Tramp Stamp

When you're sweet little girl looks at you like this... 

And asks for this...

You give in.

Then you swear you'll never tell anyone about it.

But you post it on your blog anyway...because OMG it's hilarious!

It's Wednesday, so you know I'm linking up with iPPP!

My Broken Heart Blog

I woke up to a sad realization yesterday. After over a year of wonderful service, my blog has broken and I am unable to fix it. Mostly because I am too crazy busy with my life to spend any extra time diddling around on google and taking night classes on code. Unfortunately, my knowledge of "all things blogger" has been exhausted and the fact that I have an entirely custom blog with no access to my design files is making it impossible for anyone to help me.

Boo, hoo, hoo.

I have decided to turn this into something positive though. I've decided to make the move to a new venue, hire a wonderful bloggy friend to revamp my design and hopefully learn something about being able to fix my blog when if it dies next time.

In the meantime, because it's too painful for me to even look at this once beautiful space of mine, I'm going to change the template to something prefab and lame. I suggest you all read me in your readers for a bit and only come by when necessary (i.e. to comment).

I am linking this up with the sweet and kind Bruna at Bees With Honey for Lets BEE Friends because I'm feeling sad for the loss of my first bloggy home and am in need of some friendly support.

 

(Update: Look at it! It's beautiful again! Many thanks to Kayleen @ Booyah's Momma Digital Art & Design for fixing my site. I will also have her do my update/migration and you should to, if you're looking to make a change!)

Fall to Pieces

I'm about to post something embarrassing. While some of you might be thinking, this won't be the first time, just try to pretend that it is. It is definitely the first time I've posted something THIS embarrassing (to me). As well as the first time I've broached this particular subject.

(Read: validation is necessary)

I'm a nurse in the Emergency Room at my local hospital. It's a nice, quiet, fairly new community hospital and I've been there (on one floor or another) for over a year. I am new to the ER, but am learning the pace and really enjoying the work. While we don't get crazy traumas, we do occasionally get the craziness expected at an ER, however for the most part, our patients are normal people with normal, treatable issues.

I enjoy caring for most of the patients. I usually only have them on the unit for a few hours before they are either discharged home, transferred to another facility, or admitted to another floor. This short amount of time gives me the opportunity to get them situated, learn a little about their background, treat them, and then move on. There is rarely enough time to become annoyed or angry with someone unless the person is just in that sort of a mood. I get those patients as well, but they don't really bother me that much. I am usually able to do my work in a professional manner, and move on. Nope, the mean ones aren't the patients that make my life difficult.

It's the attractive ones.

Yep, I said it....and I am so embarrassed.

It's true. Sometimes I have been attracted to my patients. Rarely, oh so rarely, I will have a patient that makes it difficult to concentrate, focus, speak, or keep myself from acting a fool. I'm dead serious. I'm only human and am therefore unable make my heart beat slower or my hands stop sweating just because I'm a professional caregiver.

Working with the patient population that I'm usually exposed to, it's not THAT common. In fact, in the two years I've been nursing, I can really only remember it happening twice. I am only writing about this because it happened just recently and I'm still feeling a little thrown or uneasy. I'm thinking that if I just put this 'out there' then maybe all the weirdness will go away. Also, I think it's uber important for people to understand that this possibility exists, even for the most amazingly, wonderfully, professionally, minded nurses such as myself. And if you are an attractive sick person you should prepare yourself accordingly.

Your hospital care provider may have a crush on you.
 
So don't flirt with the people taking care of you. You can be nice, make jokes, give compliments...but don't flirt with the staff. Believe me, we can tell the difference. It is hard enough to start an IV without my hands shaking because my impeccably groomed, soft spoken, great smelling, sweet smiling, patient won't stop flirting with me...even if it does seem subtle.

There. That is all. Now, let's never speak of this again.

Funny Odd, Or Funny Ha Ha?

The kids are both really into knock, knock jokes right now. Given their age difference, it's pretty much the only thing they have in common to talk about. Our various car rides and dinner conversations usually involve a seemingly never ending, yet always hilarious, retelling of the same three jokes. The first two are Asher's creations and the last one is Amelia's variation of the banana/orange joke (orange you glad I didn't say banana?).

Here's a little glimpse into my life with my comedic children.

Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Pig.
Pig who?
Pig any watermelon, they're all for sale.

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Milk
Milk who?
Milk any cow you want.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Banana, knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana
Banana who?
Banana, knock knock.
Who's there?
Clementine.
Clementine who?
Clementine ate banana.

Que the unbridled giggling of two children who find each other mutually hilarious.

That New Car Smell

We're looking for a new car. Sort of. Not really. But kind of.

I'm the one that started the conversation/search. I think driving our 1994 Isuzu Trooper (which I have nicknamed "shitbox") is getting to me. Plus, there are some things that need to be done to it that Elijah isn't too keen on doing. I guess since he spends all day working on other people's cars, he doesn't really feel like taking our cars apart on his days off. I get it, but really, is there any other reason to become a mechanic? The whole point is so we can drive that stupid shitbox until it CANNOT BE FIXED by anyone...right? I do understand though, it's not like I want to take care of sick people on my days off...although that job does fall to me.

Either way I really wanted to get through the next few years without car payments. Our other car, a 2003 BMW 325i, is paid off as well and it's really nice not sending off all our fun money to the car people. I'm struggling with this decision. I think I should just wait until the shitbox dies completely and then look into getting something new, but I am so very vain. And to be perfectly honest, we do need more room, in a more reliable vehicle. Especially as the kids get older and we start planning road trips. It's nerve racking driving a car that you're not too sure is going to take you all the way to your destination.

I'd love an X5. But sadly, I'm a realist and refuse to pay for an X5. I would buy a used one, but since my husband is a BMW mechanic and knows what goes wrong and when, he's not to excited about getting something he may have to work on. He wants us to buy new. Who has ever heard of a mechanic wanting a new car?!!! Seriously, somebody help me understand!

Anyway, I've had two glasses of wine and know that I am rambling so I'll get to the point because I'm pretty sure I had one. We're looking at a few SUVs that have third row seating. Namely, the Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9. I guess we'll drive them and decide what to do. I'm so not excited about this...yet I do love that new car smell.

The Week of Living Dangerously

(image)

I realize that I should probably write a nice little recap of last week's trip but...I. Just. Can't. It really was too much.

Let me just say that the procedure (when we finally got her in to do it) went well. All my (Southwest) flights arrived safely, on time - and I didn't have to pay to check my bags! The kids survived the week without mommy and my friends absolutely deserve awards for pitching in. Elijah ensured that I came home to a clean house and even brought the kids to the airport to meet me.

All in all, in spite of all the drama, I'm really glad I made the trip there (and back). I enjoyed seeing the members of the family who were able to make it out and we did, amidst all the chaos, have some fun times.

She's Gonna Break Soon

I'm feeling "less than."

That's a common feeling for me these days. And I can't help but wonder what the hell is wrong with me anyway?

Maybe it's because I don't know exactly what I'm expecting this blog to be. I'm not sure what to focus on. Me? The kids? Our home? I'm an avid reader of some truly amazing blogs and they all seem to have more focus than I do. I can't help but think that it's some sort of reflection on me as a person. Like I'm too scattered and always all over the place. I can't focus and therefore THAT'S why I'm always feeling so out of whack. Like this blog has become a "mirror" of who I am as a person...too distracted by life to actually accomplish anything worthwhile.

Initially, I started to write because I LOVE to write. I wanted to put something meaningful out into the www universe and touch lives, inspire hope, or just give someone a laugh. More and more I feel like my entries are forced, like I'm trying to just get something out for a self inflicted deadline. I feel like I don't have the time to really elaborate on my thoughts or ideas, therefore I'm not writing so much as posting.

It's not that I don't have the opportunity to put my thoughts down. Right now, Amelia and Asher are hanging out together, watching Elmo in Grouchland for the second time today. Dinner is ready, I'm enjoying my first beer of the evening, waiting for Elijah to come home and take over. It's not like I don't have little pockets of time to write, I just don't know what to write about, or I just can't get focused enough to actually get something meaningful out. I keep a list on my phone, ideas for blogging, but I haven't "gotten around to" the good stuff yet, I guess. I don't know.

Maybe I'm just feeling a little defeated. Maybe this is just another self serving entry. I have gotten pretty good at those lately! I just feel confused, and a little like I haven't lived up to my potential.

Anyway, thanks for hanging in there...I am trying to get focused. Trying to get back on track. Hopefully, in the meantime, you're enjoying the "fluff."