Accidentally In Love

Changes

2011-09-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

Today was my last day at my job that I have been at for almost 3 years. While there were small parts of my job that I liked the insane amount of driving was just taking its toll on me. Over the course of the past 4-5 weeks I managed to clock a whoppin 4,000 miles. Heck I was no longer a nurse but had become a truck driver! I guess it was what it took to get me to start looking for another job. (that and I had interviewed another nurse to work with me who wanted to make $10,000 more than I was making and said that everyone was making that) So 3-4 weeks ago I decided to post my resume on a job site and browse a bit and just see what was out there. I wasn't in a hurry so I could be very picky about what I wanted. I wanted to work for an insurance company or a pharmaceutical company where I could have good benefits, and not travel. So I sent my resume to a few places and then went along my way. Then a little over 2 weeks ago when I was on my one of my many trips to Wichita Falls I got a call from Katy at UnitedHealth Group. She told me she wanted to do a phone interview so I told her if she didn't mind the driving noise in the background we could do it right then and there. It took her a little off guard because she was expecting to have to schedule a time and call me back. Our conversation went really well and left me really excited about the job. She told me I would hear from someone in the Richardson office that day or the next day at the latest. It was hard waiting because the job sounded so good and paid really well, but it took her 2 days to call me back and asked me to come in the next day. I had to call in sick at my current job so that I could go in for this interview because they told me it would take 2-3 hours. It ended up taking 3 hours but I left very confident about the job but I didn't want to get my hopes up. They told me that the person in charge of the hiring was out for the day so I would expect to hear back that Monday or Tuesday.
I didn't hear anything on Monday and I started to get discouraged and then Tuesday rolled around and my boss at my current job told me not to go to Wichita falls the next day but to come to the office instead which was really fishy. Since I had been in 2 car accidents in the company car my boss had told me that there was talk that I could not longer be covered on the company insurance, but I didn't think that was something worth firing over but I still got quite worried. Lucky for me they called later that day and offered me the new job making much more than I was before, and I will have benefits that will cover Peter and the baby as well as myself. And one of the greatest parts is I get to work from home after 6 months. So no more commuting! I went into work the next day to give me notice and I found out that I was going to be fired because of the insurance thing. So everything worked out for the better. I was definitely being looked after and it proved to me that Heavenly Father loves me and care about me and my situation. Its a lot of changes going on but it will be for the best.

Saturday Fun day

2010-09-07T19:55:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to go to dinner and our favorite comedy club for my friend Monica's birthday. We had so much fun! We first went to Kincaid's, an amazing burger joint that is very famous in Ft Worth. We had a total blast!

Monica and her Brother Christopher and cousin Abby

Then after dinner we got to go see four day weekend, the best improv comedy club. Its in Fort Worth if you haven't seen it, you need to go. HILARIOUS!

Playing catch up

2010-08-23T17:00:00.002-05:00

I used to be quite the blogger, but I feel as though my life is uninteresting and so I would blog about my ideas, but then I think I ran out of those so hence the no blogs lol. Life has been going absolutely amazing lately. Peter and I have been married for 9 months now and things couldn't be better. If I had found the right person I would/should have done this ages ago! :) Work is keeping me busy as can be as always. I am getting more and more patients and yet no help. They are hoping to have our medicare up and running by the end of the year and with that will bring an LVN and an RN so I am just not so patiently waiting until then. Peter just started another semester of school. He is only taking one class this time around because he only has 2 left before he can apply to nursing school and one is contingent upon the other. Its anatomy and physiology 2 so it requires a lab, and since he really needs to get an A in it, in order to better his chances at getting into the very difficult nursing program he is not working and just concentrating on that.

I finally turned in my Acura that has been sitting in my garage since January due to the fact that its a lease and I exceeded my 45,000 miles all the way back then. So I finally turned it in 2 weeks ago and we were going to just be a one car family for a while, so I could pay off bills. But of course things never work out the way you want and Peters car decided to stop working last week. He spent his whole week off of school trying desperately to fix it in the 100 degree weather but he was finally stumped and could not get it working. He replaced about 6 different parts spending several hundred dollars and no luck. The only 2 other things was to replace the whole engine or it was a possibility it was the electrical system going bad and either way it would be a lot of money for a old car with 112,000 miles on it. So we elected to get a new used car that might be a little more reliable. I elected to get a Scion Xb because they were relatively inexpensive and more of a family car than the 2 door hatch back vehicle Peter previously owned.

Lets see other than that, I was recently called to work in the nursery. They only called me for some reason, and have not called anyone else and since I have as many as 12 kids if they all attend, Peter has been helping me out until they get me some help. I have the older kids that are already 3 or are turning 3, which can be both good and bad. My first week was really crazy trying to handle 10 kids, but only 7 showed up this past week and one stayed with her mom after asking to go the bathroom 4 times and really just having a melt down. It was a lot more manageable.

For the most part we are just praying that it starts to cool off a little more here. These continuous days over 100 degrees is killer. We are looking forward to the fall.

Beiber Fever and other "illneses"

2010-07-17T17:13:00.005-05:00

"I'm surrounded by old people. Everyone who works with me are almost 30." (Justin Bieber).

Yeah, I just quoted Justin Bieber. So what?

Despite Lady Bieber's attempt at making me feel old, I still feel young. I have made a conscious decision to not feel old until I have a kid and not until I have to ground him or her for listening to Justin Bieber or the next Miley Cyrus.

Now, I really have nothing against Justin Bieber. This is America. The American Dream is becoming rich and/or famous. Regardless if he endures a long career in the music industry, he has accomplished more than most of us and if he is wise with his money, he can retire at any point he chooses to.

He can retire at 18 if he wants to unless he pulls a MC Hammer and wastes his fortune.

Who makes me feel more old: Justin Bieber being the number one artist in America today or realizing that MC Hammer was the number one artist 20 years ago?

They both make me feel old.

The Justin Bieber phenomenom has its own name: Bieber Fever.

Bieber Fever is what they call it when the 12 and 13 year olds start crying whenever he enters a room. It's similiar to those old pictures of women screaming, crying and fainting when The Beetles were performing.

It's the same occurance that happened in the 90's when the New Kids on the Block performed or in the 70's when Leif Garrett sang.

I have been to many concerts and have never seen anyone cry or scream like a school girl when the artist took the stage.

I will never fully understand the fanaticism people have with celebrities to the point of screaming and crying or to the point of adorning your bedroom with cut out pictures and bedsheets of a specific celebrity.

And it isn't just kids who do this:

Don't even get me started on the twilight obsession that has swept the nation. I know I know its the "perfect love story" and the movies totally help the obsession by have such "totally hot guys" playing the leading men. Its not real people! I don't get it, nothing that is this unreal should receive this much attention. No matter what anyone says I just think its unhealthy to put so much love and attention into non reality. Especially these adult women who are doing it. " If Twilight obsessed women would direct even half of their intimate and erotic energies towards their husbands and the real life fantasy available to them, their marriage would be greatly strengthened and become infinitely more satisfying" I am referring to the women like the picture above...its called an obsession for a reason.

Double Date Night

2010-05-12T21:23:00.002-05:00

Two weekends ago we got to have a double date night with Peter's Best friend Matt and his girlfriend Elizabeth. We went to Ft Worth and went to eat at Risky's BBQ and then walked around downtown Ft Worth for a bit before going to see a show at Four day Weekend the improv comedy club. It was a fantastic show, its kind of like Who's Line is it anyway, all made up on the spot. We had a great laugh. It was a really fun night and was great to get out. Our next ideas include Rangers Game, Camping, Six Flags and Sea World. We shall see what our next double dates include.

Our Bipolar Weather

2010-03-21T11:35:00.002-05:00

Thursday it was sunny and a high of 74. I was sitting with my back door open as late as Thursday night. Then yesterday it got cold and rainy and by last night the snow started. Last week we were working on our garden and now its covered in several inches on snow and I am sure not going to want to grow now. Today is the first day of spring, and this is what we have to look at.

What a beautiful day!

2010-03-13T19:30:00.003-06:00

For the past 2 days Peter has been working in tearing down our back fence. (long story but basically my neighbor behind me ruined the fence by putting caulk inbetween all the slats and then reinforcing it with other random wood. Then he ended up putting up a privacy fence but he wanted me to give him $500 for it because we shared that back portion. I didn't have that kind of money at the time nor did I think I should pay for it because it was something he wanted. But anywho he put up the fence next to the original fence which ended up resulting in the old fence falling down and it was just leaning against his new fence) So he spent half the day getting part of the fence down and the other half replacing the breaks on his car. Today was spent building something around his garden to keep Daisy aka Dogzilla out of the garden. I helped where I could and then got distracted pulling weeds. Peter worked so hard when he finally came in and sat down at 4 he totally passed out on the couch.

This is the attempt to keep Daisy out of his garden. She likes to be a gardener

My pile of weeds

Daisy enjoying the sunshine

The pile of the fence he has made

Half old fence and half new

The tired worker

Love on Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T13:00:00.000-06:00

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it...It really is worth fighting for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more." - Erica Jong

In honor of the upcoming Hallmark holiday that is Valentine's Day, I decided to write a blog about love. It's a wondrous thing. It's a cure-all. Add a little love to your life and everything else just seems to fall into place. Even if every other aspect of your life sucks, having someone to hold onto, to tell you everything will be ok, makes everything better.

There are many different kinds of love. I love my family and I love my friends, but there is just something about having that one person who gets you, and loves you unconditionally. I have definitely found that in Peter. He puts up with all the crazy things I do or say that makes me the wacky person that I am.

Having that one person in your life who is your biggest fan is very fulfilling. I love my family and friends, but they will always be there no matter what (at least I hope they will). It's at least partially due to obligation. Finding someone else in the universe who can't bear to be only your friend and has to have the whole you and is willing to still give you everything that your family and friends give you and so much more is the essential (and difficult) part. Love is just too good to pass up. Too good to ignore. Why resist it?

A lot of people wonder why love isn't working for them, but too many people don't do enough work on it themselves. Sure, you might get lucky and stumble upon it, but you have to put in a little effort if you want to keep it going strong. You've simply got to put in the work if you want it to work for you. The world would be a whole lot better if we all had somebody to love and who loved us back. For that is the greatest gift of all.

I am so happy that I have found the love of my life. He makes me so happy, and makes my life so much more fulfilled. While I don't really enjoy the commercialize holiday of Valentine's Day, I will take any excuse I can get to remind my honey of how much he means to me and how much I truly love him. So while I won't be running out to grab that stuffed gorilla that sings "Wild Thing" I will shout it from the rooftop that I have the love of my life and I am so lucky to have found him. Here's to our first Valentine's Day together. I love you Peter!

Quick Update

2010-01-28T17:52:00.003-06:00

I've gone to start writing a new blog several times but I get just a few sentences into it and I stop. I don't know what to write about...especially since it has been so long. So I just don't. I actually thought no one read my blog anymore anywho, but after being asked by several people why I don't blog anymore I figured its time to update. The last several months have been a whirlwind. Our wedding was amazing (thank you to those who made it) and we have had a fantastic last 2 months. Who knew married life was so incredible? At the beginning of January we got to go on a 7 day Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, Georgetown Grand Caymans, and Montigo Bay Jamaica. It was great to get away and spend that much time together, but it was quite the bumpy ride. I guess a storm decided to follow us the whole way, making the ship quite rocky. It also canceled any water excursions at the first two stops, so we didn't get to do our kayaking or power snorkeling. Instead we ended up walking 2 miles to the beach in the Grand Caymans and got blisters all over our feet. (We hadn't planned on walking we were supposed to be snorkeling). We were back from our trip for 4 days when we had to turn around and fly to Salt Lake City and then drive down to St George for my grandma Slaugh's funeral. I got to spend my 30th birthday at a funeral. Let me tell you, it was a blast. lol Anywho that is the past few months in a quick update. I hope to be able to blog more later. Here are a few pictures in the mean time.

The final countdown

2009-10-11T21:28:00.002-05:00

Well im down to 40 days left til I get married. It still seems like an eternity away and yet so close when I think of all I have left to accomplish. I think I have the majority of things done, its planning everything at the reception that is left and that is still a lot. With Peter being in school and me working full time I really only get to see him on the weekends which has been really hard. We get to go on a honeymoon in January before he goes back to school. Im excited we are going on a 7 day cruise...I don't know all the details because its supposed to be a surprise but I do know we are going to hit Jamaica and Cozumel. :D

Here are a few of our engagement pics we took. We had to retake some of them since it was pouring rain the whole day.

Swine Flu

2009-09-28T20:48:00.001-05:00

By Ken Taylor, D.C., N.D.

I have had several patients ask me what my thoughts were so I thought I would pass them along. I am opposed to the swine flu vaccine, and am convinced that getting a vaccination against swine flu is not in your best interest. Read the facts, and decide for yourself. Feel free to email me back if you have further questions.

About the swine flu

Dr. Russell Blaylock, author, lecturer, retired neurosurgeon, and nutritional researcher, did a detailed analysis of the material from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), printed on September 5, 2009:

1. Flu hospitalizations are the same or lower for all flu illness this year, as compared to other years.

2. The number of flu deaths this year has not changed from yearly averages.

3. There is no evidence of viral mutation anywhere in the world.

4. Flu illness remains susceptible to antiviral drugs, so swine flu is not resistant to Tamiflu or other flu antivirals.

5. 43,771 cases were reported in the United States (however, poor reporting could place real estimates as high as one million). Of the reported cases, 5,011 people have been hospitalized; 302 deaths have resulted, which is 0.6% of 43,771 or 0.03% of one million.

6. Because the chronically ill and immune suppressed tend to get infected early, most deaths will occur early in the season (so even as illness numbers are rising, deaths will decrease as the season progresses).

7. People do not die from flu itself. The only reason people die from flu is that they have a contributing immune- suppressing chronic illness. Some illnesses that fit into that category are diabetes, dietary deficiencies, chronic pulmonary disease, heart disease, cancer, and direct immune dysfunction.

8. A review of the 1918 flu pandemic found that most deaths were related to complications of bacterial pneumonia, before the widespread use of antibiotics and when there were no IV fluids and no respirators yet in use.

9. The number of children’s deaths this year are less than the previous two years by this time of year.

Some Things Don’t Make Sense

If you are not into conspiracy theories, then jump to the next topic about the importance of being healthy as a protection from all diseases, including swine flu. But for those who are open to looking at some mighty odd information, check out the following:

These are some good questions brought to the forefront in a class action law suit from journalist Jane Burgermeister, filed on July 30, 2009 (you can find more information in Burgermeister’s letter to Dr. Chan, head of WHO):

1. Why are we at pandemic level 6 (the highest level) when the swine flu is so mild?

2. Why is a motion for legislation mandating forced vaccination being filed in the United States?

3. Genetically, swine and bird flu viruses don’t mix. So how could a genome sequence of a swine flu and bird flu and human flu come together, unless it was man-made?

4. Why would a vaccine that is rushed through the “fast-track” for clearance (fewer safety steps) be mandated in the United States?

5. Why isn’t the swine flu vaccine classified as a bioweapon?

6. Why don’t we know more about this from the media?

Being Healthy as a Protection

In the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), June 19th, 2002 edition, a scientific review of vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults was printed. This well documented treatise, with 152 references, documented the benefits of nine vitamins and their positive effects on coronary heart disease, cancer, neural tube defects and osteoporosis. The treatise also documents the value of the vitamins in disease prevention.

Vitamins and minerals have also been shown to improve the immune system. Many times, as a therapeutic measure, the dosage for these substances far exceeds the recommended amounts for daily use. Below are some examples:

1. In children with a vitamin A deficiency and low T cell counts (T cells are critical in the killing of infectious agents), a single large dose of vitamin A of 100,000 IU restored the T cell counts to normal[i]

2. Enhanced T cell-mediated immune function takes place at vitamin E intakes of at least 200 IU per day[ii]

3. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia showed improvement in T cell activity, IgG and IgM levels (antibody levels), white cell bactericidal (bacteria killing) activity[iii]

4. Twelve healthy individuals received a single dose of vitamin C (60 mg / kg or 4800 mg in a 180 pound man) and had a significant enhancement of natural killer cell activity for more than 24 hours[iv]

5. Selenium at 2 mg / kg reversed the age related immune cell decline seen in elderly mice[v]

6. Effects of vitamin C on a wide variety of viruses showed all were inactivated as the vitamin C was oxidized. Some of the commonly known viruses tested included hepatitis, measles, mumps, viral orchitis, herpes zoster, encephalitis, and others[vi]

7. 11,000 patients over a 14 year period were given vitamin C doses to cause bowel tolerance (a clinical term meaning enough dosage to cause diarrhea). The more severe the illness, the greater the number of grams needed to achieve bowel tolerance to destroy the virus. Up to 150 grams per day were needed in influenza.[vii]

8. 818 volunteers were followed through one winter. The volunteers had been administered either vitamin C, 250 mg 4 times per day (which was increased to 1000 mg four times per day if participants were ill), compared to a equally matched placebo group. The following was noted: no illness in 100 days-26 % in the vitamin C group, 18% in the placebo group; days confined to house-21% lower in vitamin C group; days missed at work-30% less in the vitamin C group. All these values reached significance with p ‹ 0.05 or less.[viii]

9. Vitamin D was given to inmates in one prison ward but was not given to other inmates in the Atascadero prison in California in 2005. A severe flu outbreak hit the prison, but the inmates in the ward receiving vitamin D did not have a single inmate infected, even though they mingled with the other inmates.[ix]

10. Many immune system diseases are improved with vitamin D administration, including some cancers, diabetes type I, Grave’s disease (autoimmune), Lupus Erythematosus, and Multiple Sclerosis.[x]

How Sugar Affects Our Immune System

The substances we take into our mouth also affect our immune system. For example, the following is a list of specific immune deficits caused by the ingestion of sugar:

1. Sugar interferes with the body’s phagocytes’ (the cells that eat up bacteria or viruses, like PacMan) ability for at least 5 hours after ingestion.[xi]

2. High glucose levels in the blood stream bind to proteins, thus damaging the immune system.[xii]

3. Sugar causes inflammation, which triggers an immune system response. This may distract the immune system from more important duties, like killing viruses or bacteria or cancer cells.

About the swine flu vaccine:

Continuing with Dr. Blaylock’s analysis:

1. Of the 5 tests that have been scheduled for vaccine safety, no one in the test group has been or will be injected with the adjuvant (the immune booster that makes the vaccine more effective); the adjuvant will be added later for mass vaccination. Injecting without the adjuvant makes the “testing” for safety suspect.

2. No data is available on safety for these vaccinations in children.

3. The vaccine has been “fast-tracked” (which means that, in the interest of speed, many of the usual safety precautions will not be required).

4. Sixty virologists were asked what they were doing personally about the swine flu. Of the interviewed virologists, thirty said nothing, twenty were stocking Tamiflu, and none mentioned taking the swine flu vaccine.

5. No information will be available on the safety profile of mixing the three viruses into a single vaccine, or the safety profile if the three viruses are given sequentially in three vaccinations.

6. Vaccine contamination is widespread, including containing pestivirus, mycoplasma, viral fragments, DNA fragments and bacterial components, all of which can cause chronic systemic disorders, cancer, neurologic disease and slow brain degeneration.

Other known facts:

1. The pharmaceutical companies making and distributing the vaccine are protected from law suits relative to the vaccine, regardless of the outcome, once the vaccine is widely administered.

Recommendations from Dr. Taylor:

1. Do not get the swine flu vaccine

2. Eat ‘real’ food and avoid processed food, especially refined sugar, which affects the immune system

3. Take a potent whole food supplement like Catalyn or LIVE by Nuriche (www.mynuriche.com/drtaylor) and a high vitamin Cod Liver oil (yes it does come in capsules). Cod Liver oil not only has the omega 3’s that are important for immune function, but also good levels of vitamin A and D which are also important for immune function. Most Cod Liver oils have the vitamin A and D processed out and either have very low levels or synthetic Vitamins A and D are added back in which are not as effective.

4. If you get an infectious illness (whether swine flu, regular flu, colds, sinusitis or something else):

increase your whole food vitamin C intake to at least 6 tab orally each day
take anti-virals from MediHerb like, Echinacea, Andrographis, Astragalus
consider taking Calcium Lactate powder 1-2 tsps. in water daily. Ionizable calcium in the blood helps to direct white blood cells to kill off bacteria, and viruses.

I subscribe to Bernarr Macfadden’s philosophy. This pioneer in health made an astute comment back in 1928—one that serves us well to follow today: “The reader should now be fully persuaded to accept the statement of our assurance that most disease is preventable. There is no physician of any school who will not agree to the proposition that if the body be healthy it has the power to resist the aggressions of any kind of disease. Even though one accepts the germ theory to its fullest extent, we have shown that disease germs cannot grow and thrive in a healthy organism. No matter what contagion is, or how it works, it has no power over a healthy body.” (Macfadden’s Encyclopedia of Physical Culture, p. 66.)

Notes

[i] Bhaskaram P, et al. Effects of subclinical vitamin A deficiency and administration of vitamin A as a single large dose on immune function in children. Nutr Res 1989;9:1017-1025.

[ii] Meydani SN, et al. Vitamin E supplementation and in vivo immune response in healthy elderly subjects. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1997;277:1380-1386.

[iii] Zanni G, et al. An evaluation of the effect of iron treatment on some immune parameters in sideropenic patients. Curr Ther Res 1989;45:48-52.

[iv] Vojdani A, et al. In vivo effect of ascorbic acid on enhancement of human natural killer cell activity. Nutr Red 1993;13:753-764.

[v] Roy M, et al. Supplementation with selenium restores age-related decline in immune cell function. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1995;209:369-375.

[vi] Murata A. Virucidal activity of vitamin C for prevention and treatment of viral diseases. In Proc First Int Congr IAMS, Takezi Hasegawa (ed.), Science Council of Japan, 1975

[vii] Cathcart RF. Vitamin C: the nontoxic, nonrated-limited, antioxidant fee radical scavenger. Med Hypotheses 1985;18:61-77.

[viii] Anderson TW, et al. Vitamin C and the common cold: a double-blind trial. Can Med Assoc J 1972;107:503.

[ix] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php

[x] Literature review

[xi] W. Ringsdorf, et al. Sucrose neutrophilic phagocytosis and resistance to disease. Dental Survey 52, No. 12, 1976, pp. 46-48.

[xii] R. Pamplona, et al. Mechanisms of glycation in atherogenesis. Medical Hypotheses 40, 1990, pp. 174-181.

Love hurts

2009-09-14T21:14:00.003-05:00

I have always heard the saying "love hurts" however its not usually a good term. I have always thought of it in reference to the negative side of love. Usually along the lines of love was great but then it comes to an end, and then you are left with pain. But I never really thought of it along the lines of love someone so much it hurts. But I think I am really finding out just how much that side of the phrase is just as true. Right now Peter is in school full swing. He has tests around every corner (at least one or two a week) and I am up to my eyeballs busy at work. There just is no time for "us" right now. I usually see him on the weekends, but what ends up being for a couple hours on Friday and then again on Saturday. Then its back to waiting for another 6 days for Friday night to come around again. Its really starting to get to me. Its so hard right now, and yes I know this will pass and the time will fly all too quickly and I will eventually be able to look back and chuckle at how I am behaving, but right now this is sooo hard. I cried half way home from Peter's house on Saturday night. Its only 67 more days, I know its only getting smaller too. My uncle Mike says this just will just ensure that we will still like each other when we get married. LOL Love hurts, it really does, I miss home so much that is really does hurt. *sigh* Man Im a baby LOL!

31 years

2009-09-13T21:58:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday my parents will be celebrating their 31st anniversary. They are even getting to take a trip together for the first time in their married lives. I can only hope that I can be married for that long and even longer.
Peter's mom is on her third marriage. And when I mentioned that my parents were going to celebrate their 31st anniversary she made some comment along the lines that she could not imagine being married to someone that long. There are just too many compromises, and its just too hard to get a long with a man that long. I just can't believe that someone who is a member of the church can think that way. I want nothing short of being married for 50 plus years. I mean seriously isn't that what marriage is all about? Compromises? If you have gone through life thinking you are going to get your way on everything you have been sorely misinformed. But what better person to compromise with for the sake of happiness than your eternal companion. I am not under any false pretense that marriage will be in any way easy. But I for one, am up for the challenge. I think why bother getting married if you are not in it for the long haul? When you area already planning on finding your way out, that is not a good sign.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

He proposed!

2009-08-23T12:45:00.000-05:00

Peter proposed to me yesterday and I said YES!!!!!! (although he told his mom I said no, lol) He told me were were going to take some pictures yesterday. I got all dressed up and went to his house and then he took me to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. It was soooo hot but we walked around for a bit. He was pointing out good places to take pictures and telling me how he would come there for lunch sometimes since he works in Fort Worth. We went down by this fountain, and we saw this metal sort of archway. We walked through that to this park bench and sat on that for a bit watching the people around us. Then we went back under the archway. I leaned up against one of the metal bars and told him it would be a cute picture if he did the same. So he humored me and leaned up against the other bar. Then he told me maybe it would be a good picture if I leaned up against the bar and he did this...and he got down on one knee. Bless his heart he was soooo nervous but the ring is the prettiest thing ever. I am the happiest person on the face of the earth. We are getting married in the Dallas Temple on November 20th and will have a reception on November 21st!

Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.

2009-07-28T23:32:00.001-05:00

I think that everyone in this life is in some way or another, on their own personal quest to find happiness. That is the ultimate goal isn't it? If only I could find happiness, then life will be good. Isn't that what life is all about? The eternal quest for happiness? But what exactly is happiness? Wikipedia says that happiness is this: "Happiness is emotion in which one experience feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy. This definition is, however, a synonymous one rather than one based on analytic evaluation, because of the varied and elusive nature of happiness."
But why does that have to be the case, why does happiness have to be elusive? Why isn't it just something that everyone is entitled to? I know the way the world is today it makes it hard to be happy. It seems like everything that can and will go wrong in our lives does. It seems like some days you are doing good just to make it through the day without killing anyone. This "prayer" depicts it all...

Dear God,

So far today, I've done all right. I haven't gossiped, and I haven't lost my temper. I haven't been grumpy, nasty or selfish. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed and that’s when I’m going to need a lot of help. Amen

I think happiness has to be something we choose. No matter what our circumstances, we have to choose to be happy. Life throws many things at us, but whether we stumble and fall is not what matters. If we fall down 16 times we just have to get up one more time than we fall. I think many of us these days have a hard time remembering what we have to be thankful for. I have struggled with this concept for a large portion of my life, it’s really easy to only see all the negatives in life and forget to look to the positive. Life is good! I can honestly say I am happier now that I have ever been. I have so many people who love me and so many things that I have to be grateful for. I am making good choices and doing what I am supposed to, and I can see the blessings in that. Happiness is a choice and I for one am going to choose to be happy!

So Lucky

2009-07-26T00:42:00.001-05:00

The last few months have been a whirlwind for me. Life has been so incredibly great over the past few months and it only looks to get better. Peter has made me the happiest person on earth, and I am so happy he has come into my life. Jason Mraz has this new song out that is called Lucky. I love it, because that is exactly how I feel. LUCKY!

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

So true

2009-07-18T10:14:00.000-05:00

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately: illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida. Not me, I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.
+ Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
+ Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees.
+ Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?
Yes! Think about this one:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

C O W S
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq . Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

T H E 1 0 C O M M A N D M E N T S
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment.

Dead and Gone

2009-07-16T22:38:00.002-05:00

That is the best way to describe my lawn. The 100 plus temps have been so bad it is just sucking the life out of my lawn. My dogs were home for 13 hours today because I went to work and then over to Peters house. I have a dog door so they can go out, but they wont eat or anything while Im gone. So when I got home i started watering my ever so dead lawn cause daisy loves to chase the water. She inhaled a few gallons chasing the hose but she had a good time!

Isn't the lawn awful? lol

Even the leaves on my new tree are all fried

She soaked me!

Economy

2009-07-11T00:53:00.001-05:00

The economy is so bad - -

1. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

2. CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

3. Hot wheels and Matchbox cars are now trading higher than GM cars.

4. McDonalds is selling the 1/4 - ouncer.

5. People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their
children's names.

6. The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.

7.. People in Africa are donating money to Americans.

8. Motel Six won't leave the light on.

9. The Mafia is laying off judges.

10. When the bank returns your check marked "insufficient funds" you
have to call and ask if they meant you or them.

A journey to happiness

2009-07-05T20:28:00.003-05:00

I often look through my journal from when I attended Ricks college. I wrote in my journal every day when I was there about how I wanted to fall in love and get married. I took an eternal marriage class, and I took a family prep class so it was easily on my mind. But looking back at it now, I was no where near ready for marriage then. I have been through so much who has gotten me to where I am. I was such a different person when it comes to relationships. But all of my past relationships have gotten me to where I am now. A person who is capable of love, something I wasn't even a few short years ago. Anyone who knew me, knew I hated pet names, I hated holding hands, I hated cuddling I hated anything a person who wants to be in love should like. It took time for me. Past relationships to open my heart and teach me things, so that when the right one came along I would be ready.
Without all this previous preparation I wouldn't be where I am today. With the man of my dreams who makes me happier than I have ever been. He sent me an email yesterday that was the sweetest thing ever. He said " I love to see you smile as much as I like making you smile and that is all I ever want to do. I know that life is never simple or that a relationship is not all smiles, but when I am with you that is how I want to make it. You compliment me in ways that I can't even describe like a glove to a hand or a warm blanket in wintertime....it just feel right. I want to be apart of your life, I want a family with you and I want to do anything I can that would make that happen. All I want is for you to be happy and I am willing to try and do everything within my power to fill your life with the joy and happiness you deserve. You mean the world to me you make me very happy I just wanted you to know that."
He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, I am so glad that I found him.

Flaws and All

2009-06-22T23:26:00.001-05:00

Who is more critical of us than ourselves?

Nobody.

We all have flaws.

Some of us may have a birthmark in an obvious place. (I know I did, I had it removed lol) Some of us may tend to be too needy. Some of us may nag or become too unkind when the pressure of our daily lives starts to close in on us.

Some of us may have habits that annoy some and are cute to others.

Some of us may be overweight. Some of us may be too short. Some may be too flat chested. Some of us may have body parts that don't quite look right.

We all have flaws; be it physical or in our personalities. Nobody is perfect. We are human.

I am not a girl who like cliches.

One cliche that bothers me is Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder. I get it. I get the point of this saying.

But it still bothers me.

The most insecure people I have ever met are the most attractive people. Why is that? If they are already seen as beautiful by most, then why are they the ones constantly seeking positive reinforcement?

It's because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But for true beauty to exist, the eye of the beholder must be our own eyes.

In other words, if we don't find ourselves attractive, if we aren't comfortable with who we are, if we don't love ourselves; nobody else will or if they do, it won't be for long.

I sit here late at night with my thoughts and ask myself questions. Questions like... why am I 29 and not married. Or why have my past relationships not worked out?

For years, I wrestled with these thoughts.

The answer does not deserve as much reflection as I give it.

The answer is simple.

Accept myself.

I am flawed.

Whoever decides to love me is flawed.

Work on those flaws but don't let those flaws dictate my actions and words.

Don't try to change someone else.

And finally, be kind to myself.

Who is more critical of ourselves more than us?

Nobody.

And that is a shame.

Beyonce has this song out Called Flaws and All. Its so beautiful, I love it.

Flaws and All

I don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
You catch me when I fall
Accept me, flaws and all
And that's why I love you- Beyonce, Flaws and All

That is what I think of when I think of Peter. He loves me flaws and all. The last guy I tried to date, was a decent guy. But he told me that I had all the qualities of a person he would like to marry however he only had dated petite girls and he thought he would have a problem with me being the way i am. He make me question myself, but above all I know this is who I was. And no matter what if I changed it would have to be for myself, if i changed for him I would only hold it against him later. Ultimately I knew that I would never be what he wanted, and being what he wanted would never make me happy.

Then I met Peter. Never once have I ever had to try and be something that I am not with him. I don't have to try and act smarter than I am (cause he knows I saw some extremely dumb things, A LOT!) I don't have a dress a certain way or say or do a certain thing. Peter loves me just the way I am, and he doesn't hesitate to let me know this each and every single day. I don't know why he loves me, and I may never understand, but he loves me flaws and all.

Beyonce - Flaws And All Live (Official Music Video) - Funny videos are here

Im totally slacking but life is good

2009-06-10T22:03:00.005-05:00

I just haven't had much motivation to blog lately. I don't have much to blog about. Things have been going really well in my life lately. Work is starting to get much better. We hired a new nurse who started this past Monday so im in the process of showing her a few ropes and then she will take over on the CBA program (the one for the elderly) and I will get the CLASS program which is mostly kids. I have a lot of work to do in the program, but now I can devote all my time and energy towards getting that done.
Things with Peter are going amazing! He is the most incredible guy, and I count myself lucky every day that he found his way into my life. I am absolutely in love with him, and enjoy every minute we get to spend together. He is so fun and Witty and he ALWAYS makes me laugh. I can act like a complete idiot (and trust me I do this often) and he still makes me feel like the smartest person in the room. I got to meet his sister Laura last weekend. Its his only sibling, she is 29 like me, and is married and lives in Austin. She was great to meet, even though she didn't know much about me, she welcomed me with a hug the second she met me. She had lots of questions about who I am and what i do, how I met Peter, etc etc. She said it was all the things a sister should know.
So things are amazing. I am extremely happy. My boss commented that I have been smiling so much more at work. And she realizes how much less stressed I am right now. Funny side note, the new nurse Amy and I realized today that Peters dad used to be her boss at Children's ICU a little over 2 years ago. What a small world! We made that connection when she just so happened to ask what Peters last name was today on our way home from a visit. Mohat is not really a common last name.

Trip to Seaworld

2009-05-31T22:35:00.002-05:00

I went to Austin this weekend with Peter and we got to go to Sea World. That is one of my most favorite places to go, I am just in awe of the trainers and the relationships they have with these animals. I think the trainers of the killer whales have the most amazing job in the entire universe. But anywho here are some of the pics, it was very hot, and I was kinda melting all day so u can tell which pics where taken towards the end of the day by just watching my hair.

This gave me chills

2009-05-28T17:55:00.001-05:00

I was reading Britani Hill's blog and she had this video posted. Wow I love these songs and I love John Schmidt, talk about amazing! Gave me chills!!!

Lauralee's Locks of Love

2009-05-26T22:30:00.000-05:00

I love having lauralee in town. Its great to have a family member in the hair business cause I love to have my hair done, and she does a fabulous job. We lightened the overall color a bit last week and today she did blonde highlights and cut it a bit to give it some shape. I took a few pics so u could see.

Things got little bit hairy for a bit

I was supposed to look like I was yawning since macie said I looked like I just woke up

The finished product

My wonderful weekend.

2009-05-25T21:52:00.000-05:00

This has been a wonderful weekend for me. Things with Peter and I are progressing quite nicely and he even told me he loved me. *grin* He makes me beyond happy and I love him and all the time we get to spend together. Today we went with my family to Arbuckle Wilderness in Davis, Oklahoma. Its a drive through animal park. We had a really good time. Here are a few pictures.

This was at the mall on Saturday

Peter is such a good sport, i told him to put on girls glasses and he did

Peter chillin in the car

I was trying to take a pic, Peter was trying to sneak a kiss

Last one I swear lol

Camden was ready to see the animals

The warning in front of the wolves

The animals were very friendly

The donkeys made the best faces

Fish faces while riding the rhino's horn

Don't leave me in charge

2009-05-23T01:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday at work the majority of the people in my office had gone to Abilene for some training at one of our other clinics. When I say most of the people its because we had 7, last friday two people were fired so we are down to 5. So 3 of those 5 were gone for training. My other coworker was going out of town this weekend to see her son in Lubbock and I knew traffic was going to be horrible so I sent her packing at 2 to fight the traffic. So there I was the only one in the office for 3 hours. I was answering the phones while I was doing some work on the computer. I was very productive I might add.
When it came time to go home I was supposed to transfer our phones to the answering service we use. This was something I had never done before (our secretary used to do it, but she is one of the ones that got the ax) so there were instructions for me to do it. I was to push *72 and then dial this 866 number and tell them I was transferring the phones. So I dialed the *72, hung up and then called the 866 number. I wanted to make sure I had done it right, so I called the office from my cell. It didn't work. So I tried again. *72 this time I dialed the 866 number right after. Only some how I misdialed the number and got a recording for a phone sex line. Of course I freaked out and immediatly hung the phone up. So I tried again *72, only this time it wouldn't let me do it, it just beeped at me. So I dialed the number, and low and behold I had actually transfered our phone calls to a phone sex line. LOL I had to hurry and undo the transfer and then redo it and ensured that this time I had done it correctly. Can you imagine if I had not checked to make sure I did it right? Its a 3 day weekend! That is a lot of calls that could come in that were going to be redirected to my special number. I called my boss to tell her what I had done, and she laughed and said only the nurse would do something like that. She said im sure its a service our clients could use, but we shouldn't exactly force it upon them. LOL

Moral of the story, don't leave me in charge!

I stayed home sick today

2009-05-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

Uh oh… I think that I might be suffering from the mythical and elusive Swine Flu. I awoke this morning feeling somewhat poorly, and a quick inventory of my body revealed the presence of the following symptoms:

Hamnesia

Porkinson’s Disease

Hogwarts

Low BLT-cell count

Swilling and Tenderness

Difficulty Wallowing

Apigpendicitis

Pork Rhinitis

Tender Loins

Epstein-Barbeque Syndrome

Hogular Migraine

Extreme Boardom

Cloven Hoof and Mouth Disease

A Honey Glazed Expression

Swollen Limbaughs

If you experience any of the above symptoms, I encourage you to drink an entire bottle of Nysqueal and seek the help of an oinkologist immediately!

UPDATE: Whew! It turns out that I was only suffering from a mild stomach bug and lack of sleep… Thank Goodness! It was merely a case of “whine flu.” Nevertheless, if you suspect that you have contracted the deadly Swine Flu, don’t panic. You may already be “cured!”

Lets talk about love (post revisited)

2009-05-10T14:15:00.001-05:00

Its been 7 months since I first visited this topic. Since then the concept of love has been weighing on my mind. First off it was in the form of why don't I blog like I used to. I of course blame the shift in my working schedule. I'm no longer up til 4am, at least, every night, so I'm not up all night thinking. But I also wonder if it had anything to do with my happiness. Ive been hurt a few times this year. One time more severely than the other, but each time I learn and I grow. Ive been hurt, and hurt bad but I'm beginning to thing that I love love. Its not something I would ever call myself an expert at, but Ive had a taste, and I want more. It's a wondrous thing. It's a cure-all. Add a little love to your life and everything else just seems to fall into place. Even if every other aspect of your life sucks, having someone to hold onto, to tell you everything will be ok, makes everything better. I think it's time to let it take over again. Let it rule. Im not writing this to confess that I am in fact IN LOVE, but I am happy. I am very content, so consequently it has me wondering. As time goes by, I find myself unable to trust more and more people, I fear pain that lack of love or the loss of love brings. But I figure, the joy of having love, far outweighs the fear of losing it.

There are many different kinds of love. I love my family and I love my friends, but there is just something about having that one person who gets you, and loves you unconditionally. They put up with all those crazy things you do or say that makes you the wacky person that you are. I have decided that true loneliness exists when you have lost love. I used to be fine being single, but all that seemed to change after finally falling in love. What is it about love, that makes being single, feel so wrong?

Having that one person in your life who is your biggest fan is very fulfilling. I love my family and friends, but they will always be there no matter what (at least I hope they will). It's at least partially due to obligation. Finding someone else in the universe who can't bear to be only your friend and has to have the whole you and is willing to still give you everything that your family and friends give you and so much more is the essential (and difficult) part. I have been fortunate enough to have experienced such love in my life and once I had my taste of it, I am finding it more and more difficult to imagine life without it. Love can kill you, but love can bring you right back to life, too. Love is just too good to pass up. Too good to ignore. Why resist it? Just enjoy it while it lasts and do your best to make it do just that. And if you can't make it last, at least make sure it's not your last one. And hopefully learn from your past mistakes. Do love wrong and the only way to get it back on your side is to take care of it better in the future.

A lot of people wonder why love isn't working for them, but too many people don't do enough work on it themselves. Sure, you might get lucky and stumble upon it, but you have to put in a little effort if you want to keep it going strong. You've simply got to put in the work if you want it to work for you. People, like myself, spend so much time finding reasons not to love, that they miss out on something wonderful right there in front of them. They scare themselves out of it. I have seen it, and done it myself. Or sometimes people start second guessing themselves (myself included) and freak themselves out thinking about why someone loves them instead of just embracing it and enjoying it. A lot of people surely rush into love. That happens all the time. I've seen that, too. But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about those instances where someone you know truly loves someone and they don't even know it. Or they don't see how much someone truly loves them. Or they won't let themselves get past a certain point. They even almost see it themselves. It's right there. It's so close, but they just can't close the deal, because they're scared or they're just not sure. My advice, and this is only advice as it is something I have had to come to terms with myself, its to trust yourself. Don't worry about putting a time frame on love, love knows no rules or boundaries. You know if something feels right, you don't need someone else to tell you its love. You just know. Its a great feeling, so why fight it? This world would be a whole lot better if we all had somebody to love and who loved us back. For that is the greatest gift of all. I hope that one day, I might have the joy that is love back in my life. And this time to stay.

Swine Flu's Gunna get you

2009-05-06T23:13:00.001-05:00

In the U.S., more than 30,000 people die every year from the flu.

More than 30,000.

In America, two people so far has died from the swine flu.

One person had been treated in Mexico, only coming to the States toward the end. When it was too late. The other the say had lots of undisclosed medical conditions.

Yet people are in a panic. Joe Biden is telling his family to stay off subways. U.S. officials are saying "There WILL be deaths." People are washing their hands compulsively and staying away from movie theaters and stadiums. I've even heard people say they wouldn't eat at a Mexican restaurant right now.

It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not.

If you have flu symptoms, go to a doctor. Get treated. It's that simple. Don't stop eating pork because someone 'twittered' the untrue rumor that you can get it that way. Don't go out and invest in a surgical mask. Don't cancel your vacation to Florida because Biden said we should avoid airplanes. Just calm down.

It doesn't help that every day you login to read the dramatic media coverage of events. "The U.S. has 68 confirmed cases in five states," the Associated Press reported Tuesday. 45 of those are in New York.

Uh-oh. Better cancel that trip to New York. And if you encounter anyone who has been to New York, walk away immediately. Stop shaking people's hands, start carrying antibacterial hand gel around with you everywhere you go. In short, live your life in fear.

I'm curious just how many cases of REGULAR flu are out there right now. In the U.S., it has to be more than 68. In fact, last year REGULAR flu killed 83 children and 36,000 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That's 306 deaths a month. That's around ten deaths a DAY.

Got your antibacterial soap now?

Your likelihood of dying in a car accident is much greater than your likelihood of dying from the swine flu. In fact, it is estimated 115 people die in car crashes EVERY DAY. So if you cancel your plans tonight and stay home, THAT should be your reason. Not your fear of catching this flu.

Don't blame the media. They prey on your fears. Your fears lead you to buy a paper or tune into the evening news. They're just giving you what you want.

Don't blame the government. They HAVE to be prepared and they HAVE to inform. If they wrote the swine flu off as no big deal and massive amounts of people died from it, they'd be held liable.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be informed and be careful. Certainly, you should. But should you barricade yourself in your house and refuse to let your children to go to school because of it?

I don't think so.

When will I learn?

2009-04-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

I own my own house. If I don't do things around my yard, they either won't get done or I guess I can pay someone to do it. So for some reason I tend to forget that I have a bad allergy to fire ants and I always try and do things outside. I either walk outside with no shoes or only flip flops not thinking. Or like today I was trying to use my pooper scooper to pick up a piece of chicken daisy had left in the backyard. It was covered in ants but I just was scooping it up and sticking it in a plastic bag. But those little buggers are quick. They climbed up the handle of the scooper and invaded my hands in a matter of seconds. I currently have 4 bites, 3 on my right hand and one on my left thumb. I put bleach all over my hands but they are still swelling some. It just neutralizes the venom if they are fire ants. I hate those stupid ants. They make my life miserable! Now I just wait, and hope the swelling stops soon.

Chick Fil A

2009-04-30T16:31:00.001-05:00

LOL he and I think a lot a like.

Twlight

2009-04-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

My heart hurts

2009-04-28T22:06:00.000-05:00

I got an email from a old coworker yesterday that worked with me at Medical City. She knew I had taken care of this little girl many many times over the 3 years that I worked there. She was someone that would stand out to anyone. Partly because of her medical condition, she was so young and had a trach. She would be left alone all the time, over night and everything. She was only 6 when I started taking care of her. She had a hard time sleeping alone, she always wanted me in the room with her, and she would have me sit by her and she would rub my rubber gloves til she could fall asleep. As she got older, she got more ok with being alone. By the time she was 8, she was so used to being neglected that it didn't even phase her to sleep alone in her room at night. What did bother her was that her parents would put her in diapers everytime she went into the hospital. They didn't like dealing with her going the bathroom, when she was hooked up to an iv and such, the little time they were there. Well I found out from this coworker that she has been in the PICU for quite a while with pneumonia. I guess she isn't getting better, she is on a ventalator and her family has given up on her. They have signed a DNR and they are just waiting for her to pass or they will take her off the vent and basically just pull the plug. They don't care about their child. They always made excuses when it come to being there for her. Her mom actually said she couldn't come to the hospital because she was dusting. They don't care and they have given up. And now the sweetest little 9 year old girl is going to die. It just breaks my heart.

For those who asked

2009-04-19T19:46:00.002-05:00

Yes I did go on my date with Peter on Friday. We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then over to the grapevine mills mall which was closed except for a few things. So we just walked around and talked. Then we just went in my car and sat with music on and talked and laughed. It was so much fun. I kept saying we should probably go home but neither of us wanted to leave, so it was 230am before we finally said goodbye and went home. Then Saturday I went to lunch with Holli and BJ's before she had to leave to go home. I chatted with Peter on instant message on my phone for most the day and we decided that we were going to do get together again that night. So after going back and forth he decided he would make the drive over to my house. He showed up and I was watching American Idol. He doesn't watch it so I had him watch Adam Lambert, but the rest he said were boring. All they did was sing ballads. LOL Then we went and grabbed a bite to eat at Grande Burrito. I was trying to ask him a word in sign language but me being my smart self asked him what it was in spanish. LOL We had a good laugh over that. Then after dinner we came back and watched the end of the Mavericks game with Melissa. After that we watched Bedtime stories and half of Seven Pounds before it got too late since he had an hour drive back home. We had a really good time! He is a really fun guy and he makes me laugh, not to mention that he laughs with me, when I have to laugh at myself for being such a retard. Anywho I made him take a few pictures with me the first night. We had a lot of fun!

We tried to ride on the little kid cars, but man I almost got stuck, no room for my legs

I took the picture before we were ready lol

Yeah I was laughing a bit much

Peter riding the bus

I got on the upper level of the bus

Chillin in the car

Peters crazy face lol

Fun night

2009-04-16T23:23:00.001-05:00

Tonight and tomorrow night my old roommate Holli is in town. She and I lived together 2 summers ago, and I truly missed her. Shew as the best roommate I have had to date. I hadn't seen her since July so it was long overdue. Her first request was to go to Jinbeh since she hadn't been in ages. We had a blast. Then we went to my moms where I got my hair all curled for my date tomorrow. Then afterward we went to Braum's and got some ice cream. Overall it was a great night, and I'm quite sad it has to end and I have to go to bed. However I have work early, but after work is my first date with Peter. So i am quite excited about that.

Photo Op at the restaurant

On the couch watching a movie

Male and Female ATM

2009-04-13T17:24:00.003-05:00

MALE VS. FEMALE AT THE ATM MACHINE

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed. Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.

MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.

2. Lower your car window.

3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.

5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.

6. Roll window up.

7. Drive off.

*******************************

FEMALE PROCEDURE:

(What is really annoying is that most of this part is the Truth.!!)

1. Drive up to cash machine.

2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.

3. Set parking brake, roll down window.

4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.

5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.

6. Attempt to insert card into machine.

7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.

8. Insert card.

9. Re-insert card the right way.

10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.

11. Enter PIN.

12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

13. Enter amount of cash required.

14. Check makeup in rear view mirror

15. Retrieve cash and receipt.

16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.

17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.

18. Re-check makeup in mirror.

19. Drive forward 2 feet.

20. Reverse back to cash machine.

21. Retrieve card.

22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!

23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you. (absolute must)

24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.

25. Redial person on cell phone.

26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.

27. Release Parking Brake.

Love at first sniff?

2009-04-11T22:47:00.003-05:00

I was browsing through an article that was written by the writers at eharmony but I saw it referenced on another site and it really caught my eye. I am a person who is very big on smell. I have to shower before I do anything, I always like scented lotions, deodorants, perfumes. I am just big on smell and very keen on what smells good. I always joked that a good smelling cologne could make the uglist person look attractive.

Love at first sight. It's one of our most popular romantic fantasies, idealized in movies, books and music. But what about love at first sniff? Scientists have been researching this phenomenon for decades and are discovering that when it comes to finding that special someone, your nose, not your eyes, may be your most powerful guide.

The T-shirt Test

According to the folks in white coats, the clues to true love may be lurking as close as your laundry basket -- specifically in your sweaty T-shirts, guys. In a 1995 research study, several men were asked to wear the same T-shirt for two days in a row, and then those stinky Tees were submitted to unsuspecting females for a sniff test. The women were then asked which shirts smelled best to them, and, using the scent receptors in their brains, most chose the sweaty aromas of the guys whose DNA was least like theirs.

But not all of the DNA. Just the tiny but important parts that help people's immune systems fight disease by spotting which cells are friendly and which are hostile or infected. Like bloodhounds, the study suggests we can sniff out partners whose genetic makeup is more varied than ours, so we can breed stronger, better humans.

Animal Attraction

Animals have demonstrated this behavior for centuries. Dogs sniff one another's rear ends not only to say hello, but to gather as much information as they can about a strange, new pooch from the odors it emits. Just by sniffing, they can tell if the fellow canine is happy or unhappy, healthy or unhealthy, friend or foe. In fact, a 2006 study showed that dogs can detect deadly diseases such as cancer even on humans. Using five dogs of different breeds, research scientists found that their noses were so sensitive, they could identify breast and lung cancer on patients with an accuracy of 88 to 97 percent -- just by nuzzling them.

Using their highly developed vomeronasal, or Jacobson's, organ, which lies between the nose and mouth, animals can also smell when members of the opposite sex are angry, excited or amorous -- and in the mood for love. That's because animals are believed to release pheromones, or odorless chemicals, into the air conveying multiple pieces of information about their mood, fitness and status, to others within reach. Those chemicals also help them find the healthiest and most suitable mates -- the ones who can best continue the species, or star in blockbuster films. ('Beverly Hills Chihuahua,' anyone?) Odor even helps them recognize their fellow pack-members.

Love Potions

Love isn't in the air just for canines. Ever since human pheromones were discovered in subjects' underarms in 1986, perfume companies have been trying to whip up chemical love potions guaranteed to spark attraction in hopes of big profits. But so far, no such luck!

You can't blame them for trying. After all, women of child-bearing age rated a pleasing aroma at the top of their romantic wish list. In a 2002 survey conducted by researcher Rachel S. Herz, ladies ranked a "man's smell" to be more important than "looks," "voice" or even "how his skin feels." For you discouraged guys who think women are only attracted to flashy cars and high-powered careers, here's some more good news: the study indicated a man's scent was even more important to a woman than "money" or "ambition." In contrast, the results also revealed that guys judged "how a woman looks" along with a "pleasant" personality as their top criteria for choosing a mate.

Why women are crabby

2009-04-10T15:07:00.002-05:00

We started to 'bud' in our blouses at 9 or 10 years old only to find that anything that came in contact with those tender, blooming buds hurt so bad it brought us to tears. So came the ridiculously uncomfortable training bra contraption that the boys in school would snap until we had calluses on our backs.

Next, we get our periods in our early to mid-teens (or sooner). Along with those budding boobs, we bloated, we cramped, we got the hormone crankies, had to wear little mattresses between our legs or insert tubular, packed cotton rods in places we didn't even know we had.

Our next little rite of passage was having sex for the first time which was about as much fun as having a ramrod push your uterus through your nostrils (IF he did it right and didn't end up with his little cart before his horse), leaving us to wonder what all the fuss was about.

Then it was off to Motherhood where we learned to live on dry crackers and water for a few months so we didn't spend the entire day leaning over Brother John . Of course, amazing creatures that we are (and we are), we learned to live with the growing little angels inside us steadily kicking our innards night and day making us wonder if we were preparing to have
Rosemary's Baby.

Our once flat bellies looked like we swallowed a whole watermelon and we pee'd our pants every time we sneezed. When the big moment arrived, the dam in our blessed Nether Regions invariably burst right in the middle of the mall and we had to waddle, with our big cartoon feet, moaning in pain all the way to the ER.

Then it was huff and puff and beg to die while the OB says, 'Please stop screaming, Mrs. Hearmeroar Calm down and push. 'Just one more good push' (more like 10), warranting a strong, well-deserved impulse to punch the %$#*@*#!* hubby and doctor square in the nose for making us cram a wiggling, mushroom-headed 10 pound bowling ball through a keyhole.

After that, it was time to raise those angels only to find that when all that 'cute' wears off, the beautiful little darlings morphed into walking, jabbering, wet, gooey, snot-blowing, life-sucking little poop machines.

Then come their 'Teen Years.' Need I say more?

When the kids are almost grown, we women hit our voracious sexual prime in our early 40's - while hubby had his somewhere around his 18th birthday.

So we progress into the grand finale: 'The Menopause', the Grandmother of all womanhood. It's either take HRT and chance cancer in those now seasoned 'buds' or the aforementioned Nether Regions, or, sweat like a hog in July, wash your sheets and pillowcases daily and bite the head off
anything that moves.

Now, you ask WHY women seem to be more spiteful than men, when men get off so easy, INCLUDING the icing on life's cake: Being able to pee in the woods without soaking their socks...

So, while I love being a woman, 'Womanhood' would make the Great Gandhi a tad crabby. You think women are the 'weaker sex'? Yeah right. Bite me.

Smart Dogs

2009-04-09T22:18:00.002-05:00

Amy found my dads Clark Kent classes that he used for Halloween a few years ago and decided to play dress up with the dogs. Very silly!

Night at the movies

2009-04-07T23:06:00.000-05:00

1. Japanese dinner at Shoguns $25 bucks
2. Admission to the movies $12
3. Box of candy at the movies $3.50
4. 3D movie with friends and feeling like a kid again.....

Priceless!

Our cool 3D shades!

My new door

2009-04-06T21:00:00.002-05:00

My new back door has finally arrived! My poor mom has been watching my dogs during the week since January when I started my new job because I refuse to leave them all day without being able to be taken out to go the bathroom. The door set me back $250 bucks, and then the dog door was $100 bucks, new molding was $16 bucks. And after all that they wanted $200 bucks to install the darn thing. So I convinced my poor dad to put it in. He spent about 2 1/2 hours working on it on Friday. Only problem was he thought he could just chisel out spots for the hinges and use the old frame. 2 hours later he found out it wasn't really working. So another half hour to clean up the mess only to have to return on Saturday.
On Saturday David and my dad returned at 11 am, and they finally left at 5 after one hour break to go get some more supplies. My poor dad worked hard, but he finally got the door in. It needs a bit of tweaking to fix a few cracks in the molding, but Im very proud of him. For not being so handy he did a great job!

Too bad Cooper is scared to use it ever since the flap got installed

But Daisy seems to love it, I have to limit how many times she uses it, otherwise she goes in and out a million times.

It has opened my eyes

2009-04-04T14:17:00.002-05:00

Working at my job has enabled me to come in contact with people from all walks of life. However its the ones that have just found themselves in horrible situations in life and it just makes my heart ache. I have been extremely busy at work the past few days. We have a tons of new clients coming into our CBA program (community based alternatives). Its a program that is meant to keep people out of the nursing homes and if it is possible with some assistance let them live on their own. I have gone and visited several nursing homes to go visit a client and its just heart breaking to see all the people in there, listening to them yelling out for help or just rolling around aimlessly in their wheelchairs. But any who, I digress...I went to visit this woman the other day who is only 35 years old. She has kidney failure and is on dialysis, however she broke her foot two years ago and so she was taken to the hospital. Well she had been living with her mom prior to this however her mom was in the hospital at the same time so when they went to discharge her, there was no one home. So the hospital had her admitted to a nursing home, and that is where she has been for the past 2 years. She is 35 years old, she doesn't belong in a nursing home!
And another gentleman I went to go visit yesterday is 40 years old and he has been a quadriplegic since he was 14 when he went cliff diving off lake grapevine. He seems to be a highly functioning quad and does a lot of things for himself. He had been living with his aunt however one day his uncle told him he need to exterminate the house so he said he was going to take him for a drive and next thing he knew he was being dumped off at a nursing home, and his family never looked back. He has been there for 3 years. He is all there mentally, and he gets around anywhere he wants in his electric wheelchair. He just needs a little assistance from someone and he could live by himself. So with the help of the state program I can help get this guy out of the nursing home and let him live in his own apartment. Its just sad to see what people are put through. I don't see how a family can do that. Sure it make not be easy to take care of a loved one, but its not easy for them to be disabled and unable to take care of themselves. I just don't get it.

So mean!

2009-04-01T21:39:00.002-05:00

So this morning we had our usual Wednesday morning staff meeting. And just as soon as we sit down, the secretary rings back on my bosses phone and says that BJ our business manager is on the phone. So we all have to get up and leave her office while she talks to him. Then a few minutes later we go back into her office to start out meeting. She starts of by reminding us of the visit we are expecting from BJ the cooperate business manager and Carlos the vice president of our company. We have all been curious as to the reasoning for them coming. So she lets us know that the reason BJ called was to let us know that the reason they were coming was that our office has not been doing good, we are not improving enough for them, and not increasing in our numbers of patients. Our boss told us that the business manager is ALL about numbers and he doesn't care that we have pending patients all he sees are the numbers we have now. We are all in shock by now, and you can see everyones mind is racing. I am thinking that I am going to have to end up going back to the hospital, and all the while our boss continues on with our Wednesday staff meeting. She said she was going to give us the opportunity to vent about the situation at the end of the meeting. And as she talks to us my coworkers go on and on about how wrong this is for them to do this to us. And how hard we have been working. And then she says its ok for us to go back to work. And right as we get up to leave she goes oh, by the way... April Fools.

Fun with friends

2009-03-24T16:55:00.003-05:00

There are just not words enough to write about the need for friends. Life would just be incomplete without those who we consider our near and dear friends. Sometimes its not always what they do for you specifically, but the give and take you give each other. Knowing that you can count on each other, and be there when its truly needed. I don't have recent pictures with all my friends, and there are many that could be pictured, this weekend I was able to go visit my friend Monica and we both happened to be wearing our matching shirts she made for us at Christmas time. It was quite comical because we looked like little kids matching. But we laughed it off, and decided to take pictures to honor our event.

"A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else."

"A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself."

The outdated system of writing checks

2009-03-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I was waiting in line to pay for my new back door at Lowe's the other night. I was waiting in the only line with a cashier, and I was quite anxious to leave as Lowe's is not exactly a store I care to spend great time in. I get up to the line and there is only one gentleman in front of me, however this man is not paying in the simple cash or charge version, he is using the now seeminly outdated Check system. It made me think of a blog that Ellen Degeneres wrote and I may have shared this before, but it makes me chuckle every time.

"I went to the grocery store this weekend to buy some sundries, and something horrific happened. I got caught in line behind a woman who paid with a check. That's pure torture. I thought I was on "Punk'd." Who pays with a check anymore? I never do. I only use my American Express card. (wink) Writing out a check could not take longer. First of all, they don't even get the checkbook out until everything's bagged. Then they have to look at the driver's license, get a manager's approval, stamp it, put it in the special drawer... sacrifice a goat. It takes forever. Then they take out their register and balance their checkbook before they leave. "Let's see, carry the one, take away the nine, add the four..." Even when I used checks, I didn't record them. I just waited for them to bounce and then I knew how much I spent. And if you make a mistake, then you have to void it and start over, or put your initials on it to make it "legal." Is that really legal? How do they know who wrote the initials? It's just two capital letters. Unless you're Prince. Then it's just the one; "P." Maybe that's why he changed his name to that symbol for a while. Harder to forge. I'll bet he has purple checks... with rain on them. Purple Rain checks. Some people take the time to write in the "memo" line. That's so when they get their canceled checks back, they can remember what they were for. "To the LAPD. LAPD? What's this for? (look down to memo line) Ah, yes... bail. Lucky there's that memo line. I thought it was a reminder section. Like, if you write a check to your plumber. In the memo section you can put, "Remember to wear a belt next time you fix my sink."

Britney's controversal song

2009-03-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

It was a Monday evening. Approximate time? 7:30 p.m. I was on my way home from the grocery store when Britney Spears' new song came on the radio. I loved it...although I found it odd. Who is this Amy person and why is Britney so anxious about her? Is it a lesbian thing? Or is Amy going to kick her butt?

Oh, who cared? I liked the song so I downloaded it to my computer and put it on my MySpace. I must have listened to the song 25 or more times between Monday and Wednesday night. Wednesday night, I was surfing around, looking for something else, when I read a mention of Britney's controversial new song.

Controversial? Why? Maybe THIS was the key to why the song made no sense to me.

The song, If U Seek Amy, the posted the video below (hoping it doesn't become obsolete by the end of the day). Parents are calling for it not to be played during the time kids might be listening because kids will somehow be corrupted by hearing this song?

No, they won't. Unless you TELL them it's controversial.

You'll figure it out now that I've told you there's a message here but hearing it fresh, who sits and pieces together that something like this is dirty? The lyrics go: "All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to If You Seek Amy."

Think about it a second. I'll wait...

Of course, it's all over for the Britney song now. Parents are freaking out, the press is all over it, and word is spreading like wildfire in every elementary school this side of the border. Britney's song will, of course, be a huge hit because everyone will have to hear it. Everyone will have to see the video too, because of Britney's ample bosom, not to mention all of the boys and all of the girls begging to If You See K- Britney.

Got it yet?

Here's the video. You know you wanna watch! Its such a catchy song, why did everyone have to ruin it for me by telling me what her hidden message was?

What kind of woman are you?

2009-03-19T19:40:00.002-05:00

Lovely Lady

You are lovely and caring. You help others and spread out a lot of sympathy. Your life aim maybe is to serve the people. But your weakness is that you forget about yourself, your own needs. All your time is hold back for your friends and family. You are always there for people in trouble. Ready for any emergency. You make a lot of sacrifices just to be a good human. But every woman has her needs, her longings and a destiny. Don't lose yourself in work or curing other people's souls. You will have your own problems in your life. Another problem is that you don't say your opinion when it's right and important to say it. People trample onto your soul if you are always so kind and lovely and helpful. They will play on you. Though you should try to relax more and enjoy your life, you should not lose the gift that was given to you to help others . Not everyone is created this way... You are unique and rare!

Life update

2009-03-17T16:37:00.001-05:00

So many things have been going on in my life, but none I found warranted their own blog, so I just thought I would write sort of an update on things so far.
So I was offered that position with my company to be the director of nursing however after cooperate reviewed the information and checked with the states requirements they couldn't give me that position due to the fact that I have never been a charge nurse. And apparently the position is also an alternate administrator in case our administrator was gone for any reason. So im going to continue with the job that I have and they are going to continue to look for a person for that position. If for some reason they don't find a person to fill that position, after I have been here for a year then I am eligible. So far I have been here 2 months, so that's a ways away lol.
On the 7th I got to go to a mavericks game with my roommate Melissa which was a lot of fun. They played the Washington Wizards and the mavs creamed them. LOL

Then this last Sunday my friend Kristen was in town. She moved away several years ago and then got married and so its been ages since I have seen her. But we got together for dinner at her friends house and she cooked dinner for us. Then we played some guitar hero world tour on her friends boyfriends giant projector screen and then everyone played some pool. It was a blast. Then last night we all went and had dinner at my favorite Japanese place, yes its Jinbeh shocker I know, and then went and saw the movie Taken. That movie was amazing its like a combination of 24 and Alias, both of which I love, so the show was a real hit with me.

I have an addiction

2009-03-16T23:34:00.003-05:00

Hi, My name is Rachel and I have an addiction. It has been 5 hours and 20 minutes since I last placed guitar hero. I know sad huh? Its a game, a game I never thought I would be any good at, so I never played. I would watch other play for hours but never once decided to participate...
Many people have spent hours playing guitar hero. People host guitar hero parties. They opt to stay in drink and play the game with their friends instead of going out to the bars. Why the addiction? How does one know when they are addicted?

Every unsuspecting person picks up that controller and starts playing that song. Green, blue, red, yellow. The colors scroll along and your hands learn the natural process of playing along. You feel pride when you get star power and the crowd cheers. You're secretly disappointed in yourself when you fair and the crowd boos you. It just adds insult to injuries.

It started off innocently enough. You were just playing with some friends or family. Just having a fun night in. That's how it started for me 4 weeks ago. And now it seems as though I can't get enough. I want to beat more songs and get a higher score, and I find myself wanted to do that than anything else I could possibly do. Its just so much fun, and I have gotten good at it which makes it all the more fun. I think those years of playing the piano back in the day might help with it some. But who knows, all I know is where I stand, my name is Rachel and im a guitar hero addict.

My first time with a perfect song

Not too bad of a note streak.

Im almost licenced to play with dummies

2009-03-15T00:31:00.002-05:00

After 8 hours of videos, questions and fun I am more than half way done with my training to become a CPR instructor. So far all it has cost my company was $400. Funny thing is, that is all I thought it was going to cost. But I guess I was wrong. Just those silly little cards that have to be given out are $4 bucks EACH, then I need manikins, face mask, student manuals, dvd's to show that are $100 bucks a pop. The money just never stops lol.
Thankfully the long 8 hours were made a lot easier to pass considering that the guy teaching my class was very good looking and he smelled yummy. The fact that I was 2 years older than him and he had a one month old, was not relevant.

How not to do two man CPR

All I have left now is a 2-4 hour computer program to teach you have to be a good instructor then I have a two hour test out. Fun huh? The sad part is I will have to pay $150 bucks every two years to renew. But hey at least thats one more thing I can add to my "skillz"

Bitter Sweet

2009-03-11T22:13:00.004-05:00

So my cousin that I blogged about here text me today to tell me that he got engaged. This girl he started dating a little over 4 months ago, who is a year younger than me, which makes her 5 years older than him. While I am beyond happy for him, it just feel"s like I should start singing "Another one bites the dust." I told my Aunt Cindy that it makes me feel like an old loser lol, she told me to join the club. So as I am reading this information via text I was on my way to a clients home and I was listening to my new Kelly Clarkson CD and the song Ready just happened to be playing and the line that says "Im ready now oh I'm ready now Oh I'm ready now come get me" All I could think was THAT'S RIGHT! LOL Blah

This made me laugh

2009-03-10T15:21:00.000-05:00

Because I'm a man,
when I lock my keys in the car I will fiddle with a wire long after hypothermia has set in.

Because I'm a man,
when the car isn't running very well, I will pop the hood and stare at the engine as if I know what I'm looking at. If another man shows up, one of us will say to the other, "I used to be able to fix these things, but now with all these computers and everything, I wouldn't know where to start." We will then drink beer.

Because I'm a man,
when I catch a cold, I need someone to bring me soup and take care of me while I lie in bed and moan. You're a woman. You never get as sick as I do, so for you this isn't a problem.

Because I'm a man,
I can be relied upon to purchase basic groceries at the store, like milk or bread. I cannot be expected to find exotic items like 'cumin' or 'tofu'. For all I know, these are the same thing. And never, under any circumstances expect me to pick up anything for which 'feminine hygiene product' is a euphemism.

Because I'm a man,
when one of our appliances stops working, I will insist on taking it apart, despite evidence that this will just cost me twice as much once the repair person gets here and has to put it back together.

Because I'm a man,
I think what you're wearing is fine. I thought what you were wearing five minutes ago was fine, too. Either pair of shoes is fine. With the belt or without it looks fine. Your hair is fine. You look fine. Can we just go now?

Because I'm a man,
I will share equally in the housework. You just do the laundry, the cooking, the gardening, the cleaning, the vacuuming, and the dishes, and I'll do the rest.

You gotta love him

2009-03-08T21:47:00.002-05:00

The other day my mom was gone and she had left some ribs she had made the day before. She told Amy to reheat them in the microwave but I guess my dad decided to reheat them in the oven instead. Well he tried to call us all down for dinner, however he came upstairs and saw that I was watching the Bachelor "after the final rose" and he got distracted. He watched about 8 minutes of it and then we went down for dinner only to find that he had left the ribs in a tad too long. We ended up with blackened ribs. They were awful, it was worse than beef jerky. We tried so hard to eat them, but its was very difficult. But we were good sports and we were laughing whole time. That's why my dad doesn't do that cooking.
The last time he tried to cook for us when my mom was out of town he tried to make stew, but he didn't put it in the crock pot long enough. So the vegetables were hard as a rock. He tried speeding up the cooking process by putting the potatoes and carrots in the microwave. I know you are all gagging as we were. It was awful. We still laugh about it to this day.

David loved the burnt ribs lol

My pleasure

2009-03-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

I have taken notice that at Chick Fil A when you tell someone working there "thank you" there reponce always seems to be "my pleasure." Just a simple little phrase and yet it really got me thinking. Its not just a normal your welcome, but a my pleasure. And is it really their pleasure? They really love taking my order? So I decided to look it up and find out where this all stemmed from and this is what I found...

Not all fast food chains are fast companies. Chick-fil-A is an exception.
by Chuck Salter

"All too often, top-notch fast-food service is an oxymoron, like having high tea at a NASCAR race. Speed is the top priority, a strategy that produces high volume, but leads to notoriously inconsistent, impersonal, and uninspired interaction with customers.
Chick-fil-A is different. Its staff focuses on being swift and attentive. For the past two years, the Atlanta-based chain was named "best drive-through in America" by the quick-service restaurant trade journal QSR.
President and chief operating officer Dan Cathy infuses everyone from franchise owner-operators to teenagers earning $9 an hour with his passion for service and his conviction in its intrinsic worth -- to the individual as well as the company.
As we noted in our Customers First Award to the company, customer-centered leadership is the cornerstone of Chick-fil-A's service. Here are some of the other ideas that keep its customers coming back:
Mind your manners
At the end of each transaction at Chick-fil-A, you don't hear, "You're welcome," "Glad to help," or "Come back and see us." You hear these two words: "My pleasure." It's distinctive and classy, the sort of service you expect at a much fancier and expensive establishment, like Ritz Carlton, which is where Cathy says his father got the idea.
Cathy loves to add service touches that people don't expect from a fast-food restaurant. His latest is folding the last sheet of toilet paper into a triangular point. He believes it conveys a sense of cleanliness and meticulousness that customers appreciate. When he or one of the operators comes up with a new twist, he promptly sends out a voicemail message to owner-operators at the nearly 1,200 locations."

Im impressed Chick Fil A, way to go the extra notch to stand above the others!

Why do people do this?

2009-03-04T10:19:00.002-06:00

My moms friend called me this morning all excited because there is a 35 year old divorcee that has two kids that lives in Colorado and I guess he was asking her if she knew anyone who he could possibly date. Apparently she had originally told him no, she didn't know anyone, but she said this morning at 3am she woke up and realized that she had neglected to think of me. After that she couldn't go back to sleep and at 4 she called her husband to have him call the guy and basically interview him to see if she wanted me to talk to him. So she called me at 830am today right after I had gotten to work to tell me that she wanted to give this guy my email. She even proceeded to tell me what he likes to do for fun, that he makes good money, etc etc. She was so hyper and excited telling me about this. She cracks me up, why do people get so much pleasure playing match maker. And at my expense. Why do I want to email this person? Just cause he is looking for someone so therefore we are a perfect match? I don't think so. *sigh*
People always do that, they assume that because we are both Mormon and are currently not married and our ages our somewhere between 0-10 years from each other we are a match made in heaven. My dad has come home and said oh so and so from the stake presidency has a son that is 30 and is not married. Im like okay, and your point is??? LOL In my experience people my age who are single and have never been married have something wrong with them. Either they are holier than thou peter priesthood or they are the wild child from hell. Thats just the way guys are. The good ones are snatched up. But who am I to turn this guy down. Its a simple email and it won't harm me right?

My job thus far...

2009-02-26T22:26:00.003-06:00

So I have been working at my new job for 6 weeks as of now and Im really liking it. While I still feel as though there is TONS to learn, I am really liking what I am doing. Yesterday I got offered to be the Director of Nursing (D.O.N.) so Im pretty stoked about that. With me accepting that position we can apply to get our own license and no longer have to be a branch office under the Abilene location. It also means I get a little more money and have the potential for another raise in 5 months.
We are taking on this new program called DB-MB (Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities). Its quite sad to think that there are at least 150 people in the state of Texas that are both deaf AND blind and have another disability. So we have to do 30 hours of training for this new program so in our training today we were practicing what it was like to be deaf and blind. Its was quite a frightening experience. My boss was leading me around with a blind fold on, and having me feel my way though areas so that I could get a small sense of what it was like. Then I got to lead my boss around while we did different things to through her off. It was quite the learning experience, not to mention it was kinda fun. I get to do some cool stuff with my job.
I am looking into getting certified with the American Heart Association to be able to teach CPR that way we can offer that to the attendants that take care of our patients. Lots is going on with my job.
My car is going to be in the shop for at least another 9 days. I did a major number on my car to the tune of $6,300. But my body can attest to the amount of damage that was done because my body is still in a good amount of pain a week later.

Run for the Angel Twins

2009-02-21T12:10:00.003-06:00

For those of you in the Dallas area, I wanted to post some information about this race. I had the opportunity to take care of Corynne when she was in the hospital March of last year before she passed. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness for this disease that is so very deadly.

Get ready to join Frisco for the first annual "Run for the Angel Twins!"

The 5k and 1 mile run/walk is scheduled for Saturday, March 28^th,2009.

The 1 mile walk begins at 8:00 a.m. and the 5k run/walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall Plaza located at 6101 Frisco Square Blvd in Frisco.

This event is in memory and honor of identical twins, Cathryn and Corynne Bouchard, of Frisco, whose lives were lost in 2008 before their
second birthdays to Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC).

Proceeds of this very special event go to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation in honor of the Angel Twins Fund.

We will also be funding a scholarship in memory of the girls for the Frisco Education Foundation of the Frisco Independent School District.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support of our Million Dollar Mission!

To register for the race or for more information, please visit:

www.runfortheangeltwins.org

We would also appreciate your help in spreading the word about the race to your friends and family who might be interested - thank you!

In the blink of an eye...

2009-02-20T22:23:00.003-06:00

It would have been a month in two days from now, that I got rear ended driving home from work. Today I was driving in traffic on 635 going to visit a friend. Traffic seemed to be moving pretty well for it being 5 o clock, but the Suburban in front of me slammed on his breaks and I didn't have enough time to react. I slammed on my breaks but guess it wasn't in time, all it did was make the nose of my car dive towards the ground and end up under his bumper.

This picture is from my phone, doesn't really do it justice.

The suburban seriously had like 2 scratches, and my car is smashed to heck. The police officers wouldn't let me drive it home, they said my hood would fly up and cause another accident. Not to mention it was making weird noises and smelt really bad. Right after the accident my chest was hurting really bad. I guess it was from the seatbelt. After about 2 hours my upper back was killing, my arms hurt, my neck hurt and my head hurt. Needless to say I don't feel so hot. However I figured no point in going to the ER, all they will do is give me pain pills and muscle relaxants and tell me the pain is only going to get worse. I already have those because of my back. Sad thing is, I just got 8 shots in my back yesterday to try and help my back pain. They seemed to be helping and had cut my pain in half, but now Im back to major pain again. Of all the luck!

Life's little annoyances

2009-02-18T22:42:00.003-06:00

I was driving home from work today, in traffic, as I always do. Go, stop, go, slam on breaks. Its a lot of fun! I noticed that there seemed to be a lot of cars in the HOV lane. (For those of you not from Dallas, the HOV lane is what we have for our High Occupancy Vehicles) I looked at them with envy as they all flew past me, when I glanced in a car and noticed that there wasn't at least two people in the car. It was only the driver. I was like wow, a "lucky" one slipped by. But then I noticed the next car, again only one driver. It was then I really started to take notice. (why not I wasn't really traveling anywhere) I would say at least 60-70% of the people flying by me in the HOV lane were single drivers. I started thinking to myself its a simple rule. If you have more than one person in your car or you are on a motorcycle then you get to go in the HOV late, if you drive alone, you have to deal with traffic. So what makes these people think that they are so special? We all want to go home, and yet some how they think that their desire to go home is above everyone elses, that they get to break the law. That just annoys me. Bad drivers are just annoying in general, especially the ones that are just inconsiderate of others. Like the ones that have no early idea how to park. Its like how hard is it. There are two white lines. One should be on each side of your car. If that's not the case, fix it! Learn to drive people!

25 Random Facts about me...

2009-02-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

1. I have 4 of the best sisters in the world

2. I love to sing along with songs on the radio, and learn the lyrics to every song I hear. That is half the fun of music is knowing the lyrics and singing along.

3. My favorite flower is the red rose. I know its simple but they are so elegant and smell so yummy.

4. I sleep with a white noise machine every night. If I do not have it I cannot sleep.

5. I don't care for clubbing, I prefer to eat out at a nice restaurant or go see a good movie... I'm more of a homebody!

6. When I was in the first grade I won a spelling be in my school and beat out all the 6th graders. Now I can't spell to save my life. Seriously even the easiest words I fudge up.

7. I have only been in love once in my life

8. Four years ago, the month after I graduated nursing school, my dog Koda bit me in the face and I had to get 9 stitches in my top and bottom lip.

9. When I was a kid my mom would arrange for me to have slumber party's or what not at friends homes because if it was up to me I just wouldn't go to anyone's house.

10. My sister Sharon didn't learn to talk til she was 2 because I always spoke for her. All she had to was make a sound and I was quick to tell everyone what she wanted.

11. My first word was puppy, my first two words together was "don't cindy" I guess my aunt was doing something I didn't want.

12. When I was in high school I was on the debate team.

13. I played the Cello in the 7th and 8th grade but quit before high school because I didn't want to be deemed "uncool"

14. Growing up in Utah I have some of the best memories as a child, we lived in the smallest house ever but had the funniest times.

15. When I was a child I used to sunburn so bad I would black out. I remember missing school for up to a week at a time just sitting on the pull out couch in my underwear with sheets on because nothing could touch my skin. Do that enough times and you just become content in your whiteness.

16. My favorite place to eat is Jinbeh. They have the best Japanese food known to man. Their fried rice and sushi is amazing!

17. I am big time movie fan, I don't get to go as often as I used to, but its a great escape for me. I love to see most the movies Angelina Jolie is in.

18. I love cars. Im not obsessed by any shape, but I would be happy with a nice fast and loud muscle car.

19. There is a ton that they don't teach you in nursing school. You learn to just suck it up and do it, its part of the job and what better way to learn than to get in there and just do it.

20. I love stars. I have stars on hats, shirts, earings, and its the only thing I have ever been known to "collect"

21. My friends are some of the best people in the world

22. I can talk in a duck voice

23. When I went to college I wanted to become a psychyatrist. People always camed to me for advice and I liked helping them, so I thought that was my lives work.

24. When I went away for college, I would talk to my mom every day by phone and usually emailed too. We used to talk twice daily but she had to cut back, it was making her phone bill go up.

25. When Macie was young I told her I was old enough to be her mother, from then on she found it funny to ask for something in a store by calling me mom, and when I would chew her out for it saying I wasn't her mom, people thought I was a crazy neglectful person, so I would usually give in and get her whatever she wanted.

My bipolar Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T23:48:00.006-06:00

Okay. It was very "lovingly" pointed out that I have a clear battle raging within me between my girly self (and yes deep down there is a little bit of a girl in me, believe it or not) and my jaded cynic. I have been trying to tackle my stance on this holiday but its been a struggle. Why? Read on...

I will admit that I honestly think that Valentine's Day is a hallmark holiday (as I have previously said) designed for corporations to push candies and diamonds on the unaware masses. That said:

I'm a girl.

I love Valentine's Day because I love the thought of being in love, and spending the day together being in love, and sharing that love, and doing activities together because of that love.

That being said, I will say that if I see one more Barbie pink teddy bear with an I Love You pillow sewn to its hands, I will punch someone in the crotch!

I have mixed emotions on the topic. Clearly.

My love/hate relationship I have with this psuedo-holiday continues. My educated and overly jaded side says that this is nothing more than a fluff holiday to keep people pumping money into useless crap. But let's argue this point saying that it is a valid holiday. My rants are within people themselves.

To those of you out there who denounce the holiday because you don't have a boyfriend, cry me a river. Next year you will have one and demand a dozen roses, Alaskan King Crab dinner, and tender loving. The day can also be time to spent with a best friend or a pal or a mate (whatever your geographical location.) Its a day to promote togetherness.

Also I have done some thinking about my previous idea that "everyday should be a day to profess love." I must have clearly recently suffered from a major head injury or have never had an actual relationship with someone. Everyday? Doubtful. Spend everyday with someone, and you tell me after 24 years you still think on a random Thursday night he will say , "I should buy her roses and a box of chocolates!" Possible...yes, likely???? NO.

Okay, that was the majority of my feelings for today. My thought, if you don't like the day don't pee in the Cheerios of those of who enjoy the novelty of the day.

As I noted before, I am aware it is a novelty holiday and should really never amount to much in a relationship.

The point is, the day is up for interpretation. So if it is a crap day, its a crap day. If its for card and lovin exchange, so be it. It is your day to harness.

And that, my friends, is the reason to love of the holiday. It is a holiday you can do with what you want. Sure commercialism and such will make you think it should be candles, chocolate, soft jazz and silk robes. But it can also be a roller derby, hard rock and velcro walls. And as one who is a free spirit, I take great love in a holiday I can celebrate my own way.

So in conclusion, I hate the people but I love the holiday. There it is. I solved my own riddle. Gold stars for me!

All my views aside I hope everyone had a great Saturday however you chose to spend it. The day is founded on a christian saint yet centered around a pagan god depicted as a baby with wings and a weapon. How can that fact not make you smile just a little?

Happy Valentines Day everyone. I love you all. ::squish::

Weekend Wrap Up

2009-02-09T21:56:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Mavericks vs Bulls game. I was supposed to take my friend Monica but sadly she was sick, so my friend Vance got drug along. It doesn't seem like a guy who have to be drug to a game but I later found out he had NEVER seen a basketball game of any sort of his life. Thankfully it was a game to be remember. The mavericks one by 1 point in over time, it was an absolute blast. Thank you Nancy for the tickets!!!
Sunday I had a meeting with the 1st counselor in the bishopric before church. You are now looking at the new Gospel Doctrine teacher. I know im sure you are as shock as I was. I am not sure what makes them think I will be successful at this, but I guess that is what happens when the Sunday school president and the branch President are your home teachers lol. So I have this week to prepare because I am being thrown to the wolves this coming Sunday.
Now today is Monday and I am in good ole Abilene Texas. After working all day I drove the 3 1/2 hours out here to do some training for the next 3 days. I will be going with some nurses from here and trying to learn the ropes a little better. I hope it helps because I don't like having a good handle on my job. Its quite stressful.

White History Month

2009-02-04T09:00:00.000-06:00

Since we are 4 days into the month of February also known as Black History Month I thought I would address a lesser known "event" and that is White History Month. Didn't know it existed? Well maybe it doesn't really but it should! But it should be White History Month, not Anti-Black History Month. Said event should promote equality, not discrimination. And no. White History Month is NOT 11 months out of the year, American history is. The fact that 98% of this country's history was, founded, laid out and written by white US citizens DOES NOT make it "White History". Our history just happens to be laid out mostly by white, landowning males. That's just the way it is. Do our textbooks say George Washington was "the first white president of the United States"? No. Just because there are not many blacks in this country's long history, doesn't make it "White History". It just means blacks didn't step up to the plate until later. Like I said, it's not like we're there to stop them from making history with a "Whites Only" policy. If Black people get a history, then so should the White people.

So why don't we get a white history month or week? Or even a day for that matter? Call me crazy, but despite my pale complexion I do have a heritage and a history to be proud of, and I feel kinda bad to have to celebrate it alone. If we're all for equal rights, why can't every race have a holiday to celebrate its achievements?

This is actually a bit misleading of my true beliefs however. In reality, I don't want any race to be celebrated over any other, and the easiest way to do that is to not celebrate race at all. Oh, we should certainly all be proud of ourselves, for all of the traits and characteristics that make us who we are, but race is such a divisive and petty thing to use to differentiate ourselves. We didn't choose our race, we were born with it. It's like having an 'Impoverished Backgrounds' month, or a 'Born with a Silver Spoon in our Mouth' month (note: I'm not comparing any race with either of those financial analogies). Being proud of one's heritage is one thing, but I don't see the need to celebrate race.

So since my ideal world doesn't exist where one race is not celebrated over another, my question is still there unanswered. How come there is no official White History Month? In the words of a Tulane University Black History Month Web site, "a White History Month is not needed because the contributions of whites are already acknowledged by society. Black History Month is meant to remedy this inequity of representation."

Oh...I get it now...its a remedy. Oops my bad!

Feel Young Again

2009-02-03T16:21:00.003-06:00

My dad sent me this video, he figured with me working in home health I could appreciate the humor, which of course I could. Thanks dad!
Work has been crazy busy, I feel like I have done so much and yet I have done nothing at all. I have so much to learn still. I spent several hours with one of the nurses from Abilene yesterday. It was really nice to go meet two more patients that I will be taking care of. I was supposed to do more of it today, but it didn't work out for us to see the patient that we wanted to so I got to spend the day driving all over Texas putting up fliers trying to find people who want to help take care of some patients. I went to Keller, then to Rhome (which is out in the middle of NO WHERE) and then up to Denton. I covered over 150 miles. It was a busy day for me. But next week I am hoping to go to Abilene to work with the nurses out there and seeing some of their patients and learning the paperwork. So its coming along just slow and steady...

Nothing makes me happier

2009-01-31T13:17:00.004-06:00

Nothing gets my blood pumping more and puts a larger smile on my face than music, especially when its a song a really love. One persons music who has always been able to do that is Kelly Clarkson. She is just simply amazing! I have seen her in concert 3 times so far and I know it will be more especially with her new album coming out. Her music is just so much fun, and its no exception to her new song "My Life Would Suck Without You." I find myself staying in my car just a little bit longer hoping its going to home on the radio again. And after a busy day of cleaning house, nothing is more relaxing than watching this music video on audio repeat. I am going to preorder my copy of her new Cd coming out the beginning of March, you know I will be rockin out to that one! LOVE IT!

Pulling on my heart strings

2009-01-31T00:19:00.001-06:00

The one thing I am learning to deal with having started this new job, is having to develop a new set of "thick skin" for a new type of patients. Working with sick children is sad. It tends to wear on your heart, and you can either learn to be sad all the time, or you learn to develop "thick skin" and leave your work at work.
The latter part of my week I was asked to go along with some one of our coordinators to meet a patient that I will be needing to follow up with later. He was a normal teenager until he was 16 when he was involved in a car accident that left him with a brain injury. So this once normal teenager is now a 25 year old who is a total care patient. he can smile and moan, but otherwise he requires the care of someone else for everything in his life. He will forever be dependent on someone else.
Then I had to go visit a 52 year old woman debilitated by MS. It has gotten her to the point that she is a paraplegic. She used to be wheelchair bound which wasn't too bad, but 5 weeks ago she developed a wound on her behind that has made her unable to be in her chair and requires her to be in bed 24/7. This poor woman lives at home by herself and is wholly dependent on someone to come and move her, make her meals... basically do everything for her. I couldn't even sleep last night thinking about her and her needs and how she need someone to do more for her. She needs more than just a tech that is in that is her in home for 40 hours a week, she needs a nurse...shoot she needs even more than that. My coordinator ended up having to come out with me to meet this lady due to a scheduling conflict and I was told by my boss that she came back to the office and just sat down in a chair in my bosses room and just bawled. Shes in a tough place and unfortunately she is only going to get worse.
So I guess I will have to learn to love while I can, but know that I can only do so much and I need to leave my work at work. I can't let it affect my sleep or make it to where I can rest, and relax. My mom suggested that I ask me dad for a blessing of this manner. I think its a great idea, this is hard stuff, and sometimes people are just not equipped to handle it.

Always remember to check their homework first...

2009-01-28T17:52:00.002-06:00

Love lessons from man's best friend

2009-01-27T14:28:00.002-06:00

Found this article on online and loved it, thought I would share.

Though dogs have been labeled man's best friend, when it comes down to it, Fido is probably more the type of buddy you'd seek out for a game of catch, not love advice. According to Harrison Forbes, professional dog trainer and author of Heart of a Dog: What Challenging Dogs Have Taught Me About Love, Trust and Second Chances, however, you might want to reconsider the notion that your canine knows nothing about matters of the heart. "Dogs do the types of things we should do more often, and the things they don't get involved in — well, we should really skip them, too, if we're looking for love," he asserts. Puzzled by the notion that you may actually be able to get some romance pointers from your Pointer? Read on for five love lessons you can learn from dogs.

1. The reassurance of forgiveness
In order to have a successful partnership, letting bygones be bygones is crucial. An inability to get over issues and move ahead is a key roadblock to happiness. Dogs, Forbes notes, are always in the moment and therefore don't hold grudges or hang onto resentment. "Dogs wipe the slate clean many times a day," he explains. "If you are grumpy and yell at your dog, but then wait a minute and act like you never did, he will forgive you — many times over. If humans could let the little things go as easily as dogs do, their relationships would be better for it."

2. The security of unconditional love
Forbes says that as a rule, when a dog loves his owner, that bond is lasting and real. "It's interesting to note that celebrities are over-the-top pet lovers," he says. "This is because their dogs really love them for who they are, not their A-list status; a dog will always treat you the same. Dogs offer truly substantive relationships in a way most people don't," he notes. When it comes to romantic relationships, humans should strive to emulate a dog's focus on what a person really offers in terms of love, kindness and warmth, he advises.

3. The comfort of consistency
In a romantic relationship, consistency can be quite comforting. What's not to love about a partner who is never moody or capricious? "We as humans understand there are different types of behavior, yet we crave consistency," Forbes says. "With dogs, regardless of your animal's personality, you pretty much get the same behavior unless he's ill. A lot of people take comfort in that aspect of pet ownership, so you can only imagine how much similar behavior could add to a romantic relationship."

4. The need to be playful
Forbes notes that most dogs want to have a good time, keeping things light and not so serious all of the time. "The easiest way to burn out a working dog is to work him all the time — that pretty much goes for relationships as well," he says. In police-dog training, Forbes explains, training is balanced with play and fun. "The harder you go at it in a training phase, the more you have to counterbalance it," he says. "It's the same with a relationship — you have to relieve the pressure through play and good times."

5. The importance of effective communication
While communicating with your partner is important in a relationship, it's not merely the act of communicating that will ensure your relationship's success, but finding the way to do so that best matches your partner's needs. This is a skill that you can easily learn from working with dogs, Forbes says. "The different ways in which I communicate with my three dogs are suited to what works best for them … and for me with them," he explains. You have to be willing to experiment and find the best way to communicate with dogs, and the same goes for your romantic interests, he says: "Just as a hot-tempered dog won't respond to yelling and lots of commands, neither will a hot-tempered person. At the same time, some more sensitive types may need a gentler approach. Essentially, no one person or dog communicates the same way — each individual has a unique style, and taking the time to learn about your partner's needs is the key to a strong bond."

Smile its almost Valentine's Day

2009-01-25T00:00:00.001-06:00

That's right...

...And what better time to slit your wrists with the dull butter knife? That is reality. But all the the stores like to take advantage of the worst holiday of the year to smear it all over the remains of what used to be your heart. Ladies and gentleman, what I'll take upon myself to make you all aware of during the course of this warm and fuzzy 'Made-up-by-Hal-mark' holiday is something that no one in this world likes to face up to – the brutal truth.

That's right, people. Shut up your excuses, tie them with rope and duct take their carefully planned out distractive-yet-lame, long-winded stories of denial, because what I'm going to tell you isn't what you want to hear. Oh, Heavens no. It's exactly the opposite. And, if your glittery Valentine's Day pen is out and waving naively around the room, get out your notebook and get ready to take notes. And if you are ready to decorate house and every blank surface in your vicinity with nothing but superficial hearts and hopes of true, long-lasting love, well, then this blog is most definitely for you.

There's no doubt about it. Valentine's Day sucks. Everyone runs around frothing, proclaiming their love and pledging their eternal allegiance to one another. If someone truly cared about you, I think you'd hear it more often than once a year, presented with a heart shaped cardboard box picked up from CVS filled with cheap chocolates made with oils and lard and a card picked up for $2.95. This will supposedly cover all wrongs and faults in the relationship with one fell swoop, leaving the giver allieved of all sins committed within the past year. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a single young woman bent on giving grief to everyone else who is in a relationship. I'm a stark realist. But I do want someone to tell me if I'm loved of their own volition, not because some fabricated greeting card holiday sponsored by Hallmark compels them.

Okay you're right. I'm cynical. Sue me. Ask me what I've gone through, and then maybe that eyebrow you've escalated will come down a few notches. But this, my friends, is my 2009 Black Valentines Day rant for those of you out there still happy. I'm afraid I'm throwing you a cold eye roll and a 'Don't worry, it won't last' in your still hopeful direction. I don't mean to be such a glittering ray of sunshine. But its hard when since the day Christmas was over they have blasted us with Valentines everywhere. Enough already!

Full of hope

2009-01-24T00:00:00.001-06:00

I know I had said my day was stressful, but it mostly was stress I had in my head cause I really didn't do much today...

I woke up today full of hope.

A new day had dawned.

The day of change was at hand.

I was excited. I was expecting today to be different that the last 3000 days when President Bush was in office. Today was going to be all about change.

So, I slept in. I knew my boss would understand. If she dared threaten to fire me, I was ready to tell her about change and remind her that President Obama would save me from getting my butt fired.

To chronicle this great day of change, I took some notes:

7:00 a.m. I woke up one hour late. I took a one hour shower because I knew it was now impossible to waste water with our new environmental president ready to save the planet.

8:00 a.m. Traffic sucked. In fact, it was even worse than those days when Bush was president. Change in the form of traffic was NOT the positive change I was promised. But I thought about it and realized that the traffic was because of the thousands of jobs Obama had promised... more people were already working thanks to our new president.

9:00 a.m. I walk into work an hour late. The boss and some coordinators stared me down with the meanest of looks. Because I was full of hope, I smiled and said, "Cheer up. Change has arrived."

9:15 a.m. It was time for lunch. I realized that working hard was no longer necessary knowing that very soon half of my boss's paycheck would be taxed to give to me. That's the kind of change I like... seeing my boss only have change left after taxes are taken from his paycheck.

9:16 a.m. Before I went to lunch, I decided to fill my car up with gas. It was $1.79 a gallon; 20 cents higher than when Bush was president last week. Apparently, Mr. Obama called up his oil buddies and told them to raise prices so he could line his own pockets with our gas money.

9:30 a.m. I headed to Jack in the Box. The woman at the drive thru only spoke Canadian. I asked her to speak English. She replied, "Eh". Then I demanded to speak to her manager. The manager came to the drive thru window and said, "I am sorry, Ma'am, but Shania is an illegal alien from Ottawa and she hasn't learned English, yet. If you have a problem with her, write a letter to the new president."

9:45 a.m. I ate my lunch in my office while listening to my coworkers complain about my new work habits, but i laughed it off because I knew my new president had my back.

11am I finished eating my lunch

11:01am I checked my email

12:47pm I decided I had done enough for the day, I told my boss I was needing a "change" and that I was going home. I left before she could answer.

I LOVE this new change, so much good has come into my life. I can't wait to find out what comes next!

T.G.I.F.

2009-01-23T10:52:00.000-06:00

Its been a really really long week for me. Im exhausted, I want nothing to do but to go home eat and sleep. Of course that doesn't happen, but its what my body wants. I can fall asleep, IF I take a large amount of muscle relaxers, but like last night, I went to sleep by 11. Then I woke up at 3, 4, 5 and 6 it was frustrating. I have been in training for half the week for one program this company does, but there are so many other I know nothing about. They have patients in this program called C.L.A.S.S. I don't understand much about it other than I know its for patients with mental disabilities such as downs syndrome or cerebral palsy. This is a program I want to become intimately involved in because this is the type of patients I would interact with in the hospital. I love this kids especially the downs syndrome kiddos. But like today, the C.L.A.S.S. coordinator is telling me about this patient that is wanting to transfer to our services. Only problem is, I don't understand the program, what is allowed what needs to be done. This kid needs someone with her at all times but she needs nursing care and I can't be there everyday, so its up to me to decide of I want to delegate those tasks to an "attendant" but if they screw up, its MY licence. Ummm no, I worked too hard to get that just to throw it away. But I don't know what the do's and don'ts are with this company, I need more guidance and yet the nurses at the Abilene office are supposed to train me, but I don't blame them for not wanting to drive 3 hours plus everyday to train with me. There is way too much to learn, and I have no one to teach me, and I can't learn it all on my own. Talk about stress!

I'll take the night shift, you can have the day

2009-01-21T22:05:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking it would be a good idea for a while to find a job in which I was working normal "8-5" Monday through Friday job. I finally found a job like that and have began the "transition" to becoming a day shift person. Problem is my body doesn't like waking up when it's used to going to sleep. Instead of becoming easier as the days go by, it has become harder! I am finally back from my trip and Im exhausted. It was a lot to take in, a ton for my brain to absorb. And it doesn't stop there I have to be there in the office first thing in the morning tomorrow. It will be my first time to go with morning traffic so I really have no clue how long its going to take me to get to work. Well I guess I shall hope for sleep, wish me luck I hope my day in the office goes smoothly.

Post Inaugurational Hope

2009-01-20T21:32:00.001-06:00

We had the chance to watch the inauguration of President Obama today while we were in our training class. While there were many in our group who didn't vote for Obama, they were all anxious for the speech, anxious for the history being made. I for one was not in anyway anxious to listen to what Barack had to say, however I was beyond moved by his speech. His whole calmness, demeanor and what appeared to be humility in reguards to the task at hand was impressive. And his eloquence was moving, what a change from our previous president lol.

"We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

President Obama, we as your people will stand behind you, and pray that you will lead our country for good that you will do all that you promise and we hope that you will help to change our world.

PS Reverend Lowrey, please lay off whatever drugs you smoking that would cause you to give such a "unique" benediction. Who says this???

“We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.”

Greetings from my travels

2009-01-19T22:55:00.001-06:00

So I found out the middle of last week that I had to fly to Lubbock Sunday night for training for my new job. So after finishing up with my last 3 days at the hospital, I got to go to a goodbye work dinner on thursday night and then went out with my friend Monica to get a pedicure and Acrylic nails put on for my birthday. Then Friday I had to go into the office for an hour to fill out paperwork (nice birthday gift I know) and then I met up with my whole family for lunch. Well whole family minus Sharon and Lauralee who don't live here. Then I went and got a 3 hour massage, which turned out to be quite painful and i hurt for days after. Then for dinner my mom made me some homemade pizza which is one of my favorite things she makes. Then after dinner my new roommate Melissa came over to my parents we played a few games of Greed and then went home around 11. Chet was able to come by and spend a few days he got to my house about 1130. Saturday one of my best friends, Holly, flew in from Colorado for a few weeks.
Then Sunday, the day after she got here, I flew out to Lubbock for CBA training. It feels like a complete foreign language. There are so many thing I didn't know. I had never heard of D.A.D.S which is the Texas state program this is based from. Its the Department of aging and disable services. So while its a very helpful program its a state program so of course you get to jump through hoop after hoop after hoop. Its crazy! I am very overwhelmed, but one of the nurses from one of other clinics spent about 2 hours just answering my questions and trying as much as possible to put my mind at ease. Its a lot to take in and I can't wait to go back home, but until then I got to get some sleep, I still have two more days of training.

Yes these are real

2009-01-16T00:00:00.002-06:00

My friends blog called my attention to this wonderful new invention that Playmobil has for kids. Yes its a real toy, albeit expensive. You have to read the user comments on Amazon though, its hilarious!

Apparently playmobil has come up with all sorts of "toys" that you can teach your children with for new events and such that occur in their lives other than having to go through security check points.

You can get a doctor with an incubator

You can get a pediatrician with a patient

You can get Safe Crackers (Thieves)

Or a Policeman with a radar

Girls don't make passes at boys with fat....behinds

2009-01-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

I subscribe to this girls blogs on myspace, she write a new blog every day, she is quite the excellent little writer, but this blog had me laughing soooooooo hard! I had to share!

Every now and then some guy will announce on my blog that he has to draw the line at dating fat chicks. Come on, he'll say. He has a right to have standards too.

And you can pretty much bet money that when you click on that guy's picture what you're going to find is something a whole lot like this:

Even worse are the ones who look like that but don't seem to realize it. You know the type. The guy who will say things like, "I like to keep myself healthy and I expect my woman to do the same." He'll even claim to be a gym-rat...while all the time you're looking at his picture and thinking, "Is he for REAL?"

But men seem to think there's a double standard. Women must stay in shape. We must be thin, toned, and never dare to eat a piece of chocolate or skip a workout. They, on the other hand, are free to sit on the sofa downing Ho-hos like they're going out of style while drooling over the latest commercial for Victoria's Secret. "THAT is the woman for me," they'll say. "I just can't seem to find her."

There's a reason for that. In case I need to remind you...you look like this:

This...

...says you need to investigate the possibility of a sit-up or two. Because this...

...hasn't missed a workout in six years. Sometimes she even works out twice, just in case some fat might be clinging to a rib somewhere. This...

...just, quite simply, isn't going to fit in with your lifestyle. Even IF she can get past the point that your belly makes her want to puke, picture how your life will be.

You: Honey, I think we should go out for dinner. We've had bean sprouts and cottage cheese for four nights straight and I want some real food.
Her: Sure, honey-bun. Let's go.

You: (A few minutes later, in the car.) How about Pizza Hut?
Her: (Wrinkling her nose.) Oh. My. God. Are you kidding? Do you know how long it will take me to work off the calories in just one cheese slice? I'll be in the gym all day tomorrow. No thank you. Name something else.
You: (Frowning, because you are DYING for a slice of pizza or ten.) Ummm... How about Antonio's?
Her: No way. Pasta? You know I can't have carbs.
You: (Sighing.) Fine. Then you name a place.
Her: The Whole Foods grocery store has a great vegan-style restaurant. I heard the bean sprouts are really good there...

It all sounded SO good when you were imagining your fantasy woman. She looked like that, but she ate like you. She never counted a calorie and she certainly wasn't so obsessed with her looks. Where did you go wrong?

You chose someone who was all wrong for you.

Eventually something's gotta give. Either your dream woman will succumb to your lifestyle and pretty soon BOTH of you will look a little like this:

Or...she'll grow tired of going to the gym alone. She'll dream of vacations involving hiking and lots of activity. You'll dream of laying around on the beach for days. Active people do not want to be stuck with lazy people. Write that down. Even if you're active and just have bad eating habits, how long until she's disgusted with your horrible diet? Once she realizes she can't change you, what do you think will happen?

It IS possible for a completely fit woman to fall for an out-of-shape guy. Happens all the time. But, more often than not, a couple that starts out mismatched ends up fitting together a whole lot more once they settle into day-to-day life. (See picture of couple above.)

But hey, dream big, little fella. If it doesn't work out for you, you'll always have your dreams.

A few have been asking

2009-01-14T15:00:00.001-06:00

A few people have been asking some questions about my new job and my new roommate so I thought I would put my answers in a separate blog so as to make it easier on the responses.

First matter of business, my job...my last shift at the hospital will be my wednesday night shift. After that I will have 4 days off in observance of my dreaded birthday on Friday in which I will be turning 29. *gags* Then on monday I will be starting my training for a home health agency called Caprock Home Health agency. As you can see they hope to cover an extremely large area all over the DFW metroplex. I am hoping they really don't plan to send me to all those places but who knows. This place started out in Lubbock and the Richardson location is pretty new. I am actually the first staff RN they have hired. The good thing about this job is its going to be a lot easier on my back. I have a bulging disc in my low back for the past 10 years, but working in nursing especially in the hospital, the past 3 years has made it get progressively get worse to where im always in pain. So with this new job I am not going to be bending and lifting. (my back breaths a large sign of relief) I will be assessing the new patients and filling out lots and im told LOTS of paperwork. Then i will create a care plan for the patient and decide what care they will need etc. I don't exactly know my whole job assignment but they ensured me it will not be actual patient care because I told them I want to save my back. The other good thing about this job is I will be returning to the hours of the rest of the human race. I will be a salaried worker working M-F 8-5. No more weekends, no more nights and no more holidays except when i have to take call.

The second a few people have been asking is about my new roommate. Yes my new roommate Melissa moved in a little over a week ago. She is only here in Texas til the end of April while doing an internship at Cooper Aerobic Institute. She is extremely sweet and so far we have been getting along greatly. And for those who asked, this is what she looks like (so Shahna you can see if you spot her while you are working out and for Josh to see if she was in any of your Exercise Science classes at BYU)

I stole a halloween pic off her facebook

Shes on the left

False Advertising

2009-01-14T00:00:00.001-06:00

I was driving home from work last night, and I felt the starvation in my stomach as I walked out into the parking lot and realized that I hadn't eaten in over 9 hours. As I began my drive home the list of potential fast food places that might be open after midnight ran through my mind. My mind settled on Jack in the Box. *grin* I pulled up to the drive through menu and I felt a twinge of instant gratification as I looked at their mouth-watering posters of their burgers, fries, Ciabatta (or, CHA-batta, as I like to spell it) sandwiches, and their two-for-a-dollar tacos. Dang… those two-for-a-dollar tacos looked good.

Almost… TOO good.

I looked closer at the pictures, and was amazed at how much lettuce was pouring out of the tops of the taco shells. Amazing. And their shells? A perfect golden mix of yumminess. I wanted one. I mean, I wanted one BAD. It almost made my thought of my Asian chicken salad go right out the door. But I decided to be good. I would get the tacos to take the edge off my hunger for now and then the salad would be for 4 or 5 hours later after my work out when and if my hunger returned.

I realized as I was driving down the road, opening one of the tacos with one hand, texting on the phone with the other, and steering with my left foot lol jk, that in complete and utter dismay, this taco looked NOTHING like the tacos from that poster on the side of the building. It was a greasy, soggy, anything-but-golden, wobbly little pile of mushy 'could've been a taco at one time last year' looking thing. Granted, amidst the disappointment (and a few choice words), I ate it anyway. But I wasn't nearly as satisfied. In fact, it got me thinking about advertising, and how irritated at myself that I'd been so fooled.

Think of the hilarity of how far out of the realm of reality advertisements will sometimes take you. Take the Herbal Essence woman and her shampoo, for example. Who doesn't want shampoo - when applied - to shoot you into an orgasmic state? I know I'd enjoy it, even though taking six showers a day would more than likely interrupt this good life schedule I've got going on right now. Or, OR… I saw a commercial the other day advertising razors for women. This colorful advertisement showed a group of girls on a beach – each with their own brightly colored razor (you know, why not?) – and when they joined together in a circle and held their razors to the heavens, a rainbow shot out of them. Amazing. I want to see THAT happen at my next razor party at my apartment. Or do we have to be on a beach for full effect? Guess I'll have to find out next time I buy into it.

Or how about those commercials you see on television advertising those perfect pair of jeans? You see the girl in the dressing room, effortlessly zipping up the cool set of bootlegs and smiling at herself in the mirror. *cough* I'm sorry, but is there any girl out there who's REALLY tried on a pair of jeans without that exceptionally uncomfortable 'dressing room dance', as I like to call it? You wriggle, you lay down, you land yourself in a split, and you still can't get that damn zipper to zip. By the time you're standing in front of that mirror observing, you're red-faced, panting, and pissy, and you don't even WANT them anymore.

To conclude... I shan't be ordering that taco from Jack in the Box again for a while. That is, until the ad lures me back in for another hopeful go-round.

A good end to a bad night.

2009-01-13T03:38:00.004-06:00

I started off my night at work for my first of my last 3 shifts at the hospital. I had a patient that was new admission right before my shift that had some really severe heart conditions, but was being admitted for RSV. She was 7 months old and was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot and on top of that she had Mitral valve stenosis, Pulmonary Stenosis, GERD, Short Gut Syndrome and i think there were a few others I can't remember. Just getting report on this kiddo sent me into a panic. The cardiac kiddos are not the forte of the nurses where I work because we tend to be more respiratory, but because this baby had RSV she had to come to our side. RSV is hard enough on a "normal" kid, but it was really hard on this little pumkin. I had orders that I needed to try and maintain her oxygen saturations greater than 60%. That isn't very much oxygen, but this kiddo didn't even want to keep them that high. Her sats would drop into the 40's at the beginning of my shift and she was making me a nervous wreck. So about an hour into my shift the charge nurse came up to me and told me that one of the other nurses really wanted to work tonight to try and the bonus offered at the hospital for nurses who would pick up an extra shift per pay period, so she asked if I wanted to be there. With the night I was having it was not a difficult question. I said I was more than willing to go home and let Monica come work for me. So I stated til 12 to get my patients settled giving monica report at about 1130 and then I was on my way home. I had slept all day so i am up for the night, but it was a good excuse for me to get some stuff done. So it was great, I got to give my bathroom the over due major scrubbing it needed, hit up my elliptical for a nice 30 minute jog. What started off as a busy stressful night at work has ended with me relaxing on the couch, folding a little laundry of my roommates that she left in the dryer when she went to bed, and catching up on some tv shows. There is always work again tonight, but at least I got this break in the mean time. Now only 2 shifts left and I am done with the hospital for good!

He rubbed me the wrong way

2009-01-12T00:43:00.009-06:00

I was relaxing at home this evening after watching the CES broadcast with my new roommate Melissa. She had gone to bed early because she starts her internship with Cooper Aerobic Institute. So I was relaxing by my fire and watching a movie and I decided to update a few pictures on my ldsplanet site. While I was logged on, this guy popped up on the instant messenger feature they have.
So he starts talking to me and decides to quiz me about myself. Asking about my eye color. He even asked me if my eyes sparkle. I told him i wasn't sure how one would know if their eyes "sparkled" and he told me that maybe someone had told me that before. This guy was very "special" but sadly it got better. He then proceeded me ask me if i knew what my role would be as a "christian wife." I told him that I am not sure I understood what he meant by these specific roles. He told me if I was "good in the church" I would know that the scriptures have set out specific roles for men and women. To which he told me that the woman was to maintain the household raise the children and teach them the ways of the Lord. And that the mans role as Head of the household was to lead and rule over the family and that the wife should respect that. He even went as far to say that there is a scripture that says the wife should refer to the husband as Lord because that is what he is over the household. When I told him that my opinion was that while I agree with what he was talking about, I do believe that there is a lot of sharing that goes on in these responsibilities. As the head of the house hold, the man can still assist in the duty's of the christian mother. He said that he agreed that the man as the head of the household should be like Christ and serve but again he emphasized that it should be made known that he is doing so as the head of the household.
This guy not only found some fabulous buttons to push that really got my blood boiling, but really made me realized why he was in fact a divorced 32 year old. While he did have the idea right. He had read the concepts, but I told him that I believe that he may have taken a few things a tad too literally and ran with it. I told him that maybe sharing his interpretation with others may help to understand how a few things were slightly askew. I reminded him that he had the main idea right, but the attitude that went with it, and the demanding that the man should be the in essence "ruler" really rubbed me the wrong way.

Altered

2009-01-10T05:16:00.002-06:00

Every now and then we get kids on the floor that are so sick that their mental status becomes altered. Such is the case of one of my patients tonight. He's a 17 year old that had the flu, strep and pneumonia that took a medication for it that they think caused hallucinations and eventually he got renal failure. They aren't exactly sure the chain of events and what has caused what part, but the kid is SICK. And he definitely isn't there most of the time. At the beginning of my shift the respiratory therapist was trying to get him to take his breathing treatment, so his mom was trying to wake him up since he tends to go ballistic if you try and put a mask on him. So she woke him up and told him he was going to need to open his mouth to put his mouth piece in, to which he replied, "Not right now mom im in the shower." Trying to keep a straight face I continue to listen as his mom tells him, no you aren't in the shower right now honey, so I need you to open your mouth. Again he replies, "I said I was coming!" His poor mother told him that she knew he was coming but that he really wasn't in the shower so he just needed to wake up and open his mouth. Then the immediate need struck that had to go the bathroom and he had to go NOW. His mother took to action trying to unhook all of his monitors and get him to the bathroom, but he hadn't even made it a foot before he said he couldn't wait he couldn't wait and began peeing everywhere. This was just the start of my shift. This poor kid has been like this for days. The night before he was up for 4 hours because he was hallucinating that there were rats in his room. Sometimes hes at the library. But hes never in the hospital, that part we know for sure.

I had to share

2009-01-07T04:37:00.000-06:00

We got a kick at work watching this little adorable girl! LOL she has got Beyonce DOWN!

Have a happy period

2009-01-07T01:31:00.003-06:00

I don't know if there was even such a letter written, but this letter was sent to me by a friend and it had me rolling so hard, I just HAD to share it. Sorry if some of you don't like it, but I know how crazy us women can get during our periods but this just takes the cake.

A Letter to Brand Manager Proctor and Gamble

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for over 20 years, and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi-pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher?

Ever suffered from 'the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my 'time of the month' is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?

As brand manager in the feminine-hygiene division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags,and out-of-control behaviour. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's balls into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in capri pants. Which brings me to the reason for my letter.

Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words:

'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you f---ing kidding me?

What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness - is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James?

FYI, unless you're some kind of sick freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walmart armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to
end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out out of your a**, man. If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put Down the Hammer' or Vehicular Manslaughter Is Wrong'? Or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your accounting department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending crap. And that's a promise I will keep. Always.

Best,

Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX

What A Girl Wants

2009-01-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

A friend and I were discussing relationships the other night. He seems to be fed up with relationships and always getting hurt so he has decided that for 2009 he is going to take a more "love em and leave em" approach to dating. Just use them for what you need and leave before you get hurt. While I can see where he is coming from, the desire to not have your heart broken. However I know that there is so much more out there to have. And that is what I want. I want love, and I am willing to risk the heart breaks, as painful as they are, to find that love. There is someone out there who knows how to love me, the journey is just long. But someday...

1. Touch her waist.
2. Actually talk to her.
3. Share secrets with her.
4. Give her your jacket.
5. Kiss her slowly.
6. Hug her.
7. Hold her.
8. Laugh with her.
9. Invite her somewhere.
10. Hangout with her and your friends together.
11. Smile with her.
12. Take pictures with her.
13. Pull her onto your lap.
14. When she says she loves you more, deny it. Fight back.
15. Always hug her and say I love you whenever you see her.
16. Kiss her unexpectedly.
17. Hug her from behind around the waist.
18. Tell her she's beautiful.
19. Tell her the way you feel about her.
20. Open doors for her, walk her to her car- it makes her feel protected, plus it never hurts to act like a gentleman.
21. Tell her she's your everything - only if you mean it.
22. If it seems like there is something wrong, ask her- if she denies something being wrong, it means SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT- so just hug her
23. Make her feel loved.
24. Don't lie to her.
25. Don't cheat on her.
26. Take her ANYWHERE she wants
27. Text message or call her in the morning and tell her have a good day at work {or school}, and how much you MISS her.
28. Be there for her when ever she needs you, & even when she doesn't need you, just be there so she'll know that she can ALWAYS count on you.
29. Hold her close when she's cold so she can hold YOU too.
30. When you are alone hold her close and kiss her.
31. Stand up for her when others put her down
32. When walking next to each other grab her hand
33. When you hug her hold her in your arms as long as possible
34. Call or text her at night to wish her sweet dreams
35. Comfort her when she cries and wipe away her tears.
36. Take her for walks at night.
37. Always Remind her how much you love her.

2009: Even better housekeeping

2009-01-05T00:52:00.002-06:00

Last year -- that would be 2008 -- was my big "clean-up" year. Everyone probably has at least one of those. I ended my relationship; in retrospect, it was doomed, but I would only learn why much later. See, I turn into one big optimistic goof when it comes to love, at least that is what I found out last year. I am the kind of person who doesn't reads the "warning" labels on medication bottles. Same thing when it came to people. I plunge right in and hope the water's fine.

This particular relationship was unlike any other I had had in the past. I guess you could say I'd made a resolution. I made a conscious decision to do it right, and to do so consciously. For the first time, I didn't promise; I delivered. I rooted myself deeper whenever I felt like walking away. I didn't let disappointment color my perspective. I never asked myself, "What if there's someone better?" I looked to the good stuff in front of me (and yes, there was good) and said, "Okay, this is it. You're the one."

You have to be good with yourself to say, "I'll be there for you through all of it, and I won't let go." That's scary stuff. People blab this when they're wind-surfing the "in lust" phase. But those who actually mean it prove it by simply not quitting. I said and meant all of it. I can't say it took a lot of courage or effort. It didn't. It was a matter of tendering "love" as an action verb, not just a feeling.

And yet, it failed miserably and ridiculously -- because there are always the exceptions that are beyond control. Love is strong, but it's no miracle worker. I leapt before I looked. I chose the wrong person to bestow these very important gifts. It would be a simple fix for me to tell you, "Oh, he was awful, a terrible, terrible person," but that statement is easily rendered irrelevant; we all have a choice in which situations we place ourselves. Playing victim is a child's game. I am accountable for my choices. All of them.

There were other lessons.

History matters. Examine a person's life. Note recurring themes. By the time someone reaches a certain stage, they're locked and loaded. If all their relationships played out the same way with little variance, you can cross your fingers and wish on every star, but you're not going to be the exception.

Love outside the box. Take a chance on someone you normally would never consider. Eliminating rigid standards you've established for your "perfect person" is a great way to measure your ability to love unconditionally.

Is communication always possible? You'd think so. Consider astronomy. The stars whisper to us from light years away; they tell us all about their size, their properties, about their little star friends hanging out nearby. If the stars can speak and we can understand them, the sky's the limit, right? But then there's the dysfunctional array. No matter how many ways you rearrange the words or appeal to a sense of empathy or fairness, the message isn't received. At that point u gotta know when to stop talking.

Here's the important one. It's easy to fall in lust; in lust can blind you. But the person who's a one-of-a-kind won't just jump into your arms. Think about how foolish a person is to claim unconditional love almost instantly. They don't know you. Sure, you know that you're great, but they have only your word on that. Why should they take your word when they don't know you? The worthy one walks around you several times, scopes you out, figures out if you're worthy, too. Remember the Little Prince's fox? You tame the good. That's how people make themselves special -- by holding out just for you.

Looking back on 2008, what used to look like a monument to Love often seems like a house on moving day, littered with fast-food containers, empty soda cans, and uneaten food festering with mold. I know I did good work, because it was genuine. It was for the right reasons. But too much got tossed into the donation pile. The primary reason I started blogging a few years ago was to find out who Rachel was, aside and apart of anyone else. What's rattling around in my head? What do I want to do? Who am I -- what do I have to say about this? At the beginning of 2008, I didn't know the answer to any of these questions and I may not have ALL the answers now but I'm moving in the right direction. Many of my friends have helped me move out of the debris and move forward. It wasn't an easy time for me, but some how I think I have come out an even better person. I now realize that I really am capable of love. But not just love but I can love harder and deeper than I thought possible. So now all I can do is look towards the future.

Amazing!

2009-01-04T03:00:00.000-06:00

Tonight my friend Monica and I had a girls night. We had fun as always. We had dinner, ice cream and we managed to squeeze in two movies. The first of two we say was Seven Pounds.

This was a simply amazing movie! Had me feeling emotions I was not prepared to feel. It was thought provoking, emotional and a fabulous performance by Will Smith And Rosario Dawson.

The Second was Marley and Me. I have read the book. And I LOVED the book. There was so much I could relate to having a lab myself. There are many characteristics that Marley possessed that I can see in my dog Daisy. The movie was amazing! It is definitely something that everyone needs to see. It was fun to see the book come to life. While there were many details about Marley that were covered in the book it still is one for eveyone to love.

"What I really wanted to say was how this animal had touched our souls and taught us some of the most important lessons od our lives. 'A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours,' I wrote. "Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things- a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty"

Double Agent

2009-01-03T04:29:00.000-06:00

I remember back in the day when Shahna would have girls from the ward over to watch Alias. It seemed like several people would go, but I hadn't ever watched the show so it was too late for me to start. I always remember them going on and on and on about how awesome the show was. So last year I got the first season as a gift by request, and I was hooked. Talk about right up my alley. I have mentioned before that I LOVE LOVE LOVE movies/shows where females kick butt. And that is just what this show brings! Action, betrayal, disguises, mystery. Its great! I know im so behind on this bandwagon, but better late than never right? I took a long break from watching the shows and then I forgot where I was. I watched like 5 repeat episodes and now im back on track. Im half way through season 4 and there are twists and turns around every corner. Amazing! Its a great treat for when its after 4am and u still can't sleep!

You belong with me

2009-01-02T16:51:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time I was in the situation of being in love with a friend. Year after year I watched as he would date others and they would make him happy for a time and then break his heart and I would be the one he would come to when things feel apart. I was always the one to help pick up the pieces and mend the broken heart knowing I would never be the one that actually held his heart.
I knew I wasn't his type, or at least what I thought was his type. I was just the friend. I would never be the girlfriend. But I always wished that he would see that I really was the one that knew all about him. I was the one that supported him and was there when he needed me. He was my one person that everyone got compared to. No one would ever be good enough until I let him go. Until I moved on. And so I did. I had to, I had to leave him in my past so that I could possibly have a future. But this song by Taylor Swift rings so true. Its exactly something I would have thought to myself. I have to laugh when listening to it, because that was me so many years ago. Its a tough place to be, but guys are stupid. They never see whats right in front of them.

Taylor Swift
You Belong With Me

You're on the phone with your girlfriend
She's upset.
She's going off about something that you said
'Cuz she doesn't get your humor like I do...
I'm in the room
It's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do'

But she wears short skirts
I wear T-shirts
She's cheer captain
And I'm in the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up
And find that what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see
You belong with me
You belong with me

Walk in the streets with you and your worn-out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on a park bench, thinking to myself
Hey isn't this easy

And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say your fine
I know you better then that
Hey whatcha doing with a girl like that

She wears high heels
I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up
And find that what what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see
You belong with me

Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know
Baby...
You belong with me
You belong with me

Oh'
I remember you drivin' to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh
When you know you're about to cry
And I know your favorite songs
And you tell me about your dreams
I think I know where you belong
I think I know it's with me...

Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along
So why can't you see
You belong with me

Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time
How could you not know
Baby you belong with me
You belong with me

You belong with me
Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me
You belong with

You belong with me...

Disney's falsehood

2009-01-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Disney, girls starting at a young age have been fed these fairy tales of falsehood. If we believe what Disney has taught us, we all have a glass slipper. We are just waiting for the handsome knight on his white horse to come charging up to us, slip on the magic slipper, it will be the perfect fit and we will ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after.

The problem with that is if we wait around our whole lives from someone else to come along and make us happy we are NEVER going to be happy.
We girls get a certain idea of romance and love and “Prince Charming” from these movies, and when we go out into the real world, we find there are no “Prince Charmings”, no movie-perfect, happily-ever-after loves, and romance always has its downside.
It’s Newton’s laws of motion as applied to our love lives—for every action, there is an equal an opposite reaction, where in this case the action is all the good warm-fuzzies, and the reactions are the practical, non-romantic, real-world side of things. We learn to expect certain things from watching these movies. We want the happily ever after; we want the relationship where everything always turns out all right in the end; we want “true love” and the “perfect man”—and when we find they don’t exist in the real world, we’re very, very disappointed.
We set our standards too high, and are left not knowing what to do about real-world relationships. We get stranded in movie-land, with a cardboard, cartoon Prince Charming, and no idea how to go about dealing with real people, real relationships, real life—with all its flaws, where there is no real happily ever after.
I’m not saying it’s impossible to happy with real relationships, but rather that we’re never going to be happy at all until we learn to look past the fluff and fancy of Disney movies and chick flicks and deal with how love really is, how life really is, and how men really are. Fluff and fancy have their place, but they shouldn’t be our guides and standards. It’s time for a reality check when it comes to love.
I have been listening to my new Taylor Swift CD, and she has a song on there called white horse that got me to all this thinking. It is slowly becoming on of my new favorite songs. But there is this part of the song that really rings true:

"I'm not a princess
This ain't a fairytale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood,
This is a small town
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now its too late for you and your White Horse,
To come around."

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

I have decided that 2009 is going to be my year. I have had enough of sitting back waiting for my time to come and I have decided that I am going to have to do what it takes to make 2009 my year. For starters I have gone and gotten myself a new job. While I love working in the hospital and love the children whos lives I get to touch, I don't love the being gone for 14 hours at a times, being up all night, working all holidays, and always having to work weekends. So with the encouragement of family and friends I have gone out and found myself another job.
Starting on January 19th I am going to be working for Caprock home health agency. They are just opening up their Richardson location and are trying to get it up and running without having to operate under the staffing of the Abilene office. I am their first RN staff nurse they have hired for this location. I will be going to the homes of new patients as they get them and assessing them and formulating a plan of care. As far as I understand I will also be assisting in some classes they are doing for kids with forms of mental retardation such as down syndrome or cerebral palsey. I have been informed that there will be a lot of driving and a lot of paperwork involved in the job. But I am looking forward to not be involved in the physical grunt work of taking care of a patient because my bad back just cannot handle anymore of it. After working for this company for 3 months I will be able to get a company car, and they pay for my medical and dental benifits, so that will be nice. I am looking forward to this, hopefully this will be just the change I need to start my year off right.

Hope everyone's new year was wonderful! Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings. It really does mean a lot, I love your comments! It makes writing more worth while.

Memories

2009-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

When I was about 7 years old my parents moved us into my great grandpas old house. This house was a site to see, it was originally supposed to be a chicken coup but instead was converted into a small, and I mean SMALL house. My parents gave the kids (I guess that would be me and Sharon) the option. We could move into a house that was far away from the city that may be a bit bigger or we could move into this house and we could get a trampoline AND a swing set. So of course you can guess what we chose. So back to the house...
This house was a one bedroom house. The carport had been converted into a second bedroom and that is where the 3 girls (Me, Sharon and Lauralee) slept. We lived there for 3 years. We all started out in the same bed and eventually moved into bunk beds. Looking back on the pictures I now see just how small this house was. The back half of the roof slanted so hard that my dad couldn't walk into his room and stand up straight without hitting his head. Same went with the bathroom, there were no showers to be had by the grown ups. You couldn't stand in the tub. The funny part about all this, is some of my best memories as a child were in that house. We got a 3 wheeler and we had fun riding that thing around our house. One of my friends tried riding it one time and clothes lined herself on the trampoline. Guess she lost control of it. We had a rhubarb plants in our backyard and we loved picking those and eating them. So tart! We loved having dance contests on the trampoline. It was a great age where you danced to the words of a song and reenact them. Sharon and I had best friends that were sisters and the 4 of us always tried to con my dad into picking a dance contest winner. But he was wise and never would. He would place us in our separate age categories and make us all winners of that age. It used to make us so mad!
I have since gone back to see this house. Its so run down now. The 30-40 foot pine tree in the front yard is gone, the large row of rose bushes up the walk-way are gone. The yard is dead. Its quite sad. It still makes me laugh though, we lived in a house that was supposed to be a chicken coup. And we loved it!

Christmas Visit

2008-12-31T04:30:00.000-06:00

Chet and Valerie came and visited again over Christmas. It was great having them here as always, it was such a fun and relaxing time. Chet is always so helpful when he comes to visit. They left on Monday and I had to work that night, so I stayed in bed til late. And while I was sleeping, he cleaned the bathroom, took down my Christmas lights and hung up this Cafe sign my mom gave me in the kitchen. It was such a treat, I have never been around someone who is always so willing to help. Its quite a treat! My family just loves having them around which is great as well. When Val is in town, Macie is her best bud. She loves to go where ever Macie goes. Its just fun to have them around, its just happy times. I feel as though we are in a way, playing "house." Its like I get to see what its like to be married and have a child for a few days. And the thing is, I love it, and can't wait to have it. Someday I say....someday!

Say what?

2008-12-30T05:44:00.005-06:00

So I am at work tonight, and I had made myself a hot chocolate and brought it to the desk. One of my coworkers Monica loves to constantly harrass me about being Mormon. She knows a guy that works in security that considers himself a "jack-mormon" and she has since decided that every Mormon must indeed be of of these. She is insistant that I am out getting drunk every weekend and sleeping around as every "normal" person is, dispite what I tell her. But anywho, I digress.
So I bring this hot chocolate to the desk and she goes "Are you allowed to have that?" I was all, hot chocolate? Of course I am. And she goes "oh yeah its because you are one of those...one of those...whats it called?" Knowing full well she was going to yet again call me a "jack-mormon" I just decided to tell her the word so the teasing could begin. But much to my surprise I didn't tell her "jack-mormon" I somehow said "Jack-ass mormon." LOL I turned about 20 shades of red the second it came out of my mouth, I am not sure why that was what came out. A little miscommunication between my mouth and my brain. But now I will never hear the end of it. Monica just loves telling anyone who will listen that I am now a "jack-ass mormon." STUPID MOUTH! : x

License to Parent

2008-12-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

Working in the field that I work in, I have a lot of experience with parents. I mean why wouldn't I, I take care of kids, and consequently with kids comes parents....well in most cases. In my years working in the hospital I have come in contact with tons of parents. Young parents, old parents, good parents and some really really terrible parents.
Older parents, when it comes to being a parent for the first time, can be very bad in and of himself. They are clueless, they freak about EVERYTHING! We had a first time mom who had to be in her mid thirties and she brought her 3 day old baby in because she was lethargic. She said all she did was slept. I tried to explain to her that newborns do sleep all the time. That they probably sleep upwards of 21 hours a day. But she claimed that the first two days of her life, in the hospital she was awake a lot more, but now all she did was sleep. She also thought her baby was having seizures because her baby would sometimes shudder when she was sleeping. I tried to explain to her that it was a normal to do while sleeping. But sadly when you go into an ER claiming your newborn is lethargic and having seizures, they have to run test after test and put the baby on antibiotics for at least 48 hours to make sure the baby hadn't become septic somehow.
And then we have the extremely young parents. Children having children. Right now we have a 4 1/2 month old who's mom is 15 and the dad is 13! Mind you, in case you hadn't already done the math, subtract the 9 months of pregnancy and the baby age, that makes the dad at the most 12 years old when the baby was conceived. The baby has been in the hospital for over 3 weeks and since he was on a ventilator he has developed a difficult time eating. At this point he is almost ready to go home, all we have to do is get him to eat 3oz every 3 hours. Seems fairly easy, but its not. The child has developed an aversion to food and when the mom is only 15, she is not too willing to work with the kid. Especially when the feedings interfere with her sleep. My opinion, not that it matters, is you have no place becoming a mom when you are still wearing Hannah Montana shirts.
I have learned a lot from my job and my interactions with those around me. I have learned a lot of dos and don'ts in my job. Its amazing the things I see while I work. Lots of sad stories and situations. The hard part is that they don't require a license to become a parent. And when poor parents have kids its the kids who suffer. Its hard stuff to see.

Christmas Morning

2008-12-28T21:00:00.000-06:00

This year I had to work at the hospital on Christmas Eve. Im usually stuck working that or Christmas day, that is just the way it works in a hospital. So I started getting text messages at 715am from Amy, she was anxious to open her Christmas presents and wanted to know when I would be home. She doesn't quit understanding nursing and that you don't get to go home the second the clock strikes 7am and my "shift ends." So I got home at 8am and then it was rounding everyone up and convincing my mom to get out of bed, cause she had had a late night. We all hit the jackpot as usual for christmas. My mom always spoils us rotten. I was able to snap a few pictures of our oh so early faces. I thought I would share with anyone reading.

Macie starting to take out the contents of her stocking, boy she looks tired!

Amy got a skirt in her stocking

David reaching into his stocking. Daisy wanted to be involved in all the action but she just got in everyones way!

Dad cheesin it, half asleep too!

Amy sitting on "santas" lap

This is how Cooper cuddles with me early in the morning

Wherever the presents were, so was Daisy

Everyone just starting opening them at once

Even Grandma came out to join the the festivities

London kept watch over the presents

Daisy finally settled down under my moms feet out of the way

That thing called life

2008-12-28T05:21:00.004-06:00

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. ~Jennifer Yane

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. ~Chinese Proverb

This past week I have been under an intense amount of stress. I don't like this. Stress is something I try to avoid at all costs. Some people would say its the "holidays." Though the holidays can be a stressful time, I can't put all the blame on that. My job is most definitely a large source of stress for me. It always is this time of year. We are busy, VERY busy this time of year! Its respiratory season, which means tons of patients with RVS, Asthma and Pneumonia and a lot of times a combination of 2. We have some extremely sick kiddos and a large portion of the kids are under a month old. As a nurse we are taught that "air goes in and out, blood goes round and round and anything different is something to worry about. As difficult as it seems this whole air going in and out thing is sometimes a really HARD thing for these kids. Especially the little babies with RSV. Some nights its like I can never get a break because im constantly running from room to room because all my patients are dropping in their oxygen saturation. Its hard work!
And sadly my job is not my only stressor right now. I have had a lot of stressors in my dealings with others. I have the unanswered questions of the future, the dealings with unhappy friends. And I do try and do as the quote I have posted says and take life one day at a time. But there are just those times when life takes u by storm and you are knocked off your feet before you know it. I need a break. I need a time out from my brain. I just want to check out for a while til the stress subsides. Is that really possible?

10 points to ponder for 2009

2008-12-25T01:52:00.002-06:00

Number 10 Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8 Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

Number 7 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day;teach a Person to use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6 Some people are like a Slinky.....not really good for anything but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

Number 4 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 3Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?

Number 2 In the 60s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

AND THE NUMBER 1 THOUGHT FOR 2009!We knew exactly where the one cow with mad cow disease was located among the millions and millions of cows in America but we still haven't got a clue as to where tens of thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located.We should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of immigration

Gotta love Madlibs!

2008-12-24T04:26:00.002-06:00

Dear Santa,

I have been a good Girl.

It really wasn't my fault what happened at Holly's Christmas party. It was Chet who spiked the punch with too much Pepsi. I can't help it if I drank 6 glasses. It was so good---smelled and tasted just like Perfume.

I thought it was funny when I put Monica's T-shirt on my head and danced the Polka on the Couch while singing `"Just Dance"'. I didn't mean to break Holly's I-pod and don't know why Holly would sue me for Drive by shooting.

I don't remember calling Jon's wife a Beautiful Horse---even though she looked like one with Purple eye shadow and Green lipstick!

And when I threw up on Jenny's husband's Nose, it was only because I ate too much of that Fried Rice.

After all that fun, I admit I was a little tired. So I fell asleep on my way home and drove my Hummer through my neighbor's Roof. I don't think that was any reason for my neighbor to call me a Tan Cat and have me arrested for Murder!

So, Santa...here I sit in my jail cell on Christmas Eve, all Kind and Quiet. And I'm really not to blame for any of this Lazy stuff. Please bring me what I want the most---bail money!

Sincerely and Poorly yours,
Rachel (Really a nice Girl!)

P.S. It's only 2 bucks!

Tis the Season

2008-12-23T00:00:00.001-06:00

For those of you who don't follow Natalie's blogs, there was a blog she wrote called An Open Letter to Mr and/or Mrs Grouchy-Pants. While the humor found in this blog was very typical Natalie aka Snarkie Belle, it has been something that has been on my mind a lot the last few weeks. I am not usually one that likes to get into the hustle and bustle of "the season." I love to gift gifts to those I care about, so its a great excuse to do that, but what I don't care about is the constant music starting after Halloween, and the crowds, oh how I hate the crowds!!!
I needed to do some grocery shopping tonight. I tried to go to Kroger first, my mom tried to tell me it would be cheaper than Walmart plus I figured there would be less crowds. But after picking up 5 things and finding every single one of them more expensive, I decided to make my way to Walmart. I didn't even try to find a close parking spot, I knew there was no use. Needless to say, Walmart was pure chayos. It took me close to an hour to make my way up and down the food isles. Don't get me wrong, I did it with a smile and said hi to people as I passed by, but it wasn't easy. At one point, when I was in line and then I realized I forgot something, I knew it was going to delay me a great deal, I tried singing Christmas songs to myself. That is so not typical me, but I wanted to stay happy and not let this madness get me down. I did not want to be Ms Grouchy-pants! So I made it out alive, and everyone lived to see another day. Now hopefully I can avoid that "fun time" againt til after Christmas. But u had better believe, I will do it all again once Christmas is over. I need a good crazy sale to cheer me up. TIS THE SEASON!!!