I light my torch and wave it

With all the excitement of yesterday, I forgot to post this in celebration of the full moon. On a Monday.

The first cut is the deepest

Actually it wasn't deep enough. I went in today for a consult with a
new dermatologist. Yeah, consult/schmonsult. She dug right in there.
But before she did, she explained everything. (Unlike my original
doctor, who was probably distracted by the deep furrowing line in my
forehead) On the scale of mild, moderate and severe, my mole was
moderate. Precancerous. But everything should be fine, and she said
she took enough out to test, and hopefully enough so she won't have to
go back in. If I could understand the pathology report, which might as
well have been written in Mandarin Chinese, I could tell you more
about the traces of cells. No strenuous activity or heavy lifting for
2 weeks. And once all those shots of litocain wear off, I am probably
going to need a Vicodin.
I'll have my results in 2 weeks. So think happy thoughts, and WEAR
YOUR SUNSCREEN!!!

Out, Out Damned Spot

Well, I got my test results from my mole. I have to go back for an excision. Yay!

I Don't Like Sundays

It always happens around 3 in the afternoon on a Sunday. I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach. Ugh. I have to go to work tomorrow. I try and keep myself occupied so I don’t think about it. Stay busy and have fun. Not too much fun though, it is a school night, after all. Damn! Now I am thinking about it again. Work. That commute, fighting slow drivers and suicidal squirrels. Why do morning DJ’s think they are so funny? All to get to that office. Where work is. Can’t be late. Gotta be at my desk at 9. No later than 9. Because that is when the phone rings. And work begins. Someone needs help.
One day down. Four more to go.

I am so random

Ok, thanks Paige. I was wondering about what to post today, and you solved my temporary dilemma.
Here are 8 random facts about me.

1. I saw a commercial the other night for Monster Ballads Platinum Edition, a 2-disc set of the 32 greatest rock ballads from the 80s. I almost called the number and ordered it on the spot. I didn’t, but I might just have to order it online. I am a sucker for monster ballads of the 80s. AND, the drummer of one of the featured bands had my mom for math in high school. She said he wasn’t very good at math, but maybe you don’t know what you got (till it’s gone).

2. In spite of being exposed by my sister, all of my cousins and my friend Jennifer, I have never had the chicken pox. I had to get immunized against it a couple years ago.

3. For the first 6-½ months of my life, my name was Sharon. Then I almost ended up Hazel, Marcelle or Madeline.

4. I was on ESPN when I was 14, carrying the Canadian flag during the national anthem. Hartford Whalers v. New York Rangers. The singer was standing right next to me (he was actually in MY spot). When I lowered the flag, it totally blocked the camera shot of him, so I can only imagine the scrambling in the booth and names I was called as they switched cameras to show him off to his best advantage.

5. My favorite city is Washington, D.C. I love to walk through the American History Museum and visit the monuments.

6. My favorite pizza is mushroom and onion from Cortese’s in Binghamton. I also LOVE their house Italian salad dressing.

7. I watched part of Demolition Man today. Again, I don’t know why.

8. I love trivia, and I have a million worthless bits of it in my head. I have finished a game of Pop Culture Trivial Pursuit in one turn.

So here’s the deal. Now that I've answered these questions, I have to tag eight more people. I am new to this blog world so I only have 4 to tag. Nancy, Paige, Mamie, Bill.

Here are the rules: Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Tears and mascara don't mix

Two stiffs, 16 points. Godspeed Tammy Faye.

So much for my mental health

I had a doctor’s appointment, so I took a whole sick day and called it my mental health day. I slept late, and took my time getting myself ready and out the door to the dermatologist for my annual mole sweep. I have to be careful, because I am very fair and will fry like bacon without at least spf 45 (55 on my face).
As it turns out, the one spot I was worried about was fine. Not so much a mole on my back, which he deemed questionable and promptly shaved right off to be tested! Super. Now I have that to worry about.
Then, he asked me about my feet. I had some heel problems last year. I told him they were fine, and I get pedicures every two weeks, so any dry skin is scrubbed right off. And this kindly old gentleman looked at me and said, “You know, you can continue to use that lotion I prescribed and save the money from pedicures for a Botox treatment to get rid of that line on your forehead.”
You mean that line that appears as my eyebrows shoot up to express the “Are you fucking kidding me?” thoughts racing through my brain?!?!?
As if reading my mind, he quietly said, “But you probably enjoy pedicures.” A hell of a lot more than having botulism injected into my forehead for no reason, that is for sure!
At least tomorrow is one day closer to Friday. Sigh. I need a drink.

Jour de Bastille!

When I went to France in high school, I bought a sweatshirt for the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day 1789-1989. A cheesy souvenier, perfect for the tourists. Imagine my surprise when I got home and was at the mall and found this poster of Kip Winger. WEARING MY SHIRT! Granted, in a more rocker, hair band kind of way, but still, Kip Winger and I had the same shirt. And almost the same hair.
I am off to celebrate the independence of my people. Liberte, Egalite and Fraternite for all, which is delicious with some fromage and a bit of the bubbly. Viva la France!

Perk me up before you go-go

I must admit to a general malaise today. I don’t know why. It’s Friday, the sun is out and the boss is out of town — all elements that would usually make for a great day. But, I am in a funk. And my lucky bamboo is dying. That CAN’T be a good sign. To stop myself from putting my head down and taking a nap, I came up with a little Friday-Pick-Me-Up Playlist. Which really means theses are the songs on my iPod that I didn’t skip over. Most of them are my silly 80s songs, but that is what is so great about them — shiny happy tunes that always bring a smile.
Enjoy!

Hold Me Menudo
Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go Wham!
Are you Gonna Go my Way? Lenny Kravitz
Shake your Love Debbie Gibson
A Little Less Conversation Elvis Presley
Church of the Poisoned Mind Culture Club
Radio Ga Ga Queen
Make a Circuit With Me Polecats
The King of Bedside Manor Barenaked Ladies
The Metro Berlin
Love it When You Call The Feeling
Celebrity Skin Hole
Wind it Up Barenaked Ladies
Raspberry Beret Prince

Now, I must admit to feeling a little better. And it’s almost quittin’ time!

This Hand Basket is Cozy

Yes, to answer the question I’ve been asked three times already today. Yes, Lady Bird Johnson was on “my list.” She was number 4. I now have 1 stiff and 7 points. I know. I’m going to hell.
I’ll see you there.

But is it Historically Accurate?

My mom was cleaning stuff out of their house (FINALLY) recently, and she said she came across something I had written when I as little. She said I would get a kick out of it, so she mailed it to me. Here it is, a report on George Washington that I wrote in 1979. (The spelling errors are as is. Hey, I was only 8)

George Washington was born on February 22nd 1732. He went to lots of battles. George was a brave man. The land use too belong to England. But the french wanted our land. And they had a fight. And the french lost the fight. And the English won the fight. George was in that fight. He helped the English win. One day he left his wife and kids because he had to go to the Revolutionary War. The war was betwen England and Amerrca.

Riveting stuff, huh?? When my mom showed it to my dad, he said, “Well, you can tell she wanted to be a writer.” I don’t know if you could make that conclusion based on this report. I can picture myself writing it out with one of those huge pencils we had at school, trying to be careful with my printing and staying on the lines. Is that a lower case b? Could be, could be an o too close to an l.
But my dad was right. In between wanting to be a movie star or a ballerina (even though I never took lessons and am as graceful as a giraffe in roller skates), I was always writing something. Little stories or parts of stories; I even wrote a whole play when I was in the 6th grade. Snow White and the One Dwarf, which was acted out brilliantly by myself, my sister Jen and our friend Marie.
Fast forward to today, and in addition to magazine articles, I still write little stories and parts of stories, always planning to flush them out. I have notebooks full of half thought-out plots and ideas. When an idea gets in my head, I have to get it down on paper before I can do anything else. It’s in my blood, and I love it. And I have finally taken my friend Paige’s advice and set up my very own blog to hopefully write even more stuff that people might read. It’ll be a mix of different things, and I hope you like it. I promise to do my subjects more justice than poor George and all his fights.