Free time makes me...

...think and ponder

The fourth of July means sloooooooooooow time at the salon. Normally, I welcome this slow time. It means I get to go outside and play and enjoy the sun! However, two extremely slow days in a row (yesterday no clients today one haircut tomorrow 3 haircuts) puts me in a really sour mood. In all honesty, it makes me feel worthless. Like I have no purpose and am not pulling my own weight. HUMPH... It reminds me why I am in school to get a job that is not commission and has set hours and pay. As time is winding down at school, I am starting to get antsy and nervous. Can I really perform well at this job? Do I know what I'm doing? I just have to remember that what I learned in school are the basics and what I don't know... well I will learn it on the job! But boy is that scary! I had my last final today and externship starts on Monday! I went and shadowed after class today to see what the office was like. I didn't want any surprises on Monday! I know I will mess up and that I don't know everything but I'm excited to get in other peoples mouths!!! Yes, I'm weird and sick and gross but it's fun stuff to me! I actually wish I was starting tomorrow. There is a patient coming in for 6 extractions in preparation for a partial denture! That is some cool stuff to me!

I was also thinking about this summer. Nic was already gone for 2 weeks in North Dakota for labs. He was gone a day or two to do field work. He was gone in Alaska for 4 days with my dad fishing. He is gone next week and thus dreaded summer field work begins. Home a week gone a week home a week gone a week and then gone even more in August than every other week. I won't lie. It is nice to have alone time. People always say, "oh my gosh how do you do that!" It's fine at first. I get to eat whatever I want for dinner. Okay, confession time. I had a box of mac n cheese and 3/4 bottle of wine for dinner the other night...and it was darn good! I can watch whatever shows I want. I stay out later and catch up with friends. And when I take it one day at a time, I'm okay. But then I have this free time to think about the amount of time I am here in Bham and Nic is gone. After a while, you start to feel single. Not in the way of going out and looking for hot guys but rather routine wise that it is just me.

Now you know why I don't like free time... it makes me confront those thoughts!

until next time...

The circle of life and it moves us all.....

Through despair and hope, through faith and love, till we find our place, on the path unwinding.....


Oh the Lion King, how you were such a great movie when I was younger and now I understand you so much more. My Aunt Tre to this day has not seen this movie. I'm pretty sure she saw the play though! She just could bare to watch the part when Simba's dad dies. I don't know if it is our society that says it is taboo to talk about death or the fact that it just hurts too darn much to talk about. However, in the past couple of months it has been swirling around me.

One of my clients came in and told me her mom had passed and then a month later he husband's mom passed. Aunt Jodi and Uncle Russ lost Russ's dad to cancer and sweet Riley dog to old age. Within the last week, two people my age lost their mom's. One to an asthma attack/cardiac arrest another to cancer. And we found out yesterday, a person we knew committed suicide.  To this I can't help but ask WHY!?!?  And to the sudden death's, WHY?!?! They didn't even get to say goodbye!

I know it is the circle of life. I know we are not going to be here forever. I can grasp the older adults who have passed a little better but people my age to loose their parents! I do not know how these two brave individuals are coping with the loss of their mother's. I'm not sure I would be strong enough to handle that now and I know I will be a mess when it does happen in the far far distant future (I like to think my parents are invincible and will be here forever!) I even told Nic before we got married that I had to die first because I couldn't handle loosing him.

I cannot begin to fathom what a dark place someone has to be in to take their own life. It makes me angry first and then sad. Angry that they could be so selfish and sad that they hurt inside to that extent. Or even the fact that, they had to hide it bottled inside. To be such an extravagant actor to those around you. Ugh....

We received a letter talking about going over our parents living trusts or will's with them and what their wishes are for their remains. Yes, sounds morbid but with all this recent activity it is a reality that needs to be faced. So, I know my mom has always said to cremate her. She said don't waste money on a casket and plot....personally I'm with her! I am also glad my mom is not a keep sake person. Because I cannot imagine going through someones stuff and trying to figure out what to do with a bunch of things I don't want or need. I also found out my parents have a living trust. (No, I haven't asked what dad wants to happen with his remains...I'll ask him this weekend) Mom said that basically if anything were to happen to both of them it is split 50/50 between my bro and I. Good to know... right? (this is where you say YES)

My heart is broken for my friend who lost her mom this past week. She is already going through a ton herself and to loose her mom it just is not fair. They were best friends. They truly were the mother daughter everyone wishes to be. I'm sad for her son who is only 8 months. He won't remember the amazing cheerful grandma he had. He will see pictures and hear amazing stories though. And I know J will keep her mom alive for him!

To all of you that have lost a loved one recently keep staying strong, remember the great memories tucked in your back pocket, and know they are watching over you!


until next time...

Aches...Sniffles...Cough Cough

If you saw a picture of me on Monday morning that right there is what I would have looked like. I woke up in tears at 2 AM with a throat so raw I did not want to swallow! We were at my parents house so I crawled into my brother's bed (he doesn't live at home...no I did not crawl into bed with him...just used his bed) and tried to drift back to sleep. MAJOR FAIL! Finally at 6:15 AM I woke up Nic and could barely talk. I was drugged all day and my aches felt better as long as I was poppin pills every 4 hours. I asked Nic if that was what it felt like to be 80 yrs old! When we went to bed Monday night, Nic said if I had white spots on my throat in the morning I was going to the doctor. When my dad looked at my throat on Monday, there were no white spots. Well, that was not the case Tuesday morning. Side note: I don't have a job that gives sick days nor do I have a job that provides paid vacation. When I don't go in.. I don't get paid. Hence, why I am going back to school. This was also finals week so missing school wasn't really an option either! Okay, back to the story. I haven't been to the doctor since I had strep and mono back in college. And I was 19 so I still went to the pediatric Dr. I had... she was nice and I didn't want to go to the big people Dr. So, I have insurance through Nic and we called Peace Health our preferred provider. After being on hold for 40 min, I finally tried calling again and got through to someone. I said that I was a new patient and that I thought I had strep. This is what the wonderful (sarcasm) lady said to me... "Oh you are a new patient...pause...well we don't have an appointment open for you today we have openings for new patients mid June." Oh geeze, you did not really tell this girl who is in pain that you have an opening in 2 weeks!!! I said well now that doesn't really help does it? I told her Nic has a Dr. there and that didn't change anything!!! Seriously, what if I said was giving birth and was a new patient? Would I still get, oh we have an opening mid June for you just hold off! I told her thank you for not helping and hung up. Nic found another Dr. for me and I went in. side note: Thank goodness for my husband he has been amazing!!! 

Here is the story of the Dr's visit:

I haven't gone to a male Dr. but this was the only person that would take a new patient and get me in! The nurse was really nice. She asked all the lovely health questions and put them into my chart. Of course the Dr. comes in and asked about 50 of the same questions. I told him why I was there and he goes over the questions of are you on any medications? Are you allergic to any meds? Etc. I told him I am not allergic and nor am I on any meds. He then turns and looks at me and says... "Birth Control?" I say NOPE! And then he goes into this 15 min ordeal about how you have to use foam with condoms because that is 98% effective and you can't just use condoms alone. HOLD UP MISTER!!! I felt like I was 16 in sex ed class! I came here for my throat not to talk about my sex life!!! The Dr. knew I was married... knew I was 25....so what is the deal! We aren't trying to have kids at the moment but what if we were and that was why I wasn't on birth control. Or what if it was for a religious reason.. it isn't.. but what if! What if I just don't think we should be able to control our bodies!! And then try telling this to a MALE Dr.   

Turns out, I don't have strep. On Wednesday morning, I woke up still with aches, throat pain, and severely congested head and chest! Oh and I had the sweats since Monday! Today, Thursday, right ear pain has joined the other symptoms. Last night, I slept in our spare bedroom for half the night because I couldn't sleep. I went to school on Wednesday and today for finals. Today was my first day back to work... even though the Dr. told me not to until tomorrow...oops! I hope that when I wake up tomorrow all of this is gone! I have drank more tea than I ever have in my life and popped so many pills I've lost track! Here is to hoping tomorrow is better and that Dr's can get some common sense!

until next time...

Simply amazed

I am from Chester, New York. It's a small town. The people behind us had goats, up the street had horses, and down a little ways were the corn fields. Now you know, I wasn't always a city girl! We ran around in the corn fields and I cannot tell you how many times I came home with a tick on me...oops! We had bunnies as pets and acres to run around on. We thought playing with gartner snakes was tons of fun! And we always went to Red Grammer concerts! He is the best kids songs musician out there! One day my kids will listen to Red as well!

About a year ago, I received a friend request on facebook from Andy Grammer.... hmm wow blast from the past.. he's Red's son who was a year older than me. I saw he had moved to Cali and just like his dad was trying to make a living from making music. I am so ecstatic to say that Andy is really doing it! A kid from Chester, New York with an amazing voice is really doing it. His first single hit the radio a few weeks ago. He just finished shooting the video to his second single and he will be at the show box opening for Natasha Bedingfield in June!! His single was number 18 on VH1's top 20 this week! I am so excited for him and LOVE his music!! CONGRATS ANDY!!!

Enjoy!

until next time...

Ironic

During the first morning of boot camp, we were told to head to the back room for pull ups. Hmm, pull ups? Did I hear that right? I have NEVER been able to do a pull up. I can arm hang for hours but pull up... nope! Every class since, we have had to do pull ups. Here is the ironic twist! This morning we were cooling down and ready to stretch. I looked at Nic and said "hey no pull ups today?" Which he replied to with, "thank goodness!" I on the other hand was disappointed! So, this morning I decided my goal is to do one pull up by the end of summer! No promises! My husband is a pro he can do a number of them... no fair! I am impressed with anyone who can do multiple pull ups!

Off to school for test number two this week!


until next time...

Livin' The Dream

I always find it funny when you ask someone how things are going or how they are doing and they reply with, "livin' the dream!" Makes me think about my own life and if it is as magical as I dream it to be!

Two weeks ago I was at gravity class* and one of the women said that it was "ladies night out" downtown. My friend Courtenay and I decided we would go see what it was all about. The proceeds went to the women's shelter. A bunch of different stores were selling items at discounted prices and had nibbles and champagne. There was a fashion show as well and a fun photo booth! The photo booth was the highlight of our evening! We had lots of fun dressing up and being goofy! Here's the proof!

No we did not plan the matching outfits! Court showed up and we didn't even notice it until everyone we passed that night said "oh look you guys match!"

It was fun to go out and do something I wouldn't normally do. I am such a home body but am trying to branch out and do more things!

*I do gravity class every Friday morning at 7 AM. It is a glideboard and tower pulley system that works you out by pulling your own weight! Last week Courtenay asked if anyone had a body part they wanted to work on.... no one said anything... so I replied happily with ARMS! The other two women could have killed me! It's a lot of fun!  

until next time...

Nic's Ingredient

 A couple weeks ago Nic was out Turkey hunting and well... Tom was in the wrong place and the wrong time! This made Nic a very happy man! What does this all mean? I was told it was time to make some turkey soup!

I decided to wing it and add what I felt were the "perfect ingredients!" In the pot went garlic, Italian seasoning, chili powder (one of my new favorites), salt, pepper, rosemary, and onion powder (Nic doesn't do onions so if we want the flavor it has to be the powder). Next was... hmm goodness... I have no idea how many boxes of veggie stock. I like stock better because it is not diluted like broth is. Then good ol' Tom went in the pot. He took FOREVER to get tender enough to shred. Literally the pot was on the stove for 2 days!!! (my crock pot was not big enough for all of this or it would have been done in there) After I could shred, I put in carrots, red potatoes, celery, corn, and egg noodles. I wouldn't recommend the egg noodles... they got soggy in the left overs. We enjoyed it and Nic had fun out in the wilderness!

A friend of mine gave me this next recipe. They are suppose to be blueberry muffins but my friend Tami doesn't like to waste time. Therefore, she calls these blueberry bars and puts them in a 9x13 pan. My mother-in law gave me a muffin top pan..it's amazing cause the tops are the best part and next time I make these I will use that pan! When I made it in the 9x13 it seemed to come out more of a blueberry cake...oh well still tasted great! 

Here's how to make them:

1/2 c butter (I used less)

2 eggs (I did just the whites)

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp b. powder (I didn't use this cause I use self rising flour)

1/4 tsp salt (I omitted this)

1 1/4 c sugar ( I used 3/4 c and 1/4 c of agave)

1 c sour cream (I substituted plain greek yogurt you can't taste any difference)

2 c flour ( I did half self rising half wheat)

2 c of blueberries (you can use less but I say the more berries the better! You can also do any kind of berry you want)

Mix-

Softened butter and sugar

add eggs

mix in sour cream and vanilla

add in the dry

fold in berries

bake @ 400 for 20-25 min!

I decided that even though I don't have a yard to plant a garden I wouldn't be stopped by that! Here are my cute little mint and basil plants getting their dose of photosynthesis! MOJITOS HERE I COME!!!! Who knew that basil doesn't like a ton of sun... the leaves started to wilt so they are happy inside now!

That's what's new in the kitchen more to come on life soon!

until nex time...