Thankful Thursday | Piper in a box
Ok, first up, I want to show you this picture of Lisey's cat, Piper. Because it makes me giggle every time I look at it.
When I saw this picture, it reminded me of how it feels to try on your pre-pregnancy jeans after you have a baby. Like maybe you can zip them, but the zipper is holding on for dear life, just like the seams on this box.
This week, I am thankful:
that it's my last day of orientation!
This week we've been doing an on-the-unit boot camp, and today is the last day.
I start working as an actual nurse (with a preceptor, of course) on Sunday.
I am excited, but also a little nervous about the learning curve. However, I take comfort in the fact that my preceptor will be with me every shift for the first 12-16 weeks. I won't be on my own for a nice long while.
Whew!
that fall is near
I was taking a walk downtown the other day and noticed a local shop had a very fall-themed window display.
Yay!
that we have continued to have many lovely days
I seriously cannot believe how often I have said that this month, because August is usually miserable!
But the air has been so nice, I have actually wanted to go out for walks in the woods.
I am so, so, so grateful for a mild August!
that soon I'll be down to three days a week
Once orientation and boot camp are over, I will start a three-shift per week schedule, and I much prefer that.
Orientation days have been shorter than 12 hours, which is sort of nice, but I don't love having to go to the hospital so many days per week.
I'd rather work longer shifts and go in only three days a week. That gives me so much more schedule flexibility!
for so much skills practice
This week in boot camp, we've been on the floor, practicing skills with patients (supervised OF COURSE). So, I have gotten to do lots of medication administration, including many IV push medications and heparin injections, and I've also gotten to pull meds from the Pyxis machine, something I've never done before.
I've gotten to hang TPN (a bag of "food" that goes straight into your veins) and do a tube feed, where the nutritional mix goes straight into the stomach through a tube hooked up to a pump.
These are skills we didn't get to do enough at school clinical shifts, so I'm really happy to get some practice to help me feel more confident and competent.
for my new grad cohort
There are five of us starting on my unit, and we've been in orientation and boot camp together for the last three weeks solid. I suppose this would be dreadful if there was a personality clash, but luckily, I love everyone in my cohort, so I have been happy to see them every day.
(This is neither here nor there, but remember how we are all wearing pink on Wednesdays? I think we convinced our one male new grad to join in, and he is going to order this color from Figs. Heh.)
that we get our very first nurse paycheck today
Today's the first payday that reflects our nurse rate, so we are all excited about that. Woohoo!
One of you asked what I planned to do with my first paycheck. I probably will save most of it, but my cohort and I are going out for Mexican food after work today to celebrate. So, I will spend some of it on Mexican food.
You know what I also will probably do? Buy some pink scrubs! I've been wearing a pink t-shirt with black scrub pants on Wednesdays, but I think I want some actual pink scrubs too.
that I'm on my home unit as a new grad
I can already tell that it is such an advantage to already know the floor and the people who work there. It makes everything easier!
I almost forgot to include Chiquita!
I was about to hit "publish" and then realized I only had Piper in this post and not Chiquita.
Here you go.
Chiquita has a bigger cat bed than everyone else. 😉
It has been quite tough this week to come up with some thankfuls, but let’s see what makes the list
This week I am thankful…
- that the weather was good at the weekend, especially on Monday for the hospital fete
- that my gluten-free cupcakes were well received. I don’t usually bake gluten-free, but agreed to produce some for the WI stall at the fete.
- the number of cakes supplied for the stall by our fabulous WI members was amazing
- time spent with good friends, always plenty of laughs and good food. Plus, added cuddles with their lovely dog, Sam
- that tomorrow is pay day! It has been a very long month
- that I have a week off next week with only a couple of trips planned and plenty of free time for me to recharge
- as always, family and friends whose love and support make life a lot easier
I seem to have found quite a few thankfuls after all. This habit is really helping me focus on the good and helps to balance out the pessimists in my life 🙂
@Stacey in UK, all hail the WI! (For readers outside the UK who may not know, this is the Women's Institute, which has branches all over the UK.) I remember that the Two Fat Ladies devoted an episode of their Season 1 to baking cakes for the WI stall at a village fete, and spoke of the WI with great respect.
@A. Marie, it is definitely an Institution. I only joined last year (with my sister) and am thoroughly enjoying it.
@Stacey in UK, I hope you find more OPTIMISTIC friends.I know I have had to separate from a few people over the years,friendship wise… ..I can’t abide pessimism in great amounts or people who constantly regurgitate ALLLL the BAD NEWS they follow.. So glad you found a lot of good stuff in your week..and more to come!!
@A. Marie, There are WI groups in Canada as well. Although the groups are getting smaller as the members get older, and younger women have other activities to keep them busy.
Piper and Chiquita are so cute!
I love that you convinced that guy to wear pink!
1. I had a birthday this week and felt very loved by my friends. I went for drinks after work and then had a swim at the beach.
2. I spent a lovely evening at my friend's place. I got to hang out with my friend and her husband we watched a film, enjoyed a meal my friend made and I got to meet her cat!
3. I baked some blueberry muffins for the first time and they turned out perfectly.
4. My friends have been encouraged me to share some original writing I've done.
5. The biggest thankful - I wrote an email to Judy Blume. I didn't expect to hear anything and she wrote a kind and gracious reply back.
@Sophie in Denmark, happy birthday! And that's so cool about hearing back from Judy Blume!
@Sophie in Denmark,
Happy birthday!
@Sophie in Denmark, Happy Birthday!
@Sophie in Denmark, Happy Birthday! I'm glad you felt loved on your special day.
@Sophie in Denmark, Happy Birthday!!
@Sophie in Denmark, Many happy returns for your birthday, Sophie!
Super cool about hearing back from Judy Blume. I, too, once wrote to an author who replied, both of us via email, which I guess makes it easier.
@Sophie in Denmark,
Happy birthday!
@Sophie in Denmark, Happy Birthday!
@Sophie in Denmark, happy birthday! Sounds like a lovely week. Now I need to bake some muffins too 🙂
@Sophie in Denmark, happy late birthday from one Lady of August to another!
@Sophie in Denmark, A reply from a favorite author is a wonderful birthday gift! Happy birthday!
@Sophie in Denmark, Happy Birthday and how cool to get a response from Judy Blume!! I was raised on her books and just loved them as a girl!!
@Sophie in Denmark, happy belated birthday!
@PD, Thank you and thanks everyone else for the birthday wishes! It was super cool!
@A. Marie, Ladies of August unite! I remember yours being close to mine!
@Sophie in Denmark, Also apologies for the typos - this is what I get for hasty typing on my phone! Haha!
@Cheryl, They hold up as an adult! I reread them sometimes and there's so much I didn't pick up on as a kid. I also loved the film they made of Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.
@Sophie in Denmark,
Late to the party so to speak, but I wish you the happiest of birthdays!
So cool about Judy Blume!
Happy birthday!!!
@Sophie in Denmark, happy birthday, all the best.
@Kristen, Thanks Kristen!
@Bee, Thank you!!! It was very cool!
One of the major benefits of daily orientation weeks is that you get to know your cohort so well - these are the people you work with and have to rely on in the future so the time investment will surely pay off! Having said that, I totally understand that you are ready to jump into your regular schedule, regular responsibilities - and regular nursing pay check. Enjoy the Mexican food as a close down of this phase and jump start into the next!
Thankfulness for a holiday ahead and leaving the usual responsibilities and cares behind. We are looking forward so much! Everyone have good weeks ahead!
This week I am thankful for several things.
1. My son is adjusting to life in college and being away from home. Very proud and happy for him.
2. My husbands new business is doing well and he is much happier working for himself.
3. The weather has been in the 70's and I have enjoyed sitting on my patio after I get home from work.
4. My daughter is adjusting to her new school schedule and working through high school friend drama like a champ !
5. I am happy that I don't have to work concessions for the band this week at the football game....I did my shift last week !
Have a wonderful weekend !
This week I'm thankful for:
Our home is coming together! It's been a long year of renovations, but we are about 90% finished.
My partner/husband is home for 4 weeks.
We will be picking up the first of our 2 high school exchange students tonight. They're living with us for the school year. Their bedrooms are ready.
Our dog is on the mend. She'll be 14 in December and she was quite sick a few weeks ago. A round of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds, and she is doing well!
The purging of stuff continues. The next few big things to go will happen in the next few weeks.
My favorite coffee was on sale. I got 2 bags for the price of 1.
As always, I'm thankful for your blog and the community you have grown.
Love the rather large cat bed!
No cat has a bigger bed than Chiquita. 😉
That Kristen is having such a positive nursing experience. She worked hard, both in her education and assistant job, and is well prepared for the next phase. How wonderful that she receives such a comprehensive training.
The weather has been fabulous, especially for this time of year. It's not hot being out any time of the day. I had windows open all day yesterday. It's a balm for my soul.
My great niece starts kindergarten today. It is wonderful to see this young generation going through life.
Our next door neighbors. They moved next door two years ago from a smaller house a few blocks away so they had friends in the neighborhood. They give their kids, ages 8 and 11, a good amount of freedom. They walk to their friends' houses and also to the bus stop without parents though the parents are not absent.
The modern food system, grocery stores, and the resources to buy groceries. Friends are struggling with at least some elements of their gardens this year (and we have had nothing but blossoms on our butternut squash plants) but we are able to buy fresh produce year round. I know there are imperfections in our modern food system but I am glad I am not a homesteader and reliant on what I can grow.
Congrats on your first paycheck as a nurse! And for (almost) completing your workplace orientation. You lucked out being assigned your old familiar unit; looks like Someone up there is looking out for you!
My thankfuls:
1. 4 days substituting this week. Today I was supposed to go to a fairly distant school, but I got notified my services won't be needed after all. But then I was able to pick up a job at the school that's closest to my house. So I get an extra 10 minutes before I have to leave!
2. Snuggy Dog has been very good about coming into the house right away when I open the patio door. Chalk it up to shameless bribery: I give him a treat when he does this.
3. I've been given another shift at the drugstore, on Friday nights when all the teenage cashiers want to go to their schools' football games. Fun for them, more $ for me.
4. Free entertainment including over-the-air TV, online jigsaw puzzles, online crossword puzzles and, of course, Wordle and its clone "WordGuessr."(The latter allows you to play as many times as you want, and you can also vary the number of letters in a word, if you get bored with only 5.)
5. Three-day holiday weekend this week, although I will work Friday-Saturday-Sunday and possibly Monday at the store. Well, it IS called "Labor Day." So I'm laboring!
Like Kristen, I'm thankful for the splendid weather we've been having. Low humidity, cool nights, sunshine...I was able to go for a long bike ride in the early afternoon, rather than get it in early before the heat was horrible. We've had the windows open most days this week, all day, and I love it.
I'm thankful for a supportive family, as my A&P class just started...it will get very crazy in November when I do my four-week Nurse Aide Training course. Yikes. But right now we're figuring it out.
I'm thankful I was able to get my favorite professor for A&P II. She is funny and wants everyone to do well.
That our landlord reached out to chat with us and reassured us that he has no intention of selling the place or raising the rent. In our area right now rents are dropping but people are buying houses because interest rates are going down (and the military is not moving officers and enlisted as often, so they're more likely to stay for six years at a post, rather than three), so we were a little concerned. Not worried--just concerned. So we're glad to not have to move right now.
For Clark, as always. When we adopted him a couple of years ago DH said it was mostly because our youngest dearly wanted a cat...we had no idea that Clark would be a bright spot during a very dark period for everyone (DS#1's medical saga, DS#2 dealing with serious stuff), but everyone loves that cat. And he seems to like everyone! Which is great, because sometimes you get a "one person cat" and then everyone else is sad.
@Karen A., I'm thankful you adopted Clark because he has been a source of great comic relief on this blog. ;-}
@Karen A., three hearty huzzahs for the Commodore, as always!
@JDinNM, So true! I sometimes wonder what we as a family talked about before we got Clark (we did talk, but it wasn't as funny or as fluffy!)
This week I am thankful for...
1. My busy season at work is coming to an end and just in time for a three day weekend!
2. The lovely sunshine we've had the past couple of days. It makes getting up for work easier.
3. A boss who appreciates me and my team. I've had bad bosses before and they can make your life miserable.
4. The tasty sesame bagel I had this week. It's been quite a while since I've had one and it was sooo good.
5. The shoes I ordered for my husband fit perfectly and are comfy. He has hard to fit feet and is picky about how shoes look as well.
@AnnieH, I don't know why, but your #4 sounds amazing. It's been a long time since I've had a good bagel because I've been cutting back on carbs AND because bagels are delightfully chewy and tend to cause my face to tighten up more than I like. Maybe I'll put that on my list of something I want as a treat for my birthday?
@Jody S., you might like homemade bagels made with Greek yogurt and baking powder. They aren't chewy like a traditional bagel--but they are good and I like that I can control the size of the finished product. I confess I add a little grated cheese because cheese makes a lot of things better!
@Darlene Too, Cheese makes everything better! 🙂
@Jody S., It was sooooo good! I am watching my refined carbs as well, but this bagel was worth it. Now that bagel monkey is off my back for a while.
That last flower was so interesting to me -- I looked it up and learned it's a 'Man of the Earth' flower or wild sweet potato, in case anyone else didn't know. 😉
This week was wild on the parenting young adults front and I am thankful that my daughters will talk to me about difficult things they're dealing with.
I'm so thankful for cooler weather.
I'm thankful my chronically ill daughter successfully navigated her first week of in-person college classes and that she met some nice people while she was there.
I've been concerned about strength and mobility as I age and I'm thankful I've been able to take steps to improve in those areas.
@Beth (in VA), I am in the same position and wondering if you would share what steps you are taking.
@Beth (in VA),
That flower really caught my eye - thanks for the ID!
I, too, am concerned about my strength and mobility. Not sure how to get started to improve both.
Congrats on starting the next phase of your work life, and of course on your raise to go along with it!
I’m thankful we are having a rainy day today. It’s been pretty dry here in Arkansas. My flowers will love this rain. I plan to go to my exercise class and spend much of the rest of this rainy day Cross-stitching. I have a new project I’m working on
I’m thankful to have time to hang out with friends. I had lunch with a friend yesterday and it was fun to catch up. .
--That eldest son has started his Emergency Medical Services training so he can volunteer with our county ambulance crew. Not only will this be good for the county--we have exactly three volunteers, all of them older, for a very large area--but I am hopeful it will be good for him, too. He thinks he wants to go to medical school, so this will be an interesting introduction to the field.
--For our P.E. teacher. He's a young guy who is also one of the football coaches, and this year he's doing P.E. every day with the elementary students. My kids have all loved P.E., but my youngest son is particularly happy about this. He's a kid who really needs to move a lot, so school can be hard for him. Also, he's so looking forward to playing football next year in sixth grade, and having P.E. with a football coach is exciting for him. They've been playing touch rugby the last few days, which youngest son has especially enjoyed because my husband played rugby in law school and my kids have always been fascinated by it.
--That my husband is going to start the tear-out for our crumbling bathroom today. Lord willin' and the crik don't rise, I should have a toilet that flushes easily by tomorrow. Due to we think mineral build-up in the current toilet, we've had to add water with a bowl every time we flush our toilet for like two years now to get it to actually flush. And there's a leak in the tub or something, too, so the floor is spongy in there. The kids' bathroom was similar, and it's gratifyingly solid now, so maybe this bathroom will go a bit faster now that my husband has done it once. He has to figure out how to build a shower stall in this one--rather than dropping in another tub--but I have faith in him. 🙂
--For all the sunflowers. There are thousands on the roadsides, and I use them constantly for my arrangements in my house and for church.
--I continue to be profoundly grateful to not be working. The relief of structuring my days without accounting for being gone two days a week is significant. I am so much less tired and crabby. Pretty sure my family is grateful for this, too. 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
So happy for you re: not working. I think my DH and son are looking forward to me being less tired and crabby once I retire. 16 more months...16 more months....:-)
@kristin @ going country, That's great that your son is training to volunteer in EMS! My oldest trained in Search and Rescue when he was in Civil Air Patrol. He never had a chance to find a downed plane, but he said the simulations were exciting to take part in. And YAY on getting a new bathroom! If anyone can do it, your DH can.
@kristin @ going country,
Yeah for your son & EMS training. Our fire department First Responders Unit are like EMS until ambulance arrives. When seconds count these people are the best defense for saving lives. I hope your son enjoys this experience.
Thankful, along with others in the US Northeast, for cooler weather. Thankful also for more much-needed rain, which is falling mostly at night. It's lovely to be doing other things in my garden besides just watering--especially now that it's peak time for birds and butterflies.
And immensely thankful to be within one day of three score years and ten (my big 7-0 is tomorrow) in reasonably good health and spirits for my age and situation. Immensely thankful as well for the friends who will be celebrating with me: NDN1 and CF at lunch, and the Bestest Neighbors and some other friends at dinner. We'll lift a glass at both meals to the memory of DH.
@A. Marie,
Happy almost-your-birthday!
@A. Marie, Happy birthday for tomorrow!
@A. Marie, Happy last day of being 60 anything!
@A. Marie, Happy birthday a day early!
@A. Marie, Happy Birthday Eve, and many happy returns.
@A. Marie, happy birthday! *tosses virtual confetti*
@A. Marie, Happy day to you tomorrow!
@A. Marie, Have a very merry un-birthday today, and the happiest of happy birthdays tomorrow!
@A. Marie, happy early birthday! You are beloved here and on The Non-Consumer Advocate blog.
@A. Marie, Happy Birthday for tomorrow! I hope you have a glorious day!
@A. Marie, Happy, happy Birthday to you! Hope your day is filled with all that brings you joy!
@A. Marie, Happy Birthday A Marie! You are an inspiration!! Keep fighting the good fight!
@A. Marie, Happiest of Birthdays to you! Will you celebrate with a little bit of apple tart, with no unwholesome preserves? 😉 Or a very small egg, that would not hurt you?
@A. Marie, Happy early birthday! May you have many blessings & everything you need for MANY years to come. 🙂
Thanks so much to everyone for the kind birthday wishes!
And, @Karen A., I intend to celebrate (metaphorically if not literally) with all the asparagus and sweetbreads I can lay hands on before Mr. Woodhouse snatches them away from me! (Karen's questions and my response are allusions to Jane Austen's Emma. The older I get, the more I appreciate Mrs. and Miss Bates, and the less I think of that misguided health nut Mr. Woodhouse for depriving poor old Mrs. Bates of her asparagus and sweetbreads.)
@A. Marie, Mr. Woodhouse reminds me of my MIL, who always sighed, when anyone would ask if her meal was okay, "I do try to not eat more than my body needs," while side-eying anybody who dared to enjoy their meal and clean their plate or *gasp* take seconds! Enjoy your delicious meal! 🙂
@A. Marie, all the best to you. i am one year older than you. september 12 is my big day. never thought i would still be here as my mom passed 50 years ago. am very grateful to be here.
I need this exercise this week, because it's.. been a week!
1) Grateful for good friends & those who are a great sounding board.
2) A husband, who helps me with tricky PowerPoint ideas, when I get stuck with slide creation. After a 12 hour day for him, I feel especially grateful he will spend his minimal free time giving me a hand.
3) That dS18 is loving college, and willingly calls us!
4) Last week was absolutely terrible for my fitness (work travel, jet lag & not nearly enough sleep), but this week, my fitness is back on track. Eating? Not so much. Working on it.
5) I ran out of oat milk in my coffee this am, and needed to be up super early. I used a little bit of the Fair life chocolate milk (leftover from DS18) to have enough to steam with the oat milk. It's really sweet compared to my normal oat milk latte, but it's far preferable to black coffee!
@Hawaii Planner, I've been retired for six years and am thankful that creating PowerPoint presentations is a distant memory.
@Hawaii Planner, I know more about Powerpoint than I care to, but does your version allow you to choose which kind of slide you want to insert? Sometimes I insert the same one like fifty times and then change the content accordingly.
This week I am thankful:
--for a very kind person who took my son up in an airplane yesterday. It will open some doors for my aviation-loving son who is also heading into his senior and trying to figure out what's next.
--for my facial therapists. One gave me a serious working-over with a needle yesterday, and I'm looking forward to seeing what new progress I can make once the bruising goes away.
--for the box that came in the mail a couple days ago. It was from Simon & Schuster and held two copies of the anthology my #2 son's short story is published in! It was so exciting to open that box and see his name in a real book! (I was on Facetime with him so that he could see from college, but I'll be boxing up one copy to send to him; he's get his thrill, too.)
--for how excited my youngest daughter (almost 10 years old) was to get a new box of crayons. It was a treat for our first day of school today.
--for a new school year. We didn't completely stop school for the summer, but today is our "soft" start for the new year. I'm not completely ready because we've had so many things, but the big start will be on Monday. I'm ready for a little more order.
--for nice weather, good coffee, fresh vegetables, a loving family, a thoughtful husband, my dad's improved back, children excited to play soccer, new socks, and God.
@Jody S., congrats to your author son; that's a great moment!
@Jody S., Huge congratulations to your son!
@Jody S., three hearty huzzahs for your #2 son's publication!
You ABSOLUTELY need to buy yourself some scrubs. You will find emotional enjoyment in wearing them and find a pair that provides the comfort that 13+ hours in them will bring! You worked hard and deserve that at a minimum.. and the Mexican food will no doubt bring you leftovers so 2 meals and a huge pile of chips and salsa are a steal also!
- I'm thankful for the lovely weather this week. It's been so nice to be able to go outside in August and not be 100 degrees.
- I'm thankful that my sister and BIL are buying a 1-story house. She has mobility issues, and I worry about her navigating the steps at their current house.
- I'm extremely thankful that I am off work until Tuesday!
- I'm thankful that we will keep our grandbaby all day tomorrow. He's been at the beach all week and this Nana misses him.
- I'm thankful they finally finished re-roofing our house. I wish the job was completely finished but we have to wait a month for the gutter to be installed.
Love the kitty pictures per usual!
Thankfuls here-it's finally raining well after an extended day patch. My Farm is thrilled, the ducks are quacking ecstatically & all the flowers are waving happily! Water/lightning should help my first ever fall garden too.
I get to have brunch with a bestie i haven't seen all summer!
My son has his first ever job interview today-at a clothing resale store no less(yes, we'll get discounts;).
Having faithfully resumed pilates, now I'm adding in weight lifting & I'm grateful we have all the equipment already so it's free!
I gave myself lovenox shots 2X per day for around 35 weeks. The first week home it took 15 minutes to mentally gear up to do it. Didn’t hurt much. However, I had to take heparin for 10 days. HURT so much. (This was after 30 weeks of lovenox. Was a pro with administration by then.)
@April, I had to have Lovenox shots after my last major surgery and had someone come by to give them. Just doing the poking to myself was not happening. I was able to do them the last week. And I AM a nurse!
So for this week, I am thankful for losing weight, going to the gym 4 times, no A/C running all the time, got a raise and a bonus (company-wide), and went to see family and the newest baby of the family. And tonight I'm going to a paint class with a friend.
I am extra thankful for a wonderful life here in West Virginia. The people are so nice and helpful and I love the changing of the seasons. Florida didn't have that and it was weird. I guess it would not be weird if that is how you grew up, but I love the changing of the seasons.
Our cool spell is turning out to be short-lived, but I'm still grateful for it.
This week I'm thankful for:
1. First, for the birthday yesterday of my oldest. She's a definite Type B introvert, sometimes overshadowed in public by her Type A extrovert little sister, but she's never minded that. She's intelligent and insightful, with a dry wit. One thing she's always had, and people have always remarked upon, is her ready, genuinely cheerful smile. She helped me so much with her daddy when things were so difficult, and her presence often calmed him when mine couldn't. Her four kids and husband love her dearly, as do I, her sister and niece, and as did DH.
My favorite quote from her, said when she was barely three:
Me: "Goodness, you sure are laughing loudly."
Her: "I like to laugh loud!"
Me: "Why?"
Her: "Because when I laugh real loud, it tickles God's feet."
2. For the cool spell, even though it wasn't all that cool or long, because it was a welcome break in August's miserable heat.
3. For the quiet splashing of the fountain, the chirping and whistling of the birds, the soft tones of the wind chime and the breeze sighing in the trees on Saturday mornings when I sit on my porch in the early hours, before I start my day.
4. For safe travel to and from work all these years. I've seen some bad wrecks along the way.
5. For the promise of autumn, even though it will be a couple of months before we really see it here.
@JD, may your #1 daughter continue tickling God's feet for many years to come. Happy late birthday to another Lady of August.
@JD, Happy Birthday to another late August, Type B quirky girl!
I am thankful that the sun is shining this morning and that I spent a quiet evening with my family last night. We shared dinner, watched Pop Culture Jeopardy, and snuggled with the dogs.
Yesterday was hard. On my drive to work I called my husband to ask him to check the news. I lost count of the number of police cars but counted seven ambulances going in the opposite direction. I thought it had to be a massive car accident on the highway but nothing was on the news yet. Once I arrived at work the news stations were reporting the school shooting. My coworkers and I were in a daze. One coworker just drove by the school less than an hour before. Another had to call her husband to tell him to stay locked in the house because they live blocks away. Another eventually got a call that a family member who goes to the school was being taken to the hospital (they are physically going to be ok). Our office is blocks away from the hospital where ten victims were transported to. Each time we heard another ambulance returning with the siren going we all just looked at each other with pain in our eyes.
I left work early, telling my boss that I was going to go home and hug my kid. Even though he was sweaty and stinky after practice I gave him a huge hug as soon as I saw him. It’s a hard balance of showing him how impactful this was and making sure this isn’t front of mind for him when he starts school next week.
My heart is hurting for my community. My heart is hurting for kids that now not only are nervous to go to school but are now nervous to go to church – two places that should be a safe haven. My heart hurts that this is what parenting looks like and that my son has this possibility in the back of his mind. I have many many things to be thankful for, but today my heart hurts.
@Geneva, I'm so sorry that this happened--to the victims themselves, to all of you in the area, and (yet again) in our poor benighted country.
@Geneva, I'm in the Twin Cities, too, and another senseless shooting close to home is excruciating. Be well.
@Geneva, seconding A.Marie; this is grievous for all of us to witness, but particularly heavy for you, close by. I'm glad you were able to spend a quiet evening together with your family last night.
@Geneva, I am so sorry about the tragedy. I read about it on the news earlier and was devastated.
@Geneva,
I am so very sorry that this happened so close to you. I have two family members who have been on campus during school shootings (a niece at Columbine, and my bff at Michigan State University), and I cannot express my gratitude that they were unharmed....as well as express my sorrow for the lives that were lost. One of my sisters lives in St. Paul, too, and I know she and her family must be devastated by the events of yesterday.
Congratulations on the next milestone! You'll be a great nurse.
Today I'm thankful for the rain we've had this week. Almost an inch. That doesn't sounds like much, but it was distributed over several days and in a high desert climate it really makes a difference. We are still in drought, but the rain has been so refreshing.
For the writer friends I was able to spend the weekend with.
For audiobooks that allow me to listen to stories while I'm doing things around the house.
For libraries. In addition to the audiobook, I'm reading a book, downloaded from the library onto my Kindle.
My son started high school this week. It hasn't been easy, as our county shuffles kids all over. My son's middle school did not feed into his assigned high school and he only knows a handful of kids out of 1700.
I am thankful that our relationship is strong enough that he will share his struggles with us and that he still turns to us for reassurance/support.
Also, he has a dark complexion and bought a similarly pink sweatshirt at Hollister last week. He's not brave enough to wear it to the new high school quite yet, but I know he'll get there. 🙂
@Meeghan,
Enjoy your son's high school time, as it goes by fast. And your son will have more friends soon enough. It gets easier in the next few months. 🙂
@Meeghan, my son won't know anybody at his new high school either. but he is a friendly guy and that will change soon. good luck to you and your son. my son starts next thurs. and he has to wear a uniform. we had to go all the way to queens, ny to buy the uniform and the pants alone were $30 a pair and they can only be grey.
Will your new pink scrubs be Figs, too, Kristen? They look so nice but wondering your thoughts on price tag 🙂
I'm grateful for a lovely weekend spent close to home last weekend. We met up with some friends twice but otherwise got lots of housework done. This weekend we are visiting the in-laws at their lake house and that will be great, too!
I'm also grateful for my coworkers, they are such a kind bunch of people. My boss in particular is very supportive.
1. Thankful that it appears I am recovering from some kind of cold my son brought home from school. Being pregnant, having Covid a month ago and now a cold has not been fun.
2. Thankful that it is August in Georgia and this morning it was 61 degrees outside. I have never seen an August like this but it has been such a blessed relief.
3. Thankful that we were able to schedule what I hope will be the last surgery related to my husband's most recent bout of skin cancer. He will have plenty of time to heal before our daughter arrives & the wound will finally be closed.
4. Thankful that the callous on his foot is healing. This may seem silly but callouses on the foot of a diabetic are nothing to be played with and they have landed him on the operating table more than once. He has an excellent wound care doctor and I will forever be grateful that our paths crossed.
5. Thankful for a clear anatomy scan of our sweet baby girl who is growing perfectly. The gift of my children & being healthy enough to watch them grow is a blessing that cannot be put into words.
I am two months postpartum and trying to fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans and I feel SEEN.
@Carla G, *big smile* so happy for you.
I am so thankful that,after my hip replacement surgery in April, I am mostly back to normal.My husband and I took a little getaway to San Diego and I was able to walk and walk and walk.Last year,I was in a lot of pain.Grateful for this miracle surgery!
I am thankful for a local tour group that takes a small group of us, in a nice mini van, to different venues around Arizona, including downtown live theater.I’ll be joining the group today to go see a musical production! I am retired, but my. hubby still works part time,so I do a few more things than he does! They keep it very affordable , as the company caters to active seniors, and I don’t have to drive downtown, and I get to socialize with other fun retirees who like to stay active!
I am thankful that the weather will be changing soon.. last year I could not hike, and THIS YEAR I can get back out on the trails with my husband!!!! I like smaller hikes,maybe 2 hours, but I get a good workout and the time in nature is so special and important to me!
I am thankful that I got up the nerve to get back on my BICYCLE and do my neighborhood bike ride..since my surgery I’ve been scared of falling off (which I never do!) .. I did it! I am safe! My confidence is back! I have a big beach cruiser bike that I bought from a college student back in 1988!! Husband just put new tires on it for me… And I go slow!
Grateful for nice,calm and centered and upbeat BLOGS like yours and Katy’s, Kristin! I love following your nursing journey! YAY! Go spend a bit of that first paycheck on Mexican food and scrubs!! YOU DESERVE IT!!!
This week, I am particularly grateful for my neighbors. Just this week I've been invited to join a book group, attend a party, go on a pontoon ride, and join other neighbor women for walks. And just within the last few months, I ran into two long-lost friends who live nearby. After living out in the country for the last 20 years, all of these new connections and opportunities are extra special.
I am thankful for getting much needed sleep yesterday afternoon thru this a.m. I had worked Monday and Tuesday night and at the end of my shift Tuesday morning, lots of things happened adding two hours. Then when I was winding down at home, a guy stopped by offering his business's service to cut a tree that I had been putting off having cut. I am thankful the tree is down. I was not quite so thankful (and I knew this from the get-go) that it was so pricey. Because they are a high end service with lots of bells and whistles, they charge high. It needed done and I convinced them to pull up a bush I wanted removed. They had a skid steer to move logs and brush and it was within four feet of the bush I had already thought about pulling up. Took less than five minutes. I think I am more thankful for that than the tree being down. Anyway, two mornings in a row with a buzz saw and equipment running was not too conducive to sleep.
I am thankful that my audiologist has worked hard to set my hearing aides to be advantageous rather than a nuisance. Today's adjustments have been a major improvement,
I am thankful to have found a British black tea that seems to hit all of the flavor notes for a good cuppa. I like tea to taste like tea. Not too weak, not too bitter, but full flavored. Yorkshire it is.
@Chrissy, I sympathize on the tree and bush cutting. And I'm with you on the full flavored cuppa. Is it Taylor's of Harrogate (I'm a Taylor's fan myself)?
I am sitting here in the East Bay of CA being glad for the opposite weather change - finally it is warm enough to not need heat in the morning, the sun is actually out, and the winds have let up.
For the fact that my older son and DIL make it a point to come visit for my birthday. We will celebrate my 76th with them and the local family of 4 including 2 young granddaughters. Lots of happiness for me just all being together.
That our dog gets so excited when people come over. He was over the top when our son and DIL arrived. Endless entertainment and cuddles.
That we all are healthy and strong right now. We all find hanging out together, watching movies at home, cooking meals at home or going to (relatively) reasonably priced restaurants fun, etc.
@Juhli, Hope you have a Happy Birthday!
Thankfuls:
1. An entire day to simply work, uninterrupted, yesterday.
2. Understanding friends who tried to guilt me into meeting for coffee or lunch until I explained that yesterday was my first day to work uninterrupted by social obligations and appointments ALL MONTH LONG! They understood, and snuck by when I was ensconced in the studio with the A/C roaring and dropped off some dark chocolate!! (I think it was them but no one has confessed.)
3. That I found the chocolate before it completely melted
4. For a local dignitary asking me to meet her and 2 friends at the gallery where my solo show hangs, bring a friend, and then join them for lunch! (She is in her 90s and going strong, a truly lovely lady.)
5. For 2 large pencil commissions and 2 oil commissions, one large and one medium, both challenging. ALL challenging, actually, so that brings me to #6
6. For many years of experience to build the confidence that I can do those commissions!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
glad you found the chocolate, that would have been a crime to have it melt. Although adding melted chocolate to ice cream would be a good alternative/save.
@Farhana, My heart is so heavy for Gaza.
Chaquita just lets you sleep in her cat bed right? The picture of Piper in the box made me suck it in as I felt the tightness of the cardboard.
Thankful that we have a good mechanic who is honest & understanding. We are not the only client (currently) yet mechanic keeps teen vehicle right at currently working on stage even though we have had to get additional parts. Hopefully we are on the final stretch to be completed.
Thankful teen has been more accepting that things happen & no one at fault. Teen continues to be determined to get back to normal as much as possible.
Thankful teen still working part time job while in college. Bank account not empty but not as good as teen would like it to be (or any of us). Luckily more $$ still coming in.
Thankful teen side gig still happening (between the two of us). It's starting to become second nature for both of us adjusting schedule (when necessary) when side gig work is available.
Thankful teen first week of college went well. Not really worried about it except the online book (code) that worked (as it should). 🙂 With this online book (code) it automatically submits work completed to college instructor after completing, which is different from any other classes.
Thankful reimbursement for online textbook went through. 🙂
Thankful for rescue dogs who are always so happy to see us. 🙂
Thankful my dad made it back to Florida safely last night. We all really miss being able to see each other regularly. My dad asked teen when we were going to move down closer to them.
Thankful for Kristen & her blog where we can all learn & share with each other.
Have a great Labor Day (long) weekend.
@Regina, perhaps dad could move closer to you and teen?
Yes, thank goodness she shares the bed with me. 😉
I am thankful for the cooler weather. I set out some broccoli seeds and have lots of baby plants. We have been going over our budget and have found more to cut and have added a few lines. We are trying to pay off everything we can so we can just live without worrying about bills. We live in the country and I work from home so we are saving so much already. I am thankful that we have our health and a good church family.
I was super cranky earlier this week just from being tired. So I have taken a nap every day and gotten in bed as soon as I could. It is helping. I am so thankful . . .
-That I have a schedule that allows me to take a nap. My job is very flexible. I chose it so that when I needed to rest, I could. So I did.
-That I am recovering from cancer treatment instead of dying from cancer. I had chemo, surgery, and radiation. I'll feel pretty good for a while and then suddenly I'll be super tired. I think it must be my body still recovering from all it has been through. I am trying to remind myself not to focus on my limitations right now, but instead what a blessing it is to be in recovery.
-That I am making progress on the journal article I am writing. Last week I got really helpful feedback on my first draft. The next step is to work on revising the piece before I present it in November and submit it to a journal. But then I got tired and cranky, and it is really hard to be creative and productive when one is tired and cranky. So I paired napping with working on it a half hour at a time. Lo and behold, I have started to get some traction on it. Despite the fact that this happens every single time I write anything, I am always surprised.
-That our new project manager is working out beautifully. Running a small business has been really, really hard since COVID. We had sworn off hiring anyone for anything ever again. But then we met a person who just fit perfectly. Despite this, I have still had my doubts because nothing seems to actually work out the way I think it will. But so far, she is really amazing. Will it turn out even better than our conservative estimates? There is that possibility.
-For all the little things that have worked out better than I expected recently. The flights for my upcoming conference moved, and I like the new times much better. Both vehicles passed inspection without any major repairs. A tablet repair came back cheaper than we were estimated. Our three boys settled in quickly to school this year, and we have made so much progress with our daughter since the spring. The weather has been perfection itself.
@Amanda in VA, your #2 sure puts things in perspective. Here's to recovering vs. dying!
I am thankful that you are a nurse and will bring so much skill, knowledge, and compassion to your patients and co-workers, and that your hospital puts a lot of time and effort into properly on-boarding new nurses.
I'm very impressed. I don't think my daughter got that much orientation when she was a first year resident! At the same time she was starting that, her younger sister started working at Starbucks, and I swear her younger sister got more orientation. I find that frightening!
Yes, and even after these three weeks of orientation, we will be working with an experienced nurse preceptor until the end of October. It's a pretty thorough training!
I'm so glad you're going to "treat yourself" with dinner with friends and YES! Get some pink scrubs! 🙂 Congratulations on the bigger paycheck!
thankful for you. that our former nanny made it through her second cancer operation.
the four of us visited her today. it was so nice to see her. she looked so much better that when i saw her in the hospital in feb. after her first operation. we really hope she is on the mend now.
your bedroom is so calm and peaceful. did lisey bring her cat with her or is piper a native hawaiian? thanks so much for the cat photos. love them so much. it is so fun to hear about your new adventures. thank you so much for continuing to blog.
I hoped you order some queso fundido - you cannot beat cheese and chorizo. Leftovers make an excellent burger topping.
Hi Kristen! So excited for you. I’m curious, will you have to work some night shifts? For your sake, I hope not. But I know that’s sometimes how it goes! You are going to help and bless so many!
I will have to do some during my training, yes, but I should be able to work majority day shifts after that. Mercifully, there are a lot of people on my floor who actually PREFER nights, which means day shift openings are there.
@Kristen, I’m so glad to hear this!
Give Chiquita a snuggle from me! She looks so lovely and soft and plush to cuddle with. Also THREE CHEERS FOR FALL!!! I'm super excited about it, too.
If I fits, I sits. ~Said every cat ever.
I’m thankful to be in week 3 of my nursing program!
Kristin, it’s so fun seeing you be a new grad in your 40s, and knowing I’m just 2 years behind!
I’m also really thankful for my body. I’m in my early 40s, and I work in an ICU as a PCT. The last few shifts, I’ve been taking care of an awful lot of folks my age or younger with some really debilitating issues.
It’s made me really appreciate having a body that can actually do this job, at this age.
(Protect your back!)