Wordless Wednesday

LDR, Work and Food.

I know that there are some great things about being in a long distance relationship (LDR). One of the great things is that we talk when we can about all kinds of things. It has I think opened up a line of communication that might not be there if the relationship was not LD. She can't see unless I show her how messy my house is at the moment. For right now I think that is it about the good things about being in a LDR. No, I am not going to whine about it again, at least not for a while.

I applied for and might possibly have a job a "real" job at a local hospital. I do have a job now but it is one that has me spoiled in many ways. With my current job I don't have to worry about getting permission to take time off for anything. With the new one I will. That makes me feel like I'm in Jr High and need a pass to go and pee.

There are some good things about this new job. I know for some it would be that I am actually going to work full time and have a regular paycheck. Nope, I with in 30 days get benefits. Woohoo!!! I will have medical and dental and possibly optical. I am not sure what they are and what they are not but that will make some people happy.

The other good news is that I will be working 12 hour NOC's. 1900 to 0730 back on nights full time. Oh, I love working nights, not a lot of admins, therapists, family about. Work can actually get done.

So tonight as I am up all night again. I have made spaghetti sauce, it should be done at about late afternoon. The longer it simmers and cooks the better it tastes, then what I do as I make 6 quarts of the stuff. I freeze it. The recipe is from my grandmother and she got it from an old Italian man. Why he gave it to an Irish woman I will never know. I can tell you that for one batch it takes 8 cloves of garlic and 8 med onions. Oh, it smells so good cooking away.

LDR's Suck

I love my Honey, but I have to say that Long Distance Relationships suck. They suck, suck, suck.

Honey has been working 15 plus hours days this past month, and then going in on weekends all to get out reports on money. Oh and not real money this is numbers on paper money. Anyway, because she has been working so much and I am trying to work and the only shifts I have been getting are 12 hour nights we have not even had a good long conversation on the phone for almost a week.

Right now I don't want to talk to her. I want to hold her and look into her eyes and see that she is ok. Not all stressed out, exhausted from working all those long hours. I want to come home and snuggle up for a few minutes before she has to go into work and I fall asleep.

I just miss her so much. I know that she misses me too. I have to quit writing or I am going to start crying. I love you Honey.

Hobbies

There are a lot of hobbies out there to choose from. Some of the hobbies that are chosen are picked for us, I have a doll collection that my mom start for me when I was born. My sister it was music boxes, my brother baseball cards. My Honey has a glass collection.

Then there are the hobbies that we inflict upon ourselves some are costly and others are not. Many are time consuming. From woodworking to music to oh I don't know. I happen to do counted cross stitching, it is time consuming, can be very costly, frustrating and many many people think that is it just boring. One of the things I hear about my hobby is that "I don't have enough patience." I think that is a cop out patience can be learned. But that is a rabbit trail for another time.

That first picture is of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vivci. The ruler is there to show the size of the project. When it is done I don't know what I am going to do with that one. I started it because someone I had heard did one and that it was huge took up most of a wall. I think that she did it in actual size. I am doing it as small as I can without working on a cloth called evenweave, I could have done it on linen as well but I don't like working on that either.

The other picture is one third done and it is called Day Surrendering Unto Night by Sheila Wolk. This one Honey loves and so I am doing it for her. She said when I am done with and we can be together she wants to hang it over our bed. There are some cross stitching that can be done in under 40 hours but not these. Day is taking me 6 hours to do 600 stitches.

When I am done with Day I am going to do some smaller faster ones before going on to something harder.

Book Club

Yesterday was the monthly book club meeting. For this month we read and discussed the book World Without Us, by Alan Weisman. This is not an overnight easy read, this is one of those books where a chapter a day is almost to much information at one time. The book is easily and well written for the lay person and not the scientists. The book is based on the premise that humans just vanished from the planet and what would happen to the earth based on the things that we have left behind.

Mr. Weisman writes about how long it would take for a city to be destroyed, how long it would take for the oil fields and refineries to burn if they burn, what plants and animals would survive etc. One thing that he did talked about that I am thinking of is a green burial.

Now, when one is buried there is a coffin, then a concrete box, and in some cases this is again enclosed in a metal box. Where even with embalming after so many years all this is protecting is human soup. In a green burial there is a hole dug, the body tossed in, buried where it can then nourish the earth like it should.

This month we are reading The Zero, by Jess Walter. I am only a few pages into this book and I can tell that I am going to have a hard time reading it. This book seems to be not focused, and written from inside a depressed mind (the main character). I have a hard time with books like that maybe because I work with a lot of people with mental disabilities. I don't know I will have to wait and see what happens.

Death

On Saturday I worked at a Hospice, when ever I work there I think of death. Not m death, but how people react to death. Everyone knows that all things must die eventually, and it always amazes me that for some death comes as a surprise. I am not referring to the sudden deaths that are from accidents, but the ones that come from a long fight with an illness. I don't know if people block out the fact that death is inevitable or if they think that some cure, or something is going to happen to bring their loved one back from the edge.

It also amazes me that some of the family members and friends go out of their way to support the staff. There are families who do everything for the patient except meds, then apologize to the nursing staff when the Rn's have to come in and change out the pain pumps.

It could be to that I just have a very different view of death than most people out there. I have always seen death not as an end but as the next step in the adventure of life. I do miss those who have gone one, but it is me that I feel sorry for the fact that I miss them, that I will never see them. Not that they will never see me, I don't know what they see. ( I would hate to know that they can watch me in the shower.)

Then there are the patients who come in and go out of our lives for just a day or even a few hours, and these people lead or guide us into a changed outlook of our lives. I never know who they are or where I am going to meet them, but I am grateful that they have come into my life.

8 things

I am going crazy this week, all of my shifts so far have been cancelled. I know a forced vacation is great sometimes, and with my foot being sore who knows maybe a blessing. I have several shifts set up for next week and I pray I get them all. One or two a week is not enough to live on, all thought I am doing really good on not spending money. I don't go out so no spending. I think I might be going stir crazy.

As for my foot, the x-ray showed nothing broken, that gives me two options. One see a podiatrist or two wait until it hurts again then go see a podiatrist. I told my primary that I am going to wait because if it is soft tissue or nerve related they won't find anything when it is not acting up.

My sister over at Wonderfully Sew Knit tagged me for a meme. The rules are: to list 8 random things about myself, then tag 8 other blogger's. So here are random things about me.

1. My dream job would be to get paid to read. Just read.
2. I bite my nails.
3. I can kind of play the harmonica.
4. I hate the phrase "my bad" I think it makes people sound less intelligent than they are.
5. I love peanut butter.
6. I think that the geometric shape of trees is beautiful.
7. I like bad made for TV disaster movies.
8. I love gray cloudy rainy days.

This was harder than I thought it would be. Now according to the rules I am to tag 8 other blogger's for this meme. However, I don't know anyone that well. So I am going to leave it up to the blogger's out there. If you do this meme let me know.

Happy Birthday My Love, and other things

This picture was taken last year in Idaho. Over that bridge that we are standing on and up the trail is a field that at the time was full of blooming lupin flowers. In the middle of the field a picnic table, that is where Honey and I got engaged. I know that if we were to go there today it would be covered in snow. She is so beautiful my Honey. (She is the one with the red hair.)

Today is my Honeys birthday. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to get her and what I wanted to get her was not, because of the distance, what I could give her. So I got her music. I gave her a wide selection of tunes that I hope she will like. I think that when she listens to them she will like them. I miss her so much, I wish that I could have gone down for her birthday. Maybe next year we will spend the day together. So Honey, Happy Birthday, I love you.

I am hoping that I have a broken foot. I know that sounds so bad, but with a broken foot I can get a walking cast and still work. I just won't be able to drive with it on. The other options are not as favorable, there is a neurological symptom that could be causing this pain when I walk, and it is only when I walk. Oh about the apartment it is not bad, however when I go out to the store I can't make it to the back of the store without having to stop and rest.

So I went on Friday to the doctor and paid him $103 to tell me that I needed an x-ray. Well, DUUUUHHHH!!! So on Tuesday I have the x-ray done then on Thursday I go and see if it is possibly broken. The doc did give me a prescription for a pain reliever. No, not a narcotic he asked if I wanted one and I said no. I would rather hurt that sit in the corner and drool. That is reserved for after sex, but I did not tell him that.

Anyway, I went to Walgreen's to get the RX filled and realized that there is a Walgreen's syndrome. I am not immune to it, I know that my sister is not. Plus I watched as several people leaving the store had the same problem. No matter what I go in to the pharmacy for I leave having bought a candy bar. My sister does to, and I noticed several other people do as well. I think they put something in the air filters, or under the music.

A Good Busy Day

Today was a good day. I got up late but not so late that I could not fix a cup of coffee on my way out the door. I went to the DOMA protest here in Olympia, it was rather small about 30 people but it was also about 34F at 10:30. I was so cold my hands, toes, and tail were cold. There were speeches and things to sign all around. I do wish that there had been more participants but it was cold.

After the rally a group of us went over to Mia Cassa and had some of the best pizza that I have had in a while. There was one vegetarian potato that was soooo good. One of the women there had in her younger days met Harvey Milk, I was 8 when he was shot and I find his story fascinating I wonder what would have happened if he had not been shot and killed. But, I am getting ahead of myself. She had some pictures that she passed about, that were taken of her at a party that Mr. Milk held.

I tracked down a theater that is showing Milk. So I hauled my brother off to see it, he did not say much about the movie when it was over. I loved it, I wish that I could have meet that man. But, like I said I was only 8 when he was killed. My Honey remembers the marches, better than I do as she was there when they happened.

I am now up waiting for the carrot cake to get done. I was given about 40 pound of carrots last week and I thought that carrot cake would be good. As I do not like raisins I do not put them in cake, cookies or most anything. I did put pecans in there. I can make the frosting in the morning when the cake is cool. Yummy.

I think I need a boat

My son txted me today with a message that made my heart sing and I have told almost everyone that I know. He got his report card and has made the honor roll. Two B's and all the rest A's. For those who have to know he got the B's in English and History. I am so happy for him I just want to yell YAHOOOOO!!!!

Last night when I went to bed it was raining. When I got up it was raining, when I did laundry it was raining, when I went to work it was raining. It has now almost been 24 hours of rain. I don't know how much rain we have gotten I don't want to know. What I do know is that I need a boat to get any where south and passably north.

When I was at work the news was on and there was a possibility of closing I-5 at exit 88, that was the plan at 4:30 to close the freeway at midnight. They actually shut it down much earlier than that, around 5:30 or 6pm. When the hospital sent me home early I was so happy, I got in the car and was listening to the radio and they were talking about closing the freeway at Fife, then passably in Tacoma because of the Puyallup river.

My brother and I had a lot of fun making fun of the weather. Quoting movie lines and joking about the only thing we have not have happen this winter.

So as things now stand I am stuck here. The passes ALL that passes are closed avalanche risks. I-5 south is closed flooding, north might or might not be open. The only way out of here now is to fly or take a boat.

A Trip and missing Honey

I know I should write more than I do, but there are times when I am to tired to write or even think. This past weekend I went to Portland, and for dinner we all went to Kenny & Zukes for dinner. All I have to say is yummy. My uncle and I split Ruben's he ordered the pastrami and I went for the Corn Beef. Then he had half of mine and I had half of his.

Spent some time with the puppies they are now 6 weeks old and a handful. For some reason the computer is not loading pictures so on my next day off when I am not swamped with things to do I will get my laptop to the library and post some.

Today I went birthday shopping for Honey, what I got her will have to stay a secret until she gets them. What I want to get her is not what I got her. I would love to take her away for the weekend and just be with her. But, that is not possible. I miss her so much that it hurts, I know that long distance relationships are not easy, but I did not expect this hole inside me. It also does not help that I have been working a lot of evening shift so that talking to her is not happening every night and that makes the missing her harder.

Boxes

Today was the day for boxes. My son got his today and he said that he liked the Darth Tater. I had to get him one and send it to him. In the box was an Xbox 360, games, and some cords that went with it. I think that the Darth Tater was the best.

I got my Christmas box from Honey today. The delivery was late because of all the snow that we had. In the box was the best gifts. Honey got me Brian Froud's World of Faerie book. I love Brian Froud's art work, my sister bought me Lady Cottington's Pressed Faerie Book. If you have never heard of him it is a good time to check out is work. I will be the first to admit that it is not for everyone, but then I am not into the impressionists. His site is here if you want to check it out.

My brother got me something that thought I would never see. He got me a copy of North. This movie is just so cute. It is not out on DVD so he got me a VHS copy, that is OK. It is in good condition and a great movie.

Tomorrow, I am going down to Portland and if I remember to take my camera I can get pictures of Lucy's baby's. My aunt is calling them the mess makers. I told her that puppies poop a lot, that is what they do. Eat, look cute, and poop.

Mac and Cheese Pizza

It is the end of the year and people everywhere are viewing and reviewing their lives and what has happened to them. I have never been one to look back, to wonder what had changed about me and what has not. So instead of mulling over the past I am going to talk about what I had for dinner tonight.

I made Mac and Cheese pizza. I will admit that I used some things that I bought but it was good for a first attempt next time I am going to add onion and more bacon. So how did I make this master of pizza. It was easy. What is needed is:

One Boboli
1/4 to 1/2 cup Cheeze Whiz
1 TBS butter
1 TBS flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cheese
2 cups cooked pasta
3 or more slices cooked crumbled bacon
1/2 cup grated cheese of your choice

Start with the crust. I used Boboli, then for the sauce a thin covering of Cheeze Whiz ( I know, I know but it was the only thing I could think of that would work) Heat the oven according to the Boboli package.

Boil water and salt to cook the pasta, cook pasta to just al dente. When done drain pasta, while the pasta is cooking prepare the following sauce.

In a smaller pan melt 1 Tablespoon (TBS) butter. When the butter is melted stir in 1 TBS flour. When flour and butter are well combined slowly stir in one Cup milk. When the milk sauce is warm, add one cup grated Cheddar cheese (the pre-grated does not melt or blend as well for this sauce), add drained cooked pasta to this sauce.

Spoon on to the prepared Boboli, add crumbled cooked bacon, and top with more grated cheese.

This is great for kids who love pizza, and Mac&Cheese.

Yesterday and last night

My son was to have flown from Tucson to Seattle. The flight out of Tucson was running about 20 minutes late, that with all the weather that we in the norther states are having. Just as he landed in Los Vegas for the lay over all flights to Seattle were canceled. It is hard to explain about all of the worry and stress I had trying to get him someplace safe. I know that he is 17 and is still a minor, I also know that some people see him and don't think about his age. They see someone who is almost an adult, but that is not the case. At 17 he can make some choices but if he were to have gotten stuck in Nevada he would have had to stay at the airport as he is not old enough to register for a hotel room.

I have to say that for all my worrying, and fussing the people at Southwest were wonderful. They got him a flight back to Tucson. He did have to hang out at the airport for several hours, and that of course had me calling him every 30 minuets to see if he was OK. He got back into Tucson after midnight. I am just so thankful that he is OK that he got back.

Thank God that he did not end up in a shelter like the people stuck at the bus depot in Seattle.

I also don't know if his plans would have worked out anyway. We are having power outages, side streets are a mess, and it is snowing again. We have over a foot of snow and more is falling as I write this. We did loose power last night, it was only for a few hours. I woke up to darkness, and silence at about 4am. I did not know how long the power had been out but I knew that there were a few things I had to do.

I ran into the bathroom, opened the counter door, turned the water on so that the pipes would not freeze. Then I went into the kitchen and filled the hot water bottle full of hot water, thank goodness we still had hot water in the tank. I wrapped that in a towel, then took the heat lamp off of Gex's aquarium, put the hot water bottle in the tank and covered it with a blanket to help keep him warm. Left some cold water on in the kitchen and then went back to bed.

When I woke up this morning, the power was on, and I was burning a hole in the floor. I had forgotten to turn the heat lamp off when I put it on the ground. I now have a melted carpet, BUT I have a kid that is safe, and a live lizard. Woohoo!!

Update

We are getting more snow. I know that is not a surprise to some of you but to us it is. I know that the weather reports have been saying that we are to get more but it is one of those cases where seeing is believing. In the last 2 hours we have gotten 4 inches and they are saying that we might get up to 12 new inches of snow here tonight.

The trees are full of the stuff, and my brother and I have prepared for the eventuality of power outages. If the weather warms up just a little bit then we will have freezing rain and that will cause power lines and trees to break. I hope that it does not come to that but chances are it might.

On the work front, I managed to get in 4 hours this week. WooooHoooo! I feel as if I am going brain dead. With all the accidents on the roads one would think that the hospitals would need staff. Guess not.

My insomnia seems to be gone. Honey, talked me through a sleeping exercise that worked it. No not that kind get your minds out of the gutter. It worked so well that I took a nap this afternoon and still fell rested. Thank you Honey.

Things swept to the back of the news

I read this article and I am can't write about it. It just upsets me to much, I hope that they catch the bastards who did this. This is not something for the squeamish to read. Sorry, but I had to pass it along.

Insomnia

I have not been sleeping and when I do it is for no more than four hours at a time. At first I thought that it had to do with the stress that December brings. This year there are a lot of stresses, first there is the lack of work 24 hours in 2 weeks. Then there is weather, snow and ice and the coldest it has been in over 20 years. Adding on to that I do not like to fly and my son is flying out here on Sunday, the day when the storm is to be the worst. He is a minor and flying by himself I know that he will be OK but I still worry.

Then for me it is that time of the month. The first time I called it Aunt Flo around Honey I thought she was going to hurt herself she was giggling so hard.

Then I realized that part of what is keeping me up are the worries, the fears, and Aunt Flo does not help. However, that is not the largest contributor. Plain and simple I miss Honey. Every night when I go to bed I dream about holding her, listening to her sleep. I miss her and that is why I am not sleeping. I want to hold her, to feel her next to me.

Our snow

This is my backyard at least it was this afternoon. Weather reports are calling for a total of seven inches of the stuff.

Yes, out here in Washington we have three legged birds.

Santa

My son hates Santa, I mean hates him. I do think that we his family are to blame in this manner. It started just after he was born at the end of November, someone bought him a Santa outfit. If I had a scanner I would post a pic that we have of him in the outfit, the dog (Boo) is looking at him with a "I'm so happy that is not me in that outfit" look.

After that it went down hill. The stuffed Santa with a motion detector in it that would yell "HOHOHO" the play a very bad tinny rendition of Jingle Bells. K, so hated that thing that I did not need a baby gate, just put Santa at the bottom of the stairs and the kid avoided them like the plague.

Then someone bought a Santa hat. The hat was left about the house to show him that yes, he was watching. Not only that but my mother, this kids grandmother had someone the uncles types wear it outside and run buy a high window. Yes, she had that much control over our lives.

God, this is sick stuff. Anyway why am I putting all of this here. Well, this is background to explain what I call the Santa wars. The Santa wars are still being worked on and as I get them done I will post them.

Stolen

I don't often do meme's but this one looked like fun so I stole it from Tina. It was not as fun as I thought it would be it took me hours to get the pictures here. I still can't move them to where I want them.

The Rules: Type the answer to the following questions into Google Image, then pick from the first page.

Age at my next birthday:

Place I'd like to travel:

Place I've been:

Favorite food:

Place I was born:

Place I live:

Name of past pet: (he is current I could not find a pic of last pet name)

Best friend's nickname:

(this is another name for my Honey)

My first name:

First job: