Danni's Blog

Yoga and Football

2012-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

I realized the other day that it has been over 4 months since I last wrote. That's a whole third of a year. My motivation to do this has waned and these entries are becoming fewer and farer between. I wish I could say I have a vaild excuse but, alas, the only explanation is laziness and it doesn't help that I've never really been fond of writing. Without further procrastination, I will summarize the preceding four months.

There's nothing really to write about the rest of September. October. The second Saturday in October was Amy's baby shower in Vermont. I drove down with her earlier in the day to Westfield State to a cross country meet (she is the assistant cross country coach at Endicott). It was fun to spend that alone time with her especially since I hadn't seen her since the previous winter. First time seeing the baby bump, too. And speaking of, she had her baby last Monday. No doubt there will be a trip down to see her and the baby soon, hopefully. After the shower, I headed to the Goss household to party. Good times had by all. The following weekend was the annual Minckler bonfire and the last weekend in October, Brandi and I went to Mass to spend the weekend with Laura and new baby girl Sara who was born on 9/20 via scheduled C-section.

November was pretty uneventful and December kicked off with Heather's baby shower on the 3rd. I had a lot of anxiety and worry planning for it but it turned out quite nicely despite earlier circumstances and the number of people who couldn't make it. Planning an event like that is not easy, especially for someone like me who is controlling, overly concerned about details and how it reflects on me. Anywho, please refer to my album on facebook for pictures of the event.

The rest of December involved working and events and outings related to Christmas and its preparation. Forgot to mention Thanksgiving was my major holiday to work this year and it was a scheduled 12 hour day due to staffing issues (suck) but it ended up not being too bad because it was slow and almost everyone went back to my mom's the following day for Thanksgiving, take 2. Poor Merm. Christmas was also nice. Got to see a few friends who came home and Merm actually had a tree and other decorations. It actually felt like the holiday.

Which brings us to the current month...January. The most wretched month of the year. I had a nice, relaxing, and quiet NYE with my liter of pre-made Sex on the Beach. Yum. Our department at work decided to have a holiday party (after much wavering as I understand it) and it was on Friday, January 13th instead of in the month of December. Better late than never, I guess. It turned out to be a lot of fun, albeit, interesting evening. That is all I'll say about that!! The rest of the weekend held my first outing with Maddy (lunch and a movie) and venturing into SHS for the first time in years to watch Kendall and her peers perform Ten Little Indians. They did a great job!!! I can't believe she'll be graduating from high school next year.

I am currently watching the Giants and 49s game. The winner will head to the Super Bowl to play against the Pats in 2 weeks. How ironic will it be for the Giants to win the Super Bowl the same month Simone is born. I wish I believed in a "greater" explanation. I went to a yoga class today at a studio here in Enfield. It felt good and I hope to continue going until atleast it's nice enough to run outside again. Who knows, maybe I'll get on the skis that are holding up the wall inside my coat closet.

My life hasn't changed much in recent months. Still single. Same job (that really has been getting on my nerves lately). Something has got to give in 2012. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to Simone and my birthday cruise. G'night.

Summer is gone in the blink of an eye.

2011-09-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

I went for a walk/jog on the rail trail for the first time in a long time and I'm a bit sleepy and really not feeling this so this entry will be slightly abbreviated. I haven't done anything on here in almost three months and there is a lot to cover. It is now mid-September and we have a cold front moving through...I actually put wool socks on and turned the heat on this morning; a far cry from what the weather was in June the last time I wrote. I love summer so much, especially June, and it's over. I like Fall but nothing can prepare me for winter. Depressing.

Summer 2011 summarized: The conclusion of my study efforts came on Aug 1st while sitting in the Lebanon College testing center mucking through the revised GRE. I've lost faith in standardized tests; I felt stupid throughout the entire thing and felt like I could have studied until my eyes started bleeding and it wouldn't have improved my score AT ALL. I ran out of time on all sections and had to skip around and guess a lot. So discouraged. I still don't know my score and I don't give a shit and I don't want to talk about it anymore.

I've been in my new apartment for 3 weeks now and it is far better than where I lived the last 4 years of my life. I'm staying put unless I leave the area or for some miraculous reason someone wants to marry me. I still have nasty carpet but I have a second bedroom and it's newer and brighter. I'm farther away from work, had to sacrifice the pool, but I can have my own laundry. I'm limited to an expensive, inefficient stacker that won't be here until December but nonetheless, it's my own. I can't fucking win.

This summer was a great concert summer and most of my travelling was to venues hours away from here. Sharon and I went to Wallingford, CT Aug 10th to see A Perfect Circle and to Mansfield, MA Sept 9th to see Incubus. Both shows were awesome. Definitely awesome to see some of my favorite bands live.

Laura's baby shower was last Sunday, postponed 2 weeks because of Hurricane Irene. It was really nice and it gave me some ideas for Puffles' in November. We'll be finding out the sex of mini-Puff in a couple short weeks here. I was 11 when Faith was born so this will be a different experience. Babies everywhere and other babies are getting older. Laura is due soon and Amy is having a boy in January. Madalyn and Madison started kindergarten last month and Grace and Maria are getting older and talking and developing very distinct personalities. And here I sit and I can't even get asked out on a date.

I need to go to bed.

Gain a Grammy, Lose a Grammy

2011-06-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is my second consecutive week off work and I'm afraid I may forget how to be an OR nurse. Well, I'm exaggerating a little bit. I haven't had this much time off since before I started at DHMC. I am having a planned vacation this week and I used bereavement leave last week for the first time. My Grammy fell and broke her hip June 9th and passed away the following Saturday night. She was 99 years old and ready to move on. My mom and her sibs decided it was best to not put her through surgery and put her back on hospice (she was receiving hospice care before but it was discontinued because she just wouldn't die lol) and make her as comfortable as possible. They stopped her anticoagulants and she most likely died from a blood clot. There was a private family viewing Tuesday the 14th (she looked very peaceful) and calling hours were at the same funeral parlor on Saturday the 18th. The graveside commital and funeral church service were the next day, Father's Day, and I had been fine until her box of ashes was lowered into the ground beside her first husband by my mom and her sibs. Everyone present then got an opportunity to place a handful of dirt into the hole. There was, however, some comic relief when Maeve (cousin Jaime's 4 yo daughter) wanted to climb into the hole next to Grammy.

The service at the church was nice and brief followed by a small reception of snacks. Everyone got an opportunity to stand up in front of the group to share memories and feelings prior to the reception and a lot of nice things were said. What began the outpouring was Braeden (cousin Jaime's 6 yo son) raising his hand confidently after a brief period of silence and marching up to introduce himself followed by an assertion that his Great Grammy was just great. You were either shocked, laughing, or crying. I will reiterate what I posted on facebook a couple days ago...sometimes you don't realize just how amazing someone is until they are gone. My Grammy was an amazing woman who worked hard and took risks; she was ahead of her time in the fact that she got an education first then married and had children later in life. Pretty atypical for a woman in the 30's and 40's.

The group disbanded and some headed for my mom's to hang out for a bit. We went to dinner and headed across the street to Salt Hill for bar trivia...the Harlow Hecklers kicked ass.

I find it so ironic that my Grammy dies a week after my family meets my Dad's biological mother. Life just isn't meant to be understood. So, Saturday June 4th, my mom, Heather and Dave, Jeff and I pile into my mom's car and we head to Rutland, VT to spend the day with Frances Trono and her sister Cora. Grammy Fran is east from California staying with her sister and helping her move to North Carolina to live with a granddaughter. This visit is coordinated by Sherry and I have mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation...I mean, how often does one get to meet long lost family?! Especially those who became lost under such unfortunate circumstances. The day turned out wonderful and Fran and Cora are lovely, comfortable, down to earth ladies. It was almost as if we had known each other for years with an instant connection and comfort level. We visited, showed pictures, took pictures, ate, drank, and shared stories. The conversation swayed between heavy and light-heartedness broken by laughter and some tears. Saying good-bye was hard but we treated it as see you later. I hope soon I will have the opportunity to pay the Tronos a visit in sunny California. I turned 28 the following Tuesday and the day ended on the brightest note ever...a surprise phone call with Fran and Cora's rendition of Happy Birthday on the other end. Can life get any better?

June 11th was also the day of my 10 year high school reunion. It was fun to gather and connect with some classmates and, not to mention, throw back a few drinks. Got some good pictures. It was, however, different (to say the least) to come home intoxicated and be told that my Grammy passed away.

Life as it is now. Trying to keep up with my GRE preparation and have put the brakes on buying property. I don't think I am ready for the financial and maintenance responsibility quite yet but I still will be moving at the end of the summer. Moving sucks but I really need a bigger and brighter place. Xander will be happier too. I still have 6 days left before going back to work and I will do my best to make the best of them. Studying, exercising, and hopefully completing my VHS project which has been on the backburner for some time now.

Must do some studying now then go pick up my recently purchased GPS. And I will conclude by saying that the new elliptical onsite is quite delightful...

Property Virgin

2011-05-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

My life has been a little busy as of late so I am taking this opportunity to blog on a day that I'm feeling lazy (which is often, unfortunately). I can atleast feel somewhat productive. I'm currently splitting my attention between this and Cash Cab...I freakin love this show.

April was a busy month and so far May is proving to be the same. Work has been different since eDH go-live and it so far has been more of a pain in the ass and not worth the millions we paid for it. That's all I have to say about that.

Every day off, my goal is to study for 2 hours up until I take the GRE on August 1st...so far I'm a little behind but the hours can be made up if my motivation is ok. My worst area for preparation is the essay aspect of the test...I despise writing essays so I imagine I won't work very hard to prepare for them. So weak. I'm also supposed to be running on my days off but that doesn't always happen. Lazy today.

Dave had his graduation the second weekend in May so my Mom and I went and we went to the Baron after. Yummy. The following Saturday was also busy with the Steppin' Up to end domestic violence 5K, Maria's 1st birthday party, then I headed to Mont Vernon for Danielle's birthday. I plan to do as little driving around as possible this summer...I'm putting my foot down (especially if I have to sell myself to pay for gas).

I am just finishing up one of my mini vacations...the first in a while and it is fantastic. I can't wait for my week off in June. I saw the Deftones in Hampton Beach at a small venue on Thursday night and they are awesome. Did the March of Dimes walk with Ashley and others on Saturday then went to Madison's birthday party. Sunday was Mother's Day and I saw my Grammy for a little bit (she wasn't having a good day) and then my Mom and I went to Sherry's house for lunch.

I began my house search a couple weeks ago and only time will tell if I actually buy something this summer. Life is just up in the air and who knows how it will fall. I saw a cute house today and it's nice to envision having my own house but it's such a huge expense and responsibility and I just wish I wasn't alone in this venture :( Such is life.........C'MON LIFEEEEEEE

I'm starting to notice more wildlife around here...a moose was walking around the parking lot as I was getting home one night last weekend and a bear walked past my back door about an hour ago. Kind of unsettling. Anyways.

My family will be meeting the new Grammy in a few shorts week (holy shit) as she will be flying in from LA. She will be here for a long weekend and then she is driving to NC with her sister. Amazing. She is very much with it and very travel-savvy and I can't wait to know her. This whole situation is still so hard to believe...maybe once I meet her it'll seem real. What a great birthday present.

Must turn in, night.

April Fools!!!

2011-03-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is April 1st and I will wake up to fresh snow on the ground. No, this is no April Fools joke. This is New Hampshire. And I electively live here. I am so ready for spring it's not even funny. We were teased with some spring weather but now mother nature is sneaking in a little last minute snow storm. Atleast I don't have to work tomorrow. My life has been pretty uneventful lately...just work (I am so sick of Epic I could puke), going to the gym, and I've recently started studying for the GRE. Tomorrow begins the 4 month countdown until I sit for the dreaded exam so days that I don't study (like today) will be unacceptable. I have never encountered so many unknown words before this little journey began. I feel like a feeble-minded idiot (more so than usual). So what's new. Not much. I still can't decide if I want to buy property or just move to a more ideal rental situation. Either way, I'm going to have to cough up more money to maintain a better living quarter. Moving blows goats. Tomorrow, I am planning on making a phone call that will hopefully result in me knowing what figure I have to work with if I decide to take the homeowner route. eDH go live is Saturday. I am so not looking forward to next week (on call Friday night) because I don't feel adequately prepared for this transition. There will be a lot of kinks to work out and I feel my department did a shitty job giving us opportunities to play around and learn. I am also beginning to feel that support during this period will be minimal and the amount of cases will not temporarily wan like we were told. I can't imagine how frustrating this is going to be...and how it will exacerbate my desire to sucker-punch certain people. An amazing thing happened on March 13th and I will refer to the email I sent to a few of my friends about it shortly thereafter. In short, Sherry located my Dad's biological mother via her son Peter (my Dad's half-brother) and made a connection with them. As a result of Sherry's time and effort, we have 2 new family members. Words can't describe how remarkable this is and what it means to uncover my Dad's past. Such a blessing. Brandi and Mike just booked a cruise to Bermuda from Boston in June 2012 and they want me to come with. I say, what a fantastic way to spend my 29th birthday!!! My bed with clean sheets is calling my name!

Plumbing woes...

2011-02-24T07:19:00.000-08:00

I'm finding that the older you get, the faster time goes by. I'm turning 28 this year and I really haven't felt any sense of accomplishment since the day I graduated from college. I haven't met any goals since then...I feel it'll either happen all at once or will never happen. So I may as well go back to school and get my masters, right? We'll see.

I'm sitting here in my living room listening to a few guys from Mosely Associates struggle with a plumbing issue I have which began as a leaky bathtub faucett and has transitioned into using power tools and now a hole is being cut into a closet wall. Ugh. They are walking around in their work boots that have encountered god knows what other surfaces so they better stick to the hard surface because I will freak if they step on to the carpet. They need to hurry the hell up and get out so I can friggin mop until I can't mop anymore.

Life has been pretty uneventful (big surprise) since I last wrote. I've done some incentive time at work, which I never thought I'd do voluntarily, to make up for my car being towed under bullshit circumstances. I'm so out of here when my lease is up and I have to decide before then whether to continue renting or buy my own place. The age-old fucking question of should I stay or should I go. I don't think it's realistic for me to think I'll ever leave this place.

We had a girl's weekend in Maine the last weekend in January. Laura found out the week before that she is pregnant. I'm pretty sure the moment she knew she was on the phone with Brandi but could wait a week to tell me "in person". I felt crappy about that decision and it instantly reinforced the third wheel odd man out dynamic between the three of us that has existed since the very beginning. The story of my life. On the other hand, we got facials at a spa on Saturday and that was an absolutely divine experience.

Grace's 2nd birthday party was the following weekend and it was under the bigtop circus themed...Ashley did such a good job decorating. So typical of her to be creative and pull things together like that. Susan is kind of settled in Newport so she had everybody over the following weekend for Puffle's birthday. Lasagna and double strawberry cupcakes...yum. And wine of course...to buffer the feelings around current family events.

I've been to both classes that is required of everyone to prepare for eDH go-live. I don't think it's going to be a big deal but a welcome change that'll make our lives at work easier after the first few weeks. The only real negative is that we are unable to take vacation during this period of transition (although some people are managing to?) so this is the first time since my first year of nursing that I will be without a regular vacation. I'll eaither go crazy or be totally fine. And some people will barely get a summer vacation. I will go crazy if I don't get my request.

One thing I will atleast accomplish is taking the GRE and moving to a better place before the end of 2011. In the meantime, I will eat because I am hungry. Later

Snow Day

2011-01-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

The gym closed early and my parking lot has not been ploughed so I am taking this opportunity to blog and catch up on other random tasks. I haven't written since early December so most of this blog will be Christmas related. As for work, it has been the same although I am really starting to feel like it is time to move on and my recent actions will prove so. The hospital is gearing up for eDH go-live at the beginning of April so I am looking forward to preparations for this taking away from the clinical aspect of my job.

The ortho department holiday party was on the 10th and I was late (big surprise) because it takes me forever to do anything, especially making myself look presentable, despite getting out of work a little early. I missed the bulk of it but mingled for a while and went on a little futile adventure afterwards and ended up at the bar for a drink with some coworkers. Overall, fun!

I did Christmas with the Goss girls on the 15th because I had to work on our usual the night before the night before Christmas Eve gathering. The first year this has happened since we began this tradition...huge bummer. Christmas with the Mincklers happened the Monday before the holiday. Christmas Eve was the next day off I had and I spent it doing laundry and getting ready to go away for the night. My mom had just moved to Newport so she hosted at her new apartment a Chinese food dinner for everyone minus Dave and Heather who were at another party. I enlisted my mom's super stocking skills for Heather and Dave's stocking, hung out for a while, then headed to C-town for the night. Christmas was good...we did stockings, ate breakfast, watched movies, listened to holiday music, and pretty much ate and hung out all day. Denise and Faith weren't there because she had to work and Faith was with her dad.

I worked NYE until 10 then headed to the Goss homestead for their first NYE party in a long time! We drank, played beer pong, and had some good times! We did our semiannual exchange of the journal and it seemed to revive our friendship as we have both been feeling slightly disconnected lately. I think it is normal as our lives are very different right now so I am not worried. I slept on the couch and got up to go run a 5K in Springfield with Dave and Chris at 11...go me! I ran 4 minutes faster despite being a little hungover, tired, and not 100% healthy. I aim to improve everytime and I have been really good about going to the gym every non-work day since starting my membership. Although they decided to close at 12 today...minutes before I was going to be out the door. Wish I had known that earlier.

I have been on a few dates with a guy recently but, huge surprise, I can't see it amounting to anything substantial. The exciting bit of promise at the beginning is nice but it never seems to last. The one exciting but scary decision and project I have undertaken the past week is my quest to further my education. I have decided and am currently in the process of applying to graduate school...more specifically UNH's Master in Nutrition Studies. It is still very early and I have a lot to accomplish before this year shapes up. Brandi seems to think this is my year...I really hope she is right. On the same subject...girls weekend in Maine at the end of the month!

On to my next task...perusing the BLS manual for CPR recert tomorrow.

Fluffy snow blowing around the ground!

2010-12-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

Fall is officially over and has morphed inevitably into my least favorite season. On the other hand, oddly enough, I'm looking forward the first big snowstorm. Don't mind snow for Christmas but I hate the cold.

I last left off with the task of having to move all of my furniture out of my living room in order for the rug cleaners, arranged by my landlord, to come in during my work day to do a professional job. That accomplishment combine with the hepa filter, dehumidifier, and my mom cleaning my bedroom rug 2 weeks later makes me living here until my lease is up less unbearable. It really is time to find a nicer place to live with things that would make me happy...a place to make a home for Xander and I and maybe another little fluffkin.

The weekend of Halloween was not spent doing anything holiday-related but helping my sisters move to their respective new homes and then moving my own belongings back to their home in my living room. A lot of heavy lifting in a short period of time and I paid for it with something labor induced that I never want to experience again. Oh the random unpleasant experiences in life.

I took a vacation the second week in November...a marvelous staycation. Caught up on some little things and spent lots of time with Xander and of course in bed sleeping. My uncle took me to the farm for the second weekend for a visit in his plane. The trip in the custom-built two seater plane was awesome until he decided to do tight circles around the farm and I almost tossed my cookies. I got to see Corey and the kids and talk with my Aunt and Uncle about various things. Went to the gym Sunday morning with my Aunt and just overall had a nice visit with them. It would have been nice, however, to see Megan. One task I tried to tackle over my vacation was my DVD conversion project of all my home VHS tapes. I've done all I can do until I buy a new computer with DVD burning capability. This known barrier is not nearly as frustrating as not knowing why I can't do anything. It was very amusing watching my unlabelled tapes on my borrowed VCR HAHA.

The weekend following the end of my vacation was Thanksgiving at the Birches. My mom, David, Paul and Vicki, Cynthia, Puffles and I converged at the home to have dinner with my Grammy. She is so cute. Heather and Dave hosted at their house on the actual holiday. I wish Thanksgiving occured more than once a year, I love food!

I bought a gym membership for the winter and my goal is to go every day I am not working and so far I've stuck to it with the exception of today...I felt I deserved a day off because I ran my first 5K yesterday, the Jingle Bell run for arthritis in Concord, with Dave and a friend of his. I haven't pushed myself that hard in a while and my time was better than I was expecting but left lots of room for improvement; 35 minutes and 15 seconds. You gotta start somewhere. And speaking of the gym, I must head to bed so I can get up and go before I go south for some shopping! G'night.

To go out or to stay in...

2010-10-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

Why is it so much effort and energy for me to want to go out and be social. Why can't I just be a normal human being. I pretty much always feel unattractive; I can never get my hair and makeup to look like I want it to so it's just easier to stay home in pajamas with no makeup and my hair looking like thin shit. This is the first weekend in a long time when I've not had any plans so it would be ruined if I went out. My hope of meeting someone who would change everything went out the window a long time ago...all the more reason to stay home and enjoy my solitude with my cat.

Ashley's birthday was 9.10 and she had a party at her house. I made her a cake. I, unfortunately, couldn't enjoy much of the party because I was tired from working all day and had to get up early the next morning to go to Cape Cod for Amy's bachelorette party. Nonetheless, I enjoyed some of the margarita bucket, a beirut game, and of course a piece of cake. Cape Cod was fun but for reasons I'm not going to get in to, I just don't feel really appreciated.

Jeff, Eli and I went to an Alice in Chains and Deftones concert on the 20th which was friggin awesome. It was a long day because of travel but it was nice to visit the farm and Uncle David took us out for dinner :) I think next time I'll just go alone so I don't have to worry about eating others' tickets. See a trend here?

Amy and Brian got married on October 1st in West Dover, VT at a beautiful resort (despite the torrential down pour) and it really was a lot of fun. As I drove to Claremont on the 2nd to have dinner with my family for my mom's 60th, I couldn't help but be giddy and happy about the fact that my wedding obligations for this year were over. After all the weddings I've been involved in I've become a little jaded about the whole process and basically the institution of marriage. I hope I don't have to do it again...even for myself.

I went to Maine the weekend of the 9th to see the Tainters and their newest addition, Addison Rose, who was born 9.10.10. All are doing fine and she is a super cute baby, a mini Mike, and pretty much sleeping through the night almost. It was a nice relaxing weekend and I can't wait to see her again!

Last weekend was the annual Minckler bonfire on Saturday and they had snow on the ground...booooooo. It was nice to hang out at their house for the first time since May and Emilee and I were able to catch up with certain things. We finally made and took our surfers on acid shots...yum. Derek was there, hadn't seen him in a while and he seems to be doing well. The following day I drove to Keene to see Becca. We went out for dinner and to the bar after. I went home too late and irritated that she really isn't doing a lot to help herself and got drunk on my dime. It's time to grow up.

I'm going to sign off because this blog is pretty much all negative and I need to stop rehashing all the recent things that have irritated me. On a positive note, my rug is getting cleaned next week and Cort helped me set up my new TV after I gave them my old one. It's nice when things work out well. Night.

Tis the season to get married...

2010-09-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

It is 11 pm on a work night so I'm not going to write a novel...even though it has been over a month and a half since I wrote an entry. This summer went by really fast and I feel like I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I hope next summer is lazier although I doubt it will be because I intend on moving at the end of it. Just speculation at this point. I seem to be a lot of talk.

I have plodded forward with wedding season...one more left in 3 weeks and the accompanying bachelorette party is this weekend...a wedding of wine-tasting and beach-going. A much better idea than the fucking cheesy casino scenario. Anyways. I'm not bitter or uninterested...

Where did I leave off in my exciting life. Oh yes. So the rest of my mid-July staycation was fairly uneventful although the last weekend was spent in Maine for Brandi's baby shower. She should be going into labor any day now, speaking of. The shower was nice, held in a stifling upstairs room at a cute cafe in Bath. She got a lot of really nice gifts. I spent 2 nights so I got some good Brandi and Laura time.

The following weekend I went to Dr. Bernini's annual party at his lake house for the first time. He has a really nice home. Betsy and Cort went with me. Good food and nice boat ride around the lake. I find it very interesting that his wife lives in their Hanover home and he lives with his clinic NP girlfriend at the lake house. Interesting dynamic indeed.

July 29th was a day this summer I was very much looking forward to. Ashley and I spent the day in MA, visited our pasts, and joined her sisters and their husbands for a Sting concert at Great Woods. I don't believe in the Comcast Center...it will always be Great Woods to me. I gave her a brief tour of Norton...Village Way, my grade school, Tedeschi's with the slush puppy machine, Honeydew Doughnuts, and Wheaton. I got to see where she summered with her Grammy and Grandpa in East Bridgewater. We had a nice dinner at the infamous Christos restaurant with her family. The concert was great although I was disappointed he didn't play Message in a Bottle lol. Oh and the girls survived the day with Adam haha. That same weekend on Saturday, Brian's mom and sister hosted a bridal shower (the first of 2) for Amy at their home in Beverly, MA. It was really nice, perfect house for entertaining, lots of good food and drink, and she got a lot of really nice gifts.

Maria Grace Goss was baptized the first weekend in August. Those girls are so damn cute. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen them since Maria was born but I did go hang out yesterday. I brought a liter of Jose with me for Ashley's Bday party this coming Friday and a couple of pizzas because I don't know if I'll be able to get out of work early enough. I also made her a cake today to bring with me on Fri. Pictures to come! Maria is such a happy go with the flow baby with big blue eyes and a mohawk. They are with Adam's parents overnight for the first time...we'll see how Shley does!

Suzy got married August 20th and I made a very exhausting trip to San Diego to be in the bridal party. Left really early Thurs morning and got home late Monday morning. It was a very beautiful wedding, though and the weather was great. I really can't tolerate minimal sleep and the constant on the go lifestyle for a prolonged period of time. It was really great to come home and I hope that I don't have to do that again anytime soon. It's also hard for to be on my best behavior around those who are very religious in regards to my language and views on that subject.

Amy's secons bridal shower was in Brattleboro the last weekend of the month. It was nice until Amy had had too much to drink. Let's say it bore a striking resemblance to Halloween 09' and leave it at that. I should have gone home like I wanted to in the first place and I could have had a good night's sleep in my own damn bed. I should have woken up refreshed to go participate to some degree in the CHAD 5k. I'm not bitter. How Amy and Brian chose to interact and accept in their relationship is none of my business and I shouldn't use any of my time and energy dealing with and trying to understand it. If she wants my opinion, she'll ask for it.

This past weekend was nice. It kind of scares me how much I like being alone. I stopped by the Ellis' housewarming BBQ on my way to my mom's to hang out with the fam. Denise and Sherry were painting Jeff's old room, Heather was making dinner, and Dave had weedwacked for my mom. I just showed up late and was my usual obnoxious, immature self. I doubt my ability to act like a normal human being around my family.

Work is work. I went through a summer funk but feel a little better now. Still trying to figure out some sort of plan with a path to follow. I'm sad that the summer has come to an end but I'm really excited for pumpkin spice coffee. It's my only consolation for this time of year. Alright, my bed is calling my name.

I LOVE Staycations!

2010-07-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

I am currently having a lengthy 30,000 mile service done on my lovely vehicle so I am taking advantage of the free wifi in the quiet reading room at the dealership to write this blog. Over two months have passed since my last blog...time flies when you're having fun!

Mother's Day weekend was busy. I walked with Heather for her work's Steppin' Up to end violence walking fundraiser Saturday morning. It poured during the walk and I was absolutely freezing until I could take a hot shower. I went from Claremont to Mont Vernon for Madison's birthday party and played in her new tent. Danielle made some delicious Margarita's and we also partook in some other late-night adult activities...good times! The next morning I stopped in Henniker on the way home to have a Mother's Day brunch with my mom, Sherry, Denise and Faith. I got home and took a nap before my night shift.

My friend Kelly had a baby the week she was due...Ruby French. I am planning on going to see them when my car is done because they live right here in WRJ. I haven't seen them since the birth. The weekend of the 22nd, I drove down to hang out with Laura and do some baby shower shopping! We went out to dinner, watched a movie, and she made breakfast in the morning. We had never hung out just the two of us so it was nice :)

Memorial day weekend was eye-opening, to say the least. Spent some time at the Minckler home with Emilee for Jesse's birthday. All I will say is that it is hard to feel helpless in a bad situation but I am hopeful that things will work out and be right for my friend.

The first weekend in June kicked off my favorite month of the year. Becky Springer's bachelorette was at the MGM at Foxwoods. It was a good time...penis-related party favors, dinner, clubbing, gambling, etc. A fun girls' night out but not what I would want for myself. When I got back to Claremont, I had some time to kill before Maddy's recital so I hung out with Dave and Heather. Maddy was so cute but I was more than ready for comfort and solitude when I got home. The next day was my birthday and I wanted nothing more than to do nothing. Betsy and Cort brought me baked ziti and chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting...yum!

The following weekend, my fam got together to celebrate June birthdays. Ashley made me a birthday dinner Friday night and we hung out afterwards with Jeff and laughed a lot. After that, I met Danielle and HELGA haha at the Imperial and had a few drinks...she was in town from Tennessee for alumni weekend. Next year is my 10 year high school reunion...holy shit. Betsy's birthday celebration was the following weekend at a camp up in Vermont accessible only with an offroading vehicle.

This past weekend was Becky Springer's wedding and I was a bridesmaid...the first of three this year. It was very tiring but the ceremony and reception was fun. I guess it's good that I've been a part of so many weddings and learned what not to do...things will be different when it is my turn. I have high expectations and standards and it will be a pleasant experience for all involved. I want to be upset, not glad, when it is over. Anywho...moving on.

Not sure if it had happened yet when I wrote an entry last but I am a single gal. I really can't imagine it being different...not sure why I've become the person I am so I'm not going to try to explain it. I like being alone...period. My friend Jason was home for a while during his current transition so I got to hang out with him a few times...it was a possibility driving to Florida with him this week but he left last week. Oh well...it was nice almost being spontaneous. I am currently struggling with what I should do at the end of next month...I fucking hate this indecisive crap. I wish I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I need to remember to burn a new CD for the road trip to Maine this weekend. Baby shower. I still can't believe Brandi is having a baby. Alright, this paragraph is random and really doesnt flow...I hear my bed calling my name. My body is still recovering from my recent weekend sleep deprivation. Oh, my sunroof is currently working and I have no idea what the guy did but I'll eventually have to replace the motor...wtf. If it comes to that I may just get a new car. I do like the Nissan Murano...

Waiting for Lighting and Thunder

2010-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have been on the go a lot since the last blog and I'm looking forward to some relaxation. I think my body is currently telling me to chill because I feel like buns. Something is not right...I'm being invaded by something. Either that or I was exposed to something non-New Hampshire this past weekend in Boston. Cities, public transportation, and hotels don't really get along with my immune system.

Work has been pretty much the same although we (the OR in general) have been gearing up for the mid-June opening of the OSC. Not looking forward to it...it will be weird not seeing certain people on a weekly work basis. Some people I won't miss...I'm really looking forward to not seeing a handful of individuals ever again when I finally leave DHMC. Anyways.

The first weekend in April was Easter/Denise and Sherry's birthday celebration. We all gathered for a yummy spaghetti dinner in Henniker. The following weekend was Maddy's 4th birthday then I headed to Mont Vernon to hang out with the Mannings. Good times with steaks tips and smores around a bonfire at their lovely new dome-home. Madison is such a great little girl with so much energy...we're buddies.

The following Sunday I made a road trip to Norton for Becky Bramwell's bridal shower. A lot of travelling in one day but it was ok because I am unable to go to the bachelorette party and wedding. It's always nice going to Norton because it feels like I'm going home. This time around was better because I was more emotionally prepared. I made all the necessary stops...including Honey Dew, Wheaton, Tedeschi's, the elementary school, and of course the condos...twice lol. The weekend after that, Laura and I made the trek to Brandiland from our respective homes for a lovely girls weekend. We got to assess the baby-bump firsthand, ate yummy food including lobster thanks to Mike :), went to the beach and shopping in Freeport.

This past weekend Hope, Carrie and I went to the Synthes conference in Boston at the Harborside Hyatt. I learned a lot from the lectures and labs...we got to actually fix bone model fractures with real hardware. It was quite successful but tiring. We became quite familiar with the T, ate yummy meals, and did some shopping. I highly recommend Mike's Pasties in the north end. I could have gone to Shannon Cutts' bachelorette party after the conference but it just seemed like to much.

I just got off the phone with Heather...she called to tell me that the woman who was murdered in Henniker recently is one of Denise's friends. A 22 year old guy broke into her house and shot her in the face. I only met her once or twice but I am so sad that someone could do that. My heart goes out to her husband. Maybe I'm connected to her on some level because she was almost done with nursing school. I'm really really sad and scared that that could happen to anyone at anytime. We are never safe.

Chris and I had a good conversation last night and I'm relieved and my suspicion is confirmed that we are pretty much on the same page in terms of our relationship health. Our personalities and schedules are not conducive to a relationship...we're been realizing that we are basically not right for each other. We've had more of a friendship than a relationship recently. I feel much better and we will probably separate face to face later and remain friends. He verbalized a lot of my feelings and concerns on the phone...this just makes sense. Such is life.

Moving on...going to see Ashley and the girls later. Yes, Maria Grace arrived at 8:28 PM on April 19th after an induced labor, successful epidural, and 13 minutes of pushing. A big girl (9lbs 7 ozs) but she is beautiful and a great baby. She may not need any casting for her club feet!!! I am so happy for Ashley, Adam, and Grace but not envious tehe.

Ok I will sign off for now. My goals before the next blog are to open a Roth IRA (the suggestion of a financial advisor at the free meeting I get once a year...a DHMC benefit) and to put some serious thought into my next steps. To renew or not to renew...that is the question. Life is too short so take more chances. Especially when you're young and single.

Currently listening to Xander purring on my lap.

Every Vacation Must End

2010-03-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

So I left off last blog by mentioning a sore throat. I ended up having strep throat for the first time in my life...yes, I got strep throat for Valentine's Day. Not cool. I missed a week of work (granted it was only 2 days) and I felt horrible. There are not many people I'd wish strep throat upon.

Ashley's baby shower was on the 27th. Her mom hosted at her house and was a lot smaller, more intimate and managable. It was very nice! The stitch has since come out and I'm waiting for an "I'm in labor" phone call. I stopped by Ashley's house today for a bit and she mentioned how messed up it would be in she went past her due date and had to be induced...she's ready to have this baby lol. And speaking of her mom...she is in a very trying time as her husband recently had a major heart attack the day before she was to go to France to see her sick mother. Mike is home from the hospital for the second time and doing well so far...a couple of stents and an angioplasty later. I am so thankful for her that he survived and I hope she can make a safe trip to France to see her mother and help them get things in order.

Kelly's baby shower was on the 6th in Sunapee. It was very nice and she got a lot of good stuff. Brandi came for it and stayed the rest of the weekend with me. She met Chris at dinner. We just hung out and went to breakfast and did some shopping before she went home. Brandi's pregnancy is moving along well and I'll be going to her shower before I know it! She thinks my gender guess is wrong but we'll see!

I went to Rye on the 13th to hang out with the MacGlashings for the night. We just hung out, went to dinner and went out drinking in Portsmouth. It would be great to live in that area. I gave in to Jake peer pressure and ended up drinking entirely way too much alcohol and subsequently had a rough night. I felt terrible the next day. I think that night rivals the summer night at the Goss' when Adam had to carry me upstairs HAHA. Anyways, I'm going to try damn hard to avoid that behavior...I have a lot more fun when my head is not in a toilet.

I am nearing the end of my winter vacation...Tuesday night is going to be slightly depressing. Structure and routine is good but vacations ROCK. I went to Arizona to visit Ross and company. Flew out on the 19th and got back home in the wee hours of the 26th. Check out the album on facebook! I had a great time getting to know Ross better as an adult and his family. It was nice to be a part of their life for a week. It's sad that they are so far away and who knows how long it will be when we can see them again. We visited, went out to eat, shopped (shopping is AMAZING in the Phoenix area), went to Sedona for a day, visited the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and Ross and I went to Las Vegas for a night. It was great! I'm glad to have a few days at home to recuperate (and spend quality time with Xander!) before going back to work.

Alas, it is bedtime. Still working on adjusting to east coast time. Chris and I are still dating...just taking it one day at a time and trying not to overthink various things. I'm realizing that men in general don't know how to plan ahead lol. Some days I feel that it would just be easier to be by myself. Currently listening to The Fixer by Pearl Jam and enjoying my new hair cut. Oh I am officially a bridesmaid for Becky, Suzy, and Amy this year. It's going to be a busy wedding season!

Let It Snow!

2010-02-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

It is actually snowing outside at the moment...the real snow fall in about a month. I'm glad I have the day off and don't have to go out in it. I can hang out at home, do my stuffies, and watch it fall. I'm happy to say I got a run in on the track before it gets covered again and can actually ski the next time I decide to exercise.
So the past month of my life. On the 16th of last month, I met Brandi in Kittery for the day and we went shopping and had a couple of yummy meals. Laura was unable to come due to her recent LASIK eye surgery. Brandi found out she was pregnant New Year's Eve so it was nice to see her for the first time as an expectant mom! She called me while I was driving down to tell me a shit story that couldn't wait until we met because it was soooo hysterical. I almost drove off the road I was laughing so hard. I love her bodily function stories HAHA. I swung by Susan's on the way home to hang out for a little while.
I met Kelly for some yummy Mexican on the 19th and got to see her baby belly! She is doing much better considering everything she's been through. She has her own place and fixing things with Will has become pretty nonexistant. She has a new, very supportive man-friend, whom I met this past Friday at a Dartmouth hockey game that Chris and I went to with him and Kelly. Her baby shower is in a couple of weeks and Brandi is making the trip (Lui Lui's date)!
The following weekend was Emilee's birthday dinner at the afforementioned restaurant and Chris came with me (although he was a little tardy due to snowmobiling). He got to meet those who were there. He's slowly being introduced to the people in my life. Ainsley's first birthday was that day but I ended up not making the trip. Hopefully I'll make a trip to Rye soon to see those peeps. And speaking of first birthdays...little Miss Gracie-face had her party on the 30th. I can't believe she is a year old already and even more unbelievable is that Ashley is in her third trimester. Her shower is at the end of the month! Life just passes us by...I need to get my ass in gear *sigh*. Again, Chris came with me so he got to meet everybody who was there. Like I said, slowly being acclimated...
I had my one year post-op appointment for my eyes on the first of this month and was deemed a successful Laser Vision Center graduate! Very exciting. I'm glad I had the procedure done and I hope I am pleased with this decision for the remainder of my life. That weekend was the annual ortho bowling party in good ole WRJ. Chris and I went and bowled a few games but we had to leave a little early to be in C-town by 530 to celebrate Heather's bday...we lost track of time and got to her house closer to 6 and everyone was eating. Not the ideal way for him to meet the rest of my family but whatever. He did well! I have yet to meet Erin...a sore spot for me but that's just the way it's been. Looks like I'm going to have to take it upon myself and head to Woodstock one of these days.
This concludes another brief chapter in my life. Snow is still falling. I'm only working two days this week due to President's Day. I briefly looked at UNH graduate programs today online and now I'm going to see if I'm eligible for a conference scholarship...some blitzmail I received. I'm listening to Deftones on Pandora radio now and reading the Hobbit. My throat hurts and I may be getting sick. I'm going to start ending these entries with random thoughts. Until next time!

2010 is MY YEAR

2010-01-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

As much as I love fall, it also means that winter is right around the corner and that is exactly where I'm at. January is the worst month of the year for me, blech. I'm so thankful to have a summer birthday because I wouldn't be able to enjoy my birthday if it fell right in the middle of this frigid hell they call winter. Ok, enough negativity. I'm trying to make the best of it and have decided to slowly improve and enrich myself as my resolution for the new year. I am cross-country skiing (I bought new equipment and a season pass at the Dartmouth cross-country ski center) and am looking to take a class...either sign language or Spanish. I also looked into piano lessons and yoga but I had to tell myself to simmer down. One thing at a time.

I have 3 months to cover. It's still longer than I was hoping but better than the period I had to cover when I wrote my last entry. October was a busy month. Brandi, Laura and I had a Manchester weekend on the 10th where we did our usual...food court lunch, shopping, hotel check-in, and dinner at the OG. The topic of children was a predominant part of our discussions that day. We hung out, laughed, and watched the Hangover in bed...good times! It concluded with a trip to Starbucks before heading home.

My roommate (I will probably always refer to her as my roommate even though we haven't lived together in over 2 1/2 years) came home from a couple weeks in October. It was so nice to see her, spend time with her and catch when she was here. She is not doing well and I feel like a helpless bystander as her life just deteriorates around her. She can't find full-time work, is in financial trouble, is dating a guy who is pretty much living off of her, is at odds with her family here, and to top it off Friendly Jeff died the second week in Nov after moving out to CO. He will be missed.

Ashley had her second cerclage on the 23rd of Oct and everything went well and as far as I'm concerned is still going well. Her last ultrasound showed that the baby may have clubfeet. The next ultrasound should show for sure and we will go from there. I'm going to be optimistic for a mild case and that this baby won't have to go through what Adam did as a baby and the first few years of his life.

Betsy, Cort, and I went to NYC for Halloween weekend and spent it with Amy and Brian (who just got engaged New Year's weekend). It was definately an interesting and eye-opening weekend and I feel badly that Betsy and Cort had to be there after singing praises about how much fun we were going to have. I'm not getting into now but the events of that weekend and the feelings and thoughts involved are pretty much in a series of emails between Amy and I afterwards. She has confronted some demons, made some choices and is a better person for it. Our friendship has entered a different level and I look forward to being in their wedding!

November and December were fairly uneventful except for a few things. Had a staycation and replaced my second-hand, mismatched living room furniture with seemingly nice, matching Target furniture. My uncle Paul had surgery and my friend Kelly is expecting a little girl. She is one of strongest individuals I know. I was charge nurse on Thanksgiving...thank god it was managable. Denise and Sherry had turkey day festivities at the house in Henniker they are sharing post Denise and Marek separation :( I had a nice day in Milford the first Saturday in December with Danielle, Jaime, and little miss Madison.

I had 6 days off for Christmas AND New Year's...my schedule rocks. Xander and I spent Xmas with Heather and Dave. Jeff and I went with them to their friend's Xmas Eve party (a recent and exciting development in my life stems from this party), I spent the night at their house and we did stockings and had a yummy Xmas morning breakfast. Heather and Dave had Xmas dinner at their house...sans Sherry. I went to Rye for New Years...good times at Jake and Alyssa's new house. Thankfully, the weather cooperated. It started snowing earlier that day when Betsy was giving me my first snowboarding lesson in Lyme.

Ok so romance is in the air for me...I am seeing someone I really like. It's a fucking miracle. I will wait until my next entry to go into detail about it because it's still in the early stages. I would prefer the relationship to be more established and concrete before I start the verbal diarrhea lol. This year is shaping up quite nicely...babies and weddings and good time with friends! Headed to Kittery this weekend to meet a newly-pregnant Brandi (shhh) for a fun filled day of shopping and food! Laura cannot come because her recently lasered eyes cannot handle the journey.

I'm going to climb in my cozy bed and read some there and back again :)

All of a Sudden...it's Fall.

2009-10-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a good job with my monthly blog lately...it's been 7 months almost. Shit. Not like my life is super busy and exciting but I'm not going to go into detail about the past 7 months. I took a sick day today and figured I'd catch up a little bit. Well, here goes nothing!

I had just returned from a cruise the last time I posted and was a few weeks from April. I love spring and summer is my favorite!! I love sun, sandals, and the poolside. Good times.

My Goddaughter (Maddy) turned 3 in April. Kids grow up so fast. Grace is already 8 months old and getting so big! I had dinner with the Goss' Monday night...I hadn't seen them since the end of July! Craziness. Our annual ortho bowling party was in April...always a good time. Canoe Club jolly ranchers are delicious!

I went to Milford for Madison's birthday in May and went down again sometime in July. The last visit was really nice, I played with Madison and it felt like we really connected, she was really upset when I left! She's such a great kid.

Grace was baptized on May 24th...she did such a great job. Jeff and I are her godparents. Pictures on facebook! Speaking of Grace, Ashley and Adam are miraculously pregnant! A tad unexpected but such is life. They found out when they got back from Myrtle Beach. She is due April 14th, 2010!

I had a great Birthday weekend. Joe, Betsy, and I went to Boston. Good times lol. Met Mom, Heather, Denise, and Sherry the next day for lunch and then I had Sushi with Jeem, Bonnie, and Betsy. The following weekend I went to Manhattan to hang out with Amy; we always have a great time! Sparks' annual party was the 27th.

I went to Maine for the fourth of July weekend to hang with Brandi. I took a week off mid-July. Had no concrete plans but the best thing was probably the Offspring concert at Meadowbrook!

The first weekend in August was pretty busy. Sengupta had his annual summer party. I went to a Tool concert on the 2nd with Goewey (they are awesome!). I went to Rye on the 3rd to see the MacGlashing's and Jake and I played in a beirut tourny on Hampton Beach, so much fun. Rye is a beautiful town. Summer was short but sweet...well we really didn't have much of summer to be honest. Lots of rain. I was so not ready for summer to be when September rolled around. I finally reread the Once and Future King, a novel that reminds me a summer back in high school. And I finally read The Catcher in the Rye for the first time.

I had a 7 day weekend Labor Day weekend. I love my schedule. I went to Becky's baby shower and had some family time. Did some outlet shopping. The following weekend I spent with Kendall at her mom's house. She is so grown up but I can still sense that little girl in her. I can't believe she's a freshman in high school. She's a year older than when I started babysitting her. It's really a shame that her father did not allow her to attend KUA.

The weekend of the 19th, I went down to Norton for the first time in years!! The last time I was a sophomore in high school. I got a facebook invitation from Becky Bramwell to a pigroast at her house. It was so exciting to drive through Norton, see the old neighborhood but I was kind of nervous about how it would be between my grade school friends and I, so many years later. It ended up being great, I had a lot of fun and it felt so good to reconnect with old friends. We are all grown up now but I can still see the Becky's as they were back in the fourth grade! I did, however, have a little breakdown the next day. I went to Honeydew Donuts for a coffee and a doughnut and something snapped inside me. It took all I had to get out the door before I burst into tears. My Dad used to take us there. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Most of the memories I have of my Dad are in Norton. We were only back in Claremont 2 months when he died. I drove around the school I went to. I wanted to drive through the Wheaton campus but I didn't bother because he used to take us there to feed ducks. I parked in front of Tedeschis but didn't go in because I was a mess. I drove Village Way once more before heading out of town. I spent the rest of the day being really sad. I miss my Daddy. I wonder what my life would have been like if he was still alive.

I guess that is enough for now. I will be a better blogger now! Oh, work is about the same, I'm still single, and Xander is fine!

Cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, dolla!

2009-03-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

On February 12th, I got LASIK (or in my case, PRK). Let me tell you how fabulous it has been not dealing with glasses or contacts. I am just getting used to being able to see as soon as I open my eyes in the morning. For the first couple of weeks I was trying to push up my glasses, take them off at night, and reach for them on my nightstand in the morning. So weird after being nearsighted since the fourth grade.

The actual procedure itself wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I got to take po valium so I was feeling pretty relaxed although I was awake and fully aware of what they were doing to my eye. They gave me super numbing eye drops so I didn't feel anything except slight pressure. A tiny brush was used to remove the surface epithelium and then the laser. I was in the room no longer than 15 minutes and could see immediately. The first few days were a little rough, I was uncomfortable and extremely teary as my eyes had to regrow the epithelium that was removed. I slept a lot that weekend, it was great.

I just got back from a southern Caribbean cruise. It was great. I have 3 albums of pics on facebook so I won't even try to describe how pretty it was. I don't understand how places that beautiful can have so much poverty. I felt guilty.

We were busy everyday, I am still trying to catch up on sleep. We went to beautiful beaches pretty much every day, ate like pigs, shopped, gambled, consumed lots of booze, jetskiied one day, and ziplined another. Sooo much fun. It always nice to come home though. I missed my own bed and my lil' fluffy guy of course!

This blog's kinda short, I guess I'm not too wordy tonight. But hey, when am I? My bed is calling my name. Tomorrow is my last day of vaca and I need to see little Grace Goss before I go back to work. And if I'm really motivated, I'll go for a run.

Oh, and I'm officially obsessed with Band of Brothers. Everyone needs to watch it. It is amazing.

A Certain Shade of Green

2009-02-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and it's February already. A good thing because January is my least favorite month. More time than usual has passed and it's time to update my blog. When I last left off, it was the week before Christmas.

It was a nice Christmas, although I had to work from 7 to 330. It was weird to go to bed alone on Christmas Eve and treat it like a work night. On the other hand, it was kind of fun to be in the halls at work without lots of people around despite doing a couple of cases. We did an IM Nail, a cold leg, and a stat Crani. I got to leave on time and drove to Denise's house from work to hang with my family and have a yummy Christmas dinner. Earlier that week, I got to do Christmas with Emilee and Ashley, on different days. The weekend after Christmas, I met Jake and Alyssa for dinner in Concord...it had been about a year since I saw them last, prepregnancy. It was nice to see them and I felt that maybe I could give him a second chance to prove himself as a friend, but we won't get into that story here.

New Year's Eve was fun. I went to a couple of parties with Betsy, Tracy, and Jeremy. We first went to Joe's party for a little while then we went to a psychiatry resident party in Canaan where Jeremy knew some people. It was boring at first as we were outsiders but became fun as the night went on. We ended up playing Catch Phrase for hours (yeah sounds dorky I know). I've actually been getting to know someone who was there who asked about me after the fact but we won't get into that story here, either.

The following weekend was somewhat low key except for Saturday when I took Faith to the mall in Manchester. We had some yummy Chinese food for lunch and walked around the mall shopping for a Christmas present. We finally decided on a cool pair of Converse sneakers.

Towards the end of the following week, I drove to Canaan to visit and have dinner with Kelly. That was the first time I had seen her house that she bought last year with her hubby. That was the coldest day that I can remember. At one point on the drive home, my car said -8. WTF. The next morning, I went out to start my car before going to work and it was -20. I would have shit myself but it would have frozen to my ass in 10 seconds. NH really sucks sometimes.

So here's the big news...I am getting LASIK (or PRK in my case) done next week!! I am nervous about the actual procedure and what the outcome could be but excited about what it will be like if everything goes as expected. I just need to think positive and be diligent about doing everything I'm supposed to. It will be so nice to not deal with glasses and contacts on a daily basis. I've had my preop appointment and all the stuff I need prior to the day of so I'm good to go. I need to prepare for a very mellow weekend afterwards and a crazy eye drop schedule.

Ok, so even bigger news...Ashley had her baby this past Monday night! I called her during the day to tell her some big news (another story I won't get into) and when she called back she said she was probably in labor. So I got ready. A few hours later she called to say she was at DHMC and 7 cm dilated! Sooooooooooo excited. So off I went. I hung out for a little while then sat with her and Adam while she was in the tub. People started showing up slowly and the contractions started getting more intense and frequent. She got out and went back to her room where she was checked again. Her water broke and she began pushing shortly after. We all waited in the family room until little Grace Marie Goss entered the world (with some vacuum-assist) at 11:55 PM. All went well and we were eventually let into the room to meet her! She is sooo beautiful and Ashley did a great job. She delivered naturally and only had to push for about 10 minutes!
She went home 2 days later and I went to visit once before that as I had to work the 3 days after she was born. Jeff and I are the Godparents :)

I am headed to C-Town tonight to visit after dinner out with some peeps.

If you haven't watched Band of Brothers, I highly recommend it. I saw a few parts on the history channel and ended up borrowing the series from a friend. I am completely in love with it. It is amazing and powerful. Please watch it! It's a series of 10 parts, each part being about an hour long. *sigh*

Tomorrow is Puffles' 30th birthday and the one month mark until our cruise!!!

Ice Ice Baby

2008-12-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

We've had a lot of winter so far and it's only midway through December. Ugh. There are areas around here who still have yet to get their power back after the winter/ice storm that began last Thursday evening. I only lost power for a few hours in the middle of the night Thursday night and I only noticed that slight inconvenience when my fan shut off. I always sleep with a fan whirring in the backround. I was extremely lucky.

Thanksgiving was at the end of last month. Mom, Sherry (and Curry), Heather and Dave, and Jeff came to my little homestead to have a typical Thanksgiving dinner...yummy. It was nice not to travel but hosting makes for a big mess to clean up. Xander had a good time.

The first weekend in December, I went down to Milford to hang out with Danielle, Jaime, and Madison. We spent most of the day at the mall in Nashua and Manchester. Good times!

Last Tuesday, Ashley had a labor scare...but everything seems to be just fine now. It's getting to be that time, so hard to believe. Speaking of, I still need to figure out what I'm doing for her for Christmas.

Well, I'm nearing the end of my long weekend "mini-vacation" and I go back to work tomorrow...just in time for a winter storm. Can't wait to clean off my car in the morning and again after work! I hope people drive safe. This past Friday was a good day. It began in the salon with a super cute haircut which looked amazing for the rest of the day after everything was said and done. I can't for the life of me recreate the way it looked *sigh* I wish I had someone to style my hair everyday. I then went to the jewely store and ended up walking out of the store with an even better pair of diamond earrings than I had bought the day before. I wasn't totally happy with the original ones and went back hoping to exchange them and ended up finding gorgeous ones in the 50% off display. I paid a lot less than they are worth and I love them!!

I was all excited to sport my new do and bling at our department holiday party Friday night at the Hanover Inn until I received a call from Sherry asking me if I wanted to go to a Duran Duran concert at Foxwoods Casino in CT. She had bought tickets closer to the stage earlier that day and had an extra. I decided to go to the concert but it was a hard decision because I was so excited about the holiday party. It was fun to see them in concert again although I'm bummed that I'll never see the original 5 members...back in 05 Andy wasn't there because of a death in his family. Now he's not even part of the band anymore. We were so close to the stage! Driving down to CT made me realize how destructive the ice storm was. I didn't realize that some parts of NH and MA were in states of emergency. Whole towns without electricity, trees and limbs down all over the place, people seeking shelters in community buildings, ice-covered trees dramatically bent, barren icy hell pretty much everywhere. I need to pay more attention to the news.

My neice turned 14 on Sunday. I can't believe she's older than I was when she was born. I'm getting old.

Today I ended up getting 4 free brand-new winter tires from my dealership...score! Dave noticed while taking them out of their garage that quite a bit of damage had been done to the beads when they were removed from my car in the spring. I showed them to the service manager and he offered to replace the 2 tires that looked pretty bad. Imagine my surprise when I go in today to 4 new tires because the other ones were unavailable! Pay it forward, baby.

Next week is Christmas already. I work Christmas day for 8 hours then I am headed to Denise's for dinner, weather-pending of course. This year, the fam has decided to not do gift-giving amongst each other but to do something for a cause or make something we all can enjoy, or provide some type of service. I think I'm just going to donate to our humane society up here...that cause excited me the most.

Java froyo and Family Guy mini-marathon is calling my name, peace!

Change in America has come.

2008-11-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Another month in the life of me has passed.

Work is work.

The weekend after my last post, I got to spend some time with some family I haven't seen in a while at the trusty OG in Concord. That Saturday night was Emilee and Jesse's annual bonfire at their house. It was cold but at least it wasn't raining like it usually does. I made Derek call the cops on a drunk driver. I don't think it did any good.

Starting the 23rd of October was a 13-day vacation. I did a whole lot of nothing. I take that back, I did a lot of sleeping. Sometimes, that's what's exactly needed. Although, my wide-open schedule made it easier to feel depressed and worthless. One weekend, we gathered at Sherry's house in Keene to celebrate my mom and brother's birthdays. Then I scooted over to Brattleboro afterwards to hang with the Springs.

The second weekend was Halloween. I was a black cat (aka Xander). Went to a couple parties. That's all I'll say about that. On my last day of vacation, Barack Obama was voted in as our next President. Sweet.

The weekend after that was Ashley's baby shower. She is far enough along now that they can actually celebrate this baby. All is well so far and the stitch comes out in 8 weeks. Her house was packed with people and they got an amazing amount of gifts. They are incredibly lucky. I can't wait until she's born. After the shower, I headed to Manchester to spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express with Brandi and Laura. They spent the day at the mall with Kelly but she had to leave. we went out to dinner and just hung out in the room and chatted. Although I didn't chat much because I didn't feel good. I had some weird bug for a few days after that.

I'm nearing the end of a 5-day weekend. I've been somewhat constructive. I decided to get a credit card. I met Denise in Claremont for lunch. Good ole chinese buffet. We saw Dave twice in the Watts Up van while strolling along Pleasant St. and Tremont Sq. lol. Claremont has such potential to be an amazing little city. Up and coming? We'll see. It's history intrigues me. Logan's first birthday party was Saturday. I am dragging my butt out of bed tomorrow and spending the day shopping. Mmmmmmm yes. I can't believe Christmas is practically right around the corner. I have to work on Christmas this year, booooooooooooooooooo. Thanksgiving is next week and some people are coming to my little apartment!

I'm happy to announce that project Durfey has commenced. For a long time now, I've been wanting to learn more about my Dad's side of the family and create a Durfey family tree. I'm happy to be taking on something productive and meaningful outside of work. My mom and I found some numbers at the beginning of the summer. I finally got the balls to call one of Dad's aunts (Nada) and talked to her for a little while last month. She is 91, god bless her, and heading to Florida January 1st so I'd like to go visit her before the end of the year. I called my Aunt Janet today and talked to her about everything. She's done some researching herself and is going to gather some things for me. She told me to call Gary, Nada's son and my dad's cousin, because he can provide a lot of information for me. I downloaded this family tree builder software a couple days ago and started mapping my family. I'm nervous but excited about this project. It'll be nice to get to know my dad's side of the family, talk to people that grew up with him, and heard stories and see pictures. It'll be nice to know where half of me came from!

Until next time...

X-rated for Xander!

2008-10-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Another month of life has passed and it's time to recap on what's happened in that time. I'm just chilling on the couch watching the Rays sweep the Red Sox with a purring furball behind my head. His little paw is resting on my shoulder. He's so cute.

So I went to San Diego from the 18th to the 22nd to visit my friend Suzy. There is an album from this trip on my myspace page. It was a good time although I wasn't there for long enough. A trip like that needs to be atleast a week long. We ate, drank, went to the beach, shopped, did some sightseeing, and went to an event called Street Scene. Part of downtown San Diego was blocked off and several different bands (some well-known) played on 4 different stages over the course of 2 nights. It was fun! We got to see Devo...even though they're old, those dudes can rock. I have a video clip of them performing Whip It, lol.

My Uncle Dick, an athletic guy with longevity on his side, had 2 major strokes and ended up passing away after he was removed from life support. I got to see him in May at my cousin's college graduation but I'm sad that I didn't know him better than I did. He was a really great guy and this world has suffered a great loss. I will remember him as this calm, chill, computer-saavy guy from California who checked in on the course of my life via instant messenger. He always had optimistic and wise things to say to me when I was bumming. I think I'm going to pick up cycling next summer in his memory. Despite the fact that we're all adults now, it still would have been funny to hear him say "Oh children..." one last time.

Last weekend, a bunch of coworkers and I went on a catered boat ride on Lake Sunapee on none other than the M.V. Mt. Sunapee (thanks to one of our spine surgeons). Of course I went in my old workplace and visited with Bob Henry for a little while, tehe. I must say, foliage is rather picturesque this year. I love the fall but it's depressing how close to winter it is. Perhaps this will be my last winter in NH...

I highly recommend Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Later that night, Hope, a fellow OR nurse, hosted a party at her house. I need to stop drinking so much.

So I finally booked my place on the cruise I am taking with my college friends in March. I am the only single person going, which I don't mind but it means I have to pay for 2 people because that's the way it goes. Suck. I really hope someone can come with me :( I am hopeful. This will be my first cruise and trip to the Caribbean. It better be fabulous.

This weekend has in store a family dinner at the good ole OG in Concord and Emilee and Jesse's bonfire. Next week I work M-T-W than I have a 13 day vacation!! I don't have a lot planned but the first weekend we have another family get together for some birthdays in Keene (same day as the pumpkin festival) and hopefully I'm going to my mom's house the second weekend. Although it's Halloween that weekend and I might stay here and celebrate. I'm also considering looking for a part-time bartending job. Don't you think that would be fun? I can't bring myself to do OT at work so maybe I could bartend for a few nights, pull in some extra cash, and maybe having some fun at the same time?

The weekend after Halloween is Ashley's baby shower (yeah!) and a night in Manchester with my CSC girls. Ashley and Adam have left the worst behind them and now I'm starting to sense the excitement about this pregnancy. It's been so much stress and worry and preparing for the worst but now it's different. I am ready to go shopping.

Dude, Big Poppi just delivered a 3 run homer. We have a chance!

End of Summer

2008-09-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

Well the end of summer has arrived...much to my disappointment. I went to get soft serve ice cream earlier and they were closed for the season :( Although my pool is still open! It was a little too chilly and the clouds looked threatening so I didn't use it today. I love fall but that means we are that much closer to winter. Ugh, I can't even think about it.

I've been pretty busy since the last time I wrote on here. Work is work. That's all I'll say about that. The Red Sox game I went to was fun, even though they lost. Kelly's batchelorette party was the following weekend. We went out to dinner then spent the rest of the night bowling. The weekend after that was her wedding. Brand came for 2 nights for the wedding. The ceremony was inside and the reception was outside under a tent. It was freeeeeeeeezing.

The weekend after that, a coworker had a party at her unique circular house out in the middle of nowhere. Ain't nothing like beer pong on a summer night. The following weekend I went to Adam's parents anniversary party at the Fireside Inn. Kendall's mom got married the weekend after that at a nice inn in Vermont. I've gone to a lot of weddings this summer so it won't suprise you when I say I went to another wedding in ME this past weekend. It was a good time and needless to say I have some very incriminating photos of Brandi (she can't hold her booze like I can). I'm a tank. Well, not really, but I do ok.

So some updates. Xander is halfway done with a month-long regimen of antibiotics. This better work this time around. I have noticed a big improvement so I'm hoping we kick these snot rockets. According to my eye check-up last week, I haven't worsened since last year. I want laser surgery soooooo bad. I'm just scared it won't go well and plus it's pretty pricey. I should probably wait a few years.

Next Thursday I am going to San Diego for a few days to visit my friend Suzy. It's going to be super fun! we'll be beaching, possibly surfing, shopping and going to Legoland one day lol. Heather and Dave are Xander-sitting. I will make an album of pictures online when I come back.

The generic benadryl and the ice cream sitting in my freezer is making this hard to continue so I am signing off! G'night!

Wifey McBeaty

2008-07-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

I really just don't understand why commercials are allowed to just blatantly lie to the public. I mean, there really are people out there that just don't know any better. I was watching this commercial today for a sweet steam mop. I was thinking, man this would make my apartment feel so clean, but I realized it probably doesn't do what they say it does. Anyways.

It's the eve of another work week and I'm just relaxing watching Family Guy. I don't know what I'd do without these Family Guy mini marathons. I made minestrone soup in the crockpot today and it was mighty tasty. I also had to bring Xander to the vet this morning because I finally called to ask the vet about his recent symptoms of sneezing and blowing snot rockets all over the place. He's also been rather inactive for him and gagging a lot. Sooooo it turns out he has an upper respiratory infection and I have to shove antibiotics down his throat twice a day for 2 weeks. Poor Xander. He also has a little fever. The vet had to stick a thermometer up his bum. He purred. Weird cat. He's on the road to getting better and soon he'll be Xander again. I'm gonna buy him a new bed once he's not blowing snots everywhere.

I can't believe it's the end of July already. I love fall but that just means it's that much closer to winter. Boooo. When you have a pool, summer is that much better. I'm trying to spend as much time by the pool as I can. I haven't even gone to the movies. Although, Heather and I are going to see the new X-files movie that's coming out soon. July 4th weekend was nice although I had to work a 12 hour shift on Saturday. Someone decided to call in sick on the busiest weekend and I was the sorry shmuck on call. It wasn't bad though and it made for a nice paycheck.

The following weekend was Melissa's (Brandi's best friend from home) batchelorette party and bridal shower. A lot of driving and not much sleep but it was fun. We went to Mohegan Sun Friday night and gambled a little. I never make any money. Drove to Maine the next day and went boating with Brandi and Mike in their boat...very nice! The shower was Sunday, Hawaiian-style and it was very nice also. Drove home afterwards with a little detour to pick up Xander.

This past weekend was a 6 day weekend, tehe. Suzy was home and we hung out Thursday. Ended up singing some karaoke with some other people that night and using my hottub for the first time. I should use it more often. It's nice! But a little too warm for the summertime. Suzy is renewing her contract in San Diego for 3 more months so I'm going to try and go for a long weekend. Good times!

I'm going to a Red Sox game in Boston this weekend! I can't wait for some Fenway beer, dogs, and fries!!! This time I won't be in the bathroom when they win the game. Unless it's an emergency.

Until next time...!

Ramunto's pizza tastes good.

2008-06-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

It's been about a month, therefore time to blog. I am currently on vacation. I really had no plans going into this 13 day vacation and so far it's been fabulous. Some would think I'd be bored out of my skull but that's really not the case, you see, I'm never really bored. There's always something to do. I guess I take after Grammy in that I like to clean, sort, organize, plan, putter around, etc. Work just gets in the way but hey, you gotta pay bills. I have plenty of bills although I'm glad to report that I've decided to pay off my car; my very large check is en route to Toyota Financial Services. My savings account is considerably less now but no more car payments.
So what's been going on lately. Work is about the same...my earned time has taken a hit between being on vacation and being sick for 2/3 of the week prior to vaca. I had to drag my butt to work the last day before vacation but I made it through 12 hours. I'm actually considering doing some overtime to make some more cash and help build up my earned time. Considering spending more time at work than I absolutely have to is a good sign, I think.
I've seen Kendall in a play...she is quite the little actress. She's grown up so much since I've known her. I used to change her diapers and rock her to sleep. So haven't you, Faith. You are no longer little girls who want to play with me. Heather and Dave better get a move on.
One weekend I went to Annie's graduation from Bates. Saw some family. She was a freshman when I was a senior in college, I feel like time is flying and I'm getting old. Speaking of getting old...another one of my friends is married now. Laura got married June 6th, the day before my 25th birthday. Her batchelorette party was the weekend before. We took a limo from her house in Longmeadow, MA to Mohegan Sun. It was fun...I have an album of pics from that weekend on my myspace page. Hopefully I get a picture CD from her wedding soon. Her wedding was gorgeous and I did a reading at the ceremony. Weddings are so expensive and so much that the more I'm involved in them, the more I just want to do something simple. I would love to get married on a beach somewhere far away and just have a big party at home. Although, very few would be able to come to the ceremony for obvious reasons. I'll worry about it when the time comes.
So my landlord is most likely taking my little condo off the market. It's not selling. I really didn't want to move although I was beginning to accept the thought. I'll be signing another lease for a year when they can figure out how much my rent will go up due to the price of propane. Grrrrrrrr. I already pay too much for this oversized closet. Living is so expensive. The simple life sounds better and better everyday. I'm considering getting rid of cable and internet. Free wifi is all over the place and I'd probably do more enriching and constructive things if it wasn't so easy to plop down on the couch and turn the TV on. Like comics, according to the latest edition of Mimi's Doughnutszine. If I sign another lease than I am somewhat commited to the area for another year unless I want to lose my security deposit. I wish I had some direction as to what I want to do in my life. It's getting to the point where I should close my eyes and point.
Well I guess that's about it for now. Tomorrow, I am tackling car insurance. And maybe I'll get my car inspected. I should squeeze something fun in there. You see, there's always stuff to do when you're not working.

I need a hobby.

2008-05-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

It's about that time to recap my life since the last time I posted. It's been about a month. It would have been sooner but I can't seem to sit down and write anything. It's easy for me to say that it's because I'm boring and have nothing interesting or intelligent to say but that would just be negative and I'm trying not to be.

So what's been going on. I started talking to someone about my issues. I've had three appointments so far and each time I leave feeling like I don't have any problems that I can't deal with myself. It's not like I've had a horrible life. I don't want to take antidepressants. I just want to be happy, have a job that I don't mind going to, be optimistic, focus on the good in the world, and like who I am. I have a lot of work to do. I'm trying to find hobbies now to enrich my life and give me something worthwhile to do outside of work. Any suggestions are welcome.

On the 15th, I sprained my neck waking up in the morning. I swear no one believes me when I say that. I was stretching and something cracked very loudly in my neck and immediately couldn't move it without being in a lot of pain. It was 2 hours before I was able to get out of bed. I finally decided to drive myself to the hospital to have someone look at my neck. I was too afraid to drive to my PCP so I opted for the ED. I saw a PA who diagnosed me with torticollis and home I went with some drugs. It sucked big time for a few days but it was nice to be out of work.

The first weekend in May I drove down and spent Saturday with Danielle, Jamie and little Madison. It was a good time. The next day was the March of Dimes March for Babies but ended up finding out the night before that I was going to be the only one from my team that was going to walk. An e-mail was sent out but for some reason I didn't get it. Emilee was going to walk but her sister in law went in to labor and that was that. Ashley and Adam ended up walking with me because they didn't want me to do it alone. I was fine with it but ended up glad that they walked with me.

This past weekend I went to Brandi's graduation from NEC with a masters degree (although she still has a lot of work left). I was also able to visit my mom in her new house for the first time. Heather and Dave came for Saturday night with Buff the diabetic cat and we all headed to North Conway for a Cinco de Mayo party with more family which included Paul, Vicki, David, Pauline, Alexis, Annie and her bf, Braeden and Maeve. We had a cookout at Paul and Vicki's then we went to Margaritaville where Jaime was bartending. Vicki stayed home with the kids. Partying with my family was actually pretty fun.

Well that's it for now. It's past my bedtime.

Star Wars!

2008-04-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Yet another lazy Sunday. Well, it wasn't completely lazy...I did clean my apartment today. This Sunday is exceptional, however, because there is a Star Wars marathon on TV. I don't own the originals on DVD so I haven't seen these movies in years. I used to be a Star Wars freak. There was one summer when I watched the movies every day. All summer long. Yes, I was obsessed. I used to be passionate about a lot of things. Now, I'm not. My negativity is starting to show so I'd better change the subject.

Work has been decent since coming back from vacation. Considering I complain about my job constantly, I'm going to make it a point to discuss some positive things about my job in this blog. To start, my schedule is pretty sweet. Every 2 weeks I have what I like to call a mini-vacation. I work W-T-F, have the weekend off, work M-T-W then have 6 days off. I am on my mini-vacation now. I have mentioned to a few superiors at work that I would like to learn how to scrub total joints. Because I am a 12 hour member of the orthopedic team, I am often put in a joint room to relieve someone at the end of the day (to scrub) and it does not feel good when I don't know what I'm doing. And not to mention, any room still running after 5 usually doesn't contain happy surgeons. So, last Tuesday I specifically asked the head nurse to change my assignment and I got to scrub in on total joints all day Wednesday. I tried to learn as much as I could (the instrumentation is overwhelming) and at 5, the person who was teaching me left for the day. We were still right in the middle of the case but I did my best to finish it. The surgeon had to help me put things together and identify instruments that I didn't know but I made it. I'm starting to realize that you can't know everything, all you have to do is be attentive, willing to learn, and give it your best with the knowledge you have. At the end, the attending surgeon came back to the room while we were cleaning up, shook my hand, and told me I did well considering the difficulty of the case. He thanked me for all my help and effort. I was so proud of myself!

Last weekend was Laura's wedding shower. Most of my friends are either married or getting married this year. It was at 10 Sunday morning so Brandi and I drove down to MA the day before from our respective homes. I left Claremont after Maddy's birthday party (I can't believe my goddaughter is 2 already!) and got to Laura's house around dinner time. We went out to dinner, drank wine, chatted, and watched a movie. It was nice. I miss them. I was always counting down the days to graduation but now I wish I could go back and actually enjoy college. You never want to be where you are, but where you've been and where you're going. She has a very nice house in a very nice town and her shower was beautiful. I am doing a reading at the ceremony, which happens to be the day before my birthday. I got home on Sunday just in time to get ready for the Def Leppard concert I went to with some coworkers. It was a good time but I paid for it the next day at work. Styx and REO Speedwagon played too.

For those of you that had inquired, I will be creating a Colorado photo album on my myspace later on tonight for your viewing pleasure! I'd also like to mention that I'm glad my mom is closer now! But also sad that she doesn't live on the farm anymore :( Xander and I look forward to visiting the new house.

Colorado

2008-03-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Well, only 2 days remain out of my 14 day vacation. The 2 fastest weeks ever. Booooo. It was a very nice vacation, although I could have used a lot more sun. I'm really in desperate need of some warm weather. Let's recap.

My last day at work (Wednesday), I managed to get out an hour early after specifically asking if I could leave, knowing that only 2 rooms were running and there were a lot of extra people walking around the OR. It pissed me off that she actually sat there for a minute to think about it. What a hellhole. I'm finding that 12 hour people putting themselves on the go home early list is pointless. Anyways.

I was on my way to CT with Xander the next day after packing, cleaning, and doing my gym time. Mom brought me to the airport on Friday after we all went out to lunch. Faith was the victim of bodily function text messages, courtesy of Jeff's phone. Hehe. I finally arrived in Denver around midnight, Denver time, after about 3 delays and no luggage. Suzy and I drove around Denver and ate at a 24 hour diner because I was starving. Saturday we went to the 16th street mall in downtown Denver, had dinner, and went to a Colorado Avalanche game...fun! I ended up being 70 degrees that day...fabulous! We went out to the bars in downtown Denver that night.

Sunday it dropped 40 degrees from the day before and it was snowing. Ugh. We went to an indoor, upscale mall. I bought some nice sunglasses and a dress to wear to all the weddings I'm going to this year. That night, we went to see Step Up 2 at the theater and hung out in the hottub. Monday we went to Colorado Springs after a failed attempt to go to the Imax theater. We did some sightseeing, which included walking through the Garden of the Gods (where I took most of my pics). We went to the mall (can you tell we like to shop?) and went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant...yum! The we went to a bar where military men like to congregate for a drink and headed back to Denver afterwards. We also went to the Denver museum of history for a little bit before going to the Imax. Tuesday we saw the Alps at the Imax in the Museum of Nature and Science and drove into the mountains. We had to turn around earlier than expected because there was a blizzard and it was 30 degrees colder than where we began. I couldn't see as much scenery as I would have liked. Suzy made yummy chicken parm for dinner and and her friend Paul from downstairs joined us. He got a little buzzed from the wine and started reading in an exaggerated british accent from a book composed of scientific answers to these rediculous, random questions Suzy had bought that day at the museum. It was damn funny. We ended the night in her apartment complex's hottub. Which reminds me, I should probably use mine before they boot me out of here.

Wednesday we went out to breakfast and she drove me to the airport. I ended up getting there too late so they had to put me on another flight. Atleast I had my luggage when I got back to Hartford. Mom and Uncle David came to pick me. I hung out on the farm until finally coming back to NH Sunday. Back to reality.

Eyes Without A Face

2008-02-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

Three more work weeks until I get a vacation. With my schedule, it works out to be a 15 day vacation...aahhhhhh one good thing about being a nurse, the 12 hour shifts. I am going to Colorado for 5 days to hang out with travelling nurse Suzy in Denver and will probably go to NYC that second weekend to hang out with Amy. Good times. I'll probably be in CT for the remaining days and of course Xander will stay with his Grammy while I'm away.

Let's see, what have I been up to. Besides that hellhole also known as Dartmouth, I've been to Logan's baptism, a coworker's baby shower, and seen the Giants win the Super Bowl. I went to a rocking 80's party last night hosted by one of the residents at the hospital. Lots of people and alcohol and sooooooo much fun. I drank entirely way too much.

I have five days off after Thursday. I hope this week is ok, maybe I will scrub more joints. Afterall, apparently it's my fault I'm not an expert at it because I haven't been proactive in making it happen. God that place does foul things to my personality. This year will bring a new job, maybe a new career. Oh and a new place to live too, I just recently learned that my landlord is putting this place up for sale so I may have to move in June. That was beyond irritating.

Amy will be home this weekend so we'll be going out in the Bratt! Good times to get me through the week. Well I guess I'm running out of things to say. When this movie is over, I'm climbing in my clean sheets to sleep for atleast 10 hours. Tomorrow I am going to the gym, grocery shopping, making a few phone calls, and getting ready for the work week. Gotta do my taxes at some point.

Night!

Feeling antisocial

2008-01-22T16:36:00.000-08:00

I guess maybe blogging on a weekly basis was a stretch but I'll settle for every once in a while. I have to work (booooooo) the next 3 days so I am thoroughly enjoying relaxing in my little apartment tonight. I could have gone out with coworkers tonight but for some reason I'm feeling really antisocial and couldn't bring myself to go out. What is my problem. Sometimes I don't think I'll be able to function as a normal human being as life goes on.

I went to CT this past weekend. I get so depressed when I have to come home. I brought Xander with me, he likes going to Grammy's and playing with the witties...even though Sammy and Grace don't care for him that much. Saturday I just hung out, mom and I went out to dinner. I watched football with David and Pauline at their house Sunday. Monday we went out to lunch and I went to the mall. I would have left Tuesday but there was a snow threat so Xander and I went home Monday night. He did get a good butt-shaving before we left...purring. Weird cat.

I dropped my ring off today to get resized again. I have picking it up to look forward to as I go through my work week.

Logan is getting baptized this weekend.

Heath Ledger died today, how unexpected and sad.

I hope Family Guy is on next...I am currently obsessed with this show. It makes me laugh.

First blog!

2008-01-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

Can I just say that I love lazy Sundays. Especially when I don't have to work the next day. It's just Xander and I, my PJ's, a burning candle, and a warm apartment (which I prefer to be set at 76 degrees). Lounging on the couch watching movies is the best, most relaxing thing I can do for myself. Jurassic Park just ended, I used to be obsessed with that movie. Brings back childhood memories of how my eyes were glued to the TV screen the first time watching it (my only company was Geeby) and how I thought raptors were going to chase me up the stairs. And we owe the saga of Lex and Tim to that movie. We were strange kids.
So a new year has begun and with it, new resolutions. I have several, like I always do. They include keeping up with this blog (atleast once a week), going to the gym 3 times a week (there is monetary motivation behind that as well as physical appearance improvement), stop certain bad habits, improve my attitude and social interaction, and figure out where I want to go next. Phew.
Soooooo I was a little spontaneous last week and bought myself a diamond ring. It's just a band with little diamonds set inside it and it's very peeeeeeeeeeeerty and fun to look at. It makes me happy. One thing that doesn't make me happy is when Xander has diarrhea and I have to run his poop-smeared paw under the faucet until it's clean. I then proceed with cleaning my entire apartment until I feel better. Yeah that happened today. I guess that's it for now. Later!

Congratulations!

2007-12-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

You're about to enter a world of... well, blogging. Unless, of course, you choose to delete this blog and use your MySpace page instead, which is totally fine. Just let us all know and we'll update the link lists on our blogs. Thanks!

-- Your family