Japan man discovers woman living in his closet

Yup, you read that correctly. Japan man discovers woman living in his closet. What?? This story made me laugh...until I realized that it could SO happen to me.

Face it, any of us who own a home have at least one closet that we never look in, right? Mine would be the closet in the basement bedroom. The last time I looked in it was probably sometime in 2003.

You may think that's odd but it's not really. It's filled with mementos of the past, photographs, old concert t-shirts, etc. I love that stuff and because I'm a hoarder at heart (HAH), I gotta keep it. But look at it? C'mon peeps. The joy of looking at these keepsakes isn't at it's greatest unless there has been at least 10 years between visits. Am I right? Visit too often and the hoarder's heart starts to beat fast with panic. If they become "every day" items they also become disposable! Ok, maybe not for everything but if you're a hoarder, you know what I'm talking about here.

Gotta call home and have them check the closets.

Full article here.

Oh yeah and HAHs unite! Remember if it weren't for HAH's, there would be no antiques!

Tele-bits: Top Chef

Warning: Spoiler Alert if you haven't watched tonight's episode!

I'm so glad about the final four, well, 3 of them at least.

The judges choices were right on and the three that have been winners since the first couple shows are on their way to the finals in Puerto Rico: Richard, Stephanie and Antonia (wait, Antonia? omg...I'm blanking on her name...must need more rum). Those three have been professional, calm and in the top of many TC competitions. Richard and Stephanie for sure. Which is why I remember THEIR names...

Not so thrilled about Lisa but I do think she is better than Spike in a few ways. One, she doesn't have a stupid name like Spike. Two, she is a woman (heheh, personal bias...want to see a woman named Top Chef). No, I won't be disappointed if Richard wins since I think he is the BEST but Stephanie equally deserves the honor.

Another great Bravo show! Anyone going to watch Shear Genius this year? I am :)

Transcending Grief

Hmmmmm, ok, I admit this: I'm forcing grief. I'm having issues waiting for myself to "break" and feel what I know is LOCKED deep inside. I'm having all the signs - skin rash, stomach pain (acid), headache, etc. This is one of the reasons I'm at Lake Superior right now. Alone time to try and force myself to release some of this pressure.

The pressure really has some other consequences for my health - I saw the surgeon yesterday and my blood pressure was something like 146/91! This is the 4th time that I've had much higher pressure than my normal 120/80. Of course, there are many other factors that make it worse but I know the stress has pushed it past normal. My headaches have gotten a lot worse and are occurring frequently in the early evening. More later on blood pressure after I do a little research.

ANYway...There is a book I'm reading to help work on grief since losing my Mom (and Dad (2004) and Cat (2007)) and it did seem to release some of the pressure today. It is Sylvia Browne's A Journal of Love and Healing: Transcending Grief.

I used to be an avid fan of Sylvia Browne's but the last few years I felt like she lost some of her spark and maybe "psychic"/empathic/whatever abilities. Now when I see her on Montel William's show she just seems cranky and bossy with little insight. Maybe in person she's different, I don't know.

But this book that she wrote with her Daughter-in-law, Nancy Dufresne, seems to be very simple and thoughtful. Here is my favorite quote from Ms. Browne on losing a parent:

"...the realization that no matter what age we were, both of us were orphans. No one would remember what we remembered. The elders that stood as protective shields, as references to our past, and reflections of who we were and are and where we came from, are gone.

We had become the elders. This isn't by any means related to age, only the positioning of the chess pieces in this game called Life. We had been checkmated, and we had no choice but to submit and ride that dark horse down into the depths of our own tears, memories and longings."

This describes my current experiences perfectly. Alone is the word. No matter that I have all the support I could get from friends and my husband's family, I feel deeply alone.

Lake Superior

Well this pic from my laptop is lame so I'll have to try again to get something better! But I am "Up North" for the week and loving the view! Lake Superior is so stunning, especially on sunny, cool days. I mostly relaxed and read today but did just break down and watch a couple videos. Tomorrow I will get out and walk and enjoy the fresh air!!

Minnesota-bits: Art-A-Whirl

If you're in or near Minneapolis please check out the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association's ART-A-WHIRL, May 16-18. Click here to find out more!

From the NEMAA website: "Art-A-Whirl is an open-studio and gallery tour of Northeast Minneapolis. It is an enticing event that calls and welcomes local and regional visitors who want to see the art being produced in NE. NEMAA is the bridge between the local and regional world and NEMAA artists. As visitors come to see the art, they also experience the NE Community."

My particular favorite, artists Angela and Jason Kallsen of Kallsen Studios are participating: "Wine tasting at Kallsen Studio
Meet artists Angela and Jason Kallsen and view their current work while sampling a variety of wines and cheeses from around the world. See Angela’s “Grapevine Series” paintings that focus on old vines and our influences on their life cycles, and view Jason’s photographs of historic and influential wineries.
Friday May 16, 5-10 pm.
Thorp Building
1618 Central Ave NE, Suite 6
612-789-9910, http://www.angelakallsen.com or http://www.jasonkallsen.com"

House

The writer's strike really put a crimp in my Tele-bits reporting this Spring, just like it did everyone else's blogging about TV! But I have been so happy to have House back that I've been watching all the reruns and the new ones, just to get a good fix before Summer.

This last week BLEW ME AWAY! Did anyone see that coming with Cutthroat Bitch?? It was GENIUS. Ok, that's enough CAPS for one post...

House is a great character and a very good show. I wish they would get rid of the new suck-ups, though, and go back to the original bunch. I cared a lot more about their story progressions than I do about 13 and the two guys. And the fact that I can't remember their House-monikers should tell you something considering how much I love this show.

Suzzy (rhymes with buzzy)

Huh. adenomyoWHAT?

Ok, so during all the stuff going on with my Mom (cancer, hospice, her eventual death) last month, I also had a D&C (Dilation and Curettage) done under some sedation. I had been having some bleeding and such for over a year but figured it was more polyps. I figured this since I had a D&C 10 years ago to the SAME day that I had the 2nd one. Weird huh? I had a sonohystogram that showed at least one large polyp (they actually found several eventually).

D&C went fine, no complications. I'm still under "strict pelvic rest" until May 31st, which is annoying, but considering everything else that has been going on, that's the least of my worries.

So, today, 1 month after the D&C, my surgeon calls. She said that everything they found was benign. I had about 30 sec of relief and then she said they also found an atypical polypoid adenomyoma which is a rare growth that she hadn't seen before.

Oh. Great.

She said she consulted the gyno oncologist (like I haven't seen enough of those people with my Mom) and they said that I should have an MRI to make sure it isn't growing back and could just consider a hysterectomy if I don't plan on having any more kids. That way I don't have to worry about being tested often.

Yup, pretty darn depressed today. More after I know more. If anyone has information regarding this condition I'd love to know about it! There isn't much on the internet that I could find.

Suzzy (rhymes with buzzy)