I've Been Tagged

by Karamia
Here are the rules:Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

Six Weird Things About Me

1. I say "Howdy girls" to herds of cows as I drive by...sometimes I roll down the window and shout it out to them. Yup...I do, ask Ellen.
2. I don't like going anywhere without my vehicle. I would rather drive myself than take a chance that I will be stuck somewhere. It has come in handy a few times when on a trip with people I don't know well.
3. I pull dead animals off the road. It absolutely hurts my soul to see an animal be run over repeatedly....pets, wildlife...you name it. I keep paper towels and hand cleanser and gloves in my car. I also have the numbers for animal removal, for the city, county and state preprogrammed in to my cell.
4. I can spit over 17 feet. I learned to do this after going thru the 'gas chamber' in basic training in the Army. After about 15 mins, I had used up my allotment of tissues and toilet paper (not good when you are on bivouac) and had to learn to suck it in and spit it out. Sometimes I used the ole farmer's hankie routine but mostly I spit. It grosses out my poor Bill...lol)
5. I sneeze and scare the shit out of anyone within 20-30 feet. It comes on fast and hard and I cannot control it for the most part....pissing off my poor Bill.
6. I can burp on command (this one is courtesy of Bill because I couldn't think of any more weird things) and I usually can say something at the same time.

Alright....I'm sure there are weirder people than me out there....let's see. I want to tag...Swampwitch, Ellen aka Redhead Editor, Maribeth, Janet C and Janet-Fond of Snape and Intergalactic Planet3rry aka P3 aka Terry (who's on vacation but I know he will do it at some point.) I'm sure you've probably all done this before but c'mon....be a sport.

♥Pam

I Announce and Answer...

the winner and the questions...

Here is the winner for most 'Creative' answers:

Congrats ......Pamela from The Dust Will Wait fame. I must admit...I was leaning towards Janet at Fond of Snape but I always love a quick turn of the phrase, so to speak. And Janet, it took me a while to figure out what cfm shoes were...but then I did...LOL!!

**--------------------------------------------------------------------------------**

Here is the winner for most 'Right' answers....

Congrats.....Redhead Editor aka Ellen, with 19 correct responses. I don't know if it's an unfair advantage..having spent MANY long hours in the car with me, or not!! Hehehee.


Now, let me say that Honorable Mention goes to Janet C. from Life in Westcliffe for remembering her own list of things about me. Very much touched my heart. And Leesa Marie from Peace of my Mind was the only one to get my middle name correct, even if she spelled it wrong AS WELL AS, who I have a crush on....Impressed is what I am. Julie from Another Chance Ranch and Janet C. also impressed me by remembering that I have a company car. Brava! Swampy gets kudos for remembering I have stuffed animal mounts in my home. Last, but certainly not least, Michael from A Boy And His Bike, recieves my humble courtsey for nailing one of my worst habits...although, I wouldn't have picked it for myself, it has a ring of truth nonetheless.
Thank you ALL for playing.

Pamela and Janet C., I'll need your snail mail addy's to send you your prizes/swag. You can email it to me at motherearthpam at msn dot com. And actually, Ellen, I need your new addy honey.
Prizes will be sent forthwith and I would greatly appreciate it if you posted and maybe even took a pic of your prize. I would be most humbly grateful.

**--------------------------------------------------------------------------------**

Now, here are the answers to the questions from my perspective, along with any links to posts I might have done about them.

What is my middle name? Anne

How tall am I? 5'8"

What kind of car do I drive? Red Toyota 4-Runner. Kudos to those of you that remembered I get to drive a company car!!! I'm impressed.

Am I left-handed or right-handed? Right handed.

Where did I go to school? I grew up in CT and went to school here and went to UCONN (see #40 in the UCONN link) for my nursing degree.

What am I afraid of? Bugs and you can read about it here (#30) and here (#11) and here (scroll down past the last photo for the story). Oh yeah...and here (#3) too.

Do I smoke? Absolutely NOT...hell I can barely breathe with my asthma. Read about it here, (#13) and here (under desert).

Do I drink? Contrary to popular opinion...I don't drink wine. I usually drink water or milk except occassionally...like two or three times a year...I drink 'Rita's.

Do I have any siblings? Yes, one sister Kathy...

How many? See above

What state was I born in? Plattsburgh NY. (Look down at the question about where I've been stationed.)

What year? 1962. I don't believe I've ever mentioned the year but if you look at my 'About Me' section over to the right...it says I'm 44.

Name a state I have lived in other than Connecticut and Colorado. I had to bust out laughing at all the folks that said I have lived in Washington. Sorry...it's not me. You can see I answered this question here.

How many piercings do I have? Two....one in each ear and despite Redhead Editor..aka Ellen's accusations...I do not have anything else pierced!!! Thankyouverymuch!

Am I shy or outgoing? I am actually very shy but have overcome it for the most part. I have said this a few times...here (#21, 22, & 23) and here.

Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules? Yes, I am a rebel but I do follow the rules. Anytime I think I can get away with breaking them...I do.

What's my favorite color? Green or Plum

Name something I love? Shaklee, photography, scrapbooking, travel, my pets, animals in general. There are too many references on my blog to link them here. And Bill and me mum and sister of course.

Name a talent I have? I can decorate cakes. I posted a bunch here. I appreciate...truly, all the talent's you've afforded me...you all are too kind.

What kind of shoes do I wear? You can see them here. It's the pic of me and Brock on the porch steps. I have 3 pairs and am on my second pair. I have one pair in waiting. They are Bass leather cloglike shoes. I polish them to keep the leather looking nice. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. It really saddens me to know that I have one, unworn pair left.

Do I have any pets? LOL...besides being on my sidebar in the about me section, I can't even begin to link all the places I've talked about my pets.

What is my worst habit? Again, you were all so kind...I bite my nails, I cuss, I spit, I am sometimes not very forgiving..I criticize others too easily, too many more to mention here.

If I were stranded on a desert island, what would I bring? Sheet of plastic (for catching rainwater or making a solar still and for shelter if necessary...hey, it's a desert island!) A knife and sunscreen. If I could bring anything I wanted....a laptop and camera would be nice too but then I wouldn't be stranded for long if I had internet connections now would I???

What TV/Movie persona do I have a 'crush' on? MIKE ROWE!!! from Dirty Jobs.

To know more about me....read these posts:

A 100 Things About Me

Fifty odd questions...

One of my first Meme's

My Pet Peeves

and lastly...what's in a name?

Again, thanks everyone. I can't tell you how much this meant to me. Sorta like Sally Fields at the Oscars a few years back.

♥Pam

I Challenge You

Borrowed this from Leesa and Stacie:

WITHOUT going into my archives.... Can you answer these questions?

What is my middle name?
How tall am I?
What kind of car do I drive?
Am I left-handed or right-handed?
Where did I go to school?
What am I afraid of?
Do I smoke?
Do I drink?
Do I have any siblings?
How many?
What state was I born in?
What year?
Name a state I have lived in other than Connecticut and Colorado.
How many piercings do I have?
Am I shy or outgoing?
Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules?
What's my favorite color?
Name something I love?
Name a talent I have?
What kind of shoes do I wear?
Do I have any pets?
What is my worst habit?
If I were stranded on a desert island, what would I bring?
What TV/Movie persona do I have a 'crush' on?

Have fun...prize goes to the one with most 'right' answers and one with the most 'creative'.
♥Pam

I

Wish You Enough

I rec'd this in email and I'm sure you have at one time or another as well...but I like it so here it is:
Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said "I love you andI wish you enough". The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom". They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing thereI could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied."Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever goodbye?" "I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back will be for my funeral" she said. "When you were saying goodbye, I heard you say 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means? She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough, we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory ---

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hello's to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Send this to the people you will never forget and remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you.If you don't send it to anyone it may mean that you are in such a hurry that you have forgotten your friends.TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH!!!
♥Pam

I Wish A

Happy Birthday to Janet C. from Life in Westcliffe fame. Happy 50th Janet...it looks wonderful on you!! Thought you might enjoy some cake that wasn't chocolate!!
So go wish her felicitations. over here...
♥Pam

I Hunt Time

Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland

The Round Tower dates to 1100 A.D.

"For time and the world do not stand still." JFK

But it does appear as if time has been relatively gentle with the Rock of Cashel.

I Hope You All...

...Have a Lovely Thanksgiving, with all your favorite foods and all your favorite people. I Hope all your military family stays safe and sound and hopefully, is able to spend some time with you this Thanksgiving. I Hope all your 'thanks' are shared and honored. I Hope all trials and tribulations are set aside or better yet, forgiven.

♥Pam

I Am Infected...

with a virus. So I've quarantined myself. I don't want to pass it on to anyone. I'm not taking any chances. Until this virus passes...I'm not posting anything. Oh, what virus? It's really bad and quite contagious. Be sure you wash your hands after you leave my site today. Now, I've forewarned you. To continue reading risks infection. It's called the IDGAS virus or "I don't give a shit" virus.

♥Pam

I Wish...

A Happy Birthday

to

Maribeth, The Dackel Princess!!

I hope your day is Delightful, Delicious, Decadent and because it's you...it is...Deserved!

♥Pam

I Quote Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night. Dylan Thomas

Probably one of the most misquoted quotes ever spoken. But I was reminded of this after my post the other day. The one where I said that people's gaits change as soon as they think they are getting older.

There's a fine line between fighting the inevitable and not going gently into the good night of old age. The former is... well, the cable channels are flush with shows about people having plastic surgery who just want to erase time and damage. You don't hear too much of the later. But, how about Jack Lalanne? Can you name other people, who by virtue of their own sheer willpower or force of personality have managed to stay young and fit?

Why? Why were they able to do it and most were not? What is the difference between fighting the inevitable and not going gently? What is the difference between covering up the ravages of time and tide versus beating time and tide? Why was a 50something patient of mine so debilitated he couldn't walk 20 feet and another patient was still working and driving and vacationing in Hawaii at age 94?

I think it's all in your attitude.

I will get wrinkles. I will get spider nevi (those spider looking burst blood vessels on your legs) I will get gray hair (hell, I already am white) and I will eventually get thinning hair and skin, and all manner of aging responses...but how I respond to them is the thing I can control. I can do precious alittle about the litany of aging responses I just listed, but I can only really control- me. My brain.

Dr Forrest C. Shaklee said it best..."What you think, you look; what you think, you do; what you think, you are."

♥Pam

I ROTFLMAO-**Updated 111706

truly...I did! This cracked me up. I could have used this apparatus this past year. Thanks Silent One for letting me post this. I just had to share it.



Gather all your essential equipment...







Assemble as shown below...






And apply gingerly....




BWAHAHAAAHAHAAAA

See, I told ya!

**Updated: But here is a pic of me in said apparatus:

♥Pam

I Randomly Observe

An interesting fact which I’d like to share, that as people grow older and start to fear aging…their gait changes. They no longer walk confidently and with energy. Instead, they begin to mince their steps which, interestingly enough, only makes them less stable in their gait, thereby increasing their risk for falling. I have seen it in people as young as 47.

As soon as you tell a group that they can’t do “something”, automatically, a certain percentage of that group, who previously had never entertained the thought of doing that “something”, will now insist on going out and doing that “something”, since now, they are prohibited from doing it.

Turn signals are obsolete. Well, at least in my state. No one uses them and when you use them, everyone else ignores your turn signal except for those few who feel they that they must take immediate action to interfere with whatever you were signaling about e.g. they speed up so you cannot change lanes.

i.e. is an abbreviation for the Latin term id est meaning “that is”.

While e.g. is an abbreviation for the Latin, exempli gratia meaning “for the sake of example”.

How many times have I used them incorrectly? *shakes head in bewilderment* More importantly, will I continue to use them incorrectly??


"No good deed goes unpunished." Clare Boothe Luce

My ‘motto’ for this winter is…if I feel cold, I need to get my carcass up and do something…clean, exercise, play with the dogs, cook, go for a walk, do a chore…something. We are keeping our house temp at 66º. Because if we don’t, it gets too warm in the bedroom to be able to sleep well. Turning up the heat will be a last resort. Adding clothing will only be an option if I am working on paperwork or working at the computer and must complete the task. If I’m watching T.V., I need to move. If you don’t use it, you will surely lose it.
♥Pam

I Tell A Tale

O'Brian staggered home very late after another evening with his old
drinking pal, Murphy. He took off his shoes to avoid waking his wife. He tiptoed quietly
toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom
step. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around
and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket
broke and made the landing especially painful.

Managing not to yell, O'Brian sprung up, pulled down his pants, and
looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding. He
managed to quietly find a full box of band-aids and began putting a
band-aid as best he could on each place he saw blood. He then hid the now
almost empty box and shuffled and stumbled his way to bed.

In the morning, O'Brian woke up with searing pain in his head and butt
and his wife staring at him from across the room. She said, "You were
drunk again last night weren't you?"

O'Brian said, "Why are you sayin' a mean thing like that?"
"Well," she said, "it could be the open front door, it could be the
broken glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood
trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but
mostly.... it's all those band-aids stuck on the downstairs mirror."

I don't care who ya are...that right there is funny.
♥Pam

I Am Both...thank goodness

Well, having 4 dogs and 3 cats....I wouldn't want to be totally in one camp or the other. Know what I mean???

You Are: 60% Dog, 40% Cat

You are a nice blend of cat and dog. You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful. And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Speaking of cats....here's a few shots of a couple of ours. Of course....'Click it to big it'.

Mouse gets a back scratch from Bill.

Then Mouse gets his chin rubbed...
Then Mouse decides he's had enough and bites the backscratcher.
While Yum Yum hangs out.

♥Pam

I Announce the Winner

of my hostess rewards....

drum roll please........

click it to big it
SWAMPWITCH!!!

I don't have the show totals yet, but when Joyce left yesterday we were somewhere around $600 dollars. So that means you get upwards of $115 to spend on Pampered Chef products.

Then Sharon, a great gal from work, won the Percent Off rewards and based on the total dollar amount, that should be 25% off anything she wants.

Neighbor Becky won the 50% off item!!

And Friend Pennie won the choice of one of three items for 60% off.

I also had a wonderful surprise guest from blogland. Janet C. from Life in Westcliffe, stopped in for the party on her way up to Denver. We got to meet and talk and giggle and eat. Here's a pic of us. We all had lots of fun and enjoyed some food. I really wish you all would have been able to be a part of it. Maybe soon, they will have streaming webcasts for us meer mortals.

Click it to big it
Speaking of food....Michael, at A Boy and His Bike, was talking about comfort foods for the winter and mentioned toasted PB & J. I mentioned my fav...A Fluffanutter. And that's all it took.So, when I was shopping for the items for the party...I bought some marshmello fluff and white bread. And made me a sandwhich. Which, with a big ol glass of milk...really hits the spot. I usually only do this once a year as it is totally well, unhealthy. The peanut butter is organic but there ain't nothing 'natural or organic' about marshmello fluff and fortified bread. Ooooo, but it tastes so good.

Click it to big it

However......however........looking at the above photos means I am heading out for a run as soon as I am done posting this. Sheesh. But it's good to be frequently reminded of what I don't want to look like. Keeps me motivated. And that was certainly enough comfort food. Back on the plan again today.

I won't be playing Green Thumb Sunday at least until next season. Nothing new to post and not inspired. Sorry folks.

So Congrats to all who won, and Thank You to all who played/ordered. Have a fab Sunday.

♥Pam

I Bark

For Fish on a Mispelled Bycicle, aka Colin's pup Charlie. He is either 6 or 7 years old (human years) today!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!

I must say, Charlie couldn't have a better father. Here's hoping Charlie has a fab day. Unfortunately, Charlie and his brother Toffee are in a kennel as of last evening as Colin is in Norway this week on business.

I Like Surveys

Take a survey here.... and help out a fellow blogger with her research.

♥Pam
P.S. this will stay on top for a few days

I Hunt Growth

Before I get started...it's not too late to put your order in for my PC party and you can read about it here and here. Don't forget....I'm giving away my hostess rewards and you have until 2pm today (mountain time) to put your order in by shopping on-line here. I'm trying to get to Janet's show amount of $600, at least.... *wink* and that could mean $115 in Hostess dollars for you to spend. COOL!! Another person could win the two half price items. And 3rd prize will the the percent-off an item...see.... three chances to win. What's not to love about this!!??

Okay...okay today's PSH is Growth..

Me at 17... I'm on the left

Click it to big it.

and me at 44...

Click it to big it.

I think that shows some growth...in so many ways. Besides the obvious, ya know upwards of 70 pounds, I have grown in spirit, in mind and soul and love and well....just lots of ways. Without growth you have atrophy. So it's been my policy, all my life- to grow. (insert snide comment about weight gain here...heheheeee)

Atrophy is just not conducive to fun though....know what I mean?

Have a geat Saturday Everbuddy!

♥Pam

I Celebrate a Year!

Of Blogging. Today is a year since my first post.

Happy Blogiversary to Me.

I took this about two weeks ago and then ah....well...I.... Oh heckfire and dalmations, I might as well fess up....I photoshopped my teeth to make 'em look whiter and then sent the pic to the office so they could make me a new name tag. Yes, I am that vain. *sigh* I still have plenty of chins...I just have gotten very good at self photography because, lawd knows no one else cares how many chins I have!




Click it to big it!
So, I am surviving...

I had a rough morning yesterday and cried and called my old job and set up an interview today and cried so more and talked with my best buds....Love you GALS. Then, I kicked my old quivering, nervous wreck of a self esteem in the can and said....I ain't done nothing wrong...let 'em give me some crap and I will lay it on them and if they don't back down, I have my resignation in my pocket...typed, signed and sealed. Basically, I said to myself...

And, the more I thought about what I would be doing if I quit. What some of the perks are here....car, good salary....car....good salary.. ahem, and compared it to what I would have at the other place....complete hands off, I couldn't turn down the car and good salary, at least not now.

So, I think it also helped that I upped my B complex and I also ran yesterday. WOOT!

But I totally couldn't have done it without the support of my Gals...you know who you are, and my Boy, Bill. Thanks, I really needed it.

And...for some of you, this will be HYSTERICAL...for others you may scratch your head and raise your eyebrows and say..."whatever"

Click it to big it!

Cartoon courtesy of Redheadeditor. Thank you Ellen!!! You Rock.

So, onward and upward...
♥Pam

I Am Whipped

emotionally and mentally. Just whipped. My supervisory visit is done. Normally, an admission takes 1 to 1.5 hrs and if you throw in a wound or an IV it takes longer. So my new supervisor picked a wound care patient so she could observe a 'skill' and not just an assessment visit.
I was incredibly DISCOMBOBULAED. I haven't' done patient visit in about 6 months. I haven't done an admission in a year. I wasn't fluent with the flow of the assessment because I was looking for the rhythm from my old job's (18 months ago) paperwork. They have a load of fecal matter worth of forms that I wasn't used to signing. The patient and her husband had a ton of questions about the consent form...so that took three times as long as normal. Don't get me wrong...you are signing a legal document...I want you to be an informed patient but....man it adds to the visit length. And patients don't want you in the house for 2.5 hours. Yes, that is how long it took me to do this visit. I also didn't plan on the patient wanting to take a shower after I removed her dressing. Granted, I got to assess her functional ability....but that added to the visit. Then...well, anyway. I walked out of there and immediately apologized to my supervisor saying...I'm sorry I'm so DISCOMBOBULATED . She said she understood that it takes time to get back in the rhythm of the business. She didn't ding me on infection control and as a matter of fact said I washed my hands and changed my gloves too many times...well, if I'd been more calm and less DISCOMBOBULATED I would have been more prepared and not have to go back in the supply bag and that means remove my gloves, wash my hands, go into the bag and get supplies and put on new gloves and carry on. Sheesh.
So, I'm not normally so flustered either.
And it didn't help that someone close to me chided me earlier in the day and threw me off and one of the office workers...well, let me tell you that story here in a sec.
Not excuses...but...I just dunno what is wrong with me. Is it the changes from coming off of eight plus years of antidepressant? Is it PMS? Is it perimenopause? I cried when I got chided. I cry at stoopid commercials. I got angry at the office worker....I am just a mess. I haven't been consistent with my Shaklee vitamins. I have been consistent with my exercise. The one nice thing about being on antidepressants...at least for me is I was consistent. At least for the first 6-7 years. I had no serious lows and no significant highs....I was oookkkaaayyy. I'm not oooookkkkaaayyyy anymore. I feel stuff. Alot more.


Let me tell you about this coworker. Loud, obnoxious, sometimes funny and irreverent. Hardworking and honest. Occasionally, volatile. But while we were setting up for the potluck, I was joking around with her and another person and said..."I have to quality control check these potatoes before they get put out". *wink* I took one of those little plastic spoons, opened the lid and took a scoop. Maybe two teaspoons worth on this plastic spoon. She turns and looks at me with revulsion and says...."that's gluttony Pam".
Yeah, that's why I am going out to the field.
This person had cried tears, albeit small ones and said how sad and that she felt that I had been railroaded out of my job, just two days previous and now I am one of the seven deadly sins.

I kinda want that calm person back. Maybe I need to up my B-complex. I know I need to increase my exercise and I will do that tomorrow. I ain't going back on antidepressants people. I just better get this figured out...and soon.

♥Pam

I Tremble

well, maybe that is a bit strong. But I am nervous. My last day of orientation at the Branch and that means a supervisory visit. My supervisor has to accompany me on a patient visit. Looking at everything I do. Infection control being the biggest issue (well, since state dinged us pretty badly last year...well, frankly we sucked. Not me....but the rest of the staff managed a bang up job showing the state what a bunch of stoopid nurses we are.) Then charting will be the other big thing. The rest I think I got it covered.

I've been thinking about why it is so important for me to do so well. I have lot's of theories. Besides the obvious of course. It seems to run a bit deeper than the obvious. But...enough of that.

I made a Chocolate Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Roll last night for our 'holiday meal' at work today. I guess you can't call it Thanksgiving anymore! I dunno....don't ask me. They are providing the turkey's, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy. We are potlucking the rest. And because my last name startes with a 'B', I got to chose a desert...well, I couldn't stop at one. I wanted to make a lemon meringue and a spice cake but I then realized...I'm not the only one with the last name that starts with A-D. D'uh. I don't know why I thought I had to provide all the deserts. Och, my brain is just buzzing. But, I still wanted to make two deserts. I also made a lemon meringue for Bill and I.
I was experimenting with whole wheat flour. While it makes a tasty and hearty crust....it won't hold together. Dangit. It cracked and separated while baking. Well, you can't poor lemon pudding in a crust that is cracked. And I was afraid to have it not taste good, so I made regular crust for the potluck items. I'll have to work on that a bit.

Other than that...and my upcoming PC party, that's all I got on my plate...ya...sorry for the pun.
Have a fab day.
♥Pam

I Wrap It Up

Started my new job on Wednesday. But...heaven forbid the 'powers that be' have it planned so that I can roll things off properly. Oh no, I am STILL working on a project for my old boss. Yes, today. I am going in to the office to wrap up what I can in two hours. Why? well that's what my boss says I owe her.
See, my work week had been four, ten hour days. I had Monday's off with me boy. Well, this past week, I had Monday off, worked my last ten hours for corporate on Tuesday and started my new job, working eight hour days on Wednesday. But my boss says.....you will get paid for forty hours so you need to 'give me' the remaining six hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Well, I had a hair appt on Wednesday pm so that is why I am going in today to give the last two hours. And I will say....hallefrickin'luiah!! I shoulda just said....so short me six hours...I don't frickin' care.

But again....it's so ingrained in me to 'please' people. *big protracted sigh*
I have no one to 'blame' but myself. Truly.

That being said.....I've been most stressed about going into my new position. I have been waking up between 2 am and 4 am for the last week. Restless. See, as the On-call Evening Nurse I have two roles (well three if you count the remote vital sign monitoring program-'rvsmp'). Role Number One-I have to answer the phone...THE phone for the branch after 5 pm, until 8 am the next day. That involves handling any problems, visits or emergencies that arise. All calls means "help, my mother's catheter fell out" to "tell my therapist I want to sleep in tomorrow." or "I haven't pooped in 5 days". The latter usually occurs at 2 am. [I used to do this for the last homecare agency I worked for one day a week. Which by most standards...is a lot of 'on-call' time.] It can be very rewarding occasionally, and it can be quite the PITA...mostly. But it's part and parcel of the job I accepted. Role Number Two- is that of the evening nurse. That means I will see or visit patients that have IV's or dressing changes that occur more frequently than daily. And....patients that HAVE to be admitted that evening, usually for IV's or med administration. The admitting process is quite laborious. The volume of paperwork is phenomenal. Ever had or one of your parents or other older relative have homecare in the US??
Then you will know of what I speak. But I will also need to see a few of my 'own' patients. That is to say, to carry a caseload. This is the part I don't mind. But the caveat to this is...since I will be starting my day at 2 pm or 1400 hrs and have to do the 'rvsmp', I won't start seeing patients until after say...3:30pm or 1530. By the time I've driven to the patients home and completed the visit...and it's time for the next patient's visit...it's dark outside. And will be for at least 4-5 more months. *sigh*

I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill....but it's my molehill thankyouverymuch and yes, I know I accepted this position. I'm just stating the obvious.

Productivity wise...if I admit one patient a day and do the 'rvsmp' daily, I will have met my productivity. I have to do 15 visits/week. The 'rvsmp' counts as one visit and an admit counts as two visits because it takes so frickin' long.

There will be plenty of times that the agency will get busy and the regular staff will only be able to handle so much and I will start to get the overflow.

I guess I should stop being 'Eyeore' and take my own advice.

First off, I am extremely delighted to be out of the corporate environment. I am extremely delighted to be out on my own again. Driving around town in the car....free as a bird. No coworkers to gossip about me or watch my every movement and hear my every comment. No boss sitting across the hall from me. Yeah, I'm doing the happy dance here.....

Speaking of driving around town...did I tell you part of the deal was a company car? I may try to post a pic but the side of it is emblazoned with our logo so....

But I spent several hours yesterday setting up the car.

I bought some organizing things...

For the front seat. When we go to computerized 'bedside' charting, this will have room for the notebook/laptop and has a securing device should I need it. For now, it will hold manila file folders. Has a great pocket for holding other 'stuff' that zips shut. Most importantly, it has holders that keep it from flying off the seat if, for some strange reason, I might have to slam on the brakes....this is an important safety feature!

This second one goes in the trunk and is important because I must, by insurance, agency and standards of practice rules, keep dirty things separate from clean things in my trunk. Dirty things being a sharps container etc...

I have a Mag® flashlight for finding addresses in the dark and as a substantial weapon should I need it. I have emergency equipment....a whole kit, as a matter of fact, with flares and markers, jumper cables etc. I have a very large gallon container of water, emergency food, and my nursing visit bag has all manner of dressing stuff, condiment container...hey-I'll be on the road eating here!! and a gal has to have utensils and ketchup/salt/pepper/soy sauce.... Hmmm, lets see, what else did I do? Oh, yeah, I went thru my large tub container of medical supplies and pulled out expired items and organized it, made a list of missing items and cleaned the tubs. They sat in the garage for the last 18 months and have become dusty/dirty. I have two tubs. Well, one is a tub and one is a tackle box. The tackle box has clean needles and IV stuff, small dressing items that would get lost in the big tub or my visit bag. The large tub has bottles of wound cleanser, saline for irrigation, foley catheter insertion kits...extra barriers and paper towels. Large packages of gauze and other dressing supplies. IV tubing and sterile change kits. Oh yeah, I bought my own hand sanitizer as the brand our agency uses has a rather overpowering 'fragrance'. So it's sitting in an outside pocket of my visit bag and it's a pump version as opposed to a flip top version. I totally stole that idea from one of my coworkers...

Can you tell that I like to organize? Well, you wouldn't know it from my office at the moment. I have stacks of 'stuff' everywhere. But I really need to stop writing and get my hiney to the office and put in my "two hours" (channeling the kid, Johnny from "Better Off Dead").

So, I'm excited for next Saturday and my Pampered Chef Party. I found out Janet, over at Fond of Snape had a blog PC party and her show total was $600. So, I want to beat that....

Don't forget...I'm giving my hostess rewards away. YOU could be the lucky winner, but only if you 'play'. I soooo want to give stuff away!!

Have a good Sunday Everbuddy.

♥Pam

I Am a High Priestess

Well...that's what the card said!!!

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

test

I Hunt Windows

This is taken at a 'place' in Beulah, Colorado called Bishop Castle. This guy, Bishop, is just a bit off the bubble. And interestingly enough....there is a name for it. Dementia Concretia! Man, ya learn sumpin' new every day!
We've been there and it is strange and beautiful....and a bit scary. He's got no 'plans' and builds as it suits him so...I just have to wonder how safe the structure is to go traipsing around in.
Anyway, lots of people have sent him sections of stained glass that they have handcrafted and he adds it to the window. 'Course, I don't think he's adding any more at the moment. ;0]

Want to play PSH??? Click on my side bar that says-PhotoHunters.

♥Pam

I Only Got This to Say...

♥Pam

I Have the Most Scathingly Brilliant IDEA!

Yes....scathingly!! (channeling Hayley Mills here...) Okay....okay...ya ready for this???

At my Pampered Chef Party on the 11th.....if ya spend $25, you get your name put in the hat, right??? Well, for every $25 you get your name put in the hat!!! So, if you spend $75...it's THREE times in the hat. And if there's only 5 people ordering....whaddya think your chances will be??? WOOOOHOOO. If ya spend $100...it's four times. You could get HUGE amounts of FREE money to spend on Pampered Chef stuff!!! IS that not a BRILLIANT IDEA???

So, go get all your friends.....and go shopping! (Cause trust me,...IRL...only a handful of folks will show or order!) You could knock out all your Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. And let me just add one more thing to sweeten the pot.....If you order more than $250, not only will I ship it to you, but if they are to be gifts....I'll ship it to the giftee and ....I'll gift wrap them for you!!

OMG, think of how cool that will be!

Okay....since I'm so excited for ya'll....my Thursday Thirteen will be about Pampered Chef

Thirteen Things I Use Everyday and ♥Love♥ from Pampered Chef.

or almost everyday

1. Microcooker-This thing rocks and that's why it's numero uno on my list. Wicked easy to clean, steams your microwaveable foods without spattering everywhere and....no worries about getting 'stuff' from heating things with plastic wrap.
2. Cookware-I earned the Professional Cookware about 4 or 5 years ago. As a hostess, I got it for half price. I just can't tell ya how frickin' cool these are. NO SCRUBBING pots but most importantly, they are tough little pots and pans baby!! I've had the square griddle for almost 8 years...and not scratch one on it.
3. Stoneware-I have the round one and I use it for rolls, cookies, meatballs/wings, and occasionally pizza. It is excellent. Once it's seasoned....it's the best thing to bake on.
4. Apple Wedger- Yup...every day. Not only for my apple, but for pineapple and other big stuff I want wedged...like cukes, carrots....cheese.
5. Food Chopper-I use it for nuts, celery, green pepper, ONIONS...beats pulling out the food processor....and so easy to clean. Four or five plunges on the handle and your stuff is chopped nicely. Not diced into smithereens either.
6. Kitchen Shears- not a single day goes by that I don't use these bad boys. Sometimes it's to cut open packaging...sometimes to cut green onions...
7. Quikcut Paring Knife- let me tell ya these bad boys...ya can never have too many of them.
8. Flour/Sugar Shaker- okay...maybe I don't use it everyday but this thing is so much better than the plastic holed ones you get at your local department store. I have two...one for powdered sugar and one for flour.
9. Pie Crust Shield- makes it SO much nicer to protect my pie edges than pieced together tinfoil.
10. Mix-N-Scraper® -I have quite a few of these fella's. They have stayed soft unlike rubber ones that dry out. They don't stain and they don't come apart and get gross in the handles like other types.
11. Mini Serving Spatula- I need more of this thing 'cause it's always in the dishwasher when I need it.
12. Measure-All ® Cup- I need more of this thing too... it is so versatile when it comes to measuring stuff....wet or dry or solids....
13. Small Scoop-is EXCELLENT for making mini muffins or cookies. Gives you even sized cookies every time, which makes for even cooking temps....and for those of you that like to compete in cookie contests....*wink* this might be an added bonus, eh??

There are so many more.....The Handy Scraper, Twixit's, Prep Bowl Set of which you can never have enough of BTW, the best Ice Cream Dipper on the planet.. and let's not forget the Adjustable Measuring Spoons which are WAY better than anything you can get in any store. The Jar Opener is a great stocking stuffer for those folks with arthritis!! My mum has two that I gave her. Not that she has arthritis but that she lives alone and has no one to get those lids off for her.

Man, I could go on and on....just go peruse the website. If ya got questions...ask me or Joyce.

Well, I've got to toddle off to work. Catch ya later....

♥Pam

I Am Having

a Party!!!

A Pampered Chef Party on November 11th for any body that wants to come. But here's the best part.

I am giving away my hostess rewards.

Yes, you read that right. For anyone, be you present or not, who puts in a $25 order, your name will go into a hat and be drawn by my consultant.
All my hostess rewards.
Hostess rewards are the following:

Free product based on sales which looks like this....

and add the hospitality bonus of $15!! Also, the half priced item and the discounted item.

If you won't be attending in person, you just need to place your order by 2pm MDT on Saturday November 11th via Joyce's, my consultant's, website. By the end of my party I will have calculated everything and closed the show so that I can announce the winner.

I tried really hard to find a way for you all to be a part of the show. I looked into streaming video...webcast all that stuff. Not really doable in a way I could either afford or would want you to be able to participate. Did learn alot about webcasting and such though!

You may be asking yourself....Why???

Why am I having a Pampered Chef Party? I love their stuff man! I have over half the items in their catalog. I will rave about my favorite items tomorrow. I would LOVE to hear your favorite items.

Why am I inviting all of my blog friends? Aren't these kinds of parties mostly for IRL friends and neighbors? Well, you are my real friends, in addition to the ones I see and hear every day. I really wanted you to see and hear Joyce, my consultant. She's a hoot and the show is called Power Cooking. She's going to show us how to make and freeze 3 full size meals (that would be 6, for Bill and I) in 2 hours!! And let me tell ya sisters and brothers...I am all about the making meals ahead thing.

Why am I giving away my hostess rewards? I like to share, I have over half the items to begin with so what would I use the rewards for anyway except to give as gifts...and wouldn't you rather choose your own gift then get something you may not want from me for Christmas??? And to boost sales too, to help out my consultant earn a trip for her and her family this year.

Why or rather how are we going to get our products? Goooood question. I will mail them to you of course. Unless you buy the cookware or stoneware and then we'll have to talk splitting the shipping, okay?

So go check out Joyce's website...here. Or you can contact her at this info...Joyce Crawford
(719) 495-4679. She's been doing this a long time. Is very good at her job and loves it. I went thru countless consultants until Joyce. She's been my consultant since....oh, 2000 or 2001? I count her as a friend as well.

I sure wish you all could come in person....but shopping's the next best thing!!! And think of all the Christmas shopping you can get done!!! Woohooo.

Let me know if you've got questions about the products...I've got a bunch and I'll give you the skinny...and actually, so will Joyce.

Later,
♥Pam