I don’t know if any of you readers are speech therapists, but I had my first such appointment last Thursday and it was very interesting. At first, I had her quite stumped! But by the end we had an idea of what was going on. So I have a thing where the right side of my upper lip goes up when I speak. I also felt like I had a bit of a lisp. We ended up connecting these two things, which I had never done. It seems like I don’t form my s and z sounds quite right — not a full-blown lisp, but something called a dentalist lisp (dentalistic? I forget). And the lip goes up in reaction to it, or in compensation. She’s going to do more research and get back to me after my work trip, but it seems like I could just practice my s’s and z’s and see some improvement. Woo hoo! I left feeling energized. The more that I have to do Teams calls for work, the more I see myself talk, and it had been bothering me.
(In 7th grade, we had moved and I was at a new school. I remember at least one of the boys in my class doing an imitation of me that incorporated my lisp: “I’m Gina C—- from St. Cecilia’s” (my prior school). This is the first time I remember anyone bringing it up to me. Luckily, somehow I don’t remember being too bothered by this and it makes me laugh thinking about it. Later, in high school, I came home one day and my mom had a speech therapist waiting at the house. But I freaked and refused to cooperate. Then thirty years went by.)
Thursday, while we’re on the subject, was the best day of the week. I only had to work a half day, in the afternoon. I woke up feeling like I had finally, finally turned the corner on my cold. After the therapist, I stopped at Sprouts and then picked beans and tomatoes at home. It was beautiful all day, with a blue blue sky and pearly clouds at sunset. It was also nice knowing I was allowed to work from home on Friday. After dinner, I roasted tomatoes and boiled ears of corn, and froze the results.
The mums have taken over the front corner. I think they have at least doubled in size since last year.
I don’t have much else to add since I spent the weekend prepping and then leaving for my big annual work trip in Arizona. Saturday was devoted to quick trips to pick up certain things and then actual packing. I didn’t buy anything new except two pairs of shoes as mentioned last week. I borrowed one cardigan from my mom. I pack so light that I don’t even need to check a bag (but I still do since I have to wait at baggage claim with my travel companions anyway). I look forward to coming home and enjoying the end of October and Halloween.
Meals this week:
Monday: an omelette and half a bagel for me, alone
Tuesday: Wendy’s for N and F, chicken nuggets from the freezer for me
Wednesday: I picked up slices from Stella Pizza for Tom, T and me; N and F were out
Thursday: prepared chicken Alfredo from Sprouts for me and Tom, plus sauteed green beans.
Friday: PB&J for me, Wawa for F
Saturday: no kids; chicken Caesar wrap from Wawa
Spending: I’ll have to restart this rundown when I get back.
In random bonus money news, we received our NJ Anchor check (property tax refund) and a $64 refund for the leadership camp that F went to, from the school district. Much appreciated.
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