Nine Years at the Minnesota State Fair

2003

2004

2005, too big for a stroller

2006

2007

2008

2009

9.3.2010, four days before beginning 2nd grade

8.27.2011, nine days before becoming a third grader, in brand new Sketchers (thanks, Grandma Ellen!)

Eryn's sign is a busier place than it has been for the past eight years, and we had to wait for a chance to snap pictures when no one was trying to look at the map. I don't think that's ever happened before. The Jack FM booth isn't set up there this year - instead, the nearest thing is a snowboard and snowboarding clothing tent shop: far more popular than Jack. Eryn showed the first signs of finding the tradition tiresome.  Who had their money on age eight?

Eryn's favorite part of the Fair is the rides (shocking, I know). This year, she spent just under half her ride tickets in Kidway, and then discovered the joys of the Midway. She wasn't interested in the biggest rides, but some some new favorites.

The Ladybugs in the Kidway are a perennial favorite. Scooter and I thought she looked bored, but she was excited when she got off the ride and said it went "scary fast" backwards.

Pirate Ships:

On the Sky Glider with me:

Bumper cars on the Midway:

The Scrambler on the Midway is Eryn's new favorite. I had a raspberry malt in the Dairy Barn, so I was happy.

What Physical Therapy Does to My Digestive System: An Illustration

I saw my physical therapist on Monday. She's been doing a technique she and the other pelvic pain specialist PT person learned recently. It's something to do with the lymphatic system, but I can't remember exactly what the deal is except that it "drains the lymphatic system of excess gunk." I also can't remember how that is meant to help with my messed up nerves, but it is probably something like this:

Theoretically, getting gunk out of my lymphatic system will decrease pressure on my blood vessels, allowing them to increase blood flow to other tissues.  In turn, this reduces inflammation and therefore the pressure on the aforementioned damaged nerves.

The technique involves poking me in the ribs until she finds the most sensitive spots (looking for what she calls the "Jump Point"), then holding that spot with a finger on one hand while compressing areas over my stomach and my lower abdomen with her other hand.  The problem is that a day after she does this, I feel like I have gastroenteritis (minus the vomiting, though the day is not yet over). I described the sensation to Eryn as being like dinosaurs and monsters trucks battling in my stomach while deranged monkeys use my lower intestines as a bouncy house.  She thought it was hysterical.

I spent the last hour drawing this picture instead of finishing my last CEU, because I have been reading entirely too much of Allie Brosh's blog.

P.S. Don't ask me why my stomach is in my upper chest; I have a CEU to complete.

P.P.S. You can click on the pictures to enlarge my lovely illustrations!

Blogger Can't Handle Google SketchUp

No one can see my attempt at a person, drawn after completely ignoring the presence of tutorials, because Blogger says the file is "corrupted." It isn't corrupted, it just has .skp after it, and Blogger can't figure that out.

Ooo, wait! Maybe I can do a screen capture. I don't know if I'm smart enough to do that, let me check.

Yes, yes I am. See the person on the left? That's not mine; that's the image that was there when I opened a new document thing. I drew the circle head and then tried to use rectangles to do other body parts. When it was obvious it was going badly, I kept going anyway because it made me laugh. I have to stop doing this nonsense now, though, because I promised Scooter I would call the TV repair people today and tell them our big TV is broken again in the same way, and what are they going to do about it.

Bad Banana Bread Makes Me Angry

Who are all these people who can't make banana bread? It isn't hard. (Neither should the actual bread be, by the way.) A psychologist in my suite said she'd been given banana bread, and had put it out to share (as is the custom among we therapists when clients give us food). So I found myself a piece. It looked dubious, but that's just looks, so I tried it. Now I am angry. How did someone turn bananas into sandpaper? What's with the crunchy bits? There are nuts, but that's not what I'm talking about, so what the heck? I can't get it off my tongue.

This isn't the first time, either. I'm not eating any of that stuff anymore. Maybe the psychologist is doing research on her colleagues.

Eight Years at the Fair

The photo of Eryn in front of the MN State Fair sign in the far corner of the Fair by the 104.1 Jack FM booth began when Eryn was 4.5 months old, in 2003. I took the original photos in front of that sign on a whim; in 2004, we decided to use the same sign and call it a tradition, and began speculating on when she would refuse to pose for the photo.

We can't cheat and use a sign closer to the things we enjoy at the Fair because of the crack in the cement below the sign. Besides, Eryn knows it's by the Jack booth, and that's her favorite station to listen to if the classical music station is running talk instead of classical music. I doubt the fairgrounds budget includes patching such harmless cracks, so it's this sign for as long as the tradition lasts.

I have never taken to blogging the way Scooter has, but I manage to get first days of school, birthdays and the Fair out here. I'm glad he does his part exceptionally well, or I'd never remember where we went on any vacation, or virtually anything any of us ever does.

Here is the lineup:

2003

2004

2005, too big for a stroller

2006

2007

2008

2009

9.3.2010, four days before beginning 2nd grade

Eryn wasn't holding her stuffed animal purchase because we had convinced her to leave that until we were on our way out. For the record, it is a pink poodle on a stick (no, not like bacon on a stick, cheesecake on a stick, or hotdish on a stick). Eryn delighted in making the poodle "walk" on its leash/stick until we pointed out the ground was filthy and she discovered that after one minute, so were the dog's paws. Then Ginger was a levitating pink poodle. Scooter has published the best photos from the day on his page.

Bad Bovine Humor

Me: What did the cow saw to the bull who said something ridiculous?

Eryn: I don't know, what?

Me: That's bullshit.

Eryn: Mom! That's silly. What did the cow say when the bull said something ridiculous?

Me: What?

Eryn: That's bullshit.

Me: You just wanted to say "bullshit."

Eryn: Yes!

Seven Years at the Fair

Here is the growing list of traditional Eryn at the Fair photos:


























































































































Shown above with Eryn is her new St. Paul Police Department K-9 officer, whom she named Fire. She bought one two years ago, but cannot find him. I suspect he's in the net over her bed with 45 other small stuffed animals.


Eryn and I rode a go-kart this year ($10!)...















She rode Kidway rides, courtesy of Uncle Kyle...
















































...went down the Giant Slide ALL BY HERSELF for the first time. Brief hesitation at the top the first time; none at all the second time.





















Scooter and Eryn ended the Fair experience on the River Raft Ride. They DID get wet.

Surgery Cost

I just called HealthEast to find out why I have an enormous bill for the surgery I had on April 28. I figured it couldn't be correct. Then "L" in the billing department told me the total cost for the surgery at Woodwinds was $26,003.59. I couldn't help myself and responded with "WOW!" Then I said, "Well, this is what Obama is talking about, isn't it." L said "No." I said I thought it was. She countered with "No, actually, he's talking about things that happen over and over again." Um, no. Right-wing talking point. Not at ALL what he's talking about. I was about to explain it to her, thought better of it, and said "Never mind. Could you please send me an itemized bill? The one HealthEast sent me just has a lump sum." L said she could do that.

Holy crap. The total cost of having Eryn (by emergency c-section, after induction and 14 hours of labor, followed by five nights in the hospital, was about $13,000, six years ago. They had to take care of Eryn and the anesthesiologist had to tap my spine for an epi two different times (once right after induction and once for a block to do the surgery). My surgeon was there with us for 12 hours. For this surgery, I was in hospital for two nights; I was under anesthesia for three hours. And, we've already paid the non-covered portions for the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. $26K?! WTF?

Scooter says it was the harpist.

SIX!

Thoroughly enjoying her first sleepover experience:

R.I.P. Cleo

Younger, healthier, and happy in the sunshine under newborn Eryn's bassinet:
















And in the porch window:





















This afternoon:














Two days ago: