Stomach virus keeping you up all night – bad.
Having a coffee date with a friend and not having her phone number to tell her you can’t make it because of aforementioned virus, praying she reads her email before 9am – really bad.
Losing 4 pounds in 12 hours – good! (Just trying to find the upside)
(Kate…if you made it out there before getting my email…here is my public confession and apology!! I hope we can reschedule!!)
Interesting experience yesterday…
If you have known me for any amount of time, you have seen my hair change colors frequently. I think I’m naturally a dark blonde, but since I was 13 have been changing my hair color every few months. Red, brown, blonde/highlighted and has even been black for a short and regrettable part of 2004.
I warmed up for the winter and dyed it light brown back around the holidays, but it began to fade into a reddish brown so I decided to make it a dark brown. I usually get Nutriesse “Truffle” to do the job, but saw the new Garnier 100% mineral color and bought that instead.
I began to color it and thought it smelled a little strong, so I turned the AC on and the fan on in the bathroom. 10 minutes later, my scalp was on fire so I hopped in the shower to wash it out. A few minutes after that, my throat and chest began closing up and I started having problems breathing and my eyes began to burn. I sat down for a few minutes and tried to catch my breath. Feeling slightly better, I started to put on my makeup when the bathroom started to spin and got dark and I fell (catching myself) on the counter. I still wasn’t able to breathe so I gave in and called 911.
Operator: “911 Lenexa”
Me: “Yes, I think I’m having an allergic reaction”
Operator: “To what, ma’am?”
Me: “Um, to some hair dye…”
Operator: “Are you having problems breathing?”
Me: “Yes…I almost blacked out…I think.”
Operator: (gets address, phone) “The ambulance is on its way”
A few minutes later a police car, fire truck and ambulance pulled up, sirens blaring. Eight burly paramedics filled my living room, poking me, strapping me, listening to things, checking my oxygen saturation and asking questions like, “Do you have the speciman box?” “Have you ever had an allergic reaction before?” I am dizzy…confused…embarassed…and gasping for air.
Moments later I am strapped on a gurney (is that what they’re called?) and put in the ambulance. I get to the hospital and they decide whatever it was (probably the fumes) triggered the reaction. I have asthma, but not bad in any way (I use my inhaler maybe once a year.) So they give me some steroids, and some breathing treatments and send me on my way. The discharge nurse comes in and reads over the doctors instructions.
“You’ve had a severe asthma attack”…blah blah blah. “For further treatment, the doctor says ‘Avoid chemicals in enclosed spaces.’” And he starts laughing at me. He points it out on the discharge papers. Sure enough in black and white, that’s what it says.
It’s okay. Once I was able to breathe again, I was laughing too. A few nurses heard about it and came in to see how the color turned out (not as dark as I had hoped, but I won’t complain!)
Why would someone with no job, every reason to sleep in where it’s warm and fluffy and cozy, wake up at 5:00am, before a soul has seen the light of day?
To have breakfast with this fabulous diva! (Thanks for investing in the caffeine addiction, babycakes!)
Pardon this interruption to the “Power of Human Need” discussion. It is so beautiful outiside today and I am becoming more and more restless…more and more nervous.
Some job possibilities are in their final stages and all are up in the air. This is the last week I can afford to not be working. I actually don’t have health/life/dental insurance as of tomorrow (but have some starting up next week through Chris’ job.) I don’t know if I am going to be staying here in Kansas City, or moving somewhere. I’ve put my eggs in two baskets – and maybe that’s not wise to do – but I am getting more anxious by the day that either of them might not work out – Thinking worse-case scenario of course. I’ve never not worked for this long. I’m thankful to afford me taking the break I have, but I’m beginning to feel a lack of purpose in my life. I know there is a reason for this holding pattern…I just don’t know what it is. I thought everything would be figured out a couple of weeks ago and nothing is figured out. Each time my phone rings I hope that when I see the number, it would be something that will show us direction. It’s usually a sales call, which I ignore and let fall into voicemail.
Last night I got sick to my stomach. It was probably a bad combination of spicy Thai food, a late Starbucks run and worry.
I know…I know He has things under control. I know he holds my tomorrow and he’s holding my hand. I just wonder if I am not listening….if I am missing something….or not being obedient in some way.
It’s beautiful outside…I can’t keep sitting in front of this machine…my escape into the outdoors is imminent…and prayers are appreciated, although I couldn’t tell you exactly what I need prayer for.
I don’t know how many times I have tried to write this post, but it’s in the double digits by now. This is a lot harder than I thought. Sorry for keeping everybody waiting (not that you’re on pins & needles or anything) but I promise, I’ll kick something out by tomorrow.
It’s been a good couple of days evaluating many things. Lots of reflecting, praying, talking and making tough yet wise decisions. I think that’s what’s making it so difficult to narrow down what to write.
The learning never stops.
Thanks for your patience.
It’s cold, windy and all around not fun in the Kansas City metro today. Flurries blowing around in the gusty, frigid wind.
But not even Jack Frost himself could keep me away from my hair cut.
And I must say, it was completely worth it.
I love you, Jerry Jackson. Thanks again for another fabulous hair cut.
(Go visit his website linked above – He’s not only an incredible hair dresser, but amazing photographer and overall creative genius!)
[[edit://Per Kristi Fair’s request – a photo of the new do. Pardon the camera phone quality, lack of makeup and overall gooberness of this shot – It’s Friday. The cut’s kind of a shaggy euro bob with pixie bangs. A mosaic of style and creativity I owe all to Jerry.]]
I just got off the phone with my friend Wes at Lake Pointe. Wes, Christina, and all the other media family at Lake Pointe became fast friends with me over the last few weeks. I have appreciated their unconditional love, wisdom, grace & acceptance through the process of interviewing for a position with them.
It was not an easy call to make. Not a single red flag presented itself. Everything pointed to yes. But something in my spirit kept saying “This is a season for you to be still.” The counsel I sought outside confirmed “Don’t feel like you have to take the job.”
So, it was with much procrastination that I called Wes today to let him know of my decision not to move in that direction. He only called me a couple bad names after I told him no…(Just kidding, Wes!) He understood completely and lovingly our decision. And now, I have more friends to hang out with when I visit Texas. To all you LP people who have found your way here to my blog – thank you. I enjoyed meeting you so much! I’m blessed to count you friends (and JJ, I know you’re reading this…so quit your lurking and leave a comment! You have been found out!)
What’s next? I don’t know. Checking into some local possibilities for employment and freelancing to keep the gas bill paid (it’s supposed to be freezing this weekend!).
Thanks for your prayers and tracking with me. If you’re reading this, I love doing life with you.
Tomorrow at 2pm, I will be turning in my laptop. She’s been good the last 2.5 years…has traveled all over the country with me, and has the battle scars to prove it. There is no “0” key…just a little nub of rubber where it was once attached. If you bump the DVD/CD slot just right, the cover falls off.
I bought another laptop on eBay yesterday. I sooo wanted a Mac, but the software I have is all PC, and I already have 4 or 5 freelance projects lined up for the next couple of weeks (a girl gotta make money somehow!) so I did the responsible thing and got a really juiced up HP notebook. It actually already has the new Adobe CS2 installed (I only have a disc for v.7) and the latest Macromedia 8 (I have MX), plus Office & XP Pro and a huge, 100g hard drive. CD/DVD-R/RW, wireless (of course), and more…it’s juicy.
Anyway, there is a slight chance it will arrive tomorrow before we leave but more than likely, it will show up after our trip meaning I won’t be able to email or blog for a while (Probably Tuesday). So…
*Please pray
*For clarity
*For the relationships in Texas
Thanks everyone… Much love.
A long December…
and there’s reason to believe
maybe this year will be better
than the last.
(It’s been so long since I’ve seen the ocean…
…I guess I should)
Counting Crows