I can open the door....Really!

It is the cat, Loki.

He really thinks that if he just keep trying he will open the back door and get outside.

Not that he would really go anywhere. He hates to walk on grass. The back porch is surrounded by ... grass.

I think he delights in being 'dangerous' by going outside where the dogs romp and play in the sea of brown and green. No green now - dead of winter in the south means brown.

After going outside and crouching on the cement porch for an eternity and my leaving the door open a crack, he quietly slunk back in and jumped on the window seat. Pretending like he had never been outside.

Five minutes later he is reaching for the back door handle, trying to open the door. I call his name and he looks at me with disdain and returns to the door knob with intense concentration. 

Eventually, he decides this activity is beneath him. Especially, as I am reading paper, it is time to get in my face and prove that cats are more interesting that any old piece of paper.

Yup, a cool character, never does anything that he wasn't meaning to do. It makes me smile.

Whew!

The new year finds me running but in a good way.

As many of you know I worked A Lot during the holidays. Opportunities to make a bit extra to cover some bills, like the new AC unit and new refrigerator and freezer we had to get last year. It meant less time with the kids but made me feel a bit easier from a financial standpoint.

I am back to a more normal schedule and participated in our first confirmation retreat of the year at Camp Allen. Vernon, Amy and I were kitchen staff and it made for long days but it is oh so rewarding. We all pretty much pooped out Sunday on our return and it was hard to gear up and go teach CCE and then go to Mass and wait out while Colt had his CCE class. I slept WELL Sunday night.

I was back at work Monday and spent some time with my brother in law, who is recovering in the hospital. Came home and slept for 4 hours then out to my ONS meeting. I love seeing all those fantastic nurses who love oncology nursing. I also get to hear what is changing in the local job and Oncology market. Lots of moves by fellow nurses to Methodist. It is a great company and I just love working for them.

The nest two days finds me cleaning my house and relaxing before I am back on the weekend. Vernon and the kids are off to a 9th grade retreat at Camp Kappe. Vernon and Amy are team and will work and Colt is retreat attendee. I am praying for them all to have a blessed weekend. I am participating in making a medication form for the kids who have to take medicine over the weekend at the retreat. I was the first aid coordinator (the nurse gets to do pills and first aid) at last weekend's retreat and we were able to work out some kinks in the new policies we have instituted to make our retreat with our youth safer.

I am truly better when I have a plan. And currently my list is full of things to keep me busy. Including taking Amy driving today and tomorrow. ; -D

Quit Yer' Moanin'!

I offer my apologies for my attitude earlier in the day. I was awake during my normal sleep time and it really showed.

It has been wonderful to be off for three days.

We went to see the Co-Cathedral yesterday and stopped at Sacco's, the Catholic store with every religious item you can think of - really! The only bad part was driving through the heavy rains on the way home.

I've got my shopping done.

Working on my January Grocery list and menu.  I know you are disgusted with me - admit it;-) it is okay - really.

Got my ONS annual report completed. And sent out January renewal applications for members.

I'll print out my posters for work tomorrow. And make the new ONS nametags for the January 11, 2011 meeting.

I feel very productive, even if it started at 9 PM after I picked up Amy's prescription!

Where do they all come from?

I'm off, but does anyone get out of my way?

It is not supposed to be so busy at the stores. I have shopping to do, and I really do not like to fight through the crowds.

It is bad enough I have to shop, but really, people, get out of my way.

I had to go get Christmas presents and buy the boy shoes today. We went to the Premium Outlet Mall by Fairfield. Got a bit drizzled on but we survived and did not melt.

Then stopped to get Amy's RX for acne and they told me $125. I said "How much?"

And I heard, along with the kids that "The insurance picked up $375."

I quickly called my money man at home and he told me he had a card for a $10 co-pay.

Now I know how the drug companies make money. Ripping off the consumer. I asked for the generic and they told me they would have to refile. I told them to hold the prescription and I would return with the card.

Amy said for that amount of money the prescription should walk itself into her mouth.

Updates

Hey crazy people! It's been forever! Now that I'm on break and bored out of my mind, I figured I'd give updates :D Get happy :)

Side note: Loki is sitting in my lap and taking away most of my concentration so let's hope I can get this done and still make sense. I love my white fluffy fat weirdo cat <3

So let's see... the confined feeling has moved to the back of my mind. I think it's because I (along with the rest of the junior class) has realized that we only have three semesters left until we're in college.... O.o Scary, I know...

School's going pretty good. Parentals are extremely proud of their two straight A children. I'm proud too :) I'm hoping next semester is better.

I'm not really falling for any guy right now. Rene has waaaayyy to much fricking drama. And I'M the girl! Anyway, I'm not sold on anyone, which I kind of enjoy. There's a song by John Mayer called "Perfectly Lonely". I hit that status pretty much everytime a guy proves himself something I don't want. I think it's healthy to be happy you're alone.

So it doesn't feel like two days til Christmas at all. Stupid bipolar Texas weather is to blame. Ugh. I have to serve Christmas day and then we're headed over to Aunt Jennifer's and Uncle Tom's. I'm excited!!!

So far my break is pretty pathetic. It has consisted of TV and computer. I vacuumed the whole house and washed dishes. I'm about to go eat some chocolate :)

Hope you guys are more exciting than me! LOVE YOU! Have a marvelous Christmas :D

Wide Awake

Normally, I am eating lunch at 2:30 am.

Normally, I am finishing checking chart at 3:30 am.

Normally, I am putting needles in arms and drawing blood at 4:00 am.

Normally, lately, I am working.

But now, I am wide awake, after being woken up by my bed mate when he came to bed at 2:30 am (don't ask) and trying to dose back off, my body decided it had a nice nap and perked right up.

I finally crawled out of bed, got dressed and came down in the dark house and decided I could at least catch up on e-mails and online education.

I am nibbling on some crackers and hot tea. Amy's alarm should be going off any minute to get her up for school.

Minnie is lying here at my side, sleeping.

I am also trying to decide when I should try to go back to bed before I go to work tonight.

Twisted

I woke up at 6 am to make sure Colt was up this morning, after only 3 hours of sleep.

Needless to say, I went right back to bed until 9 am.

Currently, I am up and will return to my warm cocoon at 1 pm to sleep another 4 hours before I am up at 5pm to get ready for work.

I've been off for 4 days and cannot seem to get to bed before 2 am. The mornings and early afternoon are sluggish as best. My eyes don't seem to function well even with glasses until noon and even better at 5 pm.

I had to get up at 6 am yesterday to take the kids to school with their formal uniforms for orchestra pictures and once I was up I was okay until about 10 am.

Probably, the saddest part of this is that my spouse insists on staying up with me, despite the fact he is often sound asleep in his recliner at 8 or 9 pm.

I am scheduled to work for the next 5 days straight, so sleep is mandated from 9 AM- 5PM daily. I'll resurface on Tuesday and Wednesday then work for two more days until a weekend off.

Like I said 'twisted' would be an apt decription of my wake-sleep cycle.