Natural Disasters

You'll Never Believe This

Okay....just when I got everyone into this, suddenly nothing. Let me explain. First, according to the local news (which may be the funniest dog and pony show ever lableled as "news") reported that a train cut some cables near Juneau. Then the white stuff hit. Which has slowed me down more than I care to admit. And then yesterday morning...AN EARTHQUAKE!!!!!! I kid you not. Where am I????? So, there have been frequent phone/internet outages over the last few weeks. My second/tenth excuse is this 5 day work week is for the birds. And don't get me started on 2 days off for a weekend. I have worked three 12 hour shifts forever! This is an adjustment. Please no sympathy cards necessary

The Give and The Take

My birthday card to you
A few years ago I started making a list on my birthday. Yes, a to-do-list. I admit it. A to-do-list for the next year. As with any to-do-list, some things get done, some don't. Yep, rocket science. Last night, I was laying in bed, flipping channels, thinking what would go on this years. And then I had a thought....what have I done with last years list...meaning what did I accomplish on it or what was even on it. You got it, folks, I don't remember. But, I will share with you something I have learned.

The give and the take of it all.....

You hear those words at some point in your life.
That life is just a whole lotta give and take.
But where does that give and take happen in each of our own personal day to day?
And it suddenly appears that my life, the beautiful mess that is all my own...
exists on the give and the take.

Some days (or nights) at work I will give hours and hours of my time to disgruntled co-workers, pissy patients, foul bodily fluids and sometimes just plain boredom.
Sometimes I will take the pride in doing something good for a stranger.
I will bear witness to true true love in someone's eyes as they sit for hours at a bedside.
I will see hope as a patient packs their bags with no hair and 30 pounds lighter, but given that second chance.
I will hold a hand when life moves on...take their light and carry it with me everday.

When someone takes my feelings and is careless with them, takes my trust and makes me scared, or tries to take all of me and brand it unworthy...
I will give them forgiveness....they have made me stronger.

I have been given friends that have made me a better person, just because I know them.
They will give me endless hours of advice, they will give me comfort when I cry, they will scream "No, Stop, That's The Wrong Way" when I am so blinded by tears I take the wrong path.
And when I fall, they will stand in the background, whispering "We are still here", waiting patiently for me to stand up, dust myself off and see them clearly again. Never having left.
I will take their hands and walk proudly with them anywhere (no matter how many of them are named Jen)

I have taken my family for granted, complained about forgotten birthdays, skipped family functions and labeled them unimportant.
I see more and more each day that I have been given this family that is all my own. The people that are as lovely as they are flawed...make my roots and my future a beautiful weaving.
They have given me a Welcome Mat that will forever say You are a part of Us.

After all of the give and the take..I am left with all of you...and for that I am forever grateful.
Thank you all for being part of the last 31.

Save the Day

Where Is She Now
I am going to be thirty-one on Thursday. Now initially I thought I would take on the patriarch's humdrum attitude about birthdays. But say it a few times, go ahead, out loud.... ***Thirty one on Thursday!!!!! Come on...put a little rhythm behind it. Out loud, I said!!! See, it's kind of kitcheee. I may have to make pancakes for myself that morning. Nah, who am I kinding? There's a Denny's down the street.

Ahhh....Sundays

Where Is She Now
Today's horoscope: Take things slow, and look for the signs that will tell you what to do and where to go. Well, if the stars say it...... 6:30 Dog licks face until I let him outside, stares at me until I fill dog bowl (with 4th type of food in his 5 months of life) 11:15 Wake up, check TV guide, nothing on, start coffee, read paper.
2:15 Dog is belly up and snoring, still nothing on TV, better get horizontal on couch. 5:30 Wake again to dog licking face, let him out, consider dog park but realize I probably can't go in mismatched pj's and slippers with zit cream trying to work it's magic. Give dog chew treat instead that is sure to provide hours of fun.7:40 Twenty minutes until Desperate Housewives, hungry, nothing in kitchen except oatmeal, diet coke, and New York mint patties. 7:42 Wendy's commercial comes on...7 seconds later, slippers on, ponytail in, dog in car, on way to Wendys ( Horoscope clearly stated looks for signs where to go). 8-9 pm Desperate Housewives 10:00 Let dog out, quick note on blog 10:34 Bedtime. Another day of living life to it's fullest.