Rants, Recipes, and Running

Today I am very excited, for tonight I go to the airport to pick up my dear sister Lisa !! As she stated in her blog this morning -- growing up we weren't the best of friends. In fact, we fought a lot. I remember Mom and Dad would have to sit between us during church because we'd fight. Sometimes during the sign of peace when you shake hands, we'd give the MOST death-squeezing-hand shakes. I remember when we'd fight, my Mom would be so sad. She would say every Christmas, "All I want for Christmas is for you girls to get along !!!!" She'd also say, "Someday when you're grown up, you will be best friends" We'd roll our eyes. Then I moved away to Tucson, and we realized we missed each other. We discovered black-berry-messenger. We found out just how much we did, indeed, have in common. And in the process of re-getting-to-know-each other....we became great friends! So this weekend will be wonderful. We plan on taking a road trip up to...

Yesterday, I decided "to hell with you, gym.". This is the time of the year in Tucson when you can actually spend time outside, and you won't fear for your health. (i.e. dying of dehydration or severe sunburn) So when I wanted to get some exercise, I drove to the gym, pulled into a parking lot FULL of Massechusetts license plantes, and said "Yep. It must be Senior Citizen exercise hour", and looked at the crowds indoors , (Oh, snowbird season, I love you....) .... And so I said, "To hell with this..." And drove 1 mile north to a park called "Riverfront Park". Now, let's not be foolish, here. There's not really a river. There are no rivers in Tucson. But there's a "wash" that as once a river in the ice ages. So they have built beautiful bridges and running trails along these washes. I turned on my heart-rate-monitor and started jogging not knowing where I was going. I haven't done this in............ ....

Good afternoon, all! It has been awhile since I've participated on 10 on Tuesday...and since I'm trying to do everything possible right now to procrastinate cleaning house and going to the gym...what's a better time to write a blog!? ;) Here it goes! 1. Is there a band/artist that you HATE? I don't like the word hate. I was always taught that it's one of those "never words"...but I will say I STRRRRONGLY dislike Lady Gaga. Strongly. Her music, in my opinion, is crap. Annoying. I don't know if it's just her music that gets to me or the combination of her overly-sexual, psychotic image she portrays. Gross. I also strongly dislike Justin Beaver? Beeber? However you spell it, he drives me nuts. I remember the 1st time I heard him on the radio -- before he can a "Superstar"....I thought this kid has talent, and I had faith in him. He had a beautiful voice. Now, he's turned into a cocky like brat. Good luck with keeping that hihg-...

Many of us like to enter the New Year with changes. Resolutions. Goals. New endeavors. A brighter outlook. This 2011 started out with many changes - and they weren't even by choice. It is incredible to me to realize how drastically different my life is now that I work nights. And I am so thankful I'm such a tight scheduler -- for it may be my only method of survival. Here are a few things I've learned that can be applied to no matter what schedule I ever experience.... Cherish every moment you get. Every moment you get with your family. Every moment you get with your loved one. Prior to working nights, I was going "through the motions" BIG TIME. I took for granted the time I got to spend with Ryan. Now that we only get to sleep in the same bed, wake up together, eat normal meals, etc. a few nights a week -- I am sooo thankful on "normal nights". Exercise restores energy. 4 days/week, I get my booty into the gym or out on the running trails and I bu...

When a tragedy occurs, it affects our heart forever. I'm sure everyone who lived through it -- can state exactly what they were doing, where they were, and how they felt during events such as: 9/11, President Kennedy's shooting, John Lennon's shooting, the Columbine shooting, and the list goes on. We cannot compare tragedies. We can't say "This was worse than the other". (in my opinion). A tragedy is a tragedy. And today we experienced one in our country. This specific one was close to my heart. So, I feel the need to write about it. Today was the 1st day Ryan and I entered our "political careers". We are both running to be Precinct Committee members in our district -- and this morning we attended our 1st meeting. During the middle of the meeting, a woman entered the room - shooken up - stating that a shooting had occured less than one mile from where our meeting was being held. A House of Representative Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was sp...

Yes, I am a little behind ya'll. Most "reviews" were done prior to the New Years Eve festivities. But, I feel like my 2010 needs to be recapped in a somewhat brief sense. 2010 was a huge year for both Ryan & I and many changes occured..... so here it goes! January January began in the comfort of my family's lake cabin on Battle Lake, MN. Ryan & I were fortunate enough last year to get out there for the whole week of xmas to spend time with them. This will probably never occur (the whole "week stay") until I return in 70 years. It could for Ryan..he gets the week off. It will never occur in the healthcare world. So I'm glad we got to do it! The Rest of "The Winter" My dear sister Lisa made a trip out to Arizona for my Birthday. It was an awesome birthday present!! We met Lisa and her friend & husband in Phoenix for a night of fun and a great dinner. I had my Community Health/Psych Rotation. It kind of changed my view on ...

So I said I'd do a post after I'd gotten adjusted to night shift on "my adjustment process to night shift" ...so I will be writing this post in 6 months. ;) Just...kidding...Ha....Ha... Okay, so I haven't adjusted. But, I'm managing. As of this week (week 3) -- I'm finally able to sleep during the day after I've worked. Week one, I got like 5 hours of sleep for the 3 straight days. Not cool. And it was Christmas. But, I think I've got it down. The hardest part for me is just sitting down when I'm not at work. When I'm at home, I am go-go-go. Seriously. I actually make a rule stating "I will not sit down until ___o'clock". I tried to continue that lifestyle when I worked nights. It didn't work out so well. But....here's my little pro and con list I've made thus far Pros: I work nearly every Sunday this month (except the weekend my sister is here). If I were working days , that would mean my WHOLE Sund...