it doesn't look like the

a-rod is gonna beat roger federer.....oh well!

it's been a while - sorry 'bout that! still not that well - had a BAD experience at the specialist last week - came out not only frustrated, but upset and frankly, disappointed...suffice it to say, i will NOT be going back to see him again...

made a decision given his 'lack of care' that i would take matters into my own hands...don't worry it's not as dramatic as it might sound! i guess i am no longer happy to pay someone who not only doesn't seem interested in finding out what is wrong with me, but is rude and frankly unempathic...pity they don't put doctors through some sort of 'people' training - seriously, the guy behaved like a complete and utter dickhead and then had the hide to charge me $94 for 10 minutes which is 10 minutes i will never get back! there is a small part of me that is tempted to write a letter of complaint about him...

couple of his key quotes for the day: when i told him that i was getting desperate, and that my health issues were starting to impact my mental health he responded with 'well there's no point getting depressed Sarah'- really dickhead? you think so? and prior to that when he suggested trying taking my usual meds not only at night but also in the morning and i asked for how long he says 'well i don't have a crystal ball'...

seriously, is this what we want our doctors saying to people? i wonder if he's heard of empathy...guess not!

on a brighter note i have started having acupuncture again - figured it helped me resolve my sinus infection issues and i always felt relaxed following an hour of 'needle therapy' - have a new acupuncturist (my old one has had a baby and not yet returned to work) - she seems good - we got on well - she certainly demonstrated some care and concern for what i am experiencing...sooo we'll see how it all pans out!

mortgage rates look like they will come down again early next week - bring it on! even though we haven't won the lotto, each rate cut and petrol price fall means more money in my pocket...funny though, in my entire career, I have NEVER once considered job security...now that the economic outlook is not so positive and i am a little older and wiser, i have slowly become quite interested in what's going on...

and whilst i am not currently worrying about whether or not my role will be secure (in the medium term it may not be), i am comforted by the very generous retrenchment provisions that the FSU have negotiated! hard to believe i just wrote that as historically i have NEVER supported the way that unions behave, nor what they stand for...but right now, i am thankful that if my company do need to make my role redundant, that I will be well looked after! not as well as having a job indefinitely, but still, not bad!

i am heavily focussed on creating 'financial flexibility' and am on a bit of a mission to use 2009 as a year of financial consolidation and foundation building!

my health remains the key focus area, and as well as acupuncture i have also made an appointment to see my naturopath/homeopath next week...between him and Siegrid (the acupuncturist) i'm hopeful of some improvement in my health before i resort to seeing another specialist on 12th March...

otherwise, all good! work is not particularly challenging but i can now see a light at the end of the tunnel...

things with benny are fabulous! we continue to be very happy together and i am very grateful he found me! he's very much looking fwd to starting TAFE again next week and i am also looking forward to my studies continuing...with a view to finishing in May! OMG can you believe it? as May finishes and I complete my 140 hours of placement work, I'll be a qualified counsellor...bring it on!

gotta go - the a-rod needs my support...go andy!