Moving to the bright side...

Twas the day before the day before Christmas...

2010-12-23T08:48:00.002-05:00

Hi y'all!

It has been awhile, but there is not too much new going on. I have all of my Christmas shopping done, so I have been laying around on the sofa a lot watching movies!

My husband and I decided to forgo the big holiday meal and have pizza on Christmas! That really takes a lot of pressure off regarding grocery lists and prep time...I was just not into it this year.

My Mom is coming to visit, but not until next week. She is spending Christmas with 2 of my sisters.

The new year will bring some change for me. I landed a job in the Critical Care flex pool at the hospital, so the carefree days are over come January 10th! However, I am grateful to be able to get a job in this economy. The sooner I get back to work and my husband's business gets rolling, the sooner we can buy some property and build a house :O)

My Christmas tree and fireplace turned out super cute this year but I have yet to take a picture. I will have to do that before it gets ripped up on Saturday!

Publix vs Kroger

2010-11-11T21:05:00.002-05:00

Having to find a new grocery store was troubling for me. First, I went to Publix, which is 3 miles from my house. It was nice, clean and easy to navigate. However, they do not carry Wheaties, perogies or non-frosted blueberry Pop-tarts. These are serious grocery violations.

Then there is Kroger, which is 7 miles away. Deluxe, millions of choices, 3 different sizes of shopping carts and Wheaties. They also did not carry perogies or the appropriate Pop-tart. And the layout is confusing!

I feel like you should get your cart, enter moving toward the right and proceed directly into produce. In this Kroger, there is no clear path to traffic and the dairy is the first thing you come to...and then frozen foods. Weird?

So despite the weirdness I went with Kroger...for the Wheaties.

But last week something happened. I went back to Publix, selected a cart that had a very smooth ride, and proceeded in toward the right....into the prepared foods section and then to produce. It was such a wonderful, familiar feeling.

Now, I choose Publix. The carts are ALL easily pushed, the layout is welcoming and shopper friendly, the store-brand "toaster pastries" are just as good....and on a bottom shelf, in a dimly lit corner of the freezer section, was a little box of perogies. Welcome home :O)

disclaimer: For the record, my favorite grocery store of all time is Harris Teeter. This lovely east coast chain has direct produce entry, Wheaties and a vast Pop-tart selection. They also have the best in-house pizza ever created. This may be the only thing about Virginia that I miss.

Twinkle, twinkle....

2010-11-09T21:33:00.002-05:00

So being the uber athlete I am (HA!) I decided that I would mix it up a little and run the stadium stairs. Luckily, I chose the little city baseball stadium and NOT the AU arena. After a few flights, I literally started seeing stars! ****SPARKLING****EVERYWHERE**** I stopped and laid down on the bleachers until the feeling passed. It went by pretty fast and I felt good....until I went to sit up and my hair stuck to the bleacher! UGH! I think it was a spilled Coke...I'm going to go with that :O/

On that note, the workout was over and I drove straight home and got in the shower. I felt contaminated and fat. Now I am watching The Biggest Loser and eating peanut butter cookies with mini chocolate chips....very disordered, I know.

I would also like to register my complaint with the person in charge of the time change...it is officially crap. No one gets any extra sleep and the early sunset is depressing. Boo Winter!!

On the opposite note, how much do we love the Patriot Guard? These are the Veterans (and others) who provide escorts for the families of soldiers and sailors who have died. They protect them against hate groups that protest at funerals with horrible signs and hate filled chants. Thank you Patriot Guard!!!

Don't I know you?

2010-11-07T18:50:00.002-05:00

Hi everybody! It has been forever

since I have posted, but it has not

been for lack of material :O)

Of course we had the big move at

the beginning of September and

it took a while to get settled. I am

not a big fan of change, even if it is

something that I really want.

I have finally mastered the hills around here and have gotten

back up to my regular distances with my walking. I usually

go about 5 days a week, between 2-4 miles with lots of hills.

I look like a sweaty mess!

For the last few weeks I have been going over to the

university on Sundays and walking on campus. Just being

able to walk around (even through the hot mess after game

days) fills me with unbridled JOY! The pic above was from

the first game...people were kind of looking at me weird

because I was practically crying the whole time and taking

pictures of everything! I loved it!

I have not been using my time wisely and trying really hard

to find a job. I mean, I am busy all day long, but I have to

say that sleeping, walking my dog and working around

the house have been much more enjoyable than working

11p-7a 4 nights a week in the ER. I have also been cooking

every night to keep my husband distracted from the fact that

I do not have a job yet...so far, so good :O)

However, I have been doing work to keep up with my

continuing education credits and talking with a few people

I know at the hospital, so my days of leisurely living will probably

come to an end soon :O(

I have also been keeping up with reading all of the blogs

and trying to comment more. So while you all may not

have been seeing me, I have been seeing you and enjoying

visiting every day!

The death of me!

2010-09-12T19:16:00.002-04:00

Hey y'all,

Since about February, I have been striving to exercise about 4-5 days a week in order to have more energy and tone up if at all possible. I started slow with no set ground rules. I walked anywhere from 1.5 to 3 miles either around the lake or in an office park near my house...fine, no problem. I lived in coastal Virginia with an elevation of ZERO! Not a hill in sight.

However, now that I live in Alabama, it is a whole different story! I can barely make a mile because of all of the hills! I can hardly go up because my legs are burning so bad and then I have to stop at the top to catch my breath. As a nice addition, it is about 90 degrees with 80% humidity at 7 o'clock in the morning!

I am so happy to be in Alabama, but the hills are gonna kill me!!!

Remembering...

2010-09-10T21:59:00.002-04:00

Like most Americans, I am thinking about Sept.11, 2001 and what happened on that day. I was a student nurse at clinical on the Ortho unit. I was helping my patient get a bath when the first plane crashed. I was so nervous about my patient and then suddenly so frightened I remember going completely numb.

Then a page for me was called overhead. When I picked up the phone it was my husband. He said, "Did you see what happened? We are activating. I won't be home tonight and I probably won't be home for a long time."

I was frozen. I am normally very level headed in a crisis and I just couldn't move. I just turned and went back to my patient. The television was on and I heard about the second plane. I was completely spaced out. The wife of my patient told me I look pale and helped me to sit down. My instructor and my friend Patty knew my husband was in the Navy and they came to find me. My teacher told Patty to drive me home.

When I got home there were all of these messages from my friends and family wondering about Robert and offering support. I just lay down on the kitchen floor and cried like a baby.

I didn't hear from Robert for 3 days. They never did deploy that day, but they were at the ready in defense of our country.

I am lucky. Robert has spent the lion's share of 20 years on sea duty or shore commands with attached billets. He has been gone for much longer than he was ever home. But he DID come home, and that is what I am grateful for and remembering today.

The DMV

2010-09-10T12:50:00.003-04:00

In the spirit of being a

good citizen, by husband and I scoured the DMV website and prepared

all of our documents in order to get our car tags and driver's license.

We got up early and went to the license window first. Everything was going

well for me right up until the end. She asked me to see my marriage

certificate. What? She told me that since i had a previous license in Alabama

(20yrs ago) under my maiden name that I would need proof of marriage.

OMG!!! I had my Virginia license, social security card, military ID and passport

and I still had to turn around and go home to get the license.

Meanwhile, my husband gets in line for the tags with titles, insurance and ID

and they told him he can only get a tag for the car that is physically at the DMV

because they have to verify the VIN. Well at the time, none of our cars were

there because I was going to get the marriage license!

I know they are following the rules, but I cannot believe this! So we will have

to take our other cars (my husband has a beater truck for recreation in addition

to our "real" cars) back to the DMV on another day...after I have gotten rid of

this migraine and can get my courage back up. DMV FAIL :O(

It's my birthday!

2010-09-08T16:26:00.003-04:00

Hello friends! Today is my 39th birthday! For REAL!!

My husband took me to my favorite place for lunch, he bought me flowers and I have a delicious cake waiting to be devoured!

We have been in Auburn for about a week now and it is going better than I could have imagined. I am so glad we took a leap and ended up in a great place :O)

This may be the best birthday ever!!

Please proceed in an orderly fashion...

2010-08-24T22:00:00.002-04:00

As you know, my husband and I are getting ready to move to Alabama. Since he is retiring from the Navy, they will pack and move us one last time. About two weeks before you want to leave, the moving company comes in to look at your stuff and estimate how long it will take to pack up your things. This is usually between 3 and 5 days.

She estimated 1 day. She said we really didn't have anything except our furniture because it appears we have minimal personal iteams!!

That was like music to my ears. I am the exact opposite of a hoarder. I really can't stand to keep things. I am forever purging my closet, emptying drawers, organizing the pantry and folding my hoodies so they are stacked in order from darkest to lightest.

The only things I tend to keep are pictures, personal letters and Sharpies. I have a gallon ziplock bag full of Sharpies!

My husband estimated that if we did not have our large furniture pieces, we could move our entire amount of household goods in a 6 x 12 U-Haul. We like to travel light :o)

It has arrived...

2010-08-22T20:59:00.002-04:00

My husband and I spent the last week

down in Auburn looking for a place to live and looking for leads on jobs. I was so happy, we

found a great place and I am so looking forward o being on a new path! Thank you Jesus!

The new me...

2010-08-13T15:58:00.002-04:00

I have about a million things to do. I am moving in less than two weeks and I have spent the last two days laying on the couch and watching tv! What is wrong with me?? I should be sorting and packing...finding a job, securing a new place to live, saying goodbye to friends and generally being productive. However, I cannot seem to pry myself away from marathons of "Bethenny getting married?" and "Raising Sextuplets." I have problems.

Unreal...

2010-08-10T08:24:00.002-04:00

Just like most of you all,

I read the blogs every day. I click on other people's blog roll to see what other people

are reading and find new things. I often happen upon a group of friends or people who

have become friends through blogging.

A few months ago, I started reading a blog called "Bumpkin on a Swing." It was a funny

blog that had a serious side...bumpkin's husband is a boat captain in coastal Louisiana.

There was a guest post on her blog this morning from her friend Trish...bumpkin has

passed away from ovarian cancer...she was 40 years old.

I did not know her in person, but felt I knew her through her blog. I am so sad and I

can't believe this happened so suddenly. My deepest sympathy to Capt. John and to

all of bumpkin's friends and family who loved her so much.

YAY!!!!

2010-08-06T08:08:00.000-04:00

Make a wish...

2010-08-04T13:45:00.004-04:00

I wished that we could get an offer on our house.

So we buried a statue of St. Joseph in our yard

last Wednesday. On Wednesday night we got

an appointment to show our house on Thursday.

The lady came for the showing and then wanted

to see it again on Monday. Yesterday she made

an offer...not a great offer, but an offer.

We are in the middle of some red-hot negotiations

that are making me sweat buckets and have my

stomach in a thousand knots.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get

it :o)

(photo by deannedaffy via flickr)

acts of desperation...

2010-07-28T20:01:00.002-04:00

Yes my friends, it has come to this.

I bought a tiny statue of St. Joseph to bury in my yard!

St. Joseph is the patron saint of real estate, and the story goes that if you

bury him near your "for sale" sign, head down, facing your house, that

you will soon sell your house! I also put a prayer card under my front door

mat and recited the Novena to St. Joseph while my husband was conducting

the burial. I wish I had taken a picture! If this works my husband has vowed

to recite the Novena and let me record it!

I hope this works, or my next step is VOODOO!!!

An open letter...

2010-07-27T20:26:00.002-04:00

Dear economic recession,

I have tried to ignore you for a long time and go about my business...if you don't bother me, then I won't bother you. But now I have to address you face to face.

I need to sell my house and you are stopping me. I have taken a lot of leaps of faith that are all going to turn out great if you will just relent and let me sell my house. Come on now, give a girl a break.

Thanks for listening,

LBM

For the birds...

2010-07-14T14:37:00.002-04:00

One of the big jobs at my Mother's

house is feeding the birds. When my Dad was

alive, he was basically a hummingbird whisperer.

He had about a dozen feeders with about 50 birds

a day. They were so used to him they would land

on the brim of his hat and on his shoulders when

he was filling the feeders. It was like a weird mix

of Snow White and Huckleberry Finn.

Anyway, after he died, my Mother was not interested

in spending her days filling feeders, but she could

not let go of Daddy's birds, so she only has about

6 feeders.

However, this did not seem to decrease the number

of birds. I filled the feeders everyday with over a

gallon of hummingbird food! That was of course,

after I made it :O)

Daddy's hummingbird food recipe:

4 cups of sugar

1 gallon of warm water

Stir until all of the sugar is incorporated and then

cool. Keep in the fridge...they like it cold :O)

On the last day I was filling the feeders, two birds

came and sat on my shoulder while I filled the

feeder. Love you, miss you Daddy.

All done :O)

2010-07-12T10:38:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody! I am so happy

to be home!

I am thrilled to report that my Mom's knee surgery

went even better than I could have hoped for.

She was only in the hospital for 2 days and

could walk without support the very next day.

My Mom still lives on the farm and she

does not have internet and my cell does not

get a signal! I had to go to Piggly Wiggly in

order to use my phone and get on Facebook!

Needless to say I found a reason to go every day.

I also had some animal encounters and

exciting adventures but I will post about those

later...I have 1000+ items in my reader and I

am going to read every.single.one! I can't

wait to catch up with everybody...missed you!

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

2010-06-19T20:42:00.003-04:00

Well kids, I will be gone for 3 weeks.

My Mother is having her knee replaced and I have

been called in for some private duty nursing.

I am also sad to report that she lives in the last place

on earth that does not have a high-speed internet

connection or cell phone service! It is hard to

believe that such a place exists isn't it?

I might be able to sneak in a little Facebook or

Twitter if I am sent to Wal-mart or something, but

otherwise I am cut off from the outside world.

I will miss reading all the blogs, and I will be

looking forward to getting home and catching up!

love you, miss you!

Must love dogs...

2010-06-14T19:26:00.003-04:00

My friend V. put a post on Facebook earlier today about the her husband and kids wanting a dog.

I, of course, had to throw my vote in for a Frenchie! You would have thought I had dropped a bomb on her wall! She got about 30 responses begging her to adopt from a shelter and not succomb to the pressure of "buying a designer dog." How dare I suggest buying a pure bred dog?!?

Now listen up...I would put myself at the top of the list when it comes to people who love dogs...all kinds!

It just seems weird to me that there is such a stigma against pure bred dogs! Am I supposed to be ashamed that I chose a breed that was suitable to my lifestyle, hopelessly cute and paid more than a shelter adoption fee for her? Yes, I support adopting shelter dogs! They are wonderful dogs...but not because they are from a shelter, BUT BECAUSE ALL DOGS ARE WONDERFUL AND DESERVE A HOME!

So yes V., get a dog...any dog...whatever kind you like!

I am a cutter...

2010-06-14T18:52:00.003-04:00

I love tan feet with pretty

toenails, but I have a slight problem. I am a cutter.

I have a weird hang-up with nails that are long. This

"feeling" turned into a full-on phobia when I was in

nursing school and was introduced to the full array

of things that could get trapped under fingernails

and toenails...and how long they grow if neglected.

After a few run-ins with people who have not cut

their toenails for years, I began developing a strange

habit. I started cutting my fingernails and toenails

everyday. Not good. They are painfully short at

times but I find it hard to stop myself.

Anyway, I said all of that to say this...my friend Amy

asked me to go with her to get a pedicure this Friday

and I almost had a panic attack. I barely have enough

nails to paint, must less form into something attractive!

So I have not cut my toenails in a week. This is like

an alkie trying to give up the booze! I don't know if

I can make it until Friday!

I am trying not to think about it, but I can almost feel

the fungi multiplying and the nail beds thickening

even as we speak! So gross! Maybe Robert will

let me cut his toenails....

All done!

2010-06-12T17:59:00.003-04:00

So Thursday night was my last night at work. I went to the RN program at that hospital and then worked nights in the ER for 8 years and 20 days. It was a small hospital in a small town, and everybody was related or knew each other in some way. I love that.

I look back and think about the endless stream of people that I cared for. I was lucky enough to save some lives and I have been blessed to be with many when they died.

I am thankful for that place and for those people who have helped me become who I am. I am grateful to those who have shown me the kind of person I never want to be.

I had a great send-off. Lots of delicious food and kind words, but my last night was a busy one, and reminded me that I am leaving to find a more peaceful place.

My husband and I have spent the last 20 years living passing lives. In total, he has spent about 5 years of our marriage deployed overseas and another 5 out of port on training trips or work-ups. This pace has worn us out!

Our house went up for sale today...we are all done here, we are moving out and moving on!

2010-06-12T17:59:00.000-04:00

Learning to fly...

2010-06-11T11:02:00.003-04:00

I just got through watching an episode of "17 kids and counting" where Jinger was learning to drive. It made me think back 21 yrs (eek!) ago when I was learning. My Mother took me out on the first day in my Dad's truck and we drove for hours. First the dirt roads, then the back roads, then the main roads and finally the highway.

I remember being super scared, but my mother was never the type to go in for that...my Mother is a BAD ASS and always made us feel like we could do anything! She always encouraged us to learn to do anything and everything because you never know when it could get you out of a jam.

But driving was a big one...if you can drive, then you can leave...and never be anywhere you don't CHOOSE to be!

Learning to drive, learning to fly...same thing...thanks Momma :o)

Post-N-Go

2010-06-09T10:10:00.002-04:00

I love convenience stores. Actually, I love the names of convenience stores, especially in the South. Names like Gas-N-Guzzle, Zip-E-Mart and Get-N-Go just make me laugh. There is a little store down the road from my new house (which I haven't bought yet) called The Lazy Bee! I love it! Does anyone remember a chain called Magik Market?

Hazards of the job...

2010-06-05T13:01:00.002-04:00

This is just one of the hazards

of the job...I am surrounded by GERMS! I can

usually protect myself with my kick ass immune

system and some good handwashing, but a

bad one slipped passed me Wednesday and

has had me on the ropes for the last two days.

It started with that "not so easy feeling" and

peaked with and all exits blow-out of epic

proportions! Needless to say it is a good thing I

work in the ER where I got much needed fluids

and meds...and I got to take my IV home for

additional fluids. I also got to leave work 30 min.

early in hopes of not sitting in traffic and being

forced to poop or barf in the car! I would have

left earlier, but due to staffing shortages, I was

forced to stay :o(

Luckily I was only sick for about 36 hours, but now

I feel like a limp noodle. I have no energy and

even less interest in finding any. However, If

I don't get up and around soon, I am going to

develop bed sores. Maybe I will ask Robert

to turn me every couple of hours :o)

What about me?

2010-05-31T20:18:00.002-04:00

This is me. I took this pic of myself in the bathroom on Valentine's Day. I just got lucky that my bathroom is red, but no matter what time of year, the color always makes you look like you have a little color.

In a nod to many of the blogs I read, I thought I would list a few quirks/facts about me that one might(?) find interesting. Here we go:

--I don't have a sense of smell (childhood head injury, whole different story).

--I don't have any children, by choice.

--I don't eat shiny food, anything that reflects light will not be eaten by me i.e. jello.

--I am a nurse and it makes me nervous to go to the doctor. I get all sweaty and jittery, especially if I know they are going to touch me.

--I love to be in my bed, you may find me there at any given time of day or night.

--I have worked nights for 8 years, and that has led to a seriously disturbed sleep pattern which results in the previous situation.

--I have never had a Mountain Dew or a Dr. Pepper in my life.

--I have super sensitive hearing. I usually watch TV with the volume so low most people can't hear it, yet I manage to work in one of the loudest places in the world...an ER! I crave silence!

--I have a genuine fear of unknowingly committing a crime and going to prison.

--I could easily give up sweets, but would never be able to live without bread.

--I desperately want to be a "pretty runner", one with a smooth, effortless gait. Instead I look like a charging rhino.

So there you have it...super exciting huh? HA!

In Rememberance...

2010-05-28T19:35:00.002-04:00

In honor of our fallen soldiers:

We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. Adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of our slain defenders.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor.---John Logan

It never ceases to amaze me...

2010-05-27T10:29:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, SunshineMeg posted about some barbarian spitting on a public bus driver. Who would ever do something like that? I was mortified.

I must also have been hallucinating because when I got to work last night, it seems like every person wanted to cuss me out! What kind of logic guides someone to seek the help of others and then think the best way to go about it is to call them every name in the book and then physically threaten them?

One guy had a hangnail and was discharged without any intervention (whatcha gonna do?) And he said, "all I want is a f*cking band-aid b*tch!" Seriously? Then take your sorry *ss to Walgreens and get one! Thanks so much and have a great day :O)

Has it been 20 years?

2010-05-25T10:21:00.002-04:00

Twenty years ago today, a very cute boy from my German class called me on the phone and asked the magic question that has set us on an odessey of love and devotion. What were those life changing words you ask..."do you want to go out to dinner or what?" That is the line that lured me in!

We went to eat at Guthrie's and then to see "Glory" at the free movies at Langdon Hall. We have been together since. That's love people...❤

All mine!!!

2010-05-23T17:05:00.002-04:00

I have thought about

making these cookies all weekend. I

haven't done it mostly out of laziness.

However, now that my husband has

left town (again), I am keenly aware

that if I make these cookies, then I am

free to eat them all myself. I am feeling

a sudden surge of energy...

That isn't normal?

2010-05-20T12:36:00.003-04:00

I had a patient at work last night that was

freaking everybody out! He was sleeping

with his eyes open and he looked dead! Of

course something like this would be fun to

see....if my own husband didn't sleep with

his eyes open!

I have to say that if you have never seen it

before it is kinda scary. His eyes are usually

wide open but with this 1000 yard stare that

is spooky and weird. After 20 years together

I am pretty used to it, but there have been

many times when I had to check to see if he

was still breathing. Knowing my luck he will

collapse somewhere and I will just chalk it up

to an afternoon nap!

I think he would be mad if I posted a pic, but

if I can catch him in the act it is definitely

worth a peek!

Last call, last call....

2010-05-18T11:09:00.003-04:00

My current job requires that

I take call from 11pm Friday to 7am Monday

every four weeks. It is unusual that I get called

in. Most of the folks have a great work ethic and

a can-do attitude who rarely need assistance.

Seeing as how this was my last call weekend

before the end of my job, I thought I would sail

through. I was a fool.

I got called in every night. We ended up holding

patients in the ER because the hospital was full,

so that takes up the space where we can treat

ER patients...in other words, a huge backlog!

So in summary, I have worked the last 8 nights

in a row and I am TIRED! Only one more night

this week and I will have a long stretch off.

The next job I get will not have call...I am putting

it out of my life forever! Can I get an "AMEN" from

my nursing peeps???

It's a good thing I was already running...

2010-05-08T16:16:00.003-04:00

I saw 3 snakes on my run

this morning!!! The first was a long, skinny

green snake that was already slithering

across the path as I was going by. I was

a little creeped out, but it was moving on

it's way so I was okay. Then about 50 feet

around the bend was a big, fat brown snake

just laying there looking poisonous and

deadly. That one scared me and I gave it

a lot of room as I went around...I also gave

warnings to others passing by to BEWARE!

Then on my way home, I have a short cut

through the woods that leads to my house.

I was replaying the sightings in my mind

when I saw snake #3. It was thin and

light brown, laying all the way across the

width of the path. I can't go around it and

there is NO WAY I am going over it. So

I started kicking leaves and sticks at it until

it turned and slithered back into the bushes.

So there you have it...I have now turned

from a trail runner to a road runner in the

span of about 20 minutes. You won't catch

me over at Snake Lake ever! By the time

winter sets in, I will be in my new town with

lots of others routes to find :O) So farewell

old trail, it was nice knowing you!

(photo from folksy,com)

I've got big dreams of a little town...

2010-05-04T09:29:00.003-04:00

I have done myself an incredible disservice. I have allowed myself to dream of what my like will be like when my job is over and I move away. I can't keep my mind on anything other than laying by the pool, hosting some tailgate parties, formulating relationships with people who work in the day and sleep at night, joining the Junior League, driving country roads, hearing crickets at night, NOT hearing sirens and cardiac alarm bells ringing at night, buying veggies from FARMERS and last but certainly not least....going to Auburn football games!!! Dear God, please make this month go by fast!

eHow WOW!

2010-05-03T11:15:00.003-04:00

The unfortunate nose pimple was so painful

that I was desperate to find a solution fast.

So I went on eHow and they actually had a

remedy. I will spare you the details, but

I used their recommendations and this

morning I woke up nose pimple FREE!

What a relief! Now I can go out of my house

without the shame of an infected pustule

on my face. I'll be back to work with

confidence! Thanks eHow!!

More pain than I can bear....

2010-05-02T22:09:00.002-04:00

Dear friends,

Something has happened to me that is so painful

I can hardly discuss it. I am suffering with the

dreaded nose pimple. It started on Friday with

mild sensitivity and now has turned into a full

blown tumor-like growth.

The pain is incredible. A little breeze blows past

it and my eyes start watering. I had to blow my

nose earlier and I thought I was going to die.

I am also ashamed because I know that these types

of nasal infections stem from ingrown hairs OR

picking your nose with dirty fingernails. It was

probably the fingernails although I do employ good

handwashing technique, I may occasionally pick

when people aren't looking.

If it still looks like this tomorrow, have to call in sick.

I can't go in there looking like Rudolph! I am

slathering my nasal membranes

with medication (on a Q-tip) and hoping for the best.

EEEWWWWW!!!!

An oldie but a goodie...

2010-05-01T17:06:00.001-04:00

The best kind of day...

2010-04-30T09:40:00.003-04:00

Today is a great day! The hubs and I get to go to

a welcome home party for our neighbor who is just back

from A YEAR in Iraq. His wife Viv is one of my besties and

I know she is over the moon to have him home.

He told me it was so hot there he felt like he had been standing

with his face in an exhaust pipe the whole time! HA!

So that is one more soldier (sailor actually) who is back home

safe and sound. Let's put one in the win column...

and then let's take a second to remember all those still waiting to come

home and those who never will.

I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little

2010-04-24T21:01:00.001-04:00

If you have not seen this clip, then pull on your Depends and get

ready to laugh your a** off! I swear this is the funniest thing I have

seen in forever!! I LOVE Gladys!

What is this?

2010-04-24T19:12:00.002-04:00

So I step out of the house this morning to take Bridget for a walk

and this is what I see in the flower bed beside the stairs.

What is this???

It truly looked like someone had thrown up mustard all over the mulch...

but I have come to believe it is a puffy, bacteria filled fungus.

But how did it grow this big and ugly overnight???

I am a little grossed out and moderately disturbed.

EEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!!

roll the dice....

2010-04-22T09:48:00.000-04:00

and take your chances!

The decision has been made! My husband

and I have decided to move back to our

hometown after he retires from the military.

It won't be for a few months, but I went

ahead and gave my notice at work so they

can have plenty of time to TRY and replace

me! HA!

I am so nervous! I have been at this job for

8 years and I am totally scared to try and

start over. However, after my entire career

working nights, I think I am ready to try and

have a "normal" life. I think I am also going

to try to work less! Wish me luck :O)

Only count the happy hours....

2010-04-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

This is the beautiful box of goodies that I got for the Spring Blog Swap from

Preppy 101!

The items included a framed monogram, a carry-all bag with luggage tag, a candle, notecards, pencils, Lilly cocktail napkins and an adorable Lilly change purse!

The napkins say "only count the happy hours!" I just love that!

Thank you Preppy!

What do I do???

2010-04-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

I'm at a HUGE crossroad in my

life. Oddly, I really haven't been in this position

many times before...I am a meticulous planner

and definitely NOT a risk taker. I have always

picked the practical choice, the safe road, the

rational plan.

But this time I am scared. I know I will never

have a chance like this again. Do I stay where

I know I am "safe", or do I take a

calculated risk and change the entire course of

my life?

This is not a change in my family or anything with

health or welfare...more lifestyle and career...

any advice???

It's elephantastic!

2010-04-14T09:38:00.000-04:00

If you have never heard of the elephant sanctuary or

don't know about the heartwarming stories of the elephant

families, I urge you to visit this website.

This sanctuary is close to where my parents live and is

beloved in the community. It is a place of love, friendship

and tenderness.

Check out this website for stories to read about these

wonderful animals...I know you will love them and want

to share them with others!

If you do enjoy the elephants and stories, think about

giving a donation :O)

Farewell Ms. Sugarbaker...

2010-04-11T05:45:00.000-04:00

JULIA: [reading aloud a letter from Dash Goff] Yesterday, in my mind's eye, I saw four women standing on a veranda in white, gauzy dresses and straw-colored hats. They were having a conversation. And it was hot. Their hankies tucked in cleavages where eternal trickles of perspiration run from the female breastbone to exotic vacation spots that southern men often dream about. They were sweet-smelling, coy, cunning, voluptuous, voracious, delicious, pernicious, vexing and sexing... these earth sister/rebel mothers... these arousers and carousers. And I was filled with a longing to join them. But like a whim of Scarlett's, they turned suddenly and went inside, shutting me out with a bolt of a latch. And I was left only to pick up an abandoned handkerchief and savor the perfumed shadows of these women... these southern women. This Suzanne. This Julia. This Mary Jo and Charlene. Thanks for the comfort, Dash Goff... the writer.

You will be missed. With all our love,

The Belles

Blog swap!

2010-04-09T10:52:00.000-04:00

About a week or so ago, Belle on Heels decided to host a spring blog swap. I have never participated in one, but I read tons of blogs and have seen lots of postings on things that people have exchanged... it looked like so much fun!

I was matched with Preppy 101 from All things Southern & Preppy. The name of her blog pretty much says it all! She is such a neat lady with the cutest preppy style. Head on over to her blog and see the treats I sent her :o) She is so stylish, I can't wait to see what is in store for me...it feels like Christmas!

2010-04-08T10:19:00.001-04:00

This is what my life has been like for

the past two days! I have never seen so much pollen

in my whole life. Of course all of the cars and porches

are covered, but it is swirling around like mini tornadoes.

It is so thick on the streets that there are tire imprints in

the pollen.

I normally don't have a lot of problems with pollen, but

going outside makes me feel like I am coated in it. I just

want to run in and take a shower!

Bridget is suffering as well. Of course it is blocking her

nose, but her ears have become collection wells for the

sticky stuff. I have had to clean ear wax and pollen out

of her ears every night this week.

However, let me say I am thankful for spring and would

not want to go back to the cold and snow...no matter how

much pollen we have! GO SPRING!

Is that the Easter bunny?

2010-04-04T05:41:00.000-04:00

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Pet peeves....

2010-03-28T07:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Neighbors,

There is a reason for the leash law.

No matter how cute your dog is, or how

well behaved he may be, PUT HIM ON

A LEASH! I do not like being chased onto

my porch, followed down the lake trail or

forced to not walk with my dog because you

refuse to control yours.

Your dog may not bite, but mine does, and

I would like you to keep him away from her.

I would also like it if your pet did not get run

over in the street because you think he needs

to "run off some energy."

So come on responsible pet owners...put on

those leashes, get off your butts and WALK

with your dogs. And beware of the French

Bulldog with the snippy owner...SHE BITES!

Thanks!

the pleasure and the pain...

2010-03-27T04:28:00.000-04:00

I have tendonitis of the elbow. How

did I get it? Golf? Tennis? Gardening? Oh no...I got it

from reading blogs!

I have a Mac that I use with a mouse and I am on the

internet all of the time. I started noticing a twinge of

pain in my thumb, then my wrist and now my elbow

is INFLAMED!

So in order to write this post and cruise all of my

daily reading blogs, I have to put on my wrist

splint and rest my arm on a pillow at just the right

angle so it is in line with the keyboard! It is quite a

process just to get situated and I look really stupid. But

It is totally worth it...the joy is worth the pain :O)

Spend or save???

2010-03-24T09:54:00.000-04:00

It is bonus time at work! If we meet

our goals, we get a percentage of the profits! Times

are tough and it seems so busy and short staffed every

day if feels like I never meet a goal :o( However, I guess

we did something right because we will get a little extra

in our paychecks next week.

My thoughts immediately turned to handbags! I have

my eye on a Coach in this weird green color...or

maybe a down payment on another French Bulldog!

But alas, I will put it in the bank. I am really a saver at

heart...I dream big, but I don't like to spend my money.

Boring!!!!!

I want a tan!!!

2010-03-22T05:28:00.000-04:00

It would have been a perfect weekend for

going to the beach and getting my tan on. But I am held up

until after I go to see the dermatologist next Monday. I need

to have a skin check to make sure I don't have any

"questionable" moles. My Dad died from metastatic

melanoma (albeit not the type that originated from his skin),

but I must do it. I would feel like a total jackass if I walked

into a dermo appointment with a tan! That would be like

walking into rehab with a bottle of whiskey. So I will wait...

and when I get the all clear, it is gonna to be

COPPERTONE CITY baby!!!!

2010-03-21T06:59:00.000-04:00

In my dreams I am a Kenyan. In reality, I am

a hippo in running shoes. I have a short stride,

stoopy shoulders and I get blisters that leave me

incapacitated.

I was at the running store with my half-

marathoner husband when I saw these socks.

They are for marathoners, ultra-marathoners

and people prone to blisters...for the low, low

price of $25!!!!

But I bought them and I tried them! It didn't do

a thing for my actual running skills, but I am

blister free! I ❤ DryMax socks!!

Kinda romantic...

2010-03-19T20:39:00.000-04:00

I took this pic and sent it to my husband while he was in Haiti. It is of my Mac sitting in front of his computer with our "mice" side by side on the pad.

I had actually been using them to check my bank statement against my Quicken account (or wasting time on Twitter), but I thought it was kinda cute.

Now that I am looking at it, the Happy Bunny scull and crossbones notebook looks a little creepy, but that is where I keep all of my accounting cheat sheets! Appropriate don't you think?

Happy first day of Spring! YEAH!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T07:54:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I think St. Pat's is one of the best holidays because it's a lighthearted day that includes everyone (whether you are Irish or not) and puts most people in a celebrating mood!

I am a little more Germanic and Scottish by blood, but I am married to an Irishman whose great grandmother was straight off the boat.

So I would like to give a shout out to great grandma Charlotte, a widow who made the trip with her SIX sons from Colraine, Ireland to Augusta, Georgia to make a go of it in America! Erin go braugh Grandma!

There will be blood!

2010-03-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, my husband and I went to the mall which never happens. We are not shopping people. We went to lunch and then straight to the epicenter of life, Williams-Sonoma. Did I mention I am not a great cook either? But I like pretty kitchen things.

Anyhoo, I was looking at the Kitchen Aide mixers like I have for 20 years. We finally decided to quit looking and start buying, so I picked out the chrome model.

Out of stock! But the sales lady said we could have the floor model for 10% off! SOLD! As my husband was taking it off the shelf, I put my hand under the bottom and got a long slice down the center of my middle finger!!! I am BLEEDING all over WS!

I had to use a napkin from the sample coffee center to bind my wound. I was hoping for an extra 10% off but didn't get it :o( But I have a shiny new mixer....

My lucky day!

2010-03-11T09:56:00.000-05:00

♣ Yesterday was my lucky day! It is common knowledge that I am a nurse who works nights in the ER, but I am also the Charge Nurse. During these trying economic times, the hospital I work for is trying to save money by flexing nurses home early if it isn't busy. I usually hold a drawing in an effort to be fair ...I NEVER put my own name in the drawing...as "the boss" I should be the last rat off the ship right?

Well yesterday I broke form and put my own name in the drawing...AND I WON!!! I got to leave at 4am. I didn't want to go home because I would wake up my husband, so I went to the grocery store. I spent over an hour BY MYSELF (and a few stock people) walking up and down the aisles looking at all the products I usually feel too rushed to see or contemplate. It was absolute silent bliss!

Then I went and filled my car with gas...and then I went to the post office and mailed some items using the self-serve weight/postage machine. I did all of this and I was home making breakfast by 6:30! This means I was in bed before 8am and I slept until 6pm. I was the ♣♣♣BEST♣♣♣ day ever!!!

A sunshine day...

2010-03-08T05:09:00.000-05:00

It was a warm, sunny weekend here on the east coast. People were out working in their yards and running on the beach. Hubs and I had lunch on the deck at one of our favorite restaurants and it was awesome.

I also had my hair done which I always love. My hair is short, so it has to be cut and colored every six weeks. I found out that my hairstylist did a pedi for Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas a few weeks ago when they were in town! She told me every detail. However, I was disappointed that she didn't save me any nail clippings or some filings from her bunions...I could have made a fortune on ebay! HA!

I saw the signs...

2010-03-05T09:19:00.000-05:00

These are the beautiful cherry blossoms from last year in Washington D.C. during the Cherry Blossom Festival.

My best friend Mare lives in Alexandria and I went up to for the weekend to visit her and her girlfriend Joan.

We went to the CBF, we had drinks in the Round Robin bar at The Willard, and then saw an Annie Leibowitz photo exhibit. The exhibit was wonderful. My favorite portraits were of Queen Elizabeth II and Johnny Cash.

The time change is next Sunday so that is another sure sign of Spring!

Reunited

2010-02-28T14:17:00.000-05:00

He finally made it home! It was 2 am, but he made it back! Bridget was so happy to see him. She was jumping up and down, and when he picked her up she laid her head on his shoulder...it was SO precious!

Now we are completing all of the post-deployment activities that seem like second nature. There are piles of laundry, mountains of mail, cooking all of the favorite foods and catching up with all of his friends. I am so happy to have him home again!

This pic is of a quilt from the Houston International Quilt Show 2009. I think it is beautiful and it expresses so much love and joy.

2010-02-27T19:07:00.000-05:00

This is the Marie Osmond I remember from my childhood. She had big eyes and big white teeth...always smiling, always happy. She has had a lot of emotional ups and downs in her life, but overall her image has remained the same...cheesy.

But about 10 years ago I saw her in an interview and she was talking about her 8 children, 5 of which are adopted. The VERY rude reporter asked her, "so tell me which ones of your children are adopted?" The cheesy smile was gone and a serious look came over her that was a little startling. Her response has forever changed my opinion of her. She said, " I don't remember."

One of her children committed suicide yesterday and that interview immediately came to mind. I am so sad for her. What a tragic loss for a Mother.

Getting lucky?

2010-02-27T06:20:00.001-05:00

Is today the day I have been waiting for? Is today the day that the hubs returns home from saving Haiti? He has spent almost a WEEK trying to make his way back home! He has been on a ship, a boat, a helicopter, in an Irish bar in Cuba (okay that didn't get him any closer to home but it did get him a beer which he desperately needed) and now he is searching for a plane...commercial, parcel or military transport! Why is this so hard? They got him down there fast enough? Can't somebody help a brother out?

Anyway, your guess is as good as mine. He might be home today, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. Dear Magic 8 Ball, will my beloved make it home today??? Lets pray for a "definitely, YES!"

Death on a plate!

2010-02-21T06:29:00.000-05:00

Doesn't this look delicious? It was my Valentine's lunch from the California Pizza Kitchen. It is pasta with spinach, artichokes and shrimp in a lemon butter sauce... one of the many fine eats that is evidently death on a plate.

When we are not busy saving lives in the ER, we like to look up our favorite restaurants on the website "Eat this, Not that" to torture ourselves with the nutritional counts of their food.

I have learned that the following restaurants are the Devil's playground: Applebee's, Chili's, Macaroni Grill, P.F. Chang's and the most offensive of all...The Cheesecake Factory. Don't even look directly at The Cheesecake Factory because you will turn into a jiggling tower of fat and cholesterol. There is one SALAD there that has 4 times the recommended daily allowance of sodium!

But don't get me wrong...I ate the whole thing and it was delicious. But in the car on the way home, during one of those quiet moments, I think I heard my arteries slamming shut!

Good times...

2010-02-16T09:34:00.001-05:00

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!

Someday he'll come along...the man I love...

2010-02-13T20:35:00.000-05:00

Because my husband is not here to celebrate Valentine's Day, I will be marking the occasion by going out to lunch and seeing the movie "Valentine's Day" with my friend Vivian, whose husband is in Iraq. Isn't that pitiful? HA!

In the meantime, I would like to count my blessings and list a few things that I love in no particular order: my husband and dog, my parents, flannel sheets, sweet tea, handbags, hot showers, TV, orange kittens, trauma codes, yoga pants, Auburn, southern accents, summer nights, blog visitors, laughing, reading blogs, diamonds, going to bed early, clean kitchens, bluebirds, the sun on my face, fluffy sofas and military homecomings.

❤Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours ❤

Girls who eat their feelings...

2010-02-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

I had a pretty rough night at work last night, and then I had to go to the grocery store this morning as well. Normally I would try to get a nice variety of items to try and balance out my pitiful diet. However, that is not what happened today.

The list consisted of, but was not limited to:

chocolate milk

Velveeta cheese slices

white bread

french fries

bacon

Entemann's Cheese danish

and Country Crock mashed potatoes

It looks like a carb overload weekend kids, lets eat away those bad feelings!

Sacrifice and Sonic

2010-02-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

I used to go to Sonic every day...and by that I mean EVERY DAY! I would get off work and on my way home I would wheel through the drive-thru and get a toaster BLT, fries and a Route 44 sweet tea. So good! Until I went to the Dr. for a regular check up and found out that my cholesterol was high and I had gained 10 lbs in 6 months! What???

It couldn't be that I was throwing down >1000 calories for breakfast alone could it?

This was over a year ago, so I decided to give up Sonic for Lent. I figured I could do it for a limited time and that I would go back the day after Easter...but I didn't, and I have not been back in a year. I weigh 15lbs less and my cholesterol went down 30 points without doing anything different than quitting the most beloved and delicious habit of my life.

I am not giving up anything for Lent this year...I'm not even Catholic! What is something in your life that you loved but had to let go?

Just a thought...

2010-02-10T08:21:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking that when I was younger I thought that doing more and more things would make me happy...going out, buying things, meeting new people...but it has occured to me that I am happier with simplicity...enjoying my home, doing things for others and laughing with old friends. I love saying the phrase, "we have been friends for 20 years," and I am grateful to know that it applies to more than one person in my life...just a thought.

I am a REAL Mother!

2010-02-10T04:31:00.000-05:00

My baby is sick. She threw up in the bed and then spent the next 4 hours power drinking water and hurling under the kitchen table! I couldn't go to work because I could not leave her here vomiting, but I felt REALLY guilty. I think people will judge me because she is "just a dog."

After much suffering, the culprit was identified as a partially digested corn cob from the bird feeder. She must have found it in the yard and eaten it. She is feeling so much better...and so am I. I have spent the last few hours sitting on the couch, catching up on the blogs, and rubbing my baby's tummy. I don't feel guilty any more. She is my REAL baby, and I am her REAL Mother...and my baby comes first!

p.s. I know her nose looks really dry, but I have tried many ointments and remedies but she uses her super-long bionic tongue and licks them off. The vet said it won't hurt her even though it looks gross :o(

Lay-zee!

2010-02-06T20:07:00.001-05:00

It has been a lazy day! I have done nothing but lay on the couch with this little sweetie and read blogs all day! My eyes are seriously burning and I think I may be getting a pressure ulcer on my left hip, but who cares! I did take a shower :o)

It has been quite a challenge not to eat everything in the house or shop online with reckless abandon, but I have refrained from both...I read all 276 entries on my Google reader. Now that I am caught up with everybody I might get motivated to do something tomorrow...or not!

I sent this pic to my husband in Haiti with the caption, " I miss you Daddy!" I know it was a low blow, but it is ridiculous how much he loves her :o)

No way!

2010-02-05T09:15:00.000-05:00

I feel like it is Groundhog Day...AGAIN! We are in for another snow and ice storm of epic proportions! This makes for long boring days of being trapped in the house. I can only be entertained by laundry for so long.

I have a feeling the cable bill is going to be outrageous this month...I am going to have to go on a pay-per-view frenzy just to keep from going nuts! Stay sane and warm :o)

Snap, crackle and pop!

2010-02-02T09:22:00.000-05:00

Luckily it was not busy last night in the ER, but almost every patient we had was a result of someone falling on the ice! This type of injury scares me because I am a lot further away from the ground then when I was a kid. I can just see me landing on my tailbone or breaking my wrist. I would end up having to sit on a blow-up donut for 8 weeks.

I felt particularly bad for this one fellow who was leaving for work early to make extra money and slipped down the stairs...HE BROKE HIS HIP! He probably won't be able to go back to work for months.

So let's all be careful out there...protect those hips, wrists and ankles...and don't forget the tailbone!

Sunday...

2010-01-31T15:02:00.000-05:00

Okay, now I am bored. It isn't that I really have any place I need to be, but the fact that I couldn't go even if I wanted to is killing me. I did "walk" down the street to have lunch with my neighbor. I almost fell so many times I had a mini-anxiety attack!

We ate chicken patty sandwiches on toast and watched Miss America. I have to fast forward over the talent competition because I get embarrassed for them. The way it was going I thought Miss Hawaii was going to win, but Miss Virginia was very pretty and poised. I also like how she gave a couple of fist pumps to Jesus after she took the crown! HA!

Saturday...

2010-01-30T07:13:00.001-05:00

It is quite a little snow storm here, but I am a sunshine loving Southern girl with moderate driving skills...so this is not good! However, I intend to get on the treadmill (eek!) and then do a little work around the house. THEN I am going to sit in my cozy bed and watch movies with my cuddly dog.

I am also hoping for a call from the husband. We have been emailing everyday, but he has only been able to call once. It looks like it is going to be a long deployment, so I am preparing. Stay safe and warm if it is snowing where you are!

What a deal!

2010-01-29T10:46:00.000-05:00

I had to go to the grocery store this morning after work because we are supposed to be hit by SNOWPOCALYPSE II and I don't want to be caught without Zone bars and taquitos. Anyway, I was in the health aisle when I spied Osteo-biflex on sale...buy one get one free! Now this is super exciting because a bottle of 120 tablets is nearly $30. However, I will pretty much pay anything to reduce that grinding feeling of bone on bone in my 30-something RN knees...but I digress.

The kicker is that before I could stop myself, I yelled, "OH HELL YES!!!!!!" and did a little dance of joy. Everybody stopped and stared at me like the moron I was...and I guess I still am because DAMN! that is a good deal :oP

Our common ground...

2010-01-28T09:54:00.000-05:00

I will admit that I am one of those people who is fascinated by "The Jersey Shore." These are the strangest people I have ever seen. Their daily schedules consist of three things...gym, tan and laundry. I think they left out getting knee-walking drunk and dry humping every single person in Seaside Heights!

Deep down I am jealous. I want a body like JWOWW and big ol' pan of baked ziti from my Mama...but alas, the only common ground we have is laundry...never ending mountains of laundry. This is sad.

It's a sign!

2010-01-27T09:19:00.000-05:00

This morning as I walked with Bridget in the gray, cloudy mist, I saw something. It was so small I hardly noticed it, but there is was, staring at me in my sad, droopy face. It was a teeny, tiny barely there flower bud poking it's little head out of the cold brown dirt! I was so excited! I started thinking about blue skies...and the warm sun on my face....and jonquils...and lilacs...and cherry blossoms. Oh Spring! Please get here soon....I can't take another day of gray!

Raise your glasses!

2010-01-25T06:51:00.000-05:00

Today is bubble wrap appreciation day! I am going to take a moment and give a shout out to my packing friend...you have helped me protect my breakables, relieve stress and annoy co-workers. You have never let me down. This may be the dumbest "appreciation day" ever noted, but it is yours...so bubble wrap I SALUTE YOU!

It was news to me....

2010-01-24T12:59:00.000-05:00

I always think it is shocking when you discover something about yourself that you think is new, but in reality, everybody else has know for years. For example, I had my eyebrows colored and waxed today. I have to get them colored because they are very light and add no feature to my face. Naturally I get them waxed for shape.

But today, the wax application went about 1/2 way up my forehead. Why? Are my eyebrows and hairline about to meet? No she said, your normal brows are part of a downey covering of hair on your face and I am just creating a shape. O-M-G! I think she just said I have a hairy face and she is going to carve out some eyebrows for me... I was so embarrassed! I was getting my haircut looking at that vast field of angry red skin above my eyes. But I have to give it to her. I have two separate eye brows that look like they belong there so I will be grateful for her skill.

I will also research laser hair removal for future reference :o)

Good start...

2010-01-23T19:37:00.000-05:00

Bridget and I started the day with a nice long walk around this lake. We can get to it through a little path in the woods behind our neighborhood. It is a nice walk, but I am always worried that I will get attacked in one of the woodsy sections. I watch A LOT of crime and prison shows, so I am very aware and a little bit paranoid of isolated places. But we were not attacked, and probably walked about 2 miles or so with the sun on our faces. Then we came home and ate delicious bacon, egg and cheese breakfast burritos and went to sleep. I would call that a pretty perfect day :o) (photo by Norfolk87)

Hold on...

2010-01-21T19:15:00.000-05:00

This sign was displayed across the bow of the USNS Sacagawea. I think it shows a personal and heartfelt message. When I see pictures like this and I know how soldiers and sailors are working around the clock to mobilize, it pains me to hear criticisms about not moving fast enough or that no one is helping. It is hard to wait, but trying to get supplies into inaccessible ports and then over unusable roads to remote unsecured sites is not as easy as it sounds. I am proud of my husband, who despite having slept only 10 hours since Sunday, is forging ahead. Great job Command Carrier Strike Group 2!!

Liquid sunshine...

2010-01-19T09:37:00.000-05:00

In the name of good health, I decided that my New Year's resolution would be to stop going to the tanning bed. Now mind you I am not an addict. I go once or twice a week and never for the full time. Because I work nights, I hardly ever spend time in the REAL sun so I like the light and warmth on my face.

However, while I would not say I am tan, it does keep me from being really pale. So I decided to get a spray tan. I was SO nervous. I could just see myself trying to scrub off a big orange glow!

But it worked out...no weird lines, no orange streaks...just a rather subtle brown hue. But I didn't get that boost in mood that I count on from the bed. I think I am going to have to go back to my evil ways and hit the bulbs every couple of weeks...but overall, I give it a thumbs up :o)

I saw that one coming....

2010-01-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

Surprise!! My dear husband was deployed to Haiti today. With about 24 hours notice, he was sent to help oversee the actions of US Navy ships involved in relief efforts. He was sent for "an unknown length of stay." That could be 6 days or 6 months. Who knows?

I am sad to report that this is NOT the first time something like this has happened. I have learned over the years to consider all plans "loose" until actively underway. Does that sound cynical?

It will be situations like this I will be happy to leave behind once we get to the bright side and leave the Navy behind. Until then, consider all scheduled days of carefree happiness unconfirmed.

Really?

2010-01-16T15:39:00.000-05:00

As my insomnia was in full swing at 3am, I saw a PSA on MTV that just blew me away. It was a "naked" girl warning about the dangers of texting nude pictures of yourself to your boyfriend. The tag was, "there is a fine line between your boyfriend and the whole school." Really? There needs to be a public service announcement for this?

I am glad this is not my era. I would have died if a guy had seen my bra must less a full on nude picture. PSAs used to be about the dangers of forest fires and protecting the rivers and streams from litter. All nudity was confined to dark basement rec rooms and parked cars! Come on ladies, lets keep it clean...and give a hoot, don't pollute!

Oh happy day!

2010-01-15T18:38:00.000-05:00

It has universally been a bad week, but the good people of the world are coming together to help out the people of Haiti. Stories of courage and hope are springing up everywhere out of the devastation.

Situations like this always make me more grateful for the life I have. I am happy to be alive and healthy. I am lucky to have a husband and dog that love me. But most of all, I have hope and enthusiasm for the future. Lets do as much as we can, for as many as we can, as often as we can, but always keep moving forward :o)

Proud of my people...

2010-01-14T09:05:00.000-05:00

Today I am VERY proud to be part of the emergency medicine and rescue community. So many doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, law enforcement and military personnel are showing incredible bravery and selflessness in Haiti and around the world. I am praying for your safety and your success...today and every day!

Sending our best....

2010-01-13T09:55:00.000-05:00

I am late going to bed this morning because I am getting my husband packed for his trip to Haiti. He is in the Navy, and they are deploying a number of ships filled with food and medical supplies for our island neighbors.

We can immediately see the physical destruction of the buildings and infrastructure, but I am always horrified by the amount of human loss. Where is the bright side to this one?

One big ray of sunshine will be heading their way tomorrow. It will bring supplies and service and the touch of human kindness...Thank you US Navy for giving them our best ❤

The pic is a quilt from the Houston International Quilt Show 2009. It is in honor of the Day of the Dead, a holiday to remember and give respect to those who have died. This is a practice that is common in island culture and I love that they are quilting!

Ready to run!

2010-01-12T09:15:00.001-05:00

Look at this sunrise! My husband was in the corrals at the start of the Rock and Roll half marathon in Virginia Beach and this was the sky...so beautiful!

I feel that nervous pit in my stomach like I am about to do something big. I am making plans to change my life but I am afraid to leave what is comfortable. I am afraid that once I take the leap there is no turning back. But time is moving on...the sun is coming up. I'm on my mark...I have to get ready to run!

Super Sunday!

2010-01-10T06:29:00.000-05:00

It is a beautiful morning here on the bright side. Unfortunately, it is also 21 degrees and windy. This makes it very difficult to take Bridget out for a walk which is basically my only form of exercise. I do run and sweat at work, but I'm not sure that counts. I would be interested to know how far I walk on a busy night...I might get a pedometer and find out :o)

In honor of Sunday, the pic is of a quilt that is a recreation of the Rose Window in Notre Dame. I have seen the window and the quilt in person, and I think the quilt is actually prettier! I have such an admiration for the talent it takes to create something like that. Have a great Sunday!

Frenchie Friday!

2010-01-08T10:30:00.001-05:00

I would like to take this opportunity to combine two of my favorite things, Fridays and Frenchies!

I get off work on Fridays at 7am and do not have to go back until Monday at 11pm! This makes me VERY happy.

I am also thrilled to know that this sweet baby is waiting for me at home. This is Bridget, my beloved French Bulldog. She is 3 yrs old. I picked her out when she was 5 weeks old and she has been the sunshine of my life ever since that day.

If you are in the market for a pet, let me suggest a Frenchie. She is so loving, and she make this snuffeling sound that is adorable...LOVE HER!

Rewind about 2 weeks...

2010-01-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

I forgot to post a pic of my ebay win! The bag on the right is the one I got for about $50 less than retail---brand new with tags! I was pretty proud of myself, but my husband says it looks ridiculous.

The bag on the left and the big knife were my Christmas presents. There is a matching wallet for the bag on the left. It case it isn't obvious, I LOVE handbags :o) You never have to try them on and they always fit!

As for the knife, I have never had a decent kitchen knife. The ones I have now wouldn't cut hot butter! This is the knife that The Pioneer Woman uses so I knew it would be good. It is a Wusthof and it did not disappoint.

2010-01-04T08:48:00.000-05:00

Now that the holidays are over, I am ready for SUMMER! I am a hot house flower, a sun bunny, a warm weather diva! There is nothing I love more than SUMMER!

I am also a Southern girl and Southern girls like the white sugar-sand beaches of the gulf. For the past 15 years I have been living on mid-Atlantic coast beaches which can tend to be a little rockier and the sand is course. Now don't get me wrong, any beach is a good beach, but I am looking forward to doing my sittin' down on the gulf. It's going to happen for me...I just know it!

The future is so bright....

2009-12-31T05:19:00.000-05:00

I am SO looking forward to the new year! I am hoping and praying that by the time it is over, I will be in a new house in an old town with a new job and my "old" friends. I know a lot of people are looking to change their lives to something they have never known, but I am counting on being able to go home again! I am filled with hope for good things to come!

The pic is of a QUILT that was deemed the winner at the Houston International Quilt Show 2009. I think it is a beautiful work of art, and it perfectly captures how I am feeling toward 2010!

I'm glad last night is over...

2009-12-30T09:04:00.000-05:00

It was a not-so-great night at work. I was running the entire night and I am exhausted now, but no one died and a lot of people feel better so I will put one in the WIN column. I am off until after the new year, so I am going to try and enjoy myself. There is going to be an eating d0-over at the neighbors on Friday. I hope we can give him a memorable send-off before he heads BACK to Iraq for a few more months. Wish us luck!

The root of all evil....

2009-12-27T07:21:00.000-05:00

I ate this entire pie over 2 days. I ate every bite. I was thinking the whole time that it was alright because it is the holidays and everything would be fine...but it is time to pay the piper.

I am sick with guilt. I am swollen from all of the salt and sugar I have consumed over the past month. I am to the point that I feel like I am too fat to work out and I am embarrassed to go to the gym. This feeling is so horrible. Heed my warning...pie is the root of all evil!!

My pants are tight, it must be Christmas...

2009-12-26T05:34:00.000-05:00

Here on the bright side, we had a wonderful Christmas! We had our little tree all stuffed with presents, a cozy fire, and if you look really close, we have our beloved Bridget roasting herself on the little rug in front of the tv!

We had our gift exchange in the morning and then ate some delicious breakfast casserole. We were invited to lunch at our neighbors house, and this is where the trouble began.

The neighbors are a marital mix of Georgia and Philly....Southern and Italian...good food and better food. You would have thought I had not eaten in years. I started in on the pigs-in-a-blanket, went to crab dip, stromboli, olives and even a few cookies... and this was before dinner! Then I ate the dinner!

Needless to say I came home last night in a great deal of pain and now I feel like I need to get on the elliptical and not get off until I have lost 40lbs! So all in all, it was delightful!

A huge mistake...

2009-12-24T13:33:00.001-05:00

Somehow between yesterday and this morning I lost my mind and made a huge mistake. I got it in my head that it would be okay to go to the grocery store this morning...surely no one else would be there! Huge, huge mistake!

It was kill or be killed at Harris Teeter. I felt like I was in the middle of a prison riot. Masses of people, shelves picked clean, shoving, bumping carts...it was a total nightmare! And if you can picture it, the entire scene was being carried out to the blaring sounds of the Trans-Siberian Railroad or whatever that is called. I think they should have picked more soothing music because people were out of control.

Naturally, I endured this horror only to get home and find that I did not get the main ingredient for the BIG DISH on Christmas day. Typical. But I can't go back...I won't...you can't make me!

What a fine day!

2009-12-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

Last night was soooo long, but only because it was the last day of the week for me! The most interesting thing that happened was getting a live centipede out of a guys ear! I have removed lots of "foreign bodies" , alive and otherwise from many an orifice, but never a centipede. Just when you think you've seen it all.

I plan on have a merry eve of Christmas Eve...sleeping and ordering a big ol' chicken florentine pizza when I get up! Yeah off days! Yeah pizza! HA!

It's a good thing...

2009-12-22T08:25:00.000-05:00

It is a sunny day on the bright side! One night down at work and only one more to go! I am so happy :o)

I am also quite happy that I was FINALLY victorious in an ebay auction. I will post a picture of the spoils when it arrives in the mail...WOOHOO! It gave me such a little rush...it was kinda the same feeling as when I engaged in a ugly little wrestling match to catch a bridal bouquet back in the day. Victory is so sweet...