Land of Osbourne

Greetings Well, yesterday was my colonoscopy and endoscopy. As expected, the colonoscopy was the same ol same ol. Biopsies taken. Sent to lab. Don't call us, we'll call you. Only difference this time was they shot a bunch of blue dye in there so it looked like I ate a smurf. (When I told this to John, he suggested it was probably Clumsy Smurf, I concur). Anyway, I had my first upper endoscopy. From everything I've read and heard, it should have been a breeze. (cue forboding music). Okay. So they did the endoscopy 2nd, since I already would have had sedatives in me, to help pave the way. The doctor shot some crappy tasting stuff in the back of my throat, and put some sort of mouth guard in. (so I woudln't bite someone?) I didn't quietly relax as they did this, as I'd feared. Dispite the numbing stuff, I still gagged and struggled. It was horrible. They wound up giving me more sedatives, and thats about all I remember. I do remember hearing them tell m...

I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis. Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn’t really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, ‘HE’S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!’ I left Andy’s office with some written instructions , and a prescription for a product called ‘MoviPrep,’ which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven.  I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America’s enemies. I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began ...

Hi Guys, Here are some little "April Updates" for you all. First, I'd like to thank Harley Davidson for finally sending me that check back that I messed up on and that Wells Fargo did nothing on. Thanks. I am going to now be thrilled to pay Mom and Dad back as well as my cousin Heather & Mike. It makes me nuts to owe money to people I love. Second, I made my 2nd opinion help me my knee is screwed up appointment. That is for Tuesday March 12th. That is the first available appointment they had, so hopefully my knee and I can reach some sort of understanding. . . Dear Right Knee,  I'm sorry. Things haven't worked out quite as I'd hoped these last 10 months or so. I think I can say that its a little of my fault and a little of yours, yes? Sure, I probably should have kept up with the knee exercises that the physical therapist gave me, but in my defense, things have been a little busy. You though, I think we can both agree that you could have tried ...

Don’t Take Anything Personally.  Nothings others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering. - Don Miguel Ruiz,

Hello faithful Land of Osbourne Readers You may recall, back in May of 2012 I had ACL & Miniscus surgery on my right knee. I made it successfully through surgery, recovery and later, physical therapy. I have some not so fond memories of the huge cumbersome knee brace I was forced to wear. After surgery I met with the guy who did the work, to see how my knee felt, bla bla bla. He shook his head in a sort of resigned way and advised me my knees are very very loose. My flexibility is going to be an ongoing problem. (doesn't that just give you warm fuzzy feelings?) He also indicated that its very hard for him to test my knees because they're so loose. Even right after the surgery, my right knee was loose. When I first met the guy, he said that if they do a cadaver ACL replacement, the healing is faster and the pain is significantly less. (Well hell, that sounds good to me!). The only down fall was that the likely hood of having to do all this again is higher. (I mus...

Greetings & Salutations! I've got good news! (well, maybe not for YOU, but for me it is and I want to share it with you). I have been working on refinancing my house since December 2012, and FINALLY it is DONE! The process probably wouldn't have taken so long but we had to jump through a few hoops to make it happen. #1, we owe more than our house is worth. (not a unique situation, I know) #2, we did not have the funds to do an apprasial #3, we have PMI, which really threw a monkey wrench into things. Anyway, John got that awesome new job at Aaron Carlson,  and although everything was approved, we had to provide new pay stubs, bla bla bla. Our previous interest rate with Citi Mortgage was 6.375. Our new improved interest rate is 3.75, we didn't have to start over at 30 years,  and we didn't have to come up with an apprasial. We are going to save a plethora of money and lower our monthly payment. So, the stress leading up to getting this done has reall...

You're going to love this.  So this morning, we stopped at this coffee shop across the road from Aaron Carlson. John always gets a Mocha, I always get a cup of light roast, extra cream.  Okay.  So its really quiet in there, and the coffee guy had run in the other room for a minute to get something.  As we're standing there waiting, I was sort of just looking around.  A movement caught my eye near the floor.  Yep. A little grey mouse scurried from one side of their kitchen to the other.  When the guy came back I debated saying something.  I didn't.  Good thing I am not squeamish about that sort of thing.  If it were a huge bug, well...then I would have been all girly girl. (says the gal who has a tarantula and a python....) 

In life you’ll realize there is a purpose for everyone you meet.  Some will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you. Keep people in your life who truly love you, motivate you, encourage you, enhance you, and make you happy.  If you know people who do none of these things, let them go. Love is not about sex, going on fancy dates, or showing off.  It’s about being with a person who makes you happy in a way nobody else can. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring – all of which have the potential to turn a life around.   The most beautiful thing is to see a person you love smiling.  And even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind it. Choose your relationships wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. Being alone does not mean you are lon...

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can be incredibly challenging. In Crohn's disease, a rogue immune system attacks the digestive tract, causing inflammation and tissue damage. Crohn's disease symptoms include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. Like many autoimmune diseases, symptoms tend to cycle, getting worse during flare-ups and then subsiding. Here are 11 people who achieved celebrity for their deeds—not their Crohn's disease diagnosis—and how they dealt with the condition. Cynthia McFadden ABC News correspondent McFadden first experienced the excruciating pain of Crohn's disease, which her friends euphemistically dubbed "George," in her sophomore year of college. "They weren't going to say, 'Did you have 15 diarrhea attacks today?'" the journalist says in a 1994 People magazine interview. "So, instead, they'd ask me, 'How's George?'" After a bo...

Today I know that I cannot control the ocean tides. I can only go with the flow of life. Today I know that I cannot control the consequences of the choices I've made in the past.  Life doesn't happen to me , it happens because of me. Is what I choose to think, do and create in each moment. Today I know that I cannot control people . I can only control my attitude towards them and their behavior. Today I know that I cannot change people , they are on their own path. I can only act in kind, loving ways toward the people around me. Today I know that we are our experiences and that love is the only answer I was looking for my whole life and I can only find it within myself.

Friends, Romans, Countryman....  I figure I am due for a "Real Life" update as opposed to the quirky, positive, introspective things I've been posting.  When we last spoke, I'd updated you guys on my friend Sharon Gammell, who was dying. I am sad to report that she is gone from this world, and is lucky enough to have gotten to go home. I miss her every day.  John got a great job offer from his previous employer, Aaron Carlson, and jumped at the chance to work for them again. He is the supervisor of the finishing department. We ride share now, which is great. It takes me approximately 7 minutes to get from his work to mine.  Its really nice to have him with me to and from work. The commute isn't so boring when you have someone to talk with whose company you enjoy.  I am now on the warpath with Wells Fargo.  I made a mistake while using Wells Fargo Online Billpay on Friday January 18th. Instead of making the $199.36 payment, I inputted $19...

You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  You're on your own.  And you know what you know.  And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go... You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.  You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.  So be sure when you step.  Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act.  Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.  And never mix up your right foot with your left.

There are only two things to worry about: either you are well or you are sick.  If you are well, then there is nothing to worry about.  But if you are sick, there are two things for you to worry about, either you will get well or you will die.   If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about.   If you die then there are two things to worry about either you go up or you go down.  If you go up then there is nothing to worry about.  But if you go down you will be so busy shaking hands with old friends you won't have time to worry. 

Each day we can wake up and choose to see life as a gift and to be fully present in that day. We cannot always control the outcome, but we can control our reactions. Each day we can bring all we have to that day, choosing to live it fully, seeing it as a great gift.  Each daywe can train our mind not to obsess on regret, nor to worry for tomorrow but to be in this present moment.  Each day we can be grateful for what has happened that day.  And we can choose not to judge our lives from moment to moment (am I happy, successful, unhappy, a failure, good, bad) but simply to live our life. 

''All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.''  Edwin Markham How you feel in any one moment is more important than anything else, because how you feel right now is creating your life. Your feelings are the power of your thoughts and words. It's what you feel that matters ! All good feelings come from love ! All negative feelings come from a lack of love. How you feel about each subject in your life is an exact reflection of what you have been giving out in each subject. Life isn't happening to you- life is responding to you !  Every subject of your life is your call and you make the call on everything in life by what you give. Don't struggle to change the circumstances of your life.  Give love through your good feelings and what you want will appear ! You have to give good feelings first. You have to be happy first, and give happiness, to receive happy things ! Whatever you want t...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Today is a blank canvas upon which you have the delightful opportunity to create.  At this moment you are standing at the beginning of an impressive adventure, with the very real and present opportunity to shape the upcoming years into the happiest ones ever. Start now, take the initiative, and…  If you want to awaken happiness in the world around you, start by living a life that makes you happy, and then radiate your happiness outward.  If you want to eliminate suffering in the world, start by eliminating the dark and negative parts of yourself, and then radiate your positivity outward.  Truly, the greatest power you have in this world is the power of your own self-transformation.  It starts with the one in the mirror.  Today will never come again.  Be a blessing.  Be a friend.  Make a difference.  Take time to care.  Tell someone how special they are.  Do something...

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep written in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Frye

The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.  To change your world, you must change yourself.  To blame and complain will only make matters worse.  Whatever you care about, is your responsibility. What you see in others, shows you yourself.  See the best in others, and you will be your best.   Give to others, and you give to yourself.  Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.  Admire creativity, and you will be creative.  Love, and you will be loved.  Seek to understand, and you will be understood. The good you find in others, is in you too.  The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.  After all, to recognize something you must know it. The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.  The beauty you see around you, is your beauty. Listen, and your voice will be heard.  Teach...

View every challenge as an educational assignment.  – Ask yourself:  “What is this situation meant to teach me?”  Every situation in our lives has a lesson to teach us.  Some of these lessons include:  To become stronger.  To communicate more clearly.  To trust your instincts.  To express your love.  To forgive.  To know when to let go.  To try something new. Things change, but the sun always rises the next day.  – The bad news: nothing is permanent. The good news: nothing is permanent. Giving up and moving on are two very different things.  – There comes a point when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it’s not giving up, and it’s not the end.  It’s a new beginning.  It’s realizing, finally, that you don’t need certain people and things and the drama they bring. Distance yourself from negative people.  – Every time you subtract negative from your life you make room...

My dear beloved friend Sharon Gammell is dying. I wish I didn't have to type that. I wish that it were not true. It is true, though. The last time I talked to Sharon was in October, and she gave me some advise when I emailed her for help. She did for me quite frequently. After my sweet Rommy bear died, she was there for me and made the days easier for me. Sharon sold Thayer's Historic Bed & Breakfast last year. At the time I was a little surprised at her decision. Now though, I think I understand. Sharon moved to Belgrade, Minnesota, where she primarily focused on doing psychic readings from her website. Around the last week in October, early November, I had a bad feeling about her and went to post on her facebook wall. Then a friend of hers that she had an appointment for a psychic reading for emailed me, concerned because Sharon missed their appointment, and she wasn't answering her phone. That is NOT like Sharon at all, and so I tried calling her too....

Greetings & Salutations! Hope you guys all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. John and I drove to Mom and Dad's in Brainerd, where we were lucky enough to spend time with some of my awesome family. I am very thankful to have been blessed with a very large extended family. Mom and Dad are leaving for Arizona next Wednesday the 28th. They will be gone until May of next year. While I am going to miss them terribly, I know that they have a great time when they are there, and are busy nearly every day. Plus, we can chat on Skype or on our cellphones. We're all on Verizon, so its a free call - sort of. :) I finally took the leap and began looking into refinancing our house. I saw so many homes be forclosed on in the last few years, it was scary to me to even fathom taking a chance, however the interest rates were too good to ignore. Glad I did. If all goes through as planned we'll be saving a ton of money in interest alone, not to mention monthly payments. Didn't hav...

So I was watching some red carpet event on television, (not intentionally, I was channel surfing), and Robert Pattinson was being interviewed by some chick, and she says to him: "Now, you're the ultimate vampire, obviously....." Wait, what? Seriously? Robert Pattinson aka Edward Cullen is the ultimate vampire? Pffft. Right. This woman obviously is delusional. I mean....really? Allow me to illustrate to further prove my point:

John is such a kick ass husband. I mean, really. There is no question. I recently accidentally broke my laptop screen. After doing some research, discovered its not that difficult to replace. Ordered replacment parts. After the parts came in, John surprised me and replaced the screen for me, after watching the "how to" video on you tube ONCE. (have I ever mentioned John has a very high IQ?) Last night, while watching Bones, there was some silly part of the show where Angela and Jack were reading  Aristoo's poem, and it said something along the lines of: "She is my carboreator...." John turned to me and said: "April, you're my jack stand". So sweet. I responded by saying that he is my flashlight. I'd be stumbling around lost in the dark without him. John Osbourne = King of the Husbands!

On my drive to work today, I was thinking about how people turn out. 2 people, raised the same way, given the same things, shown the same moral values - how is it possible that one skews so far to the side and one turns out fairly normal? Everyone basically knows right from wrong. How can someone justify intentionally hurting other people? Specifically family members?  People you're suppose to love no matter what? Everyone knows how Karma works. If you set out to intentionally hurt someone, and deep down, you KNOW its wrong, yet do it anyway out of jealousy, hurt, fear or a false sense of entitlement, regardless your motives, it WILL turn around and bite you in the ass eventually. Every time. Guaranteed. There is no escaping it. Even if you've been wronged by someone, it doesn't make it okay or right to lash out and hurt people back. Eventually, down the road, after the hurts have been doled out, and you get bit in the ass from Karma, you will then cry to ...

Today is the day that American's get to help choose our new leaders. Not voting is simply not an option for myself and my family.  My Dad and Mom always have impressed upon me the importance of voting, always.  To quote my Mom:  "If you don't get out there and vote, you don't get to bitch about the government for the next 4 years"  I don't care WHO you vote for, just get out there and DO IT!  Plus, the political ads will be gone! 

Greetings Land of Osbourne readers, Normally I don't blog about things like this but I'm pissed at the current politicians and want to get some things off my chest. If this sort of thing bothers you, I'm sorry. I won't do this often. I have a disease for which there is no cure. It is a painful and embarrassing. It is expensive. VERY expensive. Every 6 weeks I am required to have an infusion of a drug called Remicade. If I didn't have medical insurance, I would pay about $10,000 per appointment. Every 6 weeks. If I didn't have insurance through my work, I would be unable to get insurance on my own without Obamacare set up. He has protected me in making it illegal for insurance companies to deny me due to my pre-existing condition. Now, there is an expirament going on at the Mayo Clinic, and other places that are using stem cells from the person the stem cells are being used on. The stem cells are showing to eliminate Crohns disease. People who are aga...

One of the strongest, longest lived Betta fishes I've ever had died yesterday morning. Vincent, named after the Bones episode where the character Vincent Nigel Murray died. So I've had him for almost 2 years. Vincent was a tough little fish. On 3 seperate occasions, while I was cleaning his home, he slid down the drain into the garbage disposal. He lived, no problems. On another occasion he must have decided to check out the outside world, I found him (after who knows how long), and he lived. Like I said, tough little Betta. RIP Vincent.