Because it's December 30

We will celebrate with relatives we haven't seen in a LONG time! Lots of kids, food and drink.

Today, we will get ready. It will be fun.

Stay tuned...

Using that extra day wisely

So far, the holiday weekend is working out well. I've been busy trying to take care of all my usual chores, as well as enjoying the weekend.

I have spent some time volunteering. Thankfully, this can occur at home, as I read over stuff and review it for continuing education credit. It's something new and exciting.

We've taken Bubba on his fried chicken quest. Since he's inherited a genetic proclivity for these crispy birds (from his MD grandpa, no less) and there are all sorts of new (and older) restaurants really advertising. At our latest stop, we found out there's actually a fried chicken festival coming up, so we know where we'll be eating in a couple of weeks.

I've still got my usual chores, but with the pretty weather and fun of the Fourth of July, it's been enjoyable lately. Having another day to celebrate is also a good thing, too.

Stay tuned...

Happy Fathers' Day

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." - - Jim Valvano

It comes the same weekend every year, but never gets as much interest. That holiday is Fathers' Day.

Since I volunteered to take a father's place at church this weekend, my own celebration was broken up. (My husband agreed to it). I got up early and made Dahey and Bubba a breakfast casserole. The route to a man's heart may be through his stomach, but for these two, there had better be meat and cheese on the way, too. (Sorry vegetarians! I try all the time and sometimes I'm successful!)

I took care of my church volunteer obligation, then came home. We ate leftovers for lunch, and we went out for dinner at a swanky steakhouse nearby. Bubba wasn't thrilled that there were few kids there but he got used to it, and enjoyed the food.

We left and got dessert at home since the two wanted to watch the NBA finals. Dahey's father would have enjoyed that--he loved basketball. My father would have just taken the pie and gone on his merry way. Bubba was happy to see Cleveland win.

For all of you nurses out there, who are dads and are working, I hope your organization treats you right. Some do make things better when working these holidays. If you are working and can't see your father, I hope you can soon.

For the rest of us, who wish our fathers were here today, I wish you peace. I feel your pain everyday. I am so glad I have lots of happy memories with my dad, who loved us, pies (and just about any sweets) and being a dad. I'll never forget him.

More later.

Happy Easter!

For those of you who celebrate (now or later), may the joy of the Risen Christ be yours all throughout the year.

For those of you who don't, enjoy every bit of candy while you can. Most will be 50% off tomorrow. Cadbury eggs are awesome!

I have already hidden my chocolate marzipan eggs (I prefer dark) from prying characters in my home.

Until next time...I raise a glass to you and then go check the ham.

Happy Thanksgiving

What I'm thankful for this year:

1. Furniture at the Hotel. I have been shuttling around taking care of patients, and now I'm back home...at a desk.

2. Health. It's something so many people don't have. Health really IS wealth.

3. Family and friends. Some of them passed away this year. I am so glad to celebrate with the ones here today.

4. A family photo. We finally got one outside this year. It's going on the Christmas cards.

Wishing you much health, happiness, and good food today wherever you are.

More to come...

RehabRN book club: Fall edition

Yes, the days are getting shorter, and since I'm burning the lights anyway, I might as well read. RehabLand has wonderful library folks, so check out your local library. You'll enjoy it and it's cheap.

Here are a few items on my current reading list:

1. The Great Escape by Angus Deaton. The newest Nobel laureate's book is on economics, but unlike it's common description (the dismal science), this book is very readable, even if you haven't sat through one, two, three (or like me, even more) economics classes. Professor Deaton writes a readable book that even a rehab nurse who's thinking of going to the dark side (insurance or anywhere outside the Hotel) could love.

Highly recommend this, especially if you want to learn something new, without trying too hard. Thank goodness he has a sense of humor.

2. The Joy of Work by Scott Adams. Dilbert at his 1990s finest.  Reminds me of the good old days before I was a nurse. Gives me street cred with the technical folks, even though many of the tricks mentioned are dated.

My favorite escape book: I keep a copy of this in my bathroom.

3. My secret fetish lately: cookbooks. I read any and all for ideas on how to snazz up meals and bake new cakes, cookies, etc. Bubba is becoming an eating machine (and a picky one at that) so this helps keep him fed and out of my cabinets (for a while). Yes, you can get these recipes on the internet, but since my kitchen is too small for a computer and dangerous for an iPad, etc., I'm erring on the side of caution with a real book.

My current favorite: the old, reliable, Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I got a healthy one from work, but haven't tried it out yet.

Hope you enjoy these. Will keep you updated on the next exciting book. I will be attending a meet and greet at a bookstore this week, so I hope to have a new review soon.

Happy reading!

Anniversary, it is...

But a happy one? Not exactly.

This weekend is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina wreaking havoc in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. It has gone on record as one of the deadliest natural disasters in US history.

We should learn a few things though.

1. No matter where you are, you should have an emergency plan. Yes, my plan's not the best, but I am fortunate, that most of the time, I work close enough to walk home if anything happened here in RehabLand. Bubba is close to home at school and we have some basic supplies on hand.

Don't forget your desk/locker/car trunk. You can store some basics in there too, just in case.

2. Figure it will take three days to get help. We are fortunate that a lot of important public services are less than a mile from us, but we still stay ready. When it's time to evacuate, you need to evacuate.

However, there are happy things. Very soon, in September, many rehab professionals will descend on the Crescent City (or the Big Easy) for their annual conferences. If you are there, and are free, I'd highly recommend one or both (ASCIP for all you SCI nurses or professionals and/or the Annual ARN conference, for any rehab nurse). New Orleans is a pretty city with lots of history and delicious treats. Don't miss it.

Who knows...maybe I'll even see you there. Stay tuned!

The best things in life

Some are free, some not so much.

It's been a fun week. Bubba started seventh grade. He's happy enough, but wishes more of his friends were in his classes (only half of the classes contain at least one friend, which according to Bubba will make them "very boring.").

The school district here in RehabLand is having budget cuts this year. I always know which teachers talk about them (the ones most affected). It's very interesting. There won't be any intramural sports this year, so we have to find Bubba a boys' volleyball league he can play in. He is set on trying out for v-ball in high school, so we must prepare. This will be interesting. He may have to get on a girls team.

So today, we hung out, did homework and we had fun. We went to a local hamburger joint that's been around for ages. It's a tiny place (counter serves 10 people on each side) that makes their own root beer. We got a burger, fries and root beer. It was fun. One item crossed off the bucket list.

Since that wasn't enough calories, we decided to go to a local creamery known for it's oddball flavors. Bubba got one called Cookie Monster. It had both Oreos and chocolate chip cookie dough in it. I got old reliable double chocolate, which was amazing.  Bubba was a little scared of the teenage girl population, so we sat on the same side as the ice cream scoopers.

All in all, it was fun hanging out with Bubba. These moments are priceless. I would not trade them for anything.

More to come...

Summer reading club

Yes, raise your hand, if you're one of those people who makes a New Year's resolution to read more? That's me, too. In my day-to-day work, I'm always reading. Most of the things I read are guidelines, policies, procedures or official-type documents.

As a kid, I was a veteran of the Summer Reading Club here in RehabLand. I have many fond memories of going to my local library, doing the program and getting my name put up on the wall with those of the other kids in my school in the children's section. I loved getting the certificate of completion and the FREE book. Although I loved to read, my free book was always a Peanuts paperback book. It was something they didn't loan out much in the library, and it was my reward for finishing. Snoopy was the subject of my first book.

Thankfully, I don't have to worry anymore about losing my summer reading club book list. Our new library has a reading club online and they give prizes to adults, too! It may not be Snoopy books, but it's fun.

Here's what I've read or am reading right now. Hope you'll enjoy them, or head on over to your local library and find one of your own.

1.Thoughts are things: Turning your ideas into realities by Bob Proctor & Greg S. Reid. I enjoyed this book about ideas and using them in life.Based on the ideas of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

2. Small Batch: Pickles, cheese, chocolate, spirits and the return of artisanal foods, by Suzanne Cope. If you love food and love stories, you'll like this book, which talks about history, food and the new companies that have grown up doing what our ancestors did all the time.

3. Simple Lessons for a Better Life by Charles E. Dodgen. I'm still reading this, and I'm loving it. A couple of stories hit home for me, and really look a lot like what has happened occasionally at the Hotel. If you want a different view of nursing homes and older people from a the perspective of a psychologist., this is it.

Here comes the rain again

April showers do bring May flowers, but after those showers get mixed in with tornado watches and warnings, I get a little edgy. It fits the mood, though. I'm still a little melancholy after this week.

Thankfully, the latest tornado watch was called off so Bubba could go to his track meet, hang out and have fun while Dahey and I had a date night. We went to a neighborhood I grew up in (which has since become moderately gentrified) to a restaurant I've wanted to try. It was nostalgia: some things change and some things stay the same. Thankfully, the food was good, the beer was cold, and the various games were on the (baseball, hockey, etc.) TV so Dahey could follow along.

Since we were on a nostalgia trek, Dahey decided to drive to a shopping mall we walked in a lot while we were dating. A lot of stores are gone, but some old reliables got bigger. They even got an Apple Store in this particular mall. Which of course, made Dahey want a new phone. Thankfully, his problems can be resolved by sending his phone in for repair, which will be done this week (thank goodness!)

Now, I'm back to doing my volunteer homework. Sometimes this is a time-consuming activity, but other times, it's a lot of fun.

Enjoy your weekend wherever you are!

No planes, no trains, just automobiles

It's snowy in RehabLand and now Dahey's decided to get a new car (used really). The old Swedish monster has too many problems to solve, so we may as well look for something else.  Most of the searching has been given to me. He just likes to veto what I find.

We thought we found an old VW in good shape. On his test drive, one of the indicator sticks broke. The salesman was pressuring us to buy it. It was snowing like mad. My husband wanted more maintenance information from their repair staff. The salesmen wouldn't call them or look it up online.I finally told the salesman the only way we'd buy right that second was if it would be if it would fit on the credit card limit in my purse. ( I had one with a 5k limit).

He and (the ever present) manager were offended and refused (since it was a lowball, but in the ballpark offer). I felt relieved because all I wanted to do was get dinner.

The restaurant was one we've always wanted to try. So did nearly half of the nearby town, too. It was packed. You wouldn't have guessed there was a snow storm raging outside. We finally got in after 45 minutes waiting near the door where the cold air kept blowing in and stupid coeds kept opening it. Lots of food, so plenty of leftovers and good prices.

After our lovely dinner, we got on the road to drive 20 miles home. The roads were snow covered and in some parts, pretty icy. It took nearly an hour to get home and the most harrowing part was within five miles of our house.

Just when you think you've gotten away from the crazy drivers, another would appear. I was thrilled to get home. The local snow plow brigade started on our street just as I was going to bed.

Alas, the scrape of the plow was my lullaby, but that sure beats icy roads any day!

Now for Monday and the crazy specialist I get to deal with.  Time for a prophylactic Tums.

Stay tuned...

Jumpin' Jack Flash

It really is a gas eating all these vegetables on my current diet (clean eating with lots of vegetables and lean protein).

So far, so good. 

More later...

Fall is here in RehabLand

The leaves have been turning shades of red and gold here in RehabLand. They aren't at their peak, but they are getting close.

Dahey, Bubba and I had a fun time taking a drive to the country to see my cousins who live in a quaint little town that dates back to the early 1800s. It's a blip in the road, but every year this time, the locals have their fall festival and people come from miles around. The cousins throw a party and invite all the relatives to see their place and go to the festival.

Bubba wasn't sure he liked it, because the corn maze was a longer walk than he expected. Some folks just don't get that, yes, there is indeed a big difference between 1/8 of a mile and 8/10s of a mile. He walked most of the way there, then decided to turn around.

We went back to the village green and signed up for the fun Money in the Hay contest. We missed the pumpkin decorating contest. Since he had a commitment at home, we couldn't stay long enough for him to enter the pumpkin pie eating contest. This was, of course, traumatic, for a preteen boy who can eat you out of house and home when you aren't looking.

Thankfully, he liked the soups and chili the cousins had, as well as the entire dining room full of sweets. He didn't make much money in the contest, but he had fun going out there with all the younger kids.

One of my cousins, an ER physician with three kids, showed up with his family. We talked shop among other things, since I rarely see him (he's always working). He's just hoping he never ever sees ebola at work. Since he practices in a much bigger town than PumpkinLand, but smaller than the regional centers, he hopes he's safe.

As we said our goodbyes, Bubba asked if we were coming back next year. I said "What do you think?"

He said, "Oh, yeah! Let's do it."

I'm so glad it turned out as well as it did.  Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are.

Bonding with Bubba

Oh, the fun and excitement of living with a tween boy who is spring break staycationing.

1. Bubba thinks he's immune to taking baths or showers (and he loves swimming). I'm reminding him that he really does need to clean the cracks and crevices more than he does.

2. Since Dahey had to work, I took him to soccer. His team lost. He was sad. Dahey got updates via text and phone, though. The team got lots of shots, but nothing would go into the goal.

3. We took my sister out to lunch. Both of them are never happier than in an eating establishment. No one is ever bored with food around.

4. Movies are on the agenda, but since it was later in the day when we got home, I decided to hold off on seeing  Mr. Peabody and Sherman, but we had to get Thor.

I was so tired from my crazy week, I promptly feel asleep during most of the movie.

Ah, togetherness...

If you thought you had a bad day...

Then you haven't seen this article (or the compelling pictures).

My day may seem crappy, but in retrospect, it's actually pretty darned good, thank you very much.

Hope your Super Bowl Sunday is going well, whether you're celebrating it on the unit or at a party.

Here's this weekend's Sunday Stealing below, since this is the All who wander are not lost (one of my favorite quotes) edition.

Enjoy!

1. Put your music player of choice on shuffle and list the first song
1. Relax, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
2. If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Would you take anyone with you?
1. Right now, it would be somewhere warm. Otherwise, I'd take my husband and son to Paris, France.
3. What is your preferred writing implement? (eg. Blue pen, pencil, green pen)
1. Black pen. Always, and forever. It's legal!
4. When did you go on your first trip alone (without your parents)?
1. When I went to camp at 10.
5. Do you have connections to any celebrities (even minor)? List them.
1. Only drive by ones. I'm related (by marriage) to a pharmaceutical inventor. I went to high school with a girl whose sister is a nurse on a reality show.
6. Name 3 items you could pick up from where you are.
1. Phone, paper, pens
7. How would you describe your sense of humor?
1. Offbeat
8. Do you ever play board games or other non-computer games? Got any favorites?
1. I like Monopoly
9. A musical artist you love that isn’t well known.
1. Johnny Clegg and Savuka
10. A musical artist you love that is well known.
1. Paul Simon
11. What is your desktop background currently?
1. A graphic of leaves.
12. Last person you talked to, and through what you talked to them
1. My husband. The milk was sour.
13. What do you carry your money in?
1. Wallet
14. What timekeeping devices are in the room you are currently in?
1. My phone and my watch.
15. What kind of headphones do you use?
1. All kinds (mostly earbuds)
16. What musical artists have you seen perform live?
1. Midnight Oil, Stevie Ray Vaughn, TMBG, Air Supply, all sorts of bands, really.
17. How often do you clear your browser history?
1. All the time.
18. What’s the best job you’ve ever had?
1. I like the one I have, thanks. 
19. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
1. Burger King at 16. Got burnt on the fry basket.
20. What magazines do you read, if any? 
1. Lots. Fashion, computers, nursing, you name it.

Perfect storm

My morning:

Bubba wakes up way too early and runs to the bathroom. Vomits like crazy. Says, "I feel much better" and goes back to bed.

I wake up right after, and was amazed that I didn't have anything to clean up (I really hate vomit more than anything else). Got a good enough migraine that I thought I might also be heading to Vomit Land. Interrupted such thoughts with the good old sumatriptan, instead.

Hung out and laid low. Called into work sick. School calls and says Bubba has no school. Rejoice that I don't have to play Vomit Roulette and send him to school.

Bubba did perfectly fine the rest of the day. Once I rested for a bit, so did I. Made Bubba and I a little breakfast ('cause migraines make you hungry...at least when you realize how long it's been since you've eaten).

Finally started working on my slides for the next big gig. Bubba, meanwhile enjoyed himself and read books and watched movies.

I'm just hoping they have school tomorrow. This snow day business is getting old really fast.

Deja vu all over again

No school due to a snow day. Supposedly, they'll take them back tomorrow. Some parents kvetch on the school's Facebook page. Others, like me, rejoice.

Bubba needs to learn something. The school year is flying by so fast.

On top of all of it, another great relative has died. This one was special. Before he married into the family, he was the doctor for most of the folks in town. He even delivered some of Great Aunt Marion's kids (when she was married to dear departed old Uncle Gilbert, the guy who threw some great parties, known for their food). Dahey was their wedding photographer.

The day he died would have been their 12th wedding anniversary.

More later

Snowmaggedon

Dear Local News People:

Yes, the snow has arrived. Thank goodness all the utilities work here at the homestead.

I just wish you all would stop acting crazy, as if you've never seen snow. It does snow here on a regular basis. Snow really is part of winter, folks.

While it is snowing, I will wait for it to stop until I go out to shovel the driveway again. Because if I don't, I will have to flag down that nice cop who stopped by the house and ask for a ride to work at the Hotel.

Unless, of course, all the Manglement have stayed home.

Now I'm starting happy hour early, so I'm going to have some more of that wine I put in my boeuf bourguignon today.

Salut!

Yours truly,

RehabRN

Sunday Stealing, Thanksgiving edition

 The Thanksgiving edition of Sunday Stealing. Enjoy it!

1. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?
Depends on when I get up. Usually something light.

2. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV? 
Watch on TV.

3. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day? 
We eat around lunchtime and nibble the rest of the day. If I'm really prepared, I have appetizers (nothing too big or heavy.)

4. What are the traditional favorites?
Turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy (all scratch), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and pumpkin (and other) pies.

5. What new recipes will you try this year?
Maybe a dessert.

6. What part of the meal do you never compromise?
Stuffing.

7. Who gets to carve the turkey?
Usually my husband.

8. Family style around the table or buffet style and everyone sits wherever there’s room?
Combo. We have a small kitchen.

9. How many will be at your table this year?
Under a dozen.

10. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?
We say grace, then the race begins.

11. Cranberry sauce… yay or nay?
Yes, my husband would have a coronary without it.

12. What time do you eat Thanksgiving Dinner? 
We like lunchtime or early afternoon.

13. Three best pies for Thanksgiving dessert?
Pumpkin, pecan and chocolate (although Dahey doesn't think it's a holiday without mincemeat)

14. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on? 
Depends. I try to wait a bit before I serve it.

15. Favorite leftover?
Everything.

I hope they count the chocolate covered ones

Almonds as cancer fighting food? Wow!

Food as medicine...bring it on!