Still Seeing Strong

Indifferently, I walk into my eye appointment - at this point I have already mentally prepared myself for the worst.  The assistant shows me back and has me take an eye test.  It seems every time I do this those little tiny letters get harder and harder to see. I just end up guessing based on the shape.  I think that's how you know you really are getting older.  He laughs at my inability to guess the right letter.  Next, he puts numbing drops in my eyes and pokes at them with a stick.  Asks A LOT of questions, writes everything down, smiles and leaves. In walks the doctor...

Dr:  Hi Amber.  How are you?  Your chart says you have a bump on your eye?
Amber:  Hello, I am fine.  Yes, I have this bump on the white of my eye. Sometimes it's big and itchy and hits my eyelid when I blink and sometimes I hardly notice it.  I am super nervous about it and need to make sure it's nothing serious.  By the way, your assistant made my eyes numb and they feel really weird.
Dr: Ha, yes it is a weird feeling. The numbness will wear off soon. Ok, I see what you're talking about.  Let's take a closer look.
(He then proceeds to poke, flash lights and look very closely into my eye with his very large microscope.  Then rolls back in his chair and looks straight at me.)
Dr: You have pteryguim.
Amber: Oh
Dr:  Pteryguim is sun damage on your eye caused by over exposure to sun, wind, dust and dry climates.  We see this a lot in people from dry areas.
Amber:  Like Utah?
Dr:  Yep, Utah is a great example.
(Amber and the Dr talk about how she is from Utah and her bump inflammed on her last trip back for Christmas.  And that she actually has already been diagnosed with this, but freaked out and needed to be sure.  The Dr informs Amber that people from these types of climates need to use extra precautions with there eyes.)
Amber:  So what do I do?
Dr:  There isn't much you can do.  It's kind of like a freckle on your skin, it's there but it shouldn't change.
Amber:  So will this grow over my entire eye?
Dr: No.... I am confident that won't happen.
Amber: But if it does grow over my entire eye, then what will you do?
Dr: I don't think it will, but if it did I would remove it.
Amber:  Oh, so surgery can remove it if that happens.  Ok.  Well sun damage on your skin can turn into skin cancer.  Can sun damage on your eye turn into eye cancer?
Dr:  I am 95% positive this will not turn into cancer on your eye.
Amber:  But if it were to, is there anything you can do?
Dr:  Yes, there is treatment for that, but I have been doing this for 15 years and have never seen pteryguim turn into cancer.
Amber:  OK
Dr:  Keep your eyes covered in the sun.  When it's windy make sure you protect them from dust and when they get dry use eye drops and you shouldn't have any problems.
Amber:  That's it?
Dr:  Do you want steroids?
Amber:  Not really - I prefer to grow my muscles naturally.
Dr:  I mean for your eye.  You can fill the prescription it if it inflames again and it will bring down the swelling.
Amber:  Oh.  Right.  Sure.
Dr:  Ok, I don't think you need a follow up unless you have any problems.
Amber:  Alright I will be sure to come back if it grows over my eye.
Dr:  Ok! See you then.
Amber:  Uhhh... what?
Dr: Just kidding.
Amber:  That's not funny and my eyes are still numb.  Weird.

So I am as good as new... or as good as new plus a freckle.  Now, I definitely need some new sunglasses!

What goes up...

... must come down.

It may or may not be time to take my Christmas decorations down.  But it probably is.

My Christmas tree went up on November 7, 2009 - the day I got back to Oregon from a 40 day trip to Utah.  I knew I would spend the majority of the holidays back in Utah, so I thought there was plenty of reason to put the tree up pre-Thanksgiving.  But today, January 14, 2010 - 67 days later - it still stands with no good reason except that I love to look at it, it has basically become a part of me, and I am fearing the time it will take to put all the ornaments away.  But alas, all good things must come to an end and the time has come to make room for Valentines day so I will say goodbye, until next year....

I will miss you Christmas tree!

Eye hate waiting

Remember the freaky bump that popped out of my eye 2 years ago and had me positive I would soon be picking out a wooden eye? (If you missed it, you can read my old posts here).

Well.... He's back!  Remember when I said how important sunglasses are?  I must have forgotten.  About 2 weeks ago, while I was in Utah for Christmas,  the bump came back.  At first it didn't alarm me knowing it had happened before and knowing the previous doctor said it could inflame again if it was irritated.  I committed to going to the doctor when I got home. 

Well here I am a week after I arriving in Oregon, appointment scheduled for Friday the 15th and officially terrified out of my mind (again) that it's something new that will take over my entire eye.  Saturday after an awesome workout a few people from the gym went to lunch.  A conversation started with one of our trainers about a condition she has in her eye.  She has a rare eye cancer that she has treated with chemo and dry ice every couple years.  Literally in the middle of the conversation I thought I might have a panic attack wondering if I have the same thing and thinking how amazingly positive she is.   I had her look at my eye and heard the words I was REALLY hoping wouldn't come out of her mouth, "Yeah, that's how mine started."

Fabulous. Now I wait for Friday.

Dear 2010,

Let's start this year, also this decade, off right by telling 2010 exactly what I expect out of it.  I mean you can't be disappointed if you haven't set expectations, right?

2010, here is what I need from you -

1. I would like to ask that you use special care when it comes to my feelings.  Heaven knows I am an emotional shopper and since I have decided not to shop this year, I need you to take it easy.
2. I plan on running a marathon in May.  I should stop saying planning on it and just say, I am running a marathon in May since I already paid too much to the man to map out a 26- mile run of death.  2010, I am not sure how you can help with this, but figure it out cause I need help.
3. I need to schedule a really awesome vacation.  That is an expectation that is non negotiable so let's get on that.
4. I would like to make a quilt this year.  If that one turns out well, maybe I will make another.  Yes, that sounds fun.
5. I need to organize my shoes. I have been thinking about this for a year and a half now.  Let's just do it already!!
6. Shannon is going to have a baby... so I would like to put in a request to you, 2010, to take it easy on her as well.

I think that's all I have right now, so there it is... expectations have been set.  Happy New Year!

Introducing...

Alright, here is goes.  I am starting a new blog, a supplement to this blog, not a replacement.  My new blog with follow my year long challenge of no shopping...
I was hoping to be further along on the design and personal content before I wrote this post, but I just didn't make it!  With that said and understanding that the design will probably change a few more times, check out my new blog!  http://www.lifewithoutshopping.com/... and wish me luck!! :-)

At Christmas Time

Right now it's snowing my favorite snow.  The perfect Utah dry snow that sparkles in the sun as it falls through the sky then lands on the ground snowflake still intact.  It crunches under your feet as you walk, but don't walk through it!!  It ruins the smooth almost magical palate.  As a little girl I used to go crazy when people would walk through our front yard and ruin the beautiful snow dusted landscape.  I would insist that we play in the back yard or a friend's yard as if the snow was a piece of art created just for me (see my craziness started young). Growing up in Utah I remember very few Christmas's without snow, a few with so much snow we couldn't even leave the house and many perfect Christmas days with the sun shining and the snow sparkling.

2009... hasn't it been quite the year? Good and bad; we have seen, felt and lived through it.  As we find ourselves only hours before the Christmas holiday, as we prepare for friends and family and the celebration of the season I hope we remember the true meaning of the holiday.  I hope we remember the gift of Christmas isn't wrapped up in presents. The gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ.  Oh how grateful I am for Jesus Christ, his life, his service, his example.  

Wishing you a safe a very happy Christmas! (...whether you have snow or not).

The Falls are Frozen!

For the last couple weeks Oregonians have been enjoying beautiful blue skies and FREEZING temperatures!  Oh boy do I love winter clothes, but winter temperatures... no thank you! 

The temperature dropped so much that Multnomah Falls froze!  When Deneal and I heard this news, we thought that was a sight that we could not miss.  Saturday, after a CRAZY new workout which may or may not be discussed later, Deneal and I thought we better hurry and see the frozen water before the constant threat of valley snow actually came to pass and the city shut down.

Now, let's discuss this adventure. Not once did it cross my mind the kind of seriously freezing temperatures it would take to freeze a 620 foot waterfall.  You see, that same day the Columbia River Gorge (where the falls are located) was experiencing an Oregon mistlike rain. Putting all this together, one may have come to the conclusion that those same freezing temperatures may also freeze this mist that has fallen on the roads and all walkways.  But NOT US!

About 15 miles from the falls driving on 1-84 we were stopped by cops as they cleared a 7 car crash.  We wondered to each other how this happened as we passed the scene hoping that everyone was ok.  Minutes later my car began sliding into the left lane, back to the right and into the left again. Black ice had gotten us the best of us - tricky! If you know Deneal or I, you are now thinking... I bet they were screaming while telling each other the best way to stop the sliding.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  I did my best to correct the sliding and slow the car, Deneal calmly told me she was going to put my car in neutral.  We ended up back in our lane sucessfully avoiding any car crash!  Woo!  The rest of the trip happened at about 35 mph with hazard lights.  Finally we made it to the falls - it was incredible! We even slipped and slid our way to the bridge in the middle for a closer look.

Originally we had planned to have lunch at the falls, but after we froze our buns off and given the close call on the way out, we decided we had better get back as soon as possible.  We arrived home safe and sound - disaster adverted, adventure totally worth it!  The snow still has not arrived, but the sun is gone, the rain is here and the temperature back up!  Happy Winter!