Ouchy Update...

Remember that trip to Urgent Care where I had elevated white blood cells a while back?  Well, since then I've gone to the doctor's a couple times and last week I had an upper endoscopy performed.  That's when they take a tube with a camera on the end and stick it down my throat and check out my esophagus and stomach.

Diagnosis (so far):  Hiatal Hernia.

For those of you who don't know what that is, it means my stomach is pretty much trying to escape my body.  Your diaphragm has a hole in it where the esophagus goes through.  Well, my stomach has decided to try and escape through that hole so now part of the top of my stomach is lodged in that hole.  Not very comfortable.  In fact, I'm wondering why the people at Urgent Care in Hawaii didn't think about something like that.  Aren't they the experts?  Oh no, just give me some numbing medicine, ultrasound my gallbladder (not my stomach where it was actually hurting) and send me home on a bland diet.  Perfect.

Next step is tomorrow.  I have another appointment to get an ultrasound on my gallbladder to make sure I don't have stones (Kimber, are you reading this?).  So I'm wondering, is a hiatal hernia the result of gallstones?  Seems kind of strange to me, but then again, I'm not the doctor.

So, I'll keep you updated on the outcome.  I've been doing a gluten free diet for the past week or so and it does seem like it's helping -- just not 100%.  All I have to say is, I'm even MORE thankful for Trader Joe's than I was before!

My New Name?

Today at work, I got this sent to me and was utterly confused:

It wasn't until my coworker next to me saw it that I realized the person who sent it to me was trying to spell the name, Heidi.  You know, Hollie.  Heidi.  It's all the same.

So now my new name at work is Hedi DietPepsiCola.  Nice to meet you.

Paranormal Porterville.

On Memorial Day Weekend I took my friend Stephanie on a road trip with me.  Now this wasn't just any road trip, no.  This was a road trip all about the paranormal.  Yes, ghosts.  And not just any paranormal filled weekend, but one that included Amy Bruni, Britt Griffith (both from Syfy's Ghost Hunters) and Rex (from Destination Truth).

The trip entailed a 3 1/2 hour car ride to Porterville, CA, which is just past Bakersfield off the 99 (which is off of the 5 past the Grapevine for any of you wondering).  On the way there, after sitting for what seemed like hours in traffic up The Grapevine, we pulled into a Sonics since they are so far away and we never get to consume their delicious tots.  After a meal of cheeseburgers, tots and cherry limeades, we continued our drive to our destination:  The Holiday Inn Express, Porterville.  We basically went to bed as soon as we got into our room.  After all, we both worked before the road trip.

The next morning we decided to check the place out.  Because we'd never been to this small town, we wanted to see it all!  We were actually looking for a McDonald's for a quick breakfast.  We ended up in Denny's, right next door to our hotel.  We ate our delicious, fattening (and gluten filled) meal, we picked up my friend April from the hotel (who'd driven separately) and headed to The Barn Theater.

We walked into the theater to heck in and I had a little conversation with Britt's wife, Holly.  April spoke with Britt since it turns out they live in neighboring cities.  I found Amy at the end of the check in table and asked to take a picture with her.  She obliged and was so sweet and shy!

(Remember when Amy Bruni and I were BFF's?)

We then went to the 5 hour lecture (which included a break almost every hour) and learned a lot about the equipment they use, etc.  It was really interesting actually!  They showed a few clips too, not on the show and we were very entertained!  It was really funny too because at one point during a break, Steph, April and I were talking about our O.P.I. nail polish.  Mine was called 'Vodka and Caviar.'  April was trying to recall the name of hers and said 'Sex' about 3 times before Britt finally turned to us and asked us if we said 'sex?'  He then proclaimed he wanted to be on our team!  Haha!

We then broke up into 4 groups (of about 20, unfortunately) and went to our designated places to investigate.  We checked out The Zalud House, The Santa Fe Train Depot (now a senior center), The Porterville Museum and The Barn Theater.  We had a few fun experiences, but for the most part I was just annoyed with all of the other people.  This one couple had a digital camera and without warning anyone, flashed a bajillion pictures.  By the way, we were in dark...

(Ghost Hunters sandwich with Amy Bruni and Britt Griffith.)

While we were with Britt and Rex in the train depot, we were all sitting at tables in one room with the lights out.  There was a shadow that moved across a platform a couple times!  We decided to do an EVP session (electronic voice phenomenon, where you have a digital recorder and record your team asking questions.  When you review it, sometimes you can catch a voice that wasn't there the time you were recording it).  There was a noise, which I thought was the ice machine (Britt later corrected me) and when a couple people went down the hall, a door closed on its own.  No joke!  There was no breeze and no A/C!  Pretty cool huh?

(The Zalud House.)

(Porterville Museum welcome sign.)

(Santa Fe Train Depot.)

While we were in The Barn Theater, we were sitting in a circle on the stage doing an EVP session and Steph, April and I started getting really cold while our backs were facing stage left.  Raven, the gal leading the session, busted out her thermometer and said the room went from 76 degrees to 73.1 degrees!  They had previously checked for any drafts and A/C, etc.  Pretty interesting stuff!

At 2:30am, we finally got back to our hotel completely spent.  Bedtime.

The next morning we went around the town and took pictures of the town as well as the places we investigated.  Then it was time to drive to the outlets in Tulare!  Mandatory Banana Republic visit!

It was such a fun weekend!  I learned a lot and met some new people.  Not to mention I met another one of my girl crushes!  Yay!!

Lost without LOST. (Sad face.)

Sunday night was an epic night.  It is a moment in history I will always remember.  As I discussed it with a couple of my very good friends, it will be like that part in your life where you can recall where you were when O.J. Simpson's verdict was read.  Like the time you saw the news on 9/11.

This night was a night like that.  It was the night LOST came to an end.  Questions were answered, yet some left open.  Isn't that like life?  The theme of the night?  Two word: Let go.  I thought it was the perfect ending to my six year relationship with these character and the island.

(Tiffer with Terry O'Quinn, aka, Locke/FLocke (who was also on Alias, I might add))

I watched LOST from the very beginning since I'm a fan of J.J. Abrams.  After loving Alias and Felicity, how could I not enjoy LOST?  (But I am ashamed to say that while in Hawaii when Fringe came out, I was only able to catch the first few episodes and need to catch up!  I know, I know!)

(Foxy Matthew Fox, aka, Jack.)

(Hottie Josh Holloway, aka, Sawyer.)

One of my best friends, Danielle, introduced to me to a column I really enjoyed throughout this last season of LOST.  If you're curious, it is by Doc Jensen on http://www.ew.com/ew/ under LOST.  He is fantastic and very entertaining.

One of my favorite things that Doc Jensen said in his column about the finale rang so true.  I heard so many comments about how amazing or how horrible the ending was.  This excerpt from Doc is perfect in all aspects:

"I think fans and haters — and fans and fans-until-last-night — will be debating this for a while. NEWSFLASH! The argument will never be settled. I expect in the days to come, as I find myself in conversations with people who were disappointed, I will be asked to mount a defense of the series. I will be put on the spot to show them why it all ''made sense,'' and failing that, prove them that the show really did have a ''Greater Point To It All.'' But what is certain is that I will convince them of nothing. I also think it would be wrong and even disrespectful of me to try. Your experience of Lost is your experience of Lost, and it is valid. I presume you are intelligent people who are not blinded by personal bias. I am sorry you feel let down. But I do not share your perspective. Does that mean we can't ride the same church bus to heaven together? I hope not."

(Little Traci with little Evangeline Lilly, aka, Kate.)

(Henry Ian Cusack, aka, Desmond, practically holding Traci.)

It was pretty awesome living in Hawaii while LOST was being filmed.  Out of the cast, these are my experiences with them:

1. Jack:  On the Jimmy Kimmel show.  I still have the video (cassette) and you can see me standing in front of him ;)

2.  Hurley:  I "had breakfast" with him at Boots and Kimo's.  He also recommended me a couple of delicious burger joints.

3. Sawyer (x2):  First time was on a boat getting prepped for a night dive and him cruising by leisurely on his boat.  Second time he came into my work, Sea Life Park while I was in the Reef Tank.

4.  Charlie:  I actually met him during various LOTR events.  Go ahead and laugh, I'm obviously a nerd.

5.  Desmond: Movie Theater at the concessions.

6.  Jin:  At my work, Sea Life Park giving him and his kids turtle food multiple times and teaching them a  little about them.

And now, I need to figure out what I'm going to do with myself on Tuesday nights...

Oprah vs. Streisand.

My sister, Traci, told me how one day she came across Kathy Griffin on tv.  Neither of us are huge fans but she watched this bit on how Barbra Streisand was interviewed by Oprah and the whole story is just too funny not to share!

I Dreamed A Dream...

Last night I watched one of my favorite shows, Glee.  I am amazed at the talent on that show.  I would love to have a voice like that!

For a couple of episodes, Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba in the Broadway show Wicked, guest starred but never sang.  I couldn't understand why.  She has an amazing voice!  Even her counterpart, Kristen Chenowith, who played Glenda in Wicked sang a handful of songs.

Well, on the latest episode, Ms. Menzel finally proved her talent, once again, as she sang a duet with Lea Michele (Rachel).  They sang the song "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables and did such a beautiful job!  Their voices blended wonderfully and I couldn't have been more impressed.

This song has been in my head all day today.  I think it fits into my life quite perfectly right now...

Song of the Day.