True Friends

So my organization is affecting my friendships......what of it?   Simply put, I don't have that many friends and I treasure the ones I have, even if I don't see them very often or talk on the phone often.  My focus for the last 20 years has been my husband, kids and work.  I have memorized the one friend's number I call frequently...but even  then I have accidently called my mother instead of her!  My families numbers are all on the frig but not in my "new" cell phone I got over a year ago.  I have to admit my previous phone had everyone's number in it and I neglected (due to lack of organization) to transfer the numbers out before getting a new one.  I only memorized my daughter Krista's because they got rid of the house number I had memorized and I didn't have the cell on speed dial anymore.  So anyway, I have wanted to stop by this friends house numerous times over the last year but never put her number in the cell phone...so when I was in town I didn't want to just drop in.  She's given me the number at least 5 times and I'm sure it's in my address book (wherever that is!) and it's in my facebook messages (but since I don't have a data phone I can't access that on the go).  This week I really felt like I had to stop by and see her as I drove through where she lived.  So, not only do I not have a number to warn her so she doesn't answer the door, I'm driving up and down at least 3 streets trying to remember where the house is.   What kind of friend am I that I haven't been there in over 10 years????  Sheesh!  Life rushes by you before you even realize it.  Anyway, I finally went down the street that I started with but had turned around right before her house...duh!  Thankfully she's the kind of friend who gracefully let me come in and talk with her and stick my foot in my mouth several times.  That's the thing about a true friend.  They don't just let you stick your foot in your mouth unknowingly and hurt their feelings without knowing it.  She so good at letting me know when I'm off and when I've said something that I didn't mean to hurt but did.   I really appreciate having a friend like that.  Sometimes we really want to help our friends but what to us seems like encouragement is actually a stab to the gut for them.  I would never knowingly want to hurt any of my friends or family but yet I am sure I do frequently.....sometimes just for the lack of knowing what to say!  It is ok just to sit there and not know what to say, to not have to just fill in the silence.  It's hard to understand friends hurts when you have never been where they are. Instead of being afraid to spend time with them because I don't know what to say, I'm glad I have friends who will tell me when I'm way off but still appreciate that I'm trying in the best way I know to say "I care!"

Super Hero Mother Hen

I think I have "arrived"!  Well, at least I feel that way.  In a recent conversation I had a coworker call me their "Mother Hen".  It's neat to know that your coworkers respect and look up to you.  It's neat to work with "chicks" who care!  Even more so, they took the time to submit me as their Super Hero for our Hospital.  What an honor!  (actually kinda embarrassing to have that kind of attention when you're just doing what you love to do!)  I think it really hit me this week when my Father had a heart attack and was admitted to Sparrow Clinton Memorial Hospital. (that's info for another post later).  My really good friend Brenda works in the ER there.  She too is an RN, although younger than me, that I look up to and value her opinion.  A quality that was necessary when making critical decisions with my mom, sisters and brother who were looking to me for answers and I was thinking....shoot if I was working I'd just transfer him to another hospital and let them make the decision....LOL  THAT choice was not one of the options so I turned to my mentor for her opinion and was very relieved when I finally got a hold of her to hear "I trust that doctor.  You can go with what he says."  Such a relief!  I'm getting side tracked again.  The reason I brought this up was to mention how much I realized this designation as a health care super hero was an honor.  Brenda and I had made plans to go to Lansing to get together, something we do every once in a while but hadn't done in a while.  I had to tell her that I had to be a Sparrow for pictures at a certain time and why....this was all planned before the heart attack.  So, when things calmed down and decisions were made she made time to pop into the ER and support us (our families have been neighbors since we were babies!).  She then started telling everyone there and then again up on the floor that I was a Super Hero.  Wow!  But you know what.  Being a super hero doesn't make me more special than any one of the other girls and guys I work with.  Just because someone did not get it does not mean they are not a great nurse (I know because everyone I work with does a great job).  Brenda, although not chosen by her hospital, is my super hero.   When I needed her she was there and keeps being there.  She helped us think clearly, when in that situation it was hard to make a decision.  When she was done helping us....you'll never believe what that girl did.  She turned in her Capri's and flip flops for scrubs and shoes a size too small and dove in to start working the ER for the next 3 hours.  When she was done with that, she ended up coming up to the ICU and getting me at past midnight.....hadn't even made it off the floor when she willingly went back to draw some blood from a patient who was a hard draw.  Then, she took me out the the Wheel Inn, fed me a meal and offered her couch for some sleep.   She is my Super Hero!

Slowly running the race

Slowly running the race

Dog Days

I had 2 days off from work and I did absolutely nothing!  It was wonderful!!!!!  Sometimes I think you just need to relax and enjoy a day with nothing planned and nothing done.  I did do some cleaning Thursday morning so I guess I did actually do something.  Kitchen and Living Room were made presentable for the company that was  last minute invite.  Oh, I also got the grocery shopping done.  Funny how even though you don't THINK you did anything, when you look back you have done something.   Thursday evening was filled with fun playing cards with my friend and children.  We enjoyed having our granddaughter running around too.  Grandpa, my husband, conked out on the couch before 7pm!  Working these long days has just worn him out.  Friday brought a morning with NO ALARMS!  What utter bliss!  Ok, so I still woke up early out of habit but it was nice to not have to get up!   I pulled a weed here and there in my garden, watched a moving and spent a few hours learning how to use my creative memories digital scrap booking.  I think the most work I did was the 2 hours I spent downloading and saving all the freebies from creative memories!  Now to figure out how to get a free unzip thing for my computer.  It says I only have a 40 day free trial and then I need to purchase it.  Now tell me why a computer would not have the ability to unzip......sheesh!   Now it's Saturday.   I spent a productive 4 hours at work and then had the opportunity to leave.   I headed home and did what my dogs like to do on a sunny day.   I took a 2 hours nap.  What bliss!  Now that is how to spend a day!  Nap time is over so I suppose I'd better be a little productive, check some schoolwork or reorganize my scrap booking stuff.....or maybe, do nothing at all!

a busy time

Wow!  I'm actually avoiding procrastinating and getting things done because well, I'm avoiding the living room where my very male family is watching the twilight zone.  They're laughing hysterically and I'm thinking of the nightmares I'm going to have!   
It's been a busy few weeks.  We had a wonderful time in Missouri with the kids and grandkids.  Boy do I wish we could do there more often.   I took a few minutes to make a little video and have fun with the photos.  After working a bunch of days in a row at my 2 jobs the boys and I took off for Washington DC and Gettysburg.   About 650 pictures later we're home again and back at the jobs!  It was a mixture of ups and downs while we were gone.  Some of the monuments were honestly a let down and others were beautiful surprises.  I probably would have enjoyed myself a bit more about 20 years ago when I was in better shape.  One more reason to work on exercising and loosing weight.  I thought with the exercising I had been doing and with the walking at work I would be fine but......   it's on my to do list to map out how many miles we really did walk each day!   Since I had yesterday and today off I decided to try the major cooking/freezing meals for 2 weeks again.  It went better than last time.   I only cut up 3 chicken breasts instead of the 12 I did last time!   But I managed to get about 6 meals (double batches) done for the upcoming weeks.  We'll see how it lasts and if the kids like the meals!  Overall a very productive day!

avoiding by doing

Seems an oxymoron...but you can actually waste time by doing things!  I still need to study for that class next week and I'm avoiding it.  Yesterday was a day to study.  I was busy cleaning house and spent most of the afternoon running errands and grocery shopping.  I was finally done at 830 pm and exhausted.  Needless to say I did not study.  Today I made myself put in 5 minutes and I"m going right now to find my book and study another 15 minutes before I eat lunch and head off to work.  Yesterday I did a lot of things that needed to be done but still I SHOULD have made sure I set aside an hour to study.  I am sure I'll do like I did in college and wait til the day before and then cram it all in.  That is not the best way to remember anything.  But wait!  I have to work the day before so I guess Monday is the day to cram! 

make use of your calendar

I've figured out a way to at least not be late or forget to schedule things.  I've made good use of my calendar over the years, my work days are all circled or squared depending on where I work. Any activity is usually written in (or forgotten...like my birthday last year!)  now I'm using it as my to do list.  On my days off I've begun to write in thing....for instance, today I had: call vet, call Heartland and call Mrs. J (the high school counselor).   As a result, today I was able to accomplish a lot in the first few hours.  I called the vet and made an appointment for all the animals...especially the one that needs a rabies shot by the end of the month so I can renew his dog license!  I left a message at Heartland.  When I got the call back I discovered I needed to send in a note when the kids miss the tech class (not call some attendance hot line) and I was able to find out that I did indeed have to call Mrs. J to sign up for next years classes....and they promptly transferred me to Mrs. J.   Why do I call her Mrs. J?  Every time I say her name I massacre it!  I haven't a clue how to spell it but she is the nicest lady!  From her, I was able to give her the guys preferences for their tech classes next year and request they be scheduled at the same time periods if possible.  Next I was able to find out that at the end of April is when the decision will be made on classes (last year I didn't know and had to call a week before school started when people were back in the office!)  Now there is a little note on my first day off in May reminding me to call Mrs J to find out about the classes.  I also added a note to remind myself to ask what paperwork I have to turn in for N. since he's never been in public school. I'm thinking there were all kinds of papers including immunization records that I had to get for J when he started.  I feel so organized now!  Hmmmm now I need to just push myself to study for that ACLS class next week!  But hey!  At least I found my study book today! (only had 3 months to look for it and study but of course I start a week before!)

A free day

I awoke this morning at 4am....so much for sleeping in on a day "off".  "I'm going to accomplish a lot today,"  I thought.  I have managed to clean off my kitchen table and get bills into the mail.  I pushed myself to get "lots" done this morning so when my two teenagers trotted off to school (the younger one observing the diesel repair class with the older one) I figured I would deserve a nice break and read a book.   So, 15 minutes after they leave I get a caller ID with the public school number.   Hmmmmmmm....at least he's not in the ditch today.   Nope, today they have locked the keys in the vehicle.  Guess I'll be heading out soon to get some keys out of the vehicle (smart mom that I am I keep a spare to EVERY vehicle in my purse...not real handy when I'm 45 miles away but hey!).  So much for my not going anywhere today and getting lots done.  I guess that means I'll make a run to the bank while I'm at it.....turning that lemon into lemonade one lemon at a time!  And yes, dear reader, I did get that book read!  Off to shred more junk mail and fold some laundry....

Reasons for NOT procrastinating in taking a shower when you first get up in the morning on your day off.

So the blog started as a way to procrastinate and not clean house.  Motivational speakers are only as good as their words can motivate you to change.  Many people are only motivated to change when something adversely affects them.  I have been motivated today to change my morning habits.  Instead of getting up and wasting 3 hours on facebook and emails and then taking a shower I have decided to change my day off habits and shower first.  Why?   Here are my top 10 motivating reasons:
10.  If I go to shower first thing in the morning I will notice that the clean towels are still in the dryer from Saturday (4 days ago) and go get one before getting into the shower and noticing I have NO clean towels.  I swear there is a towel monster who steals all my towels.  I always hang mine up to dry after using them and the next day they are missing, they're not even in my dirty towel basket!
9.  I will notice that I am out of soap and be able to have time to redress and go get more (or yell at my honey to get some)
8.  I will not have to worry about anyone flushing the toilet and changing the temperature of my water.
7.  Ditto on someone using hot water in the kitchen and making my water colder!
6.  I can sing if I want to and no one will hear me.
5.  I would have plenty of time before I go out to let my hair dry instead of freezing into little rings of ice.
4.  I could clean the tub while I was in the shower.
3.  I could run the hot water long enough that my mirror would steam up and I could quickly clean it with a dry towel and not have to use glass cleaner (hee hee that once a year mirror cleaning?)
2.  I could enjoy my shower instead of someone pounding on the wall telling me I have a phone call.
1.   This is the biggest reason and my main motivating change factor:   I would have hot water since I would be the first one in the shower.....and not take a shower after the boys have used up every last bit of hot water.  I would not HAVE to take a cold shower because I need to leave shortly to go get a pedicure with a friend.  I would not be racing to shave my legs with minimal amount of soap left.....and other than #6 which I never care to do, most of the above happened to me today!   I think the next day I have off I will be dashing to the shower.....after checking to make sure I have clean towels, soap and shampoo!
I'm off to restock the soap and go fold and put away some towels!

facebook fiends

No, I meant fiends not friends.......if you look real quick it looks like you friend, same picture etc but then you get a message asking for money.  Hmmmm this friend does not pass on spam so what gives.  After a little investigation you discover a fiend has hacked into your friends account, set up a new account and had a bunch of her friends refriend and then sent out spam.    Sheeeeeeesh!  Don't hackers have anything better to do with their time?  Perhaps they are avoiding cleaning house just like I am when I waste hours on facebook!  Today, a friend posted that there is a "more secure" way to sign in to facebook.....your url should have https   NOT just http.......is it me or is this just toooooooo much work!  Honestly who really wants to look at pictures of my cute drooling granddaughter or my boys digging trenches in my back yard.  Really?????   Get a real job people!   It's annoying but not enough to drop off the facebook world page.  I enjoy looking at cute videos of my granddaughters, phone downloads of grandkids in other states that I only get to see once or twice a year and it's so much easier to message the kids to plan a family reunion.  I am in for the long haul but I really do need to start setting a timer to make myself get off!  As for the hackers, I guess they'll always be out there with their own need for procrastination...hmmmm maybe they even are getting paid to do this and it is a job for them (sorry excuse as that could be!).

The begins of mindless muttering

It starts with reading a friends blog and thinking that I can do this too!  It's not like I don't have all the time in the world.  I only work full time at one job, resource at another job, homeschool 2 highschool boys and somewhere in there I'm supposed to clean the house!   So why is it mindless muttering?  I've always been accused of muttering and now I have a son who does the same thing....I say it's actually a speech impediment...what do my non-existant readers think?  I realize no one is reading this and I may never write another lick...but I am enjoying procrastinating in cleaning!  I really think today that I have a new appreciation for muttering....because people can't understand what you're saying about them when you make a smart remark!  My son, on the other hand, has really overcome his muttering quite well.  Perhaps it is a side effect of having Aspergers and talking outloud to himself....maybe I should do that more often!  For years I have made him repeat clearly what he was saying.....something I need to do myself.   Funny thing about talking to himself outloud though.  I sent the boys outside today to throw in a 1/2 cord of wood into the basement.  My son was outside talking very loudly....I thought he was arguing or yelling at the other son so I yanked open the slider and yelled "quit fighting!".   My younger said says very calmly, "we're not arguing, he's just talking to himself.".  "Oh!" I replied, "Sorry!".  and quietly shut the slider.......how was I supposed to know?  I guess that means I need to back off and let them deal with their own issues....they are old enough now!  And now that I have finished my mindless muttering to myself...the only reader....I will go back to "cleaning"! (and perhaps I can somehow talk to myself loud enough that I can her myself over the electric guitar in the living room....Nope, it's not the teenagers, it's my husband!