February 27, 2003
On Sunday, I am having a Mary Kay party. I am mostly having it to get together with some girls from work. Shane wasn't too excited about having half a dozen nurses over on Sunday afternoon, but I went on with it anyway. Well, last night, a new plan developed, as the girls all decided that we would meet up our guys at another girl's house after the party and we would have dinner and play games and just have a fun little party. Everyone was into it. I must say that I am just barely an extrovert. I tend to be a little shy at first, but open up in time and can at least fake it pretty good when I am in a social situation I find awkward. Shane is not an extrovert, as he recently pointed out to us. Those who know him are well aware. It makes it hard sometimes, as neither of us are tremendously outgoing. So, anyway, at the news of the extended party, I knew Shane would be...apprehensive and not very happy with me when I shared our plans for Sunday evening with him. And he was...apprehensive. But, it's hard, because how am I supposed to say no, we can't get together, when I kind of want to and I don't want to have to explain and have it be all weird and uncomfortable. So, the article recommends that I probably shouldn't press him and force him into uncomfortable situations, I want him to go out on a limb for me and go with me on Sunday. I would like for us to meet some people and do something different on the weekend and to have a good time doing it. So, we'll see what happens.
I received the most dreaded piece of mail yesterday. I have been summoned. Yes, I have been summoned to Jury Duty. I have never gone before. I hope I don't have to go this time either. I wrote in that I am the primary wage earner in our household and that there is no possible way we could live on their $3 a day or whatever they pay. I hope I don't have to go. It would suck.
Another bummer. I am sick. It started up yesterday early in the morning when I was at work and I thought it was maybe from inhaling the fibers from a mask I was forced to wear all night long (one of my patients was in isolation and we have to wear masks and gloves when we are in there. I was in there a lot). I think I am officially sick, though. My throat is scratchy and my voice is funny and I am coughing and it is really not making me happy. I am happy to be home and off of work for the next two nights. I hate being sick. I just want to gt in bed and sleep and feel better.
On a good note, Shane was able to get vacation during his spring break and we are going to be able to head down to visit our dear little Macy and her parents, and our families. Yay! My parents will be in Europe, actually, so we won't be seeing much of them. I didn't think we were going to be able to take the time off, so I was very happy to hear that it is really going to work out.
Shane is really busy with school and all these projects he has to do. He is such a good sport and has a good attitude for the most part. I know we are both looking forward to the end of this quarter (and even more so to the end of the next one).
February 24, 2003
Nickel Creek won a grammy last night. Have I ever mentioned that I grew up with these kids? Sean was one of my brother's best friends. I couldn't stand him. Why, you ask? He would leave his stuff all over our house and our yard. Seriously, it drove me crazy. I think his bike lived in our backyard for weeks. And he would be over almost every day, but would always forget to take it with him when he left. I don't know why it bugged me so much. I don't know why I expected an eight year old kid to be so responsible, but I did. I can totally stand him now and have been able to stand him for the last decade or so. He is a very nice guy. He and Sara sang I Will at our wedding, in fact. Paul McCartney wasn't available.
February 23, 2003
I do not understand how there can be people out there that are early birds. People that get up at the crack of dawn for no reason other than to start their day. It just doesn't make sense to me. I even have people like this in my own family. My dad is up by 6:00 or 6:30 usually, seven days a week. My grandmother, a huge offender, is up around 4:00. That's four in the morning! And the weird thing is, I could go to bed at the same time as these people, and there is no way you could drag me out of bed at the ungodly hour of six, nevermind at four if I had nothing to do and no reason to be up. I could have slept, like ten hours by six, but I will keep sleeping away until at least eight or nine if I am allowed. My bed and I shall not be separated. I can see getting an early start to the day. It's beautiful in the morning and it's nice to accomplish many tasks of the day by nine or ten, but why get started so early if you don't have to? I love my bed. I love to sleep. I just don't get it.
February 21, 2003
I have been thinking about a lot of things lately. Everything in our lives will be changing in June. Shane will graduate and we will move away and start over somewhere in Southern California. When are we going to move? Where are we going to live? Where are we going to work? Are we really going to go to Europe? I am really looking forward to all of it, but at the same time, it's all a little scary. It's also kind of cool because we will be back "home" near all of our family and friends. We will both be working full time (finally), can start thinking and hopefully afford to buy a house, and then maybe have some kids. Yep, our wild days will be over and we will finally be settling down. Our wild oats are just about sown and we will become sensible, responsible adults at last.
February 20, 2003
Macy Michelle Yingst (2 months)
Isn't she the sweetest thing you have ever seen???
Last night at work, a dad-to-be walked by our unit on his way to be with his wife with a guitar in one hand and diaper bag in the other. I assume he was going to play for her while she suffered through her contractions and I thought it was so very sweet. I hope she enjoyed it.
February 18, 2003
Michael Landon was in my dream last night. He was dressed like pa in his Charles Ingalls costume with his brown pants and suspenders, but he was sitting on one of those seats connected to a big camera, filming something I guess. I just stood there for a minute watching him. He was pretty cool.
February 17, 2003
I thought maybe I was going to get to go out with a friend from work today. We were supposed to go out Saturday, but she and her boyfriend (who is also a friend from work) just got a new Doberman puppy, who got his tail and his ears shaped in that scary Doberman way on Friday. Apparently, he is having a rough time. I think Dobermans are ugly. They look a ton cuter with their ears and tail. I guess you might have to do it, like, they may make you sign something saying you will get it all clipped up, but I just don't think I could put a little puppy through that and make them look that ugly. So, little Nabu is still not taking it well and we might not be able to get together today either. I am not too upset about it. I mean, I would really like to have some friends and people to go do stuff with, but I am so used to not having any so I don't really mind. We won't be up here much longer anyway. Soon, I will have friends again. Shane is off of school today, thanks to George and Abe. I think he has a lot of homework to do. I guess I will read.
February 10, 2003
It really bugs me when I get forwarded e-mails from people that I am pretty close to and they don't ever send me personal, real e-mails. I mean, they can't take two minutes to type me a little note to say hi, but they can take the time to forward me all kinds of crap. It makes me sad.
So am I sick or what? I had a bad headache on Saturday night with traces of it still there on Sunday. I have had waves of nausea and my throat keeps acting like it's sore, but then it will stop being sore for a while. So, what's the deal. I am hoping it's going away or that it's just a coincidence that I have been feeling a little crappy, like, I ate something bad or allergies or something. But, either way, my husband has decided I must be sick and is refusing my kisses. I think that might be the worst part.
February 7, 2003
I am trying to count my blessings. You see, I had volunteered to work an extra shift last night. I ran into our next door neighbor the other day and she told me that they were having this huge tree in their back yard trimmed/cut back today and they would probably need to be in our yard to do some of it. So they are trimming away, chain saws and all. Started at 8 this morning. After hearing the plan, I told the hospital I could not work last night, and I am so happy I did. There would be no way to sleep through that. I would have been so angry, counting the hours left until I had to go back to work. Sleep would not have come to me and I would have been one very sad little girl with her head under her pillow. I am glad our neighbor had the courtesy to let me know. I am also glad I didn't have to work last night.
I do work tonight and Saturday night, however. My mom made me two new scrub tops, one for Valentine's Day and one for Saint Patrick's Day. They are very very cute and I think I will start wearing the Valentine's one tonight. I don't want to go back!
February 6, 2003
I am typically a very clean person. I mean, besides the fact that I tend to keep myself very clean, I am insane about my house being clean. For example, the dishes must be washed within seconds after they have been used, by hand, to avoid having the leftovers become a premanent attachement to the plate. If it is not possible to wash them immediately, they must at least be filled/covered with water to help loosen the pieces for a later scrubbing. (I have one of those wand thingys that have the soap in them...they are the best)
There are a couple things, however, that I hate to do and avoid at all cost. Two things in particular, really: mopping the floor and scrubbing the shower. I hate to do them. I put it off as long as I can. I think last October, I thought I should mop, but rationalizied putting it off until the day before Christmas, because we had family coming, and I would have to do it at that point anyway. So, we lived for over two months with nasty, dirty floors. I think part of the problem with mopping, my floor at least, is that the linolium is old and you can hardly tell it has been mopped after all of the back breaking work. I need to see results! The cleaning of the shower is just tedious and icky. I try to use that spray stuff that you spray each day after you shower. We even have a squeejee. I leave the door open to "air it out" as to avoid growing mildew. Doesn't matter. It is still nasty beyond all nastiness. Part of the problem is that Shane isn't into the door being left open. He will squeejee only the door, and he refuses to use the spray, as he doesn't appreciate inhaling toxic fumes. A few toxic fumes would be worth it to me for a clean shower. I mean, how many toxic fumes do I ingest as I scrub away, spraying 409 the hours it takes me to get the tile looking semi-clean. It's a nasty, nasty job.
So, my mom got this new thing. She let me borrow it. I decided to give it a whirl today and I must say, I am impressed. I am only half way done, as the battery needs recharging at this point (yes, I told you it was nasty). It seems to do a pretty good job. It is much more effective than a sponge or a scrub brush and it works a hundred times better.
I think part of the problem is our shower. The shower is about three feet wide and six feet tall. It is a little tiled gas chamber. I don't know what ever made them decide building that shower was a good idea. But, it gets us clean and does a good job. I think I will go out and get myself one of these super scrubbers. I may clean the shower more often with one of those things around. Heck, I may even come over and clean your shower!
February 5, 2003
I got one of these from my dad for Valentine's day.
I just started reading this earlier this morning.
I seriously have never really given Sacagawea any thought before today. Kind of weird.
February 4, 2003
I finished Heaven and Hell, the sequel to North and South, yesterday. I had a hard time putting it down. I am liking these books. I think John Jakes does a great job describing what it might have been like during the Civil War and I have totally become attached to the characters. So, one book left in the trilogy, but I am currently reading About a Boy by Nick Hornby. Shane read it last week and we rented the movie over the weekend. I usually like to read the book before I see the movie, but I think I liked the movie more than I would have had I read it first. I thought the movie was very cute and I really felt for the poor little kid. I am frequently moved by poor little kids. I am easily brought to tears by the kids that are out of place or made fun of and given a hard time. I just want to run over and hug them and tell them how great they are and not to listen to the mean things kids say or do. I feel for them. I felt for Marcus. And Hugh Grant is just a funny guy, so the movie was good. I am liking the book too.
February 3, 2003
I was just flooded with memories of how much this movie freaked me out when I first saw it. I can remember going to the theater to see it with my Aunt Kathy. I think I was about 4 years old. I think I cried. I don't know why I was so traumatized by it. I think it's supposed to be funny, I mean, Lily Tomlin's in it. Maybe that's what was so scary. I think I was afraid I might shrink or who knows. I was scared very easily as a child. I guess The Incredible Shrinking Woman was just a little too over the top for me.
February 2, 2003
My sweet, sweet grandma. She called me yesterday and asked if I had heard the sad news about the Challenger. Yes, yes I had.
(I knew she meant the Columbia)
February 1, 2003
Last night, i began reminiscing about High School, for some reason, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with memories of two of my teachers.
Ms. Ida Bruce. 9th grade Honors English. Ms. Bruce, or Ida, if you will, was straight off the boat from Scotland. Now, I typically think Scottish people rule, but Ida was quite the exception. She was an odd duck. And, maybe in Scotland she was a totally awesome teacher, but at Vista High School, we all thought otherwise. It was her first year there. And her last, I believe. My brother in later years ran into her at Submarina, where he was a sandwich artist, and informed me that she was working as a travel agent at that time. At the beginning of the year, we were slightly entertained by her. We would giggle when she discovered someone was chewing gum and would demand they "Bin it" in her very authorative Scottish brogue. She called erasers rubbers. She would wear the same outfit two days in a row, even saving her outfit from Friday for Monday morning. Our initial entertainment soon turned into irritation, as we discovered she really had no control of the classroom, and had no grasp of how to teach English. Everything she did was frustrating and annoying. We did our best to make her life a living hell and drove her crazy. Half way through the year, she changed her look by dying her hair pink. I think she thought it was kind of red, but it was pink. And she got turqouise contacts. Very sexy. So, we destroyed her. I don't know if it was her choice to leave the school after the year was over or if she was asked to leave, but we were certainly glad to see her go. I feel a little bad about how impatient and harsh we were, but you have to understand that she seriously was a sucky teacher. She really was.
Seņora Alberro. We were required to take two years of a foreign language to graduate, and being the practical person I am, I chose Spanish. We were an hour from Mexico. I thought I could make use of my education. I was placed in Ms. Alberro's class for Spanish II. The lady was from Argentina. I cannot actually say whether she spoke English or not. She had actually been a teacher at Vista High for a few years. She made us copy the Spanish book. Like, that was our assignment. Copy these pages and you will magically learn Spanish. There were all these native Spanish speakers in my class and she loved them. They got to grade the copied page assignments and were exempt from doing them. I couldn't stand her. I thought she was incompetent and I wasn't learning anything. I said something about it and tried to get out of her class. It turned out I had to wait until the end of first semester, then I could transfer to Seņora Johnson's class. When Ms. Alberro got wind of my dissatisfaction (and probably got grief from Administration), she started hassling me. I was the only person that got a B in that class. I seriously think it was because she didn't like me. A few years later, my cousin got this frog, an Argentinan Horned Frog (also known as a Pac Man frog), which was the spitting image of her. Seriously.
