I let the dogs out twice in the morning when I am going to work. They wake up immediately when my alarm goes off and I trudge downstairs to take them out, go back upstairs to put my contacts in and turn on the news and then back downstairs to let them back in so I can take my shower. Once I’m showered and dressed, back downstairs I go and let them out again while I fix my lunch for the day, feed and water them, and watch the weather report.

Well, it just so happened that same cat who wanted to lose a life when he entered the kitchen last time was in my backyard. Those dogs spotted the cat immediately upon exiting and made a beeline to the cat on the far left. Well of course Pepper got right on that cats tail and chased it all the way around to the right side of the yard where it promptly hopped up on the fence and over it. She just needs to be a little quicker. Maybe the cat will get it into his/her head that my yard and house aren’t a good place to be but I doubt it.

In other news though, I still have that mole problem. What in the hail do I need to get rid of it??

I must say that on the weekends I end up watching a lot of shows on the Discovery Channel and TLC sometimes when they have medical shows on. Not sure why I end up getting sucked into them considering I work at the hospital all week long and can get all my fill there but I do.

Today’s episodes ended up with a woman who chronically had edema of her legs with normal blood work. Then she did a 24 hour urine which showed an extra ordinate amount of protein in it. Well I thought nephrotic syndrome because I just happen to be in the nephrology department. What I did not know what that she had a specific type called amyloidosis which ends up attacking all the organs in the body eventually if it does not get treated. The treatment the doctor opted for was high dose chemotherapy and then a stem cell transplant which I found interesting.

Honestly, I think any medical procedures are good if it helps people get better but I really was not too thrilled about how these stem cells were being obtained. It sort of felt wrong in my mind even though potentially it is not harmful to obtain but then again I cannot know for sure as I have never had it done and most likely will not. With Obama reversing the 2001 ban on embryonic stem cell research C’elle has been working hard on leading the scientific breakthroughs regarding stem cells. I understand now how stem cells are important for peoples health after reading the C’elle Blog but still have my own personal concerns about the whole thing. I think it all stems from when this first was introduced with regards to cord blood use but as is everything we have come a long way since then.

Well I finally called the AT&T rep for the hospital today because my contract is up with crappy T-Mobile on June 22nd and I’m dumping them on May 22nd. I figure if I have to pay 50 bux 30 days prior to ending my contract might as well do it now to get out of the flipping contract instead of paying an extra month like I would have to if I waited until June 22nd.

So anyway, when I called the rep about the blackberry curve 8320 sapphire blue, the website still had $249.99 with $100.00 rebate on the website but when he looked in his computer his said $149.99 with $100.00 rebate so I’m only paying $49.99 for the sucker *woot* This offer only lasts until May 31st though so I WILL have this baby before I go to camp in June. Now I just wonder if I will have access in the mountains

You know I remember a few years ago when I had the money to actually start taking my courses for an ultimate goal of obtaining a computer science degree. First to obtain the associates in information technology and then finish up at another college because it was cheaper that way since I am paying for it all out of my pocket. I have always been interested in computers ever since we got our first one when I was a child which was a Tandy if you can believe that. I’m sure if you are old enough to remember them you do. Then when the movie Hackers and The Net came out it just solidified that I wish I could do all those things right then and there.

What comes with the ability to be a hacker though is the discipline and your own personal moral code to take a job in the field of IT Security and actually maintain the high standards of the job with the security issue. Take this past month for example, we are being constantly updated about the conflicker worm. What is it, what is it going to do. Nobody really is sure in my opinion but someone made it up to try and gather personal information. You need people who can become qualified at Ethical Hacking to stop all the nonsense that seems to creep up on a day to day basis. What better thrill could you get than nailing a hacker trying to get into your system at work and actually getting him charged for the crime I ask you.

With the economy the way it is right now though it would behoove people who are interested in the technology field to go to class because these are some of the more high paying jobs out there. I would love to be able to have a job that paid well and I actually love it. If you did not want to become a Certified Ethical Hacker there are other opportunities out there like computer forensics or disaster recovery as well as the testing aspect of it. I actually just like the idea of being knowledgeable so that a company would pay me to hack their system to see if they have enough security on it.

Sadly I started itching the other day and then started seeing the tell tale signs of the rash and hives that I had earlier this year which was diagnosed as dermatographia. This time around though I at least have the steroid cream to apply but if it gets bad enough again like before I am going to get my boss to write for me a steroid pack again and/or go see the dermatologist and get a steroid shot for quick access. I’m not really sure how this is going to turn out but I hope it is not as bad as last time especially since I have to go to Tennessee in June.

Speaking of going to Tennessee I had made the dogs kennel reservation last month and wouldn’t you know it they fricken lost the reservation. Really? What was the point of me talking to that girl for close to 20 minutes while she typed it in the system with one hand mind you. How do I know this? Because she complained about it. I had to call the kennel because I saw my itinerary and realized I won’t be able to pick them up on Friday and it just dawned on me that they won’t be open on Saturday until 9 AM which is when I have to be on the plane so I need to call them back again tomorrow and it looks like I need to add another night onto it and/or drop them off at the vet which is right next door to the kennel Saturday morning and let them take them over to the kennel when it opens officially at 9 AM. Not sure yet so we’ll see when I call.

You know with summer coming up everybody is trying to get back into shape to look thinner and/or are starting a new exercise regime with the spring and summer months marching on. For me though I am still trying to lose just a touch more weight from when I started this whole escapade well over a year ago and lately it seems I can’t find the right exercise routine and/or food combination. Lately though I have been doing a lot more aerobic classes which incorporate more weight training as well as cardiovascular exercise to see if that combination helps since I really was not doing all that much weights. I probably should start wearing my pedometer again to log how many steps I am doing in a day to make sure it is adequate enough. You should get at least 10,000 steps. Make sure a dietitian measures your steps though because each persons step ratio is different and your pedometer has to be adjusted accordingly.

If you are wearing a pedometer you can help out by logging the amount of steps you do each day on the BeeWell Miles website which is donating $0.15/mile for every mile logged up to $200,000 to help the Breast Cancer Network of Strength provide emotional support. This is going on from 4/1/09-10/31/09 and is sponsored by Bumble Bee Foods. Not only can you log your miles on the website but they also offer help and support for you to attain your goals the proper way instead of those crash diets that are out there. Those never worked for long for me because I’d always gain the weight back. You really need a lifestyle change to achieve weight loss and to keep it off.