Everything just kind of sucks

WARNING: Please be forewarned that this entire post is all about me complaining about stuff.

I'll start with the truly bad news. We found out yesterday that my sister-in-law who suffers from Meniere's Disease in both ears has progressed to the point that she may need surgery--which would likely mean the loss of both hearing and balance in her right ear. Not only that, left ear will likely become progressively worse over time. The surgery may decrease the episodes of vertigo she has been experiencing on and off over the last 11 years, but may not help, or may make it worse! She is only 31, and has three young children. It is so hard to see her going through this, and we wish so much that we could do more to help. Her husband and two older sons are at home in Montana while she's here in Oregon to see specialists in Portland. (In fact, she's seeing another specialist tomorrow at OHSU, and we're really hoping for some good news.) The one upside to all this is that her youngest son (who's 13 months) is here too, and we get to spend some time with him! He's a real cutie-patootie. I sure hope his mama can get the help she needs so that she can return home to her family and live her life. She and her family are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. Hang in there, Moo. You'll get through this. We love you so much.

Another super-duper sucky (albeit, seemingly insignificant) thing is that Adam is being sent to LA for training for work next month, and Kira and I are not going with him. Before Christmas, the planets seemed to be aligning for a return trip to Disneyland (and a first ever visit to American Girl--Kira's dream come true for sure). We were planning to meet up with him at the end of his training and spend an extra long weekend. However, by the time the gov't made the decision to send him (today) we had waited too long to book flights and can no longer get tickets with air miles. We don't really have the money to pull it off anyway, which is also poopy. I'm super crabby about it because, A) all Adam does is work, work, work lately, and you know what they say about all work and no play (something about gumpy wives?) , and B) not only will my sweetie be in sunny Southern California in February, but I will be HERE and am so tired of the rain already! I swear, I've lived here all my life, but it seems that each winter gets wetter, colder, and darker. Every time I step out the door or glance out a window lately it is RAINING. You know that myth about how the Inuit people supposedly have hundreds of words for 'snow'? It seems that Oregonians should have about as many for rain. Sigh. I wish I were in Hawaii like Sarah. Maybe I'll be a snow bird when (and if) I grow up....

Okay, one more rant, and then I'll stop. Promise.

It's about my hair. I have fairly long hair--or at least I did have fairly long hair, until this afternoon.... (See 'before' picture at right.) I went to a new stylist today who specializes in cutting curly hair. (Meegan & Sarah both had good experiences with her, and I was sure I would too.) After wearing my hair straight for many years, I decided last summer that I was sick and tired of all that blow drying and was ready to embrace my naturally wavy/curly locks. Unfortunately, the last haircut I had in August was all lopsided and wacky. I've let it grow out until now--the point at which I felt like I was wearing a 'hair cape'. Anyway, when I went to this new stylist today, I told her that I'd like to take two inches off the length. Uh...YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE MASS QUANTITIES OF HAIR ON THE FLOOR WHEN SHE'D FINISHED! (This turned out to be a two hour appointment, by the way, during which Kira watched the three 'in case of emergency' episodes of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends on my iPhone, listened to music, looked at photos, and read half a book. She was SO patient!) In the end, I left with some very big, and very short (for me) hair. However, I also left with a bag o' yummy smelling hair products that will surely work wonders. I hope. I'm sorry, I realize that it's a stupid thing to be freaking out about. I know it's just hair. It'll grow back. Heck, maybe after I wash, condition, and style it in the morning with my new products, it will all be okay. For now it's in a pony tail so that Adam can't see how chopped it is and make fun of me. I'm hideous--so no 'after' picture. Maybe later : (

Okay, sorry. I'm done ranting. What a way to start off the new year! Woo hoo! Moving on with life....