Friday, March 23, 2012
It's so exciting when I realize a guy I like, likes me. It's still uncertain, which makes it high risk giving my heart the thuds. I'm still finding out to what extent he likes me. I hang on every word, but try not to. It's been a while since I've been this giddy. I just want to touch him and it's frustrating when I can't. I want to cuddle all day long and drink cup after cup of tea while listening to him talk about nothing and everything.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Been a while
Hair Update-
I personally washed my hair with shampoo for the first time since starting the CO washing routine. The only other times it had been washed with shampoo were when I had my hair cut which was twice I believe by Kristin and once by Holiday when he high lighted it for my over a year ago in December which was about a month into the routine. My hair has gotten very long and was starting to feel “blah” so I decided to do a re-boot. I washed with shampoo and conditioned the poop out of it, following with John Frieda Go Blonder Spray, blow-dry, and flat iron on the high lights. I didn’t put much in. Only enough to give a pick me up from the winter blahs. I’m going to do a photo a week if I can remember to log the progress this time and try to notate any variations I do on my washings.
So…hair summary for the restart:
February 22, 2012 – evening Shampoo with Baby Shampoo (Target version of J&J), followed with Suave conditioner (all over and into the scalp). Used John Frieda Go Blonder spray (sprayed on hands and finger combed through the front to the roots. Basically anywhere the sun would touch my hair if I was out and about in an effort to alleviate the winter blahs and dye line)
February 23, 2012 – morning, CO wash with Suave Rosemary and Mint. Air dry, brushed.
Face:
Still loving the oil cleansing method. Pitfalls – not being consistent. Consistency leads to clear skin for me. My skin is more sensitive than I realized and reacts with change. Even just the change in water if I’m traveling. I also bought a bunch of pillowcases. I stacked them all on my pillow and remove on every night so that my face is on a clean pillow. It helps keep the oils from my hair from being pressed onto my face. It’s been helping.
Rest of my life updates-
Been through two boyfriends. Currently Single.
I’ve come past my 1 year milestone for LASIK. 20/20. Mild dry eye in my left eye. No worse than when I wore contacts though. Best decision I ever made for myself.
Been back playing soccer for a year now. I LOVE IT and I didn’t even know how much I missed it. I play Sunday outdoor, Sunday indoor AM and PM, Monday indoor, Tuesday Indoor, Thursday Outdoor, Friday sometimes indoor if people need me to sub. It’s great. I love the people I play with and have met some awesome people that I’ll never forget.
It’s been almost a year since I’ve ridden a horse. I do miss it horribly. I have mixed emotions about going back. It’s a lot of effort for something that isn’t going into a horse I own.
I’m reaching 4 years at my job. I had a first interview with a company in Irvine and am awaiting news regarding a second interview. I want to move back to Southern California very much. Hopefully I get this opportunity.
Moar hair stuff! I was asked about my process so here it is:
Why this works – conditioners do contain mild cleansing agents. Think of it as using Dreft on your clothes instead of using Tide. Because it’s gentler though, you have to be more involved in making sure it does a thorough job.
Suave Rosemary & Mint Conditioner (large bottle) has been my best find. I moved around and used Aussie, other Suaves but I always come back to this. Put at front, crown, and nape. Massage into scalp to thoroughly coat the hair and scalp. Use your fingers to “scritch” the scalp. Experiment as to how rough you need to be. If as the day goes on and your scalp feels itchy… you need to scritch better. It’s a learning and trial & error process. Do the scalp first thing in the shower. Then depending upon length make sure there is enough conditioner to coat the hair to the end. Add more if needed and finger comb through. Use a hair clip to put it up out of the way for the rest of the shower and thoroughly rinse all the conditioner out at the end of your shower. Be VERY THOROUGH or you’ll feel gross later as your hair dries. I’ve learned that if I wait too long and the water isn’t hot enough, I don’t get a good enough rinse. Until you become accustomed to a non-stripped feeling, you may feel greasy even though you wont LOOK greasy. But you may also go through a period where a section of your hair will in fact look greasy. Experiment here. You may need to change conditioners or it may be a waiting game. It’s at this point you have to decide how long your willing to wait it out. Some people will do CO until they reach this point and then do a gentle shampoo washing (internet will refer to this as clarifying). If you use products, I suggest this method as you will need to remove build-up and CO only has mild cleansing agents in it. That’s why the cheaper conditioners work and the expensive ones tend not to for this method. You need one without –cones in it. Cones coat the hair and add to build-up. The overall goal here is that by not stripping all the natural oils, you wont need –cones to do the oils job.
My results – less tangles, less fly aways, less hair loss, less bendy lines from pony tail holders etc. AND my pony tails stayed better while at the gym. I could put my hair up and then take it out and I didn’t have that line from the holder after a few minutes. Before that line would stay until I washed my hair again.
Read a lot of things about adding Salt… might experiment with that
I personally washed my hair with shampoo for the first time since starting the CO washing routine. The only other times it had been washed with shampoo were when I had my hair cut which was twice I believe by Kristin and once by Holiday when he high lighted it for my over a year ago in December which was about a month into the routine. My hair has gotten very long and was starting to feel “blah” so I decided to do a re-boot. I washed with shampoo and conditioned the poop out of it, following with John Frieda Go Blonder Spray, blow-dry, and flat iron on the high lights. I didn’t put much in. Only enough to give a pick me up from the winter blahs. I’m going to do a photo a week if I can remember to log the progress this time and try to notate any variations I do on my washings.
So…hair summary for the restart:
February 22, 2012 – evening Shampoo with Baby Shampoo (Target version of J&J), followed with Suave conditioner (all over and into the scalp). Used John Frieda Go Blonder spray (sprayed on hands and finger combed through the front to the roots. Basically anywhere the sun would touch my hair if I was out and about in an effort to alleviate the winter blahs and dye line)
February 23, 2012 – morning, CO wash with Suave Rosemary and Mint. Air dry, brushed.
Face:
Still loving the oil cleansing method. Pitfalls – not being consistent. Consistency leads to clear skin for me. My skin is more sensitive than I realized and reacts with change. Even just the change in water if I’m traveling. I also bought a bunch of pillowcases. I stacked them all on my pillow and remove on every night so that my face is on a clean pillow. It helps keep the oils from my hair from being pressed onto my face. It’s been helping.
Rest of my life updates-
Been through two boyfriends. Currently Single.
I’ve come past my 1 year milestone for LASIK. 20/20. Mild dry eye in my left eye. No worse than when I wore contacts though. Best decision I ever made for myself.
Been back playing soccer for a year now. I LOVE IT and I didn’t even know how much I missed it. I play Sunday outdoor, Sunday indoor AM and PM, Monday indoor, Tuesday Indoor, Thursday Outdoor, Friday sometimes indoor if people need me to sub. It’s great. I love the people I play with and have met some awesome people that I’ll never forget.
It’s been almost a year since I’ve ridden a horse. I do miss it horribly. I have mixed emotions about going back. It’s a lot of effort for something that isn’t going into a horse I own.
I’m reaching 4 years at my job. I had a first interview with a company in Irvine and am awaiting news regarding a second interview. I want to move back to Southern California very much. Hopefully I get this opportunity.
Moar hair stuff! I was asked about my process so here it is:
Why this works – conditioners do contain mild cleansing agents. Think of it as using Dreft on your clothes instead of using Tide. Because it’s gentler though, you have to be more involved in making sure it does a thorough job.
Suave Rosemary & Mint Conditioner (large bottle) has been my best find. I moved around and used Aussie, other Suaves but I always come back to this. Put at front, crown, and nape. Massage into scalp to thoroughly coat the hair and scalp. Use your fingers to “scritch” the scalp. Experiment as to how rough you need to be. If as the day goes on and your scalp feels itchy… you need to scritch better. It’s a learning and trial & error process. Do the scalp first thing in the shower. Then depending upon length make sure there is enough conditioner to coat the hair to the end. Add more if needed and finger comb through. Use a hair clip to put it up out of the way for the rest of the shower and thoroughly rinse all the conditioner out at the end of your shower. Be VERY THOROUGH or you’ll feel gross later as your hair dries. I’ve learned that if I wait too long and the water isn’t hot enough, I don’t get a good enough rinse. Until you become accustomed to a non-stripped feeling, you may feel greasy even though you wont LOOK greasy. But you may also go through a period where a section of your hair will in fact look greasy. Experiment here. You may need to change conditioners or it may be a waiting game. It’s at this point you have to decide how long your willing to wait it out. Some people will do CO until they reach this point and then do a gentle shampoo washing (internet will refer to this as clarifying). If you use products, I suggest this method as you will need to remove build-up and CO only has mild cleansing agents in it. That’s why the cheaper conditioners work and the expensive ones tend not to for this method. You need one without –cones in it. Cones coat the hair and add to build-up. The overall goal here is that by not stripping all the natural oils, you wont need –cones to do the oils job.
My results – less tangles, less fly aways, less hair loss, less bendy lines from pony tail holders etc. AND my pony tails stayed better while at the gym. I could put my hair up and then take it out and I didn’t have that line from the holder after a few minutes. Before that line would stay until I washed my hair again.
Read a lot of things about adding Salt… might experiment with that
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Desertion. Can I think of anything more cowardly than desertion? What defines an adult? What defines a man? Courage. Integrity. Honesty. Desertion? One of these things is not like the others. I suppose it’s easier for some to walk away and leave confusion, leave someone questioning if they even have walked away. It might be easier for those that don’t process their emotions well. Don’t want drama? The answer isn’t to avoid uncomfortable moments. The answer is to have them. And have them maturely with calm voices and strong resolves. Even if the other person gets crazy, what do you think the person’s going to do with desertion? They’re still going to get crazy. They know where you live, work, and play. Think desertion will stop a crazy girl? Communication. That’s what keeps drama low. And saves a lot of heartache and hurt feelings. Desertion is a self-centered decision. It demonstrates a lack of respect for those left behind. And doesn’t leave good references behind.
Good thing I don’t default to crazy. I just default to blogging. Good thing almost no one reads this. And those that do, don’t know you.
Good thing I don’t default to crazy. I just default to blogging. Good thing almost no one reads this. And those that do, don’t know you.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Dating. Every once in a while I wonder what it would be like to live in a culture where matchmaking had not much to do about love and more about family and societal obligations. I wish people would be more forthcoming. Honesty is a valued thing for me. I suppose we’ve been taught to spare people’s feelings at the expense of honesty. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Honesty can remain; its communication and tact that need improvement. If those two things got better, then honesty could stay, with a dose of maturity thrown in for decent measure. I read an article that discussed the stereotype of women always changing their mind. The author came to the conclusion that it wasn’t about changing her mind, it’s about changing her “end game”. The end game is what the result or goal to be accomplished is. For example, a pleasant evening could be an end game. But another end game could be marriage. As the end game changes, what a woman (or a man) wants at the end of the road changes. Another way to phrase it is the end game is where the road ends. Is it a long trip or a short trip and what is the purpose of the trip? If my destination is a nice evening with good conversation, I might be less picky about my travel companion. However if my destination is marriage with children, I might not pick the same type of companion. As the goal changes so does my thoughts and subsequent behaviors. If I can recognize this of myself, my maturity level dictates that I can recognize it in others and especially those that are looking at me as a possible travel companion. Someone I might think would be great to switch off driving with might not like my taste in music. Or maybe I talk too much/ too little? Maybe my conversation bores him but he’s being a sport. However if I don’t know he’s just being a sport, how am I supposed to make an informed decision? Or maybe he’s still making up his mind as to whether I’m a long trip companion or a short trip buddy. Either way COMMUNICATE. It keeps us on the same page and keeps anyone from getting too hurt. I appreciate people who keep the horse in front of the cart, and know what they want before they let their mouth write checks they have no intention of honoring but you need to say something! Otherwise I'm sitting there jumping to my own conclusions like a PI. Mean what you say please and I’ll do the courtesy to emulate what I want in a partner.
Side note. How hard is it to date someone when their brother doesn’t like you? I have no idea why he doesn’t like me. I tried being friendly but I must have rubbed him the wrong way. I’m not being given any opportunities to be around him now so I can’t fix the situation. Nor does it seem the boy is fixing it for me. I’m in a box and it’s only keeping the relationship from moving forward. If anything it’s stalled. And soon it’ll start rolling back downhill, as soon as the E-Brake gives way. I can hear it groaning, wanting to let go. At least it helps explain why he’s been rather standoffish these past couple of weeks. He doesn’t like drama so he’s avoiding it. Kid needs some maturity. … and I just noticed that I’ve been referring to him as “boy” instead of “man”. I’ll need to think about what this illustrates to me.
Side note. How hard is it to date someone when their brother doesn’t like you? I have no idea why he doesn’t like me. I tried being friendly but I must have rubbed him the wrong way. I’m not being given any opportunities to be around him now so I can’t fix the situation. Nor does it seem the boy is fixing it for me. I’m in a box and it’s only keeping the relationship from moving forward. If anything it’s stalled. And soon it’ll start rolling back downhill, as soon as the E-Brake gives way. I can hear it groaning, wanting to let go. At least it helps explain why he’s been rather standoffish these past couple of weeks. He doesn’t like drama so he’s avoiding it. Kid needs some maturity. … and I just noticed that I’ve been referring to him as “boy” instead of “man”. I’ll need to think about what this illustrates to me.
My eyes are pretty close to normal now. Slightly drier but each day it's better and better. The computer isn't bothering me and my mantra is "blink blink blink" since I tend to have a staring contest with what I'm reading. I was given permission to wear eye makeup at my one week follow up and I'm at 20/20 still. At my one month follow up they should be testing my vision more seriously. They say the steriod and antibiotics take about two weeks to completely leave my eye so my vision should get better and better as they disappear from the situation. The red spots are almost completely gone too.
BEST DECISION EVER! The only thing I have left to figure out is how to play outdoor soccer when I'm supposed to wear sunglasses 24/7 outside for the next 6 months. I guess I'll cross that bridge in the next week. I'm allowed to since it's doctor's orders but it'll make heading a ball rather risky.
BEST DECISION EVER! The only thing I have left to figure out is how to play outdoor soccer when I'm supposed to wear sunglasses 24/7 outside for the next 6 months. I guess I'll cross that bridge in the next week. I'm allowed to since it's doctor's orders but it'll make heading a ball rather risky.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Still haven't told my mom. Brother and sister-in-law know. My mom has to know something is up but she probably doesn't know what.
Here's a recap of the experience as best as I can recall. I'll edit it if I think of something else. I'll also edit it so it flows better when I get a chance. It's more or less a stream of thought vomit at the moment.
January 7, 2011
Today I had my pre-op appointment for LASIK. Since I had been wearing contacts day in and day out since 2003, the doctor required that I wear my glasses for two weeks so that the cornea can go back to it’s natural shape. This ensures that the readings on my eyes are accurate and I receive the best LASIK results possible. I also paid the surgeon fee ($2500) today so it’s no going back now. They dilated my eyes. It lasted through Sunday. That’s two full days and change with my eyes all cracked out. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to the bar that night… haha. The lights hurt so much but whatever. Dougie was in town and I HAD to see him! The drive home was rough. The lights with my eyes and it being late at night… lets just say I had the closest call to hitting a parked car EVER and I didn’t even get an adrenaline dump. That’s how over caring about it I was. Crazy right?
January 10, 2011
It’s 9pm and I remembered that I need to fill my Rx!!! Oops! Good thing I live downtown and there is a pharmacy open until 11pm. I needed to get the antibiotic drops and the ativan. I start the antibiotic drops technically this morning (I guess tonight for me) 1 drop three times a day for the two days prior to surgery and another drop the morning of surgery. The Ativan is for while I have surgery. It’s supposed to keep me from freaking out.
January 11, 2011
Scared about tomorrow. I know I’m probably psyching myself out more than it’s actually scary but since when was scared a rational emotion. Scared is a survival response and nothing more. B isn’t helping… he told me to get over it already. Like a big ol’ teddy bear that kid is. It’s the thing I both like and dislike about him depending upon the situation. This situation – dislike it.
January 12, 2011
Kylie brought me coffee and a muffin because she loves me. I have my antibiotics and my Ativan with me as requested. I take one Ativan upon payment of the final portion ($1300) at 10:50am and await my turn and for it to kick in. I’m really glad Kylie took me. She’s so good at keeping my mind off the procedure. I’m trying to just not think about it. Avoidance is healthy right? Right. It’s my turn at about 11:30. I am taken to a staging room where the nurse preps my face, puts a hair cover on and shoe covers. She then puts in a couple sets of numbing drops. My eyes will be completely numb, not the lids, just the eye balls themselves. It’s a weird sensation. It feels kind of sticky from the drops. I am left there for just a couple minutes before Dr Reed comes into the room from the surgery room. He puts more drops in my eyes and pushes on them with a tool to see if they are numb. He ensures that he’s going to make sure I’m very numb before he does anything to me. I love his bedside manner. I was starting to freak out a little but talking with him puts me back to okay. He leads me to the room where a nurse gets me situated on the chair and she lines me up properly under the laser and then swings me back out until they are ready to get started. Dr Reed tests the laser at this point and lets me hear what it will sound like. It sounds like when you walk under power lines, a white noise buzzing sort of sound. Dr Reed swings me back into position. He pushed on my eyes again to make sure I am numb. He must have pushed really hard (and in multiple places too) because with each press I saw a kaleidoscope of colors ripple out like a pool from the point of contact. It was trippy. He tapes my upper eye lashes up and then inserts a plastic half moon shaped lid retainer between my upper lid and eye. I can’t feel this at all on my eye and I am staring at a red light above me. He then takes a ring shaped item that is a suction cup which hold my eye still and places it onto my eye. This is the only part that is vaguely uncomfortable. It’s not painful at all but you do feel pressure. The uncomfortable feeling is similar to a roller coaster that has G Force that is too much for you. Makes you feel slightly queasy because it’s exerting pressure on your eye. As he’s placing it he asked me to tell him when the light above me starts to dim/disappear. Before he could even finish his sentence it’s gone and I’m like “it’s gone! It’s gone!”. He replied, “oh! You have really low eye pressure. It’s a good thing but wow!” so I have some nice little hickey marks on right eye (the first one he did). I was quicker on the left eye so I didn’t end up with a hickey as pronounced. The hickeys will go away in a couple weeks. (I’m writing this on Jan 19 and they are already fading out). The hickeys look like blood spots on the white of my eye. Freaks some people out as they assume it’s a cut or actually from the LASIK itself. Some people can’t wrap their head around a hickey on the eye. They’re just bruises. After that is in place he cuts the flap and moves it out of the way of the laser. When the flap flips back the light goes blurry but you can still see it. They then test the thickness of the cornea again to make sure it’s adequate for the laser.
I started to breathe quickly on the first one and I noticed and slowed myself down. I was also moving my feet/legs a lot of the table. Almost trying to claw my way up into the fetal position. The nurse had to touch my knee to bring my attention to it. When Dr Reed called me that night to see how I was, he mentioned that he had no idea I was moving around and that it means I did a really good job of keeping my fidgeting localized and not interfering. Like subconsciously I knew not to disturb the work! The laser itself was 23 seconds on my right eye and 25 seconds on my left eye. The eye that wasn’t being worked was covered and while working I was told to stare at the red light. After the laser does it’s thing, the flap is moved back into place, and he removes everything he put on, in reverse order and that eye is done!
After he was done I was taken into the next room where I sat for a moment and got my bearings. The nurse went over the drops and schedule with me as well as administered the first set of drops. Dr Reed then looked at my eyes to make sure the flap went back into place nicely. They put an eye shield on me and give me a pair of sunglasses to put over them. I am told to wear 100% UV blocking sunglasses for the first 6 months at least because UV light can deteriorate the work they just did. I was walking out the door at 12pm.
For the day of surgery I am to put drops in my eyes as follows: antibiotics – every 4 hours, steroids (it’s a milky drop) – every hour, non-preserved tears – every two hours. If I’m sleeping I don’t have to wake up to do drops. The first day post surgery I do the antibiotics and steroids three times a day, tears are every two hours or as needed with no more often than once an hour. I do the same for the following day and then it drops to twice a day for antibiotics and steroids until Wednesday Jan 19 where I am to only do tears.
The Ativan did nothing for me. I wasn’t even sleepy afterwards. Kylie and I went to the art store that was around the corner. I looked awesome in my eye shield and sunglasses. Then she drove to Relish in El Dorado Hills. My eyes started to feel uncomfortable during the drive out there but I still wasn’t tired. I held my eyes closed for the drive (about 40 mins) and while we awaited our meals at the restaurant. They didn’t hurt. Looking at the world was a little uncomfortable. My eyes were super lubricated and they’re trying to sort everything out. Kylie then took me home and we watched some tv. She left at about 4pm. I watched some more tv and fell asleep sitting up on the couch out of boredom. For dinner I went to pyramid with B.Andy, AH, and PL. I didn’t wear my shield and everything was good. I was supposed to wear my shield for 18 hours post surgery. My eyes weren’t bothering my and I had no desire to touch or rub so I wasn’t worried about it. When I got home I put my shield on for bed. At some point during the night I pulled the shield off. I don’t think I did so to get my eyes. The shield fits like a rubber band that isn’t too tight but just tight enough that after a while it leaves a mark so it becomes uncomfortable while sleeping. (I pull it off three nights in a row but each time I wake up shortly after and put it back on)
January 13, 2011
Post Op appointment at 9:10AM. I’m seeing 20/20. He gives me the OK to go back to doing everything. I can work out etc. Just no saunas or snow/water activities. I can shower and all that stuff I just can’t touch my eyes. So if I get soap in my eye it’s going to burn but I have to leave it be. He said my vision will be better on some days than others but it’s a normal part of the healing process.
My eyes get itchy/burny sometimes at the corners by my nose. I’m being told that this is a symptom of dryness which doesn’t surprise me since I don’t put tears in my eyes as often as I’m allowed to. The dr said it wont affect my healing at all, just my level of comfort while they heal. I don’t have glare or halos but I do see mild starburst which I think are pretty and I want them to stay!
January 18, 2011
I started work again. The fluorescent lights are a pain. I can see them flickering but they don’t hurt. Light isn’t bothering me thankfully. The computer feels way too clear and I keep wanting to back up from it since it’s so intense. It’s pretty crazy. Good crazy.
I have my one week follow up on January 20 after work. At this point I should get the all clear to wear makeup again. I tossed everything and bought new to reduce the chance of a bacterial infection.
Here's a recap of the experience as best as I can recall. I'll edit it if I think of something else. I'll also edit it so it flows better when I get a chance. It's more or less a stream of thought vomit at the moment.
January 7, 2011
Today I had my pre-op appointment for LASIK. Since I had been wearing contacts day in and day out since 2003, the doctor required that I wear my glasses for two weeks so that the cornea can go back to it’s natural shape. This ensures that the readings on my eyes are accurate and I receive the best LASIK results possible. I also paid the surgeon fee ($2500) today so it’s no going back now. They dilated my eyes. It lasted through Sunday. That’s two full days and change with my eyes all cracked out. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to the bar that night… haha. The lights hurt so much but whatever. Dougie was in town and I HAD to see him! The drive home was rough. The lights with my eyes and it being late at night… lets just say I had the closest call to hitting a parked car EVER and I didn’t even get an adrenaline dump. That’s how over caring about it I was. Crazy right?
January 10, 2011
It’s 9pm and I remembered that I need to fill my Rx!!! Oops! Good thing I live downtown and there is a pharmacy open until 11pm. I needed to get the antibiotic drops and the ativan. I start the antibiotic drops technically this morning (I guess tonight for me) 1 drop three times a day for the two days prior to surgery and another drop the morning of surgery. The Ativan is for while I have surgery. It’s supposed to keep me from freaking out.
January 11, 2011
Scared about tomorrow. I know I’m probably psyching myself out more than it’s actually scary but since when was scared a rational emotion. Scared is a survival response and nothing more. B isn’t helping… he told me to get over it already. Like a big ol’ teddy bear that kid is. It’s the thing I both like and dislike about him depending upon the situation. This situation – dislike it.
January 12, 2011
Kylie brought me coffee and a muffin because she loves me. I have my antibiotics and my Ativan with me as requested. I take one Ativan upon payment of the final portion ($1300) at 10:50am and await my turn and for it to kick in. I’m really glad Kylie took me. She’s so good at keeping my mind off the procedure. I’m trying to just not think about it. Avoidance is healthy right? Right. It’s my turn at about 11:30. I am taken to a staging room where the nurse preps my face, puts a hair cover on and shoe covers. She then puts in a couple sets of numbing drops. My eyes will be completely numb, not the lids, just the eye balls themselves. It’s a weird sensation. It feels kind of sticky from the drops. I am left there for just a couple minutes before Dr Reed comes into the room from the surgery room. He puts more drops in my eyes and pushes on them with a tool to see if they are numb. He ensures that he’s going to make sure I’m very numb before he does anything to me. I love his bedside manner. I was starting to freak out a little but talking with him puts me back to okay. He leads me to the room where a nurse gets me situated on the chair and she lines me up properly under the laser and then swings me back out until they are ready to get started. Dr Reed tests the laser at this point and lets me hear what it will sound like. It sounds like when you walk under power lines, a white noise buzzing sort of sound. Dr Reed swings me back into position. He pushed on my eyes again to make sure I am numb. He must have pushed really hard (and in multiple places too) because with each press I saw a kaleidoscope of colors ripple out like a pool from the point of contact. It was trippy. He tapes my upper eye lashes up and then inserts a plastic half moon shaped lid retainer between my upper lid and eye. I can’t feel this at all on my eye and I am staring at a red light above me. He then takes a ring shaped item that is a suction cup which hold my eye still and places it onto my eye. This is the only part that is vaguely uncomfortable. It’s not painful at all but you do feel pressure. The uncomfortable feeling is similar to a roller coaster that has G Force that is too much for you. Makes you feel slightly queasy because it’s exerting pressure on your eye. As he’s placing it he asked me to tell him when the light above me starts to dim/disappear. Before he could even finish his sentence it’s gone and I’m like “it’s gone! It’s gone!”. He replied, “oh! You have really low eye pressure. It’s a good thing but wow!” so I have some nice little hickey marks on right eye (the first one he did). I was quicker on the left eye so I didn’t end up with a hickey as pronounced. The hickeys will go away in a couple weeks. (I’m writing this on Jan 19 and they are already fading out). The hickeys look like blood spots on the white of my eye. Freaks some people out as they assume it’s a cut or actually from the LASIK itself. Some people can’t wrap their head around a hickey on the eye. They’re just bruises. After that is in place he cuts the flap and moves it out of the way of the laser. When the flap flips back the light goes blurry but you can still see it. They then test the thickness of the cornea again to make sure it’s adequate for the laser.
I started to breathe quickly on the first one and I noticed and slowed myself down. I was also moving my feet/legs a lot of the table. Almost trying to claw my way up into the fetal position. The nurse had to touch my knee to bring my attention to it. When Dr Reed called me that night to see how I was, he mentioned that he had no idea I was moving around and that it means I did a really good job of keeping my fidgeting localized and not interfering. Like subconsciously I knew not to disturb the work! The laser itself was 23 seconds on my right eye and 25 seconds on my left eye. The eye that wasn’t being worked was covered and while working I was told to stare at the red light. After the laser does it’s thing, the flap is moved back into place, and he removes everything he put on, in reverse order and that eye is done!
After he was done I was taken into the next room where I sat for a moment and got my bearings. The nurse went over the drops and schedule with me as well as administered the first set of drops. Dr Reed then looked at my eyes to make sure the flap went back into place nicely. They put an eye shield on me and give me a pair of sunglasses to put over them. I am told to wear 100% UV blocking sunglasses for the first 6 months at least because UV light can deteriorate the work they just did. I was walking out the door at 12pm.
For the day of surgery I am to put drops in my eyes as follows: antibiotics – every 4 hours, steroids (it’s a milky drop) – every hour, non-preserved tears – every two hours. If I’m sleeping I don’t have to wake up to do drops. The first day post surgery I do the antibiotics and steroids three times a day, tears are every two hours or as needed with no more often than once an hour. I do the same for the following day and then it drops to twice a day for antibiotics and steroids until Wednesday Jan 19 where I am to only do tears.
The Ativan did nothing for me. I wasn’t even sleepy afterwards. Kylie and I went to the art store that was around the corner. I looked awesome in my eye shield and sunglasses. Then she drove to Relish in El Dorado Hills. My eyes started to feel uncomfortable during the drive out there but I still wasn’t tired. I held my eyes closed for the drive (about 40 mins) and while we awaited our meals at the restaurant. They didn’t hurt. Looking at the world was a little uncomfortable. My eyes were super lubricated and they’re trying to sort everything out. Kylie then took me home and we watched some tv. She left at about 4pm. I watched some more tv and fell asleep sitting up on the couch out of boredom. For dinner I went to pyramid with B.Andy, AH, and PL. I didn’t wear my shield and everything was good. I was supposed to wear my shield for 18 hours post surgery. My eyes weren’t bothering my and I had no desire to touch or rub so I wasn’t worried about it. When I got home I put my shield on for bed. At some point during the night I pulled the shield off. I don’t think I did so to get my eyes. The shield fits like a rubber band that isn’t too tight but just tight enough that after a while it leaves a mark so it becomes uncomfortable while sleeping. (I pull it off three nights in a row but each time I wake up shortly after and put it back on)
January 13, 2011
Post Op appointment at 9:10AM. I’m seeing 20/20. He gives me the OK to go back to doing everything. I can work out etc. Just no saunas or snow/water activities. I can shower and all that stuff I just can’t touch my eyes. So if I get soap in my eye it’s going to burn but I have to leave it be. He said my vision will be better on some days than others but it’s a normal part of the healing process.
My eyes get itchy/burny sometimes at the corners by my nose. I’m being told that this is a symptom of dryness which doesn’t surprise me since I don’t put tears in my eyes as often as I’m allowed to. The dr said it wont affect my healing at all, just my level of comfort while they heal. I don’t have glare or halos but I do see mild starburst which I think are pretty and I want them to stay!
January 18, 2011
I started work again. The fluorescent lights are a pain. I can see them flickering but they don’t hurt. Light isn’t bothering me thankfully. The computer feels way too clear and I keep wanting to back up from it since it’s so intense. It’s pretty crazy. Good crazy.
I have my one week follow up on January 20 after work. At this point I should get the all clear to wear makeup again. I tossed everything and bought new to reduce the chance of a bacterial infection.
Monday, January 03, 2011
I'm going to keep a running list of my "favorite things". These are items where in their category there are many choices and I've come to love a specific brand or model. While everyone has different tendencies and might have a different favorite, maybe my favorite things and why they are can help someone who has to find their own favorite.
Almost forgot about my glasses! Okay here are the details: I received my glasses in 2001. My mom bought them for me and they are Ralph Lauren Polo Classic RL673 K9H 135mm. I wanted to write that somewhere for prosperity because they are the best frames I have ever had. The shape of the frame is the best I've come across for my face shape as well as their durability. I've really ran these through and they still keep on going. I'll add a photo tonight.
Almost forgot about my glasses! Okay here are the details: I received my glasses in 2001. My mom bought them for me and they are Ralph Lauren Polo Classic RL673 K9H 135mm. I wanted to write that somewhere for prosperity because they are the best frames I have ever had. The shape of the frame is the best I've come across for my face shape as well as their durability. I've really ran these through and they still keep on going. I'll add a photo tonight.
I dried my hair instead of letting it do what it wants today. Nothing too demanding, simply flipped my head upside down and pointed the dryer at it. But I look more polished when I do that. I'm also wearing a suit dress and boots. And of course I'm wearing my glasses. I forgot how cute I look in my glasses if I put a little mascara on. Suffice to say I look like an adult today and not like a child. I don't look like "the intern" as I have been affectionately titled due to my laid back attire. We'll see how long this "getting ready to greet the day" thing lasts. Can't be too long before I fall back into sleeping in.
Side note: anyone looking for an interview worthy simple dress that can be paired with almost any color blazer for a put together look that isn't difficult.
I mailed cookies to BG. 6 english toffee and chocolate chip cookies which Kylie and I made yesterday. Cost 13 bucks to mail 6 cookies. $2.17 per cookie. I miss the brat. Least I could do. Most expensive cookies ever.
I saw Tangled. Makes me want to grow my hair as long as I can. Only problem is, I'd have to actually do my hair everyday with it that long so I don't look like a mess. Do I really want that responsibility??? What if I permed it??? I want a perm right now quite badly. Not an 80's perm. Just a wave. Like this picture I found on the net:
Via: Sedu Hairstyles
or at most like this one:
While I realize that the top one was probably done with a hot tool and the second one is natural, it's my grass is greener thing.
Side note: anyone looking for an interview worthy simple dress that can be paired with almost any color blazer for a put together look that isn't difficult.
I mailed cookies to BG. 6 english toffee and chocolate chip cookies which Kylie and I made yesterday. Cost 13 bucks to mail 6 cookies. $2.17 per cookie. I miss the brat. Least I could do. Most expensive cookies ever.
I saw Tangled. Makes me want to grow my hair as long as I can. Only problem is, I'd have to actually do my hair everyday with it that long so I don't look like a mess. Do I really want that responsibility??? What if I permed it??? I want a perm right now quite badly. Not an 80's perm. Just a wave. Like this picture I found on the net:
Via: Sedu Hairstyles
or at most like this one:
While I realize that the top one was probably done with a hot tool and the second one is natural, it's my grass is greener thing.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
I've had my eye on balance boards for a couple years. There are many makers on the market - vew-do boards, indo boards, holoholo boards, goof boards and more. They are challenging but a real pay off in the fun while getting fit angle. I had contemplated buying a BOSU balance trainer but it's more limited in use. I can always take the board part and balance it on one of the cheap inflated cushions (or a half inflated ball) and I'd have the workout of the BOSU ball. The downside with these balance boards is the cost. They are expensive to buy. Thankfully there are about a million do it yourself's on the internet. The bf said he'd help, as i'll need someone who has and is skilled in the use of a saw, etc. I'm more than a little excited. I do need to figure out how to set one up so it's more like the Holoholo board since the roller can lock into the board parallel for the side to side motion (versus the front to back motion). It makes the board more versatile. It appears the rails on the bottom are notched so the pipe fits in nicely and then there is a screw on each side which gently holds the pipe against the board. This allows the pipe to still move but limits its movement. ideas are flowin'...
Last year two of my co-workers underwent LASIK surgery at Griffin & Reed in Sacramento. I had contemplated LASIK for a while. Something that I kept in the back of my brain as something I wanted to do eventually. I wanted to wait until I was sure my eyes had settled (they haven't changed in years now) and I wanted to do it before I had children so that money isn't a huge factor nor is the downtime since I'll be drugged up. I'm also not allowed to experience any huge hormonal changes nor immune system adjustments if I can avoid it. So no pregnancy, vitamin c, or birth control pill adjustments or the healing of my eyes are at stake.
The eventually has finally come upon me. Open enrollment at work was in October so I went for a free consult to see if I was a candidate and ask all the questions. Since I had been wearing contact lenses day in and day out since Sophomore year of college (Fall of 2002) they did a preliminary reading on my eyes. The numbers were all good. It appears I can have the standard LASIK and won't have to pay the extra for the custom. I will get a secondary reading on 1/7/2011 after being in my glasses since 12/26/2010. This will allow the cornea to go back to its regular shape and allow for a more accurate reading of my eyes. The procedure is going to cost me $3,800. Assuming at the moment that my reading stays within the perameters, I'll have my surgery on 1/12/2011 and will be seeing 20/20 by 1/13/2011.
FYI This procedure is a secret from my family until after. My mom would be beside herself with worry while she can't do anything about it. I'm sparing her the worry and sparing me the drama.
The eventually has finally come upon me. Open enrollment at work was in October so I went for a free consult to see if I was a candidate and ask all the questions. Since I had been wearing contact lenses day in and day out since Sophomore year of college (Fall of 2002) they did a preliminary reading on my eyes. The numbers were all good. It appears I can have the standard LASIK and won't have to pay the extra for the custom. I will get a secondary reading on 1/7/2011 after being in my glasses since 12/26/2010. This will allow the cornea to go back to its regular shape and allow for a more accurate reading of my eyes. The procedure is going to cost me $3,800. Assuming at the moment that my reading stays within the perameters, I'll have my surgery on 1/12/2011 and will be seeing 20/20 by 1/13/2011.
FYI This procedure is a secret from my family until after. My mom would be beside herself with worry while she can't do anything about it. I'm sparing her the worry and sparing me the drama.
Day 23 of no shampoo
I did however receive a haircut on 12/20 during which my hair was washed and conditioned. My hair felt really off afterward. Super stripped and very fly-awayish. I now understand why people tend to coat their hair with product every day. Thankfully my hair seemed to jump right back into the CO washing without any backlash. My ponytail still holds the best at the gym without having used shampoo, my bedhead looks way better than it ever did, and my hair hangs in a "heavier" way. It's overall flatter than it would be with shampoo but it's also more defined, less frizzy. Sometimes my waves are completely gone and other times the wave is simply more defined. I think the amount of time I leave my hair in the clip or towel post-shower has an impact on the dried outcome of my hair. On last monday night I did take a quick shower during which I wet my hair. When I got out I took about 1/2 a tablespoon of olive oil and rubbed into the ends of my hair and the residue up the lengths. I then french braided it to sleep on so I wouldnt get oil everywhere. I'm not sure if it did anything but it didn't hurt anything either.
I did however receive a haircut on 12/20 during which my hair was washed and conditioned. My hair felt really off afterward. Super stripped and very fly-awayish. I now understand why people tend to coat their hair with product every day. Thankfully my hair seemed to jump right back into the CO washing without any backlash. My ponytail still holds the best at the gym without having used shampoo, my bedhead looks way better than it ever did, and my hair hangs in a "heavier" way. It's overall flatter than it would be with shampoo but it's also more defined, less frizzy. Sometimes my waves are completely gone and other times the wave is simply more defined. I think the amount of time I leave my hair in the clip or towel post-shower has an impact on the dried outcome of my hair. On last monday night I did take a quick shower during which I wet my hair. When I got out I took about 1/2 a tablespoon of olive oil and rubbed into the ends of my hair and the residue up the lengths. I then french braided it to sleep on so I wouldnt get oil everywhere. I'm not sure if it did anything but it didn't hurt anything either.
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