Brownie yumminess

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Have I mentioned on my blog yet that I think I have celiac disease?  And by think I mean that if my husband eats a hamburger and then 2 hours later drinks out of my water bottle, and then I drink out of my water bottle, I will get violently ill.  At least that's the only potential contaminant we could come up with.  We haven't had wheat flour floating around in the house lately and I have been getting sick -much- less often.  And I spent a week at Diabetes camp with 29 other campers who have Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac (and I got to eat their clean food, yay!) and I didn't get sick all week.  And I pretty much get sick a lot at home. (Although, less since I've been back and we've been more careful).  I really didn't get sick when I was up in Fergy either... it was a clean house with no food (except mine).

I think that proves I have it.  I'm still mad that I've had two doctors refuse to give me the test.  But I guess that's how it goes.  I'm trying to talk my mom and little sister into getting the test... I think we may all have it and that it could really change our lives.  (Obviously it changes your life when you can't eat 99% of all prepared food), but also in that it could be the answer for all our health problems.  WOW.  If that isn't exciting, I'm not sure what is.

We've been searching and praying for the answer for so long.  Stacy said she didn't want to get the test because she didn't want to give up food.  But I really think you gain more than you lose.

Donuts, I'm not going to lie.  I miss you.  I miss being able to eat things without extreme paranoia.  I miss being able to go to any restaurant we wanted to.  But I also don't miss being sick all the time.  Or miss eating food I knew was going to make me feel bad.  A nurse at diabetes camp said that people with any chronic disease go through cycles of the stages of grief.  I think that's true.  I've already experienced anger, denial, acceptance, bargaining (although, not so much now since I get SO sick when I eat gluten that it's not even remotely tempting), and depression.  Depression just in that it's really frustrating to change your life so dramatically--mostly the social aspects.  Like no more potlucks or impromptu dinners out.  I'm sure I'll cycle around a few more times.

So, yeah.  If I haven't told you, there you go.  Confessions of a Non-Gluten-Girl.

Moonrise Kingdom

We just got back from "Moonrise Kingdom."  What a great film!  I believe we'd both recommend it.  It was funny and artistic and just nice to watch.



Before the movie, we decided that we would actually be on time this time.  We've found a cheap movie theater that just has one screen, and it fits a LOT of people.  But we always end up getting there late and just squeezing in somewhere.  So tonight, we decided that we'd leave in plenty of time and find the one row that is reported to have extra leg room.  So Charlie shoved me off the couch in plenty of time to get there (we left at 6:30 for the 7:10 showing) aaaaaaaaand (now that we're in a different part of town) it took us a whopping 7 minutes to get there. HA!  seven.  And the movie before ours was still playing and it was very clear to me that 30+ minutes was a bit excessive. There was no one outside.  No one going in.  No one going out.  So we decided to take the block a few times since we don't have air conditioning in our house and we were both kind of hot and didn't feel like rolling the windows down and sitting in the non-air-conditioning.

On our block-taking (which, okayokay it was my idea), we decided that it might be cheaper to get snacks and a water somewhere else since even cheap movie theaters charge WAY too much for snacks.  Charlie pulled up to the sketchiest gas station I have ever seen and I hollered at him until he pulled out.  We drove around some more and found a Walgreens and sure enough found cheap water and some gluten free peachy-O's.  So that was exciting.  When we finally got back into our car, I declared that we could head back to the movie.

3 minutes later, we pull up to the movie and OH MY GOODNESS.  A line a mile long outside the door.  Charlie LOVED it.  "Too early, huh?  We couldn't just sit there and go in, could we?"  It was my fault.  Definitely my fault.  And we ended up sitting in the exact same seats that we've sat in every time we've gone to a movie there.

I suppose it's not in the cards for us to show up anywhere early.

Verser Version

Not gonna lie.  I'm really sad about giving my ipad back.  See how I did that?  I inserted the word "my" in front of "ipad" even though it never really was mine.  *sigh*  Maybe I'll blog again more often now.  But to those of you who have instagram... I now know you don't post everything to facebook!  Try to post things to facebook... for those of us who live in the dark ages.

I'm really sad.

This summer has been insane.  Next summer I'll be working in Kansas City and living with my sister, nephew and her new baby (Al will be doing a rotation somewhere).  See?  I did it again.  I have no idea where I'll be next summer.  But I can hope.

Everyone in my program told me I'd figure out exactly what I do and do not like about dietetics within the first year and I'd be able to develop a life plan.  Well, folks... I'm now more confused than ever!  I have liked every single thing I've done.  Could I do educational classes for low-income moms and teens?  YES!  Could I work in a school and help teach kids to like fruits and vegetables?  ABSOLUTELY!  Could I work with food systems and try to help people gain better access?  OF COURSE!  Did I even enjoy public policy?  Strangely enough, I could do that, too.  I could also work with kids with Type 1 Diabetes.  Or Celiac Disease.  Throw somethin' at me.  I'm probably going to like it.

I'm in a weird mood.  I'm going out on a policy "blitz" later this afternoon and I have to return my ipad on the way :(  So, blog.  I'll try to not reject you as much anymore.  See you soon.

Dear bestfriend,

I miss you.  Maybe I'll see you some time in the future.  And get to be with you for more than 24 hours.  That'd be great.  Kthanksloveyoubye.

I suppose that's a decent problem to have.  To love your best friend so much that it kills you being apart.  Or maybe I'm just needy and dependent?  A woman outside of IKEA asked me if I wanted to model for her company.  I said "that's silly" and she said "okay."  then charlie said, "we need you to make big bucks. by whatever means necessary."  then we went to the mall of america where I got carded because the security guard didn't think I was 18.  Apparently you have to be supervised at the mall on Friday nights if you're not 18.  He then accused me of having a fake ID.  What a date night :)

TROMP TROMP TROMP

That's what I hear right now.  Our duplex neighbors have moved in.  Apparently they only like to move heavy furniture around their house late at night. (That, or they may be elephants).  Yeah.  Rufus doesn't appreciate it.  He's never lived with other people in "his" house before... the trailer and the house we rented last year.  He -really- doesn't know what to think about all of the squeaking and tromping and creaking up there.  I kind of feel sorry for him... it's not like we can explain to him what's going on, ya know?  He woke us up 3 times last night barking at the noise.  (Why our neighbors were noisy enough to wake HIM up THREE TIMES last night, I'll never know.)  Maybe it'll settle down once they get settled in.

Overall we really like our neighborhood.  It's quiet.  Diverse.  Old homes.  Lots of character.  It feels safe.  Neighbors are very friendly.  I believe it was a good decision we made to move.

Wow, our neighbors are noisy.  They really might be elephants.

Today was Charlie and my 3 year anniversary.  It doesn't feel like I'm old enough to have been married for 3 years.  I guess we did get married awfully young.  Yesterday as I was continuing to unpack, I ran across a box Charlie saved of every letter I ever wrote him.  There were about 30 from my time in Costa Rica... the time we were establishing ourselves as a couple.  There were probably 15 pictures I had drawn for him.  Maybe 3 Birthday cards (including the Verser Birthday-Wish).  And Maybe 3 or 4 Valentine's day cards (both pre- and post-dating).

Sometimes I miss that stage in our relationship.  Words were all we had.  Being "internet" friends for 8 years or so before meeting allows you to use a LOT of words.  Words about everything.  Thoughts. Feelings.  Wishes.  Dreams.  Hopes.  Jokes.  Anecdotes. Daily happenings. Non-consequential... words.  Reading through those letters made me feel so incredibly nostalgic and appreciative of the path Charlie and I have taken.

In one letter I told him about how I couldn't stop thinking about him.  All the time.  Every day.  But that I knew that was probably more passion than love.  But then I told him that I (from the HUNDREDS of conversations we had had over the years), knew about his heart... knew about his plans for the future and that Louisiana was the place for that to happen.  I told him I was willing to move my life there, and that I knew that was more love than passion.

I love words.  They make me feel good.  They speak to me.  They comfort me.  Charlie?  Not so much.  He is thankful that stage of our relationship is over because now he can live out the millions of words we wrote to each other in letters.  Now words can jump off the pages and become alive. Now he doesn't just have to end letters with, "I love you", but he can pack me food for a road trip or take our the garbage or bring me home a cantaloupe (and cut it up and put it in the fridge for me).

Marriage is so much more and different and harder and wonderful than I imagined.  How can it not be when you merge two lives together?

I love you, Charlie Loup.  I look forward to the next 72.