Thanks for...a sense of humor

I had to laugh today. We had a busy clinic, my head feels like it is completely impacted with snot, and those on our list today were some of our more "special" patients. On clinic days I dress nicely...today a pair of slim fit straight leg chocolate dress pants, a button down white shirt from New York and Company and a red suede jacket. Gold jewelry, high heeled brown pointed toe boots. And I was having a very good curly hair day. Didn't think I looked too darn bad considering I felt awful.

The boss sent me into a room to finalize some tests and appointments as well as complete some paperwork on a somewhat uhmmm...difficult patient. My plan to be quick, efficient, no small talk, put in my orders and tell them to have a nice day. Screw that!

I walk in and the first thing out of my patient's mouth with a big excited smile on their face, "OHHHH...are you pregnant!"

I wanted to die. I know my abs are my "issue" but I go to the gym. I work out with a BOSU ball and mat routine for my ab program. I cycle, use the elliptical, and most recently, have taken up running. I'm not "skinny" but I'm not overweight either. My arms are pretty darn strong, my calves look like runner calves, my hips and tummy are on the downslide of in progress. I frickin' wear a size 6, 8, or 10 long pant depending on the brand. BUT MY GOD!!!! I DO NOT LOOK PREGNANT! NOR AM I PREGNANT!

So with a big smile on my face, I said no, "have to have a husband first" and proceeded to enter the patient's tests, follow-up and fill out their paperwork before efficiently whisking them on their way for the day. Then I made sure to quicly ask my all MALE team of docs if I looked pregnant.

Smart group of guys I got...they all said an adament no :) Had to laugh over that one and for that, I'm thankful.

Thanks for...home delivery chicken soup

Monday nights are traditionally Monday Night Football nights at my boyfriend's house. He has a projector instead of a TV so we can watch the games on an 8 foot by 10 foot screen. Yesterday I was home very early from work and put my jammies on right away. I planted myself on the couch with day time TV, the cats, and the Kleenex box. So when it came time for the game around 7 pm, I was not feeling much like going anywhere. Instead, my boyfriend brought me chicken noodle soup from Panera and stayed at my house to watch the game on my much smaller (but still hi-def) 35 inch TV. Thanks babe!

Thanks for...a slow run at work

I work in a high stress job. I love my job though. I was fairly picky about which positions I applied for and then subsequently interviewed. Physician Assistants are trained in a family practice based curriculum, which basically means we cover cardiology, respiratory, and diseases like diabetes and other "common" illnesses quite heavily and sort of get "introduced" to subspecialities along the way. Going into PA school, I knew I wanted to do orthopedic surgery. So when I applied for jobs I applied for orthopedic positions or ER positions. Both high demand, both challenging. That's what I wanted. I was lucky enough to land a sweet job in Orthopedic Trauma.

The summer months are chaos, to say the least in Trauma. Fast toys, more road trips, alcohol...all give us in Ortho Trauma a reason to come to work. The "Redneck Triple Crown" runs from Memorial Day Weekend, includes the 4th of July, and caps off with Labor Day Weekend. From the end of May to the beginning of September we are hopping! It isn't uncommon for me to work from 7 am (6:30 am one day a week) until 7 or 8 pm at night during these months. I don't complain though because it's what I chose to do. I enjoy doing it.

But, today I'm thankful for a bit of a slow down at work. As summer transitions into fall, everyone is home from summer vacation, it's getting too cold for motorcycles, the waterskis are hung in the garage, the fast cars are put away BUT there isn't snow yet so no snowmobiles, icy interstates, little old ladies on ice, skiers. So that means we are a bit slow. I will complain occasionally on weeks like this at work but lately it's been nice to have a bit of a break and to get home early. I have used the time to reflect a bit on where I am in life, where I'm going, and just relax doing things like reading, playing with my cats, a little "fall" cleaning, working on my new Stampin' Up business venture, those sorts of things.

So until that drunken snowmobiler rolls into the ER to start off the season, I've got a bit of a lull and I'm enjoying the extra time to myself. And no, these aren't "real" patients of mine but very similar to much of what we see...I snagged these from the web :)

...and football

Since I'm home with my Sudafed head and blanket I might was well be thankful for Sunday Football too! It's my favorite sport to watch on TV and currently my Broncos are winning so I'm doubly happy!

Thanks for...Sudafed

On days like this it is hard to find something to be thankful for. My left ear and frontal sinus feel ready to explode, my eyes are all red and burning. Last night the boy and I went out to celebrate my little accomplishment this week to a nice dinner and a movie. It was a great night. Half way through the night I woke up all stuffy with a bit of a sore throat. By morning, my ear and face hurt. But...you know what, I'm thankful for the dose of Sudafed and Tylenol I'm about to take and for the heating pad I'm going to put upside my head and for the excuse to lay around and read all day.

Thanks for...A bit of a warm up

It's been bitter cold here this week and those who know me well know I love winter. I love the snow, I like to ski, I HATE the heat. But this week between the actual air temperatures and the wind it was really bitter cold and gray. No pretty white stuff to make the streets and trees glisten. It was just cold. Today it started out a bit on the rainy side but that means it was finally above freezing! Now it's a pleasant 50 degrees out and the sun is shining a little bit. I'm thankful for that.

Thanks for....courage

Three years ago I went through a really nasty divorce. I'm thankful I survived, literally. Os and my friend Heather can vouch that that was questionable at times. For the last three years a lot of things have been done by just getting by. I'm working to do more than just get by and without a lot of details, yesterday I took a big step in doing more than getting by. It's a step but it might just make a big difference in the long run. I'm thankful I have had the courage to get through some of the obstacles in my life for the last three years.

Thanks for...The Kahl Girls

We are all showing a little skin in this one...it was 112 degrees out! That's me, my mommy, and my baby sister at a family picnic this July. We are collectively known as The Kahl (pronounced CALL) girls by those in the area. I'm thankful that we were all three able to make this picnic for many reasons...it was a long drive for all three of us, it was super hot, but most importantly because my mom had been in and out of the hospital as recently as three weeks prior to this picture. I'm thankful we all made it and had a great weekend together.

Happy HNT!

Thanks for...My home

As the wind blows at 20 mph and the air temp hovers between 30 and 35 degrees, I am thankful for my own home. With the various "issues" i have had in life, owning my own home didn't seem like much of a possibility. But about a year and a half ago I met with the bank (I HATE banks/bankers/money) but I met with them and was able to get financing to purchase my first home. I sit now with the lights aglow, my feet up on my coffee table and when I'm done posting I'm going to curl up with my big warm sweatshirt and a good book knowing that I have a warm, secure place to call my own. Take a moment to think of those trying to stay warm this winter in much much less.

Thanks for my home.

Don't forget to be Thankful

It's Halloween night and if you broke yourself away from the little kiddies in their costomes at your door to head to Walmart, Target or any major department store you will likely already find yourself immersed in sparkles of red and green with Christmas tunes overhead.

I'm not a scrooge. I enjoy Christmas. I like spending time with my family, the anticipation still associated with Christmas morning, the smell of a holiday meal cooking . BUT...I despise the ever earlier and earlier hoopla prior to the Christmas season.

So, in protest of Christmas in November, I'm going to post everyday of the month from tomorrow until Thanksgiving something to be thankful for and I challenge the rest of you to do the same. It might be something simple like hitting all green lights on your way to work (I did this morning!) or more profound like being grateful my mom is still alive (I am, there has been more than once in the past year where she severely ill). Whatever the case may be, don't forget Thanksgiving this upcoming month before getting yourself all wrapped up in Christmas!

Good night!

Kitty Litter Cake Recipe

Per request...here is the recipe for the frightful masterpiece of a cake for all your Halloween party needs :)

1 german chocolate cake mix baked per box instructions
1 white cake mix baked per box instructions
1 large package instant vanilla pudding made per box instructions
1 package vanilla sandwich cookies, crushed
Sat aside one cup of crushed cookies and color with green food coloring
12-15 tootsie rolls

After baking each of the two cakes, allow to cool to room temperature. Pudding should be chilled and set up. Once cakes are cool, crumble together into a large bowl. Add in pudding and mix well to make the entire mixture moist. Add half of the white cookies to the mix as well. Place mixture into a NEW kitty litter box. Microwave 8 to 10 tootsie rolls just long enough to make "moldable". Roll and blunt ends to resemble poop :) Hide in the litter box. Then sprinkle the remainder of the white crumbles and all the green crumbles onto the top of the mixture. Microwave remaining tootsie rolls and drop on top and along edges of box. Serve with a NEW kitty litter scoop. Place on top of a newspaper to make "misses" an easy clean-up.

Happy Halloween!

Whirlwind Weekend

It's finally Sunday night and I have had a whirlwind of a weekend. I ran from one event to the next starting Friday night and ending about 20 minutes ago when i got home from the last meeting. But as promised here is a picture of the kitty litter cake I made. It was a big success...one gal was so convinced that she managed to eat the cake but couldn't get her tootsie roll down :)


I had to "smuggle" some hospital supplies out as well to help the boy get dressed for a Halloween themed Ultimate Frisbee tournament yesterday morning before I had to head to an early morning baby shower. He's my Jamician Doctor! Isn't he sexy?


I had to take a card to swap for my Stampin' Up meeting today but what I didn't know was that it could be 10 of the same card. So here are the 10 cards I took with me to the meeting. It was fun to see everyone else's ideas and pick up some tricks. I'll have some time this week to make a few new things. I'll see what I can come up with.

















Have a great week everyone!

Old Halloween HNT

This photo is from a couple Halloween's ago but after cooking all week, then just finishing up cleaning up after everyone let an hour ago, I'm beat so I'm recycling. Yes, that's a wine stain, uhm...there...on the right. It was a GREAT party :)

I'm off to bed...Happy HNT!

Half done

The chicken club melt turned out okay on Monday night. My cheese melted too much and spread out but it still tasted awful good.

Now I have the meatballs baked and in the crock pot so tomorrow all I have to do is add the sauce when I get home from work. The artichoke crab dip is mixed and in it's baker so it can go in the oven about a half hour before everyone gets here. The pumpkin cream cheese bars are in the oven and should be done in about 20 minutes. That leaves the wassel and warm wine for tomorrow plus assembling the various cheese trays. Not bad.

I also got myself four new tires today. Now I'm ready for the snow to fly, and ice too. I sure do miss being able to put on studded tires but Minnesota says they damage the roads. Out West we put them to work, climbing a windy icy pass on I-90 feels a lot better with metal studs in your tires than not.

A friend's mom is nearing the end of her fight with cancer. Please keep her in your prayers. I'll be there one day soon probably too so my heart goes out to her.

Well, the week's half over and I still have a lot to do. Hope all is well!

A week in the kitchen...

It's going to be a long week. Not so bad at work. We are only on call tomorrow so it shouldn't be too bad. Thank goodness...I have a ton of cooking to do this week. Oh yeah, and tomorrow I will be outside at the high school football game b/c the team i have been with all season won last week...it's currently 37 degrees out, WITHOUT the windchill calculated in yet. Could be a chilly time.

So, what's on the menu?

Tonight...Chicken Club Wreath

Thursday Bunco Night...Hot Artichoke and Crab Dip with Pita Chips, Aunt Lorie's Meatballs (hamburger, carrot, potato, onion soup mix bathed in a mixture of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup), Pumpkin Cream Cheese Squares, Wassail, Bisschopswijn (a hot sweet spiced wine mixture), Cheese and Cracker Tray, Baked Brie and Green Apples

Saturday Women's Ministry Movie Night...Kitty Litter Cake (I'll have a picture for you when it's all done)

God love HyVee! Fridge is stocked, order of preparation is planned. Now I'm off to start dinner.

Have a great week everyone!

HNT...The eyes have it

It was time to ditch the contacts and give the eyes a breather this week. I use to wear my glasses a great deal...I get up pretty early most mornings of the week and getting my eyes open far enough to get my contacts in was always a pain. Then i switched to lenses I could wear 24/7 for 30 days in a row and I was a changed woman! This month I went about four weeks past my usual lense schedule (yup, I wore them for two months). This past weekend I ordered new boxes and once I got the shipping confirmation I tossed the current pair and have worn a different pair of glasses every day this week. I have fun with glasses, I would like to get a few more frames without prescription lenses so I can wear them more often. So here you have three of my sets of frames. I love my Irish eyes!

have a great weekend. Happy HNT!

Catchin' Up

Man, one long week of work, meetings, and workshops and it is taking me three days to catch up. Now I have a headache that won't seem to budge. Last week I put in some seriously long hours and it didn't end on Friday. I had a Stampin' Up Workshop at my house on Saturday (oh yeah, I have added being a Stampin' Up demonstrator to my list of "things I do") so I spent all morning getting ready for it and afterwards cleaning up.

Sunday I slept nearly the entire day. Don't know what my hang up was. Ate breakfast late, took a two hour nap after breakfast, another 45 minute nap that afternoon and fell asleep half way through my Broncos victory over the Raiders. At least I didn't much in the second half!

Yesterday was another long day at work and today I was home before noon! What have I accomplished? Not a hell of a lot. I cleaned out my work bag, took two naps, switched a load of laundry, watched three episodes of Oprah. Now, my head hurts like crazy. Ugh...I must be getting old or something.

Friday Night Football

35 degree windchill with 15 mph winds, snow flurries, long underwear, smashing helmets...It's Friday Night Football in Minnesota, folks!

That's right, I got out my long underwear, insulated Russell's, cuddleduds, hoodie, Columbia coat, and a big down vest from Cabela's along with my wool socks and hiking boots. The best part of the game? Getting to run around the end zone to get to the other side line to take care of a player and then getting to run from the side line to the middle of the field to get a cramping player off the field. At least I got my heart rate to beat faster than 60 bpm for about 30 seconds.

The worst part? The home team ran over the opponent yet again and continues to improve their record so they will likely be hosting playoff games in November! Doesn't that sound like fun.

Have a great weekend!

Another year...

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. Os did hi-jack my site...I think that is why he has had so many computer problems--it's his punishment for his internet piracy :)

I am a year older but I'm a year shy of 30 yet. Not sure where I want to be at in my life, hopefully a bit closer to having it "all put together". This weekend was a big step towards that, or at least I think it was. From a standpoint of my birthday it wasn't all that special. I got the usual cards, gifts and well wishes. The bigger news was my "presentation", which I had previously mentioned.

That's right...this weekend I was "presented" to "the parents". I'm happy to report it went far better than poor Gaylord Focker's experience. I did meet a cat but there were no spilled ashes, there were beautiful fall leaves to be seen but no burning gazebos. I did take a carry on suitcase but nobody searched through it. His parents knew what I do for a living and they didn't call me a nurse. Oh yeah, and the old sweet guy in the choir called me pretty, gave me a hug, and showed me the wrapped gash on his leg which he put there with his chain saw. All in all, a big step and survived by all.

It was a beautiful 70 degree weekend with fall colors in all their glory. It was a bit of a roadtrip but the anticipation of meeting the family kept me awake. I think the next big adventure will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the gang. At least I've done that before and even been known to get a few compliments on my turkey making skills.

Have a great week!

IT'S HER BIRTHDAY!!

Os, here. I've hijacked Moose's blog since she's not the type to toot her own horn. And since that's sort of what I do on a daily basis, I'll do it for her! Today is her birthday! All I'll say here is that she's not turning 30--she's still a pup. Happy Birthday, babe!! Love ya!