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Friday, January 22, 2010

Day 148: January 22, 2010

 Quote of the Day: "A husband should tell his wife everything that he is sure she will find out, and before anyone else does." – Thomas Robert Dewar

HAHAHA Cody picked out today's Quote... he was sitting next to me in my office when I opened up my file with all my quotes in it, and I told him "Pick a number", and this is the quote labeled with the number he chose.  He got a great laugh out of it, though I'm sure he won't feel quite so happy about it when HE is older and married and has to tell his wife something he'd rather not.  Ron, you'd better have a chat with that boy! Just tell him to ALWAYS tell the truth, immediately, and quickly. You know... like you've been struggling with for YEARS! hehehe  You know... all the times you'll be talking about something, and my elephant brain gets triggered and I say "But ten years ago you said ______, not _______, so which one is it REALLY?" HEHEHE

Today has been a super busy day. I really deep cleaned the formal living room, the family room, and the dining room, and was working on the kitchen a little but am going to finish it up and the rest of the house tomorrow. I'm too tired to do much of anything else today. Oh yeah.... went and swept up the leaves in the breezeway to try to keep them out of the pool, swept up the leaves on the back patio to try and keep them out of the house, and cleaned the pool.  We had a dust storm the other night right before that thunderstorm hit, so the pool was almost completely a uniform brown color.  I've had the pool vac running all day long and it STILL has some spots in it that just haven't come clean yet. And the jacuzzi... I'm still waiting for it to get a little cleaner. I've gone out there like thirty times today to sweep off all the steps and inside the jacuzzi, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I've even backwashed the filter.

I think tomorrow morning I'll backwash it again, then just vacuum the jacuzzi and the steps by hand. I'll tell you, it is a royal pain to vacuum the jacuzzi because the stupid hose keeps either coming out of the wall or dragging the vacuum up and out of the jacuzzi. We really need to buy one of those vacuums that are self-contained, I saw it at the pool supply and it looks really, really nice. Just the thought of cleaning the jacuzzi without fighting that stupid heavy hose would be a godsend, especially when I am seriously considering draining the stupid thing and getting rid of it because of how much of a pain in the ass it is.  What good is a non-heated jacuzzi, anyways? AND the bubbles turn off after 15 minutes???? What a waste.

I am really looking forward to having the whole house clean, finally. It'll be really nice, I think. Who knows, maybe it'll stay that way for more than a day.   : )

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Day 147: January 20, 2010

Quote of the Day: "It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise. This is true of men as of dogs." ~Eric Hoffer

Wow! I actually finally got all the inside Christmas stuff taken down, AND it's all put away where it belongs, too! Well.... almost. There is ONE bin that Cody and I just could not lift into the attic by ourselves, it was just too big, bulky, and heavy. So we'll get that one up there the next time Damien shows up here.  It's just hanging out in the garage right now, so it isn't in the way or anything. I figure it's as good a place for it as anywhere, right?

Had a great drive to Vernon this morning. The girls and I talked and joked a lot about this and that, and tried to avoid a lot of the more serious topics because we were all still half asleep.  When we got to Vernon we were a half hour early, so we decided to go to WalMart for a bit. It was kind of funny, because this older guy in a work truck was broken down in the entrance, and we offered to help, then as we pulled away we realized how absurd that was: a carful of four women offering to help. Just what were we going to be able to do, anyways?

Orientation was pretty good. I can't even begin to describe how excited I am about htis rotation! How fascinating the human mind is, and at the same time how fragile.  They did a very good job of explaining to the group how dangerous your time there can get. I noticed several people's looks of complete astonishment when it was mentioned to avoid hoodies with strings that can be used to strangle you. Not a lot of people think like that, so it was an eye opener. And, the things they can use to make weapons! There is definitely not a lack of creativity in the bunch.

I'm a little worried that because of my background I don't have enough fear like I should have. Why is it that it seems like everyone else is scared of this rotation and I'm excited about it? I'm not a brave person by any means, so is it that I'm stupid? Will I end up making some bonehead mistake due to my lack of fear? Or maybe that's the wrong choice of word, maybe instead of a lack of fear (because I'm always afraid of something), maybe I lack a healthy respect for it.  I just wish the rest of my group was as excited as I am  so that I wouldn't have to feel so isolated by my excitement. Or maybe I'm just a little crazy myself? After all... I AM going to nursing school!   : )

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Day 146: January 20, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than attempting to satisfy them."  -John Stuart Mills

Well, day one is done of classes, but I found out today that we have to be back in Vernon tomorrow morning at the State Hospital for our orientation, so it'll be another early-to-rise morning, only earlier than this morning was. The good news is, however, that because of the "nature of our clinical requirements" at the state hospital  we will not have to wear our uniforms. We ARE however, on strict requirements as far as what we can wear, so that we don't trigger an outburst or a breakdown in one of the patients. And we have to wear solid shoes that we can run in if we need to. We have a mile long list, it seems, on how to avoid making the mentally unstable patient even more unstable, and tomorrow's lecture is going to include a long sermon on ways to avoid the aggressive and violent outbursts the patients can and do exhibit. Thankfully, they said that very few of the students have ever been physically attacked on this rotation. I personally am looking forward to it, because the mind is a pretty interesting topic. And let's face it.... you can learn a lot by talking to someone with a mental illness.

I haven't gotten that "I finally feel comfortable in knowing what I'm doing and what is expected of me" feeling yet. I would have thought that after today I would be a little bit more in control, but instead I think I'm just more anxious. And, of course, not having known that I have to go be in Vernon so early tomorrow morning, I told Ron that I would be able to be online to talk to him. And now I'll have to cut that talk short so that I can get even a little bit of sleep. Sigh. This semester is really going to be interesting, to say the least. Did you know that we are required to attend either an AA or NA meeting and write up a report on what we see, hear, and how they are organized? Yikes! But the good news is, most of these meetings have smoking at them! LOL

I'm also excited about the mother/baby class and clinicals, to a point. The teacher for that class is really cool. She went over the lecture with us today, and then we watched an episode of House dealing with sick babies. I thoroughly enjoy ANY class that lets you watch something as cool as THAT! LOL And she's the perfect teacher for the class, since if I remember right she has like six children herself. I wish they would have had this semester FIRST in the program, instead of last... although, it may have made it completely unbearable to have our last semester be as boring as some of them were.

I'd better get off here now, though, we're having one HECK of a thunderstorm right now, and the lightning and hail are pretty intense. I'd hate to lose my computer just because I'm being all long-winded. : )

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Day 145: January 19, 2010

Quote of the Day: "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius


Never, ever attempt to make split pea soup in  a crock pot! I had it cooking all day long, and the peas would never get to a good consistency... some of them are mushy, and some of them are still chewy. UGH!!!! At least they taste alright, that means that I figured out the right ingredients to use. NOW I just need to make it on the stove next time.

Today was spent mostly doing laundry and trying to get things in order to go back to school tomorrow. I don't feel like I did a very good job of it, though. I've been so tired all day that it feels like it's hard to keep my eyes open. I don't think I slept very well last night. And it's been really cloudy out, too, so that helps to make me tired as well.  They say we might have thunderstorms tomorrow, but we'll see if that happens or not... it's been sprinkling all afternoon. I guess there's a possibility, but it doesn't really feel like it. Then again, the highs have been in the 60s the last couple of days, which has been a welcome break from the freezing cold.


Incidentally, this happened when I was washing dishes this morning.... I just looked down and there it was. I figured it'd be a good thing to put on here in honor of the upcoming holiday!  Here's to thinking of you, Ron!!!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Day 144: January 18, 2010

Quote of the Day: "If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time." -Edith Wharton

Getting a late start to the blog tonight, I had no idea how late it was! I've been pretty busy today, actually, which felt good for once. All the Christmas lights are down outside now and ready to be put up into the attic. I would have done the inside decorations as well, but I got sidetracked by a sudden urge to put a whole lot of recipes onto 4x6 colored papers to put together my very own cookbook. So I spent most of the time doing that. 

During the day, I put the battery charger on Ron's truck to charge the battery, then drove to Auto Zone down in Wichita Falls by the base and had them test the battery. Twice. End result? The guy said that the battery tested out fine, and it doesn't need replaced. He said that the cold can drain a battery really quick, but that they usually come back from it. Not sure, though. I'll wait until tomorrow morning when I go out to start it to make up my mind on whether he's right or not.

I did put gas in the truck while I was on base, though, and boy was it a shocker to remember how MUCH gas that thing takes! It was close to eighty bucks! Ron, you REALLY need to go get a car to drive to and from work, no buts about it! Something that you can fill up for under $25 would be super nice. And I think I'm changing my mind on wanting an SUV now, although that one is more for being able to drive to the hospital to work when there's icy roads and snow. But if my car can get me there, then there really isn't a need. And I do know now that driving my car on ice, to Wichita Falls, only takes an hour and a half going 5 to 10 mph... so at least if a storm does hit once I am a nurse, as long as they don't close the roads again I'll just have to leave an hour and a half early.  This past Christmas when we had the blizzard they closed the roads, and a lot of the nurses got stuck at the hospital for three days, sleeping there and everything.  Hopefully they had a change of clothes or two in their lockers... I know I will!

Tomorrow is my last day before the first day of semester, and I am VERY anxious to just get it over with and be done. I can't seem to shake the feeling that I will feel so much more prepared once I am OUT of school and don't have that "studying" thing hanging over my head. I've learned in clinicals that it doesn't matter how "smart" you are, you're still going to have to ask other nurses' opinions. I've seen well-seasoned nurses doing just that. The trick is to find the ones you can trust to know the answer you need, and that can take some serious time.  Everything I have heard and read says that it takes at least six months to a year before you really get the hang of being a nurse, so at least I know that going into it.  The biggest phrase at the hospital that nearly every nurse has told me is "Once you get out of nursing school and get a job, you're going to swear that they taught you NOTHING in nursing school!" And they're all so happy when they say it, too... like they're trying to make sure that we don't come out thinking we know it all. I've seen a few of THOSE nurses on the floor, too, and they drive everyone crazy. I'm going to do my absolute best, and then some, not to be THAT nurse.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Day 143: January 17, 2010

Quote of the Day: "I was just thinking, if it is really religion with these nudist colonies, they sure must turn atheists in the wintertime." ~Will Rogers

HAHAHA Okay, I couldn't help it... that quote has absolutely nothing to do with anything, except maybe that it's winter right now and cold as heck outside. I just thought it was totally hilarious! Gotta love that Will Rogers, that man had one helluva head on his shoulders!!! Just to even imagine him thinking about nudist colonies alone, well... heheheheheehheheheehe.

Today's been a good day so far. I got up and weighed in at my lowest to-date so far, which means that I only have to lose around 3 pounds by March. I think I can manage that. HOWEVER, since I'll be eating pizza for lunch today, my weight will be up about a pound or two in the morning, from the water rentention that the high sodium level in pizza causes. Sigh. Oh well... I know it ahead of time, am prepared for it, and could really care less... it's PIZZA, after all... one of the four food groups! You can't avoid pizza just because of its high salt content! How many OTHER foods would you have to avoid if you thought that way??? Pretty much anything Italian, or Greek, or Mexican, or fast food... Hmm. Sounds like you're left with salad. And having to eat nothing but salad the rest of your life? No, thank you.... I'll munch on my pizza and happily accept the temporary weight gain! Without too much complaint, too!

I have got the dishes soaking right now in the sink so that I can "pre-scrub" them and put them in the dishwasher, since I've found that no matter WHAT an appliance company's claim is, you can buy a four thousand dollar dishwasher and it STILL won't remove all the food from the dishes. I just don't trust them. So I scrub them ahead of time, and it works for me.  Obsessive, yes, but I won't get an infection from eating off my dishes. I guess my mama raised me right! LOL Although, come to think of it.... SHE said that because they got so hot inside and then the water just sits on the dishes until you put them away, that dishwashers grow a LOT of bacteria on your dishes and are unhealthy. Hmm. Still... there's something about being able to leave them in there until you're READY to put them away, out of sight and out of mind.  Wonder what those rich people do that spend the money on those cabinets where your dish storage actually doubles as a dishwasher? THEIR dishes go into the cabinet dirty, and come out clean. THAT seems a little much for me, considering that if it were in MY house, I just know that someone would put away their dirty dish and forget to run it, so the next person would pull out a plate full of dried on, caked on food that's been in there who knows how long. GROSS! I think I'll stick to conventional cabinets, thank you very much!

Sometime today I have to take out the trash, vacuum the office, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, bleach the countertops, and re-organize the tupperware cabinet... Damien's been just putting them in there any old way, as usual. Also, I'm going to have to plan to have a marathon cooking spree tomorrow or Tuesday, since school starts up again on Wednesday and the kids have nearly flown through all the chowder and lasagna I made. Sigh.  I guess it'll never end. But I have to come up with some new ideas for freezer meals, so I'm going to do some Sheppard Pie, maybe some chili and cornbread, and I have no idea what else. A roast or a stew would be good. I really wish I had the money to buy those sectioned tupperware things, I'd make a full meal for everyone so that they could just pull out a plate, microwave it, and eat. Easy peasy, and not a lot of mess! But, alas.... those are expensive, and I'm not sure if they turn brittle in the freezer. So..... I have to stick with what I know works. Got any ideas for things to cook, PLEASE email them to me! Or call me... or whatever you can do! LOL


Okay, I have gone to Wichita Falls and have returned. All in all it was a really fun day. I decided that since we were doing lunch at Cici's Pizza I would resign myself to the fact that my weight will be up tomorrow, and have as much as I wanted.  Even though that only turned out to be a salad, 4 pieces of pizza, a brownie, and an apple crisp pizza slice, I still was satisfied with it. Usually I can eat twice that without blinking an eye.  Afterward we went on the "great journal search", which took us first to Office Depot, where we walked in and were shocked to find that they did not have anything we could use, or that we liked.  And their prices on the Post-It flags were outrageous! So onward we went to Books-A-Million, where there were so many journals to choose from that we had a hard time deciding which one would best suit our class assignment. It had to be the right size, and acceptable for a teacher to look at, so it was a rough decision. Eventually, however, we finally picked one and went to the counter, where I proceeded to completely and totally embarass myself by accidentally saying "Harry Potty" instead of "Harry Potter" to Laurie and the cashier. I MUST have turned at least ten shades of red.... it was mortifying and funny at the same time.... by the time I left the store I could barely walk I was laughing so hard, and I had tears pouring out of my eyes.  Been a long time since THAT has happened... I thought I was going to pee my pants I was laughing so hard!  And the biggest reason that I WAS laughing so hard??? The whole way I had this mental image going on in my head of this big, giant, hairy toilet! LMAO And people say it couldn't possibly be fun to be me! LOL

After I was able to breathe again and not laugh my ass off we were off to the Goodwill store, where I found a BUNCH of really cute things on sale. If I keep it up I may not HAVE to go spend boo-coo bucks on brand new clothes. There are some really great things to be had at Goodwill.  AND, I was also able to score a couple of bags of fabric scraps.... maybe a new crazy quilt in my future! THAT would be great, wouldn't it??? Not sure what I'll do with the computers, and the printer, because the only place I'll be able to sew when Ron is home is in my office.  Doing it in the living room won't quite work when I set up right in front of his normal spot on the couch.   At least it will contain the mess, though!

Tonight is going to be all about going to bed early, so that I can get up and outside early to take down Christmas lights. I brought Damien and Cody both home tonight, and told them that they will both be out there helping me tomorrow.  So hopefully it will go really quick, and it will stay somewhat organized still. We'll see... first we have to get down all the boxes and bins out of the attic to put the stuff into.  AND once I'm done with the outside, I still have all the inside stuff to put away... dangit. I was SOOOO close to being done quick! LOL