In desperate need of a date

Question: What's the one social event that's most dreaded by single people the world over?
Answer: A wedding
Question: What am I going to in a couple of weeks?
Answer:You guessed it, a friend's wedding ... and it's out of town - even better!

First of all, if you haven't checked out Scott's blog, give it a try. I don't get over there often enough, but it's an interesting look into the mind of a sports editor turned beer marketing man. Oh, and he's the friend who's getting married - to Jessica - who also appears in my friends list because, well, she's my friend, too!

So, at this point in my life, 90 percent of my friends are married. Which means that going to weddings without a date pretty much makes you feel like the only single person in a sea of happily married, love-filled, cute, amazing couples who have everything in the world going for them - including adorable children, dual incomes, real homes, and ponies ... OK, I just threw in that last one because it seemed to fit.

If we were to wear nametags, mine would read:
"Hello. My name is Spinster Stacey. Get me a drink."

Don't get me wrong, I love weddings. I absolutely love them. I love failed attempts at holding back tears of happiness for the newlyweds, I love all the beautiful flowers, the hopes and dreams I have for the couple, spending time with friends, food and drink - Mmm ...

But all of that spawns a broad spectrum of emotions that can only be evened out by a date taking my hand and asking me to dance - or a quick wink from across the room. Neither of which will be happening in a few weeks.

There's a reason so many movies are made about this subject ... because most everyone can relate to being the single girl/guy at a wedding. It stings a bit and can be a big blow to one's self-esteem, but we all do it because we love our friends far more than we care about our pride.

So on October 13, hug the one you love and know that there are probably thousands of singletons just like me sitting at a wedding wishing they were with a special someone, too.

And the ants go marching ...

These unnaturally enormous ants have invaded the potted plants on my porch. They quite literally are everywhere you look.

I'm beginning to worry the leggy things are going to end up inside my apartment, so something's got to be done. But I don't want to hurt my plants in the process!

I just might live

I got a call from my doctor yesterday letting me know that I don't have one foot in the grave afterall. Good news for me!

Apparently my liver is functioning just fine and my gallbladder isn't angry, so it looks like I'm OK. I just can't figure out what the heck was going on with me. I'm not completely better, but I'm getting there - which is awesome. This whole thing, though, has made me feel like a bit of a hypochodriac, which I'm not pleased about! I've just never had anything scare me like this, and I suppose I may have over-reacted a bit. But I'm just glad things are alright.

Thanks for all of your concern - I reallly appreciate it.

Sharing some MIKA love

If you squint, you can see a plane crash

Me: "hello?"
Jim: "whatcha doing?"
Me: "bowling."
Jim: "at which bowling alley?"
Me: "holiday bowl on brainerd road, why?"
Jim: "oh, so the one near where the plane just crashed?"
Me: GASP!!! "what?!?!?!"
Jim: "apparently a plane just crashed into a parking lot down the street from you."
Me: "ok ... gotta run!"

So tonight I was out bowling with a couple girls I work with when I got that phone call. Needless to say, we ran out of the bowling alley, grabbed our press passes and Meghan grabbed her photo gear (she's the professional photograher of the group) and hurried toward the crash scene.

Unfortunately nobody was allowed anywhere near the plane because it was leaking fuel and needed to be cleaned up. So, this was the best shot I got - which is pretty bad.

It's times like that when I truly miss being a reporter. All the blue lights and police tape makes my adrenaline pump like mad.

Luckily all that happened was a small plane got a little too close to some power lines while on its way to land at the Chattanooga airport and crashed into a shopping center's parking lot. No one was seriously injured or killed, which is a miracle considering the heavily populated and busy area where it crashed.

----

In other news, my ultrasound went well. I'll write more about that tomorrow. I still don't know what's up, and likely won't know until Friday or Monday.

Doctor's visit No. 1

It went just fine except for the needles and all the poking around on my stomach. Tomorrow is visit No. 2 ... the ultrasound. I'm actually kind of excited about that - why, I don't know. But it doesn't involve sharp objects, so I'm happy!

The doctor thinks I've either got gallbladder issues or my liver is inflamed from the stomach virus I had back in August. The bloodwork/ultrasound should determine which it is. I'm pulling for the inflamed liver because it sounds like it won't require anything too frightening!

Cross your fingers. Cross your toes.

Let's all pray that I've just become a paranoid hypochodriac and that tomorrow when I go to the doctor:

A. I don't encounter one of those scary syringe things.
B. He tells me there's absolutely nothing wrong with my liver, gallbladder, ribs, etc.
C. I get a lollipop ... (I just threw that in there because I felt like there should be a "C.")

Food is good

Especially when it's good food. :-)

I'm no chef extraordinaire, but when I find something I absolutely *love*, I like to share! So, take a look at this enchilada casserole, and if it looks good to you, scroll down for the recipe! (By the way, I ate this every week while I was on Weight Watchers and was always satisfied.)


1 pound ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups each: tomato sauce and enchilada sauce
1 can (15 oz.) black beans and juice
12 corn tortillas
3 cups grated fat-free cheddar cheese (10 oz.)
1/4 cup sliced black olives

In a large, heavy skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, brown ground turkey and chopped onion over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Add tomato sauce, enchilada sauce and beans with juice. Heat until simmering. Put a layer of meat sauce in a large casserole sprayed with nonstick spray. Add a single layer of 3 tortillas. Add another layer of meat sauce. Cover with 1/4 of the cheese and olives. Repeat three more layers of 3 tortillas, meat sauce, cheese and olives. Bake in a preheated 325º oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until hot.

Serves 10.

(Per serving: 266 cal. (22% from fat); 24.4 g protein; 6.5 g fat (0.78 g sat.); 26.5 g carbo.; 1,021 mg sodium; 33 mg chol.; 6.7 g fiber.)

I finally believe it's September!

I actually got goosebumps last night walking outside in shorts and a T-shirt. It's a miracle!

After a particularly hot and humid summer where temperatures here in Chattanooga got up to 105 degrees, I never thought it would feel cool outside again. Autumn is less than a week away, and I say bring it on.

Sweaters and jeans, colorful leaves and that little nip in the air ... that's what I'm looking forward to!

Update

I am a bad blogger, I know.

I'm going to the doctor on Tuesday, and I seriously hope he tells me there's nothing wrong. I have a feeling, however, there will be needles and other creepy things involved which turn me into the biggest wussy in the world. I am so lame.

Thank goodness for friends

If it weren't for Cady, I think I would have continued with a mild panic attack today. She's a smart girl and knows that checking out Web MD to self-diagnose can only lead to a perceived terminal illness - such as liver cancer, for instance.

I vow to not go back to Web MD, but instead my doctor is going to receive a phone call from a particularly neurotic patient tomorrow.

Have I mentioned I don't go to the doctor? *shudder*

It's off to work I go ...

Eleven whole days off ... and where in the world did they go?!? I cannot believe I have to go back to work tomorrow.

Everyone told me I'd be bored stiff with all that time off, but they were wrong. I could get used to not working. As long as I were still getting paid, of course!

So tomorrow I'll have to stand in my closet and pick out something relatively nice to wear instead of shorts and a T-shirt. I'll have to pack a lunch and worry about getting there on time. Deadlines will have meaning to me again, and those wonderful work-related stresses will be back in my life.

Oh joy.

Hooray for the aquarium

My mother is in town until tomorrow, and we've managed to do everything on our agenda, despite the fact that she's not feeling well at all. She's quite the trooper.

This afternoon we went to the Tennessee Aquarium here in Chattanooga. Because I'm lazy and want to get back to my new book, which is fantastic, I'll leave you with some pictures.


Here we are waiting to go into the butterfly exhibit. It's an aquarium, I know, but I think I love the butterflies most of all. The fish are nice, but the butterflies are absolutely gorgeous.


See what I mean? Truly remarkable ... and they're everywhere!


And here's my only halfway successful shot of a penguin. These guys are incredibly fast!

I hope you all are having a fantastic holiday weekend!