9/9/09

I almost forgot to celebrate today until my little art history professor asked us to name and date a sheet of paper in preparatory for our quiz.
HOW COULD I CONCENTRATE WHEN I JUST REALIZED TODAY WAS 9/9/09?!?
(Needless to say I scored 9/9 actually 10/10 but isn't 9/9 just so fitting...)

I posted something about this date a little while ago. And our friends in the far east did not disappoint.
you mathematicians out there have probably had a field day on 09/09/09

The date falls on a Wednesday in September, both of which have 9 letters.

September 9 also is the 252nd day of the year. 2+5+2=9

In addition, if you multiply a single-digit number by 9, the resulting two digits add up to 9. Consider: 4x9=36; 3+6=9
(more from this article can be found on cnn.com)

I'm wondering how many pregnant women due around this time are trying to get induced on this day. Maybe that will be something I'll be blessed to consider around 10/10/10.

There are great deals all over the web today celebrating 9/9/09. Hotels.com is offering $99 hotels. Restaurant.com is offering 90% off of gift cards! As well, the Beatles albums have all been digitally remastered and have been released today.

September 9, 2009. What a great day.

Back to School

Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo

755 miles into our 2,050 mile journey we stopped in Nauvoo, Illinois. A quaint town on the edge of the Mississippi River that has some important historical sites pertaining to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Nauvoo was a refuge to the Saints between 1839 and 1846, however, difficulties increased forcing the Saints to flee their homes and start their trek westward to the Great Salt Lake.
Spencer and I loved walking around the quiet town and taking a look at all the historic homes. The weather was absolutely perfect. (I visited Nauvoo in 2002 for the temple open house when the heat and humidity were unbearable) We attended the temple and loved looking at the dark hardwood and intricate details replicated of the work the Saints did before it was destroyed. We were able to see the cemetery of the final resting place for the Prophet Joseph Smith, Emma Hale Smith, Hyrum Smith, Joseph Sr, and Lucy Mack Smith, as well as many other Smith family members. We toured Carthage Jail (22 miles away) where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred June 27, 1844. We walked down Parely Street "Street of Tears" where the Saints on February 4, 1846 said farewell to their beautiful city and homes and crossed, in that bitter cold winter, the frozen Mississippi River. It was such an amazing experience to see where these events took place that we as members of the church read and hear so much about. We spent two nights there and took off early the next morning to continue on our own personal trek the other 1,296 miles.

Botox VS. Dysport

First things first.

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat even when it is cool or when they are at rest.

You could say that I have a mild condition of Hyperhidrosis. Palmar Hyperhidrosis to be exact.

Upon my departure from my fabulous job at the Dermatologist office, Dr. Hamilton offered the option of once again puncturing my hands with many painful needles to decrease the amount of sweating. What a nice little going-away-gift. (A previous story about a similar experience can be found HERE) I of course agreed to the torture, and seated my self in the patients chair. I had some numbing cream, but don't think it worked much. The procedure is done starting in the middle of the palm going in an outward spiral until each little digit is injected. A couple pricks down each finger (the tips hurting the most containing the most nerves clustered together in the body) and then you're done.
With one hand that is. Previously I have had this procedure done with a product known as BOTOX. As many of you know, whether users or not, BOTOX is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles used to temporarily freeze and improve the look of frown lines and wrinkles. However, many of you don't know that Dysport (pronounced 'DISS-port') -a very similar product approved by the FDA April 30, 2009- is now available in the United States. Which brings me to the very reason I was seated in the patient chair that slowly reclined to a laying position as my palms sweat and sweat and sweat (their last chance for a long time I might add). The last time I had painful palm injections the results lasted well over 9 months and wore off very slowly maximizing my results to almost 18 months* I would say. The question is: HOW LONG WILL THE DYSPORT LAST? Only time will tell. It is one week today and the results have been fabulous. Some research has shown Dysport lasting even longer than Botox- and better yet- It is a cheaper product.


*results not typical.

Cafeteria La Oaxaquena

We drove out to Smyrna, GA so that Spencer could enjoy some authentic Oaxacan style of food. (Oaxaca is the state of Mexico that Spencer served in.) The restaurant it self was clean and the food was rather inexpensive but I didn't really know that "real" Mexican food didn't come with all the usual (yummy) toppings. i.e. cheese, guacamole, sourcream, salsa. God Bless American versions of food... Chinese, Italian, Mexican. Spencer on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed it and thought that it was the best post-mission "REAL" Mexican he has had.

8 is Great.

No, this is not a post about an 8 year old getting baptized.

Eight is considered to be a lucky number in Asian cultures. It is said to mean fortune and wealth. Maybe those rules don't apply to Spencer and I because we aren't Asian. I'll let you know if that luck starts rolling in.

One year ago, [August 8th, 2008- luck x3?] I was busy getting this little treat on my finger.
I had no idea it was coming and didn't even have the chance to do any ring shopping with Spencer but he did a really good job on choosing it all by himself.
This is me in a state of shock."Lucky I'm in love with my best friend......Lucky we're in love in every way"More details on this event can be read HERE or HERE

After the proposal we went home and ate Chinese food and enjoyed the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing that began on 8/8/08 at 8 seconds and 8 minutes past 8:00pm. On August 8th, 2008 some 9,000 Chinese couples tied the knot... But let's just think about this for a second. A nation of over 1.3 billion people, on one of the luckiest days in their cultures history and they only got 9,000 married? Pathetic if you ask me. Perhaps 9/9/09 will bring better results. No matter how many people didn't get married that day in China, it will always be a special day for Spencer and I to remember.

Post Script: I just realized I was born 3/3/88. Three is also a lucky number in Chinese Culture- Shouldn't I be the luckiest person alive?

Post Post Script: Happy One Year Anniversary to my dear cousin Amanda who got married on 8/8/08.