7Quick takes

Join Jen and the other Quicktakers over at the Conversion Diary.

1.  Yesterday my sister came to save me when my Audi decided to die on the way to Noah’s cross country meet. We had a very nice visit and it always amazes me to hear her say things that I have thought or experienced apart from her.  Sis told me that she “declined” to step on the scale in the doctor’s office and found that to be very freeing!  To be clear – sis doesn’t need to worry about her weight – she looks terrific and is in great shape.  But I think the scale thing is something she and I both have a lot of emotional baggage with, partly because of our high school ballet experience.  Yes – imagine being told as a 16 year old girl that you were “fat” at 130 pounds! That happened to me.  Then of course all of those awful weigh-ins every month of every pregnancy… all degrading experiences every time.

I remember a few years ago visiting my friend who had a dance studio of her own.  She was proudly showing me around the place and when we walked into the main practice room, right there, front and center was a huge doctor’s scale. I felt as if I had been physically punched in the stomach.

2. On a happier note, I recently started going to a podiatrist (they don’t weigh you at the foot doctor’s office!)  I decided that I needed to do something to get my feet back into shape – particularly my painful toenails.  When I had my stillbirth back in 2002, a few other things started going wrong with my body.  A molar that had been filled for years started to give me problems and ahd to be pulled, and I finally picked up onychomycosis from my beloved husband.  I really think the change in hormones might have made me susceptible to both things, but anyway…

I was tired of hiding my feet and I tired of the pain when I bumped my foot on something and after much research ( and saving some money aside) I decided to get my toenails lasered.  I decided to go with the laser for three reasons:

• I was afraid that oral medication might flare up my ulcerative colitis and
• I liked the idea that I could kill the fungus on contact instead of waiting for medication to take affect.
• I wouldn’t need to have blood drawn like I would with an oral medication.

3. Tomorrow is that awful (or wonderful) day of the year when the city of Akron is held hostage to the Akron Marathon. If you’re running in it – it’s great!  If you are trying to go somewhere in West Akron – forget about it.  And if the marathon goes by your house- consider getting a hotel room somewhere else tonight!  You won’t be able to get out tomorrow!

4.  All that aside, Noah was asked to run in a relay at the marathon with some of his team mates, and he is tickled pink to be participating!  So for the first time EVER, I will be going to the marathon to cheer on a runner!

5.  I am trying to figure out Simcha Fisher’s fascination with the Rational Catholic Blog.  At first I thought it would be GREAT if there was a blog of honest, faithful, Catholic scientists, doctors, and educators who were blogging about science stuff in the news.  But they don’t appear to be any of those things.

In fact, bio information is not readily available and they seem to be defending their lack of credentials in the comment section here. 

I’m not saying that thoughtful, intelligent women can’t discuss these things.  I’m just wondering why a blogger like Fisher would give more weight to their blog posts than a published study by an authentic, professional,  Catholic researcher.  

6. Speaking of blog posts hitting home –  I love Penelope Trunk.  I love her seat-of-the-pants kind of blogging style, and her honesty.  This week I found a quote of hers that made me laugh out loud:

“I can’t stand that people are sending their kids to school when I know they shouldn’t.”

I feel the same – and I can’t elaborate on what she said more than that!

7.  I blogged about how Mr. Pete and I watched all of the new (as opposed to classic) Dr. Who episodes over the summer.  It was the summer of Dr. Who!  and now we are enjoying the new episodes as they come out every Saturday on the BBC. 

Sooooo… Mr. Pete has been meaning to build a storage shed in the back yard and he started it a few weeks ago.  It looks long and lean and then has a strange box shape on the end of it.  Rosie spilled the beans – it was supposed to be a surprise- It’s going to be a Tardis.  I will have a Tardis in the back yard of my home, in the middle of the “hood.” This is definitely going to baffle the neighbors and all of the neighbor kids.  I can’t wait to see it when it’s done!