Sunday, January 31, 2010

Baby It's Cold Outside

Baby it's cold outside. The Christmas season may be over, but that song still works. It says it's 20 degrees out, which isn't bad...but add the wind chill factor...it says it feels like it's 7 degrees. So, I stayed in all weekend. Didn't go out once. Not even to get the mail. I'll get up early tomorrow and ride Harley. For now, I'm staying home. It's nice to stay comfy and warm indoors in the winter.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Garage Door Miracle

Thursday evening I went to take out the trash only to find that my garage had no power. I couldn't use the automatic door opener. I got my key and used the emergency release, but now what? What a pain to have to manually open and close the door in winter, add to the fact that the garage would be unlocked, and I had no clue what the problem was. Friday I poked around a little when it was light, but after staying late at work, I just wanted to go to bed. Friday when I went to work-still no power in the garage. This morning I was thinking and a bit preoccupied as I drove into my driveway. I automatically hit my garage door opener and proceeded in as the garage opened. I was halfway in when I realized what had happened. The door opened. It was fixed. That's not the weirdest part though. OK, power was back, great. However, when you use the emergency opener, it disconnects a part of the mechanism. To reconnect it you have to get on a ladder and physically put a piece back in place. I didn't do that. How could it have reconnected? I'm pleased as punch that the garage fixed itself, but I'm quite perplexed. There were no footsteps in the snow-so no human did anything. Weird. But, at least I don't have to worry about getting it fixed.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Photo Phriday-Winter Past Blast

OK-I did not take this picture today. I did not even take this picture. That's me in this picture! Here's a blast from Winter's past. It's snowy and arctic today. Brrrr.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Hopeful Solution

I may have a solution to the ruined journals. I found each journals website and ordered a copy of each one I damaged. The one seemed to go through OK. The other one accepted my order-but didn't let me give my credit card info. I hope anyone (ie:me) can order a back issue-if they only let subscribers and/or psychiatrists order-I'm in trouble. This issue wasn't as expensive as the other-and this was the totally destroyed one. Yup, destroyed; it's amazing what havoc a little water can do. The cleaner did turn pages for me-but the thing was still wet when I returned to work...and basically destroyed. I gave my work e-mail to the journal people-so we'll see if they let me complete the order. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Accidental Damage

Before I went downstairs to redline the oncoming shift I put the loaned journals in my locker. When I finished and went to get my stuff to go home I found, to my utter horror and disbelief, a flood in my locker and the journals wet! My water bottle had leaked, filled the plastic bag it was in, and damaged the bottom halves of 2 of the borrowed journals. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I quickly got the offending bottle out of there, moved the 2 unscathed journals to safety and started trying to clean up the spilled water. I was blotting the pages of the journal that got it the worst when some co-workers came in. After blotting more I placed the one journal on top of the pop machine-hoping it will air out. The cleaner said he'd change the pages every so often. Ugh. I am so careful with others belongings and now this had to happen. Who knows if I'll be able to borrow more journals now. I feel horrible. Sigh.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Psychiatric Journals

The Chief of Psychiatry at work graciously loaned me some of his journals. I enjoyed reading articles from The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry at work last night. I even did the pretest and posttest about 2 articles for CME (Continuing Medical Education). Since I'm not a physician I only got a certificate of participation, instead of the CME credit, but I got 100% on the test. So what articles was I tested on? Long-Term Effects of Preventive Cognitive Therapy in Recurrent Depression: A 5.5-Year Follow-Up Study and Current Prescription Patterns and Safety Profile of Irreversible Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Older Adults.

Monday, January 25, 2010

6 Word Monday - Directors

Three phenomenal directors - Hitchcock, Polanski, Gilliam.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Almost Over

My 3 day weekend is almost over. I watched the 3 movies, lunged Harley, went to the Zoo and the mystery library across town, made a gift for my aunt's birthday (late), and got some sleep. However, I didn't try the Wii game, do any other crafting, do any extra cleaning, or catch up on other stuff. But I had had an extra night off work, for which I am extremely grateful!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Fast Moving Day


I can't believe how quickly the day goes. I'm halfway through my long weekend already-and, while I'm enjoying it, time is rushing by and I'm not doing all I wanted. I went to the zoo today. I always enjoy going and saying hi to my favorite zoo animals, Nikko and Luna, the arctic wolves. Poor Nikko still has an ear infection. But they always come close to say hello. (That's Luna to the left-as you look at the picture-and her brother Nikko looking at me) Sadly I didn't get to see Admiral, the North American river otter. He's almost never around when I go. After the zoo I stopped at the great mystery library, then Polska Chatta, used a gift card at PetCo, picked up lunch at a deli and ate while watching Doctor Who. Then I had a nap after which I went to the barn to groom Harley and lunge him. Now I'm back home in comfy clothes, Yankee candle lit, and am debating to watch a movie or my BritComs while I enjoy a tasty treat.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Photo Phriday - Philm

Guess what film I'm about to watch?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Plans

After I get through work tonight I have 3 nights off. Sooo excited. I intend to stay in all day tomorrow. I got a coupon for family video so tonight I picked up 3 movies and a Wii game-all for 5 days for only $1.08!! Can't beat that. I hope to do something interesting Saturday-need to see what's going on around here. Sunday I'll probably clean and craft. Now to just get through work tonight!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Squirrel Treats

Since I'm not buying dog treats anymore, I'm spending that money on squirrel/bird/chipmunk treats. When I lived in Texas I had a suet holder and I recently put one up here. It's getting rave reviews-and not just from the birds. Remember when I got the corn for the squirrels? Well, I never saw a squirrel eat any-but the chipmunks (one anyway) and a blue jay enjoyed the treat. Well, I got the suet for the birds-but the squirrels are the ones really enjoying it! They are so much fun to watch. A squirrel will sit on the branch above the holder, then hang upside down to work some of the suet out. Meanwhile, the grackles (or crows or ravens...big black birds) are on the ground underneath, eating all the suet that falls out. The squirrels are quite protective of "their" food too. One day I saw a squirrel sitting on the holder eating when a crow landed on a nearby branch. The weight of the bird landing must have startled the squirrel as he ran off to a high branch. But he turned around and saw that it was the crow. Then he ran at the bird, waving his arms, shooing the bird away from his food. The bird left and the squirrel went back to eating. Keep in mind that the bird is about 3 times the size of the squirrel. I need to go buy more suet-these guys eat it up quickly!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Cooking Class

I want to take a cooking class. Not a huge in depth thing where I have to work with lots of things I don't like (say, fish) but a short interesting thing about food or techniques I like. I guess I've been watching too much Food Network. I just started watching The Worst Cook in America. It's pretty good. Two chefs pick the worst cooks, then train them to be the best. I want to learn wicked skills too. The good thing is that I don't live far from The New York Wine and Culinary Center. I need to take a look at their course schedule. Maybe I can find an inexpensive class! In the meantime, I'd better check on dinner. I'm having pork with a dry rub of salt, pepper, garlic salt, minced onions, and bouquet garni over rice.

Monday, January 18, 2010

6 Word Monday

Damp day, thoroughly chilled, need nap.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Over....kind of

Well, the holidays are officially over here. Well, kind of. My folks came up and we took the tree down. Callie is NOT happy. She doesn't like change anyway, and we removed her Christmas tree. She adores having the live tree in the house. She was trying to protect it, hissing and trying to swat the ornament boxes from my hands. Sorry Callie, you have to wait til next December. I still have to finish putting away the ornaments. And I haven't started taking apart the nativity scene. But basically, Christmas is over at Cricket Hollow.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Christmas Lights are Dimmed

I admit the holidays have been over for a while now. Therefore, this morning I turned all the outside timers off-at dusk (right about now really) the outside Christmas lights won't turn on. I still have my tree up though-so I'll have that lit. I've kind of been saving it so my folks will see it all decorated. They're coming up tomorrow-and I'll take it down then. Still, on this night off I intend to bask in the glow of indoor Christmas lights with my North Pole candle burning.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Photo Phriday - Josef's Meds

Poor Josef has been having more respiratory problems. After work I picked up his prescriptions and gave him his first dose. He's such a sweet boy-and he loves his banana flavored Baytril!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Tim Horton

Tim Horton's has been advertising a new caramel apple fritter that sounds mighty good. They're also having a special-buy a drink and get a doughnut for 49 cents. On the way home from work I decided to get my hot apple cider and try one of these goodies. Well the drive through was backed up, so I went inside only to discover they had sold out of the caramel apple fritters. Well drat. I still got my cider and my favorite Bavarian Cream Doughnut. Delicious, but not as exciting, perhaps, as something new.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Titanic Artifact Exhibit

I was Miss Marie Grice Young, a 36 year old accomplished musician from New York City. I was sailing with my friend, Mrs. John S. White, from Cherbourg. I was returning to Washington DC where I had been a music instructor to Ethel Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter. I was also shipping some very expensive live chickens and I checked on them daily. At least that was the information on my boarding pass. I was a first class passenger on the Titanic.

Today I went to see the traveling exhibit of Titanic artifacts. As you enter the exhibit you are given a boarding pass-a wonderful touch. The exhibit is truly amazing and I recommend that if it ever comes to your area-be sure to see it. There are reproductions of 1st and 3rd class cabins, and lots of artifacts. There are perfume samples from a perfume manufacturer hoping to sell his wares in America. You can still smell traces of his scents. You can see parts of the ship itself and many personal belongings such as buttons, calling cards, and more. There's even a syringe with 2 white pills. It's amazing that these items survived. There are also pictures of many of the passengers and crew with brief notes about their lives. Sadly, although 705 people were saved this nautical disaster claimed 1,523 lives. Miss Marie Grice Young survived.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Yucky Cement

I got my permanent crown put on this morning. That cement was horrible. You'd think with all the technology out there they'd be able to put some peppermint in dental cement! Jeesh!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Nights to Days is Tough

I was to start my 6 word Mondays today...but I have more to say! Switching from a night schedule to a day one for the weekend is difficult. I got home Saturday morning and slept-and had a very hard time getting up, sleeping more than 2 hours longer than I wanted. I got up early Sunday, again, not quite as early as I wanted, but not bad. I did my errands and then got discouraged. The day was almost gone and I hadn't gotten near what I wanted to accomplish. I finished watching the Red Green DVD I got from the library since it was due on Monday and felt I should go to bed-I was tired before watching the show. Then I decided to watch Demons on BBC on demand, before it was gone. By then it was midnight, but I turned on Animal Planet and got captivated by The Haunted. It's paranormal reality, with animals involved. They have reenactments, real videos, interviews and more. It's kind of like A Haunting. Well, by that time I was wide awake-after all, if it was during the work week I'd just be starting. After that episode-they had another, so I had to watch that one too. When that ended I did turn off the TV, but I had been looking forward to a bath-so I took that, instead of a quick shower. So, although I was tired at 8PM I didn't get to bed til 3AM! Sigh. Switching schedules isn't working so well for me.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Pomegranate

It started when I tried a new yogurt-blackberry pomegranate. It was so yummy, and pomegranate was so unusual. You didn't see much pomegranate flavored stuff around. "Didn't" being the operative word. Now I'm seeing pomegranate all over the place! I found pomegranate lemonade, pomegranate blueberry Italian ice, pomegranate hard candy, pomegranate 7Up. I even found Fiber Choice in berry pomegranate and pomegranate soft soap! Why this sudden influx of pomegranate? Is it because it's winter? (You know the whole Persephone hanging out in Hades for the winter due to the pomegranate seeds.) I don't remember all this pomegranate in past winters. Whatever the case, I admit it. I am buying lots of pomegranate flavored stuff. I have yet to eat a pomegranate itself. I guess that should be next on my list of pomegranate items to try. What do you think about pomegranates?

Saturday, January 9, 2010

New Friend

It's a small world. At work last night a woman from the civil side floated to my unit. I've worked with her a few times, but we've never really talked. All that changed last night. She lives right around the corner from me! Literally! We can walk to each others homes. Come the spring we'll be walking buddies-encouraging each other. Lord knows I need that. She also is starting up a book club, which will meet on Sundays...my day off. We have a lot in common too. I have a new friend. And neighbor!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Photo Phriday - Snowy Blue Spruce

My folks and I planted this cute blue spruce. It looks so beautiful and peaceful with the snow gently falling. After an unpleasant winter commute home it was nice to see this pleasant scene.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Accountability

Accountability is just another word for blame. It's become the new word at work...which has become a nightmare that is only getting worse.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Three Kings

Today is Epiphany, also known as the Feast of Three Kings, and Little Christmas. While most nativity scenes have the 3 wise men (the 3 kings) in attendance, however, they didn't arrive until 12 days later-today. Thus the 12 days of Christmas - these 12 days after Christmas, not the 12 days leading to it. Although historically, I think they arrived 2 years later...still. Today is the end of the Christmas season. Hard to believe it's over. My stuff will stay up for a while though. I hope you had a great holiday season!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Responsibility

It really irks me how so many people don't take responsibility for their actions. Blame everyone but yourself. This morning I heard on the radio about this guy who went out partying got drunk and decided to go out on a boat with some other drunks at about 2 in the morning. The drunk who owned the boat was also coked up. Well-he crashed the boat on a dock and this other guy got killed. Well, now, about 2 years later, the wife is suing the Coast Guard and someone else, claiming the dock wasn't well lit nor maintained properly and that's why the coked up, drunk, guy crashed into it killing her husband. Give me a break. Your husband was a drunk idiot and died in an accident. Blame him and the drunk driver.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Six Words

I'm going to copy my friend Vinnie...kind of. This year he's starting Six Word Sundays where he'll write a blog of 6 words total. So you know-he'll be published in a book of 6 word memoirs this year! I'm always rushing around on Mondays, trying to get everything done that I wanted over the weekend and really need to do before returning to work. I was wondering what to write about today when I saw his post. So...I'll be doing Six Word Mondays starting next week. Doesn't sound as good as Six Word Sundays...but what the heck!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Weekend

The weekend comes and you want to get a lot accomplished. Somehow...that never seems to happen. I set my alarm (or I would have slept the entire day away, I'm sure) but still slept in a bit. I decided to stay in my pjs (I did change into my lounge wear) and stay inside due to the semi nasty weather outside. Heaven's knows I have enough to do around the house. However, I never seem to get anything done. Sigh. I'm getting ready to pour a drink, get a snack, and watch one of my Christmas presents-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. That's something...isn't it?

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Baby It's Cold Outside

The weather icon on my desktop says that it's 10 degrees outside-but it feels like -3. Yes, that's minus 3! Sorry Harley, you can stay cozy in your stall and I'm staying cozy in my house! I had a hard time getting out of bed today. It's so hard transitioning from a night to a day schedule for the weekend. I waste so much of my Saturday-and I'm still tired. I have a lot to do-and don't feel like doing anything. Let's see how much time I can waste today!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Photo Phriday - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year. I wanted to show the old and the young and Vito and Dylan were happy to help. Vito is about 2 years and 3 and a half months old while Dylan is about 3 and a half months old. Happy New Year!