Same-Ole-Same-Ole

Nothing exciting to report here. Chris switched from the CCU to night float. This means he leaves for work at 7pm and gets back around 10am. And he only gets Fridays off. The good news is this only lasts for two weeks and then he starts an elective and gets a week of vacation. As for me, I'm quite busy finishing up the semester at work. Preparing mentally to be a student again myself.

I booked a hotel in Myrtle Beach for our anniversary. Our big plans include reading on the beach (something noneducational, a pointless James Patterson book perhaps), hitting up a water park, maybe a theme park too, shopping, and experiencing the miniature golf capital of the world. Woo hoo!

Oh, I wore my longhorn scrubs this week. They are burnt orange and have a small longhorn head embroidered on the top pocket. Well, someone asked "is that a school symbol or something?" Ah, yeah! Then she got a lesson on Bevo and the fine school he represents. I leave you with Bevo...

Busy and Exhausted

I typically work from home on Friday as I planned to do today after taking care of a few phone calls and errands. The problem is the errands and phone calls made me so irritated I can't focus on my work.

First, I had to deal with one of our student loan companies, Nelnet. I am certain they have a contract with a blood pressure drug company. I feel as if I might actually explode every time I deal with them.

Then I tried to access another loan company and their website is apparently having problems which kept shutting down my computer.

Next, I called a local oil change place and asked if they had filters for my car (most places don't, which is a whole other stick in my side), they said yes. I go, and of course they don't! I don't know much about cars but I do know you need to change the oil filter with an oil change.

So off to the gym I go...I might as well benefit from getting so worked up.

Crazy Maize

Shortly after we moved into our house two years ago, our neighbor, Keith, gave each of the girls a rib bone. I'm not sure if this was a one time event or if it happened a couple times. Either way, it has not happened in nearly two years. However, Mazie, a true beagle who thinks with her stomach, remembers this. Over the years she has become obsessed with Keith. If she is inside and hears his car she will ask to go outside. She chewed through the fence once to get to his yard. Mostly, she just stalks him. No really, she just sits by the fence starring at his house.


Recently she has taken it one step farther...she now, occasionally, barks angrily at him if he comes outside and doesn't give her anything. It's bizarre!

Despite all, she is still super sweet...

HANDS

For those of you who don't know, I collect hands. I suppose it all started when I first purchased a UT hand, go figure. The 'hook'em horns' hand is a classic UT symbol known by all that matter and mistaken for 'hang ten' by the naive.


I then found a few more hands along my adventures and most recently bought a peace sign hand in the Bahamas while at my brothers wedding.


Strangely, many miles away in Texas my mom started quite a collection as well...it was not until her visit to VA that we realized what was going on. At this point I'm not sure I will ever catch up to her.

Another of my sentimental fav's is one given to Chris and I as a wedding gift. Thanks Sharron!


While I will snatch up a hand anywhere I particularly like those with some meaning to me, perhaps from a special location, in a particular position, etc. With that said I now transition to my brother Dustin. Dustin is a talented artist, though he will deny it, but I am his sister and can brag. He recently finished grad school and entered the working world as an architect. For many years I have requested an art piece for my home. Now with more time on his hands (no pun intended) it looks as if I may get my wish and it will be a hand no less. Turns out he likes hands too, drawing them that is. Lucky me!

I want one!

An i phone that is. 'Want' is the key word. I certainly don't need one. I try to rationalize all the ways I could use one. As if I need to work more than when I have access to a computer. I think about how I could use it when working in the hospital by putting resource books on it...as if I can't use a book anymore (or the computer that is readily available to me). I have a perfectly good mp3 player and a GPS in my car.

Chris carries a palm pilot at work so he could could use the phone instead but his palm pilot works just fine. It's not the initial cost that is holding me back but the change to AT&T and the higher costing plan. To sum it up I just want a new gadget. I guess what I want first is someone to convince me to buy one...

ODU

I've decided to return to academia and pick up my masters in nursing. Yes, apparently I like education, who would have thunk it. It is an MSN with an emphasis on nursing education. Old Dominion University is in Norfolk Virginia, although I will be doing the program completely online with the exception of my clinicals. Unlike typical nursing clinicals, these clinicals require me to lecture and lead RN students in clinical. Both of which I already do. The toughest part is my plan to work full-time while going to school full-time. I figure I'll give Chris a run for his money on work hours! I start in August. More to come then.

Main Street Train Station

As many of you know, Chris and I were married at Main Street Train Station in Richmond Virginia. How did we come to be married in a train station you ask...well, it's very simple. We were living in Syracuse and preparing to move to Richmond. I didn't want to get married in a typical setting, such as a hotel (multi colored carpets and no windows were not in my vision). So, after Chris and I came to Richmond to buy a house in a two day stretch we scheduled another weekend trip. This time to scout wedding locations. We hit up about 15 locations and we both knew the train station was a great fit from the moment we saw it.



This picture, from WWII, hangs in the train station and in our home. I was drawn to the idea of love in this photo and it holds a special spot in my heart because it's in the location we were married.



I particularly love the details in the building. It is over 100 years old and is still used as a train station, though in its history it has also been used as a shopping center and even a disco in the 80's. It has survived a massive flood and a fire and has been restored to its original granduer with a 50 million dollar price tag. In fact, because of its flood zone our back up plan was to be married in the Holocaust Museum (romantic, huh).








The train station sent this print as a thank you after our wedding and I love it.



We actually looked into taking a train into NYC once. It's almost as expensive as flying. We were near the station last weekend for drinks and another couple were having their wedding pictures taken on the steps...it brought back good memories.

Happy 4th!

Straight from the Barn

Here's where the magic happens. Chris built this workbench from the railroad ties we pulled up in our yard and a few pieces of scrap wood. Note the wood and glass door to the TV stand.



As Jack Bauer would say, here are the schematics. In our household we strive to be more like JB everyday, doesn't everyone?



It may not look like much (or very similar to the bench he made) but I'm sure the final project will be a work of art. However, progress is on hold as Chris saves lives in the CCU this month.



And last but not least, the picture Chris took from the hospital. It's no Dallas but it's a great picture.



Chris didn't grow up with a skyline and always comments on ours as we drive into downtown so it's no wonder he took this picture. FYI, he didn't grow up with big bridges either and comments on those as well...