Rants, Recipes, and Running

I really need to do a "re-cap" post on my birthday weekend, but that will come later. Instead, I am stealing my sister's post idea from today - called "little letters". Dear Miles (our 15 week old puppy), I take one rest day a week, where I sleep until 6 am. Could you please get it right, and sleep in as well? It sure would be lovely to have one day of the week where I sleep past 5. :) Sincerely, Tired Pet-Owner Dear March 11 , Please get here soon. I have 7 work days left, and it is so tough to be present when not just my foot , but my entire leg is "out the door". Your truly, Tendered Resignation Dear March Weather, In opposition to the rest of the county, I would like you to linger. Soon it will be 90 degrees on my 5 am runs and 100 degrees when I get home from work in the evening. I'm savoring these pleasant 70 degree days. Sincerely, Runner Who Doesn't Like Rhabdo Dear Cubical-mate , Please go see your ENT doctor and get those ...

I am very content with life right now, but I have to stay it's been pretty "simple". Which I kind of planned purposely my 1st weeks of January to really get organized and balanced. Plus we have a puppy at home, so when we are not working -- we've really tried to stay at home..... So due to my list of "interesting stuff", here is my "Currently post" for the winter! Reading : I am currently reading "The Kitchen House", which I am having a very difficult time really enjoying. It's a good book, but it seems to be moving slow. Or I'm just moving slow. One of the two... Thinking: Frustrated : That I don't have a weekend off until February 20. Feeling : At this moment, nostalgic. I'm helping my friend plan her music for her wedding in October. She had asked me what my processional song was, so while I was digging through my old "wedding stuff", I happened to pull out my wedding video. And 1 hour later, I found...

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, American friends! I pray that most of you are spending a weekend among family. Mine is not so much that way. It's spent working kind of long days - but I'm not asking for a pity party. I entered a field that never shuts down. So my mantra this weekend is, "Suck it up buttercup". Although, it pained me to drive into work this morning when I really wanted to be shopping at the Express jeans sale.....and putting up my Christmas tree. I will have Cyber Monday, however. Oh, America and our shopping. Talk about a 1st world problem. Did I just try and complain that I couldn't spend a stupid amount of cash on clothes on the day I wanted to?... Er.... Let's move on. I found this little meme, and thought it was fun. You are welcome to join. Or maybe answer a few questions. Here it goes! Four names that people call me other than my real name: 1. A variety of names around "Abs". Some family calls me "Abster". My ...

Due to a lack of creativity.....I figured I'd do a "Currently" post - as these are fun to look back at and see how I change over the months! So here's what's currently "me" Current Book: The Art of Hearing Heartbeats - it's about a young woman's treck to Burma to find her father. I'm only so far into it...so that's how much I know. It's part of my "Virtual Family Book Club" we've just started. I'm loving it so far! So excited for our 1st meeting. Current Excitement : I get to see Ryan tomorrow, and he's supposed to have a short day of classes - so should get on the road early and be home in time for us to cook together! Love that our 1st week separated was such a quick one! Current Fashion: I'm digging the straight legged dress pants I bought this weekend. They are comfortably - and are versatile for winter & spring. My new job forced me to get practically a new wardrobe....as I've transiti...

Here are my confessions...... I have not cooked a dinner in 2 weeks. I did so well all summer long - using the crockpot in such creative ways. Some fuse in me has burnt out, and my care and dedication to being a great "hotel"maker has vanished.  I never thought this day would come, but I think I'm sick of the Oven Roasted Chicken Breast sub at Subway. (I consume this about 3 meals/week). Yet, I'm too much of a creature of habit to just... order a different sandwich! Part of me feels guilty that I won't be accompanying Ryan to his next school in California. Especially after I was visiting with one of the wives last week at a bbq, who is accompanying her husband in a kitchenless hotel room for 5 months with their 3 month-old . (the hotel room at the next school doesn't even have a kitchen sink!) I felt even worse when she said, "Hey, we're a family. We stick together!"  I got to run today! I've had no pain in my toe all week. I was all ...

News Flash - I have reached a point where I am "over" living in this hotel. I cannot bring myself to elaborating, as this post would turn into a novel. But let me just say, because I am incapable of holding back my words , that we have had to get our door to our room fixed 5 times now . Yep. That means I've been locked out of the room 5 different times. On Friday when I got locked out, it was after my 9 mile run. It took 2 hours for them to fix it! So I sat out in the sultry Texas heat before I could get into my room and get some post-run hydration, food, and shower!! Oh, and the front desk told me I "wasn't helping the situation because I refused to be moved to a different room". We live here for 4 months. Moving 4 months worth of shit is not helpful. Okay, back to Wednesday smiles. Here are the little things that are bringing great smiles to my face today.   The days I don't work, I get to eat lunch with Ryan. Living on base has it's...

  Thank you.... Monsoon. Monsoon means "seasonal reversing winds accompanied by corresponding rainfall". In other words, it means "heavy winds and raining buckets on southern Arizona". I. Love. It!! My garden is finally getting the nutrients it deserves. Thank you.... Cliffbars. Especially the mint chocolate flavored ones. Thank you..... Husband. You're my favorite person to spend time with always. I consider myself pretty lucky to be married to someone I enjoy so much! Thank you........ Sunday. If I didn't have you off, I would probably have seriously freaked out! 50 hour work week got the best of me. My sleeps have been highly consumed by nightmares. Thank you..... Mom & Dad. For being amazing role models in my life. I hope you both realize how much I adore you. Thank you...... Kindle. You've rekindled my love for reading again! I quit reading while I was in school, because I was reading text books. Then I continued to no...

Why are they constantly talking about Weiners on the news lately? At least class it up a little and speak of good things like Andouille. On that note.....Ew. What is with all these politicians sleezing around on their wives. Yuck, politicians...never trust them! If you've heard about the wild fires here in Arizona, it's so sad. One of the areas that is burning to the ground is the White Mountains area where we went camping a few months ago. It is seriously one of the most beautiful areas I've ever experienced. It saddens me thinking of all the beautiful landscape and animals that are dying right now! (wildfiretoday.com) Brownie points to anyone who gives me a good way to cook eggplant ! Eggplant parmisan doesn't count. Not interested. It was on sale, I bought some. I did make some babagonoush (mmmmmm) - and want to use the others maybe on the grill? The summer heat is drying out my daisies & petunias. I refer to Ms. Joan Baez singing "Where are all th...

I'm joining in the on fun again! The things that drive me reach for a glass of wine, and the things that I love in life right now................... Wine The heat. But really , I'm reaching for a cool, refreshing vodka tonic. It's >100 degrees F every day. I don't have to deal with it much, since I'm gone all day. However, we come home from work at 8:30 pm and find ourselves outside watering our drying-out grass and garden. On Tuesday, I had a patient that referred to me by only these 3 "names": "Little Nursey", "Little Girl", and he also called me a "F***ing B****" when I was placing an NG tube in him. Now, I would probably say a curse word during that procedure. But, I really don't appreciate that. My name is on the whiteboard in his room. And I continued throughout the day to correct him saying, "My name is Abby." Too. Much. Emotion. I just don't have the energy to deal with over-the-top-emotions. ...

I thought my title would maybe be enticing. Okay, maybe minus the weeping wounds. I couldn't think of a catchy title. That's all I've got today. Those 5 items have consumed my life this week. Hot sun This morning when I was working in the garden at 7 am...it was already 87 degrees. My car thermometer also read 91 degrees F @ 8 pm while I was leaving work last night.(sun was down, too) My flowers are really angry. They are currently revolting. Tomatoes like the hot sun. As do my very voluptuous summer squash plants. My grass is pist off. Abby is also not happy with this heat. 100+ degrees is only okay if you're in a lake...or perhaps a pool. Bison I came home to quite a treat last night. Our grocery store had a sale on Bison meat. He looked up a recipe for "Gluten Free Bison Burgers". Which warmed my heart in more ways than one They had: gouda cheese, wild rice, bison meat, garlic, spices....served with a garnish of this special BBQ mayo - on a bed ...

Hm... We water our grass, vegetables, & flowers 4 times/day for 10 minutes. (automated sprinkler system). And things still seem to appear dry at times, yet I have to weed the garden 2 times/week. The weeds appear strong & green as can be! Hm... We have this rooster-sounding bird that "cock-a-doodle-doo's" every morning. Except it's not when the sun comes up. He chimes in around 4:30, and does it repetitively. And then he returns in the late afternoon just to remind us he's still around. Hm... How do I operate Ryan's shot gun he uses for bird hunting...? Hm... Swimming suit shopping was so fun and exciting when I was a young, hipster, college chick. Now it's just annoying. Hm... Is anyone else following American Idol this year? I am very disappointed that it is down to two country folk. Anyone can get a country career. I wanted my jazzy, blues-singing, talented Hailey to win. Hm... Why do I even watch that silly show? Hm.. (after...

Okay, so I stole this meme from Amber . I'm experiencing writers block right now. All I do is work, work out, garden, and sleep. Which results in nothing too interesting to write about. Okay..so on to this meme!: Outside my window … It's sunny and "cool" - 63 degrees F. At 7 am. Since the past few weeks it's been in the upper 90's, I've already been desensitzed and am calling an 80 degree day a "nice, cooler day" I am hearing … Fox News rambling on in the background. I am thinking … About how much I miss my family. When I see pictures of my nephews, my heart melts. I miss my siblings, & my parents. End of story. I am thankful … For my husband who is my sanity; who brightens my day, leaves me love notes around the house, cooks me dinner when I don't get home from work until 8:30 pm, and who makes me laugh! For my ever-present job security. A few months ago, I was fearful I would never get a job as a new-grad. Now, I get...

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...

Greetings, everyone! Let's be honest, my life is lacking in "depth" right now. Therefore, I have no interesting subjects to blog about. Or funny stories to tell. Or crazy rants to release. However, I will fill you in a few things... 1) My flowers lasted through the entire summer of Tucson, AZ. I feel pretty darn proud of that. The crazy part is....summer isn't over yet. It was 98 today, it's supposed to be 102 tomorrow, and 100 Thursday. GO AWAY SUN! WE DON'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE! Sorry for that. I'm moving to Antactica. Or Oregon. Or Washington -- where it rains every day and the sun never shines. Not really. We just bought a house in Oro Valley, AZ! (north of Tucson) - and we close January 13! We can't move, silly!;) 2) My husband sure has been traveling a lot for work. I think I need to join him. He's seen the beach twice now in the past 2 weeks. And he's going to see it again in 2 weeks. I'm envious! And it makes me realize how ...