Thank you for everything.  For being a friend, a true friend, whom we can all count on for anything, no matter if the solution is a lifelong process or merely a simple spoken word.  Thank you for everything.  For being a companion, a shoulder to cry on, a fist to bump, a hand to hold, a body to hug, a sounding board for everything from grief and pain to accomplishment and happiness.  Thank you for everything.  For being a compassionate human being, for being so passionate about everything that crosses your path, no matter how big or small the cause or how upfront or hidden the agenda.  Thank you for everything.  For giving a push when a shove is needed, for giving relief when feeling defeated, for giving love when caring is required, for giving hope when it is desired.  Thank you for everything.  

You HAVE to visit www.korresusa.com and purchase this product.  NOW.  Don't wait, just purchase.

This came via Fed Ex today, and as I tore into the box, the voice in my head began singing "Heaven isn't too far away!", channeling my inner Warrant.  Closing my eyes and slathering my chapped lips with their juicy Lip Butter, I am instantly transported to a secluded beach, face to the sun  making giant sand-angels on the glistening shore while hearing waves crashing and the songs of birds surrounding my relaxed and rubbery aura.   Rubbing creamy body butter from their 7.95oz (no over-exaggerating on the sizes here!) Buerre Corporel all over my body, I remember there is also another treat in this kit, and prepare to jump in the shower for some lathering fun-time with their delicious shower gel; following up with some more Guava body butter bliss.  Oh, Korres, I am addicted, and sometimes, addiction is rather grand.

Well, I had my one month appointment yesterday (I was a bit late, I'd like to think that traffic caused the lateness, but in reality, it was the fact that I stayed at work until the last possible second, leaving downtown Seattle for an appointment in Bothell two minutes prior to said appointment).  Clean bill of health, I don't know why I couldn't just do a Go to Meeting or something and have the dentist peer under my tongue without me having to waste 3 gallons of gas to drive all the way out there for him to poke my scar and say "Looks good! See me in 6 months to make sure everything is completely healed".  Good news is that it appears as though the surgery relieved the pull of tissue on my lower gum, meaning I won't have to have tissue reconstruction behind my front teeth! Score for the periodontist! 

Just how wonderful having a lingual frenectomy in your 30s is...I went in for the consult on Monday and my surgery was scheduled for the following day, leaving me little time for the anxiety and fear that could potentially accompany any type of surgery, albeit a minor one. 

Day before surgery: Fill 5 new prescriptions.  Begin antibiotic, Amoxicillin, to reduce the possibility of infection in the open wound.

Day of surgery: Take antibiotic at breakfast and lunch, pop Motrin 800 an hour or so prior to surgery (preventative medicine!) then take the CNS depressant to induce drowsiness prior to surgery.   1 pill didn't work so I took two and had my husband drive me to the periodontist. 

At the periodontist: I was greeted and taken back immediately, then numbed using an oral agent swabbed under my tongue and lower gum after which novacain was injected in 8 spots along my bottom tongue, bottom of my mouth and lower gum line. 
The effects of the pills took effect and I was instantly transported to a bus station/flea market where I was following a pair of Greyhounds wearing fleece blankets (yup, complete lucidity, I wouldn't have been surprised if they began talking to me).  Then the dentist (or was it another Greyhound?) came in with his laser and I vaguely felt and heard him playing around in my mouth and then taking what I thought was dental floss off his tray and sewing me up like an untied shoelace (did he just ask for a larger needle to stitch me up???) Snip, snip, tie, tie, then a clap of the hands, an "all finished!" and 20 minutes after my run-in with Greyhounds at a Greyhound station, I was ready to go. 

After the car ride home: we stopped at Starbucks to get a frozen coffee (no, you're not allowed to use straws for awhile after the procedure, for fear of interrupting the clotting process and causing bleeding) then headed home.  It was about 3pm, I passed out on the couch for about 6 hours after downing some Vicodin.  Woke up feeling like I had terrible cotton mouth.  This went on all day/night/next morning/afternoon.  It is now 25 hours after my surgery and I still can't have anything to eat but liquids.  Also, I didn't realize just how much you actually use your tongue...I haven't been able to speak yet at all and if you have to yawn, forget about it.  Just try keeping your tongue on the floor of your mouth 24 hours a day.  It's tough work!
Back to bed for me, just popped some more Vicodin!

Beginning on Friday with a 6pm climb at Vertical World and ending with belaying a lead fall at the Bellingham Crags, this weekend was just pure craziness.  Climbing at Vertical World was a bit different than Stone Gardens in that they use the GriGri on a bolted anchor tied into the floor and it takes awhile to get used to the lack of needing to tie into your own harness and device.  Overall, the routes were great although not very similar in degree of difficulty (Stone Gardens is more difficult).  I did enjoy the experience of trying out a new gym though! After climbing we went with a group of 8 to a delicious dinner at a local Ballard restaurant, Root Table, followed by drinks at Bastille and skeeball at King's Hardware.  LOVE skeeball.

Tonight marks the celebration of the birth of one of my volleyball friends, Sarah.  She couldn't have picked a better place to have her party than our local hangout, The Shelter Lounge, in Ballard.  Although I am practically there every other day to either enjoy the company of the bartenders, put back a few mimosas and/or glasses of vino or chow down on their fabulous Caprese sandwich with side salad, I will especially enjoy tonight, being that for once, it's finally sunny in Seattle.  And what better place to celebrate the sun than on the open deck of your favorite neighborhood lounge?!
Afterwards, we will meander up to BalMar on Ballard Ave. to show support for The Uganda Village Project, a philanthropic organization providing safe water, education for healthy villages, and orphan support.  Tonight's event will help fund the production and distribution of mosquito nets to populations with high rates of Malaria.  GET INVOLVED!  

Definitely a "car-camping" area.  You're so close to the interstate it seems as though a semi is going to run right through your tent.  The river is within short walking distance and if you're walking with anyone who has no internal compass, you will end up lost in the woods for about 1/2 hour trying to get to the riverbank without having to jump in and swim.  A cozy, casual spot to have cookouts and drunk shenanigans with friends.  Hiking and bouldering are close by on I 90, but I won't recommend this site for anything but a leisurely trip.   

Yep, I'm pretty badass.  After arriving at Seattle Seaplanes, I was greeted by Kit Warfield, of Microsoft Flight Simulator fame at and queen of the Lake Union skies.  After going over our necessary pre-flight checklist (a bit different in a seaplane than on a land plane), we exited the alley, navigated around some dragon boaters and were airborne in exactly 7 minutes.  Today we were flying a 1964 Cessna 172 180-hp with a constant prop.  Let me tell you, there are definitely a lot more variables to consider when flying a seaplane vs. a land plane, but overall, the experience made me want to get my PPL on the water.  We took off to the North, adjusted the trim, climbed in altitude to approximately 2k feet before practicing banking left and right. With this constant prop plane, it tended to pull slightly to the right, but with the wind coming in from the northeast, it made for difficult left turns.  I saw Magnolia, Ballard, Everett, Whidby and Alki from a gorgeous aerial view, then we passed the Space Needle so closely we could see people taking pics of us as we flew by.  I left the landing up to Kit and will definitely be back for seconds! Contact them for your lesson or scenic flight today!
206-329-9638 • 1-800-637-5553