Why?

Sigh.

2011-04-25T22:10:00.001-07:00

So I pretty much want to quit school on a daily basis. WTF am I doing??

Spring Term

2011-04-03T23:14:00.001-07:00

I signed up 5 days late (money issue+out of town). Already 1 teacher is going to be a PITA. I know it's my fault it's late, but dude. I want clarification on a textbook and I have to order. I apologize. I won't be able to complete the assignment that is due on Monday night by midnight, since I won't be able to get the text until Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest! UGH. Not to mention that blackboard was down all afternoon Friday, and since I go to a Seventh Day Adventist school, none of the emails I sent from about 6pm Friday night (when the site was back up) until either late Saturday night or Sunday would be answered, since it was the Sabbath. Sigh.

I'm taking 3 classes for 11 credits...Human Resources in Health care, Moral Leadership, and Religious Ethics in Health care. Very touchy feely. All 3 are time consuming. BUT....all 3 have regular due dates so there won't be a push in the last 3 weeks to finish 7 credits of coursework (what happened last term....).

Jake is playing baseball and doing cub scouts. Almost everything seems to fall to Tuesday/Thursday so I do an insane amount of running around those nights. Clara is just doing gymnastics. Both are doing excellent!

Today we went to the circus. It was okay I suppose, but very cheesy as it was just the Shriner's circus. Cool parts? The tightrope walker almost fell, and one of the motorcycle guys in crashed in the big ball of death or whatever they call it. Almost all of the animal bits were lame, and some parts seemed like they needed a lot more timing and rehearsal....

Last week I was in Houston for a 3.5 day user conference. I flew in on Sunday. A long time "mommy message board" friend came and took me to lunch. We've known each other for over 8 years, but never met. The conference its self was very informative, and I'll be spending the next few days writing up a report to share at work. Each night we did a fun activity. The first night was laser tag, the second was the Radio Music Theatre, and the final night was a dinner cruise. All involved free alcohol, and each night was concluded in the hotel bar. These people were fun. And highly inappropriate! Thursday another friend came and picked me up from the hotel and took me to lunch and then took me to the airport. Holly and I have boys that are both 9, almost 10, and have been online friends for over 10 years. Again, we had never met, so this was pretty cool.

I decided that while I'm glad I don't have to travel on a regular basis--I miss my family and my own bed, I do hope I can go to this conference next year, it was a great group of people, many of which attend year after year, and the company putting it on is top notch. The owner is awesome, and has a great group of employees.

I can't believe it's already April, and the first baseball game is Saturday...Where has time gone???

Bored

2011-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

Wow, no posting since October? What gives....

Right now I should be working on homework, but I'm avoiding it. I baked banana nutella muffins, made a batch of hummus, cooked whole wheat 3 cheese pasta with brocolli and some baked chicken. Also watch Glee, Biggest Lose, and Raising Hope. But no homework was done ;-)

Things have still been pretty busy around here. Not quite so many activities, but I'm taking more credits for school. And 2 of my classes are self directed which means 1 I haven't even started (only 3.5 weeks left...SHIT!!), and the other is less than 1/2 done. Thank God at least 1 class I'm fully caught up on, getting an A...

Including this term I have 6 terms left of school. I am totally overwhelmed and not sure I'm going to make it. This makes me sad. I need to spend more time on the work, but online based classes are hard...

I started Weight Watchers in December. I've lost 12.4 lbs. Getting kind of discouraged. Joined a gym 3 weeks ago with a co-worker, we go 2-3 times at lunch. Need to go 1-2 times more to really make a difference I think. Tom and I are talking about joining The Courthouse because they have a kick ass deal that is only $35/month each at the club close to us (one of the less popular ones), and my work will pay $20/month towards a membership if I go an average of once a week. So it'd only be $50 for both of us. I'd keep my other gym membership--it's only $25/month and is worth it because of the lunch workout part....

Let's see....nothing else super exciting going on. Will have another new nephew this summer, but waaaaaaay over in DC, so I'm kinda bummed about that part. Trying to figure out travel plans for the year. Going to Houston in March for a conference for work, which is pretty sweet....Hoping for a trip to Florida to see my grandparents, and a trip to DC to see the baby. Hoping for a family trip in August--no clue where or doing what, but we'll figure something out.

That is all...carry on...

Crazy busy

2010-10-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

Our schedule these days involve both Tom and I work Monday-Friday, me 730am-4pm, and him 7am-6pm. Hopefully his hours will change back to 730am-5pm soon. Downside it, his job is 45min-an hour away, but we are just thankful that he has a job! And a good one at that.

Monday we have gymnastics for both kids, Jacob 445-545, Clara 445-645.

Tuesday we have jazz and ballet for Clara from 445-645. Jacob has scouts 2x month 615-8.

Wednesday we have gymnastics 445-545 for Jake and 445-645 for Clara.

Thursday we have football 430-530 for Jake and cheerleading from 530-630 for Clara. Then scouts once a month 615-8 for Jake

Fridays are free!!!

Thursdays become free as of november 1st. Clara will be changing to gymnastics on Fridays in the next month or so. It'll be 4-730, so we'll drop Mondays. Then we'll add a class for Jake on Wednesdays so he still gets 2 hours a week.

I'm taking 3 classes online. It's keeping me pretty busy. Trying not to procrastinate as much this term, but I feel it's a joke. I'm never going to change....

In big news, I'm 30! When the heck did that happen? Geez. 10 years ago to the day, 10-10-00, we found out that I was pregnant. Seems like forever ago and yesterday all at the same time.

10-04-10 was the 3rd anniversary of Gina passing away. :-( sigh.

Okay off to watch TV, and then go to bed. The benedryl I took 2 hours ago to clean the dresser and behind it have finally kicked in!

2010-07-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

Well Tom has been BBQing alot, so that's good I guess.

Tho I'm getting frustrated with them only watching TV and playing video games all day, and then the kids fighting, and Tom being bored blah blah blah. Then leave the fucking house!! Don't ask the kids what they want to do, just take them somewhere. If you're home 5 days a week, it shouldn't be a big deal to go to one of the splash pad parks...

Jake had a great time a Cubscout camp. I wish I could have gone with him. Another thing to be annoyed about, Tom bitched about having to go non-stop the week before, then had an okay time. I WANTED to go, and would have loved it. Atleast I was able to go up for the closing dinner and campfire and got to see some of the activity stuff.

Tom and I leave for Seattle tomorrow at lunch time. His cousin is getting married on Sunday, so we're going up for 2 nights. The kids were going to go with us, but Jake's best friends' birthday party is tomorrow afternoon. It's always a big deal, I think this year it will include a bonzi water slide, portable rock climbing tower, and a big bouncy obstcale course. They'll stay with my parents for 2 nights, and I think they'll have fun. Tho Clara said she was sad to not be with us, but "You'll always be in my heart" Awww how sweet :-)

School is going okay, but I keep putting stuff off. I have a 3-5 page paper due on Sunday. I just started it tonight after having 2 drinks. Got 3 paragraphs done, and I had to quit. Too boring. I figure I'll work on it in the car tomorrow on the way to Seattle.

Okay off to bed, I've been downloading books on the kindle app for my iphone, and I have "Fly Away Home" to finish. Kind of depressing, but looks like the end might be good...I only have the equivilent of maybe 30 pages left? Hard to tell for sure since the kindle doesn't give page numbers, only locations....

It's that time of the year again!

2010-07-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

County fair time that is. Going to head to the Marion County Fair with some friends who are involved in it. Plus side is that we get in for free, and usually the kids get to ride those rickety scary rides for free.

I'm looking forward to some junky horrible for you fair food. Then later tonight, I'll wish I never even looked at it.

Week one of Tom home with the kids went pretty well, but I think I'm going to need to start kicking some ass in order for him to actually do anything. Like cleaning or laundry. WTF, he's home all day with 2 kids who will spend hours outside playing with the neighbor kids. There's no excuses!!

I'll update later this week on how that all works out ;-)

Vacation time

2010-06-19T21:49:00.001-07:00

Where did the first two-thirds of June go?!?!

The End

Baseball-- last game was today. Jake had a great season! He's matured so much the last couple of years.

Ballet-- Spring performance was today. It was the ballet Coppelia. All of the girls did great!

School-- Done and over with. Both kiddos had a good school year. I think they were happy for Summer break

Tom's job-- Over as of yesterday. He's signed up for unemployment, and has met with people at a few different dealerships and supply companies. Hopefully he can find something with a similar pay/benefits. If not, he'll hang out with the kids this summer until he can find something good.

New things--

Vacation-- We leave tomorrow to head to St Louis for a week. We'll go to Bunker Hill, which is esentially family camp. I have 2 books downloaded on my iphone, and another 3-4 to take with. We're going to Six Flags, and the Arch, and will see all of the cousins.

School-- I was accepted into the BSHA program at Loma Linda University. It starts on Monday. I should probably register for classes. Oh that's right, I can't. Since this was a total last minute thing, everything has holds or other issues, so it's slow going getting set up.

Laptop-- Tom bought us a macbook pro. This laptop won't charge batteries (just tried a new one), and turns off randomly. Since I got into that program, I NEED a functioning computer. Thanks to grandma Ruthie for buying it for Father's Day.

Backyard-- Okay this hasn't happened yet, but it's Tom's project. He's going to clear out all of the weeds, and pull up all of the flower beds. Clara wants a swing set, but I'm not sure if we can make that work. Also going to pressure wash the patio and sidewalks, and refinish some of the patio furniture.

Well, I should probably get some laundry done, and need to start packing. The dogs were dropped off at the vet to be boarded, the babysitter is lined up to check on the cat, now to get the house in a cleanish state so when we get home next weekend, it will be nice.

June Already?

2010-06-01T07:13:00.001-07:00

Where has the first five months of the year gone? Half of the family birthday's have passed, only two left! I'm hoping that now it's June, the weather will cooperate. But based on my iPhone weather calender, it's rain for the rest of the week. Boo! We have 2 baseball games and a practice between now and Saturday, so we could really use some sun!

These next 3 weeks are going to be busy! We made it through Jake's birthday, which was great, and now we have the last 6 games+practices for baseball. Clara has 3 more regular ballet classes+2 Saturday all cast rehearsals+dress rehearsal and performance the 3 Saturday. We have the last day of school for the kids, plus finals and end of Spring term for me. Clara's birthday is the 17th, with her party taking place on the 13th.

And we found out Friday that Tom's last day of work is June 15th......

So there will be some changes in store this summer. I'm a little jealous that Tom gets to be a "stay at home dad" for the summer. We decided unless he can find something equal pay, it would be better for him to spend the summer with the kids. I do wish I was still working at the hospital simply because I was off 4 days a week. Think of all the fun we could have! Do all the crowded busy stuff on week days instead of weekends ect. But that's not the case, so I'll move on ;-)

We were brainstorming ideas for things for them to do all summer. Luckily there is a ton of free and/or cheap stuff not fairly close by. Heck the beach is only an hour away and the kids would sit and play in the sun for hours.

This will all be a big adjustment for us. Not least of all figuring out how to cut the difference between what he makes and what unemployment will pay, from our budget. Wish us luck.

We do have 1 family trip planned. On June 20th we leave for St Louis for a week. It'll be Tom's first trip there--mine and the kids third trip since the start of the year ;-) We're going to Bunker Hill for 4 nights with my dad's family. I think minimum, there will be 18 of us. My dad and his siblings have been going for just about 50 years. Tom isn't super duper excited, but I think once we get there, he'll enjoy it. I promised him we could drive to town every day if he wanted to.

(Bunker Hill is like family camp down in the Ozark mountains in southern Missouri. It's a camp that the MSTA owns, so it's all teachers and educators that go. My grandma was an elementary school teachers. There's canoing and kayaking and hiking and other activities. Here are the pictures from our last trip.)

Well the baby sitter finally showed up (didn't wake up until I texted her asking where she was....so I'll only be 35minutes late for work....)

My boy

2010-05-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

Long and probably contains way too much information. Feel free to skip it, or read and reminisce with me about the birth of Jacob.

***

9 years ago I was up at St Vincent's Hospital in Portland "in labor". My water had started leaking the day before, and by the time I finally realized that what it was, I was told to come straight in. They confirmed it was in fact amniotic fluid, and sent me to labor and delivery. I was admitted at 5pm on May 29th. Our little guy wasn't due until June 13th, so we were not ready, and a little scared/excited.

I wasn't having any contractions, and to me, the pitocin wasn't doing anything to move labor along. Around midnight, when the on call OB came in to check on me, he decided to break my water. Even though there was fluid leaking, it wasn't anything major. Oh my, when he did that, I could suddenly feel everything. I think that action allowed Jake to drop down and start to get ready.

I didn't really have a labor plan. Tom and I had taken birthing classes, we still had one more to attend when all of this went down. I knew I wanted to put off any drugs as long as possible, and with in an hour of my water breaking, I was begging for anything. They started with Demerol, and all that did was make me high. I still remember laying in bed, flat on my back, the room spinning, totally high, and in pain. Didn't help the pain at all.

I wanna say it was about 2am, maybe 3am when I finally got an epidural. And it was good. For 5 hours I was able to sleep. Then it started wearing off. They tried topping it off, but only 1/2 of my body was numb. It sucked. Fast forward to the afternoon. Contractions every 3 minutes, I'm exhausted as I only got 5 hours of sleep, where they woke me every so often to check on things.

I remember a couple of friends coming in, and Richard and Cara were outside, and would come in every so often. My parents were there, and Tom's parents showed up at some point. Orrin, our good family friend/lawyer, stopped by to bring the baby a monkey. I was falling asleep between each contraction, so for a minute or two, then would wake up and push.

Things started to get a little dicey around 3pm. It had been 22 hours since they started the induction, and I had been pushing for over an hour. Things weren't progressing, and Jake's heart rate started dropping. The doctor came in to stay for awhile to monitor the progress being made. After awhile, she decided to try using the vacuum thingy to get Jake out. She never made it to that point. Suddenly things got moving, and after three hours of pushing and 24 hours of labor, Jacob was born at 5:05pm.

It seemed like there were a ton of people in the room. Tom, my parents, Tom's parents, 4 nurses and the doctor. And everything turned out well. Jacob was perfect, no healthy issues at all.

I can't believe that was 9 years ago. I still remember that so well. While I miss my little baby boy, I love watching him grow and change. He's up to my shoulder now, and has so much knowledge, it's unbelievable! I was going to share some pictures but my camera cord seems to have disappeared. Hopefully I can locate it quickly!

More Chaos? Yes Please.

2010-05-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

If my swap buddy is reading this, I promise to do a crafty post this weekend. I pinky swear.

******

I don't think I've blogged about it, but I'm applying to an online program to get a BA in Health Care Administration. I don't see myself as an administrator type, but I'm bossy and like things done myself, so in a few years I'm sure I could rock the big wig roll ;-)

I have to write a personal statement and I'm having a surprisingly hard time with it. One friends suggested "write about where you've been and where you want to go" sounds easy, right? Not so much. The application is due by Monday, and I was hoping to have it submitted by tomorrow. We'll see what ends up happening... The program is supposed to be full time, 63 credits, over 4 terms. Starting June 21st, 2010. So less than a month away. Eeek. I also need 25 additional credits at junior or senior level. But since I have all of the core stuff done, they would all be electives.

In talking with the program director, I get the impression that they need more people enrolled, so would be willing to work with me to stretch it over 18 months or 2 years. Then instead of taking 15-16 credits per term plus another 6 in electives, I could take 11-12 per term. That sounds much more doable. Currently I've been taking 8 credits per term, and if I organized my time better (doing homework at specified time instead of while watching TV ;-), I feel I could totally manage 12 credits a term.

So that's what's going on with ME right now. Here's the rest of the family ;-)

I'm still in denial, but my baby boy turns NINE on Sunday. Where the heck did the last 9 years ago??? I still remember going to see David Gray in concert the week before he was born--he really liked the noise. And now he's outside talking airplanes and shooting hoops! When did that happen? He still likes to cuddle, and 2-3 mornings a week I'll wake up and he's come in to our bed in the middle of the night. As much as I'd like him to stop doing that, I'm going to miss it when it ends.

We're having a BBQ to celebrate the day. Jacob really wants to do a carnival theme, so I'm pulling together a few different games to play, buying tickets to use (or I might just print some out), and getting the bouncy house out. There aren't alot of kids coming, as I'm the worst planner in the world, but it sounds like there will be 5-10 kids of various ages. He really wanted to have his birthday party at a laser tag place, but not the place here in town. So I promised him he could invite a friend and we'd go to Portland to play in the next week or two.

I haven't decided what kind of cake to make yet. Hmm. Will think on this a bit more.

Clara is doing well. Her birthday isn't until June 17th. But like every year, no one will be in town. Poor thing. One year we spent her birthday flying to to St Louis. She still talks about how the pilot brought her a cookie because it was her birthday :-) She wants to have a gymnastics party at the gym she goes to. Her coach will be the party host, so she's happy.

Here's what our next month looks like. Jake's party this weekend, he still has 5 or 6 baseball games and 4 or 5 practices. Clara has 2 Saturday rehearsals, then the dress rehearsal and performance for ballet. She also has her birthday and party. School gets out for the kids. Term ends for me. I'm applying for that program. We leave for St Louis on the 19th, Tom included (this is a big deal, trust me ;-)

The downside to all of this is that Tom's dealership is probably closing. So he'll be outta work. Have no idea what we're going to do. Luckily we have some areas we can make cuts, and we won't have to pay for daycare at all, so that's good. I'm still stressed out.

Almost crafty

2010-05-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

The closest I came to doing anything creative this last weekend was helping Jake create Uranus from styrofoam, spray paint, foam core and skewers. I hope his teacher likes it ;-)

I am also creating tonight--dessert to be exact, but I needed a special treat for LOST. So chocolate cobbler is in the oven. It smells sooooo good. Hurry up and bake!!

I think I might start cross stitching again. I was trying to organize some of my scrapping stuff and I came across my stitching stuff. I like that I can do it while watching TV, or sitting at gymnastics, or just about anywhere. So now I need to find a pattern I like, and maybe head up to Portland to go to Acorns and Threads. Always find inspiration there. I'm thinking something for a pillow....

Okay time for LOST.

Fun Stuff

2010-05-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm finally starting to adjust to a 5 day a week work schedule. It's lovely having every weekend to spend as a family, the amount of park time we've been getting in has been great! I'm getting a little more used to waking at everyday, instead of sleeping until 8 4 days a week. And I'm trying to fit in some time for crafting.

When I was at my parents house yesterday I spent some time looking through all of the fabric I have there. I haven't been sewing at all lately, but I want to make some throw pillows. That seems managable, and I bought some pillows when I was at IKEA a few months ago. So I'm really thinking I need to make them. I still want to buy a sewing machine. I'm almost to the screw it point and just buying a cheap one from Joann's. Then hopefully before too long, I'll be able to get a nicer one. But if I keep trying to save a little more money to get the next step up, I'll never get there!

I would be going on a scrapbooking trip this weekend, but it was canceled due to low enrollment, which makes me very sad :-( We're going to go to the beach as a family instead, which will be great, but I neeeeed to do some scrapping. It's been months! I need to arm wrestle Tom over the dining room table--he has his RC car stuff scattered across it right now.

Shutterfly will be getting a large order from me soon--I need to order pictures from about August until now. Sad. Well it will make me happy, but it's sad I haven't printed any since then! I might just print everything, then once I get them, determine which to blow up or shrink down. Otherwise I get bogged down trying to figure that out with 500 pictures, then I don't order any because I'm overwhelmed....

So my goal is to blog more, and not bitch so much. I want to do more crafty stuff, I'm participating in an exchange, and I think this will motivate me to get more done! I might take some pics of stuff I've created in the past to get my creative juices flowing :-)

Saturday (so creative!)

2010-04-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture from when the cousins were here. That's Alexandru on the back of the couch, then Clara, Margo, William (holding Doggie the meerkat) and Jacob.

Amber you were right, I made it through the week. It was draining mentally, and I did my best not to bleed any of the doctors I had to start IVs on. Haha. Some little things I have to keep tweaking and fixing, but other than that, it went well.

This upcoming week we are having applications on our new Radiology Information System, or RIS. Since I'm the PACS administrator, by default I get to be in charge of this as well. Luckily the x-ray supervisor will be learning as much as she can too, so it won't all fall to me. I'm not nearly as nervous about this side of things, as I was with the CT apps...

Today was the first game of the season for Jacob. He had a good game, we only had tears one time. It was his first time on base, and when he rounded second he was going to go for third, but the runner on third stayed, so he got tagged out. He was upset, understandably. But got over it, and had a great rest of the game. It was nice to see a few people we knew through various channels both on our team and on the other team.

Clara gave us a scare a couple of times. That girl is growing up far too fast. At one point she hopped on one of those electric scooters and started to go for a ride. She hadn't asked if it was okay, and she didn't have a helmet or anything on....The other time we told her she could play by one field with her friends, but then when they left, she was no where to be found. She had gone over to a field on the other side of the grounds....She is now grounded from Disney Channel and Nick.

I'm trying hard to spend a couple of hours on Saturdays to get as much done as possible around the house, so we can enjoy the rest of the weekend. Today we got the kitchen scrubbed down, and have been working on the massive amounts of laundry. I think we should get rid of all of our clothes except for 5 outfits each. Simplify stuff...lol

We have a sitter coming over tonight, no idea what Tom and I are going to do. Maybe just get dinner and go have a drink or something. Oooh or we could get all crazy and return stuff to 4 different stores that I've been putting off...how to choose?!?!

Tomorrow is the big day

2010-04-11T21:27:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I scan my first patients at work. Applications, which are basically training sessions taught by the equipment manufacturer, begin tomorrow morning. I'm really nervous. I don't know why I'm stressing so much, but I am. It'd help to get a good nights sleep tonight, but I was dumb an took an hour nap earlier today. So....

Instead I made brownies for Tom to take to work, went grocery shopping with Clara, I'm catching up on some TV, and researching recipes....If it helps calm me, I figure it's good. Plus I'm trying really hard not to stress eat! Difficult!!

...

We still need to do our taxes. I've almost completed them, I just need a little more info. I HAVE To remember to call the Montessori school tomorrow to get our total paid last year. The person who can tell me that is only there from 845-3....and I, of course, am at work that whole time...So good luck for me ;-)

I drew up a plan to pay off all of our credit card debit in the next 3.5 years. Hopefully faster once I tweak the high interest stuff around. I will feel so much better about life in general, once we can out from under that crap. After that we can work on the student loans. This all could change depending on if I apply for an get into the PA program, or if I decide to go to school more than the 1/2-2/3 time I am right now.

I've been enjoying the business admin classes I'm taking. This term I'm taking macroeconomics, and business management principles. I only have 3 other classes I can take at Chemeketa, so I need to figure out what to do next. If I want to do the PA thing, I need to do some job shadowing--ya know, in my spare time...If I'm not going to apply for that this year, then I'm going to need to figure out which school I want to transfer to, to work on a 4 year degree in business admin and/or health care admin. That's usually a masters program though....

All things to think about, and make me not so nervous about tomorrow :-)

Easter

2010-04-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

All of my immediate family is in town. Sarah, William and Alexandru arrived Tuesday almost 2 weeks ago from Washington DC. Friday my brother-in-law Dacian arrived from Washington DC, and my little sister Cara arrived from Eugene. Yesterday my brother-in-law Michael and niece Margo arrived from England, as well as my brother Rich and his girlfriend Katie from Portland.

Needless to say my parents house is full, and I'm grateful that we live in town, and can be in our own home.

Yesterday we took the kids to a church Easter egg hunt, then spent all evening at my parents house baking and having a crazy time. Middle of the night I woke up sick, so I sent the kids to church this morning with Sarah and Dacian. Instead I'm cooking the ham and feeling a little better, I don't think I'm actually sick, I think I ate something bad...

Work is still going well. It's stressful, I'm down to 5 work days to have everything in place before we start doing patients next Monday. I think everything will fall in to place. I found out Thursday that I'm going to have to give a presentation to all of the ordering physicans and PAs. So like 20 well educated people. I am so stressed about that. Ugh.

Haven't had any time for crafting lately. But I am signed up for a scrapbooking weekend in May. So if nothing else, I'll have 2.5 days of scrapping soon :-) I've made a little more progress on de-cluttering. The babysitter will be taking a bunch of stuff to goodwill this week, so I need to have a few more boxes for her to drop off. Once we get rid of more stuff, then I'll have room to actually scrapbook at home. yay!

Okay, back to getting ready for Easter dinner...

Week Two over!

2010-03-19T20:31:00.001-07:00

I survived. Things are looking up. Today was a good day...

The RIS (thing of it as a traffic cop between the electronic medical records system and the PACS--imaging system) is installed. Had my first phone/web training session dealing with it. Looks like it'll be a fairly straight forward program to use, the problem is not having applications training on it until the week of 4/19....we're having the CT scanner applications training the week of 4/12...really they should be done in the other order..... No clue on when we'll have PACS applications....

Some wants/needs for my job and work area have been met or are in the process of being met, so some stress has been lifted. This makes me feel better. Plus I spent the morning at the radiologists' clinic. They have the same scanner that we have, so it was good to see it. Scanned the last couple of patients while I was there, I think it's going to work well! The radiologists are both really nice, easy going, should be good to work with.

My feet are killing me, even though I only stood from 1-530....but I didn't have clean matching scrubs this morning, so I dressed business casual instead. Including shoes. So owie. I just placed an order for 5 more sets of scrubs. This is good, cuz I only have 3 sets currently, which was great when I worked 3 days a week, but now that I work 5, I keep running out!!

This weekend should be good. The weather is supposed to be warm and sunny tomorrow, and atleast part of Sunday. Clara is going to a gymnastics meet with a friend tomorrow, and Jake is spending the night at a friends house tomorrow night. And they want him by 2pm! So he's going to be gone a long time. I already lined up a babysitter for tomorrow night, so Clara will like having the one on one time (the sitter is her gymnastics coach).

My goal for the weekend is to take a load of stuff to Goodwill and/or Reruns. And to plan dinners for next week, along with making atleast 1 loaf of bread, and 1 other baked good.

Sarah and my nephews get here next Tuesday. Clara is SO excited, counting it down on the calendar. Hopefully we can do some fun things while their here. On the 2nd, Daci (Sarah's husband) gets here, as do Mike and Margo (my brother in law and niece) from England. They're staying a week.

I can't decide if my new job/schedule will allow for more family time or less? I think we'll just need to take advantage of my getting off earlier, and having Saturday's off. Of course I'm working at the hospital next Saturday.....oh well...

Okay time to head to bed, I'm tired!!

Nation Pi day

2010-03-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

First off, thanks Amber and Jamie for the kind words. It's easy to get discouraged, but I just need to remember that it's good to learn new things, and it's going to be a good experience. If nothing else, something to add to the resume ;-)

Last night after work we had girls night. Six of us from the hospital went to Red Robin for dinner. Only a couple of us hang out outside of work, so it was nice to meet up. Three people were done for the night at that point, but the other three of us decided to head to a bar. Long story short, we ended up at the gay bar. Always entertaining. We stayed less than 2 hours, but we met up with another hospital employee there. I may or may not have left our student there alone (not drunk, just waiting for some other people ;-), but I was tired. I had gotten up at 540, worked 12 hours, and it was now 11. So time to head home. Plus losing an hour of sleep...eek.

Today was nice though, Tom let me sleep in until 11, and I woke up suprisingly not hungover. Always a bonus ;-) We were invited to a party in celebration of nation Pi day. Clara and I made a cheesecake pie, then headed over. Jake got to play with a friends, and Tom got some much desired quiet time...

I am trying to plan meals for the week. I want to make beans and rice in the crockpot, then use the left overs for burritos. Not sure what else. Hmm.

The Need to Stay Positive

2010-03-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

I still can't decide if I made the right choice as far as the new job goes. I feel like I'm in over my head in some areas, and I'm wondering if I gave them a false sense of assurance on what I can do? I hope not. I'm a CT tech. I can perform scans, reconstruct images, start IV's, inject contrast, monitor a patient as needed, fix mistakes on the computer.

I'm NOT a PACS adminstrator. I don't have any experience in setting up a RIS/PACS (radiology information systems/picture archiving and communication systems) enviornment. I'm willing to learn, but I need more than 15 minutes a day. I can't be a fill in x-ray tech AND so all the other shit that has to get done before the scanner is operational! They have a tech out for medical reasons, and don't have an ETA on when she'll be back. So, I'm filling in for her, plus this other stuff...WTF?

I'm very frustrated and not sure how to go about bringing this up. I need to write policies and procedures for the CT department. I need to figure out what supplies to stock, and get an ordering process set up. I need to create or borrow a procedure list that covers CT, US, xray, and mammography to get imported on to our RIS, so when PACS is up, it will all communicate, and hopefully be the same as what OCI(Oregon Community Imaging) is using. Apparently OCI should be helping with alot of this, but no one at my clinic really knows.

So there you go. 1 week down. Did I make the right choice? Sigh.

I write this all as I sit at the hospital working a 12 hour shift. Which makes me happy to be back here, but I wasn't happy to be up t 540am.

I survived

2010-03-08T22:00:00.001-08:00

Made it through the first day of work. My feet hurt from standing for 7 hours. Not the end of the world, but I'm just not used to standing there for the sole purpose of not sitting....8 hour shift FLY by. And coming home for lunch? Lovely. Had chinese chicken salad leftovers from last night, plus a roll that I had baked last night as well. Watched Amazing Race and caught up on blogs. Didn't want to go back to work though.

I spent all afternoon working on my paper and brochure. Will be going straight back to work on it after I get home tomorrow. It's due at 630, but if I can spend a good hour on it, I'll be set. Then I have to figure out how to do double sided printing, without wasting a ton of ink (since it's all color)...

I have a headache. Ugh. Lack of caffeine I'm assuming, even tho the sitter brought a huge diet pepsi for me this morning ;-) If she doesn't bring one tomorrow, I'm going to HAVE to drive to circle K and get one, or I won't survive day 2.

I'm kinda bummed, all my blog friends have been crafting like crazy. I want to! But I don't have time right now. 6 days a week for work, plus finishing up my classes don't leave much time. And I have to start studying hardcore for my CT post certification test. I'm super nervous about.

So when I have time, I want to scrapbook, retry to learn how to knit, and do some sewing and/or quilting. Goals.

Amber I try to do the only touch things one deal, but I have such a hard time! I need to start more organized with the keep/toss/giveway set up, so it'll go smoothly.

Jamie--I love rubbermaid bins. I have a ton to sort out. They become a stopgap measure I'm finding.

thanks for the ideas :-)

Stuff

2010-03-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

We have so much "stuff" at our house. I don't know what to do with it all. Any tips on organizing school stuff, sports stuff, activity stuff? I feel like it's everywhere. And then we loose pieces. Like for cub scouts. We can never keep track of the slide for the kerchief. It always disappears. Very frustrating!

Right now I'm trying to get rid of stuff. Like old clothes, toys, kitchen stuff we don't use ect. It's a very very slow process. I think I'm going to try to have a garage sale the weekend after Easter. It'll be my second full weekend off, and I'll just do a Saturday one. I'll be so happy to get rid of old toys and clothes and shoes! Then everything that doesn't sell, we can donate to either Reruns, or goodwill.

I figure if I post about it here, I'll have more motivation to make it happen :-)

Tomorrow marks the start of the new job. I'm nervous. Wish me luck. I really really hope I made the correct choice. Other than 2.5 people, I really liked my old job a whole lot!! But I think the new job can be a good thing too.

I'm planning out dinners for this week. Monday-Wednesday I'll be home by 330, but we have activities each evening. Thursday and Friday I'm off later at 5 and 530, so Tom will be home first. I'll try to plan stuff he can start. The nice thing those days are that we stay home all evening...

Okay off to study for my last business test, and start my final draft for my paper. Luckily it's nice so the kids can spend all afternoon in the sun, leaving me in peace.

Almost term end

2010-03-02T22:42:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for this term to be over! I have a few hours left to finish my paper. I think if I spend a couple of good chunks of time on it, I'll be okay. Due next Tuesday. I have 2 tests left for my intro to business class. I only have to take 1, but unless I get a 95 or higher on the first, I'll take both. I got a 76 on my first test, so I'd love to get rid of that score if possible.

Jamie I need to bring you treats sometime. I've been so sporadic with my baking...Sticking mainly to bread or pizza...

I'm watching Biggest loser and it's making me sick watching them eat all this crap for a challenge. Ugh.

LOST totally screwed with my mind tonight! I'm feeling bittersweet about the show ending. I want to know what's happening, but I'm sad to see it end!! Plus it's soooo dark this season. I wonder if anyone will make it out alive?

I want to start sewing more. I need to carve out some time for that. I want to start with a simple quilt and a skirt or two for Clara...Any recommendations on easy skirt patterns? I've never sewed ANY clothes, other than Clara's smock for halloween. No experience with elastic or stuff to attach with...

Okay off to bed, I have so much I want to get done tomorrow!!

Cooking

2010-02-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

I've been cooking alot more lately, but the problem is what I'm cooking. Baked mac and cheese. Creamy chicken noodle soup. Pot stickers and fried cheesecake wontons. Super yummy, feel good food. And not healthy. Fried, bechamel base, lots of cheese. You get the picture. Then add in all the baking I'm doing, and we've dropped the healthy quotient totally out of our homemade foods.

So I need to start picking foods that taste good, have that comforting aspect, but are a little bit healthier. And I don't mean just adding brocolli to the mac and cheese...

So if you have an good recommendations for blogs/websites or cookbooks, let me know! In the mean time I made mac and cheese for lunch and we'll have creaming chicken soup for dinner. Or maybe meatballs with rice. Not 100% sure yet.

I start my new job on March 8th. So I have a week to get as many projects as I can done at home. I'm going to be working the rest of the Saturday's in March until my replacement is fully trained. Overall, it'll only be about 50 hours a week, totally doable. The hard part will be getting up by 6am 6 days a week. Not fun.

Our babysitter is going to come over at 645am Monday-Wednesday to get the kids up and to school at 9am. Then we don't need to increase daycare at the school, and they don't have to get up at 6am 5 days a week. Keeping them in latchkey on Thursdays and Fridays since they have so many of those days off in March.

Well off to walk with the family. It's not as sunny as it was supposed to be today, but it's still quite nice out! So must take advantage before the rain comes back (on Tuesday I believe...).

It's official

2010-02-20T08:58:00.000-08:00

I took the other job. I start March 8th. CT applications aren't until April 12th, so I have a month to write (okay I'm taking it from my current job at the instance of my boss) a CT policies and procedures manual, figure out protocols and scheduling stuff, and make sure we have everything in place ready to go (call lights, a crash cart, contrast warmer, contrast brands, supplies ect).

I also have to do x-ray. Blah. Not the worst thing ever, but I HATE film x-rays. Yeah it's more of an art form, you can be proud of your work blah blah blah. But it is time consuming, can't fix your mistakes without re-irradiating the patient, and includes SO MUCH FUCKING busy work.

Pull the jackets, find the jackets, order the jackets, make new jackets, send the films out, file the films back, look for lost jackets, put stickers on the jackets, ect ect ect.

I'm hoping once CT is up and running, I can talk them into switching to DR(direct radiography) or atleast CR(computed radiography) x-rays. It's a nice thought anyway...

I'm excited about the opportunity, but still a bit nervous. Really hope I made the right decision...

Ch ch changes

2010-02-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

So work, maybe switching things up. Not sure.

Do I give up a super cake job where I work 3 days a week, just one of those days is Saturday? Where 1/2 the time it's slow and I can read, watch TV, play on the computer? But a job where I'm miserable atleast 1/3 of the time due to people I work with. Where that isn't going to change anytime soon?

The new job would be at a clinic that I can see from my driveway. It'd be 5 days a week instead of 3. All weekends and holidays off. Home for dinner every night, over 1/2 the time I'd be home to meet the kids when they walk home.

The pay would be about the same over all. I'd most likely be a salaried employee, with some perks other employees don't get, just because I get them at my current job.

But there's no cell phones. Definatly no TV. They don't like internet usage. I'd have to help with and/or take *film* x-rays. GASP.

But I'd get to be "in charge" of the PACS/RIS system. I'd get to set up everything having to do with the department myself.

So I dunno. They're calling me with an offer tonight. I have a feeling that if I turn it down, then I'm burning a bridge, but I don't want to make the wrong choice!

Ugh.

Yay for LOST!!

2010-02-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

It was good. This season better answer all the questions! And I need to avoid this message board because I could spend hours upon hours browsing. LOL I have no idea what's going to happen, but I'm not going to stop reading the spoilers and spoiler "what ifs."

Tom said he would watch the whole series with me once this season is out on DVD. It'll be a month long project. Or 2 months. We'll do it in the summer when crap TV is on.

I should be writing a paper on why Google bought out DoubleClick in 2007, but I don't care enough to do it. Sigh. It's not due until Friday night. Maybe I'll take my laptop to St Louis and write it in the 15 minutes before it's due??

I'm going to bake something yummy. Either peanut butter cookies, brownies, or oatmeal cookies. I can't decide...

1/12th done already

2010-01-31T22:06:00.000-08:00

Wasn't Christmas yesterday?!?!

Amber--I'll take ya up on the sewing at your house offer once I have a more than 30 minutes free. Hopefully once we're back from St Louis. I should ask on freecycle and check out craigslist. I'm trying to talk my mom in to getting a new one, so I can just borrow hers ;-)

Thanks Di, it is was it is. And I'm okay. But her obit was posted today, and it did make me tear up. I found some pictures from a cruise we went on, just me and her. It was a good time, and unbelievably, it was 10.5 years ago!! Crazy.

No school tomorrow, but instead of having a super fun day, Jake gets his braces on. I hope he does okay. Planning on milkshakes and jamba juice for a few days. Going to stock up on yogurt, pudding, jello, and ice cream. I'm really hoping it isn't going to be very painful--he's only getting them on his top front 8 teeth (or 6??). They need to pull them back into place and ready his mouth for getting retainers which will help his major overbite. Fingers crossed this works now, so he wont have problems when he's an adult.

I want to go to Target to get some glass canisters. Totally want to steal this idea from a friend. I've been baking so much, I think these would come in handy and lead to less spillage in the cupboard. But the kids always beg for so much shit from there. And I don't want to be cranky, so maybe I'll hold off until we get home from our trip...

We're leaving on Thursday for St Louis. The rest of my family arrives in St Louis Wednesday or Thursday, we get in Friday at 930am. Fingers crossed the red eye works in our favor. I will be packing benedryl. I know I'll be able to sleep just fine--I'm working a normal day Thursday, so I'll be up at 530am, and won't be able to sleep until after 8pm on Friday night. So I'll be getting the most out of the 6 hours of flight time we have.

Back to St Louis

2010-01-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

Grandma passed away last night/early this morning. The graveside service and wake will be next Friday, and the church service will be on Saturday. The kids and I are taking a red eye out on Thursday night, and will head home Monday evening. Tom is staying home to take care of the dogs...Bailey is in no shape to survive a single night boarded with other dogs, let alone 4 or 5 nights.

While I'm sad, it's not overwhelming. I'm glad she's in a better place, and I'm so glad we were able to say goodbye last week. I'm glad we're able to go out again so soon for her funeral as well.

I have the plane tickets, car rental and hotel booked. The hotel has an indoor pool and free breakfast plus kitchenette, so hopefully I'll be able to wrangle the kids well in addition to not spending a ton of money. I forget how much traveling costs! $30 for a lunch in the airport for 1 adult and 2 kids...crazy!

I made these cookies Sunday/Monday. They were sooo tasty. I might make another batch of cookies tomorrow because I have a ton cream cheese frosting left. Too bad berries aren't in season! So they are expensive cookies ;-)

I need a sewing machine. Anyone have one they want to give me? I don't have the $$ to buy one especially with this second trip to St Louis. Maybe some day.

I want to plant potatoes this year, but I worry that Dexter will just dig them all up. He's a little punk like that. Maybe I'll talk my parents into planting some?

School is going okay this term but it's REALLY hard when you just don't care. Neither class this term is a neccesity. I suppose they're both helpful, but UGH. In tech. writing we only have 5 graded assigments the whole term. So if you screw one up? You're toast. In intro to business, we have 4 tests but only required to take 3, so it's a best of case. I'm hoping for solid B's in both classes...

Still slacking I see...

2010-01-15T22:35:00.001-08:00

I always have such good intentions. Then life comes along and slows me down.

Tomorrow the kids and I leave for St Louis to see my grandma Agnes. She's stabilized, so that's good. We have tentative plans to see my cousin Kitty with the sweetest big girl Ainsley, and her triplet brother and sisters, and then to meet my other cousin, Tricia's, 1 year old twins plus best big sister Caroline. Kitty and Tricia's dad is doing better, so I'm hoping I'll be able to take the kids in to see him too.

I'm happy to report that the snow has melted, so driving won't be an issue at all, and no need to pack boots/hats/gloves. I've been able to fit all of our clothes in 2 carry on sized suitcases with plenty of room. The rest will fit in 2 backpacks. My goal is to make it through the trip with no meltdowns, and lots of pictures. I think my camera will fill 1/2 my backpack! I need to make that worth it ;-)

Classes are going well so far. I have to take my homework with me, but that's okay. Only a little I'll need to do while there. So far I'm enjoying my intro to business class--controlled debate is a good thing. The tech writing class might be challenging--I'm not sure if the topic I choose is too large. I'm going to be scrounging up some people to interview regarding "Over use of radiation in an Emergency Department setting". Fun, no?

Okay time to finish loading my iphone and Clara's mp3 player with tunes, have a good weekend!

PS. I love this recipe. Super simple, and tastes soooo good. I made it twice this week, and I think I prefer the version with out herbs. If you make it, try to flatten it out alot--otherwise it can be kind of heavy.

Awesomeness

2010-01-07T22:21:00.000-08:00

Not really, but of my 2 old standby's (vodka, malibu, and OJ), plus ice cream for dinner makes EVERYTHING better! Lol Okay not really.

Today just seemed really long. Pretty slow most of the day, until I was alone. Then I was busy. It made the last 2.5 hours fly by. I think Dr VL was happy when I told him at 645 I promised not to call him again.

Tomorrow will hopefully be good. Then I only need Saturday to be good. Lol.

My plans for next week involve sorting through all of Clara's clothes. Then somehow getting rid of everything that doesn't fit in her dresser. This is going to be an all day project. Geesh. I can't wait. A friend wants to go to IKEA, so I guess if she's going to MAKE me, I'll go ;-) The goal will be not to spend any more. Good luck with that.

Nothing exciting going on here. I haven't done any homework yet. Opps. Hehehe. I suck.

We made it

2010-01-04T22:16:00.001-08:00

Back to school that is. It was a struggle this morning, I don't think either kiddo has woken up before 9 in 2 weeks...But they were dropped off 3 minutes before the final bell rang. And there were no tears.

Tonight the kids and I are sleeping over at my parents house. Blah. I'd rather be at home cuddled up on the couch next to Tom with my laptop watching TV. Instead Clara is sleeping on one couch, Jake is sleeping on the floor, and I get a twin-bed in my sister's old room. Yay.

I was able to sign up for both classes I needed. The intro to business is online, and the writing class will be on Tuesday nights. My goal is to spend atleast an hour a day while the kids are at school, just studying. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I'm the world's biggest procrastinator.

Is anyone else excited for LOST to start again?!?! Only 1 month left. Bittersweet. The last season. Sigh.

Sunday

2010-01-04T01:41:00.000-08:00

Slept in on accident again today. Darn that keeps happening.

Didn't do a whole lot today. Made more progress on Clara's bedroom. I couldn't believe the crap I got from under Jake's bed. Like 40-50 dirty socks. I'm not kidding. That's where they keep going...He's not allowed to wear them to bed now ;-)

Got to go see how to pack my mom's wound. Yay. It's not gross, but thank God I'm not a wound care nurse or physical therapist. I wouldn't want to do this as a real job. My dad is leaving for St Louis in the morning, so I'm going to stay with my mom for 2 nights, and she'll need that done.

Tomorrow I'm going to bake some bread I think. I think some white sandwich bread, and some cheesy foccicia bread. I'll try not to eat it all myself.

PS the potstickers were not nearly so good reheated ;-)

Jan 2nd

2010-01-02T20:08:00.001-08:00

I slept from 8am-230pm. I meant to wake up at 1pm, but Tom had taken the kids to my parents house, so I just kept sleeping ;-)

I decided today was the perfect day to tackle potstickers again. This time I used wonton wrappers, so I didn't have to worry about rolling anything out. I also used garlic and ginger, with a little more sauce on the inside.

Turned out juicy enough that no dipping sauce was required!

2010

2010-01-01T21:14:00.001-08:00

Twenty-ten. Two-thousand ten. How the heck did that happen?

I want to make resolutions. Kind of. More like set goals?

I'm going to "journal" more. Really just post more ;-) I'm debating starting a new blog just for me, but we'll see how ambitious I become.
Some how lower the stress in my life. Not sure how, little ways I suppose...
Cook more. Doesn't have to be fancy. Doesn't have to be really healthy. Just has to be made by me, or Tom, or all of us together.
Take more pictures. Just the normal day to day stuff with the kids, or the pets, or cooking, or anything really.
Cut back. On spending, eating out, time online, watching TV, on stuff.
Create more. Whether it's scrapbooking, quilting, knitting, or baking, create.
Spend more time outside. Even in the rain. Heck I've live in Oregon my whole life, I don't melt in the rain.
Have a better attitude at work. Luckily I'm one of the nice, happy, chipper peoplein my department, but I feel like I do an awful lot of complaining. I want to be happy at work. I don't want 36 hours of hell a week.

I think that's more than enough for now. Hopefully I'll be back with a post tomorrow and/or a picture. That's my goal for now, a post a day. Even just "I'm going to work."

Another trip planned

2009-12-28T13:30:00.000-08:00

Tickets bought and car rental booked for a quickie trip to St Louis to see my grandma. She's not doing well at all, so we're really hoping she can hold out for us to get there. She needs prayers and happy thoughts. Tom isn't able to take any time off of work, so it'll just be me and the kids. We're going Jan 16-2o, so really only there for 3 days. But since the 18th no school, they're only missing 2 school days. We'll stay at my grandma's house with my uncle, as my grandma is at a nursing home.

I'm hoping the trip won't be all bad. We're hoping to meet my cousins' twin girls, and hopefully get to see my other cousins' triplets and 5 yr old girl. A sad note, the cousin's dad is in the hospital and not doing well either. He had a heart attack and isn't recovering as well as hoped for. So keep him in your prayers as well.

One of the reasons for renting a car--so I won't have to depend on anyone else and spend excessive amounts of time sitting around waiting. I HATE that.

Mom is home and doing pretty well. At my parents house right now, as my computer is still dead. Sad. But this way we're here if my mom needs anything. We're gonna head to the park for an hour or two so she can rest. She can get up by herself, but still weak and in alot of pain.

Nothing too exciting to share, just keeping on going. That's all we can do, right?

Homemade potstickers

2009-12-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

I tried making these last night. Total pain. But they tasted pretty
yummy. Next time I'll either find a pasta roller to use, or buy
premade wrappers cuz the dough was a little thick and became kinda
gummy at times.

I posted another post right before this, since I can only post 1
picture per post ;)

Quilt for Clara

2009-12-24T10:27:00.000-08:00

It's a dark picture, and Mollie wouldy move from the bed, but here it
is. She's getting it for Christmas and think it's going to Grammy ;).
It's a lapquilt, but perfect for Clara

The Nutcracker

2009-12-20T22:46:00.000-08:00

Here's my little snowball for the second year in a row. I love the
performances twice a year, but I'm exhausted from today and yesterday!

Gift bags

2009-12-14T23:40:00.001-08:00

I'm making several of these to fill with goodies or a small gift. The
pattern is called an origami bag. Super quick and easy. Doing em
assembly style ;)

The holiday season

2009-12-12T08:16:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's already December 12th! After this shift, I only have 2 more days until the 31st at work. Next weekend Clara has her Nutcracker preformances for ABA, so I took Saturday off.

My mom is having surgery on 12/22, so I am able to take off the 22nd-30th as FMLA time, and it's even covered by MY sick pay. Awesome, no? I do work for a great hospital. I just lucked out in that only 2 days off were requested by anyone the week of Christmas and New Years. So I only need to get 1 more shift covered to make it all work. Kinda sucky that I have to cover my time off myself, but since I make the schedule, I don't really have a choice....

I didn't bake anything at home this week....Last Sunday I made a gooey butter cake, and a pineapple upside down cake, but they were both for a bake sale. And then Thursday night I made a batch of super easy peanut butter fudge, but it was to take to work for a potluck.

But I am armed with recipes for eggnog spritzes, caramel macchiato thumbprint cookies, and those peanut butter cookies with kisses in them. I'll makes all of these Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday. Yum! I still haven't made any challah bread, but I so want to. Clara wants to help with that, so I'm thinking I'll wait until my 2 weeks off.

I also need to make some little bags to put presents in. I have a pattern for an origami bag. I'm going to make a few of those to put teacher gifts in, and maybe for some work friends too. This should keep me busy all this week while the kids are at school.

Well I have 50 Christmas cards to address and mail out, so I should get busy. Only 10.5 more hours of the work day left, and I feel better when I can be productive--even on my own stuff--instead of just sitting here reading blogs and surfing the web.

Decemeber

2009-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

This year I've decided I'm going to bake a new kind of cookie every week. Just for fun. And I'm thinking about making a different bread each week too. I need something productive and holiday-ish to do with all my time off ;-)

This week I'm going to make lemon bars and challah bread. Hopefully they both turn out.

I'm also going to try to bind the quilt I put together, and do some cleaning. I bought some things for the advent calender/house I bought last year. We're going to do it at night--when I was a kid we did it in the morning, but 3 days a week I'm gone by 615am, and I don't wanna miss it ;-)

I can't wait to get a tree!

Hard to say goodbye

2009-11-28T08:06:00.000-08:00

I think it's time to say goodbye to a long time friend. It makes me really sad to consider this, but I'm tired of the drama. Tired of the pretending I'm okay with stuff that I'm really not. Tired of agreeing just to be supportive, even when it's harmful. And now I'm tired of being called judgemental because I told her to put her daughter in front of her in-the-past-emotionally-abusive-meth-head-just-out-of-prison boyfriend.

What the fuck ever.

I'm was really sad, but as I've stewed over the texts she sent me, I'm fucking pissed.

If things are screwed up with daughter, so screwed up that you can't live together and she leaves/you kick her out (it was a little of both), then shouldn't that be your TOP priority? And I thought by calling me, someone who knows your entire history AND has a good relationship with your daughter, you wanted advice. You wanted suggestions. You wanted input. But you didn't. You wanted someone to agree with everything you said. And I can't.

Sorry. So I think this is goodbye.

This isn't the first time we've disagreed and had to hash stuff out. But this is the first time that I don't really want to fix it.

baking

2009-11-18T14:40:00.001-08:00

I finally decided to attempt soft pretzels. I got this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. It was pretty easy to follow, and over all took a couple of hours, but most of that was proofing time for the dough. They turned out yummy and salty and warm--so good!

Some new sites I've been enjoying are: Smitten Kitchen, Color Chic, and Sew Mama Sew. I don't know how many recipes and tutorials I've printed out. Now to actually make some of this stuff!

Nice Sunday

2009-11-15T23:30:00.000-08:00

Today we had family pictures taken by my friend Michelle. I'm hoping for atleast 1 good family picture, and a good one of Tom and I. She took quite a few, so the odds are in our favor. She took the kids Christmas pictures last year, and they were great!

After that we went to the H1N1 distribution center in Sherwood, otherwise known as Safari Sam's. Shudder. Thank God for vaccines.

We drove around for a bit after that, we had about an hour to kill until Tom's parents were home from work. Clara and I fell asleep in the car, while Jake played his DS and Tom drove. Lol. Naps are good.

Finally we got to the inlaws, but left for dinner shortly after. We went to Old Chicago. My food was iffy, but everyone else had yummy looking food!

The kids went to be as soon as we got home, and I got to watch both Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Now I'm going to bed.

It was a good day :-)

Novemeber

2009-11-04T13:55:00.000-08:00

Once again, I ignore this for far too long. My bad.

Lately I've felt like cooking. Even when I should be doing things like studying for a microbiology test or weeding out old clothes and toys. Like now, I'd rather look up new recipes instead of cramming for a test covering DNA, metabolism and respiration, and cell structure and nutrition.

Sunday night I cooked chocolate french toast, then ended up making nachos when those were far too sweet.

Monday night I cooked mini B'Steeyas. They were okay, but a little sweet, and you could barely taste the chicken.

Tuesday night I made oven fried chicken.

Today for lunch I made fried rice.

I haven't figured out dinner yet. Leaning towards grilled cheese and soup cuz it just sounds yummy! Plus we're at gymnastics until 645, and the kids go to bed by 830 on Wednesday nights.

I need to download the pics from the camera, but this is already running so slow, I don't want to screw it up more! I do want to post pics since it's been forever.

Well back to homework for now. Must memorize the kreb cycle and DNA replication.

2009-11-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Indy 2009

2009-11-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Yay!

2009-10-29T21:53:00.001-07:00

I got my computer back!

They replaced the LCD screen, most of the plastics, the keyboard, memory, videocard, and some other stuff.

I'm just happy to be able to sit on the couch next to Tom while he watches basketball and I dink around online!

Hahaha

2009-10-10T08:47:00.001-07:00

I show up to post a quote from a different blog. It make me snicker. From the amazing chicken:

"Really—anything hidden with a map is very popular around here. Like a
stapler. Or a washcloth. We do this indoors and out. And now they are getting so good at reading the maps! The best are the maps we make for baby—which is just a drawing of something lying on the floor. Then we laugh at her."

Sometimes all you need is a good laugh to get through the morning.

and I want these story blocks!!

Dale

2009-09-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Right before Jake puked everywhere

Pluto!

2009-09-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Labor Day

2009-09-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

I've never been so happy for a Monday in a long time! It'll be a LOOONG time before I volunteer to work 5 12 hour shifts in a row. Or atleast until we're home from Disneyland. We leave on Saturday to drive down (yay!) and will be there from Sunday until next Saturday. Awesome! Can't wait!

Di you should come meet us or something! It'd be fun!

Now I'm gonna finish cleaning the kitchen and go shopping for our impromptu BBQ.

In and out

2009-09-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

I just seem to pop in and out with no real substance! Sorry!

I've been trying to cook more, and bake more as well. Tonight I'm making bbq ribs 2 ways, potato salad, corn on the cob, and zucchini bread. And banana bread. My goal is to not start the traeger on fire like last time. A side note, these lovely grills used to be made in Mt Angel which is a little town not far away. But sadly they were sold and now made in China or something. Sad.

School starts for the kids in 1 week. I'm ready ;-) We leave for Disneyland on the 12th. We could all use the vacation! I think Tom and I are more excited than the kids though.

My classes start late, like the 28th I think. Just taking statistics online, and a microbiology class. Still not 100% sure how it's going to work out since the bio class is in the afternoons...I might have to take a different class this term, and find a microbio class during the day another term...

I'm working 60 hours between tomorrow and Sunday. Wish me luck. Fingers crossed this weekend won't be too bad with it being labor day. I'm working my normal 7a-7p every day except tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm work 11a-11p, so crashing at co-workers house in Silverton for the night, so I can make it back to the hospital at 7am with atleast 6 hours of sleep ;-)

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Back to school already?!?!?

2009-07-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Not for the kids, for me. Even though graduation from the x-ray program was a mere 2 years 5 months ago, I've decided I want to go back to school. I'm not 100% what sure I'll be doing, but most likely it'll be this program, which is a 27 months PA masters program that also has a BS degree complition built in. If I can get in....They get 500+ applicants a year for 40ish spots. I need to get my essay writing down if I'm going to have a chance. I can't even apply until next June due to the biology classes I need, which is frustrating since they are accepting applications right now.

Funnily enough, a coworker is also contimplating this program as well. We're going to take a statistics class on line together this fall so we can study at work (we both work Thursday, Friday, Saturday). I'm also registered for a night time microbiology class. Plus side to taking 2 classes is being able to defer my student loans while in school...

I haven't done any job shadowing yet, but I've talked to 2 family practice doctors would said I'd be more than welcome to come follow them around as much as I wanted. It helps knowing other working moms with kids in all day daycare, eh? I hope to spend a day a week once school gets started in the fall. I already have the patient care that is required to apply for the program, but I've never done any of the exams/palpating ect that family practice MD's and PA's do.

To go along with the above, I had an interview yesterday at another hospital. I need extra hours. If I have any hope of going back to school full time, unable to work, then I need to get as much debt paid off as possible. I'll find out on Friday if I got the job or not.

Atleast Tom still has a job. Who knows how long that will last, and that makes me incredibly nervous. If something happens to his job, then how would I be able to go back to school? Without even taking the cost of the program in to account, money will be super tight if I can only work weekends...

So that's what's going on with me right now. I feel like I'm being pulled in many directions, but I know I want MORE out of my job. Heck I'll be lucky to be able to retire in 40 years, and I'm pretty sure I'll hate my life and everyone in it if I'm doing the same thing 40 years from now. I want responsibility and challenges, and I just don't see how that would work with where I'm at right now. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy my job, the last 2.5 years has flown by, but I know I'm going to be disapointed in 20 years if I'm still "just a tech" doing the same ol, same ol.

Interesting...

2009-07-06T14:32:00.001-07:00

Apparently I'm too slow to post a post...I had typed this big long post on the 4th, and didn't post it. And poof, it's gone. Sweet. No clue what it was about, that was far too long ago...

I feel like I need to get rid of about 65% of our "stuff" both in the house and in the garage. It's pissing me off. I'm tired of stuff everywhere! Even if it's useful, like art supplies or toilet paper, or 12 pack of pop. There is just too much of it! ARG. I mean who needs 10 backpacks, even if they were all super duper cheap?!?!?!

Clara said she'd help me sort through all of her clothes to figure out what's too small and what she doesn't like, and then get rid of it! Maybe I'll do a gymboree estate sale. lol. I'd rather get some $$ for it then just give it away because God knows I've invested a small fortune with it all.

I have really come to appreciate 4 days off a week. Not sure what I'd do if had to work a normal work week. It would suck. I mean I still have 2 days off before I'm forced to go back! Sweet!

I made really yummy BBQ ribs for dinner last night. I boiled them in 2 bottles of bbq sauce plus water to cover, instead of just water, before grilling them. Super good, but not good for ya. Who cares?! Oh yeah, I probably should...

Well time to wrangle the kids up and head to ballet. I'm wishing we had taken the summer off cuz I just don't feel like sitting in the hot studio for an hour right now....

Working on the 4th

2009-07-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Not a morning person

2009-06-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

For the most part, I'm digging this shift. I'm home by 730ish every night, I get along with the people I work with (with 1 sole exception, 1 day a week). It's good.

What's not good is getting up by 530am every morning. Luckily for me, Tom is nice and takes the first shower Thursday and Friday AM. So he's up at 510am, and I get to 'sleep in' until 530am. I can't get used to it. Doesn't matter if I go straight to be when I get home, I still drag in the morning.

Today I didn't get up until 555am. I need to leave by 615 drive at a safe speed and get to work by 655. Luckily I'm known to drive at unsafe speeds, so leaving at 625 wasn't the end of the world. But it didn't leave enough time for a stop by the DVD red box at safeway. Bummer.

Have I said lately how much I heart the Daily Show? Always makes me giggle.

On the home side, things are slowing down. School is out, baseball and t-ball are finished, the ballet recital is over, and birthday parties have occured. Bring on summer! We have lots of fun things planned on my days off (Sunday-Wednesday).

Right now William is visiting from Washington DC. He went to school with Clara the last 2 days and had a blast! He'll be here until the 30th, so we're trying to get lots of fun in before then.

We don't have any trips planned this summer. The next one up is Disneyland in September. I wish it was sooner! We're all excited about going again, though Tom thinks we might be going back too soon. I think 17 months is a nice amount between trips...We're staying at the Grand Californian again.

So that's about it. I'm going to try to update more often, but since I don't have a huge amount of readers, it's had to motivate myself ;-)

Wow

2009-05-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

Eight years ago a certain young man joined our family. And now he's almost done with second grade, can ride a two-wheel bike like a pro, read like a 7th grader, and still be my sensitive caring dude.

Happy Birthday Jake!

Crazy boy

Happy boy

Birthday boy

Candy boy

Silly boy

Bartender boy

And someone decided Jake's birthday was a great day to lose her first tooth!

Night from hell

2009-05-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Last night was HORRIBLE. The tech who works 10a-10p stayed until 1230am. I finally got my night box at 2am, realizing I had been working straight for 8 hours. If nothing else, the night just flew by, with only 2 10-15 minute catnaps between patients.

Tonight is looking better, but just by typing that will curse me I'm sure. Sorry ER folks.

In our department there is 1 person who seems to find the most tumors. But due to recent events, I'm up for the tumor finder title as well. You have to remember that I work at a smaller hospital, so we don't "find" alot of stuff. So it's kind of exciting to spot something, but then you remember what exactly you're finding...

I need to find extra work, and I'm having a difficult time. While there are many hospitals with in an hour drive, the ones that are less than 30 minutes away either aren't hiring, or I already work there and they don't have extra hours. WTF? I should have been a nurse. I don't really mean that, but I think I'd have a much easier time getting extra shifts, and be getting paid more!

Well back to work, now that it's dark and the sun has gone down, people will start to flood the waiting room...

(peeking out) Hellooooooooo

2009-05-03T22:27:00.000-07:00

Still alive. Still busy. T-ball, AA baseball, making a quilt, making stained glass stepping stones, bake sale stuff, gymnastics, ballet, trying to keep the house decent.

I don't see things slowing down.

So to make it more fun, I'm applying for another on-call job as my 2 side jobs haven't had anything in ages due to cut backs. But since Tom's work future is unknown until May 11 (when GM announces which dealerships it wants to cut), it'd be nice to have something else to fall back on. I figure I can handle working 60 hours a week for a few months if I HAVE to.

So that's it for now folks! Once I have something fun to post, I will. I'll try to take some pictures this week to post.

With auntie Sarah

2009-04-02T21:17:00.001-07:00

Times....they are a changing....

2009-02-10T00:59:00.000-08:00

I know I only bitch about work these days, I hate that it has such an effect on me.

Starting the week after next I'll be changing schedules once again. I'll be working Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 7a-7p. I'm not very excited about the every Saturday business, but I worked every Sunday for almost a year and it didn't kill me. I'll be home every night before the kids go to bed, and even tho I'll probably miss out on some Saturday little league stuff, I'll still be able to take Clara to ballet, Jacob to cub scouts, and both of them to gymnastics and karate.

I need to see if I can find someone to trade 2 days with me in a few weeks though. I signed up for 11(!!!) classes at the Creating Keepsake Convention and then got talked in to doing a full blown retreat that weekend . But of course it's Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, and I just don't have enough PTO to cover those 24 hours.

I'm gonna have to do some begging and trading because I just can't swing 24 for that weekend, then the 60 I'd need for our DC trip (Friday/Saturday in Seattle, and in DC the next Thursday/Friday/Saturday). I'm hoping my co-workers come through for me...

I also need to think of some ideas to make this all easier on Tom. He's not happy about me working Saturdays, really he doesn't know it's for sure happening yet (I guess there is a tiny chance it might not, but as things stand it'll happen).

I don't want him to dread every weekend.

I think I'll be encouraging him to do things with friends on Friday nights, since I'll be home by 730/745 and NOT wanting to go out, seeing a I'll be needing to leave by 615a Saturday morning. Then he'd at least have a fun time. And once the weather gets a bit nicer, he can take the kids to the Gilbert House or OMSI anytime he wants since we have a membership....Most likely he'll spend every Saturday from the beginning of April until school gets out, out at the little league fields...

Well I gotta go to bed, I've been sooo lazy the last few weeks, Jake has been late to school twice, and Clara stayed home 1 day last week, and went late today, plus a day last week. Slacker mom. I need to stop...

Maybe Tom and I will get lunch tomorrow. A benefit of not having to work until 2pm......

February already!

2009-02-01T23:05:00.000-08:00

Crazy stuff.

Nothing too exciting going on these days. We signed the kids up for little league, then did some cleaning. Yesterday my parents and brother came over to celebrate my brothers birthday. We had roast chicken and scalloped taters with a HUGE chocolate cake from costco. Gluttony, no?

Today was pretty laid back. I got to sleep in, and woke up to the noise of the dishwasher. What is that? Tom did the dishes at 9am on a Sunday? What is the world coming to? I went and saw the Curious Case of Benjamin Button with my friend Jamie. It was a long movie, and while interesting, I kept getting a little bored.

Afterward I thought I'd run to WINCO to get some groceries, I mistakenly figured no one would be there due to the superbowl. Wrong. It was crazy. I tried to make it a quick trip. Watched the end of the 2nd quarter and second half of the game with Tom and the kids.

Now everyone is asleep, the dishwasher is running again, the laundry is being done, and the house isn't completely trashed. I'd say it was a fine weekend.

Monday Monday

2009-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

Tink you should totally come to Seattle again. This time I'll make the trek up to visit you :-)

Today is laundry day. My goal is to get it ALL WASHED. This only occurs like twice a year, so wish me luck.

Tonight we have the pinewood derby for cub scouts. The cars didn't do too hot last night, but both kids handled it well. It's just exciting to watch them all race, and I want them to remember that they had fun making their cars, and if they win--sweet! If not, no biggie.

I think I'm going to make crockpot chili. It's a weight watcher recipe and only 2 points. The kids can make tacos out of it (what Jake requested for dinner) and it's healthy, until we add the cheese and sour cream ;-)

I'm off to have a lunch date with Tom, and hopefully top by to meet Tuesday at some point today. Isn't she a cutie??

The weekend

2009-01-23T12:39:00.001-08:00

Today Jake is home from school due to a grading day, so he came along for Clara's book party at the montessori school. They do book parties at various milestones. She had her first party today for reading 12 books. She is sooo proud of herself :-)

Now Jake is sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. He hasn't yet complained *fingers crossed*. I just don't get it. Reading and math come so easily to him, yet every time he needs to do homework, it ends in tears(him) and frustration (Tom and I).

This weekend Jake is doing a TAG workshop involving bugs and movement. I think it will be fun :-) Clara is doing a dance camp with a friend from school--she's really excited about it. Sunday they have their AWANA pinewood derby. Monday is the cub scout derby. Hopefully their cars will be winners!

And to update from a few posts ago, I was able to find tickets to DC. The downside is that we'll be flying in and out of Seattle, and in and out of Baltimore. But since it saves us $300 per ticket, the drive is worth it. And we'll have a fun weekend in Seattle prior to leaving.

I'm trying to come up with stuff to do in DC with 3 kids. It's going to be busy with spring break stuff, and I don't like people, so it's gonna be hard to figure it out. We might end up playing alot of Wii and walking to Trader Joe's and riding the metro to random places....

Hopefully we'll see Kim and crew--that would be fun!

Well I'm going to start some laundry so I don't feel *too* lazy today, and then get some picking up done. Then I'll be back to lazy after that.

Chocolate Martinis

2009-01-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
6 oz. Vanilla vodka
4 oz. Irish crème liqueur
4 oz. Crème de caçao
4 oz. Chocolate Milk
Chocolate syrup
Ice

(optional) Chocolate shavings
(optional) Whipped cream

Chill martini glasses in your freezer
"Swirl" chocolate syrup around inside of martini glass.

Mix vanilla vodka, Irish crème liqueur, crème de caçao, and milk in a shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass and serve.

Rim glass with cocoa powder for even more chocolate flavor. You can top the Chocolate martini with whipped cream and more chocolate syrup, or chocolate shavings.

Things to note. I couldn't fit all of this into a shaker. So I halved it. Didn't swirl my glass or use cocoa powder. Might have turned out better if I did. I did use twice as much chocolate milk when I made it. It was just too Irish cream tasting. I wasn't a huge fan, but it was a nice change. Maybe next time I'll skip the chocolate milk and blend it with chocolate ice cream.. That'd be tasty :-)

For now, I'll still to my green apple and pear mixes shaken with vodka....

Saturday

2009-01-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

I have spent far too much time yelling today.

This chocolate martini just isn't kicking in nearly fast enough.

I thought this was going to be a GOOD weekend.

2009-01-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

"we can't get him a weasle for his birthday". Clara

Sent from my iPhone

Stupid airfare....

2009-01-07T00:27:00.000-08:00

I just want to go to DC for spring break to visit Sarah and Daci and "babysit" William while he's out of school. So guess how much airfare is the Thursday-Sunday I'd want to fly there, and the Saturday-Monday I'd want to fly home. Alot.

So tonight I get on Travelocity. Oooooh look only $215/person round trip! I tried to book like 10 different combos and EVERY BLEEPING TIME the price would magically go up by the time I got to the booking page. FU travelocity, and FU american airlines.

sigh.

I'm sad.

Not 100 books

2008-12-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

Well I didn't reach my goal of 100 books this year. I figured I wouldn't be able to meet it back in June when I had only read about 30. The official number is 57, but I might be missing 1 or 2 unmemorable books.

Suggestions for next year? I'll set my goal at 50 and just be happy to meet it.

In the order read
1.) Atonment
2.) Mommy Tracked
3.) Odd Mom Out
4.) Jemima J
5.) Time Travlers Wife
6.) Secret Life of CeeCee Wilks
7.) Under the Banner of Heaven
8.) Unofficial Guide to Disneyland
9.) Water for Elephants
10.) Body Surfing
11.) Remember Me
12.) Mommies Behaving Badly
13.) Not Quite a Mom
14.) Between, Georgia
15.) Tallgrass
16.) My Sisters Keeper
17.) The Echelon Vendetta
18.) Shoe Addicts Anonymous
19.) Certain Girls
20.) 10th Circle
21.) All Together in One Place
22.) Hour Game
23.) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
24.) Susannah's Garden
25.) My Best Friends Girl
26.) Best Friends
27.) Simple Genius
28.) Want Fries With That?
29.) Circle of Three
30.) The Naked Earl
31.) Plain Truth
32.) One for the Money
33.) Two for the Dough
34.) The Accidental Mother
35.) Three to get Ready
36.) Four to Score
37.) Five something
38.) Hot Six
39.) Seven something
40.) Eight something
41.) To the Nines
42.) Ten Big Ones
43.) Eleven something
44.) Twelve something
45.) Lean Mean Thirteen
46.) Playing for Pizza
47.) Secrets
48.) Tears from the Sun
49.) Tears of the Moon
50.) Heart of Sea
51.) Key of Light
52.) Key of Knowledge
53.) Key of Valor
54.) Twilight
55.) New Moon
56.) Eclipse
57.) Breaking Dawn

Not Happy

2008-12-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

I don't want to be at work right now. I want to be at home snuggled in bed.

My iPhone is being stupid. Sigh. I miss you facebook (blocked on the work computer).

They didn't make my nightbox (free dinner put in a fridge for when the cafeteria is closed).

I can't stop sneezing.

I don't want to be here.

I'm off work in 7 hours, then have to be back 5 or 6 hours after that. Blech.

I still haven't mailed my Christmas cards out. They are sitting here next to me addressed and stamped, but not sealed. I'm breaking out the tape at some point tonight to close them all. Sorry they'll be arriving late!

Holiday meme from Tink

2008-12-12T16:43:00.000-08:00

Answer these questions here or on your own blog with a link to it in the comment section.

1. What was the best present you've ever received? ***a TV when I was 16
2. What was the worst? ***I always get really random stuff from my grandma
3. What is something you really want this year for yourself? ***I want Wii Music
4. What is something you really want this year for someone else? ***a brain for a certain someone..........
5. What's your favorite Christmas memory? ***Up til the year before I had Jake, we'd always spend Christmas Eve together, all of us girls sleeping in the same room. I don't think this really started til Jr high or so, but it was nice because Sarah always came home from DC for Christmas, and once I moved out, I'd still go home for the night. It was fun.

Everyone should do it. Especially YOU

2008-12-08T00:41:00.000-08:00

Friday

2008-12-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

So last night while I was driving home at 11pm, the moon looked really weird. It was super low in the sky, and bright orange. Like a harvest moon, but only a 1/4ish moon, not full. And then as I got closer to Salem, it freaking dissapeared. And I couldn't find it again. Damn vanishing moon. That or I was going crazy. While driving. Which isn't a good combination.

I had lunch with Jacob today. The chocolate milk was sour. YUCK. Someone needs to keep those lunch ladies in check. They aren't rotating stock or something, because the expiration date was today, but then when the kids went to get new stuff, it had a range of 12/10 to 12/17. Let's get a plan, lunch ladies, so this doesn't happen again.

I had a brief visit with a friend this morning. I haven't seen her in a good 10-11 years. We were really close for a few years in grade school, then kinda went our seperate ways. If I had bumped in to her, I would have known her immediately! She lives close, and is expecting her baby AND doing a large addition to her home at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking! She is an adorablely pregnant girly!

Next on the to do list is taking stock of the presents bought so far, and maybe starting on the wrapping. We'll see what happens. Dexter won't take a nap, and keeps whining, so we might be going for a walk BEFORE I get the kids, instead of after....

2008-12-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

I'm alive, just not on the computer as much, and on facebook more...does that make any sense? If this is funky, it's because of this darn computer at work. I'm waiting for my last patient before I can jet outta here. SHOW UP patient NOW. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

What did I do?

2008-11-22T08:11:00.001-08:00

Somehow I ended up back at work. On a Saturday. For 12 hours. Smart, eh?

Tink apparently your magic kind of worked, because I felt well enough yesterday to agree to covering a shift. So Thank You, I guess. hehe. I actually don't feel very badly, but my throat is all scratchy,and my sinus' are full of crud. But *knocks on wood* I feel pretty good.

I don't have to work with creepy dude, so that's good. I would have gone crazy sitting in the same smallish sized room ALL DAY with him.

I'm listening to music the one way I've figured out how to do at work. It's on imeem. For whatever reason, it's the ONLY streaming/media thingy that works here. Everything else is blocked. I just don't feel like watching TV right now (we have a tv/dvd player in addition to the computers).

The kids are going to an art class this morning. They'll be making cinnamon dough ornaments this week, then painting them next week. I think they'll have a good time. It's for 6-10, but I think Clara will be more in to it than Jacob, plus she took a class this summer that was for 6 and up and it did great. I wish we had more art class options closer to home. They have an 8 week drawing class that I'm debating taking. It's only $50 and during the day, so I'd be able to go while the kids are at school. We'll see.

I still didn't make the Christmas book. I will. I still have a week. Just gotta make time... Does it count if I've been thinking about it alot??

That time of the year...

2008-11-20T22:18:00.001-08:00

No, not Thanksgiving time, but cold/flu/sickness time.

I just KNOW I'm going to get the flu this year since I was all bitchy to the shot nazi about refusing one. Okay, I'm a big talker, I wasn't really bitchy. I just said no.

I have a headache, sore throat, my lymph nodes are all inflammed, and my neck hurts. I'm starting to cough.

I'm really glad that 40 minutes marks the start of my 4 day weekend, but I don't really want to spend it all in bed.

My goal for the weekend is to make my 25 days of Christmas book and track down the Martha Stewert advent house/cottage....

I was hoping to take a card class tomorrow, but it was cancelled/rescheduled. Oh well. I probably wouldn't want to go anyways.

Wish me luck on not getting really sick...

11/17/2008

2008-11-17T22:43:00.000-08:00

I JUST realized I forgot to call my grandma to wish her happy birthday. Damn it. She's 91, so it needs to recognized. And of course our cards are arriving late. I rock.

I'm having such mixed feelings on things right now. I have a love/hate relationship with my job. It's sad that one or two people can make me dread going to work. I was offered a job else where but no chance in hell I'll take it. Doesn't pay enough and it's on FILM. Oh the horrors. Not to mention whenever I fill in there, I hate my life by the time I leave. Soooo....not gonna happen. But I did say I'd fill in a bit extra until they hire someone. But we'd do it my way--so I'd get off in time to pick the kids up and/or take Clara to ballet. It's not as good as sitting around watching TV on my days off, but I'll survive.

I'm happy Christmas is on the way. I'm just feeling all kinds of Christmas-y right now. I need to make an advent/25 days of Christmas book to document December. I think it'll be fun. I just gotta get it done ASAP.

I'm excited about Clara's Nutcracker performance. She has a small role, but it'll be alot of fun for her, and so cute to watch. I'm a little bummed she'll be in the back almost the whole show, but she is one of the youngest in her class, and this way she'll be able to follow some of the more advanced girls.

I snorted during the cub scout pack meeting tonight from trying to hold maniacal laughter in. And for THE stupidest reason...One of the kids farted fairly audibly and it gave me the giggles. They were playing not it and apparently I was the only immature adult there. Oh well. It was entertaining.

Back to work tomorrow. I hope Friday comes quickly. I'm taking a card making class at the local scrapbook store during the day Friday, and trying to talk a friend in to going with.

Happy week before Thanksgiving everyone!

So much to do

2008-11-05T10:12:00.001-08:00

Before

After (complete with dead bug face)

Clara insisted I let her cut her hair. She wanted it even shorter, but I think it is super cute. We decided to grow her bangs out, so I need to invest in some new headbands as I can't just pull it in to a pony tail anymore.

So much to do.

And instead of doing it, I'm watching past episodes of CSI. The only thing that absolutely has to be done today is resewing Jake's cub scout patches that fell off. The smart thing would be to sew them while I watch TV. But I'm not smart.

I also need to get all of my scrapbooking stuff in order--I get to spend all weekend scrapbooking! I'm glad it's here in town, so I'll be home both nights instead of going to a retreat out of the area. Wish me luck in winning prizes, I never get anything good...

Jacob had his appt with the Urologist yesterday. It went well. He doesn't have undescended testes, they are just retractable. So we'll go back in 3 months for another check. I think the downside is a posibility of torsion, but it doesn't raise his cancer risk/fertility issues like undescended testes do. So we're just waiting and seeing...

On the other hand Dexter NEEDS to be castrated. The little punk. I can't leave him and Bailey alone for very long because as soon as they start to play, he tries to hump her. My poor old puppy.

Enough rambling, off to get stuff done. Happy Day After the Election everyone!

Yes we can!

2008-11-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

Sarah Palin Got Pranked

2008-11-01T20:12:00.001-07:00

Really?? sigh.

Dear Tink

2008-10-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

I don't invite people to pee on my table. You (and I) are lucky enough to have never needed a CT scan with contrast. But one of the common occurances when we adminster contrast via an IV (not called a side effect though...) is the feeling like you are wetting your pants, plus getting a hot flast, and/or a metallic taste in your mouth. Some people get all 3, some get none. But...

Up until the other day, no one had actually peed on the table. Because really it is just a sensation, not like your bladder is that full. But apparently this gentleman needed to pee, and just let loose. Awesome.

So now ya know, people don't often pee on my table....

Love,
Mary

Not much to say

2008-10-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Something I can never say again with out flat out lying.

"You may get a hot flash, a funny taste in your mouth, and feel like you're wetting your pants. But you won't, that's just a sensation and will go away shortly"

Yeah someone peed on my CT table. sigh. And it wasn't even a LOL (little old lady).

The guy from work who has been out since 9/15 was supposed to be back today. But he's going to be gone another 2-4 weeks. Not only did a family member have major surgery, now he has a major infection....prayers to ES

This means I can still come in to work an hour early to get some OT. Always a good thing.

I can't wait for next week. The election will be over!! YAY!

I have so much TV to catch up on, it's not even funny. I've not watched any CSI, Boston Legal, or CSI NY other than the first episode. And no Biggest Loser. I just don't have time. I figure I'll try to catch up on CSI's before they get booted from OnDemand. Boston Legal I'll try to rent or something. Who knows, and really...who cares??

Time to go home--hope everyone has a good week if I don't check in later.

Wednesday 10/22

2008-10-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

So tree hugging hippies (not really...) end up with a gas guzzling SUV. It's a 2008 GMC Acadia. Black. Not loaded at all. lol. Budget people, budget! It's nice. I drove it over to Seaside, and it was nice. No problems at all passing people at 75 going up hill. Safely of course. And it has full side airbags, which makes me feel even better.

We had fun at the coast, would have been better if Tom had been able to join us. We stayed at the Worldmark site. The weather was either sunny and a bit windy, or raining. And often both with in minutes of each other. Overall, a good trip. The kids had a good time, we only spent $8 at the arcade in 30+ minutes! Using the Christmas present opening idea, 1 person at a time, it really stretched it out.

I worked about 8 hour yesterday, working 13 today, then working graveyard tomorrow and Friday. I need to make a run to blockbuster so I have something to do between 11pm and 7am...If I get movies, I'll be too busy to watch them. If I don't, the ER will be empty ALLLLLL night and I'll be bored.

We got proofs from Clara's school pictures and they turned out cute. I just have no idea what package to order since they are fairly different from A to B to C ect. What's great is the person who took the pictures took our pictures when I was a kid and did sports ect...He must REALLY like taking pictures.

Dexter is getting big. I don't even consider him MY dog. I never see the little brat. And he is a brat. I need to find obedience classes for him, cuz soon he'll be able to flatten either kid with a nudge of his big head.

I should try to pretend to work a bit more, though I really wish I was off in 4 minutes instead of 5 hours....

What happened?

2008-10-17T21:41:00.001-07:00

It's only 2 weeks from Halloween. It still feels like school just started, but we're SIX weeks in already. Crazy.

Di I think that's a good idea about right before he wants to do something else. Normally we just try to get it done as soon as we get home, hoping that he'll want to finish quickly then move on to playing. I'll see how it works this week.

I can't figure out if we should get a new car or not. We have a 2004 Pontiac Montana. It has 80k miles on it, but it is in fairly good shape. A few scratches, but no dents or accidents or anything. It runs well, no funny noises or what not. And the interior is as good as it can be considering we have 2 kids who are allowed to eat in it. The problem is we still owe about 8k, but it's only worth about 5k. Because of all the crazy good deals on cars due to our LOVELY economy, we could get a GMC Acadia (I've been pining over it for a good 6 months now) for about $40-50 more a month than our current payment.

I feel like the grown-up choice would be to keep the van and run it in to the ground. The downside being we still owe for 2 year worth, and only 20k more miles before the warranty runs out. In Tom's opinion, we're lucky things haven't gone wrong yet (remember he sees what comes in to the shop...). So I dunno. We could basically break even with the van, even though we are in the hole by 3k. But then we're putting no money down on the Acadia, and having a bigger payment when we're really trying to cut back.

What to do. We're sitting at about 75% getting the Acadia. Sigh. I just feel like it's the wrong choice.

Ouch

2008-10-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

My mouth hurts. I HATE the dentist. Hate em. I'm never going back. (until 11/20 for a cleaning).

Yay for tylenol3, but boo that it's a prescription.

I have no idea what to do about Jake and homework. It's a huge struggle all around. Anyone have any ideas? He doesn't have a whole lot of it, just a little blurb about writing every week day, and a about a page of math--but not like 25 problems or anything, just a worksheet about concepts, sorting, patterns ect. It worries me that we are having these problems already. It's not that he doesn't know how to do the work, he does. I think he's just bored by it or something.

I've been trying to get our spending under control. Using a little budget thing and estimating on some costs, we spend $400/month more than we make. Sucky. Timme to start cutting the crap.

boring

2008-10-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today I turned 28. I feel about20. What a cliche. I bought some stuff at Craft Warehouse, and 2 new pairs of shoes. Now my feet hurt.

I just want to GO HOME. Working 12 hours on your birthday blows.

copied from Allison who copied it from Chelle

1. Where is your cell phone? in my pocket
2. Your significant other? Tom
3. Your hair? pulled back
4. Your mother? laying down
5. Your father? over worked
6. Your favorite thing? fresh air
7. Your dream last night? I don't remember, but it was wacky
8. Your favorite drink? diet pepsi
9. Your dream/goal? success...how ever I feel like defining it
10. The room you’re in? "tech area"
11. Your fear? pain
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? not working til 11pm
13. Where were you last night? working
14. What you’re not? quiet
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? computer
17. Where you grew up? oregon
18. The last thing you did? Chest
19. What are you wearing? scrubs
20. Your TV? Project Runway
21. Your pets? many
22. Your computer? Dell
24. Your mood? random
25. Missing someone? Gina
26. Your car? dirty
27. Something you’re not wearing? flipflops
28. Favorite Store? Target
29. Your summer? gone
30. Your favorite color? green
31. When is the last time you laughed? earlier
33. Who will/would re-post this? no one
34. FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: work, home, school, Target
35. Four Foods I Like: pizza, nachos, berries, necterines
36. FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: home, in bed, florida, washington DC

1 year

2008-10-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

I miss you Gina.

I thought I'd be okay today, but the feeling of loss is overwhelming.

Ow

2008-09-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

I hurt.

I had 2 cavities filled, and the prep work for a crown done. All 3 teeth in a row. The whole left side of my face is starting to throb. I got a script for tylenol3, but I have to take Clara to ballet in an hour, so I don't want to take any.

I'm such a baby.

Oh and to make it better, the person who was going to work for me called in sick. This is the 3rd time in a row she's done that. Awesome. I told them I didn't want to work, but I have a feeling I might end up going in and working 6-11 or something.

I'm going to post some pictures from the beach over at the other blog.

PALIN COURIC INTERVIEW SNL

2008-09-27T22:45:00.001-07:00

Funny.

2008-09-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

funny, again.

2008-09-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

see he makes fun of both parties. occasionally...

Suprise?

2008-09-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the link Emma :-) Glad people are enjoying the videos.

I'm home with my sick Clara. She has the runs. She told me she wanted to go to school, then laid on my bed for 10 minutes without moving.... Then while sitting on the pot she told me she was okay to go to school. When I explained I had already called in sick, and they knew I was home with her, she said to tell him that daddy came home to watch her, and to go to work after I drop her off at school. Such a schemer she is...

The only thing I do anymore...

2008-09-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

post videos. Sorry jon stewart haters!

Off of work today. I did 30 mins on the Wii Fit. go me. now if I could do that every day, I'd be golden ;-) Then I watched the Dailyshow and the Cobert Report from the last 2 nights. Now I'm avoiding laundry.

2008-09-15T18:43:00.001-07:00

From a big rally in Alaska--AWESOME!

Another Weekend, Gone.

2008-09-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only Jon Stewart fan. Sorry Chelle, he's funny ;-) But I guess you have to have a certain mindset to appreciate it....

Yesterday we tried to track the infamous AKP down, but she fled the city so it was a failure. Maybe next time....

We went to a street fair. It was kind of lame. But I'm not nearly hip enough, so I'm sure that's why I thought that...Though we went to a really cute kids store, and I could have dropped some serious cash, but only spent $5. go me. After that we went to a little weird co-op grocery store. It had high end organic hippie shit, and the cheapest hot dogs money could buy. Very weird mix.

Then we saw the inlaws. I took a 300 piece HSM puzzle to do with Clara. Instead my MIL and I put it together on the hard hard hard tile floor. It only took 45 minutes. lol. Clara loved it once we finished it. We decided pizza would be good for dinner, so we trucked over to Papa's Pizza. The place was empty, seeing as it was after 8pm, so the kids had a blast playing with the other 2 family of kids there.

Today we did a whole lot of nothing. Tom went in to work to get some stuff done, and I took the kids to church. It wasn't my first choice of churches, and holy moly the pastor kept going and going and going. Like way too long. luckily I had my iphone. I know I'm going to burn in hell, don't remind me. I didn't have a chance to drive all around the parking lot to scope out bumper stickers. My dad parked RIGHT by the exit so everyone could see his Obama one...

After that we went to the dog park, then sat around.

Exciting, no?

I do have Clara's lunch made, her ballet gear by the door, and Jake's backpack laid out. And Both kids set out clothes for tomorrow. We might actually leave the house on time! I just have to drop Clara off right at 7am when her school opens. Then head to work. Yay for day shift, I guess...I'm just not a morning person....

Here's a video

Lame-o

2008-09-12T23:30:00.000-07:00

That's me. A big lame-o.

Today took me to the Oktoberfest. It was okay. I've only gone once before and it was in 1994 or so. I don't need to go again for another 14-15 years. It might be different if I was a big beer or wine fan, but until they get a jell-o shot garten, I'm not interested. A huge amount of fried food though.

Then we went to the dog park. The kids around like someone gave them crack in the parking lot. They got all dusty and gross, but managed to avoid stepping in any poo or letting any dogs escape.

We followed that up with mexican food. Yummy but holy shit, like there is any question why I happen to be "big boned"....

Tomorrow the kids have soccer, then we decided they need to be introduced to some Urban Hipster Culture, so off to a street fair we'll go. Wish us luck that the bastard in Tom stays tucked inside, because he gets all pissy and I have to deal with him plus 2 whiney kids, and masses of people. Not fun.

Then we'll see the inlaws. I don't think I've seen them since before our Disneyland trip. I think Tom took the kids up once earlier this summer. Reminder. They live less than an hour away. They don't seem very broken up about the lack of face time. Whatever. I know they have their own life, but geez. These are their only grandkids. I'd assume they'd want to see them a little more often.........

Check out these blogs if you haven't already. NieNie and the Decker family.

There is a reason this is aired on Comedy Central...

2008-09-05T00:57:00.000-07:00

thursday

2008-09-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

I posted pics of the first day of school over on the pic blog. Well 1 pic. Because I suck.

I found a music streaming site that works at work. I bet it'll be blocked by the next day I work...

It's www.imeem.com for anyone interested.

I really liked Shattered by O.A.R. I've been whistling it all day.

Well must get back to work. After having nothing to do all day, it's been picking up now. Oh joy. Hopefully it'll make the next 2 hours fly by.

ps. sorry I suck about blogging. my bad.

I can't sleep

2008-08-27T01:44:00.000-07:00

Common thread, no?

Today we went to a BBQ with a friend, it was for a local moms group. It was pretty fun. I always feel out of place tho, having the oldest kids. I KNOW I'm not the only mom of a 7 yr old who still likes to talk about her kids....the June 01 board is very much proof of that, but why the fuck are there NEVER any older kids with these damn groups?

That's why I'm so glad the June 01 boar is back to 'normal.'

After that we went swimming at a local pool. Well in another town because our town is too stupid to have anything cool. The kids had fun, and both managed to get sunburned even though I put sunblock on twice. They must have rubbed it off....

A Clara "funny" Driving home from the pool we had stopped at the Hasty Freeze which is an ice cream drive thru and the kids got cones and corn dogs. We were almost home when I hear Clara say "This is as clean as a bitch" and held up the stick from the corn dog. When prompted she said nothing, but then asked what bitch meant. When I told her it was not a nice word, and one for grown ups only, she burst in to tears because she thought she was in trouble.

Ah. Mama needs to clean up her language apparently....btw she wasn't in trouble, I didn't yell or get mad or anything, just explained that she couldn't say it. I think she might have been embarrassed or something.

This fall is lining up to get busy.

Awana on Sunday nights.

I think we're doing ballet on Mondays after school, and then Clara decided she wants to do cheer leading too. We saw them at the fair yesterday, and the gym is fairly close to home. I haven't decided about This yet. But of course her age group meets Monday nights. So she'd fairly worn out doing ballet for 45 minutes, eating a quick dinner at home, then going straight to cheer leading. But I think she'd love it.

Nothing planned for Tuesdays, but if we do cub scouts for Jake, they mainly meet on Tuesdays.

Wednesdays bring karate at church for Jake.

Nothing for Thursdays or Fridays

Saturday would be soccer for both, but only til 10/18 or something like that. Then art classes the 2 Saturdays after that.

Oh and I decided I want to try to get them in to 4-h, but only if there is an established club available. I don't have the time or the energy to be a leader myself.

I do think the above schedule is doable as long as my days off are Sun/Mon/Fri/Sat. Yeah Monday's will be busy, but oh well....

Well I'm gonna try to sleep. Wish me luck

Monday Monday

2008-08-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

Today Jacob and Clara had their final drawing class. They had fun, and I wish there was a place closer to home that taught art and drawing class for the under 10 set.

After that we went to the state fair. For seven hours. Holy shit my feet hurt now. And they are horribly dirty....It was $1 ride day, so we HAD to go today :-) I still spent like $100. Oh well, we had a good time. That included the $20 mega blendy pen set that I bought for the kids, and the raku pottery they got to paint.

I got the bags I ordered from Etsy last week. So stinking cute! I love em. Check her site out. I got the ballerina one for Clara, the Pumpkin face one for Jake (for trick or treating), and the pop daisy mini tote for myself. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Tomorrow I'm going to a moms group bbq, then taking the kids swimming. Should be fun!