Hmm, it's been a busy week. Let's start at the beginning.

We had an absolutely fabulous Thanksgiving in Madison at Joe's sister's. The ride down was a little tight with Joe's parents, his brother Tom, Molli and HayZeus (we dropped them in Gladstone with Mame), but it wasn't all that bad. Crystal is a phenomenal cook - she even spent three days making gravy. At first I thought she was nuts, but once I tasted it I decided it was worth it. I'm still dreaming about some of the other dishes she prepared, especially the curried lamb stew. It was nice to have a holiday that a little less chaotic than your traditional Kirkwood Thanksgiving, but now I'm even more excited to experience the craziness we call Christmas in the UP.


We got back from Madison on Sunday night, relaxed a bit and got the house ready for my brother, Joe, who arrived Monday night to stay for a while. He's looking for a job down here, so he's our house guest while he hunts. Hopefully he'll find something good and maybe even move down here, which will dramatically increase the amount I see Jake and Johnny. Now I just have to get the rest of my siblings to move here. :)


Other than Thanksgiving and Joe's arrival, things have been pretty calm. I've been working all this week but I have the weekend off. I'm going down to Lansing for a little reunion - my best friend Teresa is having a birthday, and a bunch of us girls are gathering to celebrate. I'm coming from TC, Alyssa is coming from Marquette, Lauren from Detroit, and Sara from Mt. Pleasant. I'm very excited and we're bound to have a great time.


For now I must run, as I have to be to work in an hour. Work work work. I'm very tempted to try an instigate some change at work, but also very hesitant. Something to contemplate.

This is how it works: random stuff

I have the next five days off and it's a darn good thing. If I had to get up at 3am one more time this week I'd have lost it. I'm still recovering from yesterday: I got off work at 10pm Sunday and had to be back by 5am Monday. For a twelve hour shift. I'm not even sure that's legal, but I'll never, ever do it again. Plus I had to be there at 4am today and was supposed to work at 4am tomorrow, but a coworker called me today and offered to take the shift off my hands. Twist.


HayZeus went to the vet today. He's just peachy...they took some blood, gave him a couple shots, and declared him a cat. Dr. Peck, whom I really like, also gave me some steroids for puppy. She's going to be totally buff in no time.


Just being in the vets office made me sad. Last time I was there was when we found out MD is on her way out...and now with her breathing getting so shallow and labored at night its becoming more real everyday. I can't even wrap her leg without crying anymore. So I'm super worried about being away from her this weekend. I know she's going to be fine with Missy, but I just wish I could be with her every minute. Someday, I'm going to be the Mom that calls the babysitter every half an hour to see how the kids are.



Lyrics from a new song I'm obsessed with:


this is how it works
you're young until you're not
you love until you don't
you try until you can't
you laugh until you cry
you cry until you laugh
and everyone must breathe until their dying breath
this is how it works
you peer inside yourself
you take the things you like and try to love the things you took
and then you take that love you made
and stick it into some--someone else's heart
pumping someone else's blood
and walking arm in arm you hope it don't get harmed
but even if it does you'll just do it all again
on the radio you'll hear novemeber rain
that solo's awful long
but it's a good refrain
On the Radio by Regina Spektor


I have decided I'm going to write a life list. Kinda of like Ellen's - things I want to accomplish in my lifetime, big or small. Everyone has such a list in their head somewhere...but I'm going to write mine down and see if I can't start checking things off. Here's my start:


Take piano lessons
Learn a foriegn language
Take a class in photography
Live in another state
Learn to knit
Work for the WHO - volunteer or otherwise
Obtain at least one Masters Degree
Backpack through Europe


For now, though, the only things I'm checking off my list are going to walgreens, making supper, and watching Good Eats.

roller coaster of life.

I had to work today (of course) which isn't a big deal...except when your shift starts at 5am. A 4am alarm shouldn't even be legal, let alone necessary. I had trouble sleeping last night, so it was a rough start. On the plus side of things I think I may have been sleeping during rounds, so I don't really remember the first couple hours of my shift. And after that my work day was great - floors were quiet and I had a great talk with one of my bosses. She's going to talk to the boss that makes the schedule and see if we can't get me back on my rotation. Turns out the root of the problem is essentially that I'm too good at my job. Paul says I'm too versitile and dependable to commit to a gravy shift (it's the first to go when we're short). I told him I felt like I was getting screwed, so now that we're both on the same page I should see some positive changes in my schedule. So that was a good chat.


Another definte up for my day was a chat I had with a different boss ("I have eight different bosses Bob. So when I screw up I hear about it eight times. Eight, Bob."). We had a situation a week or so ago involving improper patient ID procedure...on the spouse of an administrator. I tried to warn my co-workers about it by sending out a very non-specific memo on making sure we're all doing things by the book, but we still got nailed. Turns out the administrator went to the head of the lab to chat about it (as I anticipated) so each and every phlebotomist will have to sit down individually with the director of the lab and be talked to about patient ID - except for me. Because I was the only person that was recognized as performing proper procedure. Score on my part! :) (Side note: I recognized the administrator the instant I walked into the room. While I'd like to think I follow our procedures to the T, I know I'm not perfect. But you better believe I was perfect in front of her! Duh!)


It wasn't until I got home that I hit the real downers of the day. First of all, I'd left the oven on over night and Joe wasn't real impressed by that one (not that I blam2e him). Secondly, Mollidog was covered in her own...well lets call its drainage, because it's not 100% blood. I guess it would be classified as typical serosanginous (never did learn how to spell that...I personally preferred to chart "pinkish-red") drainage. She had to be bathed and then I had to figure out how to let her dry without getting her oooze all over everything...it was a mess. And I pretty much cried through the whole thing. I mean I try to stay positive about her health, but I think I'm just lying to myself. Last night she soaked through an ABD pad in about an hour...so today I've got her tripled up...but it's next to impossible to keep up with her oozing unless Im home 24/7. So after I got her all bandaged up I layed on the couch with her and fell asleep with tears running down my cheeks. I slept for two hours, which probably wasn't wise considering I'm already having trouble sleeping.


Needless to say I was in a pretty crappy mood after that, but Joe did what he does best and brightened my day up. We went out for supper and rented some movies, so now I'm ready to put on some sweats and hang out on the couch.


Lots of ups and downs today, but I suppose that's ok. I hate knowing that things are only going to get tougher with the pup but I can't change that so I might as well start dealing with it. I just wish she could just go in her sleep sometime, becuase even though I know it's for the best, I think I'm always going to feel guilty about putting her down when the time comes.


Sometimes I can't believe how attached I am to that dog.

Happy Tails

Mollidog is now an internet phenomena. She can be viewed at http://www.upaws.org/happytails.php?who=81 I wasn't kidding when I said I'm slightly over-obsessed with my pup.



In other news, MD and HayZeus are getting along better:
Ok, so maybe we tricked them into it. But they are still adorable. Every once in a while we catch them touching noses...but then HayZeus tries to catch MD's tail and the pup isn't too fond of that. They're both big fans of sleeping with us though, which we allow now that HayZeus has gotten over his anxoius meowing syndrome. (See, I told you all he needed was some love)


Today is my only day off until Thanksgiving (I had last weekend off, but that's it) and my boss called to ask if I would come into work. I wish there was a professional way to say "hey, go stick it," but there's just not. So I just told him no. But if he doesn't give me my 7/7 shift back soon I might set the building on fire...


Joe finally made some doctors appointments and will start using his insurance. I find this interesting since I started using mine 6 days after it kicked in. I think he's just been jealous of all the "thank you for choosing us" notes I've been getting from all of my providers. By the way, is that a new thing? So far my primary care, dentist, and eye doctor have sent hand written notes. I've never had that before...but I guess I've had all the same doctors since I was born.


I had my first appointment with my psychiatrist's office today. I saw the NP and she was great - much more enjoyable than my old shrink, who had the personality of a piece of lint. Originally it was just supposed to be an appointment to establish myself as a patient (a crisis it not a good time to shop for a mental health provider), but I've been struggling to stay upbeat lately and have also had trouble sleeping, so she prescribed some new meds. Not only does she have personality, but she actually listens to what I have to say about meds - which means I didn't get stuck taking 4 pills twice a day that would
a)make me a zombie
b)kill my libido
c)make me gain weight
d)give me withdrawls if I don't take them at exactly the right time
e)won't make me sick when I have a glass of wine with dinner
I mean sure, there's a chance that I could get a potentially fatal rash...but at least I'll be happy about it.


Oh come on, that was funny and you know it.


In all seriousness though, thus far I've been extremely pleased with all of my choices when it comes to doctors. I absolutely love my PCP, and both my dentist and eye doc are totally good looking. And lets face it, that's a bonus.

A new beginning

A new blog. Maybe I'll even update this one...it's too soon to tell. But since I visit blog spot so much to read Crystal and Becky's blogs, I figured I might as well try. Plus, I can't put pictures in my other blogs.


I guess I might as well start with the picture I've been promising. Here's HayZeus:

Isn't he adorable? I have some better pictures, but they are at home and I am at work (shocker, hey?). So that'll have to work for now. Mollidog isn't all that impressed by his presence, but they are getting used to each other slowly.

Speaking of the puppy, she's doing ok. The tumor on her elbow is bigger than a golf ball but smaller than a tennis ball. It's been an open wound for a few weeks now, and is threatening to develop an infection. The lymph nodes in her neck are palpable and she's got two small masses on her paw, but she's not in pain and is still full of her trademark energy. Mollidog won't stop being Mollidog, cancer or not! She does need a haircut though.


In other news, I took my sewing machine to the repair shop today and the sewing guy pronounced it DOA. I guess that's what happens when your mother KNOWINGLY gives you a BROKEN sewing machine to complete your christmas projects with...jeeeez Mom. Thank goodness I started so early. Turns out the sewing guy might have a used one he can sell me for a good price with a warranty, so I'm hoping that works out. Tick tock tick tock.


I also called Cellular One and told them about my broken phone today. My replacement should be here Thursday.


Other than those few things I'm essentially knee deep in Christmas prep, which is wierd because I usually pretend Christmas doesn't exsist until after Turkey Day. Or maybe it was after final exams. I can't remember. Either way I'm working on getting my gifts figured out and I'm excited to start baking.


Oh, I forgot to mention - Joe and I went ring "browsing" on Saturday. But that's no big deal, right? :)