A Little Worried

I woke up this morning with my left year not feeling quite right. My ear felt like it was full of cotton with a constant humming sound resonating from the ear. My hearing was muffled all day as the humming continued to get louder and soften at various moments. I tried to pop my ears thinking it may help...but it did not. I tried cleaning out my ears with q-tips (not too far)...but it did not work. I tried laying on my left side with the intent of letting it drain...but it did not. I tried rubbing the area around the ear trying to loosen any blockage...did not help.

My ear does not hurt, I have not been sick recently, have not had any major head trauma, and have not been swimming lately. The stuffiness, muffled hearing and constant hum are just annoying. I am going to try some decongestant (sudafed) to see if it will dry up anything (if there is anything in my ear to dry up).

Has anyone ever felt this before? Any suggestions? I am just worried about permanent hearing loss or damage. Any answers?

Babies vs. Elderly...So Much Alike

Today I spent the day helping care for an elderly friend. She is 87 years old and as many older individuals has her share of aches and pains. By that age, life's beatings and experiences really become apparent. Personal choices made throughout life such as smoking, drinking, poor hygiene and many others are present as consequences such as disease, weakness, deterioration, etc.

While spending time with this friend, I realized that elderly people are a lot like babies. It seems ironic that we start life out as babies and end life just like babies. I do not mean for my thoughts to seem condescending or rude. These similarities do not apply to every baby or every elder as many are self sufficient and in better health than a few adults. These are just observations I have made through my experiences with infants and my times with the the sick elderly.

Both babies and the elderly:

*Long for/require a great deal of attention
*Need assistance to eat, go to the bathroom, and bathe
*Wear diapers
*Need to be carried or pushed around
*Cannot always walk on their own
*Have a daily routine of eating, sleeping and going to the bathroom (repeat)
*Say the darndest things
*Yell or cry when they need something
*Are usually very sensitive to temperature
*Prefer mushy food
*Yearn for someone to just be around them
*Need to be burped
*Teach us lessons everyday through their actions or words
*Remind us of how precious life is

A Little Bit of This and That

This Friday I am going to see the new Harry Potter movie. I have not read all of the books so feel almost as if I am cheating by going to see this movie. I usually follow the rule to read the book before I see the movie. In my opinion, a movie ruins the imagination you use as you read or hear a new story. My friends got tickets for the movie already and I figure that I know the characters and their lives so well that the movie should not ruin too much for me.

I forgot how much I enjoyed Michael Jackson's music until I recently began to hear more of his music on the radio and online. He was an eccentric individual and a wonderful entertainer. He had phenomenal hit songs. Some of my favorites include: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Billie Jean, Pretty Young Thing, Rock With You, The Way You Make Me Feel. It seems like everyone around the world knows the pop star and the songs he sang. Each person likes one song better than another. What are your favorites?

I do not hate cats but I am not very fond of them. They always seem moody, sly, high maintenance, clawing, hissing, and unfriendly. I have yet to meet a cat that is truly a people cat and that does not seem angry but when I do, I may change my bias.

Congratulations Emily!

My beautiful new niece, Emily Clara Ippolito, is being baptized today!

I am honored to be her Godmother and am excited to be apart of her life from now until forever. I now truly understand the love parents, grandparents and aunts have for the new lives that become apart of their world. Life is precious and love is everlasting.

I'm HOOKED

I enjoy reading good books. I am a fan of adventures, mysteries, classics and history. During most of the year the only books I get to read are my textbooks...which are not on my or any top novel list. The summer is really the only time I get to pleasure read. This summer I got book recommendations from almost every friend. One series that was recommended over and over was the "Twilight" series of books by Stephanie Meyer.

I was very hesitant to start the books because I am not into fi-sci, aliens, other beings, and fabled stories. People kept telling my how good the books were yet I thought, how good could a book about vampires be? I was sick of being nagged and left out of conversations, so I decided to break down and start the books.

I became HOOKED! I was beyond intrigued by the story and thoroughly involved in the characters' lives. I looked forward to getting further into the book each day. I felt the happiness, sadness, passion and emotion that the characters felt and wanted to be apart of the book. The story is exciting, adventurous and youthful.

Me of all people, who takes things so seriously, was into this fictional book. Really the books are great! I am halfway done with the second book in the series. I feel less excitement but more intrigue and yearning for the good of the characters in this book as compared to the first. I am not as impressed by the second book but I keep reading. I know something good is going to happen so I keep reading anxious for the characters' lives and stories to continue. I will not ruin the books for anyone still getting through them or planning on reading them even though many people are already done with all 4 books. Instead I suggest, read the books yourself!

Happy 4th of July!!

I celebrated the 4th of July with my family in Chicago. Yesterday we had a bbq with family and friends while watching some fireworks at night. We spent this morning in downtown Chicago at the Taste of Chicago...super yummy and lots of fun! The evening is being spent with my niece, the family and the Wii!

Another Great Holiday!