ER

Again, why do I watch this show?? It's so bad. Is it because I've watched it since I was thirteen? I'm 28 now. That's a lot of commitment. I'm just not ready to let go.

Right now, I'm watching the ER doctors tell a ten-year-old they took out her mother's heart and couldn't use the new one (wrong blood type). Now she's on a bypass machine and will stay on it until she gets a new heart.

On what planet would a ten-year-old be alone in a surgical waiting room, the only person there for her mother's surgery? Sheesh.

Well, gotta get ready to get a cavity filled. SIGH. I hate dental work.

Eeep

I'm terrified of my Wiifit.

Not really terrified. I haven't gotten on it since Saturday because I've been so busy. I missed one day before, and it chided me coldly.

What's it going to do now? Taunt me? Make my fat little Wii cry? So, I'm not getting on it this morning because I don't want to know what mean thing it will say to me.

I just want a little grace, please.

Ahhhhhh!!

I'm getting married!

Joe proposed tonight!

We're getting married this fall!

Stay tuned...

Stupid

I was driving down Old Hickory Boulevard in Hermitage today. It's a fairly busy stretch of road. As I was passing Kroger, I saw two boys on bikes WITH NO HELMETS riding right next to cars along the road. First of all, it was 9AM on a Friday. Maybe school was out or something. I don't know. I don't have any children. But what the hell were those boys, about ten years old, doing without helmets on?

Who are their parents?

Why don't they care?

I used to be so annoyed with my mother when she'd make my siblings and I wear helmets as we rode bikes. Today, I'm thankful.

Ch Ch Changes

I read Holly's post and was inspired.

What decisions would I have made differently?

First, a disclaimer. I'm happy now; the happiest I've been as an adult. All of my decisions (good or bad) led me here. I guess if I was given the chance to do it all again, there's not a whole lot I'd change. I'd be too terrified I wouldn't be here now.

Things I should have done differently:

The whole marriage situation. If I had dumped that loser when I found out his crazy addictions very early on, so much of my life would be completely changed right now. It's kind of mind-boggling. I probably wouldn't even be a nurse. The thing that kills me is that I had so many opportunities to not marry him. Gah!

I should have gone to pharmacy school. I'd be making hella money and wouldn't be dealing directly with patients (if I worked in a hospital pharmacy). I'm a happy nurse, but if I hadn't fallen madly in love with the ex and gone to nursing school in Clarksville to be close to him, I would have gone to UT Memphis for pharmacy school.

I wish I had buckled down more in high school. If I had even given enough of a crap to apply for scholarships, I could have gone to a better college than APSU (I wanted to go to UT Knoxville). If I had gone there, I would never have met the ex. I might have joined a sorority and flunked out too though. Who knows?

I wish my sister and I had been friends earlier on. We hated each other in high school and college and I don't know why. All her fault, of course. :) Seriously though, I could have been nicer.

Those are the biggies. I could make some argument for wishing I had exercised more, wishing I'd been more brave and less shy, wishing I hadn't sweated the small stuff with guys, wishing for better money decisions...but you get the point. Everyone has their list of things they'd do over. That's mine. Thanks for not snorting with laughter!

Would Not EVER

-have 14 children.

-live with parents again (no offense Mom and Dad, but I think you'd be equally horrified if your 28-year-old daughter wanted to move back in).

-any combination of the above.


That is all.


Actually, it'd be pretty sweet to live at home again. No rent. Free food. No bills. Getting to pick on 13-year-old brother at any time (plus he takes out the trash).
I'll be home tomorrow.

Fridays

My new favorite day. I'm off and all alone all day.

I'm such a little hermit.

My guilty pleasure: Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility. Joe will be over, playing his RPG on the computer in my extra room. Every now and then I'll call out, "I just bought another goat". Then he'll call out, "My level 2 whatsahoosit just gained a new ability".

Gosh we're dorks. But happy dorks.

A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man

My Mom: When are you gonna blog again?

Me: I dunno. I've just been so busy. I'm no longer filled with fun stories of being single.

My Mom: But I like knowing what's going on with you!

Me: SIGH. Fine.

So here I am. Nothing much going on.

Busy with work.

I'm pretty terrified with the economy. Today, my work sent out a big fat email saying that there was a hiring freeze, no raises for the year most likely, possible layoffs, budget cuts, shutting off construction, etc. It's scary. I feel very lucky to have a job in the healthcare field. A girl at work's husband lost his job last week. They have three boys in private school (I know, I'm not a fan of private school, but that's their choice).

Super Bowl party at my sister's house this weekend! She's having a nacho bar. Is there anything this girl can't do? I'd be ordering some pizzas and requesting people bring their own drinks.

Joe and I just bought our tix for Xperimental Puppet Theater in Atlanta in May. Ever hear of it? Google it.

Musta been one helluva birthday...

I know I know. You're going to do that thing my grandparents do when I haven't been around for a while and pretend not to know me.

Well, like my Mom says, life got in the way.

Actually, I was just feeling a bit uninspired.

Here's what I've been up to since you last heard from me:

I quit school. Not sure if I mentioned that. It seems working full time, boyfriending, and trying to stay sane do not mix with master's level classes. Also, there is so much more liability in being a nurse practitioner. For now, I'm happy where I am.

I applied and got a charge nurse position where I work. Slightly more money, slightly better hours, and a whole heckuva lot more responsibility. I like the challenge. The clinic where I work is undergoing a lot of changes. Here in a couple of months, we'll be twice as big with the same amount of staff (if we don't get hiring!). The only part of it that sucks is I'm doing less direct patient care.

Things with Joe are going swimmingly. He'll be with me on Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house. I'll be with him this weekend at his parents' house in Georgia. His sister's baby is due that weekend too.

And by the way can you believe next week is Thanksgiving? Sheesh.

This weekend is the annual Howard Girl Cookie Extravaganza. This is where my sister and I (and our Mom this year!) get together and bake the hell out of some cookie dough. On the list this year: candy cane cookies, rum fruitcake cookies, pecan sandies, chocolate peanut butter cup cookies, gingerbread cookies, cutout cookies, jam thumbprints, minty chocolate sandwich cookies, fudge, checkerboard cookies, oatmeal cranberry white chocolate chunk cookies, and molasses cookies.
Gosh. When I type all of the names like that I feel slightly insane. I've already made four of the doughs in preparation for Saturday. Diana's making two of the harder ones. Plus she is letting us use her kitchen. My new Bellevue kitchen is tiny.

My best friend had her baby in October and I've only talked to her like, three times. I'm horrible. I just don't want to, you know, bug her while she's busy and sleepy.

That's about it. I'm still out there reading your blogs and twitters. I just haven't been as active. Hopefully that'll change.

Out on the Town

Well, tomorrow is my birthday so that means tonight is the night my sister and I go out on the town dressed to the nines.

Here's the itinerary:
Drinks at Hermitage Hotel at the Oak Bar.
Dinner at Watermark.
Then: not sure.

Can't wait! Let's hope it measures to my dinner at Rotier's on Wednesday night. Oh how I love their burgers.

Maybe I'll have some bawdy pics to post tomorrow! I actually have tons of pics to post on my blog; I'm just too lazy.

Back in Time

Do you bloggers every look back on your blogs to see what you were writing about a long time ago?

Yeah, pretty funny.

I'm kinda depressed now because I was much more interesting several months ago.

:)

Gourmet Saturday!

Are you an unmarried girl (or even guy) who has trouble putting together healthy meals? It's hard for just one person! Have you ever eaten over the sink so you don't dirty any dishes? Have you ever eaten cereal three times in one day? Yeah, me neither.

Anyway, I've concocted a meal worthy of any foodie.

Read on.

Lunch:

Walk to pantry. Pick up old whole wheat pita chips. They're only slightly stale!! Realize you still have leftover hummus! Get hummus out of fridge. See that it expired four days ago. Start eating it anyway.

It tastes "off". Throw away hummus. Put pita chips back in pantry.

Spot Kashi TLC crackers. Mmmm. But what to eat them with?

Oooh! Kraft American singles! Fold two Kraft singles into cracker-sized pieces. Put on crackers. Consume heartily.

Enjoy (with a Coke your boyfriend left in your fridge, since you're out of Coke Zero and you don't feel like water right now).

W

Went to see W last night with Joe. This was after I made risotto last night. Joe had never had risotto! It was yummy.

W wasn't what I expected. Don't get me wrong; I thought it was good. It wasn't the entirely scathing biopic I was looking for. Sure, they made fun of his "Bushisms", but Oliver Stone actually depicted him somewhat sympathetically. I'm glad they didn't focus all over 9/11.

And I had no clue he was so devout.

Conde's character annoyed me. Does she really speak like that? Every scene she was in, I couldn't stop focusing on the stupid looks she was giving or the weird way she was walking/holding herself.

Also, George Sr.'s casting was all wrong, in my opinion.

On another note, Garrison Keillor's possible twin brother sat in front of us. He got up to get a snack and Joe said, "I bet he's going to ask for some powdermilk biscuits!". I nearly died snickering. Also, please insert joke about rhubarb pie.

Baby

My best friend of...gah...however many years (I've known her since sixth grade) is thisclose to having her first child..

It's weird. I'm almost 28 and this is my first close friend to have a baby.

I'm having mixed feelings. I'm happy for her, but I'm ready for this stuff to start happening for me!

Gah. Anyway...I've got my cell phone very close.

Devil = Katie

I scared the holy hell out of my boyfriend tonight. He came over before I got home to start dinner after my awful day (Awwww). He never hears me open the door and I startle him. Tonight, I decided it was the night to give him his Halloween "trick".

I opened the door, jumped in the room, and yelled, "HEY HOW'S IT GOING?!".

I wish I had videotaped it.



Yeah, I'm the girl who was mean to her sweet boyfriend who was cooking her dinner.