Comment on the gift of time.....

For the last few years 2 of my good friends and I go to the Melting Pot at Christmas. We call it our gift of time. It's perfect-we schedule 3+ hours to spend talking and catching up, plus we get to eat amazing food and if we have a good waiter (which we usually do) the diet cokes flow like wine and we leave happy.

This was what was left of our last course: so amazing! The cheese fondue with apples and the rice krispie treats dipped in the chocolate are my faves.


Also it was nice to get a break from running errands outside when the sky looks like this:

Yep, we're breathing that in. Hence, I had to use my asthma inhaler for the first time in 2 years.
Love those Utah inversions.

Can't wait for snow and Christmas in Pocatello!

Comment on ward choir.....

In the LDS church you will find that almost every ward has a ward choir. The ward choir usually performs on the Sundays surrounding Easter and Christmas and maybe once a month beyond that.

The ward choir is made up of people in the ward who enjoy singing. Sometimes you may have a choir that is actually really good, or sometimes a choir that is downright off-key but everyone smiles and tells you what a good job you did anyway-but it doesn't matter because as long as you can sing, or have a desire to sing, all are welcome.

Unless you're in my friend's ward. Apparently her ward takes their choir a little too seriously. This is an email she received a few weeks after moving in-

Dear Friend of Jen*:

Your name has been recommended by the choir leadership as one of the singers in the ward that we definitely need to have participating in this Christmas season's choir performance on the 20th of December.

We'd like to ask if you could support and participate in the ward choir, particularly this season. Do you think you could arrange to attend the ward choir rehearsals at 12 noon (in the basement of the East Wing)? We really need consistency from singers like you, and to have a different attendance pattern in the choir this year (as you know, it is commonplace for the good singers to only show up at the last moment). Anyway, if you could help out, we would appreciate it. Also, the choir this season will be directed by {some guy} (associate choral director for Ballet West). I'd suggest you approach this request as a "seasonal calling." Let us know if you think you could make the commitment.


Lastly, you are invited to a choir dinner/social ......... Come and enjoy!


If your sister*, (insert name) , also sings, invite her.


Regards,
The Bishop of the ward

Really? REALLY?


That is all.

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent, also my friend has no sister which makes her wonder if they sent the email by mistake. All in all I'm sure that the choir will sound great but is it necessary to make it by invitation only? Kinda makes me sick!

Comment on the spirit of the season.....

Tonight I was able to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. It's quite the exclusive event as tickets are drawn via lottery or based on who you know in Mormon World. I came by my ticket via my aunt and uncle Pat and Ron and the fact that 2 of my cousins weren't able to go.

The concert was fantastic.

But my fave was a conversation that took place after I hit the ladies room and was trying to get back to my seat. The stairs to my chair (it's a rhyme!) were at a standstill due to people waiting for the ushers to help them find a seat and we were a little backed up at the top. I wasn't concerned since I already had a seat and I'm very patient (no comments from my family here please). Suddenly these 2 dudes came up behind me rudely questioning why nobody was moving, loudly announcing that they NEEDED to get through because they ALREADY had seats SAVED for them.

I was so bugged! I mean we were at a Christmas concert. Christmas is centered on Christ, so shouldn't we be Christlike at a Christmas concert?

I think so.

I calmly looked at the most vocal gentleman and told him that the people were waiting for the usher to help them find a seat and that since we already had seats it wasn't a problem for us to wait a couple of minutes. The girl in front of me who was seatless turned back and smiled at me. The dude looked at me very annoyed. I didn't care.

Within a couple of seconds of the exchange we were able to get down to our seats. Wouldn't you know the dudes were sitting next to us?

I swear (but not at the Christmas concert of course).

Comment on welcoming winter.....

There's nothing like getting up before 8am (the first time in days-nay, weeks) only to be greeted by frigid temperatures.

There's nothing like calling your mother in Florida to hear that it's 65 degrees.

There's nothing like taking an extra 10 minutes at the gym before working out to undo all of the extra layers, then putting all the layers back on at the end of the workout.

There's nothing like the increased heating bill I'm scared to open.

But on the other hand.......

There's nothing like the feeling of Christmas in the air.

There's nothing like wearing Uggs and scarves and warm puffy coats.

There's nothing like hot chocolate (and the TimTam slams-thanks Lisa!).

There's nothing like watching the snow fall from a warm house (or apartment) while watching cheesey Christmas movies on Lifetime.

I guess I'll take the bad to enjoy the good.....

Comment on social commentary.......

Remember when I mentioned my annoyance with baby talk?

Imagine my delight when it was addressed on The Office last week:

Comment on the music in the air.......

I realized at midnight that it's officially December, officially Christmas, despite the fact that the retailers would have us believe that Christmas started Nov. 1st.

So now, for me, the Christmas season is in full swing, and I plan to enjoy every second of it. My favorite part of Christmas, well, one part anyway, is the music.

Instead of putting up one of those annoying music players on my blog I thought I'd give you the option to hear the songs if you wish-if you want to get in the Christmas mood. It was hard to narrow it down to just 8 songs but here goes:

Manheim Steamroller-Christmas doesn't start until I hear Deck The Halls-it was the theme music for KSL Channel 5 back in the day and it was the song played for commercials for Festival of the Trees here in SLC. So Great!


Ok, So Manheim is on here twice-for years their music was the only Christmas music our family listened too. Carol of the Bells is one of my faves-so powerful! Transiberian Orchestra almost rivals it-almost....


My college roommate, Bev, would play this every Christmas-it drove me crazy but I fell in love with this cd and now I have to play it every Christmas too.....


Ran acrossed this little gem on a Christmas cd I bought for a Sarah McLachlan song-


This song was on the first season of Felicity-the finals episode when Noel drank the beet juice. I have to watch it every Christmas to remember how horrible finals were yet how awesome it was to know that Christmas was just around the corner...


Dave Matthews singing about Christmas? I can't resist....


The first time I heard this song it was 'heartbreakingly beautiful'. I looked all over Provo for the cd it was on, and ended up ordering it off of amazon. 2 years later I discovered I'd had the song all along-it was on Sarah's B-sides, Rarities and Other Stuff cd. If I'd only listened to the entire cd I would have saved myself $20.


Heard this song on a tv show recently-can't remember which one. Heard it again in Bath and Body Works and decided I had to have it. Found it by accident on amazon.com. It falls under the 'hauntingly beautiful' category.....


So what about you? What's missing from my list?

Comment on a little inside joke.......

In our unit, you may end up needing a helmet to ride the short bus

Luckily we can provide those for you......

(Gail just got hers-she's excited!)

Comment on the burning flame......

Jan*

Last night at my place of business we discovered that it was Jan's birthday on Thursday, yet it was Jan's last shift for the week. We didn't want Jan's birthday to go uncelebrated-we had to do something! Luckily, Danette had brought in monster cookies (for those who haven't had the monster cookies they are amazing!). Unfortunately we couldn't light a candle-it's against regulations, but in a burtst of inspiration I fashioned a candle out of a toothette (a mint-flavored sponge on top of a sucker stick used to do oral care) and cut out a 'flame' with paper and a yellow highlighter.

I won't go into detail about how hard it was to get Jan to let us sing to her and give her the cookie because I wouldn't want my readers to think that we are anything but serious at work, but there was some wrestling and hiding under desks. She's small but she's strong people. Anyway it all worked out in the end-and I'm so proud of the cookie! My favorite is that in the flash of the camera the candle looks like it's bright and shining! Just like Jan!

In other work news:
It was chicken nugget night!
We infiltrated the 1:00 lunch group-well, only 2 of them-but watch out!
I am officially passed off on the surgical/sepsis part of Intermediate III!
I haven't laughed that hard in weeks!

Don't you wish you worked at my place of business?

*Jan's picture was taken after obtaining informed consent with the understanding that it would be posted on this blog

Comment on my favorite (misinformed) medical shows.....

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of medical shows. I stayed true to ER for however long that was on, I'm holding strong with Grey's, love House, Three Rivers helps pass time on Sunday nights, and Scrubs is great for laughs.



Watching these shows now that I know more about the medical field is a whole new experience. I recognize that they have to get around certain things for creative license or whatever, but still things are quite laughable.



For example-in House, Three Rivers and ER they have thrown patients on ECMO and within a small amount of time the patient is off ECMO and walking out the door. Really? is all I have to say. My fave was on Three Rivers when the dude is in heart failure yet on a nasal cannula, goes on ECMO and is still talking and not intubated and the ECMO pump is just this teeny thing and there's no nurses at the dude's bedside. For your information-this is an ECMO pump:

It's a little more than a no-man operation here.

While I'm writing this I'm watching Grey's, an episode from season 2 where they have the baby quints in the NICU. This is my fave:

The one kid has hydrocephalus and immediately got a shunt-really? REALLY? Yeah, first you have to evaluate for a reservoir which takes weeks, then another several weeks/months before they even THINK about placing a shunt.

One kid has gastroschesis (guts on the outside). Apparently they're doing a staged closure but the remaining intestines are all wrapped up close around the baby's abdomen. They should be up in a bag with no pressure on them so you can evaluate for necrotic bowel.

One kid apparently has hypoplastic left heart syndrome and they're evaluating for a norwood-I'm pretty sure that kid would have to be bigger and probably needs to be on more support than this 1kg kid is.

One kid has bad lungs-no big deal-The kid gets apneic and immediately they're intubating. Really? We wish! It's called blood gases, increasing O2 support-pulling out high flow, cpap, then intubation. Usually takes hours.

Anyway I used to hate people like me who complain about the medical misinformation that gets tossed around on these shows. And it doesn't deter me from watching these shows-if I didn't what would I do with my time?

Maybe I just wish that in the real world things would happen as fast as they do on television.

Comment on missing 3 posts!

Bad cold.....

Comment on being (a) patient.....

This is me an hour ago, in the doctor's office with my offending ankle that doesn't feel like it's healing.

Prognosis? Go see a sports medicine guy.

I think I'll wait a bit.

I hate going to the doctor.

Comment on not worrying anymore......

Today I went to the gym a little later than I had planned which isn't a big deal. However, since it was later in the evening I decided I would do my grocery shopping on my way home. This meant that I ran around Wal-Mart and Harmon's in my Nike workout pants and my grey sweatshirt. Now I don't like running around town in my gym clothes but I'll do it if necessary.

However, I don't feel bad about that anymore due to this little gem:

Yes, folks, this is a picture of an actual person at Wal-Mart which has been posted on peopleofwalmart.com. So next time you feel like you can't leave the house without make-up on or if you've just come from the gym, just keep in mind that there are more shocking things out there.

Also as a side note, it's interesting to note that a lot of the pictures sent in to peopleofwalmart.com are from the southeastern section of our country yet there were not pictures from Utah.

And then I saw this:

I guess no state is exempt......

Comment on my motivation....

This is me and Steffy P back in 1999, a mere 2 hours before I made the infamous phone call that got me fired from NuSkin back in the day.

But that's not the point. The point is that I love this picture-I was in my "prime". Since I've put on some weight in the past year (I blame the depression and anxiety but really how long can that be an excuse?) my goal is to find that body again. Shouldn't be hard right?

That's what I keep telling myself.

The best part is-I thought I was fat!

Which makes me wonder-will we (as women) ever take off those dim-colored glasses (not rose-colored by any means!) that keeps us from realizing how fantastic we really look?

What do you think?

Comment on Christmas in July.....

At least they waited until AFTER Halloween-can't wait to see what happens next year-maybe they can start after Labor Day.......

Comment on a conversation.....

Earlier today on the phone:

Mom: Your father would like to talk to you
(phone gets passed)
Dad: So you're road raging now?
Me: It happens when I get frustrated
Dad: Can't you control yourself?
Me: I was in control of the car the entire time!
Dad: Where did you learn to road rage? Your mom never does that!
Me (laughing): Well I seem to remember that you struggle with elderly drivers
Dad: I don't recall that
Me: That's interesting
Dad: It's not road rage so much as instructing others on the proper way to operate a vehicle.
Me: Huh.

Comment on why I couldn't tell you what day or night it is....

6:10pm Leave for Work
6:45pm Arrive at work
7:00pm Start Shift
9:50pm Get Caffeinated Beverage and Bran Muffin
2:00am Go to Lunch
4:00am Feel Like Zombie
6:45am Give Report
7:20am Drive Home
7:35am Talk Self Into Not Crashing Into Other Cars
8:00am Fall Into Bed
3:00pm Wake Up
3:30pm Go To Gym
5:00pm Shower, Make Dinner, Pack Lunch

Repeat x4 days

Comment on the little things......

So after last night's road rage and an entire shift of alterntating between being ticked off at stupidity and outrageously funny sarcasm, I've decided to try to be more kind and loving towards others today.

Easy, right?

Well, considering that there's something about working that can turn me into a bitter old NICU nurse it can be tough-but I'm determined to fight it tonight! And in that tone I decided to list the little things that I'm grateful for so that I can focus on the positive things in life.

Here is what I'm grateful for:
*Various people at Lifetime Fitness who turn in my gym card when I leave it in the lockers

*The last bran muffin in the cafeteria that was waiting for me when I went to get my beverage and small snack

*Listening to general conference talks on the way in to work to avoid road rage because how can you road rage when you are listening to apostles speak?

*My uninterrupted sleep-you know, that kind of sleep where you wake up in the same position that you fell asleep in and you've slept like a log and you weren't woken up by the garbage truck or dogs barking in the trailer park acrossed the fence-it's a good feeling!

*The Office episodes on my Ipod that I fall asleep to

*My DVR that records past episodes of Desparate Housewives so that I can catch up on what I've missed

*The rockin' roommates that I have at work tonight!!

I could list more but I'm feeling pretty good about things tonight-and I will keep trying to have a positive attiude and not want to strangle people on the road or at work because that would be wrong....very wrong.....

Comment on road rage....

You'd think that as a strong member of the LDS faith, with a strong desire to be Christlike. But that all goes out the window when I'm driving.

Case in point: Tonight I was driving to work. It was my first night going to work after the time change so it's completely dark outside when I left at 6:15pm. Now keep in mind that I have a hard time at night guaging how close cars are coming when I want to change lanes.

But I digress.

So I am driving along at a cruising speed of 80mph, so I make my way to the fast lane where fast people belong. All of a sudden there's brake lights everywhere and we all slow down. I debated risking the fine and jumping into the carpool lane but I decided against that. After inching along for about 10 minutes the right lanes start clearing out. My fellow drivers were able to inch out of our lane that was at a complete stop, but due to my inability to guage the spacing between cars I was stuck in my lane.

Finally as I was ready to kill somebody, the middle lane started slowing down for us so we could get over. That's when I noticed that just ahead of me, in my lane, there were 3 cars with their hazard lights on, and in the first car was a little old man (at least I think it was-I could have been wrong.

Now I don't know if the car had broken down or if there was a fender bender there, but it had stopped all of us! I was so mad! While I felt bad for the man, it did not stop me from yelling at the top of my lungs various words that are usually reserved for work during a code situation.

Yeah.... It's definitely shameful. It's kind of like one of those things that only you know you do, and well, the old man in the car, since I was yelling and my windows were rolled down, and I contined to yell until I got to my exit. But now that I've confessed to my readers I can put it behind me and hopefully do better-until the next traffic jam.....

Do Utah blondes have it better? - ABC 4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News

Do Utah blondes have it better? - ABC 4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News

Posted using ShareThis

Comment on trying.....

So my goal has been to celebrate National Blog Posting Month this year by posting every day in the month of November.

So far I'm not reaching my goal. I started out a day behind, then yesterday my internet wouldn't work, neither did blogging from my Blackberry (the one downside I've found to my fancy phone). So I will have 2 posts today-does that count? I think it does!

I appreciate the comments I got on my post about hair color, both in-person and via the blog comments. Basically it seemed to be mixed-people liked my hair both ways. I decided to go darker for the winter (with white-blonde highlights-my favorite kind!). Of course the next day Channel 4 news does a story on the benefits of being blonde in Utah.

Maybe I should have gone to the salon AFTER seeing this story*




*Look for the next post to be the story-you can actually send a story to your blog so everyone can read it! How fancy is that??

Comment on going home......

Asking someone where they are from seems like a simple question that should provide a one-word answer. Unfortunately for me, that isn't the case.

Through my childhood/teenage years I lived most of my life in Provo, and part of my life in Albuquerque. When I graduated high school and went to BYU my parents proceeded to move all over the country. Well, not really but it felt like it! Therefore, whenever it came time to go "home" for the summer or for Christmas break, I wasn't going back to the place I grew up, I was going to wherever my family lived at the time. While this helped me grow closer to my family I missed having that sense of going home to a place that was familiar and that I knew like the back of my hand.

But that's all changed. My parents 'settled' down in Pocatello back in 1998-and have actually stayed there (kind of) since then. The ward they were in became mine as I left for my mission from that ward, and then when I returned I decided to live in Pocatello and go to ISU for my nursing degree. I got to know Pocatello really well from doing title inspections and working for a doctor's office where I could interact with a lot of people from the community. It became my home.

Now that I've moved back to Utah, I love coming home to Idaho. It's the sense of familiarity that I enjoy. I love that I see people I recognize when I go out and run errands, I love that I know shortcuts to get from point A. to point B., most of all I love our house and the fact that it represents love and family.

It was also hard (and still is) when people ask me where I'm from-initially I stuck by my old standby of Provo since I've lived there the most number of years, but let's be honest, Idaho has become my home and I'm proud of it!

Comment on people who went blonde this summer...

So as the last warm breath of sun dwindles in favor of autumn's crisp breeze

(that sentence didn't take me as long to think of as you might expect)

I want to reflect on those who blazed new trails to see how the other half lives-and went blonde.....

Sandra Bullock

Leighton Meester

And me

(please ignore the fact that in this photo I'm wearing NO make-up-if you sat in a chair for 6 hours at the salon you wouldn't have the energy to put on make-up either)

Sandra and Leighton went blonde for movie roles, which is why they are paid more than I am for their days' work. But my reasoning for going blonde? I did it on a whim one week. I do that-I get an idea and it sticks and the next thing I know I'm getting getting a 3rd ear piercing or dying my hair red, or black, or blonde, going to nursing school, buying a blackberry, buying a new car, whatever. This summer it was going blonde. It happens. Leighton's gone back to her dark roots, I'm not sure about Sandra but I hope she does-and as for me....I'm weighting my options....

Since everything is a learning experience I'd like to share with my fellow bloggers the good and the bad of this summer's hairstyle.

I didn't recognize myself for a good month when i looked in the mirror-and when I did I felt really pale-which caused me to actually use the foundation and bronzer from my Bare Minerals Starter Kit, which added time to my daily routine, when I bothered to care. Which I usually did care, at 3am while looking at my reflection under the fluorescent lights of the bathroom at work when my skin looked grey and my hair looked like straw and I questioned why on earth I even look in the mirror at that time of day.

While living as a blonde I found out why my (not so natural) blonde roommates from years passed only washed their hair every few days-because the bleach dried their hair out so much oil ran away in fear. That was kind of nice. Straightening my hair became a cinch since my ringlets had no idea what to do with all the chemicals and wanted to be straight more than curly.

I seemed to lose some interest from the latino male population which actually was more of a plus than a negative. But did I gain interest from the caucasion sect? Not too sure.

I do know that I don't feel quite myself without my dark hair-and when I see pictures of my dark hair I miss it, and I miss being able to have my normal curly hair (never thought I'd ever say that 10 years ago!). But it has taken a long time to do the blonde and I do really like it. What to do?

Help me decide!!!!

Comment on learning something new about myself....

Sometimes people give me a hard time, or 'crap' if you will, about my use of styrofoam cups.

But I can't help it-it's genetic.

Like Father......

Like Daughter......

Comment on my lack of creative juices.....

So for awhile there I had all kinds of blog post ideas running around my head-as if I could post comments for years.

And then I lost it.

What caused this loss? Among other things I blame:

1. Work which sucks my imagination and creativity dry.
2. The onset of the Fall TV Season. Yes, I capitalized that as if it's a national holiday because for me, it is. Speaking of which-I'm loving Glee (as previously mentioned), Mercy, SYTYCD, The Biggest Loser, The Good Wife, The Office, Community, etc. etc. etc. Yes, I have a problem. Admission is the first step.
3. Going to Idaho to visit my parents-I go and then I never leave-only due to impending shifts at work do I come back-at the last possible second.

I think I'm coming back though. I had a few thoughts I'd like to throw out to the internets:

I'm freezing. The last three days (aka my nights) I've slept in sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and socks with extra blankets on my bed. Because I'm freezing in my apartment I overdress and end up being too hot when I go outside. That's something I hate about "Indian Summer". Speaking of Indian Summer-shouldn't it be renamed Native American Summer? It just seems more PC.

I hate emptying the dishwasher. I will load it till the cows come home-but emptying it takes me forever to get around to doing. I think it's because the tupperwares get all tossed around and filled with water and then I have to dry them. Ugh.

I swear whenever I meet a cute guy he's either married or gay. Yes, that's right-I said it. Even if dude isn't wearing a ring I still assume he's married or gay-not every guy wears a ring. I think they should just so I don't bother with unneccessary conversation.

I read A Thousand Splendid Suns basically in one night shift (don't tell my managers). I loved it.

My place of business needs to always have bran muffins for the night shift workers. Or just one for me. I love them.

I'm pretty sure that edamame gives me heartburn. I'm also pretty sure that excessive diet coke drinking has given me heartburn. I was going to cut back on diet coke, but I decided to pick up some Pepsid AC at Walgreen's today so that won't be necessary.

I'm coming down with a cold. I hate that feeling. The headache, the semi-nauseated stomach (or at least that's just me), the sore throat, the combo of Alka Seltzer Cold, TheraFlu, and Airborne. Yuck.

Zupa's has the best Wild Mushroom Bisque soup. I had some tonight-I ordered the combo and barely touched the salad because the soup was just that good. Combine that with catching up with one of my favorite people and it was a good night (can't wait to do it again Marie-preferably in Seattle!).

My Aunt Pat makes the lightest, flakiest, most tasty (I hate that word but it works here) peach pie ever-holy crap! I had half a piece tonight and may need to go back in for the rest of it.....

That's all for now. I can feel those creative juices flowing-hallelujah-I'm back!

Comment on having a little Glee in my life....

If you're looking for a show that combines high school drama, quirky Arrested Development-like humor, and covers of songs that are actually good-Glee is the show for you! If you need more encouragement check out this video of a song from last week's episode. My itunes account is now back in action as I download my latest Glee faves....



So what do you think???

Comment on Speaking English.....

So once upon a time I was thinking about going off Diet Coke-frills I was totally going too, but I decided it was ok to drink but just at work. Then McDonald's came out with this fantabulous summer promotion where you could get large drinks for only $1. The reason I support this is two-fold: it's cheaper than what I pay at work (the cafeteria told us that when they raised their drink prices it was ok because they were still cheaper than anywhere else you could buy drinks-ha!) and Diet Coke from McDonald's is SO MUCH BETTER than DC from the cafeteria at my POB. They need to clean their taps because it's not tasting so good. I need to feel the burn and have my eyes water upon drinking-and it's not happening right now.

Another positive aspect McDonald's $1 drink is that they have styrofoam cups for their sweet tea. Now I learned from my mom when I was in Florida that you can request the sweet tea cups for the diet coke. Call me crazy, blame me for being the cause of increased landfills, but I firmly believe diet coke tastes better in a styrofoam cup. Add balled ice and you've got the nectar of the gods.

Now it may sound like requesting the styrofoam cup would be simple-I had no problems doing this in Pocatello or Florida-but in Draper, UT it's like I'm asking for world peace. The problem you may ask? My local McDonald's is full of employees who "no speaka da English"** or are fearful of handing out the styrofoam cups. I shall illustrate my experiences ordering the styrofoam cup in various scenarios:

Scenario #1-I wait in the horrendously long line (it's as if the McDonald's on 123rd South puts catnip in their food because the line is always SO LONG) and pull up to order, "Can I get a large diet coke in a styrofoam cup?" McDonald's Employee, "Um......I'm going to have to check with my manager. Me, "Ummmm.....ok". I get my styrofoam cup but feel like I got away with something I shouldn't have.

Scenario #2-It's lunch time and they've got a ESL (English as a Second Language) employee outside helping expedite orders. Me, "Can I get a large diet coke in a styrofoam cup?" Employee, "..........Large diet coke and chicken?" Me, "No, large diet coke in a styrofoam cup". Employee, "No entiendo" (aka "I don't understand" in Spanish-yes, that's right-I am now speaking Spanish in my own country*) Me,"sty-ro-foam cup-the cups you use for sweet tea". Employee, smiling, "yes, yes ok". I pull forward and get a diet coke in a regular cup. Fortunately for the employee I had just come from the temple and consciously made the decision to not make a scene.

Scenario # 510 (not really but I had a few more mishaps before finally........
Me, "Can I get a large diet coke in a styrofoam up?" Employee, "Oh, you mean the cups we use for the sweet tea?" Me, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean-bless you for understanding, when do you usually work? Can I name my first-born after you?"

Ok, so I may have exaggerated that last part-but it was as if the heavens opened and angels sang as I was handed my diet coke without incident.

The moral of the story-it's a good thing I don't drink alcohol or I would surely be an alcoholic if the ease with which I crave diet coke is any indication. And I appreciate fast-food employees being able to cater to my whims-it may be cheap food but customer service can make you or break you.

**I'm not prejudiced against those who come to America looking for opportunites to make a better life for their families. America is a haven for those looking for peace and prosperity (or at least it's supposed to be). However-if you are going to be here I think English should be learned. I also think you should go through the proper steps to become a citizen. I also think that if people aren't here legally they shouldn't have immediate rights to our government paying for their healthcare. The point is-if I move to another country I wouldn't expect to be there for years and not be able to speak the language. Not trying to be offensive about it all-it's just my opinion afterall-and my blog :)

Comment on relaxation.....

After spending a few hours in my old stomping grounds, I took the long way home to Draper through the hills.

Windows down, sunroof open, DMB's Under The Table and Dreaming playing, and an awesome moon......

I could melt into a puddle of happiness......

Comment on life and death....

Working in an intensive care nursery you know that babies don't always make it-but the difference between knowing death happens and experiencing death with a patient is completely different.

Back in October I experienced my first patient passing away. I cared for this sweet baby for a few months and had grown to love her. When I found out she wasn't going to make it I was completely thrown for a loop. It was expected yet unexpected. I cried a lot. I cried through report, I cried through my shifts with her, I cried at home and was unable to sleep. I cried because of the unjustice of it all, for the pain that she endured, and for the fighter that she is. I cried because of my fear of seeing someone die. The last two nights before she passed all I did was hold her practically unceasingly. When it became obvious that she was leaving us I held her closer and softly and tearfully whispered to her that it was ok for her to go Home, that her Heavenly Father and her elder brother, Jesus Christ, would be waiting for her. She slipped away quietly and was at last at peace.

I, however, was not at peace. I didn't realize how stressful my job was until this point. I slipped into a state of depression and anxiety that was a lot of fun to deal with. I started to have panic attacks when going to work, afraid that I would have to see one of my sweet babies not make it. Luckily through therapy I've been able to start the mending process. Which is good-because working in an intensive care nursery, babies don't always make it.

Earlier this summer I began caring for another patient that I inevitably grew to love in a short period of time. I read over her history and realized that her time on this earth would be short, but it didn't matter. I wanted to make sure that she would feel love during her stay in our unit. I spent many nights holding her and talking to her and rubbing her head which helped calm her down. I took care of her the night before she was discharged to spend time with her family at home-she had a hard day that day and slept most of the night, except for a few short minutes when she opened her eyes and smiled as I talked to her before she fell back to sleep. I'm grateful I've had those moments with her.

I attended her funeral today-my first funeral for a patient. The services were wonderful and filled with love for this sweet baby and her family. I cried through the funeral. I cried because I was able to care for such a sweet baby, I cried because I know that she was brave enough to come to earth and be given a body that was imperfect just so she could be resurrected one day and be able to live eternally with her family and her Heavenly Father, and that I know this and that makes me able to deal with the pain of loss. And I cried because I'm so blessed to work in a place where we experience these hard moments that make the good moments that much better.

And that's why I do what I do. It's not just holding cute babies (like people assume), it's dealing with life and death situations. Sometimes I come home happy and rejuvenated, but more often than not I come home and am utterly exhausted by what's occured. When I realize I've done the best I could and helped these babies feel loved and get the care they need, whether it's a happy ending or not, it's worth it and that's all that matters......

Comment on baby talk....

So I have a question-and it is simply this-what is it with girls baby-talking to their S.O.'s (significant others)? The only reason I bring this up is that I've had friends say they hear it happening, I hear it happening on various dating reality shows (I mean I hear OF it happening, I don't actually watch those shows-no, not me), and then I was a personal witness to it when overhearing the conversation when I was trapped in the room and unable to leave.

This most recent event that I am speaking of completely threw me over the edge when the convo was closed with the words 'eskimo kisses'. Yes, that's right-I said it.

Now don't get me wrong-I'll kind of baby talk to the babies-you know, in the higher pitched voice I guess, but that's a normal reaction when the baby is cute and looking at you. But I have not once baby-talked to a dude I was dating. Ever. Which begs another question-

Do guys actually find this attractive? I wouldn't think so-but what do you readers out there think? I'm really curious....

Comment on a goal not written down is just a wish....

So once upon a time I was all about goal setting. I had all kinds of goals. Go to nursing school, independent study in the NICU, graduate with a decent G.P.A., get job at my current POB, live in Draper, lose the mission weight, enjoy my church calling, make friends in Idaho. I methodically checked every goal off my list.


But amidst all that goal-setting and achieving I forgot to think ahead to the future. Serious goal-setting has fallen by the wayside in favor of prefacing everything with 'someday' or 'next year'.


Hello future, I'm unprepared. Nice to meet you.


As much as I've enjoyed my goal-free-live-by-the-moment existence, it's time to reign it in. I've had some bumps in the road that were unexpected but it's time to hoist myself up by the bootstraps and get back in the game (yes, I just said 'hoist myself up by the bootstraps'-I don't know what that means but it sounds inspiring).

In order to achieve the goals I've set I get to do fun things like practice self-restraint and reintroduce the word 'no' into my vocabulary. After 2 years of doing whatever I've wanted to do this should be interesting but it'll be worth it in the end, right? And seriously, I'm not going to throw a fit like a 2-year-old if I don't get what I want RIGHT NOW.

At least not in public anyway.......

Comment On Purging......

No, not that kind of purging....I hate throwing up remember?

I would make a terrible bulimic.

But when I feel that I have collected a superfluous amount of stuff that causes my closet and/or room to floweth over, I have no problem 'purging'.

(My purge pile-went directly to DI by the way)

Not that I'm much of a collector of things. I was trained early on that things don't matter, and if you're going to buy something buy quality things and treat them well so they'll last a long time. When it comes to my stuff I have a theory that if I haven't worn something for at least a year or if it's been boxed up and I haven't missed it, then it goes. I don't care if it decreases the amount of clothes I have, if i don't wear it it doesn't count anyway. And if it's in a box and I don't even remember I have it-it's not being used anyway. Of course when it comes to journals or the few things I have from my childhood and my mission that goes out the window. Although sometimes I'm tempted to just toss away.

I think it's cathartic to get rid of stuff. As I toss out the old I'm literally getting rid of things that used to define me, to make room for the new person that I am. I feel clean and fresh and ready to move forward instead of wallowing in the past. I learn that I can do more with less and that I feel more complete when I'm able to move about freely in my own space. The feeling of walking into a clean room with everything in it's place is a breath of fresh air. It helps me to enjoy the silence and the peace. It's fantastic.

On a different note-the moose pants were an official casualty of the purge party. So long moose pants......

Comment on my favorite drive.....

This morning I had to leave one of the most peaceful places on earth....

To embark on one of my most favorite drives...

I had all my favorite driving necessities....

My sunroof open to reveal the most beautiful clouds

I think deep down I might be a country girl at heart-I love the smell of the fresh-cut hay, the open sky, and the feeling that you're the only person on the road.....

Just me and the possible road hazards-it was open range country after all....

Until I hit construction outside of Lava.....

But before I knew it I was taking my last exit....

And my last turn before finally arriving home.

Comment on taking things a little too far???

So I love to read. Once I get started on a book I turn into an obsessed woman who can't put the book down. This summer I took a book to the Lehi Roundup Rodeo (let's be honest-does anyone REALLY enjoy barrel racing? I don't think so. I'm there for the action of bronc and bull riding) and to the Kenny Chesney concert. Now let me say this, I did not read during Kenny (how could I while dancing, screaming, and singing like a schoolgirl at an 'NSYNC concert-it's been 2 days and my throat still hurts) but I did read during the intermissions and Miranda Lambert because I was unimpressed. In fact, the lady next to us (my brother brought a book too) said she should have done the same thing.

DJ and I and our books at the concert

But I digress......

Books like Confessions of a Shopaholic-or LA Candy are fluff-aka books to read at 3am at work when you can't stay awake (not that I read or fall asleep at my place of business). Other books with more substance are books that I will finish, put my book down and then think about it for awhile. Sometimes I will get insights into my soul (I'm trying to sound deep here). I love when I can think about how the character's lives change and how I can be bold enough to make changes. Or on the flip side how the experiences they've had have shaped their lives which reminds me that I can't judge someone's actions because of the experiences they've had. Plus when you read it's much more engaging than watching tv. You're imagining how the characters look and developing the scenes in your mind. It just keeps all neurons firing on deck. So great. I just don't get it when people don't like to read*.....weird.....

Well, I'm going to sign off-I've got a new book to start.....

*I don't mean to offend any of my blog readers who may be non-readers, this is merely my own opinion which is what blogs are all about-right? I'm starting to sense some ideas for another post...

Comment on customer service.....

(pic taken by Jon the waiter-the reason you can't see Jamie is because he didn't warn us before he snapped the pic and then refused to take another one)

So in the last week or so I've had some two very different experiences with customer service.

The first was last week in Park City-at my favorite PC mexican restaraunt-Baja Cantina. Fab food I tell you-and the diet coke definitely did burn on the way down and cause my eyes to water. Doesn't get any better.

However the service could have. Our waiter-I think his name was Jon, looked, as my cousin Jamie said, like an out-of-work construction worker (due to the economy) who could get no other job than being a waiter at the restraunt. Jamie is too kind. I decided he was an aging ski bum who was attempting to make money on tips to subsidize his winter lifestyle.

But I digress.

Jon struggled with his customer service skills. It took him like 5 minutes to figure out how to write out that Jamie and Jessica only wanted 2 beef tacos with cheese, nothing else (do you want tomatoes? no. Do you want lettuce? No, I want them plain). I was told that I ordered the wrong quesadilla because I requested chicken instead of pork. I was mocked for wanting a plate of limes, Elisha had to literally flag him down for us to get refills, and in the end he mixed up all of our checks, which I think was his revenge for the fact that we wanted the bills separate. And what did he receive as a tip? Well, since we had a party of 6 or more they automatically add a 15% gratuity. Disgusting.

Fast forward a week. Today I decided to take my car to the Mike Hale Acura Dealership where I purchased my car to get the oil changed. I did this because they do a free car wash and since I never wash the car myself this worked well for me.

I got to the dealership and parked my car and went to check in. There were desks inside the service area where men dressed in shirts and ties were ready to assist me with my service needs. I found out that I was actually supposed to pull my car into the garage, I said I'd go get it,
but service man went and got my car for me. He then told me I could sit in the waiting room while my car was taken care of. I proceeded to the nicely air conditioned waiting room where I sat in a nice leather chair and enjoyed the complimentary beverages while I read my book, or if I'd taken my laptop I could have enjoyed free wifi. Maybe next time.

When my car was done I saw a mechanic park it in all of it's clean and shiny glory. I started to get ready to go when one of the tie-guys ran to my car and pulled it up in front of the door and then ran back in, came to me and said my car was done. He told me that he had it turned on with the a/c going since it was such a hot day. Seriously? Does this really happen? I went to pay for the oil change and my bill was actually $5 than what I pay at Jiffy Lube. I left very happy with my experience and I plan on going back again-I mean how can I not?

And so my point is-you gain customer loyalty by excellent customer service. If only everyone could understand that. I'd like to start with my flex spending account company.....

Comment on the latest in gym attire....

Oh how I wish I had a picture of this.....

Today was just another day at the gym-I got started about 4 hours later than I wanted but if I had gotten there any earlier I would have missed out on quite possibly the most amazing thing I've ever seen at the gym in my entire life-

A woman, running on the treadmill, in black exercise pants, and her bra. Now this might sound normal-I mean lots of women exercise in a bra and pants. But this was no sports bra-it was a regular white bra. Clasp in the back, regular straps, no support. Things were flailing about everywhere. I think my mouth has never dropped open so far.

And this is the clincher-she had a baby bottle instead of a water bottle-and she was using it!

Wow. Just wow.

Comment on how it went down.....

I appreciate all the support I received to step-up and break-up with my trainer . This is how it all went down:

I went to the gym for my 1:00 appointment with trepidation-would I actually be able to do it this time?

I go into the gym and head upstairs-and the trainer is nowhere to be found...

I warmed up and then still couldn't see him-so I got very excited because we must have had a scheduling mix-up somewhere-which 3 months ago would have bugged the crap out of me but now I looked at it as a gift. So I started my own weight routine.

About 20 minutes later I spotted the trainer and he came over to me and said that he had messed something up-blah blah blah-and when could we reschedule. So I rescheduled and then asked how many more sessions we had. He said this would be the last one. And I said, ok, and after this one I'm done.

It was so easy! I'm so excited! So I'm going to let him know any exercises that I want to go over for our last session so he can write up some plans for me and then I'm on my own. Yea. So excited. And so glad that I finally did it!

Comment on breaking up....because it's hard to do

A long, long time ago, I was actually in a dating relationship with a guy who was very nice and I liked him, but we didn't have much going on in the form of conversations, instead we, well, my mom reads this blog so you do the math. The time came that I figured we should probably not date anymore, yet it was impossible for me to break up with him. Every time we went out for over a month I would swear that tonight would be the night I'd end it, and every night I would lose my will to do it. So I broke up with him over email. Yes, that's right-I'm that girl. In fact I couldn't even write the email-one of my co-workers did it for me. Please don't think less of me.

Fast forward to the present. I've been in this relationship for the last 4 months or so, and I need to find a way out. I've tried breaking up with him before, but it just hasn't worked out. I get all psyched up to do it, and then I find myself getting sucked back in. And just who is the 'him' I'm referring to?

My personal trainer.

Yes, that's right. I've been working out with a personal trainer since February. I always said I wouldn't get sucked in to personal training, seeing as how I was trained to be one myself, but I got caught up in post-depression recovery and thought it would be a good idea. It hasn't been bad-in fact I even enjoyed it for awhile. Then I started dreading our workouts-too much pressure to perform. Then my therapist recommended getting outside, so lately I've been less inclined to go to the gym and more inclined to go outside and work on my running and becoming one with nature.

I tried ending the relationship before summer hit with the excuse that I would be really busy with vacations and such (all true) but the next thing I knew I was agreeing to dropping from 2 sessions a week down to 1. He told me that he was afraid if I didn't keep up with the sessions I'd go downhill. So back I went. Kicking myself later of course. Seriously- I worked out before he came along and I'll continue to work out after.

So my time with my sessions are coming to a close and I'm sure the subject of me continuing with him will come up again in a week or so. He should see the signs coming-I've rescheduled more often than not or cancelled at the last minute, so really it should be no surprise.

I hope I've learned my lessons from the past and that I'll be able to be straight forward and say we are done. It's over. Wish me luck......

Comment on going from phase 1 to done.....

So I've always had the philosophy that hair can be changed at will. Let's be honest, it's cheaper to change your look by changing your hair color than buying a whole new wardrobe.

I've never been one to shy away from haircolor-I've done dark, red, dark, red, more dark, highlights, whatever. The one thing I have stayed away from is going blonde-yes, that's right, blonde.

Why am I scared to be blonde? Well I just think some people don't belong blonde, plus living in Utah, the land of highlights, I liked being different with my dark hair.

Well I guess I got sucked in because I decided one night that I wanted to try blonde hair-I mean why not? What do I have to lose? Nothing I say....nothing.

And so goes the process-this is my before picture:

(one time after I first dyed my hair dark my Grandma Mills exclaimed upon seeing it "Who did that to your hair!?! You look like Oprah!!" I replied, "my friend did it", to which Grandma replied, "Well she's no friend"-and you wonder where I get my 'open mouth insert foot' issue)

Note that my hair is pretty dark. So when I told my hair stylist (is that the proper term?) that I wanted to go blonde she said I'd have to do it in stages. It could take 3-4 stages she said. No big deal I said.

This is Stage 1:

Stage 1 took 6 hours. Yes, that's right-6 hours. And while my hair is indeed lighter, the camera and lighting don't really catch that my hair matched my sister's dog. In the sun we had the same orange tint.

(Oh puppy-she's so cute!)

Today when I went to the salon I was prepared for Stage 2 with books, snacks and drinks. I was the last appointment of the day (at 1pm) and I figured I'd be there for another 6 hours.

Boy was I surprised when it only took 4 hours and Chris (the stylist) was able to get my hair blonde-in only 2 stages! She was as shocked as I was!

This picture doesn't show exactly how light it is-I keep shocking my roommate who doesn't recognize me-and I kind of shock myself now too. I can't wait to see how my adventures as a blonde go-I'm sure I'll have tons of comments about it.......

Comment on this week's shopping trip...

Jon & Kate AND The Real Housewives of New Jersey????

I. Can't. Stop.

Comment on the moose pants

Oh moose pants-how do I love thee-let me count the ways:

• I love that I bought you during the after Christmas sales at Old Navy for $7.99, there was an entire rack of you and your siblings just waiting to be purchased and I took advantage and bought you and never looked back-

• I love that you stayed with me through nursing school, always waiting for me to come home after a long day of clinicals and put you on before I did anything else. Your softness continued to comfort me at my new place of employment as I dealt with the stress of being a NICU nurse, along with the anxiety and depression that plagued me this last winter-

• I love that due to countless washes you were the softest pair of pyjama pants I have ever owned-

• I love that you matched the moose plates that my Grandma gave us for Christmas one year-

• I love that my mom wore her pair of moose pants to Senor Iguana's one night when we went to dinner after going tanning and nobody noticed, yes-that's right, nobody noticed-

• I love that I wore you to Harmon's with my Uggs, embarassing my sister-

• I love that I continued to wear you even after the bottoms of your legs became frayed and worn because I loved you no matter what you looked like-

• I love that although I've purchased several new pairs of pyjama pants since that day at Old Navy I've always come back to you-

The saddest day of my life was the night a few months ago when I got up from the couch and stepped on your pant leg that was exceptionally long for my shorter legs and you tore up the side. I thought that it would be ok, but after that incident every time I've worn you you've continued to tear, leading me to believe that your time in my closet is coming to an end.






And so, dear moose pants, I don't know how I will part from you but I know that I must let you go. Your life has lasted much longer than expected. Know that I will always cherish our days and nights together, and I will never forget the comfort you provided.




Love,

Your faithful wearer

Comment on last night's dream.....

AKA Signs and symptoms that I've been reading too many US magazines:

So in my dream I was flying to Alaska with Jon & Kate plus 8 and all of their crew and nannies
(in my dream they weren't getting divorced which makes sense because that makes me really sad)

We were flying to Alaska in a plane that apparently was huge enough to have five million bathrooms and a movie theatre
(when you have to go to the bathroom and you're sleeping do you dream about bathrooms? I do-TMI?)

After I helped get the 8 Gosselin children settled in the movie theatre for their flight
(because I'm just that helpful)

I sat in the front row of the movie theatre plane with my best friend, Robert Pattinson
(seriously? I don't even like him! I think he's only cute in certain photo spreads, not actually in real life and DEFINITELY not as Edward in Twilight)

Rob and I were laughing about how paparazzi would probably take pictures of us and think we were dating, even though we were just BFF
(so apparently I want to be chased by paparazzi now?)

And the movie they were showing during our flight on the movie theatre plane?

Twilight
(the movie I can't even get through a 2nd time)

That's all I'm going to say

Comment on my latest addiction.....

So I had lunch with a good friend and her adorable little boy today (we missed you Andy!) discussing the happenings in our lives and more importantly, our opinions on The Real Housewives of New Jersey-but I digress....

On the way home I had to stop at the store for a few groceries.

I. Hate. Grocery. Shopping.

I think my dislike of grocery shopping was instilled in me from a young age. I don't know if it was my grandma's panic attacks when I'd go grocery shopping with her or my mom complaining about it every time we go-but somehow it's rubbed off on me (the dislike, not the panic attacks). Today's trip didn't take too long to pick up my few items thank goodness, and as I waited in the line to checkout I noticed a new US Weekly magazine.

Now I don't know if it's been the last 2 weeks of vacationing or the plethora of magazines floating around my place of business-but lately I have become addicted to US Weekly. I told myself I would be done after Jon and Kate Gosselin were no longer headliners, but when I saw Stephanie Pratt on the June 29th issue I just had to pick it up. Hopefully my friends out there won't judge me-

On a side note-

I. Hate. Unpacking.

Therefore this is what my room looks like-anyone want to come and unpack for me?

Comment on my birthday.....

So while last year I greeted my 32nd year of life with a nasty case of the flu followed by a developmental conference for work, I knew that this year could be nothing but a step up.

I was able to get a few days off work which happened to coincide with my birthday-and I got the heck out of dodge and headed to Orlando, FL to hang with my parents. I spent the day of my birth at Daytona Beach which was amazing-it was a perfect beach day-very warm and humid, hardly a cloud in the sky. I took myself back to my younger years and made my mom go out and play in the surf with me-that was my favorite part-we got some great waves.....

My birthday gift from my parents was a mani/pedi (I hate phrase it's so weird). As shown in the pictures I got a french manicure on my hands which looks so good! And those aren't even fake nails! I can't stop looking at them-I'm really sad to go back to work because the avaguard and frequent hand washings will take that nail polish off in the first hour-but at least it's pretty right now.

Although I love the after effects of the mani/pedi-I think it's awkward to get them. It reminds of that episode in Sex and the City called "The Caste System" when the girls are getting pedicures and discussing how they don't think there's a caste system in America, yet their feet are getting worked on by a row of asian women. It just makes me feel kind of weird. And then when they talk to each other in their native language I worry that they're talking about my feet (I mean I'm a runner-I have callouses! I feel like that needs to be printed on my t-shirt every time I go in for a pedicure). I don't like feet therefore if I were doing the pedicures, I'd for sure be making comments-especially if the person attached to the feet couldn't understand a word I was saying.

In a way I wished I spoke Vietnamese so that I could just bust out with something and call them on it. But until I'm blessed with the gift of tongues I'll just awkwardly get my mani/pedi and vainly go on my way enjoying my perfectly coiffed nails and toes.....