Our trip

So, we went to San Francisco for our vacation.  We had a blast.  Most days I was tired like no ones business, but I got by.  We went on foot from 8AM till 9pm for 7 days.  It was exhausting for being a vacation.  We got to see alot!  We had City passes that got us into the major cities attractions and free transportation.  The cable cars, electric cars and the buses were all free!  We went to Fisherman's wharf, The Aquarium, A submarine and a nice tour of the city as we got lost.  We also saw the Science and Art Museum, A boat ride on the Bay and we hopped aboard an open top tour bus to explore the city.  Boy was it cold!  I had to buy a coat within the first few hours of being there.  My jacket just didn't cut it.  Oh, we went to Gierdelhi square, however you spell it and Small Italy, China Town and (scary)Oakland to see the USS Hornet.  The San Diego Padres Ball Park and the crooked ROAD which was really cool too!  I hope I didn't forget anything, but we did so much.  We have 300 photos from the trip, but that is way too many to post on here.  There are about 60 on my facebook page.

When we flew back home into Sky Harbor, we met up with my brother, Drew, who is staying here for the summer.  It has been so much fun having him here!  I am really trying to beat him at Tennis on WI.  I have a lot of work to do in order to accomplish that goal.  He has beat the computer on there!  We plan on going to a Braves game this weekend and my brother-in-laws wedding is next week.  I can't believe that me playing match maker worked.  So Roy will be moving out after his honeymoon.

***************18 holes of Golf!

So, we decided to go golfing today with Russell's friend and wife.  We had a lot of fun, but by the time we got to hole 14, I was pooped.  However, I stuck it out the rest of the way.  I think I played the best I have ever done!  I hope to show my brother here soon just how good I have got, but it may have been a fluke. 

Russ had to act like he was going to hit his friend........;-)
Instead of walking to safety, Russ laid on the ground behind a hill hoping not to get hit!

T

..................Lemon Meringue Pie?

Lemon Meringue Pie?  The fluff is supposed to be white with a brownish tint to the peaks.  My lovely husband didn't think so, so this is our end result.  It smells really good!  I am waiting for him to dig in.  I really don't care about it being over cooked because I scrap it off and only eat the lemon center.  I don't even eat the crust.  Russell asks me what is the point, but the lemon part is soooo good!   

    This is my brother's favorite pie, so we have to master it before he comes for the summer!

I guess we could have got a blow torch to toast the peaks instead of baking it.

WOW NOTHING FOR AWHILE.....

I haven't wrote in a month, geesh.  I didn't have any material.  So, I chose my dogs.  I can't wait to blog about children.  It shall make blogging so much easier.  

This picture is what the dogs do when I sit at the computer doing bills, face book etc.  However, they don't always look so innocent.  That big dog there is one of Harley's favorite forbidden toys.  He has a few chew wholes in him and hardened hair from doggie saliva.  

Russ got him for me on our first Valentines day when we were dating.  He got it because I am allergic to dogs!  He payed attention in the beginning and still does!  (However, I am not allergic to Harley and Davidson as long as they are bathed)

Harley and Davidson are starting to look a little old.  However, they are only 2 years old in human years.  They are starting to pull off a grey beard very nicely!  

**************The Start of a Calendar*****************

So, my hobby is card making and scrap booking.  However, I thought I could put a calendar together.  The pictures are in reverse order and I am only half way there.  I love doing this sort of stuff!  The lightening was horrible!  They look a lot better in person, especially MAY.

...........................I'm SiCk!!!................................

So, it is like 425 AM and I can't sleep because every 5 minutes I am using ocean spray to open my nose.  My sore throat is gone!!!  However, my voice has gone through "the change".  When I cough, I sound like a dog barking.  What fun it is ;-)

On Thursday I have the delima on going to work.  I could be like my other co-workers and go to work all sniffly and sick sounding.  Spreading my germs to those whom haven't had the wonderful opportunity of experiencing it sounds wonderful ;-)  Wearing a mask in a patients room really gives them comfort.........  

***************LoOkInG At ThE OlD********************

So All of these photos are a few from the life of my brother and I. Hopefully he won't mind me posting them.  We were such cute kids. For some reason I got this idea to share them.  The group photo below is of my Grandparents (Aboott) and their kids and one granchild Michael. Drew is in the yarn costume in which he wasn't too fond of. His volcano was awesome.  I remember helping to build it.  As you can see, I played Softball in High school. 
Drew, my brother, is sleeping and pouting in this section.  He liked to do that from what I remember. If you can tell the photo bellow me and my Grandpa in bed, I have a perm.  I used to get them all the time when I was little.  It burned, but I thought it was great!  Now that I have naturally curly hair I want to straighten it, go figure.
This is of my Middle School Graduation at Emge.  I remember being terrified of going to High school and it turns out, I hated every minute of it. Hence a reason for graduating early.  We all cried because a part of us ended.
                      These are just more pics of Drew and I.
This is my all time favorite picture of me when I was a little girl.  I was always a ham for the camera.  Just watch the home movies.  I sang, danced and told people how to video tape me.  Yet, I became a nurse!

***************** ThE MiNd*******************

What is it about the mind?  

You can think so much about getting sick, being tired or thinking you are dying and your mind allows your body to feel as if that is what is happening to you.  

I have always wondered why that is.  

The brain is a wonderful organ and an important one at that, but it can play evil games sometimes!  

Has anyone ever felt this way?  

It drives me nuts sometimes.

MoMmY 5 MoRe MiNuTeS PlEaSe!

So as you can see Harley and Davidson hate to wake up or get out of bed. These pictures are priceless!

This one is my favorite!

My hobby.

I thought I would share my hobby with you.  I have so much fun scrap booking and making cards. I never knew I had such an imagination and creativity until I started a couple years ago. My supplies have grown by leaps and bounds which allows me to be more creative and thanks to my husband for allowing me to do so as well!  I get all of my stamps from Stampin up.  I can't wait to scrap a baby book!  If anyone is interested in cards or making them a scrapbook, just let me know! Or if you want to buy products.  It's so much fun.  Here are a couple I did today.

The bees are my newest stamp set and they are my favorite thus far!!!

The Renovation!

So, since we backed out of getting a second house, we thought we should turn our bathroom into what we want.  Therefore, we are changing all the fixtures. As you can see below.  In this first picture, the shower head hasn't been changed yet, but it WILL be.  Roy, our little carpenter/brother-in-law is in the background working hard for his rent ;-)

Roy, your tongue belongs in your mouth when you work.  This is very unprofessional! ;-)  We are going to be changing the shower too eventually.  We want to have a tile shower with a clear door with the Rustic outlining.  I hunted far and wide to get a double bar towel rack!!!! YEAH!
Our new light fixture, they still have to pack the holes from the removal of the old one.  Good Will will be happy to receive the stuff we don't want.
This is the sink that I have always wanted ever since I saw it at Home Depot.  We have a nickle one in our other bathroom.  Isn't it cool?  Doesn't it make you want one?  We have the tub fixture to match it, but it hasn't come in yet.  
I forgot to take a picture of the flushy thingy on the toilet, but it is rustic too.  I forget what it is called or if it even has a name.  We are enjoying this project so far, or should I say I am because they won't let me touch a thing.  I think it has to do with me being a girl and not knowing how to use the tools.......

Booked and waiting for May!

So, Russell and I just booked our vacation to San Francisco. We will be leaving May 6th till May 12th.  I for one am excited because I have never been there.  Also, I found these cheap deals.   

We booked our flight and hotel together and saved over 500 per person.  I don't know if they are desperate to book, but it was a 4 star hotel. We got our flight and 4 star hotel for 5 nights/6days for dirt cheap and we all know how I don't like to spend money!  The cheapest vacation I have found yet!  If you are looking for a cheap vacation too, go to Expedia.com and book everything together!  You have to look for awhile to find the best deal.

Most of them you have to book things together and book within a certain period of time to get the best deal.  I hope everyone can go for a cheap well deserved vacation this year!!!

It really does snow in Dewey, AZ.

So, Russell and I were watching TV when my brother-in-law, Roy, came home with exciting news. There was snow on the ground and it was sticking.  Living here, that is exciting news.  So, Russ and I stopped watching TV and got our coats on and took a drive.  Most people wouldn't want to drive in it, but we are Forrest's, we due stupid things!

I had to attempt to make a snowman.  It was rather pitiful, but Russ and Roy thought it was hilarious!  I had to beg and plead for one of them to help me.  No one budged, so it didn't turn out all that well.  I can't wait to have kids so they can help me build a snowman :-(

RIP........Second house

Our second house was put to rest today.  It was our decision to stop it only 2 days before closing. Thank goodness I did our taxes because the money we were counting on from that for our "just in case something bad happened" stash didn't happen.  We didn't get anything back like the years before as per my previous blog.  It may be a blessing in disguise :-)  Therefore, we will continue foreword without any regrets.  Thanks for all of your comments and concerns about our possible endeavor!

Used to be a wonderful time of the YEAR!

So, I got put on call from work and was too excited to go back to sleep because I knew Russell brought turbo tax home the night before.  Tax season is one of my most favorite times of the year, before today.  I have always got a return and for the past two years it has been quite substantial.  Hence, why I love tax season.  However, as I am doing my taxes it continues to say I owe.  I keep thinking that this can't be right!!!  I triple checked everything.  I continued with the deductions and it gradually went from red (amt. owed) to green (amt. refunded).  I'm sure everyone would be excited to have a refund, but it was hardly anything in which I will receive as my return.  Most of my deductions don't count as deductions because it has to be more than 7.5% of your Gross Income.  If anyone knows us we always have an extremely high amount of medical bills and paid interest in school loans.  This year we spent thousands in medical bills and we were only off by 700 for it to count as a deduction.  Hmm.... the government that we have???  I can't believe how much we couldn't deduct this year.

Here is my unrealistic solution to make it a wonderful time of year:  

1.  Either Russell or I have to quit our jobs because we make too much in the government's eyes.

2. Since there is no profit in paying medical bills or loan payments, just don't pay them. (Just kidding)

3. We can have kids

4. We can adopt a village of kids. 

Any other suggestions are welcomed!!!!

When I finished it wouldn't even let me turn it in.  Frankly, I don't care because it really isn't going to help us.

Then, when I got on here to publish a post it won't let me change my background.  Bummed morning! 

My patient's passing.

     I have been a nurse for over 5 years now and just yesterday I had my first patient die on my watch.  I have always felt that if in my hands, I can save you.  However, my first was a man who decided to take his own life by refusing treatment.  I spent three twelve hour days trying to fight to save this man's life.  I had no breaks or lunches.  At times I popped candy in my mouth so my blood sugar didn't drop, there was no time to eat.  

Flashback: December 8, 2008 I recovered this patient after open heart surgery.  He did well, but had what we call a failure to thrive.  He was depressed and didn't want to do the work to get better.  With encouragement and 2 weeks time he was well enough to go to rehab.  I developed a re pore with him and his two sisters.  

Now, three days ago he was admitted to me.  We talked and I got what I needed to keep him going that day.  The second day his spirit was good, but his labs told us otherwise.  The infection was taking over.  I was thinking ahead and got everything ready for his downward spiral.  If you are in medicine you know when it will happen and thinking ahead makes your life a little easier.  Therefore, we got lines in him to manage his pressures, started medications to keep him alive, and placed a tube in his throat to keep him breathing.  On the third day I knew we were going to code him.  However, he didn't let that happen.  We were unable to keep his blood pressure up with multiple drips. We called the power of attorney which stated to stop everything.  So, we stopped everything and low and behold he held his pressures and woke up.  He even talked and drank water from a straw after the tube in his throat was removed.  Amazed be, but the sad part is to follow.  Now that he was awake he said he wanted everything done, so we started everything back up.  He talked to his daughter and not even 5 minutes after starting things, he said he didn't want anything done.  We asked him 3 times and got the same answer.  So treatment was stopped yet again.  He wanted his daughter and sisters to talk to him and he made me promise to tell them his request for his obituary.  I watched as he spoke to his daughter and sister.  His blood pressure continued to drop as the conversation went on and his respiration's got shallow.  It seemed he got better so he could say goodbye.  It is hard to watch someone die when you are there to save them.  This man was dealt a hard hand but could have fought through it.  However, he opted to refuse treatment and die.  It's sounds weird to say this but after this, I believe that you can sometimes fight to stay alive and when you are ready you allow yourself to go.  If you were there, you would have seen what I did and probably thought that yourself.

In spite of it all, the sisters were thanking me where I was like I didn't save him........  

They thought I deserved a raise, but I didn't save him..........

They thought I worked hard, but I thought I could have worked harder............

It's the way things go sometimes.  I hope and pray that I go another 5 years without a death on my watch.

This is our home currently.

Sneak peek in the Master bedroom

Master bathroom

Living Room

Kitchen

The Front

We live on Cancun Street.  Love the name! :-)

     A lot of my friends have never been to our home and I thought this would give them a little insight.  We are currently looking for renters to move in to our home.  We hope and pray that nice and nondestructive people will move in.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we attempt to take a risk in becoming a landlord and make another investment.  We put a lot of thought into our decision.  We have some critics, but most encourage us in our new venture.  

   I hope all of my friends and family are enjoying the fruits of this new year!  

Out with the old and in with the new.

 

Ok, so after I came up with my poll question, I did a little research and found out that Sesame Street has changed the names of some of the characters that started the show like 30 years ago. Sesame street was "The Show" when I was a toddler.  It is frustrating now to hear that they changed things.  I guess they are trying to keep up with "The Jones's" of TV.  They now call Snuffleupagus "Snuffy".  What kind of name is that? They call Cookie Monster "Veggie Monster".  What happened to the basic concept of the show that children fell in love with so many years ago.   They have cut down air time for those of Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie and many others to bring in new muppets, such as certain character's siblings.  How can they have a sibling without a parent on the show?  You try to figure it out. 

Hence, I started thinking some more.  Most likely what has happened is the people that played the character either died or retired, so the show had to come up with a new name for the character since the voice is different.  

I think I have spent way to much time on this issue as it really doesn't affect my standard of daily living activities, but I found it very interesting.  If anyone has comments please share.