Where does the time go?

How is it almost December already? Ahh! I admit I've been neglecting this blog for a few weeks because life has just been too crazy.

Update on the heart. I'm doing good. The tests all came back good and they want to do one more follow up test to make sure. They've narrowed it down to SVT and atriatic fibrillation. Google them if you care to. The Doc said to ramp up my exercise regime in order to build up endurance and strengthen the ticker. So, I'm training for a 10K- possibly Boulder Bolder, but probably the Longmont Sunrise Stampede since it's a bit kinder on my budget and I like the organizations it raises money for.

In the past few weeks I have:

Fought a losing battle with a disgusting cold. I'm pretty sure it's now a sinus infection so I may have to go back to the doc for some antibiotics.

Studied my brains out for the GRE. I really hate standardized tests and I hate this one more than all others because of how it is set up. The GRE is now taken on the computer and they have it set up so you must answer a question before moving on to the next one, and you can't go back to check your answers. Ridiculous! The only way I do even slightly well on tests is by skipping tough questions and going back to them. I'm not optimistic about it, but the schools I'm looking at don't really require the GRE so much as they like to see that you've taken it. I'm hoping that means they'll be forgiving when I don't do so hot. Test day is Tuesday morning, happy hour will take place Tuesday afternoon.

Worked oober long hours at IHAD. It feels strange to write "work" because it doesn't really feel like work. It feels like an honor that I get to take part of. The only part I don't enjoy at the moment is the fact that somehow I've taken on the responsibility of supervising another AmeriCorps member. Don't know how I feel about that.

Had a lovely Thanksgiving meal with about 30 people at our house. Love how dysfunctional we all are, yet we all love each other.

Spent Black Friday afternoon ringing the Salvation Army bell outside of WalMart. So entertaining.

Went to a fancy birthday bash at the Colorado History Museum. The party was a dud, but the people watching was entertaining. Imagine a room full of "Sex and the City" cast wannabes who don't realize they are in a cow town called Denver. So amusing.

I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok

The crazy medical test sagas continue, although there isn't anything exciting to report. I still haven't heard back the results of the holter monitor test and while I haven't heard official results from the echo cardiogram, the tech who did the test didn't see anything to be concerned about. I've decided this all means that I have a heart condition that has no cure/treatment which means I'll just have to live with it. My doctor said I can do a few things to alleviate the palpitations as they come on, the least embarrassing of which would be to dunk my face in icy cold water. Like I said, that's the least embarrassing option so I won't even go into the other suggestions she had. I doubt I'll be trying any of these things at the gym.

I had been delaying this whole situation for a while now- at least a year or so. One of the problems is that I'm not the type to go to the doctor if I'm not feeling well. I usually just shrug it off and let time heal me. This is fine until I get that attitude towards other people...like the time my brother busted open his lip and I told him to just put a bandaid on it. Turns out he needed 9 stitches. The other issue was health insurance. Not having health insurance for about 10 months was, well, scary. I have a friend who is 28 and broke his leg which needed a boatload of surgeries. He didn't have health insurance and had to file for bankruptcy. I wish our country didn't have such a phobia towards socialized health care.

Now that I'm on AmeriCorps health care, I could finally take the risk of going to the doctor. I still needed a bit of motivation for going, so I made a deal with myself that I couldn't buy the new Ingrid Michaelson Album until I got this all taken care of. I was going to wait until I got all of the test results back, but I decided I needed something to calm my nerves while I wait. Ingrid's rendition of "Over the Rainbow" is quirky and beautiful and everything I would expect from her. Plus the song "Be OK" is appropriate for my circumstances.