It's been a bit crazy around here for the past few weeks. I haven't seen Tn for what seems like an eternity in between working and mini-vacations.
1st off after my last post was the Madison Regatta the weekend after July 4th. Unfortunately mother nature decided to sulk and the Ohio river was too high to race the boats. The upside was that we got to spend more time with family than we usually do.
Last weekend was the Gold Cup in Detroit. Had some fun in the sun watching some great boat racing (even if our favorite driver got shafted in the final). Little man got to meet Steve David several times (his idol) and had some great conversations with him over the course of the weekend as well as getting to spend time with his cousins. Harlee couldn't quit smiling at all the photo subject matter with the boats and people (even if she killed the camera battery half way through Sunday lol). I think she wants to go next year.
This week at work has been CRAZY!!! I have decided that I really dislike doing 3 days in a row because I am beat at the end of it. Still love my job though (and Louisville, much to hubby's chagrin).
Yesterday was my externs last day. I am sad to see her go, but I know that she will do great things as she finishes school and decides where she wants to go from there. She gave me a beautiful card and flowers Tuesday and a great goody basket yesterday. I will definitely miss having my shadow. But the upside is that she is going to school in Nashville so hopefully we will keep in touch! Lunch today with her at one of my favorite places so I don't think it will be hard. =)
I was nervous when my boss told be that I would be precepting a baby nurse (you want me to teach them?!....Gulp!). However, I learned a lot from the experience and it solidified my desire to go back for my Ph. D in nursing so that I can continue the journey that will take me to teaching in some form or fashion. I've had some great role models in my life for teaching. I have an Uncle who teaches music in Illinois, an Aunt who retired from teaching music in Florida (both at the University level), and my grandmother (dad's side) was also a teacher. Never thought I would be continuing that tradition! Now off to lunch :)
I hope every one is having a great summer!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Happy Birthday Dad
Today would have been Dad's 65th birthday. Seems so surreal that he's not there for me to call anymore. Many times in the past 4 months I've wanted to pick up the phone and talk to him. He always laughed when I shaved Lil man's hair into a mohawk in the summer. He would have been the perfect person to teach the girls how to drive a stick shift since not much rattled him driving wise. He did manage to teach me without losing his temper lol.
Dad and I didn't have the best of relationships. There was a lot of water and hurt under the bridge. I think we both wanted more but we didn't know how to get there. I think in some ways we were too much alike. Both of us kept our emotions close to our chests. There is a downfall to having poker faces. We hide the hurt others cause us and just soldier on. Doesn't necessarily make for healthy relationships sometimes.
I try to stay away from what ifs on this one. Just as I mourn for the loss of my Dad, I also mourn for what might have been. There are no guarantees that if things were different that they would be better. I just wish I would have been able to hear his voice one more time and have one more bear hug.
Miss you Dad.
Dad and I didn't have the best of relationships. There was a lot of water and hurt under the bridge. I think we both wanted more but we didn't know how to get there. I think in some ways we were too much alike. Both of us kept our emotions close to our chests. There is a downfall to having poker faces. We hide the hurt others cause us and just soldier on. Doesn't necessarily make for healthy relationships sometimes.
I try to stay away from what ifs on this one. Just as I mourn for the loss of my Dad, I also mourn for what might have been. There are no guarantees that if things were different that they would be better. I just wish I would have been able to hear his voice one more time and have one more bear hug.
Miss you Dad.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
It's that time again
Summer is almost officially here, which in our house means hydroplane season. We will be going to Madison, IN to watch the Madison Regatta the weekend after July 4th then turn around and go to the Detroit Gold Cup the following weekend. Regatta this year will be bittersweet without Tan being there with us, but I suppose I have to learn to deal with it. Who know's maybe we'll make it out to San Diego in September. That's always a possibility.
After the boat races we will be down in Manchester,Tn for the All American Mud run. I'll be honest. I've slacked off on training due to some scheduling issues and the fact that Kyle has too because he was sick, but it's time to get back on track before it bites us on the tail. Baby steps, that's what I keep telling myself.
August brings our 18th anniversary (my, where has the time gone). Would like to do something special but have no idea exactly what that would be. This fall Harlee will be a Junior and little man will me in 4th grade. He ended 3rd grade with AB honor roll and has told me he will be A honor roll next year (here's crossing my fingers). So glad to see the self-motivation this kid has with school, now if he would just apply that to his chores....
The job is still going well. I learn something new on a daily basis. Still looking at taking the GRE so I can begin my Ph.D, but it will be after I get the crew up here. There is just no way I could get all the classwork done while doing as much driving as I've been doing and still be sane at the end of it all. The more I work with patients and new nurses, the more I realize that I really want to teach still. So for now I will soak up as much as I can.
Hope everyone has a great day =)
After the boat races we will be down in Manchester,Tn for the All American Mud run. I'll be honest. I've slacked off on training due to some scheduling issues and the fact that Kyle has too because he was sick, but it's time to get back on track before it bites us on the tail. Baby steps, that's what I keep telling myself.
August brings our 18th anniversary (my, where has the time gone). Would like to do something special but have no idea exactly what that would be. This fall Harlee will be a Junior and little man will me in 4th grade. He ended 3rd grade with AB honor roll and has told me he will be A honor roll next year (here's crossing my fingers). So glad to see the self-motivation this kid has with school, now if he would just apply that to his chores....
The job is still going well. I learn something new on a daily basis. Still looking at taking the GRE so I can begin my Ph.D, but it will be after I get the crew up here. There is just no way I could get all the classwork done while doing as much driving as I've been doing and still be sane at the end of it all. The more I work with patients and new nurses, the more I realize that I really want to teach still. So for now I will soak up as much as I can.
Hope everyone has a great day =)
Friday, May 31, 2013
Sci-fi....reality?
As many of you know, I LOVE to read. The only downfall I've found to my Kindle is that the battery does not last near long enough for a prolonged reading session for me (which can span into the majority of the day if I don't watch it). So I'm hopping around the web this afternoon (yes, the Kindle is recharging as I write this), and I found this article on ETT aka Evacuated Tube Transport. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/futuristic-high-speed-tube-travel-could-york-los-171007828.html?vp=1
My mind isn't blown per se, however it is already in overdrive factoring in the infrastructure and economic changes something like this would entail. Aside from the fact that it would make the Global courier business skyrocket, current delivery behemoths UPS, Fed-Ex, and DHL would seriously have to restructure. Airlines would be severely crippled, especially in light of skyrocketing fuel costs, mediocre earnings, and abyssmal customer ratings. There are other implications as well that aren't immediately apparent. What about the need to completely revamp Over-The-Road transportation currently used as a goods delivery system? If this is put into play, it has the potential to knock the trucking industry as we know it flat on it's proverbial tail.
Now I know that some of you will immediately say "That's what the rail system does"...but does it do cross country in less than an hour? According to the article the time from NYC to Japan would be 2 hours. The rail system also has the inherent downfall of right of ways and easements at a cost effective price. That's one of the reasons that there is no rail service in the Middle Tennessee area other than the Nashville Star that runs from Lebanon, TN to Nashville & back.
To put a healthcare spin on things, how bout if a kidney came available in Oregon and it was needed in Florida? Wow, what a turn around.
What about the downside to this though? (I promise I'm not trying to be a 'Debbie Downer' here) Currently it can be difficult to trace pathogens through our current transportation system. Can you imagine the chaos with transportation this fast?
Either way I feel like I'm seeing something from Robert A. Heinlein's "Friday" come to life. Will be interesting to watch.
What about you? What are the pro's and cons that you see with transportation like this?
Random musings
I have discovered that I am a crappy patient. I don't mean that I don't follow instructions (I do) I mean in that all I will do is sleep, wake up long enough to take meds & eat or drink whatever I can keep down, & then go back to sleep ASAP.....looking back at that, maybe I'm not a crappy patient after all lol!
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After 12 days of being gone, I am home again. (YAY!!!). Granted I will be gone again Sunday night, but I missed my kids, my cat, and most of all my Hubby who makes all things right with the world when I don't feel good.
Hopefully this weekend I will be able to go see a movie with the family (Fast 6 and Star Trek are at the drive-in) Also hoping to catch up w/ my SIL after her trip to Guatemala.
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Speaking of Star Trek, Harlee and I had a great discussion about Star trek and Star Wars this morning. Along with Fringe and Dr. Who, my kids share my Sci-fi/fantasy addiction. Which leads to a lot of what if questions. What if we had transporters and light sabers etc. We already have things that are close to the Tricorders used in Star Trek (isn't that cool?) I can't think of a better way to get the imagination going than discussing science what ifs.
Alright enough rumination for today. I have a house to clean and a 9 yr old to occupy =)
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After 12 days of being gone, I am home again. (YAY!!!). Granted I will be gone again Sunday night, but I missed my kids, my cat, and most of all my Hubby who makes all things right with the world when I don't feel good.
Hopefully this weekend I will be able to go see a movie with the family (Fast 6 and Star Trek are at the drive-in) Also hoping to catch up w/ my SIL after her trip to Guatemala.
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Speaking of Star Trek, Harlee and I had a great discussion about Star trek and Star Wars this morning. Along with Fringe and Dr. Who, my kids share my Sci-fi/fantasy addiction. Which leads to a lot of what if questions. What if we had transporters and light sabers etc. We already have things that are close to the Tricorders used in Star Trek (isn't that cool?) I can't think of a better way to get the imagination going than discussing science what ifs.
Alright enough rumination for today. I have a house to clean and a 9 yr old to occupy =)
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Milestones
Well, we did it. Tanith actually managed to graduate. Then she moved out to her boyfriends. Scary stuff for this mom. She's 18. I can't tell her what to do anymore and I can't soften the consequences for her actions. From here on out it's on her.
Oh but I miss her already (yes, yes I know she just lives 10 minutes away). My silly wonderful child who makes me laugh (they all do actually, but for now I'm talking about her). Frankly though, I'm terrified. Will she make good decisions? Will she manage not to follow my footsteps in mistake making? I'm struggling with the role change. I'm now relegated to cheerleader instead of coach. Definitely enough to make me nervous.
The upside is that I have faith in her, despite my worrying (after all isn't that what mom's do?). She is a bright articulate young lady who has a good head on her shoulders (for the most part anyways lol). She will make her own mistakes and she will figure out how to solve them as well.
Though she has been accepted to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and previously adamant about teaching music, she is now realizing that there are many options out there and that though Trevecca is her dream school, it may not be where she needs to be. So this summer will definitely be one of exploration, research, and decisions for her.
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Harlee is growing up too fast as well. She obtained her drivers license soon after we got back from Disney in April. Her and Kyle are currently working on getting her little Ranger up and running. Great father/daughter time for the two of them.
She also has a boyfriend. Not sure what I think about that yet. He's a good kid though and treats her well. They have fun together and have been friends & classmates for the last 2 years.
Poor Kyle, here I am up here in Louisville, and almost all his babies are flying the coop. I don't think either of us are ready for them to be completely gone. Even if we do give them a hard time about hurrying up and moving out.
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A.J. is, well, he's himself. Today is awards day at school for him and I'm excited to hear if he got AB honor role again, which for all that he's had to deal with, is an awesome thing. He's getting soooooo big! Soon he will hit that lovely pre-puberty growth spurt and I will once again be the shortest person in the house.
This summer he will most likely spend A LOT of time with Kyle out on the farm since I will be back and forth from Louisville so much. After June though, I am hoping to bring him and Harlee up here for a week or so and spend some time exploring Louisville together. It's funny, I usually have at least one off day here in Louisville, but I rarely go exploring. I guess I want them all to experience it with me. After all isn't that what families do?
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Sunday my SIL will return from her mission trip to Guatemala. I am excited to hear of her travels and experiences and so incredibly glad that she had the opportunity to do this.
Hope everyone has a great day. I've got to quit rambling on here & go do something constructive!
Oh but I miss her already (yes, yes I know she just lives 10 minutes away). My silly wonderful child who makes me laugh (they all do actually, but for now I'm talking about her). Frankly though, I'm terrified. Will she make good decisions? Will she manage not to follow my footsteps in mistake making? I'm struggling with the role change. I'm now relegated to cheerleader instead of coach. Definitely enough to make me nervous.
The upside is that I have faith in her, despite my worrying (after all isn't that what mom's do?). She is a bright articulate young lady who has a good head on her shoulders (for the most part anyways lol). She will make her own mistakes and she will figure out how to solve them as well.
Though she has been accepted to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and previously adamant about teaching music, she is now realizing that there are many options out there and that though Trevecca is her dream school, it may not be where she needs to be. So this summer will definitely be one of exploration, research, and decisions for her.
____________________________________________________________________
Harlee is growing up too fast as well. She obtained her drivers license soon after we got back from Disney in April. Her and Kyle are currently working on getting her little Ranger up and running. Great father/daughter time for the two of them.
She also has a boyfriend. Not sure what I think about that yet. He's a good kid though and treats her well. They have fun together and have been friends & classmates for the last 2 years.
Poor Kyle, here I am up here in Louisville, and almost all his babies are flying the coop. I don't think either of us are ready for them to be completely gone. Even if we do give them a hard time about hurrying up and moving out.
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A.J. is, well, he's himself. Today is awards day at school for him and I'm excited to hear if he got AB honor role again, which for all that he's had to deal with, is an awesome thing. He's getting soooooo big! Soon he will hit that lovely pre-puberty growth spurt and I will once again be the shortest person in the house.
This summer he will most likely spend A LOT of time with Kyle out on the farm since I will be back and forth from Louisville so much. After June though, I am hoping to bring him and Harlee up here for a week or so and spend some time exploring Louisville together. It's funny, I usually have at least one off day here in Louisville, but I rarely go exploring. I guess I want them all to experience it with me. After all isn't that what families do?
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Sunday my SIL will return from her mission trip to Guatemala. I am excited to hear of her travels and experiences and so incredibly glad that she had the opportunity to do this.
Hope everyone has a great day. I've got to quit rambling on here & go do something constructive!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
New adventures
I'm not quite sure how this happened, but apparently I along with my husband, his sister, and her husband , will be participating it the http://greatamericanmudrun.com/, Now keep in mind that I don't run. Ever. Brisk walk, no problem. Running, no. However, according to my husband, he registered us last night.
In November the 16 yo also wants to participate in Run for your lives (http://www.runforyourlives.com/) which is a Zombie themed 5k. There is also an Zombie run the end of September that looks interesting.
So now begins the training. We have found a training schedule at http://www.coolrunning.com/ that is suited to our current fitness levels. So hopefully by mid-summer, my fat behind will be at least able to jog for 3.1 miles.
I know that this is not going to be easy. I'm still a smoker. Granted, I make a pack last 3-4 days but I still smoke. This will have to stop if I am to have enough stamina to do this.
It will also mean that we finally bite the bullet and change our eating habits more than we already have. Currently we eat red meat 3-4 times a week still, and more fried foods than are good for us. I'm still a sucker for a cherry coke from Sonic (sometimes it sucks living less than 1/2 a block from one lol).
So if any of you out there are runners and have suggestions and/or encouragement let me know. If you have beaten the smoking habit, let me know as well.
And last but not least, I challenge all of you that don't run or have a current fitness regime, to find a fun 5k to train for this year. There are zombie runs, color runs, glo runs, and more. They are less focused on your time in general and more on the fact that you finish period. Some like the mud run are obstacle courses others you get doused with powdered color and the end of ever km. You never know, you might enjoy it!
In November the 16 yo also wants to participate in Run for your lives (http://www.runforyourlives.com/) which is a Zombie themed 5k. There is also an Zombie run the end of September that looks interesting.
So now begins the training. We have found a training schedule at http://www.coolrunning.com/ that is suited to our current fitness levels. So hopefully by mid-summer, my fat behind will be at least able to jog for 3.1 miles.
I know that this is not going to be easy. I'm still a smoker. Granted, I make a pack last 3-4 days but I still smoke. This will have to stop if I am to have enough stamina to do this.
It will also mean that we finally bite the bullet and change our eating habits more than we already have. Currently we eat red meat 3-4 times a week still, and more fried foods than are good for us. I'm still a sucker for a cherry coke from Sonic (sometimes it sucks living less than 1/2 a block from one lol).
So if any of you out there are runners and have suggestions and/or encouragement let me know. If you have beaten the smoking habit, let me know as well.
And last but not least, I challenge all of you that don't run or have a current fitness regime, to find a fun 5k to train for this year. There are zombie runs, color runs, glo runs, and more. They are less focused on your time in general and more on the fact that you finish period. Some like the mud run are obstacle courses others you get doused with powdered color and the end of ever km. You never know, you might enjoy it!
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