Happy Hallowe'en!

"I'm like every modern woman trying to have it all...a loving husband, a happy home.  I just wish I had more time to seek out the dark forces and join their hellish crusade."

                                                                                Morticia Addams


Happy Hallowe'en to all my friends and followers!  Have a safe holiday, and in the midst of the fun, please continue to keep those suffering the effects of Storm Sandy in your prayers.  For those on the East Coast and the Caribbean, may our prayers and the mercy of God and the efforts of the disaster relief workers ease their burden.

"Uh Oh! I've got...HAPPY FEET!"

The foot saga continues.

I went to the other podiatrist today and he was a huge improvement over the first one I saw.  He introduced himself, sat down, and asked what he could do for me.

He obviously had reviewed my notes from the orthopedist before the appointment, was very polite, gave me a little tutorial on the mechanics of feet, told me exactly what he was doing when he did the examination, asked me repeatedly if I had any questions, and gave clear explanations.  He recommended orthotics and sturdier shoes and gave me a great handout on how to test the shoes I already have.  I think I am going to be disposing of most of my shoes :-(...

I was very satisfied with my experience and relieved that I don't have to get steroid shots or surgery!

I immediately went and bought orthotics and new shoes.  I'm looking forward to feeling much better soon!

Bless The Beasts (And The Humans)

Last Thursday, we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.  On his feast day, we bless our pets, because Francis is well known as a lover of all God's creatures.

Frida was freaking out, so I carried her.  She acted as if we were walking the last mile.

We gathered at the Cathedral and processed, singing, over to Cathedral Park, accompanied by dogs...

cats...

and a ferret.

Charles blessed the animals and they were all quiet and respectful.

Some of them even exchanged the sign of peace!

Charles blessed our little Beans...

and the ferret...

and finally, the humans.

Frida was the only one who disgraced herself, but I had a plastic bag in my pocket, just in case.  It's funny, she was really anxious in the car on the way to the church, but on the way back she was as calm as could be.  It must have been the influence of the other, more well behaved dogs, or perhaps the blessing worked!

It was a wonderful celebration!

Professional, My Foot!

Not my feet

So I went to the podiatrist.

I waited for an hour in the waiting (and waiting, and waiting) room.

I waited for a half hour in the exam room.

Then she came in, didn't apologize for making me wait, poked around on my foot, shaved off part of a callus (without asking/telling me what she was doing), and then said that she thought I have BOTH a Morton's Neuroma AND Metarsalgia, and I need a steroid shot and/or an orthotic, but she couldn't be sure until she saw my x-rays, and told me to go and pick up my x-rays from the orthopedist's office.  "You don't mind an extra errand, right?"  Why didn't her office tell me to bring my x-rays with me when I made the appointment?  And I DO mind an extra errand - "pick up my x-rays" meant driving to Salmon Creek to the orthopedist's office, filling out a request form ("We'll call you when it's ready!", the receptionist said sunnily, assuring me that it would be later in the day...it wasn't), and then taking them back to the podiatrist for yet another appointment for which I will be charged, when I could have had only ONE appointment in which my foot was examined, my x-rays reviewed, my foot shot up with cortisone and measured for an orthotic, if only I had been told in advance to BRING MY *&^%$#@ X-RAYS.

Then, when I told her that I was nervous about a steroid shot in my foot, because I have heard that steroid shots are very painful, she shook her head, sighed, and said slowly (as if I were mentally deficient): "It feels like a needle going into your skin.  It's a shot."  Her bedside manner leaves a little to be desired.

She told me my problem was related to having wide feet (Huh!  You think?), and then very scientifically drew an outline of my foot and put my shoe on top of it, to prove that my feet are wide, and my shoe is not wide enough, regardless of the fact that I ALWAYS buy wide shoes because (guess what?) I have wide feet.

But, she said, she can't do anything until she has seen my x-rays.  Oh, and by the way, to be sure to check with  my insurance company to make sure that treatment is covered.   Hmm.  My regular doctors always provide that service themselves.

Needless to say, I was not impressed.

Happy Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux

Today is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the "Little Flower of Jesus".

She was very young when she entered religious life - only fifteen.  She had to fight to be accepted into the convent.  She even traveled to Rome and personally petitioned the Pope.

She died very young, but in her short life, and in her writings, she influenced many people.  She is honored as a Doctor of the Church, along with Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom and other great thinkers and theologians.

Pretty impressive for a young woman who died at the age of twenty-four, and who never left her convent for the nine years that she was in religious life!

Therese is the patroness of Alaska, and the patroness of our Shrine of St. Therese, one of my favorite places.  Bishop Crimont S.J., the founder of the Shrine was personally acquainted with Therese's parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, and had a great devotion to her.

The Shrine Chapel

Today, all of the diocesan and parish staff are gathering in Wrangell for their Full Time Ministers meeting.  They will be there for four days to plan the upoming Year Of Faith.  It is wonderful that they are starting their meeting on this feast day!

St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us!