Plain Jane

The Growing Finchwood Family

2012-01-23T16:07:00.000-08:00

Today's post about the newest member of the Finchwood family. My old mixer was a castoff from a friend and had been shooting out blue sparks each time it was used. Last week it beat its last batch of cookies before dying permanently. As my Latin Lover has a tremendous sweet tooth (and I refused to beat anything by hand) we finally got one of those nice standing mixers.

In the last three days I have made cake, bread, and cookies. The bad news? No way I can follow a low carb diet with a new mixer.

Which Kitty Should I be Today?

2012-01-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

Which kitty should I be today? Should I be Annie and hide under the covers all day?

Perhaps I should be Amos, constantly begging for attention...

I actually feel like being Abigail today. The sun is shining and the outdoors is calling me. Time to run around like crazy and pretend to be super busy.

(No face shot availible as she never holds still long enough for a picture)

The "First" Day Of My Vacation

2012-01-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

Why Plain Jane, what a dedicated blogger you are. I can't believe you are posting on the first day of your vacation. This must be one of those sneaky scheduled posts.

Dear Reader, this is not a scheduled post, but one written in real time. This is also not the first day of my vacation. I was supposed to leave for Guatemala last week on Wednesday or Thursday. We were going to drive. Unfortunately my husband got a horrific stomach flu that put him in bed (or actually the bathroom) till Sunday. Then he discovered that he needed to take these certification classes in order to get a job and those classes take till Wednesday to finish. At that point we decided to just fly instead of drive as my vacation days were slowly ticking away. That gave us two and a half days to find our passports and get everything together before our flight left on Saturday morning. We collected three boxes of clothes and toys for the kids in Panajachel, weighing and measuring to make sure there would be no problems transporting them. At 4:30am we arrived at the airport. Standing in the unmoving line, I pulled out the passports. That is when I noticed the date on my husbands. "Expires January 15, 2012". Tomorrow. Yup. We placed a quick call to our buddy who dropped us off, "DON'T LEAVE YET!!" When we got to the front of the line, the ticket checker said we couldn't fly with any boxes as there was currently an embargo in place till February 1st. Also, he isn't allowed on the plane with a passport that expires during his trip. Now he could go to the post office and tell them he is leaving on vacation and they would fix is passport that day, but unfortunately they are all closed for the weekend.

By this time I had decided that this trip is not happening. So instead of making a scene, crying, arguing, threatening to sue etc, I am going to spend the rest of this "vacation" by driving up to Utah to see my family. Guatemala will just have to wait. And I am fine with that. There is always a next time.

Odds and ends

2012-01-13T10:35:00.000-08:00

I should go on vacation more often. Yesterday I actually did all the laundry in the house. Not just washed but folded and put away. My kitties were very confused by the empty couch. "Where have all the clothes gone? What am I supposed to curl up on now?" Now I realize that the reason it never gets put away is there is not enough room for it all. In fact, I started throwing it away. Ripped sweats, holey socks, stained t-shirts, all into the garbage.
The next step is tackling the school papers. How long do we really need to keep old fliers and handouts? Apparently my hubby thinks school papers need to be held for seven years, just in case he gets audited. Perhaps I will throw them away when he is out...

2012-01-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

After MONTHS of not blogging my computer has finally decided to let me back on blogger. I really don't know what the deal was, but I can finally log on! And just in time for the new year. I have missed commenting and posting. I have been able to read blogs, but what fun is that if I can't comment? YAY!!! Of course I have forgotten how to work the settings so now my new picture is all messed up, but oh well.

So what has happened since I last posted....Someone got married

And someone else had a baby.

But my husband and I have just been hanging out

This week my vacation starts and I will celebrate by going to the gym every day until Saturday. On Saturday we fly out to Guatemala for a few weeks where I will hopefully loose the rest of the excessive weight I have gained over the holidays.

Who Knew?

2011-05-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was having a Glee marathon last night, bundled up in my robe, eating chocolate chip cookie dough after working a twelve hour shift at the hospital. I thought I was having a cheaters night from my diet until I realized that I didn't want the cookie dough. For the first time in my life I was not into cookie dough. What I really wanted was herb tea. I was so surprised by that revelation that I ate more dough and watched another episode of Glee. Come to think of it, I never did make any tea.....

Gypsy Blood

2011-05-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Should I change my career? Should I throw it all away to pursue a dream I have had for two days? What is missing in my life that I am always looking for change? Yesterday my husband and I were talking about moving out of the country for a year just for variety. Why do we want to drop everything to live in Brazil? Or Italy? Or Australia, Thailand, Egypt, Ireland, or Guatemala?

I have no idea.

So much for that idea

2011-05-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Let me catch up on blogs today. What a cool blog!!! I want to make a comment. What, I am not signed in? I thought I was. Ok, let me sign in again. Really? Not signed in again? What is going on? I am not Anonymous. I am Plain Jane. Why am I showing up anonymous? Oh, I am not signed in. Let me sign in again. This time it will work. Nope, still Anonymous.

I guess it is time to clean the kitchen, find my IPod, and vacuum.

Is It Really Important?

2011-05-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

There are so many opportunities for complaining about your spouse. Jc doesn't put away the laundry. He leaves his shoes, socks, and clothes out all over the couch. He never makes the bed. In eight years of marriage he has never cleaned the bathroom. I wish he would occasionally clean out the car, take out the recycling, pet the cats.

But... he washes all the clothes, rubs my feet every night after work, makes me dinner, scoops the kitty litter. He will clean the kitchen, drive me too and from work, and listen to me complain about work. He is always looking for ways to take little vacations, and reminds me (in a really sweet way) to be a nicer person.

Does any of that other stuff even matter?

FINALLY!!!

2011-05-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

I sat down at the computer this morning, zipfizz in hand, blueberries for munching, cat in lap. I was totally ready to amaze and astound with a new blog post. Instead I get, "page not found" or whatever. Darn it, Blogger. Don't you know that I wanted an excuse to sit in my robe for a little while longer? Instead I had to go to the gym where I did an hour on the treadmill and an hour of yoga. When I got back could I then write my clever and witty post? No, Blogger is still down. So once again I had to leave and be productive. I went to Costco and ran a bunch of errands. Now that Blogger is back I have no energy for anything but to go to bed early. Sigh.

Z is for Zipfizz, A Blatent Advertisement

2011-04-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

Zipfizz is the best additive EVER!!! I get it at Costco, 30 servings for $27 so just under a buck per serving. I add it to my water and feel energized for 8 hours. There is a little caffeine in it, but the zip comes from the 41000% B12. That is right, 41,000 % of the daily recommended dose. Nothing else comes even close. Unfortunately it didn't work for me today as I am so drugged up with allergy medicine, but it did keep me functioning at work.

It is sure a good thing that I am on the Pacific coast so I can type this late at night and still qualify for the A to Z challenge. It is reminding me of that book "How To Eat Fried Worms," where the kid becomes more and more creative in his attempt to eat 30 worms in 30 days.

Y is for Singing in the Shower

2011-04-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

Y is for Christmas music in April.
Y is for Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline, and Meatloaf (the singer).
Y is for walking into Abercrombie and Fitch and finding the entire store 40% off.
Y is for spending hours on RJR Daydeamers blog watching his YouTube videos.
Y is for a really good streach after a long workout.
Y is for having my husband gone all day so I can sing at the top of my lungs.
Y is for making homemade bread.
Y is for walking to the grocery store instead of driving.
Y is for new tennis shoes.
Y is for petting my kitties all day.
Y is for benadryl after petting my kitties all day.

Y is for Yes, I am very happy today. How can you tell?

X is for Xenophilius

2011-04-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

I do love the Harry Potter books, but apparently not as much as some. There is an entire Harry Potter Wikipedia devoted to characters and back story. That just seems a little weird to me. But if you want to find out everything you never wanted to know about this character, go here.

Of course X is also for xanthopsia which is a visual disturbance that makes objects appear yellow. As yellow is a happy color, I don't think I would mind very much.

W is for When Can I Eat Lunch

2011-04-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was busy all day and stayed on my diet very well. Today I am sore all over, hungry, and have allergies. All I want to do is eat, but I just finished breakfast. How long do I have to wait before I can start in on lunch? Is thirty minutes long enough?

V is for Very Busy Day

2011-04-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

Uhhhhhh. I can't tell if this was a good day or a bad day. We left the house ten and a half hours ago and just barely got home. We went to the gym, the clothing store, and the park where JC ran 10 miles (I only ran 3). Then we went to the barber where Jc got a haircut AND a shave. Our next stop was the sporting good store for shorts, shoes, and accessories. The final stop was Subway Sandwiches for dinner on the beach. Considering Southern California traffic, I should be grateful we made it home at all.

U is for Gag Me With a Spoon

2011-04-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

Underwear, underarm hair, udder, urine, uranis, unloved, ugly, unhappy, unwed, umbilicus, unattractive, unappreciated, under-wire, unwanted, usurp, under paid, uppity, upset, unfortunate, unbecoming, unsightly, useless, utility bills, ungrateful, used up, unhealthy, and urchin. Wait, I finally got a good one...under budget.

I don't like U words.

T is for Toilet Seats

2011-04-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

Today I was in a restaurant bathroom and discovered that there were no toilet seat covers. How can that be? How gross! I will never eat there again, because they probably don't clean this very well.

Last year I was in Central America. I visited a bathroom in a bus depot. Yay! How wonderful!!! These toilets actually have seats!!! We must come here every time.

S is for Sitting in Your Car

2011-04-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, my husband thinks I am crazy. But I absolutely love sitting in my car. It is temperature controlled, comes with music, and nobody yells at you for eating....or talking on the phone. I don't care if I am sitting in traffic, a parking lot, or outside my house. If my husband can't find me, he knows where to look.

R is for Roaming

2011-04-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

I miss Guatemala. I don't suppose it helps that I see that cool picture at the top of my blog every day, or that the screen saver on my phone is of a Caribbean beach. It has been almost a year since my last trip and I am chomping at the bit to leave this country. Don't get me wrong, I love the US, especially Costco, but I am ready to go roaming. Last year we started out in Costa Rica, traveled through Nicaragua and Honduras, then stayed in Panajachel Guatemala for eight days. Sigh. Can I go now?

Q is for Quiznos, the Anti-Diet

2011-04-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

The other day at work, the nurses were ordering out from Quizno's for lunch. I have always loved them, but don't eat it much because it is too expensive for a sandwich joint. Well, I started looking at their options and decided on an innocent looking salad. That can't be too bad, right? WRONG. My chicken caesar salad had 63 grams of fat in it. I was agog, I was aghast. How can they pack all that crap into a little salad? Needless to say, I didn't order. I just ate my little Nutrisystem lunch and was very happy.

P is for Peaches

2011-04-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

I have never been able to pick fruit that is ripe. It either is mushy or flavorless. I have always wished that the stores had little helpful tips on how to pick the best fruit, but then they would all this bad fruit that no one would buy...but I digress. I have recently started buying these peaches from Costco that are canned. But these are very special peaches that are canned in fruit juice instead of syrup. So now I get to eat a delicious peach and have the juice for dessert. I luv it sooo much...and am very jealous of all you lucky people who own fruit trees.

Wow, this post is too long.

O is for Oh My Aching Abs

2011-04-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

I did one of those group fitness classes yesterday and I can no longer hold myself upright. What I can manage to do is type this blog on my friends IPad. That is the coolest thing ever. Plus it is permission to type with two fingers...Yay!

N is for Nothin' Better to Do

2011-04-15T03:03:00.000-07:00

Todays post is brought to you courtesy of LeAnn Rimes.

Perhaps if I keep up this diet and exercise I will look like her. Well, her in twenty years.

M is for Munching

2011-04-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to eat five servings a day of veggies. Unfortunately, the only veggies I have left in my fridge is a giant bag of baby carrots. That means for the last two days I have had to eat 5 cups of carrots a day. All day long at work I have been munching on those things, trying to get them all in. It is true that I haven't been hungry, or craving anything bad for me. But all that munching is making my jaw tired. And here I though lettuce required too much chewing.

L is for Lettuce

2011-04-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered that I don't like lettuce. My whole life I have been eating salads, ordering them at restaurants, buying different varieties, but it wasn't until I bought an entire cookbook of salads that I realized that I only want the salads with no lettuce. Wild rice salad, garbanzo bean salad, roasted tomato salad...yum. Chopped lettuce in a bowl? Too much chewing.

K is for Kitchen Woes

2011-04-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

I figured with me eating nutrisystem every day, my kitchen would stay clean. I was right. It is spotless. My husband uses the same pan over and over for his meals, and my food comes from a box. So what is my problem? Well, I miss cooking. I miss baking bread, cookies, cobbler, lemon bars. I miss trying new recipes for chicken in an attempt to make it interesting. I miss full-fat cheese melted on everything. Huh. I think I just figured out why I am overweight.

J is for Jack Sprat

2011-04-11T05:02:00.000-07:00

Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean.

And so between the two of them they licked the platter clean.

Why do I have to be the wife?

I is for Ice Cream

2011-04-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

Some things are just fine as diet food. One of the nutrisystem pizza's actually cures my craving for pizza. The fake candy bars are also good. The peppermint patty cookie is better than the real thing. But ice cream should never be substituted. Yech.

H is for Heavy Lifting

2011-04-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

I have joined a new gym this month. It is a beautiful place to hang out. I can spend the day in the spa, sauna, shower, and pretend like I am working out. Unfortunately, my husband comes, too. This is a guy that will say, "I am going lite today" and then come home six hours later. What does that mean, going lite? He is in excellent physical shape, runs 14 miles uphill for fun, and does bicep curls with 90lb weights. When we go together, I come home beat. By myself, I come home smelling pretty and fresh from a massage/facial.

G is for Gastric Bypass Surgery

2011-04-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice if going under the knife could solve all our problems. I just spend ALL DAY at the gym and what does my husband say? "Are you going back for that yoga class you wanted to try?" Is he crazy? What part of ALL DAY does he not understand? It is now 7:30 pm and if he thinks my feet can even carry me to bed, he's got another think coming! I am so exausted, I can't even chew dinner. I would rather be hungry.

F is for Fatty Annie and Famous Amos

2011-04-06T02:20:00.000-07:00

When I feel like I am having a lazy day, I just make sure I move more than Fattie Annie.

Although Famous Amos sleeps almost as much as Fattie Annie, he prefers the couch cushions. Probably because she won't share.

E is for ?

2011-04-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

A box without hinges, key, or lid,

Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

J.R.R .Tolkien

I probably should have blogged about exercise or some such nonsense, but who wants to hear about that!?!

Donuts

2011-04-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

My eternal downfall is the donut. It doesn't even have to be good. I will eat them stale, half-eaten, no frosting...but I will draw the line at buggy. I won't eat a donut that has bugs on it. Maybe I should imagine that apple fritter with the so soft middle and crispy edges containing little bugs instead of the apples. Perhaps then I can resist, but I doubt it.

Counting Calories

2011-04-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Can you tell I am fixated on my waistline? There is something to be said about the focus needed to blog everyday and stick to a diet. For some reason having to do both is working for me, at least so far. I figure since I love food so much it should be easy for me to blog about it every day. The creativity needed to make diet food edible goes hand in hand with blogging.

Blueberries

2011-04-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Every day I am allowed two or three servings of fruit. I used to be cheap and just eat apples or bananas but I am now splurging on blueberries. I have them with milk, plain yogurt, oatmeal, blended like a milkshake, on cereal. And apparently the are one of the foods highest in antioxidants. That means once I loose all my weight I won't have any wrinkles either. I will be one hot mama, if only I can stick to this dang diet.

Aspartame

2011-04-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

I have been following Nutrisystem for a while and have discovered a few things about myself. Aspartame may be an alternative for sugar, but it has a downside. I can guarantee that one hour after consuming a food containing aspartame I will be hungry again. Not regular hungry, but starving hungry...feed me right now hungry. Therefore, I am trying to enjoy my food without any sweetener. It's tough. Some days I would rather be fat.

Why the A to Z challenge?

2011-03-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

For someone who only occasionally posts new blogs, reads lots of blogs but is too lazy to comment, why in the world would I want to do the A to Z challenge? I have finally figured it out. I have always liked the idea of having a record of my life, but every time I have started a journal it just becomes a place to complain. Writing a blog is a record without the constant whining. Sure, there is a little whining, but not too much. Doing A to Z gives me an idea of what to write, and since I have tons to say about food and dieting I figure that will be my topic. Of course if I get bored with myself I will change it up, but for now I am brimming with food thoughts.

Why???

2011-03-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

I know when I eat cobbler that I feel like garbage but I can't stop myself. I though with only a tiny serving I would be fine, but I was wrong. Oh my poor stomach... Why is diet food so much better for you? I want cobbler to be good for you.

Kitchen Cleanup

2011-03-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

I guess I am all better. I was able to wash (most) of the dishes, vacuum, and clean the bathroom all in the same day. I haven't been this productive since .....uh.....Christmas? It helps that my husband is finally done with school and I don't have to help him study any more. Nursing school was bad enough when I was going through it; having to go through it with him almost put me over the edge.
Nobody should have to do nursing school twice.

A New Me

2011-03-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

I feel so weird. For the first time in weeks I have the energy to write a blog post. I have been sick FOREVER!! and today had the energy to go grocery shopping. It is amazing what a little antibiotic can do for you. Of course, my energy has not yet sent me cleaning my filthy kitchen but I keep hoping my husband will do it. He is so good about keeping the laundry clean but the kitchen is a different matter. We just keep washing the same spoon, fork, and cup and leave all the rest of the dishes. Someday.....

2011-03-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

There is something about knowing the I am supposed to be busy that requires me to sit at my computer and just read blogs all day long. Of course, I didn't sign in so I never commented but what I waste of a day. I have been up since 5am and accomplished nothing except make a list and scrub the shower. Oh yeah, and spent $300 on internet shopping. My husband comes back from school at 4pm and all my errands are supposed to be done by then....maybe I should just give up the day as lost and go take a nap. If I sleep in my gym clothes does that count as working out?

Sour....Cream

2011-01-31T20:52:00.000-08:00

How is it possible that you can take something named cream and make it even better when it is "sour"? Shouldn't that make it worse? I thought sour was bad.... Today for dinner my husband made ground turkey. Nothing else, just ground turkey sitting in a pan. So I added a can of stewed tomatoes, mushrooms, and a can of corn. Voila! now we have a meal. And hidden in the back of the fridge is a tiny little container of sour cream I have been saving for a special occasion. One little dollop and I was in heaven. Ahhhh. I feel so much better.

The Curse of the Lemon Tree

2011-01-30T08:49:00.000-08:00

So much for my plans for loosing weight. But I swear it is not my fault. We have a lemon tree in the backyard and I have been looking for ways to use the lemons. Last week I made lemon bars for the first time. They were so good we ate the entire pan. In one sitting. All 2000 calories. And I can't blame my husband because I fought him for the last one. Since then I have made them almost every day. I will come home from work and my husband will have the lemons juiced, zested, and the butter softened. "Please, honey. Will you make me some of those delicious lemon squares?" How can I resist that? I have gotten better at not eating as many, but those bars call to me in the middle of the night. But, February is a new month and I hope to start fresh (again) and eat healthier.

I sure hope that tree stops producing fruit.

Count Your Blessings

2011-01-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I spend too much time wishing my life was different. I don't have a bad life, it is just not what I planned when I was ten years old. I am living in Southern California wishing for snow and cold. I have a perfect little home that I rent but am wishing for one that I own. My job is about as good as it gets, but I want a change. I have two cats but want a dog. What is wrong with me? Why am I refusing to see my blessings and focusing instead on things I can't change?

List Making

2011-01-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

I love days where I make a list of things to accomplish. I get to put things on it like "read and comment on blogs". I now have permission to spend an hour on the computer doing something that I have missed for the last month or so. I also included brush teeth, get shower, feed kitties, call sister. Apparently I will get to spend all day doing nothing and can still pretend that I have been productive.

The Smallest Vacation

2011-01-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the smallest vacations make the biggest difference. I have had a rotten New Year so far and was really missing my family. Although I got to spend some time with them, it didn't feel like enough. But...on Saturday my husband decided to take me across the border to Mexico. We got there in time for lunch, had some great lobster, and checked into our room with a soothing view. We watched the sunset on the beach, then went to bed early. Ahhh...I finally feel ready to face the world again.

TV can be so annoying

2011-01-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

What is it about tv as background noise? I think it's really annoying to have it on just for the noise. Especially when a person needs to think, and the other person, the one they are married to, decides it's too quiet and boring with someone thinking, so on goes the tv blaring in the background.

New Discovery

2010-11-17T22:46:00.000-08:00

AAAAGGGG!! I just found a fat pad on my foot. I didn't know you could get fat there. That is the final straw. I am starting a real diet tomorrow. Not one of those fake diets where you just pretend you aren't eating junk, but sneak it when no one is looking. A real diet where I don't eat crap all day long. No more crap!!! No more fat pad on my feet!!!

Disappear

2010-11-16T21:43:00.000-08:00

The blessings of blogging is one can just disappear into it and completely ignore their own life. As I resurface three hours later I am much better able to face my own challenges. Thank you for your funny, insightful, inspiring words.

Stolen days

2010-11-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was supposed to work, but it was so slow that I was able to leave after only 4hours. My husband didn't have school so we were able to have a free day together. We went to lunch, then shopping for my birthday present(new boots), free makeup, and some new clothes. After a nap, we still had time to study and went to bed early. We have been trying to have a "date day" FOREVER, and to have this stolen day was wonderful. And I was paid for it.

Note To Self #1

2010-11-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

Why oh why do I do this to myself? I made Tres Leches Cake (translation Three Milks) yesterday knowing that I am lactose intolerant. I also know that I love this cake. I cannot say no when it is around. So what did I do? My husband and I ate almost half of it yesterday. I hurt all the way up to my ribs. Every breath reminds me why I should NEVER eat that cake and yet I do. Even now, I know it is in the fridge and I want just one bite. Dare I go down that road again? Can I have just one bite?

New Years Resolution in November

2010-11-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

I think regularly about all the writer blogs that I follow, an am occasionally jealous that I am not more of a writer. The only creative writing I have ever done is haiku poems in grade school. I wrote haiku because they were only three lines and had no story. Fit the requirements without too much work. I don't even have a journal, because every time I start one it just becomes a place to whine and complain. Then I realize that if I blogged two or three times a week, this could be a journal. I can't spend all my time being miserable or complaining because "people" will be reading it. True, I don't have many followers, but those of you that read and comment make a difference to me. So we are going to pretend that the last month didn't happen and I will set a goal to blog more. Now I have an electric recording of my thoughts and days. When someone feels like writing a story about my life (as I am sure they will) there will be something to follow.

Free Surgery

2010-10-11T16:53:00.000-07:00

How often would you get surgery if it was free? I got my eyes lasered last year and it comes with a lifetime guarantee. That means that I can go in for a "touch-up" if my eyes change at all. After one year, my astigmatism has return in my right eye. That means that sometimes, when I am really tired, I feel like I need to strain to get perfect focus. Should I go in for another eye surgery? Will I need to go in every year to get my cornea resurfaced again and again? How many times can I have surgery on my eyes before things start to go really wrong? Or, should I just get a really cute pair of glasses that I only wear when I feel like it. What do you think?

Who Stole My Cats?

2010-10-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

For the past six years I have thought that I owned two cats. This week I have realized that they are actually dogs. Amos has turned into a lap dog, that whines and complains unless he is sitting on my lap, sprawled over whatever book or project I am working on. Annie is a watchdog. She stands at attention with her front paws on the windowsill watching for any intruders into our backyard. If she sees anything, she runs from window to window growling. Did I say she runs? I meant she lumbers. Thump thump thump thump thump thump. No stealth at all. Where did my cats go? Will they return the animals I used to know that slept on the bed all day, or moved from sunbeam to sunbeam chasing the endless nap?

Working Conditions

2010-10-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Of all the nerve. The hospital calls me in and offers me double-time for an extra shift so I can't say no. Then they actually expect me to work. Unacceptable. Don't they know that I am almost done with a really good book? I must see how it ends but it is too busy for me to even crack it open. My Kindle lies there on the counter calling to me every time I run by on my way to the next patient. Please please please just give me a few minutes to reconnect with the characters and READ THE ENDING!!!

Problem Solved...I hope.

2010-09-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

I think I have finally solved my computer problem. I can’t believe it took me this long. I write my blogs on a word document and then paste it. My poor computer gets tired having to do two things at once, so this way I hopefully will be able to post AND visit blogs before it gives up exhausted. Hopefully I can even fit a comment or two in.

What is it with Twilight???

2010-09-22T20:30:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading The Scarlet Letter and the entire time I was amazed by the characterization. It was so refreshing to read a book that had more substance and depth than I what I usually read (middle-grade fantasy). I savored that book. Every paragraph was beautiful. But now it is over. Now I can give in to the ridiculous urges I have been having lately. For some reason I feel the need to reread Twilight. “Oh, look. It is cloudy out. I should read Twilight.” “Man, that guy looks greasy, I should read Twilight.” "That girl has brown hair, I should read Twilight." Ugh. I don’t even like the story that much. What is wrong with me?

Joshua Tree In All Its Glory

2010-09-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend my husband and I went to Joshua Tree National Park. We both enjoy the outdoors and love to hike There is a 3.7 mile trail (one way) that my husband wanted to try. Sure. Right. It was 113 degrees out. We had already run 4 miles early that morning and I was on my period so I didn't want to go that far, but I really don't like being a wimp.
We got to the beginning of the hike and I started getting the water together. What did my husband say? "We don't need that. I am not going to carry it." Good thing I didn't listen to him. What I actually said was, "OK. I will carry it but I won't share." Five minutes into the hike he offered to carry the water. What he wanted was a drink. It was REALLY hot.
We got about two miles in and I was exhausted. Did I mention I was on my period? That we had already run four miles? I was plugging along getting hot and cranky when I saw a deer bound across the path. My husband said it was a goose. What? A goose? It was NOT a goose. That was the final straw and I refused to go any further.
On the way back I stopped under the shade of a bush to relax for a minute. Did I see all the stickers on the ground? Of course I did but I sat down anyway. Those stickers don't come out and they don't brush off. My husband spent the night pulling all the little thorns out of my bum with a pair of tweezers.

I'm Back and Better Than Ever

2010-09-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a summer. I have been out of the blogging habit since moving and am using a different computer. My husband has claimed the better one for school (like that is important or something) so I am stuck with the one that keeps freezing. But KarenG's blog about creative cooking inspired me to return to my blog. I am neither a creative cook (I always follow the recipe) nor a creative writer. But school is back in session and my computer looks out the window at a flowering magnolia tree and with Diet Coke in hand I return to the computer.

Well, looks like I have nothing to say so I will see you on your blogs!! Happy Autumn Everyone!

For Someone Who Hates Mushrooms...and Chicken

2010-07-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have never liked mushrooms. I couldn't even eat pizza if there had been mushrooms on it, their flavor would taint everything around it and cream of mushroom soup made me gag. Then there is chicken, the most boring meat on the planet. It is what you eat when there is nothing else around (and of course there is a bag of it in my freezer). That said, I was watching the food network and the lady was making this Pan-Seared Chicken with Porcini-Chestnut Sauce...in other words Mushroom Chicken. For some reason I went to the store, purchased the ingredients, and made the recipe that night. Oh. My. Gosh. I think I died and went to heaven. It is so good that I have made it twice (with rice instead of orzo and pecans instead of chestnuts).

Eat Pray Love

2010-07-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

For some reason I had not finished this book. It was my "read while running on the treadmill" story but I quit going to the gym for a while and forgot about this book. Yesterday I picked it up again (at the gym) after seeing a preview for the movie. I was immediately sucked back in. I feel like I am reading her journal, seeing into her soul. It reminds me of all the blessings in my life. Seeing the broken pieces of someone else's life really puts things in perspective. I wonder if the movie will be able to capture the spirit of the story, or will it just become fluff.

The Trouble with Reading

2010-07-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

I have a problem. I read and read and read and then when I sleep I am reading in my sleep. I spent all last night chasing after the characters in my current addiction. I woke up exhausted. How am I supposed to work? I keep trying to limit the amount of hours I spend with my face in my Kindle, but I continually give in to my addiction. I read at red lights, when I am stopped in traffic, while I am waiting three minutes to clock in at work. Now that we are in our perfect new place, I curl up in the front room and read instead of unpacking all our clothes. I think I have a problem.

The End of Reality Dysfunction

2010-07-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

I finally finished reading all six books in the Reality Dysfunction series. There was so much story packed into those books, I actually want to reread them. Unfortunately I think he ruined the ending. Perhaps I am the only person who thinks so, but still. What a letdown. He had all this build up with about six or seven different plotlines reaching a breaking point and then pfffttt. It is all magically fixed, there is no residual effects, alls well that ends well. How lame. He put such detail into every aspect of the story how could he just overlook the ending like that. I am sure he has the creativity to fix it, but maybe he was tired of the story by then and just wanted it over. I was hoping for more...but I will read it again.

What $2 Will Buy You

2010-06-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Other that one night spent walking for hours, we spent our vacation in a variety of hotels (using that word loosely). I won't bore you with a list of places, their prices, pros and cons, but I will mention one. We had spent all day on a bus and arrived in town about 9pm. Using the trusty Lonely Planet Guide we selected a hospedaje only a few blocks from the bus stop. Supposedly it had comfortable beds. For $2 we got a room.

Perhaps it had changed owners since the publishing of the Lonely Planet because I would not label these beds "comfortable". I would have said, "Beware of the pillows." The pillows were full of bugs, small termitey looking things. Maybe flying ants, I don't know. We brushed the bugs off the bed, threw the pillows into the corner, used our own blanket and generous amounts of bug repellent. I actually slept really well.

Apartment Hunting

2010-06-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

I am looking for an new apartment as our lease is up in eight days. I have found the perfect place. It has a gormet kitchen, separate dining room, laundry room complete with washer and dryer, a front AND back door, and a garage. Unfortunatly, they seem to have a problem with cats....how can you have a home without cats?

So instead we are going to have to move somewhere else.

Although small, they have no problem with bringing along your pets. The entire place can be lit up with one light bulb so the electric bill will be manageable, there is no indoor plumbing so the water bill will be nonexistant. I can't wait to show my husband our new home.

Broken Blogger

2010-06-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

So I made it safely back from vacation only to be thwarted by blogger. I can't figure out how to get my new picture the right size for my blog. I actually haven't even decided which one to use but as I was playing with my edits I must have broken something. I can't even get my old picture of Flores up there to be the right size. Next I tried to insert some pictures into this blog but could only get them to show up at the top of the text. Surely somewhere there is a tutorial for how to use this site without resorting to trial and error, calling family, or begging your blogger friends. Having failed trial and error, been brushed off by my family, I am asking fellow bloggers, "How do I get pictures into the text, and how do I adjust the size of the picture at the top of the blog?" Better yet, where is a tutorial? That way I can solve my future problems. I guess this is what I deserve after dropping out of society for three weeks......

Paqueta

2010-05-29T17:23:00.001-07:00

I am officially an idiot. Surfing all day with no sunblock...what was I thinking? Once I figure out how to add pictures using a foreign computer you will see. I am the one that looks like a sundried tomato. Even my fingers are burnt.
Our Good Deed. We adopted a kitty named Paqueta. She looks about 3-4 weeks old, fits in the palm of my hand, and was abandoned at a ferry port (pictures forthcoming). There is no town there, no people, no other animals and she just appeared there the day we arrived. She adopted us and we could not leave her behind....she would have died. Our plan was to get her to a vet, get her papers so we could fly home with her. Unfortunately, this is not the states. There aren't vets where we were. There are no PetSmarts, Walgreens, or anywhere we could get her supplies. We were able to feed her milk from a soda lid, but taking buses was tricky. Where can she go to the bathroom? On my sweater is where. Yesterday we took her with us on the beach as we searched for the surf classes we wanted. Once we got there, the kitty didn't want to leave. She kept running back up to the little house. Luckily the people there loved her too and said they would take care of her. We spent last night with her and took her back there today. I am sad. We only got to keep her four days. She was the sweetest little thing with the biggest personality. She scared all the stray dogs.
Tomorrow we leave Samara and head up to Nicaragua. We are all anxious to reach Guatemala and settle in there. I am glad we visited Costa Rica, but Guatemala is home (sort of). Once there I will figure out this picture thing.

What day is it, anyway?

2010-05-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

So much to say, but the sun is calling my name. It finally stopped raining today, but it is too late for our clothes. They are all moldy. After our beach walk we will be doing our laundry. I can't get away from it even on vacation. But here are a few hints about our travels...mango tree, tiny kitty, wasps nest, midnight hike. Perhaps tomorrow or the next day will come a story. What day is it, anyway?

Costa Rica Day Two

2010-05-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

What happened to day one, you ask. Well, I will tell you. Day one began on an airplane over Nevada. Our seats didn´t recline, they charged us for water, and although it was 2am we couldn´t sleep. Our flight connected through Fort Lauderdale where we had a three hour layover. My husband and I were planning on walking around the airport to get the circulation back in our legs, but we couldn´t leave the terminal without passing through security. At least there were lots of people watching to do.

We reached Costa Rica at 11:30 am. After a bus ride, wandering around San Jose for several hours, another bus ride, a ferry, a taxi, and another hour of walking we finally got to a motel. It was 10:30 pm. Did I mention that it was pouring down rain? And yes, we were walking. It didn´t bother me because I have traveled with my husband before and I knew what to expect. We go from one motel to the other trying to talk them down to a cheaper rate. Our buddy who is travelling with us was not prepared for all the effort so by the time we finally got settled he was cranky. Too bad for him. Cranky doesn´t help.

This morning after a great night sleep I was able to see where we landed. Free internet!!! And the most delicious breakfast ever. And it is still pouring down rain. Today we will try to make it to our final destination, but with the roads in such bad condition from the rain I don´t think it will happen. Well, that is part of the fun. You never know what you are getting when you travel with my husband.

Computer Vacation

2010-05-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have been so glad that school is out for the summer that I haven't even touched a computer. I have spent my last week at the gym, visiting my family, and working (not very hard). Although I have missed my blogging buddies, I haven't missed sitting at this desk helping my husband study. Tonight we leave for Costa Rica for three weeks. I will probably be more consistant blogging there than I have been lately because it will be my connection to reality. See you there!!!

I LOVE SUMMER

2010-05-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness today it is all over. My husband took his final this morning and already has his grade for the class. We now have 6 weeks of stress-free living before it starts up again, but they will be the best six weeks of the year. Three of then will be spent in Costa Rica and three at the gym, enjoying the sun, and beach. I LOVE SUMMER!!!

The Dangers of Chocolate Withdrawl

2010-05-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Captains Log stardate 2010, day three of the chocolate boycott. Thus far the experience has been uneventful but I sense a change on the horizon. My throat is sour and a cough is developing. As I never get a cold, I can only surmise that the lack of chocolate is at fault. I will try to muscle through this, but if I succumb to the call of the chocolate to cure the cold then I know that chocolate will be a part of my life forever. I only hope others will learn from me and not tempt the Gods of Chocolate.

Alarm clock

2010-05-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

There is a window right by my bed that is covered with a thick blanket to keep out the bright lights of the street. The window is never opened. But, every morning when the cats decide that we have slept long enough they pull back that blanket and shine the street lights right across my face. It never fails to get me out of bed, no matter how late I fell asleep.

Fat and Happy

2010-05-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

Not really. Fat and no clothes fit is more like it. But will I do anything about it? Probably not. Maybe just buy more clothes. Maybe start a fad diet that will end up increasing my weight by ten pounds. What I will do is hide the scale. That should help. Of course I could swear off chocolate for one month and see what that does. I will start tomorrow.....

The Too Long Story

2010-05-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, back to the Reality Dysfunction. The book that started out awkward, then became fascinating is now drudgery. I am almost finished with the second book and the thought of this story continuing for four more books is more than I can bear. Usually I just read the last couple of chapters when I am bored with a story so I can get "closure" but with a story that lasts 6 books doesn't give me that capability. How will I know the ending unless I plow through all those pages? Is it worth it? I will probably finish it and then sleep for a week to recover from the strain.

2010-05-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by Niki. Since I am secretly jealous of her life I must do as she says and answer these five questions five times.

Where were you five years ago?
1. Living in Koreatown at the heart of gangland paying 1/3 of the rent I pay now.
2. Working at California Hospital learning to be a labor and delivery nurse, also at the heart of gangland.
3. Newly married to my Latin lover who had rules about me not going outside the apartment when he wasn't with me. I guess he forgot I lived there without him for three years and never got myself killed.
4. New parents to Amos and Annie (my kitties). Latin lover saw a mouse and finally agreed to a cat. I managed to convince him to get two.
5. Drowning in debt after two years of all school and no job.

Where would you like to be five years from now?
1. Living in my own place with no roommates, perhaps in Arizona where it is always warm.
2. Thinner. Even a little bit would be nice.
3. Back in school (again).
4. Latin lover out of school and bringing home the bacon.
5. Did I say I wanted to be living in my own place with no roommates? If I say it twice will it come true?

What is on your to-do list today?
1. Go to gym so I can be thinner.
2. Shop at Costco.
3. Read books (I am reading four right now. They all demand my attention.)
4. Put away laundry. The roommates clean the apartment. They even clean the kitchen so I don't have to usually have to do that, thank goodness.
5. Study Pediatric nursing with my Latin lover. That will take all day.

What five snacks do you enjoy?
1. Popcorn.
2. Oatmeal cookie dough.
3. Diet Coke.
4. Dried apples.
5. Chocolate chips.

What would you do if you were a Billionaire?
1. Take my entire extended family on a vacation around the world to see famous historical sites.
2. Pay off my student loans.
3. Buy a computer with a "u" that works every time.
4. Provide housing for my entire family.
5. Live on a wildlife preserve for big cats, preferably the size of Wyoming.

Enough about me, how about learning about these five bloggers?
Ann Best
Ann
Jayne
Faith
KarenG

Ruins of Tikal

2010-05-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

I love the picture at the top of my blog. It is of Flores, a small town in Guatemala. If you could pan the picture a little more to the right, you could see the place we stayed. Flores is a small island town accessable by a brige, about 30 minutes away from the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Tical is an amazing place. There are over 2000 ruins that have been unearthed with many more to resore.

If I was a writer, I would love a story set in this village. I always imagined the person in this photo was doing that very thing as he worked on his laptop.

I know nothing about the history of this place. Why is there an opening in the staircase? Inside there were just a couple of rooms...perhaps for guards.
I loved visiting Tikal. Unfortunately we spent only one day there. Perhaps with this next trip there will be time for a longer visit.

Oh The Sweet Agony

2010-04-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

How could I forget that I am lactose intolerant? Why would I think that I could eat so much tres leches cake and not feel the after effects? But I just can't stop myself. So, so delicious. Velva of Tomatoes on the Vine (I couldn't get the likn button to work) posted the recipie and although mine wasn't as pretty, the taste was perfect. My husband who lived in Guatemala for three years took one bite and said, "Now THAT is good Tres Leches."

Working For A Living

2010-04-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Today I am feeling very grateful that I have a job. I work only three days a week, live 10 min from my job, and enjoy the other nurses. I always get the assignment that I want and basically enjoy myself. When I return home, my husband will make dinner, massage my feet, and feed me Diet Coke. I have a good life. Soon it will be even better.

"The Reality Dysfunction" by Peter F Hamilton

2010-04-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

I have been tearing through that sci-fi book faster than I ever imagined I would considering the rocky beginning. Once I started ignoring the technology passages the story was fascinating. He uses multiple points of view which is distracting to some, but I had no problem keeping everyone straight. The story is six books, each one over 500 pages so I am anticipating a nice long time before I have to worry about what to read next. Actually, I am trying to slow down. I have started to dream about the characters. Sometimes their stories intrude on my brain while I am supposed to be working and I have to bring myself back to reality. It is my own Reality Dysfunction.

Kitchen Dancing

2010-04-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Why Jane Finchwood, what are you doing dancing around your kitchen floor? Haven't you been up since 4am? Yes, I have been awake for quite some time but I feel wonderful today. I just bought airline tickets for Costa Rica. I am getting a three week vacation from studying, work, and roommates. I also drank a ZippFizz, that magical elixir that fills me with joy and energy. Today I am taking on the world!!! Right after the grocery store trip for tres leches cake ingredients.

Bad Mood Blog

2010-04-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

I don't want to be a complainer but...this is my forum. I will complain if I want. This is my problem with today. My roommate puked outside the apartment because he drank too much, his brother is visiting and smells like cigarettes, somebody made bacon and left the grease sitting in the pan so the whole place smells like a fast food restaurant (not in a good way). Even though it is the end of April it is freezing outside so I can't open a window and air out the place. The cats keep fighting with each other, my stomach hurts from too much Diet Coke, and I need a shower. On second thought, I will just go back to bed. After my nap all will be well.

I Take It Back

2010-04-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I jumped to conclusions. Chapter 1 was techy hell, chapter 2 was biology heaven. He chronicled a planet from its inception through evolution to the creation of sentient beings. Much more my speed. Now I can't wait to see where he is leading with all this.

Grownup Books

2010-04-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

I have been reading YA exclusively for a while. Not by any plan, but that is just what happened. Saturday I started a Sci-Fi book. After reading the first paragraph I realized my brain had become atrophied. I understood none of it. "The pseudofabric structure of the wormholes was a photonic dead zone." Am I supposed to know what that means? Do regular people understand that? Will I figure it out by the end of the book? Is it even important? Do I care? I want to care because my coworker is waiting anxiously for me to tell her how much I love the book. But it is work for my lazy brain. "Captain Kyle Prager was shocked out of a simple astrogration review by a datavised proximity alert from the flight computer." Sigh...Only 580 pages to go.

Cookbooks

2010-04-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Is it sad that I get just as much joy out of reading a cookbook as I do after reading a novel? I don't cook the recipies, just dream about them. Perhaps after I have my perfect kitchen I will actually make them....Chocolate-Dipped Brownies....Berry Cream Muffins....Super Strawberry Shortcake. I am not fixated on dessert, just reading a dessert cookbook. Maybe this weekend I will read my Slow Cooker Bible.

A Little Bit of Nothing

2010-04-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have one hour. Both of my roommates have left for work and my husband is at the gym. For one hour the apartment is all mine. I will pet my kitty's and drink Diet Coke. Maybe I will bake brownies since someone cleaned the kitchen. Only one precious hour, and it is ticking away.

Laundry As An Avoidance Technique

2010-03-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

I have something I am supposed to be doing. I am supposed to be studying. I love to study. I love to learn new things. I like staying up late because I am focused on gaining knowledge. I like stretching my brain and learning something outside the area of Labor and Delivery nursing. But I hate ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). I have a 4 hour refresher course tomorrow. I have to take this class every two years, and it never gets easier. I don't use it (ever) and the information never seems to stick to my brain.

So instead of learning all about heart problems and the medication, symptoms, and treatments that go with it, I am catching up on all the blogs I have missed lately. I am also doing laundry. I always get so much laundry done when I am avoiding something. I can say, "Look what I did," even though I don't like laundry either.
I am now down to eleven hours till go time. I still know nothing. Of course there is always more laundry......I could go to the gym......or the grocery store......make bread.....

Seven Interesting Thing....

2010-03-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks Niki for the beautiful blogger award. This means I have to write seven interesting things about myself. Now if only I could figure out how to get the award over here....

1. I read Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card two times in a row without putting it down, and I had to work the next day.

2. My scrubs never match....and neither do my socks. Nobody can see socks, so who cares?

3. I have been to six different universities and still don't have a bachelors degree.

4. I swear I was abducted by aliens in the seventh grade...I lost an entire hour.

5. Two houses I lived in as a child had secret chambers.

6. Sometimes I am too tired to go to bed. My husband has to send me like a little child. I will just continue staring at the computer or television as I slump lower and lower in my seat.

7. I have never held a job down longer that 18 months.

Enough about me, now onto the blogs that actually deserve this award....
A New Kind of Medicine
Running on Dirt Roads
Mental Maytag
Emjay

Kindle Heaven

2010-03-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, this post is entirely inspired by KarenG at Coming Down the Mountain and her post on e-publishing. Although I did comment, there is so much more I want to say about my Kindle. I am writing this from the point of view of a reader, not a writer seeking publication.

My favorite thing about it is that I can lie in bed under the covers and read without the book being too awkward. My kindle was broken for a short time and the return to regular books was frustrating. My arms would get cold, my finger tired of propping up the book. It also takes up much less space on my bedside table, one thin item instead of three or four books.

Wireless delivery is amazing. As soon as I remember a book that I want to read, two minutes later I have it. Even as I am writing this post I am ordering books (The Giver). It does take more self control because I don't see the money leaving my wallet like it does in a regular bookstore. I am prepared to be tempted in Borders, but having a bookstore at my fingertips is tricky.

My husband loves my Kindle because there are boxes of books he will never have to move again. They can stay at my parents house forever. He doesn't have to hear how I miss them, or find I have managed to sneak a few more into the solitary bookcase in our cramped apartment. If only Harry Potter was available.

When the Kindle goes into sleep mode a picture of an author appears on the screen, Jules Verne today. As I look at different authors, I am reminded of all the quality books, classics, and childhood favorites that I once read and am encouraged to seek books that stretch my mind.

The screen is very easy on my eyes. Unlike computers that shoot light at you, the kindle uses different technology so it is not at all like reading a monitor. It is more like reading an old paperback with faded pages. The ink is still easy to read but the paper is a little darker. Because I can make the font different sizes, there is no eye strain. I prefer tiny print because it is more like a book, but the large font is nice for when I am jogging. Some books have a text-to-speech option so I can listen to the story. Unfortunately, it isn't a nice soothing voice but a male or female computer voice. I have only used it for the Old Testament.

Using it for textbooks is less useful. Although I can highlight and make notes, it is to0 hard to search easily. The large pages of a textbook allow for easier skim reading. Front to back reading is fine but looking for something if you aren't exactly sure where is very frustrating.

The days of record players and the large artwork that covered the albums are gone. When smaller cassettes appeared people missed the ease of finding the song, having a stack of records drop automatically into place, the artwork. Ipods have changed everything again. The volume of music that can be stored and the quality of the sound outweigh any of the nostalgia over the loss of records. Records have their own feel, smell, sound, and memories, but cannot compare to the current technology. I think that books will eventually go the same way as this technology continues to improve.

Stability is over rated

2010-03-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

My entire life I have been looking forward to the time when things settle down. I have been busy about my life jumping from one university to another, one job to another, one apartment to another, always thinking that soon I could settle down in a little house with a little job and a little family. I have been at my current hospital for one full year, and although I really like it I have discovered something about myself I never knew. I do not want stability, I do not want dependability. I want to go back to travel nursing where I am looking for a new job every three months, in a new apartment every six. I didn't see the world as most of my jobs were in the LA area, but the change was something I looked forward to. I am now faced with the thought that I will be here for another 1 1/2 years. No more travel nursing, no more moving. The gypsy part of my blood that I never new existed is crying.

Slacker City

2010-03-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

My husband does all the laundry in our home. He collects, sorts, washes and dries it all. He does not, however, put it away. He doesn't think it is important because it just gets worn again, whether it is in a pile on the couch or in the closet where it belongs. He even likes laying on it like a pillow. (So do our cats.) I don't like it in big piles on our only couch but I hate folding clothes so much that I usually just let it sit there.....forever. Yesterday I finally started putting all the clothes away and noticed that there were a lot of dryer sheets. One dryer sheet for every load of laundry that was never put away. How many were there? Fourteen. Fourteen loads of laundry that never got put away. I feel like such a slacker. I always thought I would be such a super housekeeper when I finally grew up, but apparently the chores you hated as a child you still hate as an adult. Who new?

Fake Book Review

2010-02-15T20:07:00.000-08:00

What a fun read! I just finished Ghost Waves by W. Everett Prusso and it was a delight. The last several books I have read were decent enough, but Ghost Waves was great from beginning to end. How refreshing to read a good story well told. I took the book to work today and every spare minute was filled with Captain Scrimshaw, Lady Reid, and the four heroes. Even though work was horrible and busy, these characters kept me sane. If only the book were three times as long and I could continue the story....but I will wait. I have no choice. This book has made my list of books to be re-read over and over.

And no, you can't borrow it. I might want it. You will have to get your own.

Blog Awards

2010-02-09T21:27:00.000-08:00

Blog awards freak me out. I received an Over the Top award from Coming Down the Mountain and I couldn't handle the pressure. Answer questions? Only one word? People reading my innermost thoughts? Although I have been secretly jealous of blog awards ever since entering the blogging world, receiving my first one was scary. So scary in fact that I didn't even say thank you. I regressed back to fourth grade where I was too shy to say "Sorry" if I bumped into someone. I would just stare at them and hope they wouldn't talk to me. Of course now I never stop talking, but every now and then that old me pops up in weird places.

Then, again today, another award comes my way. Old Kitty surprises me with a Prolific Blogger award. This time I was able to unfreeze enough to at least say thank you. Perhaps someday I will have the courage to pick it up and pass it along. For now, I will just know it is there waiting patiently for me.

Yuck, allergies

2010-02-03T15:42:00.000-08:00

Ugh, I am a mess. I have been looking forward to this afternoon of alone time filled with reading and music, but I have decided to be allergic to something instead. Some kind of rash is on my arm, my eye is swollen, and my allergy medicine isn't working. What a ruined day. At least I still have music as I scratch myself to death.

Calling all cat lovers

2010-01-29T12:47:00.000-08:00

My cat is a freak. Well, one of them at least. "Amos" has decided that he never wants to be off my lap. This becomes a problem when he curls up in my lap and places his upper body on my book, keyboard, plate of food, whatever. When I shove him off he whines, circles my chair, and is back on my lap in 2 seconds. I think that I will get one of those baby carriers that mom's strap to their chest and put him in that. It will either make him very happy or he will decide that perhaps hiding under the Christmas tree is the best place for him. What do you think? Will this work? Will it at least get the cat hair out of my dinner plate?

On being Kathleen Kelly

2010-01-18T20:51:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have days where you crave different life? Today I want to be Kathleen Kelly from You've Got Mail. In the morning she wakes up to an apartment with built-in bookcases. Kathleen wears modest yet stylish clothing as she walks to work every morning, in every season. She owns a tiny store and has a tiny circle of friends. Kathleen leads a simple life, even in New York City. Oh, the lessons I could learn.

I am Jane

2010-01-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

This is my journal. Not The Ladies Home Journal or The Diary of Anne Frank, but something in between. Not that I'm stuck in an attic with people trying to kill me, but you know, personal. To start, I love to cook. Unfortunately, for someone who has been baking for the last 30 year I make a lot of mistakes. Today I made fudge. This fudge was boiling merrily away on the stove approaching soft ball stage when I realized I had doubled the butter. Oh well, butter only makes things better. After sopping all the excess off the top of the fudge (it only took 7 paper towels) it was quite edible. Yum, fudge.