"Faster! Faster!"

Schwinn Legacy Coaster Bike

Yep,

no gears,

no front brake,

just a rear coaster brake.

Cool!

And it's mine, all mine.  I had the best time today, flying around my folks little neighborhood.  I, as yet, want a basket, a bell, and a lock.  All of which I already have on my 5 speed back home, including my helmet.  I'll get the helmet when I go home for a week in a month.  In the mean time I will ride recklessly in this tiny sub-division with the wind in my hair!

My "Harley Brothers" are all smiling, I'm sure.  (Tom, considering I watched, straight faced, as you rode down our street on your motorized bar stool, you had better not be laughing!)

Fit for the deed I had to do.

I will not drown, I will not panic

Tomorrow I meet with the Patient/Family along with a Trainer, for what will be, hopefully, my first case.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I know my stuff, I can do this.

"I'll tell it her,"

Voyage into the unforgiving jungle
or
it was a dark and stormy night . . .



I was able to procure a pilot willing to fly me into where my boat was to be moored.

I then had to navigate the wild and raging river to the clearing I had been told of to meet the rest of my party.

Alas, many in my party were lost forever, as we sped through the dense jungle on the roiling river.

Suddenly we broke through the jungle, and came upon some great idols.  We could only guess at what kind of sacrifice they would call for.

We had yet to meet the natives and were becoming quite anxious.

Suddenly, we noticed a group of strangely clothed natives coming towards us . . .

They welcomed us with traditional dances.

The drums were relentless . . . and I began to understand the passion of some for "Dancing with the Stars."

Although, it was at this point I began drinking the elixir they offered . . . to be polite, of course, no sense offending anyone.

They seemed to have many pools around the complex, and were intent that we cleanse ourselves. 

(A drink and wash, rather decent these chaps!)

Afterward, some of my party was led to a rather large central pyramid.

As they were dragged up, I thought I heard screams, but alas, they were probably just very excited to see something new.

  

Oh well, you only live ONCE!

In the mean time, I shall continue to cool in this pool and drink this wonderful elixir.

Cheerio,

PS

Thank me for leaving off any and all "Fantasy Island" references, cuz walking through the lobby two of us, had to suffer through an awful and very loud rendition of "The Love Boat."

. . . away by the tail . . .

ooh, thank goodness, Home.

Yes, they're home safe, too.

An hours worth of running wildly about the house while tossing toys, getting a good cuddle with Mom, and Pepper is back to normal, (whatever that is), for her.

Checked his people and the yard, sniffed the luggage still in the midst of unpacking,  a short cuddle with me, and Jack is happy.

All is well.

and the happy summer days.

Home again, home again,

jiggity-jig!

After a long flight, from 83 degree weather to 45 degrees, we arrived home last night. 

I was, joyfully, able to sleep for 10 hours straight.  Hooray!  I may be caught up, or it might take one more night of good sleep.  I wish I could say it was staying up late or partying that took my rest, however Mom and I traded beds after the 2nd night when I realized she was getting NO sleep.  The second night, Dad decided he would sleep better on the couch in the bedroom, unfortunately he needs help every time he gets up, (4-5 times per night).

"She'll have to go back from here as luggage!"

From the dark rainy skies of Michigan

TO

The bright sunny skies of Mexico

Adios, amigos . . .

see you in a week.

PS
Orientation - done.  Testing - completed.  I even have a company ID.
I ended up teaching about trachs to the other Nurse orientees during the Lab portion.
So, should have a small paycheck waiting when I get back.
Again, wow, what a week.

It was a golden crown.

They called while I ran errands, and Father said I wasn't in yet.  Rather then wait, they called me on my cell.

Please, you will call as soon as you come back from Mexico, so we may start you in orientation. We really want you on board here as soon as possible..

• I seem to have a job.
• I am trying to recall if there was an actual interview after the tests.
• I am in Michigan, (the worst job economy in the country), aren't I?

I guess I was expecting, " . . . and so why do you think we should hire you?" or "What would your previous Director of Nursing say about you?"

(My previous DON not only gave me pointers on resume writing, but how to interview and how to "sell" myself.)

I guess the resume and testing . . . sold me.

wow.


update:
THEY called yet again this evening, "can you come in for orientation tomorrow, 9am-1pm?"
Guess the mandatory background check was fine.

. . . too much pepper . . .

The once a week "fix"

My father truly loves Mexican food, the hotter the better.  For this reason and others, he loves vacationing in Mexico. 

Because we all lived so far apart, my parents started a tradition of having the whole family travel to Mexico for a FAMILY vacation.  Originally started for their 50th Anniversary, the fragility of life inspired them to continue it annually.

Together we have enjoyed, Acapulco, Cancun, and Cabo.  This year we will see Nuevo Vallarta.

The dogs have seen the suitcases . . . they are nervous.

you are a simpleton."

The Angelique anchored in safe harbor.

Test.  He said Test.  As in one . . . not SEVEN Tests.  Med surg., Pedi., Vents, Pharmacology, Safety, OSHA, HIPAA . . . and I had to have 80% to pass.

Breathe . . . peace . . . calm waters . . . gentle breezes . . . breathe.

Actually, he said I did exceptionally well.  Two tests to retake, with one I only missed by one question, (I don't know how to clean a vent circuit in the home, Day shift changed them and they had a pasteurizer at the Facility!)  The other test, he said, I would have been fine, but by then I started 2nd guessing myself. 

So, quick learn/review and I'm all good.  I'm not going to be required to take the home ventilator class . . . which I'm told is highly unusual.

Whew, then maybe I'm not an idiot!

PS
They also wanted to know how BEST to make me happy working for them.
I promise I won't do a "Sally Field."

--and remember who you are."

Cancun, Mexico

Mortgage, Misc. Household Bills, Health Insurance, Family Leave ending, Cobra starting, Savings dwindling.

Dad's done with Rehab.  . . .  the Doctor appointments are caught up . . . things are almost quiet . . . so I pulled it together and made one call.  (Active toddler in process of being weaned from a ventilator with a full-time week nights opening and full benefits.) 

They, (appear to) want me so bad, they told me to plan on two and a half hours for my "interview" to pull my paperwork together for employment.

Resume, References, Letters . . . check, check, check . . . fingers crossed and my brain working - - CHECK!

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

Red Sox Nation

Alas, I am in Tiger Country . . . although it could be worse.

Actually, I really don't follow baseball, but I do feel some loyalty.  I am also now living in the home of a Tiger Fanatic.

An Easter Greeting to Every Child Who Loves "Alice"

Sunrise over an island in Penobscot Bay from the deck of the Angelique.

This Easter sun will rise on you, dear child, feeling your "life in every limb," and eager to rush out into the fresh morning air---and many an Easter-day will come and go, before it finds you feeble and gray-headed, creeping wearily out to bask once more in the sunlight---but it is good, even now, to think sometimes of that great morning when the "Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings."

Lewis Carroll

Easter, 1876

Happy Easter

"You're travelling the wrong way,"

Ride to the end of the line.  Henry Ford Museum.

I am often asked how I came to be in New England if my folks live in Michigan. 

I blame them. 

They started it.

Dad's entire extended family, for the most part, live in the Indiana/Illinois area.

Mom's entire extended family live in Nebraska.

Mom and Dad met in New Mexico, (good ole Los Alamos Labs).

They had my older Brother in Ohio.

4 years later they had me in Tennessee, (did I mention they lived in Calif., in between?).

4 years after that they had my younger Brother in California.

5 years later, (post "man on the moon"), the space industry went kaput, so off to Michigan.

This of course, is leaving off locales with WWII service and College/University.

So, we travelled often to visit Family, usually by car or rail.  Vacations, of course were always car expeditions . . . Alaska, Mexico, Washington DC, Arkansas, etc.

Again, I blame them . . . wouldn't you?

I've been in many gardens before,

Garden in Castine Maine, not mine!

I've spent the last 3 days digging 3 new flower beds around the back deck and transplanting all the tall day lilies I dug up from the entry flower beds.  (Just short of forty feet, in hard clay, plus cutting out the sod, I'm a bit achy now.)  The lilies tended to cover over the front walkway, so out they came to be replaced by shorter "sunnier" ones.  Both parents approved all the work, (although there were many suggestion as to the how), however we may still hear from the OVERLORDS of the Condo board.