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July 27, 2006
The Stargate experience
My doctor sent me on a journey through the Stargate! (At least, that's what it looked like!)
Yes, I had a weird experience yesterday. As a result of my "executive physical exam" a few weeks ago, my doctor recommended a few tests. One test, yet to be administered, is to measure bone density. I suspect that I might need to be treated for osteoporosis just like my sister, Nancy. It apparently runs in the family.
Before I go on to tell about the Stargate experience, I want to add to anyone who reads this who is genetically related to me and my mother's side of the family, you all need to get tested to find out if you have the kind of arteries that are likely to slough off plaque. During my physical exam, the doctor asked me about all of my relatives who have passed away. Specifically, all of Mom's brothers, who died at very early ages of heart attacks. The doctor tested me for this arterial genetic predisposition, and of course I tested positive. She said that this tendency can be corrected by taking one 81mg strength aspirin a day. And she also mentioned a b-complex vitamin. I am now taking both. If you have this genetic predisposition, it doesn't matter what your diet is, or how much you exercise, you could develop heart disease or have a heart attack because your arteries have a tendency to dislodge plaque. I'm not clear on how the aspirin helps, but my doctor says it does.
Anyway, on with our story: I was forced to drive all the way to Canton for a particular test, which is called a spiral ct scan. It was checking to see if I had any blood clots in my chest or abdomen. Our insurance is not a very convenient one to have if you live in our county. Most of the hospitals and health centers that accept it are in neighboring counties. If I wanted to have another baby (for example) I wouldn't be having it here at my local hospital, which is less than a mile from my house. No, I'd have to drive 45 minutes or so. Fortunately, we probably won't be having any more babies, at least for awhile!)
I arrived, and was informed that they would be injecting some weird iodine dye into my bloodstream. Ack! My doctor hadn't informed me. So I had to see a nurse who hooked up an IV with a saline solution.
Then, I saw the machine-it looked exactly like a somewhat smaller version of the Stargate from the movie/TV show! It even revolved just like the movie version. Whoa! The nurses were extremely nice, and warned me what it would feel like to have the dye injected. They were right, it was quite horrible. It was very hot, and I felt a great amount of pressure in my chest. It created a metallic taste in my mouth. Some people are allergic to the dye, fortunately I did not have an allergic reaction, but I am not eager to have another visit to the Stargate. I was raised up on a platform, and had my legs taped together so that they wouldn't move and spoil the scan.
This machine took lots of pictures of my chest and abdomen, and it looks like everything is okay. Hurrah!
Posted by Jessica at 11:46 PM | Comments (4)
July 18, 2006
The "new" saddle
The "new" saddle is actully an old, used saddle-I've no idea quite how old. However, it fits Kai like a glove and is the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden in. Hurrah!
We are working on our trot, but I am lazy and it has been really, really hot outside. So our trot work has been progressing slowly, but I've noticed improvement almost every time I ride.
It doesn't help that Kai spent ten years as a pasture ornament before I bought him, and I have spent the past several years not riding at all (unless you count those guided "trail rides.")
It's a good thing that Kai is such a kind and gentle horse! Derek loves to groom him. He has his own grooming brush, and I hold him up so that he won't get stepped on.
Kai patiently accepts me trying on all manner of tack and equipment and experimenting with different saddles. I have just today started using the splint boots that I bought years and years ago for a horse that they didn't fit (the only non-Arabian I ever owned.) Of course, I have learned that the more stuff you tack up the horse with, the more stuff there is to remove, clean and store away when you are done riding!
Posted by Jessica at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
Pirates...Argh!
My brother joked that when "Pirates of the Caribbean II" broke the box office record, I must have accounted personally for at least $23 million of the receipts! However, I didn't even get to see the movie until last weekend, when my friend Cheryl's daughter was kind enough to babysit Derek for a few hours. (Thanks, Shannon!)
Brian and I went to see "Dead Man's Chest" last week. Let's just say it was a bit of a disappointment, but we were prepared for it to not live up to the original. At least, I didn't figure that it could, so I went into the movie a skeptic, and the movie didn't do anything to make me change my mind.
Of the three "heroes", two of them end up looking like real jerks most of the time. They don't seem that far removed from the bad guys, which is a disappointment, since I really want to like Captain Jack. He's such a great character.
There are some amusing cartoonish adventure sequences (Captain Jack and the band of pirates have been captured by cannibals, so there are some extremely amusing scenes that would be right at home in a comic book.)
Unfortunately, much of the film is very dark and there is so much back-stabbing going on that you wonder at the end of it why on earth anyone would *want* to quest to save Captain Jack.
Fortunately for the financial backers of the films, they do gain my attention at the very end of the film, and I will definitely be first in line to see "Number III" as I wouldn't miss any potential monologues by one of my favourite characters, who makes a dramatic re-entry into the story.
"Pirates" is fun, but my favourite is still the original.
Posted by Jessica at 02:09 PM | Comments (0)