Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!!

It has been a while.  I have really slacked at blogging this year but hoping to pick it back up next year.  I am thinking of doing Project Life next year and this is a good tool to assist with journaling.

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I had an interesting night/morning!  I had suspected that I had a mouse in my cabinet near the stove.  I am unsure how but there must be a hold somehow and they are getting in from the crawl space.  Felix was really watching something but I went on with my business.  Later I am in bed and I can hear a commotion coming from the kitchen!  This went on for about 30 minutes till I got up to check it out.  I put my shoes on just in case but I didn't see anything but the cats had things out of place!  There had been a chase.  I am guessing the mouse was hiding in between my recycling sacks.  I went back to bed and went to sleep as it was 3am at this point.  This morning, I walking into my dining room to HALF a mouse!!!  The rest of the mouse was mutilated in the kitchen.  YUCK!!!!  I disinfected the floor this morning.

I have had some type of shoe on today just in case!  The cats keep hanging out in the kitchen like they hear something.  I wonder if they mouse came out because I had noticed last week my popcorn kernels were made into corn meal.  The mouse had also tried to eat Phoebe's dog treats!  I removed anything edible from that area.  The mouse came out to possibly find food not realizing it was going to be food!!!

I am going to celebrate the new year with my sister and one of my nieces.  The youngest niece has plans tonight.  I need to find a veggie tray for some healthy snacks!

Happy New Year!!!

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Sunday, October 09, 2011

Changes . . . .

Yummy salad!


I have been wanting to do the Fit Life program at the fitness center most of the year.  I was waiting till I saved some extra money to do this.  Since getting a newer car, that has been harder to do.  Just a few days after buying my newer car, I found out I was going to have hand surgery.  I ended up being off work for 5 weeks which wasn't easy on the finances but I survived.  I was glad that finally on September 7, I was able to start this program at the fitness center.

My goal was to get off this diuretic my doctor put me on in August.  He told me that I was starting to develop venous insufficiency (occupational hazard?) and put me on a diuretic to help with the edema.  I also have compression stockings to wear to help.  I am actually officially off the medication as I started having dizziness with it from possibly pulling off to much fluid.  The swelling of my legs have improved and hasn't gotten any worse since stopping the medication almost a month ago.  :-)

Fit Life is a 12 week program which you meet with a nurse, trainer & dietician.  The dietician said he wanted me to eat 1400 calories a day.  He told me about an iPhone app, Nutrition Menu, and I started using it to track my calories.  The first week I lost 5 lbs.!  That gave me the motivation to keep up with the changes.  So far, I have lost a total of 11 lbs.

I have a goal of doing 3 cardio workouts a week.  I have been doing water aerobics as I feel like I get a full body workout.  I love it!!  Then I am also trying to do 3 weight training days as well.  I love doing weight lifting and could see me being like the women on Muscle and Fitness Hers!  I love that magazine!  It reminds when I used to workout hardcore with a personal trainer 3 days a week.  <3  I really want to be strong and fit as I was in 2003-2004.  I need to find pictures of me when I went to Cancun.   I do have a goal of being that fit in the next couple of years as I plan to go St. Lucia to hike and bike in the rainforest.  :-)

I have found that my biggest struggle has been finding time to workout.  Since I work the night shift, I am tired most of the time.  I wasn't doing as well getting workouts in the beginning but then decided to do them after work.  That is doing a little better but yet at the same time, I am tired when I am finished.  I am doing better with getting 2-3 workouts in a week but want to make it 3 days at least.  Then I might start increasing it to 5 days a week.

Till next time . . . . . .
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Sunday, July 24, 2011

I am still here

I was off work for about 5 weeks as I had surgery on my left pinky to have a cyst removed. Since returning to work almost a month ago, it has been busy!! My summer schedule isn't good the way my work schedule ended up. I really like my days together so I can group my days off but it didn't work out that way except the week I have vacation. In less than one week I will be on vacation! I am looking forward to it.

Frozen Grasshopper from Mudhouse

I need to gather the pictures I took of my finger as it was healing.  I was using Instagram on my iphone to document the healing process.  I need to share them in a post and share my Michael Jackson experience I had during surgery!!  It wasn't very funny at the moment but I have to kinda laugh now.

I have been sleeping to much on my days I get off and 0700 and I am off that night.  Then I am not sleeping as well at night and then need a nap during the day.  I was hoping to nap at Moonshine Beach today but I slept to late at home and my towels were still drying and needed another hour of drying time.  I decided to just hang out at the Mudhouse instead.  Prior to coming to the coffee shop, I went to the Bistro Market for a veggie grill sandwich.  I had this sandwich before and loved it.  This time it wasn't so good.  It actually cost $1.00 more than the turkey burger I enjoy and it was horrible.  I had a couple of tomato slices, 3 cucumber slices, humus, basil mayo and leaves (aka field greens).  I hate leaves!  They have never made it this way before.  Yuck-o!  I was a disappointment today and I won't order that again.  My veggie sandwiches are much better.

I am going to do some scrappy blog searching for a bit and then it will be time soon for the Mudhouse to close.

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Saturday, June 04, 2011

Camera Critters!



Camera Critters


Last night, my sister and I took our dogs to a pet stroll on C-street.  My dog, Phoebe, cracks me up!  She is an a/c dog for sure!!  :)

C-street Pet Stroll

Phoebe was drinking from the water dish then sat down and leaned against the planter! I think she was telling me it was to hot for a pet stroll. :-)

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Blog Love

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Sunday, May 08, 2011

Artsy Weekend!

It has a busy but fun weekend!  I always enjoy the first weekend of May for Artfest on Walnut St.!  Friday night was the Downtown First Friday Art Walk the the weekend was the Artfest.  Also on Saturday was National Scrapbook Day (NSD).

Artfest on Walnut St.

My sister and I went downtown and checked out a few venues full of art.  It was really busy so it was hard to see all the art.  Parking is always an issue downtown.  There are no cruising signs up every where but I am waiting for the day that I get stopped for cruising when I am only trying to find a place to park my car!  It makes me wish I was able to push a button in my car like George Jetson.  He turns his car into his briefcase.  I never understood why he was always trying to find where he parked though.  Shouldn't he just have a button in his briefcase to turn it back into his car?  I didn't notice that till I was older and watching The Jetson's one day when my nieces were younger.

Saturday I went to the LSS to celebrate NSD.  I attended Super Saver Scrapbooking, did the make-n-takes and then did a little shopping.  I almost over slept as I decided to take a nap and slept through my alarm.  I am glad that I woke up and made it to my class!

After my scrappy fun, I went home to pick up my dog and went to Artfest!  It was a fun adventure but Phoebe always gets so hot!  She makes me nervous since pugs can't tolerate heat well.  I was glad that various artist had bowls of water out for the dogs.  I will often buy bottled water and make sure she gets lots to drink.  We will also sit in the shade and just enjoy the people and music!  Phoebe just loves adventures!

Then we went home to chill for a bit and then I took Phoebe to the park.  We just walked around and I was noticing some areas to do some photography someday.  Since we have had a lot of rain, the ground was quite soggy!  Here is a picture of Phoebe in my car.  She gave it her pug approval!  :-)

Phoebe

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Saturday, May 07, 2011

Finally after 10 years . . . . .

I have been busy with work and also a little vacation in April.

While i was on vacation in April, the car I had for 10 years irritated me.  I had just went to Sam's, had a trunk full of various items including perishable items.  I get home and the trunk on my car decides to not open!  The release button sounded like the motor was stuck.  GRRR!!!!  I had a hatchback so I was able to crawl into the back seat and lower the seats to get my items out.  I worked with my key some more after getting my items out and figured out a way to get the trunk open.  Phew!  It was annoying and inconvenient.

Then a few days later, I was heading to St. Louis.  I just hoped my trunk release behaved and didn't go out anymore than it already had.  I have been told by people that I needed a new car.  This Integra had been the best car I had owned.  I also like the fact that it was paid for!

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When I got back from St. Louis, I decided to at least look at used cars at Acura.  I wanted another Acura as they have been good cars for me.  I had an '86 Integra prior to my "98 Integra.  When I looked at the cars, they had gotten bigger and more expensive in the last 10 years.  After talking with a salesman, I test drove an Acura TSX.  It had all the luxury features like seat warmers, leather seats, bluetooth and more.  It was nice but I just wasn't in love.  It was too much car for me.  I was more curious about seeing an Acura RSX but they don't make them anymore.  They didn't have one on the lot.  I was content with not coming back and just keeping my car for another 10 years that day.

A few days later, the car salesman calls me to tell me they had an RSX on the lot!!  Someone had traded one in.  I was excited to see this car and was able to the next day.  The car was very sharp and had been taken car of.  I liked how it drove.  After talking and doing some dealing with interest rates and my payment options I asked If I could take the car out again but without a salesman.  I wanted to make sure this was what I wanted before making a final decision.  I drove it around and even took it over to my parents house so they could see it.  They thought it was a nice car.  I was pretty sure I was going to buy the car at this point.

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I went back to the car lot and said I would buy the car since they were giving me the interest rate and working with me on my payment.  I was trading in my old car for a down payment.  They only gave me $1000 for my old car but it had a few exterior blemishes that needed repair.  Like the power antenna, trunk release, side view mirror was busted, the misting on the windshield wipers was wimping out.  It was otherwise in good shape.  I signed all the papers that night but I had to take my old car home because they hadn't had time to detail the car for me.  I got to pick it up two days later.

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As I was driving my Integra home after driving the RSX all day, I could tell that the RSX drove better.  I am not excited about having payments again but I like the fact that everything that wasn't working as well in my old car, worked in this car.  I will miss my '98 Integra as has been the best car with minimal repairs.  I just hope my new car treats me the same.

I keep checking to see where my old car has ended up.  I have noticed that Acura hasn't listed my Integra.  I have been doing searches on cars.com.  This morning I have been up since my pup woke me up and checked cars.com and found my old car!!  I can tell it is mine for the dent above the rear passenger side wheel.  I had a little mishap backing into my garage one day quite a few years ago.  Oops!  I can tell from the pictures, they fixed the side view mirror.  It looks great!!  I am just curious who will end up buying it.  I miss my Integra but love my RSX!


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Friday, March 18, 2011

Shattered dreams . . .



The day the registration for the Camp Shutter Sisters opened up, it was in the middle of my sleep.  I had to work that night and really needed to get some sleep.  I decided to wake up in the afternoon to register for Camp Shutter Sisters.  My dreams were broken when I saw that registration was full.  

It is time to make new dreams that include photography, friends and the ocean!  ♥

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Monday, March 14, 2011

Dreaming . . . .


camp shuttersisters from xanthe berkeley on Vimeo.

I am dreaming of attending Camp Shutter Sisters!  It is going to be on the coast of California.  Not only would this trip let me meet new friends with the love of photography, it would also help fulfill my love of the ocean.  ♥
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Wednesday, March 02, 2011

I hate nursing!

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I can't believe the last time I blogged was in November!  Yikes!  After I returned to work after my vacation in November, I was busy with the holidays.  Then after Christmas, I got sick with respiratory stuff.  I finally got over that and then got food poisoning!  I finally got over that and a week later ended up with sinus problems.  Ohhhh!  I am tired of being sick!  I have been slacking in my water aerobics I enjoy.  I hope to be able to get back into the groove soon!

I just had to say how much I hate nursing!  Another nurse I work with suggested I google, "I hate nursing".  I have found lots of post of other nurses that feel the same way I do!  I have to say I enjoy being a nurse but it has changed and I am not liking how things are going.  I have about 30 years till I can retire so I need to renew my spirit in nursing!!  I am sure it is only going to get worse instead of better.  I do my best to make sure my patients are taken care of and hope they are appreciative of what I am doing for them.  Some are and some aren't no matter what you do!

I am hanging out downtown at my fave coffee shop to destress a little.  I am off to google about art journals and read about photography!  My hobbies keep me sane.  I am looking forward to another vacation later this month for a much needed vacation!

I hope it won't be so long before another post.





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