Friday, September 14, 2018

Loving...Not Loving

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It's time once again for another edition of Loving...Not Loving. This is the where I talk about the things I love but whomp, whomp...there's something not to love.




I am loving...the weather we're having. September is the best time of year in the midwest. We've got temperatures in the upper 70s, blue skies, and low humidity. What's not to love? I'll tell you what I'm not loving...the yellow jackets. They seem to swarm this time of year. Eating outside is impossible because they hang out around food. They also love to sting or bite. Or both.  Last week I was running and one randomly stung me in the knee. While I was moving. Evil little suckers...

Excuse the language, but am I right?
I am loving...that my youngest joined the UW-Madison Badgers' Rugby team! He played rugby all through high school but considered waiting until his sophomore year of college to join the team. Instead, he went to a practice and that sealed the deal. Last weekend was a team scrimmage and my boy scored a try! So what's not to love? I'm not loving...that the team is having their first game this weekend and he's not playing. I know, I know, he's a freshman. Still, he's off to a great start. As an aside, the team names for the scrimmage were the Curds and the Brats. The Curds won.

It's a Wisconsin thing...
Excuse my inappropriate sense of humor but I am loving...this weatherman forecast fail about Hurricane Florence. It's not the only oneI'm not loving...Hurricane Florence. I'm worried about my east coast friends and I hope everyone is safe and dry.


I am loving...that there's an alternative to the colonoscopy. I saw my doctor for my annual physical and knowing my reluctance to undergo the procedure, she offered me the Cologuard test. Cologuard is a screening test that is 92% accurate for colon cancer and 42% for high-risk pre-cancer.  I'm not loving...that if I test positive, I'll still need a colonoscopy. Still, I put my odds on the test and hope to avoid any invasive procedures. Fingers crossed.


I am loving...that I am heading up to Lake Delavan, Wisconsin this weekend to run in the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon! My friend Steph will be heading up with me, and we'll get to meet up with Marcia, Erika, Missy, and hopefully a few others.  I'm not loving...that this week I have developed pain over the inside of my left foot. It comes and goes. I have a few ideas of what it could be but we'll see how it plays out. I taped it with Leukotape (much better than KT tape) for the race and hope that it doesn't turn into anything worse.


Anyone else have a nasty yellow jacket encounter? Have you ever eaten cheese curds? Who's impacted by Hurricane Florence? Colonoscopy or Cologuard--share your experience!

I'm linking up with Running on Happy and our Carolina sisters at Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five. I hope you ladies are ok!!!!

43 comments :

  1. I have heard about cologuard being better but have not had the pleasure yet. Good luck w that. Hope your foot is feeling better.That is no fun! Waiting for our weather to cool off. We are still bombarded w ridiculous humidity everyday. October is usually better for us. Fingers crossed bc I have a lot planned next month

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  2. I don't even know what cheese curds are.

    Good luck with that screening test. I hope all goes well.
    Also good luck at Zooma. I bet that will be a beautiful race and sounds like the weather will be nice. I'm not looking forward to my race this weekend as the forecast will be in the 80s and of course very humid. -M

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    1. Cheese curds are a Wisconsin delicacy! If I ever get to meet you, I'll bring some so you can try them.

      Good luck at your race this weekend!

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  3. I've had 3 colonoscopies (I'm 55, almost 56 too). Over the years the prep has gotten easier. My father died at 50 from colon cancer and this is an easy procedure to be proactive with this cancer. You can run half-marathons with RA. A colonoscopy would be a piece of cake for you.

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    1. Hopefully I'll get good results from the test and won't have to do it.

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  4. I'm just waiting for the wonderful intersection when I'm still having cervical smears, the mammograms start and the colon cancer test (here, we do our own test, having been sent a bottle and a teeny-tiny shovel in the post). It's about 4 years to go. Don't get me wrong, screening is great, but All The Things!

    Have fun at the half!

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    1. Sounds like the test I did is similar to what you have to do. I do have mammograms every year and that is the next on my list to schedule. I also have to see the dermatologist to get my skin checked.

      I feel like an old lady with ALL THE THINGS I have to do! LOL

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  5. I certainly hope you are not going to need that colonoscopy! I am on the east coast and so far we are just getting a lot of rain, but I have my fingers crossed for those more in it's direct path.

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  6. It's still dry here but the rain is coming! Looks like it's going to rain out my last 2 baby showers this weekend, but that's nothing compared to what others are dealing with so trying to just not worry about it. The graphic for this post is hilarious! :-)

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    1. I had a lot of fun with this one! Sometimes you just have to laugh...

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  7. Yellow jackets ARE evil! One of the grossest things I saw this summer was a hornet sitting on a leaf of corn EATING a yellow jacket! He had him about halfway munched when I first started watching. I couldn't look away.

    Cheese curds are yummy! Did you ever have poutine?

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    1. I had to look that up! I've never had it but it sure sounds yummy!

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  8. That yellowjacket meme speaks my family's language to a T. So funny but ugh. Those little fuckers.

    I'm interested in that colorguard test! Wonder if my provider offers it yet...

    Have a great time at ZOOMA this weekend - hope the race goes well for you!

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    1. I put the link for the Colonguard test in the paragraph. You can have your doctor order it for you. On the website is a form you can download. You collect the sample at home and send it in via UPS. It's not as gross as it sounds.

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  9. I had my first colonoscopy in June. The prep is the worst, I slept through the procedure. Unfortunately, I had some postnasal drip while I was out and they had to suction my throat. I'm not loving the fact that they damaged my throat. It was sore for days, I couldn't talk at all for about a week, then my voice became very raspy. 2 months later I finally saw an Ear, Nose & Throat doc. He could still see the damage to my throat (by putting a crazy tool in my nose.) He determined that I have "silent reflux" (acid reflux that only occurs at night) and put me on Nexium. The acid was keeping my throat from healing. It's been about a month and my voice is finally back to normal. I'm loving that my colon was fine and I won't need to do this again for another decade.

    McDonald's in Hawaii serves Spam with their eggs and their fruit pies are haupia (coconut.)

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    1. I just feel like the colonoscopy is so invasive! Your story is exactly what worries me. I'm hoping this Cologuard is the alternative I've been looking for.

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  10. My doc has been on my case about scheduling a colonoscopy - I should ask her about this other test. Thanks for the suggestion! I hope the test works in your favor!

    Have fun at Zooma!


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    1. Ask her! I'm just trying to avoid a very time consuming procedure. I mean, if I have to do it I will but geez.

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  11. I got stung last year and didn't even see the bugger! They were super aggressive in Boston when fall rolled around, and I love being outside in the fall. I don't know how last year was only my second time being stung. I'm that crazy person screaming and running away from it.

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    1. The yellow jackets are so aggressive here. They just fly right up to you and sting you. For no reason.

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  12. Yellow jackets are evil, indeed. I am often chased off our deck by them. Although this summer it was rarely good enough to eat outside -- either too gosh darn humid (and it's back here) or raining (or both!).

    I am also very concerned about those south of me -- we won't be much effected -- too far north & too far inland -- but it definitely looks to be a dangerous storm.

    You guys will have so much fun at ZOOMA! I wish I'd known someone when I did one -- there actually were bloggers there, but I think it was before I started blogging so I knew no one.

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    1. I'm really excited to see everyone, including my cousins who will be there too!

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  13. Oh no. I hope your foot problem is minor.

    The prep is worse than the test. I will make sure to ask about Cologuard anyway.

    Have fun at ZOOMA. I know you will. FOMO about meeting all those bloggers.

    Glad to live too far north to be hit by the hurricane. Hope they stay away from us this year and that everyone else is sage.

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    1. The foot problem seems to be an RA issue in one of the joints of my foot. Of course.

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  14. I hope you have so much fun this weekend! I really hope I am a candidate for Cologuard. It was so hard when my son played college lax -- going from co-Captain of his HS team to being a freshman on a DIII team, but that's how it goes.

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    1. My son is just so happy to be back playing rugby. Can you imagine playing your sport in the Big 10?

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  15. I don't see a lot of yellow jackets around here but there are so many mosquitoes around my house and I am PRONE to them, so I get bit all the time.

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    1. We're just bombarded with mosquitos right now. You can't even step outside without getting bit.

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  16. Curds vs. Brats...lol! I love Wisconsin and I've never even been there. Go Packers!! You gotta try poutine sometime...maybe someplace in your son's college town serves it.

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    1. I'll have to look for poutine when we're up there next weekend. If not, Curds! for the win.

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  17. I've gotten cheese curds from the grocery store here, but I'm sure they are better fresh!

    Foot pain can be so frustrating - I hope yours cooperated for your race this weekend.

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  18. Can I just saw the image of the weatherman made me giggle like a 12 year old. I'm the worst! LOL

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  19. I'm sitting at home rather at the beach house because of Hurricane Florence. We'd hope to head down mid-week, but now the power is out down there. Unless that gets repaired, we can't go...

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  20. The yellowjackets have been THE WORST here too. I'm not sure if it's more time outdoors, or more but I'm definitely seeing them
    Cheese curds, eww. Congrats to your son
    A little too young still for colonscopy or similar despite history in my father's family. Not looking forward to it when it is my time.

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    1. I kind of love that my doctor gave me an alternative to the scope. Hoping I am in the clear.

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  21. I was supposed to get a colonoscopy 5 years ago (at 50) but passed. ;-) I have one of those screening tests in my desk but still haven't done it. Ugh. I don't even know why I put it off. I roll my eyes at patients that do this. LOL

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    1. I had one at 40 and don't care to repeat it. If this test says I need to, then I will.

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