Weekly Therapy: she sits alone at the lamp post… trying to find a thought that’s escaped her mind.

- Mel

the week:
What is it about summer that brings about a full schedule of activities? Last weekend saw a double win from our travel teams, an after-after after party that was so much fun, and an awesome weather Sunday on bikes around the city (with patio sangria at Seviche and Jazz festival). My sister came to hang out with me in the middle of the week, and we went over to the Arts Festival to see Glen Hansard. Electric lemonade! And all of the terrible-but-awesome festival food.

three rivers arts festival

The week was a span of really, really good days with friends and family. Reminds me how I need to hang with those people more often and not get so caught up in the social anxiety aspect of being too busy.

pittsburgh fountain

weekend:
It’s the last weekend of the Arts Festival (Airborne Toxic Event is performing tonight) and Pride in Pittsburgh! Saturday morning, a few of us are scrimmaging at the Miner’s Festival in Johnstown (a place I haven’t been to since I was a kid). We’re taking the scenic route (and I’m taking the Dramamine). Sunday, I’m skating in the Pride march with my leaguemates.

Sadder, bittersweet news: my family is having a house sale at my grandparents (and more sad news, my grandma fell and broke her hip this week). Although I don’t think I can fit “go home to Ohio” in my plans this weekend, I will be seeing all my sisters and nieces before the end of the month.

52 books in 52 weeks:
Started yet another book that was incredibly dumb; thankfully, only got 17% in before I cut it out of my life. And then another one — this, only 10% through. More dumb. But that set back my reading goal for the week. again. Grrrr.

seven things, seven days:
1. Team Magenta! (that’s for my roller derby ladies out there)
2. We have a new privacy fence! And topsoil is laid in our soon-to-be greenspace on our courtyard. Sod gets laid next week.
3. Dumb sore knee – is it because of the weather or because of bike riding? Because it’s dumb.
4. Can you believe I already received my renewed passport? Expedited service seriously took, like, 10 days.
5. Finally found a BB Cream that I LOVE.
6. These (supposedly dissolvable) internal stitches are starting to poke out of my face. It’s so weird… and so annoying.
7. Seemed appropriate: Good-bye Weekend — How Our Connected World is Ruining Them from Psych Central

Weekly Therapy: I do bruise easily.

- Mel

the week:
June spending freeze. Blah.

BUT… back to derby practices! Already have All of the Bruises.

weekend:
Bout weekend! Starting off with a team pasta night and viewing party (oh gawd, helmet cam) and game on Saturday (and much-needed after party). Sunday will be much relaxing. And likely, a hangover.

If you’re not following my schedule, you know that this weekend starts the Three River Arts Festival and Jazz Festival downtown. These are things that make me miss living downtown greatly. Friday also marks the “opening” of the Point State Park fountain. Will probably take some time on Sunday to check everything out. Likely, get a bike ride in since we only live 1 mile away! (given that my bicycle is actually in working condition, after sitting in the basement for an entire year… *sigh*)

52 books in 52 weeks:
#15. Delusions of Grandeur by Jason Najum. WTF did I just read?! It was like one long internet rant about society. Review: don’t read this.

seven things, seven days:
1. Made the Yelp weekly again! (this time, for Sandcastle water park – a fun summer thing to do in Pittsburgh)
2. Fathead’s Headhunter on tap at home
3. Finally got strawberries in the garden!
4. Did you know that I am a closet Western movie fan? This list from Art of Manliness is a good start, but the exclusion of “Once Upon a Time in the West” is flabbergasting.
5. Inventor of ADHD says it’s a “Fictious Disease” on his deathbed. Woah.
6. Weekend therapy will be these peaches and cream cupcakes from Burgh Baby.
7. PR pros are crazy. Like a fox!

May & June 30 Challenge: Promises Made, Promises Broken

- Mel

Because of my surgery and mandatory activity break last month, I couldn’t complete my 30 days of yoga challenge for May. I will likely revisit this later in the calendar (perhaps at the end of my derby season). The 30-day promise for 2013 moves on, as I am currently on a spending freeze for June.

I’m glad that I noticed it was June before I did any shopping therapy this weekend. Because… ALL OF THE THINGS ON SALE.

frozen credit card

This is a big month for my budget… and by “big” I mean this month will be HARD to budget. I’m still paying off doctor bills (estimate there’s another $300 left to pay; all these bills keep coming from various billing offices. ANNOYING.) It’s my last month of car payments (woohoo!)… but my car’s 95,000 mile maintenance is scheduled for the weekend. Also, new tires and front brakes are in the works (we have a $2,000 cap for car work before we just push that towards a down payment on a newer model. I’d like to have no car payments for a year, but that might be lofty plans.) Passport renewal cost me $200 because of expedited fees. Paying off an old debt to a former college so I can obtain my transcripts for Fall registration (what a mess) is over $1,000 (baby steps).

This kind of challenge is difficult for summer. But it’s all June, with none of the frivolous spending around here. I’m talking freezing the monies on: shorts, shoes, happy hours, all the little house things that I do not need right this minute, nail polish and snack box subscriptions, nip toys for the cats, trinkets from the gift shop at work, amazon books (*gulp*)… derby schwag (eeek). No charges on my credit cards. FROZEN. I need to dip into savings and joint account to even make this month work financially — and our joint account is already taking a beating from home repairs, renovations, decorating and an upcoming (kinda unplanned) vacation. Picking up a new freelance client was definitely a highlight (and much needed) this month.

And if I *do* find myself with a shopping itch, I have a $60 Target gift card from my birthday with which to scratch it. 😉

Read more about my year-long 30-day challenges.
Jan: no alcohol
Feb: wake up early
March: no sweets
April: something new (post coming!)

Vacation flashback: Joshua Tree National Park

- Mel

joshua tree

During our California trip, we made plans to drive from Los Angeles to Phoenix to visit my siblings for a couple days — and my new niece (squee!). It wasn’t that long of a drive, all things considered, and we’d just fly back from Phoenix. On our route was Joshua Tree National Park. When will we ever be on that section of road again? Likely, never. So we detoured into the park. It resulted in a three-hour detour (half of which was to get OUT of the park. Lesson learned.).

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most wonderful places that I’ve ever seen on this planet. And another thing? The forest is quiet. One of those eerie quiets: a cleansing, big-sigh-out-and-breathe-it-in quiets. It doesn’t even echo. And it was beautiful and breathtaking and expansive (and there was no cell coverage). If you ever get the chance, it’s something you just HAVE to experience for yourself.

Take the detour.

Weekly Therapy: the ups & downs of home ownership

- Mel

the week:
The deck boards are gone in the start of our resurfacing project. It unearthed an unsightly mess — and a much bigger problem. Which I guess is just more of the same in this home ownership experience.

deck

But I think the boyfriend and I both decided to just tear it all down and start some greenspace. It will be raised because of the existing fill dirt and retainer wall and there will be more money paid to change the zoning and to go through historical review process (again)… I think it might be worth. Starting over, at least seems like the right call.

Oh, did I also mention that our air conditioning unit’s compressor went last week? Yeah, that was another $250 put back into the house *cries*

Anyways, I can’t wait until the 1800GotJunk guys get this shit out of my courtyard and get my weekend started.

weekend:
Friday, 42nd Street date night with the boyfriend tonight. I GET TO SEE JOEY FATONE.
Saturday: work. meh.
Outdoor skating on Sunday! (no rain no rain no rain no rain) We’re also going to look at a cabinet currently for sale (with an amazing offer to refinish to our liking too). We wanted something tall and interesting to add to our dining room. We’ll see!

And enjoying the rest of this:
dr frank wine

52 books in 52 weeks:
Really super-close to finishing #14 Bonk: the Curious Coupling of Science & Sex by Mary Roach – GREAT BOOK! I can’t wait to read her others.

seven things, seven days:
1. I participated in a twitter chatt with Simple Skin Care and the One2One Network — and I ended up winning a gift basket. WOO!
2. Uploaded all pics to flickr on my day off. Whew. So many pictures stored on my iphone from the last three years. Like, 1000 more to go.
3. Passport photos and application – sending today! Expedited fees, woof.
4. My bandages were finally removed from my face. I’m feeling very… weird. The boyfriend didn’t even notice, so I guess that’s a good start. Or, it’s just SO MUCH BETTER than all that bruising and swelling, that this is now my good face.
5. What do you do with excess of rhubarb from your CSA? Make strawberry-rhubarb banana bread, of course.
6. Beauty of life did a First Look Friday feature with Older Girl Beauty.
7. Interesting and appropriate article from National Post: The psychology of buying a home: why do we love one place and not another? I can tell you, like, 832 reasons why I wanted to buy another house… but we got this one.

Every 30-something needs… a pair of comfortable flats! (that are not tennis shoes)

- Mel

I am at a crossroads with my shoe collection. Aside from weddings, I can’t tell you the last time I wore a pair of heels in the last year. And yet, I own something like 80 pairs. Most of them still in storage from the move LAST October! And yes, I have plans for ridding my life of them. Interested?

This means that I’ve been rotating through my flats — a modest collection — and yet, none of them fit properly. Being comfortable has so much to do with well-being. Mood is directly tied to footwear: Flats for comfort, heels to make you feel powerful, boots to keep your feet dry, wedges to make you look like a dumbass when you’re tripping all over the sidewalk. Why else do we go shoe shopping when we’ve had a bad day, amiright?!

On my radar: are they really as comfy as advertised?
On my radar: are they really as comfy as advertised?

Seriously. I’ll pay ANYTHING to own a pair of flats that don’t tear apart my heels and inside of my foot or push on the outside bone near my pinky toe. (OK, probably within reason.) New Toms: terrible. I love my Toms wrap boots SO MUCH, but every time I wear the casual flats, I end up having to slip out of the heel and step on the back of the shoes for the remainder of my errands. Because, OUCH. This happens with SO many pairs of flats for me. The new slip-on Skechers I bought recently? Super comfy in the store, but ONE AFTERNOON of wear put horrible blisters on BOTH feet. Awful, terrible, bleeding blisters. Like, how the hell am I supposed to skate with open sores on my feet?! Strappy sandals are the worst — digging, rubbing, too tight… I refuse to wear flip-flops in the city, so don’t bother suggesting. I’ve tried brands like Mia, Converse, Chinese Laundry and BC Footwear.

Even wearing regular tennis shoes on a hike started rubbing rough on the side of my foot around mile 3. These were fitted by a shoe store professional, by the way. If you’re curious, even with semi-custom skate boots, I still have fit problems, mostly in the heel. It’s a never-ending battle with footwear.

Needs: comfort, support, prefer leather (so it’s something that will eventually mold to my feet AND hold up) — in a style that can go both casual-to-happy hour.

SEND HELP TO MY FEET, 30-somethings!

Drool over SHOES!!! with me on Pinterest.

Weekly Therapy: recovery… in small doses.

- Mel

the week:
Stitches are out (well, dissolved). Steri-strips are IN… err, on. One more week of bandages and of not getting my “wound” wet. ANNOYING. I just want to take a shower like a normal person.

weekend:
Friday is 21+ night at the Carnegie Science Center — wine & cheese science, I’m all about that. Saturday, we’re meeting up with a couple friends for our favorite brunch place. We also have another home Power game!

Sunday, is the Comic Arts Festival, hosted by the Toonseum. Our roller derby league is a vendor during the event — a full block closed downtown on Liberty for pedestrians to walk and bike… and skate — and share the love of the comic arts and meet their favorite cartoon characters. I’m excited for us to be a part of this inaugural event.

52 books in 52 weeks:
What Do We Do Now? by Keith Malley and Chemda — prompted by my new-found love of podcasts, this couple (and their comedic podcast) was introduced to me via twitter. That same friend brought me their book to last weekend’s tailgate. I read it front-to-back in one day. While I could do without the generalized, misogynistic tone that the male counterpart frequently “advises,” overall it was a fun and easy read.

seven things, seven days:
1. More to read: PsychCentral gives 3 Tips to Find a Couples Therapist
2. And the Art of Manliness tells you how to communicate your needs in a relationship.
3. Finally used my sample of TONX. Quite good, this Caranavi Bolivian coffee.
4. I had a helluva time trying to figure out all these greens in my CSA.
5. So excited that I got these cute printed LOFT shorts for 40% off. Not-so-excited that the sizing is ALL WRONG. Not even close to the size chart. I’ll be spending what I saved on tailoring. Lame.
6. Weekend Therapy: this apple flower cocktail from A Beautiful Mess. Mmmm, Benedictine.
7. I have klout in ice cream, apparently: received coupons for two free Blue Bunny products and a new scooper.

Happy Summer!

What happens when you get skin cancer.

- Mel

My risk for skin cancer is high: I was an indoor tanner for YEARS. While my skin does (eventually) tan, I am light skinned with blue eyes. Probably a II on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type classification. I had SEVERAL terrible sunburns PER YEAR — as both a child and an adult. I was a sun worshipper by beach or by pool. I have visible sun damage by way of freckles and age spots. And now I’ve had my first basal cell carcinoma. While I’d like to hope it will be my only experience with skin cancer, I’m realistic in that is probably unlikely.

Now that I’ve had one, my risk is 50% greater for developing another in my lifetime. And the statistics were already not in my favor to begin with. Plus, all things considered, I’m still young.

At my annual skin cancer screening in April, I let my dermatologist know that I had a rough patch of skin near my right eye — it broke open once over last summer, bled, but never scabbed. A few times it broke open again when I used my Clairsonic in that area. I just thought it was a sensitive spot. Like, my sunglasses gave me a callous. There was no mole, no freckle and no discolored skin. But I’m glad I brought it to her attention anyway.

She said the skin had a “sheen” to it and biopsied from that area.

A week later, I learned that the pathology report read basal cell carcinoma, a common and, thankfully, treatable form of skin cancer. But still, I HAVE SKIN CANCER. Because of my curious and over-driven (possibly over-anxious) brain, I had to learn everything about it: how it occurs, the differences between the types of skin cancer, treatment options… so many disfiguring pictures.

My dermatologist recommended MOHs surgery, since the BCC was on my face. ON MY FACE. During the procedure, a MOHs surgeon removes the cancerous tissue, testing the margins of each piece to ensure all of the cancer is out. You don’t leave until you test cancer free. Some people need several rounds of this — thankfully, I needed only one, which means the cancer was small and caught early.

Even still, I needed approximately 15 stitches to patch me back up — some of those are INSIDE my skin, and will be in there for up to three months. I get my bandages off tomorrow afternoon, and I think they’re taking out the exterior stitches.

Progression of healing:
mohs surgery face 30s

I definitely have some healing left to do. Emotionally and cosmetically. Scarring is inevitable when removing skin cancer. And I will always have the reminder looking back at me every. single. day. I probably still have yet to reach full acceptance and accountability.

It’s really hard to accept that, at a certain level, I could have protected myself from this. I’m the only one to blame, thinking for so many years that Tan is Beautiful. While I’ve given up my tanning days several years ago, I can’t erase time and terrible mistakes. It’s heartbreaking… and an emotional roller coaster that won’t end for some time.

The noticeable bruising and swelling is very difficult to cover, especially when you can’t just hide inside your house for the next three months. So, that’s why I decided to share my story and my pictures, even though this was really hard for me. To every 30-something: GET YOUR ANNUAL SKIN CANCER SCREENING. Yes, I’m yelling. And for those young people who think you’re invincible, please stop tanning — indoor and out. Use 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen. Always.

You may think that Tan is Beautiful too. But cancer is not.

Cleaning House: Do you hang on to old stuff?

- Mel

Our neighborhood yard sale was last weekend, and I really wish now that I would have got my shit together a little early (and cleaned out my closets and organized the basement). As we walked around, looking at the items that were selling, we groaned in unison: “We totally could have got rid of that!”

I also groaned and grumped later when I didn’t jump on the purchase of a $20 hammock, and it was sniped before I returned to purchase. I am not a good yard sale-r.

Old electronics. Clothes with tags still on. Home decor: lamps and frames and cabinets and tables. Random small appliances and kitchen ware. Boxes and boxes of cables and wires and chargers… formerly-awesome models of iPhones and iPods.

We have all these things and more!

After checking out sites like sellmymobile.com though, I think I can get a little more money for my old electronics that way (and a neighbor won’t have any weird, non-erased, possibly gossipy personal info). Not even joking though, I never imagined an old iphone could net me almost $200 at resale.

Every season I seem to go through another Purge though. I continue wanting to own LESS. I hate the idea of Storage. I wish that neighborhood-wide yard sales were a monthly thing because I’d be making at least a little something off all these old electronics, clothing with tages still on, home decor… you get where I’m going.

Summer’s Purge may have been a weekend too late for a successful yard sale, but I’m reaping the reward of removing all the clutter.