33 not 83

I know I said in a previous post that I wasn't that excited for my birthday but I didn't realize I would be spending my birthday in bed. Grant it spending a birthday in bed isn't so bad unless you are laid up because your back decided to give out on you.
That is what happened to me.

It all started Monday morning, when I tried to get up from my chair at work to go get coffee with a co-worker. As soon as I stood up, something pulled and my lower back spasmed. Goodness it hurt so bad. I could barely walk or stand up again. Thankfully Eli was home so I called him to come get me. About 45 minutes later, he arrived and found me hugging the wall in my office. I was trying to head to the bathroom but every step I took, my back freaked out. It is funny to picture this in my head now, as I had my arms wrapped around his neck as he held me vertically to walk me out of my office, in the elevator and out the building, into his car.

I have never experienced pain like this before. I'd like to think I had a tiny peak into what contractions are like. I could just feel myself tighten up as my back shot pains down my left leg and up into my upper back. Breathing certainly helped albeit a tiny bit. 2 hours later in the doctor's office, I left with a prescription of muscle relaxers and advil. We got home and Eli put me straight to bed. The cutie that he is, he set me up in communication central. I had my cell phone, his laptop, ice cream bar, ice pack, magazines, and medicine. He had to leave to work sound at the jazz club he occassionly works at. The bummer part about this, is I was supposed to join him at the jazz club after work to start my birthday celebration.

The next morning, we were praying hard that he wouldn't get called into work. He was sitting reserve yesterday and should have left for Chicago yesterday morning. The state that I was in, there was no way he could leave me alone or alone with our 100lb+ dog. Thankfully he did not get called in. Once we woke up, Eli started in on giving me the best birthday celebration as possible. He made me breakfast in bed and even climbed in bed with me to eat. We opened up my bday cards and his 2nd of two gifts. I made him give me the first one early as I was desparate to have it. It was a franklin planner with the 7 habits of highly effective people planning tools. The 2nd gift was a new bike helmet. It is so cute! I hated my old one and could never get it to fit right. This one is perfect!

As the day wore on, it got hot and sunny out and I was bored. So E helped me into my bathing suit and got me all set up on a lounge chair. He went on his errands and brought back a costco pizza--which if have not tried one their pizza's, you definitely should! They are so good and so cheap!

Later that night, we settled on the couch, opened some wine and chilled. Our neighbor came over for a glass of wine. After she left, we both climbed into bed. I slepted good--thanks to the muscle relaxer and a couple of glasses of wine. Eli left this morning for his 4 day trip. I did manage to take a shower and dress all by myself. Tomorrow I am going to tackle my commute and head into the office.

Not exactly how I pictured my 33rd birthday but despite everything, it still was a good one. I had my hubby with me.

Confession...

Dear Internet,
I am shameless. I admit I can't stand being stopped on the street to hear about the latest save the whatever or to sign a petition for green*peace. These people are usually camped out on my walk to and from the office. I respect their deal and what they are trying to do however, it just interferes with my purpose of either trying to get into work on time or trying to catch the train to head back home. My patience runs thin when I get randomly stopped for these things and then I feel like a bone head when I am stammering for an excuse on why I can't talk to them.

So, I've figured out the perfect plan. When I see one these people, with their clip board in hand, smiling and waving their hands to flag me down. I quickly pull out my cell phone and start talking. As soon as they see I am talking on my phone, they quickly seek out their next innocent person to stop. Ahhh, conversation averted and I am happily on my way to my destination.

so bad, I know.

Peace offering...

Love you schmoop! I am sorry I made you mad the other day! Can't wait to hang out on Saturday with you.
Here are the lyrics to the song I am always singing to you.

The Way I Am--Ingrid Michaelson

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cuz I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cuz I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine if you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.

The "Tank" update

So overall the "Tank" and I are getting along. I am managing the stick shift thing quite well and it is becoming second nature to me. I've started driving to the other BART (bay area rapid transit) Station that is about 15 minutes away so I can sleep in 30 minute more each morning. I will admit, I do take the long way to get there because it is all flat road. I can handle the start and stops along the way. My goal is though to tackle this steep hill that is in my path between my house and both BART Stations. Maybe tomorrow or Friday I will do this.

Going home, I've forced myself to take the back roads so that I can get used to driving on the rolling hills along the way. I've mastered the art of using the emergency brake to help get the car going and then releasing it when the clutch and gas are engaged together. Tonight, I was able to conquer some the smaller hills without using it :)

My best friend C put it perspective for me about learning to drive this car. She said, look at it this way, E is learning to fly a plane while you are learing to drive a stick shift. For some reason, this gave me the "ah ha" moment of clarity I so desparately needed.

So all you stick shift drivers out there, you can be proud me!! All your kind words of support and encourgagement certainly helped! You gave me the will to not let you down!!!



The Tank and I may never fully get along but at least we are now playing nice.

I'd like to get off the rollercoaster please?

Is there someway I can stop this ride? I can't seem to get a handle on my emotions. One day I am feeling great, happy, loving life, nothing can stop me now attitude and the next day--snap! I am in tears over something really incredibly stupid. I am questioning everything--my job and my ability to survive the next two weeks while E is at ground school. I can't figure out what is causing this roller coaster of emotions. Does going off the pill affect you this badly? It's been almost a year since I went off--while it sucked the first couple of months, could it still be affecting me? Or am I really this unstable? ;) I already called my dad this morning in tears because the stupid car was locked up. I couldn't turn the wheel or get the key to turn over in the ignition. Tears again this afternoon because I couldn't figure out how to get the car in reverse and how to change the windshield wipers. Seriously internet--I know I need to chill out. Luckily, the car in front of me in the parking lot left so I could move forward and my great neighbor came over to change the wipers for me. This all thanks to a call made by E.

I'd like someone to pull the emergency brake for me because I have had it and want off this silly ride.

Big Girl Pants: 50, Me: 0

I am in the final home stretch of E away. If all goes according to schedule I should have my husband home on March 24th. Yay for me. I finally got the bedroom painted, the furniture moved back in. Learned how to change a flat tire, purchased a new tire, etc, etc.

However, someone some where thinks I still need to grow up more because the hits just keep on coming.

Tonight I found out that my alternator in my car is going out. I discovered this because my battery light came on tonight as I was driving home. Now the miss independent that I am trying to be, took a looksie at my owner's manual to see this all means. I quickly found out that what it means is NOT GOOD. I called, um rather... I had E call the mechanic. The mechanic forbid me not to drive the car until we can meet up next Tuesday for him to fix it. If I do, then we have big problems. Essentially the alternator is not charging the battery and if the car is on it will drain the battery.
So I don't drive the car. No biggie right? My husband has his car here and I can just drive that. Well, the problem here is that I am not a great stick shift driver. I can manage but I am just not comfortable on the hills. No, actually I am deathly afraid of hills. Did you know that the Bay Area is FILLED with hills! I even live on a hill!


So I need to go find my big girl pants and teach myself how to drive a stick shift--hills and all.


Is it March 24th yet?

More things I have learned...

1) How to change a flat tire
2) How to find the hole in the tire and discovering that a hole in the sidewall of the tire means tire cannot be fixed.
3) How to know how much air needs to be in respective tire
4) Normally when you buy a new tire you get two new tires
5) I have to have my own costco membership to purchase new tire
6) How touch up paint when you buy a new can of paint
7) How a quart and half of paint will not paint a whole room and the ceiling this is after you buy a gallon of paint to paint the room and the ceiling and still does not paint the whole room
8) The blessed experience it is to have both my husband and I to have great relationships with our respected in-laws. We both actually enjoy seeing and spending time with them without the other person there.
9)As I have my own experiences, challenges, and break downs, my mom has had the same experiences, challenges and break downs. She is always there to listen and understand even though we are 2100 miles away from each other.
10) Making time for new friendships. It's those new friendships that can possibly get you through the hardest times.

Speaking of my mom. She just entered the world of blogging! Check out her blog and route her on!!! Mom's Blog

Retail therapy

is the best thing ever! I splurged on myself today at banana republic.True to form, I bought everything on sale. I cannot stand buying clothes full price and knowing in a few short weeks they will be on sale.
This weekend I plan to pick out some paint for our bedroom. I hope I can accomplish painting the bedroom before E gets back. I saved a bunch of gift cards from our wedding. I think these next 6 weeks are a perfect time to do some shopping!

A memorable Thanksgiving

What a lovely evening last night was. Surrounded by friends and family for a very delicious thanksgiving meal. Even the turkey came out fantastic--though there was a quick scare but we did figure out the turkey was indeed done.

The conversation was flowing as was the wine. Here is a snippet of one of conversations from last night.

Phyllis-" I work at a non-profit that helps homeless, convicts, etc that helps them back into the workforce.

Me: Do you have any volunteer needs? Because I would certainly love to help the homeless get back on the street.

Charles: Heather, the homeless are already on the street.....

This is why I think all new homeowners should go through training

so when you walk into your house and it smells like paint fumes (for no apparent reason) that you don't freak out and call the gas company thinking it is a gas leak. After speaking with the nice customer service lady who swears up and down that it is not a gas leak. (now, I know that gas smells like rotten eggs) You are still not satisfied in what she is saying to you, that you call 9-1-1 for the fire department, who come with sirens a blazing into your new neighborhood and walk into your house and come out laughing to tell you that it is not gas and that it smells like paint. You proceed to tell them that is THERE IS NO REASON for your house to smell like paint and all they can do is shrug their shoulders while laughing at you and tell you again that it is not gas.

You then call your MIL who was your realtor who then calls the termite guy who was supposed to come to your house to clear the pest report to find out if he came over. You then find out the next morning that it was the termite guy who sprayed some sort of spray that does indeed smell like paint.

I guess this is why I pay taxes for freaks like me to bother the fire deparment.