Gearing up to a new book

I have been in a rather addictive frenzy of late re-reading my Meredith Gentry Fairy Princess novels by Laurell K Hamilton. I could barely put them down and sometimes my eyes burned or my wrists hurt from holding the book in certain positions for too long. Now, I think that borders on addiction, eh? Especially since I read them all over a year ago. Anywho, I only own the first 4 books and the 5th and 6th books are missing from the library so I picked up a book a friend mailed me. Did I mention I plowed through all 4 books in less than 2 weeks? I think I needed a pick-me-up after reading 'Cold Mountain' and 'The Mermaid's Chair.'

Starting to read this new book, 'Interworld', was kind of awkward, but in a good way. You can read a certain author for a while and then when you pick up a new book, those first few chapters feel like you are driving a car you have never driven before and you haven't even been driving for a few months. It feels like that. The style is so different. The story so different. It is kind of fun. You can feel the gears in your brain being jolted and shifted to take in the new style of writing.

In other news, I am doing some serious purging and cleaning around the house. It has been slow at work so I have been working 8 hour shifts instead of 12 and this past Wednesday they asked if I would be willing to stay home and just take a vacation day. I guess people aren't that sick during the summer. So, I went through all my binders and stuff I had used for school the past few years and purged a ton. I filled our paper recycling bin (it is an huge bin, by the way) to about 1/2 to 2/3 full. Then, I felt compelled to clean the inside, outside and underneath-side of the fridge which blossomed into mopping the floors. I mowed the backyard, trimmed the trees and did some sweeping. I did laundry, and other chores. During all this and more manual labor around the house, I starting scheming about how I could afford to have a housekeeper come to my house 2 times a month to do the hard core cleaning. I'll keep you posted on those plans.

I want to go to 1/2 priced books this week and not just to try and sell some books. I want that 5th and 6th Hamilton book. I almost think I should be banned from those books for awhile. ;)

Enjoying the summer

I've had two camping trips in the last 3 weeks. One up to the redwoods for hiking and enjoying the trees and one near a hot lake where we swam, kayaked and canoed. It was such a contrast in camping and makes me appreciate where we live even more. The redwoods were only about an hour drive away and the hot lake was almost 2 hours away. Such diversity, so close to home.

In other outdoor news, the daughter and I were trying to explore a lake park near us (maybe 2 miles away) and we brought Howie, the dog. The walk started off great, but then the trail didn't exacly continue around the lake and we explored around and found an entrance to other side of the park. However, we were stopped by a park ranger. He says no dogs allowed. It is the same lake we were walking on from the other side, but no dogs allowed on this side of the lake. We were very disappointed and I am not sure I want to go back to that park. Of course, it started a discussion with the daughter about why dogs are not allowed. The school that is about 1 block from our house has a playground so we used to walk over there a lot to play and would often bring Howie. Recently signs went up saying no dogs are allowed there. So, the daughter started talking about it as well. Basically, because people can't be trusted to clean up after their dogs or to keep them on leash, they have to ban them from certain parks. I guess it is good for her to learn about responsibility and accountability at a younger and younger age.

Still disappointing. Poor Howie.

Feeling antsy but going nowhere

These past few months I have these feelings that I need change. I am ready for something new. I feel like I am in a rut of a personal, social, creative and professional level . . . like my whole life. I am approaching my 40s, is it a mid-life crisis? Life is good in our little slice of suburbia. Everyone is healthy. We have solid jobs. Marriage is solid. But, I feel like I need some kind of change. It is the same old, tired, yet comfortable routine.

I keep thinking I need some new friends, but I haven't really had to make any in years. I don't even know how to go about it. I want to try new activities. I am sick of having free time and no one to spend it with. I am done with being fat. I feel like I am boring and socially repressed. What happened to the 20-something girl that would spin on the beach or stay up all hours? What happened to that sense of adventure that led to me parachute or ride off-road motorcycles? What about all those travel plans? How about just getting out and doing stuff all the time? Exploring our surroundings? Maybe I need a new tattoo?!

I look at the free-spirited, independent, socially exuberant daughter and realize I used to be like that too. Maybe that is the cause for the self-reflection? I see me in her and I realize I am not like that anymore. I am old, tired and stuck in a rut of comfortableness.

And despite all this, what do I do? Just the same routine. Walk the dog. Go to the gym. Clean the house. Yardwork. Shopping. Take the daughter to her activities. Watch tv. Read a couple books now and then. Read about the exciting lives of others. Do some craft or house projects. Yawn.

How do I pull myself out of this rut? Or, is it really a rut? Well, housework calls.

Elation at work lasts only seconds

The last few shifts at work they have had me out of direct patient care. I have either been the lunch break nurse, resource nurse (means we are overstaffed and I am just to help out) or in an auditing role. I've been there two years and they have me on a committee and doing the role of lunch break nurse. So, imagine my joy on Monday morning when I show up and I am assigned one of the sickest patients and they are a 1:1. That means I have only one patient and I am going to be hell-a-busy. I was so excited. I could hear "Walking on Sunshine" in my head. I skipped over to get report on my patient from the night shift nurse and the record playing in my head skipped and stopped. A new nurse, new hire to ICU was assigned to be with me. Yep, I with only 2 years of nursing experience was expected to orient this nurse to our unit.

Man, was I bummed. I was just wanted to take care of my patient and stayed focused in my work and now I was expected to do all this training as well. Ah, welcome to the rollercoaster of emotions that is my job.

And the morning got a little sadder around 10am. A patient I had cared for in ICU a few months ago had been transferred out to the medical surgical ward of the hospital. He died this morning. His son came by ICU to tell some of his dad's favorite nurses about his dad's death. I gave him a huge HUG. I really cared for his dad. I still carry a thank you card from him in my work bag. Once in awhile, I close my eyes and I can see his warm smile and hear his deep chuckle. Good-bye Mr V. I hope they have great BBQ in the place you have moved on to and that it reminds you of Philly in the summer time.

So as not to end this entry on a complete bummer note, enjoy the video below. Praise Jeebus for youtube.com!!

Feets of Fancy

Just an advertisement for my friend in Minnesota who is doing some fundraising for multiple sclerosis. Check it out. These gals sure do love their shoes.

http://feetsoffancy.blogspot.com/

That flower on the corner

Just over a year ago (June 7, 2007), I blogged about a random act of decorating. There is a street corner on the way to the daughter's daycare that someone is decorating with fake flowers. Well, this person is still at it and has changed the flowers yet again.

In other news, I can't sleep. I recorded "Cold Mountain" off the tv and watched that when I got home from work tonight, but the house is empty and too quiet. The family is having a sleepover. Something they often do on the weekends that I work. As for the movie, the book and movie ending were almost exactly the same. The movie changed a few elements, but stayed true to the overall story line. The problem with the movie is that the book was actually more rich in detail than any movie could ever really be. The movie was ok and Renee Zelweigger (how the heck do you spell that anyway) was brilliant. She brought the character of Ruby to life for me. She was spot on. I did not like Jude Law as Inman. He was too pretty for the role. I pictured someone a little more squinty eyed and rugged, none of which would be used to describe Jude Law, ever.

Well, maybe I'll read some work magazines. That should put me to sleep. It is getting late and I have to work tomorrow as well. This is the end of day 1 of my 3-day work week.

I finished "Cold Mountain"

From the first page of this novel, I thought, "Whoa. This is like fine literature and stuff." I re-read the first page a couple times. It wasn't a typical page turner, but each page was loaded with imagery and thought provoking observations. I felt like I was there at times and could feel the weather the author was describing. It also reminded me a bit of 'The Odyssey.' It is the story of people caught in the dark side of the American Civil War. It also included insights about farming, birding and life during that time frame. At times, I thought it would be cool to be working a self-sufficient farm where you traded for what you needed and didn't really use money, to be so intuned with nature and your surrounding environment, so tied to the land. I enjoyed the book a lot and I think it is one I will re-read, but throughout the book, there was this undercurrent that something bad was going to happen in the end of the book. And, it did kind of have a tragic ending. I now kind of want to see the movie. I know it had a few Oscar nominations, which makes me think they may have followed the book well. Oscar loves a saga with a tragic ending.

Anywho, some sad things have beening going on work. I almost cried a couple times and the book didn't help. So, I am taking a little break before starting my next book, 'The Mermaid Chair.' As for work, all day Tuesday I just kept saying, " This isn't happening to me. It is happening to them and my job is to do this . . ." This mantra was followed by a couple of deep breaths.

A trip to the gym is in order and some time enjoying the family . . . and maybe a beer . . . or two. Got to savor life while you got a healthy one.