Card for Nicole

I mailed a card to my former teammate who was badly hurt in the terrorist bombing a few weeks ago. According to posts on social media outlets, she will be in the hospital for another 4-6 weeks. I will post some photos when I get them scanned, but a lot of other teammates have already done that. It has been fun (and as said earlier, a much needed chuckle!) to see these old photos.

N-

Best wishes for your recovery! I know you are strong and will persevere! I can only imagine how encouraging it is to see the out-pouring of emotion and support by so many friends. I haven’t been in touch with a lot of people from school/swimming, but seeing all the old photos posted and inspirational messages has brought back a lot of fond memories and suddenly freshman year didn’t seem so long ago! I recently went through a scrap book and there are several photos of you: dressed up as N’SYNC for Halloween with Lindsey, Mel, Erikka, and Stacey. You and Missy carving a pumpkin. Christmas party when you got Cortney’s white elephant gift, which was a giant, mangled banana!

Again, you are in my thoughts and I wish you a full and speedy recovery. Know that you are loved and an inspiration and there are life-long friends out here how keep you close to our hearts.

Your old buddy from the stroke lane,

SF

The card is simple and nice. The front in an illustration of a car on a winding scenic road with the text, "Thinking of you while you're on the road to recovery" On the inside is the the text, "By the way, ignore the speed limit!"

I'm also remembering just now....oh geez! I went with N when she got a tattoo! HAHAHAHAHAHA!! It was a little star on her butt that could be concealed by her swimsuit! So funny, because everyone pegged me as the rebel and the one to gets tats, but I didn't until I was MUCH older! I brought along that monkey that I took everywhere with me and the tattoo artist had this incredible mullet.

Book Fair Finds

I met up with Karen at the book fair in west county. Had air temps not been so frigid and the fornicating trees irritating my nose, I would have combed more of the tables, especially the art books and medical boooks. But I am very pleased with the items I did find:

1. '100 Ghastly Little Ghost Stories' by various
2. 'Classic Ghost Stories' by various
3. 'Colonel Cody & the Flying Cathedral: The Adventures of The Cowboy Who Conquered the Sky' by Carry Jenkins
4. 'Japanese in 10 minutes a day'
5. 'Read Japanese Today' by Len Walsh
6. 'Wicked Japanese for the Business Traveler'*
7. Japanese-English dictionary
8. Greek-English dictionary
9. German-English dictionary
10. 'An Invitation to German' by Madrigal & Meyer
11. 'Conversational German in 20 Lessons'
12. Full-color field guide to birds of North America
13. Full-color field guide to trees of North America
14. 'Fresh Ways with Vegetarian Dishes'
15. 'Fresh Ideas for Vegetable Cooking' by Massie
16. 'Men, Ships, & the Sea'
17. 'The Complete Guide to Whiskey: Selecting, Comparing, and Drinking the World's Great Whiskeys' by Murray**

*This is an exceptional find in my opinion, because it is basically a guide to Japanese slang, and includes tips for "Sumo-Style Sales Advice" and "Impressing Your Geisha."

**Whisky Writer of the Year

All 17 of these titles for $27 total!

I had a coupon for 25%, plus and additional 10% off if I used my Macy's card, so acquired needed items for a greatly reduced price:

1. Dyson cordless vacuum
2. Ninja brand blender
3. paring knige
4. chef knife
5. Emeril brand 18-piece stainless steel cooking set
6. two pair Sketchers shoes

Between the books and the items I purchased for the new house, I am all set and am not going to spend any money for a while...

Ever-Quest

My ever-quest for falafal brought me to the Schnuck's on Ballas and Manchester, and all I can say about it..."completely mesmerizing!" The eat-in area! The produce display! The alcohol area! Seriously, I have never been so in awe of a grocery store layout since the first time I walked into the Shop-n-Save on Kingshighway ten years ago and saw the Cooler Cave.

Also, as I was zoning out in the car on the way home, I came up with this Haiku:

I've got a secret.
Your hands wrapped around my neck.
I want nothing less.

The Way Back

I had the television on in the background today as I was working the daily crossword puzzle and a commercial came on for a testosterone supplement product and risk free trial offer!

So I naturally forwarded the information to Bookit since I don't want him to be a surly old sexless bastard.

His response was, "I love that you have my best interests at heart!"

My response: "On that note....why aren't you riding your moto right now?"

Seriously, folks, how am I single? (Answer: BY CHOICE!!)

Tuning Out

I just skipped over all the coverage about the bomb in Boston and instead read an article on Yahoo! about the Duck Dynasty cast and how they have all been happily married to their respective spouses for a looooooong time. And it was awesome.

I have been streeeeeeesed the fuuuuuuuuck out! I need to turn off my brain.

I have been quietly pensieve about what happened. I was on swim team with the blond from the photo, you know which one I'm talking about. Its on every front page and all the interweb sites. I have my own photo, though, of the two of us at a swim meet in 1999 that has been on the shelf in the living room for 14 years.

Erikka posted a bunch of photos of all of us freshman year. It was a lot of fun (also a little horrifying! Haha!) I have a stack of photos as well, that I went through for fond memories and a much needed chuckle.

no changes since last visit

I ran into Clarkson Sr. at the grocery store tonight. I'm surprised that we have not seen each other there before now. Seeing him in such a mundane setting made me really curious.

I wonder what his situation is that he still lives at home, and is he ashamed? Is there any desire at all to move out?

My parents are pressuring me HARD to purchase a house. I told them I was hesitant because I am afraid to live alone. Which is a little true, but mostly just a bogus excuse. My mom can be a total cunt. Cunt. It blows my mind some of the things she says to me. She deserves to be slapped in the mouth with the back of my hand for the way she speaks to me sometimes, but that is not going to happen because I was taught to respect.

The only thing I still know is that I don't know.

overhaul

I've been super freaking out on the inside all day. This morning, my boss told me we are hiring another nurse, and we're going to cross train her to do certain tasks that are currently only done by me. I do understand and agree that it is important to have everyone up to speed, but I feel more secure when when I am the only one accountable.

I am also kinda frustrated with this decision because I was going to use the fact that the other nurse and I have worked just the two of us just fine for the past two years as leverage to ask for a raise. My perception is that I have helped the office run more smoothly and efficiently and since we haven't had to pay a third nurse for the past two years, I should earn more money.

Also, I feel I am under-utilized. I was actually going to ask for more work, or if there was another task that could be designated out to me to further help the office run smoothly and efficiently.

I currently already do all the xray/photo importing, sharpening, implant returns, and weekly equipment maintenance, in addition to the consults/treatment/fee presentation and scrub duties. I never have to come in early or stay late to finish my work. I can handle everything I am supposed to do during the day when I am clocked in; I manage my time very well.

I'm curious as to why the doctor feels we need a third. I am afraid that I will be too quiet and retreat into myself if I become uncomfortable; I know that has been a problem in the past. I don't want to get pushed out!

This job is the only reason I'm still even in STL. If I become unhappy with it or get fired, I am not going to get another job in STL; I'm going to move somewhere else.

I was supposed to go look at houses again on Friday, but I kinda want to cancel and see what happens at work over the next few months.

I'm going to Costa Rica in July for sure, and plans are in the work for Greece in the August but not locked down. There is also a group of 15 cyclists leaving San Diego in September for southern tier, arriving in St. Augustine in November. I would like to do that. Then maybe stay in Florida for a while, at least for the winter. At the end of the day, though, all I know is that I don't know.

This song is a fuckin' jam:

Late Bloomer

There is a bird, a robin, who has been trying to fly into the house for literally 48 hours straight. It keeps knocking itself out on the glass window. Sometimes it has sticks in its mouth. It is obviously trying to find a place to build a nest, but it is also obviously dumb and maybe shouldn't be reproducing. I am, however, amazed at its persistence as well as the fact that is hasn't knocked itself unconscious yet.

list update

I was in a delightful, happy mood all day for reasons unknown. I was happy in the morning, then in the afternoon I was first assistant on a young middle eastern male (T.B.) who I am putting on my list of most attractive patients. I am undecided if he is #1 or #2 (it's really apples v oranges at this point).

T.B.: Seven years younger than me. He is tall and built like Adonis. I took his vitals and his BP was 113 / 63, pulse 37. I asked him if he worked out/did a lot of cardio since his pulse was so low. I knew the answer already because his arm was so muscular/hard when I put the BP cuff on it.

He had thick hair that was styled very nicely and that I just wanted to run my fingers through, no facial hair but I could tell that he had plenty of testosterone. Beautiful brown eyes, a nice skin tone. Full lips and nice teeth and gums. Also, when we were finished with the procedure and I cleaned him up and took he back up to the desk, he smiled and thanked me by name. My heart exploded!!!

J.E. : four years my senior. Full sleeves. Slight strong build. Thick plastic frame glasses. Buuuuuut, he had a kid with his ex.

All of this is fun and games. I am very aware than any crushes I have on my patients will NEVER come to fruition, but.....red-blooded office girls are red-blooded.

HAAHAHAHHAAAHA!

sad state

Goodness gracious! The current styles of women's shoes are U-G-L-Y! I just cannot get into those platforms and wedges. Even if I wasn't already six feet tall and a size ten shoe...

I also attempted to buy a swim suit tonight. Two piece. I'm concealing 36DDs and didn't have any luck. I need to go to a speciality store.

I have had a lot of luck with shorts, skirts, dresses, and boat-neck cut tops. I also purchased four pair of earrings. Two dangly pairs and two stud pairs.

Purchased four pairs of argyle socks from the mens' department because they fit me better than the womens'. I got gray scale, green, purple, and red.

I also bought plane tix to Costa Rica! My goals going in include: zip-lining through a cloud forest, hiking up a volcano, surfing and scuba/snorkeling. And not getting a parasite. Unless its a botfly and I get to lance it my self at work.

which came first?

Do I hate myself,
therefore love OWTH?

Or

Do I love OWTH
and hate myself more for it?

What I do know is that I love the new record. Moreso than the previous. Granted, it is no Hospitals, but nothing ever will be.