Hoosier Nurse

I am actually not the oldest student nurse in the world, I'm a real life registered nurse!!

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Baby, it's COLD outside.

I can't even think about anything except IT'S FREAKING FREEZING OUTSIDE!!! I'm a girl from the south. My blood is too thin for this. It's only 8 degrees outside. That's ridiculous. I'm so cold, I can't focus on reading my book on the riveting topic of NG feeding. That means we'll have a quiz today since I don't really know the material. I can't even stand the thought of getting in my car to warm it up. Plus, I have a mamogram scheduled for today. They'd better warm up that glass before they stick it on my boob, that's for sure. What to expect for the rest of the week? Cold and snow, and then more cold and snow. This sucks.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

I FOUND A DOG!!!

Yes, the choirs are singing! I found my dog. When I stopped crying over my babies, I knew I needed another dog. My Yoda was a bearded collie (mostly). They are so beautiful. They look kind of like the "shaggy dog" in the movie, but they have beautiful long hair like an afghan hound. Puppies are $800-1000 from a decent breeder, so people are always looking for rescues. I'm on the waiting list of all the rescue groups for both mixed and purebreeds, but from all the years of volunteering for animal rescue, I will NEVER buy a purebred dog. We have millions of unwanted dogs in this country who make incredible pets, and I'm not going to contribute to an industry that consists of beauty contests for dogs (my mother is a show dog person/breeder/kennel owner, so I DO know what I'm talking about and don't want to hear any bullshit about preserving the breed). Wanting a very popular dog, and refusing to buy one from a breeder means I'm dependant on rescue groups and shelters. I've applied for four dogs so far, and all but one was placed with other families. Good families I'm sure, but I knew that my dog was out there, and those just weren't my dog. I applied for this dog (God bless Petfinder.com), and knew that the foster mother had recieved over a dozen applications. I went to "only big city in Indiana" and met her Saturday. She is so incredible, I almost cried. She was a stray in a pound two weeks ago, and was still scared. She was shaking like a leaf. When I pet her, she calmed down and crawled in my lap. Everytime someone came up to her, and everyone did, she would start shaking again. She never left my lap. There were other families that came to visit her, but she would always come back and lay down on my lap. I knew this was my dog. I hoped the foster mom did too, but it was her call to make. I told her that I hoped I was selected as her new mom, but that I prayed for my dog, and if she was the one, then she would be my dog and I went home. I got an email tonight offering to let us adopt her. I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it. We've also adopted a "pure D" mutt, and she'll be here soon. Our house will feel like a home again. If I knew how to post pictures, I would, but anyone can go to images in Google or whatever and put in bearded collie. They are just the best!! They can cut their eyes at you when they're doing something wrong, and you just have to laugh 'cause they're so cute. I can't wait until Saturday when she finally comes home!!!

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Around the world in 8 days.

Boy, the old southern saying "road hard and put up wet" would be apt. The hub and I took off on the 29th and drove 14 hours to Oklahoma to see the in laws and nieces. We had something planned for the entire four days we were there. The big fun thing was going to see someone I'd never heard of. This comediane named Rodney Carrington was playing at a casino, and we took the parents there for part of their Christmas. That guy was seriously funny. Nasty, but really funny. I broke even on blackjack, and got good mexican food, so a great night. In laws got me an 18k gold bracelet in Italy with some matching earings, and a Venetian glass vase, so great gifts. Then, to Texas. Our best friends of many, many years live there, and we got a hotel room in a place with an indoor pool. Their two girls (6 and 8) stayed at the hotel with us and swam a lot. We ate mexican food at least 8 times in 3.5 days, and saw "Night at the Museum" with the girls at the local Imax. It was cute. Went to the science and history museum with the kids. Then took off for a lovely 14 hour drive home. We thought we would be able to veg the next day (yesterday), but the guy who took care of our cats for us asked us over for a big football extravaganza and then we took them out to dinner for a thank you, so no sleep. Today, I had to get ready for school tomorrow, so I'm dead. It was worth it though. We had a great time, and it was the first time since the dogs died that I actually had fun. Now the next year starts. It's all nursing for the next 12 months!!!