Ker-time-travel!

Ker-time-travel is a great sound.

I hear that this is also something Jesse would enjoy. Maybe we should keep it in mind for his birthday.

But this is my favorite for many, many reasons. Okay, two: I love the show The Nanny, and I constantly repeat that line from Deuce Bigalow, European Jigalo [sp] that goes, "Hi, I'm Deuce Big-gest lady I've ever seen!"

Yes, this is the Amanda you never knew.

How I made it through the weekend

First off, I left work at 5:30pm (woah, early) on Friday so that Jesse and I could head off to Cirque du Soleil. Let me just say, for the record, that I am a serious Cirque critic. I had seen six of their shows (Nouvelle Experience, Quidam, Dralion, O, Varekai, La Nouba) before Friday, and with the exception of La Nouba, the quality of the shows had been draining since Quidam. So, off we went, and I was so excited -- even though I only half-expected to be impressed.

But woah, nelly! As soon as we walked into the Big Top (le grand chapiteau), we knew we were in for a treat! What beautiful set design. It was very elegant with a Victorian flare -- there was a scrim painted with heavy "curtains," cherubim and seraphim.. and there were beautiful antique candellabra, and strings of dim light bulbs ... anyway, I think you probably had to be there. If you've seen any Cirque shows before, you probably wouldn't expect such a heavy-looking atmosphere. It's usually very modern and ephemeral. We sat there, tittering and nearly bouncing in our seats, we were so excited to see what else was next -- you'd think, at this point, that we were just in for a royal let-down, but noooooo... it was awesome. That's all. Just beautiful. After six or seven Cirque performances, you're used to the jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts, and the superb performances.. but the costumes! The lighting! The style and design of it all.. it was so impressive.

So, when you see one of those big Corteo billboards (if they're coming to your town, you will), just know that their little advertisement drawing doesn't do the show any justice whatsoever. It's a gorgeous show. I wouldn't say it has the most amazing stunts (not that the stunts aren't fantastic -- just that other shows are stronger in that area), but it is on the top of the list for Cirque beauty. There are some visuals in Corteo that make you think giddy thoughts like, "Wow, why isn't the world like this all the time?" and "I feel like the luckiest kid on earth! This is like a fairy tale!"

So, go see it. It's expensive (all Cirque shows are, and it's only getting worse), but I have to say ... it's worth it. (Not that I paid for it, because it was a Christmas present from Jesse... but you know what I mean)

...and now we move on to the part of the post I like to call, "the rest of my weekend" -- the other 48 hours of the weekend, as compared to the 3 hours of Cirque du Soleil, will only take 2/5 the number of words (the blog police can test me):

Jesse and I got up on Saturday and I made chocolate chip waffles for breakfast -- "woah, chocolate chip waffles?" you might ask.. to which I would answer, "yes, they were yummy, and I even dusted them with powdered sugar. how very domestic of me." Then we went to Santa Cruz to buy a new "alumni" license plate frame for my car, and to have linner out on the wharf, perched up over the water. Pretty! Followed by some hardcore couch-potatoing and then bed. Sunday, we woke up and headed over to a Cingular Wireless store, where they proceeded to tell us that a Motorola Razr phone would cost us our life savings unless we needed a new contract, so we left. Then we shopped at Target a little and came home to do laundry and make veggie corn dogs for dinner. I also took a bath (very european) and did my self review for work, two weeks late. Now you're all caught up on my weekend. Happy Monday!

Pretty Good Day

I worked really late last night -- didn't go to bed until 3:45am. But that was my punishment for not getting much done at work yesterday. I don't know what it is about my mind or body or whatever, but I love to work late at night. It's satisfying, I get a lot done, I can concentrate, I enjoy it. Anyway, I'm getting a lot done today at work, too. But that's because I have to. Have to. I turned down an invite to go out to lunch -- just hangin' out at my desk...

...because I'm going to see Cirque du Soleil's Corteo tonight with Jesse! Woohoo! It was one of his Christmas presents to me. I'm really excited to get out and see live performers, hear live music, and generally to be really content.

So I'm leaving work early today in order to get there on time. I have a lot to get done before then, so I'll bid you, my blog-reading audience, adieu. I wish you well, and I hope you're also having a pretty good day.

New rule.

Identify yourself if you comment on this blog!

It came to my attention that a few of my friends actually read my blog. Yet only one or two people comment. It occurred to me that maybe it was because I only allow Blogger users to comment here. So today, I changed the settings -- now non-Bloggers can comment. But you must tell me who you are. =) Even if that means emailing me with your special symbol or something.. I don't know.. something. =)

But, in other news, I'm thrilled that new "anonymous" people are lingering and commenting. Makes it worth my while to write. Welcome, anonnymooses!

And that's that.

I went to my follow-up appointment today for the ol' wisdom teeth extraction thing. The doctor was happy with the condition of the "area of surgery." He seemed concerned to find out if I had any numbness in my lip, chin or tongue. Apparently, my bottom wisdom teeth roots were so long that they had tangled around the nerve that leads to my lower lip. He seemed very relieved that I am experiencing no numbness whatsoever. That said, I believe that I am the most relieved one here. =) So anyway, he showed me my teeth (apparently they keep the patient's teeth if they are unusual in any way) and checked my mouth and then I was outta there!

That means it's done! Aside from the fact that I still have open wounds in my mouth, I'm doing very well. Almost no pain at all, except for the occasional chewing-induced ache, cured easily by Advil. All's well.

I'll say it again: go get your wisdom teeth removed. =)

It's Pink Flower Day!

Pink flowers! Specifically, gorgeous long-stem pink roses! Valentine's Day should be my favorite holiday, with all the pink!

This morning, my friend Mark presented me with two beautiful long-stem pink roses. I was touched! I couldn't figure out why Mark was giving me pink flowers.. He's a prankster, though, and made light of it. About an hour later, my friend Chelsea presented me with an identical pair of roses. Of course, then I was totally suspicious. Chelsea said that Mark put her up to it. Then some time passed.. there was a meeting, and lunch, and sitting around and working and all, and then I decided to call Jesse and poke at him and see what he would tell me.

Although Jesse hasn't admitted anything, I can't imagine why else I would have received two more identical pairs of roses this afternoon from friends Sharlene and Katie, bringing my current total to eight.

...Rob just dropped by with a suspiciously similar set. Total = ten.

...David just dropped by with the sixth identical set. Total = one dozen!!

And they all just say the same thing, "Happy Valentine's Day, Amanda!" and walk away.

So, Dear Diary, I'll keep you updated...

Pain, pain, go away..

I'm back at work today. I had the surgery on Friday, then I worked from home on Monday. I didn't use any pain killers yesterday until around 7pm. Today, I woke up and took some Advil, then I had some more at lunch time.. and I'm still in pain. I think it's all the talking and laughing and smiling I've done today that's tiring out my poor achin' jaw. Not to mention -- I chewed actual food at lunch today. Gah, pain.

So I'm still really happy I had the teeth pulled, and I'm happy to be at work and socializing, but it hoits, it hoits.

Pretty soon, it'll stop hurting and I won't even think about it anymore.. right?

That wasn't so bad!

If you still have your wisdom teeth, but you should've had them taken out.. just go do it. It wasn't that bad. Take it from me -- I was scared poopless about getting it done, and it wasn't that big of a deal.

I got the nitrous to calm me down about the I.V., then they stuck me once in the arm while I inhaled (meh.. I didn't even get dizzy!) ... then I felt them stick me for the novacaine, but I don't think I cared too much. I was mostly out by that point.. then I was really out. They didn't put me to *sleep*, because I was supposed to be vaguely aware of what was happening. The only thing I remember was flinching whenever I heard someone turn on a saw (two or three times), and I heard the doctor say, sternly, "Don't do that." (I don't think they wanted me to flinch) ...

But then I opened my eyes, and a sweet lady was telling me I was all done, and I was being rolled into another room, and my mom was there, and they told me to sit up, and I did, and they told me to answer some questions (and I tried), and then they eventually asked me to stand, and they walked me out to my mom's truck.. and I dozed on and off the whole way home. The only thing I really wanted after leaving the office was some water.. My throat and mouth were so dry that I couldn't swallow. My mom said you could hear my skin sticking together as I tried. No harm done, I dribbled some water, and that was fixed. Back to sleep.

I got home, was starving, slurped down some apple sauce (dribbled a bunch too) .. slept, more apple sauce, pain killers, sleep, rinse, repeat. Eventually I graduated to chocolate pudding & pain killers, and weak iced tea.. and sleep. Ice packs, pain killers, sleep, and eventually the only things left that were numb were my bottom lip and my tongue. That was all but gone by my actual bedtime, and I slept through the night.

Now, on my second day, I just have some lower jaw discomfort (like someone punched me, a little swollen, stiffness on the left side) .. but all's well. Mashed potatoes are pretty much my favorite food right now. As it turns out, most soft foods are sweet, but that gets old quick. I tried to take just Advil today, but it didn't help the pain much, so I went back to Vicodin. The day has been better since then.. I get drowsy, I watch TV, I eat ice cream.

All in all, a superbly positive experience. =) The post-surgery pain is nothing compared to what I expected -- just a little stiff and sore (mostly stiff). Looking forward to getting the stitches out, and moving back onto solid foods. Anyway, do it if you haven't done it yet. If you're in the Bay Area, I can recommend a good doctor. =) Yay, it's over! Woohoo!

Thanks for being my Health Brigade, Bug! =)

Surgery & Sickness

I'm petrified of doctors. I used to love to get my eyes checked, regular check-ups, teeth cleanings.. but now I hate all of it. It all started with that needle one doctor stuck in my eye. It ruined me! I also pass out for various reasons now. I threaten to all the time when I think a doctor wants to do anything remotely traumatizing for a treatment. Especially around needles. [shovel]

Anyway, the needle-in-the-eye thing happened when I was 18. Since then, various dentists have told me I need to have all four of my wisdom teeth removed. I'm 25 years old, which means I've put up with teething pain and other jaw and cheek pain for seven years. [sigh] So I went in for a consultation at an oral surgeon's office this past Friday, at a friend's referral. He was a stern guy, but confident. I really want to get my wisdom teeth out before there are other age-related issues to worry about. And what if I'm ever without health insurance? Anyway, it's time. I made my appointment for this Friday, February 10th, at 10:45am. Stay tuned for news.

In order to have the surgery, I have to fast for 8 hours prior to going in, which includes NO food, NO drinks, NO water.. and I can't be sick. Now, Jesse has been sick lately, with a head cold or the flu or something. We've been trying to make sure I don't get sick, but I'm not sure we fully succeeded. Yesterday, I started getting the same symptoms he had a week ago. =( So I'm guzzling Airborne and sucking down 100 ounces of water a day.. Doing everything I can to stay healthy. I don't want to have to skip the surgery -- I may not re-schedule. =(

Ok, once this whole surgery thing is out of the way, I'll try to post something cheerful. =)