FSS: Utah Arts Festival

Among other things I did this past weekend (mowed a lawn for the first time in at least 8 years, maybe more), I went downtown to the Utah Arts Festival for the first time. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but thought it might be something fun to do. And it was. And I'd probably go again next year. Certainly there were a fair number of eccentric folks down there (or coooooooks as my friend called them), but there was quite a bit of interesting art as well.

We managed to catch a 45 minute Improv set from some folks from The Off Broadway Theatre, and some Polynesian dancers, eat some greasy peesy, and check out a lot of art that was on display. Some of my favorites were some metal animals (moose, horse, etc) made from rusted farm implements, some more abstract stuff that was just patterns and colors, some good nature photography, and some old-fashioned looking signs painted on wooden boards. Anyway, made me think that I guess I do kind of appreciate art, even if I don't know much about how to make it, or art history. I definitely had some opinions of what I liked and didn't like and what kinds of things I might have purchased if I'd been in the market for some.

Just living life

I haven't blogged much lately, I know. I've thought about it, but just really haven't had much to say, I guess. I'm happy that it's not raining so much any more, though the forecast calls for rain today and tomorrow. Last week I hit up the Strawberry Days rodeo, and then tried to go to a demolition derby in Tooele that was postponed due to all the rain.



Aside from that I guess I'm just working and playing. After a couple month hiatus, I'm heading back into the dating scene with what feels like a pretty positive outlook. Not sure why, but I'm liking it for now.

Lots of vacation fun coming up in July (Seattle, St. George, Park City, Yellowstone), getting excited about that.

Also in the midst of a media overload.

• Checking out a lot of new music. Enjoyed the new-ish Gym Class Heroes album, some live Ben Folds, and some old school Rakim. This week, checking out the new-ish T.I., some other stuff. The library I live closest to now has a much better selection than the old one I used to frequent.
  

• Still slogging my way through Atlas Shrugged (the severe reduction in my solo trips to Gandolfos and Arbys has really cut down on the amount of time I spend reading), but picked up some "Classics" from Barnes & Noble yesterday (Buy 2 Get 1 Free right now) with some of the money on a gift card my parents gave me for graduation. Tale of Two Cities (because I wanted my own copy of one of my favorite books) and Vols. I & II of The Complete Sherlock Holmes (most of which I've probably already ready before). Might have to go back while the sale is on and pick up some more that I haven't already read -- something Dostoyevsky (Crime and Punishment? Brothers Karamazov?), Pride & Prejudice (Is it any good? or do girls just like it?), maybe Dante's Inferno? Pilgrim's Progress? Anyone got suggestions? Also snagged a Diabetic Cookbook off the bargain shelf. Considering attempting to cook real food for myself once a week or something like that.

• Got 3 used Xbox games that were also buy 2 get 1 free (Ninja Gaiden II, Bioshock, and Mass Effect), so that should keep me busy through the end of 2010, right?

Anyway, that's kind of an update of what I've been up to.

Just arrived in my inbox...

Congratulations on your graduation from the University of Utah. The following degree has been posted to your academic record:


Doctor of Philosophy

Biomedical Informatics


Your diploma has been mailed.

I guess that makes it official.

Seen this morning in the parking lot

Because Jesus is important, just not DALLAS COWBOYS IMPORTANT.

Personal Health Update

I know I haven't been great at blogging lately. Partly I think it's because the things that I spend most of my thoughts on aren't all that upbeat and chipper and I don't really think that things that frustrate me are things that I want to blog about. The mysterious side pain that prompted my initial doctor's visit in March where I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes continues to be vague and persistent, but has now been joined by a burning/tingling/itching sensation in the vicinity of my right scapula (shoulder blade). At my 2 month diabetes follow-up last week, I mentioned it to my PCP, but he suggested that that appointment was to follow-up on diabetes and that I ought to come back another time to talk about this new pain.

I did that yesterday, and he felt around back there and said that the pain I was having seemed to be in my rhomboid muscle, and suggested that I ought to have my right scapula x-rayed just to rule out any kind of bone cyst or anything. Got my x-rays done yesterday (sometimes its nice to work in a hospital), and everything looked fine, so now I've been referred for physical therapy. Not sure if I'm every going to be healthy enough to get some follow-up on the original side pain...and that's kind of what's been frustrating me lately.

That and dating. :)

In the spirit of ending on a more upbeat note, my diabetes follow-up went really well. After 2 months of watching my carb intake and trying to exercise more often, I lost 20 pounds, got my hemoglobin A1c down from 7.5 to 5.8 (7.0 is a common standard for "controlled" diabetes. 6.0 is the high end of "normal" ranges, for non-diabetics), lowered my cholesterol a bit, and really brought my triglycerides count down. Oh, and my blood pressure, which was pretty close to normal already, came down a bit, too. So for now, not going on any medication. Follow-up in 6 months.