Spell Check

Most every time I write something here ... or anywhere, I suddenly forget how to spell. It's driving me crazy. I have to stop and go to dictionary.com to check. Does this happen to any one else? There's no spell checker in Blogger, so I have to go on "that just doesn't look right." In a previous post, I had to check the spelling of "feminine."

How about this one, gnat? Who came up with the idea to make the "g" silent? Why not just spell it n_a_t? I tried looking it up in the dictionary and couldn't find it. No wonder, it was under "g." By the way, those things hatch in our offices when it gets warm and drive us crazy. They like to fly into your mouth and nose. Very pleasant.

Bathroom Pretties

I really liked my friend, John Vano's, blog posts about bathroom signs in men's rooms. In sort of keeping with this theme, I thought I'd show you what women see in our bathrooms. Don't worry it's not going to be gross--just feminine. It's still not what you're thinking.

Where I work, we like to add decor to our bathrooms. It adds cheer and keeps the room from being so sterile. We even have fancy soap. This month, our theme is Valentine's Day. Aren't these cute? Wait till you see what we'll have in April for Easter!

Lovely Lips?

I'm not sure why I post uncomplimentary pictures of myself, but I do. I just couldn't resist. I bought some new lipstick from the drug store and was looking for a brownish color. When I put this on, it looked more red. Plus, it highlights my thin lips. Not pretty.

This is supposed to be all day lipcolor. Look what happens after it's been on for 30 minutes.


The other funny thing about this lipstick is that I applied it without looking in a mirror. I went to meetings without knowing how hideous I looked! See any similarities in the two pictures below?

This Inauguration Day -- January 20, 2009

I didn't vote for Obama, but regardless, he was elected as our 44th President of the United States. My prayers are with him as he leads our country and I have hope that he will make a difference. Today was definitely a historical day.

I went with two friends from work to a lunch spot that had giant screen TVs so that we could watch the swearing in ceremony. Mr. Obama is a great orator--no doubt about it. I felt like I was part of history by just watching.

I also watched tonight as George W. Bush arrived back home in Texas and gave a speech. He said he is looking forward to writing a book about his years as president--especially the more difficult days. He said that history will show why he made the decisions he made. He said he comes home to Texas with his head held high. I look forward to that book, Mr. Bush.

Check out the video of his speech:

Just My Luck

Does this kind of stuff happen to you? I'm getting ready to go out to dinner with a friend. I'm dressed and I go to put some lotion on my hands. It's from a sample tube that my dermatologist gave me. I had to squeeze pretty hard. What happens? It squirts out on my black sweater!



My first attempt to wipe it off resulted in smearing and actually rubbing the cream into the fibers more. I quickly got a baby wipe and tried to get it out. It worked pretty well. You could barely see the smear. No one was one the wiser. I could have changed the sweater, but hey, why mess up another one?

Brrrrrrrr

I grew up in Maryland and we had our share of cold winters. But, I just can't get warm down here in Atlanta during this artic blast! My dad must have kept our homes pretty comfortable because I don't remember having to dress like this!

Melanoma Scare

I used to worship the sun when I was a teen and in my early 20's. I'd lather up with oil (SPF 4) and try and get tanned. The problem is that my skin is fair and I always ended up getting burned. As a result of all those hours baking in the sun, I've made my skin more prone to skin cancer.

Two years ago my dermatologist didn't like a spot she saw on my back. I had it removed and it turned out to be melanoma. Melanoma is nothing to laugh at. People die from it. Now I need to go in at least twice a year for full body checks for other suspicious spots. She's found a few she didn't like and removed them--they've turned out not to be cancerous.

Today I went in to see my doctor, Diane Duvall, for a full body skin examine. I hadn't been to see her in two years. When they find skin cancer, you're supposed to go in for yearly body exams. I knew she'd scold me and she did, but she reprimanded me in a nice way. She asked me why I hadn't been back to see her for two years. She told me to be honest. So I told her that I didn't like getting cut, and the healing process was painful and gross. She listened. Do you know how much I appreciated her listening? I don't drive 25 miles each way just because she's the only doc in Atlanta. I go to her because a) she's good and b) she cares. My daughter also likes and trusts her.

Dr. Duvall and her assistant, Tameka

She explained that if I would come in more regularly, it would actually reduce the amount of cutting she has to do. When you go in for a full body skin exam, they check your skin for moles and suspicious spots that appear irregular. They measure them and document them. Then, the next time you come in for an exam, they measure the same spots to see if they've grown. If they've remained the same size, chances are they won't need to scoop them out.

She even checks between your toes! Thorough!

I'd put off coming back to see her because on my last visit she didn't like a mole she saw and said on my next visit she'd cut it out. Well, today, after our discussion on my aversion to cutting out spots, she said that the mole hadn't changed and we could just "keep an eye" on it. Whew! I was so relieved!

My point is. Use sun screen. Take it seriously. Some people might still be alive today if they had. And, get checked out by a dermatologist.

They use these nifty computer notebooks to take notes.

She also wears the coolest shoes!

IKEA Adventure

My daughter and I wanted a cabinet for her bathroom. Ikea--that's the ticket, we thought. We had never been in an Ikea before. We ventured there alone, no expert to guide us. (If you're familiar with how Ikea works, than you know where I'm headed with this.)

Our shopping trip was not quite an adventure. It was more like a nightmare. You know, the kind where you're lost and can't find your way and you stand there spinning in circles while hordes of people pass you by?


We found the entrance, but no signs inside tell you where to go. We found the checkouts, but couldn't figure out how to get on the other side of them to shop. An employee instructed us to go the Marketplace and pointed us in the right direction. After trying out all the elevators to the parking lots, we found what we thought was the shopping area which was supposed to lead to the Marketplace.


We couldn't figure out what floor we were on! They had maps, but NONE of them marked "You Are Here."


We turned in circles, we found the restrooms, and finally followed the arrows on the floor. We walked through the ENTIRE store. We asked another employee if they had bathroom cabinets. "No," she replied. We were growing more and more frustrated (and hot). My hip was tightening up. We wanted out of there!


Now we find another warehouse area. We have no idea what you do here. Our goal was to get out! Find the checkouts and get out!

Finally, the checkouts are in sight. And we're out of there. Afterwards, we talked to my brother--he knows how Ikea works. It turns out that Ikea has a system, but you have to somehow know the system. Once he explained it, it all made sense. But come on, how about some instructions for newbies!? I guess that's how the Swedish think! A word to the wise, learn the Ikea system before going shopping there, or take a personal guide to show you the way.