Today marks the official start of my half-marathon training for the Little Rock Half Marathon on March 15, 2009. I'm following a 14 week training plan in the book Marathoning For Mortals by "The Penguin" John Bingham. He writes an excellent column in Runner's World and has a lot of great advice for those of us who aren't too speedy but aspire to going longer distances. I used his run/walk plan for my last half marathon - the Colorado Colfax in May 2007 - and improved my time over my prior half by about 13 minutes. This time around, I'm doing the walk/run plan which puts more emphasis on the walking. I don't have any delusions that I'll be able to do a lot of running at the beginning of my training so this is the better plan. I need something that is realistic and that I can stick to, but I do have in the back of my head that I can start to add in more running as the weeks go by if my body tells me that I can.
In any case, as always I need a goal to shoot for or I never seem to get myself going. When I have a plan to follow, it holds me accountable and gets me out the door. I always feel great after a run, but just taking those first steps can be rough for me. I actually didn't get to work out today because I have HORRIBLE blisters that are now scabbed over. (I was really stupid and wore low-rise socks) I'm hoping an extra day will make it bearable to put on real shoes because at that moment I'm living in my clogs. I think I'll print out my plan and put it on the 'fridge and mark it off as I go. Maybe give myself a sticker when I successfully complete a week???? Yeah, I am that pathetic and in need of motivation. It's amazing I ever completed as many races as I did!!!
Monday, December 08, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Appearance Threshold
Before anyone gives me grief about not making any "training" posts - I can assure you that I am making some progress. I mean it's piddly-ass pathetic progress, but progress nonetheless. I'm walking as much as possible, generally pushing the Gremlin in the stroller around the neighborhood at a brisk pace to get the heart rate up. I've also been doing some walk/run workouts when BJ is home to watch the Gremlin. Santa is going to be sending us a sweet jogging stroller so as soon as it's safe, I'll have more flexibility to workout with the Gremlin during the day.
Today, I want to talk about ... for lack of better description - your personal appearance threshold. What is your level of comfort with how you must appear before leaving the house. We all have our own personal rules for how we have to look and what we wear and it changes based on where we're going whether it's to work, out for the evening, a quick errand, trip to the grocery store etc. It's most likely not something we even think about, it's so ingrained.
For men, it's things like do you need to take a shower? Or shave? Or is it acceptable to just throw a hat on?
For women, it's far more complicated. Not only it is a question of showering, but in regards to shaving - can I just get away with shaving my pits? Do I have to shave my legs?
Am I washing my hair? If I wash my hair do I have to dry and style it or am I going to just throw it in a pony tail?
Do I need to put on makeup?
I remember back in my younger days I wouldn't even leave the house to run quickly to the store without my contacts in, and full makeup and hair. I was scared to death that someone I know would see my in my "raw" state. I was always fully cleaned and made up, the only variable was my clothing. Ripped jeans, Birkenstocks and a t-shirt were completely acceptable for trips to the store and quick errands for example.
As I've gotten older, my threshold has been greatly altered. I don't really care so much about what people think so I don't worry so much about how I look. There's also the change in my work environment from being a government 9 to 5'er who had a lot of contact with the public to a nurse working the night shift. My work uniform went from business casual to pajamas a.k.a. scrubs. In general, I still like to put my full makeup on when I go to work, but I generally choose to wear glasses (more protection for my eyes from ick) and for infection control purposes I no longer can wear nail polish and my hair has to be pulled back.
I started pondering all of these issues this morning when I had to run to the Post Office to pick up a box. I wasn't worried about being unshowered and having no makeup on, but I did feel the need to brush my hair (if my hair had looked nasty, a ballcap would have been employed) and brush my teeth. As for clothing, I was perfectly content to wear the tshirt that I had slept in, I didn't bother with a bra, but I did feel the need to take the jammie pants off and put on clean underwear and jeans. I went through this ritual without really thinking about it and I realized just how high - or is it low? - that my appearance threshold has become. Gone are the days where I shaved my legs daily and feared being caught without my makeup. Of course I don't think you'll ever find me nastily in need of a shower, and this morning if I had more errands to run and was going to be out a few hours, I would have definitely showered ... though unless I was going to the Mall or another non-grocery store, I wouldn't have bothered with makeup.
I know that there's this idea that once you get married and have kids you "let yourself go," but I don't think my preferences have anything to do with this. It's more that as I've gotten older, I've become more comfortable in my skin and I'm not so superficial. I'm pretty sure that gazing upon my clean, non-made up face is not akin to staring at Medusa - so I don't sweat those things as much. I will certainly admit that the busier I get and the more demands I have on my time, the less often you'll find me in full makeup and hair glamour, but by golly I'll always be showered, have my teeth brushed, clean underwear and have my armpits shaved - you can at least count on that!
So what's your appearance threshold? And has it changed as you've gotten older?
Today, I want to talk about ... for lack of better description - your personal appearance threshold. What is your level of comfort with how you must appear before leaving the house. We all have our own personal rules for how we have to look and what we wear and it changes based on where we're going whether it's to work, out for the evening, a quick errand, trip to the grocery store etc. It's most likely not something we even think about, it's so ingrained.
For men, it's things like do you need to take a shower? Or shave? Or is it acceptable to just throw a hat on?
For women, it's far more complicated. Not only it is a question of showering, but in regards to shaving - can I just get away with shaving my pits? Do I have to shave my legs?
Am I washing my hair? If I wash my hair do I have to dry and style it or am I going to just throw it in a pony tail?
Do I need to put on makeup?
I remember back in my younger days I wouldn't even leave the house to run quickly to the store without my contacts in, and full makeup and hair. I was scared to death that someone I know would see my in my "raw" state. I was always fully cleaned and made up, the only variable was my clothing. Ripped jeans, Birkenstocks and a t-shirt were completely acceptable for trips to the store and quick errands for example.
As I've gotten older, my threshold has been greatly altered. I don't really care so much about what people think so I don't worry so much about how I look. There's also the change in my work environment from being a government 9 to 5'er who had a lot of contact with the public to a nurse working the night shift. My work uniform went from business casual to pajamas a.k.a. scrubs. In general, I still like to put my full makeup on when I go to work, but I generally choose to wear glasses (more protection for my eyes from ick) and for infection control purposes I no longer can wear nail polish and my hair has to be pulled back.
I started pondering all of these issues this morning when I had to run to the Post Office to pick up a box. I wasn't worried about being unshowered and having no makeup on, but I did feel the need to brush my hair (if my hair had looked nasty, a ballcap would have been employed) and brush my teeth. As for clothing, I was perfectly content to wear the tshirt that I had slept in, I didn't bother with a bra, but I did feel the need to take the jammie pants off and put on clean underwear and jeans. I went through this ritual without really thinking about it and I realized just how high - or is it low? - that my appearance threshold has become. Gone are the days where I shaved my legs daily and feared being caught without my makeup. Of course I don't think you'll ever find me nastily in need of a shower, and this morning if I had more errands to run and was going to be out a few hours, I would have definitely showered ... though unless I was going to the Mall or another non-grocery store, I wouldn't have bothered with makeup.
I know that there's this idea that once you get married and have kids you "let yourself go," but I don't think my preferences have anything to do with this. It's more that as I've gotten older, I've become more comfortable in my skin and I'm not so superficial. I'm pretty sure that gazing upon my clean, non-made up face is not akin to staring at Medusa - so I don't sweat those things as much. I will certainly admit that the busier I get and the more demands I have on my time, the less often you'll find me in full makeup and hair glamour, but by golly I'll always be showered, have my teeth brushed, clean underwear and have my armpits shaved - you can at least count on that!
So what's your appearance threshold? And has it changed as you've gotten older?
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Job Hunting
Since I am currently without job, the time has come to commence with the job searching. My plan is to start sometime in January which will have made me off work for 4 months! That's crazy! I've never been off for more than three weeks before this!!
The job hunt is usually something that causes great stress and trauma, but finding a job is pretty easy as a nurse and it's more a matter of finding the best fit for my needs. I've applied at two hospitals so far and have had one interview. My big thing is that I'm wanting part-time nights (defined by me as 24 hours or two 12 hour shifts) and I don't want to work straight weekends. If I was all about the money, I'd take a straight weekend position because you get a major monetary incentive for giving up every Saturday and Sunday night. A lot of Moms do this, but I don't think this is for me. My first complaint would be missing all of BJ's free time - weekends are our theoretical fun time (though with a newborn there hasn't been as much free spirited fun as of late!) Second problem is that all of the races I want to do are on weekends so I'd be constantly trying to get off for one thing or another.
As for type of job, I'm kindof feeling that it's time to try something different. I've done NICU since I've been a nurse (4 years) and I wonder what else is out there?? I'm kindof interested in doing labor and delivery or a post-partum/mom-baby unit job. I have some interest in adult critical care (I worked in a trauma/burn ICU in school), but I'm wanting to avoid jobs that have long term patietns. It's one of the things about maternity that appeals - you have the baby and then you go home. Is it wrong that I don't want to see the same patients over and over? Maybe, but it's the part of NICU that was starting to really grate on me, especially when you had "challenging" families.
Anyway, my one interview was for a part-time labor and delivery gig. The schedule would be perfect since it was no weekends at all unless I had an occasional call shift on a weekend night. My biggest concern is that they don't do a lot of business at nights so I think it'd be a lot of sitting around, and then maybe getting some inductions started late at like 5 a.m. I'm one of those people who likes a steady worknight and with a little Gremlin at home, there's no telling how low on sleep I'll be which makes having something to do all night long even more important.
Hopefully, I'll have some other interviews and options to choose from. I'd like to have a job confirmed in the next three weeks.
The job hunt is usually something that causes great stress and trauma, but finding a job is pretty easy as a nurse and it's more a matter of finding the best fit for my needs. I've applied at two hospitals so far and have had one interview. My big thing is that I'm wanting part-time nights (defined by me as 24 hours or two 12 hour shifts) and I don't want to work straight weekends. If I was all about the money, I'd take a straight weekend position because you get a major monetary incentive for giving up every Saturday and Sunday night. A lot of Moms do this, but I don't think this is for me. My first complaint would be missing all of BJ's free time - weekends are our theoretical fun time (though with a newborn there hasn't been as much free spirited fun as of late!) Second problem is that all of the races I want to do are on weekends so I'd be constantly trying to get off for one thing or another.
As for type of job, I'm kindof feeling that it's time to try something different. I've done NICU since I've been a nurse (4 years) and I wonder what else is out there?? I'm kindof interested in doing labor and delivery or a post-partum/mom-baby unit job. I have some interest in adult critical care (I worked in a trauma/burn ICU in school), but I'm wanting to avoid jobs that have long term patietns. It's one of the things about maternity that appeals - you have the baby and then you go home. Is it wrong that I don't want to see the same patients over and over? Maybe, but it's the part of NICU that was starting to really grate on me, especially when you had "challenging" families.
Anyway, my one interview was for a part-time labor and delivery gig. The schedule would be perfect since it was no weekends at all unless I had an occasional call shift on a weekend night. My biggest concern is that they don't do a lot of business at nights so I think it'd be a lot of sitting around, and then maybe getting some inductions started late at like 5 a.m. I'm one of those people who likes a steady worknight and with a little Gremlin at home, there's no telling how low on sleep I'll be which makes having something to do all night long even more important.
Hopefully, I'll have some other interviews and options to choose from. I'd like to have a job confirmed in the next three weeks.
Monday, December 01, 2008
People ARE good!
Now that *in theory* I am working out and training, I can now post to my non-baby related blog!! I am going to rise to the challenge taken on by several of the bloggers I read, and endeavor to post every day in the month of December. Well, I'll post to one of my blogs every day ... I still plan on keeping my baby related mush on das Kleinkind Chronicles, and my fitness/getting in shape/looking for work/general musings right here.
So day one, here goes!
In general, I WANT to believe in the overall goodness of people despite much evidence in the news to the contrary. I generally try to avoid the news except of course for the celebrity gossip. I may not have a clue what's going on in the economy, but by golly I've seen the news feeds from E! and People Magazine, and I can tell you where Madonna spent her Thanksgiving. Yes, I know it's pathetic that someone as intelligent as me knows more about what's in the tabloids than on CNN - but it's my life and that's how I choose to lead it at the moment.
Anyway, in addition to not watching a lot of "real" news, I'm also not much of a shopper. I have found, however, that it is a LOT of fun to shop for other people, especially the men in my life. I usually avoid the Black Friday crowd, but I had a grandma staying at the house ready to babysit and B.J. was at a football game, so in the late afternoon I thought I'd risk a trip to the Mall. It actually wasn't that bad since I suspect all the crazed discount-mongers had arrived at 0600 and were long home. After hitting a few stores, I made it back to my car with my booty in hand .... or at least most of it. I realized that I was missing a bag from Baby Gap which had been my first stop. I quickly went over my route in my head and realized that I must have set the bag down at Gymboree when I was combing through the sale racks. I was kindof bummed because I knew that there was no chance it would still be there hours later. Luckily it only contained a little pair of baby sweat pants that I got on sale for $4. I put the keys in the ignition and got ready to leave, but then decided that I might as well go in and ask if someone had turned it in - though I wasn't hopeful.
I walked back into the mall crowd and patiently stood in line at Gymboree. I asked the sales clerk, "I know this is a long shot, but did anyone turn in a Baby Gap bag with a pair of sweat pants in it?"
To my shock and surprise, she said, "yes they did!" Then proceeded to hand me the bag from a cabinet. Had I dropped it in an adult clothing store or some other place, then I would have figured no one would have use for my purchase. But given that it was sitting in a newborn clothing section of a kids clothing store, one would assume that whoever found it was also looking for wee outfits and could have easily swiped the sweatpants.
I left the Mall feeling a little better than when I arrived and happy that my belief in the goodness of strangers is not misplaced.
So day one, here goes!
In general, I WANT to believe in the overall goodness of people despite much evidence in the news to the contrary. I generally try to avoid the news except of course for the celebrity gossip. I may not have a clue what's going on in the economy, but by golly I've seen the news feeds from E! and People Magazine, and I can tell you where Madonna spent her Thanksgiving. Yes, I know it's pathetic that someone as intelligent as me knows more about what's in the tabloids than on CNN - but it's my life and that's how I choose to lead it at the moment.
Anyway, in addition to not watching a lot of "real" news, I'm also not much of a shopper. I have found, however, that it is a LOT of fun to shop for other people, especially the men in my life. I usually avoid the Black Friday crowd, but I had a grandma staying at the house ready to babysit and B.J. was at a football game, so in the late afternoon I thought I'd risk a trip to the Mall. It actually wasn't that bad since I suspect all the crazed discount-mongers had arrived at 0600 and were long home. After hitting a few stores, I made it back to my car with my booty in hand .... or at least most of it. I realized that I was missing a bag from Baby Gap which had been my first stop. I quickly went over my route in my head and realized that I must have set the bag down at Gymboree when I was combing through the sale racks. I was kindof bummed because I knew that there was no chance it would still be there hours later. Luckily it only contained a little pair of baby sweat pants that I got on sale for $4. I put the keys in the ignition and got ready to leave, but then decided that I might as well go in and ask if someone had turned it in - though I wasn't hopeful.
I walked back into the mall crowd and patiently stood in line at Gymboree. I asked the sales clerk, "I know this is a long shot, but did anyone turn in a Baby Gap bag with a pair of sweat pants in it?"
To my shock and surprise, she said, "yes they did!" Then proceeded to hand me the bag from a cabinet. Had I dropped it in an adult clothing store or some other place, then I would have figured no one would have use for my purchase. But given that it was sitting in a newborn clothing section of a kids clothing store, one would assume that whoever found it was also looking for wee outfits and could have easily swiped the sweatpants.
I left the Mall feeling a little better than when I arrived and happy that my belief in the goodness of strangers is not misplaced.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Countdown Begins!!
I'm sure that most of you migrated over at least on a casual basis to my other blog, but for those who did not - I'd like to announce that my son Corrigan was born on 10/12/08 at 2:05 a.m. after a marathon 33 hour labor! He's healthy, I did great, and we're now adapting to a completely altered state of existence.I have my first post-partum checkup tomorrow which will be exactly one month since the birth, but I have to say that I feel I've recovered quite well from the pregnancy and delivery. I've started walking, mainly putting the "Gremlin" (term of endearment for the baby) in a stroller and heading out in the neighborhood for 30 minutes of exercise. The first couple of times I did this, I had a lot of soreness afterwards, but my last walk I had no residual discomfort. My main obstacle to exercising at this point is dealing with a somewhat cranky baby who likes to scream at inopportune times which leads to some major sleep deprivation. Breastfeeding every 2-3 hours really takes a lot out of me as well - though I'm not complaining since it's the best thing for him!
Regardless of my obstacles, I will officially start training for the Little Rock Half-Marathon on December 8th. I'm going to follow a walk/run plan from my book Marathoning for Mortals that will have a lot more walking than I'm used to. I figure if I feel great I can always throw some more running in, but at this point I just need a reasonable and tangible goal.
I also need to get back into strength training and really focus on my core. This will be a little more difficult since going to the gym now requires a coordinated plan for the spouse to watch the Gremlin, but he is very supportive of my goals so I'm sure we'll find a way. As always, I'll be using this blog to keep me honest and hopefully more accountable!
So here we go!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Blog Hiatus
After much consideration, I've decided to place this blog on hiatus. When I originally started this, it was called "Trying to Tri for the First Time" and I used it to chronicle my journey towards getting fit, losing weight and training for my first triathlon. I had a lot of fun detailing my first races, milestones along the way and just keeping track of the drastic changes I was making in my life through fitness.
When I started travel nursing, I added the dimension of moving to new places and having experiences as a mobile nurse while still posting about my running and races (this was when I changed the name to "The Verbose and Curious Travels of Nurse Jenn).
Now I'm finding that I'm no longer relevant ... I'm not traveling anymore, and I'm not currently able to train. I was hoping that I could continue on as a "struggles to stay fit while pregnant" theme, but at this point the most exercise I'm getting is taking the stairs at work. It seems that I have now resorted to using this as a way to vent about frustrations in my life, and honestly I don't want to do that. When I really think about it, my journey to doing that first triathlon truly made me the person that I am today. I gained such self-confidence and for the first time really felt comfortable with who I was. Not only did I look awesome physically, but I felt better about myself than I had in years. I doubt that I ever would have ever left Missouri and started traveling had I never pushed myself into doing things that were tough, seemed out of reach, and quite frankly were not a lot of fun in the beginning.
I really want to get back to the essence of who I was back then, and to have that focus and determination on a specific goal. I think I'm better off mentally when I'm training and obviously physically as well. The reality is that it's going to have to wait so I'd rather just put this project on hold until I can once again make this the blog I intended it to be.
I will be maintaining my pregnancy blog, but I know that a lot of you aren't really into that - seriously I wouldn't read that type of blog either unless it was a good friend or family member.
If all goes well with the delivery and recovery of the baby, I should be starting back up in mid-December training for the Little Rock Half-Marathon in March and then of course finding some late Spring tris to shoot for. If anyone would like to be notified of when I start training and posting again, please send me an email to jennx_rn@yahoo.com and I will send out a message when the blog becomes active again.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you when I start my quest to be a hot, in shape triathletic MILF!!!
When I started travel nursing, I added the dimension of moving to new places and having experiences as a mobile nurse while still posting about my running and races (this was when I changed the name to "The Verbose and Curious Travels of Nurse Jenn).
Now I'm finding that I'm no longer relevant ... I'm not traveling anymore, and I'm not currently able to train. I was hoping that I could continue on as a "struggles to stay fit while pregnant" theme, but at this point the most exercise I'm getting is taking the stairs at work. It seems that I have now resorted to using this as a way to vent about frustrations in my life, and honestly I don't want to do that. When I really think about it, my journey to doing that first triathlon truly made me the person that I am today. I gained such self-confidence and for the first time really felt comfortable with who I was. Not only did I look awesome physically, but I felt better about myself than I had in years. I doubt that I ever would have ever left Missouri and started traveling had I never pushed myself into doing things that were tough, seemed out of reach, and quite frankly were not a lot of fun in the beginning.
I really want to get back to the essence of who I was back then, and to have that focus and determination on a specific goal. I think I'm better off mentally when I'm training and obviously physically as well. The reality is that it's going to have to wait so I'd rather just put this project on hold until I can once again make this the blog I intended it to be.
I will be maintaining my pregnancy blog, but I know that a lot of you aren't really into that - seriously I wouldn't read that type of blog either unless it was a good friend or family member.
If all goes well with the delivery and recovery of the baby, I should be starting back up in mid-December training for the Little Rock Half-Marathon in March and then of course finding some late Spring tris to shoot for. If anyone would like to be notified of when I start training and posting again, please send me an email to jennx_rn@yahoo.com and I will send out a message when the blog becomes active again.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you when I start my quest to be a hot, in shape triathletic MILF!!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Maybe there's hope for Little Rock after all??
I can't lie, there are times where I am slightly dissatisfied with my new geography. I think a lot of it has to do with job dissatisfaction spilling over into other areas of life, but we'll just say that there are a lot of times where I dream of picking up the new house and far from perfect yard needing LOTS of work and just moving it somewhere else. Preferably a place with better summers, mountains in the distance, several excellent options for Thai food (and no, having just one place that also serves Chinese does NOT count), local coffee shops, bagel shops (bonus points if it's Einstein's), SuperTargets (they put the super store that starts with a "W" to shame), better grocery stores - ooooo!!! maybe a huge Whole Foods Mart? Suffice to say, there are conveniences that I miss and these are just a few things off the top of my head.
Maybe, just maybe there's hope for this river town after all?? After eating at my latest pregnancy induced crave stop, Cheeburger Cheeburger, we saw a large vacant corner space in the shopping development with a sign promising .... Coming Soon!! Panera Bread!!
This just might be my salvation!! Though their bagels aren't nearly as good as Einstein's, I love their menu - especially their salads and soup - and I spent a lot of time there when I lived in Columbia, MO. I often stopped for breakfast after work, basically bought my iBook solely to enjoy surfing their wireless while having a late lunch, and I wrote a lot of my first blog posts there while drinking the bottomless cup of coffee. I found a local Panera hangout in Virginia Beach during my three months there, and even occasionally hit Panera in Denver, though the parking in Cherry Creek North was atrocious so it was more of a treat than a routine hangout.
I don't know when it will be opening, it looks like they're just starting but I have high hopes of Panera goodness later this summer. A bright, glimmery ray of hope to look forward to in the midst of 105+ degree, humidity filled misery. Mmm, I can see that half salad and french onion soup now!!
Maybe, just maybe there's hope for this river town after all?? After eating at my latest pregnancy induced crave stop, Cheeburger Cheeburger, we saw a large vacant corner space in the shopping development with a sign promising .... Coming Soon!! Panera Bread!!
This just might be my salvation!! Though their bagels aren't nearly as good as Einstein's, I love their menu - especially their salads and soup - and I spent a lot of time there when I lived in Columbia, MO. I often stopped for breakfast after work, basically bought my iBook solely to enjoy surfing their wireless while having a late lunch, and I wrote a lot of my first blog posts there while drinking the bottomless cup of coffee. I found a local Panera hangout in Virginia Beach during my three months there, and even occasionally hit Panera in Denver, though the parking in Cherry Creek North was atrocious so it was more of a treat than a routine hangout.
I don't know when it will be opening, it looks like they're just starting but I have high hopes of Panera goodness later this summer. A bright, glimmery ray of hope to look forward to in the midst of 105+ degree, humidity filled misery. Mmm, I can see that half salad and french onion soup now!!
Monday, May 19, 2008
So much for economic stimulus...
Like most Americans, I have now received my $600 "gift" from Uncle Sam and what's not to like about free money?? Especially after considering how much I paid in taxes last year after making more than I've ever made in my life thanks to overtime and several bonuses.
Of course, I don't think Sam would be proud of what I did with it. I know that I was supposed to run out to the Mall or some other store and buy something frivolous to fuel the economy. Maybe get a new stereo receiver or some new shoes to inject some cash into the slowing consumer markets?? Well not me, the same day that I received it, I sent it promptly to my credit card that I have been whittling down to nothing since I started working as a travel nurse. It's so un-American of me to pay off my consumer debt when everyone else is just charging more. More importantly, it's so NOT Generation X of me to only buy things that I can pay for in cash. I'm of the generation where they signed you up for credit cards on campus despite the fact that most students had no money or income. I remember them hanging out on the quad and offering silly gifts for filling out the Visa application, knowing full well that a full time student had NO business with a credit card with a $2000 limit. Those poor saps that took the easy money are now the ones that a decade later are still paying on student loans, credit card debt and basically making the banks rich on interest. I'd be curious to see whether credit cards are still passed out like candy on today's campuses like they were in the early 90s?? Something tells me times have changed on the bank's end, though I'm sure the 19 year olds would still happily mortgage their future for a new X-Box, iPod or laptop computer if someone offered it to them for marginal payments each month.
Of course, I don't think Sam would be proud of what I did with it. I know that I was supposed to run out to the Mall or some other store and buy something frivolous to fuel the economy. Maybe get a new stereo receiver or some new shoes to inject some cash into the slowing consumer markets?? Well not me, the same day that I received it, I sent it promptly to my credit card that I have been whittling down to nothing since I started working as a travel nurse. It's so un-American of me to pay off my consumer debt when everyone else is just charging more. More importantly, it's so NOT Generation X of me to only buy things that I can pay for in cash. I'm of the generation where they signed you up for credit cards on campus despite the fact that most students had no money or income. I remember them hanging out on the quad and offering silly gifts for filling out the Visa application, knowing full well that a full time student had NO business with a credit card with a $2000 limit. Those poor saps that took the easy money are now the ones that a decade later are still paying on student loans, credit card debt and basically making the banks rich on interest. I'd be curious to see whether credit cards are still passed out like candy on today's campuses like they were in the early 90s?? Something tells me times have changed on the bank's end, though I'm sure the 19 year olds would still happily mortgage their future for a new X-Box, iPod or laptop computer if someone offered it to them for marginal payments each month.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Running ... what a pain!
Well I guess I'm going to become a walker for the next 5 months. Despite my cool new Garmin and desire to be the hip pregnant chic that runs 5Ks, the body just isn't willing. I've been having a lot of discomfort lately from round ligament pain, and though I've learned the tricks to avoid it at home (don't get up from a seated position or bend over quickly), it's really noticeable when I try to jog. I went out this week and my heart rate was great when I warmed up! I felt awesome and really wanted to just pound the pavement a little, but as soon as I started even a slow jog it was extremely uncomfortable. I wore my tight supportive spandex shorts with a higher waist to support the growing lower belly, but it was no good. I was a little frustrated because I know lots of people run far later into their pregnancies, and I just have the slightest of bellies going on .... it seems silly for it to be so uncomfortable already, but it is what it is.
I was able to walk fairly comfortably (I think the right supportive belly gear will be crucial) and tomorrow I'm going to hit the gym and try the elliptical. I don't mind walking but it doesn't get me as aerobic as I would like and I'm guessing that bending over on a bike trainer may not be the most comfy either. I'm hoping the elliptical is tolerable and once my neighborhood pool is open, I think that swimming laps will be the way to go. I just don't want to end up with a ruined body AND a complete lack of cardiovascular fitness. I want to be running again by Christmas so we'll see how my alternative methods work.
I was able to walk fairly comfortably (I think the right supportive belly gear will be crucial) and tomorrow I'm going to hit the gym and try the elliptical. I don't mind walking but it doesn't get me as aerobic as I would like and I'm guessing that bending over on a bike trainer may not be the most comfy either. I'm hoping the elliptical is tolerable and once my neighborhood pool is open, I think that swimming laps will be the way to go. I just don't want to end up with a ruined body AND a complete lack of cardiovascular fitness. I want to be running again by Christmas so we'll see how my alternative methods work.
Monday, May 05, 2008
A Garmin of my very own!!!
I think that this is the day that will change the trajectory of my training forevermore .... the day that I received my very own Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS!!! Woo HOO!!!
BJ has one that I have used on occasion and it is the coolest thing ever because you turn it on, put it on your wrist and off you go. If tells you distance, speed, heart rate - you can set it to alarm when you're running too fast or slow or your heart rate is too high or low. When you get home you can download your run and see it on a map and it is incredibly accurate, even showing the spot where you went back into the middle of the street to avoid a particularly nasty looking dog for example.
BJ doesn't mind loaning me his, but the problem is that he runs at work at lot so it's typically with him in his gym bag when I'm in the mood to head out. There's also the problem of when we run or race together .... well to clarify, we may start at the same place at the same time, but he's faster than me so we do our own thing. If we're training, we usually set a time - "OK we're running 45 minutes" and then we each turnaround at our respective half way point or perhaps take our own route. He always has the super cool data .... and I don't :(
I was reading one of my triathlete forums and learned that you can even load routes onto the GPS then run it. This would be super cool if I was planning something new or in an unfamiliar location and put in wayside points so that you don't get lost. You can also do an out and back and pay absolutely no attention and zone out (which can happen if I'm listening to some good tunes or a great NPR podcast) and then use the GPS breadcrumb trail to find your way back.
Seriously, I really think it's going to change my life!!
A shout out to Diane of the Hot Legs for tipping me off on the fabulous sale that REI has going on. BJ had apparently been monitoring the internet for prices trying to find a good deal for a while so that he could surprise me with it. Now if only it had a cute purple covering or something so that it looks truly Jenn!!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Hooligans!!
It's not that I don't like children in general, but I don't like trespassing, hooligan children!!
Our backyard has a 6 foot privacy fence and it is surrounded on two sides by community trails that meander through our neighborhood. After school there are lots of kids that walk home on these trails, sometimes they are loud and screeching (why?), other times you hear them beating on the fence with sticks as they walk by, mostly I just know they're passing through because the dogs bark.
On more than one occasion our back gate has been left wide open which can be quite a danger when you have a feisty terrier that loves to look for an opportunity to escape. Obviously someone was opening it - not us of course, but someone from the outside. I can only speculate that it is juvenile hooligans because it always seems to happen in the after school hours. After having this happen at least 3 or 4 times, we put a carabiner on the inside of the gate - thereby making it impossible to open the gate from the outside, but easy for us if we wanted to get out.
Well today, the gate was open once again and the carabiner had been pulled off. So basically someone came through our side gate, walked though our back yard, pulled the carabiner off the back gate and left it open. When BJ came home, he let the dogs out and didn't look for an open gate (we thought we had solved the problem) and our Tosca of course took off for parts unknown. She led quite the chase, I went to the left and had a neighbor point our her direction, BJ went right and found another lead from another neighbor .... in the end when we came back she was sitting on the back porch as if to say, "I'm sure hungry. Could you let me in??"
So now we have a carabiner on the inside of the side gate, strong rope tying the inside of the back gate closed and plans to install an electric fence as soon as possible. Maybe we shouldn't tell the home owner's association about that one?!?!?
Our backyard has a 6 foot privacy fence and it is surrounded on two sides by community trails that meander through our neighborhood. After school there are lots of kids that walk home on these trails, sometimes they are loud and screeching (why?), other times you hear them beating on the fence with sticks as they walk by, mostly I just know they're passing through because the dogs bark.
On more than one occasion our back gate has been left wide open which can be quite a danger when you have a feisty terrier that loves to look for an opportunity to escape. Obviously someone was opening it - not us of course, but someone from the outside. I can only speculate that it is juvenile hooligans because it always seems to happen in the after school hours. After having this happen at least 3 or 4 times, we put a carabiner on the inside of the gate - thereby making it impossible to open the gate from the outside, but easy for us if we wanted to get out.
Well today, the gate was open once again and the carabiner had been pulled off. So basically someone came through our side gate, walked though our back yard, pulled the carabiner off the back gate and left it open. When BJ came home, he let the dogs out and didn't look for an open gate (we thought we had solved the problem) and our Tosca of course took off for parts unknown. She led quite the chase, I went to the left and had a neighbor point our her direction, BJ went right and found another lead from another neighbor .... in the end when we came back she was sitting on the back porch as if to say, "I'm sure hungry. Could you let me in??"
So now we have a carabiner on the inside of the side gate, strong rope tying the inside of the back gate closed and plans to install an electric fence as soon as possible. Maybe we shouldn't tell the home owner's association about that one?!?!?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day!!
In honor of Earth Day, I decided not to water our newly planted grass seed this morning given that we had showers forecast for this afternoon. See I can conserve, and reduce/reuse/recycle with the best of them!! I may be a nurse now, but back in the days of my environmental health studies I visited many a landfill, spent some time at incinerators, water treatment and sewage treatment plants and learned about local air pollution. I was thinking about going green long before the celebrities started driving their Priuses ... or is the plural Prii?? I'm trying to dredge up that high school Latin, but it's hard because I am remembering the evil clanking of Sr. Mary Annette's rosary beads - she was one tough, old nun!!
In other news, I learned that this week is Turn Off Your TV week. It is a noble effort to encourage other pursuits like reading, exercising and playing with your kids outdoors, and actually I watch so little TV these days that it wouldn't be hard at all to do this for a week. BUT - must they really choose this week??? I mean the week that Grey's Anatomy returns after a five month hiatus?!?!?!?!? Can I just TIVO it and watch it next week?? Would that be cheating?? I mean as much as I can't stand Meredith's character, I was so excited to finally see her break through and want to be monogamous with McDreamy who let's face it, should we have a lot of sympathy for a man that began dating her for months while conveniently forgetting to tell her about HIS WIFE that he eventually left her for?? Seriously, despite the cute, tousled hair we shouldn't forget that he has been quite an ass and given her good reason to be a little scared off. Oh and can we stop killing all of the viewers eyes with the George/Izzy pairing??? I mean not that I'm really into it or anything .... I'm just saying.
In other news, I learned that this week is Turn Off Your TV week. It is a noble effort to encourage other pursuits like reading, exercising and playing with your kids outdoors, and actually I watch so little TV these days that it wouldn't be hard at all to do this for a week. BUT - must they really choose this week??? I mean the week that Grey's Anatomy returns after a five month hiatus?!?!?!?!? Can I just TIVO it and watch it next week?? Would that be cheating?? I mean as much as I can't stand Meredith's character, I was so excited to finally see her break through and want to be monogamous with McDreamy who let's face it, should we have a lot of sympathy for a man that began dating her for months while conveniently forgetting to tell her about HIS WIFE that he eventually left her for?? Seriously, despite the cute, tousled hair we shouldn't forget that he has been quite an ass and given her good reason to be a little scared off. Oh and can we stop killing all of the viewers eyes with the George/Izzy pairing??? I mean not that I'm really into it or anything .... I'm just saying.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Why do my abs hate me?
Remember how yesterday I had a pleasant soreness, you know the sweet message from the muscles saying, "Thanks Jenn for thinking of us!!"
OK, I take it back. Today my abs are so sore that I can't stand up straight! I only did like 120 crunches and back in the day I did three times that many. Apparently, they decided to say "screw you." And I can't even take my miracle ibuprofen that cures everything ... stupid baby!
Bowling tonight should be an interesting challenge.
OK, I take it back. Today my abs are so sore that I can't stand up straight! I only did like 120 crunches and back in the day I did three times that many. Apparently, they decided to say "screw you." And I can't even take my miracle ibuprofen that cures everything ... stupid baby!
Bowling tonight should be an interesting challenge.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Welcome Back Sore Muscles!
I woke up this morning with that lovely soreness you get after a workout. Not so bad that I can't lift my arms above my head, but enough to know that I gave my muscles some challenge.
I finally got off my butt yesterday and headed to the gym. I know that I'm definitely needing to work on my cardio, but I'm also concerned about getting my body strong for the physical stresses that an extra 25 pounds are going to cause (though I'm only up 2 pounds so far). When I was working out with my trainer Cindy in Columbia, I had a great strength training regimen going on, but since starting to travel it's been nearly impossible to keep that up. Now that I'm settled in one place and have a gym membership, there's no excuse for that. I did some free weights and focused on the arms and legs then hit the mat for some abdominal work (oh my poor stomach muscles, you have no idea how ruined you're going to get!). I took it easy and just did two sets of my old routines because I knew that if I wasn't able to move my arms or walk today, it wouldn't be productive.
My plan is to strength train twice a week and start adding some abdominal work in more frequently since I really need to get that area as strong as possible. I do have a Pregnancy Fitness book kindly lent to me by Merk that I'm consulting just to see if there is anything I should avoid (exercises where I'm flat on my back) and how to modify as I get farther along.
I'm going to add cardio as I can, but probably focus more on walking, using the elliptical and stair climber. If I haven't really been running the past few months, it doesn't seem like it's the brightest thing to start pushing when I'm 15 weeks pregnant. I will be using my heart rate monitor and keeping things in a nice upper range of zone 2. We'll see if my personal motivation keeps up!
I finally got off my butt yesterday and headed to the gym. I know that I'm definitely needing to work on my cardio, but I'm also concerned about getting my body strong for the physical stresses that an extra 25 pounds are going to cause (though I'm only up 2 pounds so far). When I was working out with my trainer Cindy in Columbia, I had a great strength training regimen going on, but since starting to travel it's been nearly impossible to keep that up. Now that I'm settled in one place and have a gym membership, there's no excuse for that. I did some free weights and focused on the arms and legs then hit the mat for some abdominal work (oh my poor stomach muscles, you have no idea how ruined you're going to get!). I took it easy and just did two sets of my old routines because I knew that if I wasn't able to move my arms or walk today, it wouldn't be productive.
My plan is to strength train twice a week and start adding some abdominal work in more frequently since I really need to get that area as strong as possible. I do have a Pregnancy Fitness book kindly lent to me by Merk that I'm consulting just to see if there is anything I should avoid (exercises where I'm flat on my back) and how to modify as I get farther along.
I'm going to add cardio as I can, but probably focus more on walking, using the elliptical and stair climber. If I haven't really been running the past few months, it doesn't seem like it's the brightest thing to start pushing when I'm 15 weeks pregnant. I will be using my heart rate monitor and keeping things in a nice upper range of zone 2. We'll see if my personal motivation keeps up!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Weekend Update
Did you know that it has been raining off and on here in Arkansas for what seems like weeks?? Seriously, I've been wondering if BJ and I should build an ark because it's getting kindof crazy. Of course in general it seems to be rainy and dreary on my days off and then sunny for the brief three days that I work - suck! My favorite place to run has been underwater off and on for almost a month and of course in between all the rain we've had tornados and sirens and winds, oh my!
A few tidbits ....
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We had a major storm come through last week that spawned a total of 10 tornadoes. When the civil defense siren down the street went off and we turned on the weather channel, it was heading right into our part of town. I grabbed my flashlight, hand crank weather radio, cell phone and some quilts and pulled the dogs into the center bathroom with me. BJ insisted that I was "overreacting," even when they announced that it had been sighted on the ground 5 miles away and moving our direction. I said, "you sit in the living room and blow away if you want, me the dogs, and our baby will stay right here."
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Since I've been feeling much better as of late, we actually went out last night and visited with friends! Woo Hoo!! I'm not an anti-social, slug!! We went over to Merk and Jeff's house - Merk being BJ's half marathon training partner and co-worker. Her husband just got back from Iraq and this was our second trial "couple date" ... you know where you try to find out if you're all compatible as couples and don't completely hate one person or another. It was a very enjoyable evening full of pizza dough hijinks and shared recollections of collegiate life in the early 90s. Ahh, it's so nice to have fun, intelligent conversation! Not to mention Jeff is also a transplanted Yankee, actually being from New England he's got even more street cred as a Yank than me.
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Today we finally had the chance to do some yard work. We've been wanting to seed parts of our yard for weeks but due to aforementioned torrential rains, we've been waiting till we were relatively assured of a few dry days. BJ did most of the hard work (turning over the nasty old sod) while I did some of the prep work (breaking up the clods) and we're hoping that in a few weeks we will have some happy bermuda mix on the south side of the house. We have SO much to do overall, but we're just taking it one step at a time.
********************************************************************************
A few tidbits ....
*********************************************************************************
We had a major storm come through last week that spawned a total of 10 tornadoes. When the civil defense siren down the street went off and we turned on the weather channel, it was heading right into our part of town. I grabbed my flashlight, hand crank weather radio, cell phone and some quilts and pulled the dogs into the center bathroom with me. BJ insisted that I was "overreacting," even when they announced that it had been sighted on the ground 5 miles away and moving our direction. I said, "you sit in the living room and blow away if you want, me the dogs, and our baby will stay right here."
*********************************************************************************
Since I've been feeling much better as of late, we actually went out last night and visited with friends! Woo Hoo!! I'm not an anti-social, slug!! We went over to Merk and Jeff's house - Merk being BJ's half marathon training partner and co-worker. Her husband just got back from Iraq and this was our second trial "couple date" ... you know where you try to find out if you're all compatible as couples and don't completely hate one person or another. It was a very enjoyable evening full of pizza dough hijinks and shared recollections of collegiate life in the early 90s. Ahh, it's so nice to have fun, intelligent conversation! Not to mention Jeff is also a transplanted Yankee, actually being from New England he's got even more street cred as a Yank than me.
********************************************************************************
Today we finally had the chance to do some yard work. We've been wanting to seed parts of our yard for weeks but due to aforementioned torrential rains, we've been waiting till we were relatively assured of a few dry days. BJ did most of the hard work (turning over the nasty old sod) while I did some of the prep work (breaking up the clods) and we're hoping that in a few weeks we will have some happy bermuda mix on the south side of the house. We have SO much to do overall, but we're just taking it one step at a time.
********************************************************************************
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday's Trip Down Memory Lane
I'm having a uneventful night at work, and BJ sent me an email asking if I was going to compose a memory lane post. Given that all of my patients are happily sleeping (for the moment) and my charting is already caught up (major shocker) - I figured why not?? The problem is searching for a topic .... hmmm, what to talk about??
Well I guess we can talk about careers and jobs. Thinking back, I honestly don't think as a kid I ever had the whole, "When I grow up I wanna be a ____ ." I was always one of the smartest in my class, always on the honor roll, but I grew up in a very rural area and I think it was hard to see what the big wide world offered. Most of the families around us were farmers or coal miners, a few maybe drove to Springfield and worked in some capacity for the state government, but it wasn't like we had career day at my school. I always knew I wanted to go away to college, preferably far away. I remember wanting to go to UCLA when I was in grade school which was funny because I had never been farther west than Missouri at the time. Los Angeles seemed so exotic and exciting! I hadn't thought about what I would study, just going there.
Even in high school, I didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to do with my life. I was lucky enough to move to a more urban area and attend an excellent, private high school that emphasized college preparation. I had a lot of opportunities to take things like Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology, Calculus and the like - I seemed to gravitate towards the science world, but I still didn't know what I was going to do with it. Unlike my grade school days, most of my peers in high school had parents who were doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, nurses etc. and most of my friends also seemed to have a clear vision on what they wanted to do. I still just kindof plugged away, got good grades, ended up with extremely competitive ACT scores that would have allowed me to go anywhere to college. I had little colleges from all over the US contacting me and offering me scholarships, but what do you do with this when you have no clue what you want to be???
I did make it through college, plodded through lots of majors .... Pharmacy, Medical Lab Technology, Middle School Ed (science & math emphasis), Chemistry, Biology ... contemplated even more majors, thought about being a doctor, lawyer, chemist, teacher, joining the Peace Corps. In the end I still didn't have a flipping clue, but as a second semester junior I was still undecided. I ended up in an environmental health major because it seemed interesting at the time and I knew I had to pick something and just get my damn degree.
Of course I obviously didn't have it totally figured out because after 7 years working in public health I went to nursing school, but at least it's in the same ballpark.
Though it's sometimes been frustrating as I've searched for my path (which is still ongoing), I guess if I look back, I've never really known what I want to be when I grow up. I just know I want to be happy, to enjoy the work that I do, and to feel that my work makes a difference in the lives of others.
If my kid ends up being clueless too, I'll just encourage them to go to a good college, take lots of different classes, and have confidence that they will eventually find their way.
So what did you want to be when you were a kid??
Well I guess we can talk about careers and jobs. Thinking back, I honestly don't think as a kid I ever had the whole, "When I grow up I wanna be a ____ ." I was always one of the smartest in my class, always on the honor roll, but I grew up in a very rural area and I think it was hard to see what the big wide world offered. Most of the families around us were farmers or coal miners, a few maybe drove to Springfield and worked in some capacity for the state government, but it wasn't like we had career day at my school. I always knew I wanted to go away to college, preferably far away. I remember wanting to go to UCLA when I was in grade school which was funny because I had never been farther west than Missouri at the time. Los Angeles seemed so exotic and exciting! I hadn't thought about what I would study, just going there.
Even in high school, I didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to do with my life. I was lucky enough to move to a more urban area and attend an excellent, private high school that emphasized college preparation. I had a lot of opportunities to take things like Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology, Calculus and the like - I seemed to gravitate towards the science world, but I still didn't know what I was going to do with it. Unlike my grade school days, most of my peers in high school had parents who were doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, nurses etc. and most of my friends also seemed to have a clear vision on what they wanted to do. I still just kindof plugged away, got good grades, ended up with extremely competitive ACT scores that would have allowed me to go anywhere to college. I had little colleges from all over the US contacting me and offering me scholarships, but what do you do with this when you have no clue what you want to be???
I did make it through college, plodded through lots of majors .... Pharmacy, Medical Lab Technology, Middle School Ed (science & math emphasis), Chemistry, Biology ... contemplated even more majors, thought about being a doctor, lawyer, chemist, teacher, joining the Peace Corps. In the end I still didn't have a flipping clue, but as a second semester junior I was still undecided. I ended up in an environmental health major because it seemed interesting at the time and I knew I had to pick something and just get my damn degree.
Of course I obviously didn't have it totally figured out because after 7 years working in public health I went to nursing school, but at least it's in the same ballpark.
Though it's sometimes been frustrating as I've searched for my path (which is still ongoing), I guess if I look back, I've never really known what I want to be when I grow up. I just know I want to be happy, to enjoy the work that I do, and to feel that my work makes a difference in the lives of others.
If my kid ends up being clueless too, I'll just encourage them to go to a good college, take lots of different classes, and have confidence that they will eventually find their way.
So what did you want to be when you were a kid??
Monday, April 07, 2008
Graffitti Update
We heard back from BJ's law enforcement connections and our fence graffitti was not random hooliganism, but a tag from a specific gang. We were told that we should remove it (which we were planning on doing anyway) and BJ is out with the belt sander as we speak.
Apparently gang activity does not simply live in the traditional "ghetto" parts of town given that the gang bangers of twenty years ago are now raising their families in safer, more suburban communities. Which who can blame them? If I had a decent job or decent money from my nefarious activities, I would want my kids out of the projects. Not that there is necessarily any violence around here ... it's actually a very safe neighborhood ... but obviously there are some portions of that element, or that wannabe element living around here. Either way, the police like to track where these things turn up, we will let the home owner's association know, and when we see our neighbor's we will let them know as well. I guarantee that our neighbors would be just as surprised and disturbed as we are to know that this looms somewhere in our midst.
Apparently gang activity does not simply live in the traditional "ghetto" parts of town given that the gang bangers of twenty years ago are now raising their families in safer, more suburban communities. Which who can blame them? If I had a decent job or decent money from my nefarious activities, I would want my kids out of the projects. Not that there is necessarily any violence around here ... it's actually a very safe neighborhood ... but obviously there are some portions of that element, or that wannabe element living around here. Either way, the police like to track where these things turn up, we will let the home owner's association know, and when we see our neighbor's we will let them know as well. I guarantee that our neighbors would be just as surprised and disturbed as we are to know that this looms somewhere in our midst.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
"Tri" Again Next Year
Well it looks like 2008 will NOT be my triumphant return to the triathlon racing scene. Before you condemn me for giving up so early in the season, I DO have a good reason. It turns out that this wanna-be is knocked up and road biking and racing tri are not recommended after the first trimester and I just passed that point. I do plan on continuing running (well my pitiful run/walks at the moment) and to start swimming as soon as the neighborhood lap pool opens for the season. My goal is to maintain my fitness as much as possible during the next 6 months and stay as healthy as possible.
Next year, I want to be right back at it given that I'll have even more impetus to train so that I can get rid of the damage that I'm sure this gremlin will do to my physique. Til then, I'll find some 5 and 10K to keep me occupied.
BJ and I are maintaining a joint blog on the whole prego experience at http://jones-baby.blava.org/ for anyone that's interested.
Next year, I want to be right back at it given that I'll have even more impetus to train so that I can get rid of the damage that I'm sure this gremlin will do to my physique. Til then, I'll find some 5 and 10K to keep me occupied.
BJ and I are maintaining a joint blog on the whole prego experience at http://jones-baby.blava.org/ for anyone that's interested.
Keep It Confidential
I'm so sorry if my recent posts on various topics are boring anyone ... I'm just going through a stage where various subjects are compelling me to write or comment, and it's hard to ignore when I have this outlet.
Today I was surfing through the entertainment news (I'm sorry to admit that though I'm highbrow enough to follow NPR and the BBC, I also like to catch E! and People online) and I was particularly disturbed by this story. There have been several instances of celebrity medical treatment status being leaked, but this was particularly disgusting because poor Farrah hadn't even told her family yet AND was even being treated under an alias.
Even before the days of HIPAA where medical privacy and disclosure were bound tightly by law, it has always been an ethical mandate that we in health care keep private information private. During every hospital orientation I have had, there is always a section on confidentiality and how you can be disciplined or fired for accessing medical information that you do not need to do your job. It's sometimes tough because I can take care of a patient for weeks in a row, but when they go to surgery, despite how much I want to know how they're doing - I legally have no right to know anything unless I am assigned to take care of them. Now I'm not going to lie, amongst nurses we often have some professional consideration for these circumstances. I remember having to be off for a weekend and a baby that I had taken care of for two months since his birth wasn't doing so well. If you're not a nurse, I can't even explain how easily and quickly we get attached to our patients. When it's someone you've taken care of for weeks, you are very much invested in their outcome. I would call in to the night shift nurse to "check" on him - not necessarily ask tons of specifics like what are his vent settings, chest tube output etc. etc. - but how is he doing? Ethically that's pretty grey given that I'm not currently working that shift and taking care of the patient, but it's FAR different than looking up patients I'm not even involved with.
When I worked in Columbia, MO which is a smaller town, I was confronted with situations more often that dealt with confidentiality. We were the biggest NICU in town, so if an acquaintance of mine had a neighbor or a family member with a baby in the NICU, it wasn't uncommon to be asked. "so is Baby X doing OK?" It usually was asked out of concern because in smaller towns, people tend to know each other. Those were times where it would be easy to say, "oh yeah, they're doing great" or "they're pretty sick" but I'd have to stick with the whole, "I really can't talk about that."
Another job that provoked similar questions was working in the Burn/Trauma unit and having patients who had made the news for dramatic fires, car crashes, accidents etc. and people wondering, "how is that college student doing who got caught in the fire?" Even though I was just a student nurse extern at the time, I still knew what was going on and people knew where I worked. Those types of questions were not uncommon and it required diligence to keep your mouth shut. I was working in the NICU at the time, but when a young, female police officer was shot (in the end fatally) by a teen aged suspect, it was all over the news for two or three weeks and was quite a high profile local case. After she died, several employees were disciplined and even terminated for accessing her medical records without cause - all worked outside the Trauma Unit. It may seem harsh, but after reading about the recent Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett cases, I see where it's a slippery slope and clearly people have no sense. Especially when medical records are computer based and the system logs EVERY person who looks at a file. I know that I would be very upset if I were a patient at my hospital and my co-workers heard through the grapevine what I was being treated for or something specific about my health, let alone the whole flippin' world. I am glad to see that UCLA is taking a harsh stand, and I hope Farrah sues that individual for disclosing her medical information, because doing it for money?? Even more despicable in my opinion.
Today I was surfing through the entertainment news (I'm sorry to admit that though I'm highbrow enough to follow NPR and the BBC, I also like to catch E! and People online) and I was particularly disturbed by this story. There have been several instances of celebrity medical treatment status being leaked, but this was particularly disgusting because poor Farrah hadn't even told her family yet AND was even being treated under an alias.
Even before the days of HIPAA where medical privacy and disclosure were bound tightly by law, it has always been an ethical mandate that we in health care keep private information private. During every hospital orientation I have had, there is always a section on confidentiality and how you can be disciplined or fired for accessing medical information that you do not need to do your job. It's sometimes tough because I can take care of a patient for weeks in a row, but when they go to surgery, despite how much I want to know how they're doing - I legally have no right to know anything unless I am assigned to take care of them. Now I'm not going to lie, amongst nurses we often have some professional consideration for these circumstances. I remember having to be off for a weekend and a baby that I had taken care of for two months since his birth wasn't doing so well. If you're not a nurse, I can't even explain how easily and quickly we get attached to our patients. When it's someone you've taken care of for weeks, you are very much invested in their outcome. I would call in to the night shift nurse to "check" on him - not necessarily ask tons of specifics like what are his vent settings, chest tube output etc. etc. - but how is he doing? Ethically that's pretty grey given that I'm not currently working that shift and taking care of the patient, but it's FAR different than looking up patients I'm not even involved with.
When I worked in Columbia, MO which is a smaller town, I was confronted with situations more often that dealt with confidentiality. We were the biggest NICU in town, so if an acquaintance of mine had a neighbor or a family member with a baby in the NICU, it wasn't uncommon to be asked. "so is Baby X doing OK?" It usually was asked out of concern because in smaller towns, people tend to know each other. Those were times where it would be easy to say, "oh yeah, they're doing great" or "they're pretty sick" but I'd have to stick with the whole, "I really can't talk about that."
Another job that provoked similar questions was working in the Burn/Trauma unit and having patients who had made the news for dramatic fires, car crashes, accidents etc. and people wondering, "how is that college student doing who got caught in the fire?" Even though I was just a student nurse extern at the time, I still knew what was going on and people knew where I worked. Those types of questions were not uncommon and it required diligence to keep your mouth shut. I was working in the NICU at the time, but when a young, female police officer was shot (in the end fatally) by a teen aged suspect, it was all over the news for two or three weeks and was quite a high profile local case. After she died, several employees were disciplined and even terminated for accessing her medical records without cause - all worked outside the Trauma Unit. It may seem harsh, but after reading about the recent Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett cases, I see where it's a slippery slope and clearly people have no sense. Especially when medical records are computer based and the system logs EVERY person who looks at a file. I know that I would be very upset if I were a patient at my hospital and my co-workers heard through the grapevine what I was being treated for or something specific about my health, let alone the whole flippin' world. I am glad to see that UCLA is taking a harsh stand, and I hope Farrah sues that individual for disclosing her medical information, because doing it for money?? Even more despicable in my opinion.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Apparently consumer pressure works!!
Though I've never mentioned it on my blog before, I do NOT shop at Wal-Mart and I haven't for years. I won't attempt to convince you that their labor and business practices are evil, just do some searching on the internet and you'll find that they aren't nearly as "small town" and "worker" friendly as they claim to be.
I had heard about this story a few weeks back, an example of their pathetic greed. A brain damaged woman who paid Wal-Mart for her insurance, whose insurance paid out after a devastating accident, then a corporate entity that sued to recover all of her damages awarded in a law suit to repay themselves for her health care. I'd feel differently if she hadn't been an employee paying for her insurance (and not cheap, overly subsidized healthcare either) - she was entitled to those benefits. And now that she will live out her life in a nursing home which generally costs upwards of $36,000 - $48,000 a year, that lawsuit settlement money was not going to be used by her family to buy new cars, or a boat, or a vacation home - it was going to go to her lifelong care. If that money is taken by Wal-Mart, this poor family has no funds to pay for her care. So in the end, Medicaid would be forced to pay because unless you're independently wealthy, no one can afford long term nursing care. And as a former nursing home inspector, I can tell you that when Medicaid is footing the bills, your options in choice of a care facility are limited.
I'm just thankful that the enormous response mounted by consumers and citizens who heard of this convinced Wal-Mart to reconsider. What happened to taking care of our employees? Since when has greed replaced humanity?? Of course I haven't changed my mind about Wal-Mart, don't think for a minute that they wouldn't have changed their mind had the negative press not been so overwhelming.
I had heard about this story a few weeks back, an example of their pathetic greed. A brain damaged woman who paid Wal-Mart for her insurance, whose insurance paid out after a devastating accident, then a corporate entity that sued to recover all of her damages awarded in a law suit to repay themselves for her health care. I'd feel differently if she hadn't been an employee paying for her insurance (and not cheap, overly subsidized healthcare either) - she was entitled to those benefits. And now that she will live out her life in a nursing home which generally costs upwards of $36,000 - $48,000 a year, that lawsuit settlement money was not going to be used by her family to buy new cars, or a boat, or a vacation home - it was going to go to her lifelong care. If that money is taken by Wal-Mart, this poor family has no funds to pay for her care. So in the end, Medicaid would be forced to pay because unless you're independently wealthy, no one can afford long term nursing care. And as a former nursing home inspector, I can tell you that when Medicaid is footing the bills, your options in choice of a care facility are limited.
I'm just thankful that the enormous response mounted by consumers and citizens who heard of this convinced Wal-Mart to reconsider. What happened to taking care of our employees? Since when has greed replaced humanity?? Of course I haven't changed my mind about Wal-Mart, don't think for a minute that they wouldn't have changed their mind had the negative press not been so overwhelming.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
March Madness and Updates
Just to show how selfless of a person I am ... despite the fact that my brackets would have been TOTALLY screwed given that I picked Kansas to win it all... I was really pulling for Davidson to win. There's nothing I like more than a good underdog story and when I see a small college that no one has ever heard of (OK, I had never heard of) make it to the Elite Eight and play with so much heart, how can you not want them to win?? I always wonder if these moments truly change people by having that period in the spotlight, thousands of fans cheering for you, making you believe you can win despite the odds. Even though you'll never likely play after college, that confidence might propel someone into a different trajectory in their life all because of that one tournament where they were a part of a Cinderella story. At least I like to think it does.
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An update on my friend Beverly who was kidnapped. Her car was used in a drive by shooting two nights later which likely confirms my suspicion that the perpetrators were gang related (though nothing like that has been mentioned in the press). The car was later abandoned. It is currently being dusted for fingerprints. I saw Beverly on Thursday night and she is still quite shaken, but very thankful to be alive.
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oh, and I did take my little walk with brief periods of jogging. I forgot how good it feels to get the heart pumping, and even though I'm ridiculously out of shape - you have to start somewhere right??
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An update on my friend Beverly who was kidnapped. Her car was used in a drive by shooting two nights later which likely confirms my suspicion that the perpetrators were gang related (though nothing like that has been mentioned in the press). The car was later abandoned. It is currently being dusted for fingerprints. I saw Beverly on Thursday night and she is still quite shaken, but very thankful to be alive.
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oh, and I did take my little walk with brief periods of jogging. I forgot how good it feels to get the heart pumping, and even though I'm ridiculously out of shape - you have to start somewhere right??
Negativity is Thy Name
I'm going to make myself go for a run ... jog ... perhaps walk mixed with a touch of jogging here and there??? ... when I get off work. I've become a pathetically lazy couch potato as of late and I have some serious negative energy that I'm needing to burn off.
My personal life is pretty awesome, I mean I have a fabulous husband who adores me and sends me flowers for no particular reason (like this week), how great is that?? I am however sorely lacking in the social circle given that all of my close friends live in states far away. I haven't really been able to make a lot of friends since moving here, and the night shift schedule makes it particularly tough to even coordinate something if in theory I had a local friend. I do think it takes a while to find your niche when you relocate, but it's even worse here because I'm so different from most of the people I meet. I'm a flaming, open-minded liberal who doesn't go to church, while most people here .... aren't.
The other big issue is that I am suffering from serious job dissatisfaction at the moment. Unfortunately I'm making such good money that I can't afford to do anything else, but it is really starting to wear on me. I haven't decided if it's working in the NICU in general, or working in this particular NICU. I am so tired of dead beat, neglectful parents and jacked up babies with no chance of a quality of life. There's always a certain element of this in any unit I've worked in, but it seems to be the norm as opposed to the exception where I'm at now. I can't even tell you the last time I had a patient where the parent(s) showed up or even called routinely, it's been over three weeks for sure. It just blows me away because if they show no interest in their sick, hospitalized child, why would I think they're going to give a crap when they're home and healthy?? At some point, I'm guessing that the hospital will not renew my travel contract and I'll have to figure out what to do. It's going to be rough because no matter where I staff at, it's going to be a HUGE paycut. I'll also have to decide whether it's time to try something different and if so, what that will be. I'm kindof looking forward to the opportunity to work in a different realm, but the almost 50% cut in pay??? Not so much.
So yes, I think a walk sprinkled with moments of jogging is definitely in order ... if it stops thundering and lightning that is.
My personal life is pretty awesome, I mean I have a fabulous husband who adores me and sends me flowers for no particular reason (like this week), how great is that?? I am however sorely lacking in the social circle given that all of my close friends live in states far away. I haven't really been able to make a lot of friends since moving here, and the night shift schedule makes it particularly tough to even coordinate something if in theory I had a local friend. I do think it takes a while to find your niche when you relocate, but it's even worse here because I'm so different from most of the people I meet. I'm a flaming, open-minded liberal who doesn't go to church, while most people here .... aren't.
The other big issue is that I am suffering from serious job dissatisfaction at the moment. Unfortunately I'm making such good money that I can't afford to do anything else, but it is really starting to wear on me. I haven't decided if it's working in the NICU in general, or working in this particular NICU. I am so tired of dead beat, neglectful parents and jacked up babies with no chance of a quality of life. There's always a certain element of this in any unit I've worked in, but it seems to be the norm as opposed to the exception where I'm at now. I can't even tell you the last time I had a patient where the parent(s) showed up or even called routinely, it's been over three weeks for sure. It just blows me away because if they show no interest in their sick, hospitalized child, why would I think they're going to give a crap when they're home and healthy?? At some point, I'm guessing that the hospital will not renew my travel contract and I'll have to figure out what to do. It's going to be rough because no matter where I staff at, it's going to be a HUGE paycut. I'll also have to decide whether it's time to try something different and if so, what that will be. I'm kindof looking forward to the opportunity to work in a different realm, but the almost 50% cut in pay??? Not so much.
So yes, I think a walk sprinkled with moments of jogging is definitely in order ... if it stops thundering and lightning that is.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Disgusting!
I'm a little disgusted at the moment. Tonight, I learned that one of the very sweet nurses that I work with who helped plan my work wedding shower was kidnapped at gunpoint. It happened at a local Super Wal-Mart and thankfully they drove about 12 miles then shoved her out of the car. I can't imagine how terrifying the ordeal must have been, but she is very lucky to be alive.
About 10 years ago, the sister-in-law of my uncle (we weren't related, but I knew her from family gatherings at my aunt and uncle's house over the years) was carjacked. Unfortunately, the perpetrator chose to drive a few miles, shoot her in the head, and dump her body in a wooded area off the side of the road. She had a son and daughter in college and a young son at home, obviously their lives were never the same . The bastard was caught trying to cross the Canadian border in the car; then tried, convicted and sentenced to death, though I doubt that gave anyone much comfort. Especially when Gov. George Ryan commuted everyone's death sentences before he left office as an attempt to make his legacy be that of "the compassionate pardoner" as opposed to the scammer and crook that he was. Did I mention former Gov. Ryan is in prison now?? Interestingly enough, the state of Missouri wants a piece of the scum who murdered her for another murder he committed .... maybe he won't be so lucky to avoid the lethal injection this time??
Anyway, I'm just thankful that Beverly escaped with her life, though I'm sure she'll never feel safe again.
About 10 years ago, the sister-in-law of my uncle (we weren't related, but I knew her from family gatherings at my aunt and uncle's house over the years) was carjacked. Unfortunately, the perpetrator chose to drive a few miles, shoot her in the head, and dump her body in a wooded area off the side of the road. She had a son and daughter in college and a young son at home, obviously their lives were never the same . The bastard was caught trying to cross the Canadian border in the car; then tried, convicted and sentenced to death, though I doubt that gave anyone much comfort. Especially when Gov. George Ryan commuted everyone's death sentences before he left office as an attempt to make his legacy be that of "the compassionate pardoner" as opposed to the scammer and crook that he was. Did I mention former Gov. Ryan is in prison now?? Interestingly enough, the state of Missouri wants a piece of the scum who murdered her for another murder he committed .... maybe he won't be so lucky to avoid the lethal injection this time??
Anyway, I'm just thankful that Beverly escaped with her life, though I'm sure she'll never feel safe again.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Bangin' in the Rock
So apparently gang activity is alive and well in Little Rock .... or at least random acts of retarded graffiti.
We have a trail that runs along our back fenceline mainly used by school kids walking home from the elementary school three blocks away, and people in the subdivision walking their dogs. Sometime last week a hoodlum (or two who knows) created this lovely piece of art on our fence.
**edited: photo removed given that it is gang affiliated and I do not want to encourage or incite**
I walked down the trail and didn't see anyone else who was lucky enough to have received such careful attention to their fences. We called the clubhouse (we live in one of those gated communities) and apparently this has happened in the past but not lately. BJ sent it to one of his law enforcement friends involved with local gang activity to see if it's random graffiti or not (mainly out of our own curiosity). I guess we'll have to sand or paint.
Stupid hoodlums!
We have a trail that runs along our back fenceline mainly used by school kids walking home from the elementary school three blocks away, and people in the subdivision walking their dogs. Sometime last week a hoodlum (or two who knows) created this lovely piece of art on our fence.
**edited: photo removed given that it is gang affiliated and I do not want to encourage or incite**
I walked down the trail and didn't see anyone else who was lucky enough to have received such careful attention to their fences. We called the clubhouse (we live in one of those gated communities) and apparently this has happened in the past but not lately. BJ sent it to one of his law enforcement friends involved with local gang activity to see if it's random graffiti or not (mainly out of our own curiosity). I guess we'll have to sand or paint.
Stupid hoodlums!
Houston, We Have Steak!!
After weeks of staring at our pretty grill sitting alone and gas-less on the deck - we HAVE GRILLAGE!!!
The plumber who visited last week came in with an exorbitantly high estimate so we called two others for comparison. Both plumbers 2 and 3 were quite a bit lower, so we settled on one who came this morning to put in the gas line as well as cap off the leaking unused gas line to the fireplace (we're opting out of a gas insert as opposed to spending hundred perhaps thousands in finding the leak and then repairing all of the brick work).
So tonight, we had yummy steaks and baked potatoes on the grill and they were DELICIOUS!!!! What happy meat eaters we are!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
SuperSonic!
Yesterday afternoon as I was watching basketball (Jenn LOVES March Madness!) I was contemplating my love of Sonic. You know, the drive in restaurant where you can get such delicious concoctions as cherry chocolate colas, a chocolate malted, slushes and tater tots. My recent favorite is Cherry Vanilla Diet Coke, cherry Limeaid and raspberry sweet tea (not sure if that's available everywhere or just here in the South) either of which you can get for 50% off during happy hour!! Woo Hoo!! And did I mention there's a Sonic conveniently located at the
entrance to my subdivision??!?! Score!!While thinking about a cool, refreshing Cherry Vanilla Diet Coke - I started musing on how my relationship with Sonic began. It was waaaay back in 1992 during my first trip to the University of Missouri - Rolla to visit my buddy Kevin. I quickly learned that being a non-fat, relatively hot chic AND visiting an engineering school populated by often drunk frat boys = LOTS of attention for Jenn! Did I mention how much I love Rolla?? Some of my best times in college were at the St. Pat's celebration at Rolla (ahh, to be young an a desired minority once again!)
Anyway, while visiting Rolla in '92 - I looked up Ed who was also a student there. I knew him from marching band and he was always a super nice guy. Kevin and I picked up Ed and he suggested going to Sonic (WHERE?) for cherry limeaids (WHAT?). At the time Sonics were not the ubiquitous sight along the highway that they are now and I had never seen a drive in where you actually .... you know "drive in." I was dubious about ordering this cherry limeaid concoction because I'm not even a fan of lemonade, and limeaid? Sounded gross!
Well I was wrong, from the first sip to the last maraschino cherry bite - it was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted!! In college, when traveling to Rolla (or through Rolla to visit my family in SW Missouri) I always stopped at Sonic for a cherry limeaid and a corn dog. It wasn't until several years later that Sonics started to pop up in parts of Illinois and a cherry limeaid was as easy to get as a Frostie from Wendy's. The love affair has never ended .... long, live Sonic!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Honeymoon Hike
We really didn't do a "traditional" honeymoon - just wasn't my thing. We did stay an extra night in Eureka Springs and got massages on Sunday which was pretty cool, but then just came home to an agenda of nothingness which is a vacation in itself.
While out fulfilling a hamburger craving that I had (and I hardly EVER crave hamburgers) we saw a new outdoorsy shop opened in West Little Rock. We went in and found that all of their shoes and boots were 50% off and we had *just* been talking in Eureka about how both of us needed some light duty hiking boots since I hate dayhiking in my heavy, stiff backpackers.
About 10 minutes later we were both outfitted with new day hikers (I'm ashamed to say they are a matching style) and we got them for a steal!! When we got home I immediately pulled out my hiking guide to find a trail we could explore the next day.We ended up choosing a 4 mile loop in Lake Ouachita State Park which was a little over an hour away. The hiking guide said "moderate" but I've learned that these guides are usually totally overblowing the effort so we were expecting a nice leisurely jaunt. The Caddo Trail was actually quite scenic and had some nice uphills and downhills as it traveled along the bluff of the lake shore. Though it was posted as a three hour hike, we cut that down in half. The best part
was that a group had set off about an hour before us, so if there were evil spiderwebs crossing the path, they were the unfortunate souls to walk into them.The new hiking shoes were great, and we can't wait to use them on some more challenging terrain.
Scary Swiffers!!
Both of my dogs have always been afraid of the vacuum cleaner .... well perhaps not afraid but more believing that it is their sworn, mortal enemy. This started when Tosca was a puppy and she would bark and attack the vacuum, I can only guess that when Oakley was added to the household she pulled him aside and said, "that thing that sucks and makes the noise? It wants to kill you!"
Oakley has always been quite overt in his vacuum attacks, silently skulking behind me and out of nowhere lunging forth and biting (there are teeth marks to prove it.) On more than one occasion he has happily walked into a room only to encounter said evil vacuum, quiet and alone in a place he was not expecting it, then tripping over himself and howling to escape. I confess I have found these moments pretty damn funny, except the one time I was living alone and he started freaking out barking in the middle of the night and I was sure someone had entered the house to murder me, only to find that he had gotten up for a drink and been frightened by the
vacuum in the hallway.
Today I got out the Swiffer - you know the non-powered broom with disposable cloths - to dust the wood floors. Well apparently his fear is not of vacuums but of any device used to clean, sweep or remove items from the floor. Seriously, what's scary about a swiffer?
My dog is such a pussy.
**the picture doesn't show the fear as well, but his tail is tucked between his legs and he sniffed it then very slowly backed away.**
Oakley has always been quite overt in his vacuum attacks, silently skulking behind me and out of nowhere lunging forth and biting (there are teeth marks to prove it.) On more than one occasion he has happily walked into a room only to encounter said evil vacuum, quiet and alone in a place he was not expecting it, then tripping over himself and howling to escape. I confess I have found these moments pretty damn funny, except the one time I was living alone and he started freaking out barking in the middle of the night and I was sure someone had entered the house to murder me, only to find that he had gotten up for a drink and been frightened by the
vacuum in the hallway.Today I got out the Swiffer - you know the non-powered broom with disposable cloths - to dust the wood floors. Well apparently his fear is not of vacuums but of any device used to clean, sweep or remove items from the floor. Seriously, what's scary about a swiffer?
My dog is such a pussy.
**the picture doesn't show the fear as well, but his tail is tucked between his legs and he sniffed it then very slowly backed away.**
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Here Comes the Bride
**For more wedding pics than you would ever want to see, click here**And now, without further adieu ... the wedding recap.
Don't think this will be an interesting episode of Bridezillas or My Big Fat Redneck Wedding, just a simple, sweet little wedding without drama, the need for Xanax or even an embarrassingly drunk loudmouthed guest!
Wedding week started with my having a slight cold (aaargh!) and doing a three night stretch in a row which always wears me out. On the last night, some kind co-workers were sweet enough to plan a surprise shower complete with purple napkins, punch, and a white sheet cake decorated with purple icing. Being a mere traveler in their midst, I was very touched by the gesture and the $250 they managed to collect for a Lowe's gift certificate (hello new carpet in the master bedroom!).
Thursday was very stressful because despite needing to sleep after work, I had tons of errands to run given that we were leaving early on Friday. In typical Jenn fashion I left things to the last minute like picking up my wedding dress, getting mascara, underwear (seriously - even left this to the day before and for you men out there women do NOT go "commando"), a pedicure and of course packing. It turned out that the winter storm of the century was preparing to hit Central Arkansas (an area where a dusting of snow causes complete and utter panic) so we were wondering what the drive would be like the next day.
Friday we got up relatively early to some serious snow fall the likes that I have never seen in Little Rock. It wasn't really cold and the roads didn't seem too bad yet so we decided to just take it slow and head out. The road to Eureka was a major highway (though not interstate) and we figured we'd be OK. Before heading out of town we stopped at Kroger (supermarket) for flowers. I refused to blow tons of money on some silly florist bouquet when I could tie up some flowers myself. I found some purple mums and white roses that I thought would do the trick and off we went.
The first 45 minutes or so was snowy and then we hit roads that had been snowed on previously but were clear. By the time we made it to the North park of Arkansas it was bone dry- they hadn't got a lick of snow or rain. Kindof sad because winter photos would have been cute. We checked in to the Bavarian Inn, an adorable little hotel with a fabulous room! A king bed, fireplace, couch, two chairs, balcony and massive two person jacuzzi for $99 - just $10 more than the Best Western and definitely a good choice. For those who have never had the privilege of
going to Eureka Springs, it's an adorable little mountain town that was formerly an artist colony and place where people came in the late 1800s to "take the healing waters." Now it's populated by hippy sorts, bikers, a large gay community and full of antique shops, interesting stores, spas and massage therapists and has more bed and breakfasts and hotels than a little town of 2400 would EVER need. There are several wedding chapels and most of the B&Bs do weddings as well so it was the perfect place for a hitching. Friday night we had some excellent BBQ at Bubba's and went to bed early.
Saturday we went a great breakfast place - The Mud Street Cafe recommended by the hotel staff and ended up eating there every day. We walked around town a little bit, enjoyed the sunny but frigid day and hoped to take a nap but alas! I had a hair appointment at 2.Though I'm a pretty low maintenance girl, I figured my wedding was one occasion for nicer hair. I decided to just go with a "please curl my hair" approach. I'm not one for big updos since I never wear my hair like that normally. I'm a big believer in the fact that a bride should still look like
herself - just maybe a bit fancier. After about 50 minutes of curling iron work ... curly hair had arrived!! I then drove my car through an automatic car wash because it was filthy from the road and I just didn't think that was appropriate for such an occasion. I made it back to the hotel around 3p.m. and the wedding was for 4 - so luckily I just had to put my makeup on and throw on my clothes. In the end, I don't think I looked too shabby. My only problem was that the spaghetti straps on my dress were just a wee bit long and kept wanting to fall down - guess I should have gotten those sewn shorter ... oh well.I arrived at the chapel first, met the photographer we had hired (she was very sweet) and went over final ceremony details with the JP. The chapel had a stock ceremony that was a wee bit too hippy-dippy for us so I basically rewrote the whole thing with lots of help from the internet and some great forums like IndieBride. The photographer snapped some shots before BJs arrival, and I hid in another room when he showed up.
The song we had chosen, Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was played as the intro and my sauntering into the room music. You've probably heard it before, it's a gorgeous interpretation that I think is full of hope. This video shows the artist who died at a young age and is highly revered in Hawa'ii, it doesn't have the part where he transitions into "What a Wonderful World" which was on the track we used.
The ceremony went off without a hitch. I had a pretty big cheesy grin on my face, giggled a bit (as I do when I'm nervous), and BJ blatantly stared at my cleavage which was apparently just in his line of sight.
I won't bore you with lots of details but we had one reading from Madeline L'Engle (children's author of A Wrinkle In Time) a funny poem by Ogden Nash, and the vows I found online and thought they were awesome ..."you are my companion in life and my one true love. I will treasure our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust and honor you, I will laugh and cry with you. With unfailing love I will stand by you through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep."
and we finished the ceremony with the Blessing of the Apaches
"Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth."
It was beautiful and everything truly reflected us and we had our song on again as we finished up and took our pictures.
We did most of the pics outside and it was COLD!!
One shot shows my AWESOME purple Guess heels but there is absolutely zero blood in my goosebumpy legs so I look albino!! I
also should mention my purple pedicured toenails!! I think it confused the Korean woman at the nail shop, "you sure you want purple?"And for the record, my $15 of flowers from Kroger turned out just
fine. It turns out that my Hobby Lobby ribbon looked good on the spool but was a completely different shade of purple once I used it, but since I don't worry too much about such things it didn't bother me at all.Afterwards we ate at The Bavarian Inn (where we were staying) they have a Czech-German restuarant that is considered one of the best ethnic places in the state. The Inn and restaurant had just opened for the season the week prior and since BJ is a lover of all things German - it was a nice place to eat. The food was delicious (I had a green peppercorn steak, BJ with the goulash) but we were sure to leave room for the cake!
Umm, it was good, good cake!! It was orange sponge cake with "hummingbird" filling which is a raspberry lemon concoction. Many thanks to Sarah V. at work for turning me on to this cake
shop in Springdale, AR. It was gorgeous and purple and I can't wait to eat the top tier in a year!!! We did do the traditional, let's feed each other cake thing, and we both played nicely with no cake smashage or smearing.
Though BJ does have a habit of licking my nose sometimes just because he knows it irritates me!!
After being completely stuffed with excellent food and cake, we called it an evening. A fabulous wedding, just the way I wanted it!!
(edited to add: I cannot get the pictures and text to wrap like I want. Stupid blogger!!)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Boy I'd sure like a nice grilled steak!
One of the sad things about moving into the new house was that we had to leave grilling behind - at least for a while. The rental house had a natural gas grill attached to the patio and the new house does not have an exterior gas line. For some reason, people around here are all crazy about natural gas grills and not as into the LG ones with the tank that I'm used to seeing. After we moved, we planned on waiting for tax refunds to purchase a grill and hire a plumber to run the line to the deck.
Well we've had a grill for about three weeks now. Just sitting all lonely and covered by itself on the deck. Our problem?? Dead beat plumber!!
I should mention that my Mom works for a wholesale distributor of plumbing and HVAC parts and she deals with plumbers everyday and loves them. When I visit her at work, she's always introducing me to one of her customers and sadly probably telling them stories about me all the time (I think the latest is the wedding pictures she's showing EVERYONE ). So I'm inclined to like plumbers.
When we first moved into the house we had a water leak, then a clogged drain from the washer that dumped water all over the floor, then a gas leak - all requiring some plumbing action. Our home warranty company sent over Larry and we loved him! He was friendly and during one of his visits my Mom was here and they got to talk plumbing and she liked him too. We even asked him about a gas line during one of his visits and it would be "no problem." So when the grill was purchased it was time!!!
We booked Larry and BJ took off work to anxiously await his arrival. He even promised to go shopping for steaks that night!! Well Larry never showed up, and when his office was called the woman said, "Oh I'm so sorry. His daughter went into labor! I guess I should have called you." Since we are understanding (though wishing someone would have called since BJ stayed home specifically for this) we rescheduled for early the next week. Again, BJ stayed home and we had a no show. He called and this time the office said, "there was an emergency water heater problem he had to take care of today. I forgot to call you YESTERDAY AFTERNOON." So they knew the day before that they were cancelling the appointment? And didn't call? BJ was highly miffed at this and much to my surprise allowed them to re-schedule again, but there was no time available until the wedding, so we were going to try again this past Saturday.
And of course, a No Call. No Show. I was sleeping (I worked nights all weekend) and apparently BJ left a very unflattering message on the office phone, and when he went to run errands a stern note was put on the door (in the event Larry showed up very late) stating not to knock or ring the doorbell since I was sleeping. We were disappointed because we had really liked him and are not sure if he has complete idiots working his office?? He didn't seem like the type to be so irresponsible. I just know that if the situation was reversed and we weren't there, the plumber would have charged us for the time.
So our poor grill still sits all alone and untouched. My poor belly craves a medium rare steak or a nice grilled breast of chicken. And now we are keeping our fingers crossed that the plumber we hired from a billboard at the entrance to our subdivision will actually show up today.
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