scalp relief

Tender Mercy #23: Relief in a bottle...and at just the right times.

When I was quite a bit younger I started noticing fiery, burning sensations on my scalp that wouldn't go away with shampooing, conditioning, scratching or even soaking my entire head in a bowl of cold water.  They came and went very sporadically...disappearing for several months only to return with a vengeance.  Most of the time the burning sensations turned into open sores at the root of my hair follicles.  And my scalp flaked off to no end, heightening my awkwardness as a teenager because I was so worried that people might see the dandruff!!  Not pleasant, to say the least (I apologize if anyone is completely grossed out by now).

I have what is called Seborrheic Dermatitis.  There's no cure, only treatments to alleviate the itching and redness.  One of the more expensive treatments, a prescription foam, seemed to be the only thing that would provide any relief for me after trying many other prescriptions, as well as over-the-counter treatments and home remedies...but I couldn't afford to buy it often enough.  When I went to Argentina to serve a mission I found something similar to the foam prescription and it was a tenth of the price.  I didn't have any problems while living there.  I brought as much back with me as I could (not wanting to give Customs any reason to imprison me) but it soon disappeared.  After that supply ended I tried some new shampoos that seemed to help for a while, but didn't provide lasting results.  Then Jenny let me use some of her medication for her scalp to see if it would help....it did and she generously shared it with me.  And just this week I found a new, inexpensive product that seems to help my little problem very well.  It's been a rough road trying to find ways to take care of this chronic discomfort (and it didn't help that I recently found out many cases are linked to neurological conditions...yikes!!), but just when I think I'll never be able to stand it another solution presents itself.  I'm very grateful for my overall health and I look at this little nuisance as a way to build my own small reservoir of empathy for those who suffer much greater chronic illnesses.

profanity prince

Tender Mercy # 22:

Clean mouths.

I'm not talking about dental hygiene - although you may be aware of my love affair with dental floss...it's amazing!  I'm talking about word choices.  My father loved to quote this phrase: profanity is the effort of a feeble mind to express itself forcibly.  Which, of course, I never fully understood until I was in my early twenties.  I usually don't think about how great it is not to use or hear profanity until I'm surrounded by it.  When I step outside my home I hear it constantly and sometimes I have to fight to keep my spirits up.  On the metro, for example, it floats around and sticks to me even more than the moldy air from the old carpet. (Whoever thought carpeting a train's floor was a good idea was not me....it was probably someone who swears and encourages profanity ;)  But I'm very grateful I don't have the desire to curse, swear or whatever one chooses to call it these days.  Not to say that I haven't ever said a bad word...a few have slipped out over the years, usually when I was upset or trying to be cool, or both in the same moment.  (Jenny, you're my main witness to those times...I'm so sorry.)  But I can't remember the last time I've had the desire to use a profane word in a moment of anger or to impress anyone.  And I rarely see any situation that would be improved by adding a curse word.  But today...ha hem...something slipped.  Let me explain...

I was at work, exiting the mail room after having just sent a package off to one of our field offices.  I walked by the receptionist's desk and, since it was almost time for me to go home, I decided to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving in case I didn't see her again. I don't know her very well, but we exchange greetings often.  She responded by saying, "Gobble, gobble" and in my mind I was going to reply with an "Ohhhhhh, yeeeeaah!"....like that Ferris Bueller's Day Off song.  But instead, my tongue didn't function properly and I blurted out, "Heeeeellllll yeah!"  I froze for a second, not sure what had just happened.  Her eyes widened just a bit and then she quickly returned to her tasks.  I immediately left the room, too embarrassed to explain that I didn't mean to say hell and I normally wouldn't.  I couldn't stop laughing all the way back to the 4th floor to my office and I had to tell my coworker about it.  He thinks that he and my boss are finally rubbing off on me.  Whatever the reason, I said hell today in a way I normally wouldn't and now the receptionist thinks I'm crass.  Oh hell....I mean WELL!

On a personal note, I'm very grateful for the many wonderful examples in my life.  I know and love so many people who have incredible vocabularies and choose to speak using uplifting and inspiring language.  If you're reading this right now I'm sure you are one of them.  Love you all!

the spanish continues

Tender Mercy #21:

Coming across random moments to speak Spanish has been so delightful.  I wrote about my Spanish Sabbath moments with some rogue roofers yesterday, but I've had several opportunities to use my Spanish training while here in DC.  Here are a few recent examples:

I could tell that a couple at the crowded checkout stand across from mine was having some difficulties, but I couldn't hear what was going on.  The bagger girl came over to me and asked if I spoke French or Spanish - why she came to me first I wasn't sure...it may be because I was the only white person in the store and there was a chance I was French or Spanish?  No idea.  But, nonetheless, she approached me to enlist my help.  I followed her over to the other checkout stand and asked the couple what I could do for them.  They were thrilled to see me.  The woman was French but spoke fluent Spanish as well.  She was trying to return a pair of socks that her husband never wore and didn't really need.  (Who knew that Safeway sold socks?) I explained as much to the cashier and all went smoothly after that.  The couple was adorably grateful, it made me feel so good to have helped.

On the steps of the Capitol Building four young men approached me and my friend as we were on a leisurely walk through the city.  They introduced themselves using very broken English and explained that they were tourists from Argentina and needed some help.  When I responded to them, in Spanish, that I lived in Argentina for a long time and would love to help them, they almost passed out from the relief.  They couldn't believe it...and, frankly, neither could I.  It had been so long since I chatted with a native Argentinian.  I melted as I listened to their familiar accents and endearing slang that was so common in Buenos Aires.  And it didn't hurt that they were extremely cute ;)  The help they were seeking was to find out what to do at night in DC.  I told them that I wasn't the best girl to tell them about DC's nightlife because I go to bed before the sun does ;)  We chatted for a while and as I was just about to bid them farewell, one of them asked if we would like to go get a drink or something and spend the evening with them.  I thanked them for their kind, and tempting, offer but explained that my friend and I would just rather continue our walk.  They were a little embarrassed, but took the rejection very sweetly. If alcohol hadn't been involved, who knows...I may have accepted just to continue speaking in Spanish and having cute guys flirt with me, telling me how much they love my accent.  But that wouldn't have been right, right?  Wait a second...why didn't I accept?!!!

One morning I was passing a little woman on the street and she had about a million bags in her hand, all overflowing and looking like they weighed more than she did.  I could tell she was on her way to the metro stop and I asked if I could help.  She accepted, I took some of her bags which were the heaviest things on earth and I have no idea how she even moved with all of them.  We started chatting and I noticed she spoke English with a Spanish accent, so I just went into Spanish.  We had a delightful conversation all the way to our train.

The tech guy at my work is from Mexico and when I need his help I love to break out the Spanish and learn new vocabulary words like "contraseña" for password and...well, I can't remember any more right now so it looks like yo necesito practicar mas!

Here is a photo of the night I met the four Argentine hotties...sorry, they're not in the picture ;) but the Washington, DC Monument is...but it's a really horrible photo of it (sorry Jenny, another cell shot).  And even though many people here keep calling this monument the ultimate phallus, that's not my intension so stop thinking that right now.  And if you weren't thinking it, forgive me, I'm sorry I mentioned it :)

sabbath day pounding

Saturday morning, 6:45 AM, I awoke to some major pounding noises coming from all directions, it seemed.  It wasn't the type of pounding with a consistent, lulling rhythm that allows us to get used to it and drown it out.  It was sporadic, high-pitched, and shook my windows.  Turns out the neighbors were replacing their roof and the entire neighborhood had to experience it with them.  I wanted to throw open my window and yell out, "Are you kidding me?"  I tried to calm myself down by repeating phrases I'd learned as a child: "the early bird catches the worm" and "early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." I was trying to encourage myself to just get out of bed and do something productive because it was ridiculous to try to continue this fight to sleep.  I eventually got up, and in my heart forgave the construction workers, realizing that they were just doing their job and it's always good to get an early start, even if it's not convenient for everyone.  I read a few scriptures, answered a few emails, and got ready for my hike.

Today, the roofers struck again.  I couldn't believe it.  So early, and so loud...and on a Sunday?!!  I opened my window and was just about to give them a piece of my mind, demanding that they stop rattling my windows (and I was preparing to do this in Spanish, because I could hear them yelling Spanish instructions to each other...and I'm typically a little more confident in telling people what I really think when I do it in Spanish ;) but I noticed one of the roofers was in a very precarious position and the last thing I wanted, even though I was angry with them, was to startle them so that they fell to their deaths.  So, I bridled my anger, closed the window and tried to be grateful for the extra time I had in my day.  I knelt beside my bed for a morning conversation with Heavenly Father and I asked for His help to not be so angry with these men outside my window.  (Normally, I don't think I'm a very angry person, but the pounding was so intense I think I might have gone insane for a few moments.)  Almost immediately after praying, I felt better...even though the pounding seemed to only get louder.  I had had an impression of what the best thing to do would be.  So, I had some oatmeal, showered up, got dressed for church and stepped out my front door looking for the roofers.  There was only one roofer in view, the one who had been dangerously close to falling off if I had caused him to lose concentration.  He saw me coming down my front steps.  I smiled and said, "So much noise and so early.  Why are you all working on Sunday?"  He said that they didn't finish yesterday so they had to come back.  I said, "But it's the Sabbath and you should rest and worship the Lord...it's the Lord's day." He looked at me and then looked at the ground.  I had planned on giving him a complete explanation of how to keep the Sabbath day holy, dedicating it to the Lord and spending time with family and loved ones, etc.  But he wouldn't look me in the eye and so I thought I'd said enough.  With a cordial, nos vemos, I headed to church.  He called out after me, "Hope you have a wonderful day!" in a very sweet voice and I turned and waved.

Tender Mercy #20:

I'm not sure what it all meant, this little interaction with a roofer whom I had the chance to murder earlier in the morning and, instead, ended up trying to save his soul.  But it's quite marvelous how when I listen to impressions that come from my Heavenly Father I end up doing less selfish things and I actually care more about those around me.  When I came home from church the roofers were just finishing up and I was able to share a little more about what the Sabbath day means to me.  I love how God gives us one whole day that we can dedicate to getting to know him better, without having to worry about many of the weekly labors that consume our time.  I've been blessed as I've kept the Sabbath day holy.  It's a beautiful commandment that draws me closer to my Father and my Savior and renews my desire to be better in the week to come.

walking distance

 Tender Mercy #19:
In earlier posts I've written about how grateful I am to be able to walk to most places in DC.  Today, the Metro train I was riding broke down and the station manager announced that we would have to wait for a shuttle service if we needed to go further along on the line...it could take hours.  But thankfully I was only about 2.5 miles from my house and could walk the rest of the way.  I was at a Metro stop that wasn't too familiar to me so, of course, I went through the wrong exit and walked several blocks in the wrong direction before I realized my mistake.  Earlier in the day I had walked 6 miles with some girls from work as part of our walking/hiking club we've formed (we're loving experiencing Fall in all its phases).  After that, even though I was getting kind of hungry, I needed to go to some shops in Crystal City, a place I'd never been before.  I ended up walking another 1.5 miles trying to find a store that actually didn't exist.  So, today I've walked 10 miles, give or take a few blocks...and somehow I couldn't be happier about it.  When I finally got to my front door and put the key in the lock I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I have a wonderful, comfortable home, food in the fridge, and could relax for the rest of the day if I wanted to.  There are so many people, right here in my neighborhood, that have worse things to worry about than walking a few extra unplanned miles on a lovely afternoon.

dates dead

The 5th date died (well, HE didn't die, but our date did). He had asked me if I wanted to make cookies at his place around 8pm....I said that sounded great. He didn't confirm my confirmation so at around 7:45 I texted him to confirm the time of our date (asking him if I should get a confirmation number next time) and he texted back that he wanted to push it back an hour...I said, sheesh I guess that's okay...but then I texted back no way Jose (his name has been change to protect the fool) because I was too tired and I didn't think I had the energy. And I really didn't want to spend time with someone that wasn't making me a priority for the evening. (I didn't tell him that last part...but that's what I felt.) He didn't text or call to fight me on the issue so, yeah, the date died, as well as my excitement about the whole thing. Who likes cookies anyway?

Thanks for all the positive feedback...I really have some great friends. Here's to finding a new 5th!

Tender Mercy #18: My boss invited me to lunch today, told me that she was trying to find me some extra work for the Smithonians (because she knows I'm looking), suggested some new housing options for me (because she knows I'm looking), AND she told me to take off work early. She's a gem!

dates

Tender Mercy #17: I've been on more dates in DC than I ever have in my life! And so you can imagine the excitement and awkwardness I've been feeling of late, being so out of practice. I don't have any pictures of my dates, but here's a phrase or two describing them.

#1 Blind date, great guy (he's not blind), delicious dessert, tour of the city...when I saw him the next week he hugged me and my ear suction-cupped to his cheek ;)

#2 Dinner and a movie, great guy, delicious dinner, Harry Pottery movie, pretty good conversation considering he's the shyest man alive, hug at the end.

#3 Hmmm...I'm having a hard time remembering #3...did I have a third date? Maybe I'm thinking of all the time I spent with a certain guy who never really called our time together dates...but I do.

#4 Motorcycle date, delicious pizza first then a tour of DC on his motorcycle, wild and free!

#5 I'll tell you tomorrow...gotta get ready ;)