Wednesday 04.30.2014

Another great day today!

Started out with a gentle run this morning.  It almost started a fine sprinkle while I was out, but it held off. I don't think it really got wet until this evening.

Breakfast, shower. Went through my summer clothes to see what I want to take when I visit J, J, and M. Eight more days till I leave!!

Phone conversations, project completions, food prep, supper, kitchen chores, a trip to Meijer, and a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a workday.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday 04.29.2014

Got up this morning, went to meeting. Lots of discussion, gelling our ideas, and then a spontaneous drill out on the floor.

The drill went so well!!  The staff were focused, engaged, and tuned in for the first 5 or 6 minutes. Then the phone rang, a call light came on, and they started drifting away. We finished up a couple minutes later. Overall we were extremely encouraged and pleased.

After the meeting, potluck day for a girl who is leaving.

Back at home, I looked at the internet a few minutes before going over for a massage. Frank had given me a gift certificate to a different place, and I used it. She did a good job, zoning in on the tight knots in my upper back.  Thank you, Megan.

Home again, supper and a quiet night.

Tomorrow I have errands to do. Maybe a run, too.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday 04.29.2014

Wow, another month done gone by.

Windy mid 40's. Went out for a run and notice that I have wind-burnt cheeks.  A little color looks good....

Shower and breakfast.

Made a pot of  asparagus and leek soup, milk-based. Added chicken and cheese to my bowl for supper, and portioned and froze the rest. Yum!

Also put together a pasta salad to take for potluck tomorrow after a morning meeting. And in the afternoon I'm going to use the gift certificate Frank got me for Christmas for a massage.  It's not Leah, but I'm hoping she'll do a good job on my tight upper back.

Prayers for those who are traveling, and prayers for those who are being surgically repaired.  Hope all goes well.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday 04.27.2014

So I get home from work last night, Saturday, get my 'jamas on and ready for the evening, and I don't have internet.

I "know"  that I am   "one of those"  who really like the internet.

*sigh*

Ok.  No blog tonight, and no emails.

Well. Not really.

I do have internet on the phone, but most things I would much rather see and maneuver on the big screen.

I checked email for anything urgent.  None.  And I'm not smart enough to figure out how to blog using the phone.  Even though I followed the directions and did what I was supposed to do with apps and such.

Ah, I've got other things to do anyway.

And I went to bed.

Sunday (today) I worked again.

We had a bunch of babies yesterday and "flowed over" into the overflow unit.  Today a lot of the patients went home from the primary unit; and with a great group of co-workers, we had a very good day.

Internet back on tonight.  I don't know--why??  Didn't do anything different...

Tomorrow I'm finishing up projects, tying up loose ends.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday 04.25.2014

Another great day!

I had a nice lady come over today to visit the speedboat. She's going to give me a price to make a new cover for it. Yay--it certainly needs a new cover.

After she left, I went to the hospital for a presentation on Vehicular Rollover Crashes.  Interesting.  I learned that I don't want to be in a rollover crash.

I did some other "housekeeping" while I was there, loose end kinds of things.

Back at home, the rain had stopped and the clouds moved out, allowing the warm spring sunshine through. Finally got the chill out of the house.

A couple phone calls, supper, and a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a workday.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday 04.24.2014

Another great day!!

Although cool and damp feeling and overcast and looking like it might rain at anytime.

I didn't see that it did rain, though.

Morning meeting was interesting. Ended up staying a little on the unit and taking care of some loose ends.

Errands on the way home.

Two loads of laundry, supper prepared, consumed, and kitchen cleaned up.

A quiet evening.

Tomorrow is scheduled morning, noon, and work the last 4 hours. Maybe I won't be needed???

Maybe.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday 04.23.2014

Wow, 9 o'clock this morning. Mind you, I don't sleep through the night, waking about every hour and a half or two. Sure was nice to not get up at 0430.

Went out for a run after it warmed up this morning, though the air was still cool at 47 degrees. The sun was glorious and warm.

Breakfast and shower.  This afternoon I participated in the monthly phone call for the Best Fed project. It's wrapping up, ending in September.  We are each "getting there"  in our own way, and Allegiance Health is nearing readiness for Designation. It's been a great project, we've learned a lot, and our community is better for it.

After, I went out in the yard and picked up the branches, sticks, twigs, and other debris to get ready for the lawn guys to mow. It won't be long before they'll be here, I'm sure. There's an area in the back yard that could be mowed now.

Done with that, I sat out in the sun, reviewing paperwork for a meeting on Friday. I love hearing the birds. I'm blessed to be in a fairly quiet neighborhood to be able to hear some earth sounds.

Supper, and a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a morning meeting.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday 04.22.2014

Was nice to not "have" to get up, yet work the second half of the day.

And of course we were busy.

With another great group of co-workers.

Tired tonight, hope to run tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday 04.21.2014

Whew--what a day!!

With GREAT co-workers, we gave the best care today.

I am so blessed, so fortunate, to work with this group of fine women.

Tomorrow is the other half of Sunday.

Ahhh. Sleep in the morning, work in the afternoon.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday 04.20.2014 Happy Easter

What a great day today!!

Didn't sleep much last night. Called the J.O.B. about 0330 to see if I was going to be needed, and no, I wasn't, not to start. Maybe later in the morning. Yep, that's "on call".  Drifted off, and saw the sunlight when I next opened my eyes.

Got up and cleaned up, had breakfast.  By 10:30 I knew I wouldn't be called in (we have an hour to get there).

Frank arrived about 12:30, and we left shortly after to go to Flushing for Easter Day.

What a nice time we had!!

Thanks to Diane's efforts, and everyone's contributions, we shared a lovely meal, laughs, and conversation. The "older" ladies visited out on the sun porch, while the rest of us cleaned up. Good times.

A safe drive home, thank you God.

Tomorrow is a work day.

Peace, love, and Hugs.

Saturday 04.19.2014

Another glorious day today!!

Went for a run later in the morning, after it warmed up a little. So nice.

Breakfast, shower. And since it was so nice, I put the bed linens out on the clothesline to "blow the stink off", as my Mother would say.  Sure do smell good when they're brought in.

Mid-afternoon I went out for errands, along with everyone else in town. The stores were busy.

Supper and a quiet night.

I work the first half of the day tomorrow, then going to Lo Lo's for the afternoon.

Happy Easter. Remember the reason for the season.

Hugs.

Friday 04.18.2014

Worked today. Interestingly busy.

A quiet night.  Tired.

Tomorrow I'll get a few groceries, hope to run.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday 04.17.2014

Great day today!!

Sunshine, above freezing (that's saying something any more), just a light wind.

I waited a couple hours before going out for a run. It might have gotten to 50 degrees by the time I got back in. It was lovely outdoors and I enjoyed it.

Breakfast, shower, and worked on a project. Finally completed the first phase.

Went out for errands, and after a while I fixed a salad for supper, ate that, then went back out for the evening meeting.

Tomorrow is a work day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday 04.16.2014

Woke to a sunshiney morning.

Breakfast, and my friend called saying she was coming over.

She brought her haircutting equipment, saying that she's been looking at my hair for the last several weeks and needs to be cut.

Ooookaaay.....

So she took her time and put a great cut on my hair.

Now, this hair hasn't been cut since last, umm, July??

She took a couple inches off and shaped it nicely. Different, but natural looking.  I like it. Thanks, Paula!

She left, I connected to the meeting by phone, then participated on the drive to Leah's for my massage.

That was much needed.

Leah did a great job as always.

Back home, I put supper in the oven, ate, and had a quiet night.

Tomorrow I hope to run, and have a staff meeting in the evening.  (I'm not going in for an early morning change-of-shift timed meeting)

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday 04.15.2014 Tax Day

Worked today.  The first part of my day was kind of nice, and the last couple hours were steady busy. I ended up clocking out late....again.  It's all about patient care/patient satisfaction, and documentation.

Tonight I'm tired, having a hard time keeping my eyes open.

Tomorrow I have a meeting and then a massage. My left arm has been ache-y again. Seems that 5 weeks is the average interval for that discomfort to return.

And snow this morning! On the ground! Cold tonight, too.

Stay warm.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday 04.14.2014

Lots of patients this morning. Enough discharged and left so that we had to staff down.  And it was me that left. Hmmm.

Which turned out ok.  I stopped at the grocery on the way home. Much better to do that in the mid afternoon than after a 12 1/2 hour shift.

And I was able to fix food for supper and eat at home.

A windy evening, bringing yesterday's balmy temperature down to freezing again tonight. With snow predicted for tomorrow morning's drive to the J.O.B.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday 04.13.2014

What a great day today!!

So warm!!  At least 70 degrees. Amazing how much the temperature can fluctuate.

Went out for a walk, 3+ miles.  Absolutely beautiful. The red-wing black birds were trilling loud and continuous, as were the other birds singing.

Back at home, I got the lopers and cut back more of the growth along the driveway. The snow and ice bowed several of the branches. Gone now!!

And since I had the cutter out, I went on around the yard, cutting back what needed to be cut back.

Until it started to sprinkle.

Inside, I fixed supper and ate, cleaned the kitchen, and had a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a work day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday 04.12.2014

What a great day today!!

Woke to sunshine and birdsong. I did get out for a run.

Breakfast, shower, laundry.

Dinner date with J & P.

A quiet evening.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday 04.11.2014

Frank's Birthday.  37 years of sharing his gift of life.  He is an awesome man.

I just felt "out of sorts" this morning, even though the sun was shining and it was a lovely day.  I just didn't get past not feeling right and did not go run.

Breakfast and a rest, then I went out to Meijer. I spent more time in there than intended, but got what I wanted. I recognized the numbness in my face as I was finishing up.

At home, I had a snack, hoping that food might help. It kind of did.

Frank came over, washed his car while I fixed supper.

We had a nice evening.

Tomorrow I will run.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday 04.10.2014

Happy I felt pretty good when I woke this morning.

The day on the J.O.B. was better than anticipated--we had someone come in "over and above" and helped with the timed testings that needed to be done on all the babies.Thanks, Joyce, for making a much better work day for us all!!

I didn't get supper, though, and ate when I got home.

Then I got really sleepy.

Tomorrow I hope to run, and a trip for a few groceries is on the list.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday 04.09.2014

After a "nap" last night I got up and went to work.

Boy were we busy.

And will be tomorrow, too.

I noticed a few bug splats on the windshield this morning after my trip the last couple of days.

It's official; Spring has arrived.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday 04.08.2014

What a great day today!!

Overcast this morning, but cleared out and turned into a beautiful blue sky day.  For a few hours.

Evelyn insisted on fixing breakfast for us, and wouldn't let me help. We visited for a while, and the now sunny sky beckoned me outdoors.

I first saw the neighbor across the street, and went over to visit her. So nice.

Walked around the "corner"--the end of the road then lakeside around to the former JC. Lots of ice still on the lake, with the edges starting to melt. Most areas that I saw were frozen still along the seawalls, but the melting areas were where there was no seawall. The ice looks quite thick. I went on down to the GC, enjoying the sunshine and light breeze. It felt good and smelled good.

I came across a guy cutting down trees, loading wood, and also talked with another neighbor.

By the time I got back to E & B's, it was 2:30. I loaded up and left.

Uncle Carl was in the bed again, sleeping. I was just going to leave when he opened his eyes. I said hello, it's Kathy Jean-O, and he smiled and talked with me, saying he was having a better day today. I didn't stay long.

I had brought a snack to eat on the way home, and I got that out when I got back to the car. Since it was so nice out, I sat there and ate.

A safe drive to the MediLodge.  Aunt Lois was in the dining room for supper. She looked good, and wanted to show me her "new" room. She was able to wheel herself down the hall, and is anticipating going home on Thursday. Yay!!!

Since Diane was at the house, I went there to say Hi to her, too. It was a nice break.

A rain shower came up just as I was going to leave, so I stayed another few minutes until it passed. Just a couple miles away, the pavement was dry. Ha!!  Isn't it strange when you come across that??

A safe drive the rest of the way home.

And I arrived about 9:20.

Unloaded, unpacked, fixed a snack and ate, got foods ready for lunch tomorrow, and ready for bed.

Sure was a nice couple days.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday 04.07.2014

What a great day today!!

Tried to “get going” this morning.  Didn’t do so well at the “up and at ‘em”.  And it didn’t really matter—it’s my day and my schedule. 

So, I did what I needed to do, leaving the house about 11:20-ish. My goal was 10:00, and I felt good about the time.

A safe drive north, thank you God. 

Surprised at the areas that had some snow, some ponds were still iced, and lots of people were doing outdoor chores.

I stopped at the Care Home in Rose City to see Uncle Carl, surprised to find him in the bed.  Dressed, under the covers. He was awake, though, and looked like he almost recognized me.  I said, “Hello, Uncle Carl, it’s Kathy Jean-O”, and he had instant recognition and smiled and spoke.

I sat next to him, and we talked for a while.  He drifted off into the past, so I listened and made appropriate noises.  I stayed longer than planned, but not as long as I could have. I don’t think he has many visitors. 

On to The Lake.

Grace Street is very soft. Like I wouldn’t drive on it again if it was raining.  All was well at the GC; looks like the structures survived the winter.

Evelyn and Bob welcomed me warmly, and we had a great evening. To my surprise, they “salvaged” lots of things from the JC.  They brought the bedroom set—headboard, footboard, mattresses, lowboy dresser with mirror—and put it in the upstairs bedroom, so I would have “my own bed and room” when I came to visit. The portable heater had been on since yesterday so it would be warm.   Love them, love that they would do this for me.

I was overwhelmed and humbled.

We enjoyed the potato soup I had brought. Bob napped a couple hours on the sofa, while Evie and I cleaned up the kitchen, then she and I spent the remainder of the evening learning her cell phone.  Had it for 2 years—didn’t know how to get to her pictures, retrieve voice or text messages.  She’s excited now that she knows more about the mini SD card and how to move the photos.

Hoping to sleep tonight.

Tomorrow I’d like to go for a walk, stop at the care home in Rose City on the way home, stop in Montrose to visit Aunt Lois and Diane, and get home before 10pm.  Might be unrealistic.  We’ll see.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday 04.06.2014

Worked today--they had seven babies during the night.  Whew!!

I'm finally able to go to The Lake tomorrow. Just for an overnight.  Evelyn and Bob have asked several times over the winter when I am coming up, and with the snows, ice, sub-zero temps, work schedule, and meetings added on at the last minute, I've not been able to go.

I put together a pot of potato soup to take. Man, does it smell good, and tasted good, too!!  I hope to visit Uncle Carl in Rose City, too.

I may not post tomorrow night. Be back Tuesday.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday 04.05.2014

Worked today.

And it was a nice day!!

Steady busy with a decent pace to be able to keep up.

Frank stopped over for a short visit just as I got home.

Tomorrow's work day will be different.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday 04.04.2014

Slept pretty good later this morning--was after nine when I woke again. Time to get up....

Seeing that it was drizzly and gloomy, I wasn't going for a run this morning. (I could have, I suppose, bundled up at 36 degrees)  I enjoyed breakfast instead.

I spent a lot of time with the computer and my finances, checking all my sites to make sure things were still good.  And they are, thank you God.

Phone calls distracted me, and I did go outside for a brief walk after it had warmed up some.

Oh my, even in the light drizzle, the birdsong was awesome.  I was remembering being at the JC  sitting under the awning on the deck, wrapped in a blanket if need be. Yup, that was good.

A quiet rest of the evening.

Tomorrow is a work day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday 04.03.2014

Glad I ran yesterday--today was cold, rainy, and gusty wind.

Breakfast, laundry, Frank stopped by for a few minutes.

Went to the meeting.  Good discussion and making progress on the road to Baby Friendly.

When I left the hospital, it was raining, and freezing on everything.  Ugh.  The roads weren't icy, at least here, and when I got home, the icicles hanging off everything were an inch and a half long.  Sure, it was beautiful, but if there was much more of it, it could get not nice real fast.

The front blew through, the icy particles sounded like breaking glass as it was blown off of the trees and onto the windows.  Another hour or so, the house wasn't as cold, and the temperature had gone up about 5 degrees.  All the ice on the foliage had melted, the rain had stopped, and if you hadn't seen it, you wouldn't know it had happened.

Supper and a quiet evening.

Tomorrow?  Hmmm......

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday 04.02.2014

So happy the weather has changed....

Got up about 0930. Waited a little until it warmed up a little more, then went out for a run.

The sun was delightfully warm. The people in the few cars I encountered all waved first.  (I heard a safety tip a long time ago when encountering vehicles:  raise your arm and catch the driver's eye. That way you know they see you.)  As I was looking down to watch my step, when I looked back up to wave, they were already waving. Some were smiling!!  Yup, I do believe the better weather is the factor!!

I stopped to talk with the owner of the dog that had followed me around last fall. "Sassy" has gotten big. Evidently she was an older puppy when she followed me. She recognized me, wagging her tail wildly, but was very well behaved and only rubbed her face on my hands. A lot. She ran around the yard and brought me a toy, rubbed her head on me, and went back to playing. The owner closed the gate while I went on my way.

As I got to the end of the street, there was an old guy on a ladder, doing roof repairs to a very old structure, that I've often wondered if it was a chicken coop.  I stopped and said hi, introduced myself, and "Ernie" told me a little about the building. He currently uses it as a "honey house", where he extracts honey from the combs of the 115 hives of bees he keeps.  Wow!!  And he told me that this hard winter, with the extended deep freeze, has killed a lot of the bees. He has 25 hives living this spring.

He went on to tell me that an older fellow had stopped about 15 years ago and was taking pictures of the building. That the guy was 75 years old, and had been born in there!!  Wow, again!!!   We talked about the neighborhood a little, and then I was on my way.

Breakfast, shower, and it was so nice outdoors that I couldn't stay inside.

I went out and visited the speed boat, swept out the dead flies in there. All looks good in there.

Curious to see what might be coming up in the yard, I got the leaf rake and uncovered the peonies and the rhubarb. Yup, the red shoots are coming up.

I ended up being out for about 3 hours, trimming, raking, picking up tree debris.

Supper and a quiet night.

Tired tonight.

Tomorrow is a meeting.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday 04.01.2014 LOL

Had a good day at the J.O.B.   Busy, as I knew it would be.  A pleasant surprise was that a co-worker who had been off on medical leave came back today. Yay!!  It's nice to have another person in my job role!!!

We were both busy. I tried to give her  "heads up"  about the many things that have changed in the few weeks that she's been off.  She did good, and got tired and sore after 9 hours or so.  Who wouldn't??

The temperatures have been warm; I'm amazed at how much snow has melted. It's almost gone.

Tomorrow I hope to be able to get outdoors again for a run.

Thank you for  reading. Hugs.