Rodeo

I haven't written in awhile.  I guess it's because I think that I have nothing interesting to say.  I'm going to try to change that.

I went to my first Rodeo yesterday with my friend Stacey.  We had a blast!

Stacey and I would cheer every time the cowboys wouldn't get the cow/bull.  This was when the cow “won.”

Afterwards, we went to the fair a little.  I always like seeing the animals.  It's interesting to try to imagine what they are thinking.  It was over 90 degrees, so most of them were probably thinking “It's so hot!!”

I love it when the animals would look at you.  

Stacey and I decided that we want to go to a professional rodeo.

What's new...

Breakfast before we left Florida

I thought I would do a post to let you know what was new in my life.  For starters, I went down to Florida in July with my sister, her two children and my mom to see my brother, Kris and his family.  I haven't seen him since I was in high school and we've never met his wife or his three children.  We had a wonderful time. 

Giordano's, where we first met Kris and his family

I am also going back to school this fall to finish my BSN - Bachelor's in Nursing.  I am taking Intermediate Algebra class and a basic computer class.  I had forgotten how expensive college can be.  The algebra class I am taking as a review because I haven't taken algebra since I was in high school...and that was a long time ago.  I have to take Statistics for my degree and it relies heavily on algebra.

I am a little bit excited to be going to school again and a little anxious at the same time.  I go to see my councilor on Monday to see what classes I need to take to finish.  I know that I was only three or four classes away before and I hope that it is still the same.

I am enjoying work.  I like working at the hospital that I currently work at.  It is refreshing to actually work and get a steady paycheck.  I looked at my taxes for this year, however, and wasn't too happy.  They are outrageous!  Hopefully, I won't have to pay too much and will get some back.

My colleague, Kilah and I put in to go to a seminar in Las Vegas in October.  It would be so awesome if they sent us to that.  We are anxiously waiting an answer.  My boss was the one who suggested it to me.  He has been to this seminar before and says that they are really good.  That helped Kilah's boss in making the decision to let her go.

Otherwise, I am going to a seminar in September that is put on by a local hospital.  It is on Cardiovascular Care.  That is one thing that I like about nursing - you have endless opportunities at continuing education since it is required to renew your license.  As far as I know, there is only one required subject for Michigan and that is pain.  You have to have one credit in pain.  Other states have different required ones.

So many things have frustrated me lately.  Number one is my house.  I am tired of it.  I am tired of doing renovations and things.  It is tiring and endless.  It seems that I will never get to the point where I will get to do the things that I enjoy with it.  Now, we need a new septic system.  I knew this was coming, but never had the $6000 to get it done.  I need to get it done because even if I were to sell this house, I would have to replace it because our current system would never pass inspection.

There are other things that frustrate me, but I won't go into them on this blog.

I've been reading a lot on the internet about your identity and how important it is to keep it personal.  I have been trying to follow some of the recommendations I've read and hence, I am thinking of making this blog private.  I will let people know before I do.

Me, Ilana and Jamie

The picture on the left was taken in our rental house in Florida with my mom's camera when she left it out.  You can kinda see my braces in it.

My braces have been going well, I guess.  I get put into the SureSmile system in late September.  They said they would do that when my treatment was half over.  If that is the case, I am ahead of schedule.  It has only been four months since I got them on.  I've noticed a drastic improvement in my teeth.

Well, I guess that it all for now.  I will try not to make it so long between my posts.  Sometimes I just don't know what to post.

Here is a photo of a calendar that we have at work that I liked.

Braces

I've been having some problems with my teeth lately.  More specifically, I still have a baby tooth with no adult teeth underneath it and it has been causing me problems.  The dentist recommended pulling the tooth, but wanted to see what the Orthodontist said about it first.  So, I went to the Orthodontist and I got braces on Monday.  My mouth is still sore and I wonder if it is going to be like this after every adjustment.  I still have to get that tooth pulled, but I thought I should wait a bit before I subject my mouth to more trauma.

I have these two bite planes on my inner teeth.  I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to tolerate these.  In the picture, they look much smaller than the ones that I have.  I have a hard time eating and talking with these in there.  I talk with a lisp.  I don't like it.  If I have to wear these for the full length of the treatment, I don't know what I'm going to do.  Well, I do know, I cannot do it for 18 months.  I wonder if they can put smaller or different ones in.

Maybe someday I'll post a picture of me, but I am just not feeling it today.  :(

Update

It has been a long time since I have updated my blog.  I guess it is because I haven't felt like I have had to much to say.  I mean, work has been the same.  I work, I read and that is about it.  Okay, that is not all, but I have no other excuse as to why I haven't updated this blog.

I have decided to give up on trying to do a Project 365 blog.  I just cannot do it.  I give kudos to Allison and all those who can, but it just doesn't work for me.  Why?  The only explanation that I can think of is that I work nights and my days and nights always get messed up.

I have made great progress on my book review blog, however.  Young Adult Book Reviews has surpassed all the goals that I made for it when I started it last June.  I can hardly believe that it has almost been one year since I started reviewing books.  I have been to a few conventions and book signings since I last blogged. 

The latest being the RT Booklovers convention in Chicago.  It was a lot of fun.  We only went for Teen Day, which was Saturday, because that was the day that they had over 100 authors signing books.  Since RT stands for Romantic Times, it was heavy on the romance authors, but they had Teen Alley which had a lot of YA authors.  It was a lot of waiting, but a lot of fun, nonetheless.

Us on the balcony of our hotel

I have enjoyed my new job and have learned a lot.  I am working in the ICU for two nights as Resource RN (meaning charge) and then one night out on Med/Surg.  This is good because there is some different skills that you use in the different departments and I don't want them to get rusty.

Spring is here and there is a lot of things that I want to do to my house.  I have great aspirations and I don't know if everything will get done.  I am kinda depressed about the state of the house because it needs SO much work.  Remind me never to buy a fixer upper again!

2012 Resolutions

It's a new year.  I made some resolutions again.  I read somewhere about not telling anyone, but that doesn't seem like a good way to be accountable for them.  I thought of all the normal ones like lose weight, be healthier, exercise more... 

The non-standard ones I have are 1) to post more on my photo blog.  I'm going to try it again.  I'm inspired by Allison.  I didn't do so well last year.  2) Post more on this blog.  Since I have started my book review blog, this one has kinda fell to the wayside.  3) Read my scriptures more and be prepared for church.

Those are the ones that I can think right now.  We'll see how I did in 2013.

Merry Christmas

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I didn't have to work any holidays this year and I was able to attend my family Christmas party on Christmas Eve.  Then on Christmas day, Jamie and Ilana came over for dinner.  It was really nice. 

I decided that next year, I want to try to make Baklava and have prime rib for Christmas dinner.  Both of those are new things I've tried in the last month at my new job.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season.

New Job, Thanksgiving, shopping

I recently started a new job in the  ICU/Med/Surg department in a rural hospital.  When I first started there, I just wanted to pick up a few hours here and there, but due to being called off all the time at my other job, I decided to take a full time position there.  While orienting, I remembered how much I liked working in the ICU.  This new position has a set schedule, which will give me better control of my life and also allows me to attend church regularly.  I like all the people that I've worked with so far.  It was a difficult decision, but one that I am glad that I made.  I will technically be off orientation in the beginning of December.  I know I'm doing okay, it's just some of the ICU stuff that I will need help with when it comes up.  It has been five years since I have done ICU and I've forgotten a lot.

Thanksgiving went well.  My sister, Jamie and her children came over for dinner.  Our family met later at my grandparents for pie.  That is our usual get together.  It was nice seeing everyone and planning for our Christmas party.  (That always happens at Thanksgiving because we get together as a family on few occasions.)

My mom wanted to go to Black Friday sales at Wal*Mart on Thanksgiving night.  It was my mom, me, Jamie and her daughter Ilana.  It was Ilana's first time going shopping in that madness.  It was crazy!  Ilana and I never found what we were looking for.  I think my mom got everything she went for though.  Then, mom wanted to go to Menards on Friday morning.  Getting up at 4 a.m. for ANYTHING is difficult for me because I am used to being awake at night and don't have "normal" bedtimes.  Every year, I say I'm not going to do that again and every year, I do. 

Ilana waiting at Menards at 5 a.m.

Stupid phones

I got the new iPhone 4S awhile ago.  Having had an iPhone for two years, I didn't find the new one that exciting.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the iPhone.  I loved Siri.  It just wasn't enough to keep me interested. 

When I was shopping for new phones, I said that if HTC had a good phone with a front facing camera, I would get that one.  When we went to the AT&T store, the only one they had was the HTC Status.  I didn't want that phone.  It reminded me too much of a blackberry and having a phone with the focus on facebook seemed a little ridiculous to me.

So, I got another iPhone and wouldn't you know it, two weeks after I get it, HTC comes out with the Vivid.  I returned my iPhone (it hadn't been 30 days) and they tell me (after the fact) that I have to wait 72 hours before I can get a new phone.  My sister Jamie let me use her old iPhone 3G, but it was hard going back to that after having the 4S.  Needless to say, I learned a lesson and my survey comments earned me a call from the regional manager of AT&T.  I was impressed with that.

I like my Vivid and am learning new things about it everyday.  I was a little concerned about switching from iPhone to Android, but it is going well.

It's been awhile

I haven't posted on my blog since the beginning of the summer.  Now that the summer is over, I have had some time to reflect on it.  I didn't do much outside of work this summer except for a trip to Mackinac Island with my sister Jamie, mom, niece Ilana and nephew Riley.  We had a lot of fun up there and it was my first time ever on the island.

Ilana and I on the ferry to Mackinac Island

Arch Rock.  Looking out on Lake Huron

Ilana, Riley and Jamie looking out at Lake Huron

In the trolley on Mackinac Island

Riley and Ilana playing in Lake Huron in front of the Mackinac Bridge

Taqhuamenon Falls

My favorite sign in Taqhuamenon Falls.

I have also really started getting in to reading books.  I never really liked to read books before.  At first, I started to see what my nieces and nephew were reading, but now, I enjoy it.  It is something peaceful that I can do with my time.  I also started reviewing books.  It gives me a directive when I am reading, so I am just not seeing words on the page.  Jamie, Ilana and I have been to a few author signings.  I never knew about these before I started reviewing books.  They are lots of fun and you learn quirky things about authors and sayings that will stick with you forever like "hot monkey."

The latest book signing in Lansing, MI

I have been having health issues.  It first stated with this nuisance of getting hives. I couldn't figure out what was causing them.  After the whole summer of doctor's appointments, we finally have it narrowed down to a condition called demographic skin.  This basically means that when I have a lot of pressure on my skin (like when I would lean on the counter at work) or scratch, hives will appear.  The Allergist I'm seeing thinks it might be related to my psoriatic arthritis.  So, that means another doctor to see. I just want the hives to go away.  I realize they are as bad as they COULD be, but still...

The other part of the summer is getting ready for the dreaded winter.  YUCK!  I don't like it.  :(

I have one question for all my friends out there.  What is the difference between grey and gray?  I never know if I am using the right one and this bothers me.  It's trivial, I know, but it has been on my mind.

Summer...finally

Things have been a little busy around here lately.  I did go to Nashville for the nursing conference.  Because of this, I had to work a lot before and after.  I haven't been getting called off for low census lately, so that is good.  But it makes for a tiring week when you actually have to work your scheduled days.  :)  I have been scheduled a lot of Sundays recently, which kinda stinks because then I usually don't go to church because I'm sleeping to prepare for work.  I am already sleep deprived working the night shift, so I cannot afford to lose any sleep before working.  I have to be mentally alert when I'm dealing with patients.  I have been trying to get a day position, but there haven't been too many of them.

I also have been doing a lot of things lately.   Jamie and I attended the NKOTBSB concert in Grand Rapids.  This was amazing!  I have been to BSB concerts before, but this was intense!  The way they kept switching between NKOTB and BSB songs was phenomenal.  It always kept you out of your seat.

Most recently, we took Ilana, Alex and Isabel to Lansing to a book signing with a few Young Adult Authors.  We were so tired by the time we got to the signing.  The signing was on Saturday, but we left Friday so we could do a few things in Lansing while we were there.  We saw the capital building.  At first, we were in a tour with a class who looked to be about fourth or fifth grade.  The tour guide asked them a bunch of questions about Michigan and they knew the answers!  I was impressed.  Jamie was wondering how she could sign Ilana up for that class. 

At the capital building.  This was taken from the 4th floor

We also went to MSU because Alex wants to attend there after high school.

Standing in front of Spartan Stadium

We were so excited by the time that the authors came out.  The authors were: Ellen Schreiber, Aprilynne Pike, Josephine Angelini and Veronica Roth.  There were two other authors there to get their books signed by the four above.  They were Courtney Allison Moulton and Aimée Carter.  It was fun-filled day.


I have a couple of doctors appointments coming up.  With the merger of our hospital with a bigger one, we got new medical insurance and had to get new doctors.  This means that I had to get a new neurologist also.  I also have an appointment with an allergy specialist because I have been getting hives recently.  At first I thought it was due to something at work, but then it started happening when I wasn't at work.  I'm at a loss.  I haven't tried anything new and I just cannot figure out what is causing them.  My co-worker said that stress can cause hives...maybe...


I haven't been keeping up with my Project 365 blog.  This is harder than it looks.  I have had some health issues that I have been dealing with that have made it difficult.  I have to give Kudos to Allison for keeping it up for the second year.  I need to get back to doing it.  


The weather here has been crazy.  One day it will be in the 90s and the next we'll have 70s and rain.  Mother Nature just cannot make up her mind what she wants to do.  They always say that if you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait five minutes and it will change.  I guess that is true.

Come on Spring!!!

I am ready for Spring to get here.  I was out looking at the yard and I have a lot to do in my flower garden.  It will be nice when I can finally get out there and do something.  The weather has been teasing us lately.  It will be nice and up in the 40s-50s and all the snow will melt and the next thing we know, it is snowing again! 

Jamie and I have doing well on our Project 365 blog.  The pictures have been interesting.  Some of them get pretty boring when you cannot go outside to do stuff.  that is another reason I am antsy about spring coming.  I can only take so many pictures of my dogs...

Work has been a little hectic lately.  It seems like it has been a little more stressful than usual.  We almost got stuck at work once during a blizzard.  Not fun!  Nobody wants to be stuck at a hospital...even the staff!

I've decided to give up fast food for lent.  I try to give up something that will make my life/health better.  The first night, I was working with Stacey and she ordered Tomato Cheese Bread from Romas.  That is my weakness and I forgot about Lent until we had already ordered.  Oops!  I've been better since then, but it is still a work in progress.

January

January has been a weird month for me so far. I cannot believe the month is almost over! I have been sick a lot this month. With silly little things like pharyngitis. A house supervisor commented that I've “caught everything floating by.” I don't normally get sick this often. I think exposure to germs on almost a daily basis boosts my immunity somehow. I don't know why this year is so different. My doctor (which I did have to change, by the way) asked me if I've been exposed to anyone who's been sick recently. I just smiled and told her at least 3 days a week. ;) She laughed and said “oh yeah.”

My car is finally fixed—new windshield and tire. I didn't like spending that much money, but it was necessary. I'm hoping to get four new tires when I get my tax refund. I also need a front-end alignment, so I think I want to get all the work done at the same time.

I'm hoping to go to this nursing seminar at the end of April. It is in Nashville. It will give you 20 CEUs. As nurses, we need 25 CEUs in two years to renew our license. That will basically knock out most of my need for education for the next two years. I could be more selective on the classes I take. Take classes I WANT to take rather than just take classes to fulfill the educational requirements.

I'm tired of the snow; I'm tired of cold; just sayin'…

Happy New Year

December was a busy, busy month for me. Not because of the Holidays either. First, it took me over three weeks to get my health insurance straightened out so I could register for benefits for 2011. I was getting nervous because our current insurance expired on December 31st. I finally got it straightened out though. That made me feel a little better.

The merger at my small hospital was completed on December 1st. (That is the reason for the insurance change). Not a whole lot of changes have happened so far. I guess that is good because it would be too shocking for people otherwise. I was already employed by the hospital taking over, so that eased some tensions for me.

My doctor confirmed that I have fibromyalgia at the beginning of December. I had to wait until January until our new insurance started before I could set up any treatment modalities. My doctor has recommended acupuncture, water therapy & medical massage. I know the latter is covered, but I have to check about the other two. My friend also said Behavioral Cognitive Therapy has really helped her, so I'm going to check into that also.

There is medication you can take, but I like to try other things before medication. That is why I like my doctor so much. I've been going to her for 10 years and she knows this about me. She knows a lot about alternative things to try also.

I hope I don't have to give her up with this new insurance. She is not a preferred provider and I know I would have to pay cash to see her. The only thing that would make me change doctors is I heard something about non-preferred doctors cannot write referrals.

This year hasn't been a good year for my car so far. I worked New Year's Eve and on the way to work, a rock hit my car. It happens. I didn't see any damage when I arrived at work that night. When I came out from work New Year's Day at around seven a.m., my windshield had a seven-inch crack on the driver's side. Since then, it has spread to about two feet. I have an appointment on Friday to get a new windshield. I just hope it doesn't snow too much before then. It's the accumulation, I'm worried about.

Today, I was on my way to church and my car just wasn't acting right. I looked at my tires after I parked and my tire was almost flat. I went to Wal*Mart to see if they could repair it until I can get a new tire. No such luck.

Now would be a good time to interject that I have been looking up quotes for winter tires for my car. Well, they don't make them because I have a “special” rim. They only make the cheap tire in my size…and nobody has them in stock. Now, when I say cheap, I mean cheaply made, not inexpensive as the tires cost around $250 a piece. So, now I'm stuck with a doughnut for who knows how long while someone orders a “cheap” tire for my car.

I am definitely liking my car very much now. It has been so difficult getting any parts for it. I had this problem trying to get rotors for my car. I am not a happy camper… :(

My Year in Status

They had this neat program in Facebook which will put all your statuses (is that right?) in a collage.  Well, you get to pick them if you have too many.  Here is my 2010:

Yesterday was plain awful...

So, yesterday was not a good day for me.  It was the first day I had been back to work in over a week.  It started when I went to clean the snow off of my car and the little plastic piece that holds my windshield wiper broke.  My windshield wiper fell off into my hands.  I was getting ready to leave for work, so I had no time to go to the store and get new windshield wipers.  So, I went to work minus one.  Not fun when it is snowing, let me tell you.

Then, when I got to work, I noticed that there was tear in my scrub top.  I pinned it with a safety pin and hoped that would hold until morning.  I jammed my fingers and broke my nail down to where it really hurts.  When I went to print a census for the morning crew, the printer in ICU was out of paper.  ICU being closed, everything is locked up, so I went over to the joint unit to print them.  (They don't print on our unit for some reason.)  Well, the joint unit computer needed a password to sign onto windows.  Neither I nor Lidy (who normally works there) knew what it was, so I stole some paper and went back to ICU.  Well, the printer jammed in ICU while printing the census.  Did I get the page I needed?  NOO!  So, down to Rehab I went.  Finally after visiting almost every floor in the hospital, I got the census.

All in all, it was a crazy day.  But, I made it to and from work safely (with only one windshield wiper, I might add.)  All my patients were safe and as far as I know, we didn't have any catastrophes.  Plus, my friend Danny sent me this really funny you-tube video.  Here it is:

We went where at midnight?!

Our family has this penchant for midnight releases.  We ♥ going at midnight to see things.  (I don't normally use ascii symbols for things, but I couldn't help myself this time.)  We are excited for Breaking Dawn Part 1.  I have heard many different dates for this, including 11-11-11.  Other dates have said the following week.  This wouldn't be nearly as memorable a date, but oh well.  I guess we'll figure it out when the time gets closer.  If it is 11-11-11, that would mean we would go on 11-10, which is my niece, Ilana's 13th birthday.  She is not excited about waiting, but excited about it being her birthday.

Last night, we (meaning myself, my sister Jamie, my nieces Ilana and Isabel and my nephew Alex) went to Wal*Mart at midnight to get our copy of Eclipse.  I must say it wasn't as exciting as it was for the New Moon release and there were not 1/2 as many people there.  They had cupcakes and a souvenir, but the excitement of the midnight release just wasn't there.  We actually got out of the store, movies in hand at 12:05 a.m.  Crazy!  Here are some photos from last night.

Isabel, Jamie, Ilana and Alex.  This was taken while we were waiting in line. We don't know who the guy is behind them.

Isabel showing off her lanyard prize they gave us.  It had tattoos and stickers inside.

We found these crazy kids at Wal*Mart in the middle of the night.  I'm not sure what Ilana has.

Alex and Isabel went straight home and watched the movie as they were unable to see it in the theater.  I must say though, I have never heard so much dinging in the back of the car from cell phones as I did when I had these three in the back seat.  (Oh, and from Jamie in the front.)  The last two photos were taken by Jamie, who I was surprised was still awake after having woken up around 3:30 that morning to go to work a 12-hour shift!

Winter is finally coming...

We had a really nice Thanksgiving here at our house.  My sister, Jamie and her kids came over for dinner.  I had to work the night before, so it was later than usual.  After, our family gathered together at my grandparents for pie.  It was nice to see everyone.  (My grandpa seriously needs to make more banana cream pie!)  This is Jamie and her daughter Ilana.

We went shopping at Wal*Mart on Black Friday.  There were some things that my mom wanted to get.  We started out at the midnight sales and were going to return at 5 a.m. for an external hard drive that I wanted, but mom wanted to stay and buy a laptop.  So, we stayed...all night...in Wal*Mart.  Yes, we are a little bit crazy...

This past week, I have been sick and had to miss church.  I really notice a difference in my week when I am unable to attend.   I work a rotational weekend shift, so it is important to me to attend when I can.  I haven't felt this cruddy in awhile and I'm hoping that this is my "one" for the winter.  (Usually I get really sick one time each winter.)

 

Snow is in our forecast.  For all of next week.  We knew this weather was too good to last.  Usually we have our first snowfall on or around Halloween and that didn't happen this year.  It was well into November before it even hinted at snowing.  Hopefully, the weather won't be too terrible and last too long.  Here's hoping...

 

Jamie and I are getting our stuff together to start our project 365 that Allison had suggested to us.  We are excited to do this as we both LOVE taking photos.  It will be a great way to show them to everyone.  I will post more when we get everything set up.

Making Monkey Bread

Is this why they call it monkey bread?

 

Confused?!

Oh, now I get it...wait... :/

Stake Conference & Music

A week ago, my niece, Ilana, asked me if she could ride with me to the Kalamazoo Stake Conference.  This was held today in Battle Creek, which is about one hour and fifteen minutes away from where we live.  It was a great session.  At one point, they asked the youth, aged 12-18 to stand.  Having just turned 12 last week, I told her that that was her.  She was a little embarrassed to be standing, but it wasn't like she was the ONLY one standing.  :)  Overall, it was an edifying experience for both of us and I am glad that we went.  It was too bad that my sister, Jamie, had to work.

I have always been interested in music.  Specifically, the lyrics of a song.  I like to really listen to what they are trying to say.  One song I have been stuck on recently is "I've Always Loved You" by Third Day.  The chorus of the song is as follows:

Don't you know I've always loved you
Even before there was time
Though you turn away
I'll tell you still
Don't you know I've always loved you
And I always will

If you haven't listened to Third Day, you should.  They are one of my favorite Christian Rock bands.  Another song that I always have to listen to three or four times when I hear it is "Close Your Eyes" by Michael and Jeff McLean.

We popped the corn before we left
We had no cash to spare
His cousin ran that old drive-in show,
so daddy took us there

When the film would frighten me,
he held me on his knee
and said we'll get through this together somehow
and whispered tenderly

Close your eyes, this part is scary
Take my hand, it won't last long
You will love the ending, I promise
When this part of the story is gone

That drive in show closed years ago,
it's long since over grown
My car can barely drive through the weeds
to park there all alone

The movie of my life's become
more than I can face
and I'm looking for answers in places he taught me
to not be afraid to have faith

Close your eyes, this part is scary
Take my hand, it won't last long
You will love the ending, I promise
When this part of the story is gone

For love cannot be defeated
just like the sun, it will rise
Things will look so much clearer
if you'll stop

and close your eyes
Take my hand
You will love the ending I promise
when this part of the story is gone

Even though, it might look hopeless
You will see, that love wins the prize
and fears disappear, and you'll see much clearer
if you'll just close your eyes

Perhaps he was sayin'
it's easy a-praying
if you'll
close your eyes

 All the songs on the "Father and Son" album are good, but this is my favorite song.