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Shannon Rinaldo - Journal

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Posted 2017-12-21T20:55:00Z

Check up Update and Happy Holidays

We are back in Lubbock just in time to spend Christmas as a family. Perhaps just as significant for us, we got back in time to see Aidan's last basketball game before school holiday break! Most people who know us also know the important role basketball plays in our family. Particularly Aidan's love of basketball. I did find myself telling them on the ride home that I've been so busy with self care over the past couple of seasons, I'm not even feeling like a fan of college ball anymore. I'm sure that will change soon. All it takes is for UK to have a great season, for UK to get a new coach (who I like better), or for Aidan to be playing in college. I absolutely plan to see that in about 5 years![...]

Posted 2017-12-17T17:28:13Z

Ancient Chinese secrets?

I came to Houston over a week ago to meet some longtime friends from Lexington and to enjoy some warmer weather. Although I was bamboozled on the weather (it's been rather nippy here in Houston), my visit with friends was wonderful! Some friends from Lexington might remember my friend, Ming, who was an ESL student I worked with starting in 1998. I was able to help her learn a lot of English at first, but then we just became friends and would sit around and talk. I guess that helped as much as anything but I like to remind her that I really didn't teach her much. We mostly talked about culture, she taught me about Chinese cooking, and we enjoyed being together twice a week. Her kids were young and I would tease her that she was "raising American kids." Her boys are now grown and her oldest came with her for our visit. We walked long distances, went to Chinatown, shared funny stories from our times together, and she mothered me. By the time we had to say goodbye, she had introduced me to 3 Chinese health behaviors, which she insists I should incorporate into my path:[...]

Posted 2017-12-06T14:55:01Z

Visualize This

If last week was the week of the tumor affected hearing, this week is the week of the tumor affected vision. I saw my regular optometrist and the results say I'm not totally blind. I'm unable to see in my left visual field approximately 25% less than I was able to see prior to the second surgery. She said that she is familiar with the prism glasses, however, she recommends that I wait another 3-6 months before looking further into that solution. That means no driving for 3-6 months unless somehow, miraculously, my vision suddenly returns. I did read online that some people have had that happen. One day they just wake up and the problem has corrected itself. I figure if I just plan for this to happen, it will. Maybe I should just plan on that for tomorrow. The good news is that my regular vision hasn't changed and I have the same prescription for glasses and contacts as before. So that's something to celebrate! It's the little things, after all.[...]