I’m a weather geek… April 7, 2009

I think I’ve up’d my Girl Geek quotient quite a bit tonight. I have become an officially trained Skywarn storm spotter.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with weather. I was terrified of storms as a kid, yet, they intrigued me.  As I got older, I became the kid that watched the news, waiting in anticipation for the weather report. And as I grew into adulthood, I was the girl that could watch The Weather Channel all day long.

Along the way, I’ve learned the lingo, how to differentiate between the different cloud types, and even how to identify certain features on a weather map and radar.

So imagine my delight when, about 3 weeks ago, across my Twitter feed came a tweet from WEWS News Channel 5 that the National Weather Service in Cleveland would be offering Skywarn training for amateur spotters in my area.  Of course I signed up!

So tonight at Lakeland Community College, I completed my training and received my very authoritative-looking Skywarn spotter card complete with my spotter ID on it

So..when the snow FINALLY quits falling in Cleveland, and April showers usher in May flowers – watch out thunderstorms – Kristin’s reporting for duty!

Golden June 26, 2007

She’s alone tonight,
With a bitter cup and,
She’s undone tonight,
She’s all used up, She’s been staring down the demons,
Who’ve been screaming she’s just another so and so,
Another so and so

You are golden,
You are golden, Child

You are golden,
Don’t let go,
Don’t let go tonight

There’s a fear that burns,
Like trash inside
And you’re ashamed of the curse,
That burns your eyes

You’ve been hiding in your bedroom,
Hoping this isn’t how the story has to go
It’s not the way it goes, It’s your book now,

You’re Golden,
You are golden, Child

You are golden,
Don’t let go,
Don’t let go tonight

You’re a lonely soul,
Inlet of broken hearts
You’re far from home,
It’s a perfect place to start

So this final verse,
Is a contradiction
And the more we learn,
The less we know

We’ve been talkin’ about a feeling,
We both know inside but couldn’t find the words
I couldn’t write this verse,
I’ve seldom been so sure,
’bout anything before

Golden,
You are Golden, Child

You are Golden,
Don’t let go,
Don’t let go tonight

This world is a dead man down (Golden, you are,)
Every breath is a fading crown we wear, (Golden, Child, you are,)
Like some debilitated king, (Golden, don’t let go,)
Don’t let go tonight

Earth Spins and the moon goes round’ (Golden, you are,)
Green comes on the frozen ground, (Golden, Child, you are,)
And everything will be made new again, (Golden,)
Like freedom and spring, (Golden, Golden,)
Hey, like freedom and spring, (Golden, you are, hey,)
Like freedom and spring (Golden, Child, you are,)

~ Switchfoot

Super Woman I am not! April 19, 2007

It was 7:51 am this morning, and I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup. My Blackberry started chirping, so I looked and saw an email from Jaidin’s babysitter Amber.

This is what it said:

This is really funny…if you have a family picture, can you let us have one? I have a wall down here where all the kids have their family pictures and I was bugging you for awhile…I know it’s hard with Jaidin going to 2 different schools and all the things you have to remember…anyways…Jaidin wanted her picture up there, so one day I took a picture of just her and she asked me if she could stand by the turtles so they could be her family. LOL. I was laughing so hard. Next time you’re downstairs, you’ll have to see on our Family Wall, I have a picture of Jaidin (really cute) standing on the stool proudly next to the turtles. LOL. If you think of it, send us a “real” family picture! (although the other kids are very jealous that Jaidin gets a picture with the turtles) Very funny girl.

Amber

She HAD been asking me to bring in a picture of our family ( um…for like the last 3 months ),but I just kept forgetting. How bad did I feel? My poor daughter having to pose with the turtles because her mommy can’t remember to take in a family picture. A few months ago, I would have really beat myself up for being a “bad mom”. In fact, I cried all the way to work one day about 6 months ago because I forgot it was Show and Tell day ( for like the 3rd week in a row) and Jaidin didn’t pack anything to show to her class. Talk about working mom condemnation!

But I’ve gotten over that. I’ve gotten over myself. I’m not Super Mom, and I’m not Super Woman. And if the worst disappointment my daughter experiences at age 4 is that I forget to take a family picture to the babysitter’s, then in actuality, I guess I’m doing pretty good. But I doubt she was even disappointed…I bet she thought her “turtle family” was pretty cool…and I think she’s pretty ingenious for thinking that one up!

So today, I was able to laugh this one off…with thoughts of a little girl with a crazy imagination, and a mom who is finally learning to give herself a break.

Not to mention…red spandex is a real fashion faux pas….

SCARED November 15, 2006

In less than 12 short hours, I’ll be asleep on the operating table for my 14th, and hopefully LAST, surgery.

And I’m scared.

It’s a weird feeling for me. Usually I’m rather calm before these things. I’ve been under the knife enough to know what to expect. I’m practically a professional patient, and I’ve spent enough time in the hospital to be comfortable there. I know what’s expected of me before I can be discharged, and I do it. But it’s not any of these things that has me scared.
I’m scared because….get this…they may have to resight my stoma!
(go ahead and gasp in horror now…)

I realize, in the grand scheme of things, this is probably a small worry, considering all the other things that could go wrong in a surgery. But for an ostomate…well.. See, I’ve had difficult stomas in the past. And they make life a living hell. The stoma I have now is a peach! Perfect size, easy to pouch ( I NEVER have problems with pouching or leaks), in a great location on my abdomen ( low on the right side of my belly…easy to conceal), yada yada. I am terrified I am going to wake up with a retracted stoma, high on the left side of my stomach!
I feel selfish for even worrying about it. Many of my ostomy friends deal with difficult stomas and many other problems that make my given situation seem hardly something to freak about. But I’m REALLY stressed about this. I’ve been nasty all day..to Jon..to everyone. And seeing the plastic surgeon and hearing his long term outlook on the success of the hernia repair didn’t help. He was less than optimistic. So, basically, I could go through this whole ordeal and not even achieve a positive outcome…which is the whole point to doing this.
I’m trying to keep my peace, and trust in the Lord. I know that He is ultimately in control and that no matter the outcome, He works ALL things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. I know He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of love, peace and a sound mind. And I know that if there is an obstacle to overcome in the future, He’ll provide the strength to conquer it.

Still…sometimes I wish I could shut my mind off!

Out of the Closet September 22, 2006

Well…all of greater Cleveland has now seen my bag!

I just finished watching myself on TV . Back in May I was invited to be a part of a medical show produced by the local NBC affiliate and sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic. It was focusing on digestive disorders and being restored to health. Here’s a blurb on the show off the Clinic’s website:

Here’s a blurb about the show from the Cleveland Clinic website:

“Most of us don’t give a second thought to the complex digestive processes that take place every time we enjoy a meal. However, for patients with a gastrointestinal disease, digestion is synonymous with frustration. Discover how three patients restore a vital function during Medical Miracles: Renewed Confidence.
Observe a local physician who undergoes minimally invasive surgery to end a bout with searing abdominal pain; watch a revolutionary, outpatient procedure to heal a patient’s pre-cancerous esophagus; and share in the bittersweet joy ostomy patients experience when they learn to adjust to life with a permanent stoma.”

FYI…I’m the ostomy patient experiencing “bittersweet joy” as I learn to adjust to life with a stoma. LOL…kinda cheesy,but whatever..

So anyhow, we just saw the show, and it turned out pretty good. I was a bit terrified all day, because I hadn’t seen the finished product . While filming, they did get some shots of my belly, bag and all, and it really hit home this morning that in a few hours, the whole Cleveland metropolitan area would get a gander at my goods. But not to worry…it was edited very tastefully. No head on shots of the pouch, just some shots from over my shoulder as the nurse was examining me. No biggie! I’m really proud of the producer of the show. He made sure that ostomies were described simply and correctly, and I think this piece of media will (has) do alot to educate the public that ostomy surgery is not the end of life, but really an opportunity for a new beginning. At least it was for me, and the others in the program.

I have never been one to hide the fact that I have a stoma. All my friends know about it, and I talk about it freely to strangers too. But I guess now I’m officially “out of the closet” considering it has been broadcast city wide. Hmmm….

In hopes of capturing my thoughts… August 17, 2006

I’ve created this blog as a place for me to come and be forthright and honest about what’s really on my mind.

A therapy of sorts…