Random Tid Bits

1. In late 2017 and early 2018 I had so many things happen all at once. I had nose surgery, started on weekly allergy shots (3 at a time), an Ibuprofen desensitization, got glasses (good vision, but have a astigmatism in one eye. My eyes fight in how they see), and a cyst removed from my forehead.

The cyst wasn't cancerous. I didn't think it would be. I tried many thing to get rid of it before I had the surgery, and nothing worked because it was behind a muscle. The doctor literally had to move the muscle to remove the cyst. It hurt way worse than I thought it would. My head throbbed for a good 3 days.

I got charged from the lab to test if it was cancerous, or not. I think it was a Pilar Cyst. A hard round ball of a cyst. I never got charged from the Plastic Surgeon. My younger sister said, "You should really call them. Your bill will be sent to collections. BUT I know my address was right because I did get a bill from the lab. I never called the Surgeon's office. Who calls to ask for a bill? Well I have done that once with utilities because I knew they'd never let me off the hook. If it's gone to collections I still don't know about it. We've been approved for things, so our credit must me good.

2. Now I have yet another freaking cyst. They pop up like a pimple. One day I woke up, and poof there's a giant thing coming out of my head. This time it's on the back of my head, close to my neck.

It's a genetic thing. My Grandpa, my Mom, my sister and a cousin all get them. My Mom just lets them go. I'm relentless about getting rid of them.

I contently am putting Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother on a q-tip to raise it to the surface. After much burning pain, it will come out. I want the dang thing gone!

3. My work went from not wanting me to recycle because it takes too much time, to wanting me to recycle everything.

A few years ago I had to state my case, for recycling. Boss Man said it would take way too much company time, and that I had to use my own time to do it. I was highly annoyed.

Now he's not paying for a dumpster service over the summer, so he's all about me recycling everything.

Last week I walked into not one, but five big trash bags full of shredded paper, piled on top of the green boxes I got for the school. There's no way I'm going to take five big trash bags in my little Civic home to recycle. Here everything has to fit in the recycle box to recycle it. My coworker agreed with me to help me toss them into the unused dumpster. It was chained up because the repurpose store next door uses it, if theirs is full. We squeezed them in. Boss Man's probably wondering why I didn't take them. He won't ask though. He'll just stew over it.

This week I walk into this...a common site.

I've been watching a lot of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I swear I could say some awkward things about this situation, but I'm biting my tongue. It's kind of like someone that won't change the paper roll ever! If you open a box, you should take care of that box: Tape and all. Under it was a styrofoam plate. Styrofoam isn't even recyclable here.

4. I got offered to teach a few classes at Iowa Western College. I work here full time. As much as I'd love to take them, I just think I'd need to move into a full time position somewhere. Not just a class, or two. I asked my boss about it, to see if it would be a conflict of interest. He thinks it would be, but loved that I brought it up to him.

I actually like my job better than ever before. There's two people that made my life pretty miserable before. They are gone. We have a new head Recruiting Rep, and I love her. The other guy gave me the creeps. 

5. All the sudden Mica's like, "I don't really want to play my trumpet anymore." Some of me is like, Well he gave it a shot. The Mom part of me is like, "We paid for it, you are playing it! What do you get into? Your choices in school are Art/Chorus, Band, or Strings. You chose Band. You need to put more into it!"

I know kids change their minds. In this case: Would you push him to practice? Would you pay for outside lessons? His teacher is just too passive. Mica needs a push to get better. Would you see if he could change to Art/Chorus in school? He doesn't seem to like Art either though. He was good at Art when he was little. I think Mica sees himself as not good enough at things, and gives up. He compares himself to others. Having a family full of artists, it's not good to compare. What would you say to him? He's really only interested in brainy things like Quiz Bowl, reading and getting good grades. He's not even interested in building up friendships. He's happy and content with a book in his hands. 

WW: Cyst or is it a Tumor? {Linky}

On Sunday we went out to a fancy place for Omaha's Art and Entertainment Awards. Travis was nominated for one of the best group shows in Omaha. He didn't win, but a super nice couple won that were sitting right next to us. They had a group show that was all based around sensory. The wife was blind, and the husband had only one working leg.

Proof that I'm pretty.

Fast forward to yesterday. I had an appointment to see a Plastic Surgeon. I've had a cyst (so I thought) on my forehead for a year or so. I've tried Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil, and something called Bread Poultice on my forehead to get it to go away naturally. 

I tried to go to a Dermatologist. They sent me away saying if they cut me part of my face could go paralyzed. 

Mr. Plastic Surgeon said, "Easy Peasy let's take it out." 

No wonder nothing natural would work! It was behind a muscle, and he thinks it was a tumor not a cyst. It was about the size of a pea. The tumor is off to be turned in. He doesn't think it's cancerous.

This is what I look like today:

The swelling should go down. That's from him digging around behind the muscle and the pain med. I think it looks worse than it will look like after it's healed up. 

For some dang reason I'm all emotional. Why would that happen. I've felt like crying at the drop of a hat. 

I taught today. I'm so thankful for my 1st year class. One guy said, "You actually look pretty good. Like it's better than I thought it would be." I had others ask me if I was ok, which was nice. 

Then there's my 3rd year class. I've never thought they were kind. More like a lazy class. Top that off with the fact that when they walk into the first year classroom they say, "Why is their work so much better than ours?" My answer is always, "Your work could be better. You just need to apply yourselves." They leave the classroom often, fall asleep when they shouldn't, don't get their work done, and the list goes on...

Well a third year student walks in, looks at me, giggles, and talks to a friend. Then giggles some more. I said, "What's so funny? My forehead?" They giggled and said, "Yes." It took a lot not to call them choice words. Remember I'm their teacher. Looking back I should of said, "Have a little empathy!"

I wanted to cry over the good students, and cry over the bad ones. I don't know why I'm so emotional. Could a doctor cutting into your head really set off emotions? It's so weird. 

Random Tid Bits

1. Has it snowed where you live? The first day of winter hit, and boom it finally snowed in Omaha, Nebraska. We need the moisture so bad! I just don't want it to stay dry, the dryness effects the farmer's crops, and food prices go through the roof. That's just the kind of thinking I do. Do I love snow? I could take it for about 5 minutes. I guess I don't mind snow, I just hate bitter cold wind. What do you dislike about winter?
   
   It's also horrible on allergies if the ground doesn't freeze.
   
   
   
    
2. I'm excited today to learn that I won a screen printing kit from speedball art. That's one form of art I've never tried. The only printing I've done is a block print. 





3. Tis the season for people in your family not getting along. I'm stuck in the middle of a few. I love them, but want to scream, "STOP!" 


4. I had 1 drop in my first year class, and one not pass a class. I had 1 drop in my third year class, and two not pass my class.


5. I decided to go ahead and try and treat my cyst once again.
   
   
   
   
   
   Long story on that:

Me for a few weeks with a hot compress on my forehead! I wish this freaking cyst on my forehead would just flipping go the flip away! I’ve had it for awhile now. I’ve tried apple cider vinegar, which just burned my skin, and made it look worse. I tried going to a Dermatologist, which told me he couldn’t remove it because it’s by nerves, and my face could be paralyzed.  Now I’m trying one hot pack after another, and bread poultice at night. So far nothing. I see a #surgeon in Feb if I can’t get this stupid thing to go away. Anyone have any advice besides taking an X-acto knife to my face?

Random Tid Bits

1. We think Isaak is going through a growth spurt; paired up with growing pains. He ate a ton of food on Wednesday, fell asleep at 7 last night because he was so tired, and woke up 2 or 3 times scared of noises and lights that couldn't be explained. Under his knees hurt really bad.
   
   After the second or third time of him waking up Travis put him on the couch in the living room. Travis has never wanted the boys to cuddle with us in our bed. I'm more the type that wouldn't care in a situation like last night. It is what it is.





2. I've been hit with a few freelance duties. I made a business card for a past co-worker that now lives in Atlanta. Whenever I make things for friends even though they know they are paying me I hate sending over that final bill. The thought goes through my mind: Maybe they are thinking I'm charging them too much, or what if they expected me to charge them more. It's so silly I do that. You'd think I'd be past that already, but I always think that people just don't understand how long design work takes. I have to mention that I don't ever feel this way when it comes to people that are not friends or family.
   
   Here's how the card turned out. I changed all the information to protect her identity. She wanted a 1 sided business card, with purple as her accent color. That's really all she gave me for what to do. She ended up being super happy with the cards, so that's good. It's a screen shot, so if the type seems hazy, it's not on the card.





3. My sister has been wanting things done for SOFT, which is a nonprofit that helps with research for people like Emerson, and any other chromosome deficiencies. So far I've just been doing things out of the kindness of my heart. The work is challenging. Up until now they didn't have a logo, but used a rainbow and balloons for the colors of the chromosome problems. Logos should be only a few colors and shouldn't change with each thing that's done. Considering that their look changes all the time, they don't know what they want - it's difficult.


4. I've been wanting a non-cancerous cyst on my forehead gone for months now. Of course my mind was on bigger things - an upcycled nose. Travis kept saying, "Leave it alone!" Well I can't leave it alone. I don't want it cut out by a dermatologist. They'll squeeze! When I just had surgery I don't need anyone squeezing me. Apple Cider Vinegar it is. Yes my skin will burn from it. I need want it out. Goodness my skin is a mess from that surgery. Dry in some spots, small pimples in others. I can't scrub it because it's all so sensitive. 





5. I go in for an Aspirin Drip at the Allergy and Asthma Clinic next week for 2 to 3 days. I'm so nervous! I'm allergic to it, that's why they are dripping it into me to build up a resistance. Asthma/Allergy sufferers should take Ibuprofen when they have flair ups to help with inflammation. Well I can't because it shuts down my lungs and makes me sneeze a ton. They are expecting a reaction. Fun times!
   
   I accidentally scheduled my ENT follow-up on the last 3rd day of this Aspirin Drip. I don't know if I can go to it, or not. The Aspirin Drip may take only 2 days. I called to see if I should reschedule. They don't know if I should, or not. I'll get an automated call to confirm my appointment that I don't know if I can keep, or not.
   
   At least I get to stare at my cute Asthma/Allergy doctor for a few days.