Kristina's Chronicles

Everything means something. The little things just mean more.

[kristinaschronicles]

RIP Alan Rickman. He shared so many characters with us, but the ones that really stayed with me are: sweet Jamie from "Truly Madly Deeply," and Colonel Brandon of "Sense & Sensibility." Also, my two favorite Christmas movies, "Love Actually" and a little known gem called "Die Hard". I always knew Hans Gruber was a big old teddy bear.Thank you for sharing your extraordinary talent with all of us.

[kristinaschronicles]

Got a very cool surprise phone call this morning from Dan Pastorini. Yes, THAT Dan Pastorini, former quarterback (#7) of the Houston Oilers from the “Luv Ya Blue” days of my childhood! He called to tell me thank you for being a fan all those years ago and shared some of his favorite memories as a player with me.

One in particular was when The Oilers returned from the AFC Championship against the Steelers. He recalled how the whole city of Houston had turned out and lined the streets from the airport to the Astrodome. How very special to hear about this unprecedented moment from his perspective. This happened in 1978-79. I was 10 years old and had his poster hanging on my wall!

We spoke for almost 15 minutes. I will never forget that he commiserated with me when I shared with him why I don’t like sports. Most of you know it’s a running joke but there is a reason behind it. I’ll save that for another time. Dan understood and that’s all that matters.

Why did Dan Pastorini call me? Because I’m special, that’s why! Now, if Steve Perry would call me, my life would be complete as I had his poster on my wall too.

[kristinaschronicles]

I've been clearing off stuff all day on my computer and OMG I'm not even close to being done.  I figure maybe I shouldn't even bother but it will feel better to be organized or whatever.  But really, some of this work stuff and old diary entries will never see the light of day - I kind of wonder why I save them.  I always thought I might share my gallivanting with celebrities and near death experiences with stalker arsonists with my kids one day but I ain't got no kids. What to do, what to do.  I think maybe I'll just post the random stories one at a time on my blog.  Is it still cool to have an autograph collection?  I mean, now days it's all about those photos.  It's a unorganized mess of unfinished notes and partial diary entries from scraps of paper to files on the hard drive. Writing all that out means feeling all the drama again, although revisiting some of the craziness would be cathartic I suppose.

[wordsnquotes]

I was too young to know how to love her.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince  (via wordsnquotes)

[laclefdescoeurs]

Cosmos, 2005, Andrew Wyeth

[herminehesse]

Andrew Wyeth detail

[bloomingpixels]

I found this vase on Etsy and all I wanted to do was take pictures of it! The shop is Sara Welch Pottery.  She makes such unique treasures, some to use everyday, some to treasure in a special spot on a shelf.  Take a look! Her link is https://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahwelchpottery Please tell her, Kristina sent you!  I also got a heart shaped ring holder, with the date of my engagement stamped on the bottom, some little plates to use as spoon rests or catchalls! Love her shop.  She is incredibly talented.  

[bloomingpixels]

Ornamental cabbage plant - the green & purple leaves always grab my attention

[kristinaschronicles]

Blooming Pixels is my secondary blog for my photographs and digital art - I just started it today, so please come check it out!  Thanks a bunch!

[kristinaschronicles]

7 Ways From Sunday by The Trampolines

[kristinaschronicles]

It's no secret Patrice Pike is one of my girl crushes #NowPlaying Woman Waiting to Happen by Patrice Pike

[kristinaschronicles]

You're on my mind #NowPlaying Hard To Find by The National

[kristinaschronicles]

Thank you

My Dearest, In life, we are faced with challenges. Some people’s challenges look a little easier than others as at the end, they may reap some sort of great reward for their endurance in getting past that setback.  We are not “other people” because in our lives it seems like we have nothing but challenges. Many people always say to me, “It just doesn’t seem fair that you two have so many problems.”  I don’t see them as problems, I see it as life. Yet, sometimes I admit I think about all the good you and I have radiated out into the world and the things we’ve done never expecting anything in return and think, “Where is our reward for all our hard work?” Over the years, I’ve lost friends over the most petty and mundane things and I’ve had loved ones die, we’ve been broke, we’ve been okay, we’ve traveled, we’ve come home again, we’ve been more broke, and then broke again. But I’ve realized something.  I don’t need to wait for a reward at the end of each struggle because it’s not necessary. You are my reward.  I already have it and am lucky enough to have spent the last 14 years of my life waking up to my reward every day. Not many people can say that or have what we have given all that we’ve faced through those years.  Our bond is solid.  We know the truth in our situation and that truth is whatever we have or don’t have doesn’t matter because we have each other. When I met you, from day one, I knew that you would be in my life forever. I knew I loved you after you first spoke. You were humble and honest and most importantly, you had humor. All these years later, I find myself to be one of the richest people in the world despite the fact that we are broke. It’s not the money that makes me rich, it’s your love and your friendship that does.  I am blessed every single day of my life to have you in it. As heartbroken as I am about how sick I’ve been and all that I’ve put us through with the stress, I’m still grateful. I am grateful for every day when I wake up to find a love note from you, even if you’ve just gone to run an errand. I am grateful you make the coffee. I am grateful for all the nights I’ve not slept well because the pain keeps me awake to find you sleeping next to me on the floor because you just want to be close to me. I am grateful you’ve been with me for every single doctor’s appointment, tests, scans, procedures, x-rays, hospital stays, and emergency room visits, and all the drama & stress of insurance, payment plans, and medication refills without complaint. I am grateful your job for the last two years allows you to be home with me. Yes, even though you are “in my way” and “in my space”. I am grateful for your sense of humor and your kindness. I am grateful for your unconditional love and never ending support. I am grateful you do all the things for me that I have been unable to do, like cooking, laundry and cleaning.  Even though you don’t do it all quite the way I would. I’m grateful you are with me on this path. It’s so cliché’, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without you by my side.  Your patience, your enduring strength, your kindness, your unconditional love, and your whacky sense of humor have provided me with courage, strength, and the tenacity I need to get through each day of the hardest parts of my life. And although I am scared as hell, I am grateful for this surgery tomorrow and for the doctors who are dedicated to helping me/us achieve a better quality of life. I am grateful in every way possible and I could never truly express to you all the ways you have been a blessing in my life. While Monday’s surgery brings a mad case of nerves, I have nothing but positive thoughts about it because just like the surgeries before this, I know you will be right there by my side through all of it knowing you will never give up on me. I love you with all of me, Kristina

[kristinaschronicles]

My Dearest, In life, we are faced with challenges. Some people’s challenges look a little easier than others as at the end, they may reap some sort of great reward for their endurance in getting past that setback.  We are not “other people” because in our lives it seems like we have nothing but challenges. Many people always say to me, “It just doesn’t seem fair that you two have so many problems.” I don’t see them as problems, I see it as life. Yet, sometimes I admit I think about all the good you and I have radiated out into the world and the things we’ve done never expecting anything in return and think, “Where is our reward for all our hard work?” Over the years, I’ve lost friends over the most petty and mundane things and I’ve had loved ones die, we’ve been broke, we’ve been okay, we’ve traveled, we’ve come home again, we’ve been more broke, and then broke again. But I’ve realized something.  I don’t need to wait for a reward at the end of each struggle because it’s not necessary. You are my reward.  I already have it and am lucky enough to have spent the last 14 years of my life waking up to my reward every day. Not many people can say that or have what we have given all that we’ve faced through those years.  Our bond is solid.  We know the truth in our situation and that truth is whatever we have or don’t have doesn’t matter because we have each other. When I met you, from day one, I knew that you would be in my life forever. I knew I loved you after you first spoke. You were humble and honest and most importantly, you had humor. All these years later, I find myself to be one of the richest people in the world despite the fact that we are broke. It’s not the money that makes me rich, it’s your love and your friendship that does.  I am blessed every single day of my life to have you in it. As heartbroken as I am about how sick I’ve been and all that I’ve put us through with the stress, I’m still grateful. I am grateful for every day when I wake up to find a love note from you, even if you’ve just gone to run an errand. I am grateful you make the coffee. I am grateful for all the nights I’ve not slept well because the pain keeps me awake to find you sleeping next to me on the floor because you just want to be close to me. I am grateful you’ve been with me for every single doctor’s appointment, tests, scans, procedures, x-rays, hospital stays, and emergency room visits, and all the drama & stress of insurance, payment plans, and medication refills without complaint. I am grateful your job for the last two years allows you to be home with me.  Yes, even though you are “in my way” and “in my space”. I am grateful for your sense of humor and your kindness. I am grateful for your unconditional love and never ending support. I am grateful you do all the things for me that I have been unable to do, like cooking, laundry and cleaning.  Even though you don’t do it all quite the way I would. I’m grateful you are with me on this path. It’s so cliché’, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without you by my side.  Your patience, your enduring strength, your kindness, your unconditional love, and your whacky sense of humor have provided me with courage, strength, and the tenacity I need to get through each day of the hardest parts of my life. And although I am scared as hell, I am grateful for this surgery tomorrow and for the doctors who are dedicated to helping me/us achieve a better quality of life. I am grateful in every way possible and I could never truly express to you all the ways you have been a blessing in my life. While Monday’s surgery brings a mad case of nerves, I have nothing but positive thoughts about it because just like the surgeries before this, I know you will be right there by my side through all of it knowing you will never give up on me. I love you with all of me,

Kristina

[kristinaschronicles]

[kristinaschronicles]

[kristinaschronicles]

#NowPlaying Hard To Find by The National

[kristinaschronicles]

Beginning in the middle

6.12.2015 I could start by telling you how I got here, but I’m in too much pain to write that all out today, so this is just about right now. Today, June 12, 2015 at noon, I will be getting a cervical myelogram.  It’s one of the most painful diagnostic procedures I’ve ever endured, as I know from the one I had back in 2003. Hopefully enough time has gone by for medical advances in this torturous test. Cervical myelograms are notoriously more painful because I will be face down and have to stretch my neck up and prop my chin on the table.   I will be sedated although not completely under as the doctor will need my feedback during the procedure about how I’m feeling. Then, he will insert a needle into the space between my vertebrae. A small amount of fluid will be removed from the spinal canal. Next, the contrast will be injected through the needle. He will use an imaging procedure called fluoroscopy. This combines an x-ray unit with a camera and a screen. To take the images, I will be positioned stomach-down on the table. A brace will hold me in place while the table will be tipped forward, bringing my feet above my head.   Did you get that?   MY FEET WILL BE ABOVE MY HEAD while I’m face down. Next, the doctor will take images of my neck. I will be directed to hold my breath off and on while the images are taken. After this, they will keep me in recovery for approximately 4 hours to make sure I have none of the side effects. LAST TIME - I made the big mistake of not telling them about the minor headache I had.  By the time I got home, I was in so much pain there is no description and ended up in the Emergency Room. This time, I will be VERY VOCAL about any additional pain I am having so the necessary actions can be taken to keep on top of the situation. I have to be blunt.  I am scared.  Having nerves doesn’t begin to cover it.  I am already shaking as I write this.  My symptoms that have led up to this have been excruciating. I will try to keep up with my progress here.  Some of you have mentioned not being able to leave a comment - so I would encourage you to leave it on my facebook page. If you wondered how you can help, I can tell you the simplest thing is the biggest thing.  I will be relying on you all for distraction.   My very special request is this: Post anything you think is fun, funny, inspirational, or just plain quirky to my facebook page. Most of you know my sense of humor and I’m not easily offended. YouTube videos, music, songs from Spotify, whatever.  I can’t WAIT to see what you all share with me.  I NEED this more than you can know. And cats. Don't forget the cat humor.  I will need music and humor in large quantities so get busy! If you are interested in watching an animated version of the test, here is a link for that. http://www.spine-health.com/video/myelography-myelogram-video