Grammy opinions

I'm blogging live....ooo la la!

Stephen Colbert...I love you, but you weren't meant to host the Grammys. (Just like Ricky Gervais wasn't meant to host the Golden Globes.)

Lady Gaga and Elton John surprise duet....loved it!

American Idiot cast and Green Day: LOVVVVVVED it! Very unique.

Beyonce-legit. Covering Alanis? Genius.

Pink. Didn't care much for your "outfit", but loved your performance.

Black Eyed Peas....more than terrible. But I enjoyed the robots.

Lady Antebellum. You are in Taylor Swift's live category. Stick to the radio. You were flat the whole time.

Jamie Foxx: Please stop trying to pull a Michael Jordan. You have no future in a music career. And were you really attempting the "running-man" as a legitimate dance move? Please, no.

The Zac Brown Band: You have mad-crazy guitar skills. That's all.

Taylor Swift: You are awkward. You are always flat. I can't tell if your hair is naturally curly or not and that bothers me. I think you should stick to the studio. And please stop swinging your hair around.

MJ Tribute: Celine: I've missed you. Usher: You are showy. Carrie: I love you. Jennifer: You're legit. Smokey: You're the only one who knew Michael.---Did anyone else think about Free Willy when they showed the killer whale? ----PS No one looks cool in 3D glasses. Even celebrities. (Yesssss)

Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles: Fairly good. Jennifer saved you. PS. "Living On A Prayer" has been out of your range for some time now Jon.

Haiti tribute: I've loved Andrea Bocelli for a long time. His voice is insanely clear. Mary J, did you know he is blind? I left like you didn't. And you're standing really close to him. But you were legit nonetheless. (And your body is bangin')

Dave Matthews Band: You are great. Still querky. Still singing out of the side of your mouth. Still doing that weird walking/dancing thing you do while playing.

Maxwell: Who are you? Take your stage fog and lame falsetto and go home.

The people Jeff Bridges introduced: We all know you're lip-syncing.

Dre, Eminem, Lil' Wayne: The best part about you guys was Travis Barker on the drums.

Best of the night: Pink. DMB. Mary J and Bocelli.

In other news:
I'm over the auto-tuning.
I'm soooooooooooooooo annoyed with Taylor Swift. She only writes about fairytales. She can't sing live. She can't harmonize. I think she's still 15. And her hair bothers me (as previously stated.)

think about it

I read an article today that has lead to some great conversations. Just something to think about. Check it out and let's chat.

I don't know why

But seriously. American Idol and Biggest Loser: Will you PLEASE stop tugging my heart strings?!??! I refuse to shed tears over TV shows (with the exception of Friday Night Lights.) I can't lie. I have been reeeeeeeeeeaaaalllyy close.

Seeing people come from horrible circumstances and situations and overcome them and get a chance at a better life....it stirs something in me. I can't help it. You can laugh at me. I don't care.

In other news, here's a Polaroid from our recent trip to LA! Thanks to our new friends Scott and Mary!

the update

Carl and I went back to the nutritionist this morning for my 1 week follow up. He is a clinical nutritionist with a background in pharmacology and is currently a candidate for his N.D.. I will be calling him Keith. I've had a really good experience with him so far and feel that he has been the most helpful and realistic in unraveling the web of health issues I seem to be having. I will start with last week and then fill you in on today.

Last Wednesday, I went to have a consultation with Keith. We met for about 45 minutes to talk and go over some "homework" I had done before my appointment; mostly questionnaires. I had a Natural Wellness Screening done and was sent home with more homework and some other tests to complete before coming back. The NWS consisted of getting my vitals, height, weight, etc. I also completed an electrode test which measures how quickly electrical current moves through the body. It also measures your cell walls and water retention. Lastly, I had an iodine test done to see how quickly/slowly my body absorbs it. Turns out, my body is within normal range. I scored well with my blood pressure! Unfortunately, that's about all. I'm retaining water at a fairly high amount, my cell walls are thin and cells move fairly slowly. I have 21 pounds of body fat and am lacking 5 lbs of muscle. I also have an extreme magnesium deficiency. I scored in the age range of a 55 year old woman! Oops! Keith was very shocked at my results. He said he's never had anyone as young as me score so poorly. I was put on 2 supplements and a multivitamin. I was also given a restricted food list to follow for the next week. He is very interested in my food allergies and how that may correlate to my seizures. No wheat/gluten. No dairy. No grains. No sugar. No citrus fruits or tomatoes. Needless to say, it was a VERY hard week! I cheated a few times (wheat was VERY hard to eliminate completely) but gave myself an overall grade of 75%. Going cold turkey was definitely a challenge. My homework was to fill out more questionnaires, have a complete blood panel done, and a urine test to look for metal toxicity.

I was in shock and mourning for about a day over the loss of cheese, butter, tomatoes, bread, ranch and granola. I had an attitude adjustment Thursday night after talking with Holly and realizing that this wasn't the end of the world. Since, I have also talked with a couple of other friends who have either been on a vegan diet or have gone gluten free. I feel very encouraged and hopeful that I can make the best of the new foods I have to eat.

Today:
Carl and I met with Keith to go over my test results and put together a plan for the next few months.

Bad News:
-I am "dangerously low" in Vitamin D. (There is a lot of research showing links between low Vit D levels and seizures as well as other issues.)
-My Homocysteine level was high which could indicate a deficiency in B vitamins. (I had found to be a HUGE link to seizures through a book I just finished reading about treating Epilepsy naturally)
-My hsCRP level is very high which indicates there is some type of inflammation occurring in my body. hsCRP usually correlates to the blood vessels and heart. While he is not ruling this out, it can also be a sign of it in other areas of the body.
-My Free T3 (the non-bound carrier protein associated with the thyroid function) was a little more elevated than he would like.
-My BUN and Creatinine levels are low. This shows I am low in protein and could have malabsorption which means my body is not absorbing the appropriate proteins/minerals. It also shows that I could have muscle atrophy and/or nerve/muscle degeneration. (This is linked to my lack of muscle.)
-Potassium is low. This is linked to the adrenal gland. This could be connected to blood pressure and hypertension.
-Chloride is high. This is also linked to the adrenal gland. This is linked to your metabolism.
-I am possibly not absorbing fats and proteins correctly. My digestive tract is officially under construction.

Good News:
-Thyroid panel came back within normal limits
-I get to eat cheese and tomatoes again!!!


The Plan:
-Continue with Gluten-free diet. This means no wheat. I will be foraging for gluten-free bread, crackers, and other options. I need to be eating 3 meals and 3 snacks a day.
-Up my protein intake. I am supposed to eat 1 palm sized portion of protein, 3 times a day (at least.)
-Have Dr. Waggoner (chiropractor) evaluate me for fibromyalgia.
-Conduct stomach acid and pH tests.
-Conduct blood work and NWS in 3 months to see if levels are within normal range.



I'm sure after reading all that it sounds really bad. It is a lot of information. I felt very encouraged to have some answers and a plan to move forward. I am confident that Keith is committed to getting me better and getting my seizures under control.


Now? We're heading to LA for a week! At least it's the epicenter of the gluten-free revolution!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg.

In the last few weeks I've embarked on an adventure of seeking alternative treatment for my seizures. It has been really frustrating. I guess I was hoping for a quick fix but at the same time, I knew it would probably be hard. I've been going to my chiropractor for about 3 weeks to get my spine back in place. As of today, I'm doing so much better! No seizures either.

Last Wednesday, I went to see a clinical nutritionist. He has a 15 year background in pharmacology and is currently a N.D. candidate. I really like him and trust him. I had some tests done while I was there and have been completing some other tests in the meantime. I go back again this Wednesday to see the results and get the news of where we're going to go from there. I'm on a restricted diet that contains: no gluten, no wheat, no dairy. It's insane and really hard. I'm hoping on Wednesday he'll allow me to have my cheese, bread, and tomatoes back.

That's all. And my insurance decided my medication is "not preferred" so they upped the price $50. How ruuuuuuudeeee.

Best of 2009!

Here are some of my favorites from 2009! It's been such a fun year.

Book: In Defense of Food by: Michael Pollan

Movie: Hmmm. Defiance and Everybody's Fine. Those may be the only movies I saw this year though.

Trips: Well obviously, attending the Inauguration was pretty incredible. My first time to California was a blast thanks to the Herberts. Michigan for Emily's wedding was up there too. Seeing The Counting Crows for free in a small park in Iowa with some of our best friends and my brother was pretty awesome. Oh and then seeing the Cubs play at home while seeing the Pickles in Chicago was amazing. Then, seeing my cousin and her boys reunite with her husband in Mexico was heartbreaking but also incredible. And getting to be in Oregon 3 times in 1 year was awesome too. So.....I can't choose.

Moments: I think my favorite moments this year have involved my grandparents. They're just so darn cute. Seeing U2 live was great.New babies has been awesome! And Carl opening his studio with Aaron Snow has proved to be a great decision.

I hope you've had a great year! One of my goals is to be better at documenting the exciting things we've done this year. As for my 2010 resolutions, they involve getting healthy and losing weight (who's don't?!) And maybe to read more? I haven't really sat down long enough to commit to ideas on paper. Any of you?

10 years ago...

It's a trending topic today....what were you doing 10 years ago today?

Well, I was 2 weeks away from being 15. I was at Emilie Adamson's house in Yukon for a homeschool party with my mom and siblings. We figured it was a safe place considering the world could be ending. Remember? It was Y2K. Everyone had stockpiled canned goods and water in case something blew up and there was no power. I remember sort of holding my breath at midnight hoping nothing would happen. My dad was working because he needed to be there in case the hospital blew up. It didn't. Nothing did. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Isn't that kinda what it felt like afterwards? Oh...this isn't the rapture, Armageddon or any other type of ending of the world. It's just the start of the year, that's all.

Oops. My bad.

So let me paint you a picture. I was wearing Paris Blues flair jeans, light wash. My favs. A button-up 3-quarter sleeve shirt in a mixture of browns. My hair was at my shoulders (finally) and parted down the middle (not quite as "Aniston" as I'd like to admit.) The make-up phase had calmed down so I looked fairly normal. Oh, and my fly was down the entire night. I noticed in a picture weeks later. Awesome. No boy was crushing on me. No kiss at midnight for roughly 6 more years.

What about you? Anyone locked in the house or cellar?

PS I believe our next door neighbor is still stockpiling for Y2K. Lots of pots and pans and random things in his back room. I think he has weapons burried in the yard. At least I have an ally if anything ever does happen.

This year!

As promised, pictures of my decorations! This doesn't count some table decorations and the welcome Santa wreath on my front door, but it was a start!



I made this out of childhood pictures of Carl and I's Christmas'.

Red and white polka dotted ribbon with silver snowflakes. (hard to see)

Thank you Target dollar section for my wrapping essentials this year!


Today I bought a table runner and rug for next year. Don't forget to snag after season sales! It's the best time to prepare for next year! Plus, it's like a present to get out your decorations and re-discover what you bought!

Christmas next year

These are ideas I've stolen for festive attire around the next year. Pictures of what I managed this year coming soon.

Merriest of Tuesdays to you and yours.

cookie decorating

Last night we hung out with Sarah and Kyle. We really like them. Sadly, we had to schedule a month a head of time to hang out. How lame is that?! We're too busy. Anyway, Sarah made us dinner (yummy!) and had already baked the cookies so we could jump in. I haven't decorated cookies since I don't know when. I had a rough start. I was really only happy with the star and snowmen.

Just a suggestion for those rainy or cold days you want to stay inside! Icing and sprinkles people!

(In case you can't figure out what they are, upper left,....mitten, snowflake, candy cane, stocking, xmas tree, star, snowman w/ crooked smile and hairy eyebrows and joy in his heart, snowman with moustache and scarf.)

Everybody's Fine

In case you've missed the commercials, Everybody's Fine is a movie that came out last weekend. Google it. Seriously. But more importantly, go see the movie. It is required watching if we are friends. It was very powerful on a personal level for both Carl and I in different ways and for different reasons.

After you see it, let's grab lunch and talk about it.

cliche t-give post

Thankful: /adj/: at peace, cheerful, comfortable, complacent, content, glad, gratified, pleased, satisfied, serene, beholden, content, contented, grateful, gratified, indebted, much obliged, obliged, overwhelmed, pleased, relieved, satisfied.

Sitting around the table in Oregon tonight eating turkey and fixin's it was time to take turns sharing what you're grateful for. I got a shout out from my husband and the in-laws. Woot! Here's what I said.

I'm "thankful" for my health even though it's not where I'd like it to be. I'm "thankful" that I've been able to assist with our business and that we enjoy it and still get along. :) I'm "thankful" that a year has brought progress and opportunities we weren't expecting. I'm "thankful" that our "hardships" are few and small.

I'm saying "thankful" because it seems like such an overused word at this time of year. Everyone just throws it around like they know what it means. I have no idea what it means. I hope I never confuse it with "privileged." I hope to be more careful to remember to be "thankful" for little things like warmth, shelter, food and people around me.


I'm also thankful for the little boy in this picture who happens to be my husband.

just so you know...

...I'm going to see Emily in 23 days. 4 days in DC having some friend time.

I.
Can't.
Wait.



PS, Ashley came and made-over my living rooms. Pics to come!

Naturopathic Medicine

Carl bought me a book last summer called Treating Epilepsy Naturally while he was in Portland just a month after my grand mal seizure last May. I was working through a lot of anger and confusion. You can read any blog circa May-November 2008 to see what I mean. Somewhere in the mix of moving and my mom getting me some books I thought that the book was silly and didn't think to read it.

When frantically grabbing some reading material for the plane ride to New Orleans last week, I saw the book in an unpacked tub (shocker) in my room. I thought, "why not" and threw it in my bag. I've read half the book. It made those feelings of anger reappear. I found out a HUGE load of information that could explain my seizures. I could have hypoglycemia, a vitamin deficiency or about 291238012948 other contributing factors to my epilepsy. Specifically, the type of seizures I have can be controlled in other ways and with little to no medication. I was ready to leave messages for any doctor willing to do tests and figure out how many and/or if I have any of these contributing factors that may be making me have seizures. It's incredibly interesting to find information that is helpful in explaining that my problem isn't rouge neurons in my brain. What news! It's also pretty frustrating. I was mad at myself for not picking up that book a year ago! I could have saved so much time and money! Arg!

I've made it over to one medication instead of two which is nice (and much cheaper!) The dose has been increased. I thought the increase in dose would control my seizures since it seemed to be making a big differences. Turns out it hasn't! I've had 3 different episodes of seizures in the last 2 weeks. GR! So you can imagine how this would fuel my frustrations when reading this book and how I may be going about treatment all wrong!

All this to say, I've gotten some information on some doctors, nutritionists, and made a list of tests I need to have in order to start putting some pieces of this new puzzle together. I'm excited to possibly turn my situation around. I'm also nervous to find out what other problems my body has and how I'll have to fix those first in order to fix the overarching issue of epilepsy. We will see.

The new housey!

Follow this link to my facebook page to see all the pics (plus some pictures from the amazing U2 concert last week.)

plans for next year

Go to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Mexico. (photo cred)
And sleep in one of these cozy nooks.
(photo cred)
(photo cred)

Plans for tonight: The 3rd annual Zoch-McCullock pumpkin carving fall celebration! I need to redeem myself from last year. I had a terrible pumpkin.

Happy Halloween!

I love my friends and their silly sense of humor!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

U2

We have 2 extra tickets to U2's concert in Norman on SUNDAY. Let me know if you want them! $55/each. They are general admission field tickets.

State Fair

There's nothing trashier or more entertaining than the State Fair.

There's also no other food that tastes so good yet does so much damage to your insides as funnel cake.

PS: Talk of the year = fried butter on a stick.

We're in!

BLERRG. We're in the new house! It's official. We've made it through two nights here with loads of boxes everywhere and disorganized mayhem. Every other move, including my move from the dorm into Carl's house when we got married, was very organized, quick and easy for the most part. This move was just stupid. We found the house back in August right before we went to Chicago. Boom! Deposit and lease. Boom! Out of town for 3 weeks! Boom! MOVING! Yowzaaaah.

My usual self unpacks the whole house completely within 24 hours. But yet, here I sit in a crazy chaotic house (that now has internet!) with boxes and newspaper and little of this and that out all over the place. We finally got our clothes put away last night and we now have groceries and toilet paper. What else do we need right now?! Oh wait, maybe a clean and organized house. Sometime this week perhaps.

I can't wait to show pictures of the house! We love it so much!

PS, special arrival this week! Bauer, the 3 year old border college has graduated from "college" at my mom's house! (See...he's 21 in dog years and has been living at my mom's while we haven't been able to have him.) Once the house gets squared away, he'll move back home! Carl is outside his mind excited.