Iwouldratherbeknitting's medical adventure

Last summer, I tried to get a mammogram appointment in the states. I was able to make an appointment to get a mammogram- but, I wasn't able to get an appointment with a doctor in order to get the mammogram sent to him/her. I tried almost every doctor in the phone book and no one would take me because: THEY WEREN'T taking new patients, I didn't live there, the doctors were all on vacation/etc.

So, I had to cancel the appointment that I had made months ago. (Oh, at the same time that I had scheduled the mammogram appointment, I also had tried to make appointments from doctors in the same town- that I found by looking up doctors on the Internet. I also tried additional doctors once I was at my friend's house and had access to the yellow pages.)

So, I asked our school nurse if she knew of a place off-base that I could get a mammogram. I also asked her to find out about an ULTRA SOUND type of mammogram. Apparently, (blush) I have dense breasts.. Now, I think that they are as smart as any other breasts out there in the general public.. ha ha

ANYWAY, I've only had 2 other mammograms in my life.. I had my first one when a former principal died of breast cancer- I thought it would be a good idea and one to have on file as a 'baseline' test.... The only two times that I've had a mammogram, they always made the do the horrible smash the breasts flat as a pancake in that squeezing machine three times. They do the first mammogram, and then the first one has to be done again, because they are convinced that I MOVED.. trust me.. but, not only is moving about difficult at best-- BUT, I would do NOTHING to cause any blurring to cause a repeat of the smashing of the breasts in the 'squish 'em flat machine.'

Then the results are that the second one is always blurry too.. they can't see anything/etc.. and they make me do it a THIRD time and they get the same results again!

Finally, after my second experience with three attempts at getting a decent mammogram image done, a kind nurse-- is the one who told me that I have dense breasts! (as in: Can't see the tissues clearly)

On another note, I am also convinced that the machine had to have been invented by a man.. who had no worry of ever having his, or any man's boobies put into that smashing machine! I'd like to see the machine invented that does the same squishing/smashing to a male appendage and see how long it would take to invent some other method to besides 'smashing and squishing body parts'!


Here are the signs found in all hospitals directing patients and visitors to the correct place.. with one difference...



I wasn't worried about finding the right place, because I had the school nurse write where I needed to go in Korean.

While I was waiting, I was knitting and this little girl came by and squatted down so that she was eye level to my knitting and was watching with great interest. I think that her grandmother, who I ended up sitting next to, was glad for the diversion for her grand-daughter.


And this cutie pootie appeared to be a little over a year old and was walking about and kept staring at me.. not sure if it was the knitting or the AMERICAN WOMAN that she was staring at.. ha ha :D

See the curls above her ears? They are on her little hat on the outside.. cute, fake little curls on a baby. Adorable!!




Then, I was finally called and taken down the hall and downstairs and finally into the 'room' where you change clothes.. (well, the top part anyway) and this is what they gave me to wear. It is an XL (Korean size XL).. and let's just say the buttons didn't close over the 'boobage'... uh hem..

I did like the little frog buttons though..

AND.... as a result of today's mammogram experience, I have this to say: .. I had my first: ULTRA SOUND MAMMOGRAM (I had read that those with DENSE (not stupid)breasts need to have this type of mammogram taken.. and I've only got this to say.. run, run to the nearest mammogram place and switch your appointments to the 'ultra sound' mammogram. IT DOES NOT HURT one tiny bit.

And for the yuck factor.. I had to have a blood test done on MONDAY. I absolutely hate to have blood taken out and would rather have a 'root canal' than to do this. However, I realize that I am an adult and I am very brave, don't freak out (well, on the inside maybe), sob, or otherwise act like a baby when I have to endure the 'blood withdrawing'.. and this is the horrible bruise that I still have on my arm FRIDAY!
Today, I happened to go back to the doctor that ordered the blood test on Monday, and I showed him my arm and guess what he did? PUSHED REALLY HARD ON IT. Yowsie.. It's bruised and he pushed as hard as he could on it. I'm sorry to say that I did the 'reflex action' and pulled his hand away without realizing what I was doing.


It was hurting when she was taking the blood out.. but, all I can say is.. 'something like this does nothing' to help my 'blood taking out phobia.' And, I apologise for anyone else who is freaked out about seeing things like this.. SORRY..

Humm, I wonder if there is a 'blood taking out' phobia?

I wonder what the ballerina program is?

ALL I know is that IF I was doing the ballerina program.. the only thing that I can picture is that Lucy episode.. where she gets her leg stuck on the bar and can't remove it.

Of course, I doubt that I could even get my leg up on the bar in the first place... so, getting stuck would not be a factor!


AND.. what is the organic program? A diet of only raw veggies and hopping like a bunny for exercise? Or is it pesticide free foods?

I don't even know what type of business this is for.. it's just a sign that I saw on the street near where I live. I'm assuming it's for a business on the 2nd or 3rd floor- since, I didn't see anything 'that might offer' any of these programs on the ground floor.


***MAYBE I SHOULDN'T mention that I've been munching on Girl Scout cookies that were in my birthday box that a good friend sent me in the mail. Of course, maybe I should go and check out the ballerina program after eating all of these Girl Scout cookies.


AND, I could attend the 'ballerina program' wearing my padded butt panties too.

Back story found here: http://iwouldratherbeknitting.blogspot.com/2008/02/im-sure-that-youve-said-to-yourself.html

Pricing rates: 10,000 won = $12.00 (about)

You would think that I would remember..

TO CALL my realtor's office so that they arrange to have the water company deliver my bottled water? My bottles are empty and have been sitting outside my door.. oh, let's count the number of days.. THREE!!!

Have I remembered to call? No!

IS it SAFE to drink the tap water? NO!


I have been drinking out of this water bottle for 3 days.. I saved the last cup to take my AM medicine... I can drink two of these a day, easy.


So, now I will have to go to the Korean grocery store that is kind of across the street and buy a 6 pack of big water bottles (the only way it is sold) and haul that heavy container of even heavier water home so I can at least have water to drink tonight and in the morning.

AND.. I also seem to be unable to remember to buy paper towels either. That's a mental block that happens in the Military grocery store on base though.


So, if there is something that you know that you need to do.. make a list right now, tape it to the door and.. maybe you'll remember to do it in 3 days.


Wait a minute...
I know that there is some water in the iron.. nah, I better not...


PS.. Yes, I do know that I still have my Christmas SNOWMAN outside my door, but I have been pretending that he's a WINTER SNOWMAN not a Christmas snowman. Ok, I guess now that it's officially MARCH.. I do need to bring him inside so he can wait until next winter?


Update: I went over to get the heavy 6 pack of water. I took my 'wheely cart' with me to haul it home. Problem is.. the little grocery store is in the BASEMENT of a building.. so, you have to carry the heavy water UP THE STAIRS TOO. (Well, I have to carry them up and down the stairs-- since, the 6 packs of water are stored on the steps- but, I don't know how to tell them that I want the water- so, I have to haul it down the stairs mid-way and then ALL THE WAY UP the stairs and then to my apartment.) Cute story.. as I'm hauling the water up the stairs.. (remember rest of the people.. just pick them up as they go out the door because they've already paid for them) one of the store clerks (I think he's one of the delivery guys?) told me to stop and said to me in English:

Him: Let me help you!
Me: Oh, thank you so much!
Him: It is my pleasure to help you. (clearly, some English lessons going on there for the appropriate response) So, cute.

ME: Then, I thanked him in Korean for helping me after we got up the stairs, off the sidewalk and back onto the street so I could haul my bottles home on my cart.

ANOTHER UPDATE: I just weighted the 6 pack of water and it weighed 27.6 pounds! See, I told you it was heavy!

Freak SNOW STORM.. News at 11

Today at 12 noon; unpredicted 'snow' began to fall. No, you couldn't even say that it was snowing- because actually it was a blizzard out there.. huge heavy white flakes falling so fast that you couldn't see anything but white stuff. The ground was completely covered in sbout 5 minutes.
It was in the
trees, on the fence, .. and as quick as it arrived.. it was gone. It snowed for almost 15 minutes and was melted within 7 minutes.

The unusual part- besides the heavy blizzard like 'unexpected snow' was that the temperature was about 36*- 38*F at the time.

It started up again that afternoon... it was strange.. some of those snowflakes were 2 inches in size!

Did I have my camera? NOOoooo... I had left it by the computer when I downloaded photos yesterday.

progress

Here's how much of the hat that I have knitted.. *From Saturday's blog entry (East meets West)

I really like the way that this is looking and the back side of the hat has an interesting texture stitch pattern.. and I think that I have enough yarn to make a matching scarf. The thin yarn is the same Italian mohair (different colorway of course) of the lace scarf that is shown below. On the surface, it may appear to be a simple knit and purl stitch.. however, it has some little 'tricks up it's knitting sleeve' so to speak.. which I am sure that is what makes the back side look so textured with it's own unique stitch pattern too.



AND.. then.. there.. was.. some... really.. pretty... yarn.. and I needed to knit it up..

I knitted this lace scarf for a friend's mother. I'm slowly knitting nice lace scarves for all of my friends and also for any older ladies that I know. I figure that anyone in their 70's grew up during or immediately after the depression.. they've had a long life and deserve a little luxury. The stitch pattern is from the 2nd book of stitch patterns by Barbara Walker. It's a great book and worth buying.

I included the scarf all ready for gift-giving in my friend's birthday box of goodies for himself- so, he can send it to his mother anytime that he wants or if he happens to see her in person before Mother's Day- he can give it to her in person.


Side view of the yarn:



All rolled up and tied with a ribbon that I had (purchased here in Korea- they make beautiful ribbons here) that is exactly the same colors as the yarn in the scarf. I thought it was a perfect touch.


Close up of the stitches:


Longer view.. I had to pin it to the curtains and try to take a photo. I apologize for the limited light.


I'll keep working on the hat some tonight.

Does anybody know what time it is?? Much less what day it is??

I woke up this morning a few minutes before my workweek alarm of 5:30am. This does sometimes happen, even if I'm not a morning person. I just get up and take a pill which has to be taken an hour before eating.. so, if I happen to wake up at 3:53, 4:43, or another time that is fairly close to the 5:30 alarm time.. I get up without turning on any lights, go to the water dispenser and take my pill and go back to bed. Unless it is fairly close to my usual wake up time- in that case.. I check my email, check my blog to see if anyone has left a comment that I need to reply to/etc.

About 6 am, I stop and take my shower, get dressed, and put my lunch, and anything else that I have stashed on the bench in the foray in my teacher's big bag.. so, I can take everything down the elevator, to the car, and to school.

Everything was fine as usual.. and I stopped using the computer at 5:45 and went back into the bedroom to find clothing for school and then got ready to take a shower. I remembered that I had to leave school as soon as possible so that I could make it to a doctor's office, near my apartment, for a 'blood test' appointment and I needed to wear something where I could easily push up my sleeve above my elbow for the blood test. I couldn't remember the time of my appointment, other than it was after school.. but, when I got to school and had more time, I would check the time on my little pocket calendar.

I started wondering if it was still SUNDAY or was it MONDAY? Was it a workday? Or did I have another day off? And, trust me.. if you are a school teacher.. you must be there before school starts and clearly before the children walk in the door.. it's not easy to just 'be running late' when you are a school teacher.

The more that I thought about it and tried to determine if it was SUNDAY AM or MONDAY AM- I couldn't remember what day it was. I thought about it in my early morning head that wasn't the most alert. Sure, I was tired.. but, I had stayed up late watching a movie and knitting. I had gone out to eat with friends on the weekend, I had gone to the market shopping, I had gone across the street to the Korean grocery store.. to buy some local goodies to include in a birthday package that I wanted to send out on Monday.

It had seemed like it was a short weekend, but on the other hand.. all weekends seem too short. I couldn't remember what day of the week it was, there was nothing to help me remember.. I had no calendar where you tore off the pages each day to reveal a new date.. and if I did.. was I the type of person to do that? My ex-boyfriend used to 'cross off the days' that had passed with a big X on the ending day's little square. *Quick note to myself.. maybe I should start becoming 'a TYPE A personality' like him- because, I'm sure he has never forgotten what day it was in his entire life.


I had not watched tv for the past few nights- so, I couldn't even figure out what day it was by what 'tv shows' were on.


I haven't been attending church lately, so I couldn't use that as a marker for what day it was. I looked outside and only a few lights were on in the two apartment buildings in my apartment complex had lights on.. but, then again.. that is true on a Wednesday as well as a Sunday or a Monday. The local Koreans don't go to work as early as the Americans who live here- so, that wasn't a clue to help me out.


Looking at the clock, I noticed it was now 5:55 am and I try to leave the apartment around 6:30- 6:40am. Then, I remembered that my Korean neighbors across the hallway.. get the newspaper delivered. I knew that the newspaper would be in Korean, but I was hoping that I'd be able to determine the date on the newspaper and hoped that numerals would be used instead of just Korean words for the date. No such luck the newspaper wasn't delivered yet.

*Note to self: buy a watch with the date on it.. my Mickey Mouse is a nice watch.. but, it does nothing to tell you the date.

Then, I had a great idea.. to go to one of the news websites that I check daily. I usually save them for work because- I arrive long before the students start arriving. We have so many 'filters' at work.. and the news websites are allowed at work, so I save checking out the news and events there. I went to cnn.com.. and the date was not listed! Can you believe that? I thought that surely the date would be right up there at the top of the screen like the date on a newspaper is.

It is now almost 6:00 am and the more that I think about it- the more I am afraid that it is actually a Monday morning and not a Sunday morning as I first thought it was.

Darn it.. I can't call anyone because if it is SUNDAY and not MONDAY.. it's too early to call someone at 6 am. We don't have a local time and temperature number to call- well, I'm not saying that there isn't one.. but, it would be in Korean and wouldn't help me if I knew the number.


I finally decided to just go ahead and get dressed and leave the apartment as soon as possible- Even though, I leave for work each morning anywhere from 6:30-6:40am, I won't be late for work if I wait until 7am. The only problem with waiting later to depart for school, is that I'll catch the trains that arrive at the crossing that I have to travel through. There is no specific time, and they arrive anytime from 6:50- 7:15 and as a result the traffic gets congested from all of the delays in crossing. Which causes a problem if you have to cross 6 lanes of traffic in a half of a block.



So, the plan was get dressed for work, take lunch, take the teacher bag, grab all the stuff that I had wanted to mail to my friend for his birthday (wrap it all up after school was over), and get there on time for 'work' in case it is Monday and not Sunday. I was sure that once I got to school- the parking lot would let me know what day of the week it was. If it turned out to be Sunday, I'd just drive back home.


Then, I remembered about the time website that I had told someone about just last week. The location is: worldtime.com You can find out what time it is anywhere in the world. I use it often to know what time it is in the different time zones in the states. AND.. there we go.. the date was on the screen along with the time:



Here are the results:

Korea-South



Time information for selected cities and towns
City/Town Local time Sunrise Sunset
Kwangju 05:58, Sun, 2 Mar 2008 07:01 18:28
Pusan 05:58, Sun, 2 Mar 2008 06:52 18:20
Seoul 05:58, Sun, 2 Mar 2008 07:02 18:27
Taegu 05:58, Sun, 2 Mar 2008 06:54 18:21
Taejon 05:58, Sun, 2 Mar 2008 07:00 18:26


Whew.. now, I know that it is a SUNDAY morning and not a MONDAY morning.. but, now I'm too wide awake and can't go back to sleep.


However:
When the stores open.. I think that I'll go on base and buy a watch with more features than my Mickey Mouse watch has- one with a day of the week, date, time, and get an alarm clock with a date feature on it. In the meantime, I'll think about getting a pen and start marking big X's on my calendar.


Have a good weekend.. at least I'm pretty sure that it is still the weekend.

East meets west.. via knitting lesson

I recently saw this hat knitted up in the yarn market here in Seoul, South Korea.
I rarely wear hats and am one of those unfortunate few that REALLY, REALLY does look dorky in hats.. however, I really did like this hat, the unusual but simple stitch pattern, and I thought that I might have finally found a hat that I would actually wear. Maybe?

When I first saw the hat and bought the yarn, I had tried to ask how many stitches were 'cast on' for the hat ribbing. After pointing and gesturing the shop keeper finally understood what I wanted and wrote down 80 (stitches).

Earlier this week, I cast on 80 stitches and did 4 rows of ribbing for the hat so I would be ready to learn how when I went to the market on Saturday morning.



When I got to her 'yarn stall' this morning,.. no one was there. While waiting, I picked up the hat and counted the stitches because the knitted hat on display seemed so much 'looser' in size, even allowing for stretching, than the ribbing that I had on my needles. Sure enough, I counted 100 stitches instead of 80 stitches that were on my needles. Darn it, that was too big of a difference in stitch count and there is no way to add that many extra stitches and fudge it. It would be about an extra 3-4 inches of knitting when it was all said and done. There was nothing to do but to take the ribbing out and start over.

I was in the process of removing the stitches, when the 'yarn stall/shop keeper' returned to her stall. So, there I was.. explaining as best as I could in my ENGLISH to her KOREAN that I had returned to get her to show me how to make the hat. Fortunately, she recognized me and the yarns that she had sold me.

To help pass the time away, I showed her the lace scarf that I was knitting out of this lovely Italian mohair yarn.


Isn't this a nice lace stitch pattern? By this time, word had spread, and a few other 'yarn stall owners' had stopped by to see the American lady knitting in the cramped 6 foot by 6 foot or smaller yarn stall; stacked with texured and colorful yarns. Each time someone new approached, I could tell that the reason that I was there was being explained and each time.. she would show each new person my lace scarf. And, as all knitters do.. they examined the stitches carefully, fondled the yarn, and smiled their approval.

Actually while this was going on a couple of individuals that I usually purchase yarn from also came by, saw me knitting in the stall, and stopped to greet me.

One of the 'yarn vendors' that I purchase yarn from was talking to the other ladies and I heard her say: Christmas in English and I remembered the 'goodie package' of holiday treats that I had brought down to the yarn market and gave to my favorite yarn vendors. I realized that she must have been telling them about the Christmas goodies that I had given her. I had even included some of my grandmother's special home-made fudge in the packages that I passed out. I felt like one of 'the gang' by the time the morning's lessons were all over.

While I was casting on the 100 stitches, I had noticed that the 'yarn stall' owner had been watching my 'casting on carefully' and then I noticed that the others, that had gathered, were also staring at the way that I was doing my cast on.. and I eventually realized that they were trying to figure it out.

So, I got my scarf, that I was wearing that day, and showed them the right and wrong side of the 'long tail cast-on' and how there is a clear and pretty front side. They 'oohed and aahed' their approval and soon there were 4 ladies watching me do this particular cast on. I was going slow and saying the words in English.. and finally one of the ladies wanted to practice the casting on technique on her own. She picked it up really fast and spoke some English. She told me that this looked good and it was good to know how to do this way of casting on.

They started showing me the edges of some of the finished garments that were hanging around and I'm not sure what type of cast-on technique that they had used- but, it looks nothing like any of the other 'cast-on' techniques that I have done in the past.


Here is the hat modeled by one of the shop keepers that I know.. he was being silly.

I mastered the hat 'knit stitch pattern' and I did the cast-on for some practice stitches to show the shop keeper the 12 row lace stitch pattern for the lace scarf that I had with me. I noticed that a few people came by and she would show them my lace scarf and apparently tell them in Korean that I was going to show her how to do the stitch pattern.


Due to our limited ability to speak each other's language; we weren't able to 'talk' to each in other in a conventional sense; but, the fact that knitting is a universal and visual skill... we were able to show each other how to do new stitch patterns. When I showed her the complicated lace scarf 12 row stitch pattern; I got my scarf out and showed her the front side 'knit' stitches and drew a V on the paper to represent the 'knit stitch' on the front. I then pointed to the purl stitches and wrote a 'P' and drew the purl bumps.

I went through row by row.. and wrote out the pattern.. using 'v's to represent the knit stitches and came up w/ a YO symbol, and knit 2 together and all the other stitch patterns. I had to do the SSK and PSSO stitches too... but, once I showed her that part of the stitch pattern- she completely understood what I was saying-- since, she spoke 'knitting'.. like I did. She was even saying the steps with me as I said them in English.

I was there for almost 2 hours... teaching and learning new stitch patterns. Neither one of us spoke each other's language.. but, we spoke the common language that has bound generations and cultures around the world.. the language of KNITTING.

It is indeed a small, small world and kindness does abound... even if you have to create it yourself.