Wake up

Stolen from Facebook, is not my photo.

Early this last week I was feeling a bit old and bedraggled. I was still recuperating from starting a karate class a few weeks ago (at my age? I know, right!) and began going to the gym. This was on top of my 12 hour nursing shifts turning into 14+ hours and to say the least it was wearing on me. Then Friday was my youngest daughter's 21st birthday. I booked a hotel room in Portland and took her out for an evening of alcohol and drag queens (Mother of the Year, right??) and a good time was had by all. I started feeling a little better.

Unfortunately, that great day was sandwiched in between finding out Thursday night that an old friend in Texas had passed away and learning on Saturday that 2 of my residents suddenly turned for the worse and are nearing the end of their journeys as well. I am a long-term care nurse and after a couple of years they might as well be family. Today I called an ex of mine to let him know about the friend in Texas. I discovered he was injured at work. He is waiting for workmen's comp to get their crap together and do their job while dealing with being both broke and in extreme pain. He will have back surgery and a hip replacement in the next month it seems. 

Wow, makes a girl feel guilty about whining over a little overtime and a few self-inflicted aches and pains! 

It's a reminder to appreciate every moment we have, despite the little annoyances that are a part of everyone's life. Be grateful for what you have and give what you can to others. Even if it's only a smile or a shoulder to cry on. 

Love and peace to all.

An introduction of sorts.

I have spent the better part of 2 years trying to decide if I should be writing my own blog. Part of the indecision was just exactly WHAT I would write about. Today, due to circumstances I will surely post about later, I have decided on EVERYTHING! Whatever strikes my fancy at any given moment. Mostly happy stuff but be warned, not always. 


I may start a post about how much I admire Jenny Lawson @TheBloggess (especially after I go to her book signing in a couple of weeks) and end up on the healthcare debate. *Political commentary will be very limited, I promise!


***Plug for Jenny "cause I loves her": http://thebloggess.com/lets-pretend-this-never-happened-a-mostly-true-memoir/    If you haven't read this book yet, feel very guilty and deprived for a few minutes, then go out and get a copy!


I might even talk about tattoos and nose rings. See, like a lot of us, I suffer from an occasionally severe case of ADOLS (Attention Deficit...oh look, shiny!) and I just never know when it may strike in my focus and concentration, in my writing, or in my daily conversations ... it is what it is. 

                                                               Oh look, an elephant!!!

Since this is like our first date, I suppose I should give you a little background about myself without giving too much away. I grew up in Small Town, Mississippi but have traveled some and lived in a variety of places. I have 2 grown daughters and 2 gorgeous grand-babies. Yes, I'm a grandma but not like my grandma was. She'd never take a raft down the Rogue River! 

No, that isn't me in the pink shorts, sheesh I'm almost 50!

I am currently loving the Pacific Northwest and have no plans to ever leave. Except for some great vacations I plan on taking when I can get past the planning stage and get to the paying for it stage. 


Like any good first date some things have to be saved for later. I've talked enough for now, your turn.