I am a hypochondriac?...and more.

Lately, I've been feeling somewhat like a hypochondriac.  Do you ever feel that way?  Let me tell you, having the internet, health forums, and websites like the WebMD, and the fact that my primary care doctor sucks (which makes me not want to go to the Doctor), has led me to make pretty ridiculous assumptions about my health...all based upon pretty generic search terms like swollen lymph nodes and a cough.  For a while I was convinced that I had lymphoma.  Luckily, I was and am comforted by the fact that the swollen lymph nodes were tender and had appeared suddenly.  If it was cancer, then it would have been more gradual and hard...that's what WebMD said!  So scratch cancer, what about lung issues, why won't my cough go away, etc!?? And it goes on. 

Even though I am almost certain it's not something terminal and that swollen lymph nodes are a sign that your body is fighting back, I will honestly admit that thoughts like "oh crap, am I going to die?" or "oh no, there are so many things I haven't done" have crossed my mind.  Ridiculous I know and I plan on getting it checked out by a professional.  But all in all, what I learned was that while I used to think that I wasn't afraid of dying,  I realized that I am.  Maybe when I am older I won't be...but right now, very much so.  While I've always had an appreciation and admiration of the strength of people who are/have been fighting their illnesses, through my self imposed experience, I gained an even greater appreciation. 

Anyways, just a bunch of random thoughts.

It's been cold here in DC and the metro definitely isn't helping.  Came across this and somehow it really appealed to me..

Oh yeah kiddies, T-Minus 5 days till we leave for South Africa!  So excited to explore and experience a beautiful country with one of the biggest reasons of why I wouldn't want to die any time soon! :)

Is it bad that...

...I want to ditch class tonight, so that I can make steamed egg custard, brown rice, and veggies with oyster sauce?  Oh yeah, our new oyster sauce has no MSG, it's not the same!!!!
...I wanted to pull a girl's hair out at a concert last night for being extremely extremely rude and inconsiderate? (don't worry, I didn't beat her up! I do actually have self control.)

Hmm...I guess we all have flaws! Or as Rick Perry puts it, "we all have our human moments!"  :)

Going to California for a few days!

Just wanted to say good bye before I left for a few days to visit my family and friends in California! I am hoping for good weather in LA!

Very sleepy, so just a few thoughts:
-Our DC weather has been crazy. We finally got a gorgeous few days this weekend but it was 80 degrees on Sunday! Where is my cool, crisp autumn weather?
-50/50 great movie!
-I am waiting for peak fall, so I can go check out fall foliage!
-This time I am spending 4ish 5 days in California and I'm going to try to photograph more!! Food food food!
-Oh yeah, we are going to South Africa for 3 weeks in 1.5 months!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYA

While we had super sunshine on Sunday, I really wanted to catch some fall foliage but my walk around the neighborhood wasn't too fruitful. Not to mention the harsh lighting!  The colors are definitely turning though. Very excited.

Good night.

Watching the Last Man Standing - Tim Allen is in it and so far so good!!! Reminds me of the good times of Tim the tool man Taylor!!!

Kamunyak

Kamunyak means "blessed one" in Kenya.  What a pretty word.  And it's perfect for today because I feel particularly blessed!  (Note: I am not sure which language it is in though because there are hundreds of languages in Kenya). 

Read this quote on Cup of Jo...I've always liked him but who knew Bob Marley could be so insightful.

"He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you." 

I know I have been slacking as a blogger...most of it I can attribute to annoying computer difficulties. You know how that goes, right?!  Hopefully I'll have a better computer solution soon enough so it doesn't continue to stifle my blogging! 

I recently read "Shelter Me" by Juliette Fay and really enjoyed it.  My favorite character was Tug Malinowski.  I loved that he was genuine, tough, caring, and unwavering re: his own feelings.  Above all, he had principles and communicated very clearly what he wanted.  My favorite quote in the book...it was when one of the characters, a priest, was talking about the birth of Jesus at church:

"What I find myself marveling at is that men came from so far away to find a tiny baby.  No one else seemed to anticipate this momentous event, except for a mere three people, foreigners from the East.  This story would have been shocking to the Jews who were hearing it.  The first people to believe in the miracle of Jesus were not Jews!  They were not even neighboring Gentiles.  They didn't have the same skin color or customs or worldview.  They were the most unlikely sources of grace imaginable.  Yet grace Him they did, with their gifts and, more important, with their faith in him."

"Why is that?  What does it mean? And who are their present day equivalents?  Who are the unexpected people who show up from time to time in our lives, bearing rare and valuable gifts?  Who goes far out of their way to reach us?  Who are those unlikely souls who seem to understand what a miracle each of us is?"

Love the quote...makes you think, doesn't it? 

Last night, ICM and I went to my favorite Japanese restaurant in DC and that's where I snapped these two photos.  Now that it's cooler out, we were able to sit outside while enjoying our favorite UME SHISO rolls!  So delicious!!!  As we were eating, there was this beautiful glowing light that flowed through the garden...so pretty...I know the photos do not do it justice!

All right, time to do some homework and read my Lucky Peach magazine!!!

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone.

Monday...

Mist

Low-anchored cloud,

Newfoundland air,

Fountain head and source of rivers,

Dew-cloth, dream drapery,

And napkin spread by fays;

Drifting meadow of the air,

Where bloom the dasied banks and violets,

And in whose fenny labyrinth

The bittern booms and heron wades;

Spirit of the lake and seas and rivers,

Bear only perfumes and the scent

Of healing herbs to just men's fields!

-Henry David Thoreau

Yeap, I am daydreaming a little.

Hola!

Let’s see. What’s happening in the World? Last Friday, Standard & Poor downgraded the U.S. credit rating, which removed USA's perfect triple-A designation for the first time in history. CRAZY STUFF. And since then, that’s all that’s really been talked about. Oh yeah, that and the stock market crashing :( because of the downgrading, and of course the finger pointing that is happening on the Hill. What I haven’t seen explained much are the long term impacts from being downgraded. What is going to happen to us common folks? Maybe I’m burnt out but hearing this talked about all day on the news is tiring to me…and perhaps this makes me sound really pathetic, but I prefer to watch Saved by the Bell right now because it is much more relaxing.

On another note, I am growing increasingly tired of myself for not enjoying work as much as I used to…lately, there is just this dreadful feeling.  I think I'm inching closer and closer to really being sick of it and maybe the tipping point to finding an exit is just around the corner!

At this moment I know that I need to keep moving forward and somehow things will fall into place, I know they will because they have to! In the meanwhile,  we must all focus on things that make us happy...like eating Nando Peri Peri chicken AND froyo for lunch...of course that experience is made infinitely better and more special if you can share it with someone cool like you!

I love their mashed potatoes with their spicy sauces..yummmm

Changes.

Over the next couple of days...maybe weeks, you will notice changes on the blog format and look.  I'm kind of bored of the look and am going to play around with it!  Hopefully it'll be for the better.

Withdrawal!

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day!

I spent an awesome weekend at a beautiful house on a vast patch of land surrounded by trees and a river (a 20 minute walk away!).  It rained the first night we were there, but it cleared up and we had a super sunny weekend!  Being in a confined windowless cubicle area on most days make me feel trapped.  Hence, I’ve grown much more appreciative of the time that I get to spend outside.  And whenever my outdoor adventure ends, it is always kind of sad.  But enough with the negativity, just have to remember that it was a wonderful trip!  ICM, thanks for taking me along!!!

Without further ado, here are a couple of photos to brighten up my day (and maybe yours) from being back to the land of artificial light...

 Even though the boat sort of broke down, we spent a beautiful afternoon on the lake!

 We also made a short visit to see the New River Gorge Bridge.  View of the New River from the visitor center.

My most favorite part of the weekend (aside from spending it with awesome people and being amazed by the self-made mud monster) was hanging out by the Meadow(?) River, playing in the water, and watching the two dogs fetch sticks.  

Later, Gator.