As I mentioned previously, Major came to us from Rachel, though not directly. Rachel adopted Major several years ago, but when Rachel became pregnant with her first daughter, Coraline, Major did not handle Rachel's hormonal changes well and began relieving herself in the house in protest. Major was temporarily re-homed until after Coraline was born, but was able to join them again. However, when Rachel became pregnant the second time, this time with Gemma, Rachel and and her husband Chris decided that it was time to find Major a new permanent home. Major was sent to live with Chris' mom and step-mom in Florida, where she stayed for a couple of years.
Late last year, Major was picked up by animal control, apparently after she was found wandering the streets of Baltimore. Thankfully, Rachel had Major microchipped, so she was called to retrieve the lost dog. We never got a clear answer for how Major ended up on the streets of Baltimore.
When Major was rehomed the first time, Leah and I considered taking her in, but Chris' moms volunteered before we could throw our hat into the ring. This time, Leah wasn't willing to let anyone else take her (knowing how much she loves dogs, and Major in particular, I knew better than to try to argue). Once the holidays were over, we were ready for her.
You might be wondering about the fact that we're trying to get pregnant. Will Major be rehomed again when Leah's hormones change? I asked Leah the very same thing, but she told me that if Major reacts poorly again, we'll just have to clean up after her. Hopefully it won't come to that, but that's the level of dedication Leah has for her dogs.
Either way, I'm glad that Major has a permanent home with us.
Showing posts with label Leah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leah. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Monday, January 27, 2020
New Dog
Despite Pinto being a big part of our lives, and the fact that we have two cats, we have added a fourth member to our fuzzy family. Major, a twelve-year-old beagle mix, came to us from Leah's best friend Rachel. I'll detail the reasons for Major needing to be re-homed later, but for now, I'll simply introduce her.
Major is white with surprisingly soft fur. She has hypothyroidism, which has led to her being overweight—Leah started her on medication and has been portioning her food. Major likes to sleep a lot, mostly in various dog beds throughout the house (one of which is technically a cat bed), though she just learned that she's welcomed on the couch. While she's not nearly as rambunctious or aggressively affectionate as Pinto, she can often be seen wagging her tail and carrying around a toy Leah gave her as a welcoming present.
Speaking of Pinto, he's had a little trouble adjusting. Pinto's best friend is Ash, the 80 pound lab staying with Leah's folks, and the two of them love wrestling for hours on end whenever they're around each other. When Pinto and Major met, he was really excited to meet a new dog, but when Major didn't wrestle with him, he seemed to get confused. "Why do we have a dog who won't play with me?" he seemed to ask. He's also having trouble learning how to share. Major came from a home with other dogs, but Pinto only lived with Ash for about a month: anytime we give Major a treat, even if we give Pinto one at the same time, he looks jealous. When we pet Major, he looks jealous. When we won't let Pinto push Major to the side and steal her food, he looks jealous. Basically, anytime Pinto’s not the center of attention, he's had trouble handling it. I'm hoping that he'll adjust.
Major, on the other hand, has adapted pretty quickly. She knows to come upstairs when it's bedtime (though she doesn't join us in the bed like Pinto does; I'm not sure if that will change). When it's time to divvy out treats after going outside, she knows she has to sit before receiving her reward. She knows to give the cats their distance (I'm not sure if she's been around cats before). She knows that Leah likes doggy kisses and, while not as liberal with them as Pinto, it's not hard to get her to lick a waiting face. She also has taken a liking to me, which I enjoy.
With Major being so old, we don't know how long she'll be a part of our family, but we're happy to have her as long as we can.
Major is white with surprisingly soft fur. She has hypothyroidism, which has led to her being overweight—Leah started her on medication and has been portioning her food. Major likes to sleep a lot, mostly in various dog beds throughout the house (one of which is technically a cat bed), though she just learned that she's welcomed on the couch. While she's not nearly as rambunctious or aggressively affectionate as Pinto, she can often be seen wagging her tail and carrying around a toy Leah gave her as a welcoming present.
Speaking of Pinto, he's had a little trouble adjusting. Pinto's best friend is Ash, the 80 pound lab staying with Leah's folks, and the two of them love wrestling for hours on end whenever they're around each other. When Pinto and Major met, he was really excited to meet a new dog, but when Major didn't wrestle with him, he seemed to get confused. "Why do we have a dog who won't play with me?" he seemed to ask. He's also having trouble learning how to share. Major came from a home with other dogs, but Pinto only lived with Ash for about a month: anytime we give Major a treat, even if we give Pinto one at the same time, he looks jealous. When we pet Major, he looks jealous. When we won't let Pinto push Major to the side and steal her food, he looks jealous. Basically, anytime Pinto’s not the center of attention, he's had trouble handling it. I'm hoping that he'll adjust.
Major, on the other hand, has adapted pretty quickly. She knows to come upstairs when it's bedtime (though she doesn't join us in the bed like Pinto does; I'm not sure if that will change). When it's time to divvy out treats after going outside, she knows she has to sit before receiving her reward. She knows to give the cats their distance (I'm not sure if she's been around cats before). She knows that Leah likes doggy kisses and, while not as liberal with them as Pinto, it's not hard to get her to lick a waiting face. She also has taken a liking to me, which I enjoy.
With Major being so old, we don't know how long she'll be a part of our family, but we're happy to have her as long as we can.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
(Unexpected) Date Night
Last night, Leah and I went on an unexpected date.
I'd been wanting to go see Aquaman in theaters since it came out (especially once I started hearing good things about it online) and due to a combination of hectic schedules and fatigue, last night was our first opportunity to go. We looked at different local theaters and decided to go one only a few miles from home, which just so happened to be within walking distance from Leah’s favorite restaurant. So, quite unexpectedly, a wife supporting her geeky husband’s interests suddenly became a full-blown date!
After the movie, Leah pointed out how nice it was to go on an actual date and I have to agree. We'll have to make a habit out it.
I'd been wanting to go see Aquaman in theaters since it came out (especially once I started hearing good things about it online) and due to a combination of hectic schedules and fatigue, last night was our first opportunity to go. We looked at different local theaters and decided to go one only a few miles from home, which just so happened to be within walking distance from Leah’s favorite restaurant. So, quite unexpectedly, a wife supporting her geeky husband’s interests suddenly became a full-blown date!
After the movie, Leah pointed out how nice it was to go on an actual date and I have to agree. We'll have to make a habit out it.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Back to School
Near the end of last year, I was thinking about the future, including my current job, where Leah and I live, and our desire for children. As I was contemplating where I want us to be as a family, I realized that my current job at my current salary would not be enough to meet our goals. Rather than look for a job at a new company, I felt prompted to look into graduate school. After talking with Leah about my plan -- of which she's very supportive -- I started making plans.
First, I spoke with my boss, Magda, about my decision to attend school. She was instantly very supportive and provided some important guidance: I told her that I planned to get an MBA since that's the degree that most managers have, and she recommend that I pursue something more relevant to my career. As she explained, if someone is qualified to be a manager, not having an MBA won't hold them back.
Second, I looked at what nearby universities had to offer in the field of communications. I decided that I wanted to choose a program that was entirely online so that my studies would be more flexible around my schedule, but I still wanted to have the option to walk when I graduated -- I never walked at OSU when I finished my Bachelor’s degree, but with something as significant as a master’s degree, I wanted to still have the option. Plus, I remember when my dad walked when he finished his master’s and I like the idea of doing the same for my future children.
After researching different schools and the degrees they offer, I decided to attend Loyola University Maryland (located in downtown Baltimore) and pursue an MA in Emerging Media. While the program description is somewhat vague, the basic gist is that the degree delves into different forms of so-called "new media" like social media with a strong emphasis in writing. With my career as a technical writer, the writing emphasis is a good fit, and since I'm working in marketing, a better understanding of new forms of media will be very beneficial.
After deciding on the degree program the weekend before Thanksgiving, I had to scramble to complete the necessary requirements for the application by the December 1 deadline. I wrote the essay (with help from academic advisor, my dad, and my coworker Chelsea), collected two letters of recommendation (from the head of PR at Danfoss and a professor I had at OSU who, after my father, is probably the biggest influence on my writing), and filled out multiple forms. A week later, I received an email notifying me that I was accepted into the program.
Class starts a week from today and I'm excited, but also nervous. I haven't attended school while working fulltime before, plus Leah and I are hoping to get pregnant soon, so with my already hectic life, I'm taking on even more. Even so, I'm confident that this is the right choice for me, for Leah, and for the rest of our family when they join us. Wish me luck!
First, I spoke with my boss, Magda, about my decision to attend school. She was instantly very supportive and provided some important guidance: I told her that I planned to get an MBA since that's the degree that most managers have, and she recommend that I pursue something more relevant to my career. As she explained, if someone is qualified to be a manager, not having an MBA won't hold them back.
Second, I looked at what nearby universities had to offer in the field of communications. I decided that I wanted to choose a program that was entirely online so that my studies would be more flexible around my schedule, but I still wanted to have the option to walk when I graduated -- I never walked at OSU when I finished my Bachelor’s degree, but with something as significant as a master’s degree, I wanted to still have the option. Plus, I remember when my dad walked when he finished his master’s and I like the idea of doing the same for my future children.
After researching different schools and the degrees they offer, I decided to attend Loyola University Maryland (located in downtown Baltimore) and pursue an MA in Emerging Media. While the program description is somewhat vague, the basic gist is that the degree delves into different forms of so-called "new media" like social media with a strong emphasis in writing. With my career as a technical writer, the writing emphasis is a good fit, and since I'm working in marketing, a better understanding of new forms of media will be very beneficial.
After deciding on the degree program the weekend before Thanksgiving, I had to scramble to complete the necessary requirements for the application by the December 1 deadline. I wrote the essay (with help from academic advisor, my dad, and my coworker Chelsea), collected two letters of recommendation (from the head of PR at Danfoss and a professor I had at OSU who, after my father, is probably the biggest influence on my writing), and filled out multiple forms. A week later, I received an email notifying me that I was accepted into the program.
Class starts a week from today and I'm excited, but also nervous. I haven't attended school while working fulltime before, plus Leah and I are hoping to get pregnant soon, so with my already hectic life, I'm taking on even more. Even so, I'm confident that this is the right choice for me, for Leah, and for the rest of our family when they join us. Wish me luck!
Friday, April 13, 2018
Honeymooners
About a week after the wedding, Leah and I went on our honeymoon: a cruise to the Bahamas.
During our extended engagement, Leah went to a few different bridal shows and entered a few sweepstakes. A few days after one of the shows, she got a phone call or an email inviting us to attend a sales pitch and if we attended, we'd get a free Amazon Kindle Fire tablet. I've had a Kindle Fire for several years and Leah getting one sounded pretty good, so we went.
The sales pitch was for discounted luxury vacation packages, and while they did sound nice, even with the heavy discounts, they were all outside of our price range. We played nice and sat through the main sales pitch and then multiple individual pitches, but we just couldn't afford it. The individual saleswoman did not even try to hide her annoyance when we turned down her last pitch.
With no more options available with which to entice us, they sent us to an office near the exit to sign some forms affirming that we got the promised tablet. The man who talked us through the final paperwork had a final package that he offered us: a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, looking at the fine print, we discovered that another option was to go on a Caribbean cruise, with airfare to Florida included. The only catch was that we would have to be flexible about when we cruised. We agreed and paid the down payment.
Over the next several months, the cruise was something that we'd remember from time to time, but it was mostly in the background. Eventually, we had to pick potential dates spaced apart when we could go and the travel agency would assign us what worked best for them. Fortunately, the date they picked was the date we wanted.
I feel the need to point out that when we booked the cruise, we still didn't have a wedding date. You can call it faith, though we did have a back-up plan in case we weren't: the cabin we would get had two twin beds that could be pushed together as one and we would just keep them separated. In hindsight, it wasn't the best plan.
When the day of the start of our honeymoon came, we flew to Fort Lauderdale, even though our cruise left from the port of Miami—that's just how the travel agency booked it, which added some additional work on our part getting transportation to the port. Fort Lauderdale was very pretty and it was quite warm for February. After a frightening cab ride from the airport to downtown (our hotel room wasn't ready yet), we ate lunch at a fancy Italian bistro. The food was delicious and quite filling, which was fine since we decided to walk to the hotel since it was only a few miles away. I don't regret walking, but we were both quite sweaty by the time we arrived.
The next day, we took a hotel-provided shuttle to the Miami port. We arrived early enough that any lines we waited in weren't very long. The check-in process was easy enough and soon we were onboard. We were so early that we couldn't go to our cabin yet, so we looked to see what activities we could participate in to pass the time. We ended up going to a couple of presentations in a row: one on activities that could be done onshore when we arrived at our destinations and one on good places to shop. While there were some activities that were far too expensive for us to consider (swimming with dolphins cost more than $400 a person), we decided that unguided snorkeling sounded like fun—and at $35 a head, it was also the most affordable. As for the shopping, that was more for Leah than for me, but I'm glad we went because there were a few items we found out about that were free, all we had to do was show up and present a coupon.
The first day the ship dropped anchor off the shore of Coco Cay, a private island owned by the cruise line. The nice thing about the island being owned by the cruise was that we didn't have to worry about having money on us for food when it was lunchtime. Ferries carried passengers back and forth all day. This was where Leah and I went snorkeling. We checked out our equipment, watched a short safety video and ventured forth. We did okay, but we both swallowed our share of water. After some time, we were tired and went back to get some sun. I applied sunscreen three separate times, but apparently missed my ankles, which were a little burned by that evening.
After lunch and some more lounging, we tried the water one more time. We were much more skilled the second time and enjoyed the experience much more. I even felt less tired as we traveled from site to site (there was a staged shipwreck and plane crash, both to attract us and offer fish protection). On our second trip out, we even saw a sea turtle grazing, which was very exciting.
The next day, we docked at Nassau, where we spent the morning shopping (that is, mostly getting free stuff). In the afternoon, we took a taxi to the beach. I'm glad that we snorkeled at the first island because there were no waves. Nassau's waves were all pretty small, but there were something.
This trip was only my second time leaving the US and the first time that I did so for pleasure. This was Leah's second cruise and we both really enjoyed our time. To anyone thinking about taking a cruise, I would heartily recommend it.
During our extended engagement, Leah went to a few different bridal shows and entered a few sweepstakes. A few days after one of the shows, she got a phone call or an email inviting us to attend a sales pitch and if we attended, we'd get a free Amazon Kindle Fire tablet. I've had a Kindle Fire for several years and Leah getting one sounded pretty good, so we went.
The sales pitch was for discounted luxury vacation packages, and while they did sound nice, even with the heavy discounts, they were all outside of our price range. We played nice and sat through the main sales pitch and then multiple individual pitches, but we just couldn't afford it. The individual saleswoman did not even try to hide her annoyance when we turned down her last pitch.
With no more options available with which to entice us, they sent us to an office near the exit to sign some forms affirming that we got the promised tablet. The man who talked us through the final paperwork had a final package that he offered us: a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, looking at the fine print, we discovered that another option was to go on a Caribbean cruise, with airfare to Florida included. The only catch was that we would have to be flexible about when we cruised. We agreed and paid the down payment.
Over the next several months, the cruise was something that we'd remember from time to time, but it was mostly in the background. Eventually, we had to pick potential dates spaced apart when we could go and the travel agency would assign us what worked best for them. Fortunately, the date they picked was the date we wanted.
I feel the need to point out that when we booked the cruise, we still didn't have a wedding date. You can call it faith, though we did have a back-up plan in case we weren't: the cabin we would get had two twin beds that could be pushed together as one and we would just keep them separated. In hindsight, it wasn't the best plan.
When the day of the start of our honeymoon came, we flew to Fort Lauderdale, even though our cruise left from the port of Miami—that's just how the travel agency booked it, which added some additional work on our part getting transportation to the port. Fort Lauderdale was very pretty and it was quite warm for February. After a frightening cab ride from the airport to downtown (our hotel room wasn't ready yet), we ate lunch at a fancy Italian bistro. The food was delicious and quite filling, which was fine since we decided to walk to the hotel since it was only a few miles away. I don't regret walking, but we were both quite sweaty by the time we arrived.
The next day, we took a hotel-provided shuttle to the Miami port. We arrived early enough that any lines we waited in weren't very long. The check-in process was easy enough and soon we were onboard. We were so early that we couldn't go to our cabin yet, so we looked to see what activities we could participate in to pass the time. We ended up going to a couple of presentations in a row: one on activities that could be done onshore when we arrived at our destinations and one on good places to shop. While there were some activities that were far too expensive for us to consider (swimming with dolphins cost more than $400 a person), we decided that unguided snorkeling sounded like fun—and at $35 a head, it was also the most affordable. As for the shopping, that was more for Leah than for me, but I'm glad we went because there were a few items we found out about that were free, all we had to do was show up and present a coupon.
We're on a boat!
Kissing on the high seas
The first day the ship dropped anchor off the shore of Coco Cay, a private island owned by the cruise line. The nice thing about the island being owned by the cruise was that we didn't have to worry about having money on us for food when it was lunchtime. Ferries carried passengers back and forth all day. This was where Leah and I went snorkeling. We checked out our equipment, watched a short safety video and ventured forth. We did okay, but we both swallowed our share of water. After some time, we were tired and went back to get some sun. I applied sunscreen three separate times, but apparently missed my ankles, which were a little burned by that evening.
After lunch and some more lounging, we tried the water one more time. We were much more skilled the second time and enjoyed the experience much more. I even felt less tired as we traveled from site to site (there was a staged shipwreck and plane crash, both to attract us and offer fish protection). On our second trip out, we even saw a sea turtle grazing, which was very exciting.
We are super white
Underwater selfies are hard!
A fish
A school of fish
What's that over there?
A SEA TURTLE!
The next day, we docked at Nassau, where we spent the morning shopping (that is, mostly getting free stuff). In the afternoon, we took a taxi to the beach. I'm glad that we snorkeled at the first island because there were no waves. Nassau's waves were all pretty small, but there were something.
Is it weird that I took a picture of my wife taking a picture?
I've been familiar with the ways of pirates since high school
I don't know what Leah's supposed to be, but she's cute
Notice my red ankle
This trip was only my second time leaving the US and the first time that I did so for pleasure. This was Leah's second cruise and we both really enjoyed our time. To anyone thinking about taking a cruise, I would heartily recommend it.
Friday, April 6, 2018
The Road to the Temple
We all know that Leah and I got married, but because I'd taken a break from blogging, I don't have an entry on it. Let's fix that.
After I proposed to Leah on December 25, 2016, I called to make an appointment for our sealing at the Washington, DC Temple. As the sister working in scheduling collected my information, she noticed that I had been previously sealed and asked if I had an approval letter to be sealed a second time. I told her that I did not and, in fact, didn't know that I needed one. She explained that she would not be able to book our sealing until after I received the approval letter and that I would need to contact my Bishop, who would start the process. I thanked her for her help and hung up.
The process for getting approved to be sealed a second time was not easy. I had to listed in as much detail as possible any sins I had committed since my previous sealing, even those resolved with priesthood leaders. That alone was emotionally grueling, but then I had to do it again for the Stake President. I met with my Bishop and Stake President multiple times, the latter of whom suggested that we consider a civil marriage with a sealing to follow a year later. Leah and I both prayed about that option and felt that despite the difficulties we were facing, we wanted to "do it right" and get married in the Temple.
After meeting with the Bishop and Stake President several more times, our paperwork was submitted to the First Presidency for review. A little over a month later, Leah and I were called in to meet with the Stake President, who informed us that he had heard from Salt Lake: we needed to resubmit in four months. That was frustrating, but we obeyed and on December 26, 2017, I finally received my approval letter, signed by President Monson.
Starting from when I had first proposed a year before, Leah had been planning our wedding and reception. By the time I got my approval letter, she had her dress, all of the decorations, and had hired a photographer. Unfortunately, the Washington, DC Temple was scheduled to close for two years for renovation on March 4, so we were running out time if we wanted to be married there. During her preparations, Leah had even got us significantly discounted cruise tickets that we hoped to use as our honeymoon, but that meant that we would need to be married before the cruise left on February 9. So, we picked February 3 as our wedding date, which gave us a nice numerical pneumonic: 2/3.
In what seemed like a mad rush, we scheduled time at the Temple for Leah's endowment and our sealing; booked the Cultural Hall at the chapel of the ward we'd be in as a married couple; designed, ordered, and mailed out our wedding invitations; and planned the menu and conscripted people to help with food. It was a flurry of work—most of which Leah is responsible for—but we got it all ready.
Thus, on February 3, 2018 Leah and I were sealed for all eternity at the Washington, DC Temple, surrounded by our endowed friends and family (we had enough people in attendance that we were moved to one of the larger sealing rooms). While it was a lovely ceremony, what was truly wonderful was that we had made important covenants that will last beyond our mortal lives.
Afterwards, we went outside and took pictures with the rest of our family. It was chilly that day, though still surprisingly warm for early February. In between pictures, Leah and several of the women grabbed a coat to keep warm. We took all of the family pictures first so that our families could be excused. Once Leah, the photographer and I felt we had enough pictures outside the Temple, we drove back up to Harford, County to prepare for the reception.
The memories made that day may fade and the pictures taken may be lost, but the covenants Leah and I made that day will last longer than man can comprehend. For that, I am truly grateful.
After I proposed to Leah on December 25, 2016, I called to make an appointment for our sealing at the Washington, DC Temple. As the sister working in scheduling collected my information, she noticed that I had been previously sealed and asked if I had an approval letter to be sealed a second time. I told her that I did not and, in fact, didn't know that I needed one. She explained that she would not be able to book our sealing until after I received the approval letter and that I would need to contact my Bishop, who would start the process. I thanked her for her help and hung up.
The process for getting approved to be sealed a second time was not easy. I had to listed in as much detail as possible any sins I had committed since my previous sealing, even those resolved with priesthood leaders. That alone was emotionally grueling, but then I had to do it again for the Stake President. I met with my Bishop and Stake President multiple times, the latter of whom suggested that we consider a civil marriage with a sealing to follow a year later. Leah and I both prayed about that option and felt that despite the difficulties we were facing, we wanted to "do it right" and get married in the Temple.
After meeting with the Bishop and Stake President several more times, our paperwork was submitted to the First Presidency for review. A little over a month later, Leah and I were called in to meet with the Stake President, who informed us that he had heard from Salt Lake: we needed to resubmit in four months. That was frustrating, but we obeyed and on December 26, 2017, I finally received my approval letter, signed by President Monson.
Starting from when I had first proposed a year before, Leah had been planning our wedding and reception. By the time I got my approval letter, she had her dress, all of the decorations, and had hired a photographer. Unfortunately, the Washington, DC Temple was scheduled to close for two years for renovation on March 4, so we were running out time if we wanted to be married there. During her preparations, Leah had even got us significantly discounted cruise tickets that we hoped to use as our honeymoon, but that meant that we would need to be married before the cruise left on February 9. So, we picked February 3 as our wedding date, which gave us a nice numerical pneumonic: 2/3.
In what seemed like a mad rush, we scheduled time at the Temple for Leah's endowment and our sealing; booked the Cultural Hall at the chapel of the ward we'd be in as a married couple; designed, ordered, and mailed out our wedding invitations; and planned the menu and conscripted people to help with food. It was a flurry of work—most of which Leah is responsible for—but we got it all ready.
I'm really pleased with how the invitations turned out, especially since I wrote the text
Thus, on February 3, 2018 Leah and I were sealed for all eternity at the Washington, DC Temple, surrounded by our endowed friends and family (we had enough people in attendance that we were moved to one of the larger sealing rooms). While it was a lovely ceremony, what was truly wonderful was that we had made important covenants that will last beyond our mortal lives.
It took a while, but I'm glad we did it right
A kiss worth waiting for!
Afterwards, we went outside and took pictures with the rest of our family. It was chilly that day, though still surprisingly warm for early February. In between pictures, Leah and several of the women grabbed a coat to keep warm. We took all of the family pictures first so that our families could be excused. Once Leah, the photographer and I felt we had enough pictures outside the Temple, we drove back up to Harford, County to prepare for the reception.
Notice all of the coats and jackets
The memories made that day may fade and the pictures taken may be lost, but the covenants Leah and I made that day will last longer than man can comprehend. For that, I am truly grateful.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
General Conference, April 2018
This past weekend was General Conference, which I always enjoy, but this was special because it was the first one I shared with Leah since we got married. Add to that the Solemn Assembly and the changes made to Priesthood organization (High Priests joining the Elders Quorum of each ward and branch) and ministering (doing away with Home and Visiting Teaching), this was quite an exciting Conference.
In addition to the big changes listed above, the biggest takeaways I had involved our worship of Christ and our interactions with others. The importance of selfless service—not as a way to talk about the gospel, but simply as a way to help our fellow man—was repeated numerous times. And with so many people reiterating the late President Monson's advice to read the Book of Mormon prompted Leah and me to again hold daily family scripture study (which we conducted for several months, but got out of the habit of).
I'm so grateful that we have a living prophet in President Russel M. Nelson and look forward to his ministry, however long it may be.
In addition to the big changes listed above, the biggest takeaways I had involved our worship of Christ and our interactions with others. The importance of selfless service—not as a way to talk about the gospel, but simply as a way to help our fellow man—was repeated numerous times. And with so many people reiterating the late President Monson's advice to read the Book of Mormon prompted Leah and me to again hold daily family scripture study (which we conducted for several months, but got out of the habit of).
I'm so grateful that we have a living prophet in President Russel M. Nelson and look forward to his ministry, however long it may be.
Monday, October 16, 2017
The Wedding of Susannah and Michael
On Sunday afternoon, Leah and I attended the wedding of my friend and coworker, Michael and his bride Susannah. I was honored to be included, especially since I was the only person from the office Michael invited.
This was the first Jewish wedding I've attended and it was a lovely introduction. I was a little thrown by the yarmulkes that were provided with no instruction on how to wear them -- Michael had told me ahead of time that they would be optional and I wanted to be respectful of his religion and culture, so rather than wear it wrong, I chose to not use it.
The wedding was outside, which could have been treacherous this time of year. In fact, most of that morning had nothing but grey skies and muggy air, but by the time the ceremony started, the weather was perfect.
The ceremony was short -- which Leah and I appreciated since we had been going since early that morning -- and sweet. Susannah remarked afterwards that the officiant read an earlier draft of the vows that included an anecdote that she didn't care for, but it was more of a comment than a complaint.
Michael is the one of Jewish heritage and he even included some Hebrew in his vows, though Susannah's were completely in English (which is kind of ironic because Susannah is a polyglot, though the other languages she speaks are mostly of the Romantic variety).
After the ceremony but before dinner started, Leah and I wandered around the grounds of the hotel where the festivities were held. It was quite beautiful with lots of flowers, foliage, statues, and water features.
Leah and me having fun exploring
I wish Susannah and Michael the best in their new life together and I'm grateful that Leah and I were included on their special day.
The two happy couples
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Cat Sratch Fever
I live with Leah's two cats: Edward and Maybeline. Edward loves to cuddle and Maybeline (or Maybe or even just May) keeps more to herself. And even though Edward us more than twice her size, Maybe's in charge.
A few months ago, we bought the cats a cardboard scratching board. They both used it at first, but Maybe made it clear that it was hers and was often seen just sitting on the board. Since Edward wasn't allowed to scratch on the board, he'd scratch other things. Because Maybe wouldn't share, we bought Edward his own scratching board. He used it a couple of times before Maybe marked it as hers by urinating on it. We threw it away and looked for other things that Edward could scratch.
This past weekend, I ordered a small cat tree from Amazon. It arrived yesterday, but neither cat was terribly interested. So, after work today, I rubbed it down with some catnip. That seems to have been the missing element because Edward spent a lot of time with it this evening.
Hopefully this means that he'll finally leave the couch alone.
A few months ago, we bought the cats a cardboard scratching board. They both used it at first, but Maybe made it clear that it was hers and was often seen just sitting on the board. Since Edward wasn't allowed to scratch on the board, he'd scratch other things. Because Maybe wouldn't share, we bought Edward his own scratching board. He used it a couple of times before Maybe marked it as hers by urinating on it. We threw it away and looked for other things that Edward could scratch.
This past weekend, I ordered a small cat tree from Amazon. It arrived yesterday, but neither cat was terribly interested. So, after work today, I rubbed it down with some catnip. That seems to have been the missing element because Edward spent a lot of time with it this evening.
Hopefully this means that he'll finally leave the couch alone.
Monday, October 9, 2017
The Weekend of Food
This weekend, Leah's older brother, Rob, visited from Washington State and brought his eleven-year-old daughter, Becca. Also visiting was Leah's youngest sister, Allie, from Maryland State University. Knowing this, I volunteered to cook two meals: breakfast on Saturday morning and dinner on Sunday evening.
For Saturday's breakfast, I arrived a little after eight AM and started making blueberry compote. While that cooked on the stove, I mixed up some pancake batter and heated up a griddle. I made about thirty blueberry pancakes, stacking them up as I went. Becca helped out by microwaving plate after plate of bacon (we made a total of three pounds). As we got close to finishing up, I started cracking egg into a mixing bowl. I added salt and pepper to the fourteen or fifteen eggs and starting beating them. That's when I found out that Leah's other younger sister, Megan, doesn't like blueberries, so I had Leah mix up another small batch of pancake batter. I reheated the griddle and poured the eggs into a hot skillet. With the eggs scrambled and Megan's seven or eight pancakes done, we all sat down to eat. Everyone ate as much as they wanted and there were still a few pancakes leftover, though the bacon, eggs, and compote were all finished off.
For Sunday, I made pumpkin cookies the night before and put them out for people to munch on throughout the day. And munch on them they did. Since it was Fast Sunday, I waited until dinner to eat anything, and there only eight or nine cookies left from the original three-and-a-half dozen. For dinner itself, I roasted two whole chickens, boiled and mashed nearly an entire ten pound bag of potatoes, and sautéed a few pounds of zucchini and onions, or at least I tried to. The pan I used to sauté was smaller than I needed it to be, so I put the lid on in an attempt to have it cook more evenly, which it did, but it also ended getting steamed instead of sautéed. Regardless, there was plenty of food and Allie even took leftovers before she headed back to college.
While I did get lots of compliments on the food I made, I didn't do it for the praise. I like cooking and I like serving people, so when I can combine the two together, it makes for a happy (if tired) Jordan.
For Saturday's breakfast, I arrived a little after eight AM and started making blueberry compote. While that cooked on the stove, I mixed up some pancake batter and heated up a griddle. I made about thirty blueberry pancakes, stacking them up as I went. Becca helped out by microwaving plate after plate of bacon (we made a total of three pounds). As we got close to finishing up, I started cracking egg into a mixing bowl. I added salt and pepper to the fourteen or fifteen eggs and starting beating them. That's when I found out that Leah's other younger sister, Megan, doesn't like blueberries, so I had Leah mix up another small batch of pancake batter. I reheated the griddle and poured the eggs into a hot skillet. With the eggs scrambled and Megan's seven or eight pancakes done, we all sat down to eat. Everyone ate as much as they wanted and there were still a few pancakes leftover, though the bacon, eggs, and compote were all finished off.
For Sunday, I made pumpkin cookies the night before and put them out for people to munch on throughout the day. And munch on them they did. Since it was Fast Sunday, I waited until dinner to eat anything, and there only eight or nine cookies left from the original three-and-a-half dozen. For dinner itself, I roasted two whole chickens, boiled and mashed nearly an entire ten pound bag of potatoes, and sautéed a few pounds of zucchini and onions, or at least I tried to. The pan I used to sauté was smaller than I needed it to be, so I put the lid on in an attempt to have it cook more evenly, which it did, but it also ended getting steamed instead of sautéed. Regardless, there was plenty of food and Allie even took leftovers before she headed back to college.
While I did get lots of compliments on the food I made, I didn't do it for the praise. I like cooking and I like serving people, so when I can combine the two together, it makes for a happy (if tired) Jordan.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Color Run
This past Saturday, I participated in the 2017 Baltimore Color Run 5K. It was kind of lame.
First off, I should say that I did not train for this event. I knew it was coming and I always meant to run after work or on Saturdays, but I never got around to it. When the day of the run came, I was ill-prepared, but I still went through with it anyway.
For those unacquainted with the concept of a color run, it's like any other distance running event (in this case, a 5K), but runners are hit with colored chalk powder throughout the run. What does the addition of color offer that more mundane runs lack? As far as I can tell, just dirty clothes.
One of Leah's best friends, Rachel, wanted to participate in the run, but didn't want to do it alone, so Leah was roped in. After finding out that to register as a team they needed at least four members, I was roped in. I thought that color runs sounded completely stupid, but having not yet experienced one firsthand, I decided to be scientific about it and find out for myself.
It turns out they aren't as stupid as I thought. Perhaps a better way to put it is to say that color runs aren't for me, though I can see why other people might like them. The whole event was about having fun and being happy. Lots of participants wore rainbow-colored wigs, tutus, bandanas, and other clothing and entire families ran together. Throughout the run were signs reminding us to be happy. There was such an emphasis on it being fun that the event was not timed, though I did use an app to track my progress.
So, why didn't I care for the color run? Mostly because it added a lot unnecessary elements to something I already enjoy, so the main thing is obscured. Think of it like a bar of chocolate: if you add a few more ingredients like caramel and nougat, it can compliment the chocolate, but if you add too many ingredients like nuts, marzipan, and orange oil, it can hide what was originally the main attraction.
Not only that, but they only hit us with colored chalk powder four times, which seems too few times for something that's in the name. Yes, I realize that I'm complaining about not having enough of a thing that I didn't even like.
In the end, it was a new experience and it helped to start me exercising regularly again. I don't think I want to do another color run, but another regular 5K sounds like fun.
First off, I should say that I did not train for this event. I knew it was coming and I always meant to run after work or on Saturdays, but I never got around to it. When the day of the run came, I was ill-prepared, but I still went through with it anyway.
For those unacquainted with the concept of a color run, it's like any other distance running event (in this case, a 5K), but runners are hit with colored chalk powder throughout the run. What does the addition of color offer that more mundane runs lack? As far as I can tell, just dirty clothes.
One of Leah's best friends, Rachel, wanted to participate in the run, but didn't want to do it alone, so Leah was roped in. After finding out that to register as a team they needed at least four members, I was roped in. I thought that color runs sounded completely stupid, but having not yet experienced one firsthand, I decided to be scientific about it and find out for myself.
It turns out they aren't as stupid as I thought. Perhaps a better way to put it is to say that color runs aren't for me, though I can see why other people might like them. The whole event was about having fun and being happy. Lots of participants wore rainbow-colored wigs, tutus, bandanas, and other clothing and entire families ran together. Throughout the run were signs reminding us to be happy. There was such an emphasis on it being fun that the event was not timed, though I did use an app to track my progress.
So, why didn't I care for the color run? Mostly because it added a lot unnecessary elements to something I already enjoy, so the main thing is obscured. Think of it like a bar of chocolate: if you add a few more ingredients like caramel and nougat, it can compliment the chocolate, but if you add too many ingredients like nuts, marzipan, and orange oil, it can hide what was originally the main attraction.
Not only that, but they only hit us with colored chalk powder four times, which seems too few times for something that's in the name. Yes, I realize that I'm complaining about not having enough of a thing that I didn't even like.
In the end, it was a new experience and it helped to start me exercising regularly again. I don't think I want to do another color run, but another regular 5K sounds like fun.
Our team (Holly, Rachel, me, and Leah) showing off our matching t-shirts, headbands, and temporary tattoos
After the running was over, we were given extra bags of powdered chalk to throw at each other
Team selfie with Holly's friend Lindsay
Any excuse to kiss this woman
Friday, May 19, 2017
Mother's Day 2017
For Mother’s Day this year, I spent a good portion of the day with Leah’s mom, Debbie. The day began with Leah and me attending Debbie’s ward, which also meant that Debbie showed me off like I was a prized Pomeranian at the Westminster Dog Show. Plenty of people were quite friendly, saying “hi” to me and asking a few questions to get to know me; oddly, nobody introduced themselves, so when Debbie asked if I met anyone, all I could say was, “Yes, but no one told me their name.”
After church, we went back to the Grabowski family home for me to make dinner. As our Mother’s Day gift to Debbie, Leah had offered my skills in the kitchen. A couple of weeks earlier, we had discussed different dinner options and Debbie requested garlic shrimp pasta. Leah was my sous-chef and handled cooking the pasta and providing me with ingredients and dishes, while I cooked the shrimp and made the butter sauce. We doubled the recipe, which meant that I encountered some surprises when I tried to fit everything into a skillet that wasn’t big enough, but I was able to figure out a workaround.
When dinner was served, there wasn’t a lot of talk, just a lot of eating. Debbie liked dinner so much that she made herself a lunch box while there were still leftovers. Good thing, too, because everyone went back for a second helping.
I may not have been able to spend time with my own mother for Mother’s Day, but I still honored an important mother in my life.
After church, we went back to the Grabowski family home for me to make dinner. As our Mother’s Day gift to Debbie, Leah had offered my skills in the kitchen. A couple of weeks earlier, we had discussed different dinner options and Debbie requested garlic shrimp pasta. Leah was my sous-chef and handled cooking the pasta and providing me with ingredients and dishes, while I cooked the shrimp and made the butter sauce. We doubled the recipe, which meant that I encountered some surprises when I tried to fit everything into a skillet that wasn’t big enough, but I was able to figure out a workaround.
When dinner was served, there wasn’t a lot of talk, just a lot of eating. Debbie liked dinner so much that she made herself a lunch box while there were still leftovers. Good thing, too, because everyone went back for a second helping.
I may not have been able to spend time with my own mother for Mother’s Day, but I still honored an important mother in my life.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Healthy Again
I exercised! Not only that, I did it for two days in a row!
Starting on Depakote while I was still taking Trileptal at full strength was rough and left me feeling weak. Plus, the Trileptal had made it hard for me to exercise with any consistency without getting sick. So it was just another normal day when I went to sleep on Thursday night still feeling kind of sick. But imagine my surprise when I woke up on Friday feeling better than I have in months. I went to the gym that evening after work and walked on a treadmill for an hour.
What happened? Thursday was the first day that I started tapering off of Trileptal, so I guess my body responded positively to the change. With my newfound vigor, I went with Leah to the gym this morning and did a full-body workout. I generally avoid those kinds of workouts, seeing better results from focusing on specific muscle groups, but I wanted to make all of my muscles sore so that I can get over that quickly and back to my normal lifting routine next week. (Plus, it was nice to be able to show off for my bride-to-be.)
I know that my neurologist was skeptical that the Trileptal was having any negative effect on me, but I'm glad I convinced her to make the change, especially now.
PS
The QSG is now online and can be viewed here. It's boring, but I'm really proud of it.
Starting on Depakote while I was still taking Trileptal at full strength was rough and left me feeling weak. Plus, the Trileptal had made it hard for me to exercise with any consistency without getting sick. So it was just another normal day when I went to sleep on Thursday night still feeling kind of sick. But imagine my surprise when I woke up on Friday feeling better than I have in months. I went to the gym that evening after work and walked on a treadmill for an hour.
What happened? Thursday was the first day that I started tapering off of Trileptal, so I guess my body responded positively to the change. With my newfound vigor, I went with Leah to the gym this morning and did a full-body workout. I generally avoid those kinds of workouts, seeing better results from focusing on specific muscle groups, but I wanted to make all of my muscles sore so that I can get over that quickly and back to my normal lifting routine next week. (Plus, it was nice to be able to show off for my bride-to-be.)
I know that my neurologist was skeptical that the Trileptal was having any negative effect on me, but I'm glad I convinced her to make the change, especially now.
PS
The QSG is now online and can be viewed here. It's boring, but I'm really proud of it.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Blessed
On Sunday, Leah asked me to give her a blessing to help her get over a cold she’s been fighting for a little over a week. I was happy to oblige. When I sealed the anointing, the words the Spirit gave me to say felt like they were meant as much for me as they were for her.
I said that when the two of us met, it was no accident: we met as soon as we were ready -- and God had been preparing us for each other for quite some time. I also said that our upcoming marriage was divinely appointed and that, while it would not always be easy, we would be happy. I choked up at this glimpse into the future, feeling the Spirit confirm the words as I said them.
When I got to the part about her cold, I basically said, “You’ll get over it when you get over it.” The words were much kinder than that, of course, but I was surprised that I wasn’t prompted to bless her in any way regarding her health. But maybe I shouldn’t have been: we receive the blessing we need, not the one we want.
It was a beautiful experience and it only strengthened my love of this wonderful daughter of God.
I said that when the two of us met, it was no accident: we met as soon as we were ready -- and God had been preparing us for each other for quite some time. I also said that our upcoming marriage was divinely appointed and that, while it would not always be easy, we would be happy. I choked up at this glimpse into the future, feeling the Spirit confirm the words as I said them.
When I got to the part about her cold, I basically said, “You’ll get over it when you get over it.” The words were much kinder than that, of course, but I was surprised that I wasn’t prompted to bless her in any way regarding her health. But maybe I shouldn’t have been: we receive the blessing we need, not the one we want.
It was a beautiful experience and it only strengthened my love of this wonderful daughter of God.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Nacho Man
For yesterday's celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I made one of the least authentic Mexican foods available: nachos.
It all started when I was still at work and realized what day it was. I texted Leah and said that, in celebration of the holiday, she should let me come by her work that evening and make her and her coworker nachos. At first she declined, but the more she thought about it, the more enticing it sounded. When she got to work, she asked her coworker (who is also the lead of their location) about my proposal. The response she received was "Is that even a question?" With everyone on board, we made plans for nachos!
After work I made a quick stop at the grocery store before going home and eating dinner -- dinner was a mistake since I knew I would be eat nachos later, but at the time I was hungry, so it made sense. I turned on what is quickly becoming my favorite kitchen gadget, my deep fryer, and started slicing tortillas. That's right, dear reader: I made homemade corn chips. I wasn't sure how many to make, so I asked Leah. She said make all of them. I cut 26 corn tortillas into 6 triangles, making a total of 156 chips. Split amongst three people, that proved to be exactly twice as many chips as were needed (not that that stopped me from eating my fair share). With my freshly made chips in tow, I drove the thirty minutes to the group home where Leah works.
When I got out of my car, Leah was waiting for me next to the garage, dancing enthusiastically as she sang "Nacho, nacho man!" to the tune of "Macho Man." Once inside, I discovered that while I brought the chips, cheese, and beef (for taco meat), I had forgotten a creamy chipotle sauce that I had made before working on the chips. I was quite annoyed with myself, spending time to make a condiment, only to forget it, but nothing could be done, so I moved on. I browned and seasoned the taco meat and then we assembled our glorious snack.
As we sat down in the living room to enjoy our Mexican-inspired American food, Leah looked at me and said, "You're the best fiance. I can't wait to upgrade you to a husband."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I spent one of the best Cinco de Mayos I can remember.
It all started when I was still at work and realized what day it was. I texted Leah and said that, in celebration of the holiday, she should let me come by her work that evening and make her and her coworker nachos. At first she declined, but the more she thought about it, the more enticing it sounded. When she got to work, she asked her coworker (who is also the lead of their location) about my proposal. The response she received was "Is that even a question?" With everyone on board, we made plans for nachos!
After work I made a quick stop at the grocery store before going home and eating dinner -- dinner was a mistake since I knew I would be eat nachos later, but at the time I was hungry, so it made sense. I turned on what is quickly becoming my favorite kitchen gadget, my deep fryer, and started slicing tortillas. That's right, dear reader: I made homemade corn chips. I wasn't sure how many to make, so I asked Leah. She said make all of them. I cut 26 corn tortillas into 6 triangles, making a total of 156 chips. Split amongst three people, that proved to be exactly twice as many chips as were needed (not that that stopped me from eating my fair share). With my freshly made chips in tow, I drove the thirty minutes to the group home where Leah works.
When I got out of my car, Leah was waiting for me next to the garage, dancing enthusiastically as she sang "Nacho, nacho man!" to the tune of "Macho Man." Once inside, I discovered that while I brought the chips, cheese, and beef (for taco meat), I had forgotten a creamy chipotle sauce that I had made before working on the chips. I was quite annoyed with myself, spending time to make a condiment, only to forget it, but nothing could be done, so I moved on. I browned and seasoned the taco meat and then we assembled our glorious snack.
Leah was able to contain her excitement long enough to take a picture (unlike me)
As we sat down in the living room to enjoy our Mexican-inspired American food, Leah looked at me and said, "You're the best fiance. I can't wait to upgrade you to a husband."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I spent one of the best Cinco de Mayos I can remember.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Side Effects
I know that I just wrote about changing the dosage of my medication, but now I'm switching to a completely new medication. Let me explain why.
Remember last summer when I had such bad eczema? That prompted me to change everything in my house to hypoallergenic products: every soap, lotion, shampoo, detergent, and solution was now perfume- and dye-free. With those changes in place, the eczema went away and hasn’t come back.
Around the same time, I started having problems with my contacts. I'd already been using a hypoallergenic cleaning solution for years, but I switched to a preservative-free saline for rinsing, and that seemed to alleviate the problem… at least for a while. Around late January, even with the changes I made, I could only wear my contacts for about four (maybe six) hours before they'd get so itchy that I couldn't stand it anymore. In March, I saw an ophthalmologist who said that my eyes were showing clear signs of experiencing an allergic reaction. I told him all of the changes that I had made and he said that I was taking all of the right steps and gave me some steroidal eye drops to reduce the reaction. I used the drops for a week straight before attempting to wear my contacts again. The next time I wore them, I was able to go the whole day without discomfort, but only for one day. On day two, I was back to being itchy to the point of not being able to keep my eyes open. Since then, I only wear my contacts for short periods.
Even more worrying, since December, I've had something like five sinus infections. I've been on so many rounds of antibiotics that I'm a little worried that I'm going to become resistant. I've also missed four days of work this year. That may not seem like a lot, but I've gotten teased from my coworkers because I never take any time off. Other than for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I just keep to my normal schedule, so taking that many sick days in such a short period was shocking. It was also troubling because I went from being healthy to being unable to exercise on a regular basis, something that I'd come to rely on to keep me sane.
Because of the problems that I had with my contacts, when I got my annual bonus this year, I looked into getting Lasik surgery and even had consultations at two separate locations. I talked about everything with Leah and we decided that I should wait until after the wedding before we plan something so expensive, though I decided to pray about it just to be sure. I felt like I hadn't explored all of my options and I thought that I should look at the side effects of my epilepsy medication.
So I did.
What are the major side effects? Allergic reactions (including rashes) and flu-like symptoms. I thought that match up too well with what I was going through to simply be a coincidence. I called my neurologist about my discovery and she was not convinced. To be fair, I hadn't told her about all of these problems before because I didn't think it was related to my medication. Plus, the fact that I had been on the new medication for a while before the side effects showed up. So she was understandably reluctant to prescribe a new medication, but I cajoled her into trying what is now my third medication.
(Quick aside: I've been referring to my medications on this blog by their generic names because I like avoiding proprietary eponyms, like calling any kind of lip balm Chapstick or any brand of tissue Kleenex. But whenever I tell doctors or nurses about what medications I'm taking, they ask for me to clarify with the medication brand name. So from now on, I'll refer to my medications by the names everyone recognizes. Levetiracetam, the first medication I took, is Keppra; oxcarbazepine, my last medication, is Trileptal; and divalproex sodium, my new medication, is Depakote.)
Because of how anti-convulsants work, I have to gradually start the Depakote as I gradually stop the Trileptal or risk what the warning labels call "non-stop seizures." For this first week, I'm going back to my old Trileptal routine of one dose in the morning and one in the evening while adding one dose of Depakote in the morning. Next week it'll switch, with two doses of Depakote and one dose of Trileptal in the evening. In two weeks, I'll maintain the two doses of Depakote and reduce my intake of Trileptal to once every other day. After that, I'll stop taking Trileptal completely.
Depakote has its own list of side effects which I'll be on the lookout for. Most prominently is the risk of liver damage, which was also a risk with Trileptal. That means quarterly blood tests to make sure that the medicine that keeps me from seizing doesn't also kill me. The other most common side effects are headaches, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, stomach pain, and (ironically) tremors. There may be other side effects that I'll encounter from the Trileptal and the Depakote interacting, but those will be short lived. So far, I was nauseated for less than ten minutes when I first took the Depakote yesterday, but that was it. I don't want to have the same problem as before where I didn’t connect my ailments to my medication, so any time I have any medical problem, I'm going to check it against the list of side effects.
Managing my epilepsy has not been easy, and I'm still encountering new challenges, but I'm living with it and not letting it get in the way of the rest of my life. Anyone else think I should be on a motivational poster?
Remember last summer when I had such bad eczema? That prompted me to change everything in my house to hypoallergenic products: every soap, lotion, shampoo, detergent, and solution was now perfume- and dye-free. With those changes in place, the eczema went away and hasn’t come back.
Around the same time, I started having problems with my contacts. I'd already been using a hypoallergenic cleaning solution for years, but I switched to a preservative-free saline for rinsing, and that seemed to alleviate the problem… at least for a while. Around late January, even with the changes I made, I could only wear my contacts for about four (maybe six) hours before they'd get so itchy that I couldn't stand it anymore. In March, I saw an ophthalmologist who said that my eyes were showing clear signs of experiencing an allergic reaction. I told him all of the changes that I had made and he said that I was taking all of the right steps and gave me some steroidal eye drops to reduce the reaction. I used the drops for a week straight before attempting to wear my contacts again. The next time I wore them, I was able to go the whole day without discomfort, but only for one day. On day two, I was back to being itchy to the point of not being able to keep my eyes open. Since then, I only wear my contacts for short periods.
Even more worrying, since December, I've had something like five sinus infections. I've been on so many rounds of antibiotics that I'm a little worried that I'm going to become resistant. I've also missed four days of work this year. That may not seem like a lot, but I've gotten teased from my coworkers because I never take any time off. Other than for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I just keep to my normal schedule, so taking that many sick days in such a short period was shocking. It was also troubling because I went from being healthy to being unable to exercise on a regular basis, something that I'd come to rely on to keep me sane.
Because of the problems that I had with my contacts, when I got my annual bonus this year, I looked into getting Lasik surgery and even had consultations at two separate locations. I talked about everything with Leah and we decided that I should wait until after the wedding before we plan something so expensive, though I decided to pray about it just to be sure. I felt like I hadn't explored all of my options and I thought that I should look at the side effects of my epilepsy medication.
So I did.
What are the major side effects? Allergic reactions (including rashes) and flu-like symptoms. I thought that match up too well with what I was going through to simply be a coincidence. I called my neurologist about my discovery and she was not convinced. To be fair, I hadn't told her about all of these problems before because I didn't think it was related to my medication. Plus, the fact that I had been on the new medication for a while before the side effects showed up. So she was understandably reluctant to prescribe a new medication, but I cajoled her into trying what is now my third medication.
(Quick aside: I've been referring to my medications on this blog by their generic names because I like avoiding proprietary eponyms, like calling any kind of lip balm Chapstick or any brand of tissue Kleenex. But whenever I tell doctors or nurses about what medications I'm taking, they ask for me to clarify with the medication brand name. So from now on, I'll refer to my medications by the names everyone recognizes. Levetiracetam, the first medication I took, is Keppra; oxcarbazepine, my last medication, is Trileptal; and divalproex sodium, my new medication, is Depakote.)
Because of how anti-convulsants work, I have to gradually start the Depakote as I gradually stop the Trileptal or risk what the warning labels call "non-stop seizures." For this first week, I'm going back to my old Trileptal routine of one dose in the morning and one in the evening while adding one dose of Depakote in the morning. Next week it'll switch, with two doses of Depakote and one dose of Trileptal in the evening. In two weeks, I'll maintain the two doses of Depakote and reduce my intake of Trileptal to once every other day. After that, I'll stop taking Trileptal completely.
Depakote has its own list of side effects which I'll be on the lookout for. Most prominently is the risk of liver damage, which was also a risk with Trileptal. That means quarterly blood tests to make sure that the medicine that keeps me from seizing doesn't also kill me. The other most common side effects are headaches, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, stomach pain, and (ironically) tremors. There may be other side effects that I'll encounter from the Trileptal and the Depakote interacting, but those will be short lived. So far, I was nauseated for less than ten minutes when I first took the Depakote yesterday, but that was it. I don't want to have the same problem as before where I didn’t connect my ailments to my medication, so any time I have any medical problem, I'm going to check it against the list of side effects.
Managing my epilepsy has not been easy, and I'm still encountering new challenges, but I'm living with it and not letting it get in the way of the rest of my life. Anyone else think I should be on a motivational poster?
Friday, April 28, 2017
Photoshoot
A couple of weekends ago, Leah and I met with our wedding photographer Courtney to take our engagement photos. We decided to take our photos at Jerusalem Mills, a so called "living history destination" with lots of different buildings and landscapes for varied backgrounds. We were originally planning to do the photoshoot two weeks earlier, but had to push it back due to rain, though I'm glad for the delay -- the extra two weeks allowed for more plants to come out of hibernation and made everything look more like spring.
We had scoped out the site ahead of time to plan where exactly we wanted to take pictures. Plus, Leah looked to Pinterest for inspiration on poses. When we met with Courtney, we were full of ideas. We ended up staying there for over three hours and took well over 600 pictures (while that is a lot, many of them are duplicates as we worked to get each pose just right). So far, only five pictures have been edited, but I'm really happy with the way they turned out.
I'm really happy that we went with Courtney for our photographer, though Leah did the legwork to find her. And according to Courtney, we were really good clients: she said that the fact that we were up for anything made her job easier and a lot more fun.
With how good these are, I'm excited to see how the rest of the pictures turned out.
We had scoped out the site ahead of time to plan where exactly we wanted to take pictures. Plus, Leah looked to Pinterest for inspiration on poses. When we met with Courtney, we were full of ideas. We ended up staying there for over three hours and took well over 600 pictures (while that is a lot, many of them are duplicates as we worked to get each pose just right). So far, only five pictures have been edited, but I'm really happy with the way they turned out.
This is my least favorite -- I'm clearly in the middle of talking and it makes my mouth look weird
Getting this silhouette image was my idea (and supposedly that covered bridge is haunted, but I didn't notice anything)
Gotta show off that rock!
I like how you can see the short, green grass in the foreground and the tall, brown grass in the background
This is my favorite one so far. Getting the pose just right took a lot of adjusting, but I'm really happy with how it turned out
I'm really happy that we went with Courtney for our photographer, though Leah did the legwork to find her. And according to Courtney, we were really good clients: she said that the fact that we were up for anything made her job easier and a lot more fun.
With how good these are, I'm excited to see how the rest of the pictures turned out.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Ripley's Believe It Or Not
On Saturday, Leah took me out on a date. She's great at finding deals and got a great discount on a pair of tickets to the Baltimore Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum.
Back when Leah and I first started dating, we went to Atlantic City. While we were walking around the boardwalk, I saw a Ripley's museum there and mentioned how much I loved reading the newspaper features as a kid and that I had a couple of books that collected many of said features. She listened and when she came across a sale on tickets, she asked if I wanted to go. It was sweet of her to remember something so trivial, so of course I said "yes."
The museum was filled with artifacts and reproductions of amazing things. Some were based on people, like the tallest man in recorded history, while others were works of art using unusual media, like giant portraits of Bill and Hillary Clinton made out of hamburger grease. One thing I liked was how there were several displays that focused on Baltimore, like Chessie, Charm City's version of Nessie.
Me standing next to a life-sized animatronic of Robert Wadlow, the tallest man the world has ever known
A(n admittedly creepy) mannequin or Robert Ripley
Ants painted like basketball players (for some reason)
There were also interactive exhibits, like funhouse mirrors, a mirror maze, what was called a "kaleidoscope room," and other attractions, some of which that didn't involve mirrors.
Inside the mirror maze -- finding our way out was much harder than I expected
The kaleidoscope room was pretty disorienting and I didn't stay in it long
We also got to see a "4-D" movie, which was a couple of short cartoons -- one staring the Angry Birds, the other staring the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote (we enjoyed the second one more, probably because we were familiar with the characters) -- that were in 3-D and required glasses and had chairs that shook. It was... okay, but I'm glad that we got to try it out.
We didn't take any pictures of the movie, so here's one of us having fun in the gift shop
After the fun of the museum, we went to a Japanese restaurant that was right on the Chesapeake Bay. Once again, Leah had a coupon. To save on parking, we walked from Ripley's to the restaurant, which was about a mile and a half away. In the rain. We both had umbrellas, so the walk just meant that we were really hungry when we sat down. Luckily, the food was pretty good.
This was Leah's first time trying unagi (eel)
Overall, it was a really fun day and further solidified the fact that Leah's a keeper.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Donut Holes
What happens when you're bored and you have deep fryer in your kitchen?
You make donut holes (which you then take to your fiancee while she's at work).
You make donut holes (which you then take to your fiancee while she's at work).
Monday, December 26, 2016
The Proposal
Yesterday, on Christmas, I asked for Leah's eternal hand in marriage. She said "Yes!"
The story of our proposal begins last Thursday. I had recently prayed if Leah was the woman I was supposed to marry, but the answer I received was "Go to the temple and ask there." So, on Thursday night I went to the Washington, DC Temple and participated in an endowment session. Once in the Celestial Room, I prayed again, this time receiving a resounding "Yes." I knew that I wanted to propose, but I didn't know how or when.
Leah works part-time at Victoria's Secret and I visited her on Christmas Eve so we could hang out during her break. She took the opportunity to show me off to her coworkers, one of whom even said "He's cute" while I was standing right there. We enjoy the thirty minutes we had together before she had to return to work.
With Leah safely inside the boutique de brasserie, I walked down to one of the jewelry stores in the mall. Soon after meeting me, Leah had picked out a few engagement rings and put them in the store's "Wish Book." When we started talking about the possibility of marriage while we were dating, she told me about the store and told me to choose one of the options there—in order to ensure that she liked the ring I picked out. With this in mind, I went to the jewelry store to see what the options were, intending to not buy anything that day. When I saw what the options were—and heard that the entire store's inventory was half off until Christmas—I picked the one I liked and bought it on the spot. I planned to wait until the holidays were over, in order to really surprise Leah.
With the ring hidden on my person, I went to Leah's parents' home to bake cookies. Leah's mom, Debbie, is very warm and invited me to come and bake cookies with her some time before Christmas and Christmas Eve just happened to be the best time for me to visit. Also there were Leah's younger brother, Ryan, and his wife Dana, her younger sisters, Megan and Allison, and Leah's niece, Rebecca, the daughter of Leah's older brother, Rob, who's currently stationed in the Philippines. At one point, everyone went outside to fire model rockets (a Grabowski Christmas tradition), so I went in to talk to Leah's father, Ulf. I told him that I loved his daughter and intended to ask her to marry me, though not until the holidays were over. He told me that he was a good judge of character and that he liked me and would be happy to give me his blessing on the proposal. Having gained his permission (and his promise to keep our conversation a secret), I went back outside to join with the rocket launches before my absence was noticed. After a few hours, Leah joined us and I continued to bake cookies (only four kinds surprisingly, but we did have rockets to launch). Before it got too late, I excused myself for the night, with the promise to return on Christmas day.
On Christmas morning, I went to church at the YSA ward, though only Sacrament meeting was held (which I think was the standard throughout the Church). After church, Leah met me at my apartment where we opened our gifts. I got her some leggings (which required me to join a Facebook group in order to buy them), a charm for her charm bracelet, and a pair of crocheted slipper socks. She got a nice pea coat, a deep fryer (which she admitted was partially for her so I can deep fry her food more easily), a ceramic coated skillet, a spoon rest for the stove, a butter dish (which I've mentioned that I needed), and a Superman-themed apron. (I also got a set of silicon baking mats from my parents—have you noticed a theme?) Having exchanging gifts (and hugs and kisses), we prepared to leave for her parents' for an early dinner.
Even though I planned to wait until after the holidays were over, I was too excited to wait any longer: I had decided the night before to propose on Christmas Day. I said I needed go to the bedroom to grab my wallet and keys, so Leah went with me to help me along. I made a comment about how there were other things I needed and she gave me a weird look and went back to the living room. I put the ring box in my back pocket and joined Leah. I grabbed her in a hug and said (not verbatim), "Leah, I love you. I'm so happy that I met you. My life has gotten so much better since I met you." I got down on one knee. "You've made me a better man and I know that as long as you're a part of my life, my life will only get better." I pulled the box out of my pocket and opened it. "Leah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, now and for all eternity?" She enthusiastically said, "Yes!" I slipped the ring on her finger (and had a mini freakout when I thought it didn't fit, though it was the perfect size) and we embraced and kissed.
On our way to Leah's parents', we called and told a few members of my family (not everyone was available, what with the time differences). Once at the Grabowski's, Leah didn't say anything, she just took off her jacket and gave her mom a hug. During their hug, Debbie felt the ring, pulled Leah's hand into view, and screamed with joy. With the cat out of the bag, she showed off the ring to her family and we both got hugs from everyone present.
I am so happy to be getting married to Leah. She's such a kind, caring person who works to make others feel better about themselves. We've only been together for four months, but we make a great team: I love her, she loves me, and we build each other up. I can't wait to be sealed to her for time and all eternity.
The story of our proposal begins last Thursday. I had recently prayed if Leah was the woman I was supposed to marry, but the answer I received was "Go to the temple and ask there." So, on Thursday night I went to the Washington, DC Temple and participated in an endowment session. Once in the Celestial Room, I prayed again, this time receiving a resounding "Yes." I knew that I wanted to propose, but I didn't know how or when.
Leah works part-time at Victoria's Secret and I visited her on Christmas Eve so we could hang out during her break. She took the opportunity to show me off to her coworkers, one of whom even said "He's cute" while I was standing right there. We enjoy the thirty minutes we had together before she had to return to work.
With Leah safely inside the boutique de brasserie, I walked down to one of the jewelry stores in the mall. Soon after meeting me, Leah had picked out a few engagement rings and put them in the store's "Wish Book." When we started talking about the possibility of marriage while we were dating, she told me about the store and told me to choose one of the options there—in order to ensure that she liked the ring I picked out. With this in mind, I went to the jewelry store to see what the options were, intending to not buy anything that day. When I saw what the options were—and heard that the entire store's inventory was half off until Christmas—I picked the one I liked and bought it on the spot. I planned to wait until the holidays were over, in order to really surprise Leah.
With the ring hidden on my person, I went to Leah's parents' home to bake cookies. Leah's mom, Debbie, is very warm and invited me to come and bake cookies with her some time before Christmas and Christmas Eve just happened to be the best time for me to visit. Also there were Leah's younger brother, Ryan, and his wife Dana, her younger sisters, Megan and Allison, and Leah's niece, Rebecca, the daughter of Leah's older brother, Rob, who's currently stationed in the Philippines. At one point, everyone went outside to fire model rockets (a Grabowski Christmas tradition), so I went in to talk to Leah's father, Ulf. I told him that I loved his daughter and intended to ask her to marry me, though not until the holidays were over. He told me that he was a good judge of character and that he liked me and would be happy to give me his blessing on the proposal. Having gained his permission (and his promise to keep our conversation a secret), I went back outside to join with the rocket launches before my absence was noticed. After a few hours, Leah joined us and I continued to bake cookies (only four kinds surprisingly, but we did have rockets to launch). Before it got too late, I excused myself for the night, with the promise to return on Christmas day.
On Christmas morning, I went to church at the YSA ward, though only Sacrament meeting was held (which I think was the standard throughout the Church). After church, Leah met me at my apartment where we opened our gifts. I got her some leggings (which required me to join a Facebook group in order to buy them), a charm for her charm bracelet, and a pair of crocheted slipper socks. She got a nice pea coat, a deep fryer (which she admitted was partially for her so I can deep fry her food more easily), a ceramic coated skillet, a spoon rest for the stove, a butter dish (which I've mentioned that I needed), and a Superman-themed apron. (I also got a set of silicon baking mats from my parents—have you noticed a theme?) Having exchanging gifts (and hugs and kisses), we prepared to leave for her parents' for an early dinner.
Even though I planned to wait until after the holidays were over, I was too excited to wait any longer: I had decided the night before to propose on Christmas Day. I said I needed go to the bedroom to grab my wallet and keys, so Leah went with me to help me along. I made a comment about how there were other things I needed and she gave me a weird look and went back to the living room. I put the ring box in my back pocket and joined Leah. I grabbed her in a hug and said (not verbatim), "Leah, I love you. I'm so happy that I met you. My life has gotten so much better since I met you." I got down on one knee. "You've made me a better man and I know that as long as you're a part of my life, my life will only get better." I pulled the box out of my pocket and opened it. "Leah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, now and for all eternity?" She enthusiastically said, "Yes!" I slipped the ring on her finger (and had a mini freakout when I thought it didn't fit, though it was the perfect size) and we embraced and kissed.
On our way to Leah's parents', we called and told a few members of my family (not everyone was available, what with the time differences). Once at the Grabowski's, Leah didn't say anything, she just took off her jacket and gave her mom a hug. During their hug, Debbie felt the ring, pulled Leah's hand into view, and screamed with joy. With the cat out of the bag, she showed off the ring to her family and we both got hugs from everyone present.
I am so happy to be getting married to Leah. She's such a kind, caring person who works to make others feel better about themselves. We've only been together for four months, but we make a great team: I love her, she loves me, and we build each other up. I can't wait to be sealed to her for time and all eternity.
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