BasketCasey

october in review

2009-10-31T18:34:00.003-04:00

October's weather was kind of all over the place. We had a lot of really nice summery days and a few "oh my god, it's so cold it's going to snow any minute" days. Vic and I have gone thru a heap of wood already making fires. Every year we rent a wood splitter to split the larger pieces of wood so they'll fit into our little wood-burning stove. (We haven't split yet this year.) We moved the remaining outdoor plants inside and put away any patio stuff that was still lurking about. We had a really good wind last night that knocked down any of the little yellow leaves that were clinging onto our backyard trees, so now we have a yard filled with yellow and red. Autumn is always my favorite time of year ~ I love the leaf colors and the crispness in the air.

One of the two big events this month were the addition of our new family member, Erin. She is a black lab we "rescued" off of Craigslist. I don't think her previous people took very good care of her at all. She's about 17 months old and has a great disposition. We got her mainly as a companion for Meg and the two of them get along wonderfully. She's been with us now for a week and there haven't been any fights with any of the kids. She does have some sort of skin condition, but the vet thinks it should be cleared up easily enough with some antibiotics.

The other major event is Vic's health. She has been out of work since the beginning of September. After many x-rays, MRIs, and blood tests, the doctor seems to think she may be suffering from fibromyalgia. Vic suffers from all the symptoms of it and pretty much confined to the house due to the terrible pain she's always in. Hopefully we'll know something for sure in the next couple of weeks so that we can begin to actively treat it. Until then, she's a house-wife. And we are a one-income family. Not such a good thing to be around the holidays. I'm hoping for a merrier November.

Work is still going well. I'll be leaving the world of 12-hour shifts and will start my 8-hour days in November. I really looking forward to getting home while it's still light out. I'm starting to feel more and more confident in my surgical abilities with each passing case. I actually had a patient code on me a few days ago. The doc started administering CPR and there was just total controlled chaos for about 15 minutes. My job in those situations is to just get out of the way, which I did. She came in for a "routine" procedure, but the day was anything but routine for any of us. Just goes to show you how precious life is.

september in review

2009-10-03T09:30:00.002-04:00

September was definitely a "do nothing" month. My brother and his wife came for a visit last weekend, so the few weeks before that were spent cleaning the house. I think we need to have guests come more often ~ it's really the only way the house ever gets cleaned! They just came up for the day. I think they wanted to get away for a while and our house was within driving distance. It was a nice visit ~ nothing special.

Vic's been off work since Labor Day with her back problems. She sees the neurosurgeon next week. I hope he can offer an alternative to back surgery. Now that I know a few more things about surgery, I think it should definitely be a person's last resort. Right now, there's no telling when or if she'll go back to work, so most of my month has been spent working and worrying about money problems. Actually, it's an all-consuming thought. And Vic isn't really one to make sacrafices. We still have to buy the most expensive fucking cigarettes and we still have to have cable TV.

We STILL have dog issues. I think Megan has actually gotten a bit worse. Before, she never wanted to leave the living room. Now she refuses to leave the couch. We have to drag her outside to go potty. She doesn't look or act sick, she eats and gets plenty of water, and once outside she chases squirrels and runs around the yard, but she won't play ball and refuses to walk thru doorways. I'm so incredibly frustrated by the whole thing that I've just given up completely. She's Vickie's dog now.

September was not a good month.

lately

2009-09-11T08:06:00.003-04:00

I haven't been the best blogger lately. As a matter of fact, I kinda suck at it right now. But I'm not even sure if anyone still checks in any more. I know I check everyone's blog (I may not always leave a post, tho), but I've noticed fewer blogs there, too. Summer is just a hectic time ~ lots going on. Sometimes you just don't have the time to sit down and post something. Also Facebook has cut down on the number of bloggings, too. I guess it's just easier to jot down a quick line or two about what you're doing instead of composing an entire paragraph. I'm on FB, but I'm not a very good poster there, either. I'm more of a reader and occasional commentor.

Lately I've been so busy with work, that I just can't find the time to do anything. Our house is a mess and I think the dog is feeling a bit neglected. Working three days a week is nice because it gives me two days off, but on the days I work, all I do is work and sleep. Kind've a bummer right now. So that's why I've been a bad blogger.

I thought I'd let you in on some things on my mind of late.
* My brother is planning a trip here in a few weekends. He may or may not bring my mom. Either way, our house is a mess and we really really really need to start tidying up soon.
* Meg is putting on some weight, which is good because we both thought she was a bit undernourished when she first came to live with us. But I think she's putting on a bit too much weight. I feel partly responsible because I never have time to walk her.
* Money. I know we don't have it as bad as some other people, but it's definitely not good here, either. I'm so tired of always worrying about how to pay this bill or that bill. And every time I think that we'll finally get caught up, some calamity happens that puts us back in the hole again.
* Vic isn't feeling well ~ problems with her back. She goes for another MRI today to hopefully determine what the problem is. She's been off work for the past week (calamity) and just feels awful. We both really hope it's nothing serious. I have a feeling it's not something that will require surgery, but then I'm not really a doctor, am I?
* Speaking of health care...I'm not going to use this as a forum to give you my views on the whole subject, but remember there is no such thing as free health care. Nothing is free. And to think that uninsured people aren't receiving free health care now is silly. Every time you go to the hospital and are charged $30 for an aspirin it's because the last 10 patients before you were treated even though they didn't have insurance or money in their pocket, so we pass along the bill to you in the form of overinflated pricing. And to think that you'll be able to keep your present insurance is also misleading. You may be able to continue with your present company's insurance plan, but at a much higher premium. Just ask any of the Canadian patients I see every day what they think about socialized medicine. Why do you think they are crossing the border to seek medical attention? It's because they are on long waiting lists for much needed surgeries. I just think there are a lot of flaws in this proposal.
* Vic and I would like to move. Preferably further north and in an area without screaming kids or neighbors who work on cars until 1am. We'd also like a snowblower. And a snowmobile. With a basket to carry our groceries home from the Krogers.

august in review

2009-09-01T12:57:00.001-04:00

Meg & Her Baby
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Happy September! Looking back, August seemed to be spent doing a lot of what Megan is doing in this photo. We’ve had a really mild Summer and have been doing lots of yard work, so I think we kind’ve took August off to just lay around a bit. We started a few projects, but really didn’t do anything big. I’ve been at my new job now 2 whole months and still like it! The people are nice and I actually like what I do (most of the time). So I guess things are just moving along nicely ~ nothing new or exciting to blog about.

August in review:
* I started working 12-hr shifts at work. It’s nice having 2 days off during the week, but standing on my feet for 12 hours at a time is a real killer. I may get a new schedule next month. We’ll see.

* I painted our Adirondack chair Caribbean Blue. It was a nice shade of Forest Green, but the paint was chipping off and it needed to be repainted. I thought I would try a more vibrant color to shake things up a bit. I’m glad I did.

* Our sunflowers bloomed...for a few weeks. They lasted about 10 days before the squirrels discovered them and devoured their little sunflower faces, leaving us with a lot of naked sunflower stalks. We’ve got big plans for the gardens next year, but as with most things in life, it will all probably depend on the money situation.

* I read only one book this month,The Missing by Thomas Eidson. We picked it up for a quarter at a garage sale. It was made into a movie a few years back ~ Indians kidnap Cate Blanchett’s daughter, so she and Tommy Lee Jones hunt them down and get her back. It was a pretty good read (definitely worth a quarter!).

* We (mostly Vickie) started painting the upstairs bedroom. I just can’t get motivated to paint, so I haven’t been much help (sorry Vic). First we have to Kilz everything and then paint. It will really look nice if it ever gets done.

the minutia of my life

2009-08-27T14:42:00.001-04:00

Spamalopes
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

On this, my day off, I thought I would introduce you to the things on my desk: a touch lamp (one of the greatest inventions EVER), a small frame with a pic of Shannon in it (world's greatest dog), a spamalope cartoon, a London water globe, calculator man, a basket filled with scrap pieces of writing paper, an Air Force mug rug, cell phone, a squeezy ball shaped like the globe, a pocket-sized calendar with my paydays highlighted, a picture of a bucktoothed squirrel, the latest Smithsonian magazine, a little 3-drawer thing that holds address labels and stamps, and various computer stuffs.

My day off has been spent washing things. Washing the dishes, some rugs, and the towels. I've also been waiting for the mailman to bring my new book on Elizabeth I. So far, no mail. Is this some kind of postal holiday or something? With all the recent cutbacks, has the government decided to do away with mail or is my mailman just taking his sweet ass time getting here today? I really want that book.

I also went to the grocery store and bought a tomato and a head of lettuce in anticipation of eating BLTs later when Vic gets home. Curiously, I don't like tomatoes and I actually prefer lettuce shreds to lettuce pieces.

I wonder if I'll like working 12-hour shifts more in the Winter. Right now, my days off are spent catching up on housework and watching the dog sleep all day.

my busy days

2009-08-23T00:37:00.002-04:00

I wish I had a really good reason for not blogging more lately...but I don't. It just seems like I've been busy with the normal everyday boring-type of things that fill my days. I only work three days a week, but they're all 12-hour days; when I get home I am totally exhausted. Sometimes I struggle to stay up an hour or two and then pour myself into bed. And my days off are usually spent running all over the place getting chores done. The one luxury I've afforded myself recently has been trying to devote more time to reading. As a matter of fact, I just ordered a book on Queen Elizabeth I and hope to get it sometime this week. When the cool weather starts back up, I'll be spending more time inside and I'll get back to scrapbooking again. So I guess my blog has suffered a bit lately. But I wonder if the people who would normally read this are all too busy with their lives to spend some time here. So maybe we can all get together on a more regular basis in the next couple of months.

today

2009-08-14T17:39:00.003-04:00

Today is my day off. I told myself I wasn't going to do any work-type thing today, just read and relax. But I think I'll cut the grass. (I've already read and relaxed.) It's hard not to do something around a house that is filled with so many "to do" projects. Most of them are too big for just one person, so I have to wait for Vic. Others of them are just extremely tedious and I just keep avoiding them. I really don't mind cutting the grass, though. When I was a teenager I absolutely hated mowing and would bitch and whine about it endlessly. But that was then and now it's different. This is my grass. (Well, actually it's the bank's grass, but they let me borrow it for about 30 years.)

It seems like yardwork is the only exercise I get these days. On workdays, I'm on my feet for 12 hours, so I don't feel much like doing anything more strenuous than crawling into a nice warm bubble bath. And on my days off, I'm just not motivated to do anything. That's not really true. I am motivated, but I don't have anyone to go walking or cycling with, so I just stay home and do little stuff around the house instead...like cutting the grass. So off I go ~ the back yard awaits me!

experimenting with the tripod

2009-08-05T19:03:00.002-04:00

Here are a few pics of the previously blogged blue chair. She's a beut, no?

And here is a lovely picture of me sitting in the beautiful blue chair. As you can see, I've started using my tripod a bit.

I tried several times to get a shot of me and Meg, but every time the camera's timer started beeping, she'd run off. This was the best I could do. I think heads in photos are overrated.

july in review

2009-08-03T17:35:00.002-04:00

This was a pretty busy day~my day off from work. Vic continued applying Kilz to our hallway and upstairs bedroom (a project we've talked about doing for about 4 years now!), I pained our old dark green adirondack chair a charming shade of Caribbean Blue (I'll include a pic when it's done drying), and then I cut the grass and am now doing laundry. These 12-hr shifts are going to kill me! On workdays, I'll be on my feet for at least 11 hours, and on off days I'll bust my butt doing stuff around the house!

July seemed like a nice calm month. Vic & I hit a lot of garage sales and went to the city's farmer's market a few Sundays. We got lots of stuff we really didn't need at both venues. We took a trip to visit my brother in Cleveland and got to attend the Irish Festival there ~ both very enjoyable. This was the month I found out I was officially certified as a surgical technologist, a test I studied months for. And I finished the new Maeve Binchy book Heart and Soul. I've only read 6 books so far this year. I know that a large portion of the year was spent studying my school books, but still, 6 seems like such a small number! I've also been busy working on a hookrug (something I haven't done for years!) and my cross stitch. Can't wait to see what August will bring!

the cleveland trip

2009-07-31T19:25:00.002-04:00

Today was my last day of 8-hr shifts at work ~next week I start my 12s. I've never liked 12-hr shifts, but since I wasn't really given a choice, I guess I'll make the best of it. It'll be nice having to work only 3 days a week, but I dread being on my feet for 12 hours at a time. Oh well...

Vic, Meg, and I had a great time in Cleveland last weekend! Meg did really well in the car, so the drive there and back was very smooth. Except for a little rain Saturday afternoon, the weather cool and breezy and made for great relaxing outside weather. We stayed at my brother's house and Meg got to meet her cousin Bootsie. She (Meg) was a little shy and skittish the first night, but then she came around and seemed to play nicely with her cousin.

Saturday afternoon Vic & I checked out the Irish Festival ~ Kenny and Nikki weren't interested in going, so they babysat. The festival was pretty good. Some good music and lots of vendors. It lasted pretty much all night, but Vic & I left early because my mom and dad were coming to my brother's house that evening. We just threw some burgers on the grill and then played cards afterward. It was actually a very nice night ~ no "mom drama" at all.

Kenny, Nikki, and Bootsie are planning a visit to our house later next month or possibly in September. It was really nice seeing them, so now that we live within a few hours of each other, maybe we can visit more often.

the weekend ahead

2009-07-24T06:17:00.002-04:00

It's early Friday morning and I'm preparing for work ~ which means I'm working on waking up. In about 9 hrs. Vic, Megan, and I will be on our way to Cleveland to visit with my brother and hopefully (if it doesn't pour rain) take in the Irish Festival. I'm really hoping for a smooth drive, and a relaxing weekend with no drama from my mother. I'll let you know how it goes.

outside

2009-07-17T17:49:00.003-04:00

I recently found out that I passed my certification exam! I can now put a CST after my name! Other exciting news...our first sunflower blossomed (on the day I found out about the exam). There are more that are just yearning to burst forth (I can see it in their almost hidden faces). All of our sunflowers are from the seeds the birdies drop while eating. We actually planted a few from starter plants last year, but they weren't near as nice.

Vic & I decided early on that this was going to be the "Year of the Yard" meaning we were going to spend most of the Summer right here in our own backyard. This is due partly to having no money and partly to having a great backyard. We would both like to do more, but right now it looks very inviting and extremely relaxing.

Speaking of staying home...we won't be next weekend. We are going to take Meg for a trip to visit her Uncle Kenny and her cousing Bootsy in Cleveland. The Cleveland Irish Festival is next weekend and we thought that would be a great time for a visit! I'm actually looking forward to getting away for a few days.

blogging

2009-07-10T18:12:00.002-04:00

It seems like fewer people are blogging now that Facebook has come along (myself included). I miss reading my favorite blogs on a daily basis =( But I understand the reason behind the lack of posts ~ now that it's nice out nobody wants to sit and compose a paragraph or two, and Facebook is a lot easier to maneuver. I'm going to try to get better at blogging, though. And Facebooking. I'll just pass along little tidbits about the goings on in my life as they happen. For instance...

* Today was my first payday at the new job! We're still poor, but a little less so.

* I've been working solo in the OR all week. This is a pretty big deal. It means they trust me enough to not have another person scrubbed in with me. I was given some rather easyish cases, but still this is a pretty big step!

* Megan is doing well and is actually laying on the floor at my feet right now. I think she's much happier with her new family.

* I'm hoping to talk Vic into taking me out for Mexican food this weekend!

stuff & work

2009-07-08T16:19:00.002-04:00

Well, the July 4th weekend was long and very relaxing. Vic & mostly just hung around the house ~ we grilled, worked in the yard, and just enjoyed sitting. Nothing too taxing at all!

Work seems to be going pretty good. Today I had a day of hoo-h00s (hysterectomy and some D&Cs). The GYN stuff is my favorite. The docs are super nice and the cases usually don't have that much instrumentation. I've been there about a week and I've already worked overtime once! And I get my first paycheck this week! They've got great benefits, too ~ I can claim Vic on my insurance which is very exciting because her insurance sucks butt. I'm always tired now and my poor feeties always hurt. I think I'm just old and out of shape.

june

2009-07-02T16:40:00.002-04:00

One of the great things about starting work this week is that I get a paid day off tomorrow for the holiday! How exciting! I don't think Vickie & I have any big plans for the long weekend ~ I know Vic is going to make her wonderful kavics (like kabobs, but made by Vic), and I think that most of our weekend is going to be spent relaxing and maybe hitting a few yard sales.

And now a review of June:

* Well of course the biggest event of June was my graduation from college. Finally. After 25 long years, I finally have a 2-year degree. The ceremony was very nice and I actually got a little teary thinking of all I had been thru in the last year. I couldn't have done it without the love and support of Vickie. She was wonderful throughout this whole long battle.

* I finished reading Band of Brothers. It was actually a much better book than I thought it would be. Some of the Army lingo was a bit confusing at times, but overall a good read.

* We planted or hung a lot of flowers this past month. Our backyard really looks nice and cheery.

* I started a hook-rug project. I know I haven't finished the cross-stitch one yet, but I was looking for something else crafty to do. I really need to get back to scrapbooking, but I just can't get motivated. I need a scrapping buddy.

* The other major event of the month was my new job. I've only been there a few days, but I like it. It helps that I did my 6 months of clinicals there and know all the people already! I hope I'll be able to catch on quickly to all the procedures. Like with anything, some of stuff is pretty straightforward and easy, but then there are other procedures that have hundreds of instruments and difficult doctors.

work

2009-06-30T17:22:00.003-04:00

My real first day of work actually went pretty well. I was quite nervous last night and had a hard time falling asleep, but I think it was all for naught. Everyone was very happy to see me, I got a new locker and name badge, and all my cases went smoothly. I had 3 ortho procedures: a total knee replacement, removal of some screws from a foot, and a knee arthroscopy. Tomorrow I think I'm scheduled for a hysterectomy and a laparotomy (they open up your belly and look around at stuff).

sorta 1st day

2009-06-29T16:27:00.002-04:00

Today was my first day of work at the new job. But not really. The whole day was spent in orientation. These are my favorite kind of workdays ~ you get paid to sit around listening to other people drone on about "the mission," "the vision", workplace diversity, zero-tolerance regarding all forms of abuse, and most importantly, the proper way to wash your hands. And they feed you donuts and lunch and other assorted snackies! If I could just find a job that involves 40 hour orientation sessions every week I'd be in heaven!

I also got my employee badge. It doesn't look bad!

stuff

2009-06-26T18:38:00.002-04:00

Some things going on at my house:

* Our hanging baskets and container gardens are doing better this year than our "in the ground" garden is. Not sure why, but the result is beautiful. We've got about a dozen or so pots and containers and a gorgeous purple Clematis. It really brightens up the patio.

* It's been unbelievably hot here the last few days. The oppressive heat was one of the reasons we moved out of Florida and now here it is! I was really hoping to hold out until July before we cranked up the window AC, but 100 degree temps forced us into early cranking.

* Still no word on my certification results.

* I'm still working on the cross-stitch project I started just after Christmas. Most of my stitching takes place on the porch or in front of a Tigers game. It was slow going while I was in school, but I'm making some nice progress now.

* Recently, a Hobby Lobby opened up near my house. I might make a trip to mecca this weekend.

in casey you were wondering...

2009-06-22T20:40:00.002-04:00

Shaky Pancakes
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

* I can’t cook ~ not a bit. Nor do I want to learn. I absolutely hate preparing, chopping, measuring, and anything that has to do with the whole “pre-eating” phase of mealtime. I recently discovered (just a few months ago) instant pancake mix. Oh. My. God. This is one of the best inventions in the modern world! Prior to shaky pancakes, I would go thru an entire box of Aunt Jemima and get nary a flapjack out of it. I think I’m mixing deficient. My pancakes were either too watery or too lumpy or became something closer to paste. But now I am pancake barren no more! I just add the exact amount of water it says to add on the shaky container (never estimate, always use a measuring cup!), shake vigorously for 30 seconds, and voila! a pancake Mardi Gras instantly appears in my very kitchen!

* I always try to locate the big toe indentation on my socks before I put them on. Sometimes that’s not easy to do, but when I do find the end of the sock that looks more pokey-outty than the other, I make sure to place that end on the little toe. My goal is to have a more even wear on my socks. I’ve achieved moderate success thus far.

* When I start a new book, I try to choose a bookmark that somehow follows the theme of the book. For instance, I’ll use the Sherlock Holmes Museum card I got in London when reading a mystery. I recently used one with a falcon on it while reading Band of Brothers because their patch had a screaming eagle on it. I just chose a postcard from Ireland for the Maeve Binchy book I’m about to start. I've actually been known to spend 15 or 20 minutes debating on which bookmark to use and then trying it out in the book to make sure I got a good vibe from it. Vickie uses pieces of toilet paper.

job

2009-06-19T18:28:00.002-04:00

I was offered a job today at the hospital where I performed clinicals. Vickie & I are very happy...as are the electric company, cable company, and water company. I have to take a cursory physical and go thru a day of orientation before I start work on the 30th of this month. The hospital has domestic partner benefits, which means Vickie can drop her incredibly shitty insurance and pick up mine instead. This is the first place I've ever worked that has had domestic partner benefits. What's next ~ the right to vote?!

Still no word on whether or not I passed my certification exam. It's killing me. I should find out "within 4 weeks of taking the exam." Whatever, I want to know NOW.

post-graduation

2009-06-17T13:38:00.001-04:00

Caleb
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Since I’m now a graduate and still unemployed, I’ve decided to put my days off to good use. So far I’ve tidied up the craft room, washed tons of things, weeded, pulled, dead-headed and planted tons more things, read at least 8 magazines, helped clean up the garage, and applied for every job I could find. Hopefully I’ll have some good news to report next week regarding both a job at the hospital I did my clinical work at and my certification exam results. I’ve included a picture of my kitty Caleb helping me do some last minute studying ~ he’s always such a big help! Today is kind’ve a rainy, icky day, so I think I’m just going to sit out on the porch and read a bit while Megan plays in the backyard. Then we’ll watch the Tigers later tonight. Megan is a big Tigers fan!

finished!

2009-06-14T18:15:00.003-04:00

Saturday morning was my graduation! I can't believe I'm finally finished with school!! After the ceremony, I was so pent up with stress from the last 12 months that when I finally realized it was all over, I cried. I am soooo looking forward to not studying, not taking tests, and not working for free. I've actually read 4 magazines so far this weekend!

Of course, I still don't have a job, so I guess I'll have tons of free time to read anything I want for a while. I think (hope!) I shouldn't have to wait too long, though. The director at my hospital offered me a position as soon as she can have HR post it online ~ so that's good-ish news, I guess. Until then, I'm going to work on a few little projects around the house, and of course, read as much as I can!

monday doings

2009-06-08T19:43:00.001-04:00

Porch Before & After
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Our porch is finished! As you can see in the before and after photos, it looks a heck of a lot better now. It’s quite a bit larger and really makes sitting outside in the morning a pleasure. We affixed some lattice to the side for a little bit of added privacy and will add some more baskets of flowers to give it a little more color. Flea loves it! I think our next major outside project is going to be new siding for the house, but that’s going to be quite a while before we can do that. I’ll probably start with something small like re-organizing the garage ~ again! (Hang your head in shame Vickie!)

Today was my last day of school...sorta. I don’t have any more classes, but I still have to report to the hospital tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday. We have Friday off because we take our certification exam in the morning. Thursday night is our pinning ceremony and Saturday afternoon is our graduation. I can’t believe it’s all almost over. When I started this program waaaaay back in June of last year, I never thought I would make it through to the end. This has been the most intense and stress-filled year of my life! We had to learn a ton of information in just 6 months and then we were thrown into the very scary world of the operating room for another 6 months of terror. I really can’t believe I’ve come this far.

I wish I had some good news to report about prospective job offers, but there just aren’t any jobs out there. My OR director told me that as soon as something comes available she’ll let me know, but she can’t be 100% sure there will be anything soon. I’ve applied for everything I possibly can, but haven’t heard anything yet. Maybe I’ll get some good news before the week is up.

may in review

2009-06-06T10:58:00.001-04:00

May
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

May, happily, was a bit more interesting then April. We seemed to get a lot done around the house and got a new addition to our family!

* Vic and I assembled our new patio swing. It looks great NOW. It looked like (and was) a very daunting project unassembled in its cardboard box. And once again, it was confirmed that Vic and I don’t work well together. We always seem to get the project finished, but it’s never “yell-free.”

* We got a new back porch. Actually it’s still not 100% finished. Porch guy is coming back today to reattach the fence and hang some lattice. We’re very pleased with it, though, and hopefully I’ll have some pics to post next week.

* I started reading “Band of Brothers.” I really wanted something to read that had nothing to do with anatomy or dissection of any kind. I still have one week of school left, so I haven’t read as much of the book as I would’ve liked (too much studying), but I’m hoping to dive back into it next week.

* Vic and I attended our first Toledo Mudhens game. We had a blast. Minor league baseball games are a lot more fun to watch in person than the major league games. There’s more fun stuff to do between innings and it’s a heck of a lot cheaper!

* We welcomed Megan to our family. She’s been with us now for two weeks and seems to be adjusting well. But slowly. She’s still afraid to walk thru any doorway without her leash and collar, but sometimes she’ll accidentally drift into the kitchen before she realizes what she’s done, so I think that’s a small bit of progress. Also, we think she’s learned her new name (she was previously called Coco). I try to say it whenever I speak to her, so I think that helps. She loves to play ball (and crinkle the water bottle) and we’re still working on coming when called. We’ll never be able to replace Shannon, but Megan is a great dog and I’m glad she’s with a family that loves her!

nice, relaxing weekend

2009-06-01T15:10:00.004-04:00

Saturday night Vic & I attended our first ever Toledo Mudhens game! The Mudhens are the AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. We really had a nice time. The stadium was quite a bit smaller than Comerica Park (where the Tigers play), but I think the hot dogs were better and the tickets were a heck of a lot cheaper. I wouldn't mind going again.

Sunday was spent just relaxing in the back yard. I studied a bit and Vic grilled a steak and we just vegged the whole day. This was a nice, relaxing weekend.

Note ~ our back porch is about 90% complete now. Finished photos should be coming soon!

yesterday, today, & two weeks from now

2009-05-28T17:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday...I lost my temper with Megan and yelled at her.

Today...I felt bad about it all day.

She has a few socialization issues. I think her former people were just nutbags or something, because she absolutely refuses to leave one room for another or go out the door unless she has on both her leash and collar. It's just so frustrating.

Just two weeks until graduation! Then I'll be unemployed with a degree instead of just unemployed. And I'll get the opportunity to wear a gown with a tasselly thing hanging from a flat hat!

my memorable weekend

2009-05-26T15:55:00.003-04:00

Friday – I came home from work to be greeted by our new puppy, Megan! She’ll be two years old in August and she’s just beautiful! Vic found her on Craigslist ~ her other people have 3 kids all under the age of four and just didn’t have time for her. We think she spent most of her time outside with a shock collar (one of those invisible fence things) and in a crate when she was inside. We don’t believe in crating a dog, so Megan has full run of the house, but she won’t leave a room unless we put a collar and leash on her! I think she must think there is an invisible fence at every threshold because she just won’t walk thru any doorway. How strange!

Megan on her first day at her new home!

She’s potty trained and knows “sit,” but that’s about it. We can’t leave food in her bowl to munch on all day like we did with Shannon because she’ll just scarf it all down at once. She has a great disposition and I know that with some time and patience we can help her get over her fear of doorways. Luckily, she has no fear of kitties.

We've already lost the "No Dogs On the Couch" battle

Saturday – We took Megan over to Grandma’s house for a visit. We grilled some hamburgers and had a nice relaxing day visiting.

Sunday – The weather was gorgeous, so a friend came over and Vic made some kabobs on the grill. The day was spent drinking beer (wine coolers for me) and playing with Megan.

Monday – The guys finally came back to work on our porch. They spent all day here and almost finished it up. They still have to attach the steps and put some lattice around the bottom. I already took a “before” picture and will include it with the “after” shot when there is one. I’m hoping they can come back and finish up this week.

small new addition

2009-05-18T18:04:00.001-04:00

Flea & Yet-To-Be-Named Kitty
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

I think we may have a new outside kitty. Her name is either Patti (since we first discovered her on the patio) or Calliope (because she likes to be on the swing and Calliope can be turned into Calliopeanut (she’s still so small)). We think she may be Flea’s daughter because they are very affectionate and he is uncommonly patient with her kitty ways. She also looks a lot like him. Ever since he brought her over, though, she’s spent most of her time on the patio swing. She lets us hold her, but still hisses to let us know that she’s “the boss.” She also hisses at birdies, lawnmowers, cars, windchimes, and anything that moves or makes a noise. She’s really a cutie!

And our porch was not completed over the weekend. The boys cemented in the posts and said they’ll be back later this week to finish the project. I’m really hoping they’ll have it done before this weekend. Since it’s a long weekend, Vic & I could stain it or urethane it or do whatever one does to a wood deck. We’d also like to plant a few flowers and pretty much just stick around the house. We still haven’t switched out our summer and winter clothes, so maybe we can do that, too.

hoping for great things

2009-05-17T08:52:00.002-04:00

Wow, where did the week go?! It seems like now that I'm getting closer to graduating, the weeks are just flying by at break-neck speed. And they're not even filled with anything much interesting. My days are usually spent studying or working on some class project and my nights are spent falling asleep to Tigers games. Not very exciting in the least.

This past week was a bit different, though. Tuesday I was invited to my college's advisory board meeting. It turned out to be a 3-hour yawnfest, but I got fed, was given some bling (a very nice leather attache thingy), and scored a few brownie points with the director of my program. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my Tuesday night, but all in all not a bad night out.

Vic was home sick from work on Thursday & Friday, so this gave me the chance to spend some time with her that I normally don't get. I know she was sick and a little puny-feeling, but still it was nice having her around for a few more hours than I normally do. Speaking of her work...she works security at GM and things are starting to look a little bleak over there. Gobs of GM people are being laid off or fired weekly. Vic doesn't work directly for GM, but if there aren't any employees to guard there really won't be a need for guards. We won't worry about it until there's something to worry about!

We are supposed to be getting a new back porch installed today. The porch guys (who were supposed to be here an hour ago) are going to build us a pretty wood deck-type porch over our existing falling-apart concrete one. I'm hoping for great things!

monday

2009-05-11T18:47:00.001-04:00

Band of Brothers
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

I spent all weekend studying for today’s test ~ I mean REALLY studying. My brain actually hurt a little. So I took the test this morning and I must say I was thoroughly underwhelmed by my score. I passed, but my grade in no way reflected all the hard work I put into studying for it. So when I got home, instead of pulling out the books or working on our group project, I read. I read a real book about real people and authored by a non-medical person. I plopped down on the new patio swing and swung (swang? swinged?) for about an hour and just relaxed. It was very calming.

The book I started is Band of Brothers ~ the same book the miniseries was modeled after. I figured that since I’ve seen the TV version dozens of times I wouldn’t have to concentrate as hard on the storyline ~ I still have 5 weeks of studying left, too! This way I can read little snippets when I get the chance and just take my time getting thru the whole book. I read the first 30 pages this afternoon and so far I like it. Of course it helps that there are no pictures of intestines anywhere in the book.

pizza friday

2009-05-08T19:28:00.002-04:00

This week at the hospital I touched a heart (while it was still beating inside the patient!) and the small intestine (while it was resting outside of the abdomen!). Pretty cool, huh? I also scrubbed in on a gastric bypass and a couple of breast biopsies, among other stuff. For the most part, I really like my job ~ although I think I would like it better if I was getting paid for it. I graduate in 5 more weeks and really hope I'll be able to find a job.

For the last couple of months, Vic & I have been celebrating the onset of the weekend with "Pizza Friday." I order the pizza (hot wings for Vic) and she picks it up on her way home from work. We usually eat while watching the Grey's Anatomy we recorded the previous night and then I fall asleep on the couch while she watches Ghost Hunters or something like that. Tonight will be no exception!

And, today is our 11-year anniversary! We're going to celebrate it tomorrow by going out to eat and then just spending the day doing nothing special. I have another big test on Monday that I have to study for and Vic is going to Canada with her mom on Sunday to visit her aunt. I'm hoping we can take a big trip for our 15th, but in the mean time we'll celebrate in small bits all summer long. There are a lot of festivals in Michigan and we're planning on attending quite a few this year!

april in review

2009-05-06T16:49:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Looking back, it seems like April was a pretty tame (meaning boring) month. The only two big events that took place were 1.) I painted the craft room a pleasing shade of Bibbidi Bobbidi Blue, and 2.) Vic and I cleaned up the patio after the effects of winter. Right now it’s livable, but we have some grand plans for the upcoming months. The biggest is to have our back porch redone. It is presently composed of concrete, but we are going to have someone build us a nice wooden porch instead. It’ll be a little bigger than what we’ve got now and it’ll definitely be a lot prettier to look at! We love to sit outside and just watch all the animals that come to visit. Vic’s got bird feeders and houses, so we’ve always got company.

swinging weekend

2009-05-05T18:03:00.004-04:00

This weekend’s merriment centered mostly around the yard & yard stuff.

On Saturday, I finally got the swamp mowed. It’s still pretty soggy out there, but at least now the grass isn’t blocking the beautiful view of the dandelions. Saturday evening Vic made potato salad and grilled some ribs ~ delicious! The rest of the night we just relaxed.

Sunday afternoon was spent assembling our new patio swing. For some reason, Vic & I don’t work well together on “house-y projects.”Anything project that requires me to know the proper name of a tool or for Vic to actually follow the instructions turns out to be a big yellfest. Sunday was no different. I’m really not sure why either, because we get along swimmingly on long car rides and when we’re forced to shop together. Who knows! But our swing looks grand sitting on the patio. I know it can’t wait for school to be over so that I can sit on it all afternoon long. But until then, it’s found a new sitting buddy.

a capital day

2009-04-29T19:19:00.000-04:00

No hospital today. Instead my class had to journey down (and over) to Lansing, the state capital. The state assembly for surgical technologists was presenting a mock surgery for state reps and whoever else showed up. The purpose was to encourage the passing of a bill making it mandatory for all surg techs to be certified ~ right now it’s a voluntary thing.

The “surgery” was held in the rotunda of the capitol building. The presentation was a bit lame, but the capitol was really neat. (I’d like to go back some day when I have a little more time to explore it.) I guess I just don’t see what the big deal is about making certification mandatory. I mean I’d like to be certified, but I just don’t see why it’s so important to make it mandatory ~ it doesn’t mean more money. But our bat-shit crazy instructor is the president of the Michigan ST association and she’s really geeked about it, so we have to be geeked about it, too.

So the highlight of my day was eating breakfast at the Flap Jack House in Lansing and getting lost both going to Lansing and coming home. I sat in the backseat and was just happy not to be driving.

weather & test

2009-04-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

We had kind of an odd weekend ~ at times it was really freaking hot, and then it would just pour. We had a hailstorm that lasted about 10 minutes, and hurricane-like winds. But mostly it was hot. Vic planted some hyacinths and weeded the garden while studied for my impending test. It was a pretty relaxing weekend ~ no drama or trauma, and a lot of sitting around planning the future of our landscape.

Then came today. I had the first of only two tests I have this semester. They are both supposed to be indicators of how well we’ll do on the certification exam in June. I need somewhere around 70% to pass the exam. I got 84% on today’s test. Yea! What an incredible relief. I know I still have a way to go, but at least this gives me a little relief until the big test.
I’m mentally exhausted. I think I’ll take a quick nap before the Tigers game starts.

today

2009-04-24T19:10:00.002-04:00

Today is was 80 degrees outside. That's eight-oh degrees. In Michigan. In April. It'll probably snow next week. But no snow today, so I spent the late afternoon/early evening reclining outside with my study guide, This Old House magazine, a refreshing beverage, and Flea. I really missed Shannon today. I've missed her every day since her passing, but even more so today because she would've loved laying on the patio with me. She also would've loved running in our swamp of a backyard and getting muddy feetie prints all over everything!

She was my best outside buddy. In her younger years, she would play until I got worn out throwing it. In her later years, I'd throw the ball once and then she'd get it and hide it so we would be forced to just sit and relax and enjoy the day instead of running all over the yard. We'd sit for hours reading, listening to the Tigers, and watching squirrels. My heart aches for her.

raining & studying

2009-04-20T17:16:00.001-04:00

Rain, rain, rain. It has poured all day ~ perfect weather for finishing my paper! Actually, it’s not just my paper. I belong to a group and we have to give a presentation and write a paper, so I guess I technically finished just my portion of the aforementioned paper. I have a feeling, though, that I’ll probably get stuck writing the whole thing. I hate working in groups. Inevitably someone ends up not pulling their weight and everyone else in the group has to do a little bit more than they should. I really can’t wait for school to be over.

This whole semester is devoted to preparing for the certification exam in June. We take practice exams and quiz each other every week. So far I’m less than thrilled with my progress. I consistently score in the low 70s on these tests ~ I need to be closer to 75 or 80 to pass. I’m going to be sooo disappointed if I don’t pass the certification exam. I study every single day, so I just don’t know what else to do. I know it’s a ways off, but I’m starting to get a little concerned. Maybe I need to light a candle or plant a tree or something for a little good mojo.

a nice, quiet weekend

2009-04-19T16:24:00.000-04:00

Since I spend most of the workweek working and studying, I try to take at least one of the weekend days off to do nothing related to school stuff. That day was yesterday. The temp was somewhere in the 70s, so Vic and I did a little yard work interspersed with lots of sitting on the patio discussing our future planting plans. Of course today my old body is really feeling all the bending I did yesterday.

Today is the day I set aside to work on my abdominal aortic aneurysm paper. And I did. For a bit. But now the Tigers are on TV, so I’m taking a break to watch the game with my kitty, Caleb. That aortic aneurysm will still be there tomorrow.

my tuesday

2009-04-14T16:46:00.002-04:00

Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Tuesdays are usually Ortho Day at the hospital. What that meant for me was two knee surgeries and one surgery where we rammed a really freaking long rod down a guy’s femur (thigh bone). It’s not that I mind these surgeries, it’s just that I have to wear what looks a lot like a space helmet, there are heaps and heaps of instruments I have to know, and there is almost always a lot of blood spurting all over the floor and all over anyone standing nearby (that’s the reason for the space helmet). I’m sure that once I get more familiar with the instrumentation and the order of “what comes next,” I’ll feel more confident about my ortho abilities and not feel so much like a blood-splattered moron.

Today is also the day that I get to put the trashcans out and hope that the garbage Nazis don’t catch me doing it before the appointed hour. I think they can’t be put out until after 5:00 ~ I usually have them out by 4:00.

And, last but not least, tonight is the night of Office reruns. It makes no difference that I've seen every episode about a dozen times, I still laugh out loud at this show. The only bummer is that I usually fall asleep before they come on at 10:00, so I record them and actually watch them on Wednesdays. But every Tuesday, I still try to stay up for them!

What an exciting life I lead.

easter at my house

2009-04-12T09:37:00.001-04:00

Earl Bunny
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Happy Easter! The bunny to the right looks amazingly enough just like my cat Earl. They have the same eyes and nose! Today’s holy day will be celebrated by studying, doing some laundry, watching the Tigers, and perhaps finishing painting the window trim in the craft room (I haven’t decided for sure on that one yet.) It’s finally starting to warm up, and our dafodills are just now sprouting, but it’s still a bit too cold to do outside yard work yet, so I think I’ll be staying indoors for the remainder of this weekend.

Vic started a cricket ranch in one of our unoccupied fish aquariums. She filled it with all the amenities a cricket would love to have and then dropped in about 50 crickets to test it out. And we’ll be providing free transportation (via plastic bag) over to the gecko aquarium for weekly lunch dates. If it all works out well, we’ll keep a steady supply of them in their house, saving us numerous trips to the pet store. It’s the sounds of camping out in our house!

great expectations

2009-04-09T16:15:00.000-04:00

I think everyone, including myself, expects more out of me knowledge-wise now that my final 10 weeks of school have begun. I look at Bobby who has been here 40 years (40 years!) and I wish I could be where she’s at ~ confident in her abilities, respected by the surgeons, and possessing just a wealth of knowledge. I tell myself that some day I’ll be there too (not the 40 years part because that would make me an 83 year old scrub, and at 83 I’d like to think I’ll be enjoying retirement!), and that it just takes time. And work. A lot of work.

My first week back, after our two-week break, went pretty smooth. I remembered quite a bit, and was able to adapt quickly to the new stuff thrown at me. Now I just have to concentrate on passing all my tests and remembering all the surgeries, and not worry so much.

I’m really enjoying my newfound profession. At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about all the blood and guts and yuck, but it’s actually pretty cool. I could do without some of the oderific body smells, but no job is perfect, right? And with all the handwashing I’m doing, I haven’t even been close to getting a cold all season. Bonus!

school & Tigers & Sparty...oh my!

2009-04-06T17:54:00.001-04:00

Sparty
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Today was a day of firsts...

First day back to school, first game of the season for the Tigers, and the first time in 30 years that the Michigan State Spartans have made it to the NCAA basketball championship! I can honestly say that I wasn't too thrilled about the school thing, but I'm very very excited about the Tigers and Spartans things!

I've been looking forward to this baseball season since about this time last year when the Tigers were sucking so bad. Since there is no way possible they could have a worse season than they did last year, this is going to be a spectacular baseball season.

And the NCAA basketball championship is being held in Detroit this year, so this gives MSU a sort of home court advantage. Nobody picked the Spartans to go all the way this year, so this is a pretty big deal!

Needless to say, tonight I'll be parked in front of the TV switching back and forth between the Tigers and the Spartans. And trying not to be nervous about my first day back at the hospital tomorrow morning. I've just got to psych myself up and keep telling myselft that I can do it!

Go Tigers!
Go Spartans!
Go Me!

hiding out

2009-04-04T10:54:00.001-04:00

Pasties
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Today will be a day of laying low. Vic’s mom and a friend of ours are both coming over this afternoon to make pasties (short “a”) with Vic. Right now there are mixers, choppers, and bags of flour, potatoes, meat, and starch strewn all over our kitchen. It’s important to realize that I’m not a cooker-baker person. To me, the kitchen is a room in the house to store my cookies and Diet Pepsi. So this gaggle of women-folk chopping, dicing, and rolling food bits on my kitchen table kinda freaks me out a tooch. I will probably spend most of the day in another room of the house, studying or poking toothpicks in my eyes or doing something altogether different than they will be doing and praying to God that they won’t ask my opinion on whose pastry shell has the prettier fork pokey things on the edges.

bibbidi bobbidi new

2009-04-02T18:37:00.003-04:00

Would you believe that I painted today?! And yesterday?! Well believe it! I drug out all that painting crap last week so that Vic & I could finally paint the bedroom. Well after 10 days of watching it just sit there, I finally decided I was going to paint something. Instead of tackling our very big bedroom all by myself, I instead took on the craft room. It's been an icky shade of "really dirty white" for at least a little over 3 years, and I finally just got fed up with it. It's not very inspiring to look at while treading or scrapbooking. Bibbidi Bobbidi Blue, on the other hand, is very inspiring. (It's also what was left over from painting the kitchen last year.)

I finished the walls yesterday and the trim (white) today. All that's left is the ceiling and then it'll be ready for me to hang a few pictures and shelves full of knick-knacky tidbits. And just in time for school ~ it starts next week. I'm going to spend the rest of my vacation finishing my book and studying for the gaggle of tests I'll have this upcoming semester. Fun.

marching out

2009-03-31T18:13:00.002-04:00

March is just about over, so it’s time again to reflect on what this month hath brungest unto me.

* I finished The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory. A mostly biographical account of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. This was kind of a roller coaster sort of book ~ parts of it were really interesting, and then it would nosedive into an unbelievable yawn-fest. But I was determined to finish it and am glad that I did.

* After The Constant Princess, I segued right into The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. I’m about ¾ of the way thru it (Jane Seymour just died) and I’m hoping to finish it by the time school starts back up on Monday.

* I caulked bathtub. (It’s actually this adhesive molding type stuff.)

* Vic & I visited the holocaust museum, something we’ve wanted to do since we moved here almost 4 years ago.

* We purchased a new swing for the patio. I’m still on the lookout for a reclining type of patio chair, too. I found a great set at Kmart, but I really don’t want to pay $300+ for it. I’m sure once I stop looking, I’ll find the perfect chair.

* Vic weeded the small garden that runs along our driveway. Little signs of Spring are already springing forth! When we first moved in, we planted literally 100s of tulip bulbs ~ the squirrels must’ve been watching, because exactly 3 blossomed. We’ve since planted daffodils and some other stuff and are looking forward to a colorful April. (We made sure the squirrels were out of town when we planted this time!)

* This month brought the sad passing of Nate, our eldest kitty. We think the loss of both Shannon and Nate has taken a small toll on some of the remaining kids. Caleb, for one, has been overly clingy for the last month or so. Any time I sit down, he dives into my lap and makes a little cubbyhole for himself between my legs. It’s actually kind of cute, but it makes us wonder what he’s been up to. He's really a great boy, but he has a tendency to get himself into trouble quite a bit.

* I started exercising again on the treadmill. Nothing too strenuous, but something is better than nothing. I’m hoping I can keep up with it once school/hospital rounds start back up next week.

I’m already looking forward to April ~ warm days, flowers budding, baseball season, and one month closer to graduating!

on my mind

2009-03-30T21:30:00.002-04:00

Thought #1
Our computer was running a little sluggish, so I took her in for a checkup last Wednesday. I just got her back today!! Talk about separation anxiety! Vic & I were really lost without our lifeline to the internet. I attempted (at least twice!) to post something to my blog and found myself sneaking longing looks at my naked-ish desk. Needless to say, the bluebirds are again twittering happy tunes around my head and all is right in Caseyland.

Thought #2
I have two new obsessions. Not the “camp out in your bushes stalker” type of obsessions; mine are more the “I think this is really cool and I can’t get enough of it” obsessions. They are my recent book, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and Rachel Maddow.

The book is great great great! I give it 5 thumbs up! This is such an interesting and engrossing book that I find it really difficult to put down. (This is my excuse for not painting yet.)

And Rachel Maddow is just cool. She’s got a mostly political show on MSNBC that I accidentally stumbled upon a couple of weeks ago that I just can’t put down. She delivers political stories in a smart, funny way that makes them easier for me to understand. And she’s got a great smile. She’s definitely not the snappiest dresser, but her smile and the weird way she contorts her face when making fun of Bush or Cheney more than makes up for her wardrobe deformities. I find myself gravitating toward her every night at 9:00 pm to find out just how little I know about our government. I call her Rache. I have no idea what she calls me.

how a plan comes together...at my house

2009-03-24T17:44:00.001-04:00

So it’s been almost 4 years since we’ve moved into this house and we’ve painted every room but 3: the laundry room which is really dinky and shouldn’t count, the craft room which nobody but me ever goes in, and our bedroom. The bedroom takes up the whole upstairs and is paneled half way up. What this means is that we will have to apply liberal amounts of Kilz before we can even start painting the walls. But this really needs to be done, so we got semi-serious about it this week.

Friday~Vic & I decide that this week would be the perfect time to paint the bedroom because I’ll be off for the next 2 weeks. That’s it ~ nothing else is discussed about the project from hell.

Saturday~We finally decide on a color for the room. Makes no difference that we’ve had swatches of colors taped to the bedroom walls for about the last 6 months. So we set off to Home Depot to buy us some Sugared Peach. Of course we get sidetracked along the way and end up purchasing a new swing for the patio and do a little grocery shopping on the way to Vic’s mom’s house for dinner and a rousing game of dominoes.

Sunday~We totally ignore the bedroom, the swatches, and the rollers, and are both very careful not to utter anything that may even sound like the word “paint” for the entire day. Instead of going to Home Depot, we take a trip to the holocaust museum and to Applebee’s.

Monday~Okay, enough is enough! We take inventory of items we have/need and get serious (sort of). We go to The Depot and buy Kilz and a few rollers, and then I haul everything up to the bedroom, fully intending on at least taping a drop cloth down or something. Instead, I clean out my dresser junk drawer. (Doesn’t everyone have a dresser junk drawer?)

Today~I’m starting to think that paneling and putrid white isn’t such a bad color combination after all.

the weekend

2009-03-23T14:35:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, Vic & I finally made it out to America's first free standing holocaust museum, located just 20 minutes from our house. We've been wanting to stop by to spend an afternoon there since we moved here almost 4 years ago, but this was the first time we actually made it out there. As you can imagine, it was very sobering, and educational.

We also bought a new patio swing for our old patio. It was on sale and very comfy, so we couldn't resist. Only thing is, it needs to be assembled. So I'll pick a nice sunny afternoon when Vic is in a direction-taking mood and we'll put it together then. For right now it's safe in its box in our garage.

Other than visiting with Vic's mom for most of Saturday afternoon, our weekend was spent mostly catching up on stuff we DVR'd over the past week. It was nice sleeping in this morning and knowing I don't have to be anywhere for the next two weeks. I do have a few projects planned for around the house, though, to keep me busy. And some homework I have to have completed before our first day back in class ~ it just never ends!

boinging & squishing

2009-03-20T17:29:00.001-04:00

Spring 09
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Happy Spring! Our daffodils are starting to “boing” out of the chilly ground ‘neath our Flower Gnome’s feet! We’ve had some wonderful weather this week (although today is a bit chilly). People at work insist that we’ve got at least one more snow left in us, though. I refuse to believe it! Speaking of work, I scrubbed in on a laparoscopic cholecystectomy today. (Fancy medical name for gallbladder removal.) Lap choles are fairly common, but for some reason I spent my first 9 weeks at the hospital having done exactly none of them. And then this week I had two! I know, it’s not very exciting for you, but I was mildly geeked about it. The gallbladder is actually very squishy. I try to touch as many organs as I can so I can get a better idea of what they’re actually like. I also touched a labia today ~ not really a big deal though; I’ve touched those before.

I’m now officially on Spring break from school and this means no more work for two glorious weeks. Yea!! I actually have a short list of things I want to get done on my time off, but I’m not going to share them just yet ~ don’t want to jinx myself, ya know. I’ll let you know how it all turns out. Wish me luck!

"that's nice"

2009-03-18T16:09:00.001-04:00

I work with a really nice girl (let’s call her Renae) at the hospital. Today Renae came into work all giddy with the news that her boyfriend of 7 months proposed to her last night. Now, Renae isn’t normally a giddy person (even at age 23), so I was very happy for her when I saw her this morning ~ not because she’s getting married, but because she was happy. If she had come in all giddy about a new pair of socks she bought, I would have been just as happy for her.

I just can’t seem to share in the happiness of someone’s wedding plans knowing that I am denied that same right under the antiquated laws of our government. This is the United States of America in the year 2009 for god’s sake! We’re not in the jungles of Iraq back in the 1700s! I just can’t believe that I am still being discriminated against because I made the unfortunate mistake to “choose” to fall in love with someone of the same sex.

Really, what is the moral majority afraid of? That I (age 43) and my partner (age 47) are going to start procreating willy-nilly and have, oh let’s say 14 kids, that we’ll force welfare to pay for? Or perhaps that we’ll have homosexual relations with other people’s kids when we all go on overnight boy scout camping trips or when we’re alone in the altar boy room at church? Or perhaps it’s just the fact that Vickie and I have been in a committed, monogamous relationship for the past 11 years that scares them.

This is just insane!

So when it seemed like the conversation in every room I entered today was about Renae’s wedding, the ring, the honeymoon, how happy her mom is, blah blah blah ~ I just smiled, said “that’s nice,” and then left the room to go watch body parts being removed thru someone’s belly button instead.

sunshine & tears

2009-03-16T17:36:00.001-04:00

Nate
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Today was a bright and sunshiney day ~ something of an anomaly for SE Michigan at this time of year. Trees are budding and birds are twittering more and more each day. The one cloud hanging over our sunny winter day is the sad passing of Vickie’s beloved Nate. Nate was 23years old. Today he was welcomed into his new home by Shannon, Sashi, Tori, and Katy ~ all who have been waiting patiently for his arrival. We knew the time to say "good bye" was near, but it's still hard. Nate was a good boy, and at 23, he could sometimes be an ornery old man! He’ll be missed by his moms, brothers, and sisters.

a day of winkies

2009-03-12T15:42:00.002-04:00

Usually my day is filled with a variety of surgeries from all across the surgical spectrum. Not so today. Today I had 3 cystoscopies. For those of you unfamiliar with what a cysto is, it amounts to shoving a camera up your hoo-ha or winkie (depending on if you are a girl or a boy) and either looking at "stuff" or removing stones or implanting something to cure incontinence or some other thing. It also involves shooting x-rays or fluoroscopies or laser, which means I have to wear a lead vest and thyroid shield and possibly laser-protective eyewear. And at the end, I get to dump out copious amounts of pee-pee. I've seen more shriveldy naked penises in the last 8 weeks than any self-respecting lesbian should ever see in her lifetime. At least now when I see one in the movies I'll have something to compare it to.

two more weeks

2009-03-08T09:30:00.002-04:00

For some reason, this past week really seemed to drag at work. I thought Friday would literally never get here ~ we'd just skip right to Monday again! And now it's Sunday morning already! Geez. The entire weekend is going to be rainy and dreary, and spent studying for a test tomorrow and maybe catching up on some DVR stuff we taped. I really can't wait for Summer weather to get here.

Two more weeks and the semester will be over ~ for two weeks. Looking back on the first few weeks, I know I know more than I did back then, but sometimes I feel like I may never get it all by the time graduation rolls around in June. I want to be a great scrub, not a mediocre one. I try to absorb as much as I can, try to retain as much as I can, and just try as hard as I can. I think it'll all be okay, but right now it's very frustrating not knowing it all.

The plan for my two-week vacation is to paint the bedroom and/or the craft room. I hate painting and absolutely suck at it, but it needs to be done. We've lived here almost four years and those are the only two rooms we haven't painted yet, so I think it's about time. Also, my friend from Pensacola is not going to be able to visit, so I'll have the extra time to do the painting thing slowly and maybe even start studying for my June certification exam.

my day

2009-03-03T20:40:00.002-05:00

Today at work (if you can call forced labor for no money work) I assisted on a total hip replacement for one patient and a total knee replacement for another patient. The pictures below show the prostheses for both procedures. What the pictures don't show is the buckets of blood splattered all over me and the OR floor. It was cool!

stuff & things

2009-03-01T11:21:00.002-05:00

Stuff I did in February:

* I started a new book, The Constant Princess. It's about the life of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. I think it's mostly true with a little bit of fiction thrown in here and there. Unfortunately, I've only been able to read about the first 50 pages so far. Back in the non-school days, it would take me 2 or 3 days to read a book ~ now it takes me 2 or 3 months!
* The Reese's peanut butter Easter eggs came out and I've eaten an Easter basketful of them already! Salmonella be damned!
* I've had more blood splashed on me in the last 4 weeks than I have in my entire life. And none of it has been mine!
* I helped to save lives one instrument at a time.

Things I'm doing now:
* Finishing up my final two school projects.
* Replacing icky bathroom towels with new, fuzzy ones.
* Hanging blinds in the craft room. A craft room I recently tidied up, by the way!
* Wishing I had an IPod. It seems like lately the radio music sucks. It's not an especially big deal right now, though, because work is only 5 minutes from the house. Maybe I'll get one as a graduation present in June (hint hint).
* Babysitting Vic's mom's friend's dog, Christy. She's about the size of one of our cats and just as squeaky.

tgif

2009-02-27T21:58:00.002-05:00

I'm so glad it's Friday. This has been a totally exhausting week at work. It seemed like every afternoon I came home ready to drop. I had a couple of really long days in surgery. It's really hard to stand for 3 or 4 hours at a time with no potty breaks and the added pressure of remaining sterile (you can't scratch your head or blow your nose!). And then I when I got home I had to work on school stuff. Geez!

Well today, I finished my paper on gastric bypass surgery, which means I can spend the rest of my weekend working on my other projects for school. I think I may take Saturday night off, though, and watch DVR stuff we've recorded this past week. I also need to color my hair, although you wouldn't notice the greys now because I wear a "cafeteria worker bonnet" on my head all day long now. Oh well...

because we just don't have enough animals

2009-02-23T09:38:00.004-05:00

My weekend was spent studying for today's test and making many fires to ward off the blustery winds and snow. And we increased our household by two. Meet Bridget & Mark, our leopard geckos. We're not 100% sure that they are Bridget & Mark (they could be Bridget & Bridget or Mark & Mark), but those are their new names regardless. We can worry about possible identity crises later.

Getting used to the new home

Not much else new around the house. I only have three more weeks until Spring Break and I'm really looking forward to the time off. I think a friend of ours from Pensacola will be coming up for a visit for a few days during my time off, so I'll spend some time catching up with her and just relaxing.

Bella welcoming the new additions to the fold

What a cute smile!

procrastination

2009-02-18T16:25:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I should be studying for my test (especially since I didn't do so hot on the last one!), or I should be working on one of the two projects I have due for school. But instead, I'm procrastinating.

Did I ever tell you that I really enjoy doing breast biopsies? They're quick, easy, and I like to think that in some small way, I'm combatting breast cancer. My second favorite case is anyone where the doctor doesn't yell or throw something at me.

I soooo can't wait for school to be over. I don't ever want to learn another thing again! I'm just going to sit in a lawn chair and let my brain turn to mush. Really, I am.

get a life, ken starr

2009-02-12T20:58:00.002-05:00

I was never a big email forwarder. I enjoy getting them from other people, but really, by the time the forwarded item reaches me, just about everybody I know (all 5 of you!) have already gotten it. So usually I just read and delete and that's the end of it.

I got something today, however, that I wanted to share with everyone. It seems Ken Starr and his Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund are attempting to invalidate all the gay marriages that took place in California. I just don't understand why gay marriage frightens so many people. Nobody loses anything and we can all celebrate the union of two people who really love each other. I just shake my head in non-understanding.

"The Courage Campaign has created a video called "Fidelity," with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law."

I thought this was a great video The Courage Campaign came up with and I wanted to share with all my blog friends. I hope you enjoy!

fave day

2009-02-09T14:59:00.002-05:00

I think Mondays have become my new "favorite day of the work week" day. If for no other reason than becuase I don't have to actually go to work. This is the only day of the week when I don't have to put in hours at the hospital ~ instead, I have class for half the day and then spend the rest of the day catching up on stuff.

Today's catching up stuff will be laundry and homework (it's usually the same every Monday). Vic is working on my taxes, so I don't have to worry about that, thank God. So far today I've accomplished the following: ordered contacts online, started laundry, brought in firewood, vacuumed, bought ink for the printer, and have procrastinated on starting schoolwork. Not a bad day, so far!

We've had a heat wave today ~ a sultry 44 degrees right now! I still have a fire going, though, to get the chill out of the house. I'm sure with this warmish weather, plenty of people will be getting pneumonia and other assorted weather-related crud. BTW, did you know that most cases of pneumonia occur in the right lung? It's a straight shot down your trachea to your right lung, but to get to your left, the pneumonia monster has to curve a little and go up. Those thousands of dollars in tuition are really paying off, huh?

good day

2009-02-04T17:49:00.003-05:00

I had another good day at work today. I call it work not because I get paid (I don't), but because I work my butt off while I'm there, come home exhausted, and struggle to stay awake past 8:00. I consider that to be work.

A good day at the hospital is any day where I don't get yelled at, I don't maim anyone, and I leave the hospital feeling a sense of accomplishment. My preceptor, Renae, is really great. She's very patient, explains everything to me in detail, and gives me the opportunity to jump right in there and do stuff. And I had all that today! All of my cases were GYN-related, which is kind've nice because I haven't had that many GYN procedures lately and I really want to learn as many new setups as possible. I'm not sure what tomorrow's day will look like, possibly ophthalmic, but I'm already excited to find out!

On an unrelated note...I'm ready for winter to be over and baseball season to start.

the month in review

2009-02-02T14:04:00.001-05:00

Every December I look back at the preceding 12 months and can never seem to remember what the heck I did or didn’t accomplish. It’s almost like I blocked out 300+ days of my life. So I’ve decided to try to keep up with my rather tedious existence 1 month at a time. And, I’ve decided to start the tallying with this past January.

Last month…
* I read 2 books that had absolutely squat to do with school; Santa Clawed by Rita Mae Brown, and The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. These books couldn’t be farther apart in content if they tried. I liked that.

* I nervously began the clinical portion of my Surg Tech program. So far, I think everything is working out quite well. I haven’t maimed anyone. Yet.

* On the last day of the month, the wall of ice on our roof started melting. Into our house. Our living room ceiling is leaking and the tiles look as if they are just minutes away from dropping a few dozen gallons of water on top of our worldly goods. The insurance person is coming out tomorrow to “assess.”

* We’ve been without a dog in our lives for just over a month now. I think I’ve persuaded Vic to wait until after my graduation (June) to adopt a new family member, but it’s killing her. She really misses Shannon and really misses having a dog around. I just really miss Shannon.

By the end of February I hope to feel more at ease at the hospital ~ sometimes I just feel like a know-nothing twit. It would be nice to feel I’m making some kind of contribution instead of just taking up space. I’m also hoping to read at least one book and make leaps of progress on my current cross-stitch project. I also want to try to get out to the art museum this month. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to a nice, quiet, stressless month!

stuff i'm doing

2009-01-26T19:02:00.002-05:00

I feel like my semester is going pretty well, so far. I'm keeping up with my homework and the hundred other pieces of crap she assigns us on a daily basis, and I still have time for other frivolities. I've been cross-stitching, reading (non-school stuff), and have recently acquired a slight addiction to Mahjongg.

I got it free from somewhere online, loaded it onto the computer, and now Vic & I are trying to like heck to beat it! It's not the regular Mahjongg; there are other Jongg-like games and we've made it our mission to win them all. I think it just gives us both something extra to bitch about.

random things

2009-01-20T16:22:00.003-05:00

Random things:

* It's been really freaking cold here lately. So cold, that we're almost out of wood again! We really love our fires.
* I was really sick Monday. I just couldn't stop yakking. Vic says it's the peanut butter M&Ms I ate the night before. Whatever it was, I'm fine now.
* It seems as though our cell phone bill is way too high. My phone is at least 3 years old, so I don't think I should have to pay as much as people with really nice tricked-out phones.
* Having other people's blood and body parts on me doesn't gross me out as much as I think it should. I actually think it's kinda cool.
* I'm making nachos for dinner tonight.
* My jeep needs desperately to be washed. It's all the salt used to melt the snow on the roads. My black jeep is almost white!
* Invariably, my nose always itches after I'm gowned & gloved in the OR.

looking back, looking forward

2009-01-18T09:57:00.001-05:00

Shannon In the Bayou
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

Looking back, 2008 probably wasn’t the best of years for me. This was the year I lost my best friend, Shannon, we didn’t travel as much as we would’ve liked, the Tigers had a losing season, and it seemed like I was always busy with school. But when I think back on 2008, it’s the good memories that come to mind first. Shannon and I spent a lot of lovely evenings on the patio listening to birds, I finally started on a new career path, and the three of us (Vic, Shannon, & I) did make it up to the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. So I guess the past year, like most years, had its share of ups and downs. And I’m sure this year will probably be similar ~ but I’m really hoping for more ups.

The next six months are going to be tough, but by the end of the year I hope to be finished with school, be firmly settled in a fantastic new job, be a few pounds lighter, and hope to welcome a new addition to the family (I think Shannon would like that). Every January I resolve not to make resolutions, but I think that for 2009 I’m going to make just one. I’d really like 2009 to be a happier year. I’d like to travel more, bike more, relax more, and I’d really like the Tigers to pull their heads out of their collective asses and win more! I’m looking forward to a 2009 filled with promise!

week 1 at the hospital

2009-01-16T18:17:00.003-05:00

Last Monday, the day before my first externship day, I realized that I wasn’t nervous like everyone else in my class. That made me nervous. I just didn’t think there was anything to be frightened about. I figured that if thousands of other people can graduate school and become surgical technologists, then certainly I could, too! And, at the end of my first week, I still believe that. Everyone has been very helpful, very patient, and very kind ~ this really makes all the difference in the world when you're learning something new. I've seen some icky stuff, some boring stuff, and a lot of interesting stuff this past week. I'm looking forward to next week!

first day results

2009-01-13T16:40:00.001-05:00

My day was long, I'm super tired, and I still have that zit. Oh, and there are a ton of surg techs working there that graduated from my school, so that's good news!

oh zit!

2009-01-12T19:18:00.002-05:00

I'm a little nervous tonight because tomorrow is my very first clinical in a real live hospital with real live surgery-getting people. And of course, I have a zit the size of Ohio on my chin.

too much snow

2009-01-11T09:37:00.004-05:00

It's not looking like this is going to be my weekend for the DIA. I woke up Saturday morning to find it snowing. It started sometime during the night, and by the time I awoke we had about 2" of snow on the ground. It snowed the entire Saturday ~ sometimes just light flurries, but mostly great big scary monster flakes. Our neighbor snowblowed our driveway twice yesterday just to keep up with the blizzard! So, we spent the day catching up on TV shows we recorded and we started the second season of The Tudors (Anne gets a major neck ache in a few more episodes!). It was actually a great way to spend a chilly weekend. Shannon would've loved the snow and the warm cuddles in front of the fireplace!

Vic measuring the snow Saturday afternoon.

starting anew

2009-01-09T19:39:00.003-05:00

Today was my last day of work. Everyone made snackies and the boss bought my little group lunch ~ free snackies and lunch is always a good thing! This was really a great bunch of people to work with and I'm sad to leave them. I've had plenty of jobs in my life, and working with people you like really makes all the difference. I'd like to think we'll all see each other again, though. Well, we'll definitely see each other next Friday when I pick up my final paycheck...but then we'll see each other again after that. It's kind've scary to leave one job for another (especially when the other job is unpaid labor!), but any fresh start is always a little challenging.

The plans for this weekend are to finally go to the DIA. The plans are also for it to snow 8", so we may put the DIA on hold (again!) and just plop in front of a warm fire and watch recorded things. I'm okay with either one. I'll let you know...

joy, luck

2009-01-08T22:10:00.002-05:00

In a direct act of defiance against the start of the new school semester and the loads of studying I'll have to do, I have started a new cross-stitch and a new book. Go me! The cross-stitch is entitled "Dreaming of Tuscany." It doesn't look too difficult, so hopefully this will be a nice relaxing break from the stresses of school.

The book I've just begun is The Joy Luck Club. I picked it up years ago at one of the library book sales and have been saying I'm going to get around to reading it for as long as it's been on our bookshelf. It may have actually made the move with us from Florida! But anyways, I'm finally going to read it ~ partly because it looks like a fairly easy read, and partly because I really like the title. I could use a little joy and luck in my life right about now. Maybe this will be a good omen!

positive thoughts

2009-01-05T21:12:00.003-05:00

Today was the first day of my last week of work. This time next week I'll be a full-time student and be full-time unemployed. I'm terrified of both. What if I suck at what I do? Or what if I decide I just don't want to be a surg tech? Or what if I love what I do and I'm really good at it, but the people are all meanies? I'm trying to remain positive. Maybe if we all think positive thoughts, I'll live thru the next 6 months!

slide down...just relax

2009-01-02T06:41:00.003-05:00

To celebrate the new year, I've scheduled myself for a combination mammogram and pap smear tomorrow. It will be a full day of womanly fun. Needless to say, the weekly "shaving of the legs" will take place tonight!

since...

2008-12-31T06:26:00.000-05:00

I haven’t blogged since Shannon’s passing because I’ve just been so exhausted ~ mentally & physically. To try and divert my mind, I’ve been working extra hard at work. It doesn’t help, though; I literally look for her everywhere. I just can’t believe that I’ll never be able to see her beautiful smile or give her belly rubs again.

On a more positive note, I found out that the hospital I’ll be going to for my clinicals is the one just a few blocks from my house! This is great news, because I wasn’t looking forward to driving long distances in the snow. School starts back up January 12th.

I’ve been trying to convince the management at my work to keep me on part-time once school starts. I think they’d be more apt to if it was more than 2 hours a day. My clinical day ends at 3:30 and work closes at 6:00. It sucks that I’m going to have to quit a job that I really like, especially when so many people can’t find work now. I like the people and I like what I do. I put a lot of time and effort into re-organizing the entire Respiratory Dept. pharmacy, and I know the next person is going to come in and muck the whole thing up! I guess I just can’t think about that, though.

Happy New Year to everyone ~ I hope you’ll all be doing something fantastic tonight. Vic & I will probably do the same thing we did last year ~ watch Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN and struggle to stay awake until midnight. I hope we all have a better 2009!

eulogy

2008-12-26T07:11:00.008-05:00

Shannon, my first dog ever, peacefully passed away early this morning. She had been seriously ill for about 3 weeks ~ we only found out in the last few days that the cause was due to a tumor in her spleen that had more than likely spread. I was going to make the very difficult decision to call the vet later today in order to make “arrangements.” I think she knew that I was pain, too, and took care of it for me.

Shannon came into our lives on Valentine’s Day, 2001. From the very beginning I said “no dog!” Fortunately this turned out to be yet another battle I would lose. Over the years, our love for each other blossomed.

With her around, I became a better person. She taught me how to be a little more patient, a little more flexible, and to appreciate the beauty in a dirty tennis ball.

Shannon loved car rides and playing in dirty water. She liked pizza, laying next to the couch, and laying in front of the fireplace. She liked listening to the Tigers on the radio on warm summer evenings, and making snow angels on chilly winter mornings. She loved the kitties.

I know she’s in a better place now ~ a place where she doesn’t need a ramp to get into the Jeep, and where baths aren’t required. And I know that the time we spent together here was filled with love. But how I long for just one more wet kiss, one more game of “Where’s Shannon?” and just one more summer evening in the backyard.

Shannon Banana, you were the best dog ever.

no noel

2008-12-18T19:01:00.002-05:00

For some reason, there just isn't a whole lot of Christmas spirit around our house this year. Up until recently, I've been way too busy with school to worry about putting up the tree or hanging lights, and Vic has been pretty sick for the last week or so ~ bronchitis. So other than warm, snuggly kitties by the fire, and the occasional Christmas cartoon, there really hasn't been a lot of yule-y type stuff around. Maybe next year.

random weekend thoughts

2008-12-14T09:51:00.002-05:00

Comforting a Friend

Shannon seems to be doing a bit better these last few days. We cut back on one of her pain pills because we think it was doping her up to the extent that she was bumping into things. It was like she was high! She still spends most of her day laying around, but we make sure to get her up and walking every couple of hours, and she's eating and drinking great, so, for the most part, I'm pleased with her progress. She knows she's loved, so I think that's helping with her recovery, too. I think Earl spends the nights with her so she won't forget.

Friday was my last day of school. I feel pretty good about all my finals, but won't find out my final grades until Monday. So far this weekend I've done nothing but catch up on magazines I haven't read and watched movies I haven't seen. We're going to go visit Vic's mom today, but when we get back home it's going to be more nothing. Actually, nothing in front of a fire! I've got some books lined up, and I think I may start one tomorrow! I'm also going to start The Tudors TV series (possibly tonight). I'm so happy that I don't have any homework that I could cry! This has been the absolute hardest, most stressful 10 weeks of my entire life. Even Air Force basic training wasn't this hard!

Friday was also my birthday! The girls at school gave me cookies and a card, and the girls at work gave me cookies, candy, and a card, so I made out pretty good! And we're going to have birthday lunch tomorrow, so that'll be nice, too! Vic and I had a great dinner out and then just came home to relax. We're planning a trip to the DIA next weekend. We would've gone this weekend, but I had scheduled us "Hers and Hers Birthday Mammograms" for this past Saturday morning instead. A fun time was had by all!

shannon's kitty

2008-12-11T16:35:00.004-05:00

My wobbly Shannon is resting peacefully on the floor near the fireplace. She slept downstairs last night because the stairs going up to the bedroom were just too much. So when I came downstairs this morning, I found her kitty, Earl, sleeping at her head. I was worried she'd be all alone sleeping downstairs by herself ~ I shouldn't have worried.

A nice shot of Earl. He's usually pretty camera shy.

not much new

2008-12-10T17:24:00.002-05:00

Not much new to report here. Shannon, although able to walk a little better, is still "under the weather." She's very wobbly on her feet and seems a bit disoriented at times. She spends almost all her time napping in front of the fireplace, and usually has to be coaxed outside to "go potty." I haven't found any adverse side effects online for any of the drugs she's taking and the doctor assured me she wouldn't have any, but we're both still worried about her. Doc said to give it a couple of weeks, so if she doesn't show improvement by this time next week, I'll probably make another appointment for her. I wish she could tell us what's going on. It's all very frustrating.

I have 4 final tests between today and Friday. Today was the first and I did really well, so that's some good news. I have 2 tomorrow and the last one Friday morning, and then that's it for 4 weeks! I plan on reading novels and renting seasons 1 & 2 of The Tudors for Vic and I to watch on snowy weekends. I also want to cross-stitch a little and straighten up the house a bit. Friday can't come soon enough!

why we moved north

2008-12-06T12:17:00.001-05:00

SnowBlower-er
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

I wanted to move north from Florida to escape the opressive summer heat, to see something on a street corner other than a Baptist church or an auto parts store, and to eat in restaurants where everyone wore shoes. Vic wanted to move to play in the snow. She's in her element today! We've got about 2" so far, with no end in sight. Shannon and I are enjoying a sort of roaring fire while the abominable snowblower-er is outside giddy as a Price Is Right contestant on crack. Weirdo!

baboo update

2008-12-05T21:58:00.002-05:00

Shannon is doing much better! Actually, she started showing improvement just a few short hours after giving her the first dose of meds. I'm not sure if it was the medication, the long nap in front of the fireplace, the warm blankie I covered her up with, the belly rubs, or maybe a combination of everything, but she looks much better and is walking really well now! What a relief!

Next week is our last week of school and I have tests out the butt! I can't wait until Friday at about noon. No more school (for 4 weeks) and my birthday! I think I'll celebrate by having Vickie take me out to dinner. I laugh whenever she asks me where I'd like to go. I'll suggest someplace, she'll say "no," and then we'll go where she wants. It's a little game we like to play.

the sweet baboo

2008-12-03T18:37:00.004-05:00

Shannon, Caleb, & Earl napping on the couch

Every winter Shannon's arthritis seems to get a little worse, and yesterday it was terrible. The sweet Baboo is almost 11 years old and about 20 lbs. overweight (who isn't?), and for the past few years we've been noticing slight changes: she needs a ramp to get into the Jeep, she doesn't like to play ball for as long as she used to, and she's just moving a little slower. Well yesterday it was so bad that I had to help her upstairs for bed and then this morning I had to carry down the stairs because she just couldn't seem to get her back legs to move.

Knowing that there's no way I can carry a 75 lb. dog up & down the stairs every day, we took a trip to the vet. We're actually "between vets" right now. Our old vet's office was nice, but they're very big and they seem to raise their already high prices every time we visit. Also, the staff was never mean, but they just didn't seem to be able to take the extra time with us that I would've liked. We had a great vet in Pensacola, so I guess we got kind've spoiled.

Anyway, the doctor took an x-ray and confirmed Shannon does indeed have arthritis. She has to take a bunch of pills (some for just a few months, and some for forever!) and hopefully we'll be able to notice a positive change "in a few days." Right now she's lying by the fire, covered up in her blanket and just enjoying the peacefulness of the house. Poor baby.

there's a man in my freezer

2008-11-28T16:34:00.003-05:00

Perhaps she knew it wasn't going to snow again for a while or perhaps she thought the ice cream needed a buddy. Whatever the reason, Vic placed this little guy in our freezer weeks ago and he has been goofily grinning back at me ever since.

On warmer note...We spent Thanksgiving with Vic's mom. It was also her mom's birthday. It was a nice, relaxing day spent doing almost no school work. It had been about 3 weeks since I last saw her mom and she's really lost a lot of weight. The doctor (one of her many!) thinks she might have an infection in her rib. If she does, they'll have to remove it. We just don't know if she's strong enough for another operation, but she looks and feels awful. She should know more next week at her next appointment.

I finally finished my procedures book for class. I've spent every day, at least 6 hours a day for the last 3 weeks, working on this monstrosity of a thing. About half way thru the project, Vic called me at work to tell me the computer was broken. I nearly died. Turns out our cordless mouse just needed new batteries. Needless to say, I spent that whole night backing things up.

day off

2008-11-19T20:51:00.002-05:00

Wednesdays are my day off from both work and school. But not really. I had to take Wednesdays off from work just so I can try to get caught up with school work. So I've been at the computer now for 7 straight hours typing up procedures for thyroidectomies, herniorrhaphies, and other such fun stuff. Oh I do take the occasional break to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer, but otherwise it's been all school stuff. My personal life has come to a standstill until the semester ends in 4 weeks. I think after my last class I'll probably just sit and cry from the shear exhaustion of it all. I'm really looking forward to that day!

ready for snow!

2008-11-16T14:46:00.002-05:00

right now

2008-11-15T17:41:00.003-05:00

I've been busy this week with school stuff (imagine!) and feel like I'm finally making some progress with things. This upcoming week is week 8 of 10 in this semester ~ we actually get an extra week added in for Thanksgiving break. I've got tests I have to study for and projects I have to get completed and very little time for anything else. I'm soooo looking forward to December 12th. Not only is it the birth of the sweet baby Casey, but it's also the last day of school! I've already started a list of movies I want to rent and books I want to read during my 4 glorious weeks off. Any suggestions?

Right now:
* there's a fire in the fireplace
* jazz playing softly
* the tinkling of windchimes outside
* a light rain/snow falling (actually more rain than snow, right now)
* and Vic is taking a nap, leaving me to study in peace (ear, nose, & throat)

my weekend

2008-11-09T08:55:00.002-05:00

I got another 300 question take-home test to keep me occupied this weekend. It's not due until Friday, though, so I'm going to take my time and try to enjoy some of the weekend. School is starting to wind down, so more projects are coming due. I'm so far behind that I had to cut my hours at work even more so that I can catch up. I keep telling myself it's all worth it and I'll have a great job when it's all over. It's just very frustrating right now.

It's been really cold here for the last week, and I fear our Autumn days may be done. There are more leaves on the ground then on the branches and we're having more and more fires in the fireplace. I'm glad we got the grass cut last week ~ I think it was probably the last time until next April! I'm always sad to see these days end ~ I love the colors and being able to go outside with a sweatshirt on. Soon the snow will be here (this week, they say!) and my nose will stay permanently cold for 5 months! Don't get me wrong, I like the change of seasons. I just wish winter only lasted 2 months instead of 5!

ha ha, it is to laugh

2008-11-06T20:27:00.003-05:00

School has been especially taxing this past week, so I needed a little levity...and this is it! I haven't laughed this hard in a long time! This is one of my all time favorites. I gotta get some shoes like this. Enjoy!

i am

2008-11-01T01:38:00.006-04:00

Happy Halloween! This weekend the weather is supposed to be warm and sunny...perfect for staying inside all day every day working on my 135 question take-home test. Yea!

These are some of the shots Vic & I took while

out partaking of nature a few weeks ago.

I was reading AZ's blog a few days ago and came across her daughter's "I am" posting. I thought it was kind've neat and am going to give it a try, too. I'm not sure if there are any certain rules to follow in the "I am" narrative, so forgive me if I stray a bit. Also, I came up with quite a few things I am, so it may spill over into other postings. Here goes...

I am stressed out & over-schoolworked

I am older than I feel

I am astounded by how much abuse the human body can withstand

I worry about money more now than I ever did

I am in love with my best friend

I believe I have a greater purpose in life

I am restless

I eat pizza...a lot

I am a list-maker, an organizer, and a planner

I think I would've made a good mother

I get flustered when my "cheese" is moved

I am a member of a small & very dysfunctional family

I am not a nap-taker (usually)

I am a sweatpants-at-home person

I hold kitties daily

I drink too much pop & not enough water

I forget to take my daily vitamins...daily

I iron my scrubs

I am disappointed I stopped running years ago

I talk to my dog every day

I am pro same-sex marriage
I am a hair-dyer
I read Reader's Digest religiously
I listen to classical music when I study
I like the people I work with

I admire people who volunteer their time

I am always surprised at the person in the mirror

I hate cooking (I don't even like the microwave much)

I wear holiday themed socks

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows

yes, i'm still blogging

2008-10-30T20:30:00.004-04:00

Why don't I blog more? Because I have no time. Schoolwork and work-work is just sucking the life-blood out of me! Every free moment (except for this one) is spent doing something for class. That said, I'll now quit bitching about it and catch you up on what's new.

I observed my very first surgical procedure yesterday. It was a laproscopic hysterectomy performed with the da Vinci robotic system. It was the first time I had ever been in an OR as a non-patient. I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect in regards to the smells, but since this was a laproscopic procedure, there were no smells and I remained upright the entire time. Yea! We won't get to go into another OR until January and then we'll actually have to work, so I'm sure I'll be nervous all over again in January!

Vic and I finally made it out to one of the many cider mills in our area. Vic took some great Autumn shots (I'll include them in the next post...promise) and we had a nice afternoon walking amongst the nature sipping apple cider. Then of course I had to come back home to work on school stuff.

It's been getting colder and when I wake up in the mornings the bed it filled with assorted kitties. Now is the time of year for fires in the fireplace, kitties in my lap and layered clothing! Vic & Shannon have been watching the weather channel with more frequency, looking for uncoming snow. Not me.

the signs of Autumn

2008-10-18T08:25:00.003-04:00

I think Autumn officially arrived at our house the other morning when I tried to get out of bed but was trapped by a mound of sleeping kitties! The temps have been comfortable during the day and chilly at night, making for perfect sleeping weather...finally. Because of this, most of our kids migrate to our warm bed throughout the night and in the morning, I'm trapped under the furry little Lilliputians! It's comforting, actually.

Vic & I are going to have to make the switch to warmer clothes soon. I've got 2 drawers of shorts, but only 1 pair of sweatpants out! What a pain dragging out totes is, but it's got to be done. I'd like to do it this weekend, but I've got lots of homework to do. My next homework-free weekend is December 13th. I think that may be too long to wait.

The trees are bursting forth with color all over the place now. I pass by a brilliant orange tree on my way to school and there are several red and yellow guys right in our own neighborhood. The whomping willow a few houses down is still pretty full, but I know it's only a matter of time before he turns into just trunk and bones. There are signs of Autumn all around us these days!

school stuff

2008-10-13T19:51:00.004-04:00

This past exciting weekend was spent studying, cutting the grass, and putting away the patio furniture for the winter. I love to watch football, but haven't done so yet this season ~ mainly because of school. Vic & I did watch a few Miss Marple mysteries. Hokey, yes, but we love them!

Speaking of school...Last Wednesday I took a field trip to one of our local hospitals where I got to spend the day working with the people who clean & sterilize the OR instruments. I had a great time & the day just flew by! It was really a pretty cool job and something I might check into to doing in January when I have to quit my present job.

I had my first quiz on Friday (I think I got an A) and will have my first major test tomorrow (Yikes!). So far school has been stressful, but I think I'm enjoying more this semester than I did last. I'm still overwhelmed, but at least now I know what to expect!

It's supposed to be chilly this weekend, so Vic & I are planning our first fire in the fireplace! We're both very excited about this!

no casey time

2008-10-07T21:34:00.002-04:00

* Now that school has started back up, I officially have no life for the next 10 weeks. I spend every waking moment either at work or at school or at the kitchen table doing homework or at the computer writing papers. On Saturday nights I usually get all comfy and settle in to watch a movie with Vic, only to fall asleep an hour later. Ah, the life of a student.

* Dontcha just love Tina Fey? I'm hoping to rent Baby Mama this weekend and fall asleep half way thru it.

misc.

2008-09-26T19:06:00.002-04:00

* I love The Office

* One more person dropped out of my class this week. This brings us to a total of 15 ~ 75% of what we started with. I hate to see people quit or get fired from class. It always means that the possibility of it happening to me exists, too.

* Speaking of fired...a girl I work with got fired earlier this week. They called her on her day off and told her not to bother coming back. That just sounds so chicken shit to me. I know there were some problems, but she's been with the company for at least 2 years and I think they could've at least given her the opportunity to retrieve her personal items from her desk. Again, I hope this never happens to me.

* My shoulder is getting better. I still have random flare ups that send a shooting pain down my arm, but overall I think it's improving.

* I wish we got the BBC channel. Not BBC America, but the real honest to goodness cockney speaking snobby British BBC.

* I also wish someone would come over this weekend and do my laundry.

* I noticed the other day that I almost always put on my right sock and shoe first. I wonder if I was left-handed if my shoe putting-on would be the opposite?

* I hate Jesus shoes (Birkenstocks). My instructor wears Jesus shoes with knee-high nylons every day to class. Just when I thought they couldn't get any worse...

floppy sock night

2008-09-25T17:31:00.002-04:00

When I'm not studying or doing homework or reading or listening to the ball game on the radio, I have been known to plop down in front of the TV and watch Law & Order reruns or something cool on the History International channel (it was Stonehenge the other night!). But otherwise, I really don't watch a whole lot of TV. Except for 3 shows. All of which come on tonight.

I love love love Ugly Betty and The Office, and love love Grey's Anatomy (only 2 loves here cuz they were kinda whiney last year!). I'll probably record Betty and Grey's so that Vic & I can watch them together this weekend. But I'm gonna get all hunkered down and put on my big floppy TV watching socks for The Office. Can't wait!

poor anne & the tigers

2008-09-24T17:32:00.002-04:00

I've been a bad blogger of late, and I fear it will only get worse once school starts next week. I've been keeping busy with homework and with my new book, The Other Boleyn Girl. (I decided last semester that I was going to take some time out each day to read something not school related.)

I finished Angels & Demons over the weekend. I guess I'd have to give it an overall 7. The first 450 pages were fantastic! I literally couldn't put the book down. Then it got goofy and a little unbelievable and ended just okay. I've only read a few books that have been wonderful from start to finish (all the Harry Potters!). I'm looking forward to seeing the movie version now. I started the Boleyn book immediately upon finishing Angels and so far it's been great! I pretty much know how it's going to end, though. Poor Anne.

I've stopped going to therapy for my shoulder. I still do the exercises at home and my shoulder and arm still hurt, only not as much as before. I've got to see some improvement soon. School is hard enough with two good arms!

We're going to the final Tigers game of the season this Sunday. Mercifully, the Tigers will be put out of their misery soon. Who knew at the beginning of the season that a team with so much talent could play so incredibly sucky? It's fan appreciation day on our game day, so maybe we'll come home with some bling!

nothing new

2008-09-18T18:10:00.002-04:00

Nothing new or exciting happening here...

* At my therapy sesssion this morning, Mark told me I'd probably only need one more session and then he's going to cut me loose. My range of motion has greatly improved. I still have difficulty sleeping the whole night thru and usually wake myself up because I've rolled over onto that shoulder.

* I've got a heap of homework due by my first day of class in less than 2 weeks! I'm feverishly reading Angels & Demons and have less than 200 pages left. I want to finish it before I start schoolwork because I know once I pick up an instrument or pharmacology book, I won't be putting it down for 10 weeks!

* I've decided to go by the library and check out a book or two on CD to listen to on the drive to/from Traverse City that I'll be making in a few weeks. Any recommendations?

uneventful events

2008-09-15T18:05:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was extremely uneventful, but in a good way. Vic & I actually got the whole house cleaned. This is usually an undertaking that takes weeks of planning and then I have to trick Vic into thinking it was her idea before anything actual dusting or mopping gets done. I guess all the rain we had inspired us both, though, because we whipped thru the whole house on Saturday afternoon. Then we napped. Then we got all caught up on our DVR watching.

My shoulder is feeling better. It's been a week since the accident and I think I'm functioning at about 60% now. Yea! Hopefully I'll be done with therapy before school starts on the 30th.

Speaking of school...my instructor emailed us to tell us that she's going to be emailing us a "pre-class assignment." (Who emails you to say they're going to email you??) What ever happened to school vacation?! I've only got 2 more weeks of it left, so let me enjoy it! Geez ~ I can't wait until I'm all graduated! The fun just never ends.

rainy day

2008-09-13T09:14:00.002-04:00

It's a dreary, rainy Saturday around here today...and I love it.

I actually like it when it rains, especially all day. Days like this give me the opportunity to catch up on chores around the house and this absolutely the best weather to read in. I'll finish going thru the Sunday ads (we get them in our Saturday newspaper!) and then if Vic is still not up, I'll start on my book. I'll turn on some light jazz and curl up on the couch and listen to the rain fall while blissfully reading Angels & Demons.

Later on, Vic & I will get caught up on some of our DVR recordings and then she'll probably talk me into taking a short nap. Sometime during the day we'll have to eat and since I've been craving Mexican, maybe I can talk her into that. I'm really looking forward to a day of nothing.

This definitely has all the makings of a close-to-perfect day.

inflamed

2008-09-12T19:04:00.002-04:00

I've been diagnosed with "inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon." I guess I should be happy that I don't have a tear or something worse. It's still hurts like hell though. I have to go to therapy 3x/week and I have exercises I have to do at home in between sessions. They're mostly strengthening and range of motion exercises, but they still burn.

It's amazing how much I do with my right arm. Not just the obvious stuff like writing or typing, but also opening a door and lifting a can a pop to take a drink. My right arm is almost totally helpless. And it sucks! The simplest activities like brushing my teeth or washing my hair are painful. I know the inflammation will eventually subside, but it could last for weeks and school starts in just 2 short weeks!

Back to exercising!