grumpy and uncomfortable. I made it worse.

So I went to my new family care doctor and paid him to tell me what my OB/GYN already told me- that they couldn't really do much anyway, take some cough medicine and tylenol. However he also said he thought I might have bronchitis and prescribed an antibiotic. My friends let me tell you something. Do you know what bronchitis means? It means your bronchi in your lungs are inflamed...so pretty much it means nothing.

I had a horribly bad cough a couple years ago in Idaho that wouldn't go away. I went to my doctor, I saw specialists and I did a ridiculous amount of testing for all sorts of little known lung disorders. Guess what they found? Nothing! Just that I had bronchitis. Bronchitis can be caused by an infection or irritant or asthma or any number of things. So, it can be treated with antibiotics or steroids or just giving you lots of cough medicine to bring up the phlegm. Bronchitis is basically a symptom with other symptoms.

Now, soap box aside, pretty much what this means is that we're treating 3 symptoms: pain, cough and bronchitis for something that we don't know what it is and I don't think they'll discover. What we can't treat is the only thing that I really care about, which is the blasted ribs. I'm not even allowed to wrap them because that increases my chance of getting pneumonia.

So note to self...cough softer and remind baby the rest of her/his life of how I couldn't take good pain meds because I was worried about hurting her/him. Ahhh the justice of guilt.

Parasite - Multiple Choice

One of the following parasites has taken up residence in my body. Guess which one...

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
PS I'm having it removed around Oct. 3rd. We call it Peanut if that gives you a clue.

New Layout

So not my normal style but I just wanted something bright and springy.

St. Patrick's Day Post #4 - Dinner!

I'm so sorry! I really did mean to post this yesterday afternoon, and at the latest early this morning. But when your only access to the internet is at work sometimes you have to be a little flexible. :). Anyway, don't worry. If you're making this and haven't started yet you're not behind at all.

Actually, I'm a little embarrassed I let it build up like this- it's really freakishly easy.

You start with your corned beef. Put it (and the seasoning packet in with it) in a large pot filled with approx 3 gallons of water. Bring it to a boil and simmer it for about 3-4 hours. A foam will start to form on top. You can skim it off if you want, I never bother.

While this is boiling you'll want to start to cut up your veggies. Carrots and potatoes cut in chunks a little bigger than bite sized. Cabbage heads cut in halves or quarters. About 30 minutes before you plan to serve up the food you'll add the potatoes, carrots and cabbage. If your pot it too small you may want to remove the corned beef and put it in the oven on warm while you cook the veggies. Check for done-ness at 20 minutes and cook until firm but easily cut with a fork or butter knife.
Serve with vinegar, horseradish or good mustard. And maybe some yummy soda bread.

PS As Amanda mentioned a couple post before, those who really love St Patrick's Day plan life events around it. If you're really in love consider getting married on St Patrick's Day - all the coolest people do.

Happy Anniversary My Love!

St. Patrick's Day Post #3 - Symbols & Traditions

from history.com...some fun info about St. Patrick's Day symbols & traditions.

Symbols and Traditions

The Shamrock

The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Irish Music

Music is often associated with St. Patrick's Day—and Irish culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend, and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs.

After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember important events and hold on to their heritage and history. As it often stirred emotion and helped to galvanize people, music was outlawed by the English. During her reign,Queen Elizabeth I even decreed that all artists and pipers were to be arrested and hanged on the spot.

Today, traditional Irish bands like The Chieftains, the Clancy Brothers, and Tommy Makem are gaining worldwide popularity. Their music is produced with instruments that have been used for centuries, including the fiddle, the uilleann pipes (a sort of elaborate bagpipe), the tin whistle (a sort of flute that is actually made of nickel-silver, brass, or aluminum), and the bodhran (an ancient type of framedrum that was traditionally used in warfare rather than music).

The Snake

It has long been recounted that, during his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop (which is now called Croagh Patrick), and with only a wooden staff by his side, banished all the snakes from Ireland.

In fact, the island nation was never home to any snakes. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within two hundred years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.

Corned Beef

Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St. Patrick's Day to share a "traditional" meal of corned beef and cabbage.

Though cabbage has long been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated with St. Patrick's Day at the turn of the century.

Irish immigrants living on New York City's Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money. They learned about the cheaper alternative from their Jewish neighbors.

The Leprechaun

The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow."

Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure.

Leprechauns had nothing to do with St. Patrick or the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, a Catholic holy day. In 1959, Walt Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill & the Little People, which introduced America to a very different sort of leprechaun than the cantankerous little man of Irish folklore. This cheerful, friendly leprechaun is a purely American invention, but has quickly evolved into an easily recognizable symbol of both St. Patrick's Day and Ireland in general.

If I Have to See It...You All Have to See It

Hoss was neutered yesterday (don't worry he's fine, if a bit sore). It needed to be done anyway and since we're watching my Dad's dog Titus for now (who's already neutered) and boy dogs are a lot less territorial once they've been neutered we went for it. Nate was a little uncomfortable with the whole thing. Here is his tribute to the sad event. If you had any hand in raising Nate now is the time to be a little embarrassed.

PS Click on the picture to see the words better.

St. Patrick's Day Post #2 - Music, Appetizers and Punch

Try this puzzle while you read:

Ok so last time I talked about necessary parts to St. Patrick's Day celebrations, besides the obligatory wearing green so you don't get pinched (which you should still definitely do cause no one likes to be pinched, at least in public). I listed music as one of those requirements. I hold by this. Having music playing while people are arriving and munching is pretty much critical to get in the mood.

The problem is I don't really remember a specific artist being emphasized. It seemed like everyone just brought any Celtic cds they had and we switched them around. That's why I mostly rely on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. I got it off iTunes for free and they even have St. Patrick's Day specials. Just a fun blend of music. You'll probably discover a few songs you really like.

Next, appetizers...one rule. Keep it simple! Remember St. Patrick's Day food can be a little heavy if you're not used to it and you don't want to fill up on little things before hand. I recommend the following:

• cheese and crackers
• veggie tray
• fruit (green grapes, kiwi, green apple slices for fun)
• spinach dip and a good bread
• hummus
• celery and olives filled with cream cheese (I know this one's kind of hokey but we always had it)

Most importantly...PUNCH!!!

I love green St. Patrick's Day punch. When I was growing up it was pretty simple: sprite and lime sherbet. I like to add some pineapple juice to give it a little something more. Remember it doesn't need to be crazy. People will love to just have a little and then drink a more regular drink for the actual meal.

And now to prepare for Monday when I post the recipes here's your shopping list:

• Corn Beef Brisket (get one for every 4-6 people, it will come with a spice packet inside)
• Cabbage (1-2 for each brisket)
• Carrots (I just buy a big bag of the baby ones- they're the perfect size)
• Red Potatoes- if you can find the little tiny ones for a reasonable price get them, if not bigger ones will work we'll just cut them up
• white vinegar and/or a good mustard and/or horseradish (this is for on the corned beef some people will like one or the other)
• a good soda bread or rolls

And here are your answers from the puzzle above. Did you get it???

Dear Oklahoma,

Dear Oklahoma Where It Is Snowing Right Now When Last Week We Had Temperatures In The 80's,

I hate your stinking guts.

You make me vomit.

You're scum between my toes!

Love, L

St. Patrick's Day Post #1 - Best Movies

Ahhh St Patrick's Day. How I love you!

Growing up St. Patrick's Day rivaled and maybe even surpassed Thanksgiving. It involved traditional American-Irish fare (Corned beef and Cabbage aren't Irish but American Irish if you didn't know. I'll share more about that the day I discuss food), movies, music lots of drinking and plenty of green punch. It was an awesome holiday devoid of a lot of the normal holiday trapping such as gifts etc.

When I grew up (or at least moved out of the house) it became important to me to have my own St. Patrick's Day celebration, especially since no school seemed excited to give me a St. Patrick's Day break to rival Thanksgiving break. I tried to start out small but it usually involved forcing all my roommates and close friends and neighbors to try corned beef and cabbage and green punch etc. It was marvelous.

Of course, as mentioned before, food is not the only necessity to a great St. Patrick's Day Celebration. Movies are key. Especially if you are like me and still haven't really gotten the timing of cooking dinner down quite right (I usually end up with something done a good hour ahead of schedule- probably the something that will melt- and quite a few things not done when everyone arrives). This is 100% necessary if you have had to strongly encourage people to be there or the celebration involves ANY children.

So I will help you. These are in no particular order, except Quiet Man being the best by far at #1.

Here is a list of my favorite St. Patrick's Day movies:

*I'm just going to take the descriptions off IMDB but will add comments where necessary*

1. The Quiet Man

Sean Thornton(John Wayne) has returned from America to reclaim his homestead and escape his past. Sean's eye is caught by Mary Kate Danaher(Maureen O'Hara), a beautiful but poor maiden, and younger sister of ill-tempered "Red" Will Danaher. The riotous relationship that forms between Sean and Mary Kate, punctuated by Will's pugnacious attempts to keep them apart, form the main plot, with Sean's past as the dark undercurrent.

This movie is an absolute must. I mean it has John Wayne playing a feisty American-raised Irish man. Maureen O'Hara is feisty and beautiful and the side characters are hilarious. Plus it has a freakishly long, good old-fashioned fight scene.

2. Darby O'Gill and the Little People

In the enchanted Emerald Isle, Darby O'Gill spins tall tales of leprechauns and banshees. Unfortunately, when he actually captures the leprechaun king and discovers their hidden gold, no one will believe him!

This was my favorite kids movie for St. Patty's Day. Scary banshees, leprechauns and Sean Connery: how could anything go wrong?

3. Waking Ned Divine

When word reaches two elderly best friends that someone in their tiny Irish village has won the national lottery, they go to great lengths to find the winner so they can share the wealth. When they discover the "lucky" winner, Ned Devine, they find he has died of shock upon discovering his win. Not wanting the money to go to waste, the village enters a pact to pretend Ned is still alive by having another man pose as him, and then to divide the money between them.

I actually don't really remember watching this one growing up. I saw it in college and loved it. Feisty Irish people!

4. The Secret of Roan Inish

10-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a Selkie - a seal who can turn into a human. Years earlier, her baby brother washed out to sea in a cradle shaped like a boat; someone in the family believes the boy is being raised by the seals. Then Fiona catches sight of a naked little boy on the abandoned Isle of Roan Inish and takes an active role in uncovering The Secret of Roan Inish.

Yea for Selkies! Beautiful coastal scenes of Ireland and a fairy tale feel.

5. The Commitments

Jimmy Rabbitte, just a tick out of school, gets a brilliant idea: to put a soul band together in Barrytown, his slum home in north Dublin. First he needs musicians and singers: things slowly start to click when he finds three fine-voiced females virtually in his back yard, a lead singer (Deco) at a wedding, and, responding to his ad, an aging trumpet player, Joey "The Lips" Fagan. Song by song, gig by gig, the Commitments start their climb to the top: Dublin gets soul. But internal strife also builds: Deco is insufferable, Joey's a Casanova, and Jimmy may lack the seasoning to hold things together. Will the Commitments slip away?

Maybe the first grown-up movie on my list. Some language etc but awesome music and tons of fun.

6. Finian's Rainbow

A mysterious Irishman, Finian, and his beautiful daughter Sharon, arrive one day in Rainbow Valley, a small Southern town of tobacco sharecroppers in the mythical state of Missitucky. The town has its own resident dreamer, Woody Mahoney, who thinks that he might be able to put the town on the map by crossing mint with tobacco so that it'll grow already mentholated. Finian's come to the town because he's stolen a leprechaun's crock of gold and plans to plant it in the ground so it'll grow faster (or else why would the Americans have rushed to dig the gold out of California only to plant it back in the ground at Fort Knox?). But trouble arrives in the form of Og the leprechaun, who has followed Finian to America and is bent on retrieving his gold. Meanwhile, the bigoted Senator Billboard Rawkins, in an effort to stop progress in his state in the form of a new dam and hydroelectric system, plans to take the remaining parcel of land needed to stop the project - Woody's, which Finian has purchased to save from the auctioneer's gavel. But then the government's geologists reveal to the Senator that gold has been detected on the property! Rawkins and his men confront the sharecroppers to seize their land using as an excuse an obscure law making it a felony for blacks and whites to live together, but when Sharon, outraged at this bigotry, cries out while standing right over the pot of gold, "I wish to God you were black ..." all hell breaks loose as wishes come true.

How to teach your kids to love the Irish, hate greed and be disgusted by racism. Stars Fred Astaire.

Honorable Mention:

Far and Away

A young man (Cruise) leaves Ireland with his landlord's daughter (Kidman) after some trouble with her father, and they dream of owning land at the big giveaway in Oklahoma ca. 1893. When they get to the new land, they find jobs and begin saving money. The man becomes a local barehands boxer, and rides in glory until he is beaten, then his employers steal all the couple's money and they must fight off starvation in the winter, and try to keep their dream of owning land alive. Meanwhile, the woman's parents find out where she has gone and have come to America to find her and take her back.

This one doesn't concentrate as much on Ireland itself but the American-Irish. But full of a young, hot Tom Cruise.

Post 100!

Interesting that as I decided to post this video I'd seen I realized this was my 100th post. I don't talk about my religion much here. Mostly because most of you know I'm LDS and either are yourselves or you aren't but we've talked about religion and Mormonism specifically.

That aside, I have been thinking about posting about my beliefs and experiences as a member of the LDS church for a while now and this video encouraged me to do so.

First off, I want it to be clear my beliefs are very central to my daily attitudes and actions. I think that's important. I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be true and so try to live my life by its precepts. This means things like going to church even when I'm tired, having prepared for and then going on a mission, living worthily and holding out to be married in the temple.

These things are important to me and while I will willingly discuss these things with anyone who seems in any way truly interested I also will not allow myself to be drawn into arguing or debating. I learned this best on my mission. I love to shared what I believe with people but if there isn't a spirit of understanding and tolerance it's not worth my time or heartache because NO ONE is learning or growing.

On my mission there were people who yelled horrible things at me or threatened me or tried to argue with me. There were people who were downright mean to me. Having said this, I really have been very lucky in the friends and even acquaintances I've had. I have rarely felt (outside my mission) what I would consider real persecution. In fact I can only name two instances I really felt persecuted. Strangely both these involved or were in some way 'caused by' very close/best friends. I don't blame them. They were each just trying to live their lives the best they could and I had an experience as a result of that that to me was negative. It's also important to note that had either of these experiences happened later in my life I would have handled them much differently, probably with a lot more laughter and calmness.

One happened in high school. In the LDS church we are strongly encouraged to not date at all until we're 16, and then to keep it to group dates for a while. My friend had just started dating a boy from school before she was 16. This was completely her choice and honestly not a huge deal. The problem came when a mutual friend of ours asked me out. I also was not 16 yet. I didn't want to date before I was 16 and the boy in question wasn't too much of a temptation to me so I politely declined. It was awkward but not horrible.

The issue came when he asked me (a little pathetically in my opinion) why. I told him in my church we're asked not to date until we're 16 and I wasn't 16. At this point my friend was pulled out as an example. He tried to make me say either A. she was a bad member or B. I was being ridiculous. I tried to avoid both. I just said whatever her decisions were I wasn't going to date until I was 16. This should have been the end of it. But for some reason he felt the way to win my heart was pressure and guilt.

He encouraged all of our other mutual friends to 'talk' to me about it. This resulted in almost every person in the group I was hanging out with my freshman year in high school pretty much telling me I was being selfish/stupid/uppity/rude/mean etc. It was literally awful. At one point he knelt in the outdoor quad area in front of me and begged me to 'consider it'. I don't even think he liked me that much. Throughout this whole situation I was reminded by each person that my friend was well-known for being a 'good' Mormon and had been a member all her life while I hadn't. Again I reiterate - I don't blame her. Her choice did affect my life but overall I'm grateful for what happened because it helped me grow. I stopped hanging out with that group regularly and found my own friends, all non-members, who supported me in my decisions.

The second experience came right after my mission.

Let me get this out right from the beginning- newly returned missionaries are pretty crazy. We've been in a place where we had to be totally circumspect in some ways because we're representing the church. On the other hand we can be crazy bold about other things because it's expected of us. This is very different from how you act among friends.

Well, my friend invited me to stay the night with her and some other friends and then go to Six Flags in the morning. I didn't know any of the rest of these people (except maybe one) and so was already a little crazy (remember from the very recently returned mission thing) and shy and just mostly awkward. The thing they decided to do right after I got there was watch the South Park episode about Mormons (please also remember I hadn't watched ANY TV in 18 months). Right this minute I could watch that episode (although I'm not a fan of South Park in general) and laugh and be pretty relaxed explaining what's real and what's not.

That night I could not. My brain couldn't decide if I was supposed to be answering these questions as a missionary or as a friend. Being a missionary seemed awkward and I honestly wasn't friends with most of these people. They asked question after question, trying to be curious not accusatory but to me it felt like I was being attacked. I couldn't seem to find my calm center and I felt miserable for the rest of the trip. Again, I don't blame my friend. She was trying to invite me to have a good time and meet new people and normally none of this would have been a problem.

I have used that experience as a template to allow myself to not get frustrated or overwhelmed. If I don't know an answer now I say "I don't know". If I'm not comfortable answering something I say "I'm not comfortable answering that". If I don't feel comfortable watching something I tell the people I'm with that I'm not comfortable and either they change it or I find something else to do. It's amazing how well the truth works. :)

Anyway, very long story short...here's a video of a young LDS girl at Harvard answering questions about her religion at what appears to be a multi-religion conference. I think she does amazing.


Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

Artful Bras

I got this from Whitney and Aubrey's new blog, Hot Chocolate Talk. They're from an exhibit called "Ode to Breast Cancer" and, after the exhibit ends, will be auctioned off with proceeds donated to the Best Chance Network. Way to go Quilters of South Carolina!

My Favorites:

Actually Cute - Buttons and Bows and Boobs

Cracked Me Up (I'm pretty well endowed) - Look at Them Melons

Would Really Creep Me Out If My Husband Found In Any Way Attractive - Duckbill Mountains

Mitch Hedberg

Just thought I'd leave you with some Mitch for the weekend. He's my favorite comedian. I'm not exactly sure why he just seems so nice.

Heroes

OK so a lengthy paper to write, lab notebook to turn in and a broken work computer have slowed me down this week.

Note to self: NEVER get a virus on work computer again!!!!!

But this is pretty cool.