Right now, I am...
excited
because we have third-semester orientation today, and I might get to have a better idea of what life will look like next semester.
My experience thus far is that almost nothing was the same from first semester to second semester, so I am guessing third semester will be a whole different beast too!
interested
to meet the professors who teach in the third semester.
It's a whole new set each time.
doubtful
that I will get the clinical schedule I asked for. Both semesters so far I have gotten put in evening and/or weekend slots, but maybe this time around they will have mercy on me.
I'd love to get a morning shift one semester, especially because you get more practice doing medication administration that way.
impatient
to get the OB/women's health final exam scores (we took it yesterday).
Hopefully they will release them today!
curious
to see what my Zoom interview is like today. I am interviewing for a student nurse position at the nearby hospital, and I have not interviewed for a job since....1997.
Ahahahaha.
I am confident in my ability to handle this interview, though; I am good at talking to people, and I am definitely qualified to do the tasks that would be assigned to me.
So, there's not much to be nervous about.
planning
to wear my Buy Nothing group blazer for the interview. It's Zoom, so I don't even have to wear fancy shoes.
I can just throw the blazer on over a shirt and poof, I will be professional.
unbothered
about the fact that this student nurse job doesn't pay much above minimum wage.
I'm so used to going to the hospital for unpaid clinicals that I almost forget that I will even get paid at all for a student nurse job.
Anything more than $0 feels like a pretty nice bonus to me. 😉 Mainly I want this job because I want experience; the extra money will just be a cherry on top.
anxious
to get tomorrow's med surg final exam over with.
Not anxious as in, "omg I am so nervous" but anxious as in....impatient for it to be done.
A thing that is annoying about school is that you could always, always study more. So I never feel quite relaxed until the finals are finished.
happy
that there is very little pressure on me to get good grades this week. My "work hard all semester so I can avoid finals stress" plan is working out exactly as I hoped.
trying
to use a mouse under difficult circumstances.
glad
that I have a raincoat.
Because it promises to be raining basically all day today.
(Someone on Instagram yesterday was asking about the rain jacket: it's this one from Eddie Bauer.)
Alrighty...I'd better go get rolling on my day!
Of course Chiquita wants to keep an eye on the mouse! 😉
Right now, I am..
Trying to get all my work done for next week
Happy there is so much sunshine outside...but not so happy about being inside!
Excited to go out after work
Happy that Monday is a national holiday
Kristen, here’s hoping you get a better clinical schedule for next semester. Maybe the 3rd and 4th semester students get the better shifts??
Will the job you’re interviewing for be a summer break kind of job or would you continue when you’re back in school?
Right now I am….
Getting ready to go out on a breakfast date with hubby.
Psyching myself up for dental surgery tomorrow.
Hoping for some peeks of sunshine today. (We had the all-day rain yesterday with more predicted for this afternoon.)
Well, it's a PRN job, so you just pick up shifts as they are available. I think the requirement is just that you work one 12 hour shift every pay period. So it's flexible, and people manage that on top of school.
I'm not gonna pick up oodles of hours; I just want a little bit of experience during this last year before I graduate.
PRN is the best. Best pay rate and least commitment @Kristen,
@Kristen, What does one do as a PRN? I’ve really enjoyed the peeks inside the nursing profession, school edition so far. I was super excited to hear about your summer job, more interesting stories, I figure.
So, this job will be basically being a patient care technician. I will do lower-level tasks than what is assigned to nurses; so vitals, blood sugars, blood draws, helping patients get up out of bed, helping them ambulate around the halls, bringing them things they need, and so on.
I also will have opportunities to observe nurses doing their tasks, so that will provide further learning.
God bless you during your last final and interview! Best of luck getting your preferred rotation!! Enjoy a peaceful summer!!
Hope you interview lands you the job and good luck on your final exam!
So glad for update -- love and prayers to you and for you! Love the mouse pix!
Hope all your tests went well. Good luck with your interview. YOU HAVE GOT THIS.
I am....
listing things that need to be done before my first summer renters arrive
annoyed that Rescue Pup stepped in poop outside and then left poopy pawprints on the sofa I cleaned yesterday
No, wait! REALLY very annoyed
impatient to be finished with all this stuff so I can relax
wondering if it was a bad idea to agree to figure out what needs to be done with Mom's "estate," such as it is
tired. just really tired.
@Rose, I wish you luck with your mother's "estate" business. That's never easy.
@A. Marie, It shouldn't be too hard. She has very little stuff and very little money. We sold the house years ago and tag saled the stuff we didn't want. She died without a will so it might be not too bad. Just divide her jewelry between my sister and me and divide what little money there is between the three of us.
@Rose,
I, too, wish you luck with your mom's estate, little as it may be. Here's hoping there won't be too many legalities to deal with, and that everything goes smoothly.
It's very early morning here and I have just started my day....a cup of hot cocoa and catching up with overnight news, email, and my favorite blog, The Frugal Girl. In a little bit I'll make some breakfast, then take a shower and get dressed. I have a meeting to prepare for this afternoon which involves a lot of supplies that I have to load into the car.
After the meeting I'm visiting my daughter to enjoy some relaxation on her patio. Really looking forward to our visit. We'll sit out on her patio and enjoy the flowers and sharing each others day.
@Sandra, sounds like a perfect normal day - enjoy!
Drinking coffee and enjoying my first hour free period. This probably will not happen next year but it’s been nice!
Finishing up the last major set of draft comments that I need to get back to students this school year! I’ll still have papers, tests, and exams left to grade but they don’t require the same kind of extensive comments and help that a draft needs.
Getting ready to show videos in two of my classes so I can actually get these drafts back today.
Looking forward to potluck the parents put together for the teachers for lunch today. Our parents are great cooks and they do this once a month or so.
Really hoping my faculty meeting gets cancelled, but that probably won’t happen.
I feel like you—in 3 weeks I’ll have stuff other than school and teaching to talk about but until then I’ve got nothing else.
@Lori E-S, I'm a former ELAR (Eng., Language Arts and Reading, for those non-educators) teacher and I hear you about those draft comments and grading. Good grief! You are lucky you're allowed to show videos while doing paperwork; one of my schools would not allow this. So guess who was up until the wee hours of the night? (What'd they think I was, a college student???) Right now I, too, am relaxing during a first per. conference period for the teacher for whom I am substituting. Only 2 weeks left at this school, and one day will be a holiday. Enjoy your summer!
Kristen, I’m excited for you, too, that this semester is almost over. You’re finishing well and I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully well with your interview!
I have to ask again if I can use your flower photo as a reference for my paintings? And what kind of flower is it?
Right now I’m feeling very peaceful listening to the rain lightly tapping on our roof. And I’m feeling so refreshed mentally and spiritually after having coffee with my husband, sharing conversation with him, reading my Bible and setting my goals for the day.
I’m feeling rested and alert after sleeping well last night.
@Martha O., That flower is a future blackberry!
@Rose, thanks!
Good luck with all the wrapping up!
I am enjoying my first cup of coffee, listening to the rain, anticipating my piano lesson (very pleasant), hoping to be brave for a medical procedure (not so pleasant). Hope to solve a sewing problem this afternoon in the sweet company of the polite cat who has adopted us. She is a welcome new housemate!
Congrats on the impending end of your semester, and I hope you get everything you want in the weeks to come (especially that day shift; I'm a diurnal type myself).
Right now, I am...
Watching the birds at my feeders on a drizzly day.
Hoping the drizzle stops in time for my scheduled Audubon birdwalk tomorrow morning.
Watching Betty do her meatloaf imitation on her favorite afghan on the sofa. (Fourteen-pound cats make very substantial meatloaves.)
Glad that an antibiotic seems to have cleared up Betty's rear-end troubles. Even gladder that I gave her the last pill this morning. (She may only have her four fangs left, but she knows how to use them.)
About to go take a shower and then decide which of the chores on my "rainy day" list I'm going to tackle. Doing some cleaning in my little book room and catching up on correspondence will probably win out.
@A. Marie, I refer to my Dora Cat -- she part Maine Coon and weighs 15 pounds -- as having a tragic @ss when things get messy. I finally bought a little rechargeable trimmer to keep her fluffy bottom close cut.
@A. Marie,
Our skinny cat, Lafayette, makes a surprisingly decent meatloaf, though you'll usually find him more "C" shaped (curled up sleeping) than in meatloaf form.
@A. Marie,
The tuxedo cat featured in my "meet the reader" post weighed 18 pounds. He was best described as a silk-covered watermelon.
@A. Marie, wondering if meatloaves are what we call making biscuits? The last dump I took in is a stellar biscuit maker. I've seen her biscuit making last over 1 1/2 minutes.
@Selena, meatloaf is the pose when they are sitting in a lump with their front paws tucked under.
Right now, I am:
thinking I need a gallon of strong coffee
dreading a phone call I have to make this morning
feeling like I am letting someone down
thanking God for the many blessings He has bestowed on me.
Right now I am trying to focus on doing the work I get paid for. The unfortunate part is I work at home and keep staring at everything else that needs to be done.
Right now I am also looking at my "to do" list before my vacation starts in 2 days. I am more excited today than I was last week. The countdown is on!
Best wishes on your interview! hope it goes well.
Good luck on your final tomorrow!
Right now I am ---
reading your blog 🙂
-tomorrow is mid month closing , need to get this finished, do not like that we have two closing a month....stress!
- crap is getting real- picked up my sons graduation lawn sign last night, can't believe where are here!!!!
- thinking and planning what I need to get him for his dorm in August. (not sure how i feel about him going away!)
-not liking its another dreary day here on the northeast coast! not real happy its raining again!
Kristen. I know you will do great on your interview because 1) you will be well-prepared 2) you are a top student in your class and have excellent clinical skills and 3) You are so personable and positive and the joy within you will shine!!
Right now I am:
- Basking in the glow of a really fantastic day yesterday 'field tripping' to Los Angeles with my mom and a bus full of other folk from her 55+ neighbors. Getting to know my mom after decades of not seeing or knowing who she is as been an unexpected, late-in-life gift.
- Irritated that as a result of being gone yesterday, one element of the bathroom currently being worked on as part of our whole house remodel was overlooked. Which is why I've stopped my life for the most part until the project completes this summer.
- Grumpy that the amazing food I ate yesterday in L.A. - mesquite carne burrito, sweet corn tamale, caramel flan, Guadalajara region wines - will likely show up on the scale today.
- Looking forward to a six mile run walk along the beach to help offset some of above damage, plus clear my head.
- Enjoying the guilty pleasure of the newest season of Netflix's 'Selling the OC' because its in my hood. And while I personally do NOT have the luxury of owning a home in the 4M+ plus range as is so often displayed on the show, I know where many of them are, and have enjoyed seeing them by foot, bicycle and kayak. I commonly compare enjoying the sight of beautiful homes to going into a museum- while I can't necessarily afford to own one myself, looking and enjoying is 100% free.
Your plan to study hard all semester to be able to be prepared for finals is a lot better than my students whose plan was to have a fun , work-free semester and then pray for a miracle for finals.
Right now, trying to decide what task on my to-do list to tackle now that my grades are in. Maybe I'll put off adulting until tomorrow and relax today.
Haha, yes, I NEVER want to be praying for a miracle at finals, especially not in nursing school.
You only are allowed to fail one single class in the whole program; the second time you fail any class, in any semester, you are OUT of the program.
It's high stakes over here!
Right now, I am …
Needing an animal fix! I’m really missing my dog, but not ready to adopt another. I’m bringing a donation by the Humane Society and will visit with some animals then.
Hopeful that the seasonal maintenance being done on my AC while I write this will keep my AC happy throughout the summer and many years to come!
Relieved that my father-in-law’s blood sugar has come back down to “non-emergency” numbers and that my husband got to go visit him.
Frustrated and amused by squirrels.
I remember telling my mom that I wasn't jazzed about working the evening shift at a trauma hospital for my first "out of school" job, and she reminded me about all of the benefits - and she was right. Same for the weekend shift I do now. Its a different vibe and the people who work those shifts have their own groove that works. Day shifts are a BEAST. Of all the shifts/places I have worked, day shifts are the least enjoyable. Anyhoo. Right now I am:
*tired because since I was on call yesterday, I was asked to work 8:30 p to 1:30 a
*grateful that a co-worker split the call with me and came in at 1 a to relieve me, otherwise it would have been a 10 hour overnight shift ):
*procrastinating going to buy groceries today because I am tired
*happy to have the next three days off (even though I am still on-call)
*focused on changing up some not-so-healthy habits and adding exercise into my day
Hooray for kitties who are fully present at meetings!
Kristen, I know you will ace that interview. They'll be mega-impressed that you are a blogger superstar! Not to mention your excellent grades and dedication to patients. You've got this, my friend!
I am currently:
--Sipping coffee (brought from home) from my commuter cup in a middle school classroom. Regular teacher has a first period conference period. Nice!
--Reading and now writing for your blog, of course.
--Celebrating the fact my Wordle winning streak is now 30 days long, my longest ever. I am maintaining a 91% win rate and hope to get it even higher. I've done 597 games so far on my computer at home.
--But I only came up with 13 words on today's NYT Spelling Bee game.
--Glad to find my payment coupon booklet just in the nick of time; I was able to make a car payment yesterday, and deadline is today. Also paid a bit toward extra principle. This is a new loan I refinanced via the credit union, and I got it down to 5.99% instead of the 7% Kia Finance charged. Every little bit helps!
--Mulling over my Social Security options: do I stay the course and wait for my birthday next year before drawing? (Bigger monthly checks) Let them start benefit payments now? (Smaller monthly amount). Or agree to receive a lump sum representing 8 months' of benefits (enough $ to pay off car) and get a much smaller monthly check? I'm having a hard time deciding. It will be a new presidential term when my birthday rolls around, and I wonder what the president (whether Biden or Trump) will do about SS. If he reduces the benefits, I will have gambled and lost. Any ideas, Commentariat?
@Fru-gal Lisa, It depends how long you expect to live. I think last time I did the math, it all comes out even (smaller checks earlier or larger checks later) until age 80 or so.
I don't think either politician will touch SS. It's the third rail of politics and seniors vote.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Here are the questions I'd be asking:
1) If I wait till next birthday, how long before the bigger checks make up for the later start? (I can lay out the math if you'd like.)
2) Can I afford to do without the money till then?
The way SS has been reduced in the past has been to increase qualification age, which makes sense to me since we live so much longer. I don't see that the government has the political will or unification to make other changes.
@ Rose and @ WilliamB, ,
Ok, pls. do the math for me if you can. Here is the word problem:
I turn 70 in February. My paternal ancestors are from Ikaira, a Greek island noted for the long lives of its residents. That's why I planned to wait until 70 so I'd get more money each month. (Of course, I could take after the other side of the family which is not so long-lived...)
However, I recently discovered that I have a subdural hygroma, likely caused by a car wreck last year; if worst comes to worst, they'll drill a hole in my head to drain the brain/spinal fluids collected there. (Horrors!) Or they could say just ignore it. I haven't made the neuro doctor's appointment yet. I'm first going to the sinus guy -- the CT scan of my head for the sinus problem is how they found it.
So, am I going to live a long life as per my ancestry (even though I don't follow their diet or lifestyle)? Or am I going to have problems bc of the bonk on the head I suffered?
I can opt for SS to pay me retroactively dating back to last October which would give me a lump sum, approx $18 grnd, enough to pay off the car I had to buy when my other car was totaled in the above-mentioned mishap and then $2608 a month. Or have them start it right now, around $2617/mo because they'd deduct the Medicare payment, which would help me through the lean summer until substitute teaching (I do it fulltime) begins in the fall. I have a PT retail job and plan to work there all summer, which adds to the total "delayed benefits" I'll get credited with if I wait.
I was leaning toward delaying til my birthday (just under 3 grand a month) but then I had the thought "what if I die before then?" I guess if I croak, I won't really care about my monthly check amount, though....
I just don't want to end up as the totally broke little old lady in the county welfare nursing home when I'm in my 80s or 90s....
Oh, and Kristen and other nurses, what do you have in your med textbooks about subdural hygromas? I probably should not have looked this up online (Web MD, Mayo Clinic, etc.) -- it makes me really anxious.
@Fru-gal Lisa, That’s a pretty small differential ($3000 vs $2617; $383 or about 12% ) so I’m not surprised it would take over 4 years for the delayed payment to pay off.
Amount if you take it now = $2617/month
# Extra months SS if you start now: 8
What you’d get before your birthday by starting now = $2617 * 8 = $20,936.
Amount if you wait: $3000/month
Difference for waiting = $3000 - $2617 = $383.
# months to collect = 20,936/383 = 55 months
@Fru-gal Lisa, I would take the money and run.
Take a look at this:
https://opensocialsecurity.com/
Re nursing homes: most people in nursing homes are on Medicaid. Not Medicare--old people's insurance. Medicaid: poor people's insurance. Medicare doesn't cover nursing homes while Medicaid does. Both my mother and my grandmother were in nice, private nursing homes on Medicaid. It's totally fine.
There are ways to get around needing to be broke to get Medicaid, but my parents refused to listen to the eldercare planner I hired for them. (Pardon me while I bang my head against the wall...) So it's not a bad idea to talk to/hire one.
@Rose, better half divided the number of years between parental age at death and we used 78 as the "break point". It is not so much what age but what you do with the money (IMHO). If you other income OR can withdraw from taxable IRA/401k and play the tax game, go for it.
@WilliamB,
Thanks!
I will call SS today.
@Rose, Thanks. I'd forgotten about the Medicare/Medicaid thing-- silly me!--I've had relatives in nursing homes and I should've known that. Thanks for the SS link, too.
Right now I'm laughing because I don't believe my rear end has been referred to as difficult circumstances before. But certainly a cat's has 😉
@reese, Betty wants you to know that she heard that.
@reese,
Not only for cats!
Mom used to be a school secretary in the good old days before you phoned in your kid's absences. Back then, parents wrote notes for the kid to turn in to the office when the student came back after being sick.
One said, "Please excuse [X]'s absence. He had dire rear."
"Dire rear" instead of "diarrhea." But that's a pretty good description of said ailment! LOL!
Hahah, that's perfect! An error that makes very good sense.
Kristen, you will do fine! You are so smart and motivated. Being mature and sensible is also a major plus.
Yesterday I spent nearly the whole day deep cleaning and doing minor repairs in my son's grubby bathroom. The tube of ready to use grout was nearing the end of its life, so I freshened up some grout in our bathroom. The end result is two sparkling bathrooms. The only expenditure was a pack of new curtain rings from Dollar Tree and a new light bulb.
Despite being worn slap out after that day, I cleaned up the fridge, made a salad with some lingering produce, and my son and I ate a supper crafted of leftovers and some eggs that needed to be used.
Yesterday was the last staff meeting I will attend as a teacher. People said nice things about me, handed me gifts and offered congrats. We ate cake. I am incredibly uncomfortable with being "seen" like this. As I have heard before "I am an egomaniac with an inferiority complex." I want all the attention and feel I deserve none of it. A wise sponsor told me, "You accept these kudos not for yourself but for others so that they may see what is possible." Got it. I am a sister among brothers and sisters.
Aww, yay! I am so happy that you received the recognition you deserve.
@mary ann, thought-producing description, and wise response. Thank you for sharing that, and enjoy your new-found freedom from a demanding schedule!
Will Chiquita get a diploma? She seems to be involved in all your computer work and meetings, so surely she's earned one.
Right now I am trying to pull loose ends together, not the least being arranging for transportation while my car is worked on. I finally found a local place that rents cars. It's going to cost me, but no one else is able to just give up their car for me, which I understand, and I have such a long commute, I can't just get a ride to work and back.
I'm also trying to finalize the logistics of my trip back home for my 50th high school reunion over Memorial Day weekend. I have to get with the dog watcher, figure what groceries to take with me, figure what to pack, and of course, hope my car will be done! I really don't want to have to rent for that trip as well. My oldest sister is coming with me, but she has a 2013 vehicle that's had some issues lately, and the trip is 700 miles each way, so we aren't taking hers, by mutual agreement. We both detest driving through Atlanta, so wish us luck.
I'm also trying to find out why our newest employee has received zero information from our health insurance, and why his dental and vision insurance shows online that he declined all coverage when his paperwork clearly shows he requested coverage for himself and his family.
So I'm feeling frazzled right now.
But, I'm also feeling grateful that the nursing home has my husband in their care so that I can leave, and that my kids will be available to visit and assist with him while I'm gone. And I'm glad I finally get to attend another high school reunion. I've only attended my 20th and 30th so far.
And I'm in an anticipatory mood: my sister and I plan to visit some old places we remember fondly, and we intend to go check out our first home, which is the only family home my sister lived in. Our parents lived there when she was born and the family moved to another house after she married. If I can get my courage up enough, I plan to knock on the door! I hope offering a history of the house (my dad built it with help from his dad and brother and some contractor's work) will get me a look at our old house.
@JD, DO IT!
I did the same with my great grandmother's old house (a three minute walk from my current house). My happiest memories are from there so it was interesting to see what the owners had done with it. They still have and are using some of my grandmother's old furniture, which I am slightly bitter about, but whatever. I saw a mark on the living room floor I'd forgotten about for 40s years and gasped. Plus I was able to tell them that it was a burn mark from a coal falling out of the old potbellied stove when the house was the village schoolhouse.
@JD, Definitely knock on the door!
@JD, I know of someone who didn't want to pay car rental prices and she got a cheaper deal on a UHaul. Might be worth looking into if this is going to be a long situation.
Chiquita all up in your business constantly makes me laugh.
Right now, I am:
Anxious, as I got my MRI results back & am hoping there are good options to reduce pain, without surgery.
Thrilled, that all of the teens AP tests are complete.
Excited & emotional, that graduation is almost here.
Questions for Kristen:
1. What does PRN stand for? "pre registered nurse"?
2. Studying reminds me of house cleaning: how can you ever know if you are finished? Way leads on to way. . . dusting the windowsills says I need to wash the curtains which causes me to notice that the windows need washing and oh my goodness look at the spiderwebs on the eaves, but first I'd better weed/prune/rake —wait a minute, wasn't I trying to clean INSIDE the house??
PRN is a medical abbreviation for "as needed". Sometimes medication orders say "prn"....like pain meds. So we can give them when the patient needs them.
And if a position is PRN, then you just pick up shifts when they're available. There's no set schedule! Perfect for a nursing student.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
LOL, that sounds like me when I was painting our son's room....geez, these window blinds need to be dusted, and wow, have we ever washed these windows? maybe I'll do that after I clean out his closet, and oh yeah, the bathroom wall needs to be touched up, and.....:-)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Re: your #2...
I do that ALL THE TIME. I literally have to say to myself, out loud, "Finish what you started!"
Cheering you on, Kristen! You're this close! I am walking my niece thru the same steps that you're taking right now and it is so exciting.
Mentally exhausted from taking my mom to her many doctor appointments as we take the dementia road that so many before us has traveled. My only goal is to keep her home calm, joyful and easy.
Spent the evening helping the neighbor moving equipment and setting forms for some concrete work. Didn't get home until after my bedtime.
After supper, I delivered all of the tomato plants to the neighbors (I grew 3 for each neighbor), that freed up a bunch of room in the greenhouse. Kinda felt like the Easter bunny.
Today is cutting hay day. And so it begins...
Right now I am:
Worried
- about a logistical challenge for Thanksgiving family vacation
(No Longer Worried: figured out an answer while I was writing this)
Satisfied
- that I did the last annoying little housekeeping chores for a finished (i.e, fully-knit) blanket
- that I finished the not-as-fun-but-necessary next steps for the other blanket I’m knitting; now it’s on to the fun parts
Hungry
- because I haven’t eaten yet and
- looking forward to my yogurt and fiber cereal, which I’ve really been enjoying recently
Not Eagerly Anticipating
- the day’s work because I need to spend a couple of days doing paperwork-based projects, which I’ve been putting off for the productive procrastination of errands outside the house
Grateful
- that my friend long-term loaned me tomato cages, plastic fencing, and poles so I can plant the “trees” from the Arbor Day Foundation (the trees are 8” long twigs with 1-2 leaves each
Hoping
- for a clear day that’s not too hot, so I can plant the trees and protect them
Chuckling
- at Kristen’s mouse problems
Right now, I'm listening to my husband sleep beside me. We're in our RV, on a two-day journey home from visiting daughter's family (Grandkids, oh boy!). He does all the driving, so I want him to sleep in as long as possible.
Last night, we drove right past a fancy-pants KOA and camped free (and legally) at a rest stop. We're self-contained, so we don't need hookups. It was blissfully quiet all night, and today has presented itself perfectly for the rest of the 9+ hour drive home.
Yesterday, we stopped at a lovely Visitor's Center that had a rare, free dump site. We learned of a scenic drive that we will plan into our next trip. In exchange, I gave the volunteer who told me about it some tips for some cool, free things to see when he visits my state later this year.
After a week+ long trip, I still have enough food left to get us all the way home.
We made this trip because our kids just moved into a new home. For Mother's Day we wanted to make some improvements for the very busy Mama-of-three. I redesigned her closet to make it significantly more functional. I found all the materials I needed for under $20, including two Ikea countertops, at the town dump's "mercantile".
Finally, we did a partial kitchen renovation. All our frugality allowed us to easily afford a new sink, faucet, disposal, dishwasher and pull out trash cans. DH's mad construction skills came in very handy for installing it all while he removed the walls that blocked the view from the kitchen into the rest of the living area. It now looks like they were never there. We relocated some cabinets and the kitchen is much more functional now.
We did not ignore the rest of the family. On Day Two, a friend called with an offer of a bunk bed and dresser from a fancy house that was undergoing extensive renovations. We dropped what we were doing, grabbed son-in-law's truck and trailer, and went to pick it up. We spent the rest of the day moving and reassembling it for the grandsons. It was free, but Google tells us both pieces set the original buyer back over $6,000, egads! Now the boys have great beds, more storage, and more room to play.
Granddaughter and I worked together to redesign her room for more storage and play space, and we did the work while she was at school.
Not to leave SIL out, we helped with a landscaping project, and some garage organization. DH got up on the roof and corrected some problems the home inspector should have caught.
We hung a shelf and hanging rod in the laundry and made a small, adjacent utility closet more functional.
We did all of this in eight days, including some fun time with the grandkids. We made all but two meals at home. We did the kitchen improvements strategically, so we could still use it.
We left yesterday with happy hearts and a shorter to-do list for next time.
Is it any wonder I wanted DH to sleep in a little bit this morning?
What a rich and full trip!
@Dicey, Could I adopt you and your DH as my folks? I'd love to have work done on my house like that! You are indeed a blessing to your family! They are lucky to have you.
Right now, I am. . .
-waiting for leftovers to heat up for lunch.
-glad I got a start on my son's homeschool portfolio today instead of forgetting about it until next week when he won't be here to help me. I'm always glad when I remember something important.
-hoping it stops raining and that my kids' soccer game can go on as scheduled tonight.
-super-duper hoping my son passes his driving test tomorrow. It will feel good to have that out of the way since we already have another with his learner's permit.
-feeling curious about what my eldest is doing today on his choir tour. I'm also sad that I won't be able to make it to any of the concerts on the tour.
-not feeling any doubt that Kristen will do just fine on her exams. All of them. Forever.
Right now I am:
Happy! DS had a great visit at the wound clinic today. All his JP drains were removed and he is so beyond delighted to be able to turn, say, on his side as he sleeps.
Gratified--the doctor said we are doing a good job with his wound care.
Hopeful--he also said that in a few weeks it might be possible to go in and close the wound with a delayed primary closure, so it heals like a regular scar. That would be fantastic.
Proud--DS has had to work hard this last week to get past the fatigue (from anemia, which we've been treating with liquid iron and nutrition) and pain from being stationary so long. He's had to learn to balance exercise and rest and eat at regular intervals. After a month of hospitalizations and infections and injuries, this was daunting.
Thoughtful--working on the lessons I need to take away from all of this.
@Karen A.,
Hooray for no drains! My mother had a drain at home for several months after a long and difficult hospitalization. She was recovering fairly well until she drank grape juice with her breakfast one morning and the juice made a big purple stain when it poured out the drain onto her robe. Back to the hospital. What a relief that your son is done with them and recovering! That is a big hurdle he's overcome. I've been thinking about him a lot.
@JD, Thank you! He had one taken out last week and we worked hard on wound care and nutrition and proper rest and exercise (to help the drains do their work), and I kept careful accounts of how much we emptied from each. The surgeon who is overseeing his aftercare (NOT the surgeons who operated/botched the jobs) is respectful and kind, but doesn't sugarcoat things. DS was hoping for just one drain to come out today, but both was a happy surprise.
I just want to say I love this format for your blog. So many little tidbits!!
My day started out so cheerful; it is rare that I have a really restful night's sleep. Then I went to the doctor for a final check after breaking some bones in my spine. I am now THREE INCHES shorter than I was. I have always loved being tall, especially for my generation when you seldom saw a woman over 6ft. I am now 5'10" and I can barely stand to type that. First my husband's gorgeous ringlets are thinning and now I am shrinking. Will the indignities of old age never end?
But meanwhile, it is warm enough to drag my transplants out of the garage for the day. My rose bush, which I have to bring in for the winter because roses do not survive our winters, is sending off all sorts of shoots. Clobber paws has not jumped the fence since we made the fence two feet taller. Last night he did not lick the stove while we were sleeping---every morning I have been waking up to lick marks on our stovetop, so I start the day completely disinfecting our kitchen counter and stove. I will continue to do that just in case he has learned to swallow so his tongue is dry instead of slobbery, but at least I have a glimmer of hope that our training is getting through to him. I just keep reminding myself that he is only 10 months old, a mere puppy in 6-foot-tall clothing. (Yesterday the neighbor's chickens were nesting next to our fence and Clobber paws was desperately sticking his tongue through the chain link, trying to lick them.) Last night I stepped in a wet spot on the carpet and my husband came in to see me on the floor, scrubbing away. It turned out I had stepped in a wet spot from a glass of water he had spilled, not dog pee. Getting up with a leg brace and poor balance is a chore but at least it was not pee!
So, except for being 5'10" today is shaping up to be a nice day.
I hope you get the schedule you want. Night work, yuck.
YAY for a good night's sleep. But I am sorry to hear that your height is slowly getting closer to mine. 😉
@Lindsey, m'dear, we shrink, our hair thins, we have trouble getting up off the floor. I'm doing all of the above. Old age sucks. But at least the wet spot on your carpet was water and not pee!
@Lindsey, Put some lifts in your shoes. You know, like short men do. That should add back most of the height.
Right now I am....
...relieved my final performance in my Alexander Techniques class, which took place this morning, went pretty well. I played Chopin's third ballade, and had one memory slip but otherwise was happy with everything.
...favouring my right arm as it is aching. I've taken an anti-inflammatory, so hope it is all that is needed.
...getting ready to go buy some cat puzzles from someone off facebook marketplace. It will be nice to unwind after a steady drive towards this performance.
...feeling a little emotional about the A.T. classes being finished. It's been an incredible journey and I'll miss the experience, my classmates and teacher.
...glad our teacher is planning to start an alumni group so we can keep meeting and keep learning with the larger group of people who've gone through all the levels.
...aware that I have to now pick up all the threads I set down for the past couple of days while I prepared for the performance. There's a lot going on and I have to keep going on my list of what I have to do.
...grateful I have checked some of the biggest things off that list in advance. I knew future me would be appreciative - future me is now present me and I am 🙂
Oh my, his ballades are SO hard. I'm impressed!
I am: home from a pulmonary function test which I passed with flying colors. So that means there's another issue r/t "upper" cough and wheezing. Thinking it's from esophageal reflux in spite of all or the remedies for prevention.
I am: contemplating having been asked to leave night shift at my job to work on days or evenings. At first I thought evenings because I have issues dealing with all of the chaos on day shift, with the different modalities that are expecting you to address their agendas "right now" while you have your own. And then I remembered that afternoon/evening shifts gets the most admissions and I am not very quick at getting the necessary info on the computer and out to pertinent places (admitting PCP, pharmacy, physical therapy before closing time). Then I thought of day shift being eight hours over quickly and usually with a coworker. But I'm back to thinking of evenings, because I can at least "tuck my friends in" for the night, make sure TVs are off, drapes are closed, rooms are tidy. Good rest makes for gooder days.
I am: getting things together for the Master Gardener Plant Sale this weekend. I like to make our offerings organized, attractive and thoughtful. Also like to have more people aware of what our Extension has to offer. Like to get other MGs on the same page. Different personalities in coordination is sometimes a feat in itself.
I am: laughing at being asked by two different people about when I am going to retire.
Sure I'd love to. But working three days a week is not too much and keeps me going.
Right now I am...
* flying high after the best day! I let my 5yo pick one special thing to do before her big sibs are home for the summer and she starts kindergarten in the fall - it's the end of just us two at home. We went to The Henry Ford Museum (to see an IMAX 3D show) and Greenfield Village and we had the best day. I'm so happy.
* reliving some of my childhood memories. I have 3 distinct memories of my one trip to Greenfield Village - one is the carousel and we got to ride it today.
* thankful that I don't have to drive in a big city on a regular basis.
* putting off dinner prep.
* relieved that we got a good amount of rain last night and that I don't have to water my garden.
* looking forward to a lot of catering in the next 3 days. I really enjoy catering for this twice a year conference.
* appreciating good friendships.
Right now
I'm glad that my daughter only has 6 weeks of medical residency left and 5 job offers to choose from (including two very close to home).
I'm enjoying the lovely spring weather before it gets TOO. DARN. HOT.
I'm not in pain anymore after backing off the inflammatory foods I let creep back into my diet.
I'm dog-sitting for my daughter while she is out of town on her last interview, and I'm enjoying the humor of feeling like I'm walking a mouse on a leash (Chihuahua!) and watching her prairie dog behavior when she tries to see my big dogs through a barrier I built.
Right now I am about to go recover the cell phone that fell out of my pocket this morning, from the lady who found it on her way to her child's sporting event in the park near us. We have a lot of homeless souls who live in the park, so I thought it was gone for good. Many thanks to the lovely Sarah!
Still trying to absorb the no rhyme or reason of how hair grays (or is it greys) for females. You, like my sister, are younger than I am. When Covid-19 hit, I got to see first hand how gray my sister is - roots not so bad but flip up her hair and holy moley. You are younger than my sister yet have different areas of gray (grey).
I'd have to say today I am angry that a few people in my department lost their jobs due to no reason but "the bottom line". A couple more are jumping ship for better working conditions (as in screw you re: 1980s in the office mindset) plus more money. Hate to lose them too but one has to do what is best. It won't be the end of the churning is all I can say. I have six months to get to my "golden" date. Likely will make it but if I don't, zippo debt and retirement/savings is there.
@Selena, I believe "gray" is the American spelling and "grey" is the British spelling.
Not sure how this will come across since I am just a stranger on the internet, but... I just want to tell you how proud I am of you. I've been reading (not always commenting) your blog for years and have seen how your life has changed in unexpected ways. But the fact that you have this goal of being a nurse and are working so hard for it, it's inspiring. You're doing great!
Right now, I’m happy…
Because I just got done eating a free birthday dessert alone in my car. That’s me-time, and I’ll take it. For free ❤️.
Right now: I had surgery this morning, and I recognized once again how wonderful nurses are. My pre-op nurse, the OR nurse, and the recovery nurses were all highly skilled and professional and gosh darn NICE. Now I'm at home, with an ice pack 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off, and focused on rest and recovery.