Saturday, December 31, 2011
Goodbye 2011 and Hello 2012
2011 wasn't too bad of a year. Actually I think it's been pretty good. It was a year of beginnings. I began, with earnest, to recover my health. Not only have a lost a little weight I have gained in strength and my better health seems to show in my face. Middle son began middle school. Oldest son began high school this year, so it kind of feels like the beginning of the end. I'm glad of this time for him, as he begins to plan his adult life. I started going to church and so I've began a new life with Jesus.
In 2012 I'm looking forward to beginning my last year (hopefully) of my undergraduate degree. If all goes as I plan I'll graduate May of 2013. I'm looking forward to my daughter starting her high school experience. I'm looking forward to trying to volunteer more and spreading the good I feel I can do. I'm also looking forward to losing these 35lbs I need to lose.
No resolutions this year, no need to make any. I'm just going to continue going like I am because I feel like I'm doing okay so far. A little tweaking maybe but so far so good.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Spring Fever
I feel it coming on, everyone knows the symptoms: browsing pictures of gardens, looking at seed catalogs, wondering how many 60 degree days you'll have this winter, looking up info on how to push your spring planting up. Yep it's Spring fever.
I'm so tired of the grays and browns of winter. I'm ready for greens, reds, pinks and purples you see as early spring flowers poke up. I'm ready for that first meaty bite of a juicy, deep red, homegrown tomato. The bittersweet taste of fresh cucumbers. The fresh smell of overturned dirt on your hands. Ahh Spring, hurry up, I miss you.
So I am in planning stage and here's what I'm planning.
I'm looking at University of Tennessee's Extension site and at this site Here to see what I can plant now or at least in the next few weeks. So far it looks like for January I might be able to plant: cabbage, carrots, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, and turnips. Well that's all from the second site and most of them say not to start till January 15th, but I'm impatient and willing to go out and cover everything up at night and uncover it all in the morning if it means fresh veggies in a couple months. If I plant these and am successful now, then in 3 months when it's time to plant warmer season veggies I'll have empty space in my little garden plot. Sounds good, right?
Friday, December 23, 2011
Things I Need to do Today
- Clean my bathroom
- Laundry
- Make bed
- Make Cookies/Candies
- Get a few things from the store
- Motivate kids to do their chores aka. start cleaning the rest of the house
What I have accomplished since getting up at 6:30am (it is now 10 minutes till 9 am)
- Drink two 20oz cups of coffee
- Got dressed
- Checked email/facebook/pinterest
I feel like I'm on a roll now...
Monday, December 19, 2011
After I pick my jaw up from the floor...
I'll tell ya about my morning.
Yes it's well into the afternoon now, but that's how long it's taken the shock of this morning to wear off (I'm not quite sure it's gone yet).
This morning I got up around 6 :30, got my coffee getting ready to go to fill out papers and get started on orientation for work. This is an old hat, I've done it all before and so wasn't worried. I helped youngest son make some lemon poppy seed muffins for breakfast. I took finger and swiped a small taste of batter. Oops better not do that again or eat a muffin, because I'll have to pee in a cup here in a bit.
I show up about 10 minutes till 8 waiting for my friend and former/current supervisor to show up and give me the book of papers for me to look at and sign. She's shows up 8am on the dot and we get started with the signing of the papers. May of had to give away my first-born grandchild and a pint of blood somewhere in there as well, I'm not sure. If you have ever worked in healthcare you're familiar with the stack of papers required for employment.
So after an hour or so I finish the papers and find her and go wait to give a sample in a cup for drug testing. I've done these plenty of times, I've never had to worry as I've rarely taken anything stronger then Tylenol or over-the-counter cold medicine. The lady comes out hands me the cup to leave on the back of the toilet. I go and do what I'm suppose to do, hand her the key to the bathroom and sit and wait. A few minutes later my friend comes out and I hear words that I have never thought I would ever hear in my life "Jackie, why is it showing PCP in your urine?" Umm, wtf? My jaw hit the floor, I was dumbstruck. I'm such a goody two-shoes that I hardly go over the speed limit and when I do it's less then 5mph over. I abhor all drugs, I refuse prescription painkillers unless I'm absolutely sure I need them(last time I used them was when I had all my upper teeth removed and denture put in, and then I waited till I couldn't handle the pain to take one, I took nothing more then ibuprofen when I badly sprained my ankle). I'm a very occasional drinker and then rarely more then one wine cooler or glass of wine. I'm the cleanest person I know, so for anything to show up in a drug screen just put me into shock. I immediately started racking my brain trying to figure out why. The sinus medicine I took a couple days ago? No that would of shown up as something else. The off brand Mucinex? Nope, doesn't affect these tests. The peanut butter ball I had at church yesterday? Hmmm never know what those little old ladies put in their cooking.
My Hubby and sister got a kick out of it though. Really, it's only funny 'cause it's me. We know people that we wouldn't of been surprised if they didn't pass a test. Me on the other hand...yea I'm so glad I could give someone a chuckle(they really need to invent a sarcastic font). I'm sure Hubby will be teasing me about it tonight when he gets home as well.
So my urine sample is on its way to a lab for further testing. I'm 100% sure it's a false positive, because there's nothing else it can be. I threatened Hubby that I was not taking anymore cold or sinus medicine...he vetoed that idea. I guess my coughing and hacking all night might disturb his beauty rest. Anyway, let's look on the bright side. At least I won't have to worry about working on Christmas, right.
Yes it's well into the afternoon now, but that's how long it's taken the shock of this morning to wear off (I'm not quite sure it's gone yet).
This morning I got up around 6 :30, got my coffee getting ready to go to fill out papers and get started on orientation for work. This is an old hat, I've done it all before and so wasn't worried. I helped youngest son make some lemon poppy seed muffins for breakfast. I took finger and swiped a small taste of batter. Oops better not do that again or eat a muffin, because I'll have to pee in a cup here in a bit.
I show up about 10 minutes till 8 waiting for my friend and former/current supervisor to show up and give me the book of papers for me to look at and sign. She's shows up 8am on the dot and we get started with the signing of the papers. May of had to give away my first-born grandchild and a pint of blood somewhere in there as well, I'm not sure. If you have ever worked in healthcare you're familiar with the stack of papers required for employment.
So after an hour or so I finish the papers and find her and go wait to give a sample in a cup for drug testing. I've done these plenty of times, I've never had to worry as I've rarely taken anything stronger then Tylenol or over-the-counter cold medicine. The lady comes out hands me the cup to leave on the back of the toilet. I go and do what I'm suppose to do, hand her the key to the bathroom and sit and wait. A few minutes later my friend comes out and I hear words that I have never thought I would ever hear in my life "Jackie, why is it showing PCP in your urine?" Umm, wtf? My jaw hit the floor, I was dumbstruck. I'm such a goody two-shoes that I hardly go over the speed limit and when I do it's less then 5mph over. I abhor all drugs, I refuse prescription painkillers unless I'm absolutely sure I need them(last time I used them was when I had all my upper teeth removed and denture put in, and then I waited till I couldn't handle the pain to take one, I took nothing more then ibuprofen when I badly sprained my ankle). I'm a very occasional drinker and then rarely more then one wine cooler or glass of wine. I'm the cleanest person I know, so for anything to show up in a drug screen just put me into shock. I immediately started racking my brain trying to figure out why. The sinus medicine I took a couple days ago? No that would of shown up as something else. The off brand Mucinex? Nope, doesn't affect these tests. The peanut butter ball I had at church yesterday? Hmmm never know what those little old ladies put in their cooking.
My Hubby and sister got a kick out of it though. Really, it's only funny 'cause it's me. We know people that we wouldn't of been surprised if they didn't pass a test. Me on the other hand...yea I'm so glad I could give someone a chuckle(they really need to invent a sarcastic font). I'm sure Hubby will be teasing me about it tonight when he gets home as well.
So my urine sample is on its way to a lab for further testing. I'm 100% sure it's a false positive, because there's nothing else it can be. I threatened Hubby that I was not taking anymore cold or sinus medicine...he vetoed that idea. I guess my coughing and hacking all night might disturb his beauty rest. Anyway, let's look on the bright side. At least I won't have to worry about working on Christmas, right.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday Posting
I did posts kind of like these last month and I liked them, so I think I'll continue them at random. This song came on the radio every time I started my vehicle Friday while I was running vehicles. I love it, but it's become an earworm. So I'm hoping by sharing it with you I can get a different song stuck in my head now.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Whew!
The semester is finally over and my entire household is breathing a sigh of relief. Apparently I've been rather cranky this past week or so. I think Hubby may of muttered something about pads and Midol for Christmas. Yea it's been that bad.
It's all better now, grades are starting to get posted and so far I'm pleased. I'm extremely pleased that I passed Gen Chem 2 on the first try. Not a great pass mind you, it was a C-. I just barely squeaked by, but I did it and I'm going to roll with it for now. I'm trying to get prepared for the upcoming classes mentally now. I've got microbiology + lab, A&P 2, Organic Chemistry (they quit having O Chem 1 &2 at my college, it's now foundations of organic chemistry and bio-organic chemistry or something like that) + lab(If I can catch an open spot, it filled up quick so I keep checking for when/if someone drops), and Community Nutrition are on the line up. I'm only taking 14 hours so that I get a small break and can pick up some work hours. Yep I had to go back to work a bit, just prn for now. Starting Monday morning I'm back at the nursing home. Bills have to be paid and a more reliable vehicle got, so I've got to do what I got to do. I know it's going to be difficult with these particular classes, not impossible just difficult.
Well I guess I need to get off of here, I have some presents to wrap and hide before the kiddies get home. Today was half day at school for them so they'll come home hyper and sugared up I'm sure. Speaking of presents, does anyone else feel like they're having a gift of the magi Christmas? I only had 15 dollars to buy Hubby's gift with and that is the first thing that came to mind, because I know that's about how much he has available as well. The kiddies come first, but I cannot let a Christmas go by without something for Hubby to open. No matter how much he insists that he doesn't need anything, I think secretly he's pleased.
Like I said it's time to get off here wrap presents and I think I should make some cookies as a thank you to my family for loving me. I know I'm hard to take at times and grateful I have people in my life willing to take me.
It's all better now, grades are starting to get posted and so far I'm pleased. I'm extremely pleased that I passed Gen Chem 2 on the first try. Not a great pass mind you, it was a C-. I just barely squeaked by, but I did it and I'm going to roll with it for now. I'm trying to get prepared for the upcoming classes mentally now. I've got microbiology + lab, A&P 2, Organic Chemistry (they quit having O Chem 1 &2 at my college, it's now foundations of organic chemistry and bio-organic chemistry or something like that) + lab(If I can catch an open spot, it filled up quick so I keep checking for when/if someone drops), and Community Nutrition are on the line up. I'm only taking 14 hours so that I get a small break and can pick up some work hours. Yep I had to go back to work a bit, just prn for now. Starting Monday morning I'm back at the nursing home. Bills have to be paid and a more reliable vehicle got, so I've got to do what I got to do. I know it's going to be difficult with these particular classes, not impossible just difficult.
Well I guess I need to get off of here, I have some presents to wrap and hide before the kiddies get home. Today was half day at school for them so they'll come home hyper and sugared up I'm sure. Speaking of presents, does anyone else feel like they're having a gift of the magi Christmas? I only had 15 dollars to buy Hubby's gift with and that is the first thing that came to mind, because I know that's about how much he has available as well. The kiddies come first, but I cannot let a Christmas go by without something for Hubby to open. No matter how much he insists that he doesn't need anything, I think secretly he's pleased.
Like I said it's time to get off here wrap presents and I think I should make some cookies as a thank you to my family for loving me. I know I'm hard to take at times and grateful I have people in my life willing to take me.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Lift Me Up
Sometimes you hear a song that just fits a time in your life. Right now this is one of them for me. I've got some many worries going on with everything in life right now, that I think I really need to let go and let God lift me up. He can carry me through what life has brought me to.
Lift Me Up by The Afters
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
Waiting for the sunrise
Waiting for the day
Waiting for a sign
That I’m where you want me to be
You know my heart is heavy
And the hurt is deep
But when I feel like giving up
You’re reminding me
That we all fall down sometimes
But when I hit the ground
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
I know I’m not perfect
I know I make mistakes
I know that I have let you down
But you love me the same
And when I’m surrounded
When I lose my way
When I’m crying out and falling down
You are here to
Lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go
I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
With your love
I don’t know what I can offer
In this moment I surrender to your love
To your love
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go
I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
Lift Me Up by The Afters
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
Waiting for the sunrise
Waiting for the day
Waiting for a sign
That I’m where you want me to be
You know my heart is heavy
And the hurt is deep
But when I feel like giving up
You’re reminding me
That we all fall down sometimes
But when I hit the ground
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
I know I’m not perfect
I know I make mistakes
I know that I have let you down
But you love me the same
And when I’m surrounded
When I lose my way
When I’m crying out and falling down
You are here to
Lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go
I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
With your love
I don’t know what I can offer
In this moment I surrender to your love
To your love
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go
I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
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