We had Casanova pizza for dinner last night. Holy crap. Can you see those chunks of garlic? The Comet: tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil leaves, sliced tomatoes, pepperoni and extra garlic. SO good. So good.

Now let me tell you about the tree on our house. Saturday night was very windy. I was at work. The tree in our front yard blew over in the wind and landed on the roof. It knocked the top of our chimney loose but at least it didn't fall totally off, that might have caused some damage. Poor Russell was up on the roof with a hand saw cutting all the small branches off but the trunk of this thing is huge! We're going to have to rent a chainsaw.

Bride will be here Saturday and I plan on thoroughly documenting the happenings of our days (as if you weren't all DYING to come visit me in Boise already). So, you have that to look forward to.

It's totally summer now, isn't it?

This might be a problem...

This song is so catchy! I keep singing I don't give a hoot about what you think. Rivers' mustache though...

Remember when I was telling you guys about the book group? How I wanted to read a book that some other members didn't want to read? How I picked that book anyway? Well, we meet this Thursday (as in tomorrow) and guess who has to work. If you guessed me, you're a genius. We are rescheduling but I think it's only because the girl who put the book group together doesn't want to lead this discussion. Yikes.

My thermostat is broken and a couple nights ago I think the AC was on all night long (hello power bill) and I woke up to a brisk 64 degrees. It's hard enough to get out of bed at 4:30 in the morning. What a bummer.

I bought a new sprinkler and I'm hoping that we'll be able to water all of the lawn at once without moving the sprinkler twenty times. Wish me luck, will you?

I have decided since my trip to Vegas that the most accurate way to capture the true happenings of the day is to give your camera to the closest 6 year old. After you delete the random photographic evidence of the pictures hanging on the walls and the baskets on the table, you have painted a pretty complete picture. I could not stop laughing when I went through these.

Don't let me forget to tell you about the Cherry Festival in Emmett, ID. That was some good people watching, I tell you what.

We had so much fun in Las Vegas. I counted the times that Russell said, "it's SO hot" and I'll give a prize to whoever guesses closest. I'm just joking, I didn't count but if I had a prize to give, it would go to whoever guessed highest. I have a few pictures to post - Isabel took them for me. A vacation is fun but who are we kidding, we're just putting off all the work until we get home - I have so much crap to do.

We would have stayed longer but I had to get back to work and let me tell you, it was an interesting day. I had to go to the morgue and pick up a patient's baby. It was 19 weeks. I don't know what complications induced her labor but this is the third baby that the couple lost. They wanted to see him one more time before they were discharged. Like I said, it was an interesting day.

There is a woman in my ward that trims her fingernails in church on Sunday every week. I had the pleasure (sick) of sitting in front of her last week. She gets out her fingernail clippers and starts trimming and all I can think about is one of those fingernails getting in my hair, hitting me in the face, ricocheting off the pew in front of me and flying into my mouth (weirder things have happened). Now, I kept it together last time but I seriously doubt that I will be capable of keeping my mouth shut another time. Do I just avoid sitting near this person or should I send her an anonymous note? Where do you cut your fingernails?

There's this song. I am SO not saying what it is - that is how terribly embarrassing it is. I don't want to like it. I really do not want to like it. But it's so catchy. Dang you XM radio! Let me just say it belongs to a genre that I don't listen to (or as a rule like at all) but they play this song on "The Blend" which I regularly find myself listening to at work. It gets stuck in my head so bad. I hate it. I swear I do.

I've got a long road trip ahead of me. I've downloaded a bunch of Learn Spanish podcasts. Anyone have any other suggestions? Help me out, will you?

Long ago, before we ever got a dog and when we were not allowed to enter the house through the front door, a certain member of our family liked to get out of their work clothes as soon as they entered the laundry room through the garage door. I somehow have adopted a similar habit.

This semester in school, I overheard a teacher saying that she saw someone in hospital scrubs at the grocery store and it really grossed her out. I can't stop thinking about it. After work, I can't wait to get home and out of my scrubs. I can't shake this idea that they are so disgustingly dirty - especially since every day that I've worked, we've had someone on isolation for C. diff. You know, the diarrhea that is so bad it KILLS you! Look it up, I swear, you DIE from diarrhea.

I was completely and totally traumatized in middle school. I came to this realization this week, when, after 7 years not opening a locker, I got my new locker at work opened on the first try AND remembered my combo after just one day.

My new job is going really well. I don't really know why I was so worried about it. It seems like our patients are usually pretty nice and anxious to go home so they try to do as much as they can by themselves. On my first day, we got to go down and pick someone up from recovery - that never happens - and that was kind of fun. I also have had a bunch of patients on contact isolation which means every time I go into their room, I have to gown up and wear a mask and everything. I worked Thursday and Friday night and they trained me on the unit clerk's job. It's pretty boring but you do get to review and complete doctor's orders which is kind of fun. You also get to put charts together including operative notes. Did you know that if you have surgery and have something removed, they take pictures of it?

Why does the headline Clogged Toilet on Space Station No Laughing Matter make me laugh?

Also, the devil invented chores.

First day at my new gig today. The girl showing me around was so nice and really didn't make me do anything. I just followed her around. Talking to the patients is pretty easy for me - I like to talk. I feel a little like I'm not exactly sure what is appropriate and what isn't. Does that make any sense? I want to joke around with everyone.
I want to tell you all about the patients that we saw today - we started out with 6 and by the end of my shift we had 9 (two from the ER and one post-op) - but I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Let me just say, it's only day one and I am seriously thanking the Big Guy for my health...

Mom asked me what I was doing for the long weekend. I didn't know it was a long weekend until she said something. I went to a couple training classes this week for my new gig. I went up to my unit and talked to my boss and guess what - I start Monday. I am excited and a little bit nervous. No long weekend for me. We didn't have plans anyway (unless you consider "lay around" a plan). We have chores to do. I'm going to try to finish all my chores this afternoon because it feels so much better to sleep in on Saturday morning when you don't have all those stupid chores hanging over your head. Anyway, Russell thinks that we need to trim the bottom branches off this tree. I don't want to! Tell him these don't need to be trimmed, will you? Look how shady and lovely it looks under that tree! Don't you just want to have a picnic under there?

I had a class to go to yesterday for my new hospital job. I practiced doing fingersticks and fecal occult blood tests (and yes it absolutely is as gross as it sounds). I have another class this morning and then I have about 25 training things to watch online. Just a couple things first:

1. I made peanut butter squares and some chocolate mint cookies last week for the book group. I told Russell he should be eating them faster, you know, to get them out of the house. He said, "these? Are not my favorite treats." Apparently, according to Russell, it is completely unnecessary to try any new recipes.

2. I had a very weird dream last night. Bride was pregnant and I went over and was trying to get the baby to move around and he pushed his face against her stomach and was talking to me. Freaky! Where the heck did that come from?

Men's Wearhouse commercial: Corsage (2008)

I love commercials. There, I said it - man, it feels good to get that off my chest! Okay, okay, I'm not talking about those dang used car dealership commercials that make you want to simultaneously gouge out your eyes with a fork and stick a q-tip so far in your ear you can't hear anymore. I'm talking about the ones that make you laugh. Russell thinks it would be a good idea to regularly post a commercial that makes me laugh so we can see if it makes you guys laugh too, you know, to see if I'm weird or not. So, here it is - edition 1: commercials that make me laugh...

It is supposed to be 92˚ tomorrow. Almost 20˚ warmer than it was yesterday. I hate it when I don't have time to adjust. It's going to feel so hot now. On the bright side, it might leave us a little better prepared for the upcoming Vegas trip. I volunteered to help do blood glucose testing and blood pressure checks at the health fair in Weiser this weekend but is it right to go to a health fair when you are sick? Give me an out, will you? I would really rather be laying out in the yard...

I am starting to get sick. Wanna know how I know? It's not the ridiculously sore throat and all the unproductive coughing. I got in bed at 5 and woke up just before 8 (pm) and asked Russell why he wasn't at work. His response? "That Benadryl messed you up." I could really use some rainbow sherbet right about now - the kind with pink and orange and green but I won't eat the green. Because I'm sick and I can. Also I'm a grown up so I can.

Sara, the girl that started the book group, called me last night. One of the other girls (one of five) doesn't want to read The Lovely Bones, my pick for next month. See, the first month I went to book group, Sara asked me if I had any book to suggest. I told her in front of the group that I was considering Lovely Bones but I wasn't sure. She gave a couple reasons why she thought it may not be a good one - she's read it before. It's been a couple months since then and it seems as though we've been reading the same type of book for a while - pretty much love stories. I'm so ready to change it up. The other girl remembered what Sara said and doesn't want to read the book. It's being totally misrepresented here! Anyway, the question(s): do I pick another book or do I stick with Lovely Bones? Do I try to talk the girl in to reading it? Should I bring it up at church today or should I just wait until the group meets up on Thursday? What do you think?

My house smells like old ketchup and maple syrup...

A bit of an interesting afternoon...

Work was awesome, even though I have to leave at 7 for an hour so Russ can get to work and "A" can get to school - it was still really good. Smooth. I like that kind of day.

I grabbed my sweatshirt and my keys and I noticed that the little ball on the end of my keychain (the one that was my grandma's) was missing along with the spare key for the neighbor's house. Crap. I didn't hear anything fall so I figured I could start looking in the car. I get out to the car and no problem, the key, the keychain all found. Sweet. I get in and turn the key. Click, click, click. Crap again. My car didn't start! A couple of guys just finishing lunch heard the clicking and came to help me push start (I love having a standard transmission). Got home fine and the car started up later no problem. Okaaay. So, I'm thinking I better call Russ to let him know about the car. Another problem. Where the heck is my phone? My cell phone. The only phone I have. Why don't I have a house phone, again? Where is it? I know I had it when I came home this morning. I looked EVERYWHERE. I'm not kidding (I'm really good at finding things, maybe because I am always losing things, whatever). I got on the computer and asked Patrick to call me - no long distance. I tried to send myself a text - maybe I would hear it ring. No luck. Finally, after I seriously almost started crying (that's a big deal for me) I went and asked our neighbor if I could use his phone. I called Russell. He took both phones to work by accident. One in his pocket, one in his hand.

All that in about an hour and a half. Do you think "A" will be into taking a nap after school? Yeah, I didn't think so.

I don't want to jinx it or anything but, man, this kid is so easy! He's one of those cannot ever break the rules kind of a kid. He sat down to do his homework last night and I have to sign off on it every day. Well, he finished and I signed, he looked and I thought he was going to have a breakdown. He said I was supposed to sign his Mom's name. Please, please, he says, just scribble that out and sign my Mom's name. We're talking head in his hands, elbows on the table - this kid was stressed! It was funny but I felt bad for him at the same time, you know? I sent a note to school today...

Just real quick...

Russell is a total pushover. Bedtime is 8:30 - "A" finishes his homework at 7:35 and asks if we can watch a movie. Russell, after checking movie length and determining that it will indeed run past bedtime, concludes movie time is a go.

Pushover.

It's (almost) official. My second semester in the nursing program at BSU is over and I would have to get zeros on my last two assignments not to get all A's. They've made some pretty big changes in the program all in an effort to ultimately get rid of the AS option but it's good news for me. They have shortened the program - only 5 semesters left! I'm thinking about doing something in Public Health, maybe rural or frontier nursing. Did you know that frontier nursing still exists?

Maybe I'm the last person to find this: Passive-Aggressive notes. Hilarious.

Today was just the worst day in Primary. There is a new boy in my class - he's not really new, this is just the first week I've seen him. I thought a couple of the other kids were bad. I was wrong. Angels, those other kids, angels. He was on the ground, back on the floor, holding his legs up so that his knees were right beside his face. I told him to get in his seat. He said no. Straight up NO. I started to get a pretty good hold on him toward the end of class (or maybe I was just getting better at ignoring him) when he started muttering "keep the commandments, keep the commandments, keep the commandments" over and over and over. What the heck am I going to do with this kid?

So, our neighbor is staying over beginning tomorrow afternoon. I think he'll be pretty low maintenance. He saw me in church today and said, "know what tomorrow is?" and his Mom said that on Friday morning he said that he wished it was Monday already. Plus he's really cute and you know I'm a sucker for the cute ones.

What's new, what's new. Hmmm. Not really much.
I have one week of one class left this semester. The last assignment is a paper about a journal article that I've already written the draft of so it's pretty much done.
Let me tell you about this journal article. There is a school in Virginia that makes their nursing students wear an "adult disposable incontinence product" and sit in a wheelchair for 6 hours. Wait. It gets better. They are required to wet themselves and remain wet for the last thirty minutes. If you want to graduate, you have to do it. They say that the reason is to "engender empathy for disabled patients with urinary incontinence."
Another nursing school I am glad I'm not attending...

Last night I tried to finish up my final for one of my classes. I had to do a head to toe assessment on someone. Russell volunteered. Well, I volunteered him. He says I do that a lot. Anyway, I stayed up a little tiny bit later than usual to try to get it done and I slept so terribly! I kept thinking over and over, "awake, alert & oriented to person, place & time." Better than that dream I had after I watched Narnia that Russell just reminded me about. He thinks it's really funny when I am barely awake and try to describe my weirdo dreams. Bride & I used to do it to each other all the time. Is this post going nowhere fast or what? Maybe not fast enough, huh?

I went to Cost Plus (I have a 25% off coupon, e-mail me if you want to use it too) and Target today. I got some DP and M&Ms (and new mascara!) - I am so ready for all the good shows tonight. I've opted to watch The Office and 30 Rock tonight and watch Grey's Anatomy online later. I think I've made the right choice. We had Chicken Club Salad for dinner tonight. I like it a lot (I said that with the Forest Gump voice, so you know.)

Today was a dang good day. Let me tell you about it. I didn't have to get up until about 9 and I stayed in bed and watched The Hills. I got up and felt motivated to clean up a little bit. I actually got a lot cleaned up and then I took a bath. I don't know what it is about The Hills, it makes me want to do my hair. Anyway, I talked to my sister for a little while really about nothing and that was nice. Our phone call was interrupted by another. I got the job that I interviewed for as a Nurse Apprentice. Could not be a sweeter setup, let me tell you. I start that in a month. Okay, then I went to school. It was our last lab, optional but not really. We practiced IVs and injections. I know you guys think I'm a total weirdo but it was fun! When we started, I was a little nervous about Jolie giving me an injection, can you tell?

This is me giving Jolie an intradermal injection.










This is me inserting my first IV catheter. I got it on the first try and yes, behind me is a toilet seat with a bucket under it.

I feel like I start every post off with an excuse. Yeah, yeah. Every one is busy, right? Okay. Great. I can skip that part from now on.

I got my letter from the State Board of Nursing so I am officially allowed to get a job as a "Nurse Apprentice." I am excited and I have a bunch of interviews coming up. Wish me luck as far as that goes.

It felt like spring was just around the corner and all of a sudden they are screaming, "SNOW" again on the news. I'm pretty tired of it - mostly because I am so psyched to get started on our garden. Russell has been working on the things he can. He made this path out of a bunch of broken chunks of concrete he found. Isn't it cool? We're planting around the outside and in the middle. Russell caught Otis a couple mornings ago laying on his side in the pile of dirt.

We took a little drive out to Nampa to get some manure for the garden and the yard. An entire truckload. Isn't it so weird that we grow our food, that we are going to eat, in another animal's poop? I can't think about that too much.

We bought another raspberry bush; these ones are Fall Gold, yellow raspberries. They are going to make the prettiest fruit tarts this summer. We also got a Huckleberry bush. Russ really wanted that one.

We're having Chicken Potpie for dinner tonight and I'm posting a recipe for Lettuce Wraps later on...

I went to the mall this weekend. I haven't been to the mall since... I seriously don't remember. When did I buy that Smooth & Seal? Whenever that was. A long time ago. Anyway, I went this weekend. Can I tell you something? I love Banana Republic. And I love buying dresses. I think I would rather wear a dress than any other outfit. I tried this dress on. Even though it was $120. On sale. A bit over my budget. I tried it on anyway. I even went so far as to think about what kind of shoes I would buy to go with it. I even went to Macy's to see if I could find the shoes. I did. I had a dream about them last night...

It was so insanely nice outside today. It's about time. It got up to 70 and Russ and I went and played a little tennis. It was really fun even though when we got to the courts we found that the strings on one of the two rackets I have were broken. We played anyway and it was fun. I let Russell use the good racket and I used the broken one and I still beat him but don't tell that I told you (and don't ask how much longer I've been playing).
We made it to Edwards Greenhouse today as well and we picked out all of our seeds. This year we're growing carrots, radishes, zucchini, green onions, green beans, and cucumbers from seeds. Next month or so we'll get all of our tomatoes and peppers. We bought another black raspberry bush and this one is already 2 years old so we should get some berries. I seriously can't wait. Have you ever had so many berries that you just couldn't eat anymore? I have not. Ever.
I've also decided that I need another dog and I know what kind I want.

Could you say no to a puppy this cute? If you could, you may be dead inside.

Guess what! I just got a sweet new gig for next Fall as a Peer Advisor in the Nursing Department! If you say that only nerds/dorks/weirdos/some other variation that implies something similar get those jobs, I'm going to punch you. I should probably stop threatening you guys, shouldn't I? Okay, I'll be very sad and you all know how I deal with sadness (I punch things). Anyway, I registered for classes and I'm super psyched. I can hardly wait for summer to be over. (P.S. That was a joke.)

Not a whole whole lot going on around here. Just a couple things I've been thinking about:

- Why is everyone so afraid of bacteria? It's not bad. Your body is FULL of it. It's not bad!

- Why does it seem like crappy ovens follow me around? Maybe I need to quit baking. We made this pound cake (which is totally a keeper recipe) and it was supposed to bake 70-90 minutes. Mine baked 55 and it was still over baked! Whatever.

- I started looking for a summer job last week. I'm actually excited. I've really been in the mood to shop lately so a few extra bucks will be nice.

- The eight year olds are going to be a challenge. I am not going to be able to get away with copying a little picture for them to color every week. Also, I can't forget to remove ALL the extra chairs before class starts.

- April is going to be insane. It's the end of the semester and there is a butt load of crap going on. It's okay, though. I've already made a big calendar for the month so I know what's up. Also, how is it April already?

- Since I just said "butt load of crap" (is butt load one word?) I thought of Nacho Libre which apparently I'm going to have to buy again because it skips, like, a lot.

- All the good shows are back on this week and I am so psyched! Also, have you watched that show Miss Guided? It is totally funny. Chris Parnell is in it. It will make you laugh. Unless you are dead inside.

Wednesday is a good day. I love school ONLY days. It is still a little chilly (a bit more than just sweatshirt weather) but I opted to ride my bike. It doesn't look that chilly in the picture, huh? Please ignore that scary garage.

In my skills class today we did NG tubes. In the past, they required students to insert the tubes into other students. They discontinued that practice (at my school at least). A nasogastric tube goes into the nose, down the esophagus and into the stomach. Even though I only inserted the tube into a manikin, it was still a pretty good lab. My teacher said that she worked somewhere once where the NG tube was in a patient's lung and they didn't check to make sure that it was placed correctly and they fed the guy. Into his lung. I bet that didn't feel good.

I like how he has Russell's work shirt all bunched up underneath his fat body. I always wish that all my nieces and nephews could hang out with him more - when he's all mellow like this.
He's always crazy excited when they are around.

This weekend was crazy. It seems like I saved up everything that I needed to do (and could have been taking care of all week) for Saturday. Anyway, some good news - Russell fixed my sewing machine! Is there anything he can't fix? I don't think so. Ooh, another thing. I found out more about my clinical next semester and I am so psyched! The first eight weeks is at a long term care facility (that's what they call nursing homes now) and I knew that. After that, they are going to send me all over. Day surgery, endoscopy clinic, OB ward. I am seriously so excited. I have to get my scrubs and I need a new pair of shoes - they have to be black or white. I've heard they are really strict about their dress code. Oh, who am I kidding, I just want to buy a new pair of shoes!

I can register for classes on April 3rd. There are two general ed classes that I still need to take and they have to be in different fields. I really don't want to take a foreign language. I would love to learn another language but I don't want to get graded on it. Does that make sense? Will you make fun of me really bad if I take a theater class? Please don't... because I'm taking it.

It's Friday. But I just heard some bad news. A cold front is blowing through Boise tonight and there's even talk of snow. What?! Snow? Am I not on Spring Break at this very moment? When I was in Vegas and Spring Break would roll around, I used to think it wasn't warm enough yet for Spring Break. Now I'm in Boise. Right now in Vegas? What? 70˚? Boise? 40˚. That's right. 40˚. I didn't know how good I had it.

If you combine half winter windshield washer fluid and half summer windshield wiper fluid, is the freezing temperature the average of the two?

It's 1:00pm. I'm in bed. Watching Sleepless in Seattle with a cup of hot chocolate and a cupcake, feeling bad for myself for having had to go to the dentist this morning. Two lost fillings and no insurance. And my mouth still tastes like the smell of the dentist's office...

You like those period pieces? Those costume dramas? Anything produced by the BBC? Go watch North and South right now! If you have Netflix you can watch instantly. It's so good! Go. Now.

Ah, the first day of Spring Break. It's 1:00 and I've already accomplished everything I set out to. I went to the gym.

Now, I plan on picking up the kitchen, moving my modem into my bedroom, plugging in the PC and watching instantly as many Netflix movies as I can squeeze in to half a day. First on the list, North & South, recommended to me by a fellow book group participant.

The pictures. I almost forgot. I never showed off the boots that I got for my birthday. It's been rainy here and I am not complaining. And the fridge. I'm wondering if this might be a good method to curb any mid afternoon snacking. Am also wondering if it's worth the ridicule I'll get as soon as Russell gets home...

I am supposed to be doing a Neuro case study right now but I can't concentrate.

Why? Why hadn't someone made me join a book club sooner!? It was so fun. It was only 4 other girls but they live right around the corner from me and it was just fun! I can't wait for next month.

I talked to the Primary President today and it isn't CTR A, it's CTR 8. They are the 7 turning 8 year olds. I think it's going to be fun. I think Sunbeams are easier but I think it's going to be fun. This Sunday is my first week.

I've got a busy weekend ahead of me. It's okay, though - my Spring Break is this week!
1. Go to the choir brunch 9:00am
2. Go to school & print out my lesson
3. Go to Deseret Book and buy some fun new teacher things
4. Give my stinky dog a bath
5. Clean my dirty house

Oh crap! Russell's home - I have to go pretend like I've been doing my homework!

A few things I thought about this afternoon while I was getting ready to leave for my book club:

- ironing these khakis makes absolutely no difference
- that heavy starch smells so good
- I can register April 3 or 4th
- should I take that Contemporary Birthing class?
- I hope that pregnant girl at work has a girl
- why is that "magical amount" tobacco commercial song always in my head?
- why haven't we ordered that part for the Scout?
- why are we still having freezing overnight temperatures?

I'm on my way to the book club. We read The Scarlet Pimpernel. I've never read it before and I did get pretty into it. I got so guilted into joining this book club and I am actually going. On Thursday night. At 7:00pm. Do you know what that means? I won't be watching Lost until Friday. I just started singing Don't Cry for Me Argentina. At least it isn't that tobacco commercial song...

I thought this week was going to be so crazy. So crazy. I hyped myself up so much that every time I'm sitting at home, I feel like there is something else I am supposed to be doing. It's okay though. I'm not supposed to be doing anything else. I know because I have a list.

On Sunday one of the Bishop's councilor's called me and asked if I would teach the CTR A class. I said yes (heck yes, if you want me to be exact) but I don't know how old they are! Is that the class right after Sunbeams, the 4-5 year olds? I don't know but I am already thinking about my first week "get to know you" games. Any suggestions?

Our Relief Society birthday thing was this week and we made Belgian waffles. Holy schnikies! They were incredible. So, so good. I'm posting the recipe over on my recipe blog if you're interested. I ate mine with a mixed fruit topping and whipped cream. Now I have to buy a waffle maker.

Russell has Wednesday and Thursdays off now. He bought some new waders and went fishing today and I would not be shocked to hear that he has made some last minute plans to go tomorrow as well. Cross your fingers for some delicious bass (not really, I think he's trout fishing).

Meatloaf, although I hate the name, is what's for dinner and it's good. Mmm. Mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.

There is just something about clean sheets. Am I right? Every time I change the sheets, which I usually do on Saturdays, I get excited to climb in bed. But something seems very wrong about doing so before I've taken a shower. Like it's sort of a waste to climb in between those fresh, fresh sheets before I'm clean myself. There is another thing I do every time I change my sheets; I vow never to let Otis sleep in my bed again. Guess how long that lasts.

We heated up some frozen tomato sauce that we made right before our huge basil bush gave in to the cold winter weather. It was so good. I made some garlic knots to go along. They turned out pretty well, too. I heated up some butter and added a couple cloves of garlic and then brushed it on my rolls and baked. They were tasty but I think we can do better. Roasted garlic next time? I don't know. Any suggestions?

I love eating a well balanced meal, don't you? Something feels so good about all those veggies on your plate. We tried a new recipe last night and it was really good. Easy, too. Do you eat pork tenderloin? You are seriously missing out if not. It's easy and fast to cook and they call it tenderloin for a reason - it's tender. And delicious. Anyway, I didn't follow the recipe exactly, it needed longer in the oven and when it was cooked through the sauce was already thickened. My way was easier. I'm sticking to it next time. Anyway, I'm getting side tracked here. We ate our pork tenderloin with steamed asparagus and a salad, too. It was good. And balanced. Or it seemed like it, anyway.

I'm on my way out the door to turn in my scholarship application to the Nursing Department (man, they are totally loaded), so wish me luck. In the future, I mean. Getting the scholarships that is. Wow, I'm having a rough time spitting it out today. What's that you say? The delete button? Why no, I haven't heard of it.

It's Friday!

It's coming. And this is how I know. Spring. Oh, I cannot wait.

A few things:
- I rode my bike to school today. I have to leave the house at the same time so I'm not really saving any time driving and I'm for sure not burning any extra calories.

- Russell has gone from a 6 day work week to 5. Yay!

- My sewing machine fell off the ironing board this weekend. I don't think I can make my table runner for the sparkle power sew along. I took it apart to see what was up and I got it to work sort of but something is still not right.

- We watched Beowulf this week. I admit it. I liked it. I had to read it in high school. I just wish it wasn't that weird cartoon/computer animation crap.

- We did injections today in class. It was fun.

Things I've learned in my nursing skills class:

1. hand hygiene
2. also, how to spell hygiene
3. how to apply sterile gloves (harder than you think)
4. how to use a gait belt (even though I'm pretty sure they don't use them anymore)
5. how to take someone's vitals
6. including blood pressure
7. the "principles of ergonomics" - did you know that most hospitals are adopting "no lift" policies because so many nurses get hurt trying to move their patients? I didn't.
8. how to give a bed bath
9. including "pericare" (take a wild guess)
10. hospital corners
11. how to make an occupied bed
12. how to record intake and output
13. how to apply restraints
14. how to remove staples and sutures

I also found out recently that next semester my clinicals will be "off-site" at an extended care facility. To me, this is the saddest kind of nursing. It might be a rough semester.

Things I learned when I watched The Business of Being Born:

1. Everywhere else in the world 70% of births are attended by a midwife
2. In the States it's 1%
3. Obstetricians are surgeons
4. One in three births is by cesarean section in the States

If you have Netflix, you can "watch instantly." After watching, I don't think I could be an OB nurse, for ethical reasons. Really, it's good. Watch it and then call me so we can discuss.

P.S. I got a 94 on my skills test. I'm going to be, like, the best nurse ever.

Things that make me want to stay in bed on Monday morning:

1. the temp on the thermostat (67!?)
2. what? Otis is still in bed
3. the impending doom I'm feeling in regards to that skills test
4. down comforter, I love you
5. clean sheets, I always change them on the weekend, they smell so good like Bounce
6. no good cereal
7. no brown sugar for oatmeal
8. no milk, even the crappy cereal isn't an option

I would have stayed in bed if Russell hadn't called and tried to catch me talking with that sleepy voice. And if I didn't have a quiz today. And if I didn't see these that I'm so excited to make.

I posted a few recipes and a good new tip. I think it counts as a list...

His bottom lip is sticking out. What? What's that you say? This is only funny to me? Oh, my bad.

Things I'm doing with Bride when she visits this summer:

1. Float the Boise River
2. maybe twice
3. Eat outside somewhere fancy downtown
4. Watch the 4th of July fireworks in the park
5. Eat donuts
6. Watch Moulin Rouge
7. and West Side Story
8. Go to the Saturday market
9. and maybe find some cool handmade jewelry
10. and maybe buy it
11. ooh, and buy some of those mini donuts at that one stand
12. Yard sale shop in the North End
13. Go to that cowboy bar and ride the mechanical bull
14. Go to a rodeo in Nampa
15. Maybe go to a baseball game (for the nachos)
16. Take the hard top off the Scout
17. and go camping
18. and make fried dough in the dutch oven over the coals
19. Buy a puppy
20. That last one was a joke

You should know that if YOU come visit me, I will have a similar plan (minus the musicals if you'd like). How far we get through the list? That's another story...

Names of foods that totally gross me out (the names, that is):

1. Stew
2. Meatloaf
3. Chunky (the candy bar)
4. Dumplings

I'm not so sure about this list thing. Am I supposed to come up with 20 every time? I can't do it. I can't.

Just as a little side note, I'm trying a new Rachael Ray recipe this week. BBQ Bourbon Orange Chicken. How important would you consider that bourbon to be? It is in the name of the recipe...

A few things you might not know about me:

1. I hate being rushed but it seems like no matter how early I get up, I am always rushing the last 5 minutes before I get out the door.

2. I hate blow drying my hair but I hate the way it looks when it air dries. I have recently started only washing my hair every other day. (In Allure they say tons of women do it but I'm not so sure, I hardly see anyones hair looking as dirty as mine.)

3. I have to slather on the Eucerin when I get out of the shower and I have to let it soak in before I can get dressed or I'll feel like I never showered in the first place.

4. I think of myself as more outgoing than I really am. In fact, I think most people wouldn't describe me as outgoing at all.

5. I am a auditory learner. I can imagine that it's pretty annoying to the people around me. I have to read out loud to myself all the time. Recipes? Every time.

These are getting increasingly boring as the list goes on. I'll stop now. Time for Lost. (I'm caught up! Oh, and Sayid is my favorite even though he's like a contract killer or something)

I think I have decided that my favorite holiday is Easter. Wait, wait, wait. Before you give me a lot more credit than I deserve, let me tell you why. It's the candy, people, the candy! Peeps, Cadbury eggs, Reese's peanut butter eggs (the little ones, the perfect ratio of PB to chocolate), those one eggs in the light blue bag with the extra crunchy shell. Man o man, it's the best.

Was that post totally sacrelig? Don't judge me. I have a candy problem.

Did you know that your sense of taste is most acute when you are born?

I think about this all the time when I try something that I thought I didn't like but now I like it. Take for instance what we had for dinner one night this week: Chicken Stew with Parsley Dumplings. 2 cups, 2 cups of mushrooms in it. I hate mushrooms. Or at least, I thought I hated mushrooms. Or maybe I just hated mushrooms when my tastebuds were younger. See what I mean? I think about it a lot. By the way, we decided the recipe is a keeper and I'm posting it on my recipe blog with a tiny change and a little tip.

Anyway, there was something else I was going to blog about but now I forget. Sometimes I wish I had a little notepad glued to the palm of my hand. That might make getting other (admittedly more important) things done a little difficult.

Deep thoughts around here, deep thoughts.

If Russell sees this, he will kill me.

Before Christmas this year, I asked Paola to take a few pictures of Russ and me. I was hoping to get one good enough for our Christmas card. We didn't know Paola was snapping a picture right at this moment (I swear) but Russ was expressing his disdain for this tradition and I was laughing. In his face. (I was going to write something all cheesy and related to Valentine's Day but I guess that's out the window now.) Anyway, when we were done and we looked at all the pictures, he didn't say which he liked the most, he pointed out the one he liked least. He said this one looked like a picture in a Mormon engagement announcement. I'd say I have to agree...

Please. Allow me to present you with a situation. Let's say you had a test to take. Let's say it's the first test of the semester. Let's say you are given two days to take said test and you are required to schedule this test at a testing center on campus at some point over the two days. Let's just say (for the fun of it) that you waited until the last minute to schedule it and now you have to take the test on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. Have to? Maybe not. Do you really think they will send you away? In some other city, maybe, but Boise? Heck no. Here is the question: Go at your scheduled time (4:30 Tuesday) or take a chance and go on Wednesday? What would you do.

As if you weren't confused enough already, what if you looked at the grade book online (didn't you know that's how they do things now?) and saw that the class average as of 2:00pm on Tuesday is 84%? At first I'm thinking, sweet, must be an easy test. I'm obviously thinking about this a little too much because now I'm thinking, you know only the really smart people take the test early, those numbers are inaccurate, it's just an average.

Sorry, back to the question. When would you take the test?

P.S. If I get an A, I get a new laptop bag...

Do you ever wonder if, when you are all done cleaning up the house, it's really as clean as you think it is? Do you ever wonder if, when someone else comes over to your house they think, "man, this place is a sty"?

I wonder this all the time. Friday is my new day to clean the house. I have work in the morning but that's it. So, I start in the kitchen, it's usually the place in the house that needs the most work. I do the dishes, clear off the counters, wipe down the counters and then sweep. Sweeping is what has me asking this question. I don't sweep everyday (and my New Year's resolution to do so was a total joke) but I do sweep a couple times a week, I'd say. I have a picture to insert here but I don't know if I should... Fine. You talked me into it.
There is a hairball there the size of a small rodent. Gross. I know. Anyway, before I swept this up, I wasn't thinking that my house was a total sty but after? Yes. That is what makes me wonder if other people are thinking it. What if someone was there right before I swept, when I still thought it wasn't gross. I mean, if Russell and I knew people. And they came over to our house... Do you ever wonder?

I love sleeping in. I really love sleeping in. There is something to be said, however, for getting up and getting things done early. This morning I decided to get up and make some oatmeal because we have no milk and I am NOT skipping breakfast (are you crazy?). Russ and I sat down and ate together, my oatmeal topped with brown sugar, his with white sugar and butter and also enjoyed a mug of hot apple cider. This day is going to be awesome, right? Right. I folded the clothes in the dryer and moved the last load (towels) from the washer to the dryer and check, laundry done (even put away, too). I remembered to pack up a lunch and a change of clothes so I can go to the Rec Center. While I was looking for a parking spot I had to slam on the breaks and my book bag rolled right off the passenger's seat. When I got to my Dosage Calculation class (in which I had a test) and took out my calculator, it wouldn't turn on. Don't worry, the test was totally easy and I didn't really need it. Man, this day is going to be awesome.

Last Sunday, I considered blogging about a question I began to ask myself that very morning. Is it appropriate to listen to R. Kelly on Sunday? I decided to spare myself and this Sunday, since I had to speak in sacrament meeting and I thought I better be extra holy, I went to the church website to listen to some hymns. Did you guys know that you can download every hymn and every song in the children's songbook, too? Guess what's on my iPod now - 341 hymns (don't call me a dork). Looks like R. Kelly is going to have to wait for every other day of the week.

And thank you for all your help with my talk. I think it went well. Of course no one ever comes up to you and says, your talk made no sense. Too bad. That might make church A LOT more interesting...

Russ got some sweet new work boots today and when we got home, we decided they could use a field test. You know, before they go out into the real world, make sure there going to cut it.
So, we built a snowman. It sure was a party. Otis didn't growl like I was hoping he would ('cause I would've thought that was funny) but he was really interested in the snowman's carrot nose...

I think that in the argument, raised donut vs. cake donut, the answer can be quite variable. Take for instance, DK's Donuts in Boise, ID on State and 13th streets. Go for the cake people! Now Donut Tyme in Las Vegas, NV on Charleston just past Lamb, raised glazed is all I'm sayin'.

What I'm telling you here is there is really no need to choose a favorite. Don't you feel better with the weight of that decision off your shoulders?

I myself am headed down to DK's pronto in honor of my 24th year.

I thought my class started at 8:40 this morning. Nope. It starts at 9:40. Nice, real nice. I guess it worked out alright because I was asked to talk in sacrament meeting next Sunday. The topic? Genealogy. Don't worry, you won't get stoned for saying it along with me BO-RING. Okay but really, I'm glad that I get to start assembling my thoughts early and I was wondering if you wanted to help. How can genealogy bring you closer to the Savior? If you'd rather respond privately, e-mail me. Please? Will you do it if I send you some cookies?

Are you watching the halftime show?

If my Dad grew out his hair, it would look exactly like Tom Petty's.

Anybody with me?

I have tons of crap to do and not that much more time to do it so I'll have to make this quick. While we were in Vegas for Christmas we were blessed enough to be be graced by the presence of a little something I like to call CABLE TELEVISION. Oh, I can't tell you how my friend and I have missed each other. Anyway, we happened to stumble upon Food Network (don't know how that happened) and we caught Alton Brown making beef jerky.

He had a trick. And Russell liked it. Yesterday Russell tried it. Hallelujah! This dear meat is almost gone. Well, at least I can see the back of my freezer. Just thought you'd like see the contraption he used. We went to Home Depot to get a box fan like Alton used but, what do you know, in the middle of the winter here in Boise, Home Depot doesn't keep box fans in stock.

And the final product...

I really just wanted an excuse to mess with the blogger video feature but here we've got Russell and Otis playing snow soccer. Actually, Russ started to make a snowman but Otis was convinced it was a big snowball for him to play with. I wonder what he would do if he went out and saw a snowman in the yard. I think he would growl at it. In fact, I might just try it tomorrow morning. If so, there'll be more video coming.

Doesn't he know I'm trying to study?

Russell and I realized something a couple nights ago. We hadn't gone to the grocery store in 14 days. And we still had food to eat. Sweet, huh? As I was making out my list I was thinking about meatless meals. I would like to try to get down to chicken once a week and red meat once a week. It seems like every meatless meal that we like is either a pasta dish or soup which I don't think is any more healthy. I feel like I'm in a little rut. I was looking at this website and I'm going to try to change my approach. Beans. Beans are going to change it all. I even opted for the dried ones instead of canned. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm trying one recipe this week. Keep an eye on my recipe blog for the recipe, I'll post it if it's any good. I'm also trying a new chocolate chip cookie recipe after I get all my reading done for next week. I'm excited to see the difference the different types of flour make, you know, because of my flat cookie problem. Wish me luck!

So. I'm getting some rain boots for my birthday and I am pretty psyched.

One problem. I can't decide. Here are a few that I liked. Tell me what you would do.

As long as we're talking about shoes...

I'm seriously considering busting out my J.Crew credit card. Yikes.

Ah, to be blonde again. You can't tell from this picture but I am excited about it.

And if you look closely at my wedding ring finger, you can see where I was knifed by the decidedly improperly loaded steak knife.

I woke myself up last night talking in my sleep. Never a good thing. I think it was something about ants.

You know that part on High Fidelity when Rob (John Cusack) yells at Barry (Jack Black) about his music selection for the record store? He says he just wants something he can ignore. I was thinking about that because I have 9 chapters of a textbook to read before class next week and it is not possible for me to listen to music with words while I read. I always end up singing along. Always. I wish I could find something I could ignore. It's going to be a long, quiet 9 chapters.

Random but I've got a question for you. When you load the silverwear in the dishwasher, does it go fork prongs up or fork prongs down? I've always said prongs up. Russell, prongs down. I guess it grosses me out a little because our dishwasher came with our house and the basket is all stabbed and jaggedy because of someone else's silverwear. And then. Yesterday morning, I was stabbed by one of the steak knives Russell got for Christmas. I think I might have to convert to prongs (or sharp points) down...

You want it, you got it. I managed to find another dress to wear my boots with AND I got a picture. What?! It snowed again. I swear. You know why (and this is how you'll know I'm not lying)? I got a car wash on Saturday. I got the shiny tire stuff and everything. 

The same old stuff is going on around here. School starts next week and I've been having all these crazy dreams about it. In the first dream I got to class and realized that I didn't have my book, in fact I didn't have any books at all. Ooh, that one was bad. The second dream was weirder. I got to class and I recognized my teacher. It was Dr. Dina Titus, she was my political science professor at UNLV and the Nevada State Senate Minority Leader. I went up and told her that I just saw her on the news the night before, standing behind Hillary Clinton (I really did). Anyway, then I go sit down and I notice that the student sitting next to me has a different book than I do. I keep looking and see that everyone has a different book. Anyone noticing a theme here? 

Russell and I have just been introduced to the time-suck that is catching up on Lost. We're almost done with the first season. Holy crap, it's good. Way better than any of you guys told me. I could have been watching all along but then again, there is something to be said for not having to wait an entire week to find out what happens next. We're going over to the Winget's tonight for Sunday dinner so I'm hoping I'll be able to talk Russell into staying up late so we can put away season 1 (5 episodes is totally doable). Wish me luck. 

Sorry for all the slacker posts lately. Not a lot has been going on around here. Just getting ready for school to start and trying to get that all sorted out. I have the day off tomorrow and I'm trying to decide what to do. I made an appointment to get my hair done next week and I'm excited. I'm going blonde again.

We started watching Lost this week. Holy 24 episodes in the first season! This is going to take forever. Anybody wanna bet whether we'll be caught up before the 4th season starts at the end of the month?

This commercial made me laugh right out loud. I love it when they show the guy on the kitchen floor.

This video reminded me of Christmas breakfast at the Dukes. There was a lot of bacon. Good thing I wasn't alone with that bacon.

Tonight, out of nowhere Russell said, "there's a big fat crazy picture of New York!" I laughed.

Do you think it's wrong to walk around a little bookshop for 45 minutes and write down all the titles of the books you would like to read so that you can check them out from the library later? I feel guilty. It's the coolest little bookstore, and Dylan, you better hope we get your name again next year because we found the most awesome Star Wars pop-up book ever.

We went to Squeezers for lunch (Russ was right, it is better than Fatburger) and we saw Sweeney Todd (I'd call it a rental). All in all, I'd say a good day off.

Also, Mucinex is a miracle drug. Call me if you want some more graphic details.

When I was a little girl, my Mom taught me how to wrap up a baby. She told me that they like it when you wrap them up really tight. When I'm at church and I see all these little babies with their legs dangling all over the place, out in the cold,  I get this urge to go over and wrap them up tight. I resist the urge in case you were wondering.

I thought of something today. I am thankful to have a full basement instead of a crawl space. I have heard some scary satellite installation/wiring stories lately. They involve animals.

I am also thankful to have cowboy boots. I wore them to church today. Oh, yes I did. (What?! It snowed, okay?!) 

Happy New Year! It's 2008 and I think 2008 is going to be a most excellent year. No reason in particular, it's just a hunch. After Christmastime I start thinking about resolutions but I never actually commit to a resolution come the new year.
Zach, Steph, Russ and I went to the buffet at Bally's with Gramps and when I saw this Jubilee poster, I resolved to do whatever I need to do to get my stomach flat like that girl's. While I was sweeping up the kitchen today I thought maybe it would be wiser to resolve just to sweep the kitchen everyday.

I just thought of something. In a few short weeks this blog is (hopefully) going to be a lot more interesting. I start my clinicals on January 22nd and I am so excited. I can't wait to get my scrubs even though they will probably be the most obnoxious blue and orange Boise State colors. That is how excited I am. I don't even care that I am going to have to wear electric orange.

I am subbing for the Sunbeam class this Sunday and the Primary prez said I can pick my lesson. I'm doing "I'm Thankful for My Home" and I am so setting up the tent in the classroom. How psyched will these little kids be?

A girl at church is starting a book club. The first book is Princess Academy. I picked it up at the library today. Anyone heard? Is it any good? Holla (whoa, was I hanging out with Bride all week last week or what?)

I park behind my house next to our little garage so I don't usually have to drive by the front but lately if it's dark and my Christmas lights are on, I will take a little detour so I can admire them.

It's totally almost Christmas.

Russ and I went to the movies last night and when we got home, Otis was acting all weasel-y like he did something naughty. Before we got in the door I wondered what he could have gotten into, I took out the garbage before we left. That dog ate 6 of my delicious corn muffins. 6! I'm still mad at him.

Did you know that cornbread is a very hotly debated topic of conversation in some circles? I learned that today because I have been looking for a good cornbread recipe and in the last few months I have tried a couple different recipes. I didn't like them. Not sweet enough. That is what the debate is about - sweet or not sweet. When I was younger my Mom would make corn muffins and I would wake up in the morning and have one for breakfast. Ooh, heated up in the microwave so the butter melts. Delish. Anyway, I think today I finally found the recipe. I made a couple changes (oil? heck no we're using butter!) and it turned out yummy. Here it is:

1 1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. corn meal
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1/2 c. melted butter
Combine dry ingredients, then add wet and mix until just combined. Scoop into greased or lined muffin tin and bake in 350 degree oven about 30 minutes.

Also, if you haven't tried that cranberry Sierra Mist, do yourself a favor and go to the store pronto. It is so good!

My final is 250 points out of a total possible 750. That's a pretty big chunk. The up side - it's open note. Right now I am working on a table of contents for those notes. It is 120 questions and we have 2 hours. What do you think? Ace-able, right? Totally.

My lab is already over and so I had the whole day off on Tuesday. I made a fruit tart, chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter squares. It totally feels like Christmas now. The snow helps a little, too.

I know this is random but have you seen the commercial for this yet? Dyson made a hand dryer - like for a public bathroom. A long time ago I learned somewhere that those old hand dryers put tons of bacteria back onto your hands. I never use them. They gross me out. If I happened to own a business that had a public bathroom I would totally invest.
I want a Dyson. Bad.

"He's got a man-cold."

Just watch it...

Sorry it's been a while. It is the end of the semester - cut me some slack will you?! (You know it's bad when you almost spell cut with a k)

I have not done any Christmas shopping. That is very bad. It's going to be a couple crazy weeks. I can't wait to get to Vegas.

I'm in class right now and I am having trouble concentrating. I better go...

P.S. I made a "practice" batch of cinnamon rolls this morning. We better take a vote - should I use whole wheat or white flour?

Also, if you want to know all there is to know about the fam, read this post and string of comments.