Miscommunication

Warning: This post is not for the faint of heart.

So earlier in the summer I went to see a dermatologist because I have so many moles, and I haven't had them looked at in a couple of years (more like 10 years). I haven't spent a ton of time outdoors or in the sun lately, but it's always a good idea just to make sure, particularly since I've had some new moles since the last time. The doctor determined there were three that were "risky" and should be removed. So this past week I finally went in and had the first 2 removed. One was a little one which she "shaved" off. Ironically, this smaller procedure was more painful then the larger one. The second one she removed was on my lower back, and I couldn't really tell what she did to remove it, which is how I kind of preferred it, as I was already nervous about it. This one had to get stitches, and so I knew it was slightly bigger, just from that information. Afterwards, when the nurse was bandaging me up, I made a comment about how I probably had never even seen the mole on my back because of it's location. I was just making small talk, but before I knew it, she said, "I can show it to you," and she lifted a small bottle which contained a (what seemed to me to be) penny-sized, quarter-inch thick chunk of my flesh. I was so utterly grossed out and repulsed that I didn't respond, and driving home I was a little shaky.

The moral of this story is: don't make small talk when flesh, blood or guts is involved.

An Unusual Day: Post Script

Ceilidh is feeling much better. Her fever is gone, she's eating some, and her eyes look much better (although, she keeps squinting a bunch). Mark says he is also feeling better, but he can't do much. He says the most comfortable position is sitting, so he's been sitting up on the sofa to sleep, and that's about it. (My theory is it's all the painkillers that are making him think he's feeling better.)

I, on the other hand, have indeed gotten sick. Some kind of cold or sinus infection, or something. Since I got home from work Friday evening, all I've done is sleep, with some intermittent eating and tv watching (I did watch a couple of episodes of Frasier--yay!-- and a crappy episode of Doctor Who). Neko's been my faithful sleeping companion on the futon, while Mark alternates between sleeping on the sofa and playing WOW at his desk.

An Unusual Day

So, this week featured an unusual day for our household--so much so, you might say there was a gloomy cloud over our heads. It started while we were getting ready for work. I was feeding the cats, and Ceilidh didn't come out to eat. I was concerned when she didn't come when I called, and started looking for her. In a small apartment, you wouldn't think there would be many places for her to hide, but it took me about 20 minutes to find her under the bed. She didn't want to come out, she felt unusually warm, and she had all this green goop in her eyes. I felt so bad for her that I decided I'd have to go to work late and take her to the vet.

So while I was finishing getting ready so I could take Ceilidh to the vet, Mark was also getting ready for work. He's had bronchitis for the past 5 weeks, and has had chronic coughing. The past couple of weeks he's been complaining about sore abs and ribs because of all the coughing. Well, while he was getting ready, he had a coughing fit, heard a snapping noise, and immediately felt excruciating pain. So then I had to change my plans and take Mark to the doctor's first, where they couldn't fit him in, and subsequently, I had to take him to Urgent Care.

I left him at Urgent Care, and took Ceilidh to the vet. At the vet, they confirmed Ceilidh had a fever, gave her a shot to ease her pain and help lower her temperature. They also gave her an IV of fluid since I had noticed she wasn't eating, and they didn't want her to get dehydrated. A bunch of meds, so tasty canned food, and a bunch of money later, we headed back to the Urgent Care.

Apparently around 10am on a Wednesday morning, Urgent Care facilities are not very busy. So if you're in need of health care, get sick around then. Mark was waiitng when I got there. He said they took an x-ray, as they were concerned that he was still sick, and they also thought that he had fractured a rib. Apparently if you have chronic coughing for an extended period of time, this is a frequent side effect.

Off to his work so he could tell his boss he'd be out for the next few days (doctor's orders), and then to get some prescriptions filled and a bite to eat. By the time we were all done, it was about 2pm, and I was exhausted. So I called my boss and told him I'd be out for the rest of the day, and took the crew home.

Meanwhile, I was starting to feel a bit cranky and sick, and I had also missed my physical therapy appointment for the day, so my neck and back were really starting to hurt, and I could feel an awful headache coming on. We got home and converted the living room into a sick bay, gave Ceilidh some meds, and relaxed. About half an hour later, the electricity went out. I called DTE and found out the power would probably be out for another three hours, and we did the only interesting thing left to do when there's no electricity for light or computers or tv or cooking--we all took naps (even the cats, who all piled onto the futon with me and curled up). It worked out well, because around 5pm when we woke up starting to feel hungry, the power came on soon afterwards, and we were able to make lasgna dinner!

Wednesday: The Third Day of the Week

For those of you participating in Becky and MommaC's babywatch, it's ALMOST Thursday! Keep your fingers crossed!

Ta Da! And Now Some Amazing News!

(For those of you that I have been trying to contact and failed, I'm sorry that you will find this out through our blog. Beware that this post contains shocking news, pda's, and tears!)

(First, the back story)
I first saw Mark nine (gasp! really, that long ago?) years ago in an eight a.m. Calculus class. I remember I was sitting in what was to become my usual spot, crouched in the desk behind my friend Heather. Two rows over, being very noisy and rambunctious (I mean, it was an eight a.m. class for crying out loud--I may be stupid but I'm not crazy), and I was so annoyed at this boy. Then this riotous boy kind of just faded from my memory because (although I didn't know this at the time) Mark hated eight a.m. classes, and usually couldn't drag himself from bed in order to go to class.

(The beginning)
One year later we both signed up for a canoeing class. I don't even remember why I decided to take canoeing, but it was awfully fun. It only met for half a semester, and we spent three hours twice a week outside on the river. I didn't know most of the people in the class, but I started to get to know Mark, who lived at the Coffee House, a student run coffee house, where five people lived and managed the organization. We got to know each other because I started hanging out at the Coffee House (which was right next to my dorm) in order to escape my *slightly* crazy roommate. Amazingly, during canoeing class, Mark's canoe often bumped into mine--a flirtatious attempt that I was oblivious to. This semester also highlighted our rollerblading "date"--or so Mark thought until the end of the evening when I said I had to leave and go see my boyfriend (again, I was a little oblivious, and naive). There was also the infamous Fall Break Trip, which consisted of three girls and two boys, including myself and Mark (my boyfriend was not there, but he did make a cameo in the role of Roadside-Assistance-Boy with Father-who-almost-blew-up-the-car). I remember also helping Mark memorize his lines for a play he was in, and many late nights when we ordered onion and sausage on thin crust pizza.

In short, we became good friends. And it is from this basic foundation we built our relationship, which began by the end of that semester.

(And now for some symmetry)
Two weekends ago we went canoeing with our friend Holly. It was just a few hour canoe trip, which started off very serenely (except for the large group of drunk students canoeing close by). The weather was perfect, sunny and breezy, and the lazy (nice way to say slow) river weaved through a beautiful forest. Unfortunately, the day ended with a disaster, as Mark's kayak completely filled with water, and the three of us had to smush in one canoe and tow the EXTREMELY heavy water-laden kayak. Despite this annoyance, we ended the trip on a good, but tired and sore, note.

(The finale)
Then on Sunday, to my surprise, Mark treated me to a very fancy dinner. We're talking about those gourmet type meals where you get your entrée and it looks like a peice of art. Mark also ordered a very nice bottle of Shiraz (a tasty dry red wine). When we got home, I putzed around the apartment for a few minutes and then realized that Mark was not in the apartment. As I walked around looking for him (which you can do very quickly, since there is only one main hallway about twenty feet in length), and then noticed that Ceilidh had a small scrap of paper tied around her neck. I picked up the paper and read some cryptic message, and (this is where I screwed it up for him!) didn't get it. Then I noticed that Neko also had a scrap of paper, picked it up, and again was confused. I understood that this was some kind of miniature scavenger hunt, but I didn't understand the messages (which is understandable, since I was reading something like messages 2 and 5) and I didn't know where Mark was. Finally, I happened to glance outside and saw Mark behind the apartment building, out by the line of trees. So I went out back, wondering what the heck was going on. And then he proposed! He had a candle and got down on one knee, and then said a bunch of romantic and sweet things, the half of which I unfortunately don't remember because I had that moment of realization that he was PROPOSING. And then I started crying. (Yes, here is the part where the tears come in.)

So, I happily announce that we are now engaged!

(Now for the REALLY good news)
Our families know and like each other, and are happy that we're engaged! What more could a person want? :)