feel the echo electrify the resistance

I've had ten or so MRIs on my left thigh. It's kind of a lot. But this week I received the excellent news that, pending my surgeon's approval, I never have to have an MRI again! (Or a CT. I have no idea how many of those I've had, but they're generally less painless. Or, well, they were in the past. The new policy of having a machine inject me with contrast solution is another great reason to be happy I never have to have one again.)

My first MRI ever was on Friday the 13th, February 2009. It was notable not only because it was my first (and also they gave me my first Lortab so I could work through the pain long enough to stay still for it -- guess who overreacted emotionally the rest of the day?) but they also, for some reason, gave me the negatives. So I took them home and took pictures of them.

At least the issue was super obvious. Hint: That big white spot shouldn't be there.

Then I just...had a lot more scans done. Before all my surgeries, at the end of my treatment, every 3 months after, then every 6, then (before recommended but I have a hard time making an MRI a priority) annually. Until today! Never again!

Gotta tell ya, MRI technology has moved on a lot in the past five and a half years. When I went in yesterday the staff allowed me to choose a soothing video of fall colors that played on the ceiling while we got set up. Also the mood lighting was nice (it was fuchsia). The first couple years I went in there was no option to really listen to anything, but for a while I've been taking advantage of the option to watch a movie on magical metal-free goggles (last year I even remembered to bring in my own movie in case none of the options spoke to me, but I forgot this year). That's been especially nice ever since the rod in my leg has doubled the time I spend in the machine. Who gets to watch almost an entire movie while remaining completely motionless the whole time? I do! (Not anymore, though! Guys I am so thrilled about this.)

Had I known it was my last scan, I might've been a bit more effusive in my gratitude toward the staff, who are always awesome and answer my dumb questions and help me not be lost. I did thank them, though.

Maybe I would've taken more pictures (especially of the magical MRI room -- it's so lovely). I did end up taking one picture that I will show below, because I thought it was quite funny.

So, I had a bit of a break between my CT and my actual appointment at the clinic. I could've gone to the cafeteria for lunch but haha there was no way I was going into the cafeteria. Not spending money, not being assaulted by cafeteria smells that haunt me to this day. So I brought a bagel and some potato chips and went and sat by the piano on the 3rd floor.

Anyone can play the piano. A young man was doing some nice work on it when I first walked by, but then he left and I thought, "I can at least do that well." Unfortunately my left hand was not cooperating so it was a little embarrassing because you can hear the piano just about everywhere. Oh well, I'm sure everyone enjoyed it anyway. I also busted out about two measures of Taylor Swift at the end because I could. And I couldn't stop myself.

Then I walked by the bathroom, and the thing-from-nature they'd chosen as a watermark on the sign made me laugh, so I took a picture.

A praying mantis? I guess we should be glad enough it's not a black widow.

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 57]

I bet you have all been wondering about what our new Monthly Health Tip is. Well, it's about forgiveness.

Forgiveness, a Prescription for Health
Grudges and anger hurt our bodies by producing toxic levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, and insulin.

• These lead to increased cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gastric ulcers, headaches, depression, and strokes.
• They increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxins into the brain; thus, memory and neurological functions are short-circuited.

With Forgiveness the Healing Begins

"If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being." James E. Faust, "The Healing Power of Forgiveness,"Ensign, May 2007, 68.

the words, they're everything [06]

Good news, everyone! I just succumbed to a moment of weakness and created a bunch more #wwis statuses so that when I run out of the posts I've already lined up I can just make more!

We were nearing the end of this saga, but I was probably a lot more accurate when I said this was never going to end.

Today let's do some more About Me statements.

I have a thing about my watch.

Wait, this isn't About Me.

That's more like it.

This is the most About Me thing ever.

I really love this one and its unintended accuracy.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 56]

I'm really not into the Harry Potter movies. A few years ago when either the 5th or 6th came out I was at a party and someone asked me if I'd gone.

"The only way I'm seeing that movie is on a date," I proclaimed. "Otherwise I'm just probably not going to."

They were surprised, and I have continued to surprise myself by pretty much never going to movies anymore. Unless on a date. (And I'm not going to go to a movie on a date now that Elder Scott has said it's a stupid idea!)

So when I decided I was going to go see Meet the Mormons it was kind of a humbling thing. I had to give up my pride to go to the theater (as a 5th wheel, mind you) and experience the big screen.

But I'm glad I did it. Meet the Mormons is a good show. I was engaged in the stories they told (man, I am so not into documentaries usually either) and I think I got the message it was supposed to convey: that being Mormon has shaped the lives of these people in a positive way. And it can shape my life in a positive way too.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.

And I ... will probably not go to another movie anytime soon.

call it any name you need

I'm a little disappointed that it's not feasible for me to watch the BYU v. USU game tonight (I'm sure we'll get the highlights, but it's not the same). I've been catching that show ever since I graduated from college. It's always a good time.

As I'm pondering football parties and football games, I think about the players whose names I actually know. Wait, I just remembered that I know the BYU quarterback too! He has a made-up name.

Anyway. Pretty much the only BYU players I know are Robertson Daniel and Jordan Leslie. Because their names spoke to me.

I think that if I had a last name that's really a first name like 'Daniel', I too would name all my children with last names as their given names. Like Robertson.

Also when I think about Jordan Leslie I'm reminded of that quote from Bridge to Terabithia. Jordan Leslie can go backward or forward, be a boy or a girl. If my last name were Leslie...

I would have to change my given name. Let's be honest.

Anyway, that's what I do when faced with the prospect of airports and long flights. I think about football player names.

how swiftly we choose it [Scripture Mastery Times: Joshua 24:15]

When I was in seminary, we would get awards at the end of the year if we memorized all the scripture mastery and read the books of study. I can't really remember what the awards were most years, but when we studied the Old Testament our prize was a little keychain with the acronym "CYTD" on it.

("CYTD" for "Choose Ye This Day")

I majorly, majorly wanted that keychain. I had to go out of my way to nag my teacher to make sure I met all the requirements, but it was worth it when I got that little thing in my hands. For a while I kept it on my scripture case, but eventually I grew up enough to need a set of keys, so onto my regular keychain it went. I loved it so much. I loved that it was a subtle reminder that the choice is mine, not only to serve the Lord, but to choose Him this day. ('Subtle' meaning that every hundred or so times I looked at it, I would remember to choose to serve the Lord. So it worked pretty well.)

Wish I could take a picture for you so you could understand the aesthetic I was into back then (bet I'd still be into it now), but unfortunately it fell off my keys one day and I've been sad ever since. Maybe I should get a vinyl.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Portions of this scripture are quoted in General Conference all the time (at least once a year), I think because we need the reminder. We commit to serve the Lord when we make covenants, but to remember this day and always that we've made the commitment can be a little difficult to remember, especially with all the other things we can choose (in whose land we dwell). If only we had a keychain or something.

I discussed a different aspect of this scripture here (still happy about everything I was happy about in that post).