Doing Those Things That Make Me Cringe...

Last week, my father had his first colonoscopy done.  The doctor found one polyp and cut it out.  The thought is that it was benign, but my father was asked to return after 3 months for a check up on that.  My father had seen the same specialist as my mother had and I came up in the discussion.  The specialist wants me to come in as soon as I can for the procedure.  I have the unfortunate family history of colon cancer on my mother's side of the family.  Both my grandmother and my mother had colon cancer.

For the past couple of months, I have not done much other than work.  However, I sat down and started making the appointments that needed to be made.  Contacted my GP for a check up and get a referral for a mammogram as well as the colonoscopy.  Appointment made with Diabetes America to get my diabetes check up.  Also, made an appointment to get my teeth cleaned.  The other appointment I need to make is to get my eyes checked and get new glasses.

I am not particularly thrilled with doing the colonoscopy, but it is a necessary evil.  The specialist is right - had my mother been in 10 years earlier, he probably could have caught it and she would not have had to go through all of that.  Who knows - she may still be alive today.  If I learned anything from my mom's illness, that should be, get the check ups.

I do have a fear of finding out I have cancer.  Will it be the end of the world?  Will I be strong enough to handle it?  However, I know that if I get checked out and the disease is caught early, I have better recovery chances.  Then, I start the "what if" barrel.  I need to stop that.

I did do something for myself this past weekend.  It seems all quite crazy, but I had just such the greatest time.  I bought a season ticket to the 2013-2014 Dallas Stars season.  I am pretty excited about that.  I love to watch hockey and really enjoy attending the games in person.  As part of the purchase of the ticket, I was asked to go down to American Airlines Center on Sunday and pick out my seat.

All I could think of was - Wow!  I am really doing this!  When I got there, I was given a new white Stars jersey - which was great because I have a black one that I bought in 2011 to wear when I went to the games.  Now, I can switch jerseys when I go to the games this coming season.

Next, I saw all of these cool places that I did not know existed in the arena.  I was completely taken back by it all.  Very nice restaurants and bars. 

I chose my seat on the 3rd level.  The only thing I really cared about - and this is going to sound really funny - making sure I was on the side closest to exiting out and getting to the DART quickly.  LOL  I love to take DART down to the AAC.  It really makes the trip less stressful for me and I would rather pay the ticket prices to ride DART than the $20 for parking.  BTW, needless to say, I passed on the parking passes - what was the point?

I paid for my ticket and the sales assistant told me about another seat re-assignment within the next month.  That way, if a seat closer comes free, I will be able to get that.  Just have to see what happens, but I did not care.  I was just so very thrilled to have done this and the excitement of getting to go to more games was making me feel like I was walking on air.

I did end up doing some "retail therapy" shopping on my way home, but it was nice to get out of the apartment for a little while.  I remember coming home, sitting on the sofa with the dogs and just feeling really good about the day.

I tried watching "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" on Sunday and got lost in the movie.  I figured it had to be when I left to get dinner.  I ended up renting it on VUDU and watching it again on Monday.  I had the plot, but the story was just pretty wonky.  I figured I better buy the book and read it.  From what I hear, the movie was crap, but the book was really good.  Then, again, isn't that always the case?

I know I cannot end this entry without some commentary on the events of the past week.  I have never been a runner.  I can walk and I can walk quickly.  However, running never was my strong suit.  I have a terrible dislike for running.  I do have an appreciation for those that do run and and do it for long distances.  That takes incredible stamina.  The Boston Marathon bombing was unfathomable to me.  The very innocent of sports - a large group of people running - proving that they can do a marathon or some other personal goal they have set for themselves.  Reaching the finish line and having that happen to them.  Destroying lives of so many was horrific.  I feel for all of those affected by that senseless act.  I have to agree with Craig Ferguson - "Is anyone else sick of this shit?"  I know I am. 

There are many things in this world that makes me unhappy.  However, does setting off a bomb make it right?  NO!  There are other ways of handling what makes one unhappy - destroying others is not the right path.

This morning, before leaving for work, I was listening to the sports channel on internet radio.  The on-air personalities played something that made me shed some tears.  Being the hockey fan that I am, I did catch the tail end of the Boston vs Buffalo hockey game.  It was the first sporting event played after the bombing.  At the end of the game, all of the players - both sides - came out and saluted the crowd.  The part I missed was the singing of the national anthem.

As you listen, you heard the gentleman start the beginning of the national anthem.  Shortly after the first verse, he stops - the entire crowd is singing the rest of the song - very strongly.  It was great to hear that, but you know, that is how it should be at every event where the anthem is sung.  However, it was great to hear these people singing so strongly.

I was eating dinner with a friend when I got the news from my Twitter feed about the explosion in West, TX.  I did not know the extensive amount of damage until I watched the news last night.  I heard the news reporters going on about getting the status of the first responders.  There was no news on them, but when I saw the explosion that was taped, I did not need to ask any further.  I knew - any one of them that got out of that was very lucky.  For the most part, it hit me hard because watching that meant I watched many people dying from that explosion.  It made me sad.

What exactly is going on in the world these days?  It seems so crazy.

Today's Message to Me From God:

Today, we believe God wants you to know that ...

there is no such thing as conditional love.

Love is either unconditional or it's no love. You might like someone conditional on their personality or behavior or circumstances. But love accepts no boundaries. So never say 'I love you because', for love has no cause, love comes from God.

Sort of funny.  When I read this, it reminded me of something my mom told me.  The love we have with our pets is probably the most purest form of love.  It is not laced with lust or anything.  It is pure love.