Saturday Night

What am I doing on this fine Saturday evening? I've got me a cold brew and a damn book that I have been trying to finish for over a month now. Oh yeah and getting ready for my hot date! Thats right......me and the silver bullet.....my new friend. Cell phones are the bane of my existence yet I have no choice but to smile and answer with a cheerful (and pitiful) "hello baby".

Today was the usual at work....me just trying to get through the day. I had some wound care to attend to.....and then there were clarifications of med orders....me frustrated as I tried to get the physician on call to call me back. It's the weekend and it's a beautiful sunny day. No doc is sitting at home just waiting excitedly by the phone to call you back to ok the new Lasix 120mg order you need for your resident in chronic heart failure. In all my career I have never had a patient on that high of a dosage so when the order came in I seriously had some questions.

Lately my life seems to revolve around medications. Between my pharmacology class and work my head is filling with dosages, and nursing implications, and adverse side effects. I dream about medications for god sakes. I have to say....if I am lucky enough to make it to the ripe old age of 93 I hope to god they don't try to shove a cup full of pills down my throat. I swear I would be the worst little old lady. If I still had all my faculties that is. I would be questioning everything and my nurse would probably dread approaching me with that little cup of pills. They better have their med book out and ready to explain each and every one of those medications. Some of my people are on 20 or more different kinds of meds. If you got an ailment.....they got a remedy. Or do they? It's all a crap shoot really.

I've heard people say that it's a bitch to get old. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't depending on your outlook. Some of the coolest people I've met were in their 70's, 80's and 90's. And I honestly think of anyone under the age of 70 as a greener....Yeah I know that maybe you can't throw your leg behind your head if your 84 (at least not without feeling some pain the next day). And maybe your butt looks a little saggy in the low rider jeans....unless you get the right jeans. I mean anyones butt can look good with the right pair of bootie jeans.

I believe if your blessed enough to live out your life to max capacity you better enjoy it. I know there are going to be aches and pains and incontinence and possibly more flatulence along the way..........but if I think if your 90 you should revel in the fact that your one of the smartest, strongest most interesting people on the face of the planet. Your young and fresh faced for about five seconds anyway.....and during that time your most likely struggling to figure out how the hell life works and so you don't really appreciate.

I have to say (and not to sound preachy) that our elders in this country get little or no respect. Now this is just my teeny tiny opinion. You reach a certain age and all anyone cares about is what your going to leave them in your will. I hope as things progress within our society that we open our eyes and look at aging differently. I respect those cultures that admire the elder population. Instead of going through life thinking we are getting older....lets look at it as we are given the opportunity to be better people.

I think that if you keep up with the music of the times you'll be ageless. In the past music has always defined a generation. Baby boomers wrinkle their noses at rap or hip hop or alternative. And their parents wrinkled their noses at the devil music called rock and roll. My Nana is and probably always will be the hippest chick on the face of the planet to me. She spent 82 years on this earth and she wasn't afraid to wear leopard print everything. "Slacks" were just not available to her generation when she was younger so as she got older she enjoyed he fact that women were allowed to go out in public in pants. The coolest thing to me was the fact that she would rock out to Michael Jackson and Madonna with me while I was over at her little apartment for a visit. (Ok so it was the 80's....sue me for being into pop). We would dance around the apartment and I forgot that she had 50 plus years on me. Your only old when you stop dancing. This is what I learned from my Nana....and I think that she knew what she was talking about.

Well...I better get to finishing that stoopid book. It will pass the time until my date......(smile). May not be a night of boot-tay boogie-n but it's a good Saturday night nonetheless!

Life Change #567 Nanogigamegagatrillion....or Whatever

I am confused about life probably 87% of the time. (Dazed and Confused) Stuff just can't be simple. I have decided after my Walla Walla experience that I am turning down my position at work. It's just not the right time. It's all about the politics. I'll just be a pee-on again. I'm ok with that. I would rather devote more energy to other areas of my life right now. I have gone back and forth on this work deal for weeks. Today I finally said No Thanks!

Am I sounding vague and a little tone-loco? Maybe. I need to take my vitamins. I've been skipping out on those lately. So.....I had a wonderful visit in Walla Walla and spent some time on my way home checking out the sites of South Eastern Washington. The geological formations were beautiful and astounding when you actually slow down to stop and admire. Someday when I grow up (for real) I am going to be a geologist. It's on my list of things "to do". :)

Just passing time.....

This is where I work! I actually found that we are advertised online! Incredible isn't it. It's a nice place....and it should be considering the people that live there pay a pretty penny. It's just that the people that run this show are a little ummm....whacked. I am off this a.m. bright and early...0230 hours to travel to Walla Walla, Washington. I am going to get edjamicated. I am going to become the new Resident Care Coordinator of our fine Apple Meadows. What is a RCC you ask? Honestly....at this very moment I can't tell you. I haven't been told myself.

Do I sound disgruntled? Annoyed? Yes I do. I am showing up tomorrow after a six hour drive and no one knows what time I am to start my training. I won't even go into it. It's just madness. But I figure I am going to get paid and it's a way for me to get out of Omak for a couple of days. So that be that.

I moved the boat today. Hooked it up to Jakes truck and backed it into the drive way without incident. Don't ask......I was just proud of myself for hooking up and towing the damn thing. Let's see.....I had class this morning. Three hours of Antihypertensives and Antiarrythmics. My head is spinning full of beta blockers, and diuretics and vasodilators and oh yes I forgot the Antilipidemics. I survived speaking in front of the class and another quiz. I had to make one final trip to the landfill...YAY! And today was pay day out here in working class ville. Oh yes and I ran one heart stopping mile on the track. Oh the excitment!

I'm just trying to stay busy with busy work so the time will pass by quicker. I don't think it works though. I think I just get less sleep. I spent some time outside with Gunph and Peeses and they gave me some cute shots.


















I really wish I had a cold one of these....I miss Oly.... the beer and the place! And Jake in Oly drinking beer. :) Well see ya on the flip side...I guess that be Walla Walla! Sorry if this whole post is one big run on sentence ......I think I'm beat....so Good Night!

Love

I got some mail from Mississippi today and it made me cry. I am such a wussy and I am so very much in love. I miss Jake more and more every day and I find I have a hard time staying focused.

The cell phone has become my constant companion. Good thing I don't have to feed it or take it to the "pottie". I've got the four animals and one plant , plus a fish to take care of. I am desperate to keep that one remaining fish alive and I think if it died I would probably fall to pieces.

I am plugging away with school work. I have a crap load of reading to do still but instead I am on the computer. (Bad Me). I am excited to say that I am now officially wireless. We had bought a router a few months back. Jake tried to set it up one Saturday afternoon, but for some reason ran into some difficulties. I didn't think to try to set it up until after he left because I am not the most computer savvy person. It was on my list of "things to do" for the past two weeks. I heard that vedjen had set up her stuff and it was game on. I mean I can't have a wireless router just sitting there and me confined to the corner. I figured I have stepped head on into the 2000's finally....cell phone, laptop, MP3, satelite radio, and don't forget my Kitchen Aide. It was time for the wireless....and you know what...it took me 10 minutes to set it up. And only because I actually read the directions. I don't care...I'm giving props to me. :) I still haven't finished that damn Angels and Demons book either. I have 15 pages left. It's insane.

I might be headed off for Walla Walla tomorrow night. It all depends if I can get the dogs kenneled. I am going for some training for my new position at work. It's a freakin 5 hour drive. I'm taking the computer with me on the road. All the hotels have wireless now...too cool! I'm suppossed to stay until Friday. Just something else to pass the time.

I looked up my race results...I didn't do too shabby. I came in 9th in my age group so at least I made a top ten! I think I placed right in the middle. I checked out my finish line photo.....and OMI...good ...god! I am not a photogenic runner. I swear I looked like a Korean chick with 10 extra pounds and crazy hair. It was not a pretty photo. It has motivated me to now make it a mission to lose my "baby" phat. Ugh!..


Well the news is official....or at least I am making it official....Jake and I are going to get MARRIED! I am so excited I could piddle! :) January 1st....or somewhere in that vicinity is our set date. We are going to get married in Canada....Vancouver area....and probably more like Whistler. Our tentative honeymoon spot is Juneau
Alaska. And yes...I will actually be wearing a wedding dress.

Love has brought me joy and technology and now girlie-ness. And I love it!

On Your Mark....get set......Whoa!

Well....I ran the Wenatchee 10k this fine morning. All 6.2 miles of it.

This morning was an early start. I was up at 3:45 and I must say I was a grumpy girl. Mostly it was nerves. Probably more of the fact that I missed Jake and he wasn't going to be there to calm me down. He has a way of making me believe that everything is going to work out ok and it makes me feel safe.

I drove to Wenatchee, picked up my number and time chip and then ran to go pee. (X's 2, nerves and a Rockstar make for a weak bladder). The freakin race was suppossed to start at 8:00 am. We didn't proceed until almost 8:30 am. I had to stand around for almost 45 minutes. It was torture. Runners are kind of a crazed breed. They wear all this flourescent colored gear (which I thought went out with the 80's) and they stretch alot. I mean they are FLEX-FER-REEKS! Thank god I had my music.

Then it was go time. Usually once I start running I'm in the zone. I don't focus too much on the people around me. I'm more into my music and my breathing and getting into the right pace mode. For some reason at one particular moment....it's funny cause I didn't think about it until just now...I was looking out into the crowd and I saw someone that resembeled one red headed Jennifer Chambers. I thought "jeez that looks like Jen....and Scott....oh they are waving...at me?....oh sh**t that is Jen and Scott".

It was an unbelievably sweet moment...and I just want to say that it meant more to me than words can even express! So I'm given a SHOUD-OUD to my bestest friend and old dirty, my Baby-cakes and buttcheese! Thank you for carin about me enough to get up/wake me up at 3-something in the godforsaken morning and be there for me! It made me run faster. ((1:03:08)). Running itself is alot like life and it defenitely is sweeter when you have people you care about and admire cheering you on.

I know I have much room for improvement but this is a start. I have 7 months until Seattle so it's time I make this thing happen. It's marathon time....and I guess I'll see if I really have the guts to make it.




This guy stole my number...and he doesn't look even remotely related! I guess he had it first! :)

On my way home I stopped along the way to capture some of the beauty that is EASTERN Washington. I would never admit this in a court of law.....I stopped at Wells Dam too. It was my first scenic stop when I first came over to visit Jake in Omak so it holds a special spot in my heart.

Confessions of a Neat Freak

Yup it's true! I am a neat freak. And you know what time of year it is? It is SPRING cleaning time. I hate to admit it....but I love to clean. Not all the time. Just at times when I feel like my life is out of control. The only way I can get a grasp on reality and get back into a normal rhythm is to clean. It is (sadly) my therapy. I admit I am no Felix Unger...and by no means is Jake Oscar Madison(well maybe a little :) ) but I can start to feel like I have OCD when there is any amount of clutter in my environment.

I have had periods of time in my life when I was purposefully messy. Especially when I got out of the army. I had been forced to "dress right dress" every aspect of my life and so I went through a rebellious stage once I was "freed". But as time wore on I felt drawn back into the old dress right dress clutter free ways.

I am a hater. A hater of knick knacks. A hater of yard sales and dollar stores and Wall-to-wall-your-house-full-of-chinese-junk-mart. I hate that we buy useless crap and 90% of it ends up in landfills. I hate materialism. I am not perfect...I am guilty of being caught up in the "throw away" mentality too. I have shopped at Walmart...and I have thrown (as a last resort) batteries and other recycleable items in the garbage. (I especially feel guilty for throwing away wood).

I am a hoarders/clutterers worse nightmare. This is where I am really guilty....well kind of....because I have no qualms about cleaning out useless crap from a closet. I try to recycle or give most of it away to Goodwill, but some stuff....lets face it..... is really garbage.

"Clutterers," "cleaners," and "hoarders" sometime walk a fine line between excellence and obsession. (A quote I stole! Sorry no bibliography or foot note). It's true. Poor Jake. He and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to this stuff about "STUFF". He's been very sweet about me ransacking through his beloved belongings. And ransacked I have. We had a serious go around the first month. I mean we cleaned out a lot of "stuff" from every part of this house. Closets, drawers, attic, garage, truck, counters and cabinets. And I know that before I moved here he really tried to "clean house".

I am not oppossed to having "stuff". I just don't want my house or my life filled with cheap junk. Maybe that sounds snobby. Maybe it doesn't. I admit that I do like nice things. But I would rather save up for months to buy one nice pair of shoes that will last then fill my closet with 50 pairs of Payless. Plus cheap shoes just aren't comfortable. (Jakes lingo un-COM-FORT-ta-ble). My feet are very particular.

I have cleared this place out. It's not empty or barren like my previous dwelling. But it feels clean and the environment is clutter free. I can breathe. Jake is a pile-er-upper. He makes piles for me....and I disassemble them. We work well together. He feeds my need for clean. :)

I finally cleaned out his truck yesterday....oh lord was I ever in heaven. He had saved sugar packets and packets of jelly from when we first met. He made me promise that I wouldn't throw them out.... so I refrained. So now it's ready for him to come back and load up again. I clear stuff out....so he has more room to fulfill his affluenzic fantasies. (*Note, it is unclear if affluenzic is a real word...probably not...but in this case has good effect).

In all honesty I have chosen to simplify my life. I want quality things and quality people around me. I don't associate wealth or success with material items. I think if you are happy and you are loved and healthy then your are an accomplished person. Maybe that sounds....vague, generalized, and boring. It doesn't to me.

Confessions of a Neat Freak.......................

1. I cannot stand to see hair on a bar of soap
2. Junk drawers are taboo...I prefer to say utility drawer...it sounds more purposeful
3. Everything has its proper place (except for knickknacks)
4. Lysol antibacterial kitchen disinfectant and paper towels are this girls best friend.
5. My jeep is always a mess
6. I love folding laundry....can't wash to save my life
7. You can never have enough new/clean underwear
8. If you haven't worn it or used it in at least 3 years....get rid of it
9. Scrunchies and swish-swish pants are out...(just thought I would throw that out there....thanks for straightening me out Doris)(phew....I might still be wearing those but for you!)
10. Clutter is not cool. It gets dusty and it can smell and you can lose a small child or dog amongst it. Dollar stores are evil...and Walmart...speaks for itself!

Ah....Omigod!

Sensory Overload

Guess what I did.....Finally....No I didn't have a nervous breakdown....it's way better than that. I bought me an MP3 player. Yup...it's true. Ok so it's not high speed or anything cool. But it's a digital device that holds a crump load of songs. I really am going full throttle with the technology this year. First the laptop, then the cellphone and now this. It's all been a slow transition...I'm breaking myself in gently.

I've got the Wenatchee 10K coming up on Sunday. I would have just run with my walkman....but I realized (thank god) that on Sunday morning the only two radio stations on this side of the state are going to be playing Jesus music. I love Jesus...but I can't run 6.2 miles to ally-loo-yahs...(sorry JC) I figured it was time to trade in the ol Sony walkman in anyway.



JOGGING FOR JESUS.

So I am now getting all technological...and I am a little on the sensory overload side. The synapses and neural pathways are shorting out. It's good though. I mean I needed to get with the times.

I don't really feel like writing....my brain is fried. So I'll leave ya with a few
funny Pics! :)



Scenes from the very naughty "Cookie Sutra".




The mystery of the "Headless Homie" continues....this is where the story begins....the scene of the crime. Stay tuned...we will get to the bottom of this senseless brutal defacement and decapitation.

Happy EASTA!....Cause CORPORATE said so!

You ever read the book 1984 by George Orwell? If you haven't maybe you shouldn't. It was one book that really freaked me out. You know "Big Brother", war is peace, while freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.

I have always been a bit of a conspiracy theorist. I don't talk about it too much because I think people would think I was a loon. For instance I have doubts that we really landed on the moon. Now I know your probably like...."WHAT THE?"...H...E....double hockey sticks. I just have my doubts about things. That's a totally vague statement and I choose not to elaborate at this time.

Now let me just get to the point. I am at this new job. All I ever hear from the administration and middle management (soon to be me) is "CORPORATION" this and "CORPORATION" that. Like there is this little room somewhere and little men are scribbling out orders furiously for us little folks down here to follow. The administration believes we should not stray from the policies of the "CORPORATION". Now if I was a factory worker manufacturing computer chips with well calibrated machines and high tech computers I could possibly see the assembly line, big brother state of mentality.

But I work with people. Not just ordinary day to day people mind you. These people are special and they need extra special care and attention. These people have dementia and alzheimers.

In the dining room in our facility we have a new television with DVD. A new order came down from "CORPORATION" that we are to play "soft and soothing" music in the dining room all day during the waking hours of our residents. Now this is a nice sentiment. The facility bought a DVD that plays different underwater/fish scenes...and the fish swim around to the sounds of some classical music. It's as weird as it sounds. This morning I had a resident crack. These were her exact words...."if you don't turn that music off....I am going to go crazy". Once she said it I immediately heard grumblings from other residents. It's a friggen stream of the same music over and over and over again. It's nice for a little while....but day after day...after day...the same annoying stream....my residents start to get agitated. I do have some people who are still in the early stages of alzheimers, so they do still have their hearing and opinions.

Ok...what's my point? Well #1 it's weird. (The streaming of the weird "soothing" music). #2 I turned that shit off today for like an hour. This middle managment chick came in today...I guess to check on the place...since she has devoted her life to the "CORPORATION". Well when she found I had turned off the music she politely told me that I needed to turn it back on. She gave me her blank brainwashed stare and sickening sweet smile when I tried to explain to her that the residents had gotten a little tired of listening to it. She quickly informed me that this is what "CORPORATION" wanted. It was like she didn't hear a GD thing I said. #3 This is just one thing this week that has made me rethink my taking on this new position. Corporation is big brother and they expect you will follow orders. They expect that you will work no overtime but will complete work off the clock to save them money. They will not hire more employees to care for the residents (we are horribly understaffed) but they want to knock down walls, and throw Spring Flings, and buy new TV's that we don't need. They have sheets of paper saying things like....to dress each resident staff requires 10 minutes, to feed each resident 20 minutes, to toilet...ect....ect....ect. I'm sorry people...it doesn't work that way. Each human being is unique and different. Not to mention each day....or hour or minute is never the same with a person who has alzheimers/dementia.

Ok. All I'm saying is that I worked for one other corporation in my life that was this demanding. And that was the ARMY. But even the GD military realized that people are not GP or machinary......(kind of). I didn't have a choice in the military. I had to do what they said or I would get into trouble. I am not going to take this crap from a private money making, greedy, "CORPORATION".

Ok I think I'm done ranting. I apologize profusely to anyone I may have confused by this post. I just can't stand when people don't use common sense or the brain in their head....They choose instead to let the thought police do their thinking.

Blues and Blahs

I am going to try not to whine. I'm in a funk. I've come down with a case of the blahs today. It's raining here and so it's dark and dreary to begin with. I miss Jake. It's been really hard to be without him. I had the day off from absolutely everything today. No work. No school. No training. No meetings. No appointments. There was NOTHING on my calender. Wanna know what I did? Not a GD thing. (Except take this horrible picture of me fake crying).

I woke up at zero eight hundred hours and since then I have been in my PJ's. I made myself a ham and cheese omlet then cozied up to the laptop and surfed. I fed the animals and made sure everyone was toileted. I haven't cracked open my pharmocology book or looked at the piles of stuff I need to do for work. Oh...I did text message Jake and messed with my camera.

I'm not going to run today. In fact I'm not going to leave the house. I'm forcing myself to be lazy. It makes me feel like crap if I am not productive in some sort of way. I feel like shit if I'm not busting my ass. How stupid does that sound? Maybe it doesn't. I don't know.

I quit bowling today. It wasn't a class...it was a bunch of people who just took bowling for extra credit. I wanted to LEARN how to bowl. If I just wanted to get out there and bowl I would just have Jake teach me for free. And it would be less stressful. You should have seen it. I had five different people instructing me and none of them bowled over a 140. It was sensory overload. The noise. The fact that I had actually enrolled myself in a bowling class. The grimy bowling ball. All the bowling chit chat that you get in a bowling alley, and no beer. And it was a two hour deal. I just couldn't handle. For my own mental health I had to get out.




Alaska looks a little concerned. She's been velcroed to me all day. She's probably thinking I should get off my ass and make some dinner, since it's now 4:00pm. I think she is insinuating that I should probably take a shower. I've got to go watch the "Narnia" anyway. More veggetation. Healthy.

Don't believe it Man!

You remember the old saying "don't believe everything you read". Ya...me too. Today I sat in a class about Mental Illness. You know..... depression, anxiety, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Blah blah blah! It was kind of interesting. Something was said by the instructor this morning that just seemed "not right".

I mean...look...let's face it...I am kind of out of touch with the rest of the world lately.
#1 I don't have T.V.
#2 I live in Omak....the friggen boonies. BFE!
#3 I don't have the time to listen to NPR lately nor do I have the energy to run around this town to find a Seattle Times. And even if I did...I have other crap to read for school and work. (WAH.....BOOOIE-HOOIE)

Today I was told that Albert Einstein was a schizophrenic. I was in shock when I heard this. I mean.....I'm sorry...I may be out of touch but I would surely know something like this. RIGHT?
Well I guess I didn't know about Bucky. And I didn't know about Bradgolina or Iran. And look...let's face it...I thought ABOUT SCHMIDT was really funny. And I am struggling with famous ol Dan Brown's prequel to The Da Vinci Code. So it's only natural that I may question myself from time to time.

For one picosecond I questioned. Just a flash of self doubt. I love Einstein. I always thought he was such an interesting guy. Mostly because he was so philosophical and human and fragile. He was so fucking smart. Yet he was humble and spiritual. Ok, so I never met the guy. And maybe all I've read about him in the past was made up bullshit. Why do I find the guy fascinating? Because he was so friggen nice. He was a scientist that believed in god. (Shit.....this is turning out to sound like some plot-tage from the DVC). He was funny. He had a sense of humor.

The guy it turns out....was not a schizophrenic. His son was though. I learned something new. But I am pissed that my instructor just threw this false fact out. And when I questioned it, she just looked shocked that I didn't know. And the rest of the class looked shocked that I didn't know. This is how wars start for chrissake. I'm not saying that I would have loved Einstein any less if he had been mentally ill. I'm just saying that I would have picked up on this fact a long time ago.

Don't believe shit that people try to shove down your throat. That's all I'm sayin here. Einstein may have been a genetic carrier for schizophrenia... but he was not schizophrenic. There's a damn difference.

My Evil Step Mother

I have an "evil" stepmother. Now she's not really evil. In fact she's probably the sweetest, nicest, beautifulist, most gracious giving person I know. She's one of my very best friends, and she's been there for me at times when it felt like the sky was falling down.

My "evil" stepmother has what she likes to call "ESPN". She is psy-chic and knows just the moment that I need her the most. I swear it's true. I don't even think she realizes how dead on she is. I could be sitting there in a puddle of tears...boo-hoo,boooooo-hoooooo.....(ring ring....)...I pick up the phone and hear.........JENNIFA.......It's your evil step MOTHA. You just can't be sad when you hear that voice.

I have always loved and admired her. She's a very strong person and I have always wanted to grow up and be just like her. Seriously...I mean that. There are alot of strong, successful women out there. But society still views many of those women as "BEEEATCHES". And maybe they are. But I know one woman who is strong and intelligent, and successful and not a bitch. Honestly....sometimes I don't know how the hell she does it.

The evil stepmother thing has been a joke between us for a long time. But in reality she's my surrogate mom. I adopted her...so basically she's stuck with me. :) She recently married a wonderfully sweet guy named Dave. He's a fireman. You know what they say about those guys.....I won't elaborate....I'll give you her # and she can fill you in....:) I couldn't be happier for her. She deserves a rockin guy. And she needed to find someone who could keep up with her. Did I mention she's high energy? She may disagree. Seriously...call her. Have a conversation. She juggles a shitload on her plate. Yet she always....ALWAYS....makes time for her family.

I am proud to say that I looked up her restaurant online and found a few reviews. She's busted ass to get that place movin and groovin. I know that one day all that hard work is going to pay off. So here's a "shameless" plug...hahaha...all you Washington homies...if you ever are headed down to Orlando stop in at the CORNER CAFE. The atmosphere and the food are out of this world.

Corner Cafe
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This restaurant Profile Page is brought to you courtesy of the DiningGuide.com service. Corner Cafe is located in Orlando.
Address:
4303 Vineland RoadOrlando, FL 32811
Telephone:
407-648-4978
Open/Close:
MON-FRI 7 am-3 pm.
Category:
Cafe
Meals Served:
Breakfast. Lunch.
Cost:
Inexpensive
Credit Cards:
None Accepted.

Homesick

I felt homesick for the "wet" or westside today. Really for the first time since I've been here. I miss stepping out my front door and seeing Mount Ranier. I miss the Puget Sound. I miss being only a half an hour away from my best friend (on a good day with NO traffic). I miss my SNOBBY Top Foods with it's good beer and wine selection and it's salad bar. I miss being able to buy a fresh piece of salmon or crab or any fresh seafood at all for that matter. I am lonely here without Jake. Omak is not a bad place when he's here. When he's here it's actually the best place on earth to be. Right now the best place on earth to be is MISSISSIPPI. I gotta get there.

I want to say that I am a book lover. I love books. I am about to finish this book called Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. The Da Vinci Code guy. I have been reading this book....this 569 page book since February. It has been the hardest book for me to get through....I just hope to god the DVC is as interesting as everyone has made it sound. I am on page 512 and I feel like this book will never end. I've got a whole stack of books just waiting to be read but I can't pick one of them up until I finish this thing. UGH....

I was going through some of my "bins" of stuff out in the garage this afternoon when I found my very first digital camera. My evil step motha had given it to me as a gift. I remember how excited I was and how much I loved that thing. There was a picture of Gunph on it...when he still had sight in both eyes...and of the big snow storm we had in Oly a few years back. Maybe that was what started the homesickness.





Tomorrow is a new day. Then I can start a new book and actually get my ass out for a run. I've got less than two weeks before I run Wenatchee. At least I won't have to wake up at four tomm morning to finish my friggen homework. See...I'm thinking positive. :)

My Baby Love

My Baby Love
Originally uploaded by Jennifa G.

The countdown for Operation Mississippi had begun and is now over. I miss my baby. This is the start of a new week and I hope to God it is alot less action packed than last week.

It hit me last night after I was home from work and finally sitting on my ass on the couch. It was a sad day. I had this silver object sitting in front of me with a picture of Jake on it. I was speaking to it. And it was speaking to me. What has happened to me? I think I need some therapy. After the cell phone comes the little ugly dog and a huge purse. Before you know it I will be wearing a bluetooth, punching numbers into my blackberry, driving down the road sipping on my latte, applying my mascara....as my little dog is licking my face as it sits on my lap and pee's.

Job Promotion and Stuff

I think I was on some drugs today. I must have been on a high dosage. Work had offered me a supervisory position last week and last week I turned it down. I just didn't want to deal with the stress. I didn't want to be tied to the job 24/7. So what do I go and do?

I took the position. I felt the compulsion to kick my own ass. It could turn out to be VERY VERY bad. I am going to be working mad hours. Not to mention the fact that I am the newbie and now I'm going to be barking out orders. There are so many personalities at this place. I don't deal with attitude too well. I'm sure there will be some "TUDE" patrol going on for a little while. I try to say and believe that I don't care if people like me or not but the truth is....it's nicer to be liked than not.

It's going to be a helluva challenge. But it's better to fail at something challenging than to be successful at something thats not. I know some people would say thats a load of bullfrog droppings. Life should be simple....yaddeeeyaddayadda. But I have always chosen to do things the difficult way. Wish me luck will ya. Cause I'm gonna need it.

Today was boring really. Boring but busy. Work was NUTS. And then after eight crazy hours I was off to a food handlers class. So you see....if this job doesn't work out as Apple Meadows RCC (Resident Care Coordinator) then I'm going to be a bartender. See....I even have a back up plan.



Tomorrow is my first day of Bowling. I'll finish with that. :)

We got F--kin Cell Phones

It's a sad, sad day for society. I have been sucked into a sick world. I now have an extra appendage. I now have an alter ego. I can't even go on with this post because my mind is blown. I just want to set it straight for the record...This is JAKES doing. I had NOTHING to do with this. NOTHING! Laugh if you want to. I know you are.


Lookie here! Who is this madman? Could it be my Latin Lover? Unbelievable!



Here's a closer look at our neighbors newest yard ornanmentation! Nice huh?

A Sign

It is Tuesday. Only the second day of the week. I have been attacked! I think I have the thousand yard stare. (You can see for yourself on Jakes little entry...ugh!). Too much has happened in such a short period of time and my head can't catch a break. Jakes leaving for Mississippi on Friday. It could be a month or it could be two. I started school today. I turned down a job promo. I went through a complete medical exam...and I do mean complete...for the first time in 11 years. I am trying to keep my sense of humor intact...to keep laughing and stay lighthearted. It's the only way.

We saw an osprey this afternoon. I didn't realize it at first, but it was meant to be a sign. I know that some people don't believe in signs. They think signs are superstitions. Native Americans have certain beliefs about birds of prey and I tend to think there may be something there too. It was sitting in a tree and Jake saw it as we were driving by.

(Sho-sho'-ka Osprey) Omaha...Seahawk...or Fishhawk






The second picture is my photo. I caught it just as it was flying off. I almost had a good shot but I waited one nanosecond too long. I believe it means that things are as they should be right now. It ties in to the Superbowl and the Seahawks. They made it to the Bowl. They weren't successful their first go around. But they will have other chances. And their next go around they are going to win. I know this all sounds way weird but it ties in to my life right now and it has to do with my loss too. I am forever tied to the GD Seahawks. (And a certain futon)! See...Humor!

Besides the seahawk we had another unusal bird siting the other day. It was a friggen Seagull sitting on a firehydrant that was in the front of our neighbors yard. First off, the guy has planted a FAKE hydrant in front of his yard. That was on Saturday. Then Sunday he added a fake Seagull to the top of it. I thought it was real (the bird) and just had to get a photo of it. Come on people this is Omak. It's what old guys do for fun around here.



Just a few things going on......



I am officially starting my quest to finish my RN. First class is pharmocology. It's all about the drugs. Cool class. I was asked to join the Omak Nurses Club. I think I'm gonna. It's so geeky but what the hell....I'm taking a bowling class....it can't get any worse. (Just kidden baby).



I took a picture this morning before I ran off to school...so I could remember today and where I was at. And where I'm going from here. I think everythings going to be ok. I got the sign I needed. Each little thing that we experience, good or bad only teaches us to be better people. I think that's how we become more compassionate and understanding. I like the buddhist way. It just makes sense to me. I'm alive and kickin and I'm really blessed to have wonderful friends and my family to support me no matter what. With that I will say goodnight!

Jacob Todd Chambers

This is Jake Chambers. He is the love of my life. I know this may sound goopy and sweet or even sappy....but I don't care. He is the most beautiful person I have ever met. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have him in my life. We have only been together for a year and 3 months, but it feels like we've been together forever. I don't remember him not being there. And I don't want to.

We just fit. We...is his favorite word. He makes everything seem so easy....even when maybe at times when things aren't. He makes me smile every morning when I wake up and see his face. He makes me laugh even when I'm crying. He's crazy sometimes...and he likes bowling...I mean he seriously likes to bowl. :) I enjoy every minute I spend with him. Even disagreeing with him is fun. He makes me want to be a better person. So cliche I know.....but it's true. I love the very core of his being.

I would like to thank Jen and Scott for their mysterious disapperance into a Porta-Pottie on the night of 31Dec04. (For like 40 minutes). I would like to thank the guy that got his ass kicked and almost dropped dead in front of us...And I would like to thank the city of Las Vegas for their fireworks display. You all made it possible! And I would also like to throw a plug in for the "Miracle" counseling. Without it....who knows where we would have been. (hahaha)!

I am the happiest I've ever been. And probably the calmest. And it's because I found my person that I'm supposed to be with for the rest of my life. I just thought I'd share that.

I got the Sunday BLUES!

I hate Sundays! It's usually my lazy day. Or at least the day where I am the least productive. Today was friggen daylight savings time and we lost an hour. Damn it, Damn it, Damn it! It just means that Monday is that much closer. I hate Mondays. They, quite frankly...suck. I feel cluzty on Mondays. It's harder to get out of bed on Mondays. In general I just hate people on Mondays. It's one day a week of PMS...except every week....every month...52 weeks a year. And I really, really hate Mondays when I have to go to a doctors appointment.

This weekend was a good one. On Friday we went fishing. And yes for once we were at a lake that had fish in it. Alot of fish in fact....Yet the only fish we caught was a dead one.



(Seemed to be the theme for the week)

The "fool a fish" is "fool a crap" as far as I'm concerned! There were fish two feet away from us at the waters edge...and we caught...nothing! I think the one armed guy across the lake had better luck. (I'm serious...he's in the next picture but too small to see.) (On the far left).

*NOTE-And for all the PC people out there...I am not making fun of disabled one armed guys who are trying to fish. Quite the opposite. So please don't send PETA or Greenpeace or any other liberal organization after me!



Here is a picture of lil Green lake.



Despite my negativity towards fool a products...I have to say it is a beautiful little lake.

I had to work Saturday....blah...blah...Mostly adult poopy diapers and stuff like that...and I'm sure you don't need the gory details.

*Note to Liberals or overly religious crazed conservatives...I love old people and I love my job. I just feel like I don't need to advertise that a dirty adult diaper is a perk...because my friend...it most certainly is NOT!

So then we get to Sunday. We stayed in bed till noon-thirty. Even though I was still on pre-daylight savings and still say it was 11:30. I did run 5.8 miles. Thats something right? Jake road his bike with me as I ran and just yelled at me. He was my motivator...my trainer....and all he kept yelling at me was, "Move it lard ass. Faster Fatty...let's go...let's go....let's go". It really worked. (Thanks Baby).

*Note.... To Womens Right Activists...His name is Jacob Todd Chambers...he lives in Omak. His SS# is....

So tommorrow is my appointment. I am not looking forward to it. So wish me luck. Wish Jeepster luck. He's gotta deal with me crabby ass on Mondays too. :)

Here's a picture of Jakes new shoes...He's very proud of them! They are Rocket Dogs....



He hopes Doris approves!