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I'm getting excited for our vacation. It's a week from Friday! I don't normally like to wish time away, but I'm ready to go NOW. I think I can safely say Kyle, Sarah and Brian feel the same.

I'm also wishing the week away so my angiogram is over, too.

Sooo I did get my stress test this past Monday. I can't say I really liked it, but it wasn't bad.

The results were in MyChart very quickly and I'm not great at reading the medical terminology, but what I read seemed a little concerning. I just told myself not to stress about it until I heard from the cardiologist.

Ok, it's time to stress a bit. The nurse called to set up an angiogram since my stress test was abnormal. I was fortunate that they had an opening Tuesday at 7 a.m. check-in time with the procedure to start at 9 a.m..

I always seem to leave everything until the last minute getting things together for vacation. This time I need to try be more organized since we are throwing an angiogram in the mix.

I do have an over-thinking mind at times and needless to say this stuff is causing my brain to go a bit crazy.

I did need to know a few more details about what was taking place on Tuesday. I called the nurse and thankfully she is super kind and patient with crazy people like me.

I wanted to know if the issue was in the same area as my stents are located now or if it was in new area.

She explained that it looks to be in the same general area as my stents are now and that it could be that the stents in there now could be having some troubles.

Of course, she is doing an educated guess and they won't know anything until the camera goes up my arm and looks at my heart.

I'm not looking forward to this procedure...I just want it done!

I guess I will stay occupied with packing for the trip. Hopefully that will keep the procedure off my mind.

I am thankful I got my stress test and that the issue is found before another heart attack!

On a brighter note, Mom did great with her cataract surgery and her vision is improved!

Two-Ingredient

Soda Pop Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix

1 can (12 oz) carbonated beverage of choice

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.

In large bowl, beat dry cake mix and carbonated beverage with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping side of bowl. Divide batter among cups.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove to cooling rack to cool completely, about 1 hour. If desired, frost with Betty Crocker™ frosting.

Cookies-and-Milk

Cheesecake Brownie Bars

Ingredients

Brownie Base

1 box (1 lb 2.3 oz) Betty Crocker™ fudge brownie mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 tablespoons water

2 eggs

Cheesecake Layer

2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ chocolate chip cookie mix

1 tablespoon Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray.

In large bowl, mix Brownie Base ingredients until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar; beat until blended. Add 2 eggs and vanilla; beat just until blended. In medium bowl, stir together chocolate chip cookie mix and flour. Add softened butter and 1 egg; stir until soft dough forms.

Spread cheesecake layer mixture over hot brownie base. Drop teaspoonfuls of chocolate chip cookie dough over cheesecake layer.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until cookie is golden brown. Cool 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before cutting and serving. Cut into 6 rows by 5 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Joke of the Week

This guy is dining alone in a fancy restaurant and there's a beautiful redhead sitting at the next table. He's been sneakily checking her out ever since he arrived, but doesn't have the courage to start talking to her.

Suddenly she sneezes, and her glass eye comes flying out of its socket toward the man. His reflexes kick in and he reaches out, plucks it out of the air, and hands it back to her.

The redhead is mortified. "Oh my, I am so sorry," she says as she pops her eye back into place. "Let me buy your dinner to make it up to you."

Cookies-and-Milk Cheesecake Brownie Bars

So he joins her table and they enjoy a wonderful meal together. Afterwards they go to the theatre followed by drinks at a bar. They talk, they laugh, she shares her deepest dreams and he shares his. She listens.

After paying for everything, she asks him if he would like to come to her place for a nightcap. He says yes and they return to her place.

He ends up staying the night. The next morning, she cooks a gourmet meal with all the trimmings. The guy is amazed at how everything has been so perfect and how incredible this woman is. He can't believe his luck. "You know," he said, "you are the perfect woman, are you this nice to every guy you meet?"

"No," she replies, "You just happened to catch my eye."